Brian M. SandiferBrian M. Sandifer 11

The English Act of Supremacy The English Act of Supremacy (1534)(1534)

Turning Point 8Turning Point 8Decisive Moments in the History of ChristianityDecisive Moments in the History of Christianity

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Turning PointsTurning Pointsin Christian Historyin Christian History

1.1. Fall of Jerusalem (70)Fall of Jerusalem (70)

2.2. Council of Nicaea (325)Council of Nicaea (325)

3.3. Council of Chalcedon Council of Chalcedon (451)(451)

4.4. Benedict’s Rule (530)Benedict’s Rule (530)

5.5. Coronation of Coronation of Charlemagne (800)Charlemagne (800)

6.6. Great Schism (1054)Great Schism (1054)

7.7. Diet of Worms (1521)Diet of Worms (1521)

8.8. English Act of English Act of Supremacy (1534)Supremacy (1534)

9.9. Founding of Jesuits Founding of Jesuits (1540)(1540)

10.10. Conversion of Wesleys Conversion of Wesleys (1738)(1738)

11.11. French Revolution (1789)French Revolution (1789)

12.12. Edinburgh Missionary Edinburgh Missionary Conference (1910)Conference (1910)

33

The Characters in the The Characters in the StoryStory

Henry VIII, King of EnglandHenry VIII, King of England Catherine of Aragon, Queen of EnglandCatherine of Aragon, Queen of England Anne Boleyn, Henry’s mistressAnne Boleyn, Henry’s mistress Charles V, Holy Roman EmperorCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor Pope Clement, Bishop of RomePope Clement, Bishop of Rome Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of

CanterburyCanterbury

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Henry VIIIHenry VIII King of EnglandKing of England Without a male heirWithout a male heir

In pre-Elizabethan England this was In pre-Elizabethan England this was unacceptableunacceptable

His wife, Catherine of Aragon, had His wife, Catherine of Aragon, had not birthed a son in 23 years of not birthed a son in 23 years of marriagemarriage

Wanted a new wife to give him a Wanted a new wife to give him a son and heir to the throneson and heir to the throne

In 1532 his mistress Anne Boleyn In 1532 his mistress Anne Boleyn became pregnantbecame pregnant

Hence he needed permission from Hence he needed permission from the Pope to divorce his wife the Pope to divorce his wife Catherine so he could marry Anne Catherine so he could marry Anne BoleynBoleyn

55

Henry’s DilemmaHenry’s Dilemma

Pope Clement relied on Charles V for Pope Clement relied on Charles V for political supportpolitical support

Charles V’s aunt was Catherine of AragonCharles V’s aunt was Catherine of Aragon

Pope Clement VII Emperor Charles VCatherine of Aragon

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No Catholic DivorceNo Catholic Divorce

Charles V would not have his aunt’s Charles V would not have his aunt’s honor violated by a divorcehonor violated by a divorce

So long as the pope owed his political So long as the pope owed his political security to Charles V, he could not security to Charles V, he could not permit Henry to divorce Catherinepermit Henry to divorce Catherine

But what if Henry could secure a But what if Henry could secure a “Christian” divorce apart from the “Christian” divorce apart from the Roman Catholic church?Roman Catholic church?

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Birth of the Church of Birth of the Church of EnglandEngland

Henry VIII called upon Thomas Cranmer to Henry VIII called upon Thomas Cranmer to grant him a divorce from Catherinegrant him a divorce from Catherine

Cranmer was willing, thus Henry broke the Cranmer was willing, thus Henry broke the English Church away from the “universal” English Church away from the “universal” Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church

Henry VIII claimed himself (as king of Henry VIII claimed himself (as king of England) as head of the Church of EnglandEngland) as head of the Church of England

England’s Parliament and ecclesiastical England’s Parliament and ecclesiastical courts supported this break from Rome courts supported this break from Rome and the popeand the pope

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The English Act of The English Act of Supremacy Supremacy

“…“…be it enacted by authority of this be it enacted by authority of this present Parliament, that the King our present Parliament, that the King our Sovereign Lord, his heirs and Sovereign Lord, his heirs and successors, kings of this realm, shall successors, kings of this realm, shall be taken, accepted, and reputed the be taken, accepted, and reputed the only Supreme Head on earth of the only Supreme Head on earth of the Church of England, called Church of England, called Anglicana Anglicana EcclesiaEcclesia;;…”…”

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The English Act of The English Act of Supremacy Supremacy

“…“…and shall have and enjoy, annexed and shall have and enjoy, annexed and united to the imperial crown of and united to the imperial crown of this realm, as well the style and title this realm, as well the style and title thereof, as all honours, dignities, pre-thereof, as all honours, dignities, pre-eminences, jurisdictions, privileges, eminences, jurisdictions, privileges, authorities, immunities, profits, and authorities, immunities, profits, and commodities, to the said dignity of commodities, to the said dignity of Supreme Head of the same Church Supreme Head of the same Church belonging and appertaining…belonging and appertaining…””

1010

Why So Important?Why So Important?

