The glum, sour faces of many Christians. They rather give the impression that, instead of coming from the Father’s joyful banquet, they have just come from the Sheriff who has auctioned off their sins and now are sorry they can’t get them back again.

— Helmut Thielicke (1908–1986), Theologe

Topics: Joy & Gratitude, Church & Congregation

Helmut Thielicke

Helmut Thielicke (1908–1986) war ein deutscher evangelisch-lutherischer Theologe, Universitätsprofessor und einflussreicher Prediger, der vor allem in Stuttgart, Tübingen und Hamburg wirkte. Bekannt für seine theologische Ethik und alltagsnahe Verkündigung, vertrat er eine klassisch-lutherische Position und geriet in den 1960er-Jahren wegen seiner konservativen Haltung und Kritik an der Politisierung des Glaubens in scharfe Konflikte mit der Studentenbewegung. Für Bibelleser heute bieten seine Arbeiten Reflexionen über christliche Verantwortung und theologische Orientierung im Spannungsfeld von Glaube und säkularer Welt.

All quotes by Helmut Thielicke (127)

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Man is unhappy because he doesn't know he's happy. It's only that.
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Go forth, my heart, and seek joy in this lovely summertime, in the gifts of your God. Behold the beauty of the gardens' adornment, and see how they have decked themselves for me and for you.
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Great are you, Lord, and highly to be praised. Man, this tiny part of your creation, wants to praise you. You yourself stir him to delight in praising you, for you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.
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For all that has been - Thanks. For all that will be - Yes.
Dag Hammarskjöld

The world is more than its burden, and life is more than the sum of its gray days.
Alfred Delp

A good sleep is grace and so are good dreams. Most tears are grace. The smell of rain is grace. Somebody loving you is grace. Loving somebody is grace.
Frederick Buechner

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