However, Luther's brusqueness is also echoed. It may have been the spirit of his day, or Luther's German translates harshly into English, but the tone of Luther's words is more polemic than irenic. It is a tone not necessarily that attracts new converts.
But is Luther's tone warranted? Is there a time and a place for harsh words? Certainly the Holy Writers of Scripture were moved by God to speak harshly to God's people in both the Old and New Testaments. Prophets warned the Jewish people about being hardened in their hearts and not hearing with their ears-they were a "stiff-necked people." The Apostle James likewise has to admonish his readers in his epistle. James addresses the anti-nomian (the belief one no longer needs the Law) beliefs of his day, as well as attitudes of neglect and unconcern for one's fellow human. Jude's letter is far from positive. But should Luther have taken such a tone in his treatise?
The late Reggie White (Green Bay Packer player and ordained minister) made some comments some years ago before the Wisconsin state legislature. In this speech he made sweeping comments and generalizations about various groups of people. I thought to myself, if I was a member of a various ethnic group mentioned, would I want to be a member of a church Mr. White was a pastor at? He made comments about homosexuals. If I were gay, or struggling with my sexuality, would I go to such a person? A pastor I know likes to remind us that "If you don't speak the truth in love, you don't speak the truth." Sometimes those behaviors are best left dealt with on a personal, one-on-one basis.
Luther also mentions the prophesy that "the scepter will not depart from Judah until Shiloh comes." It seems that Luther had this discussion before. In his treatise "That Jesus Christ was Born a Jew" Luther tread the same ground. The debate seems to be about semantics and words. And isn't that true even today? Some Christians insist that Saturday is the true Sabbath-even though "Sabbath" is a Hebrew word meaning "rest." Why cannot a person rest on Sunday, or Wednesday, or Friday? Paul himself warned Timothy: "Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen." The words are what the words are. One can add or take away from God's Word by the semantics and word play in one's theological discourse. An excellent example of the word play that has no benefit is Paul's directives for an overseer: "The husband of one wife." What does that mean exactly? It would seem at first glance that a man should only have one wife. Yet there are some who insist that a man can only marry once and cannot re-marry as a pastor if his wife dies.
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