Be Strong in the Grace

Kirby.

2012-01-13T15:38:00.003-06:00

Rest in peace. Kirby of Minnehaha Creek. Palm Sunday 2006 to Erik's birthday 2011. Eventful dates for an eventful companion. Kirby, yesterday you received your new body. Enjoy it and wait for us. We love you!

Our dog died yesterday morning. Given the state of mourning in this house, you’d think something much, much worse had happened. For the record, our family and life is great. Our parents are living and well, and our children, nieces and nephews are healthy and capable young people. But this dog wormed his way into our hearts and lives in a way that leaves a black vacuum when suddenly removed from us.

Rob and I have always joked that we should write a book about the hilarious things that Kirby does. I always thought that I had a couple more years to pull something together. I’ve been suddenly plunged into a time to write. I have idea of how to write a book, but in the movies someone usually just sits down at the typewriter and begins to type madly. I’m thinking that I’ll start by looking through the hundreds of photos I have of Rob and Kirby and just remember the situation

Love endures

2011-02-14T08:11:00.001-06:00

My husband and I were engaged 27 years ago today. He proposed to me at dinner with his family at the Dovray Manor. Six months later we were married.

We had met in college barely a year earlier. In college, we had many common friends, but never spoke until my senior year. We met walking to the campus Lutheran center. Our first date was Holy Communion followed by our second date, a spaghetti lunch at church.

Christmas 2010: Day 2 -How many angels in the sanctuary?

2010-12-26T16:28:00.001-06:00

Christmas 2010: Day 2 - Angels in our midst, visible and invisible.

2010-12-26T16:24:00.001-06:00

Advent 2010: Waiting for Christ to come to us.

2010-12-14T23:38:00.001-06:00

Kirby awaits his master...very patiently.

Advent Tree 2010

2010-12-08T12:46:00.001-06:00

I know its currently Advent, but I am glad we put up our tree last night.

Christmas at Bethany choir concert 2010

2010-12-05T12:08:00.002-06:00

Christmas at Bethany choir concert 2010

November 2010

2010-12-01T10:32:00.001-06:00

Songs that always make me cry.

2010-11-24T20:57:00.001-06:00

The youngest saints sing with ancient saints, "I am baptized into Christ, I will live in paradise!"

Tristen's baptism

2010-11-24T20:46:00.001-06:00

Last minute touch up

Tristen's baptism

2010-11-24T20:44:00.001-06:00

Father gives son some guidance.

Tristen's baptism

2010-11-24T20:40:00.001-06:00

Ready to become my brother in Christ.

Minnesota winter arrives with a bang.

2010-11-13T08:58:00.001-06:00

Yesterday shorts, today parkas.

Halloween 2010

2010-11-05T07:52:00.001-05:00

Mother Daughter Halloween Makeovers at Sephora

What is at the heart of disobedience?

2010-10-01T11:02:00.002-05:00

I got an email this morning with the a catchy subject line: Addressing the Primary Root of Disobedience

Catchy line. Made me open it. I was surprised at what I read: a long opinion on the importance of respect in the house (a very important thing!) and the lifelong rewards of learning to respect your parents (no argument there) . What surprised me was absolutely no mention of why anyone has the inclination or urge to disrespect in the first place. To teach the importance and rewards of respect without helping your child understand why they do it is more than useless; such teaching would tend to promote the idea that a child's behavior and choices will be his or her salvation. If you are very, very good, then you will not do these things; and if you do these things, you are very, very bad. Respect is an extremely important behavior to learn and teach, but to teach it without teaching law (you are born a sinner and are separated from God because of your sins) and gospel ( Christ died to save you from the penalty of your sins. Go forth and live in thanksgiving and praise for your salvation). That's how I read this article. How about you?

Two of your kids are fighting, another one won't pick up his toys, and your teenager just revealed the tattoo she got without your permission. You're exhausted, and all you want is peace.

You're not alone.

For many, disciplining children is a daily challenge. When it comes to discipline in my home, I only have one rule: respect.

Disrespect is the primary root of disobedience. Looking through Scripture, Adam and Eve sinned because they did not respect God's command. Cain killed Abel because he did not respect his brother's life. Lying, stealing, vandalism, strife and disobedience stem from an attitude of disrespect toward someone or something.

When your toddler pulls the dog's tail or your teenager rolls her eyes, it's — you guessed it — disrespect.

I'd choose this message instead:

Sin is the primary root of disobedience. Looking through Scripture, Adam and Eve sinned because they did not respect God's command. Cain killed Abel because he did not respect his brother's life. Lying, stealing, vandalism, strife and disobedience and disrespect stem from sin.

When your toddler pulls the dog's tail or your teenager rolls her eyes, it's — you guessed it — sin.

The close of the article is also off base in its clear message that its our job to master behavior and God is there to fill in the gaps if (not when) we fail. I've known many teens who successfully learned to act saintly while in their parents home, only to be completely unprepared to deal with sin issues on their own.

Emphasizing respect and honoring people are biblical concepts. Believers are told to respect the law (Proverbs 13:13), honor parents (Deuteronomy 5:16) and live lives worthy of respect (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12). With respect woven throughout Scripture, it's no wonder that it makes for a strong foundation for family and offers meaningful reward.

When I set a standard of respect in my home, the reward was relationship. My children became people I liked to have around. They trusted me as someone who respected and believed in them. Peace reigned and communication flowed between us.

But I didn't do this alone. God has been my guide and my support. His wisdom and strength carried me through the times when I felt too weary to press forward. His grace made up the difference when I fell short. And ultimately, He was my inspiration for my standard of respect.

I see a danger in teaching our children that we will have a relationship only if they act correctly. Scripture teaches that all of our children are born into sin and are in need of a savior. Although I strive to be someone who is worthy of imitation, I have made it a point to teach my children that I am in the same boat as they are. I instead point them to the cross. It is the ultimate act of pure grace that God created a way for us to have a relationship with him through the sacrificial death of his Son, Jesus Christ. The best models of God's grace I've seen are those who show others grace at the most unexpected moments...when least deserved.

Mark 16:16 goes WITH Mark 16:15

2010-08-03T22:28:00.005-05:00

One thing I appreciate is being reminded to interpret scripture by using scripture, particularly the verses before and after!

Common question:

Why do Lutherans baptize infants when the Bible says, "Believe and be baptized?" This passage teaches that baptism is for the person who has accepted Christ and wants the Holy Spirit to come into his life.

What the passage actually teaches:

Believing in Jesus, that is, having saving faith, is indeed a requirement to receive divine blessings of personal forgiveness through baptism as well as through the Lord's Supper or the Word of God itself. But this is not a prerequisite for baptism. In fact, saving faith is given through baptism.

The Mark 16:16 passage is explained by the prior verse, Mark 16:15. Jesus is instructing his followers to preach the gospel. Then what follows makes perfect sense: whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.

If someone is converted by the Holy Spirit through the Word (as an adult, for example), the faith comes first and baptism will follow (so that the Holy Spirit will strengthen that faith). For obvious reasons, in the case of infants baptism is applied to them to create faith and then instruction in the Word follows to strengthen that faith. Questions or statements based on a person "accepting" Christ and "proclaiming his faith" through baptism are based on a false understanding of how people become believers and what baptism is and does. No one "accepts" Jesus on his own since by nature fallen mankind has no free will whatsoever in spiritual matters. Faith is a gift of God through Word and sacraments. And baptism is a work of God through which God proclaims promises and gives spiritual blessing; it is not given as a human work or testimony or act of obedience.

Changes

2010-07-27T09:48:00.002-05:00

My family and I have gone through a multitude of changes. We've also been very, very busy. Busy + change does NOT equal time for reflection and blogging, not surprisingly. I anticipate time for reflection and writing once both are kids leave for college in a month.

God comes to us.

2010-04-12T15:29:00.001-05:00

“It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer” (Isaiah 65:24).

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NIV)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Michael Spencer has died.

2010-04-12T13:59:00.003-05:00

Michael Spencer , known fondly as the Internet Monk, has died. I had been waiting and watching for the news, but somehow missed it during Easter week. My first thought selfishly was that this is a first for me: a life and death known to me solely by the internet. I'm glad of I knew him, even if only virtually! Michael wrote of his differences with the earthly church he served, and of his relationship with his wife amidst her change in faith practices, and it blessed me greatly! While he was never a martyr for the faith, he clung to faith in Christ in the face of more criticism than most of us face for our faith. I was also deeply touched by his honest comments when his wife turned to the Catholic church.

John posts on his life and death at Confessing Evangelical blog. Below is Michael's last public statement, written after he knew he would most likely be dying much sooner than he had ever imagined:

Real apologetics

The ultimate apologetic is to a dying man.

That is what all those “Where is God?” statements in the Psalms are all about. They are, at least partially, invitations to Christians to speak up for the dying.

All the affirmations to God as creator and designer are fine, but it is as the God of the dying that the Christian has a testimony to give that absolutely no one else can give.

We need to remember that each day dying people are waiting for the word of death and RESURRECTION.

The are a lot of different kinds of Good News, but there is little good news in “My argument scored more points than you argument.” But the news that “Christ is risen!” really is Good News for one kind of person: The person who is dying.

If Christianity is not a dying word to dying men, it is not the message of the Bible that gives hope now.

What is your apologetic? Make it the full and complete announcement of the Life Giving news about Jesus.

As John wrote, "Amen. See you at the resurrection, Michael."

Dealing with a virtual death

2010-03-24T13:02:00.002-05:00

Today, many in the virtual Christian blogosphere are dealing with the news that Michael Spencer (known as Internet Monk on his blog or @imonk on Twitter has stopped his cancer treatment and has elected hospice. I've followed him off and on since 2004. The news is also being discussed at Boar's Head Tavern.

Death and sin are ugly realities of our world. Anger is justified. Our source of hope is clear.

Peace to the Spencer family.

Fear And The Word, part 2

2010-02-06T07:17:00.003-06:00

I had a wonderful conversation with a co-worker last night. We had both stayed late on a Friday night, which in hindsight is rather unusual. I was making up time and she was getting things organized for her vacation next week. As we walked back and forth in the office, each taking care of our business, I kept noticing that something just wasn't right with her. A well-meaning friend had cast judgment on her based on nothing but speculation and fear. We were led into a long discussion of our former backgrounds in fundamentalist Christian practice, discovering balanced law and gospel churches, the depravity of our souls and our wonderful gift of undeserved grace and of the true meaning of freedom in Christ. It was obvious to both of us that God had ordained that very moment at the copier where we suddenly were open to each other's state of being. And it wasn't just me somehow reassuring her through Christ's words; I was also healed and refreshed in a very unexpected way. I HATE mushy stuff like that, which made it all the more amazing! :)

Break over.

2010-02-05T19:01:00.004-06:00

Break over. Time to start writing again. Writing is a funny thing. For years words can pour out like rain or tears and then there's suddenly nothing left to say. At least for a while. I am so thankful that I have this record of my thoughts as a I transitioned from a fundamentalist lifestyle to a grace-based lifestyle. Does anyone blog anymore? Do any of my old readers even check this blog any more. I'll find out, I guess. I spend a lot of time on Twitter because it suits me well. I follow several of the old Confessional Lutheran bloggers gang of 2004. I've also met some new Lutheran bloggers through Twitter. That's cool!

What have I been doing for the past couple of years? Mostly working for my dad, trying to keep a warm and loving home and dealing with the chronic pain God has chosen to allow in my life. Also, what has kept me from writing is the less-controllable later teen years. When my kids were younger teens, I did not feel uncomfortable detailing their experiences (always anonymously). Then the later teen years hit, life got less picture-perfect (for me anyway) and I no longer felt that I had a right to write anything about them. What is left to write when your children are everything about you? As I've made the transition from living 24/7 with my children to being there for them, as they need, while forging their adult lives, I can see now my ability and right to reclaim my writing for myself. I am no longer 100% my children. I am slowly learning how to be me again. It was sad, at first, but now I am seeing the light at the end of the transitional tunnel. My husband and I are beginning to remember that we really like each other and like being with each other. That's pretty cool, I think. What a huge blessing. So many of our dear friends have discovered the opposite and have separated. At least 50 to 75% of our hockey friends are now divorced, baseball less so. Don't know why. Thankfully, most are pretty civil toward each other and tolerate us remaining friendly with both "sides".

Pain is also a very difficult and distracting companion in my life. It robs me of my thoughts or at least bends my thoughts towards it. That sucks. I am so ready to be done defining my life by pain...and yet it is still with me. My leg rarely stops aching. I'm like the fictional Greg House, thankfully without the Vicodin. But I do live with my friend, Tramadol. He's a distant cousin of Vicodin...related by marriage. My lower back is recovering, but the compression on the nerve cannot, so far, be lifted. I am continuing to battle, but progress is slow. What needs to happen is that I keep swimming (literally, in a salt water pool), continue with massage and chiropractic, move around as much as I can without actually walking (that's a trick) and become very lean. I would like to lose 50 pounds, which would make me very lean, but would help greatly going forward.

Work is the other tricky thing in my life. I need to work, but I'd like to develop a different way to earn the income needed. I sit all day long and this only compounds my pain problem. My work situation is very toxic for my body, currently. On the other hand, I really enjoy working for my father, I love the sales environment and the customer service aspect of my job. And I really enjoy the people of this office! I need to evaluate what I am good at, what interests me and what is good for me.

I continue on at King of Grace and am thankful every day that I found that church! I still continue my good Baptist habit of taking sermon notes. I also still believe I am the only one who does that! Thankfully, I don't do it to "look good", cuz the opposite would be true at my church. I do actually review my notes each week, so there!

Life is rarely fair; God is always good.

2009-06-07T18:50:00.002-05:00

Our extended family is reeling from a cancer diagnosis. At first, we were incredulous, then upbeat and now angry at the very real possibilities of a cancer diagnosis. I've been reflecting on the saying, "life is not fair." It reminds me of that metal poster on the wall of Jimmy John's sandwich shop. No, I wouldn't send these words to someone with cancer.. but the list helps put the rest of life's annoyances into proper perspective. Life is rarely fair. God is always good. That is somewhat illustrated in Job 1. I think I will work on reading Job this week.

Job 1

Prologue
1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.

4 His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom.

Job's First Test
6 One day the angels [a] came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan [b] also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."

8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."

9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."

12 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."
Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

13 One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart. [c]
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."

22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Discussing religion...

2009-03-24T09:25:00.002-05:00

There are lots of places on the internet to discuss religion. When I first started writing on this blog, I was really sorting out my faith journey. I don't have much figured out yet, but I am at a place where I prefer to listen, learn and attempt to discuss without seeming to attack. That is not always possible though, because one person's perception discussion is often another person's perceived attack. What to do?

When discussing various facets of Christianity, you invariably end up discussing denominational differences. Calls for unity without examining the underpinnings of a denomination are not workable. Scripture calls us to examine teachings and avoid what is not compatible with scripture. Words of wisdom came today in an unusual place:

Secular Bible Study casts wide net
by JEFF STRICKLER , Star Tribune
February 20, 2009

As if it's not unusual enough that Trinity United Methodist Church and the Minnesota Atheists have joined forces to promote a project, wait till you hear what the project is: a Bible study class.

Granted, it's not your normal one. At least, that's the hope. Called Secular Bible Study, the program aims to "foster and nurture relationships between folks who would otherwise avoid each other," said Chester O'Gorman, community outreach director for the northeast Minneapolis church. "Secular Bible Study hopes to attract a variety of people -- Buddhists, atheists, agnostics, Christians and even Jews and Muslims."

The weekly class will focus on the Bible's historical and cultural context. Organizers have drawn up a set of ground rules designed to keep participants from proselytizing, but that doesn't mean that they want to discourage disagreement. Just the opposite.

"We've discerned that people have lost or lack the skills to engage in constructive and respectful dialogue in the context of profound disagreement," O'Gorman said. "An emphasis will be placed on dialogue among the group of small groups (emphasis mine)."

I don't know the faith of Mr. O'Gorman, but I certainly agree with him that people have lost or lack skills to engage in constructive and respectful dialogue. That is a goal of mine which I imagine will take years to refine, God willing.

Mom, sing me that song....

2009-03-05T13:58:00.003-06:00

I'm not great singer, but I love to sing. Both my husband and I were in various choirs as youth and we have been blessed with a songstress for a daughter. Our son also has a fine voice, but has refused to sing since becoming a teen. When my kids were younger, I sang to them a lot at bedtime. We had a cassette tape of Michael Card's Sleep Sound in Jesus to go along with the book. I had all the songs memorized. I also would make up songs to sing them at night. The other night, my daughter called me from college and asked me to sing one of the songs to her. Later, her friends called and asked me to sing it to the whole gang. They must have been having a group hug session and needed a reminder that they were once children and are still loved very much.

A pastor once suggested I learn some of Paul Gerhardt's hymns for encouragement. I've been slow at that suggestion, but I still end up "discovering" Gerhardt's hymns again and again. Last night for Lenten service we ended with Now Rest Beneath Night's Shadow. I found myself loving the words and wishing that I had been Lutheran when my kids were younger. This hymn would make a great nighttime song for a mom and her kids.

Now Rest Beneath Night’s Shadow
Words: Paul Gerhardt.
Music: O Welt, Ich Muss Dich Lassen, 15th Century German melody;
adapted by Heinrich Isaac, 1539;
harmony by Johann S. Bach, 1729 .

Now rest beneath night's shadow
The woodland, field, and meadow,
The world in slumber lies;
But Thou, my heart, awake thee,
To prayer and song betake thee;
Let praise to thy Creator rise.

The radiant sun hath vanished,
His golden rays are banished
By night, the foe of day;
But Christ, the Sun of gladness,
Dispelling all my sadness,
Within my heart holds constant sway.

The rule of day is over
And shining jewels cover
The heaven’s boundless blue.
Thus I shall shine in heaven,
Where crowns of gold are given
To all who faithful prove and true.

To rest my body hasteth,
Aside its garments casteth,
Types of mortality;
These I put off and ponder
How Christ will give me yonder
A robe of glorious majesty.

Lord Jesus, who dost love me,
Oh, spread Thy wings above me
And shield me from alarm!
Though evil would assail me,
Thy mercy will not fail me:
I rest in Thy protecting arm.

My loved ones, rest securely,
For God this night will surely
From peril guard your heads.
Sweet slumbers may He send you
And bid His hosts attend you
And through the night watch o’er your beds.

This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him

2009-02-22T15:09:00.001-06:00

Today's sermon for Transfiguration Sunday had a timeless message for our family: It is good for us to be here! It was based on Mark 9: 2-9.

The Transfiguration

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"

Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

There were several scripture references that I didn't catch, but I'll get them and update this post. I appreciated a classic Lutheran sermon reminding me of why it is so good to be in God's house hearing God's word. In hearing God's word, I am preparing for the future and getting a glimpse of glory. His Word convicts me; it shows me my sins. His Word also shows me why I can hope for glory. His Word reminds me that wrath, condemnation and anger are all gone through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Facebook and church fellowship

2009-01-21T10:22:00.005-06:00

I had the opportunity to hear a sermon by an ELCA pastor this past Sunday. This church is home to my brother's family. My nieces and nephews hear the gospel preached in this church and I am thankful for it. Still, my synod and their synod are not in altar fellowship. I did not join them in holy communion and I did not join in the prayers. I sang the hymns I knew and confessed our agreement in the Apostle's Creed. I was happy to know that my godson, a confirmand on that day, knew the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. I was curious, to say the least, to hear the pastor's sermon for that special day. His sermon title: Remembering and Responding. How did he start? Yep, with a Facebook story. He told a story about finding an old friend on Facebook and renewing the friendship. I'm pretty sure he figured he would draw in the confirmands with the mere mention of Facebook and he was probably right. In his story, he made a very clear point about fellowship...a point that I don't think he intended to make. In fact, I'm probably the only one who drew that point. He was commenting on how you become friends on Facebook and how it is a somewhat safe platform because two people become friends based an agreement. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who saw the irony in his Facebook story. Agreement on Facebook is important. AND... church fellowship - agreement on what scripture teaches - is also very important.

The Lutheran Confessions

2009-01-21T10:01:00.002-06:00

How and why do people find and join a church these days? In my 30+ years as an adult Christian, I mostly chose a church because I liked the people and the music, along with the scripture-based sermons. Before joining our last and current church, our family didn't really know anyone and we weren't real keen on the "old-fashioned" hymns. However, the draw of a church, pastors and congregants who were dedicated to the concept of Sola Scriptura was like water to our parched throats! We each were given an opportunity to study scripture and learn about the Lutheran Confessions under the instruction of a pastor; my husband and I through Adult Instruction and our kids through a formal Confirmation program. Some Christians might wonder what exactly are the Lutheran Confessions. Some Lutherans might wonder why we need to even bother studying them. I found a great explanation, Why Study our Lutheran Confessions, while looking through my synod's website. It was written by Pastor Ted Gullixson. I have posted it here, in its entirety, based on the Creative Commons License.

“For every new book you read, also read three older books,” said the sainted Prof. Glenn Reichwald of Bethany Lutheran College. This advice has much wisdom. It is easy to lose one’s perspective in religious matters if one is reading what modern authors are saying about truth or the Bible.

One older book that is always worthwhile reading is the Book of Concord. This book contains the six confessions of the Lutheran Church and the three confessions to which all Christian churches claim to adhere. All but one of these confessions were written during times of doctrinal strife in the Christian Church. They were written to confess the truth which the authors found in the Bible.

