As we move beyond the five-hundred-year anniversary of the Protestant reformulation on October 31, 2017, it is good for us to look back and examine how that all worked out for them. For, how are we to judge the fruit of a tree over the last 500 years unless we first examine the roots of that tree? Therefore, let us start from the beginning and blink our eyes at the 38 Most Ridiculous things that Martin Luther, the illustrious Father of Protestantism and the Bible-Only (sola-scriptura) movement, said. It is still hard to believe how we allowed and still allow this very plain instrument of Satan to divide God’s people . . .
Martin Luther on the Dignity and Majesty of God
- “I look upon God no better than a scoundrel” (ref. Weimar, Vol. 1, Pg. 487. Cf. Table Talk, No. 963).
- “Christ committed adultery first of all with the women at the well about whom St. John tell’s us. Was not everybody about Him saying: ‘Whatever has He been doing with her?’ Secondly, with Mary Magdalen, and thirdly with the women taken in adultery whom He dismissed so lightly. Thus even, Christ who was so righteous, must have been guilty of fornication before He died.” (ref. Trishreden, Weimer Edition, Vol. 2, Pg. 107. – What a great blasphemy from a man who is regarded as “great reformer”!).
- “I have greater confidence in my wife and my pupils than I have in Christ” (ref. Table Talk, 2397b).
- “It does not matter how Christ behaved – what He taught is all that matters” (ref. Erlangen Vol. 29, Pg. 126).
Martin Luther on the 10 Commandments
- “[The commandments] only purpose is to show man his impotence to do good and to teach him to despair of himself” (ref: Denifle’s Luther et Lutheranisme, Etude Faite d’apres les sources. Translation by J. Paquier (Paris, A. Picard, 1912-13), Volume III, p. 364).
- “We must remove the Decalogue out of sight and heart” (ref. De Wette 4, 188)
- “If we allow them – the Commandments – any influence in our conscience, they become the cloak of all evil, heresies and blasphemies” (ref. Comm. ad Galat, p.310).
- “It is more important to guard against good works than against sin.” (ref. Trischreden, Wittenberg Edition, Vol. VI., p. 160).
Martin Luther on the Material Necessity of Good Works
- “Good works are bad and are sin like the rest.” (ref. Denifle’s Luther et Lutheranisme, Etude Faite d’apres les sources. Translation by J. Paquier (Paris, A. Picard, 1912-13), VOl. III, pg. 47).
- “There is no scandal greater, more dangerous, more venomous, than a good outward life, manifested by good works and a pious mode of life. That is the grand portal, the highway that leads to damnation.” (ref. Denifle’s Luther et Lutheranisme, Etude Faite d’apres les sources. Translation by J. Paquier (Paris, A. Picard, 1912-13), VOl. II, pg. 128).
Martin Luther on the Importance of Free-Will
- “…with regard to God, and in all that bears on salvation or damnation, (man) has no ‘free-will’, but is a captive, prisoner and bond slave, either to the will of God, or to the will of Satan.” (ref. From the essay, ‘Bondage of the Will,’ ‘Martin Luther: Selections From His Writings, ed. by Dillenberger, Anchor Books, 1962 p. 190).
- “Man is like a horse. Does God leap into the saddle? The horse is obedient and accommodates itself to every movement of the rider and goes whither he wills it. Does God throw down the reins? Then Satan leaps upon the back of the animal, which bends, goes and submits to the spurs and caprices of its new rider… Therefore, necessity, not free will, is the controlling principle of our conduct. God is the author of what is evil as well as of what is good, and, as He bestows happiness on those who merit it not, so also does He damn others who deserve not their fate.” (ref. ‘De Servo Arbitrio’, 7, 113 seq., quoted by O’Hare, in ‘The Facts About Luther, TAN Books, 1987, pp. 266-267).
- “His (Judas) will was the work of God; God by His almighty power moved his will as He does all that is in this world.” (ref. De servo Arbitrio, against man’s free will).
- “No good work happens as the result of one’s own wisdom; but everything must happen in a stupor . . . Reason must be left behind for it is the enemy of faith.” (ref. Trischreden, Weimer VI, 143, 25-35).
Martin Luther on Christian Living
- “Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides… No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day.” (ref. ‘Let Your Sins Be Strong, from ‘The Wittenberg Project;’ ‘The Wartburg Segment’, translated by Erika Flores, from Dr. Martin Luther’s Saemmtliche Schriften, Letter No. 99, 1 Aug. 1521. – Cf. Also Denifle’s Luther et Lutheranisme, Etude Faite d’apres les sources. Translation by J. Paquier (Paris, A. Picard, 1912-13), VOl. II, pg. 404))
- “Do not ask anything of your conscience; and if it speaks, do not listen to it; if it insists, stifle it, amuse yourself; if necessary, commit some good big sin, in order to drive it away. Conscience is the voice of Satan, and it is necessary always to do just the contrary of what Satan wishes.” (ref. J. Dollinger, La Reforme et les resultants qu’elle a produits. (Trans. E. Perrot, Paris, Gaume, 1848-49), Vol III, pg. 248).
