Experience Alone Makes the Theologian

At college, we’re reading through some short papers in a booklet entited: The Trials of Theology: Becoming a ‘proven worker’ in a dangerous business which is edited by Andrew Cameron and Brian Rosner. Here’s a good quote by Martin Luther (from his Experience Alone Makes the Theologian) that I thought was so helpful and good, that I thought I’d share it with you:

“If, however, you fell and are inclined to think you have made it, flattering yourself with your own little books, teaching, or writing, because you have done it beautifully and preached excellently; if you are highly pleased when someone praises you in the presence of others; if you perhaps look for praise, and would sulk or quite what you are doing if you did not get it – if you are of that stripe, dear friend, then take yourself by the ears, and if you do this in the right way you will find a beautiful pair of big, long shaggy donkey ears. Then do not spare any expense! Decorate them with golden bells, so that people will be able to hear you wherever you go, point their fingers at you, and say, ‘See, See! There goes that clever beast, who can write such exquisite books and preach so remarkably well.’ That very moment you will be blessed and blessed beyond measure in the kingdom of heaven. Yes, in that heaven where hellfire is ready for the devil and his angels. To sum up: Let us be proud and seek honour in the places where we can. But in this book the honour is God’s alone, as it is said. ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble’ [I Peter 5:5]; to whom be glory, world without end,
Amen.”