[Apologetics] Re: Re: Three Anti-Social Doctrines of Luther

[Stuart D. Gathman]

On Thu, 12 Aug 2004, Art Kelly wrote:

> I don't believe you can squirm out of Luther's
> meaning: It is OK to commit all the UNrepentant mortal
> sins you want. Through "faith," no obedience to the
> Commandments or love of neighbor is necessary.

*You* are reading in the "UNrepentant" meaning.  You need
to be very careful before saying that your sins can
be so great that you are beyond salvation.  I believe
this is against Catholic doctrine.  All Luther is saying,
in a way that is immediately obvious to Protestants, and
does not require any stretching as it does for Catholics,
is that Grace through living faith can overcome any sin
or sins, no matter how heinous.

> If my interpretation is wrong--and I think you know
> very well that it is essentially correct--then please
> produce some evidence that Luther understood that love
> of neighor and acts of charity are an absolutely
> immutable part of "faith."

The writer of the article himself provides the evidence:
"Although Luther contradicts himself in other writings, you can't
get any clearer than this."  A good many of these "contradictions"
are Catholics insisting on reading in the "demons also believe" 
concept of faith to Luthers statements, rather than the
"by Grace are ye saved through faith, not of works" concept
that Luther (obviously to Protestants) intended.  That fact
that Luther did not like James should give you a clue that
that is not the concept of "faith" he has in mind.

-- 
	      Stuart D. Gathman <stuart at bmsi.com>
    Business Management Systems Inc.  Phone: 703 591-0911 Fax: 703 591-6154
"Confutatis maledictis, flamis acribus addictis" - background song for
a Microsoft sponsored "Where do you want to go from here?" commercial.