What is Freedom? Martin Luther
Quick Write: What, according to Martin Luther, is the “freedom of a Christian”?
Introductory Lecture to Martin Luther
SGD of Discussion Questions
Some Key Concepts in “On the Freedom of a Christian”
Where We Are in the Course
Plato’s Trial & Death of Socrates: in these dialogues we encountered many ideas
and questions that speak directly to our central concept in this course: FREEDOM.
The Apology: in the Apology, we were confronted with Socrates’ great
defense of the philosophical life, which he presented as a life that is liberated
from the false gods of wealth, power, and mere opinion.
The Crito: in the Crito, we pondered the question of whether or not we
should feel free to disobey the law (especially when it seems to be unjust).
The Phaedo: in the Phaedo, Plato offers us a strong case against the Body –
the human body, he argued, is like a prison and we can only live well if we do
our best to liberate ourselves from the fetters/obstacles/hindrances of the
body.
Funeral Oration & the Discourses: in both the funeral oration of pericles and
Mahciavelli’s Discourses, we were invited to ask ourselves questions about freedom
that differed significantly from Plato’s questions:
What does it mean to live in a “free state”?
What are the virtues of a good citizen in a free state?
What sorts of norms, laws, and institutions are supportive of freedom?
While Plato encouraged us to think through some major philosophical questions
about freedom and Machiavelli asked us to think through some of the major
political questions, MARTIN LUTHER will require us to consider some
theological questions.
1 Who Was Martin Luther?
Born in Northern Germany in 1483 (Died in 1546)
His Family was working class and his parents were devoted to his education.
University: at 19, he went to the University of Erfurt, which he later described as a
“beerhouse and a whorehouse,” and in accordance with Dad’s wishes, he went to
Law School after graduating in 1505.
Dropped Out of Law School almost immediately – later explained that he did so in
part because he was not satisfied that he had found his calling and in part because of
a THUNDERSTORM. When he was returning to Erfurt from a visit to his family in
July of 1505, he was caught in a violent thunderstorm. When a bolt of lightning
knocked him to the ground and nearly took his life, Luther cried to the patron saint
of miners: “St. Anne, help! I will become a monk!”
Enters the Monastery: approximately 2 weeks later, he entered the Augustinian
monastery in Erfurt, where he devoted himself to a life of fasting, prayer,
pilgrimage and frequent confession.
Ordained for the Priesthood: he was ordained for the priesthood in 1507 and he
was soon hired to teach theology at the newly founded University of Wittenberg
(where he would also be able to continue his theological studies).
Joins the Faculty: in 1512, he was accepted onto the faculty at UW in the position
of Doctor of the Bible, a position he would retain for the rest of his career.
PERIOD OF DESPAIR
Luther described this early period in his theological life (1505-1513) as one of
DEEP DESPAIR.
Why?
2 Works Righteousness: Luther was troubled by a church doctrine he called “Works
Righteousness,” the basic idea of which was that one could only achieve salvation
by way of a life of righteousness through good works (among other things). By
“good works,” he had in mind both self-regarding activities such as prayer, fasting,
etc. and also one’s relationships to other people.
By being a righteous person, this doctrine taught, one could earn God’s grace and
achieve salvation.
TERRIFIED CONSCIENCE
This doctrine absolutely terrified young Luther – indeed, he would later argue that
the doctrine of works righteousness inevitably leads to a state he described as the
TERRIFIED, or TORTURED, CONSCIENCE.
This doctrine tortured and terrified him because he knew through
INTROSPECTION that he was not – and could never be – Righteous – no matter
how much he prayed, fasted, and how well he behaved, he knew that he was
inescapably SINFUL.
This led him to AGONIZE over the Fate of his Soul and it led him through a
VICIOUS CYCLE OF HATRED – of himself…of God.
2 Images of the Agonizing Luther
1) Luther on the Toilet: Luther suffered from terrible constipation – one image
that was made famous by the psychoanalyst Eric Ericson was of Young
Luther agonizing on the toilet – so much inside he could get out!
