I am compelled to comment on my recent blog posting, Assisted Death – Conscience Rights, Bystanders & Responsibility.

In this post, I began by suggesting there was a similarity between the Holocaust of WWII, the killing of unborn by abortion, and now the killing of sick and suffering.  I also quoted Martin Luther as an example of following one’s conscience, in spite of great risk of personal harm.[1]  Although, I think Martin Luther’s stand against the organized church of his day had merit, I think my choice of examples was poor.

Martin Luther wrote some very useful books but, unfortunately he also wrote some very harsh words about Jews which may even have played a role in shaping  the antisemitism of Hitler.[2]  The holocaust was a horrible atrocity which should not have been supported.  In my blog posting, I used the holocaust example because abortion is also a horrible atrocity that should not be supported.  I also have great concern about proceeding down the path of killing the sick and suffering.  Martin Luther has written some useful books but I do not agree with the actions he advised Christians to carry out against Jews.[3]

Since Martin Luther has written against Jews, I can understand how some might be upset by my referring to the WWII holocaust and in the same blog posting quoting Martin Luther in a positive light.

Christians have many reasons to support Israel.  There are several reference is the Old Testament that indicate that those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse Israel will be cursed.  The Bible, that Christians love, came to us through the Jews.  The authors of all of the books of both the old and new testaments are either accepted by Jews or written by Jews.  Our Messiah, Jesus, is also Jewish.

Martin Luther believed in Jesus as Messiah.  Based on the Bible, I believe that Jesus would not have agreed with how Martin Luther advised Christians to treat Jews.  The Jewish writer Paul, in his letter to the Christians in Rome, says that salvation was brought to the gentiles to provoke the Jews to jealousy that they might see the value in accepting Jesus as the promised Messiah.[4]

I hope in my writings I can love the Jewish people. If anyone was upset by my inclusion of the quote from Martin Luther in my posting, I ask your forgiveness.

If you read my post Assisted Death – Conscience Rights, Bystanders & Responsibility you will find it no longer contains the quote from Martin Luther.

I also wonder, how  Martin Luther, a man who loved the Lord, came to write things that I think should not have been written.  He was a human like you and I.  We are all prone to do an d say things we ought not to.  We are prone to  being deceived and even to deceiving ourselves into thinking we know the truth.  We all need help from the Lord God, the source of all truth.  Let us seek out truth in Him.  The Jewish writer John tells,

Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”[5]

_____________________

[1] Martin Luther, understood the need to follow one’s conscience, as seen in what he said at his excommunication trial.

Unless I am convince by Scripture and plain reason… my conscience is captive to the Word of God.  I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right not safe.  God help me.  Amen.

[2] In his later years Martin Luther wrote, “On the Jews and their Lies.”  I have not read a copy of this and it may have said some truthful things but t it said that Jews should be treated was terrible, as is documented on a number of internet sites.

[3] I chose not to reprint here these words written by Martin Luther. They can a found on the internet. They are in a tract that He wrote titled, “On the Jews and their lies.”

[4]  Romans 11:11-14, NKJV of the Holy Bible
11  I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.
12  Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
13  For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
14  if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.

[5] John 8:31-32, NKJV of the Holy Bible