As we read the Book of Concord we note that many Bible passages are quoted. The reason is that the confessors understood that the Bible is the only source of truth. This is proclaimed in the Formula of Concord: “We believe, teach, and confess that the prophetic and apostolic writings of the Old and New Testaments are the only rule and norm according to which all doctrines and teachers alike must be appraised and judged, as it is written in Ps. 119:105, ‘Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.’” If the Bible is the only source of religious truth, it follows that “other writings of ancient and modern teachers, whatever their names, should not be put on a par with Holy Scripture.” (Tappert, pp. 464-465). This rule applies to the Lutheran Confessions also.

The Book of Concord is important for us to read because in this book are confessed the doctrines that the Holy Scriptures reveal to us. These confessions are “witnesses and expositions of the faith, setting forth how at various times the Holy Scriptures were understood by contemporaries in the church of God with reference to controverted articles.” (Tappert, p. 465)

This gives us another important reason to read the Book of Concord: the Lutheran Confessions are expositions of the faith and the Bible. Reading these confessions will give us a correct understanding of what God’s Word says. This is especially important when it comes to the biblical teaching that we are justified by faith alone. For the enemies of the gospel will point to many passages in the Bible that seem to teach that good works at least help get us to heaven. For they will point to texts such as Matthew 19:17, “If you would enter life, keep the commandments,” and Romans 2:13, “The doers of the law will be justified.” The Apology of the Augsburg Confession explains how these passages are to be understood: Keeping the law “cannot happen until, being first justified and regenerated, we received the Holy Spirit. For, it is impossible to keep the law without Christ; it is impossible to keep the law without the Holy Spirit.” (Tappert, p. 124)

Understanding the Bible and knowing its truths are two important reasons to read the Book of Concord. This book also teaches us God’s truth. In his preface to the Large Catechism, Dr. Martin Luther wrote, “I do as a child who is being taught the Catechism. Every morning, and whenever else I have time, I read and recite word for word the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Psalms, etc. I must still read and study the Catechism daily, yet I cannot master it as I wish, but must remain a child and pupil of the Catechism, and I do it gladly.” (Tappert, p. 359)

Luther further states that “nothing is so effectual against the devil, the world, the flesh, and all evil thoughts as to occupy oneself with the Word of God.” (Tappert, p. 359) By studying the Bible and the Book of Concord we fill our minds with what God has revealed. This is especially important since we live in a world filled with many temptations to regard science as more truthful, to regard fame and possession as providing a happier life, and to regard religion as being more harmful.

We live in a society which values experience and feelings as agents that validate the choices of one’s life. Society “forgives” a person who feels remorse but labels people as intolerant who believe they know the truth. The Book of Concord is filled with statements of biblical truth about the triune God, about Jesus as God and man, about Jesus as the only way to heaven, and about salvation through faith alone in Jesus. Reading this book will direct our thinking to know that truth is not what we feel but what God says. For Jesus said, “For this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37).

We have just celebrated the 475th anniversaries of the Augsburg Confession and the Apology of the Augsburg Confession. They were written to confess the truth that sinners are justified alone by faith in Jesus Christ. Reading these confessions in the Book of Concord will bless us with the same faith that many others, who now reside in heaven, once confessed here on earth amid great difficulties.

It's a marshmallow world v.2009

2009-01-13T16:48:00.001-06:00

We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.

~Buddy the Elf

It's just snowed a few powdery inches and now the temperature has plummeted well below zero. Out the window, it looks like a marshmallow world! For the few readers I have left, I've been thinking lately about why I haven't posted to Be Strong in the Grace for a while. Have I quit attending my fantastic church? Nope. Has my church changed and I've become disillusioned? No. Have I run out of thoughts? No. Have I allowed careless comments to bother me and make me second guess any thoughts of blog posts? No. Do I seem to have less time for posting? Yeah, I think that is it. Is Elf still one of my favorite movies of all time? Oh yeah!

Back in 2006, I must have been bothered by a few things. I wrote on this blog,

"In a perfect world, not only would I live at Santa's workshop with an all-candy and cocoa diet (watch Elf), there would also be no synods...only one perfect church. Seems I'm going to have to learn to live with the fact that not only is there no perfect synod, but I will also have to remain vigilant. I must accept the fact that others will criticize me and that I will sometimes need to criticize others. I will also have accept the fact that I must eat good meats, whole grains, salads, fruits and vegetables, with only the occasional candy cane and cup of cocoa."

At the start of 2009, I am bothered by fewer things. Mostly, time speeds by. Having a child in college is way different than I thought it would be. Dealing with my back injury seems to take up a lot of my time, oddly enough. And I'm really trying to stay on top of homemaking and other creative endeavors. I do expect to post more often in 2009, so stay tuned...

Mom, the stalker

2008-10-10T07:01:00.006-05:00

"Mom! That's like....like...stalking me!"

Ouch! My son caught me in a lie the other day. Not a big lie...just one of those little lies parents might tell their kids to cover some secret parental spying that might make their child mad but is actually for their own good. You know, one of THOSE lies. I'm not even going to say what it was because it was really stupid. But it mattered to my nearly grown son and he knows what it was. I will tell you the shameful details. When I was first caught, I denied it. I even tried to blame his sister. Then I tried to blame my son. This was all in the first couple of minutes. As words came out of my mouth, I was disgusted with myself. Why was I lying? I hadn't done anything wrong. I was just embarrassed. I'm 48, a pretty good parent and here I was making really stupid lies. I quickly recovered, told him what I had done and gave my justification. What I had done wasn't wrong; lying about it was. God is good and He helped us in the next few days to have two good discussions about it. I have apologized to my son; no amount of good parenting can justify a lie...at least not the way I did it.

I cringed today when I read Pastor Walter Snyder's excellent commentary on lying, Leaving a Life of Lying. Ouch! How did he know? ;) He knows because we all are liars, whether we admit it or not. Some of us have practiced it too well and others battle some other sin, but we've all lied.

Like all their descendants, you’ve inherited our first parents’ sinful natures, including a similar gullibility regarding lying and honesty. As a Christian, you’ve also discovered the truth of Saint Paul’s lament: “I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. (Romans 7:19)” Lutherans call this situation simil iustus et peccator, meaning “at the same time saint (a justified believer in Christ) and a sinner.” Read more...

Ok, here's what I did. I was looking at his Facebook page one day - a given in our household. I have the right to see what my kids are writing when they are under age 18 and living at home. I visited some of his friends' pages and copied a few photos of him and his friends to my hard drive. As I was doing it, a little voice in me mentioned that, perhaps, I should ask him because I knew he might get weird about it, but I instead justified my actions by reminding myself that I had so few photos of him and his friends. The pics sat on my desktop for a month before he noticed them (I had forgotten). He immediately got upset, I think because of a photo of him and a particular girl, and him and a boy who is now in jail. That's when I started lying....ugh! Like I mentioned already, it turned out well, but I do wish I had quickly asked God for the grace to just be honest. Am I a chronic liar? No. Will I lie again in my lifetime? Probably. God give me strength!

St. Michael and the dragon

2008-09-29T12:17:00.002-05:00

I don’t remember ever attending a service for the Festival of St. Michael and All Angels, so yesterday’s service at Bethany Lutheran College was particularly meaningful since it was the first time we got to see our daughter sing in the BLC Concert Choir. BLC doesn’t have regular Sunday services (students are encouraged to become part of local congregations or travel to their home churches), but they hold services on special occasions, such as the annual Fall Festival.

The service followed the Office of Matins. I really miss use of singing psalms! It reminded me of my ALC days in the 70’s. Chaplain Don Moldstad gave a good sermon on the corresponding scripture of the day. He gave an excellent message about the goal of the devil (to destroy your soul forever) and of angels (to protect your soul to heaven). He explained that sin is not just specific acts that the devil might convince you to do, but part of an overall plan to create a way to separate you from God…a pattern of guilt…a weaker friend who will seemingly try to pull you away from God. Sin isn’t just an act; its part of a plan to pull us away from God. There was also a reminder that the world will continually tell Christians that their faith in Christ is irrelevant, out-dated…like walking around wearing night goggles during the day (a reference to an earlier comparison of faith in Christ to wearing night goggles). Your church is one place to recognize your fellow soldiers, where your “night goggles” of faith won’t look out of place. Beautiful choir music, directed by Dennis Marzolf, and wonderful band pieces directed by Adrian Lo. I enjoyed singing two ELH hymns I’d never sung before, to my knowledge: I Walk With Angels All The Way (ELH 252) and We Sing Thy Praise, O God (ELH45).

On voting for a woman ...

2008-09-04T15:34:00.002-05:00

As a Confessional Lutheran Christian, I have been pondering the issue of men, women and headship in relation to the upcoming elections. I've done some research and found a very profound and timely commentary at WELS.net:

"...there may indeed be times when a Christian may come to the conclusion that a woman running for the office of president may be the best available choice. We may decide to vote for that candidate even though we would know that in a perfect world it would be otherwise. Often, it may be a judgment on the men of a nation that no well-qualified men step forward to lead.

Perhaps it may also help us to consider that even among God's Old Testament people, there was a time that he raised up a woman to lead Israel. In Judges 4-5 we see God using Deborah to help lead Israel against a nation that was oppressing God's people.

Yet before we make too much of that bit of Israelite history, we must remember that the book of Judges hardly holds before us an ideal part of Israel's history. In fact, the book of Judges reveals Israel often at its worst. What is more, Deborah's own words clearly indicate that things were not as they should have been in Israel. She vainly struggles to get Barak to take the lead of the armies of Israel without her by his side (see Judges 4:9)."

The purpose (and power) of God's Word

2008-07-11T12:45:00.003-05:00

I read something really great in my daily Meditations booklet today. Here are some excerpts and corresponding scripture:

All are forgiven, but not everyone will enter eternal life. Is this because God does not desire everyone's salvation? Consider that question in the light of Jesus' crucifixion. No, the damned are ultimately responsible for their own fate.

God is both just and loving, as it is written: "The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished." Numbers 14:18

The problem is not God's lack of love but their own hard hearts that refuse to be loved. And so, after continual rejections or indifference to the gospel, the gospel will stand as a testimony against them, as Jesus himself says,

"There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day." John 12:48

There is a mystery here, to be sure. Only God can break through the hardness of a person's heart. Yet people are condemned for having hard hearts. How can that be? Scripture does not answer that question. Scripture only holds before us God's universal will for all people and points us to the Word, God's powerful tool to break through hard hearts and lead people to repent and believe.

My word that goes out from my mouth: it will...achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11

Be certain whom you are rejecting...

2008-07-02T22:23:00.002-05:00

Quote of the week, at Cranach blog:

"Do not let people, especially God’s people, sour your taste for religion. One’s eternal destiny is not worth it. But if it is God that is not palatable to you, that is quite a different matter. No one can offer a better description of who God is, who we are, and what He requires of man than He has himself made clear in His word. This you seem to have rejected. There is no other offer on the table. And none else but Christ can persuade you."

~ Robert Landrum, Religious Contemplations

What does effective youth ministry look like?

2008-06-07T22:19:00.003-05:00

The Internet Monk, Michael Spencer, lists some aspects of what a post-evangelical youth ministry looks like. Not surprisingly, it probably looks a lot like what youth ministry looked like before we invented it.

1. It would be very open to the “Family centered” model that puts youth ministry firmly in the ministry of parents, and would utilize “youth ministers” only as a supplement and facilitation of that model.

2. It would never separate young people from the multi-generational nature of the church, but would instill in them an appreciation for the Christian tradition, and the compromises and gifts of the multi-generational model.

3. Age segregated Bible study would most likely be de-emphasized, if not eliminated as much as possible.
Read on for other points.

The last point is key:

9. This does not mean the elimination of “youth ministry,” but it does mean that any specific ministry will find its definition and direction from the overall character of the community to which it belongs. Whatever activities, actions or processes occur, they will be evaluated by the whole community and not by separate standards derived from “youth ministry” as a self-defining parachurch movement.

I think this last point is key to Lutherans retaining their youth. We left our former evangelical mega-church when our kids were in 5th and 7th grade. I was alarmed at the lack of depth of Christian education and the generational separation of the very large and very well-known youth ministry. We left for a much smaller church that espouses many of the aspects mentioned by Michael Spencer. Ironically, though, people occasionally suggest that our church should take a cue from our former mega-church youth ministry program. I have struggled to put into words why I consider this the wrong approach to the strengthening of our youth. These points will help me do that.

Believing in Jesus

2008-06-05T11:02:00.002-05:00

While researching a topic, I came across this excellent response to a question on how we are to come to faith in Jesus on the WELS Living Bold website. The site is designed with youth in mind, but the resources are ageless.

Question: I know that I can't believe in Jesus without the Holy Spirit. But after the Holy Spirit comes, do I (or someone else) make the choice to belive in Jesus? I mean, it's my choice to get baptized or confirmed, right?

Answer:

You ask a very important question. Many Christian churches in our world today use their human logic to answer it by saying each individual person has some goodness or power within themselves to accept Jesus as their personal Savior. The technical term for this is "decision theology." They believe that Jesus has done everything to save them for eternity, but I have the choice to decide whether I want to accept or reject him as my Savior. That makes sense logically to my human reason, but that isn't how God says a person comes to believe in Jesus.

God tells us in Scripture that every human being is conceived and born spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-3), blind to the truth of God's Word (1 Corinthians 2:14), and enemies of God having no power in ourselves to change our unbelieving condition (Romans 8:7). By nature we are conceived and born as rejectors of God, but by nature we have no power to decide one day we want to believe in Jesus as our Savior. Salvation and faith (the ability to believe in Jesus and say you believe in Jesus) is completely the work of God the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3) working through the Word of God (Romans 10:17) and the Sacrament of Baptism (1 Peter 3:21, Titus 3:4-7, Galatians 3:26-27, John 3:5). Salvation and the ability to believe (faith) that Jesus has saved me for eternity are both gifts that God the Holy Spirit gives to us(Eph. 2:4-9).

Read on...

What to do...

2008-05-05T13:28:00.003-05:00

Here's some really good, scriptural and common sense advice, from Pastor Joel Brandos, for those who are in a liberal-leaning Lutheran church and you are a layperson:

1) Support your pastor. Encourage him to speak the truth in love. If he complains about how bad things are, urge him to keep commending what is good, right, and salutary;

2) Show up at local and regional meetings and conventions;

3) When you are at these events, don’t get angry. Don’t even look perturbed. Instead, take along with you one or two Bible passages and one or two quotes from Luther and the Confessions, not more than one paragraph long. Find the opportunity to share them with the group, telling people how much these words mean to you. To start out with, don’t speak against things — tell people what you are FOR and why you are for it. Identify people in the group who are interested in your words, even if it is only one or two. Make their acquaintance; get their e-mail; get to know them, but don’t be psychotically overwhelming. You might point them to one or two constructive blogs and The Wittenberg Trail;

4) If you find someone who doesn’t agree with you, first of all, just LISTEN to them and ask clarifying questions. Don’t get into a knock-down drag out argument. Sometimes you will hear them make outlandish statements. Press them hard to give evidence and make them PROVE that what they are saying is true. Don’t let them make generalizations. After you listen, THEN you may explain to them once again what you think is helpful and important based on the Scriptures, Confessions, and Luther’s writings;

5) Buy a copy of “What Luther Says.” This publication is full of excerpts from his writings on many different subjects organized alphabetically by Topic. Read it;

6) Read the PREFACES to Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms. Amazing! Read the Large Catechism if you have never done so. Re-memorize the Small Catechism as part of your daily devotions;

7) Get a copy Bente’s “Historical Introductions to the Book of Concord.” Understand Lutheran theology in its historical context - very important! Note how it was all LAYMEN who signed the Augsburg Confession.

On choosing a redeemer...

2008-04-29T06:50:00.001-05:00

I read a quote today that will compel me to read a book:

“…’I mean–I mean that I have given Him my heart.’ The older man’s face became suddenly as solemn as the grave. ‘Do you consider that something to give Him?’ … ‘But sir, if you do not give your heart to Jesus, you cannot be saved.’ ‘You are right, my boy. And it is just as true that, if you think you are saved because you give Jesus your heart, you will not be saved. You see, my boy, … it is one thing to choose Jesus as one’s Lord and Savior, to give Him one’s heart and commit oneself to Him, and that He now accepts one into His little flock; it is a very different thing to believe on Him as a Redeemer of sinners, of whom one is chief. One does not choose a Redeemer for oneself, you understand, nor give one’s heart to Him. The heart is a rusty old can on a junk heap. A fine birthday gift, indeed! But a wonderful Lord passes by, and has mercy on the wretched tin can, sticks His walking cane through it and rescues it from the junk pile and takes it home with Him. That is how it is.’ … ‘And now you must understand that these two ways of believing are like two different religions, they have nothing whatever to do with each other.’”
~The Hammer of God, by Bo Giertz

Differences among synods

2008-04-09T06:02:00.005-05:00

The latest battle in the Missouri synod has people searching on the internet for alternatives. My blog's search statistics show that. It is my own opinion that most confessional Lutherans refuse to look at other synods seriously because of a long list of mis perceptions and hearsay. I know the pain of switching synods; I did so myself about five years ago. The only thing I can offer is that once you do make the switch with a whole heart, the pain goes away. The things that I thought might bother me, i.e. the role of women in ministry and close communion, were not issues for me once I was sold on the ELS' ability to preach the gospel.

I would never encourage anyone to leave their synod or church, but if you feel that it is what you are being called to do then I hope you consider the ELS. I have been (mostly) very happy there. The ELS, though not perfect, is remaining faithful. We are small, manageable and pretty transparent. If I wanted to I could make an appointment with our president and ask him any question. There is no division among pastors, beyond the usual human divisions (style, age, personality, which football team they cheer for, etc). Do your research from there. I can also tell you that the ELS is not the same as WELS, yet we are in fellowship with WELS. A WELS pastor writes:

If you find differences, then, it is more likely to be in the area of culture or ways of doing things aside from Bible doctrine and practice. Norwegian and German people (and their descendants to a degree) don't always reflect the same personality traits or enjoy the same food or entertainment. And many ELS churches use different editions of catechisms and hymnals than most WELS churches do. Welcome to America and cultural diversity. But especially give thanks that these two church bodies enjoy confessional fellowship centered in Christ and his Word.

Are you looking for another confessional Lutheran synod? Ask others. Pray. I found this opinion at WELS.net Q & A feature very interesting...

...the majority of truly conservative or orthodox pastors and congregations have already left the LCMS or have chosen to hunker down to protect their own parish as long as they can. And they will die or retire before they do much else.

Easter at King of Grace

2008-03-24T11:44:00.000-05:00

Our church looked particularly beautiful on Easter morning. I meant to take photos, but wasn't able to get up front after the service before members began to take their particular flowers home. Good thing Jack did! He sent them to Norman and Norman posted them. Thanks guys!

Norman's Demesne: Easter at King of Grace

Issues, Etc. cancellation

2008-03-20T11:08:00.000-05:00

Issues, Etc., the popular and nationally broadcast was suddenly and without any warning removed from the air and its hosts were fired. The official statement by the LCMS-owned radio station, KFUO, explains virtually nothing:

For programmatic and business reasons, the decision was made this week to discontinue the "Issues, Etc." program on KFUO-AM. We look forward to bringing you new programming in this time slot in the near future. Also, we thank "Issues" host Rev. Todd Wilken and producer Mr. Jeff Schwarz for their years of service on behalf of the station.

Lutherans everywhere are saddened at the loss of a venue which could bring people of faith together across the country for an hour or two. They are also amazed at the cold, callous and non-sensical nature of the cancellation. In the radio world, sudden cancellations are hardly unusual, but in the Lutheran world I guess we expected a bit more from the powers that be. The show was their MOST LISTENED TO PROGRAM, with plenty of sponsors.

The show archives are back up and will be available for who knows how long. Pastor Todd Wilken has sent show listeners a message of thanks for the prayers and gifts of cash to him and his producer, who are suddenly out of work:

My thanks to everyone who has been so generous and supportive. Thank you for demonstrating such brotherly concern toward me, Jeff and our families. We are encouraged by everyone's Christian compassion and friendship.

Everyone, go to church. Eat and drink the body and blood of Jesus. Celebrate His death for us. Await His resurrection. It's Holy Week - the best week of the year.

Wir sind alle Bettler,

TW

If you would like to sign a petition, go here. If you would like to offer financial assistance to Pastor Wilken and Mr. Schwarz as they make this difficult and sudden transistion, The Wittenberg Trail is organizing a drive to offer financial support. They have set up a secure PayPal account. Follow the directions at the Wittenberg Trail website(free membership may be required) and click on the "Donate" button on the right side of the screen. Visit The Wittenberg Trail at: http://wittenbergtrail.ning.com.

Tithe or you will be cursed!

2008-03-02T08:51:00.002-06:00

In the middle of a CBS Sunday Morning piece, To Tithe or Not to Tithe, on churches which demand or strongly encourage a tithe from their congregants, a small gem of scriptural reason was featured:

"I'm somewhat suspicious of people who want to turn giving ten percent into virtually the only law that applies to people who are under a covenant of grace," says Hudnut-Beumler, "where God saves freely, not for ten percent down."
He says he's reminded of Martin Luther, father of the Protestant movement, who broke away from the Catholic church because it was selling indulgences: Promises of a quicker road to heaven in exchange for cash.

"Stripped down to its basics," he says, "I don't think it's different than indulgences. What we see today, though, is a return to 'this-for-that religion,' give God this and God will give you that."

Words of wisdom from a Lutheran? I couldn't find any reference to him being raised Lutheran (except for being raised in Michigan). James Hudnut-Beumler is dean of the divinity school at Vanderbilt University.

Another gem, of sorts, from a woman who strongly believes in tithing: "It makes me feel good."

