Monday, October 29, 2007

"The whole life of believers should be repentance"

Luther's 95 theses -- arguably one of the most important documents in western civilization -- are often cited, but seldom read. People talk about them, but almost no one -- Lutherans included -- read them. So, in commemoration of Reformation day, I'm going to begin posting them. Here's number 1:

"Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter.

In the Name our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam agite [that is, "Repent!"], willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance."

2 comments:

Dan @ Necessary Roughness said...

Out of concern for your sanity, I suggest maybe posting them about 10 at a time or so. 95 posts is going to get rough.

Also, pick a couple and tell us why those are particularly important to you. :)

Jim Huffman said...

I suspect there are those who consider that my sanity is already gone. : )

What I'm trying to do here is put the theses out one at a time, in order to get people to actually read them. What I've found is that most of us see them in a group, and our minds blank out, and we just don't read them.

So it's a chance for me -- and others to actually read and ponder them, one at a time.

But thanks for your suggestion!