While doing some Wikipedia research on Martin Luther, I came across this chestnut: “In the introduction to his New Testament — published in September 1522 and selling 5,000 copies in two months — he explained that good works spring from faith; they do not produce it” (emphasis added).
Now, maybe it’s because “I was…I was raised a Catholic!,” but something about that idea just don’t sit right.
First of all, the first part of the italicized phrase is just bullshit. Even those without faith are capable of doing good works (unless, of course, there’s no such thing as “good works” without the intention of a God behind it, as in, only that which God [or an agent acting on His behalf] produces is “good;” all else is human intended and thus cursed by the stain of sin; but even though I’m open to myriad definitions of “good,” I’m pretty sure that’s not one of them; thus, shit).
Sure, taken together, the whole phrase makes sense, but only if the faith you’re talking about belongs to the person doing the good works, as in, if you do good works, they will not produce, in you, faith.
But if you turn your self-involved little head around and look out at the world, maybe you’d realize that, if you do good works, you may produce faith in other people. Those upon whom your good works are done will find themselves living in a better world. If they did not before, they may begin to feel faith. Your good works will produce, in the world, faith.
Perhaps not faith in your god. But still, your works will, in the other person, produce faith in the world.
Is it any wonder that America’s current downward trend occurs at the same time that the power of Protestant fundamentalism is rising? With Martin Luther, they believe that their faith matters more than their works; in other words, their faith tells them that they don’t have to do good, as much as they have to believe right.
But what they need to understand is that, if they want to make the world a better place, they need to do good works. Believing the right things only improves, in their eyes, your chances of getting into heaven. But you don’t have to “chance” the world; you’re already here. Make it heaven.
The best way to do that, as a wise man once said, is to “perform Acts of Random Kindness.”
And fall in love with the wand fairy.
3 Comments
youtube and video cameras are more on the rise than protestant fundamentalism… - no?
Kyle, I think what is missing is the context of Luther’s statement. Luther’s Reformation was a movement away from the belief that you had to (or were able to) earn your way into Heaven by works.
His statement was in reference to grace, which is a staple of the Protestant faith. Luther taught that we are saved by grace through faith–not works, and our works are a product of our gratitude for that grace. We commit good works as a product of our faith, we do not earn status with God by committing good works.
Having been a lifelong member of churches under the Protestant designation, I’ve had many occasions to study Luther’s work and I can tell you beyond a shadow of doubt, that Luther would whole heartedly agree with your feelings on random acts of kindness and leading in the community by good works. He was referencing a staple of his faith in relation to his relationship with God.
I can also assure you that he was not suggesting that only the religious are capable of “good”. This quote that you referenced was addressed to a particular difference in the Catholic Church that he left and the reformation he was calling for in terms of a new teaching in a spiritual context.
Luther was not judgemental in comparison to his peers of the day. He was much more inclusive than most, as he left the Catholic Church and was reaching out to people to find a much more accepting “religion”.
In terms of today’s Protestant Church, your statement is just simply not true. True faith requires works and you cannot have an active faith life without it driving you to better the world around you. The church I went to in New England has a team in New Orleans right now working on the cleanup/rebuilding effort–just one small example. In short, you can’t have a true and healthy faith unless the product of it is “good” works in your every day life.
Not looking to start a Theological debate here, but I wanted to clear up the context of Luther’s statement.
Thanks for the insight, Dave.
You’ll be happy to know that I’ve got a movie about Martin Luther coming in on my Netflix this week, so hopefully my knowledge of the man and what he stood for will increase.
Thanks again.