Lutheran Puritanism? Adiaphora in Lutheran Orthodoxy and Possible Commonalities in Reformed Orthodoxy
American Theological Inquiry 2:1 (January 2009): 61–83
Daniel R. Hyde
Lutherans rejected rites that undermined justification by faith, sometimes sounding remarkably Puritan. This article explores adiaphora and Reformed common ground.
This article delves into the often-misunderstood Lutheran concept of adiaphora—“indifferent matters” in worship such as ceremonies and rituals—tracing its development from the Augsburg Confession through tumultuous controversies to the Formula of Concord.
Challenging simplistic caricatures, it highlights how Lutherans rejected rites that undermined justification by faith alone, sometimes adopting a "Puritan-esque" stance against Roman Catholic impositions, while retaining practices for peace and order.
Exploring historical polemics with Rome and Calvinists, the article uncovers surprising common ground between confessional Lutheran and Reformed orthodoxies, particularly in the free celebration of evangelical feast days like Christmas and Easter as expressions of Christian liberty rather than obligation.
This study fosters greater appreciation for Lutheran liturgics and bridges divides in Reformation theology for scholars and enthusiasts of church history and worship practices.
