Jesus Ignores Sola Fide; Prefers Loving Care For Community

Jesse is making heavy weather of 16th century theological notions that contributed to the formation of protestantism. Especially, lately, the principle known as sola fide, coined by Martin Luther. There are a few serious misreadings that Jesse has inherited but remains ignorant of: he’s not an educated scholar. Principally that Paul’s totalizing concern in the 1st century church was the escalating tension between the increasingly dominant gentile christian community and the original Jerusalem church of Jews. Paul was adamant that Christian gentiles not be made to observe Jewish law as necessary for redemption. 16th century Protestant reformation used this discourse of St Paul’s to critique the Roman emphasis on the call of faith to all christians to be actively willing disciples and join in the caring for community that is at the heart of Christian practice. Luther began the effort to elasticize St Paul’s dialectic of Law into an attack on 16th century Catholic moral systems of casuistry. Since Vatican II, however, consensus on theological work in the 60 years leading up to the council, principally by the figures of what is called the nouvelle theologie, described “actual grace” as the unmerited saving act of god and “sanctifying grace” as the continuing effort of the Holy Slirit to lead us into living good lives. These moments of choosing to do good necessarily involve our own agreeing will, our co-participation in the deity’s work. Radical protestantism cannot abide this admonition of Paul’s:

“… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure…”

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But actually it is Jesus who presents the biggest problem to sola fide. And I’ll let the Word of God speak for himself. NOTE THAT CONSCIOUSNESS OF CHRIST IS NOT EVEN REQUIRED TO BE SAVED! Much less faith.

Matthew 25 - The Judgment of the Nations

31 “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. 34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? 38 And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? 39 And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”