Martin Luther & Christian Ethics

Martin Luther

• Christians are spiritually free through faith, not bound by law to earn salvation
• Christians must obey secular authorities in civil matters (Romans 13), unless they conflict with God’s commands
• Violence is permitted when serving under legitimate civil authority (e.g., a soldier fighting for a just government)
• Violence is not permitted for personal vengeance or if civil authority demands actions against God’s will

Four Variations on the Christian Stance

• Withdrawal (e.g., Mennonites) involves Christians separating from the state and refusing violence
• Endorsement (e.g., Constantinianism) means full support of state power and even war if deemed righteous
• Critique and Engagement (e.g., MLK) involves engaging and transforming society through nonviolence
• Dualism (e.g., Luther) consists of two kingdoms: spiritual and temporal, with different roles for each

Natural Law & Divine Command Theory

• Natural Law refers to ethical truths accessible through reason and nature (Aquinas)
• Divine Command Theory states morality is rooted in God’s will or commands, and is more prominent in Protestant thought
• Natural Law and Divine Command Theory often represent Catholic vs Protestant ethical approaches

Pope Leo XIII – Catholic Social Teaching

• Rerum Novarum (1891) was written in response to industrial capitalism
• Advocates for just wages and workers’ rights
• Advocates for private property (but not absolute)
• Advocates for subsidiarity, stating problems should be addressed at the most local, competent level
• Advocates for distributism: widespread ownership of property

Walter Rauschenbusch – Social Gospel

• Focuses on Protestant theology of the Kingdom of God on Earth
• Believed social injustice (e.g., poverty, labor abuse) was sin
• Saw Jesus as a social reformer
• Emphasized structural change, not just personal piety

Reinhold Niebuhr – Christian Realism

• Critical of both pacifism and naive optimism
• Believed humans are inherently sinful, so power must be checked
• Believed the church must engage with politics realistically
• Advocates for “justice through compromise” rather than utopia

MLK & Mennonites on Peace

• MLK advocated for nonviolent resistance as a tool for justice rooted in love, agape, and Christian ethics
• Mennonites are a historic peace church, reject violence entirely, and embrace nonresistant pacifism (do not retaliate or engage politically)

Key Terms

• Justification: Being made right with God by grace through faith (Luther)
• Sanctification: The process of becoming holy or Christ-like
• Grace: Unmerited divine favor, and is central to Protestant thought
• Faith: Trust in God, the vehicle of salvation (especially for Luther)
• De facto: “In fact” – existing in reality
• De jure: “By law” – legally established
• The social problem: The challenge of inequality, injustice, and poverty in modern society
• Subsidiarity: Handling issues at the lowest competent level (Catholic principle)
• Distributism: Economic model promoting widespread property ownership

Sample Questions & Answers

• Luther thought using violence was permitted when acting under secular authority in just causes (Romans 13)
• Luther thought using violence was not permitted for personal vengeance, rebellion, or violating conscience/God’s law

How Leo, Rauschenbusch, and Niebuhr think the church should address the social problem

• Leo: Uphold traditional values, defend workers, support family and local solutions (subsidiarity)
• Rauschenbusch: Transform society via social reform and justice—Kingdom of God on Earth
• Niebuhr: Realistic engagement with power, aim for justice, not utopia; accept political compromise

Is Rauschenbusch's position more like Leo's or Niebuhr's?

• Rauschenbusch is closer to Leo in caring about systemic social justice
• Rauschenbusch is more idealistic than Niebuhr, who was skeptical of perfectibility
• Rauschenbusch’s approach is more Protestant and reformist than Leo's traditional approach

What are the relevant differences between progressive and nonresistant pacifism?

• Progressive pacifism (MLK) is active, confronts injustice nonviolently, and believes in political engagement
• Nonresistant pacifism (Mennonites) withdraws from political action and refuses all violence or resistance