1

CITIES OF EARTH & HEAVEN

Week 3: the Political Legacy of the Reformation

2

“A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD”MARTIN LUTHER, 1529• A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;

Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:For still our ancient foe … doth seek to work us woe;His craft and power are great, … and, armed with cruel hate,On earth is not his equal.

• That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:Let goods and kindred go, … this mortal life also;The body they may kill: … God’s truth abideth still,His kingdom is forever.

3

MARTIN LUTHER AT WORMS, 1521:

• “Here I stand; I can do no other!”– (Well, tradition attributes these words to him.)– The words were spoken to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V …– A loyal Catholic with the pope pushing him to condemn Luther.

• Luther’s stance had precedent: Council of Constance, 1451– Reformer Jan Huss is called to answer charges of heresy.– Emperor Sigismund promised Huss safe conduct to the council.– The result?

4

HUSS IS BURNED AT THE STAKE.

“I do affirm here before you all, that there is no more just or effectual appeal, than that appeal which is made unto Christ…. Who is then a higher Judge than Christ?”What was revolutionary about these words?

5

CHRISTENDOM: TWIN SWORDS OF CHRIST • Secular rule ordained by the church:

– Holy Roman Emperor – Kings claiming God’s authority (ala Romans 13)

• Catholic church as intermediaries of God’s grace:– Popes, Bishops, and Priests – Bible filtered through their orthodoxy

• Huss was claiming the freedom to stand alone before Christ:– Challenging pope and emperor, king and bishop– Asserting the autonomy of the individual conscience

• Forerunner of modern faith and modern ideas of political autonomy

6

LUTHER FOLLOWED HUSS(AND WALDO AND WYCLIFFE)

• He was promised safe passage by the emperor.• He was pressured by the council and sitting emperor to recant.• He refused to do so, and stood firm.• But Luther did not follow Huss in one key respect:• He left Worms alive!

How?

7

LUTHER WROTE MUCH MORE THAN THEOLOGY.

• Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation Respecting the Reformation of the Christian Estate (1520).– The distress and misery that oppress all the Christian estates, more especially

in Germany, have led … every one … to cry aloud and to ask for help, and have now forced me too to cry out….

– Since … the temporal power is baptized as we are, and has the same faith and Gospel, we must allow it to be priest and bishop, and account its office an office that is proper and useful to the Christian community.

• Luther appealed to the political interests of 100s of German princes.– They had long standing grudges against Italian bishops and cardinals.– Frederick the Wise of Saxony whisked Luther safely away from Worms and

kept him safe in Wartburg Castle, Eisenach.

8

LUTHER’S REFORMATION SHATTERED CHRISTENDOM.

And it raised major questions about the relationship of Christianity to society and secular government.

9

CHRISTENDOM MODEL: CHURCH + SOCIETY = A SINGLE WHOLE

UniversalChurch

TheFaithful

SecularSociety

Sinners

10

AFTER LUTHER (& ZWINGLI)• Europe split up into proliferating entities:

– Nations and Principalities• The myth of the Holy Roman Empire was shattered.• “Germany”: over 200 separate principalities• Further split by the Reformation

– Churches and sects• Lutheran Church in Germany• Reformed Churches in Switzerland, the Netherlands, & Scotland• The Church of England• Independent sects like the Anabaptists

• How would these political and religious interests relate?

11

REFORMATION: ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS:

Reformers needed secular rulers to protect them!

12

WARM UP QUIZ• In the aftermath of Martin Luther’s challenge to the authority of the

Roman Church …– Princes of more than 200 German states chose for the people of their

principalities whether they would remain Catholic or embrace Lutheran reform.– Holy Roman Emperor Charles V recognized the right of all of his subjects to

choose their faith for themselves.– The Council of Trent placed limits on the authority of the Pope to determine

what Christians should believe.– Divergent reform sects honored each other’s rights to differ over theology,

infant baptism, and separation from society into communes.

13

PEACE OF AUGSBURG (1555)• In order to bring peace to the Holy Roman Empire of the Germanic

Nation between the Roman Imperial Majesty and the Electors, Princes and Estates, …– let neither his Imperial Majesty nor the Electors, Princes, etc., do any violence

or harm to any estate of the empire on the account of the Augsburg Confession, but let them enjoy their religious belief … in peace; and complete religious peace.

– Likewise the Estates espousing the Augsburg Confession shall let all the Estates and Princes who cling to the old religion live in absolute peace and in the enjoyment of all their estates, rights, and privileges.

• cuius regio; eius religio: your region determines your faith!