Here is a bit of considered opinion on tithing, which (of course) is not a bad practice, but it is not mandated to Christians, by a Lutheran theologian:

It is always a horrible abuse of the Word of God - and a legalistic binding of consciences - to try to use the law to motivate and "drive" Christians to fruits of faith, rather than seeking to empower and inspire them through the gospel. Such "law-forced" good works are nothing but the rotten fruit of grudging obedience or pharisaic pride. The tithe is not a club with which we are to beat God's people over the head. It is merely one guide with which we can measure our gifts over against the gifts which God's Old Testament people brought him.

"God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8).

The antidote for me

2008-02-26T08:24:00.000-06:00

Reading through the New York Times summary of the findings of the latest Pew report, this quote caught my eye: “The trend is towards more personal religion, and evangelicals offer that." I find this quote and trend very sad because I believe that a church which makes religion about ME is like following a dead-end road. I spent too long on that road before finally figuring out that worshiping God is not about ME; it's the ANTIDOTE for me. Here on this earth, I have no problem making nearly everything about me. It's my best (and worst) habit. We all do it, if we are honest with ourselves. Divine worship is that brief respite FROM me.

While the ranks of the unaffiliated have been growing, Protestantism has been declining, the survey found. In the 1970s, Protestants accounted for some two-thirds of the population. The Pew survey found they now make up about 50 percent. Evangelical Christians account for a slim majority of Protestants, and those who leave one evangelical denomination usually move to another, rather than to mainline churches. Prof. Stephen Prothero, chairman of the religion department at Boston University, said large numbers of Americans leaving organized religion and large numbers still embracing the fervor of evangelical Christianity pointed to the same desires. “The trend is towards more personal religion, and evangelicals offer that,” Professor Prothero said, explaining that evangelical churches tailored much of their activities to youths. “Those losing out are offering impersonal religion,” he said, “and those winning are offering a smaller scale: mega-churches succeed not because they are mega but because they have smaller ministries inside.”

The Pew survey, available on the Web at http://religions.pewforum.org/, was conducted between May and August of 2007.

God, government and politics

2008-02-12T22:15:00.003-06:00

It seems to me that those who ardently support Mike Huckabee tend to think that America has been created as a Christian nation by God himself. Along with that thinking there seems to be the idea that we can bring about God’s blessings or judgment on our beloved country. Are we not all sinners in need of a savior, destined to live on this sinful earth until the day Jesus returns? Since turning from Evangelicalism, I have learned that even when government turns to evil, God’s providence cannot be thwarted. In all things, He works for the good of His people. Below is a long opinion piece from a Confessional Lutheran theologian. I tried to summarize, but its too good. It reflects what I have learned about God and government and politics in recent years.

Our duty as church is to preach God’s law, not to reform Caesar’s law. It should be clear to us that all of a Christian’s actions must be guided by God’s moral law, regardless of what the civil law of the land may allow. The means of promoting morality which God has given to his church are teaching its members God’s will as it is revealed in his law and motivating them with the Gospel. Equipped with such teaching, they will not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but will be transformed by the renewing of their minds so that they test and approve the good, pleasing and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)

The church’s goal for those outside the church is not to regulate their conduct, but to change their hearts. This can be done only by a fearless preaching of God’s law, which produces contrition, and by the life-giving message of the Gospel, which produces the faith without which no genuine moral improvement is possible. The church’s primary concern in the area of law is to use the law as a mirror to expose and condemn sin, and then, when the Gospel has done its work, to use the law as a guide or rule for Christian life.

Nevertheless in this realm of sinners, the law must function also as a curb or restraint of evil doers. “The law is not made for good men, but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slavetraders and liars and perjurers.” (I Tim. 1:9) It is this restraining function of law which is the concern of the state. In fact, such a restraining function is the only purpose which civil law can serve. Offenses like adultery, pornography, drunkeness, drug abuse, etc are not person matters, but are harmful to society and may be regulated by law.

So the question remains, “How hard should a Christian fight to bring the civil laws of the state into agreement with God’s moral law?” This is a question of great practical importance when we consider laws concerning abortion, divorce and marriage, sexual conduct, pornography, capital punishment, and other matters.

Here again, there are two different, and in some respects, opposing factors which we must consider. The first is that God holds all nations responsible for their violations of his moral law and punishes them for such conduct. The Canaanites were exterminated because of their flagrant disregard for God’s moral law. When the sin of the Canaanites reached its full measure, the land vomited them out because their rottenness had become intolerable. (Gen 15:16, Leviticus 18:24-25) The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were burned to ashes as an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly. (II Peter 2:7) Isaiah cries out to the nations, “The earth is defiled by its people. They have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth. Its people must bear their guilt.” (Is. 24:5)

A nation is not excused for its sinful practices, simply because it is not a theocracy or a truly Christian nation. God’s wrath justly falls on those who suppress the natural knowledge of God and who sin against the inscribed law and their own consciences. God begins his judgment against such people by giving them over to uncleanness, to sinful desires, and to a depraved mind, so that they receive the due penalty for their error, even in their own bodies. (Romans 1 and 2) Although God temporarily spares the world from the general judgment which it deserves (Gen. 8:21, Acts 17:30), he already is sending warning judgments against those who trample on his moral law. The principle still holds, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” (Prv. 14:34)

As a general rule, nations as well as individuals reap what they sow. Respect for family life and for authority tend to contribute to the stability and welfare of a nation. Conversely, a society usually pays for the breakdown of the family and of respect for authority with increased crime and disorder. Sexual immorality and drug abuse exact both a physicial and emotional price. The first payment of the wages of sin is usually delivered already in this life. The life of a prodigal son leads to shame and ruin; the life of a Pharisee leads to earthly honor.

Of course there are apparent exceptions. Some of the guilty escape, at least for awhile. Sometimes the innocent suffer along with the guilty. Nevertheless, the general principle holds. This principle of divine retribution is one reason that Christian citizens are interested in good laws and in the outward morality of their land. Such morality contributes to the welfare and security of the land and its citizens. Immorality which disregards the basic principles of God’s law brings judgment on a nation. For this reason Christian citizens want the laws of their land to reflect the moral principles God’s law.

On the other hand, because of the darkness and hardness of human hearts it often is impossible for civil law to correspond with the ideal set forth in God’s moral law. Sinners have partially lost or suppressed the knowledge of what is right. Natural knowledge of the law is not clear and complete. It is partial and weak.

Sometimes people know what is right, but simply refuse to do it. Even the civil law which God gave to Israel made concessions to the hardness of the human heart. For example, divorce was permitted in the civil law, even though this was contrary to the will of God which was revealed when marriage was established.

The chief purpose of civil law is to maintain as much peace and order as is possible in a sinful world. If a woman had to remain with a husband who was embittered against her, great harm and disorder could have followed. The permitting of divorce, even on questionable grounds, could actually be a protection for the wife. She might be better off if she was sent away by a hardened, embittered husband, than if they had been compelled to remain together. The civil law accepted the evil of divorce to minimize the evil of bitter domestic warfare which would have been even more disruptive of the peace of society. (It should be mentioned that the divorce law in Dt. 24, does not encourage divorce or establish grounds for divorce. It discourages divorce by restricting the possibility of remarriage.)

The aim of civil law is to produce the greatest degree of outward peace and order. Every law is an attempt to legislate outward morality. That is, every law is an attempt to prevent individuals from harming other individuals or the interests of society as a whole by imposing punishment on those who violate the standards of society. Civil morality is generally defined on a utilitarian basis. Whatever a society judges to be harmful is considered to be immoral and is declared illegal. When a society is convinced that an act is harmless, it becomes legal. A civil law will normally be effective only if the majority of the citizens are convinced that violating that law is harmful and if punishment is certain enough and severe enough to deter those who remain unconvinced.

No anti-abortion law will be effective, if most people believe that abortion is not much different than a tonsillectomy. No law restricting pornography will be very effective, if most people believe that pornography is harmless or even enjoyable. Capital punishment is of little value if public opinion is so against it that no judge or jury will use it. We cannot expect a country to have laws which uphold sound moral values if its people are abandoning even those moral standards which are supported by reason and the natural knowledge of the law.

The first priority for Christian citizens is to educate. We should help to bring society back to its senses by promoting sound moral values. We will have moral laws only when a majority of the citizens and public officials of our land recognize the value and necessity of such basic moral principles as the right to life, high regard for marriage and the family, and the accountability of every individual for his actions. On the basis of such standards, we can then promote good, moral laws. In doing this, we are not trying to force Christianity on anyone by law. Reason, the inscribed law, and the conscience of natural man all testify to these standards, and when we are promoting civil laws, we must argue on this basis.

Even if we are successful in obtaining good, moral laws, we must recognize the severe limitations of civil laws. Legislating and enforcing good moral laws does not make a nation and its people any more Christian or any more moral in a true spiritual sense.

Such laws cannot change the inner motivation of the heart. They only restrain outward conduct. For example, when we promote laws that restrict abortion, we are not trying to create hearts obedient to the fifth commandment, nor can such laws make an unwanted child wanted. The only thing which the law may be able to accomplish is to protect the life (and incidently the time of grace) of some of our neighbors who are unable to protect themselves. Laws restricting pornography can’t legislate chaste and decent hearts, but they may diminish temptations to sexual immorality, which harms society. They may help stem the shocking tide of sex crimes in our land. They may help restore an atmosphere in which stable family life, which is a needed foundation for society, can be maintained. All of these are only outward functions which do not touch the heart. Laws against racial prejudice cannot make anyone love neighbors of a different race, but they may prevent him from interfering with their life and livelihood.

In short, good laws cannot do anything to Christianize a nation or to promote true inner morality, but they have value as a curb which protects individuals and society from the evil effects of rampant immorality. As Christian citizens we should promote such laws as part of our concern for our neighbors’ life and property.

However, a number of cautions should be observed. Even when the cause is good and the case is clear-cut, as in the effort to gain laws which restrict abortion, we should be very cautious about trying to influence legislation as a church body or as members of church-affiliated societies. Such efforts can very easily re-inforce the common impression that the church is basically a moral reform agency, whose goal is to make the world a better place to live. As a church we should not substitute the goal of reforming society for our higher goal of reforming human hearts. Our tools are God’s Law and Gospel, not man’s law and sword.

Even in our efforts as citizens, careful discernment and balanced judgment are needed. We should remember that even when Christians are agreed on the moral goals that are desirable for society, they may disagree about the best way to achieve those goals in given circumstances. We may agree that pornography is evil. One of us may feel that a certain restrictive law is a partial solution. Another may oppose that law, because he believes that it is so broadly worded that it could threaten legitimate freedom of expression. None of us would argue in favor of having holdup-men shoot grocery clerks, but we might disagree on whether a specific law restricting handgun ownership would increase or diminish the possibility of that happening.

Even when we are agreed on identifying evils, we must be careful in prescribing a specific solution as the Christian solution because the problem may be very complicated in its nature and in its response to specific remedies.

Christians should apply Christian principles and sound thinking to public policy as best they can, but with a proper degree of humility concerning the remedies that they suggest. We need to find the balance between thinking we can reform the world by legislation and withdrawing into a shell and letting the world go its way.

Although we should seek good laws, we realize that civil laws will never conform to the standards which God’s moral law sets for us. Even when civil law is lax, we must always guide our conduct by God’s law. Even the best civil laws will never produce the kind of morality that God desires. None of this causes us to despair. Even when the standards of society crumble, we have a sure foundation to build on.

Today, many are echoing the despairing question addressed to David, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” It is important that we remember his answer, “The Lord is in his holy temple. The Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes behold. His eyelids test the sons of men. The upright shall behold his face” (Ps. 11).

No matter how much indulgent rulers, lax laws, and vile sinners undermine the foundations of God’s moral law, this truth still stands, “God’s solid foundation stands sure, sealed with this inscription: the Lord knows those that are his, and everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness” (II Tim. 2:19).

Source: WELS.net Question and Answer section

Koehler's A Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Holy Scriptures, part 3

2008-01-07T06:53:00.000-06:00

Koehler writes,

It is not our business to sit in judgment on what we have learned to be the plain sense of the Bible text, accepting what agrees, and rejecting what does not agree with our personal views and rationalizations. This judicial or critical use of human reason is absolutely out of place with respect to divine truths. Where God has spoken, the right of private judgment ceases. (2 Cor. 10:5) We must take the words of the Scriptures in the sense and meaning they convey; we may not add thereto nor take away anything from it (Deut. 4:2), nor corrupt the Word of God by putting our own meaning into the text (2 Cor. 2:17). We must, therefore, not "correct" the Scriptures according to our ideas and logical deductions, but we must correct our thoughts and ideas according to the Scriptures.

An entire blog could be created based on examples of the modern church "correcting" scripture, but it would be depressing to keep focusing on that! The one example that comes to my mind is how my former Lutheran synod went to great lengths to justify the ordination of women. In the end, it was just a twisting of scripture to meet desires. It doesn't have to make sense to me that God has ordained that women serve in other roles and not as pastors. I can accept that God knows what He is doing.

Koehler's A Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Holy Scriptures, pt 2

2008-01-04T07:01:00.000-06:00

If we wish to convey our thoughts to a person, we must do so in a language he understands. Because the Word of God was intended for human beings to learn and to know, it was necessary that it be revealed in words of human language, intelligible to human minds. The Word of God does not work like a magic formula which need not be understood, but we must learn and know what it means (emphasis mine). In searching the Scriptures we must, therefore, use our knowledge of language and grammar, us the faculties of our mind to discover the sense and meaning of what we read, and we may then formulate our findings into doctrinal statements, or creeds, as we do in the Confessions of our Church. Such instrumental use of our mental faculties is proper and necessary if we would know the Scriptures.

We must learn and know what it means....For me, this sentence illustrates the change in my own life over the last few years. Although I was a Christian and I believed that the Bible was God's inspired word, it did not mean much to me in my daily life beyond a list of do's and do not's. People I knew would "claim" Bible verses and memorize them (out of context) in hopes it would come true in their lives. I still know people who do this and I have NEVER seen it work. My goal now is to know scripture and to understand what it means in context of the passage, chapter and book.

Koehler's A Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Holy Scriptures

2008-01-03T07:21:00.000-06:00

Before it is possible to determine what is to be regarded as Christian doctrine, it is necessary to agree on the source from which such doctrine is to be drawn, and on the norm by which it must be judged; otherwise it is impossible to reach an agreement.

No one can tell us what God wants us to believe and to do but God Himself. (1 Cor. 2:9-11). Therefore our knowledge of God and of His will toward us can be derived from no other source than from God's own Word. (Is. 8:19-20) This Word of God must also be the norm and criterion according to which teachings and teachers are to be judged. (John 8: 31-32) and (1 Peter 4:11)

The Lutheran Confessions, therefore, state: We believe, teach and confess that the sole rule and standard according to which all dogmas together with all teachers should be estimated and judged are the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Old and of the New Testament alone. (Triglot, p. 777)

My thoughts: It is no wonder that confessional Lutheran churches simply cannot join with most other churches in matters of faith. It's not that we don't want to; we cannot out of adherence to scripture.

An introduction never made...

2007-12-06T08:11:00.000-06:00

Watch this video on YouTube. Blair Wingo does a great job of explaining what is NOT Jesus today. She claims, in her gentle rapping style, that she will re-introduce us to Jesus, but she never quite gets there. What she does is reinforce God's Law, but she doesn't get to the gospel. Not surprising to me, thought, because the Gospel is often missing in evangelical-style evangelism today. But, the Law alone, as preached by Moses in the 10 Commandments, cannot save without being preached along with the good news that Jesus died to pay for our sins because we are incapable of keeping God's Law, incapable of saving ourselves...and incapable of recognizing who Jesus is! Only the Holy Spirit can plant that seed of faith in us when God's Word is proclaimed. Let's hope that her stylistic rap was followed by someone who preached the gospel.

Thanks to Extreme Theology for pointing me to this video!

An old goodbye...

2007-11-16T10:12:00.000-06:00

Going through an old computer this morning, I found the letter I wrote to my former church. I think I wrote it one year (5-5-04) after leaving Calvary Lutheran Church in Golden Valley. I hope I sent it. I honestly don't remember.

I am writing to formally notify you that our family has joined King of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Golden Valley. This church is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. I hope that you will be interested in knowing the reasons for our desire to leave Calvary Lutheran Church and the ELCA.

1. The lack of depth of the youth confirmation program. I greatly value the true confirmation program I participated in under Pastor Nelson in the 1970’s. As a confirmation leader two years ago, I was shocked to learn that we would never formally study Luther’s teachings or memorize key scripture and confessions.

2. The very blatant anti-war sentiment put forth by the pastors, especially Pastor Lynn and the refusal to pray for our local and national elected leaders and citizens serving in the military;

3. The ELCA stance on many matters, including exploring the acceptance of homosexuality and women serving as pastors.

4. Calvary’s pronounced leaning toward evangelical and reformed doctrines through seminars, congregational programs (Maxwell, Schueller, Hybels and others) and Sunday school curriculum.

I am no pastor and would not be able to adequately debate any of these issues with you. I can only tell you that I have searched for a scripturally-sound Christian church for the past 20 years and have finally found a true home in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

This decision was at least two years in the making and I had many conversations about it with several pastors and leaders. Calvary was my home since 1972 and I shed quite a few tears at the point I knew I had to separate myself from your teachings. I am quite sure that, beyond a polite “We will miss you.”, our family will not be missed because Calvary is headed away from biblical truths and into a state of constantly fluctuating beliefs not founded in inerrant scripture. I personally know of two other families who have left for these very same reasons and one other that is currently considering leaving.

Reformation Sunday

2007-11-10T12:38:00.000-06:00

I love Reformation Sunday! I walk in and see the large red folder containing the outline of the familiar long service. Everyone knows to allow an extra half hour. The music is concert quality, though always God-focused and not focused on the performers. Our Senior Choir and Handbell Choir always present something wonderfully beautiful and liturgical. The basic service outline is familiar, though a little longer than usual: invocation, hymns, responsive reading, confession and absolution (my favorite!), various readings, children's message, a good law and gospel sermon, offering, prayers, blessing. Each hymn is tied in to Luther somehow, which is fitting for the day. The sermon ties in Luther. Again, all normal to me. Although I love this service, I must confess that I don't understand why we do some of the things we do in a worship service.

The mention of the Reformation in prayer makes me slightly uncomfortable, but its really not inappropriate. I guess I figure that although God was definitely honored in Luther's Reformation and His church was most definitely reformed, I can't picture God focusing on the day Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses. I mean, I think every day should be reformation day. In the Confession and Absolution, we read aloud Luther's Explanation of the Ten Commandments. Yeah, the whole thing just like your confirmand did. Now, as a confessional Lutheran I love it, but part of me wonders what a visitor would think. Shame on me! But are we done? No! After the each lesson, we state Luther's Explanation of the Apostle's Creed. Again, the whole thing. After the Lord's Prayer, we recite Luther's explanation of it. The whole thing. Very educational, but it just doesn't seem worshipful to me.

Despite my reservations, I do enjoy our church's Reformation Day service. I even willingly went twice this year - on Sunday morning and again on Monday night to bring my working nephew to God's Word. I just think that we should put signs up on the door advising visitors advising that we only do this once a year. I just can't shake the impression that it is very un-Lutheran to focus on Luther throughout the service. We only do it once a year, so I can live with it.

King of Grace Reformation Day Service 2008

The Invocation
Opening Anthem - Thy Strong Word (Senior Choir)
Responsive Reading
Anthem - Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Thy Word (ELH #589)
Confession and Absolution
Anthem - Built on the Rock (ELH #211)
Old Testament Lesson - Jeremiah 31:31-34
Epistle Reading - Romans 3:19-28
Gospel Reading - John 8:31-36
Children's Message
Sermon Hymn - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (ELH #250)
Sermon - Our Lutheran Heritage - Our Christian Heritage (based on John 8:31-32)
Offering and Registration while Handbell Choir plays Variations on Ein Feste Burg
Prayers
The Lord's Prayer
Closing Hymn - God's Word is Our Great Heritage
Blessing

Sermon highlights:

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31 & 32

Hold to my teaching:

King of Grace has been in existence for 38 years, longer when you factor in the two congregations who joined to create it.
Consider our ancestors who passed on Christian heritage to us.
Much of modern Lutheranism bears little resemblance to what we teach and confess in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. For the future, it is up to us to maintain sound doctrine for future generations.
Luther himself didn't want others to call the church "Lutheran", but the name stuck anyway. Luther merely returned the church to its roots - we are dead in our sins and salvation comes by grace alone through truth alone. He made it clear to others that the doctrine was not his and that he had not been crucified for anyone
Lutheran heritage and Christian heritage are equal; they are the same.

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

2007-11-05T00:56:00.000-06:00

What did you see when you looked in the mirror this morning? Did you see a sagging face, gray hair, no hair or even hair in the wrong places? Do you still feel, like I do, that you are that 18 year old looking in the mirror and wondering what in the world happened? What changed? When I look in the mirror, as a child of God, I see the robe of Christ's righteousness wrapped around me.

I've always hated changes. At least that is what I've always told myself. What I hate, or dread (a more accurate term) is anticipating change. The actual change isn't usually as bad as I dreaded...and sometimes is actually fun or exhilarating. Then afterward, there's the typical thought, "Well, that wasn't so bad." or "I'm so glad things changed."

My life this past year has been so full of changes. A year ago, I had a (seemingly) healthy back, a sick body, 30 extra pounds of fat, a child who walked way too close to the line (actually stepping over the line would be more accurate), an illusion of freedom from sin...the list goes on and wouldn't make sense to many. Now, one year later, I am mostly recovered from surgery, coping with moderate back concerns, 30 pounds lighter, witnessing a child making some really good choices, and now very aware of my sin nature (though fully clothed as a saint thanks to Christ).

