Martin Luther/Adolf Hitler

[Wesley Briggman]

The Antisemitic Link Between Hitler and Martin Luther - Dr. Eitan Bar

Martin Luther was a German theologian and religious reformer who initiated the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. Regrettably, the reformation did not

eitan.bar

"Undeniably, the Nazis used Luther’s writings as they rose to power and initiated the Holocaust. In his famous book, Mein Kampf, published in 1925, Adolf Hitler praised Martin Luther as “a great warrior, a true statesman, and a great reformer.”

https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1012&context=constructing

"The Darker Side of Martin Luther Abstract In 1543 Luther published his infamous On the Jews and Their Lies. His main arguments can be divided into four major parts. In the first part, Luther attacked what he considered the Jews’ “false boasts,” mainly their lineage and covenant of circumcision. In the second part, he debated key biblical passages. Third, he focused on the grossest medieval superstitions concerning the Jews are the focus of the third part. The fourth, and final, part included Luther’s recommendations for actions concerning the Jews. For the purposes of this paper, the fourth part of this treatise will be primarily examined. It contains the most evidence for Luther’s anti-Semitic views, and the Nazis quoted Luther most often from this section."

In light of these facts of history, why is Luther held in such high-esteem among conservative Christian spokesmen?

 

[RootBeer]

In light of these facts of history, why is Luther held in such high-esteem among conservative Christian spokesmen?

Because humans are imperfect. Because he did a lot of good things. So while we can condemn his anti-Semitic nonsense, that doesn't diminish the fact that he kicked off the Reformation. I attended a Lutheran church once on Reformation Day and they preached both Luther's good and bad, so what you're saying is not a surprise to anyone, nor is it unrecognized by the major Lutheran denominations. I think all the major Lutheran denominations have official statements condemning Luther's anti-Semitism.

So your statement that he is "held in such high esteem" is overly simplified.

Whether one can actually trace a line of anti-Semitic thought from Luther to the Nazis is debated by historians. Undeniably, Hitler inherited many currents of anti-Semitic thought and I think Luther was a very minor, perhaps nonexistent influence. When I took modern German history, I concluded that the Nazis would quote anyone who served their purposes and Luther was simply convenient in this regard. For example, the Nazis quoted Romans 13 to tell German Christians that they shouldn't interfere with Nazi programs. Talk about cherry-picking scripture!

 

[Cathode]

The Antisemitic Link Between Hitler and Martin Luther - Dr. Eitan Bar

Martin Luther was a German theologian and religious reformer who initiated the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. Regrettably, the reformation did not

eitan.bar

"Undeniably, the Nazis used Luther’s writings as they rose to power and initiated the Holocaust. In his famous book, Mein Kampf, published in 1925, Adolf Hitler praised Martin Luther as “a great warrior, a true statesman, and a great reformer.”

https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1012&context=constructing

"The Darker Side of Martin Luther Abstract In 1543 Luther published his infamous On the Jews and Their Lies. His main arguments can be divided into four major parts. In the first part, Luther attacked what he considered the Jews’ “false boasts,” mainly their lineage and covenant of circumcision. In the second part, he debated key biblical passages. Third, he focused on the grossest medieval superstitions concerning the Jews are the focus of the third part. The fourth, and final, part included Luther’s recommendations for actions concerning the Jews. For the purposes of this paper, the fourth part of this treatise will be primarily examined. It contains the most evidence for Luther’s anti-Semitic views, and the Nazis quoted Luther most often from this section."

In light of these facts of history, why is Luther held in such high-esteem among conservative Christian spokesmen?

It lends credence to my idea that Luther wasn’t guided by God, that his two principal and new heresies of scripture alone and faith alone, were from Hell.

His new gospel spawned every private interpreters new gospel after him, dividing the church.
His Scriptural relativism birthed modern moral relativism.

His stance on usury led to the evil economic system we suffer under today.

His creation of the welfare state, and the destruction of the age of charity.

Much of the world’s problems today are because of Luther. Much more can be said.

