HKB
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Often appears with: withholding communion · vows versus baptism · unity of the church · the position of women · rejection of ceremonies · priestly marriage · ordination and call · monastic and ascetic life · manifest obstinate sinners · justification by faith · grace and mercy · good works as evidence
Usually: argument (1) · censure (1) · indignation (1)
“But the lesser, that is, the true Christian excommunication, consists in this, that manifest and obstinate sinners are not admitted to the Sacrament and other communion of the Church until they amend their lives and avoid sin.” Martin Luther, The Smalcald Articles · insight
“To prohibit marriage, and to burden the divine order of priests with perpetual celibacy, they have had neither authority nor right but have acted like antichristian, tyrannical, desperate scoundrels and have thereby caused all kinds of horrible, abominable, innumerable sins of unchastity.” Martin Luther, The Smalcald Articles · observation
“We do not concede to them that they are the Church, and [in truth] they are not [the Church]; nor will we listen to those things which, under the name of Church, they enjoin or forbid.” Martin Luther, The Smalcald Articles · insight
He says monastic vows must be abolished because they deny Christ by seeking a holier life and heaven by human works, and he calls claims of equality with baptism blasphemy.
IX. Of Excommunication. The greater excommunication, as the Pope calls it, we regard only as a civil penalty, and it does not concern us ministers of the Church. But the lesser, that is, the true Christian excommunication, consists in this, that manifest and obstinate sinners are not admitted to the Sacrament and other communion of the Church until they amend their lives and avoid sin. And ministers ought not to min…