I spent some time yesterday afternoon pondering the direction of our church (I even took notes). I feel we really need to ‘get going’ on some critical issues this year. If the church is going to be more effective, I’m going to need to get going first!
As I was ruminating on our challenges, opportunities and weaknesses, an old Luther quote came to mind. The problem was, I couldn’t remember exactly how it went – probably not even enough to Google it.
Imagine my surprise when I fired up my computer this morning and there it was (well, actually, I started my internet browser, saw via my Bloglines feed that Redeeming the Time had a new post, clicked on Kirk's site and then, ‘there it was’). Go read Kirk’s post, but if you don’t get there, here’s the quote:
If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the Word of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Him. Where the battle rages there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battle front besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.Luther's Works. Weimar Edition. Briefwechsel [Correspondence], vol. 3, pp. 81f.
(Thanks, Kirk)
This would be more remarkable if this quote wasn’t one of the most popular quotes in all Christendom (well, Protestant Christendom anyway). Still, it was pretty cool.
To be effective in pastoral ministry, I and my leadership need to prioritize the important things for our church and our time. More on this later. Well…sometime. Maybe.
2 comments:
Last year at the International Baptist Conference we had a speaker from England named Austin Walker. He gave a lecture on the spirituality of Benjamin Keach, and he used that Luther quote. He searched and searched for a reference and couldn't find it. Eventually, some time after the conference he found it. I have it somewhere and will try to get it to you.
Ne'er mind, I just checked out Kirk's blog!
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