| Lutherans and Synergism, A Clarification |
 |
 |
 |
| Written by David Lawrence |
| Monday, August 06 2007 00:00 |
|
In a recent devotional on “The Uniqueness of Grace,” which seems to have generated considerable response (for which we are most grateful), this statement was made: Lutherans and Wesleyans have structurally modified the concept of grace to admit for more of man, a kind of synergistic salvation. We received a response from one of our subscribers who has a Lutheran friend that found this statement confusing. In order to address her concerns, I checked several Lutheran sources, all of which adamantly denied that Lutherans believe in any kind of synergism (meaning that man cooperates with God in his salvation. Of course, I mean his election, regeneration, faith, justification, and adoption; man certainly cooperates with God in his sanctification, but under the direction, of course, of the Holy Spirit, making sanctification ultimately a work of God). Lutherans of the Missouri Synod do affirm the doctrines of grace, and in fairness, I want to clarify that point. Perhaps I was influenced by my Lutheran commentaries which I have used for so many years edited by R.C.H. Lenski who makes very disparaging remarks about many Reformed doctrines. There is no doubt where Luther stood: it was sovereign grace all the way with him. His disciple Philip Melancthon, however, made some moves in the opposite direction in his Loci Communes Theologici. Most Lutheran theologians steer a middle course. Their rhetoric and confessional statements are firm affirmations of grace, but when their doctrines are examined carefully, especially in areas of election, apostasy, the call of God, and the intent of Christ in the atonement, there is at least an implicit synergism. For example this citation: “…many of the great [Lutheran] dogmaticians followed Melancthon’s emphasis on God’s universal saving will alone. This led many (for example, the great Johann Gerhard) to teach the synergistic doctrine of intuitu fidei (God elects in view of foreseen faith)” (Scott L. Keith, “The Lutheran Doctrine of Predestination: A Melanchthonian Perspective” in Modern Reformation (July-Aug 2007), p. 33.) Probably most of our readers would not be interested in a detailed further discussion; however, for those of you who are, I would refer you to the latest edition (July-August 2007) of Modern Reformation, pages 32-37 and two excellent articles by Lutheran scholars Scott L. Keith and Rick Ritchie. For now, I am happy to modify my statement by excluding Missouri Synod Lutherans who in rhetoric and in actual belief disavow any form of synergistic salvation! |
Join our Devo Mailing List
We'd be honored to send you our devotionals via email. To be included on our list please visit our Contact page and write us a request.