I'm am fully moved into the stage of life where I feel very vulnerable to unexpected changes. So many people I know have failing marriages, failing dreams and failing health. I'm only 47! What will it be like when I'm in my 60's? Yet, despite all that I could worry about, I have so much to be thankful for. For most people, its not death we fear; we fear life. I was reminded this morning that we don't enter the cemetery to stay there. We merely pass through...like a tunnel.

Today's sermon was about thankfulness and sainthood, based on Psalm 30:4. Pastor Ekhoff asked, "Did you see a saint in the mirror this morning?" He reminded us that we are saints through Jesus Christ, along with those saints already in heaven. We saints are one fellowship. That's a comforting thought.

Psalm 30

1 I will exalt you, O LORD,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help
and you healed me.

3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave;
you spared me from going down into the pit.

4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his;
praise his holy name.

5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

6 When I felt secure, I said,
"I will never be shaken."

7 O LORD, when you favored me,
you made my mountain stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.

8 To you, O LORD, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:

9 "What gain is there in my destruction,
in my going down into the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?

10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me;
O LORD, be my help."

11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

God is God and we are not

2007-09-25T09:45:00.000-05:00

Words of wisdom from a young man...

It saddens me how so many congregations "chip away" at the rich history of Lutheran liturgy and worship and conform to the ever-increasing popular "seeker services" - and this is occurring to services with traditional music. Confession and Absolution is spoken by the Pastor in a way not to "confuse" unchurched guests. The "Bible reading" takes the place of Scripture readings of Law and Gospel. The sermon is turned into how Jesus can help you. Communion is an act. This list goes on.

It doesn't happen overnight. It doesn't happen through the efforts of one. It happens through Pastors that seek "better ways" to "connect with the lost" and forget the teachings that they confessed to vowed to uphold in their ordinations. It happens to through congregational members who forget or put aside the dear teachings of Luther's Small and Large Catechisms in favor on figuring out ways to grow their church.

It happens by forgetting that God is God and we are not. Christians are to come together on Sunday to worship God - not to attend a seminar on how to understand their life and how God can make it better. The timeless truths of Scripture and God's plan for us is revealed, but it is out of thankfulness for what He has done and humility and reverence and awe for the most powerful timeless loving being in the universe that we come together to worship Him! Liturgy - speaking, singing, chanting the words of God himself as revealed in Scripture. How can man speak more truthfully than with the word of God himself? How can man's feeling - sinful as he is, even as a new creation- be more reverent than the Word from which the universe sprang into being.

Just the ranting of a young Elder that wants to change his church. Thanks for listening.

For myself, I will never forget the relief of coming to a worship service where God comes to me, first and foremost. No longer do I need to come to church with my game face on - dressed well, happy, perfect children, sins neatly under control (not that I don't try to do that, in Christ, already). I now come to church to be reminded of my hopeless condition, then immediately being led through confession of my sins and be a recipient of the good news that I have been forgiven. My liturgical church service is a reflection of God, in that it is about what God has done for me in love because I am His child and am helpless to save myself. From that firm foundation, I am able to approach God with my singing and praise.

Borrowed in full from Cyberbrethren's excellent post on fear of liturgy, Lutheran Worship: Old School ... Too Roman Catholic? Thoughts on Lutheranism and Liturgy.

Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want

2007-08-15T12:52:00.001-05:00

Lately, I've been listening to a hauntingly beautiful song from The Dream Academy's album, Somewhere in the Sun. I went to great length's to get the song on my iPod. The song was never released in the U.S., so I bought a CD on eBay from someone in London and waited to receive it in the mail. How quaint and yet thoroughly modern.

My favorite cut's title is somewhat embarrassing to me: please please please let me get what I want. Why is it embarrassing to me? Well, for obvious and very grown up reasons, right? I mean, we know that adults aren't supposed to go around begging and demanding like children to get their wishes granted by someone more in charge than they are. We NEVER say things like, "Oh, PLEASE let me get what I want!" aloud, do we? I think, if we are honest, most of us admit to at least thinking like that once in a while. On another level, I've been wondering if it is scriptural for me to ask God, "Please let me get what I want." It could be a prayer. The sentiment certainly is honest and probably echoes many people's thoughts, especially those of us who've suffered more often than not in our lives.

Sinners that we are by nature, we have no right to expect anything from God, let alone that he should hear and answer the requests we make of him. But through the atoning work of Jesus, we have received full access to the “throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16). To pray on the basis of who Jesus is and what he has done for us is to “pray in Jesus name.”
When we pray in Jesus’ name, God not only promises to hear us; Jesus says that we will actually receive whatever we ask (John 16:23, Matthew 7:7-11, Matthew 21:22). Of course, we will leave it to God in his wisdom to decide exactly when and how to answer us. Sometimes his answer appears not to match our request exactly. But even then we always receive more and better things than we ask for. Jesus’ promise is always kept.
For us Christians, the problem is never a lack of willingness to hear us on God’s part. At times, however, it is inattention to prayer on our part, or a weak and shaky confidence that God really does hear and answer (Luke 18:8). The rich promises that God attaches to prayer in his Word will strengthen our confidence and move us to pray confidently and often. (From WELS.net)

According to Wikipedia...

Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want was a cover version recorded in 1984 by The Dream Academy. The instrumental version of the song is the better known cover version, since it was used in the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off (during the Art Gallery scene) along with "The Edge of Forever". The single wasn't originally included in their debut album, The Dream Academy but later appeared on the compilation album, Somewhere in the Sun... Best of the Dream Academy.

The art gallery scene in the movie has long been one of my favorite movie scenes. I think the music had much to do with it, along with the wonderful art pieces at my favorite art museum, The Art Institute of Chicago. Time and money aside, I would spend one day a month in that museum...for the rest of my time on earth....with this song playing on my iPod:

"Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want"

Good times for a change.
See the luck I've had
Would make a good man turn bad.
So please, please, please
Let me, let me, let me
Let me get what I want...
This time.

Haven't had a dream in a long time.
See, the life I've had would make a good man bad.
So for once in my life
Let me get what I want.
Lord knows it would be the first time.

Watch the Music video on YouTube

The responsiblity of a preacher and of a congregation

2007-07-14T23:28:00.000-05:00

To those false prophets God says:

“You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:2)

To congregations who listen to false prophets, God says:

16 Thus says the LORD of hosts:
“ Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you.
They make you worthless;
They speak a vision of their own heart,
Not from the mouth of the LORD.
17 They continually say to those who despise Me,
‘ The LORD has said, “You shall have peace”’;
And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say,
‘ No evil shall come upon you.’”
18 For who has stood in the counsel of the LORD,
And has perceived and heard His word?
Who has marked His word and heard it?
19 Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD has gone forth in fury—
A violent whirlwind!
It will fall violently on the head of the wicked.
20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back
Until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart.
In the latter days you will understand it perfectly.
21 “ I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran.
I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.

(Jeremiah 23:16-21)

These words should be heeded by any Christian. I pray that my own synod's men heed these words.

Contemporary worship as idolatry?

2007-07-14T23:17:00.000-05:00

On adopting "contemporary" practices in worship...

Contemporary/Alternative/non-liturgical worship is not a new invention. Short-sighted pastors and congregations get all excited about what a tool such non- or anti-liturgical worship could be for outreach and education.

In 1920, Bjug Harstad, then President of the Norwegian Synod wrote:

"The unclarity, lukewarmness and liberalism of the times are dangerous because several harmful things follow from them. Because people do not stress the heart's inner life of faith and heartfelt appropriation of God's undeserved grace and gifts, the forgiveness of sin, life and salvation through faith alone without the deeds of the law, then no particular desire to dwell much with the doctrine of God's essence, attributes, grace and the Means of Grace, is felt, but mostly the need for cooperating in the externals. Meetings and talks revolve then most around practical things, man's own undertakings, often completely ordinary worldly business which sometimes is praised as Christians' deeds of love, while a precise exposition of one or another important doctrine would produce disturbance and disagreement. Must I ask if such church work is anything other than idolatry before God? Read on...

Drowning myself daily...

2007-05-26T10:10:00.000-05:00

To write Drowning Myself Daily as the title of my post makes me feel like I'm borrowing someone's excellent blog title, but the very visual description of drowning one's self daily can be traced a bit further back to Martin Luther. Recently, the WELS Q&A site addressed this concept:

The familiar words and imagery used by Luther may be found in his Small Catechism, under "Fourth" in the exposition of Baptism. Most if not all youth confirmands in Lutheran churches memorize the words, so it is indeed familiar. For additional information, one may ponder Romans 6:1-15, which Luther refers to in the Catechism.

John's call to "Repent" for the "forgiveness of sins" is first of all a call to repentance in the wide sense, including both contrition and faith in Jesus as one's Savior. Whenever the forgiveness of sins is connected to repentance, faith as well as contrition is involved. John indeed proclaimed both law and gospel, exposing sins and identifying the person and work of the Savior. That was his task and is our task, to preach God's Word, law and gospel.

John's call to "Repent" for the "forgiveness of sins" is secondly NOT a command for anyone to do anything by his or her own power. Scripture makes it abundantly clear that no sinful human being can repent on his own. No one can come to Jesus except by God's power (John 6:37, 44) . That's why we often use a term like "gospel imperative" for this kind of speech. It is a command or an invitation that carries with it the ability for the listener to respond. It is comparable to other divine commands like "Let there be light" or "Let the land produce vegetation" (Genesis 1) or "Lazarus, come out!" (John 11) or "In the name of Jesus Christ, walk!" (Acts 3). The command itself supplies the power and moves the person to do what is desired by God.

...What part is our action? To proclaim God's Word, law and gospel, to point ourselves and others to the reality and seriousness of sin and the reality and greatness of pardon through the unconditional gospel, and to call each other to repentance in God's name. What part is God's action? To work true sorrow for sin and true reliance on Jesus Christ in the human heart, and to preserve that miracle of repentance in the human heart.

In my journey as a human and as a Christian, I have struggled with what is my part and what is God's part. In the past few months, I have been wrestled with what I wish was a final step but is more likely just a next step in my journey to heaven.

My many years as an Evangelical taught me a very bad habit. The continual emphasis on my works as the way of salvation, apparently, deeply ingrained in me the idea that I am impervious to certain things, certain behaviors, certain temptations. For example, I would see someone in the church or community who was suffered the result of some sin, such as a crime, or lying (the outward act of lying) or murder or adultery (the list could go on forever), and I'd dismiss that person as an unrepentant sinner. Because I was "saved", I believed that such a circumstance would never happen to me. The spirit of God resided in me because I had asked Him. This was my protection. My faith was actually in myself and it worked...for a while.

It's easy to be full of ideals in your teens and twenties. Everything seems black and white in those days of clarity before a career, spouse and kids. I was right and whomever disagreed with me was wrong, from religion to politics to diet. What I didn't count on is that I would change as I aged. What I didn't count on was that, just perhaps, my so-called clarity was really a near- blind rigidity based on fear of the unknown and poor theological underpinnings. What I didn't count on was that any Christian is capable of any sin, particular ones he or she thinks would never occur.

In equal rigidity, perhaps, it is easy for me to blame that fear of the unknown on a poor education. My parents gave me the best, in their minds. I got the basic suburban high school education and a state college teaching degree. I received a typical ELCA confirmation and then attended various IVCF activities in college. I read scripture often...more often than most college students, I'm sure. Still, my lack of a strong Christian education made me easy prey for many false teachings through the years. Like a Christian not being able to fall into certain sins.

Today, the only thing I know I can do for certain is to drown myself daily in my baptism.

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism

As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household.
First.

What is Baptism?--Answer.

Baptism is not simple water only, but it is the water comprehended in God's command and connected with God's Word.

Which is that word of God?--Answer.

Christ, our Lord, says in the last chapter of Matthew: Go ye into all the world and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Secondly.

What does Baptism give or profit?--Answer.

It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.

Which are such words and promises of God? Answer.

Christ, our Lord, says in the last chapter of Mark: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Thirdly.

How can water do such great things?--Answer.

It is not the water indeed that does them, but the word of God which is in and with the water, and faith, which trusts such word of God in the water. For without the word of God the water is simple water and no baptism. But with the word of God it is a baptism, that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Ghost, as St. Paul says, Titus, chapter three: By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, that, being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying.

Fourthly.

What does such baptizing with water signify?--Answer.

It signifies that the old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts, and, again, a new man daily come forth and arise; who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Where is this written?--Answer.

St. Paul says Romans, chapter 6: We are buried with Christ by Baptism into death, that, like as He was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Quoting Luther, quoting Christ

2007-05-08T06:58:00.000-05:00

What I saw, in reference to my previous post, was Pirate quoting Luther who was, in turn, quoting Christ. However, it seems that others interpret that as merely quoting Luther. To me, the difference is huge. I was taught that the Lutheran Confessions reflect scripture and sit upon them. Scripture is the foundation. It is conceivable that we could remain Lutheran without the Lutheran Confessions, though they would surely be naturally created again over time (as the originals were) in response to the continual false teachings that crop up among believers. We could not, however, do without scripture.

A faulty premise on the Lord's Supper

2007-05-07T09:03:00.000-05:00

Should I try blogging again, Jack?

I read a post at Boar's Head Tavern, my favorite religion blog I never recommend to others*, on Saturday which literally kept me thinking all weekend. One of my favorite Lutheran bloggers affectionately known as Pirate posted a good commentary on the what Lutheran's believe regarding the Lord's Supper. The post was timely because I was looking forward to hearing Pastor Flohr announce loudly with joy, "Your sins are forgiven! Depart in peace!"

Here's is the entire thread. I know its against blogging protocol to post something in its entirety, but in this case I will:

The Real Presence

The Lutheran doctrine is fairly simple: the bread and wine, by virtue of Christ having said so in the Words of Institution, is no longer just bread and wine only, but also the body and blood of Christ. The body and blood of Christ are in fact taken and eaten.

The litmus test is what we call the manducatio impiorum, which is a fancy Latin slogan meaning “The unbelievers eat the body and blood of Christ, too,” but to their judgment, not to their salvation–just like they hear the Gospel, but not unto salvation. There are two major points of doctrine that rest on the Real Presence:

First, the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are all bestowed in the Supper. Notice the difference between Q168 of the WLC and Luther’s Small Catechism. First, Westminster:

The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament of the New Testament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine according to the appointment of Jesus Christ, his death is showed forth; and they that worthily communicate feed upon his body and blood, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace; have their union and communion with him confirmed; testify and renew their thankfulness, and engagement to God, and their mutual love and fellowship each with other, as members of the same mystical body.

Nowhere is forgiveness mentioned. Rather, the sacrament is essentially a means of increasing one’s sanctification, which is nearly identical to the Roman Catholic view of Holy Communion (which is different from the Sacrifice of the Mass). Now, Luther:

That is shown us in these words: Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins; namely, that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

And in the context of Luther’s theology, “life” means “eternal life.” Sacraments bestow justification.

The second is that the reality of the sacrament is founded exclusively on Christ’s word. Westminster simply asserts that those who have faith feed on Christ in the Supper. Christ’s institution and word are only mentioned when discussing how the sacrament is to be performed, but not in discussing what it is, or how we know what is there. Any sense of the Words of Instutution being that which makes the sacramental reality is made is completely absent–faith, not the word of Christ, make the Supper into the eating and drinking of Christ’s body and blood (and that only in a spiritual sense). Without faith, only bread and wine is there, leaving it incumbent upon the communicant to ascertain for himself whether what is supposed to be happening is truly happening with him. Therefore, one must condition one’s self internally for the Supper to work. As Q171 says,

They that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper are, before they come, to prepare themselves thereunto, by examining themselves of their being in Christ, of their sins and wants; of the truth and measure of their knowledge, faith, repentance; love to God and the brethren, charity to all men, forgiving those that have done them wrong; of their desires after Christ, and of their new obedience; and by renewing the exercise of these graces, by serious meditation, and fervent prayer.

Contrast that with Luther, who always goes back to “This is my body.” It is Christ’s body because Christ has said so, and it gives the forgiveness of sins because Christ has said so. The communicant is exhorted to look not within himself, but to simply believe what Christ has said”

Fasting and bodily preparation is, indeed, a fine outward training; but he is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins.

The Lutheran doctrine of the Supper is nothing other than justification by faith alone put into practice.

Shea posted a good response to Pirate's post:

If I was holding the highlighter and reading the Luther you quoted I would have presented it this way:

That is shown us in these words: Given, and shed for you, for the remission of sins; namely, that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

The question in my mind is to what degree faith in this promise requires believing anything about the bread and cup themselves. In 1 Corinthians 10 (one chapter before the LS ordinance, obviously) when Paul said that “They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.” Do you believe that the Rock was Christ in the same way that the bread you eat tomorrow is?

I’m sure that’s not the first time you’ve heard this argument, but I will be interested to hear your answer to it.

Can you guess what about Shea's question intrigued me? I think he is operating from faulty premise about what is important to Lutherans. What could that be?

*I never recommend BHT blog to anyone because it should be discovered and read at one's own risk. I love it, but it could really confuse someone not prepared to THINK.

O Sacred Head Now Wounded

2007-04-05T22:00:00.001-05:00

It is difficult, sometimes, to discuss with evangelicals my disdain for much of contemporary worship music. After five years in the confessional Lutheran church, I have yet to sing a hymn I hate. Our music director has also done a fantastic job of bringing in hymns written by contemporary Lutheran musicians. I agree that there are many good worship hymns still being written today and I pray that more good musicians and songwriters will follow their calling and serve today's church. Here is one hymn that has more than stood the test of time, for both a pleasing tune and truly worshipful and sound lyrics. Contemplating Christ's suffering certainly helps me put my own pain of recovery from surgery into its proper perspective.

O Sacred Head Now Wounded

Words attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux (read more here)

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!

Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.

My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

My Shepherd, now receive me; my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.

Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.

The joy can never be spoken, above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.

My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!

Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.

O Sacred Head Now Wounded

2007-04-05T22:00:00.000-05:00

It is difficult, sometimes, to discuss with evangelicals my disdain for much of contemporary worship music. After five years in the confessional Lutheran church, I have yet to sing a hymn I hate. Our music director has also done a fantastic job of bringing in hymns written by contemporary Lutheran musicians. I agree that there are many good worship hymns still being written today and I pray that more good musicians and songwriters will follow their calling and serve today's church. Here is one hymn that has more than stood the test of time, for both a pleasing tune and truly worshipful and sound lyrics.

O Sacred Head Now Wounded

Words attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux (read more here)

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!

Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.

My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

My Shepherd, now receive me; my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.

Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.

The joy can never be spoken, above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.

My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!

Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.

Paul Gerhardt Service in Princeton

2007-03-16T11:36:00.001-05:00

For local residents interested, there will be a special service for the 400th anniversary of Paul Gerhardt's birth. It will be held Bethany Lutheran Church in Princeton, Minnesota at 6:30 p.m. on March 19, 2007.

It will be a devotional service to commemorate 400th anniversary of the birth of the great Lutheran hymn writer, pastor and confessor Paul Gerhardt. Besides congregational singing, local church and children's choirs will be participating in the service. The service will consist mainly of Gerhardt's hymns, with commentary on his life. Anyone who is in the area and able to come is very welcome to join!.

(Bethany Lutheran Church in Princeton, Minnesota, 801 South Sixth Street -- at the corner of 6th Street South and 8th Avenue, near the high school and the Fairview hospital. Phone at the church is 763-389-3070.)

Thoughts on Vocation...

2007-03-05T07:26:00.001-06:00

The first time I ever heard of the concept of vocation was in college. Without using the actual term, someone once told me that Christians should strive to praise God in daily activities. Especially in the things often seen as mindless, boring and not very spiritual - like washing the dishes. At that point in my life, I had immersed myself in the evangelical world of self-sanctification, especially through activities like witnessing, waving my arms in praise, planning for mission trips, etc. This new concept of vocation (serving God in daily life through the gifts and places He's given you) seemed strange, intriguing. Not surprisingly, I wouldn't hear more of it until leaving evangelicalism.

The devil waxes furious...

2007-02-25T11:48:00.000-06:00

Incarnatus est posted these good words from an early church father. It's so good I've copied the entire post! Be sure to visit Incarnatus est for other helpful posts. I love his header:

A Blog. Lutheran. Catholic. Sacramental. Addressing the contemporary life of the church from an authentic, ancient Christian point of view. And the occasional thought on rock and roll.

The perfect blog, then.

Leo the Great on Lent and Satan and the Christian

And, dearly-beloved, no season requires and bestows this fortitude more than the present, when by the observance of a special strictness a habit is acquired which must be persevered in. For it is well known to you that this is the time when throughout the world the devil waxes furious, and the Christian army has to combat him, and any that have grown lukewarm and slothful, or that are absorbed in worldly cares, must now be furnished with spiritual armour and their ardour kindled for the fray by the heavenly trumpet, inasmuch as he, through whose envy death came into the world, is now consumed with the strongest jealousy and now tortured with the greatest vexation.

For he sees whole tribes of the human race brought in afresh to the adoption of God's sons and the offspring of the New Birth multiplied through the virgin fertility of the Church. He sees himself robbed of all his tyrannic power, and driven from the hearts of those he once possessed, while from either sex thousands of the old, the young, the middle-aged are snatched away from him, and no one is debarred by sin either of his own or original, where justification is not paid for deserts, but simply given as a free gift. He sees, too, those that have lapsed, and have been deceived by his treacherous snares, washed in the tears of penitence and, by the Apostle's key unlocking the gates of mercy, admitted to the benefit of reconciliation. He feels, moreover, that the day of the Lord's Passion is at hand, and that he is crushed by the power of that cross which in Christ, Who was free from all debt of sin, was the world's ransom and not the penalty of sin.

