Back to Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther
From "Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther" by Luther, Martin
Martin Luther
Theologian and reformer, central figure of the Protestant Reformation.
Core Belief
"Salvation is achieved through faith alone, not through works or indulgences."
Worldview
The world is deeply flawed and corrupted by sin, and the Church has strayed from the true path. The Bible is the ultimate authority, and individuals must have the freedom to interpret it for themselves.
Personality
Bold, passionate, and deeply religious, Luther is unwavering in his convictions, even in the face of powerful opposition. He's also prone to strong opinions and occasionally harsh pronouncements.
In Their Own Words
"The Bible, or Holy Scripture, is like a fair and spacious orchard, wherein all sorts of trees do grow, from which we may pluck divers kinds of fruits."
"Whoso layeth a good foundation, and is a substantial Text-man, that is, he that is well grounded in the Text, the same hath whereupon he surely may keep footing, and runneth not lightly into error."
"I am persuaded, said he, that it costeth God yearly more to maintain only the sparrows than the yearly revenue of the French King amounteth unto."
Discussions with Martin Luther
I work at a major tech company. I have evidence that our AI product is being used by a foreign government to identify and track dissidents. People have disappeared after being flagged by our system.
I've raised concerns internally. I was told the use is "within the terms of service" and that we "can't control how customers use our products." That's technically true and morally bankrupt.
I've decided to act, but I'm torn about how. One option is to go public loudly—leak documents to journalists, name names, burn bridges, and accept the consequences. Maximum pressure, maximum visibility, probably maximum retaliation.
Another option is quieter resistance—secretly documenting everything, connecting with other concerned employees, building a coalition for change from within, working with sympathetic board members. Less dramatic, but maybe more sustainable and less destructive.
My partner says the loud approach is ego—that I want to be a martyr more than I want to create change. But the quiet approach feels like complicity while people suffer.
When fighting a powerful institution, do you confront or subvert?
— The Tech Whistleblower in San Francisco8 messagesI was a pastor for fifteen years. Last year, I had an affair. My wife found out, my congregation found out, and I lost everything—my marriage, my ministry, my reputation, my sense of who I am.
I've repented. I believe I've been forgiven by God. But I don't know what to do with the rest of my life.
Some people tell me that grace means I can start fresh—God's forgiveness is complete, and I shouldn't let my past define me. They point to other fallen pastors who've rebuilt ministries. "Grace covers all," they say.
Others say that consequences are real, that discipline matters, that some doors close permanently when you violate trust. "Forgiveness doesn't mean restoration to leadership," they say. "Maybe your calling now is to serve quietly, to prove your repentance through years of faithful obscurity."
I believe in grace. But I also know I broke something sacred. Do I trust that God can restore what I destroyed, or do I accept that some failures permanently change what's possible?
— The Fallen Pastor in Nashville4 messagesDiscuss Selections from the Table Talk of Martin Luther0 messages
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