2) In the Confessional with Von Staupitz: young Luther would spend hours
and hours confessing his sins to his priest-mentor Von Staupitz – revealing
every thought he had that seemed to him to be sinful.
Luther Recognized that he was more Introspective than Most: Luther
recognized that most people were far more SMUG than he and didn’t agonize
nearly so much – consider the implications? What are their chances of earning
salvation through righteousness?
3 Luther was Longing for LIBERATION from the Cycle of Hatred into a Loving
Relationship with God (Filial, not Slavish, LOVE).
ENTER THE INDULGENCES
So imagine this sort of guy agonizing over the fate of his soul while the Catholic
Church – the most powerful institution in the world at the time – is engaged in the
sale of indulgences.
What were INDULGENCES?
According to the Church Catechism of 1471, indulgences were “a remission before
God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven,
which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed
conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption,
dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of satisfactions of Christ and the
Saints.”
WHAT DOES THAT Mean?
Indulgences were meant to get people out of purgatory – not Hell
The Ideas is this: most people who are righteous enough to be saved do just enough
to merit it and most of us are not righteous enough to merit it, BUT there have been
some people throughout history – namely Jesus Christ and the Saints – who did way
more than enough to merit salvation. In other words, there is a surplus of MERIT.
Church as Merit Bank: the Church is charged with the task of keeping all of that
merit (in a bank as it were) and dispensing it as it sees fit.
Late Medieval Practice: well, the late medieval Church saw fit to dispense this
merit through the SALE of Indulgences (although the practice was pretty old) what
was fairly new was the idea of selling indulgences in order to meet special Church
financial goals (e.g. the renovation of Saint Peter’s Basilica). IT WAS LIKE A
BAKE SALE!
4 Sliding Scale of Costs for Indulgences
Sample Indulgence Sermon
The Text of a Sermon on Indulgences
by Johann Tetzel
What are you thinking about? Why do you hesitate to convert yourself? Why don't
you have fears about your sins? Why don't you confess now to the vicars of our
Most Holy Pope? Don't you have the example of Lawrence, who, compelled by the
love of God, gave away his inheritance and suffered his body to be burned? Why do
you not take the example of Bartholomew, Stephen, and of other saints who gladly
suffered the most gruesome deaths for the sake and salvation of their souls? You,
however, do not give up great treasures; indeed you give not even a moderate alms.
They gave their bodies to be martyred, but you delight in living well and joyfully.
You priest, nobleman, merchant, wife, virgin, you married people, young person,
old man, enter into your church which is for you, as I have said, St. Peter's, and visit
the most holy Cross. It has been placed there for you, and it always cries and calls
for you. Are you perhaps ashamed to visit the Cross with a candle and yet not
ashamed to visit a tavern? Are you ashamed to go to the apostolic confessors, but
not ashamed to go to a dance? Behold, you are on the raging sea of the world in
storm and danger, not knowing if you will safely reach the harbor of salvation. Do
you not know that everything which man has hangs on a thin thread and that all of
life is but a struggle on earth? Let us then fight, as did Lawrence and the other
saints, for the day it is well, but ill tomorrow. Today alive and tomorrow dead.
You should know that all who confess and in penance put alms into the coffer
according to the counsel of the confessor, will obtain complete remission of all their
sins. If they visit, after confession and after the Jubilee, the Cross and the altar
every day they will receive that indulgence which would be theirs upon visiting in
St. Peter's the seven altars, where complete indulgence is offered. Why are you then
standing there? Run for the salvation of your souls! Be as careful and concerned for
the salvation of your souls as you are for your temporal goods, which you seek both
day and night. Seek the Lord while he may be found and while he is near. Work, as
St. John says, while it it yet day, for the night comes when no man can work.