Had a general effect on Christendom Had a general effect on Christendom only because it had a particular only because it had a particular effect on Englandeffect on England

Illustrates a powerful new trend in Illustrates a powerful new trend in European Christianity in the 2European Christianity in the 2ndnd phase of the Reformationphase of the Reformation Rise of self-consciously local, particular, Rise of self-consciously local, particular,

and national forms of Christianityand national forms of Christianity

1111

Contemporary Religious Contemporary Religious LandscapeLandscape

More and more European regions More and more European regions were setting up their own distinct were setting up their own distinct forms of the Christian faithforms of the Christian faith

Not promoting toleration or religious Not promoting toleration or religious pluralism in a modern sense, but pluralism in a modern sense, but were establishing small-scale were establishing small-scale alternatives to the universal Catholic alternatives to the universal Catholic ChurchChurch

Development forever changed the Development forever changed the face of Christianity in the Westface of Christianity in the West

1212

Questions for Questions for DiscussionDiscussion

What new basis of authority within What new basis of authority within European Christianity was European Christianity was established with the Act of established with the Act of Supremacy (1534)?Supremacy (1534)?

What kinds of effects have state What kinds of effects have state churches had on spiritual health? On churches had on spiritual health? On doctrine?doctrine?

1313

Forces Leading to the Breakup Forces Leading to the Breakup of the Western Churchof the Western Church

RegionalismRegionalism NationalismNationalism Tumultuous new Tumultuous new

patterns in patterns in economic and social economic and social lifelife

Broad intellectual Broad intellectual upheavalupheaval

Protestantism acted as an accelerator for these Protestantism acted as an accelerator for these forces or developments that were already well forces or developments that were already well underway by 1517underway by 1517

1414

Regional Political Regional Political BackgroundBackground

Protestantism required local rulers and urban Protestantism required local rulers and urban councils with the ability to act self-confidently councils with the ability to act self-confidently and with a fair measure of independenceand with a fair measure of independence

Henry’s father (Henry VII) ended the War of Henry’s father (Henry VII) ended the War of the Roses thus extracting England from the Roses thus extracting England from foreign entanglementsforeign entanglements

Henry VII’s reign pacified rivals in the nobility Henry VII’s reign pacified rivals in the nobility class and secured a firm line of succession for class and secured a firm line of succession for the House of Tudorthe House of Tudor

Henry VII

1515

Nationalism Nationalism BackgroundBackground

Increased concentrations of power around Increased concentrations of power around a central monarchial housea central monarchial house Spain: Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Spain: Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of

CastileCastile Subduing Moors of Muslim GrenadaSubduing Moors of Muslim Grenada Sponsoring Columbus’s explorations to the new worldSponsoring Columbus’s explorations to the new world

France: expanding authorityFrance: expanding authority Strengthening confidence of many German Strengthening confidence of many German

duchies, principalities, electorates, and duchies, principalities, electorates, and imperial citiesimperial cities

Assertions of local autonomy in some Assertions of local autonomy in some eastern European regionseastern European regions

Growing tensions between local rulers and Growing tensions between local rulers and RCC emissariesRCC emissaries

1616

Economic BackgroundEconomic Background

Economic recovery since the Black Death of Economic recovery since the Black Death of the mid-14the mid-14thth century century

Money was increasingly a point of friction Money was increasingly a point of friction between the RC church and European between the RC church and European countriescountries Conditions in England and Germany led to Conditions in England and Germany led to

ProtestantismProtestantism Conditions in Italian city-states led to perpetual Conditions in Italian city-states led to perpetual

church-state squabbles while remaining Catholicchurch-state squabbles while remaining Catholic Apart from Protestant theology, economic Apart from Protestant theology, economic

recovery created new centers of financial recovery created new centers of financial power, new situations for potential friction, power, new situations for potential friction, and new opportunities for fiscal resentmentand new opportunities for fiscal resentment

1717

Social BackgroundSocial Background

Monarchs began aligning themselves with the Monarchs began aligning themselves with the urban wealthy to counteract the power of urban wealthy to counteract the power of landed nobilitylanded nobility

