Did Martin Luther and other Protestant reformers claim that God sent them to reform and purify Christianity?

Question

If they did not, they would have spoken of their own authority, rather than by divine authority. In other words, they would have merely tried to peddle their own intepretation of what Christianity is. Please resolve.

Answer 1

Let me see if I can attempt an answer.

The Protestant Reformers, at least at the beginning, ie Luther, Calvin, ect. were highly influences my personal and social mean, rather than divine. Luther had a big problem with the papacy, and so did his supporters. Yet, these were not for theological reasons, but again for social reasons. Correct me if I am wrong here, but i believe that Calvin spit off because he wished to be allowed to divorce, something the Catholic Church condemned.

Now, a very good example of the reason why the early reformers broke from the Church and were supported by the aristocracy can be found in King Henry the VIII. He wished to divorce his wife, but being Catholic he was not given permission. So he protested (which is what the word protestant means) and created the Church of England, which became very wide spread.
This is a perfect example of a person schisming from the church for personal and selfish reasons, and reasons like this can be found for all the early reformers that directly broke from the Catholic Church.

The interesting thing is that these new schismed churches and Christian religions all still held to things such as: the saints, devotion to Mary (especially Luther, he was very devote to her even after leaving the Church), the Eucharist, baptism, basic doctrinal theologies, and various church traditions.

Now, later protestants, who protested against the reformers had similar problems, or had difficulties understanding some of the basic principles that were left over from the Catholic Church. Since these new churched didnt have full doctrine or capabillity to explain many of the sacraments and traditions without saying the Catholic Church was right about something, they lost many new people to ever further reform. This is how you get the continuos schisms that reach even further into today, and Christianity that looks nothing like it did 2000 years ago.

Now there have been a few down the road that claimed divine inspiration, but they are far and few between, not to mention a few hundred years late of the first reform. Plus, the new doctrines they introduce are not based off of or go back to the original Christianity.

There are more than 34,000 types of Protestantism/schism from the Catholic Church since then, and more than 1000 new popping up each day. The only one before then were the Orthodox Catholics who at that time broke for political reasons and not theological, besides, they are still in communion with the Catholic Church and still practice that very ancient and true form of Christianity.

I will finish with one point. The Catholic Churches doctrine and traditions have not changed in 2000 years, only defended and defined. Plus, Christ said that he would protect his Church. Now, when Christ says that he is not kidding around, he means he wil protect his Church from heresy, corruption, and evil. Now this means that even though there are evil people who could quite be in the Church (remember that free will stuff) that he will still protect it, and the theology and traditions that he passed on to his Apostles, who then in turn taught and assembled the Church. If those guys didn't get it right, and Christ never protected his Church, then sure, the Protestants are right and can do whatever they want. But in my opinion, what makes me think that I can do better than Christ or his close friends and followers who knew Him so very well.

Answer 2

Martin Luther and others
like him did what Holy Spirit lead them to do and say,there is a lot of different religions it started out being catholic the fist religion and the Luther and then Method , that where The Salvation Army came from, William Booth didn't like how the method treated the poor and the homeless he started STA. to help the poor, that not to say that the Devil don't get in.
look how beautiful the catholic Regen is but look what the devil dose.Read job!!!. there is a God looking on and he use people of all race creed and color if there willing to do. religion is not the answer its what st ears up some one that love God thought Jesus Christ.

Answer 3

I learned that Martin Luther actually didn't want a church started after him because he recognized that he wasn't called of God to do so, but other people started it anyway.

I'm not sure about the other protestant leaders though, I'm sure some were just trying to do their best, others were ego tripping (like Henry the 8th).

Answer 4

They based all their beliefs on what the Bible teaches instead of outside sources.Thata's where the motto "Solos Scripturas " comes from(Scriptures only).You see the Jews made the same mistake the Catholics made.They put more creedence in what man said than what God has revealed.They had the Word of God .Paul says God made them the Oracles(keepers of the word).Then they started with the Mishnah's and the Targums etc etc trying to explain God's word until by the time of Jesus ,it was all messed up.The Catholics did the same,holding the traditions of man more than the word of God.

Answer 5

Martin Luther did say that the Almighty forced him into the fray (so to speak, I don't know his exact words- he spoke in German). Our standard is Scripture (that was Luther's inspiration) and we Protest that some human authority tells us how to believe. If you follow Scripture, you worship YHVH and His son the Messiah YAHOSHUA, and you rest and worship on the day they set aside (which is the seventh day - "Saturday")

Answer 6

God calls all saved people to witness to the lost. God calls all men to preach the gospel to the lost. So if Martin Luther was saved and he preached the gospel then he was called of God to do so. There is only one interpretation of God's word.

Answer 7

That is what every single new offshoot Protestant Free Church claims it is doing. They encourage every believer to interpret scripture for themselves, so division in the Body of Christ now is self-replicating.

Answer 8

Martin Luther was a dirty priest who wanted out,nothing more.

The war that broke out killed thousands.