 

[Cathode]

Because humans are imperfect. Because he did a lot of good things. So while we can condemn his anti-Semitic nonsense, that doesn't diminish the fact that he kicked off the Reformation. I attended a Lutheran church once on Reformation Day and they preached both Luther's good and bad, so what you're saying is not a surprise to anyone, nor is it unrecognized by the major Lutheran denominations. I think all the major Lutheran denominations have official statements condemning Luther's anti-Semitism.

So your statement that he is "held in such high esteem" is overly simplified.

“I will make you into a great nation,

and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.[a]
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”

Luther’s immense hatred for the Jews, is all you need to know that he was evil and not of God.
He is the founding apostle of Protestantism and sowed nothing but chaos and division to this day.

Whether one can actually trace a line of anti-Semitic thought from Luther to the Nazis is debated by historians. Undeniably, Hitler inherited many currents of anti-Semitic thought and I think Luther was a very minor, perhaps nonexistent influence. When I took modern German history, I concluded that the Nazis would quote anyone who served their purposes and Luther was simply convenient in this regard. For example, the Nazis quoted Romans 13 to tell German Christians that they shouldn't interfere with Nazi programs. Talk about cherry-picking scripture!

German Lutheranism was highly anti Semitic for hundreds of years, Nazism metastasised from it.

“Martin Luther has been the greatest encouragement of my life. Luther was a great man. He was a giant. With one blow he heralded the coming of the new dawn and the new age. He saw clearly that the Jews need to be destroyed, and we’re only beginning to see that we need to carry this work on.” Adolf Hitler.

 

[kyredneck]

It lends credence to my idea that Luther wasn’t guided by God, that his two principal and new heresies of scripture alone and faith alone, were from Hell.

Spoken like a true blue Catholic. ROFL!

 

[Scarlett O.]

It lends credence to my idea that Luther wasn’t guided by God, that his two principal and new heresies of scripture alone and faith alone, were from Hell.

That's the strongest statement that I've ever heard from a Catholic person. The implication is that if the teaching is from HELL that those who believe it and adhere to it are GOING to hell. Do you believe that I am going to hell because I believe the Bible when it says that faith saves? Do you believe that all of us here at the BB will be in the torment of hell for eternity and you, the Catholic one, will frolic across the daisies in heaven? Because that's exactly what it sounds like you are saying.

This is just like your OWN Pope Francis, whom I have been praying for this past week. He is deathly ill and he teaches the damnable lie that there are many ways to God and many religions will be represented there even if they don't know Christ. He needs to be saved. He has been on my mind and heart for the past several days. It's burdening me that he is probably on his death bed and believes that we are all going to Heaven no matter the belief.

I don't care about Luther and his own wrong ideas. He is dead and lived too long ago for me to get worked up about.

He was horribly wrong about his antisemitic ideas, but Cathode, his beliefs that the Bible is the ONLY Word of God and that faith and NOT WORKS saves is right.

You see, truth is truth - no matter which vile sinner's mouth it passes from.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

That's the strongest statement that I've ever heard from a Catholic person. The implication is that if the teaching is from HELL that those who believe it and adhere to it are GOING to hell. Do you believe that I am going to hell because I believe the Bible when it says that faith saves? Do you believe that all of us here at the BB will be in the torment of hell for eternity and you, the Catholic one, will frolic across the daisies in heaven? Because that's exactly what it sounds like you are saying.

This is just like your OWN Pope Francis, whom I have been praying for this past week. He is deathly ill and he teaches the damnable lie that there are many ways to God and many religions will be represented there even if they don't know Christ. He needs to be saved. He has been on my mind and heart for the past several days. It's burdening me that he is probably on his death bed and believes that we are all going to Heaven no matter the belief.

I don't care about Luther and his own wrong ideas. He is dead and lived too long ago for me to get worked up about.

He was horribly wrong about his antisemitic ideas, but Cathode, his beliefs that the Bible is the ONLY Word of God and that faith and NOT WORKS saves is right.

You see, truth is truth - no matter which vile sinner's mouth it passes from.

Well said sister!

 

[RootBeer]

German Lutheranism was highly anti Semitic for hundreds of years, Nazism metastasised from it.