Cities were increasingly socially volatile with Cities were increasingly socially volatile with the emergence of a new class consisting of the emergence of a new class consisting of merchants, lawyers, and master craftsmenmerchants, lawyers, and master craftsmen

Medieval serfdom became extinctMedieval serfdom became extinct All levels of ecclesiastical authority were All levels of ecclesiastical authority were

forced to renegotiate the honored social forced to renegotiate the honored social status that had existed as the fabric of status that had existed as the fabric of society for centuriessociety for centuries

1818

Intellectual BackgroundIntellectual Background

Printing press increased pace of Printing press increased pace of exchange of ideasexchange of ideas

Spread of the Renaissance from Spread of the Renaissance from Southern to Northern EuropeSouthern to Northern Europe

Increasing desire to return to ancient Increasing desire to return to ancient learning (pre-medieval thought): learning (pre-medieval thought): ad ad fontesfontes Latin and GreekLatin and Greek Pagan and ChristianPagan and Christian The BibleThe Bible

1919

Questions for Questions for DiscussionDiscussion

Why might a person conclude that Why might a person conclude that the Reformation was simply a result the Reformation was simply a result of political, social, and intellectual of political, social, and intellectual causes?causes?

Why should we be wary of this Why should we be wary of this approach?approach?

2020

Don’t Make These Don’t Make These Mistakes!Mistakes!

1.1. Interpret the dynamic cultural activity that Interpret the dynamic cultural activity that accelerated throughout 15accelerated throughout 15thth century Europe as a century Europe as a mere anticipation of the Reformationmere anticipation of the Reformation Some developments would fit the ReformationSome developments would fit the Reformation Some developments would fit the Counter-ReformationSome developments would fit the Counter-Reformation Some developments would fit secularismSome developments would fit secularism

2.2. Interpret the motives of powerful leaders who Interpret the motives of powerful leaders who became Protestants as grabs at the land and became Protestants as grabs at the land and influence of the RC churchinfluence of the RC church Both Protestants and Catholics explained their Both Protestants and Catholics explained their

differences in religious termsdifferences in religious terms Prots abandoned the RC church to pursue the way of Prots abandoned the RC church to pursue the way of

salvationsalvation Caths strengthen the church to combat the spiritual Caths strengthen the church to combat the spiritual

chaos caused by Protschaos caused by Prots

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Crises in the ChurchCrises in the Church

Avignon Papacy (Babylonian Captivity of the Avignon Papacy (Babylonian Captivity of the Church)Church) Administrative improvement; spiritual regressAdministrative improvement; spiritual regress

Great Schism & the antipopesGreat Schism & the antipopes Spiritual renewal occurring in monasteries did not Spiritual renewal occurring in monasteries did not

migrate well to churches or papacymigrate well to churches or papacy Increasing preoccupation with international Increasing preoccupation with international

politicspolitics Persistent fascination with temporal advantage Persistent fascination with temporal advantage

and dynastic influenceand dynastic influence Persistent inattention to most basic questions of Persistent inattention to most basic questions of

the Christian lifethe Christian life What must I do to be saved?What must I do to be saved? Where can I find secure religious authority?Where can I find secure religious authority? How should the church’s spiritual interests be balanced How should the church’s spiritual interests be balanced

by the need to live in the world?by the need to live in the world?

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Protestant Answers to Protestant Answers to Basic QuestionsBasic Questions

1.1. What must I do to be saved?What must I do to be saved? Trust by faith in the free grace of God active for Trust by faith in the free grace of God active for

the justification of sinners in the work of Jesus the justification of sinners in the work of Jesus ChristChrist

2.2. Where can I find secure religious authority?Where can I find secure religious authority? The Bible is the sole final authority worthy of The Bible is the sole final authority worthy of

implicit trustimplicit trust3.3. How should the church’s spiritual interests How should the church’s spiritual interests

be balanced by the need to live in the world?be balanced by the need to live in the world? The Church is fundamentally a fellowship of The Church is fundamentally a fellowship of

priests, with all believers being called to seek God priests, with all believers being called to seek God through the mediation of Christ, with all believers through the mediation of Christ, with all believers called to act as Christ’s agents in the worldcalled to act as Christ’s agents in the world

The Church is a spiritual democracy (with certain The Church is a spiritual democracy (with certain restrictions on who may preach and administer restrictions on who may preach and administer the sacraments)the sacraments)

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ProtestantismsProtestantisms

By 1540 hope faded for general reform in By 1540 hope faded for general reform in the entire churchthe entire church

