---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: May a merciful God preserve me from a…"
description: "\"May a merciful God preserve me from a Christian Church in which everyone is a saint! I want to be and remain in the church and little flock of the fain..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/martin-luther-106_believe_may-a-merciful-god-preserve-me-from-a-ch_2887490.jpg"
---

#  May a merciful God preserve me from a Christian Church in…

![“May a merciful God preserve me from a Christian Church in which everyone is a saint! I want to be and remain in the church and little flock of the fainthearted, the feeble and the ailing, who feel and recognize the wretchedness of their sins, who sigh and cry to God incessantly for comfort and…” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/martin-luther-106_believe_may-a-merciful-god-preserve-me-from-a-ch_2887490.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/martin-luther-106_believe_may-a-merciful-god-preserve-me-from-a-ch_2887490.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/martin-luther-106_believe_may-a-merciful-god-preserve-me-from-a-ch_2887490.jpg)

> “May a merciful God preserve me from a Christian Church in which everyone is a saint! I want to be and remain in the church and little flock of the fainthearted, the feeble and the ailing, who feel and recognize the wretchedness of their sins, who sigh and cry to God incessantly for comfort and help, who believe in the forgiveness of sins.”

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A merciful God protects believers from a church that pretends perfection; true believers are humble, suffering, and seek forgiveness.

**In simple terms:** God spares humble sinners from false perfection.

Key Takeaway

Embrace humility and seek divine mercy.

Themes

faith humility imperfection

Mood

humble hopeful

Type

religious theological

When to use this quote

- church life
- personal prayer
- spiritual counseling

Key Concepts

theology reformation

Questions to Reflect On

- How does humility shape faith?
- What role does suffering play in spirituality?

A Different Perspective

Idealized church may not reflect reality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-church/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Forgiveness of sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness-of-sins/) [Merciful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merciful/) [Merciful god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merciful-god/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/)

## Related quotes

> [“He thought of such places in a way that had no words, only recognizing one when he came to it. He might have called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/he-thought-of-such-places-in-a-way-that-had-no-words-only-recognizing/)

[Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/)

> [“The Church's objectivity is not subjectivized by the affirmation that the only framework in which the Church can remain the Church of the Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-c-berkouwer/the-church-s-objectivity-is-not-subjectivized-by-the-affirmation-that/)

[G C Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer/)

> [Does any sane man imagine that the church could cease to be missionary and remain the church?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-judson/does-any-sane-man-imagine-that-the-church-could-cease-to-be/)

Arthur Judson

> [In a church, I am a saint. In a public place, I am a lady. In my own home, I am a devil…My house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-velez/in-a-church-i-am-a-saint-in-a-public-place-i-am-a-lady-in-my-own-home/)

Lupe Velez

> [ I \[i.e., God\] have given you baptism as a gift for the forgiveness of sins, and preach to you unceasingly by word of mouth… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/i-i-e-god-have-given-you-baptism-as-a-gift-for-the-forgiveness-of/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [The fatuous idea that a person can be holy by himself denies God the pleasure of saving sinners. God must therefore first take the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-fatuous-idea-that-a-person-can-be-holy-by-himself-denies-god-the/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [“Gospel bestows all good things spiritual: forgiveness of sins, true righteousness, peace of conscience, everlasting life; and all good things temporal: good judgment, good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/gospel-bestows-all-good-things-spiritual-forgiveness-of-sins-true/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [The Deceiver can magnify a little sin for the purpose of causing one to worry, torture, and kill oneself with it. This is why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-deceiver-can-magnify-a-little-sin-for-the-purpose-of-causing-one/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [My dear pope, I will kiss your feet and acknowledge you as supreme bishop if you will worship my Christ and grant that through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/my-dear-pope-i-will-kiss-your-feet-and-acknowledge-you-as-supreme/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [In the Church, great wonders daily occur, such as the forgiveness of sins, triumph over death . . . the gift of righteousness and eternal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/in-the-church-great-wonders-daily-occur-such-as-the-forgiveness-of/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [To be convinced in our hearts that we have forgiveness of sins and peace with God by grace alone is the hardest thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/to-be-convinced-in-our-hearts-that-we-have-forgiveness-of-sins-and/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [“Oh merciful God, grant that the old Adam in this child may be so buried, that the new man may be raised up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman-3/oh-merciful-god-grant-that-the-old-adam-in-this-child-may-be-so/)

