--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first thing I ask is that people…" description: "\"The first thing I ask is that people should not make use of my name, and should not call themselves Lutherans but Christians. What is Luther? The teach..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/martin-luther-106_asks_the-first-thing-i-ask-is-that-people-sho_1617643.jpg" --- # The first thing I ask is that people should not make use… ![“The first thing I ask is that people should not make use of my name, and should not call themselves Lutherans but Christians. What is Luther? The teaching is not mine. Nor was I crucified for anyone...How did I, poor stinking bag of maggots that I am, come to the point where people call the…” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/martin-luther-106_asks_the-first-thing-i-ask-is-that-people-sho_1617643.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/martin-luther-106_asks_the-first-thing-i-ask-is-that-people-sho_1617643.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/martin-luther-106_asks_the-first-thing-i-ask-is-that-people-sho_1617643.jpg) > “The first thing I ask is that people should not make use of my name, and should not call themselves Lutherans but Christians. What is Luther? The teaching is not mine. Nor was I crucified for anyone...How did I, poor stinking bag of maggots that I am, come to the point where people call the children of Christ by my evil name?” [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. He urges people to separate his personal identity from the religious label, rejecting misuse of his name for doctrine. **In simple terms:** Don't let his name be used to define faith. Key Takeaway Separate teacher from doctrine. Themes religion identity misuse Mood reflective critical Type historical theological When to use this quote - church leadership - public discourse - personal reputation - historical analysis Key Concepts Reformation personal branding theology Questions to Reflect On - How does a name shape belief? - Can we separate ideas from their originator? A Different Perspective His name carries historical weight that can distort intended meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Bags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bags/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christians Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians-luther-6166763/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luther/) [Lutherans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lutherans/) [Lutherans Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lutherans-christians-6166765/) [Maggots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maggots/) [Mines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mines/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Lutherans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-lutherans-6166764/) ## Related quotes > [With social media, you have the chance to be the Lutherans that Luther imagined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-butler-bass/with-social-media-you-have-the-chance-to-be-the-lutherans-that-luther/) [Diana Butler Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-butler-bass/) > [Luther and the Reformation were of fundamental importance to Denmark. We Danes are still Lutherans today. We spoke about him a lot in school,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margrethe-ii-of-denmark/luther-and-the-reformation-were-of-fundamental-importance-to-denmark/) [Margrethe II of Denmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margrethe-ii-of-denmark/) > [Like the early Christians, we must move into a sometime hostile world armed with the revolutionary gospel of Jesus Christ. With this powerful gospel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/like-the-early-christians-we-must-move-into-a-sometime-hostile-world/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“If I go back home to Wittenberg, I'll lie down in a coffin and give the maggots a fat doctor to eat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/if-i-go-back-home-to-wittenberg-i-ll-lie-down-in-a-coffin-and-give/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Virtually the whole of the scriptures and the understanding of the whole of theology—the entire Christian life, even—depends upon the true understanding of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/virtually-the-whole-of-the-scriptures-and-the-understanding-of-the/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“As we see from the Scriptures, it had become a common and proverbial expression that if someone wanted to refer to a prophet, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/as-we-see-from-the-scriptures-it-had-become-a-common-and-proverbial/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Love is not only pure joy, and delight, but also great and deep heaviness of heart and sorrow. But love too is full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/love-is-not-only-pure-joy-and-delight-but-also-great-and-deep/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Therefore the words in Psalm 72:7: "In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth," must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/therefore-the-words-in-psalm-72-7-in-his-days-shall-the-righteous/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/what-you-do-in-your-house-is-worth-as-much-as-if-you-did-it-up-in/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [ It is cheering to note that \[Martin\] Luther (1524) did not see why schools should not be fun as well: "Now since the young… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-cheering-to-note-that-martin-luther-1524-did-not-see-why/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [No one would be happier than Luther to be commended by the testimony of the time that he had been neither slack nor deceitful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/no-one-would-be-happier-than-luther-to-be-commended-by-the-testimony/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“We rightly confess, in our articles of belief, that there is a holy church; for it is invisible, dwelling in a place that none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/we-rightly-confess-in-our-articles-of-belief-that-there-is-a-holy/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [When asked what he would do if he knew the world would end tomorrow, Martin Luther said, "I would plant a tree."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/when-asked-what-he-would-do-if-he-knew-the-world-would-end-tomorrow/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/) > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) ## 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 Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. 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If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. 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That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. 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