Martin Luther: False Teacher?

[Be Not Afraid]

The more I research and read about the Father of the Reformation, the more I am convinced that Luther was a false teacher, deceived by the devil.

Here is a sample of this man's writings:

"Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides... No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day." ('Let Your Sins Be Strong, from 'The Wittenberg Project;' 'The Wartburg Segment', translated by Erika Flores, from Dr. Martin Luther's
Saemmtliche Schriften, Letter No. 99, 1 Aug. 1521).

"...the epistle of St. James is an epistle full of straw, because it contains nothing evangelical." ('Preface to the New Testament,' ed. Dillenberger, p. 19.)

"If nonsense is spoken anywhere, this is the very place. I pass over the fact that many have maintained, with much probability, that this epistle was not written by the apostle James, and is not worthy of the spirit of the apostle." ('Pagan Servitude of the Church,' ed. Dillenberger, p. 352.)

And he complained about the Book of Revelation: "to my mind it bears upon it no marks of an apostolic or prophetic character... Everyone may form his own judgment of this book; as for myself, I feel an aversion to it, and to me this is sufficient reason for rejecting it." (Sammtliche Werke, 63, pp. 169-170)

And finally, he admitted adding the word 'alone' to Rom. 3:28 of his own volition: "If your Papist annoys you with the word ('alone'), tell him straightway, Dr. Martin Luther will have it so: Papist and ass are one and the same thing. Whoever will not have my translation, let him give it the go-by: the devil's thanks to him who censures it without my will and knowledge. Luther will have it so, and he is a doctor above all the doctors in Popedom." (Amic. Discussion, 1, 127)

Here he is condemned by his own words. In Revelation 22: 18-19, declares anathema anyone who presumes to change even a single word of Scripture: "I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words in this prophetic book, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city described in this book." Luther, of course, didn't add or take away mere words, but entire passages and books from the Bible.

[Mike Bull]

BeNotAfraid

I think you have misunderstood that first quote totally.

Luther wasn't perfect, by any means, but compared to the doctrines of devils he valiantly dealt with, risking his life like many other Reformers whom that evil institution succeeded in slaughtering without mercy, he was a light shining in the darkness.

I dread to think where the world would be without men like Luther. His life is worth celebrating, and we do it without shame.

[JTownsend]

BeNotAfraid,

Why is a staunch Catholic, like yourself, on a fairly Reformed forum?

Unfortunately I never knew Martin Luther personally. I understand that he was a man with a temper and given to get upset with the Catholic church (and rightly so). I recognize that he had his faults, like any of us, but does that negate the truth he spoke? And does taking these few comments of his give us a whole picture of the man or his purposes? We may not ever agree with everyone on every point. And we should not allow sin. But as the scripture says (Rom 14:4) Who are you to judge someone elses' servant?

Why don't you play nicely with the Reformers instead of bringing division to God's people?

[Be Not Afraid]

Hello Mike Bull,

You said:
I think you have misunderstood that first quote totally.

Can you explain what he meant when he said: "No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day." Does not Scripture explicitly warn time and time again that murderers and adulterers will not go to heaven? The Bible tells us that sin separates us from God.

Luther wasn't perfect, by any means, but compared to the doctrines of devils he valiantly dealt with, risking his life like many other Reformers whom that evil institution succeeded in slaughtering without mercy, he was a light shining in the darkness.

I don't think you've read Luther's writings in depth. What do you think about his calls to burn down Jewish synagogues and destroy Jewish homes? Also, He called for the slaughter of the peasants in his book titled Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants It is documented that 100,000 peasants were slaughtered.

I dread to think where the world would be without men like Luther. His life is worth celebrating, and we do it without shame.

In his book The Jews and Their Lies
Luther wrote that the Jews are "full of the devil's feces ... which they wallow in like swine," and the synagogue is an "incorrigible whore and an evil slut". He argues that their synagogues and schools be set on fire, their prayer books destroyed, rabbis forbidden to preach, homes razed, and property and money confiscated. They should be shown no mercy or kindness, afforded no legal protection, and these "poisonous envenomed worms" should be drafted into forced labor or expelled for all time. He also seems to advocate their murder, writing "we are at fault in not slaying them."

About the peasant rebellion, he said:
"Like the mules who will not move unless you perpetually whip them with rods, so the civil powers must drive the common people, whip, choke, hang, burn, behead and torture them, that they may learn to fear the powers that be." (El. ed. 15, 276, quoted by O'Hare, in 'The Facts About Luther, TAN Books, 1987, p. 235.)

