I have always heard different things about Martin Luther. I think his thoughts on grace were right on. However, recently while reading "Jerusalem Countdown" by John Hagee I came across some information that disturbed me greatly. I have worked at a couple "Lutheran" churches and I have never heard an inkling of this. Here is what I read.
Martin Luther
(A.D. 1483-1546)
It was Martin Luther whose anit-Semitism was deeply appreciated by Adolf Hitler. "The worst, evil genius of Germany," wrote Dean Inge, "is not Hitler, or Bismarck, or Frederick the Great, but Martin Luther."
When Martin Luther introduced the Reformation. he was convinced that the Jewish people would be delighted in his new version of Christianity and would join him in an assault on the Roman Catholic Church. He was wrong! In the beginning, Luther made complimentary remarks about the Jewish contribution to Christianity. When the Jews did not follow him, he turned on them with a vulgarity and a vengeance that greatly appealed to the German people.
His doctrine provided many suitable texts for Hitler's program of extermination. The most vicious, Jew-hating statements Luther ever made were to be found in his tract entitled "Concerning the Jews and Their Lives." In it he stated:
Let me give you my honest advice.
First, their synagogues or churches should be set on fire. And whatever does not burn up should be covered or spread over with dirt so that no one may ever be able to see a cinder or stone of it. And this ought to be done for the honor of God and of Christianity in order that God may see that we are Christians...
Secondly, their homes should be broken down and destroyed. Thirdly, they should be deprived of their prayer books and the Talmud in which such idolatry, lies, cursing, and blaspheme are taught. Fourthly, their rabbis must be forbidden under the threat of death to teach anymore...
Fifthly, passport and traveling privileges should be absolutely forbidden to Jews. Let them stay at home. Sixthly, they ought to be stopped for usury. For this reason, as said before, everything they possess they stole and robbed us through their usury, for they have no other means of support. Seventhly, let the young and strong Jews and Jewesses be given the flail, the axe, the hoe, the spade, the distaff, and spindle, and let them earn their bread by the sweat of their noses as is enjoined upon Adam's children. We ought to drive the lazy bones out of our system.
If however, we are afraid that they might harm us personally, or our wives, children, servants, cattle, et cetera...then let us apply the same cleverness (expulsion) as the other nations, such as France, Spain, Bohemia, et cetera...and settle with them for that which they have extorted from us, and after having it divided up fairly, let us drive them out of the country for all time.
To sum up, dear princes and notables who have Jews in your domains, if this advice of mine does not suit you, then find a better one so that you and we may all be free from this inseparable Jewish burden...the Jews.
Two days after writing this tract, Martin Luther died!
Now this is the first that I have ever heard of anything like this about Martin Luther. If this information is correct, and Luther did in fact write these things I am ashamed to have worked for a couple Lutheran churches.
Please tell me when Luther said these things. What response was there from others? What does the Lutheran church have to say about these writings and comments? Please let me know. I was amazed to read this. For those of you that attend a Lutheran church or a Lutheran seminary, how does this make you feel? Please respond.
Thank you.
