Luther Contrasted with Jesus
Luther’s hyper-pessimistic
view stands in sharp contrast with Jesus’ teaching that people can honestly
discern and do the will of God: “Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will
know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own” (John
7:17). In fact, “whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and
mother” (Mark 3:25). Instead of calling people helpless sinners, Jesus says
they can “be children of the Most High," "can be merciful, just as your
Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35-36). How is it that so many people have accepted
Luther’s gloomy view, when Jesus says just the opposite?
The honest heart needs
to be rediscovered by Christians. For too long, many Christians have accepted
Luther’s cynicism, his rejection of even the possibility of someone
being a good person. Luther insists “the just man sins in every good work” but
Jesus says “The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good”
(Luke 6:45). And in case that isn’t clear enough, he says some people will “heart
the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear
fruit with patient endurance” (Luke 8:15).
How much clearer
could it be? We are to receive the word in an honest heart! Jesus is not
fantasizing. He is talking about the process of receiving truth and bearing spiritual
fruit. This is not the logic of substitutionary death or violent “payment” for
sin. Rather, it is the sensible process of people joyously receiving the life
and the guidance that their spiritual Parent generously offers.
If Jesus thought that
people were totally evil, why would he call himself the “Son of Man,”
identifying himself with “man”? Why would he say “Blessed are the pure in heart”
(Matt 5:8) if he thought no one was pure in heart? Jesus shows us the
best of what a human being can be, affirming the possibility of sincere and
honest relationship with the heavenly Father. He exhorts us to “hunger
and thirst for righteousness” (Matt 5:6). Obviously, then, people really can
hunger for what is right. This contradicts the notion that people are
wholly depraved, a doctrine that leads to religious bullying and the shaming of
children. Christianity has been damaged—people have been damaged—by the
cruel teaching and parenting that results from this shame-based theology. It is
time to outgrow the anti-humanitarian attitude that has poisoned Christianity.
Luther’s extreme
cynicism is simply irreconcilable with Jesus’ positive teachings. On this
point, believers need to choose between Jesus and Luther. Whom do you believe? (Stephen
Finlan, Salvation Not Purchased: Overcoming the Ransom Idea to Rediscover the
Original Gospel Teaching [Eugene, Oreg.: Cascade Books, 2020], 58-59)