"A peasant is a hog, for when a hog is slaughtered it is dead, and in the same way the peasant does not think about the next life, for otherwise he would behave very differently." ('Schlaginhaufen,' 'Aufzeichnungen,' p. 118, quoted ibid., p. 241)

[JTownsend]

BNA,
I see nothing wrong with what Luther wrote. And I agree, there is no sin that can separate us from God once we are His. To believe otherwise would be to say that there is sin that God is unable to forgive and that God cannot save us.

But let's not stop at Luther... the vile scum... Let's go on to the Catholic church who murdered countless innocents through burning at the stake, and who committed horrendous tortures and cruelties. Wait... there's more! What about how the Catholic church lied to millions of it's believers by saying you can purchase the forgiveness of sins! Wait... there's still more! What about how the Catholics brought the sword to countless countries all in the name of "Christ". Oh Wait! What about how Spanish Catholics enslaved who civilizations to mine for gold in the America's. Oh OH! I know! How about how many Catholic leaders have been found in child molestation charges and the Catholic church has often tried to cover it up!

Look. Everyone has their bad days... even Martin Luther. For one, you are reading him out of context... and for two, your adamant stance here shows that you are only trying to bring division to God's people. Catholics have made many mistakes. And Reformers have made mistakes. But don't throw out the Baby with the bath water. Remember that it was Martin Luther who strove to follow the Bible, and not just the edicts of the Pope in regards to purchasing forgiveness of sins. There plenty to show the Catholic church is pure evil... and there is plenty to show that any of us are so. We are all sinful people.

Quit bringing division, lest God strike you.

[Be Not Afraid]

JTownsend said:

But as the scripture says (Rom 14:4) Who are you to judge someone elses' servant?

Scripture warns us we must watch out for false prophets and lying teachers. The quotes I posted of Luther's writings raise all kinds of red flags. What's your opinion of false teachers?

Why don't you play nicely with the Reformers instead of bringing division to God's people?

If quoting Luther's writing brings division, maybe you need to rethink your idea of Luther. At least people will know the facts before they embrace him as a man sent from God. People seem quite oblivious to the facts about Luther.

I see nothing wrong with what Luther wrote.

Then the more reason for me to post his writings. About the peasants he riled up into a murderous frenzy with his writings, he then said:

"Like the mules who will not move unless you perpetually whip them with rods, so the civil powers must drive the common people, whip, choke, hang, burn, behead and torture them, that they may learn to fear the powers that be." (El. ed. 15, 276, quoted by O'Hare, in 'The Facts About Luther, 1987, p. 235.)

About Jewish men, women and children, Luther wrote that they are "full of the devil's feces" and argues that their synagogues and schools be set on fire, homes razed, and property confiscated. He also said that they should be shown no mercy or kindness, afforded no legal protection and put into forced labor or expelled for all time. He advocates their murder, writing "we are at fault in not slaying them." You wonder why there was so much anti-semitism in Germany?

And I agree, there is no sin that can separate us from God once we are His. To believe otherwise would be to say that there is sin that God is unable to forgive and that God cannot save us.

Adultery, fornication, murder, etc. will separate you from God if you do not repent. God will not save an unrepentant sinner. If you don't realize this, then you are fooling yourself.

Let's go on to the Catholic church who murdered countless innocents through burning at the stake, and who committed horrendous tortures and cruelties.

Among the 12 apostles there was a traitor. This does not mean the teachings of Christ are corrupt, nor does it mean there will not be evil churchmen. In fact the Bible tells us there will be wolves and weeds among the wheat and the sheep. Luther was a Catholic, and based on his writings, I believe he was a false teacher and a wolf among the sheep.

For one, you are reading him out of context...

Read for yourself

Quit bringing division, lest God strike you.

Truth is not to be shunned since it sets us free. If Martin Luther's writings cause you panic, then it's better to know the truth than to pretend it's not there.

[P_otto]

BeNotAfraid,

Why is a staunch Catholic, like yourself, on a fairly Reformed forum?

She believes she is doing God's work, that's why. Just like when Mormons or JWs lie to you. If you join their fold, the lie was worth it and is justifiable.

Funny how Catholics point to Luther, and most of us Protestants never really studied the man. The tidbits we know are mostly from the hateful Catholics. If it wasn't for them, I would know almost nothing about Luther.

As for the quote of Luther calling the Pope an ass.

If Martin Luther's writings cause you panic, then it's better to now the truth than to pretend it's not there.

