Martin Luther.

[Mr.Williamson]

Martin Luther

My favorite "character" in all of Church History (except Jesus himself)

Who is your favorite "character" in the Church's history?

 

[Saint Polycarp]

Too many to narrow down to just one.

 

[CryptoLutheran]

It's likely a tie between St. Isaac of Nineveh and St. Paul the Apostle. But I agree with Polycarp, there's so many it's hard to narrow it down.

I definitely love Luther, his theology of course (being a Lutheran and all); but in all honesty Fr. Martin is at many times a hard pill to swallow because whereas his theology was magnificent, his attitude and some of the things he said are also some of the worst, especially his horrible and damnable words spoken against the Jewish people.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[dbakerman76]

My favorite Christian in history is Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He understood how important it was for the church to be an active force in confronting evil head on.

 

[laconicstudent]

St. Peter the Apostle

Father Paisios of Mt. Athos

The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste

St. Evgeny the New Martyr

The Royal Martyrs of Russia

 

[CryptoLutheran]

Oh, and there's St. Ambrose of Milan, who had the cajones to stand up to Emperor Theodosius when he ordered the brutal massacre against the people of Thessalonike (7,000 died in the massacre) and tell him that he could not enter the church to receive the Eucharist, and had the emperor repent and mourn in ashes and sackcloth in imitation of David, which the emperor did for several months.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[St_Worm2]

Who is your favorite "character" in the Church's history?

Jacobus Arminius

Just kidd'n .. I did like some of the things he had to say however. For instance:

"Next to the study of the Scriptures which I earnestly inculcate, I exhort my pupils to peruse Calvin’s Commentaries, which I extol in loftier terms than Helmich himself (a Dutch divine, 1551–1608]; for I affirm that he (John Calvin) excels beyond comparison (incomparabilem esse) in the interpretation of Scripture, and that his commentaries ought to be more highly valued than all that is handed down to us by the library of the fathers; so that I acknowledge him to have possessed above most others, or rather above all other men, what may be called an eminent spirit of prophecy (spiritum aliquem prophetiae eximium)." Arminius, founder of Arminianism

​

--David

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

My favorite Christian in history is Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He understood how important it was for the church to be an active force in confronting evil head on.

I disagree; as would most Confessional Lutherans. As an ordained Pastor, he had no place confusing the line between Chruch and State.

Too many to narrow down to just one.

I agree. I could not start listing, for fear I would leave too many out.

Suffice it to say, that my answer is "the cloud of witnesses" of which the Bible speaks! (I won't miss any that way)

 

[AlexBP]

I would have to pick Saint Francis of Assisi, though I agree with the sentiment that there's little point in trying to narrow it down to one when there are so many excellent candidates.

 

[dbakerman76]

I would also say St. Damien of Molokai who lived a life bringing hope and healing to the lepers of Hawaii.

 

[Mr.Williamson]

I agree with all the responses, thanks for your contributions guys!