Martin Luthers objective or purpose on writting on indulgence - Essay Example

Luther’s Letter to Archbiship of Mainz In writing his letter to the Archbishop of Mainz, Martin Luther is protesting against the sale of indulgences by the Catholic Church. A close reading of the text reveals a number of motivations behind its construction, as Luther consider the implications the sale of indulgences holds for spirituality and one’s ultimate relationship with the Lord. One of Luther’s main concerns in writing the letter is his belief that if people buy indulgences then they are under a mistaken assumption that they will go to heaven.

Luther writes, “the unhappy souls believe that if they have purchased letters of indulgence they are sure of their salvation; again, that so soon as they cast their contributions into the money-box, souls fly out of purgatory.” And then, “Thus souls committed to your care, good Father, are taught to their death.” In this statements Luther is advancing his rhetorical argument by implying that by the Church convincing people that they can buy their way into heaven they may actually be being their way into hell, as true salvation cannot be achieved through such means.

In this regard, Luther’s intention is to make an injunction in papal policy that will save these people from eternal damnation. Luther also considers the practical aspects of allowing the sale of indulgences, indicating that he believes it will have a deleterious effect on an individual’s spirituality. Luther writes, “works of piety and love are infinitely better than indulgences, and yet these are not preached with such ceremony or such zeal; nay, for the sake of preaching the indulgences they are kept quiet.

” Even as Luther understands that salvation can only be achieved by accepting God and asking him for forgiveness, he still indicates that pious behavior and love are great elements of spirituality. In promoting the sale of indulgences, preachers have disregarded these tenants of spirituality and have instead shifted focus to the promotion of these indulgences. Luther’s argument is that in order to effectively sell the indulgences, preachers have adopted an approach to spirituality that emphasizes redemption through money, rather than piety and belief in God.

An even worse sin however is the willful disregard for the scripture. Luther writes, “Christ never taught that indulgences should be preached. How great then is the horror, how great the peril of a bishop, if he permits the Gospel to be kept quiet, and nothing but the noise of indulgences to be spread among his people!” Here it seems as if Luther is threatening the Bishop by insinuating that by continuing to allow the sale of indulgences, and ignoring the divine word of God, then the Lord will be particularly angered with them.

Even as Luther’s letter was sent to the archbishop it seems that its rhetorical strategy is geared towards a number of elements of society. Luther makes great effort to show respect to the archbishop, going as far to refer to himself as, “the dregs of humanity” and to ask that, “your Highness deign to cast an eye upon one speck of dust” Here Luther is clearly directing his letter towards the archbishop, attempting to endear himself to the upper level church clergy. Luther’s letter also takes on a broader rhetorical technique.

He offers specific examples where the scripture conflicts with the sale of indulgences; for instance, Luther writes, “the Apostle bids us always ‘work out our own salvation in fear and trembling.’” While these examples are directed towards the archbishop, they also have a universal quality that makes the letter important for all people. In conclusion, it’s clear that Martin Luther’s letter was an attempt to demonstrate the deleterious effect of continuing to promote the sale of indulgences.

By continuing the sale of indulgences, the Church is willfully misleading parishioners into a false understanding of salvation, and subsequently destroying a foundational element of Christian faith.