Martin Luther on Capital Punishment and Charity
- “If some were to teach doctrines contradicting an article of faith clearly grounded in Scripture and believed throughout the world by all Christendom, such as the articles we teach children in the Creed — for example, if anyone were to teach that Christ is not God, but a mere man and like other prophets, as the Turks and the Anabaptists hold — such teachers shuold not be tolerated, but punished as blasphemers . . . By this procedure no one is compelled to believe, for he can still believe what he will; but he is forbidden to teach and to blaspheme.” (ref. Luther’s Works [LW], Vol. 13, 61-62)
- “That seditious articles of doctrine should be punished by the sword needed no further proof. For the rest, the Anabaptists hold tenets relating to infant baptism, original sin, and inspiration, which have no connection with the Word of God, and are indeed opposed to it . . . Secular authorities are also bound to restrain and punish avowedly false doctrine . . . For think what disaster would ensue if children were not baptized? . . . Besides this the Anabaptists separate themselves from the churches . . . and they set up a ministry and congregation of their own, which is also contrary to the command of God. From all this it becomes clear that the secular authorities are bound . . . to inflict corporal punishment on the offenders . . . Also when it is a case of only upholding some spiritual tenet, such as infant baptism, original sin, and unnecessary separation, then . . . we conclude that . . . the stubborn sectaries must be put to death.” (ref. pamphlet of 1536; in Johannes Janssen, History of the German People From the Close of the Middle Ages, 16 volumes, translated by A.M. Christie, St. Louis: B. Herder, 1910 [orig. 1891]; Vol. X, 222-223)
Martin Luther on Social Justice
- “Peasants are no better than straw. They will not hear the word and they are without sense; therefore they must be compelled to hear the crack of the whip and the whiz of bullets and it is only what they deserve.” (ref. Erlangen Vol 24, Pg. 294).
- “To kill a peasant is not murder; it is helping to extinguish the conflagration. Let there be no half measures! Crush them! Cut their throats! Transfix them. Leave no stone unturned! To kill a peasant is to destroy a mad dog!” – “If they say that I am very hard and merciless, mercy be damned. Let whoever can stab, strangle, and kill them like mad dogs” (ref. Erlangen Vol 24, Pg. 294).
- “Like the drivers of donkeys, who have to belabor the donkeys incessantly with rods and whips, or they will not obey, so must the ruler do with the people; they must drive, beat throttle, hang, burn, behead and torture, so as to make themselves feared and to keep the people in check.” (ref. Erlangen Vol 15, Pg. 276).
Adolf HitlerMartin Luther on the Love of Jews - “My advice, as I said earlier, is: First, that their synagogues be burned down, and that all who are able toss sulphur and pitch; it would be good if someone could also throw in some hellfire… Second, that all their books– their prayer books, their Talmudic writings, also the entire Bible– be taken from them, not leaving them one leaf, and that these be preserved for those who may be converted…Third, that they be forbidden on pain of death to praise God, to give thanks, to pray, and to teach publicly among us and in our country…Fourth, that they be forbidden to utter the name of God within our hearing. For we cannot with a good conscience listen to this or tolerate it… He who hears this name [God] from a Jew must inform the authorities, or else throw sow dung at him when he sees him and chase him away”. (ref. Martin Luther; On the Jews and Their Lies, translated by Martin H. Bertram, Fortress Press, 1955).
- “Burn their synagogues. Forbid them all that I have mentioned above. Force them to work and treat them with every kind of severity, as Moses did in the desert and slew three thousand… If that is no use, we must drive them away like mad dogs, in order that we may not be partakers of their abominable blasphemy and of all their vices, and in order that we may not deserve the anger of God and be damned with them. I have done my duty. Let everyone see how he does his. I am excused.” (ref. About the Jews and Their Lies,’ quoted by O’Hare, in ‘The Facts About Luther, TAN Books, 1987, p. 290).
- “If I had to baptize a Jew, I would take him to the bridge of the Elbe, hang a stone round his neck and push him over with the words I baptize thee in the name of Abraham” (ref. Grisar, “Luther”, Vol. V. pg. 413).
- “The Jews deserve to be hanged on gallows seven times higher than ordinary thieves.” (ref. Weimar, Vol. 53, Pg. 502).
Martin Luther on the Sanctity and Dignity of Marriage
- “If the husband is unwilling, there is another who is; if the wife is unwilling, then let the maid come.” (ref. Of Married Life).
- “Suppose I should counsel the wife of an impotent man, with his consent, to giver herself to another, say her husband’s brother, but to keep this marriage secret and to ascribe the children to the so-called putative father. The question is: Is such a women in a saved state? I answer, certainly.” (ref. On Marriage).
- “It is not in opposition to the Holy Scriptures for a man to have several wives.” (ref. De Wette, Vol. 2, p. 459).
- “The word and work of God is quite clear, viz., that women are made to be either wives or prostitutes.” (ref. On Married Life).
