7
“The now almost universally acknowledged principles
of religious freedom, liberty of conscience, the rule of law, separation of powers and constitutionally limited republics were unthinkable before the Reformation.” — The Reformation Society, Cape Town, South Africa
8
“The Protestant Reformation was one of the most far-
reaching events of the last millennium. It ended the millennium-old hegemony of the Catholic Church in Western Europe and altered political and economic fortunes wherever it reached.” — Sascha O. Becker, Steven Pfaff and Jared Rubin, professors
9
“I have a hard time picturing several aspects of the modern
world without Luther.” — Martin E. Marty, ELCA pastor and professor
10 11
“The true treasure of the church is the most holy
gospel of the glory and grace of God.” —Martin Luther, thesis 62
“Luther was the man who, guided by experience in the
life of his own soul, again made people understand the original and true meaning of the gospel of Christ.” — Herman Bavinck (1854-1921), theologian
12
“Luther knew what it felt like for the law to convict
him, accuse him, leave him with nowhere to rest. And if you want to know what really sparked the Protestant Reformation it is the fact that feeling this way, Luther ... believed that God’s grace is a gift, [and] no longer accepted what the church had for so long taught: that we are really saved by the works of the law. The medieval church had pawned off law as gospel, and Luther dared to know the difference, and then he became a preacher of grace, and that changed everything.” — Nadia Bolz-Weber, pastor, House for All Sinners and Saints, Denver
13
“Perhaps Luther’s greatest achievement was the
German Bible. No other work has had as strong an impact on a nation’s development and heritage as has this Book.” — Henry Zecher in Christianity Today
14
“The Bible ceased to be a foreign book in a foreign
tongue, and became naturalized, and hence far more clear and dear to the common people. Hereafter the Reformation depended no longer on the works of the Reformers, but on the book of God, which everybody could read for himself as his daily guide in spiritual life. This inestimable blessing of an open Bible for all … marks an immense advance in church history, and can never be lost.” — Philip Schaff (1819-93), theologian and church historian
15
“With no ‘spiritual license’ to teach and preach
and write in public, with no recognized official role to do so, the most important stimulus for Protestant women to write theologically came from their understanding of the Word and external reasons: a necessity to defend others, to intervene on behalf of others, to show care for ‘theirs’ as well as others, to teach those they cared about, and to speak the word of truth when it was needed, and to respond to the call of the gospel as they saw it.” — Kirsi Stjerna, ELCA pastor and professor
16 17
“In essentials, unity; in differences, liberty; in all
things, charity.” — Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560), reformer and theologian
“What have Luther and Melanchthon taught save
the Word of God? You have condemned them. You have not refuted them. Where do you read in the Bible that Christ, the apostles, and the prophets imprisoned, banished, burned, or murdered anyone?” — Argula von Grumbach (1492-1568), reformer and author
VOICES OF FAITH •
LIVINGLUTHERAN.ORG 31
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52