Introduction:
Part 8
Martin Luther warned us: "I greatly fear that the universities, unless they teach the Holy Scriptures diligently and impress them on the young students, are wide gates to hell. I would advise no one to send his child where the Holy Scriptures are not supreme. Every institution that does not unceasingly pursue the study of God's word becomes corrupt." (Luther's Works: Vol. 1, The Christian in Society: p. 207) "The sophists [those using dialectic 'reasoning,' i.e., facilitators of 'change,' making 'reasoning' subject to "human feelings," i.e., to the affective domain in order to know 'truth'], nevertheless, rise proudly up, hold their ears, close their eyes, and turn away their heart just so that they may fill all ears with their human words, and alone may occupy the stage so that no one will bark against their assertion[s] ... The word of man is sacred and to be venerated, but God's word is handed over to whores ... the meaning of sin ... is dependent on the arbitrary choice of the sophists." "The sophists have imposed tyranny and bondage upon our freedom to such a point that we must not resist that twice accursed Aristotle [who taught that man's heart, i.e., his passion or affective domain is neither good nor evil in itself, only needing proper upbringing or training—understanding or education—to become good], but are compelled to submit. Shall we therefore be perpetually enslaved and never breath in Christian liberty, nor sigh from out of this Babylon for our scriptures and our home?" "Miserable Christians, whose words and faith still depend on the interpretations of men and who expect clarification from them! This is frivolous and ungodly. The Scriptures are common to all, and are clear enough in respect to what is necessary for salvation and are also obscure enough for inquiring minds ... let us reject the word of man." (Luther's Works: Vol. 32, Career of the Reformer: II, pp. 216, .217)
© Institution for Authority Research, Dean Gotcher 2016