- “In spite of all the good I say of married life, I will not grant so much to nature as to admit that there is no sin in it. .. no conjugal due is ever rendered without sin. The matrimonial duty is never performed without sin.” (ref. Weimar, Vol 8. Pg. 654. In other words for Luther the matrimonial act is “a sin differing in nothing from adultery and fornication.” ibid. What then is the purpose of marriage for Luther you may ask? Luther affirms that it’s simply to satisfy one’s sexual cravings “The body asks for a women and must have it” or again “To marry is a remedy for fornication” – Grisar, “Luther”, vol. iv, pg. 145).
Martin Luther on the Quality of Edifying Speech
- “What harm could it do if a man told a good lusty lie in a worthy cause and for the sake of the Christian Churches?” (ref. Lenz: Briefwechsel, Vol. 1. Pg. 373).
- “To lie in a case of necessity or for convenience or in excuse – such lying would not be against God; He was ready to take such lies on Himself” (ref. Lenz: Briefwechsel, Vol. 1. Pg. 375).
Martin Luther on Humility
- “St. Augustine or St. Ambrosius cannot be compared with me.” (ref. Erlangen, Vol. 61, pg. 422).
- “What I teach and write remains true even though the whole world should fall to pieces over it” (ref. Weimar, Vol. 18, Pg. 401).
Martin Luther on the value of Sacred Scripture
- “To my mind it (the book of the Apocalypse) bears upon it no marks of an apostolic or prophetic character… Everyone may form his own judgment of this book; as for myself, I feel an aversion to it, and to me this is sufficient reason for rejecting it.” (ref. ammtliche Werke, 63, pp. 169-170, ‘The Facts About Luther,’ O’Hare, TAN Books, 1987, p. 203).
- “If your Papist annoys you with the word (‘alone’ – Rom. 3:28), tell him straightway, Dr. Martin Luther will have it so: Papist and ass are one and the same thing. Whoever will not have my translation, let him give it the go-by: the devil’s thanks to him who censures it without my will and knowledge. Luther will have it so, and he is a doctor above all the doctors in Popedom.” (ref. Amic. Discussion, 1, 127,’The Facts About Luther,’ O’Hare, TAN Books, 1987, p. 201. Cf. Also J. Dollinger, La Reforme et les resultants qu’elle a produits. (Trans. E. Perrot, Paris, Gaume, 1848-49), Vol III, pg. 138).
- “The history of Jonah is so monstrous that it is absolutely incredible.” (ref. The Facts About Luther, O’Hare, TAN Books, 1987, p. 202).
- “…the epistle of St. James is an epistle full of straw, because it contains nothing evangelical.” (ref. ‘Preface to the New Testament,’ ed. Dillenberger, p. 19. – Cf. Also Jean Janssen, L’Allemagne et la Reforme. (Trans. E. Paris, Plon, 1887-1911). Vol II, Pg. 218).
– For more great quotes from the Father of Protestantism, visit Luther, Exposing the Myth. Also, check out my book Dead on Arrival: The Seven Fatal Errors of Sola-Scriptura.
9/16/13 – Addendum:
Even though you can find all of these quotes online, this compilation, ever since its publication, has received a lot of attention from our brothers and sisters in the protesting community. I have read all the comments on the blogs and message boards linked to this article, and here are some of their conclusions. (1) The book Table Talk is not a reliable reference for Martin Luther’s work (ONLY TWO quotes above come from Table Talk). (2) There is a problem with translating some of the quotes because some are from German or Latin to French to English rather than from German or Latin to English. (4) Luther’s violent comments against the peasants are to be contextualized in light of the Peasant Revolt in which he sided with the German Princes. (5) Luther’s violent comments against the Jews are to be contextualized in light of his disappointment that they didn’t receive his reformulation of the Gospel. (6) Luther’s comments against Scripture are true. (7) Luther’s comments against monogamous marriage are true (probably). (8) Luther’s violent comments against the Anabaptists are true, (9) Luther’s comments against the Catholic understanding of Freewill are true, and (10) The only writings of Luther that conservative Lutheran pastors are required to subscribe to (because they strictly reflect biblical doctrine) are the Small Catechism, the Large Catechism, and the Smalkald Articles.
Regarding one of the sources of this compilation (Luther, Exposing the Myth), Reformed protester and Martin Luther Apologist James Swan of William Paterson University has written a detailed critique. In crafting this compilation, I considered Swan’s response and ended up not including many of the quotes he had a good case against. In some cases, Swan was spot on, but in other cases, he would have been much better off not trying to contextualize or excuse Luther. In those cases, Swan’s intellectual honesty is betrayed by his passion for Luther.
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317 Comments
Gerard Haderlein
Rules for Radicals comes to mind.
Daniel Bader
Sorry, David. That's not good enough. If you agree with any of his critiques of your quotations, you should change your article, since it is now a false witness. It doesn't matter how otherwise bad Luther might be. False witness is false witness.
