text: Luther on spiritual narcissism | The Daughter of Zion
  Luther on spiritual narcissism
  Posted by pastorkurthagen in Quotes, Uncategorized
  The punch in this quote comes at the end. It's almost eerie how Luther adduces Satan's temptation to fall down and worship him. Luther was right — that's exactly the situation when people import their own fondest ideas into the Scriptures.
  Nothing pleases a man so much as self-love, when he has a passion for his own wisdom. The cupidity of a greedy man is as nothing compared with a man's hearty pleasure in his own ideas. He then brings these fine ideas into the Scriptures, and this is devilishness pure and simple. This sin is forgiven, but when it reigns in one's nature, not yet fully purged, then assuredly the true doctrine is soon lost, however willingly one preaches and willingly one listens. Then Christ is gone. Then they fall down before the devil on the mountain and worship him (Matt. 4 [:8–10]).
  Luther, M. (1999, c1959). Vol. 51: Luther's works, vol. 51 : Sermons I (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Luther's Works (51:III-377). Philadelphia: Fortress Press.