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The Historic Faith
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Question 1
David Bercot argues that modern evangelicals often assume they match both early Christians and Luther; after hearing his summary of Luther’s view (“total depravity” leading to “arbitrary” predestination), what parts of Luther’s picture of God feel hardest to reconcile with God’s mercy and justice, and why?
Another way to ask: After hearing Luther’s view (total depravity and predestination), what parts of his view of God are hardest to fit with God being merciful and just, and why?

Direct Answer Based on David Bercot’s summary, the hardest part to reconcile is Luther’s claim that God “arbitrarily predestined” some to receive faith while leaving the rest “necessarily damnable,” because it seems to make God’s mercy selective and His justice detached from human response.

Support from Transcript:

  • Bercot says Luther taught humans are “so totally depraved that he is unable even to have faith in God,” so only those God gives faith can believe.
  • He defines “arbitrarily” as not based on “any desire, faith, righteousness, actions, or even prayers of the recipient.”
  • Luther is quoted lamenting: “the very One who saves so few and damns so many” and “makes us necessarily damnable.”
  • Bercot concludes this means, in practice, “the predestined are saved by grace alone, and the rest of mankind are eternally damned.”
  • He contrasts this with early Christian insistence that reward/punishment presuppose genuine choice.
Discussion Follow-ups If God’s decision is not tied to anything in the person—not even prayer—what becomes of biblical calls to “choose life” and repent?

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