Hitler was a confirmed Catholic

 

[Cathode]

That's the strongest statement that I've ever heard from a Catholic person. The implication is that if the teaching is from HELL that those who believe it and adhere to it are GOING to hell. Do you believe that I am going to hell because I believe the Bible when it says that faith saves? Do you believe that all of us here at the BB will be in the torment of hell for eternity and you, the Catholic one, will frolic across the daisies in heaven? Because that's exactly what it sounds like you are saying.

This is just like your OWN Pope Francis, whom I have been praying for this past week. He is deathly ill and he teaches the damnable lie that there are many ways to God and many religions will be represented there even if they don't know Christ. He needs to be saved. He has been on my mind and heart for the past several days. It's burdening me that he is probably on his death bed and believes that we are all going to Heaven no matter the belief.

I don't care about Luther and his own wrong ideas. He is dead and lived too long ago for me to get worked up about.

He was horribly wrong about his antisemitic ideas, but Cathode, his beliefs that the Bible is the ONLY Word of God and that faith and NOT WORKS saves is right.

You see, truth is truth - no matter which vile sinner's mouth it passes from.

I didn’t say people who adhere to it will end in hell.

Sola Scriptura was a new teaching that divided Christianity into thousands of denominations. The devil causes division among believers.

The idea of pick up the bible and decide what it means to you, is one of the greatest deceptions of all time after Eden.

The Bible was never the sole rule of faith, such that it only means what each man thinks it means.

Jesus founded an authoritive church to teach what the word of God means, it’s not matter of each man’s opinion.

None of us is saved until Jesus tells us we are saved at Judgement, otherwise Jesus wouldn’t be Jesus, and Judgement wouldn’t be Judgement.

 

[Cathode]

He was horribly wrong about his antisemitic ideas, but Cathode, his beliefs that the Bible is the ONLY Word of God and that faith and NOT WORKS saves is right.

“But the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.” 1Peter 1:25

If we truly believe scripture, we will believe it when it tells us the preached/ spoken word of God abides forever. Not just in the scriptures but in the Spoken Tradition of the Church as well.

It is the Oral Tradition that explains the Written Tradition.

None of the Apostles and Early Christians were scripture alone.

 

[kyredneck]

I didn’t say people who adhere to it will end in hell.

Agree. You did not say that.

 

[Cathode]

Agree. You did not say that.

My point is you can tell a tree by its fruit.

The fruit of Luther’s scripture alone idea is massive division and chaos in interpretation muddying the truth, and nullifying the word of God by wrongful interpretation.

In whose interest is it to do that? It’s perfectly analogous to the enemy sowing darnel in the field.

Just infect people with the idea that scripture means what each man thinks it means. They’ll all think they are following scripture, because their opinions all seem like the truth to them.

It’s THE most insidious snare of all time, and so many are blind to it.

 

[kyredneck]

My point is you can tell a tree by its fruit.

The fruit of Luther’s scripture alone idea is massive division and chaos in interpretation muddying the truth, and nullifying the word of God by wrongful interpretation.

In whose interest is it to do that? It’s perfectly analogous to the enemy sowing darnel in the field.

Just infect people with the idea that scripture means what each man thinks it means. They’ll all think they are following scripture, because their opinions all seem like the truth to them.

It’s THE most insidious snare of all time, and so many are blind to it.

DISAGREE. Wholeheartedly. The religion of Jesus Christ would benefit hugely from ‘scripture alone’.

 

[Cathode]

Two ways we can judge the merits of Luther.

By what happened ie the fruits of interpretive and doctrinal division. The Lord’s test.

But also by what didn’t happen.

If Luther was right and all one needed to do is piously read the scriptures for yourself and you would be guided by The Holy Spirit, then everyone would have a singular inspired interpretation of scripture and have singular doctrine, despite human frailty.

Unity would have been the result. The Holy Spirit is The Spirit of Truth, and He is also The Spirit of Unity.

Like I said before, I would sitting there right next to you at church on Sunday or Saturday depending on whose interpretation of scripture turned out to be correct, if our faith was determined by inspired textual criticism of scripture.

If we all universally agreed on interpretation and doctrine after reading the scripture relying on inspiration from on high, it would be manifestly evident that this is the way God was working and Protestantism would be completely vindicated before all.

 

[Scarlett O.]