Sermon XLIX: On Lent XI

True Christian Piety, part 1

2007-02-22T10:20:00.001-06:00

True Christian piety does not consist primarily in what we do but in recognizing what our God has done for us.

Author: John M. Brenner

pi·e·ty n. pl.: The condition of reverence and devotion to God that comes with faith in Christ.

pi·e·tism n. :Making subjective standards of piety and religious experience the essential measure of Christianity or the Christian faith.

Luther was not the first to try to reform the church. Many before him recognized that something was wrong in the life of God's people. But most who went before Luther focused on behavior or organizational reforms.

Luther, however, recognized that the real problem in the church was not how people were living but what the church was teaching. The Roman Church emphasized what people were to do to contribute to their salvation rather than teaching that Jesus has accomplished everything for salvation in our place. Rome had raised tradition and the decisions and decrees of popes and councils to a position of equal or superior authority to the Holy Scriptures.

Medieval piety included making pilgrimages to "holy" places and praying to Mary and the saints. Taking monastic vows and doing works of penance were considered meritorious. Among the common people, knowledge of the basic teachings of the Bible was often minimal. The Lord's Supper was viewed as a sacrifice we offer to gain God's favor rather than a gracious meal of life by which God offers and seals the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

Striving to gain God's favor by leading a life of medieval piety drove Luther to the point of despair. The more he tried to keep God's law and appease God by what he did, the more his conscience became burdened with the knowledge that all of his efforts fell far short.

Piety in Luther's time

As Luther studied the Scriptures, he came to understand that true Christian piety does not consist primarily in what we do but in recognizing what our God has done for us. The message of the Lutheran Reformation centered on God's full and free forgiveness won by the perfect life and sacrifice
of God's own Son. Jesus made
full atonement for our sins. He has defeated the Prince of Darkness and opened heaven's doors. True Christian piety consists in trusting that message.

To foster true piety, Luther and his colleagues translated the Bible into
the language of the people, published books of sermons and devotional material, and wrote hymns and catechisms.

Luther's Small Catechism provided a summary and explanation of the basic truths of Christianity in terms so simple that even a child could understand. Those basic truths were so important that he reviewed them every day. In his preface to the Large Catechism, Luther wrote,

I, too, am a doctor and a preacher. . . . Yet I continue to do as a child does that is being taught the Catechism. Mornings and when I otherwise have time, I read and recite word for word the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, Psalms, etc. I must still read and study the Catechism daily, yet I cannot master it as I like, but must remain a child and student of the Catechism.

Read on: http://tinyurl.com/yol4qs

The law and gospel of adultery

2007-02-22T06:55:00.000-06:00

For any baptized soul who has struggled with sin, I offer this heartfelt letter and pastoral response. I found it on the WELS Q&A site this morning and was very touched. I think that in this age of pietism, it is a temptation to make certain sins worse than others and tell ourselves that God couldn't possibly forgive a particular type of sin. It is also easy to compartmentalize our sins by putting them into boxes. It is easy to say that you didn't commit adultery, but only thought about a person in a sexual way. Yet Christ's words are harsh...to do so is adultery. Jesus said in Matthew 5:27-28, "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Who can truthfully say that he or she has NEVER done that? I imagine very few. The law does indeed convict...with a very sharp knife to the heart.

Question:

I strayed very badly from God last year. I was extremely sexually immoral. In a nutshell, I committed adultery. My question is, is there any hope for me to be saved? I knew God before I did this unspeakable gross act. In fact, I did it in the face of Him. How can I expect to be saved? Yes, I'm highly repentant of my sins. Yet, how can I expect Him to forgive me?

Pastoral response:

What you are saying is that you have committed the sin of adultery. You are saying that you did it last year. You are saying that you did it deliberately in the face of God! You wonder how you can expect to be saved? You say that you are highly repentant, but wonder, "How can I expect him to forgive me?"

There are five sections of the Scripture to which I would like to refer you: II Samuel 11; II Samuel 12:13; Psalm 32:3-5; II Corinthians 5:19; and Romans 8:1 ff.

In II Samuel 11 we have the account in God's Word about how David and Bathsheba sinned. Like you, David knew that what he was doing was a sin. When Bathsheba became pregnant, David even tried to cover up his sin by having Uriah, Bathsheba's husband come to her to sleep with her so that everyone might think that Uriah was the child's father. When that did not work David arranged to have Uriah murdered in such a way that it looked like he died in battle.

Just like you, David knowingly and willfully sinned. Can you see the comparisons between David and you?

God sent Nathan the prophet to confront David about his sin. David repented. He said: II Samuel 12:13, "I have sinned against the Lord." I hear you saying the same thing.

Then, in Psalm 32:3-5, David tells his people about his sin and his forgiveness from God. He first describes the emotions I hear you expressing: vs. 3-4 "When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer."

This is the pain I hear you saying. "How can I expect to be saved?" I deliberately and knowingly sinned! How can I expect God to forgive me?"

David describes his faith in God's solution in this way: vs. 5 "I said, ' I will confess my transgressions to the Lord' -- and you forgave the iniquity of my sin."

I hear you saying, "I am highly repentant of my sins." David said the same thing. Now, you ask, "How did David get that confidence and trust that God forgave him and I don't have it?

Repentance always involves two things. The one -- that we confess our sins to God. The other -- that we believe that we receive absolution or forgiveness from God because of Jesus."

I hear you saying that you have confessed your sins. I also hear you saying that because of the way you feel you sinned so knowingly and willingly, and because you so strongly feel guilt for your sin, you can't understand how God could forgive you.

First: God forgave David who not only knowingly and willingly committed adultery, but also knowingly and willingly caused his lover's husband to be murdered. God forgave David because of Christ who has paid for the sins of the whole world upon the cross. God forgives you also because of Jesus.

When Jesus went to the cross, he paid for all the sins of all people of all time. That includes the sins of King David and your sins also. Listen to what God tells us in II Corinthians 5:19: "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them." You are a part of the world for whom Christ died. You can't tell me or God that you are not a part of the world for whose sins Christ went to the cross. You are also a part of the whole world which has been reconciled to God because of Christ. That part is just as true. To be reconciled to God means that God, in Christ, has made peace between you and him.

In others words, trust in the mercy of God. Jesus died on the cross for your sins. He has made peace between you and God. Be at Peace!

Romans 8:1 "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Jesus died for you. He paid for your sins upon the cross. Be assured that there is nothing in all creation that "will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39. That "us" includes you!

My last encouragement to you is that you go to your pastor and hear this same message of peace from him. Take your question and answer with you. Show it to him and talk with him about it.

Be at peace! Your Jesus loves you, died for you, arose for you, and lives for you!

Out of faith and love for Jesus, live for him! As a fruit of your repentance, fight the temptation to commit adultery again.

Source: http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518&cuItem_itemID=812&cuTopic_topicID=28

Thoughts on today's popular "contemporary" worship music

2007-01-31T11:29:00.000-06:00

I found this comment from Josh Schneider left on my blog a couple of years ago. His words are an encouragement to me today.

...Regarding contemporary worship, I certainly agree that it can promote a false understanding of the working of the Spirit, and often the lyrics are 'me-centered.' I think contemporary music should be resisted mainly because it doesn't convey the Gospel well, and is subject to the idea that the music should be catered to people's likes and dislikes . It also is typically associated with a theology of glory. I don't believe contemporary music is sinful, per se, but for the above reasons I think there are much better alternatives (i.e. historic liturgy and hymnody). Also, I find that the contemporary music has very little 'staying-power', by which I mean you can get sick of it very quickly, and it has little lasting substance that might be of comfort in times of trial. I think in choosing worship music, we should always seek to present the best and the highest forms of music as our 'spiritual sacrifice.' Not watered down stuff that makes us feel good.

--
Posted by Josh Schneider to Be Strong in the Grace at 5/9/2005 05:48:12 PM

I also received these words of encouragement from an ELS pastor this morning. I share them with you to illustrate the kind of pastoring I have experienced in my synod. The ELS is my family's earthly refuge and heaven is where I am bound:

The ELS is a "little" synod but can be a complicated place! We are basically a miniature version of what the old synodical conference was -- Norwegian Synod (ELS), WELS, and LCMS born and bred people all attempting to co-exist together as adults.

Basically I want to tell you to take heart. You are in a synod that wants to be faithful to God's Word. Therefore the devil wants to rob us of our treasure, and all of this divisiveness is the result of his efforts. So you are in the right place. Also you are in a faithful congregation at King of Grace, with three faithful pastors. If there were contemporary worship undercutting Lutheran doctrine and practice taking place, I think you would know it. People who have fled something bad tend to know it when they see it crop up again. So ignore the attacks.

The best remedy I can offer you is: Look up Paul Gerhardt in the authors at the back of your Evangelical Lutheran Hymnody. Look up all his hymns. Sing them (esp. #377, 517, 448, 208, 57, 304, and 20), or at least read them through. Gerhardt's hymns are the best remedy for what you are feeling right now.

I will follow this pastor's advice!

What to think about the ELS...

2007-01-30T11:19:00.000-06:00

Warning: I've broken my rule about how blogs should never serve as one's diary.

I read something this morning at Norman's Demense that caused me to think. Norman wrote:

As a layman in the ELS, I resent those who wanted to fight out their respective WELS/LC-MS positions in the ELS.

I never thought about the current dissension in the ELS in that way, but it certainly makes sense to me. My perspective is greatly colored, of course, by my view of the ELS and King of Grace as my refuge...my adopted homeland. I have one big fault in that I hate change and struggle with it (sorry to break my own rule about blogs NEVER being diaries). I am so ANGRY to be forced to study and try to understand issues that I didn't create and barely understand. It does seem to me, though, that the ELS has been held to some higher standard of conduct because of the perception that we had our house in order and had achieved some kind of purity of doctrine. (If you don't agree with that, fine, don't tell me about it. You can't deny that some held that position).

Then I read this morning something at an anonymous blog, creatively referring to trouble in paradise, that my own church is instituting contemporary worship. Funny thing is that, as a member, I know nothing about this. It's probably not even true, but it's being said. In the name of a fight for doctrinal purity? Really? When I fled Evangelicalism, I wanted a refuge and now I have a nightmare. It's unfair, no?

So, let's summarize what Theresa wants from life: predictability, unity, stability, fairness, kindness, purity, perfection, truth and bravery. And I'm expecting in this lifetime! I'm a great thinker, aren't I? I'm ripe for heaven, I suppose. I'm so-o-o glad I took the morning off to get my car fixed. It gave me lots of time to productively read Lutheran blogs. Yikes! Too much free time isn't good for me.

Update: The thought has occurred to me that what Lutheranism has to offered Evangelical refugees is not a peaceful refuge, but a land where doctrine matters. This new land I now live in isn't always peaceful, except maybe on Christmas Eve, but the battle is important. So, for me to stand and yell, "Let's all just live in peace." really just puts me back in Evangelicalism where everyone consoles themselves by saying, "Let's all just love Jesus."

Contemporary Worship

2007-01-30T10:39:00.000-06:00

If contemporary worship was instituted at my church, I'd be hard pressed not to jump up, protest, cover my ears and run out crying. My church surely is not foolish enough to abandon liturgy and chase after the lie of "it's what people want". I hate rumors and fears, but I prefer to address them head-on.

Just sayin'...

Lutheran Carnival XLI: The Post Season

2007-01-14T09:17:00.000-06:00

Dan at Necessary Roughness has posted Lutheran Carnival XLI*. Dan has a way of tying together life and sports to which my family and I can relate. Dan creatively groups the posts by topic:

Lutheran Carnival XLI is divided into the three phases of game play in American football: Offense, Defense, and Special Teams. Offense will carry posts that address thinking outside the Christian faith. Defense will carry those posts that defend the faith. Special Teams are posts either by teams or require special treatment.

In Lutheran Carnival tradition, Dan introduces us to another Lutheran we should all know, Phillip Nicolai...

Philipp was a second-generation pastor in Germany, born in 1556 and died in 1608. He preached during a time when both Roman Catholics and Calvinists were making life difficult to be a Lutheran: he had to flee several times or preach in house meetings. In 1601 he was elected chief pastor of Saint Katherine’s in Hamburg, finishing out his life in 1608 with a violent fever.

Nicolai is best remembered for two of my favorite hymns/chorales: “Wake, Awake, For Night is Flying” (LSB 516, TLH 609) and “O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright” (LSB 395, TLH 343). It seems the Morning Star hymn has been translated a couple of times. The hymn’s tune, Wir Schön Leuchtet, has been appropriated for five hymns in LSB, a testimony to its versatility and popularity. It’s beautiful stuff; I’ll be happy to play it for the locals.

Phillip Nicolai

Be sure to read the many good posts of this edition of the esteemed Lutheran Carnival! Great job, Dan!

* If you're like me and realize that your knowledge of Roman numerals ended a few carnivals back, Nova Roma gives a short explanation of each symbol If you're rushed, you can use their handy converter.

Be Strong in the Grace: Infant Baptism

2007-01-09T18:28:00.001-06:00

I've been perusing an excellent blog. Chris Rosebrough keeps the blog, Extreme Theology. He snuck under my radar last spring and summer, but I've found it and am enjoying it. He's even spoken on my favorite radio program, Issues Etc. Last June, Mr. Rosebrough posted a pastoral paper on infant baptism which I am compelled (always a good reason for stealing, right?) to post here because good Lutheran blogs seem to come and go too frequently. Despite the fact that I was given the gift of infant baptism, I withheld it from my own children. At the urging of an old-school Lutheran pastor, I finally relented and allowed them to be baptized. At the end of my evangelical journey, I began adult catechism classes and was immediately drawn to deep repentance over keeping my children from God's gift of baptism.

Chris writes:

I am reproducing this paper in its entirety for discussion purposes. This paper was written by Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller of Hope Lutheran Church of Aurora, Colorado. I think it provides an excellent Biblical look at this topic. Please read it with an open mind to what the scriptures are teaching. If you disagree with his conclusions, then spend the time in the scriptures searching what the scriptures teach.
I would also recommend listening to Pastor Wolfmueller's recent interview on the Issues Etc. radio program. Click here to listen.

Infant Faith a List of Scriptures

"Will you have your baby baptized?" I asked a friend who is also a pastor of a non-denominational church in town.

"No, Bryan," he responded, "You know we believe in believer's baptism."

Such was the conversation that provoked this short essay, for suddenly, and with profound clarity, did the connection between rejecting infant baptism and rejecting infant faith become apparent. The thinking is this, "If we only baptize believers, then of course we don't baptize babies, because babies do not and can not believe."1 Baptizing an infant is understood to be an "unbelievers baptism." It is this thought which I propose to contradict with the Holy Scriptures by showing not only the possibility but also the reality of infant faith.

Infant Faith, Old Testament and New

Do babies have faith? While we might be tempted to answer this question with reason or by experience, there is only one trustworthy place to find the answer: the Holy Scriptures. What, then, does the Bible say?

Psalm 71:5-6 (NKJV)

5 For You are my hope, O Lord GOD;
You are my trust from my youth.
6 By You I have been upheld from my birth;
You are He who took me out of my mother's womb.
My praise shall be continually of You.

Note, first of all, that the word 'youth' is expansive in Hebrew, used as a word for infants even unto young men and women2. The context of this word indicates what the Psalmist (presumably King David) means by 'youth', adding to the text 'birth' and coming out of the womb. This is as young as young can be, and to this young youth the Lord is his 'trust', his faith, his Confidence.

In verse 6 we would perhaps prefer a more literal translation. The word translated "have been upheld" by the New King James Version is reflexive, to 'support' or 'brace oneself'.3 Here are a few different versions:

New International Version: "From birth I have relied on you."
Revised Standard Version: "Upon thee have I leaned from my birth."
An American Translation: "I have depended on you from birth."

These phrases, 'relied upon, leaned upon, depended on', certainly imply faith. This verse, as the one before it, extols the faith and trust of the child "from birth." This text tells of the trust and reliance of an infant in the true God, and this text is not alone in the Scriptures.

As we turn to the pages of the New Testament we find a number of passages discussing the possibility and the reality of infant faith. There are a number of Greek words for 'child', and a quick survey of these words will help set the stage for our review of these passages.4

paidion- This is the most common word used of a very young child, infant, child, both boys and girls.

brephos- This word can be used of unborn babies in the womb [St Luke 1:41,44] or of nursing babies and infants [St Luke 2:12,16].

mikron- Literally, "small one," this word can be used to describe one's stature [St Luke 19:3], one's age [St Matthew 18:6,10,14], or in esteem, influence and power.
napion- [nhpiwn] This word can be used of an infant, often nursing [Hebrews 5:13], or, in the legal sense, of a minor. [Galatians 4:1].

thalazonton - One who is nursing [St Matthew 21:16].
teknon- [teknon] Child, with special reference to the relationship with the parents, used even for unborn babies in the womb.

Jesus Blesses the Children
St Luke 18:15-17 [And parallels in St Matthew 19:13-15 and St Mark 10:13-16] (NKJV)
"15 Then they also brought infants (brephos) to Him that He might touch them; but when His disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, 'Let the little children (paidion) come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child (paidion) will by no means enter it.'"
Jesus would have the children come to Him, and would have no one forbid them. Why? Because "of such is the kingdom of God." The children who possess the kingdom are the infants, the nursing babies being carried in their mother's arms. (Infant and children are used interchangeably in this passage, the infants [brephos] that are being brought are the same children [paidios] that Jesus receives.) And their possessing of the kingdom is not accidental; as if Jesus says, "Because they have not attained the age of accountability I will overlook the necessity of faith and give these babies the kingdom because the are innocent" or some other such thing. No, theirs is the kingdom of heaven in such a sense that the children are the very picture of faith. The children are such a picture of faith that even adults must be like them in order to attain the kingdom of heaven. This same teaching is heard in the following text, where Jesus again talks of the necessity of becoming as a child to have the gift of the heavenly kingdom.

True Greatness
St Matthew 18:1-5 [And parallels in St Mark 9:33-37 and St Luke 9:46-48] (NKJV)
"1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' 2 Then Jesus called a little child (paidion) to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children (paidion), you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child (paidion) is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child (paidion) like this in My name receives Me.'"

Here Jesus sets a child before His disciples to teach them who the greatest in the kingdom of heaven is, and, what's more, says that unless we, too, become as children, we will not enter the kingdom of heaven. There are not two ways to obtain the kingdom of heaven, one for adults (faith) and another for children (apparently just being children). Possessing the kingdom of heaven is the sole result of faith (faith alone). According to Jesus the children are the possessors of the kingdom and, therefore, the very picture of humility and faith. This is said plainly in the next verse.

The Little One Who Believe in Me
St Matthew 18:6 [And parallels in St Mark 9:42-43 and St Luke 17:2, see also 18:10 and 14] (NKJV)
"6 But whoever causes on of these little ones (mikron) who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea."
The little ones of verse six is the little child of the previous passage whom Jesus sets before His disciples. These "little ones" are explicitly described as the ones "who believe in" Jesus. The clarity of the text needs no comment.

Later in the text these little ones are described as the possessors of angels who "behold the face of the Father" [18:10] and as those whom the "Father desires that they do not perish" [18:14].

Jesus Gives Thanks to the Father
St Matthew 11:25-27 [And parallel in St Luke 10:21-22] (NKJV)
"25 At that time Jesus answered and said, 'I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes (napion). 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and he to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."

It is, Jesus teaches us, the Father's will to reveal 'these things' to babies. What are "these things' which the babes have? They are not offended by Christ, but trust that He is the Coming One, sent from God. [St Matthew 11:3-6] It is the wise and the prudent that have so much trouble with the works of Christ, but not the babes. These are the ones to whom the kingdom is revealed.

While it might be a mystery to us, it is becoming clear that in the mind of Jesus and the context of the Scriptures it is not strange thing to think of babes, infants and children as those who believe in Christ. It might not seem good to us to ascribe to infants faith and trust in Christ, but it does seem good in the Father's sight [11:26].

Out of the Mouths of Babes and Nursing Infants
St Matthew 21:15-16 (NKJV)
"15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children (paidion) crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant 16 and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?"
And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read,
' Out of the mouth of babes (napion) and nursing infants (thalazonton)
You have perfected praise'?"

Jesus here quotes Psalm 8:2 to support the accolades that the children are offering Him as He makes His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The Lord enlists children, babies, and nursing infants to sing His praises and announce His coming. While it is possible for the Lord to call forth His praises even from stones [St Luke 19:40], it is His good pleasure to perfect (or complete) His praise with the confession and singing of babes and nursing infants. This praise is certainly a fruit of faith.

John the Baptist
St Luke 1:15,41
"15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mther's womb."
"41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit."

The circumstances of John the Baptists conception and birth are certainly unique, and we should, therefore not presume too much from it. What is clear is that it is certainly possible for the Holy Spirit to fill a child even in the womb, and that this child even responds with joy at the presence of His Lord (who is also in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary).

From Childhood You have Know the Scriptures
2 Timothy 3:14,15
"14 But as for you, continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood (brephos) you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

The word 'childhood' would lead us to think of this as a young person, studying and leaning from a teacher, but the Greek word 'brephos' pushes us back further, to infancy. (NIV: "how from infancy you have know the holy Scriptures.") Again, the Scriptures do not think it a strange thing for an infant to trust, believe, know, and praise the Lord.

Because You Have Known the Father
1 John 2:12,13
"12 I write to you, little children (teknon),
Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake...
13 I write to you, little children (paidion),
Because you have known the Father."

