“Through Sin Nature Has LostIts Confidence in God” – Sin and Trust as Formative Elementsof Martin Luther’s Conception of Society

Abstract

This article explores how sin and trust as fundamental notions of Luther’s relational anthropology determine his understanding of social relations unfolding in the hierarchies of the earthly realm. Against scholastic works righteousness, Luther maintains that humans are absolute sinners incapable of justifying themselves through good works and receive faith as a gift of unconditional trust in God. This reformulation of the human relation to God has profound consequences for Luther’s understanding of interpersonal relations. Luther understands the justifying relation to God as a precondition for fruitful and trusting social relations in a world infused by sin. Moreover, Luther patterns his understanding of the hierarchic relations between subjects and their earthly authorities on the trusting relation between God and human beings. However, because of sin individuals need to subject themselves to superiors. In this way, Luther’s understanding of the human being as both righteous and sinful seems to be the reason behind the apparent paradox of hierarchy and equality permeating his conception of society.

Trusting in God and His Earthly Masks: Exploring the Lutheran Roots of Scandinavian High‐Trust Culture

“…Luther admits, though, that but for the worldly pleasures of hunting, dancing, and games, the lives of princes would be arduous, and claims that God allows them their fun if they behave lovingly toward their subjects. 22 I have explained this as a paradox of sin and trust permeating Luther's theology and social teaching in the article "ʽThrough Sin Nature has lost its Confidence in Godʼ: Sin and Trust as Formative Elements of Luther's Conception of Society" (Stopa, 2018a(Stopa, , 2018b. 23 The full title of the explanation reads: Truth unto Godliness in a simple and as short as possible while sufficient explanation of blessed doctor Martin Luther's Small Catechism containing everything that the person who wants to be saved needs to know and do.…”

I Trust You with My Child: Parental Attitudes to Local Authorities in Cases of Disobedient Children in 18th Century Denmark

“…Researchers have argued that the Church disappeared as an independent institution in this period, merging with the state both in organization and in its remit to foster good Christians and good subjects. The pastor thus became the most local of the king's civil servants, with both clerical and secular duties (Holm & Koefoed, 2018a, 2018bIngesman, 2019).…”

“…Failure to fulfill this obligation was a sin, just as failing to honor and obey your parents or other figures of authority was a sin (Stopa, 2018b). Every instruction in the commandment had to be followed if people were to live a life of piety and faith.…”

“…Just as the obligation to obey was transferred from humanity's relationship to God to that between citizens and authority, the trust‐based relationship with God became a pattern for Luther's understanding of social relations between subjects and superiors. To Luther, faith meant trust in God; a lack of trust in God – and in the earthly authorities acting on his behalf – meant trust in human endeavors, which was sinful (Stopa, 2018b). 9…”

“…As I will argue below, this is also what the Danish state authorities expected of household authorities, both in the legal code and in practice. Failure to fulfill this obligation was a sin, just as failing to honor and obey your parents or other figures of authority was a sin (Stopa, 2018b). Every instruction in the commandment had to be followed if people were to live a life of piety and faith.…”