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Luther Speaks About the
Gospel
By: Rev. Jack Cascione |
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The following quotation is from Luther's Works Volume 13
pages 273-275 |
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Rule in the midst of Thy enemies. Psalm 110:2
Here the psalmist shows what kind of power and might this scepter is to
possess. He names the lands and the people over whom it is to extend, whom
He shall rule and govern. For by means of this scepter, he says, He will
rule mightily; in fact, He will rule in the midst of His enemies. He does
not merely say, as he did in the first verse, that He will have enemies
who, as foreigners, will attack His kingdom from the outside, but that He
will
have enemies within and will be attacked by those who claim to belong to
the kingdom.
For God's sake, what kind of government is this? What lord or prince could
possibly govern his realm in this way if he had to reckon not only with
hostile neighbors but also with his own rebellious citizens and subjects,
so
that he could expect nothing else than every form of disloyalty and
wickedness! But this is exactly what the text says. This King will not
rule outside or alongside, but "in the midst of" His enemies. He
will be surrounded by them. In the very center, where He is, He will find
the area full of enemies. There is no indication in the text that Christ
will reign anywhere else, or that His churches will be found anywhere
else, than in the midst of enemies. Who would expect such a kingdom or
believe that it could endure?
People praise the government of the Turk or the pope because these
governments are able to enforce peace, order, and obedience. The subjects
of these governments fear and honor them. Thus it has happened that a
feeble priest or monk, by means of a little piece of paper, no more than a
few square inches in size, was able, at his whim, to push around and
oppress any lord or prince, no matter how proud or mighty. No one dared
let out a peep against any monk or hurt a hair on his head, unless he was
willing to be cursed to hell, deposed, and driven from his lands and
people. That was certainly a beautiful, excellent government for the
world! They deserve nothing better than that God should punish one rogue
by another.
But now that the Gospel has again seen the light of day and is being
spread abroad, everything stirs and rages with hostility, like those waves
when Christ lay sleeping in the boat (Matt. 8:24). All the world complains
about
disturbance of the peace, quarrels, rebellion, and all sorts of other
burdens. Of course, they blame no one else than the dear Gospel! Thus they
seek to make everyone most bitter, to blaspheme and to hate the teachings
of the Gospel, as though nothing had ever come of it but utter woe, such
as men had never known before. The princes, lords, and gentry likewise-now
that they are rid of all popish restraints, torments, and terrors, and
possess all goods and freedom, not to mention that they have been enriched
by the
Gospel-show their thanks by persecuting both the preachers and the
doctrine. In fact, they would like to exterminate them completely in order
to live without the Gospel and God's Word, so that they might do whatever
they craved.
Well, what is to be done about this? The Gospel must endure this sort of
thing. After all, the prophet has clearly announced it here. This King and
His kingdom are to fare thus. He must rule in the midst of His enemies.
Indeed, a true sign of the presence of this scepter or message is the
external and internal enmity and opposition which will rise against it
wherever it arrives and takes root. Therefore, just as old Simeon
prophesied
about the Child (Luke 2:34), this Christ must be a sign or mark which will
be spoken against, without any fault on His part.
Really, what is the source of this vehement cry: "Discord, quarrels,
and rebellion arise wherever the Gospel arrives"? Who starts this
sort of thing but the devil and his associates? Can the Gospel be held
responsible for the fact that the devil and the world are so wicked? What
does the Gospel do to deserve this accusation or anyone's hostility and
persecution? Nothing at all except to lead men out of their darkness and
blindness to the true knowledge of God. It teaches how to be genuinely rid
of sin, death, and the wrath of God; how to be saved from all evil, to be
justified, to live, and to be blessed for all eternity. It hurts no one,
it causes no loss of
possessions. It allows all secular power, offices, and estates on earth to
continue on their way unhindered and unimpaired. On the contrary, it
honors and confirms these powers and commands obedience and peace toward
them, even at the cost of injustice and violence, so that no one may have
occasion to complain about this doctrine. What else is the Gospel supposed
to do if you still find it intolerable? Did it cause discord and rebellion
simply because, without any reason or justice, you rage and storm against
it like a senseless devil?
Here our smart alecks say: "Certainly we do not persecute Christ or
the Gospel. We are Christians also. We have the Holy Scriptures and the
Gospel, and we wish to maintain the Christian Church and the faith. Hence
it is our duty not to tolerate heretics, apostates, and those who
disobey." This is first-rate holiness indeed! Under the pretext and
in the name of the Gospel and Christ, as though they were their beloved
friends, they are able to
persecute Christ and His Christians!
Yes, the world has now become so godly and so holy that it is impossible
to find anyone who deserves to be called the enemy of the Gospel or of
Christ, or who deserves to be reproved by God's Word! By their deeds they
may prove themselves to be the worst enemies, who persecute and drive out
godly preachers and innocent people for doing nothing worse than to
believe and live according to Christ's Word and command. They may empty
churches and pulpits, refusing to have anything preached which they do not
want to hear. They may believe and live like Epicureans and swine, free to
do whatever they please without reproof or hindrance. Nevertheless they
want to be known as godly and Christian lords, obedient to the holy
church, and friends of
the Gospel!
(Luther Continues on the subject) |
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September 3, 2002 |
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