14

SO LUTHER’S CHURCH FLOURISHED …

• by linking itself with sympathetic German princes.• This doesn’t fit well with Lutheran theology!

– Luther embraced Augustine's original sin and predestination.• The masses … will be unchristian, though they are all baptized.• This would suggest a church for the few elect!

– Also, Luther thought little of German princes:• A wise prince is a rare bird; still more is a pious prince.• This would suggest a separation of church and prince.

15

LUTHER’S VIEW OF SECULAR RULE WAS PRAGMATIC, PESSIMISTIC!

• If all the world were composed of real Christians, …– No prince … or law would be necessary.– The Holy Spirit instructs [Christians] … to wrong no one, to love everyone.

• [But] Among many thousands there is scarcely one Christian.– If anyone attempted to rule the world by the Gospel and put aside all secular law

and the secular sword, … what would happen?– He would loose the bands and chains of the wild and savage beasts.– [Sinners unrestrained by law] would devour one another … and the world would be

reduced to chaos.

• Thus God has ordained secular rule to limit the damages of sin.– Not necessarily to reflect holiness in the princes …– Nor to create a holy society.

References to Luther’s On Secular Authority.

16

NOTICE THE SPLIT RATIONALE:

The real Church is a communion of the few predestined elect.

But, God ordains secular rule to contain society’s sin.

17

ANABAPTIST VIEW:• Anabaptists rejected …

– Sinful society– The “Visible” institutional church– The protection of secular rulers– The concept of private property

• Their reward?– Staggering levels of persecution!– Hounded by Catholics and

Protestants alike.– 80% martyrdom rates!

Society & Secular Rule

Institutional ChurchThe Word of God:

Bible made alive through God’s Sovereign Grace

Useless, ritualisticsacraments

Sinners Feigning Faith

Separate, Authentic Church Community

The elect living byauthentic Faith

18

NOTICE THE DILEMMA:

As a Protestant, you reject corruption & false faith.

Do you embrace and get lost in secular society?

Do you separate yourself and suffer persecution?

19

ESSENTIAL

PROBLEM OF

THE POST-

REFORMATION

Society

MainstreamCitizens& Laity

Church

Radical Reformers& Zealots

Conflict?Separation?Mediation?

AND OF

CONTEMPORARY

AMERICA!

20

A 3RD WAY

Calvin’s Covenant Model of Government

21

“REFORM” CHURCH MODEL

• 13th-16th Centuries:– Cantons of Switzerland gain independence.– They are governed by city councils, not dukes, kings, or emperors.

• Reformation breaks out simultaneously with Luther’s Germany.– Huldrych Zwingli and Heinrich Bullinger reform the church in Zürich.– Bullinger claims a restoration of God’s covenant with Israel:

• Saving covenant: only the few elect are predestined to be saved.• Conditional covenant: God wishes to impose Mosaic law on the city-state or nation.

– The city council enforces Mosaic Law …– As interpreted by the Reform ministers who cooperate with it.

22

CALVIN’S GENEVA MODEL: APPLIED COVENANT THEOLOGY

• 1530s: Canton of Geneva racked by reform unrest– Jean Calvin—French reform

exile—asked to establish order– 1538: Calvin thrown out for

zealotry– 1541: Calvin begged to return

• Joint governance:

Calvinist Geneva

Calvin’s Institutes

Native GenevanAristocracy

Company of Pastors

(Reform Exiles)

Consistory of Elders

Council of 24(Natives only)

Council of 60(some exiles)

Deacons practice Charity

Council of 100

Enforced Church

AttendanceCitizenry

23

REMEMBER THIS (WEEK 1)?• Selections from the Ordinances of Geneva developed by Calvin:

– Times of Assembling at Church: the temples be closed for the rest of the time, in order that no one shall enter therein out of hours, impelled thereto by superstition ;

– Blasphemy: whoever shall have blasphemed, swearing by the body or by the blood of our Lord, ... shall be made to kiss the earth for the first offence ; for the second to pay 5 sous, and for the third 6 sous, and for the last offence be put in the pillory for one hour.

– Drunkenness: if anvone be found intoxicated he shall pay for the first offence 3 sous and shall be remanded to the consistory ; For the … third 10 sous and be put in prison….

– Songs and Dances: if anyone sings immoral, dissolute or outrageous songs, ... he shall be put in prison for three days and then sent to the consistory.

– Games: no one shall play at any dissolute game or at any game whatsoever it may be, neither for gold nor silver nor for any excessive stake, upon penalty of 5 sous and forfeiture of stake played for (Ordinances)

• Elect claiming to govern all society.

