Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance. It is laying hold of His willingness.
Martin LutherRead
A theologian is born by living, nay dying and being damned, not by thinking, reading, or speculating.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True understanding comes from lived experience and personal struggle, not merely intellectual pursuits.
In this quote, Martin Luther emphasizes that genuine theological insight and wisdom stem from the realities of life, including suffering and moral challenges, rather than from academic study alone. He posits that the essence of theology is deeply rooted in personal experience and existential trials, suggesting that real enlightenment is forged in the crucible of lifeβs hardships.
Themes
TheologyExperienceWisdomLifeStruggle
In practice
Example use cases
During a seminar on personal growth, one might quote Luther to illustrate the importance of experiential learning.
More from Martin Luther
All quotes βNow 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
Similar quotes
To understand is nothing, but to be understood-that is the problem and the source of anguish. The soul throbs and would have the other know-but can not and feels isolated. Then come gestures, words, awkward explanations and material symbols for imponderable outbursts of feeling-and the soul despairs.
Andre GideRead
We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people... it is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
John Quincy AdamsRead
For America, our interests are our values, and our values are our interests.
John MccainRead
Despite the obvious emphasis of Scripture (in regard to suffering), we are bombarded by suggestions that the 'successful' Christian living takes place in the realm of constant victory, health, wholeness, and financial prosperity. In response to this we are not to pretend that suffering doesnβt exist or that it might be instantly cured. Such notions are the product of empty heads and closed Bibles.
Alistair BeggRead
Disbelief in futurity loosens in a great measure the ties of morality, and may be for that reason pernicious to the peace of civil society.
David HumeRead
Justice and peace can only thrive together, never apart.
Oscar AriasRead