"[The devil] always sends errors into the world in pairs-- pairs of opposites. And he always encourages us to spend a lot of time thinking which is the worse. You see why, of course? He relies on your extra dislike of the one error to draw you gradually into the opposite one.  But do not let us be fooled.  We have to keep our eyes on the goal and go straight through between both errors."
    C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

 "Almighty God, you gave your son both as a sacrifice for sin and a model of the godly life. Enable us to receive him always with thanksgiving and to conform our lives to his, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen"
     Lutheran Book of Worship, post-communion prayer, p. 74.

"A lay delegate from New Jersey was heard to remark to his pastor that he did not realize we had to make a choice between theological orthodoxy and compassion."
    the (26 October 1984) Forum Letter, vol. 13, number 10, quoted in "One WELS Pastor's Evaluation of the New Lutheran Church" by Reuel J. Schulz

"Here too we express penitence both for our neglect and for having sometimes regarded evangelism and social concern as mutually exclusive."
     The Lausanne Covenant, The Lausanne Covenant for World Evangelization, 1974.

"[T]he theology of the Cross defines repentance as contrition and faith rather than contrition and human determination. While the preaching of the Law will lead to contrition or sorrow over sin, the preaching of the Gospel will produce faith in the redemptive work of Christ Jesus."
    Don Matzat, "A Theology of Glory and a Theology of the Cross"

"Now, I've got three advanced degrees. I've had four years in Greek and Hebrew and I've got doctorates. And how did I miss 2,000 verses in the Bible where it talks about the poor? How did I miss that? I mean, I went to two different seminaries and a Bible school; how did I miss the 2,000 verses on the poor?"
    Rick Warren, interviewed at "Myths of the Modern Mega-Church"

"'One guy, a Saudi, told me that he had once been tortured in Saudi Arabia and that this metal chair treatment was worse than any torture he had ever endured or could imagine."
    Fawzi al-Odah, Guantanamo detainee, quoted in Guantanamo man tells of 'torture'

"I don't expect to work for free, and yet that is the standard for so much of the world."
    Sara Groves, "A Crash Course in Christianity," CCM Magazine, April 2006

"The International Labor Organization of the United Nations estimates that in Asia alone, there are about 10 million slaves. Even in the United States, low-end Justice Department figures estimate that there are about 50,000 people languishing in hidden bondage at any one time. "
   E. Benjamin Skinner,  "Slavery's Staying Power,"  Los Angeles Times, March 23, 2008

"Among themselves the merchants have a common rule which is their chief maxim and the basis of all their sharp practices, where they say: "I may sell my goods as dear as I can" They think this is their right. Thus occasion is given for avarice, and every window and door to hell is opened. What else does it mean but this: I care nothing about my neighbor; so long as I have my profit and satisfy my greed, of what concern is it to me if it injures my neighbor in ten ways at once? There you see how shamelessly this maxim flies squarely in the face not only of Christian love but also of natural law."
    Martin Luther, Sermon on Trade and Usury

"To say there is a crisis of disobedience in the evangelical world today is to dangerously understate the problem."
    Ron Sider, Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience

" Reading the Encyclical within the context of Pope Leo's whole magisterium, we see how it points essentially to the socio-economic consequences of an error which has even greater implications. As has been mentioned, this error consists in an understanding of human freedom which detaches it from obedience to the truth, and consequently from the duty to respect the rights of others. The essence of freedom then becomes self-love carried to the point of contempt for God and neighbour, a self-love which leads to an unbridled affirmation of self-interest and which refuses to be limited by any demand of justice."
    Pope John Paul II,  Centesimus Annus

"This is the mission entrusted to the church, a hard mission:
 to uproot sins from history,
  to uproot sins from the political order,
  to uproot sins from the economy,
  to uproot sins wherever they are.
  What a hard task!
  It has to meet conflicts amid so much selfishness,
  so much pride,
  so much vanity,
  so many who have enthroned the reign of sin among us.
  The church must suffer for speaking the truth,
  for pointing out sin,
  for uprooting sin.
  No one wants to have a sore spot touched,
  and therefore a society with so many sores twitches
  when someone has the courage to touch it
  and say: "You have to treat that.
  You have to get rid of that.
  Believe in Christ.
  Be converted."
    Archbishop Oscar Romero, Sermon January 15, 1978

"What the Lord requires of us is a broken heart."
     Daniel, a personal friend, at a recent bible study

"I want people who come to this church to feel comfortable, and a little uncomfortable."
     John, one of my former pastors,in a sermon

"I wish to be left alone," said Scrooge.
    Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

"I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering."
The LORD, Exodus 3:6-8