Tony Diggs
What's so terrible about a Christian "being' an anti-Semite. Jews are certainly anti-Christian.
Peter Gilfedder
Wow, I can't believe you are serious. Luther was the greatest anti-Semite who ever lived, and yes I include Hitler, Ahmadinejad, Arafat and Pharoah Rameses II.
James Swan
Because of Mr. Gray's blog entry, I looked into one of the quotes he did not cut-and-paste from Luther, Exposing the Myth. As it turns out, one of these other quotes probably wasn't written by Luther at all.
James Swan
#18 was not written by Luther, it was written by Melanchthon.
See:
http://beggarsallreformation.blogspot.com/2013/09/follow-upthe-38-most-ridiculous-things.html
Anonymous
Readers with a strong stomach can learn more by reading Jacques Maritain's Three Reformers: Luther, Descartes, Rousseau. I found it a real eye-opener.
Anonymous
Readers with a strong stomach can learn more by reading Jacques Maritain’s Three Reformers: Luther, Descartes, Rousseau. I found it a real eye-opener.
Stanley Holewa
For one it was not the Protestant Reformation it was the Protestant Revolt. They didn’t reform anything. I haven’t read all of this but when I do; I’ll comment.
Stanley Holewa
For one it was not the Protestant Reformation it was the Protestant Revolt. They didn’t reform anything. I haven’t read all of this but when I do; I’ll comment.
Farai
Yes they did…we now have bibles…
Michael Harris
Can't wait.
Arlene Gisselberg
I wish there were more a spirit of ecumenism here. Dietrich Bonhoeffer where are you to speak sense to ALL of these people? Martin Luther said many things…some truthful…others simply heretical rantings…but even Pope Emeritus Benedict has addressed this about Luther… We are the CHURCH…apart…together…whatever… this is exactly what the EVIL ONE wants… squabbling!!!! Over religion…not faith! I am sadden that we are not united as One Church…but I believe that one day we will be….and note to the Most Reverend Ash – trashing Holy Mother Church is not a good argument here… it only belies your inability to defend your point…
Arlene Gisselberg
Also many things Luther said at the end of his life when he had obviously declined in both physical and mental health…especially mental health…. I am not defending Luther here.. I am only stating fact. Of course, my grandmother may have said that Luther was suffering because of the course he chose… so who is to know…only God the Father… not you, I or anyone else. The Church gave Luther opportunities to clarify/defend/answer his accusations but he chose not to appear… He could have done more for Christianity by staying and changing the human failings within the Church at the time – but he chose otherwise… The Church took the only course left to it in excommunication. He had a choice…he actually had a duty…in which he failed. It was easier to let his human pride and ego direct has course…and so at the end of his life, he was an angry, ranting theologian. Only God's mercy could redeem him…but again, that would have been Luther's choice…let's hope he chose wisely at that time.
Jean Spearing
James Swan Catholicism is not embarrassed by this article, since one man's work does not reflect on the whole Church. The whole of Martin Luther's theology and the fruits of it is an embarrassment. More than 40,000 Christian denominations since the Protestant Revolt is embarrassing to all of Christianity.
Steven Marandola
really sick stuff…not at all a christian viewpoint..anyone have a similar one on the serial killer calvin?
Sara Adams
Pastor Ash, it is extremely rare that Catholics ever bring up such things. Heck, I didn't even know about any of this until now. We have always been on the other end of the stick…always being crticized, made fun of, etc. Every single misstep and misspoken word of ours is publicized abroad at a moment's notice. This is the first time I've ever read anything like this. I think you have the situation backwards about the log. Either way, we shouldn't take personal offence about facts. The Catholic Church has apologized about any mistreatment of Jews, and Lutherans should be able to do the same.
The statements/attitudes of Luther about the Jews need to be studied more carefully to assess the effect they had on the proliferation of Nazi ideals in Germany. There was nothing that came close to such vitriol in the Catholic Church. Pope Pius XII has ben unjustly maligned. It seems that the failure to stop the Holocaust may have fell more upon Lutheran culture than historians have thought .
Sara Adams
Above, I meant to write (in paragraph 2) "…the effect they had on future generations of Lutherans and the proliferation of Nazi ideals in Germany."
Steven Marandola
really sick stuff…not at all a christian viewpoint..anyone have a similar one on the serial killer calvin?
Jean Spearing
Marco, when did our Church state that our leaders make no mistakes? Are you referring to the doctrine of Infallibility? As David Gray recommended, you really ought to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church and make a good faith effort to understand it before you comment on it, and especially so if you convey fallacies about the Church as fact. The doctrine of infallibility does not state that the leaders make no mistakes. The Church teaches that we humans are sinners and have a fallen nature, which includes priests and bishops. But, the Church affirms in the doctrine of Infallibility that the Holy Spirit will protect the Church and its teachings until the end of time. Jesus Christ did not write a book, he taught publicly and then commissioned his Apostles to go and teach all nations (from Matthew: …18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.").