None of us is saved until Jesus tells us we are saved at Judgement, otherwise Jesus wouldn’t be Jesus, and Judgement wouldn’t be Judgement.

Nope! The Bible says that we can know that we are saved now. I am saved now. I am not perfect. But God saved me.

I knew it when God called me. I know it when he has to chastise me. I know it when I feel the Holy Spirit guiding me. I know it when Christ shepherds me.

If you think I am just basing my faith on my interpretation or someone else's interpretation, I can't help you at all on that.

[1] 1 John 5:23 = I have written these things to you that you may know that you have eternal life, to you who believe into the name of the Son of God.

Read on about assurance NOW of salvation: Romans 8:16, John 3:16, John 5:24 [Christians have ALREADY passed from death to life.], Acts 16:11, Romans 10:9-10, Ephesians 1:13-14, Philippians 1:6 [Christians are CONFIDENT of their salvation],...

...and especially 1 John 5:13, 1 John 3:1-3 [NOW! It says] and Hebrews 7:25, Those are the cinchers.

If I had to live my life every day not knowing if I were going to be with Christ or burn in hell, I would go mad.

 

[Wesley Briggman]

So your statement that he is "held in such high esteem" is overly simplified.

My question has a stipulation: "... among conservative Christian spokesmen".
"In light of these facts of history, why is Luther held in such high-esteem among conservative Christian spokesmen?"

 

[Cathode]

DISAGREE. Wholeheartedly. The religion of Jesus Christ would benefit hugely from ‘scripture alone’.

Not according to Paul.

“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” 1 Thess 2:15

Protestantism didn’t hold fast to the word of mouth teaching and written teachings together.

This verse shows that Apostolic teaching comes down to us in two forms, Word of mouth teaching and written teaching, scripture.

But Protestantism in taking only the written teaching, broke from both the Oral teaching and written teaching which tells them to hold fast to both.

Paul didn’t say hold fast to our written teachings alone.

Scripture alone is false, proven by scripture.

Catholics obey this scripture, we hold to both the Oral teachings of the Apostles and the written teaching of the Apostles, that’s why we have had a singular understanding of scripture for 2000 years.
Protestants only taking scripture alone have scattered into every wind of doctrine and interpretation, and scripture is the source of their disunity.

 

[Cathode]

Nope! The Bible says that we can know that we are saved now. I am saved now. I am not perfect. But God saved me.

I knew it when God called me. I know it when he has to chastise me. I know it when I feel the Holy Spirit guiding me. I know it when Christ shepherds me.

If you think I am just basing my faith on my interpretation or someone else's interpretation, I can't help you at all on that.

Every appeal to scripture is an appeal to someone’s interpretation of scripture. It’s at the point of interpretation that things go wrong.

OSAS is not taught by scripture, this is a new human founded interpretation of Scripture.

If I had to live my life every day not knowing if I were going to be with Christ or burn in hell, I would go mad.

Salvation is a process not a fait accompli. God is faithful for His part, but we must endure to the end.
We must remain in His Love.

Philippians 3:11-14 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. [12] Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. [13] Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, [14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Paul didn’t treat salvation as already attained.

Romans 13:11 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”

1 Peter 2:2 (RSV) “Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation;”

Colossians 1:21-23 “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled [22] In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: [23] If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard.”

Hebrews 3:14 “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”

Revelation 3:10-12 “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. [11] Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. [12] Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,”

Revelation 2:10 “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

OSAS is actually one of the most dangerous doctrines to hold to, as comforting as people think it is, it is not the right understanding of salvation.

 

[Wesley Briggman]

Scripture alone is false, proven by scripture.

[Pro 30:5-6 KJV] 5 Every word of God [is] pure: he [is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Do you really believe: "Scripture alone is false, proven by scripture."??!!

 

[Cathode]

[Pro 30:5-6 KJV] 5 Every word of God [is] pure: he [is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Do you really believe: "Scripture alone is false, proven by scripture."??!!

Before the scriptures, what were the Apostles doing.

Preaching.

Preaching what.

Preaching the word of God.

So the Word of God isn’t just written, it’s spoken.

“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” 1 Thess 2:15

So we are meant to hold to both oral and written teachings of the Apostles, not just their writings alone.