03/14/20 GOOD ADVICE FROM LUTHER

03/14/20 GOOD ADVICE FROM LUTHER

A LOT OF ADVICE OUT THERE, some good, some not. My friend Allen Barnes posted this comment from Martin Luther. I am sure there are other nuggets of wisdom from other Christians in history, but this is concise and clear. It reflects my own view and pastoral counsel to others. Thank you Allen.

Martin Luther's pastoral advice during the Black Plague:

"I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See, this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God."
—Martin Luther, Works v. 43, p. 132. Letter "Whether one may flee from a Deadly Plague" written to Rev. Dr. John Hess.