Protestant leaders suddenly recognized the Protestant leaders suddenly recognized the existence of separate Protestant churches existence of separate Protestant churches in separate parts of Europein separate parts of Europe

Protestant churches were also separated by Protestant churches were also separated by subtle yet important theological differences subtle yet important theological differences that no one had noticed during the early that no one had noticed during the early years of attempting to reform the RC churchyears of attempting to reform the RC church

Lutheran Presbyterian

Anglican Anabaptist

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Different ProtestantismsDifferent Protestantisms

Differentiated by:Differentiated by: Degree of support received from secular Degree of support received from secular

authoritiesauthorities Erastianism on the “far right” (state controls Erastianism on the “far right” (state controls

the pace of reform)the pace of reform) Lutheranism/Reformed in the “middle” Lutheranism/Reformed in the “middle”

(Church is autonomous but supported by the (Church is autonomous but supported by the state)state)

Anabaptism on the “far left” (rejected almost Anabaptism on the “far left” (rejected almost all church-state links)all church-state links)

Christian doctrine and practiceChristian doctrine and practice

2525

Protestant Doctrinal Protestant Doctrinal DifferencesDifferences

Lutheran and Reformed doctrine of the Lutheran and Reformed doctrine of the Lord’s supperLord’s supper Consubstantiation (Lutheran) vs. memorial or Consubstantiation (Lutheran) vs. memorial or

spiritual presence (Reformed)spiritual presence (Reformed) Scripture AloneScripture Alone

Is Scripture strictly speaking the only authority?Is Scripture strictly speaking the only authority? Yes (Reformed and Anabaptists)Yes (Reformed and Anabaptists) No (Lutherans)No (Lutherans)

If Scripture is ultimate authority, how should it If Scripture is ultimate authority, how should it be interpreted?be interpreted?

Follow the broad themes of the gospel (Lutheran, Follow the broad themes of the gospel (Lutheran, Anglican)Anglican)

Follow NT commands literally, imitate the life of Follow NT commands literally, imitate the life of Christ, read the OT symbolically (Anabaptist)Christ, read the OT symbolically (Anabaptist)

Follow Bible as a whole, especially tracing the Follow Bible as a whole, especially tracing the covenant through to NT realities like God covenanting covenant through to NT realities like God covenanting with individuals, churches, nations (Reformed)with individuals, churches, nations (Reformed)

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Why Doctrine Divided Why Doctrine Divided ProtestantsProtestants

Protestants discovered their differences of Protestants discovered their differences of scriptural interpretation affected teaching on scriptural interpretation affected teaching on almost every major Protestant issuealmost every major Protestant issue Meaning of sacramentsMeaning of sacraments Who properly receives the sacramentsWho properly receives the sacraments What is required to have sins forgiven after What is required to have sins forgiven after

baptismbaptism What is proper kind of church musicWhat is proper kind of church music Proper for Christians to serve in military or secular Proper for Christians to serve in military or secular

gov’tgov’t How local and regional churches should be How local and regional churches should be

organizedorganized Whether RC mass should be modified or discardedWhether RC mass should be modified or discarded Whether to promote education in the traditional Whether to promote education in the traditional

liberal artsliberal arts

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Paradox of Paradox of ProtestantismsProtestantisms

Created conditions in which local renewal of Created conditions in which local renewal of the faith could take place more readily and the faith could take place more readily and stir hearts more deeply than in the Catholic stir hearts more deeply than in the Catholic regions of Europeregions of Europe

Created conditions that hastened the Created conditions that hastened the secularization of Europe, because without a secularization of Europe, because without a universal church people were indirectly or universal church people were indirectly or directly encouraged to disregard all traditional directly encouraged to disregard all traditional authority and to think and act on their ownauthority and to think and act on their own

RC church’s recommitment to the universality RC church’s recommitment to the universality of the church created conditions for of the church created conditions for preserving traditional European respect for preserving traditional European respect for religious authority, the revelation of God religious authority, the revelation of God found in Scriptures, and Christian tradition found in Scriptures, and Christian tradition itselfitself

2828

Application for Today’s Application for Today’s ChurchChurch

What were the primary issues that What were the primary issues that tended to differentiate one brand of tended to differentiate one brand of Protestantism from another?Protestantism from another?

Do these issues still divide Do these issues still divide denominations today, or have they denominations today, or have they been replaced by other points of been replaced by other points of distinction?distinction?

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Henry VIII’s MarriagesHenry VIII’s Marriages

A little advice Henry: “Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth” (Prov 5:18).