Do you think Jesus expected the Apostles to live long enough to travel to every nation on earth? Or perhaps when he promised to be with them always, he also meant he would guard their successors?
What about this quote from Matthew? (…17 And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."…)
The Catholic doctrine on infallibility of the Pope and bishops pertains only to their teaching authority on faith and morals, it does not pertain to their personal lives and how they live these lives. Every one of the Apostles sinned against Jesus, beginning with Peter who denied him, and Thomas who failed to believe in His resurrection. Yet Jesus commissioned them to teach TRUTHS and Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to them to protect these TRUTHS from corruption. Therefore, infallibility pertains to the power Christ invested in the Apostles and their successors to protect and pass on to new generations these TRUTHS without corrupting the TRUTHS in future centuries. This was absolutely necessary so that all generations until the end of the world would have access to these TRUTHS and be able to find God and to find their true relationship with God. So, when you doubt or deny infallibility, you doubt or deny Christ Himself who commissioned the Apostles and gave them this power to protect and teach the truth.
Also, what did Christ mean when he said to Peter, "and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven"? Does this have any meaning to you whatsoever, or do you think Jesus was speaking frivolously? It has some significant meaning Marco, I assure you. The Catholic interpretation of this verse is that the Apostles and their successors have the power to retain or forgive sins in Jesus name and Jesus binds their decisions in heaven. It can also be interpreted to mean that what the Church officially teaches as truth in faith or morals is ratified in heaven. The Apostles and their successors are protected by the Holy Sprit from ever teaching or binding error (it does not come from their power but from the Holy Spirit).
Sara Adams
It is believed that Luther's anti-semitism laid the groundwork for the "success" of the Nazi party and it's extermination of Jews.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_and_antisemitism#The_influence_of_Luther.27s_views
Jean Spearing
Oje Giwa-Amu Oh so you have read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, understand it all, and have dismissed it all as fallacy? And I assume you have proof of what page and line number is wrong and where we can find the correct interpretation of the doctrine you question? Or, God forbid, you are making this statement about a Church you have not thoroughly investigated on your own?
Sara Adams
It is believed that Luther’s anti-semitism laid the groundwork for the “success” of the Nazi party and it’s extermination of Jews.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_and_antisemitism#The_influence_of_Luther.27s_views
Jean Spearing
Jack, Luther used Catholic abuses as a launching pad for some very bad theology. Jesus Christ said you will know them by their fruits. The fruit of Luther's apostasy was a broken and divided Christian faith where few find their way to the truth now. The divisions between Catholics and Protestants is a scandal. It is bad fruit, Jack. There are very many Catholic saints who confronted Catholic abuses in holy ways, humbly especially (not challenging the authority of the Church). The good these saints do was so immense it will only be truly understood and grasped in heaven. Luther had a choice before him: apostasy and arrogance or humility and submission to the teachings of the Church. He chose the wrong path and now we have over 40,000 denominations all professing to know the truth.
Jean Spearing
Oje Giwa-Amu Again, where is your proof? The Antichrist is a person, not a church Oje. Personally, I think the Protestants are going to suffer the most when the Antichrist comes because they are all expecting the rapture to take them away before the Tribulation. When they discover they are still here and have to suffer through it along with the rest, they are going to be perplexed and full of doubt about all that they were taught to believe. Add to that, they will refuse to enter the Catholic Church which is the only one who teaches on the value and meaning of suffering. So they will have no answer for their suffering and for having been 'left behind', many will fall into despair and either submit to the AC or kill themselves. Please oh please, do some investigation into the Catholic faith before you condemn it. You are the one in error.
Jean Spearing
Paul the debate is necessary since we can't leave the truth hidden beneath a lamp. Only in debate will the truth come out. God gave every human person the capacity to recognize truth when he/she hears it. Unfortunately because of our fallen nature, we also have the capacity to deny it, thus denying the Holy Spirit (sinning against the HS).
Jean Spearing
James Swan, I notice you have the tag William Patterson University after your name. Are you a professor of history perhaps or theology? If so, you might be interested in reading some of Scott Hahn's material/books. He is a theologian who converted from a radical anti-Catholic protestantism to Catholicism. Surely, you would be interested in understanding how a sane man would make this transition? At the very least, you can debate with him since he is evidently your academic peer and the two of you can flesh out the details of Christian history. I highly recommend you check out his website and see if you can find the errors in his ways.
http://www.scotthahn.com/index.html
James Swan
As far as I know, Scott Hahn has no special interest in Luther / Reformation studies. It is a specific category.
For what it's worth, smart/sane people convert to all sorts of things. That is, intelligence does not equal correct conversion to a particular worldview or religious belief.
James Swan
40,000? Wow, depending on which Roman Catholic one is interacting with, the number fluctuates.
Caroline Henderson
The Catholic Church did a large amount of help during WWII for the Jews. While you trash talk the Church, I'm sure the 4,000-7,000 Jews that the Church saved and their decedents today would would frown upon your lies.
