Toby Sumpter’s Insistence That If Luther Were Alive Today He Would Repent

 “This sentiment (that Martin Luther would be excommunicated if he were alive today, which I’ve seen elsewhere) seems to suggest that we should not expect greater maturity over time and history. Many of the great heroes of the faith were immature in theology or morals because the Holy Spirit has been sanctifying the church over history. If a grown man continues to act like an 8 year old boy, that is a problem, don’t you think? But thank God for growth in holiness. I think it’s likely that Luther would not be excommunicated today because if he lived today he would have the benefit of the sanctification of the last 500 years. Cheers!”

Toby  Sumpter
Doug Wilson Lieutenant
Author of Blog — No Legs Still Walking

1.) Toby wants us to believe that the Church today is more mature than the Reformation Church of Martin Luther. That sentiment is to boggle the mind. Keep in mind also that Toby is saying here that not only is the Church today more mature than the Reformation Church of Martin Luther but old Toby is also saying that the Church today is more mature on this subject than the Christian Church has been for 2000 years. Luther’s position on this subject was the same as Chrysostom’s, the same as Augustine’s, the same as Calvin’s, the same as Origin’s, the same as St. Jerome’s, the same as Justin Martyr. If one scans the two books “Who is My Neighbor,” as well as Alexander Storen’s “A Survey of Racialism in Christian Sacred Tradition” one begins to see that Luther’s view on the subject at hand is a view that has been held by the Church in all times and in all places until the post-war consensus. One also has to consider all the Church councils that took place in Church history dealing with the Bagel problem. Old Toby would be wise to try and find a copy of Maurice Pinay’s “The Plot Against The Church,” and give it a read.

2.) Old Toby refuses to consider his other option on this matter. His other option is that Old Toby and his Federal Vision compatriots are the ones who are immature. It is possible that it is the Church today and not the Christian church throughout history that is in error regarding the Bagels.

3.) The idea that Martin Luther would, were he alive today, be a more mature man on the issue of the Bagels leaves one either incredulous or leaves one doubled over in laughter. Keep in mind that Luther only came to his conclusions regarding the Bagels after having great hopes for their conversion. It was only after seeing that they would not come into the Church that Luther wrote the book he wrote.

I would also recommend that Old Toby get a copy of E. Michael Jones’ “The Jewish Revolutionary Spirit,” and give it a read.

Addendum;

This is a note left in the comments from Ron that I thought should be added here;

Note to Toby:

“When Luther departed for Worms, his friends warned him that he may lose his life and even the cause of the evangelism will be lost. To this Luther replied, “It is unimportant what happens to Dr. Martin, and I suppose it is possible that I may not be able to save the cause of evangelism, but the point is that the truth be heard.” It is equally inconsequential what happens to each of us personally … but rather that the truth be spoken in our time as well.” pp. 149-50.

Elias Simojoki, ‘The Burning Bush’, trans. Jarno Alander

Hardly sounds to me like a man that needs to grow up to your level of holiness.

Cheers!

Author: jetbrane

I am a Pastor of a small Church in Mid-Michigan who delights in my family, my congregation and my calling. I am postmillennial in my eschatology. Paedo-Calvinist Covenantal in my Christianity Reformed in my Soteriology Presuppositional in my apologetics Familialist in my family theology Agrarian in my regional community social order belief Christianity creates culture and so Christendom in my national social order belief Mythic-Poetic / Grammatical Historical in my Hermeneutic Pre-modern, Medieval, & Feudal before Enlightenment, modernity, & postmodern Reconstructionist / Theonomic in my Worldview One part paleo-conservative / one part micro Libertarian in my politics Systematic and Biblical theology need one another but Systematics has pride of place Some of my favorite authors, Augustine, Turretin, Calvin, Tolkien, Chesterton, Nock, Tozer, Dabney, Bavinck, Wodehouse, Rushdoony, Bahnsen, Schaeffer, C. Van Til, H. Van Til, G. H. Clark, C. Dawson, H. Berman, R. Nash, C. G. Singer, R. Kipling, G. North, J. Edwards, S. Foote, F. Hayek, O. Guiness, J. Witte, M. Rothbard, Clyde Wilson, Mencken, Lasch, Postman, Gatto, T. Boston, Thomas Brooks, Terry Brooks, C. Hodge, J. Calhoun, Llyod-Jones, T. Sowell, A. McClaren, M. Muggeridge, C. F. H. Henry, F. Swarz, M. Henry, G. Marten, P. Schaff, T. S. Elliott, K. Van Hoozer, K. Gentry, etc. My passion is to write in such a way that the Lord Christ might be pleased. It is my hope that people will be challenged to reconsider what are considered the givens of the current culture. Your biggest help to me dear reader will be to often remind me that God is Sovereign and that all that is, is because it pleases him. View all posts by jetbrane