Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance. It is laying hold of His willingness.
Martin LutherRead
The first thing I ask is that people should not make use of my name, and should not call themselves Lutherans but Christians. What is Luther? The teaching is not mine. Nor was I crucified for anyone...How did I, poor stinking bag of maggots that I am, come to the point where people call the children of Christ by my evil name?
Interpretation
What this quote means
Martin Luther emphasizes the importance of identifying as Christians rather than as followers of any human leader.
In this quote, Martin Luther expresses his concern about the appropriation of his name and the title of 'Lutherans' by those who follow his teachings. He believes that the true essence of faith should be centered on Christ, not on any individual, including himself. This reflects his humility and the core principle of the Reformation, which seeks to direct worship and identity towards Jesus rather than human figures or institutions.
Themes
ChristianityFaithIdentityHumilityReformation
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon about the importance of faith, a pastor might use this quote to encourage congregants to focus on Christ.
More from Martin Luther
All quotes →Now if I believe in God's Son and remember that He became man, all creatures will appear a hundred times more beautiful to me than before. Then I will properly appreciate the sun, the moon, the stars, trees, apples, as I reflect that he is Lord over all things. ...God writes the Gospel, not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.
Martin LutherRead
It is the part of a Christian to take care of his own body for the very purpose that, by its soundness and wellbeing, he may be enabled to labour, and to acquire and preserve property, for the aid of those who are in want, that thus the stronger member may serve the weaker member, and we may be children of God, and busy for one another, bearing one another's burdens, and so fulfiling the law of Christ.
Martin LutherRead
Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but more frequently than not struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God.
Martin LutherRead
We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands.
Martin LutherRead
In a mouse we admire God's creation and craft work. The same may be said about flies.
Martin LutherRead
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