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Lutheranism flourished in much of northern Germany and Scandinavia, while Calvinism prevailed in the Lowlands and in Switzerland. Roman Catholicism, which dominated most of the rest of Europe and portions of the lands of the reformers, continued the consolidation begun in the Counter-Reformation.
The fundamental principles of Reformation orthodoxy prevailed in Lutheran lands. These tenets fostered adherence to Biblical rather than church authority, vigorous proclamation of the Gospel and faithful administration of the sacraments. Traditional liturgical worship now included active participation by the people. Support of a well-developed practice of church music that remained true to its historic repertoire was fostered. Education of children and young people continued to be important. Pietism, which minimized the importance of church worship and liturgy in favor of expressions of personal faith and individual devotion, began to penetrate Lutheran lands. The Reformed movement, begun by John Calvin, also influenced Lutheranism through its efforts to simplify liturgy and worship music. Hymn texts were rejected by the Calvinists in favor of Psalms for congregational singing. The importance of the mystical element in sacramental worship was diminished. Lutherans eventually adopted some of the Calvinist metrical Psalms for their own use.
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Lutheran
church leadership was in the hands of regional superintendents, who had
less authority than their counterparts, the Roman Catholic bishops, because
of anti-hierarchical attitudes engendered by the early Lutheran Reformers.
