Preachers should be angels, that
is, God’s messengers, and should lead a heavenly life; they should be
constantly engaged with the Word of God. Then they are sure not to preach the
doctrine of men. It is a very preposterous thing to be God’s messenger and not
to deliver His message. . . . And indeed, more depends on the preacher’s
message than on his life. If he leads a wicked life, he hates himself; but if he
delivers a false message and presents it as God’s message, he misleads and
harms everyone who listens to him and creates idolatry among the people. Then
they honor lies instead of the truth, men instead of God; then they worship the
devil in the place of God.
This is why there is no more
terrible plague, calamity, and misfortune on earth than a preacher who does not
preach God’s Word. Unfortunately, the world is now full of such preachers. Yet
they imagine that they are doing well and are pious. However, they are doing
nothing but murdering souls, blaspheming God, and establishing idolatry. It
would be far better for them to be robbers, murderers, and the worst rogues;
then they would at least know that they are doing wrong.
Martin Luther
What Luther Says, p. 1124
Compiled by Ewald M. Plass
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