Since I am part Jewish, I think you guys need to see my take on Luther's hatred of the Jews. It is important that this man is the essence of Covenant Theology and his fruits eminate out of the doctrine and power mix that is real Covenant Theology. In other words, there is a pattern here:
The wonders of the internet. I searched around as I often do and was taken aback by what we can learn from an unbeliever named James Walker. This man has a website http://www.nobeliefs.com/luther.htm . I quote him in words relating to the anti semitism shown by the Protestant Reformer, which is not surprising given the understanding that this man ENGAGED IN SACRALISM AND IN THE PERSECUTION OF PEOPLE WHO WERE UNDER THE THUMB OF SACRAL POWER. This is what Mr Walker says about Martin Luther:
"Unfortunately few popular books on Luther go into detail about Luther's anti-Jewishness, or even mention that he had a hatred for Jews at all. This has resulted in a biased outlook towards Martin Luther and Christianity. This unawareness of Luther's sinister side, while honoring his "righteousness" leads to a ratcheting promotion of Luther which supports a "good" public image while also transporting his Jewish beliefs to those who carry the seeds of anti-Semitism. This will present an unwanted dilemma for many Christians because Luther represents the birth of Protestant Christianity as well as the genesis of the special brand of Jewish hatred that flourished only in Germany.
Although Luther did not invent anti-Jewishness, he promoted it to a level never before seen in Europe. Luther bore the influence of his upbringing and from anti-Jewish theologians such as Lyra, Burgensis, (and John Chrysostom, before them). But Luther's 1543 book, "On the Jews and their lies" took Jewish hatred to a new level when he proposed to set fire to their synagogues and schools, to take away their homes, forbad them to pray or teach, or even to utter God's name. Luther wanted to "be rid of them" and requested that the government and ministers deal with the problem. He requested pastors and preachers to follow his example of issuing warnings against the Jews. He goes so far as to claim that "We are at fault in not slaying them" for avenging the death of Jesus Christ. Hitler's Nazi government in the 1930s and 40s fit Luther's desires to a tee.
So vehemently did Luther speak against the Jews, and the fact that Luther represented an honorable and admired Christian to Protestants, that his written words carried the "memetic" seeds of anti-Jewishness up until the 20th century and into the Third Reich. Luther's Jewish eliminationist rhetoric virtually matches the beliefs held by Hitler and much of the German populace in the 1930s."
Needless to say, God could not have looked upon Martin Luther with generosity because of this hatred alone, not to mention the doctrinal misuse of law and government that drove him to political power in the first place! Here is just one of the many disturbing quotes that Luther made that flies in the face of Romans chapter 11 and Paul's refusal to hate his Jewish brothers:
"If we wish to wash our hands of the Jews' blasphemy and not share in their guilt, we have to part company with them. THEY MUST BE DRIVEN FROM OUR COUNTRY."
Originally Posted by harald
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