Luther, Lewis, and the Mortification of Sin “Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly.” These words were uttered by the great reformer and theologian Martin Luther. Martin Luther certainly was a strange, contradictory man. On one hand, he was at the forefront of an intellectual movement that would change the world forever, ushering in the modern era, but on the other hand, he was a depressed and bipolar maniac who could be found screaming his throat out and rolling on the floor, bawling his eyes out. Perhaps it was his “crazy” nature which enabled him to have such a clear, crystal sharp view on what John Owen called the “mortification of sin.” The quote referenced above sums up in fifteen words the answer to what millions across the centuries have pondered—how does a Christian fight against sin? At first glance, this quote seems heretical. As the Catholic priest Father Patrick O’Hare said about it, “If the author of such an infamous suggestion as is involved in the words ‘sin boldly’ was not a child of Satan, none ever labored so strenuously in advancing his soul-destroying principles.” But was Luther really a heretic? Was the Father of the Reformation indeed, as O’Hare mildly puts, “a child of Satan?” I would argue that Monsignor O’Hare is in the wrong. A study of Luther’s works will show that he was fond of strong hyperbole (as a quick glance through The Bondage of the Will would show). What is Luther really saying in the quote? The first thing we ought to take note of is to recognize that it is a comparative statement. Luther is not commanding us to sin freely in our lives, but rather to rejoice in Christ all the more to overmatch the vices we commit each day. We have a Savior who is vibrant and alive! Were we to commit every sin in the world, Jesus would still be more than abundant for our sanctification. Luther is not telling us to sin; he is telling us to rejoice despite our sinning. Now that the confusion is cleared, and we know what Luther really means in this quote, how should we go about “sinning boldly?” The answer is shockingly simple: we must strive to live our lives to God’s glory, and whenever we fall, simply pray for forgiveness and continue advancing boldly in Christ. There is no need for us to be bogged down in the past—the things we have said, thoughts we have thought, and actions we have committed are only distractions from striving to live a holy life. Yes, we sin constantly. Luther recommends that we simply look to our savior and continue marching on. There is no magic system or hidden truth pertaining to the mortification of sin. The solution is persistence in Christ. C. S. Lewis in his work Perelandra also provides a good example of how Christians are to battle sin. In this tale, Ransom (the personification of Christianity) and Weston (the personification of the Devil) are both vying for the psychological control of the inhabitants of Venus. Ransom does not defeat Weston with great arguments, witty sayings, or quoting Bible passages—he physically assaults Weston. This is in accordance with Luther when he tells us to be bold. There is no room for subtlety in the fight against sin, as both authors show us. Only a fanatical fervor for Christ will defeat sin. An Islamic extremist will physically blow himself up to combat “Satan.” The Christian must learn from the Jihadist’s example and spiritually “blow himself up” so he can destroy sin and rise anew through the healing power of Christ.
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[ 1 ]. Luther, Martin. "Let Your Sins Be Strong." Letter to Philipp Melancthon. 01 Aug. 1521. MS. N.p.
[ 2 ]. O'Hare, Patrick F. The Facts About Luther. New York: F. Pustet, 1916. Print.