Don't you hear the voices of your wailing dead parents and others who say, 'Have
mercy upon me, have mercy upon me, because we are in severe punishment and
pain. From this you could redeem us with a small alms and yet you do not want to
do so.' Open your ears as the father says to the son and the mother to the daughter . .
5 ., 'We have created you, fed you, cared for you, and left you our temporal goods.
Why then are you so cruel and harsh that you do not want to save us, though it only
takes a little? You let us lie in flames so that we only slowly come to the promised
glory.' You may have letters which let you have, once in life and in the hour of
death . . . full remission of the punishment which belongs to sin. Oh, those of you
with vows, you usurers, robbers, murderers, and criminals - Now is the time to hear
the voice of God. He does not want the death of the sinner, but that he be converted
and live. Convert yourselves then, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, to the Lord, thy God. Oh,
you blasphemers, gossippers, who hinder this work openly or secretly, what about
your affairs? You are outside the fellowship of the Church. No masses, no sermons,
prayers, sacraments, or intercession help you. No field, vineyard, trees, or cattle
bring fruit or wine for you. Even spiritual things vanish, as many an illustration
could point out. Convert yourself with all you heart and use the medicine of which
the Book of Wisdom says, 'The Most High has made medicine out of the earth and
a wise man will not reject it.'
Luther and Others Object
Luther raised objections to this practice and on October 31st, 1517, he mailed a
letter to his Bishop expressing his concerns AND he famously posted his 95 Theses
on Indulgences on the Church Door at Wittenberg, where he was a professor.
Written in Latin for the Purpose of Debate: 95 theses were written in Latin
and addressed to the other professors @ the University. Luther posted them in
order to initiate a scholarly debate on his campus.
Unintended Consequences? Well, of course he ended up doing much more
than this.
Translated into German: Within a few months, the 95 theses were translated
into German and with the help of a fairly new invention – Johann
Gutenberg’s Printing Press – the theses were widely disseminated
Spread throughout Europe: within a year, Luther’s writings were being
circulated throughout Europe and people were traveling to Wittenberg to hear
from Luther.
6 REACTION OF ROME
Initial Reaction: a copy of the theses had been forwarded to Pope Leo X, and
initially there was little reaction, apparently because the powers that be did not
believe the matter was too serious.
Popular Interest in Luther’s Ideas Changed That: when word spread that
Luther’s ideas were being more widely circulated and gaining some popularity, the
pope and other Church brass were none too pleased with “this monk.”
Papal Ban & Investigation: the Pope attempted to ban Luther’s writings and he
appointed several theologians to challenge Luther and they drafted a HERESY case
against him and summoned him to Rome.
Luther Refuses & Further Challenges Pope’s Authority: Luther refuses to go to
Rome and he proclaimed that the papacy had no ultimate power with respect to a
man’s relation to God.
The Elector Frederick (the ruler in the territory where Frederick lived)
brokered a deal that would allow Luther to respond to the HERESY Charge in
Germany.
After Some Back & Forth, Luther finally appears before a Council in the City
of Worms and he is called on to RECANT.
Luther Refused to Recant, famously saying… “Unless I am convinced by
Scripture and plain reason – I do not accept the authority of the Popes and
councils…my conscience is captive to the word of God. I cannot and I will not
recant anything for to go against my conscience is neither right nor safe. God help
me. Amen.”
Shouting Match Ensued.. this meeting with papal authorities descended into a
shouting match and ended up calling the pope the ANTICHRIST.
The Pope Sent Luther an Edict Threatening Excommunication unless he
recanted and Luther responded by publicly bringing the Edict and sending the
Pope a Copy of On the Freedom of a Christian.
7 Taken into Protective Custody: Luther was taken into protective custody by
German officials and kept at Wartburg Castle where he would be safe from attack
by supporters of the Pope.
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION OF THE DQs
Martin Luther’s Freedom of a Christian - Key Concepts
Framing of the Book: “a little book” that represents Luther’s explanation of “the
entire sum of Christian life.”
