My Five Greatest Heroes from, uh, Church History

I received an interesting response to a recent post. I was discussing my understanding of my performance as an achiever of followership on my job where I function as an ambassador of the Kingdom of God.

The comment was both insightful and challenging. And, I hope that the serious, theological, part of exchange continues off of the blog.

Here's the comment:

You’re showing a little bit of Lutheran type theology in the fallen / sinful you vs the Jesus in you.  

If you’re going to embrace the 2 Corinthians ambassador model, you’ve got to accept the new creation you.  

Yes there is the flesh to crucify, but the good is not just Jesus, it’s legitimately bill in the reality of your truest, forever self.  Yes, through his grace working so powerfully within you.  

I replied, in part, and in a more trivial way, that people who happen to be of the Lutheran tradition have inspired me. I said:

Interestingly, three of my Top Five Heroes of the Kingdom (or as others have it: Church History) happen to be Lutheran. They are:

1. Søren Kierkegaard 

2. August Hermann Francke

3. Philipp Jakob Spener

4. Tertullian

5. John Winebrenner (of course)

Two of those three Lutherans, perhaps all three, may be unknown to you, though I know I've mentioned Kierkegaard on my blogs over the years.

I've been a student of revivalism for many years and I became inspired by Francke, and his mentor Spener, as a result of those studies.

While I'm critical of what the organized and institutionalized church of my day has become...and does,...I also know the power of the "communion of saints." Community is important among the followers of Jesus.

Hebrews 11 and Acts 7 make it clear that the community we exist in is one that spans the ages.

With that truth in mind, who, among the people of the past, inspires and encourages you?

(I'm aware that those of you who are of the CGGC may still be cautious about interacting with me in a public way. Please feel free to respond off the blog.)