Thursday, October 14, 2004
Kerry Contra Luther
In the debate tonight, John Kerry quoted the Bible. He was speaking about his Catholic faith and he quoted the Book of James. The passage is a discussion about faith and works. It famously states, “So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” (James 2:17)
The interesting point is that this idea of faith is very different than Martin Luther’s idea of faith that underlies modern Protestantism. Luther saw faith alone as the key to salvation. And he went so far as to relegate the Book of James to an appendix in his translation of the Bible.
This distinction may actually give us a glimpse between the differing worldviews of Kerry and Bush. At the very least it points towards the Catholic faith that drives the social activism of certain liberals such as Sargent Shriver, George McGovern and John Kerry.
The interesting point is that this idea of faith is very different than Martin Luther’s idea of faith that underlies modern Protestantism. Luther saw faith alone as the key to salvation. And he went so far as to relegate the Book of James to an appendix in his translation of the Bible.
This distinction may actually give us a glimpse between the differing worldviews of Kerry and Bush. At the very least it points towards the Catholic faith that drives the social activism of certain liberals such as Sargent Shriver, George McGovern and John Kerry.
Comments:
<< Home
and this post is only to rid your site of the unsightly "1 commentS". Queens English please...
# posted by 
: 7:58 PM
: 7:58 PM
…doesn’t quite go far enough. Yes, James is an important difference between Luther and Catholics but one is right and one is wrong. Luther’s famous Sola Fide doctrine depended on faith being enough to save a man. James simply contradicts this. It isn’t a matter of interpretation of the verse; look here if you don’t believe me http://catholicoutlook.com/canfaith.php
So, instead of revising his theology to fit the Bible, he simply threw out the book. If you ask me, seems pretty weak in the intellectual honesty department for a man of god to so casually dispose of god inspired text. That said, I think your analysis of its ramifications on Bush and Kerry is incorrect.
Most Protestants, to include Bush, have a very active mission in their religious lives. I don’t have the time to research to find out if it’s an actual tenant of faith of Protestantism, but I can confidently assume that it is.
My point, assuming I even have one, is that both Bush and Kerry’s faith calls them to action. Now, if they are really being driven by their respective faiths it would make sense for them to fall to social activism. But, I don’t think that’s the case. Their “social activism” is a result of political pandering…nothing more, nothing less. Don’t let Luther’s intellectual shortcomings muddy the water.
So, instead of revising his theology to fit the Bible, he simply threw out the book. If you ask me, seems pretty weak in the intellectual honesty department for a man of god to so casually dispose of god inspired text. That said, I think your analysis of its ramifications on Bush and Kerry is incorrect.
Most Protestants, to include Bush, have a very active mission in their religious lives. I don’t have the time to research to find out if it’s an actual tenant of faith of Protestantism, but I can confidently assume that it is.
My point, assuming I even have one, is that both Bush and Kerry’s faith calls them to action. Now, if they are really being driven by their respective faiths it would make sense for them to fall to social activism. But, I don’t think that’s the case. Their “social activism” is a result of political pandering…nothing more, nothing less. Don’t let Luther’s intellectual shortcomings muddy the water.
# posted by : 10:35 PM
: 10:35 PM
First, the debate is not so simple as to say that James flatly contradicts Luther. The debate centers on the relationship of James to Romans and the Gospel of John. These books seem to spell out a faith alone version of salvation. Which is not to say that they are not prescriptive with regards to man’s moral responsibilities. But James’ specific connection of works and salvation, as opposed to simply faith in salvation, is possibly unique in the New Testament.
As for Luther putting James in an appendix, I also found that shocking when I first heard it. A brief glimpse at the history of the Bible will tell you that it took a few hundred years for the canonical texts to be accepted as such. Even today, most protestant faiths do not accept the Apocrypha as legitimate (while Luther kept it in his Bible.) The point is that doctrinal debates about the structure of the Bible are not unusual in Christian history.
Note: That link was obnoxious. May I suggest that you check out a more mainstream theological site such as The New Advent. http://www.newadvent.org/
Politically you make a good point. There are definitely tenets of the Protestant faith that encourage social activism. The Salvation Army, the YMCA, and the temperance movement are all outgrowths of this. I was thinking about the Calvinistic heritage. It is a bit harsher with an emphasis put on the Elect, and individual initiative, etc. But considering the charitable actions of modern Evangelicals it is probably too much of stretch to link our Methodist President with John Calvin’s Puritan followers.
Post a Comment
As for Luther putting James in an appendix, I also found that shocking when I first heard it. A brief glimpse at the history of the Bible will tell you that it took a few hundred years for the canonical texts to be accepted as such. Even today, most protestant faiths do not accept the Apocrypha as legitimate (while Luther kept it in his Bible.) The point is that doctrinal debates about the structure of the Bible are not unusual in Christian history.
Note: That link was obnoxious. May I suggest that you check out a more mainstream theological site such as The New Advent. http://www.newadvent.org/
Politically you make a good point. There are definitely tenets of the Protestant faith that encourage social activism. The Salvation Army, the YMCA, and the temperance movement are all outgrowths of this. I was thinking about the Calvinistic heritage. It is a bit harsher with an emphasis put on the Elect, and individual initiative, etc. But considering the charitable actions of modern Evangelicals it is probably too much of stretch to link our Methodist President with John Calvin’s Puritan followers.
<< Home