St John, here, addresses the little children much as our Lord did, as those who believe. In the first instance (verse twelve), this could be seen as a familiar address, as John does in 2:1 (My little children, teknia) and other places. But that John changes the word in verse thirteen is striking, and leads us to interpret the little children referred to as actual youths, babies, etc. This is certainly not out of the ordinary in the Word of the Scriptures.

We see from the testimony of the Scriptures that infants can and do have faith. What this means is that infant baptism is believer's baptism. So to the original conversation concerning infant faith,

"Will you have your baby baptized?" I asked.

"No, Bryan, You know we believe in believer's baptism."

"Well," and here comes the answer, "so do I."5 While the faith does not give validity to the baptism, when we baptize an infant we are not just splashing water on a rock. This child can and does, by the power of God's Word, have faith in Christ Jesus, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. What has now become apparent is that there are two different understandings of faith at work. On one hand, faith is seen as a gift of God, on the other, faith is the response of man to the offer of salvation. These two different understandings of faith we now take up as we consider faith as gift.

Faith as Gift

To get a handle on the Baptist/Evangelical conception of faith, we turn to a classic tract that has been used as a 'witnessing tool' for years: The Four Spiritual Laws. The Four Spiritual Laws are:

God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life.

Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life.

Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life.

We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.

Notice that the Gospel, as expressed in the third law, is potential. "Through [Christ] you can know and experience God's love." It is possible to know God's love, but there is a necessary first step for the potential Christian, there must be a response to God's love and plan. Faith, then, is the "must" of the fourth law, "we must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord." In The Four Spiritual Laws, this "receiving" takes the form of the "sinner's prayer", asking Jesus into our heart. There are any number of ways that this "receiving" occurs in different churches, but all are a response to the offer of salvation. Faith, then, is a "response," an act of man to whom the Gospel is offered.

If this is how faith is understood, it is understandable that infants would be excluded. Infants have trouble praying the sinners prayer and walking forward for the altar call; infants have trouble talking and walking at all. So the inability to respond is equated with the inability to believe.

The Bible, on the other hand, is careful to show how faith is a gift of God. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." [Ephesians 2:8] The gift of God is precisely the faith through which salvation comes. "For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake." [Philippians 1:29] "You were raised with Him through faith in the working of God." [Colossians 2:12]

Faith, then, is a gift, created by God's Word. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." [Romans 10:17] Of course, God does not do the believing for us. It is we, infants and adults, who believe, just as it is we who live, and yet just as God gives and sustains our life, so God gives and sustains our faith. Though infants cannot speak, they certainly can hear. Though infants cannot respond, they can receive gifts. As we saw in the survey of Biblical texts, the trust and dependence and receptiveness of infants is very picture of faith.

It might offend our reason and sensibilities, but the Scriptures are clear that infants and children can and do have faith. May God grant to all of His people, both young and old, the faith of a child in order that ours would be the kingdom of heaven.

INJ
Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller
Oculi, Lent III, 2006

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NOTES

1It is interesting to note that most (if not all) of the official statements of the Baptist church do not explicitly make the connection between believer's baptism and the lack of infant baptism; it is, I suppose, assumed. I could find no official, "Therefore we do not baptize babies." Here are a few examples:

The Baptist Confession of 1688, Of Baptism

"1. Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament ordained by Jesus Christ to be unto the party baptized a sign of his fellowship with him in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.

2. Those who do actually profess repentance toward God, faith in and obedience to our Lord Jesus, are the only proper subjects of this ordinance." (Shaff, Philip. The Creeds of Christendom, III.741)

The New Hampshire Baptist Confession, 1833

"We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost; to show forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is a prerequisite to the privileges of a Church relation." (Shaff, Philip. The Creeds of Christendom, III.747)

The Baptist Faith and Message, Revised 2000

"Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper." (From www.sbc.net/bfm)

On the other hand, the connection is explicit in the very first article of the Anabaptist Schleitheim Confession of 1527. (Written two years before Luther's Catechisms.)

"I. Observe concerning baptism: Baptism shall be given to all those who have learned repentance and amendment of life, and who believe truly that their sins are taken away by Christ, and to all those who walk in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and wish to be buried with Him in death, so that they may be resurrected with Him and to all those who with this significance request it (baptism) of us and demand it for themselves. This excludes all infant baptism, the highest and chief abomination of the Pope. In this you have the foundation and testimony of the apostles. Matt. 28, Mark 16, Acts 2, 8, 16, 19. This we wish to hold simply, yet firmly and with assurance." ( www.anabaptists.org/history/schleith.html) This Confession is quoted on the Southern Baptist website in an article explaining the Baptist understanding of baptism. ( www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=14103)

2R[n "'Boy, lad, youth' a. of infant [Exodus 2:6], to be born [Judges 13:5,7,8,12], just born [1 Samuel 4:21], not weaned [1 Samuel 1:24; also Isaiah 8:4, cf. 7:16+]. b. of lad just weaned [1 Samuel 1:24,25,27], etc. c. youth: of youth Ishmael [Genesis 21:12f], Isaac [Genesis 22:5,12]... d. with special stress on youthfulness [Judges 8:20; 1 Samuel 17:33,42]... e. of marriageable age [Genesis 34:19], warrior Absalom, [2 Samuel 18:5,12]" The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Hendrickson Publishers: Peabody, MA. 1906, Sixth Printing, 2001, p. 654-655).

3Jm's; is in the Niphal, as in Isaiah 48:2. See BDB, p. 701-702.

4Definitions are taken from A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, Walter Bauer, William Arndt and Wilbur Gingrich (The University of Chicago Press. Chicago, IL. 1979)

5That Lutheran baptism assumes faith in the infant being baptized can be seen in the Lutheran baptismal liturgy. Before the child is baptized they are asked:

"N., do you renounce the devil?"

Answer: "Yes."

"And all his works?"

Answer: "Yes."

"And all his ways?"

Answer: "Yes."

Then he shall ask:

"Do you believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?"

Answer: "Yes."

"Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord, who was born and suffered?"

Answer: "Yes."

"Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, one holy Christian church, the community of saints, forgiveness of sins, resurrection of the body, and after death an eternal life?"

Answer: "Yes."

"Do you want to be baptized?"

Answer: "Yes."

This liturgy is taken from Luther's baptismal book, published in 1523 and republished in 1526 (on which this text is taken). This translation is taken for the Book of Concord, ed. Kolb and Wengert (Augsburg Fortress. Minneapolis, MN, 2000. p. 374-375).

The rubric calls for the sponsors to answer the questions in the place of the child, but never-the-less, it is the child who is asked the question, and so it is the child who says, "Yes, I renounce the devil. Yes, I believe in God the Father. Yes, I believe in God the Son. Yes, I believe in God the Holy Spirit. Yes, I want to be baptized." This assumes that the child has faith before they are baptized. So Lutherans, following the Lutheran liturgy, baptize believers.

6The Four Spiritual Laws were written in 1965 by Bill Bright, the founder of "Campus Crusade for Christ." Approximately 1.5 billion copies of this tract have been printed according to the evangelical website of Campus Crusade: www.greatcom.org.laws.

Fundamentalism contains few fundamentals

2007-01-02T07:38:00.000-06:00

I read something this morning that reminded me of something one of my pastors said a few years back about church bodies accepting changes in culture within 5-7 years. Jim Bakker's son and emergent church preacher, Jay Bakker, has announced that God has told him that homosexuality is not a sin.

Jay Bakker shows off his tattoos

At first, he was skeptical. When his friend Donnie Earl initially talked to him about grace, he thought he was just being a fair-weather Christian, that he was "giving himself a license to sin." He found proof, ultimately, in scripture. He saw it enacted in the non-judgmental support of his grace-touting friend who would pick him up after drunken benders without question or comment.

Alcohol lost its grip on Jay, and he began to reevaluate the more judgmental aspects of the faith he grew up with, particularly its condemnation of homosexuality. "The more I follow grace, the more I'm drawn to him [God], the more I'm willing to stand up for people being persecuted," says Jay today. "This sounds so churchy, but I felt like God spoke to my heart and said '[homosexuality] is not a sin.'"

The decision to make Revolution a gay-affirming church, however, wasn't an easy one. It cost him $50,000 in support from an anonymous donor—the bulk of Revolution's budget. Invitations to speak at the big emergent Christian festivals also dried up. Even his father warned that it may turn people off to his message. "It's a very lonely place to be, people telling you you're a heretic," says Jay.

Above is an excerpt from Radar, an online magazine. It is a personal interview with Jay Bakker by Martin Edlund. The full article, Empire of the son, is online.

Also, I found two interesting commentaries on the article:

Dr. Ray Pritchard at CrossWalk - Jay Bakker's Strange Religion

..he and a friend lead a church that preaches "God's grace to a flock of young, downtrodden and disillusioned parishioners most any other church would turn away." At first glance, that would appear to be a noble effort, but this is not your typical evangelical twentysomething "emerging church." At the Revolution, they have gone a step beyond. They are a "gay-affirming" church. Jay Bakker told Larry King he would allow gay couples to get married in his church if it becomes legal (which he evidently hopes will happen soon). When Larry asked him why most evangelicals oppose homosexuality, Bakker offers this answer:
Well, I mean, I know the arguments. I know the scriptures. And the scriptures are very -- you could argue on them all day. I believe they've been taken out of context, and I don't believe that, you know, we've researched enough of the background on those scriptures.
But there's more to it than simple confusion about what the Bible teaches...

Chris Rosebrough, a Lutheran layman, at Extreme Theology - Did God Really Tell Him That?

...Forget your disgust and disdain for Jim and Tammy for a minute. Don’t judge Jay based upon his tattoos and his completely screwed up childhood. In fact, let’s pretend for a few minutes that Jay Bakker is not the one who is claiming that God told him that homosexuality is not a sin. Let’s pretend that it is Billy Graham making this claim. Even better, let’s pretend that the Angel Gabriel has appeared from heaven and is being interviewed on CNN. During his interview the Angel Gabriel tells the world that God wants us to know that homosexuality is not a sin.

To prove his credentials the Angel Gabriel causes it to snow in Bagdad on the forth of July and he raises Gerald Ford from the dead on live television....

Beyond the obvious, the statement of Jay Bakker reminds me of the confusing world of fundamentalism and evangelicalism that was my home for too many years. Far from being a base of fundamentals of Christianity, fundamentalism and it's sister, evangelicalism, are worlds in which nothing is solid...nothing is absolute. Since God can speak to modern people, including me, the Bible becomes a secondary guide to Christian living. Worship becomes a confusing, yet mandated, time. You enter the doors of the sanctuary hoping to be refreshed and leave with your head spinning.

Jay Bakker, like most kids, spends too much time claiming he is different from his father and from his father's church, but this description from the Radar article proves otherwise to me,

Jay's preaching style is anti-theatrical, but in its own way it is as mesmerizing as his father's. "He's like an old school preacher man," Jay says of his dad. "I don't know if I'm new school, I just get up here and talk." Typically, he picks a topic—on a recent week, why Ted Haggard, the outed president of the National Association of Evangelicals, deserves our compassion—and begins thumbing through his sticker-covered Bible for relevant scripture. If he really wants to dig into something and challenge pat assumptions, he might resort to the original Greek. He sighs loudly whenever he loses his train of thought, and salts his sermons with funny, self-deprecating remarks and confessional asides about his family.

He picks a topic and then looks for relevant scripture. That might explain the necessity of God "revealing" to him that homosexuality is not a sin. Because scripture doesn't say that!

Leviticus 20:13 says, “‘If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

Romans 1:26-27 says, “ Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.”

I've said before that finding my new church home, King of Grace, saved my life. I am not exaggerating. I also know that it saved the life of my teenagers, because the emotion-based worship of evangelicalism and fundamentalism with it's lack of scriptural foundation surely would have destroyed whatever faith had survived in them from me being their mother up to that point.

Disclaimer of sorts - I don't write often about homosexuality. It is one of many sins that afflict mankind. I never have and never will bash someone for homosexuality. My own sins are enough for me to focus on. I can't deny that God has declared it a sin in scripture and I won't deny that God's grace, through Jesus Christ, covers all sin. God loves all sinners the same; in fact, He loves us so much that He gave His only Son to die for our sins. This blog post of mine is not really about homosexuality; its about the slippery slope of believing that God is still speaking to people APART from scripture. Jay Bakker could have announced that God told him that stealing is not a sin and I would have written this same post. I'm sorry I have to write a disclaimer, but I've keeping a blog long enough to know that people often aren't very careful readers.

Cyberbrethren New Year's Resolution

2006-12-28T14:11:00.000-06:00

From Pastor Paul McCain at Cyberbrethren ~

Greetings Cyberbrethren:

My friend, Pastor William Weedon, posted a very useful New Year's
resolution. I'm going to join him, with God's help. Will you join me?

1. Read the daily Scripture readings assigned in LSB for morning and
evening (pp. 299-304).
2. Pray the daily Psalms assigned in the Psalter Chart (p. 304).
3. Read the assigned section of the Book of Concord for Monday-Friday
for each of the 52 weeks of the year

(Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions - note: they are presented in
chronological order of their writing)

I offer this as a suggestion because I think it would be utterly
achievable for anyone - even the busiest. The easiest way to
accomplish the above would be to pray Matins and Vespers daily (using
the assigned Psalms and Scripture readings) and to read sometime
during the course of the day (maybe before, at, or after lunch?) the
page or two assigned from the Book of Concord. What strength would
come to us from such an immersion in the psalter, such a reading
through the Word, and such a review of the Church's Symbols!

Anyone willing to take up the challenge?

It's a marshmallow world that we live in...

2006-12-28T14:03:00.000-06:00

We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.

~Buddy the Elf

For the few readers I have left, I've been thinking lately about why I haven't posted to Be Strong in the Grace for a while. Have I quit attending my fantastic church? Nope. Has my church changed and I've become disillusioned? Nope. Have I allowed the careless comments and accusations of others to bother me and make me second guess any thoughts of blog posts? Yep.

I haven't quite figured out how to express my thoughts, until receiving an email today from a well-know email newsletter. It contains quotes which accurately describe my reasons for leaving evangelicalism, as well as my reasons for not posting lately.

Here are some really bad quotes, which strongly remind me of why I ended up leaving evangelicalism:

The church "cannot afford to waste time on incessant internal
purification at the expense of the lost in the world."
--Jerry Kieschnick, synodical president
http://www.lutheranchurch.ca/synod2002/fri-greetings.html

"We have not the luxury of time and energy spent on incessant
internal purification at the expense of the eternal destiny of the
souls of men and women for whom Christ died, but who know not His
name and have accepted not His saving grace."
--Jerry Kieschnick, synodical president
http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/CTCR/president_greetings.pdf

"My concern is that we can spend so much time in incessant internal
purification that we do so at the expense of the eternal destiny of
people who are dying every minute."
--Jerry Kieschnick, synodical president
http://www.wfn.org/2002/12/msg00199.html

"People, this is NOT a game. Our incessant internal purification at
the expense of the eternal destiny of the souls of men and women for
whom Christ died must stop!"
--Jerry Kieschnick, synodical president
http://www.jesusfirst.net/2002aug04.htm

Here are some inspirational, though difficult to swallow, quotes:

"Many say, 'Instead of disputing over doctrine so much, we should
much rather be concerned with souls and with leading them to
Christ.' But all who speak in this way do not really know what they
are saying or what they are doing. As foolish as it would be to
scold a farmer for being concerned about sowing good seed and to
demand of him simply to be concerned about a good harvest, so foolish
it is to scold those who are concerned first and foremost with the
doctrine, and to demand of them that they should rather seek to
rescue souls. For just as the farmer who wants a good crop must
first of all be concerned about good seed, so the church must above
all be concerned about right doctrine if it would save souls."
--C. F. W. Walther, synodical president
"Our Common Task--The Saving of Souls," 1872
http://www.concordtx.org/vision.htm

Whether our Synod gains friends or makes enemies, wins honor or
invites disgrace, grows or declines in numbers, brings peace or
incites enmity, all this must be unimportant to us--just so our Synod
may keep the jewel of purity of doctrine and knowledge. However,
should our Synod ever grow indifferent toward purity of doctrine,
through ingratitude forget this prize, or betray or barter it away to
the false church, then let our church body perish and the name
"Missourian" decay in disgrace.
--C. F. W. Walther, synodical president
First Sermon Delivered at the Opening of Synod, 1 Corinthians 1:4, 5
http://www.ctsfw.edu/library/files/pb/1517

Oh my dear friends of the Lutheran faith, confession, and conflict,
do not be misled when today those are everywhere accused of
lovelessness who still do not give up the battle for pure doctrine in
our Church. . . . Oh my dear friends, let us indeed sorrow and lament
over this: that false teachers constantly assail the pure doctrine
in our Church and thus are at fault for the conflict and strife in
the Church. However, let us never lament but rather extol and praise
God that he always awakens men who fight against those false
teachers, for, I repeat, this pertains to "the common
salvation." . . . This conflict is one commanded us by God and is
therefore certainly one blessed in time and in eternity. . . . Oh,
therefore, let us never listen to those who praise and extol the
conflict of the Reformation for the pure Gospel but want to know
nothing of a similar conflict in our days.
--C. F. W. Walther, synodical president
"Why Dare and Can We Never Give Up the Church's Struggle for the Pure
Doctrine?" 1876
http://scotchisforlutherans.blogspot.com/2004/05/from-cat41.html

I am embarrassed to admit that it took me over 20 years of evangelicalism before I had the maturity to start asking some questions. Too many Christians who maintain any of the following as a reason for dismissing doctrine and practice in their own church are living in their own marshmallow world:

"...it is all about Jesus, just give me Jesus, what does it matter if we are all Christians, I just believe in the Bible, I don't accept human creeds...".

In a perfect world, not only would I live at Santa's workshop with an all-candy and cocoa diet (watch Elf), there would also be no synods...only one perfect church. Seems I'm going to have to learn to live with the fact that not only is there no perfect synod, but I will also have to remain vigilant. I must accept the fact that others will criticize me and that I will sometimes need to criticize others. I will also have accept the fact that I must eat good meats, whole grains, salads, fruits and vegetables, with only the occasional candy cane and cup of cocoa.

In short, I need to toughen up for 2007.

Lutheran Carnival XXXVI

2006-11-06T11:34:00.000-06:00

Lutheran Carnival XXXVI is now up at The Markel Family. Thank you to them for hosting it, and thank you to all who contibuted. The next carnival will be hosted by What Did Jesus Do. Posts are due by November 17th, with the Carnival up on November 19th. Hosts are still needed for December. If you are willing, email Random Dan at daniel Dot sellers At gmail Dot com.

The Crying Need of Our Beloved Conference

2006-10-29T16:44:00.000-06:00

The Reverend Professor Norman A. Madson

Excerpt from his address to the 75th Anniversary of the Synodical Conference held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 10, 1948

Fellow redeemed, grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Though it be not the same text with which the beloved Walther greeted our sainted fathers when our Synodical Conference first convened in this very city three-score and sixteen years ago, we have no other aim nor holier desire than had that fearless confessor of the faith, when he is his ex corde prayer pleaded with the Father: "Forsake us not, but grant us now and evermore, as oft as we foregather, Thy gracious presence, and sustain us, for without Thee we can do nothing but err, sin and destroy Thy work."

Well might we have chosen the selfsame text: "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and then that hear thee, 1 Timothy 4:16, stressing, as he did, the fact that "the holy apostle does not say: "Take heed unto the chief doctrines,' but: "Take heed unto the doctrine,' - everything which is taught in God's word." But while the text be different, the tenor of our anniversary address will be the same. In fact, were we not to stress the absolute need of purity of doctrine, all doctrines, and the unequivocal acceptance of the same within our brotherhood, our very existence as a Synodical Conference would no longer be justified. For our founding fathers made that clear, from the very day of its inception, that the Conference desired to retain unsullied and inviolate as its highest good and most precious pearl, doctrine pure, as found in God's verbally inspired word and our treasured Confessions based thereon. And they pledged one another their sacred word of honor that they would fight shoulder to shoulder in contending for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints, be their enemy "Rationalism, Unionism, Indifferentism, or Sentimentalism."

This will involve us in stark realism, to be sure. But there is no higher realism that of our Christian religion. It must ever be frank as it is fearless. It has little room for diplomatic double-talk as it s Founder had patience with the hypocritical church leaders of His day. And we would most certainly violate a rule of all true Lutheran preaching, were we to address you as though nothing had happened during these three quarters of a century to disturb our sacred alliance.

We must as Lutheran Christians face facts, no matter how unpleasant the task may become. For God wants us to be honest with Him, with ourselves, as well as with our fellowmen. Wishful thinking and unsubstantiated claims are not going to solve our problem any more than will the delusion that salvation may be had by believing a lie. It is as true today as it was on yon day when Paul first penned it: "We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth." 2 Corinthians 13:8.

What then is our problem? In brief, it is this: Shall we continue in the paths our fathers trod, calling all manner of Unionism a sin, which robs the inviolate word of its majesty and saving grace, leaving ultimately all who practice it in the Slough of Despond? Or shall ours be a new course? Have we erred in marking and avoiding those who are indifferent to the love of pure doctrine, and who have placed in its stead a would-be love of men which is as shallow as it is powerless to save? Are we guilty of "spiritual standpatism" when we refuse to go forward at men's behest, or is there such a thing as pleasing God by refusing to go up hence if God's gracious presence go not with us? Well, our text gives the answer. It is on the basis of this more sure word of prophecy and by the guidance of the Holy Spirit that we shall briefly discuss:

The Crying Need of Our Beloved Conference

1. First of all, it needs to realize anew, in these days of rampant Unionism, that not all forward movement means progress.

