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Post by Josh on Aug 10, 2007 20:50:55 GMT -8
Question:
Your favorite person(s) from Church history? (not counting anyone from the New Testament) and why...
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aimee
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Posts: 136
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Post by aimee on Oct 15, 2007 21:51:43 GMT -8
Off the top, my personal favorite is Martin Luther.
I am eternally grateful for his belief that all people should be able to read the Bible and have direct communion with God. He followed through with that belief in translating it through great controversy, promoting the thought that his fellow man could read for themselves of the relationship between God and man. In addition to this Luther comes across as a humble man who sees himself in perspective. To quote Alister McGrath of Oxford University, "The type of man you could enjoy a drink at the pub with." He was comparatively, for the time in which he lived, a loving husband and father. However, being human, he had his weaknesses. One of which, was becoming mired in some strongly abhorrent theology in his later years.
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Post by Josh on Oct 18, 2007 10:04:18 GMT -8
Yeah, Martin and Katie Luther were awesome examples in marriage-- especially for their time period.
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Post by Josh on Nov 4, 2007 21:10:34 GMT -8
Some of my favorites, by period, beginning after the New Testament:
Early Church
Polycarp
Clement of Rome
Clement of Alexandria
Justin Martyr
St. Cecilia
End of Roman Era/ Early Middle Ages
Augustine
Gregory the Great
Middle Ages
Thomas Aquinas
Francis of Assisi
Reformation to 1900
John Donne
Blaise Pascal
Feodor Dostoevksy
1900-1950
C.S. Lewis
George MacDonald
G.K. Chesterton
Deitrich Bonhoeffer
I know I'm missing a ton, but these are just off the cuff.
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Post by marcus on Nov 5, 2007 12:14:43 GMT -8
St. Theresa of Avila. Yup.
And I like Dostoevsky, Bonhoeffer, The guy who wrote "It Is Well With My Soul", and Riley Coles.
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Post by marcus on Nov 8, 2007 12:42:35 GMT -8
As a follow up, it should be noted that Riley Coles sent me her picture in humble gratitude for making my list. She is now ranked above Bonhoeffer.
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Post by b on Nov 29, 2007 15:36:26 GMT -8
I might also rank her above Dietrech Bonhoeffer, but for theological reasons. I admire Riley's, Lindsay's, and Evelyn's child like and joyful exuberance during worship.
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Post by Josh on Dec 14, 2007 10:55:33 GMT -8
I so need to add "William Wilberforce" to my Reformation to 1900 list! Can't believe I forgot that one.
Again, I would highly recommend people viewing the movie "Amazing Grace" or checking out an issue of "Christian History" that I have which covers the life of this amazing disciple of Christ.
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Post by apollos on Jun 5, 2009 16:58:32 GMT -8
Question: Your favorite person(s) from Church history? (not counting anyone from the New Testament) and why... uhh, I have to count two NT people! Paul John the Elder Ignatius Eusebius Patrick Vigilantius Menno Simon John Wesley William Parham (Pentecostal) |
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Post by Josh on Jun 5, 2009 17:06:02 GMT -8
Now that's an eclectic mix! I'm loving it.
Who's Vigilantius? I feel like I should know.
John G. Lake, eh?
I think you need to chime in on the Christian living sub-forum. We're delving into the "charismatic gifts*" as of late.
* don't like that term (all the gifts are charismatic) but...
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Post by Josh on Jun 6, 2009 14:35:44 GMT -8
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ryan
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Posts: 92
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Post by ryan on Jun 8, 2009 11:38:25 GMT -8
I have always respected the reformers greatly. These individuals often had to take unpopular positions to point out where the Church had gone astray.
John Wycliffe
Jan Hus
Erasmus
Martin Luther
John Calvin
John Wesley
Luther, Calvin and Wesley were all topics of research papers that I did in College, and I continue to be impressed with their contributions.
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Post by Josh on Jun 11, 2009 19:35:51 GMT -8
Apollos:
Patrick should so be on my list, btw.
Ryan:
Gotta give some props to Martin Luther. In my mind he's a complex character, with a lot to admire but also some factors that bother me. But, hey, that's true of King David as well, right?
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ryan
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Posts: 92
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Post by ryan on Jun 12, 2009 6:53:59 GMT -8
I'd forgotten to list any other favorite Church leaders. I was primarily focused on the Reformation. One other that comes to mind is St. Augustine. As for the unsettling things about Luther (didn't necessarily agree with the book of James), if we really dug into the lives of any of the individuals mentioned on this forum we would find a few things that would give us pause. I am reminded of a conversation we had about Larry Norman's shortfalls. I am also reminded that there were only a very few individuals mentioned in the Old Testament that seemingly never sinned, and we've seen how the Jesus' followers blew it repeatedly in the New Testament. I guess if God can extend grace to the Church fathers.... I guess I can as well.  |
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Post by robin on Jun 12, 2009 9:52:08 GMT -8
The lists seems fairly exhaustive, though I would include Origen and probably put him right near the top, followed by Clement of Alexandria, and Tertullian. Others would include George Macdonald, C.S. Lewis, and John Wesley.
Oh yes, and how could I forget. A.W. Tozer
Robin
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Post by Josh on Jun 12, 2009 13:47:46 GMT -8
Well, the thing that saddens me about his story was his increased anger/ grumpiness and anti-semitism toward the end of his life.
But, again, he's a complex character, and we're all sinners in the hands of a loving God.
I have to say, though, it seems like he and his wife Katie had a great marriage, which in my mind is pretty solid!
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Post by robin on Jun 12, 2009 13:54:37 GMT -8
This is off subject, (and perhaps deserves it's own thread), but I wander if the quality of ones marriage speaks too deeply about ones faith. Off the top of my head I think of John Wesley, who by most accounts was not a great husband, nor did he have a good marriage. Also consider the experiences of Steve Gregg. My point isn't to say anything against Luther, but only that the quality of a marriage may not be an good indicator of one devotion to the Lord. What do you think?
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