"The Pope sent out the order that religious buildings were to give refuge to Jews, even at the price of great personal sacrifice on the part of their occupants; he released monasteries and convents from the cloister rule forbidding entry into these religious houses to all but a few specified outsiders, so that they could be used as hiding places. Thousands of Jews – the figures run from 4,000 to 7,000 – were hidden, fed, clothed, and bedded in the 180 known places of refuge in Vatican City, churches and basilicas, Church administrative buildings, and parish houses. Unknown numbers of Jews were sheltered in Castel Gandolfo, the site of the Pope’s summer residence [according to Rabbi David Dalin, at least 3,000 found refuge there], private homes, hospitals, and nursing institutions; and the Pope took personal responsibility for the care of the children of Jews deported from Italy."
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2013/08/09/the-lie-of-hitlers-pope-collapses-little-by-lttle-now-an-important-new-book-shows-how-pius-xiis-protection-of-the-jews-worked-on-the-ground/#.UgqQZnNskbl.facebook
Caroline Henderson
And how about being one of the predominant factors in ending communism along with being the organization that has done more for the poor than any other?
Margie Prox Sindelar
Heresy is not a speck , its a forest !!
John Ghering
Convert from Lutheranism I must give credit to the dear people in our Lutheran Church, who in spite of Luther's heretical doctrines, imparted to me Love of God. I am happy to be converted to the One , Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church instituted by Christ Jesus and rejoice when others find their way home to Holy Mother Church. People need to stop defending the heretics of the past and realize that they probably no longer identify with the original heresies espoused by their church founders. Luther had good intentions of exposing abuses, but fell into pride which led him to renounce the Church established by Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit to the end of time. Understand that we shall encounter abuses, sinful men and heretics within the Church, but the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against her as promised by Christ.
John Ghering
Convert from Lutheranism I must give credit to the dear people in our Lutheran Church, who in spite of Luther’s heretical doctrines, imparted to me Love of God. I am happy to be converted to the One , Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church instituted by Christ Jesus and rejoice when others find their way home to Holy Mother Church. People need to stop defending the heretics of the past and realize that they probably no longer identify with the original heresies espoused by their church founders. Luther had good intentions of exposing abuses, but fell into pride which led him to renounce the Church established by Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit to the end of time. Understand that we shall encounter abuses, sinful men and heretics within the Church, but the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against her as promised by Christ.
Mark W. Johnson
Does the Holy spirit rule the believer or does the Church through infallibility? I could care less about Martin Luther's position on Jews. The ideas of the Catholic Church that were being promoted during his time were not right.Someone would have come along eventually and spoke out against it. "Take the beam out of your own eye before you look at the speck in your brothers eye."
Bill Cork
Luther was educated at leading Catholic universities. He had a doctorate in Scripture. He was a professor of Scripture at a Catholic university.
Oh, and the "Table Talk" and the "Tischreden" (correct spelling) are the same thing.
Instead of reading snippets of Luther from tertiary sources, you might want to try something he wrote and published–his Large Catechism, for instance, is readily available. Or his "95 Theses."
What he said about the Jews, and about violence, and about social justice was all echoed by the popes and Catholic theologians of his day. The folks who disagreed, the Anabaptists, were burned by both Lutherans and Catholics.
Mark W. Johnson
Does the Holy spirit rule the believer or does the Church through infallibility? I could care less about Martin Luther’s position on Jews. The ideas of the Catholic Church that were being promoted during his time were not right.Someone would have come along eventually and spoke out against it. “Take the beam out of your own eye before you look at the speck in your brothers eye.”
Mark Wally Garcia
for it's too hard to believe that luther wrote this…. because of his beliefs the 30 years protestang vs catholic war started many years ago.. i hope and i pray that some day protestant and other none catholic christian will accept all catholic.. that we are part of the body of jesus.. so sad to read this 🙁
Mark Wally Garcia
for it’s too hard to believe that luther wrote this…. because of his beliefs the 30 years protestang vs catholic war started many years ago.. i hope and i pray that some day protestant and other none catholic christian will accept all catholic.. that we are part of the body of jesus.. so sad to read this 🙁
Bruce Varner
I have never heard or read these things before. I would like to see them in their context. I do know this about Luther. Luther was a Roman Catholic and did not want to leave the Roman Catholic Church. He wanted the Roman Catholic system to "reform."
Luther found that the Scriptures contradicted the"Church." He taught that salvation was by "grace through faith" (as the apostle Paul did, Ephesians 2, Romans 4,5, 10); he taught that every sinner had a right to read the words of God in his or her own language (Acts 2); and he taught that the Bible was the final authority not the "Bishop of Rome" (Acts 17).
Evidently, that is all that Luther found. Beyond that, he was a Catholic through and through. The things that Luther wrote that were un-scriptural were taught to him by the Roman Catholic hierarchy- many of whom were obviously corrupt. Catholic Scholars like Dollinger, Acton, Cormenin have documented this fact.
The truth is there in no "Catholic" Church. One, Apostolic, etc. is a figment of pagan imagination. There are as many schisms in the "Catholic" Church as are in the "Protestant" Church.
