Qualities of a Good Preacher
I came across this quote attributed to Luther; not sure of its veracity or source, but I like it. It sounds like something from the Table Talk:
Around 1530, Martin Luther expounded the qualities of a good preacher and contrasted those qualities with those of a preacher as the world would have him. First, as the world would have him, six things are necessary to the preacher: (1) He must have a fine accent. (2) He must be learned. (3) He must be eloquent. (4) He must be a handsome person, whom hte girls and young women will like. (5) He must take no money, but have money to give. (6) He must tell people what they like to hear.
And now, the true qualities of the good preacher are he should be able to teach in a right and orderly way. Second, he should have a good head. Third, he should be able to speak well. Fourth, he should have a good voice. Fifth, a good memory. Sixth, he should know when to stop. Seventh, he should be sure of his material and be diligent. Eighth, he should stake body and life, goods and honor in it. Ninth, he must suffer himself to be vexed and flayed by everybody.
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This is similar to the prophetic statement attributed to Luther. It was confusing in it’s time, mainly because people have never heard of Minnesota, much less the Super Bowl, but now we have a clearer understanding.
“There are many things that people think make a true Minnesota Viking. They think a Viking is 1) a good player 2) devoted to the team 3) a stalwart member of the community 4) one who performs well under pressure 5) thrives on post-season play 6) and will stop at nothing to win a Super Bowl.
However, these are wrong. What follows are the marks of the typical Minnesota Viking. A Minnesota Viking 1) is generally out of shape and lazy 2) is in it simply for the money 3) cursing the horrid weather of Minneapolis 4) wilts under pressure 5) enjoys spending January with his family in warm weather in Hawaii 6) never seems to go to Hawaii in February 7) like both rap and expanding his rap sheet
likes rolling over for AFC teams, especially should they be wrested away from the beach in January.”
Truly, Luther was a prophet!
Bear down, Chicago Bears!
I especially liked that last one.
When we were picking lessons for my ordination, we considered (not seriously) two in particular: Elisha and the she bear (especially apt given my now bald head), and Elijah crying out, “It is enough, O Lord! They have stoned Your prophets and persecuted those you have sent to them, and now they seek my life!”