Putting aside Doctrine of God for a moment….

From a natural law perspective and motivation, Luther is interesting

Quote
“ "But evil lust and sinful love obscure the light of natural law, and blind man, until he fails to perceive the guide- book in his heart and to follow the clear command of reason. Hence he must be restrained and repelled by external laws and material books, with the sword and by force. He must be reminded of his natural light and have his own heart revealed to him. Yet admonition does not avail; he does not see the light. Evil lust and sinful love blind him. With the sword and with political laws he must still be outwardly restrained from perpetrating actual crimes."[26]” https://www.elca.org/JLE/Articles/472

“ For albeit that all men have a certain natural knowledge implanted in their minds (Rom. ii. 14), whereby they naturally perceive that they ought to do unto others as they would have others do unto them (and this and other such opinions, which we call the natural law, are the foundation of human right and of all good works); yet notwithstanding man's reason is so corrupt and blind through the malice of the devil, that it understands not this knowledge wherewith it is born; or else, being admonished by the Word of God, it understands it, and yet (such is the power of Satan) knowingly neglects and contemns it.1” https://www.elca.org/jle/articles/316

So what motivates an espousing of The Great Tradition? What is being highlighted here? How man’s understanding is woefully and willfully darkened and hardened ? or that a remnant has preserved sound doctrine only as it aligns and is set right by the ultimate authority of scripture? Natural reason can hit on some general realities but it can also imagine some depraved and darkened alternate realities grounded in love and idolization of self.

Quote
it is not difficult to understand why Luther appears determined to avoid treating the civil righteousness promoted by natural law as a theological issue.

Last edited by Anthony C.; Sun Jul 10, 2022 12:39 PM.