13-1 Martin Luther Takes a Stand
Martin Luther, Ninety-five Theses on the Power of Indulgences (1517)
Many interpret Luther's Thesis 36 as an attack on the papacy because this thesis indirectly denied the right to fully restore punishment and guilt, which right merely belonged to the Pope.
1. In the thesis, Luther showed that the head of the Church did not teach true Christian doctrine in the following way, without penance, by using the money to buy pardons, and fearing God's punishment for sins. In addition, Luther pointed out that church leaders had taught that everyone could buy the kingdom of God. Even though, the Pope had the power to set limits or stop the forms of penitential repression imposed by the church, he could not bring about inner repentance leading to salvation. Only God, contrariwise, can do it.
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Maybe Luther did not want to condemn the Church for selling pardons, but rather he just wanted to contribute to correct what was wrong in the pastoral practice. Therefore, Luther gave analyses of the reasons and the way for the remission of the punishment and guilt. On one hand, indulgence is right because of holy charity and the benefit of the soul, on the other hand, it is wrong when the main reason is to get money to build the church. Whereas, the penalty, considered as the charity of the poor, makes the penitent better than buying indulgences. Pardons are very harmful, because they give false guarantees of peace, and make the recipient to reject true repentance. Then, the Church should use its own money to do construction rather to sell the pardon of