Luther's and Calvin's reforming insights
             The early 1500's was a time of radical protest within the Church. The search for truth and the desire to escape the corruption of the popes and priests lead to the reformation movement. Luther and Calvin were two of the main reformers. We will concentrate on these two reformers because of their impact on Protestant churches.
             While both Luther and Calvin desired radical change in the church, their theology and personal experiences gave rise to different approaches. They agreed that the church was a Christian church but that it was in need of reform. Luther felt that reform should take place from within the church itself. He initially had no desire to leave the established church but only to reform it from within. Calvin on the other hand saw the existing church to be so corrupt that another church had to be established. Calvin cited two great ecclesiological maxims of Cyprian of Carthage: 'You cannot have God as your father unless you have the church for your mother', and 'Outside the church there is no hope of remission of sins nor any salvation'. (page 213) Calvin's church would be one of order and structure. His system of government for the church was the Consistory. Calvin was concerned with the policing of religious orthodoxy. Calvinist groups were designed to be strong and well disciplined to withstand the hostilities from outside forces. Luther's stance of the priesthood of all believers put all baptized Christians on the same level. Therefore the authority of the priests and the pope was diminished. There was no need for their authority. He saw that the office and function of the believers differed but that each believer had direct access to God.
             Luther's main tenet was that we are justified by faith alone and that our salvation was grounded in the faithfulness of God to God's promise of mercy. (page 129) Luthe...