“If Christianity were true religious persecution would become a pious and charitable duty: if God designs to punish men for their opinions it would be an act of mercy to mankind to extinguish such opinions. By burning the bodies of those who diffuse them many souls would be saved that would otherwise be lost, and so there would be an economy of torment in the long run. It is therefore not surprising that enthusiasts should be intolerant.” IfsMenShouldLongSoulBodyWould BeRunningLostReligiousChristianityOpinionEconomyMankindDesignDutyMercySavedBurningSurprisingLong RunsPersecutionTormentPiousCharitableReligious Persecution Book:The Martyrdom of Man Source: The Martyrdom of Man
“Now you say, alas! Christianity is hard; I grant it; but gainful and happy. I contemn the difficulty when I respect the advantage. The greatest labors that have answerable requitals are less than the least that have no regard. Believe me, when I look to the reward, I would not have the work easier. It is a good Master whom we serve, who not only pays, but gives; not after the proportion of our earnings, but of His own mercy.” GivingBelieveLooksHardPayChristianityMastersEasierAdvantageLaborMercyDifficultyRegardRewardsProportionGrantsBelieve In MeEarningAlas Author:Joseph Hall
“Combativeness was, I suppose, the dominant trait in my grandmother's nature. An aggressive churchgoer, she was quite without Christian feeling; the mercy of the Lord Jesus had never entered her heart. Her piety was an act of war against Protestant ascendancy. ...The teachings of the Church did not interest her, except as they were a rebuke to others.” HeartWarFeelingsChristianJesusInterestChurchChristianityLordTeachingMercyGrandmotherAggressiveTraitsDominantMy GrandmotherPietyProtestantsRebukeAscendancy Author:Mary McCarthy
“O God of our fathers, and Lord of mercy, who has made all things with your word, and ordained man through your wisdom, that he should have dominion over the creatures which you have made, give me wisdom that sits by your throne so that I might understand what is your will and be saved. For I am your servant. Amen.” MenGivingShouldMadeMightFatherChristianityLordCreaturesAll ThingsShould HaveMercyGive MeSavedServantThronesOur FatherDominionAmen Author:Cyril of Jerusalem
“You can't go to church without praying ten or fifteen times for God to have mercy on you. You can't sing "Amazing Grace" without reminding yourself that the reason God's grace is amazing is it saves a wretch like you. This self-denigration stuff - Jesus died for my sins - is nothing but a guilt message. That's the thing we've got to get out from under. That's not Christianity. That's sort of fourth-century Christianity that got turned into doctrines and dogmas that we've never been able to escape.” SelfReasonAbleJesusStuffChurchSinChristianityGraceCenturyLike YouPrayingTenMessagesMercyDiedGuiltDoctrineFourthDogmaFifteenRemindingGod's GraceAmazing GraceReminding Yourself Author:John Shelby Spong
“When someone steals another's clothes, we call them a thief. Should we not give the same name to one who could clothe the naked and does not? The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it; the shoes rotting in your closet belong to the one who has no shoes; the money which you hoard up belongs to the poor.” NeedsGivingShouldDoeChristianNamesPeacePoorMoneyCompassionChristianityShareClothesMercyShoesSaintStealingHungryBreadNakedThievesCoatsClosetsTheologianBishopsDonationRottingHoardingCupboards Author:Saint Basil
“Where there is Love and Wisdom, there is neither Fear nor Ignorance. Where there is Patience and Humility, there is neither Anger nor Annoyance. Where there is Poverty and Joy, there is neither Cupidity nor Avarice. Where there is Peace and Contemplation, there is neither Care nor Restlessness. Where there is the Fear of God to guard the dwelling, there no enemy can enter. Where there is Mercy and Prudence, there is neither Excess nor Harshness.” CareJoyChristianityEnemyPovertyHumilityIgnoranceMercyContemplationExcessPrudenceDwellingAvariceRestlessnessAnnoyanceHarshnessLove And Wisdom Book:Writings Source: Writings
“Even if we stand at the very summit of virtue, it is by mercy that we shall be saved.” IfsChristianityVirtueMercySavedOrthodoxSummitOrthodox Christian Author:Saint John Chrysostom