The Paradox of Christian Freedom: St Paul in Corinthians 1:9 – “I am free in all
things and have made myself a servant of everyone.”
Luther’s Version of the Paradox:
A Christian is a free lord of all things and is subject to no one.
A Christian is a dutiful servant in all things and is subject to everyone.
Luther’s Resolution of the Paradox
The Double Nature of the Christian: spiritual and physical (soul and body)
The Freedom of the Christian resides in the Soul
The Submission of the Christian resides in the Body
The Internal Man is the Key: the question of piety and freedom versus impiety
and unfreedom is not an “external thing” - - “piety and freedom” (and “wickedness
and imprisonment”) are INTERNAL.
Why is This a Big Deal: thing about the ways in which the physical had become a
tool by which one could bolster religious authority – HOLY GARMENTS, FANCY
CHURCHES, FANCY PRAYER CEREMONIES IN PUBLIC – we’ve been made
to think these things are outward signs of the state of the Soul, but they are not.
8 Luther is Attacking Many Sources of Church Power
All of these things are distractions behind which the HYPOCRITES can
hide.
The Priesthood “does not consist in external gestures and garments…rather it
consists in the spirit and so is invisible.”
The Realm of Freedom is INTERNAL – And It can only be reached by way of
the WORD – “the soul can dispense with everything but the Word of God, and
without the word of God nothing can help her. Where she has the word, however,
she requires nothing more; rather, in the word she has enough food, joy, peace,
light, skill, righteousness, truth, wisdom, freedom, and everything good in
abundance.” (20)
How Do We Know? Hearing the WORD – God Speaks to Us through the Gospel
& through Preaching:
The Word – 2 Major Categories -– the Law and the Gospel
The Law – What God Commands Us to Do – this will terrify us because we
become aware of our own sinfulness and inability to live righteously. “One
should preach the commandments to frighten sinners and to reveal their sin,
such that they are contrite and are converted.” (36)
The Gospel – God’s Good Gift – that Saves us from Terror – the gracious
word of God that gives you a shield against terror – God’s promise: I will love
and forgive you – the Gospel freely gives what the law requires.
GRACE = the reception of salvation and justification as free gifts
The Marriage Analogy:
Christ = Groom / Believer = Bride
Christ = Perfectly Good, Without Sin
9 Believer = poor, despised, evil whore
He Swallows Up her Sins: “Now is this not a happy wedding celebration,
when the rich, noble, pious bridegroom Christ takes the poor, despised, evil
whore in marriage, absolves her of all wickedness, and adorns her with all
goodness?” (26).
Works Righteousness is A Fool’s Errand / Not Relevant to God:
“all of your life and works are nothing”
“no works are required to make him pious”
“works are dead things, which can neither honor nor praise God., no matter
how they are done or even if they are intended to honor and praise God.”
Quoting St. Paul in Timothy: “They have an appearance of piety, but the
foundation is not there; they go out and learn forever and ever, and yet never
come to an understanding of true piety.” (35)
Justification by Faith Alone: “You should surrender yourself to [God] with firm
faith and trust in God anew. Then, for the sake of this faith, all your sins shall be
forgiven, your destruction entirely overcome, and you shall be righteous, truthful,
tranquil, pious, and shall have fulfilled all commandments, free of all things.”
Essence of Piety: “no other than the faith of the heart, which is the principal
and whole essence of piety.” (27)
Bring This Idea Back to Freedom: the Christian is “certainly released from all
commandments and laws; if he is released, then he is certainly free. That is
Christian freedom: faith alone, which does not lead us to live in idleness or do
wickedness, but instead means that we require no works to obtain piety and
salvation.” (25)
Expressed in Similar Language Later: “no work, no commandment is
necessary for a Christian’s salvation, rather he is free of all commandments;
and everything he does, he does out of sheer freedom, gratuitously, not
10 seeking from it any benefit or salvation but only to please God; for he already
satisfied and saved through his faith and God’s grace.”
