Luther and the Reformation:
The Church
In the Catholic church of Luther's time priests occupied a very important position. They alone could bring the sacraments to God's people. And sacraments were what saved us. In the Mass (Holy Communion), it was thought that the consecrated bread and wine became the body and blood of Christ. When priests celebrated Mass, it was believed, the congregation received the bread as a sort of spiritual fuel.
Through his reading of Scripture, Luther came to see that because people are justified by faith alone, priests were no longer needed to act as intermediaries between God and his people. Nowhere in the New Testament is the word 'priest' used as a term for a Christian minister.
Luther came to see that there is only one Priest, Jesus Christ. But all Christians (who are 'in Christ') are priests with access to God. Luther wrote,
"All of us who have been baptised are priests without distinction, but those whom we call priests are ministers, chosen from among us that they should do all things in our name and their priesthood is nothing but a ministry."
The apostle Peter writes to all Christians:
You are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2: 9 [NIV]
All Christians have gifts to be used in God's church for the common good. We are part of the body of Christ; we serve each other and belong to each other.
Heavenly Father, thank you that we do not need a go-between in our relationship with you. Help me to use the gifts you have given me to build up your church so that others may come to know you, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
David Long
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