In thinking of the ideas of "God's Jailers and Hangmen" and why "frogs need storks" according to Luther, please respond to the following:
1. What did Luther think of the role of secular leaders?
2. What did Luther think of the common citizen?
and....
3. What do you think the current US government thinks of the common citizen? [HUGE question, but give it a try...]
1. What did Luther think of the role of secular leaders?
ReplyDeleteLuther believes secular leaders have obtained the role as protectors of those good and real Christians who have been exposed to this evil world. Since real christians can't harm anyone and must "turn the other cheek" when struck, the secular leaders may use swords to defend them. For this reason, the Christians must obey princes and secular leaders at all times except when faith is forced onto them.
2. What did Luther think of the common citizen?
Luther believes the common citizen is no real christian. The common citizen is part of the 2nd kingdom, the kingdom of the world where unrighteousness reigns. Luther believes every common citizen is full of sin and needs God and the commandments in order to be balanced. Without the gospel, the people of the 2nd kingdom would be beasts without leashes.
3. What do you think the current US government thinks of the common citizen?
In my opinion, the US government views the common citizen as someone they must please. However they want to please the common citizen not because they only want him/her to be happy, but because they want the common citizens support. When the government receives the common citizen's support they know that the citizen will back up any measure taken by the government since he is in a way obliged to since the government has helped the common citizen before. All in all, the common citizen is someone the government must please in order to obtain more power and support.
1) Secular leaders are the guardians of the true Christians of the world. Because Christians must not sin and have to practice the teachings of Jesus, they cannot take up arms and attack their enemies. Secular leaders fight for the Christians and it is because of the protection they offer that Christians must follow their orders.
ReplyDelete2) Luther did not think much of the "common citizen." A common citizen lives in a world that is uncouth (2nd Kingdom) and therefore lives in sin. As a result, the common citizen is not a true Christian. The only path to salvation for the common citizen is by following the teachings of God and Christianity.
3) I think the US government wishes to satisfy the needs of common citizens, but will certainly put the needs of political leaders above these citizens. Because common citizens are under-represented in positions that hold real power, it is much easier to manipulate these citizens and provide the illusion of meeting their needs rather than actually satisfying them. Certainly there is a desire to appease common citizens to achieve harmony and curry favor. But current leaders tend to do and say alot of things in the moment to get elected, and then deviate on their promises soon after.
1. What did Luther think of the role of secular leaders?
ReplyDeleteLuther believed that secular leaders were responsible for preserving and for protecting the Christian faith throughout the world. In order to do so successfully, these leaders are permitted to use "the sword" against all evils. Christians were expected to obey these leaders (even if they are cruel) because their actions are done with the best interests of God and the faith of the people. However, if faith were to be forced upon the people by the Secular Rulers, the people have permission to resist order.
2. What did Luther think of the common citizen?
Luther believed that the common citizen belonged to the Kingdom of the World, which suffered fro sin and wickedness. He believed that these citizens were not true Christians, but they could be saved by following the Commandments and the teachings of God. He believed that the Gospel was what kept this kingdom from being savage and chaotic.
3. What do you think the current US government thinks of the common citizen?
Unfortunately, I believe that the US government claims that it wants to satisfy the needs of the common citizens, but only says this to benefit the reputation of the government. An example of this is when politicians volunteer at soup kitchens or visit homeless shelters in order to appear as if they truly want to help these people, but they also manage to bring in many cameras and news reporters to publicize their "heroic" and "selfless" acts. This proves that their only intentions are to gain support from common citizens.
1. Luther thought that secular leaders served an important function in the State and protecting Religion. Luther says that secular authority derives from God. Therefore, Luther believes that is the role of secular leaders to exert God's will by punishing the "wicked" and protecting the "upright."
ReplyDelete2. Luther believes that since the "wicked outnumber the good" the common citizen is wicked. Therefore, the common citizen, or non-Christian, may not rule over any jurisdiction. Rather, they must belong to a second kingdom in which they are ruled by the tenants of Christianity.
3. The current US government views the common citizen as an important section of the American population. Where the common citizen in Luther's framework was the non-Christian, in the United States, the common citizen is the middle-class American. In the current executive administration, there appears to be an emphasis on the interests of the middle class as evidenced by the introduction of policies like the Affordable Care Act. However, if the recent Occupy Wall Street protests are any indication, then the government as a whole does not value the interests of the common citizen, or at the very least, they do not feel as if they interests are being valued.
1.Luther feels that secular leaders were very important to the state in order to protect religion. He feels it is the secular leaders job to punish the wicked and protect the christians because their power derives from god. Christians cannot interfere because revenge is the lords.
ReplyDelete2. Luther believes that the common citizen is naturally wicked because in society the wicked outnumber the good. Because the common citizen is not christian they are not fit to rule. They must reside in a separate society where they are ruled by christians.
3. According to luther the common citizen is a non christian, however, in American society the middle class makes up the common citizen. Every politician wishes to receive the middle classes support because it is by far the most populated class. I feel that the US government wishes to please the common citizen solely for their support. Politicians organize their campaigns around what the people will support. The US has grown away from wishing to please the common citizen for the benefit of society to, pleasing them in order to gain their support on future political decisions.
1) Luther believes that Secular leaders are the guardians and the true Christians of the world that have previously been exposed to the root of the evils in the world. According to Luther, Christians must not sin and have to practice the teachings of Jesus, they cannot attack their enemies with arms. Instead, secular leaders fight for those who cannot fight; the Christians. Because of the protection that secular leaders offer, Christians are obliged to follow their orders.
ReplyDelete2) Luther thought fairly low of the common citizen. Luther believes that, because common citizens live in a secondary world, which according to Luther, common citizens lives in sin. Due to their sinful lives, common citizens are not true christians. This prompts Luther into stating, the only way that a common citizen can become a true Christian is by strictly following God and Christianity.
3)I believe that the US government does a good job providing for it’s common citizens. Through social programs, the US tries to provide many common citizens with a means of obtaining a better life. On the other hand, however, I believe that political leaders use these social programs as a mean to obtain their power, and by providing these needs for common citizens, leaders are able to potentially mask their true intentions. Ultimately, I think that the US does a much better job than other countries in terms of satisfying their common citizens.
1) Luther believed that secular leaders were incredibly important. He believed that secular law is important because not everyone in the world is going to be Christian, so the world needs secular law to make sure people live a virtuous life. Secular leaders also have the power to protect secular leaders.
ReplyDelete2) Luther believed in two groups of people (like St. Augustine): the kingdom of the world and the kingdom of god. He believed the common citizen lived in the kingdom of the world. He thought they were not really christian, but they had the ability to find god and live through god.
3) I think the US Government wants to help the common citizen. It understands that one's socioeconomic placement is often determined by where they're born. The US Government is trying to help out the less fortunate and make sure they can still live a good life even if they are poor. That is the point of welfare and Obamacare.