In my recent reading of church history
I’ve come across some quotes that are very applicable to today, though written
more than four hundred years ago. In his
book, The Pilgrim Church E.H. Broadbent quotes Staupitz, a mentor to
young Martin Luther.
“Christ help us that we may come
at last to live according to the Gospel which now sounds in our ears and which
many have on their lips, for I see that multitudes misuse the Gospel to give
liberty to the flesh. It is the fashion
now to separate faith from evangelical life, as though it were possible to have
real faith in Christ and yet remain unlike Him in life.” Johann von Staupitz
As Staupitz penned those word he
must have had I John 2:6 in mind: “He who says he abides in Him ought himself
also to walk just as He walked.”
Luther also challenged people to
pious living.
“If we look aright at what people
now do who reckon themselves as Evangelical and know how to talk much about
Christ, there is nothing behind it. Most
of them deceive themselves. They learn indeed to speak words, as a parrot
repeats what people say, but their hearts do not experience them; they remain
just as they are, they neither taste nor feel how true and faithful God
is. They boast much of the Gospel and at
first seek it earnestly, yet afterwards nothing remains; for they do what they
like, follow their lusts, become worse than they were before and are much more
undisciplined and presumptuous… than other people….” Martin Luther
One of the verses of “God of
Grace and God of Glory” written by Harry E. Fosdick speaks of the lack of holy
living:
“Cure Thy children’s warring madness;
Bend our pride to Thy control;
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom,
Grand us courage,
Less we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,
Less we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.”
“I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do
not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of
God.” Paul the Apostle
