Vocations have their authorities, and they also have their authorizations, to the point that some actions are sinful when done outside of vocation but are good works when done within vocation. Luther gave as examples the soldiers’ authorization, under a Romans 13 chain of command, to “bear the sword,” and the judges’ authorization to punish criminals, while the Christian without these callings must forgive his enemies and wrongdoers (see LW 46:87–137). The principle also explains why sex outside of marriage is immoral, but sex within marriage is moral. The difference is not “a piece of paper.”
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