As it happened, I went to Fellowship Lutheran Church this morning because of the Sunday afternoon prayer course I've been teaching for them over the past six weeks. And when I got there I discovered that today is Reformation Sunday. It was on October 31, 1517 that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of All Saints' Church in Wittenberg, Germany.
Here are a few things Luther said that I've always liked:
If you are not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don't want to go there.
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Pray, and let God worry.
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Be thou comforted, little dog, Thou too in Resurrection shall have a little golden tail.
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God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.
Thank you. I believe that there are truths which transcend the church walls that we build
ReplyDeleteAndie
Ellie, I have been thinking all day about Martin Luther, about how important he is, about how incalculable his influence on western culture and civilisation is, about how he played such a significant role in the democratisation of western religion (saying services should be in a language people understand etc), and about how we so always need people who will nail stuff to doors and say "There is some shit I will not eat". Thank you. I love the quotes.
ReplyDeleteI really like the lighthearted flavor of these quotes. Thank you Sister!
ReplyDeleteannie C
I notice you didn't quote some of his other "gems" like On the Jews and Their Lies or On the Murdering and Ravening Hordes of Peasants.
ReplyDeleteCharming man.
It is true Luther was deeply flawed and some of his attitudes distinctly unchristian (though not uncommon in Germany in his day, I fear). Nevertheless, his actions in challenging the established church were heroic and his influence on western history and culture incalculable (and largely for the good, in my opinion).
ReplyDeleteAt least the listed comments are cool. I'm inclined to believe that there haven't been that many church fathers/mothers ever who didn't have bunch of skeletons in their closets - just like most ordinary people.
ReplyDeleteYes, as always, we need to consider the times.
ReplyDeleteAnd, of course, we're all mixtures. Me too.