What Were Indulgences and Why Were They Controversial?
How a doctrine of mercy became a scandal of money — and sparked a Reformation
Imagine being told that the punishment for your sins could be reduced — not just by confession or repentance, but by paying a fee. To many believers in medieval Europe, this sounded like a path to hope. But to others — especially a monk named Martin Luther — it sounded like spiritual abuse.
This is the controversy of indulgences: a practice that began with sincere intent, became corrupted by greed and power, and eventually ignited one of the most defining moments in church history — the Protestant Reformation.
What exactly were indulgences? Why did they cause such an uproar? And what can we learn from this crisis of conscience in the Church?
📜 The Story of Indulgences: From Mercy to Market
The Early Concept of Penance and Forgiveness
In early Christianity, penance was the sacramental process of repentance and restoration after sin. It involved:
- Contrition: true sorrow for sin
- Confession: verbal acknowledgment to a priest
- Satisfaction: works of penance (e.g., prayer, fasting, charity)
- Absolution: forgiveness declared by the priest
Though forgiveness was based on grace, the idea grew that sin carried temporal consequences — even after forgiveness. These had to be satisfied through acts of penance, in this life or in purgatory (a place of purification after death).
The Rise of Indulgences
By the 11th–12th centuries, the Church began offering indulgences — the remission of these temporal punishments — in exchange for spiritual acts, such as:
- Going on a Crusade
- Giving to the poor
- Pilgrimage to a holy site
Initially, indulgences were tied to acts of devotion and sacrifice, not money. The Church claimed the authority to do this based on the idea of the “Treasury of Merit” — a spiritual reservoir of the good works of Christ and the saints, which the pope could dispense for the benefit of sinners.
When Money Entered the Picture
Over time, indulgences became associated not with acts of mercy — but with financial payments to the Church.
By the 14th–15th centuries, indulgences were being sold to fund Church projects, including the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. This shift from spiritual discipline to financial transaction deeply troubled many — but it reached a tipping point in the 16th century.
🔥 The Breaking Point: Luther and the 95 Theses
Johann Tetzel and the Sale of Indulgences
In 1517, Johann Tetzel, a Dominican friar, was authorized to sell indulgences in German territories. His message was dramatic and effective:
“As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs.”
He assured buyers they could purchase relief from purgatory for themselves or their deceased loved ones — a message that veered dangerously into spiritual manipulation.
Martin Luther’s Response
Martin Luther, a German monk and theology professor, was outraged. He believed:
- Forgiveness was by grace through faith, not purchase (Eph. 2:8–9)
- No one could guarantee release from purgatory — only God could
- The selling of indulgences was corrupting the gospel and exploiting the poor
On October 31, 1517, Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg — a call for debate on indulgences and Church reform. The theses were written in Latin, but quickly translated and spread across Europe thanks to the printing press.
This act is now seen as the spark that lit the Protestant Reformation.
📖 Spiritual and Doctrinal Discernment: A Gospel Distorted
The Error of Pay-for-Pardon
Indulgences, in their corrupted form, promoted the idea that forgiveness could be bought. This directly contradicted the teaching of Christ and the apostles:
- “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive…” (1 John 1:9)
- “You were bought with a price” — but that price was Christ’s blood, not coins (1 Cor. 6:20)
The selling of indulgences was not just a bad practice — it was a doctrinal error that distorted the very heart of the gospel.
Misuse of Church Authority
The Church claimed that the pope could draw from the “treasury of merit” to apply forgiveness. But this raised serious theological questions:
- Can anyone but God remit sin and its punishment?
- Can the merits of others be transferred like spiritual currency?
- Does this undermine the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement?
Luther — and the Reformers after him — believed these teachings placed human tradition above Scripture.
Exploiting the Poor and Uneducated
Perhaps most troubling was how indulgences targeted the vulnerable:
- Many peasants, desperate for relief or terrified of purgatory, gave all they had
- Rather than teaching grace and assurance in Christ, they were sold false comfort
This was spiritual manipulation — cloaked in sacred language.
🔄 Lasting Impact: Indulgences and the Reformation
1. The Protestant Reformation
The controversy over indulgences didn’t stay theological — it became revolutionary. Luther’s protest led to:
- A break with Roman Catholicism
- The formation of new Protestant churches
- A renewed focus on Scripture as the sole authority (sola Scriptura)
- The recovery of justification by faith (sola fide)
Indulgences exposed the deeper rot of ecclesiastical corruption and drove believers back to the biblical gospel.
2. Council of Trent and Catholic Reform
In response, the Roman Catholic Church eventually reformed its indulgence practices at the Council of Trent (1545–1563):
- Selling indulgences was banned
- Doctrinal foundations were clarified (though still different from Protestant views)
- Greater pastoral care and accountability were emphasized
Thus, even within Catholicism, the indulgence scandal became a catalyst for internal reform.
3. Enduring Misunderstanding of Christianity
The indulgence controversy — and the Reformation divisions it spawned — left deep scars:
- Skeptics and critics began to view Christianity as corrupt or money-driven
- Non-Christians often misinterpret the gospel as “buying your way to heaven”
- Modern prosperity preaching sometimes echoes the same distortions: promising blessings in exchange for giving
The indulgence crisis reminds us: when the Church loses the gospel, the world loses trust in the Church.
🪞 Reflection: What Should We Learn or Repent Of?
Grace Cannot Be Sold — or Earned
The greatest truth rediscovered during the Reformation was that salvation is a free gift:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing…” (Ephesians 2:8)
We must guard the gospel from every attempt to turn grace into a transaction — whether through indulgences, legalism, or spiritual consumerism.
The Danger of Religious Exploitation
Whenever religious leaders use fear, guilt, or promises of favor to manipulate others into giving or obedience — the spirit of indulgences is alive again.
This calls for repentance, vigilance, and a renewed commitment to truth in love.
Scripture Over Tradition
Indulgences grew from traditions and theological developments not rooted in Scripture. The crisis exposed what happens when the Bible is eclipsed by ecclesiastical authority.
We must return to the Word — not just in theory, but in practice, preaching, and church life.
📣 Why This Still Matters: Walking in the Freedom of the Gospel
Indulgences may seem like a medieval relic — but the heart issue remains ever-relevant. The temptation to control grace, monetize faith, or bypass repentance is alive in every age.
Let the story of indulgences lead us back to the foot of the cross — where Christ paid the full price, once and for all. Let it humble us to remember that salvation is not for sale, and mercy cannot be earned.
And may the Church today never again trade its treasure — the pure gospel of grace — for silver or power.
“You were ransomed… not with silver or gold… but with the precious blood of Christ.” — 1 Peter 1:18–19