There are times when "they also serve who only stand and wait." And what is the occasion for their waiting? Isaiah answers: "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31. There is a man-made busyness which is as far removed from the youthful Nazarene's being about His Father's business as utter frustration is removed from Jehovah's quiet command, "Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

Now, we can sympathize with those who are anxious to stave off the threats of a mighty Assyria by making alliances with that bruised reed Egypt, even as our hearts went our is commiseration for a Chamberlain at Munich. But the policy of appeasement with those who have , to begin with, broken faith with God is as futile as it is wicked. To lean upon such a bruised reed will be as sure to pierce the hand today as in the days of an Hezekiah.

There is a feverish anxiety among pseudo-Lutherans to join hands with all who bear the Lutheran name, regardless of what their attitude toward doctrine may be, which borders on ecclesiastical hysteria. In order to make an impact on a distraught and jittery world, an imposing "Lutheran World Federation" was set up in Lund, Sweden, last year which was to be the mightiest voice which has been heard since the days of Martin Luther. But what was it which sounded forth from Anders Nygren's committee on doctrine at that Lund assembly?

"The Gospel is so exceedingly rich that no one section of the Church can claim to have fully and exhaustively comprehended all its wealth. One church has grasped more of it, another less. One has penetrated to the heart of it, while another has remained more on the circumference. One has grasped one aspect and another another. In this respect the churches can learn from each other and help each other to reach a simpler, richer and deeper understanding of the Gospel."

At first blush that may seem to be a most humble confession. But let us analyze it. If no church can claim to have fully and exhaustively comprehended all of the Gospel, where does that leave Paul, who declares to the Ephesian elders that he had "not shunned to declare unto them all the counsel of God"? Acts 20:27 It would not leave him in the Ananias Club, would it not? And since the various churches are to render reciprocal help in arriving at a simpler, richer and deeper understanding of the Gospel, can y you tell me how one who is still out in the periphery is going to help the person who already is at the heart and center of the Gospel to a deeper understanding of it? If no one can lay claim to having all of the Gospel, how then could Paul pronounce his "anathema sit" upon anyone who preached unto the Galatians? Supposed that the other person proclaimed that bit of the Gospel which Paul had failed to preach, since he could not, according to Nygren, possibly have all of it, should he then have as his reward for his labors: "Let him be accursed"? Galatians 1:8.

But there is more to that doctrinal statement at Lund which had as its superscription: Confessing the Truth in a confused World." "Christ's Church on earth is divided into a multiplicity of separate churches. The reason for this is not to be found simply in the superabundant riches of the Gospel, but also in human sin. " That is the first time we have ever heard the Gospel of Christ blamed, in part at least, for the disunity of the Church.

But the Lundsians go on:

"Consequently, the prayer of our Lord, 'Ut omnes unum sint' (that they all may be one), constitutes a call to repentance for all churches, that puts them under a vital obligation to strive for the realization of unity."

You will here note that they fail, as the Unionist is wont to do, to quote the complete utterance of our Lord in this matter. He does not merely say, "Ut omnes unum sint," but immediately adds: "Sicut tu Pater in me, et ego in te" (even as Thou Father, in me, and I in Thee). We must not make Christ out to be a Unionist. His desire and prayer is, that there may be perfect unity, as that which existed between Him and the Father.

And as for repentance, are we to repent of the fact that we have (as have our true fathers in Christ before us) claimed that we did have the full truth of the Gospel? There are many sins which all of us shall have to repent of, yes, every day of our life. But God forbid that we should have to offer the fifth petition after we have been obedient to the apostolic admonition: "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." 1 Peter 4:11

But then comes the closing statement of that Lundensian paragraph:

"No church, however, must let itself be led by its concern for unity to surrender anything of the truth that has been entrusted to it."

If the Lund theologians had taken that statement seriously they would not be wending their way to that Babel of clerical confusion convening at Amsterdam this very month. They would then, rather than chant the modernist's battle-cry, "Vorwarts nach Amsterdam," take to heart Jeremiah's serious admonition: "Stand ye in the ways, and see," praying with Eberhard Fischer in one of your treasured German hymns:

"Bewahr' vor Ketzerei, vor Menschenlehr' and Dunkel!
Lehr' uns nach deiner Art im Tempel, nicht im Winkel!
Behut' vor Aergernis, vor Spaltung, die uns trennt;
Erhalte rein und ganz dein Wort and Sakrament!"

Which might be rendered freely:

"Guard us from heresy,
Hypocrisy e'er shunning,
Teach us to speak as Christ,
Who spurned all human cunning.
O keep us from offense,
Which falsehood e'er has sent,
Preserve unto us pure
Thy word and sacrament!"

Points two and three to follow.

an autumn message...

2006-10-28T22:14:00.001-05:00

From the Confessional Worldview Seminar...

2006-10-19T22:34:00.000-05:00

Thursday, October 19th 10:28pm

I just got home from the seminar. I snuck out early, after cleaning the kitchen, to try to get to bed early...but ended up watching the end of game 7 of the Mets vs the Cardinals. Oh well!

Tonight, I listened to Prof. Lyle W. Lange speak on what is the Confessional Lutheran Worldview. Here are the main points he covered tonight:

We live in a global society with a multitude of worldviews: religious (Christian, Pseudo-Christian, Non-Christian), political, cultural, philosophical and ethical.

There is no one universal worldview held by all who call themselves Christian.

Consider:

Confessional Lutheran - focuses on Christ and His saving work; emphasizes importance of properly using law and gospel, stresses the importance of the means of grace; teaches scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone.
Liberal Lutheran - has adopted the higher-critical approach to the Bible; pays lip service to the Lutheran Confessions; more concerned with outward union than with doctrinal unity.
Roman Catholic - stresses the authority of the church to establish doctrine; focuses on seven sacraments to assist people to work out their own salvation; rejects the three solas of scripture and Confessional Lutheranism.
Orthodox - ultimate goal is deification of man; places authority of the church over authority of the Bible.
Calvinistic - focuses on the sovereignity of God; teaches Bible is a manual for holy living to glorify God; teaches there is no doctrine of Scripture which is unreasonable; TULIP.
Arminian/Wesleyan - teaches prevenient grace; focuses on holiness of living; Wesley's four fundamental theological priniciples: universal salvation, free salvation, full salvation and sure salvation; teaches the second grace sets one on the road to perfection.

CARDINALS JUST WON THE PENANT!!!!!

Holiness/Pentecostal - emphasizes holiness of living; teaches that the second grace gives instantaneous perfection, after which a person may expect the third blessing of speaking in tongues and performing miracles.
Fundamentalism - reaction to 20th century Liberalism; goal was to preserve the fundamentals of Christianity; teaches that America is God's chosen nation; seeks to get the state to enforce Christian values.
Evangelicalism - rooted in 17th century Pietism, 18th century Methodism and 19th century Revivalism. Focuses on law over gospel. Means of grace are mere commands Christ said we should do.

How are we to judge the many different worldview we encounter? Can any human come up with a standard to judge by? No. Only God can give us the standard. The Bible is God's revelation to us, not human speculation about God (2 Pet 1:21). The Bible deals with humanity's greatest need - the need for redemption (Rom 3:23). The Bible transcends age, time and culture (1 Pet 1:25). Jesus says he is the only way to heaven and that the Bible is God's errorless Word (John 14:6 and 17:17) The Bible is the guiding norm and the Lutheran Confessions are the guided norm. The Lutheran Confessions accurately reflect what the Bible teaches, they agree with God's Word and guide our worldview.

What is a biblical Christian (Confessional Lutheran) worldview?

Centered on Jesus Christ and His redemptive work and grounded in scripture.

A biblical Christian worldview can be known only though the proper use of the law and the gospel.

The law is that divine doctrine of Scripture which tells us how we are to be (perfect), what we are to do and not to do, that we haven't met the standard God demands and that we deserve to be punished for our disobedience.
The gospel is that divine doctrine of Scripture which tells us what God has done for our salvation (what has already been done), what God does for our salvation now, and what God will do for us after this life.

There are major differences between the law and the gospel:

Revelation: the law is known to all people by nature and the gospel is known only by revelation from God.
Message: the law tells what God commands us to do and the gospel tells us what God has done for our salvation through Jesus Christ.
The way in which promises are made: all the promises of the law are conditional and all the promises of the gospel are unconditional.
Purpose: The purpose of the law is to convict sinners of their guilt before God and the purpose of the gospel is to give sinners the forgiveness won for them by Christ.
Effect: The law will produce terrors of conscience when it does its work and the gospel will produce faith, love, peace, joy and hope.
Ability to do what is asked: The law drives and condemns; it does not ever motivate to do what is asked. The gospel gives us the desire and ability to do what is asked of us (believe, be baptized, take and eat, rejoice).
For whom each is intended: The law is to be preached to secure sinners (Gal. 5:21) and the gospel is to be proclaimed to sinners (Mt 9:2)

Part II tomorrow morning...

The Confessional Worldview Seminar is coming soon!

2006-10-05T09:25:00.000-05:00

To help everyone get registered in time, the deadline has been extended to Friday, October 13th. Although moving the seminar to Minneapolis from the deep Wisconsin woods and shortening the seminar from a week to 2 1/2 days seemed like REALLY GREAT IDEAS, the result has been a DECREASE :( in registration rather than the expected INCREASE :). We are sure that this is a temporary blip on the screen and so the registration deadline has been extended.

If you have been thinking that you really should attend the 2006 Confessional Worldview Seminar, YOU ARE CORRECT. Where else, for such a low price, can hear, learn from and nosh with six of the best Confessional Lutheran minds in modern times? The worldview seminar is a "free" conference which means that all Lutheran synods and any Christian can meet and discuss the state of confessional Lutheran Christian practice today.

Listen to KKMS for new ads that have been purchased for the seminar. Also, plans are underway to have Craig Parton make a guest radio appearance again. I will post the link when it is official.

If there is anything that is keeping you from attending this event, please do not hestitate to contact me or Pastor Brooks. We will do whatever we can to help you attend (no, we probably won't pay for your airfare, but we'll do just about anything else.) A sitter at a low cost? A free cup of Starbucks espresso each morning? Transportation while in town? A place to stay because a hotel is just out of the question...even the very affordable, but clean Red Roof Inn? Ask! Please come!

News on the Confessional Worldview Seminar

2006-09-29T09:19:00.000-05:00

Exciting News! The registration deadline for the 2006 Confessional Worldview Seminar has been extended to October 12th. Also, listen for radio ads on KKMS 980. You can register online here.

Lutheran Carnival XXXIII

2006-09-24T19:33:00.000-05:00

September

a poem by Longfellow, thanks to Norman Teigen

I bear the Scales, where hang in equipoise

The night and day; and when unto my lips

I put my trumpet, with its stress and noise

Fly the white clouds like tattered sails of ships;

The tree-top lash the air with sounding whips;

Southward the clamorous sea-fowl wing their flight;

The hedges are all red with haws and hips.

The Hunter's Moon reigns empress of the night.

September has always been my favorite month. It is the month of my birthday, which mostly likely caused me to rejoice when I was younger. Nowadays, I cringe at the actual number of my birthdays, but I still love September. Why? Falling leaves, the start of school, cool nights and shortening days, the first chance to put on a sweater since spring, chrysanthemums, my big red sugar maple tree, squirrels busily burying their nuts. What isn't there to like about September? Of course, I haven't asked any 9/11 survivors if they love September. Nor my dear sister-in-law who just lost her mother on 9/11, just nine days after her own birthday. Nor the family who just lost their ten year old daughter in the Rogers tornado. But for now, I love September. And I love blogs!

One of my favorite ELS blogger, Norman Teigen, wrapped up his series on his take of the history of the ELS. His thoughts are his own, of course, but he has experienced life in the ELS from a unique viewpoint - both by family ties and by the events of his generation. See parts I, II, III, IV, V, VI. Norman Teigen is one of my favorite people. Not only is he a fellow church member, but he's also an interesting person. I love his blog! He takes the vocation of blog-keeping even more seriously than I do (at least he posts every day). He and my hubby talk after church until my kids have to pull dad away, out of the building and toward the car. Norman and Rob ususally talk about sports: Iowa v. Minnesota, the Vikings, the Twins. Talking to people after church is one of my favorite things about church and Norman is a good person to talk to.

Onto the rest of the bloggers that I haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting in person. Everyone's favorite aardvark has a blog, Aardvark Alley . The ol' Aard playfully invoked the noted author's greatest work in providing a title for Dante Alighieri: Classic Comedian. His commemorative post touches upon Dante's importance both in the Church and for Western liturature and summarizes most of his important works, including the three volumes of the Divine Comedy. Cyprian of Carthage, Bishop and Martyr, is certainly a lesser-known hero of the early Christian Church. Because of that, Aardvark Alley tries to show his influence on Christian theology and practice as well as noting some areas where Saint Cyprian's teachings were not followed by the majority of orthodox Christendom.

A dear friend of the Aardvark, Pastor Snyder, of Ask the Pastor , gets a wide variety of questions but this was a first. A man wanted to know, Can a Christian Be a Comic Book Author? Pastor Snyder responds by talking about truth revealed in fiction as he leads his readers to examine how they could live out the Faith in this and other vocations. A serious topic that Christians often ignore rather than face is the Imprecatory Psalms. Ask the Pastor confronts these harsh songs of the Old Testament through Praying Evil upon Our Enemies. Pastor Snyder says that there are proper times, ways, and attitudes for Christians to join voices in these requests for divine vengeance. However, he also reminds us that the full harshness of God's curse fell squarely upon His Son in order to save sinful, accursed mankind.

GHP's recent Luther Library review of Caitlin Flanagan's To Hell with All That: Loving and Loathing Our Inner Housewife touches upon several of the book's strengths and shortcomings. While sincerely recommending this work, he also comments on some of the weaknesses he perceives and also gently inserts a bit of his own thinking without letting it get in the way of encouraging others to read it for themselves.

After a very blessed experience at the Image of God Conference, the Rebellious Pastor's Wife contemplates a topic not addressed there in her post, One Thing Missing. Another blogging pastor's wife, Kelly of Kelly's Blog, contributes two related posts, Youth - not a "tribe apart" , a contemplation of being a youth leader, her own experiences with youth group hopping and where strong cetechesis fits into the picture, and More Youth Thoughts While Cruising the Cemetery, thoughts on the nature of youth groups spurred by a wander through the town cemetery.

Ritewinger at Theocon discusses, in Seeds of the Sower, the lack of Law in the "Sinner's Prayer" and in crusade conversion.

Everyone's favorite British blog-keeper, John H. of Confessing Evangelical cites, in Run away! Run away!, a superb post by Internet Monk, Michael Spencer, as well as a stirring quotation from CH Spurgeon, each reinforcing the message that adultery is a Really Bad Idea - one which should be obvious, but which, sadly, bears frequent repetition. John H. also offers, A Dangerous Element. Continuing John H's tendency to post non-Lutherans saying very Lutheran-sounding things, here is a glorious quotation from Martyn Lloyd-Jones on how true Gospel preaching will always be accused of antinomianism.

Resident referree of the Confessional Lutheran blogosphere, Dan at Necessary Roughness points us to his developing series on the Divine Service. He's got seven posts in the series already! One of my favorite blog-keeping Lutheran moms, Mutti Beck of Beckfest, has begun a series entitled Hymn I Love. She has begun with Salvation Has Come Unto Us.

It has been a pleasure to edit this 33rd issue of the Lutheran Carnival. Thanks to all those who submitted posts or allowed me to borrow posts. If you weren't in this issue, please consider joining in next time.

Craig Parton to be guest on KKMS 980AM this Saturday!

2006-09-06T11:16:00.000-05:00

Fantastic news!!! Attorney Craig Parton and Christian apologist extraordinaire is going to appear as a guest on Minneapolis station KKMS 980 AM this Saturday morning (09/9/06) from 11:30am to 1pm. He will answer questoins while promoting the 2006 Confessional Worldview Seminar being held at King of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Golden Valley, October 19 - 21, 2006.
KKMS 980AM has online streaming. The call-in number is: 651-289-4499

KKMS is also the local home for Pastor Todd Wilken's outstanding program, Issues, Etc , heard Sunday nights at 9pm locally.

Please spread this exciting news!

Who's Craig Parton? Mr. Craig Parton, Esq. is a trial lawyer and managing partner of the oldest law firm in the Western United States--Price, Postel and Parma of Santa Barbara, California. Upon graduation from college, he spent seven years on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ, the last four of which were spent as national lecturer for Crusade. Mr. Parton traveled to over 100 universities and colleges across the country defending the Christian faith through lectures and debates. He received his Master’s degree in Christian Apologetics under Dr. John Warwick Montgomery at the Simon Greenleaf School of Law, an institution devoted to the integration of Christian faith and legal reasoning. Craig Parton is also the United States Director of the International Academy of Apologetics, Evangelism and Human Rights in Strasbourg, France (www.apologeticsacademy.eu). His latest book is entitled “The Defense Never Rests: A Lawyer’s Quest for the Gospel.” He has published articles in both law reviews and in theological journals, including Modern Reformation, Logia–A Journal of Lutheran Theology, and the Global Journal of Classical Theology.

Check out these great links:

* Coming Home: An Interview with Craig Parton

* Luther Lite and Reformation Schmooze By Craig Parton

* The Defense Never Rests: A Lawyer's Quest for the Gospel by Craig A. Parton

* From Arrowhead to Augsburg: Bill Bright in the Light of the Lutheran Confessions by Craig A. Parton

ELS President's Newsletter: September 2006

2006-09-04T23:02:00.000-05:00

Check out the ELS President's Newsletter for September 2006. The upcoming Confessional Worldview Seminar, being hosted by my church this October, gets a nice plug (although I'm not sure about the usage of the word, "free" since we are charging a fee of $95.00 for 2 1/2 days of outstanding presenters, delicious meals and three nights of Tabletalk. Presenters of the caliber we have obtained have mortgages to pay, too!

Registration for the 2006 Confessional Worldview Seminar

2006-08-26T08:26:00.001-05:00

Registration has begun for the 2006 Confessional Worldview Seminar! Check it out at the official seminar blog: http://confessionalworldviewseminar.blogspot.com/

Lots of good information has been posted at the blog:

Feel free to ask me any question. I can email you the brochure, church bulletin or the presenters vitae and abstracts. We are expecting a huge turnout (we already have registrations without an official registration form), so register early. If you are a frequenter of this blog, I will personally shake your hands. No, I'm not a speaker (we're sticking with real theologians - the kind with diplomas), but I will be there helping and coordinating.

If there is enough interest, we will design a meeting just for us!

The Masks of God

2006-08-18T21:27:00.000-05:00

The other day I picked up a photo on my pastor's desk. It was of his first son, Hugh, taken just hours before he died last August. Although Hugh's skin tone and the tubes attached to his little body indicated a sick child, the sparkle in his eyes and the smile on his face were full of life and expressed delight and joy.

I was struck by the contrast in the photo: dying child full of life. How could that be? I know if it had been a photo of me as I lay dying, I would have made sure to look sick in the photo! Hugh hadn't learned that trick yet. He was still reveling in the joy of life...of a life soon to change.

I think there is a lesson in that photo. I need to find some scripture to go along with it. God put life into the child and gave him a soul. Baptism brought his soul into faith in Christ. Disease, born of a sinful earth, robbed Hugh of his earthly body, but not the life God gave him.

In honor of the one-year anniversary of Hugh Brooks' arrival at heaven's gate, I am posting something I wrote after attending his funeral. Up to that point in my life, I had never been to the funeral of a pastor's children nor had ever been to the funeral of a child. Here are my reflections of that day...

Masks of God

orginally posted in August of 2005

All our work in the field, in the garden, in the city, in the home, in struggle, in government--to what does it all amount before God except child's play, by means of which God is pleased to give his gifts in the field, at home, and everywhere? These are the masks of our Lord God, behind which he wants to be hidden and to do all things. --Martin Luther, "Exposition of Psalm 147" from Masks of God blog

Our pastor and his wife recently buried their young son. During his four short months on this earth, struggling to overcome a heart defect, his parents kept on online journal. One entry, made on a more hopeful day, struck me deeply:

We are so thankful to see God working and to see Him hiding Himself behind the vocations of cardiologist, neurologist, anesthetologist, surgeon and nurse. Doctor is one of the masks God wears.

This young pastor also wears a mask of God, and his wife as well. Even in their deep and utter grief, though they were both emotionally and physically near exhaustion from the death of their sweet firstborn son, God's love could be seen beaming through in their eyes, their smiles and their touch. They were not spiritually exhausted; they were reaching out to all of us, hugging everyone and reminding us of the joy of salvation that sweet Hugh has now obtained through Jesus' death on the cross.

I had never seen a pastor at the funeral of one of his own. I had never been at the funeral of a baby nor a child. Now, I don't base my faith on what my eyes have seen and I can't believe in God just because of how my pastor and his wife gave clear account for the joy that is in their hearts; but seeing them doing so confirmed what I already knew to be true through the witness of the Holy Spirit. God has provided a clear and joyous salvation from this fallen creation - where little boys are born with heart defects- through the atoning sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God. He has prepared a place for all who believe this is true. As if that wern't good enough, God has also sent his Holy Spirit to plant the seed of faith in the hearts of all who are washed in the waters of Holy Baptism and to grow and strengthen the faith of all who hear His Word preached and partake of Holy Communion. My pastor taught me this and he didn't run from it when his own little son died. Pastor and wife are one of the masks God wears.

During this last week, I have struggled fruitlessly on my own to defeat the evil plot of a computer programmer who has used his God-given talents for understanding numbers and computer programming to trick people, steal their money and corrupt minds and souls. He or she is faceless and nameless to me, but not to God. He is wasting his talent and rejecting God's urging to come to Him.

