OCTOBER 31st 1517: LESSONS FROM REFORMATION HISTORY Pt.4

'Latria' is a theological term meaning worship.  Orthodoxy believes God alone deserves to be worshiped( Mt 4:10).  'Dulia', in Christian theology, means veneration/ honor given to saints( Ex 20:12, Rom 13:7) while hyperdulia is the highest form of honour given only to Mary because she is full if grace, Luke 1:28. Proto dulia is the honour given to Joseph, the first saint who happens to be earthly father of Jesus.

These theological concepts were grossly misunderstood and taken to the extreme in Martin Luther's day. This is one of the things he sought to reform because after reading his bible, he discovered a mix of human tradition with scriptures. Also, he saw that true worship was taken from God and given to his creation.

The Roman Catholics believed God only deserves worship( Latria) but their veneration of saints and hyper veneration of Mary calls for biblical scrutiny because of how they ask that dead saints pray for the living. Till date, Roman Catholics still ask Mary and other saints to pray for them. They have placed them as mediators instead of Christ.

The defense given by Roman Catholics for asking saints to interceed for them was based on some scriptures where christians on earth were enjoined to pray for each other( Jas 5:16), also, the believe that death doesn't cut believers off from Christ( Rom8:38-39), saints in heaven are alive in Christ( Lk 20:38), and saints presented prayers in heaven( Rev 5:8).

While it seems this practice is nuanced in the bible, the reformers objection to it was simply because of three major reasons rooted in scriptures:

*i.Using saints as mediator instead of Christ*

1 Timothy 2:5 For God is one, and there is one Mediator between God and the sons of men—the true man, Jesus, the Anointed One ( TPT).

CHRIST alone is the mediator between man and God not Mary. Whatever we want or desire from God should be channeled through him not any saint or Mary. Praying to God through saints or asking them to pray along with you robs Christ of His glory.

The writer of Hebrew(12:2) says, *"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith...*". Christ is the all-in-all for believers. It is Jesus plus nothing. The moment you add something to it, you are stripping Him of his glory.

Jesus himself said, *"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If you ask anything in My name, I will do it*"( Jnn14:13-14). It is all about him not any saint.

Of the few times we read that Jesus, Paul, Peter and others prayed in the bible, there was no precedence of any of them asking saints to pray for them. Jesus could have asked Moses or Elijah to join him in intercession but he did not. It is unapostolic to do that. The early church never did when they prayed in Acts 4.

ii. *Abuse of relics*

Those days, people do not just venerate saints, they venerated relics of saints. It could be the bone of a matyr, their clothes, etc. In fact, in Luther's day, some claimed to have 12 foreskins of Jesus and sold it with indulgence. This made it worse. Again, they used it to generate money. Isn't this the same thing some people do when they start selling items from Jerusalem claiming it possess certain powers?

This has no place in scriptures. Neither Jesus nor the apostle venerated relics of saints. It is subtle idolatry wearing a Christian mask. That is why I stand against those who go to the tomb of a preacher to pray. The power that raised him from the dead is now in us and with us.

Today's church has subtly slipped into some practices that necessitated reformation. Honouring people for what they did is not bad but when we subtly bring worship into it, we become idolaters. We must repent.

iii. *“All believers are saints”*:

Martin Luther also made it clear that all believers are saints not just some 'special' people. The word saint is from the Greek 'hagios' meaning holy or set apart. The apostles used this word on several occasion for all believers.

This is what the bible says:

1 Peter 2:9 But you are God’s chosen treasure —priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. He did this so that you would broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world ( TPT).

Romans 1:7: *"To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people [saints]...*"

1 Corinthians 1:2: *"To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people [saints]...*"

Ephesians 1:1: *"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people [saints] in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus...*"

Colossians 1:2: *"To God’s holy people [saints] in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father*".

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