Which is the Greatest Commandment?

Everyone loves a good underdog story. Whether its 13 scrappy colonies seeking liberty from an oppressive monarchy an ocean away, Martin Luther challenging the incredibly powerful Catholic Church, or Rocky going a full 15 rounds with Apollo Creed, we love to hear about overcoming what seem to be insurmountable odds and sticking up for the little guy. Yet to often we let our love of stories obscure the details of history when they go against the narrative. Such is the case in the reformation.

To be sure, before the reformation the Catholic Church as a worldly institution was powerful and corrupt, labeling those who threatened their power as heretics and even having enough clout to bend empires to their will. Martin Luther and later other reformers, such as John Calvin, John Knox, and William Tyndale brought about an important religious change that would make it possible later for religious freedom. However, during sixteenth century protestants could be just as intolerant as their Catholic counterparts. Martin Luther, who called for religious tolerance also advocated for the persecution of Anabaptists (another Protestant sect that believed in adult baptism). Luther also persecuted Catholics and Jews. Said he:

Heretics are not to be disputed with, but to be condemned unheard, and whilst they perish by fire, the faithful ought to pursue the evil to its source, and bathe their hands in the blood of the Catholic bishops, and of the Pope, who is a devil in disguise.

John Calvin proved to be even less tolerant, declaring that blasphemy and heresy were punishable by death because they insulted God. He went as far as to say that those who didn't kill heretics and blasphemers were just as guilty and worthy of death. Other instances include the bitter persecution that took place in England as both Catholics and Protestants killed each other under various Kings and Queens. The later Puritan movement that fled to America seeking religious freedom, did not allow for other faiths and forced out people like Roger Williams, who would later establish Rhode Island.

In saying all of this I do not wish to put down the reformers or their sacrifices, but show that even good causes can be lead astray. Too often today we provide our own narrative of events instead of looking at arguments objectively, making it so that anyone who opposes our views must be mistaken at the very least and a malignant forces for evil at the worst. It can be hard to recognize our own faults, to truly give others respect and the ability to exercise their rights, and it is easy to get swept up in the waves of righteous fury. This is why we can never forget that we need to remember Jesus Christ's admonition to "Love the Lord thy God" and to "love thy neighbor as thyself."
Image credits: Martin Luther by Luchas Cranach the Elder 1529. This photograph is in the public domain.