24

RELEVANCE TO OUR WORLD?• Henry VIII is crowned in 1509.

– A pious Catholic, he writes a book attacking Luther.– The Pope names him Defender of the Faith.

• 1525: Henry breaks with the Papacy over divorce.• 1547: 10 year old son Edward is crowned.• 1553: sickly Edward dies and sister Mary is crowned

– Mary is Catholic and tries to restore Catholicism in England.– Many fervent Protestants flee increasing persecution.– They take refuge in … Calvin’s Geneva, where they learn …

• The Reform model of theology and church governance• The Covenant model of government.

25

E.G. THE SCOT JOHN KNOX

Returned from exile in Geneva to lead the Scottish Reformation and establish the Presbyterian Church.

Applied the Calvinist model of theology and governance.

26

CALVINIST REFORM IN ENGLAND?

• Stifled by monarchs!– Henry VIII forbade Cranmer to follow Continental reformers.

• E.g. the Church of England remained episcopal: led by bishops.• And worship was liturgical: • Cranmer wrote the 1st Book of Common Prayer in 1544.

– During Edward’s brief reign, reformers were encouraged.– Then Mary tried to crush reform.– When Elizabeth restored her father’s Church of England …

• She kept a tight lid on more extreme reformers!• Then James I seemed to push England further back toward Rome.

27

RECIPE FOR DISASTER:

Constantly frustrated “Puritans”Overweening Anglo-Catholic BishopsCloset CatholicsAnd many political/economic conflicts

28

ENGLISH CIVIL WAR

Fountainhead of the United States of America!

CHARLES IHERITAGE FROM HENRY: HEADSHIP OF KINGDOM & CHURCH

God

Charles

English Bishops Scots Irish

Traditional rituals; Prayer Book

Presbyterian Lowlanders

Catholic Highland Clans

Anglican Anglo-Irish

Catholic Native IrishConforming Anglicans

Puritans objecting to rituals, prayer book

Closet Catholics

30

INSISTING ON HIS DIVINE RIGHT TO RULE …

• Charles alienated everyone.• 1637: Archbishop Laud strong arms reformers

– Sends out new prayer book offending Puritans.– Bishop of Edinburgh tries to impose them.– Presbyterian Scotland rises against Charles!– Charles’s army fails to defeat the Scots army.

• 1640: Charles calls Parliament to pay for his losses.– Parliament challenges Charles’ authority.– King and Parliament raise armies & fight until 1649.

• A quarter of a million die in England, Wales, & Scotland.

31

PARLIAMENT’S NEW MODEL ARMY:• Led by Oliver Cromwell

– Defeats Charles’ armies. Twice.– Beheads Charles in 1649.– Rules England as Lord Protector

• Cromwell was an ardent Puritan.– Response to the Battle of Marston Moor:– Truly England and the Church of God hath had a great

favor from the Lord, in this great victory given unto us.– It had all the evidences of an absolute victory obtained by

the Lord's blessing upon the Godly Party….– Sir, God hath taken away your eldest son by a cannon-

shot…. He is a glorious Saint in Heaven.

32

CROMWELL’S IRISH CAMPAIGN (1649-1651)

• Catholic Ireland did maintain an army.– Cromwell wanted to remove the threat.– Propaganda of Irish atrocities on Protestants called

for revenge.• 1.5-2 million dead:

– Battle, disease, famine– Soldiers & civilians– English, Anglo-Irish, Irish

• Utter, humiliating defeat for the Irish:Catholics dispossessed of their lands.

33

IRISH RESENTMENT AT CROMWELL AND THE ENGLISH REMAINS BITTER TODAY!

• Plantation of Ulster: – early 17th Century – 20-80,000 Presbyterian Scots encouraged to colonize Ulster– Breeding ground for “The Troubles” that continue today

• Late 18th Century: – Many “Ulster-Scots” emigrate to America– Become Scotch-Irish settlers of the new frontiers– Establish dominance of Presbyterian and Baptist sects

across rural America

ANGLO-AMERICAN COLONIESVirginia:

Crown Colony, 1607

Primarily a

financial venture

Anglican Church

established in Virginia

Note the years!

Tensions of the

English Civil War would

be reflected in the Colonies!

35

AND WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?

• The “Pilgrims” of Massachusetts.• Their model of government?• Covenant society in the Calvinist tradition!• That’s for next time!

36

POLITICAL HERITAGE OF THE REFORMATION?

Division of elect from rest of society.Problem: mediating the holiness demands of the elect with the rest of society.