Give a response about Race and Religion book, philosophy homework help

Give a response about Race and Religion book, one page. read sample

Sample Reading Response

In the Freedom of a Christian, Martin Luther makes some seemingly inconsistent moves
regarding the relationship between faith and works in the Christian life. I found them
troublesome because, in trying to establish the role of faith—that one with faith is saved
by God’s grace—he tries to establish this as sufficient for salvation—we ought only seek
to rest in god’s grace and seek to please God. Later in the piece, however, he says
Christians should not to reject good works; rather, Christians ought to cherish and teach
good works: “good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works”
(69). Soon after, though, Luther contends, “[a] Christian has no need of any work or any
law to be saved” (70). The question, then, is why ought we to engage in works at all?
Why ought we to show love for our neighbor? If sitting in silent, faithful prayer, wholly
fixated on showing one’s love to God, knowing that in this act God’s grace will grant
salvation, why should one exhibit “outward” acts of love? The Christian, Luther later
states, “cannot ever be idle and without works towards his neighbors, for he will
necessarily speak, deal with, and exchange views with men” (73). Does it follow from
this contention that the very nature of Christian life—a life knowing only faith and grace
will grant salvation—will lead one to act with reference to Christ’s example to help one’s
neighbor? It seems to me that Luther is suggesting the following things in this text: (1)
faith in God is the primary obligation of the Christian life; (2) a life of faith leads to good
character (or as good a character as one marked with original sin can lead, hence the need
for God’s grace); and (3) the nature of (Christian) life brings one into contact with others
and, following Christ’s examples, a Christian is to help the neighbor.