Love, Violence, and Insurrection: Lutheran Thoughts at the 500th anniversary of the Peasants' War

This paper analyses Luther’s theological and political outcomes in 1525 with a focus on his responses to the violence and devastations of the Peasants' War. In addition, the paper provides an analysis of how Luther’s emphasis had changed from his earlier writings promoting universal priesthood to promote a more authoritative and hierarchical approach to biblical interpretation. The paper aims to present an overview of the events and Luther’s writings to analyze the development and premises behind Luther’s often polemic and controversial argumentation with long-lasting consequences.  By clarifying Luther’s theological premises his societal thought is built on, the paper argues that by placing justifying grace and society based on reliable, just, and fair government as directive premises to conduct theologically sound life as a Christian, Lutheran theology can promote theologically grounded peace and oppose violence in the variety of contexts 500 years later in contemporary societies and times to come.

This paper brings The Freedom of a Christian in dialogue with Martin Luther's later socio-political works, Martin Luther's Warning to His Dear German People (1531) and the Circular Disputation on the Right of Resistance against the Emperor (1539), to establish a clear path unfolding within Luther’s socio-political treatises. Luther's highly nuanced position advocating for Christian resistance against temporal authority adheres to the paradox of Christian existence, “A Christian person is a free lord above everything and subject to no one; a Christian person is a devoted-peer servant of everything and subject to everyone,” and is wedded to the concept of “counter-insurrection" in defense of the divinely gifted Tribus Hierarchiis. In this way, Luther's conception of Christian freedom and responsibility does not betray his characteristic concern about chaos and disorder and allows for Christian socio-political resistance while staying within the confines of faith working itself out in the “law of love.” 

2025 is both the 500th anniversary of the Peasant's War and Luther's marriage to Katharina von Bora.  How do Luther's views help us think about discipline and order in society and in our families?  What type of faith will help us imagine relationships grounded in love rather than violence?