Luther ..... and

[Slyzr]

This question came up on another board.

Yup ..... I was the one who brought it up.

I realized, this was more of a question for Lutherans to answer.

Simply put do Lutherans' see Luther more as a protestant or a reformer.

Realizing that many 'reformed churches" have moved away from Liturgical practices.

 

[Nic]

This question came up on another board.

Yup ..... I was the one who brought it up.

I realized, this was more of a question for Lutherans to answer.

Simply put do Lutherans' see Luther more as a protestant or a reformer.

Realizing that many 'reformed churches" have moved away from Liturgical practices.

My take a reformer. Luther viewed the church as a gift of the holy spirit warts and all.

 

[BJ Bear]

This question came up on another board.

Yup ..... I was the one who brought it up.

I realized, this was more of a question for Lutherans to answer.

Simply put do Lutherans' see Luther more as a protestant or a reformer.

Realizing that many 'reformed churches" have moved away from Liturgical practices.

It would depend on who and how the person asking the question has defined the terms, and how that person views the question. Since the original protestants at Speyer were for lifting the Edict of Worms it was about Luther and his doctrine or reforms. It is hard to believe that Luther wasn't sympathetic to these, "protestants," who did so in support of his doctrine or reforms.

Because of the way that the term protestant has since been redefined or used by some, it is common for some "Lutherans" to reject the term protestant for Luther and the church That rejection is along the lines which Nic posted.

 

[Bonnie]

This question came up on another board.

Yup ..... I was the one who brought it up.

I realized, this was more of a question for Lutherans to answer.

Simply put do Lutherans' see Luther more as a protestant or a reformer.

Realizing that many 'reformed churches" have moved away from Liturgical practices.

I never thought about that much. I would probably see him more as a reformer. He loved the church, warts and all, and never wanted to leave the RCC, just do away with its unbiblical teachings and some of its practices, like celibate clergy.

 

[Tertiumquid]

This question came up on another board.

Yup ..... I was the one who brought it up.

I realized, this was more of a question for Lutherans to answer.

Simply put do Lutherans' see Luther more as a protestant or a reformer.

Realizing that many 'reformed churches" have moved away from Liturgical practices.

Both terms imply defining something by a comparison to something else. Certainly Luther protested the abuses of the Roman Church and wished to change or reform that which was wrong. But his life and work went beyond that, so while he's known today as both Protestant and Reformer, neither captures the entire picture of his life and theology. Both of those categories imply a later understanding. I suspect Luther would have preferred the word "Evangelical"... although that word now is slimy.

Personally, I prefer "theologian." I would define him by his gift to the church... similarly how Aquinas is known as a theologian. I would go along with German Roman Catholic Historian Joseph Lortz who held Luther was a theologian of the highest rank, a profoundly religious man, a true Christian, who lived by a deep faith in Jesus Christ.