Luther's Theology of Faith

A treatise of his from 15 23 deals with the question of how far one should obey secular power. Luther makes a central distinction between worldly affairs and affairs of faith. Secular authorities have no authority whatever in what we might call matters of conscience. They cannot enforce adherence to any particular set of religious beliefs, if only because this is simply not possible. As luther puts it, every man runs his own risk in believing as he does, and he must see to it himself that he believes rightly. Because faith is a free act to which no one can be forced.