Also Expresses an Understanding of Freedom as Power/Sovereignty: “a
Christian, through faith, is elevated so high over all things that he becomes a
spiritual lord of everything, for nothing can damage his salvation” (28)
“this is a spiritual sovereignty which rules through suppression of the body; that is, I
can improve in my soul without the aid of any object, and even death and suffering
must serve me and be useful toward my salvation. This is indeed a high, eminent
dignity and a truly omnipotent sovereignty, a spiritual kingdom where nothing is so
good or so evil that it must not serve to my good, so long as I believe; and yet
nothing is required, for my faith is sufficient for me. Behold then what a precious
freedom and power Christians possess!” (28)
We are All Priests (29)
---The External Man – What Does All of This Mean for How we ought to behave
in the World!
The Big Counter – Argument: “Well, so then faith is all things and is alone
sufficient to make one pious. Why then are good works commanded? For we would
be good shape without doing anything.” (31)
What was Luther’s Response?
NO – You are Not Merely an Internal Man – That will not happen until
Judgment Day – For the Time Being, you are also an External Man – “you
have to rule your own body and interact with others”
11 Good Works are not Bad, Good Works are Good: “we do not condemn
good works for their own sake, but for the sake of [an] evil addition and false,
perverse opinion, which makes them only appear good; and yet they are not
good; they deceive themselves and everyone else, just like ravening wolves in
sheeps’ clothing.” 36
Good Works can be a Very Christian Thing Today (indeed, they can be
Christ-Like): A Free Christian speaks thusly: “I will fast, pray, do this and
that, whatever is commanded, and not because I require this or because I will
thereby become pious or saved; instead, for the sake of pope, bishop, the
community, my fellow brother, or lord, I will provide an example, offer
service, and suffer just as Christ did and suffered far greater things for my
sake, even though it was much less necessary for Him.” 40
Rules for the External Body
#1: The Self– Subdue Your Body
“Ruling Your Own Body”
Do not be idle - Work – “no work is required to make him pious;
instead, solely to please God, he is ordered to do such free work so that
he does not go idle and in order to exercise and safeguard his body.”
(33)
Discipline and Train yourself with fasts, vigils, labors, and every
reasonable correction, such that you become obedient and in conformity
to the internal man and to faith
Body as a Problem (Reminiscent of Plato): he finds in his flesh a
recalcitrant will, which wants to serve the world and seeks only what
pleases it. (St. Paul – I have another will within me that wants to
imprison me with sin).
“All who belong to Christ, crucify your flesh with its evil passions.”
12 Subdue the Body
Castigate the Body
#2: Man’s Relationship to Man - “Interacting with Others”
Basic Principle: “A Christian is a dutiful servant and is subject to everyone.”
(St. Paul)
Luther’s Interpretation: “where he is free, he has to do nothing; where he is
a servant, he must do all manner of things.
Communitarian Ethic: “you would completely gladden my heart by
henceforth wanting to be of one mind, each one bearing love toward each
other, each one serving the other, and everyone paying heed not to himself or
to his own affairs, but to others and what is necessary for them.” (37)
Relationship to Freedom: people should serve freely out of love.
Conclusion: “Behold, that is proper, spiritual, Christian freedom, which makes the
heart free of all sins, laws, and commandments, and which surpasses all other
freedom as heaven surpasses the earth. May God grant that we properly understand
and uphold this freedom. Amen.” (42).
NEXT TIME: Some of the Luther’s Political Views & Thinking about Luther
as Part of Three Waves of Modernity
But since the devil's bride, Reason, that pretty whore, comes in and thinks she's wise,
and what she says, what she thinks, is from the Holy Spirit, who can help us, then? Not
judges, not doctors, no king or emperor, because [reason] is the Devil's greatest
whore.
13 Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has: it never comes to the aid of spiritual
things, but--more frequently than not--struggles against the divine Word, treating with
contempt all that emanates from God.
14