War Against Turks Writings Martin Luther, I

¶ … War Against Turks" writings Martin Luther, I attached additional material file. Instruction: Discussion

In attempting to discuss the principle argument that the author of this reading is attempting to make, one must understand that the reading discussed in this assignment actually consists of numerous writings by Martin Luther. In fact, some of these writings are distanced from one another by several years' time. However, the fact that they are all written by the same author and are presented within chronological order enables the discerning reader to see a theme and central purpose to these works. Essentially, Luther's chief idea is to preserve the sanctity of the Christian religion as it is manifested within the hierarchy of religious factions. What varies between all of these writings is from who exactly Luther is attempting to save the ideals of the church. Early on in this collection of his written work, for example, he is advocating saving the ideals of Christianity from the heretical actions of the Roman Catholic Church. Later on, he is advocating preserving the sanctity of this religion from the rebellious masses of peasants that took up arms in the wake of the Protestant Reformation. Still later on again he is advocating a preservation of the holiness and 'correct' spirit of Christianity from a force invading outside of his native Germany -- the Turks.

What is pivotal to realize about the author's central argument is the commonality between all of these different works and varying foes to the Christian Church. Luther views all of these entities as bona fide threats to the true way in which Christianity is supposed to be practiced. Implicit in such sentiment is the fact that there is a political rectitude that he associates with the Christian Church -- one which all of the aforementioned parties have the potential for ruining. He laments the Popes' frequent abuses of "temporal power" (Luther 39) as much as he warns against the invading Turkish heathens. He does so because both of these foes, and numerous others, are perceived as adversely impacting the political state necessary to properly practice Christianity.

The author proves his argument by buttressing it again and again with the values of Christianity. Everything he is writing and propounding is true, because it is in adherence to the Christian faith. Moreover, it is in adherence to the heart of the Christian faith -- which is the belief in Jesus and in the redemption that such belief gives one. This notion, that "the righteousness that makes men good in the sight of God" is attributable to "only faith in Jesus Christ" (Luther 102) is at the backbone of the rectitude that he posits. Beyond using concepts of Christianity, he also uses a surfeit of references to Biblical scriptures to reinforce many of his concepts that pertain to the fact that what Luther is advocating is best of the church and fundamental beliefs in Christianity. He can cite scriptures for nearly any application of this overlying thesis. When discussing the fact of whether or not it is acceptable for soldiers to kill in the name of Christianity, for example, he cites passages from Romans and the book of Peter in which "the sword has been instituted by God to punish…evil" (Luther 102).

Or, when disavowing the temporal and spiritual authority of the Pope and all of those who hold office in the Roman Catholic Church, he references the sacrament of baptism as evidence that all men are equally holy in the eyes of God (once they have been baptized), and that to yield any more authority to the Pope and those who hold rank within the Roman Catholic Church office is unnecessary (Luther 41). Whether Luther is citing actual passages in the Bible or the mere fundamental principles that Christianity is based upon, he is able to support his point that his advocacy for a fundamentalist view of Christianity is supported by the very ideas and pillars upon which the religion itself exists.