Luther and adoration of the sacrament

Volume 36 of Luther’s Works, American Edition, contains Martin Luther’s writing on “The Adoration of the Sacrament” (pages 275-305). The writing is from April 1523.

The writing was occasioned by several factors. One was that people were misrepresenting Luther’s views on the Lord’s Supper in a previous work, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church. Another factor was that Luther was in contact with the Bohemian Brethren, who rejected the adoration.

As you might expect, Luther appealed to Christian freedom in this area. “We say now that one should not condemn people or accuse them of heresy if they do not adore the sacrament, for there is no command to that effect and it is not for that purpose that Christ is present. Just as we read that the apostles did not adore the sacrament since they were sitting and eating at table. On the other hand, one should not condemn and accuse of heresy people who do adore the sacrament. For although Christ has not commanded it, neither has he forbidden it, but often accepted it [that is, he accepted it when people bowed to him]. Free, free it must be, according as one is disposed in his heart and has opportunity.”

When Luther wrote about freedom like this, he was speaking of what actions Christians might make during their reception of the Lord’s Supper. What Luther rejected was the adoration of the sacrament outside the distribution and reception of the Lord’s Supper—as in Corpus Christi processions.

While Luther acknowledged Christian freedom in how communicants might acknowledge the Lord’s presence in the sacrament, he was concerned that people’s actions might detract from the Lord’s actions in the sacrament: offering forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. That is why he wrote: “Nevertheless, you can see that adoration of this sacrament is a dangerous procedure if the Word and faith are not inculcated; so much so that I really think it would be better to follow the example of the apostles and not worship, than to follow our custom and worship. Not that adoration is wrong, but simply because there is less danger in not adoring than in adoring; because human nature tends so easily to emphasize its own works and to neglect God’s work, and the sacrament will not admit of that…the thing that we emphasize as of the utmost importance is faith in the words of the sacrament.”

As is the case with other topics, we regard Martin Luther’s comments and thoughts on this subject as insightful, but Scripture alone is the source of our faith. I add that thought since you indicated you are not affiliated with a Lutheran church.