Oct 31 2007
Evangelicalism: A Modern Day Tetzel?
The following article is in honor of reformation day and submitted to Tim Challies for his Reformation Day Symposium.
One of the main tenants of the reformation was the ardent opposition to Johann Tetzel and his uncanny ability to squeeze blood out of the proverbial turnip of 16th Century
However, we as evangelicals may want to look at this situation from a different perspective. I do not think that we should only view this as a war that was waged between Tetzel and Luther. Nor should we look at it as a war waged between the Catholic Church and Evangelical freedom. I believe that we can draw some great conclusions about our own time period from what went on in the days of the reformation by looking into the lives that it affected most, the common people.
One reason why Tetzel was so successful in the selling of indulgences was because of the people’s lack of the knowledge and understanding of scripture and soteriological truths. I find that in our own day we have multitudes that pass through the doors of our modern churches that are in a similar spiritual state to those people in
Many people today are not versed in either biblical knowledge or theological study. This being the case we now have a generation of people who are susceptible to whatever doctrine blows their way, right or wrong. The average church member instead of desiring to take hold of what is true wants to grasp what makes them feel good. I believe it must have been largely the same way in Tetzel’s day.
More than likely when someone gave money for an indulgence to free either themselves or a loved one from purgatory they went home smiling. I don’t believe that it was drudgery at all for someone to pay for an indulgence. It was simply their means of being right with God and they were ok with that. In all honesty it made them feel good about themselves and their loved ones. Who can blame them? Who wouldn’t want to be right with God or see their loved ones released from purgatory?
Today many evangelicals find themselves in a similar state of mind. Every time Joel Osteen comes out with another book they run to the bookstore as fast as possible to see what he has to say. Why not, it makes them feel better, doesn’t it? Or how about when the latest fad comes out in Christian clothing, people flock like Dr. Phil to a sizzler to buy the latest bracelet or t-shirt. If you think those are bad wait until the next Narnia movie comes to the theatres. People will be standing in line for 2 days for tickets to a movie that includes symbolism that many of them can not understand. Indulging themselves in these types of things creates a euphoric feeling in them because they are “being Christian” and it makes them feel good about themselves. In other words, they take what evangelicalism affords them in order to feel better about themselves. Sound familiar? Seriously though, who can blame them?
What have evangelicals done in this state of crisis? Have we taken Luther’s approach? Have we stood for Truth? Many would like to think we have. But I’m not so sure that the majority of evangelicals even realize that there is a problem. It seems that most of us have adopted the slogan, “Every time a Benjamin in the offering plate falls, a new t-shirt movie or book gets bought” and we are found embracing the problem instead of resolving it.
However, there are those who are standing tall, the Mohler’s, Piper’s, and Dever’s of this age along with a score of other unknown and unnamed men. But as heroic as the efforts of these are it’s my prayer that the Tetzelizing of Christendom will awaken more Luther’s and continue to raise that same ocean tide of fervency for truth in their hearts that marked the start of the great reformation.
One response so far
Thanks for calling us to truth. I live in a suburb of Houston, the land of mega-mega churches. Many evangelicals see nothing wrong, but some of these churches are avoiding or re-writing the gospel. One church took out a full-page, color ad on the back of the events magazine section of the Sunday newspaper to advertise its Christmas antique car show. In the foyer of that same church is a statue of the pastor baptizing someone. Can you imagine the apostle Paul saying, “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified–oh, and the antique car show as well”? Can you imagine Paul saying, “God did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel–but look at this statue of me baptizing someone”?
Several local megachurches are now pastored by husband-wife teams, but I’ve not seen any of them discuss the theology of women as senior pastors. (I know that some people make a sincere argument for that from the Bible; these people don’t seem to try.) Another megachurch spends money on things like a shaking platform for a Sunday sermon about an earthquake.
As you say, people go to these churches because they feel better about themselves when they leave. They think that if the church approves of them, surely God approves of them. Meanwhile, some of the pastors and authors and conference speakers and purveyors of Christian wares receive a lot of money from all of this. Is there a similarity to Tetzel? I vote yes.
I’m thankful to be in a church where our pastor is determined not to use tricks to get people into the church. The preaching of the word, accompanied by prayer and holy living, is bringing people. Our church’s members are discovering that life isn’t about their own success and happiness, but about God’s glory.