The above author may retain some people who have been blinded by Rome in the past; he may even distract some gullible readers who are unfamiliar with Roman Catholic history. But people who have read the history of Rome from the pen of Roman Catholics, are familiar with his tactics and will only feel pity and sorrow for those who remain blinded by Roman Catholic propaganda.
Salvation is in the work that Jesus Christ completed 2,000 years ago. His work is not dispensed or sold to the world through Roman Catholicism. It is offered to "whosoever believeth." But you see this truth will crumble the superstitious stronghold of Rome. So distraction, subterfuge, and confusion come forth from another jesuitical pen.
Write on, Mr. Gray. Protestant America has given you your freedom to do so. In a "catholic" world you would not enjoy such freedom. Unless of course you were propagandizing for Rome.
Bruce Varner
I have never heard or read these things before. I would like to see them in their context. I do know this about Luther. Luther was a Roman Catholic and did not want to leave the Roman Catholic Church. He wanted the Roman Catholic system to “reform.”
Luther found that the Scriptures contradicted the”Church.” He taught that salvation was by “grace through faith” (as the apostle Paul did, Ephesians 2, Romans 4,5, 10); he taught that every sinner had a right to read the words of God in his or her own language (Acts 2); and he taught that the Bible was the final authority not the “Bishop of Rome” (Acts 17).
Evidently, that is all that Luther found. Beyond that, he was a Catholic through and through. The things that Luther wrote that were un-scriptural were taught to him by the Roman Catholic hierarchy- many of whom were obviously corrupt. Catholic Scholars like Dollinger, Acton, Cormenin have documented this fact.
The truth is there in no “Catholic” Church. One, Apostolic, etc. is a figment of pagan imagination. There are as many schisms in the “Catholic” Church as are in the “Protestant” Church.
The above author may retain some people who have been blinded by Rome in the past; he may even distract some gullible readers who are unfamiliar with Roman Catholic history. But people who have read the history of Rome from the pen of Roman Catholics, are familiar with his tactics and will only feel pity and sorrow for those who remain blinded by Roman Catholic propaganda.
Salvation is in the work that Jesus Christ completed 2,000 years ago. His work is not dispensed or sold to the world through Roman Catholicism. It is offered to “whosoever believeth.” But you see this truth will crumble the superstitious stronghold of Rome. So distraction, subterfuge, and confusion come forth from another jesuitical pen.
Write on, Mr. Gray. Protestant America has given you your freedom to do so. In a “catholic” world you would not enjoy such freedom. Unless of course you were propagandizing for Rome.
ray
Nope, salvation became available when Christ died, His grace became available so we can carry our cross in our daily lives, but He still needs our consent (free will) so grace(s) can be received by our body and soul. Just like what He did with the criminal nailed in His right side in the cross. The person in the right asked for forgiveness, that is why he was promised the He will be in paradise with him. Jesus even said that not everybody will be saved.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. 14″For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it,” (Matt. 7:13-14).
“For many are called, but few are chosen,” (Matt. 22:14).
“And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. 23And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, 24″Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25″Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26″Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; 27and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers,'” (Luke 13:22-27).
“And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved; 28for the Lord will execute His word upon the earth, thoroughly and quickly,” (Rom. 9:27).
* That is why the “once saved, always saved” or “universalism” dogma is a complete heresy and this is a so-called superstition that has infected a lot of evangelicals.
FAITH AND WORKS ARE BIBLICAL
Matthew 12:36, Matthew 16:27, Matthew 25:31-46
Romans 2:2, Romans 2:6
2 Cor 5:10, 2 Cor 11:15
Acts 26:20
1 John 3:10, 1 John 4:20, John 5:29, 1 John 3:18, 1 John 4:14, 1 John 4:17, John 13:35
1 Cor 13:13
Jude 1:15
2 Peter 3:7
James 3:1, James 2:13
Titus 1:16
You said: “Catholic” Church. One, Apostolic, etc. is a figment of pagan imagination”
* Read the early Church fathers – Polycarp, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, Tertulian etc, which church they belong to? What traditions did they practice? Definitely not protestant and they are not pagans.
The Church is Apostolic
Matthew 16:13-19
Jesus built his Church on Peter, the rock. (Foretold in the Old Testament in Isaiah 22:15-25.)
Luke 22:29-30
I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father conferred one on me: you will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luke 22:32
Peter appointed to be the chief shepherd. (That Peter’s faith may not fail.)
When the Lord says: that your faith may not fail, the your is in the single, not plural, tense.
John 10:16
One shepherd to shepherd Christ’s sheep.
John 15:16
Jesus chose special men to be his Apostles.
John 21:17-19
Peter appointed to be the chief shepherd.
John 20:21
Jesus gave the Apostles his own mission.
Ephesians 4:11
Church leaders are hierarchical.
1 Timothy 3:1, 8; 1 Timothy 5:17
Identifies roles of bishops, priests and deacons.
