Robert Newman
Banned
The Sayings of Great Men
1/7
Martin Luther (1483-1546)
ON MUSIC
Music is an outstanding gift of God and next to theology. I would not give up my slight knowledge of it for a great consideration. The youth should be taught this art; for it makes fine people of skill (W-T 3, No. 3815).
Nor am I of the opinion that all the arts should be overthrown and cast aside by the Gospel, as some super spiritual people protest; but I would gladly see all the arts, especially Music, in the service of Him who has given and created them (W 35, 474).
ON GODS LOVE
Our Lord God must be a devout man to be able to love knaves. I myself cant do it, although I am a knave myself (LW 54:32).
ON FAITH
Faith is a living, daring confidence in Gods grace, so sure and so certain that a man would stake his life on it a thousand times . . . Oh, it is a living, busy, active, mighty thing, this thing of faith; and so its impossible for it not to do good works without ceasing. As a sheep naturally makes wool without the least sign of manufacture. (Romans)
IN REPLY TO THE WRITINGS OF CATHOLIC THEOLOGIAN ERASMUS
Erasmus, you have said in your writings 'if any thing was decided upon, in the Church Councils, which was later proved to be wrong, it should not be openly admitted as wrong in case an opportunity was given for condemning the authority of the Church Fathers
But this, in truth is exactly what the Pope wished you to say! And he hears what you say with greater pleasure, Erasmus, than the Gospel itself, and will be a most ungrateful wretch if he does not honour you in return with a Cardinal's cap together with all the revenues that belong to it. But in the meantime, my friend Erasmus, what will the souls do that shall be bound and murdered by that same iniquitous statute? Is that nothing to you? But however, you always think, or pretend to think, that human statutes can be observed together with the Word of God, without risk. If they could, I would at once go over to your beliefs.
But if you are still in ignorance, I tell you again, that human statutes cannot be observed together with the Word of God: because, the former binds mans consciences and the latter looses them, makes them free. They are as directly opposed to each other as is water to fire. Unless, indeed, they could be observed in liberty; that is, not to bind the conscience. But this the Pope does not wish, nor can he wish for it, unless he wishes his own kingdom to be destroyed and brought to an end: for it stands only by ensnaring and binding consciences, which this Gospel pronounces free. The authority of the writings of the early Church Fathers, therefore, is to be accounted for nothing. And those teachings which have been wrongly made (as all have been that are not according to the Word of God) are to be torn off and cast away: for Christ is better than the authority of Church Fathers. In a word, if it concerns the Word of God and if you think otherwise, you think impiously; if it concerns other things, your verbose disputing is nothing to me: for I am disputing concerning the Word of God and not of men.
(Bondage of the Will - in reply to Erasmus in Rome from Martin Luther, 1537).
2/7
John Wesley (1703-1791)
1/7
I'd had the quintessential liberal arts experience, and I came out of college not having a clue of what to do
2/7
Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn.
3/7
The best of it is, God is with us.
4/7
Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry
5/7
The church recruited people whod been starched and ironed before they were washed.
6/7
"Be not prejudiced against Christianity by those who know nothing at all of it."
7/7
"Let love fill your heart, and it is enough."
3/7
British newspaper reporter question to Muhatma Gandhi in London after his short visit to England -
British Reporter - 'And what is your view, Mr Ghandi, on British culture - on its civilization' ?
Ghandi - 'Sir, I promise I will answer you as soon as I discover it myself'.
4/7
Perhaps the funniest political speech of recent years in Westminster, London. Made in January 2008. William Hague, member of the opposition party, the Conservative Party, in Parliament mocking the all too real possibility that ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair, newly declared convert to Roman Catholicism, may somehow shortly be offered the post of permanent President of the European Union by unelected, unaccountable forces -
http://www.thedailybanter.com/tdb/2008/01/funniest-politi.html
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