M L Stedman

> [“When we understand the character of God, when we grasp something of His holiness, then we begin to understand the radical character of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/when-we-understand-the-character-of-god-when-we-grasp-something-of/)

[R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/)

> [God is so unique in giving His people ways to fellowship, witness, and remember what a mighty and merciful God He is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-johnson/god-is-so-unique-in-giving-his-people-ways-to-fellowship-witness-and/)

[Monica Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-johnson/)

> [It infuriated him to think that there were still people in the state who believed in a loving and merciful God. There are mystics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/it-infuriated-him-to-think-that-there-were-still-people-in-the-state/)

[Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/)

## More by Martin Luther

> [“It was easy for you to say these things, since you either knew you were not writing to Luther, but for the general public,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-was-easy-for-you-to-say-these-things-since-you-either-knew-you/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [In a delightful garden, sowing, planting or digging are not hardship but are done with a zeal and a certain pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/in-a-delightful-garden-sowing-planting-or-digging-are-not-hardship/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [If you could understand a single grain of wheat you would die of wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/if-you-could-understand-a-single-grain-of-wheat-you-would-die-of/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [“God made man out of nothing, and as long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-made-man-out-of-nothing-and-as-long-as-we-are-nothing-he-can-make/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [“But the truth will win out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/but-the-truth-will-win-out/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [God wants us to pray, and he wants to hear our prayers-not because we are worthy, but because he is merciful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-wants-us-to-pray-and-he-wants-to-hear-our-prayers-not-because-we/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [Our office...subjects us to great burdens and labors, dangers and temptations, with little reward or gratitude from the world. But Christ himself will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-office-subjects-us-to-great-burdens-and-labors-dangers-and/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [“Our faith in Christ does not free us from works but from false opinions concerning works, that is, from the foolish presumption that justification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-faith-in-christ-does-not-free-us-from-works-but-from-false/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [The works of the righteous would be mortal sins if they would not be feared as mortal sins by the righteous themselves out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-works-of-the-righteous-would-be-mortal-sins-if-they-would-not-be/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [Do not suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused. Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/do-not-suppose-that-abuses-are-eliminated-by-destroying-the-object/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [“For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Romans 3:28”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/for-we-maintain-that-a-man-is-justified-by-faith-apart-from-observing/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [There are only two days on my calendar... today and the day of judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/there-are-only-two-days-on-my-calendar-today-and-the-day-of-judgment/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [ Antichrist is the pope and the Turk \[Muslim\] together. A beast full of life must have a body and soul. The spirit or soul… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/antichrist-is-the-pope-and-the-turk-muslim-together-a-beast-full-of/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [It is not the imitation that makes sons; it is sonship that makes imitators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-not-the-imitation-that-makes-sons-it-is-sonship-that-makes/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

[Explore all 1,292 Martin Luther quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "May a merciful God preserve me from a Christian Church in which everyone is a saint! I want to be and remain in the church and little flock of the fainthearted, the feeble and the ailing, who feel and recognize the wretchedness of their sins, who sigh and cry to God incessantly for comfort and help, who believe in the forgiveness of sins.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Martin Luther"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/may-a-merciful-god-preserve-me-from-a-christian-church-in-which/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/may-a-merciful-god-preserve-me-from-a-christian-church-in-which/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/martin-luther-106_believe_may-a-merciful-god-preserve-me-from-a-ch_2887490.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/martin-luther-106_believe_may-a-merciful-god-preserve-me-from-a-ch_2887490.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/martin-luther-106_believe_may-a-merciful-god-preserve-me-from-a-ch_2887490.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“May a merciful God preserve me from a Christian Church in which everyone is a saint! I want to be and remain…” — Martin Luther",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Martin Luther",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "May a merciful God preserve me...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/may-a-merciful-god-preserve-me-from-a-christian-church-in-which/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/may-a-merciful-god-preserve-me-from-a-christian-church-in-which/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
