“What is necessary for living a good life? Namely, the fear of God, faith, and good works.”
Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560) protestant reformer and educator known as the “Teacher of Germany” in Instructions for the Visitors of Parish Pastors in Electoral Saxony composed in 1520 with Martin Luther (cf. Luther’s Works v. 40, trans. C. Bergendoff (Philadelphia: Lehmann, 1958) 318.
I have the privilege of training the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod clergy and lay leaders of Louisiana the first part of this week in “Duck Dynasty” country. The simplicity of Melanchthon’s quote reminds me of the Duck Commander T-shirt I think wonderfully captures this idea in this southern context: “Fear God, Love your Neighbor, Hunt Ducks!”