You Catholics are clueless. Absolutely clueless. We tell you time and time again, and you're still clueless.
Martin Luther had nothing to do with me leaving the RCC and becoming a Protestant. It was God ALONE.

[Be Not Afraid]

P_otto said:
Funny how Catholics point to Luther, and most of us Protestants never really studied the man.

Your statement is astounding. You welcome Martin Luther as a great reformer yet you admit that you know nothing about the man, but then are upset when I post his writings? This makes you a great example of intellectual laziness. It's time to put the thinking cap on.

The reason I point these things out about Martin Luther is because millions of people have adopted a brand of Christianity based on his teachings---which are diametrically opposed to what the early Church Fathers believed as Christians.

The sad thing is that some people need the facts to be spoon-fed to them as they seem to be too lazy to seek the facts themselves. There are plenty of sources, even anti-Catholic sites have begun to discover that Luther, based on his writings and actions (removing books from the Bible, changing scripture, calling for the slaughter of Jews and peasants, etc. may have been a false teacher after all. And it's not just Catholics pointing these things out. Even anti-Catholic sites such as this one have concluded that Luther was a false teacher.

[Winston]

the"incorrigible whore and an evil slut".

I have never undrestood why people use this quote of Luther's as derogatory. Does not Scripture use the same language to describe Jews? If they reject Christ are they not rejecting God? Were they not whores?

[shotgun]

Ms. BeNot...

God help me, but I had a terrible revelation the other day...

Don't judge me too harshly, but...I realized that I may be a poet instead of a philosopher! (gasp!)

In recognizing this...(and also in light of the fact that it seems to be raining Catholics in this forum...) allow me to interject something that may calm the mood (in lieu of solving the problem.)

Reductio ad Hitlerums never work (logically anyway) and so calling out Luther on his feelings towards Jews doesn't help us decide if his position on Jews was justified or not. (I happen to like his book "On the Jews and Their Lies.") On the other hand...pointing at Rome and crying: "Stake burners!" doesn't help matters either. (I happen to like burning stake...I mean, steaks...)

Luther did have a funny hair-cut, so that stands against him...but the Pope wears a funny hat...so the score remains tied...

Where will this end?

Your heart is on fire for Rome...what would you have us do? You'll not accept Luther short of becoming Reformed, and we'll accept his faults until we become Catholic! We're at an impasse unfortunately...(unless you'd like to come to the dark side? No? Well, I just thought I'd ask...)

Rome was so beautiful! Europe was touched by the hand of God! Now look at her (Europe)...and look at us.

Let all our hearts burn for Christ, and perhaps Luther's hair-cut won't seem so funny? Nor will the pope's hat seem so ominous.

[Be Not Afraid]

Hi shotgun, you said:

Your heart is on fire for Rome...what would you have us do? You'll not accept Luther short of becoming Reformed, and we'll accept his faults until we become Catholic! We're at an impasse unfortunately...(unless you'd like to come to the dark side? No? Well, I just thought I'd ask...)

As a Catholic my heart belongs to Jesus Christ, and I believe in his promise to guide his Church through the ages, regardless of the scoundrels and hypocrites who may be found among the faithful.

Scripture time and time again warns about false prophets and lying teachers who will come and deceive. The problem is that false prophets have been deceived by Satan and do not realize they are false prophets, and the lying teachers have deceived themselves into thinking they have the truth. The danger is that millions of people are affected by the actions of these individuals. A classic example of this is Martin Luther's decision to remove 7 books from Sacred Scripture.

Your Protestant Bible only has 66 books, as opposed to the 73 which were part of the canon before Luther came along. People do not realize that he also wanted to remove the books of Revelation, James, Jude and Hebrews from the New Testament. On top of this, he changed scripture to fit his new doctrines by adding the word "alone" to Romans 3:28 in his translation of the Bible, and completely ignored Romans 2:6-7, and in the end, he invented a new brand of Christianity which fit his views, claiming that you could murder and commit adultery 100 times a day and not endanger your salvation. This false teaching went against Scripture which warns us that adulterers and murderers will go to hell if they do not repent. Yet there are ding-a-lings writing in these forums claiming these very same things, even though Jesus himself said "Not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord!' will be saved--but only those who do the will of God (keeping the commandments)

[shotgun]

Wow...

I've never been accused of being a ding'a'ling before...though hopefully you didn't mean me!

I'll make you a deal...

I'll recognize that your heart is on fire for Christ, if you recognize that my Bible is God's word. We can both find something to sacrifice and something to gain in that arrangement.

By way of false teachers, which of us is false, and which true?

That's the real disagreement.

I say we all attack the Mormons!