Titus 1:5
Commission for bishops to ordain priests.
You said: But you see this truth will crumble the superstitious stronghold of Rome.
* How many televangelists, cults, denominations, evangelical churches that we have seen come and go? As I have mentioned above Sola Scriptura is a failure, this has divided, fragmented and eventually weakened Christians through a fast-food chain of chuches, and even at worst since they have the “bible only” dogma they have proclaimed themselves as their own infallible authority of their church this catastrophically mutated to 40,000 denominations as a result, the confusion is endless among bible only Christian. Sola Scriptura is a House built of sand.
On Roman Catholic History, we Catholics are not denying its past mistakes, turbulent history, but a lot of Catholics know and do not know their history, the church have a lot of great contributions from its Saints, Mystiques, Renaissance Period, Schools, Hospitals etc that has shaped the Western World to its power and glory. They are only inundated by negative leftist-communist-z*i*o*n*i*s*t propaganda, now I am not denying its turbulent history and mistakes, but that is how the church is – it consists of saints and sinners.
Anna Mary Yumi Yamada
yikes
Anna Mary Yumi Yamada
yikes
Bruce Varner
David L. Gray,
1. Luther was educated in a Catholic Country and raised by Roman Catholics. So, he may very well have been ignorant of the "Church's" teaching. His influence seems to indicate that he was not as "dumb as" some people would make him out to be.
2. You appear to libel Luther here on this point. (I could care less if you do, I don't follow Luther.) However, the book of Romans (along with the remainder of NT Pauline revelation) makes clear that there is a SINGLE condition for man's salvation under the NT (Acts 15, 16; Romans 4,5,6, 10, 11; I Timothy 1; Titus 2; Ephesians 1, 2,; etc.), and this condition is faith. A more accurate way to say what you want to say might be, "Luther edited A VERSE in the book of Romans to say such and such." The way you currently have your statement worded is misrepresenting the fact here. Luther didn't edit "ROMANS to make 'it' (ROMANS) say that."
3. You appear to be confused here as well. Jesus Christ started HIS CHURCH; not the Apostles (Matthew 16; I Corinthians 3; Ephesians 2, 3, 4 , 5; I Peter 2). So, your statement here needs to be corrected. Are you wanting to say that your church can "prove" that it was started by Jesus Christ? Or that your church can "prove" that it is BUILT on the Apostles?
Head in sand or out of sand is many times a matter of perspective. God gave man His word. My paper trail begins and ends with the 66 books of a King James Bible. If that is having my head in the sand, so be it.
4. If we both believe we have the truth and we differ in our fundamental teaching, then it is natural to believe that one or the other is lying, or more charitably, is deceived or misinformed. No offence taken.
Write on, Mr. Gray. Protestant America has given you your freedom to do so. In a "catholic" world you would not enjoy such freedom. Unless of course you were propagandizing for Rome. Write on.
Truth is able to stand on its own two feet.
I encourage you to repent of false religion and trust in Jesus Christ ALONE. He ALONE can save you. He ALONE is the Lord, Christ, Savior and God you need. His blood ALONE is available to you right now. He ALONE is the only "Priest" you'll ever need. Faith in Jesus Christ ALONE is able to save you.
http://www.bbfchurch.net/Ministries/LocalNewspaperArticles/Free_Free_Free.pdf
Billy Kangas
David L. Gray
As a former Lutheran I feel I know Luther fairly well and all I have to say is
context, Context, context!…
One should NEVER read Luther out of context!!
This list is not particularly helpful because much of it misrepresents Luther a great deal.
I'd be interested in what William M. Cwirla, William Weedon, Jonathan Fisk, Pastor Dustin Parker, Reverendus Larry Beane, Bryan Wolfmueller, Chris Rosebrough, and Todd Wilken would have to say about it!
Billy Kangas
David L. Gray
As a former Lutheran I feel I know Luther fairly well and all I have to say is
context, Context, context!…
One should NEVER read Luther out of context!!
This list is not particularly helpful because much of it misrepresents Luther a great deal.
I’d be interested in what William M. Cwirla, William Weedon, Jonathan Fisk, Pastor Dustin Parker, Reverendus Larry Beane, Bryan Wolfmueller, Chris Rosebrough, and Todd Wilken would have to say about it!
Scott Harrington
Sin boldly? How is it possible to read Luther out of context, in that case? St. Paul in Romans says the opposite: Do not sin.
Scott Harrington
Sin boldly? How is it possible to read Luther out of context, in that case? St. Paul in Romans says the opposite: Do not sin.
Willie Grills
David L. Gray I'm not sure where you got the information that Luther's parents were witches. It is kind off odd for witches to baptize their children and raise them as Catholics isn't it? Martin Luther was even named after Martin of Tours who feast day fell on the day of Luther's baptism.
Dean Ferraro
Read Rome Sweet Home by Dr. Scott Hahn. You'll be receiving the Eucharist in no time. Don't believe me, read John 6. I dare you.
John Gresham
Do you have anything nutty from John Calvin?