Tuesday, March 02, 2004 AD
To boldly sin...
Interesting how the first thing some people seem to pick up on about Lutheranism is "sin boldly" (see earlier post). Indeed, some people seem intent on latching on to this as the "smoking gun" of Lutheranism, and indeed Protestantism generally: "See! This is where justification by faith gets you: rank antinomianism! Moral chaos!"
The first thing to say about "sin boldly" is that Luther did not promulgate this phrase ex cathedra and order it to be printed on the front cover of every copy of the Small Catechism. He said it in a private letter to a friend, Philip Melanchthon - a friend, moreover, who needed jolting out of his dithering inability to take any action for fear it might be "sinful". Luther's true point becomes abundantly clear when you look at the context of the quote:
Luther's point was to say, "In this life, any action you take is going to be sinful to some extent: so in the end, you've just got to get on with it, and look to Christ's blood to cover your sins."
What this comes down to is the pastoral application of the "proper distinction between Law and Gospel". As Walther puts it, "the Word of God is not rightly divided when the Law is preached to those who are already in terror on account of their sins or the Gospel to those who live securely in their sins" (Proper Distinction, Thesis VIII).
Walther goes on to explain that to someone who is still living securely in their sins, "not a drop of evangelical consolation" is to be given. But "to the brokenhearted, not a syllable containing a threat or a rebuke is to be addressed, but only promises conveying consolation and grace, forgiveness of sin and righteousness, life and salvation."
Melanchthon was squarely in the category of "those who are already in terror on account of their sins", who are "brokenhearted". Accordingly, Luther proclaimed the Gospel to him in a bold, pointed way, as one who knew his friend well. Had Melanchthon actually been committing "fornication and murder" without fear of the consequences - or had there been any danger he might do so - no-one can seriously suggest that Luther would have waved him along with a cheery "sin boldly".
In the context, to take offence at Luther's injunction to "sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly" is to take offence at the Gospel itself (see Romans 6, esp. verse 1 and 15).
We all of us have times when these are appropriate words to address to us: when we are paralysed by the fear of doing wrong, as if it lay in our power to do something 100% "right". At those times, to take what seems to our limited understanding to be the best option available, while telling ourselves to "sin boldly", can be an appropriate consolation. And equally, we all have times when these are the very last words on earth that anyone should be addressing to us.
Anyway, I think I need to go and have a beer. Cheers!
The first thing to say about "sin boldly" is that Luther did not promulgate this phrase ex cathedra and order it to be printed on the front cover of every copy of the Small Catechism. He said it in a private letter to a friend, Philip Melanchthon - a friend, moreover, who needed jolting out of his dithering inability to take any action for fear it might be "sinful". Luther's true point becomes abundantly clear when you look at the context of the quote:
If you are a preacher of grace, then preach a true and not a fictitious grace; if grace is true, you must bear a true and not a fictitious sin. God does not save people who are only fictitious sinners. Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly, for he is victorious over sin, death, and the world. As long as we are here [in this world] we have to sin. This life is not the dwelling place of righteousness, but, as Peter says, we look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. It is enough that by the riches of God's glory we have come to know the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. No sin will separate us from the Lamb, even though we commit fornication and murder a thousand times a day. Do you think that the purchase price that was paid for the redemption of our sins by so great a Lamb is too small? Pray boldly--you too are a mighty sinner.
Luther's point was to say, "In this life, any action you take is going to be sinful to some extent: so in the end, you've just got to get on with it, and look to Christ's blood to cover your sins."
What this comes down to is the pastoral application of the "proper distinction between Law and Gospel". As Walther puts it, "the Word of God is not rightly divided when the Law is preached to those who are already in terror on account of their sins or the Gospel to those who live securely in their sins" (Proper Distinction, Thesis VIII).
Walther goes on to explain that to someone who is still living securely in their sins, "not a drop of evangelical consolation" is to be given. But "to the brokenhearted, not a syllable containing a threat or a rebuke is to be addressed, but only promises conveying consolation and grace, forgiveness of sin and righteousness, life and salvation."
Melanchthon was squarely in the category of "those who are already in terror on account of their sins", who are "brokenhearted". Accordingly, Luther proclaimed the Gospel to him in a bold, pointed way, as one who knew his friend well. Had Melanchthon actually been committing "fornication and murder" without fear of the consequences - or had there been any danger he might do so - no-one can seriously suggest that Luther would have waved him along with a cheery "sin boldly".
In the context, to take offence at Luther's injunction to "sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly" is to take offence at the Gospel itself (see Romans 6, esp. verse 1 and 15).
We all of us have times when these are appropriate words to address to us: when we are paralysed by the fear of doing wrong, as if it lay in our power to do something 100% "right". At those times, to take what seems to our limited understanding to be the best option available, while telling ourselves to "sin boldly", can be an appropriate consolation. And equally, we all have times when these are the very last words on earth that anyone should be addressing to us.
Anyway, I think I need to go and have a beer. Cheers!
