This thesis is grounded in Martin Luther’s The Freedom of
a Christian and seeks to reflect on the traditional Protestant dualism regarding marriages between believers and
non-believers. It re-examines the distinction between the sacred and the secular within marriage and explores how to provide pastoral care for such unions. Luther was among the first accepted this type of marriage in " The Estate of Marriage
" in 1522. He did not ignore the tension in it, but from a deep
understanding of human limitation. For Luther,
the sanctification of marriage is not
achieved through human perfection, but is rooted in God’s creative act.
The thesis is structured around three dimensions:
1.Theological Dimension
Drawing on the concept of “the righteousness of Christ,” Luther emphasizes that marriage is a divine creation. He rejects the medieval dichotomy between the sacred and the secular and asserts that marriage belongs to the secular kingdom. Furthermore, marriage is a common grace from God, not to be restricted by faith, status, or identity.
2.Ethical Dimension
Through “the righteousness of the Christian,” marriage is viewed as a divine vocation. At its core, marriage is about mutual love and support. By trusting in Christ and practicing love for God and neighbor, Christians live out a life of both freedom and responsibility within the secular world.
3.Pastoral Dimension
This study suggests adopting virtue ethics as the pastoral direction, understanding the reality of believers with a compassionate and caring attitude, and replacing the law with the gospel to help believers and non-believers establish marriages based on Christian core values.
Ultimately, this thesis aims to challenge the traditional church rejection of marriages between believers and
non-believers. It offers a theological and pastoral framework rooted in Luther’s thought, presenting marriage as a space where the gospel and love can be actively lived out.
