I tend not to label myself or associate myself too closely with any one particular school of theological or denominational thought, political party, musical style, social class, etc. I don't usually have a problem admitting which of these I tend to lean towards, I just refuse to be categorized because I think it can cause us to live according to the constraints of those labels rather than in our identity in Christ alone. One particular label that I've never taken, though I'm sure many would claim I fit into, is being "reformed" in my theological views.
Martin Luther is known as the initiator of the Protestant Reformation. I won't get into it here, but in the past I had a very negative view of him. However, I'm starting to appreciate him more as a result of reading Christus Victor. Gustaf Aulen dedicates a whole chapter to how Martin Luther's writings were incredibly in line with "the classic idea" of the atonement, a rescue mission in which Jesus incarnation, life, death, and resurrection all played crucial parts in God's plan to set creation free from the curse of the fall and end the reign of the devil over mankind. Aulen made this point because many people who identify with being "reformed" think that Luther had a penal substitution view of Jesus' work.
Here's an excerpt from one of Luther's writings. Decide for yourself what kind of picture of the atonement he's painting, a rescue, or a legal transaction.
"What is it now to be a 'Lord'? It is this, that He has redeemed me from sin, from the devil, from death and all woe. For before, I had not yet had any Lord, nor King, but had been held captive by the devil's power, doomed to death, ensnared in sin and blindness...
...Now, therefore, those tyrants and gaolers are all crushed, and in their place is come Jesus Christ, a Lord of Life, righteousness, all good and holiness, and He snatched us poor lost men from the jaws of hell, won us, made us free, and brought us back to the Father's goodness and grace."
I found a couple more blog posts from people exploring the implications of a Christus Victor view, if you're interested. Click here. and here
1 comment:
Wow. I find it interesting that you used to have a negative view of Martin Luther. Maybe it's because I don't know enough to have a negative view of him, but I was always intrigued by his 95 theses.
In that excerpt I would definetley say it sounds like a rescue. His writing sounds like a man gushing with thankfulness over Jesus being His Savior. That He was saved and rescued and was returned to "The Father's goodness and grace." A legal transaction doesn't neccesarily mean a life change it just means that you get something. I would argue that God's grace, forgiveness, and love does not leave your life unchanged.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'm wishing I had a geetar tonight. I need to write some music, while I'm feeling inspired and thoughtful. lol :-)
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