Just when I was ready to give up, I was led by my ISP provider to a young man who also has great God-given talents for understanding the same things as his evil counterpart. He uses those talents to continually learn more about viruses and trojans and hackers. He freely gives his time for no pay to companies in exchange for learning more.

To date, he has spent three hours straight on his phone dime, doing the work of a entry-level computer support person while also searching for an elusive hidden trojan virus. Sure, he is compensated in others ways and hopes to one day invent a little device to clean your machine in five minutes! But, he's got a long way to go and on his way he has helped countless numbers of people rid their machines of trouble and get back to work. Computer programmer,"geek", forensic network specialist are also masks God wears.

Pastor Snyder recently posted about the new Lutheran Carnival and the confessional Lutheran blogosphere: Ask the Pastor: Lutheran Carnival III and Beyond. He wrote:

"Lutherans are among those rare few who realize that even when we talk of “ships and sails and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings,” we also are talking theology. While I’m pretty sure that there will be plenty of theologizing from blogging pastors I’d be interested not only in lay theological perspectives about jobs, careers, marriage, and other vocational areas, but also reading some of the “daily grind.” Many of the bloggers I read, including Love and Blunder, Kiihnworld, and Pastor Steve Billings let me see much of their hearts and their theology through windows opened into the “ordinary” in their lives."

Yes, Pastor Snyder mentioned me in his last sentence and it really touched my heart, but that is NOT why I am mentioning his post. Blogs have been taking a bad rap lately, especially among our own. That deeply saddens me because blog-keeper is also a very honorable vocation. I began writing not thinking that anyone would ever read. I wrote to make sense of my life and faith.

About two months after starting my blog, I did a random search for confessional lutheran blog, thinking I would find nothing. With great surprise and delight I clicked on The Random Thoughts of a Confessional Lutheran and my world changed. From that blog, I discovered so many others, Confessing Evangelical and Bunnie Diehl were among the firsts and are still my favorites, although I've met so many more fellow saints since then. For the first time in months I realized that I wasn't alone in coming to the Lutheran confessions. Now how else would I have found other confessional Lutherans to strengthen my faith - mutual consolation of the saints, as the wise Wildboar once wrote.

Writing about my very ordinary life through the lens of my faith in God has helped me to be able to be able to more easily give account for the joy that God placed in my heart. And I'm not talking about blogging, I'm talking about my everyday REAL life. Writing about my faith is helping me to be open about my faith to others. I used to save my "Christian comments" for fellow Christians; now I can more easily leave God in His rightful and natural place in the world and include Him in my conversations with people. I attribute my ability to account for the joy to God; His Holy Spirit has planted it in my heart. I do believe that He also expects me to find and know good preaching, so that I learn more and practice saying and writing it down.

To you, dear reader, and to all the established, burgeoning or just-learning writers who decide to keep a blog, I thank you. Blog-keepers also wear a mask of God. I can't possibly begin to name those of you that have blessed my faith and my life, but I will try: Pastor Snyder, Rob and Devona, John, Bunnie, Scottius Maximus, Daniel, Elle, Dan, Glen, Bob, David, Jason, Floyd, Mutti, Brian and Matt, Pastor Steigemeyer, Chris W., Prof. Chris, Terrie, Vicar Lehmann, Michael and Timotheos, Pastor Brandos, Pastor McCain, Rev. Klages, Ron and Erica, Twylah, Josh S., Wildboar (wherever you are), Suzi and Tim, Monergon and Theophorus, Worthy Woman, Rick, Michael S., Rev. Chryst, Minister2B, Maria, Webcritter and Mr. Critter, and the many others that I've probably missed (probably because you don't have an RSS feed. If your name isn't here, email me and I'll ADD it! I've thanked you before and I'll thank you again for sharing your life and vocation through your blogs. It is a blessing to me. God be with you today and always!
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Contempory Praise and Worship Music: A call to arms or a chance to teach?

2006-08-14T21:47:00.000-05:00

My Drama:

An ugly shadow has reared its head outside the door of my castle...of my refuge and the place I hope to live out my days on this fallen earth. The knights of the roundtable of my castle are merely discussing whether or not to let the shadow in the door, but I know that harm has already come if such a thing is being discussed.

The shadow is a chameleon known to convince Christians that it is really an innocuous and pleasant diversion...a "modern" version of the same. The shadow disguises itself as light and calls to people. It tricks them into thinking that more people will come if it is used. It has been described as the smell of sulphur by one respected man. It has also been called the "stick of dynamite in the deconstruction of evangelicalism" by another. Yet another voice urges,

"...rather than spring into the usual defensive posture, what we really ought to do is become leaders in the area of sanctification. We need to take the initiative- not just showing the truth of Lutheran teaching, but also its great practicality, to say nothing of its evangelical heart! Out of love for our Lord and his church, it's high time we put our rich heritage into action."

I know I've irritated some by claiming this would never happen in my refuge. Those of you who were irritated may now rejoice that I was wrong. Or you can help. Pray for my castle. Submit links to aid in the educational opportunity. Or just consider this a fun guessing game and take a stab at my riddle. What is the shadow whispering at the door of my refuge and my castle?

An Explanation

This is fun! I can't remember the last time I had several comments. Of course, now that I've confused my own fellow church member, Norman, I probably should explain.

As a post-evangelical, I admit I have an adverse reaction to Contemporary Praise and Worship music. My faith once depended on it, or so I thought, as part of an overall Christian lifestyle. When my foundation of sand began to quickly fall apart a few short years ago, I started to notice the lack of doctrinal soundness in many of the P&W choruses. Yet it's influence on me was so great that the very first thing I asked my pastor-to-be on my first visit to him was borderline insane:

"If I become a confessional Lutheran, can I still listen to the local Christian radio station?

To this day, I don't know how he didn't burst into laughter. Instead he replied that I would find the station on in his home from time to time. With that major concern out of the way, I was able to go on with the minor matter of adult catechism. During that wonderful summer of learning, I was able to leave behind my dependence on contemporary praise and worship music. I learned that faith is given to me by God and sustained by God alone through His Word.

The first time I worshiped as a prospective member at my new church, I was underwhelmed by the music offered to me. My thought went something like, "How will I be able to tolerate this for the rest of my life?" No wonder I thought that, considering that I was used to clapping, drums, singers raising their hands and waving, etc. Over the course of a few weeks, the rich scripturally based liturgy and the timelessly-true hymns of praise and worship taught me and my family. I soon fell in love with the rich heritage of worship and song that confessional Lutherans have passed on from generation to generation dating back to ancient days. Not surprisingly, I am one of the more enthusiastic defenders of traditional liturgical worship.

So, when the idea of a modern modern liturgy or a few contemporary praise songs harmlessly added to a weeknight service gets brought up by a few very well-meaning members, I hit the panic button. Don't they understand the harm that music can bring? Or is it just me? Am I just being unreasonable based on my own past mistakes of how faith is created and sustained? Will my objections cause harm to the faith of those who ask the question of why not? How do I communicate my concerns without insulting or offending? These are my questions.

The drum roll begins...

2006-08-07T10:17:00.000-05:00

An exciting development...posting by email on this blog, too.

Uneasy, but secure and happy

2006-07-14T06:22:00.000-05:00

Photo found on Google from an open Flickr account by a man named Paul

"So how does it feel to always be helpless and hopeless without the Cross of Christ? Very uneasy because it makes you always dependent on Christ, there is none of you that you can bring on God's table...Uneasy? Maybe, but secure and happy."
~ L.P. Cruz

L.P. Cruz of Extra Nos has just described, in The Basis, the monumental mindset change that God worked in me a couple of years ago. And yet, how wonderfully ironic is it that the uneasy feeling drives you to the cross? Driven not so much out of fear as much as joy and thankfulness for the one who now saves you!

His account is the one "universal" truth I've seen written about by all who ascribe to Luther's story of spiritual conversion. We all have that same story of God convicting us of our sin while simultaneously showing us the fantastic news that we are saved, all through work not of our own. We suddenly realize that that is the gospel: to be in debt and saved all in one swoop. Accomplished through the proclamation of God's Word and not through any action of our own. Even the very seed of faith is planted by God himself. No man can boast that he chose God or chose his own salvation in Christ. It is not possible.

This post really encouraged me this morning!

Holiness and sinfulness, coexisting together, though not peacefully

2006-07-06T08:48:00.000-05:00

I love it when I read a post about total depravity and a post about holiness and see total harmony. For confessional Lutherans, any blog post on holiness will draw attacks reminding the blogger of our sinful nature and vice versa. I had to laugh when John at Confessing Evangelical added this disclaimer to the bottom of his recent post on holines, A Chappo's Guide to Holiness:

Note: For anyone tempted to make rude comments about a Lutheran blog posting on holiness (shock! horror!), do please go away first and read Article 6 of the Augsburg Confession (though also do read Articles 4 and 5 - especially Article 5 for any Sydney Anglicans that might read this. Craig excepted - he already knows this stuff.

For anyone tempted to make rude comments about this Lutheran daring to post on the subject of holiness: fair point.

Just last week I was tempted to write about Theology Geek's post, Where Theology meets Life, on sinful nature and actually decided not to write it because I didn't feel like combatting reminders of commands of holiness. Jason writes, "Calvinists and Lutherans have a basic doctrine that I don't believe is held by any other major world religion. That doctrine is total depravity. The "total" doesn't mean that humanity is as evil as it can be at all times like some silly comic book villain. It means that we are corrupted from head to toe. Though we can do good deeds for each other, they are generally for our own self-interest. It also means that we are born this way. We aren't born perfect with a morally clean slate and are turned bad through our environments, instead we are born corrupt with a natural tendancy towards selfishness. " Read on...

VBS 101

2006-07-05T09:28:00.000-05:00

VBS 101 - don't water anything down, don't make it cheesy...

Read Love and Blunder: Pax Domini

ELS Convention update: Pastor John Moldstad has been re-elected!

2006-06-20T19:23:00.000-05:00

Note: In the middle row of this photo the man with the white hair and beard is Pastor Kincaid Smith, author of "What's Going On Among the Lutherans", and his son-in-law(and our newest pastor), Pastor Rodney Flohrs, is sitting to his right.

Photos are from the Mankato Free Press website.
Click here to read a general article about the convention.

In honor of the re-election of Pastor John Moldstad, Jr. as President of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, I am re-posting the service and sermon highlights from his visit to the 25th Anniversary of King of Grace School in Golden Valley, Minnesota. It was also the the 17th Sunday after Pentecost. The opening hymn was My Soul, Now Praise Your Maker (paraphrase of Psalm 103).

It was a very special service to me; using a children's choir for the service gave testament to why the school exists. To hear their voices sing out the scritural truths they are taught each day was very moving. It was then that I realized why we teach things, even difficult concepts, to our children: they CAN learn them and they are able to repeat it back to us.

Pastor Moldstad's sermon was based on Timothy 2. It was upon hearing this sermon that I decided to create a blog to keep my religion posts and that very day I named it Be Strong in the Grace. I will write to Pastor Moldstad and see if he kept his sermon notes from that day. It would be great to post it here!

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Rest of the service...

Versicles:
Pastor: O Lord, open my lips.
Congregation: (sung) And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
Pastor: Make haste, O God, to deliver me.
Congregation: (sung) Make haste to help me, O Lord. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was is the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: forevermore. Amen. Alleluia!

Invitatory:
Pastor: O come, let us worship the Lord.

Hymn of Praise: Sing Joyful Praise! (based on Psalm 117)

The Epistle: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Anthem: The First Song of Isaiah (Isaiah 12:2-6)

The Gospel: Luke 15:1-10

Hymn: I Pray Thee, Dear Lord Jesus

Sermon:
Theme: Be Strong in the Grace
Text: 2 Timothy 2:1
By: Reverend John Moldstad, Jr.
President of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Offering: On Eagle's Wings

Offeratory Prayer: On My Heart Imprint Thine Image (sung)
On my heart imprint thine image
Blessed Jesus, King of grace
That life's riches, care and pleasures,
Have no pow'r Thee to efface.
This the superscription be:
Jesus, crucified for me,
Is my life, my hope's foundation,
And my glory and salvation. Amen.

Canticle: Te Deum Laudamus

Pastor: You are God; we praise You. You are the Lord; we acclaim You. You are the eternal Father; all creation worships You.

Congregation: (sung)
From all that dwell below the skies
Let the Creator's praise arise;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Let the Redeemer's name be sung
Through ev'ry land, by ev'ry tongue.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Pastor: To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might; heaven and earth are full of Your glory.

Congregation: (sung)

I would like to thank all who keep the Evangelical Lutheran Synod in their prayers. She needs God's blessings, as do all synods and church bodies.

"Mom, why aren't you yelling at me?" - the beauty of private confession and absolution

2006-06-01T12:44:00.000-05:00

Luther writes in the Large Catechism:

"Christ himself has entrusted absolution to his Christian church and commanded us to absolve one another from sins. So if there is a heart that feels its sin and desires consolation, it has here a sure refuge when it hears in God's Word that through a fellow human being, God absolves a person from sin."

My teenager blew it the other day. In a very big way. One of those bad moves that come back to haunt now and then for years. Typical teenage stunt, maybe, but not acceptable. For better and for worse, the parent of the offended party called to yell at the both of us! Gotta love those phone calls, late at night, right in the middle of a sleepover.

Sleepover was over! I drove everyone home at 11pm. On the way back home, a simple question was asked by my teenager: "Mom, why aren't you yelling at me?" The simple truth was that this wasn't one of those "Mom is freaking out!" times. No, this time I knew my child would be answering to friends, classmates and others for weeks (or maybe a couple of years). What good would screaming do? I could see that my child was very sorry, very ashamed and very worried about the consequences.

Another reason I wasn't yelling was that I sensed a real opportunity to proclaim the gospel. The sin had been sudden and emotion-based. At the realization of the pain caused to another, hopelessness was setting in. We are all tempted by such things and how, if we do not cling to the cross daily, hourly, minute-by-minute, we will eventually fall to our sin nature from time to time. I cannot be the judge of anyone's heart, but it seemed to me that my child was seeing sin nature clearly and with great fear.

Do you know someone who is just so darn happy to go to church each Sunday? Chances are that person is so thankful because of the knowledge of their sin nature, the certainty of eternal punishment for sin and their thankfulness that God provided substitution for their death because of sin. It is not the "perfect" appearing people who are so thankful for their salvation, but the sinners.

I shared that God had provided for our family a pastor and that he could lead anyone in private confession and absolution. My child's face brightened! I had expected a resounding, "No!", but instead the opportunity born of scripture was welcomed. The next evening, we headed to church for a short reconcilliation with the involved parties, mediated by our pastor, and then I waited in the lobby while my child received something I've never received before: private confession and absolution. The peace in my child's heart afterward was self-evident. Here is the suggested script for this act of love through Jesus...

The following order from Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal may be used when someone seeks the ministry of a pastor or other fellow Christian to make personal confession.

Minister:

In the name of our God, to whom all hearts are open and from whom no secrets are hidden. Amen.

Minister and Penitent:

O Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy, and in your faithfulness, come to my relief. Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. Answer me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I life up my soul Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.

Penitent:

Almightly God, merciful Father, I, a troubled and repentant sinner, confess that I have sinned against you in my thoughts, my words and my actions. I have not loved you with my whole heart. I have not loved others as I should. I am distressed by the sins that trouble me and am deeply sorry for them. (here the penitent may confess specific sins)

Minister:

Jesus says to his people, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven." His death paid for the guilt of your sins and the sins of the whole world. Do you believe this?

Penitent:

Yes, I believe.

Minister:

Because of the promise of our Savior Jesus, I forgive you all your sins. Be assured that you are a dear child of God and an heir of eternal life.

Minister and Penitent:

O Lord, my God, I called to you for help, and you answered me. I thank you for the love you have shown me in Jesus Christ, my Savior. Through him you have rescued me from the guilt of my sin and given me the peace of forgiveness. Help me fight against temptation, correct whatever wrongs I can, and serve you and those around me with love and good works. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Minister:

Go in peace. The Lord be with you.

2006 Confessional Worldview Seminar: exciting news expected this week

2006-05-15T06:46:00.000-05:00

I learned at church yesterday that the 2006 Confessional Worldview Seminar is still slated to happen this year! More exciting than that is the main speaker who is expected to sign on-board this week.

Start making your plans: October in Minneapolis. Very cool! Stay tuned!

A gift for my son's first communion

2006-05-05T08:56:00.000-05:00

DaVinci's Last Supper

Recently, the confessional Lutheran blogosphere has been debating the value of pastor-led confirmation programs. There have been side arguments of the appropriate age of confirmands and the usefulness of confirming all kids at the same time. These arguments have intrigued, yet irritated me. Probably because our household has been steeped in confirmation for the past three years.

For the past month or two, I've been busy preparing for our son's confirmation. We cleaned our house out and up, remodeled the bathroom, and prepared to feed a crowd of 40. We enjoyed very warm fellowship with family and friends, several of whom drove a couple of hundred miles to join us. For my son's part, he spent the past two years memorizing verses and doctrine. Two Sundays ago, he sat in front of the congregation with his 21 classmates and answered questions from our pastor. He was declared ready to become a member of our church. Last Sunday, he donned the white gown, red carnation and kneeled at the altar. He attested that he'd like to become a member, stated the reason for the joy that is in his heart and was received into our congregation with a blessing. This coming Sunday, a very special but much more subdued event will take place. My son will join the rest of his family at the communion rail.

As a communicant member of our congregation, my son will partake in the Lord's Supper, drinking the blood and eating the body of Christ as Christ himself commanded. He will then receive the forgiveness and strengthening given to him by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This opportunity for forgiveness and strengthening means more to me than the actual confirmation service.

Being 14 years old seems to be difficult for all kids and as a parent there is only so much I can do to help. Our pastor has encouraged us to proclaim God's Word to him, faithfully bring him to God's house to hear the Word preached and to not neglect our responsibilties as parents. There are many times in the past year or so that I have wished that my son could partake of the Lord's Supper. However, as parents we are not called to commune our own children and it is our synod's tradition for the first communion to happen after the confirmation of the child. So, this Sunday will be a particularly joyous day.

Truth be told, the preparation began three years ago when we switched Lutheran synods to give our children (and ourselves) a formal Christian catechism. Our former church had abandoned any formal catechism years ago, based on parents' complaints that their children were bored. The program was replaced with "Wednesday Night Live!". How sad for those kids. The year we left was the first year they confirmed a class of kids who had never had formal instruction in Luther's Small Catechism. Our timing was purposeful. Both our children, along with ourselves, had two years of rigorous Christian education taught by our pastor. While we still remain sinners, I am confident that the truth has been taught and that future decisions and behavior are much more likely to be based on scripture.

My son recently asked me if he gets a gift for his first communion. I think that his sincere, but immature question was a pretty clear illustration of why we wait until after puberty to confirm and commune our kids. Lots of kids younger than 14 are very smart and can answer catechism questions with the best of adults, but do they really understand how doctrine applies to their own lives? I happen to agree with our synod's practice of waiting until an age when most kids can understand difficult concepts at an adult level.

I also believe that, in general, confirmation should be taught by the pastor. Parents should be learning along with the confirmands, but it is the pastor who is the most educated in the many areas of Christian teachings. Also, I think that since our pastor is the one called to shepherd the congregation, he should take the lead in seeing that scripture is taught by parents to the children. Confirmation is one good way to accomplish this. Will all parents comply? No, but it will be very clear to the pastor which families are in need of loving counsel, exhortation and/or instruction. In a perfect world, each father would teach these things to his children. I hope that happens in many families. However, in many families the leadership of the pastor is needed. In our family, making the move to a confessional Lutheran church right as our children were entering confirmation ages demanded that my husband and I needed to have instruction alongside our children. I'm not going to waste valuable time feeling guilty that my husband didn't instruct our children himself. We have become a well-catechized family.

And about my son's request for a gift for his first communion - I was able to remind him that he would be receiving a far better gift than any human could ever give him. To receive the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by His own command, is to receive forgiveness of sins and strengthening of faith. What a gift! My son's answer was, "I already know that, Mom." Of course he does!

Random Musings: I'm all for purity, but...

2006-05-04T12:37:00.000-05:00

Random Musings features a post, I'm all for purity, but..., on Father/Daughter Purity Balls, a trend that I missed out on and (thankfully) so has my own 16 year old daughter.

Rebecca writes:

Surely those of us with Biblical standards concerning sexual morality want to teach these standards to our children. We want them, boys and girls, to present their bodies as living sacrifices to God, and to live lives of physical, mental, and spiritual purity. We do not want them to regard sexuality as something to be exploited, as something that is less than the beautiful thing that God intended it to be.

But, well-meaning as the "Father-Daughter Purity Ball" movement may seem to be, it just doesn't sit right with me. In fact, to put it mildly, it seems disturbing.

Lutheran Carnival XXII

2006-04-26T09:58:00.000-05:00

Peter 2: 1-3 (NIV)
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

My temporary American Idol insanity too often keeps me from reading blogs of substance, like Dr. Veith's Cranach blog or the latest Lutheran Carnival (let alone submitting posts to it). On Monday of this week, Dr. Veith wrote:

"I hope you had a happy Quasimodogeniti yesterday. I couldn't find any Quasimodogeniti cards at the Hallmark store, nor did I do any Quasimodogeniti shopping. Sorry--I just love that word, which refers to the first Sunday after Easter. It's not named after the Hunchback of Notre Dame; rather, that unfortunate fellow was named after the day. Nor is it a holiday, as such. The word comes from the first words in the Introit that begins the service in the classic liturgy for that day. In Latin, they are "Quasi modo geniti," which in English comes to "Like new born." The entire sentence is "Like newborn babes desire the pure milk of the Word." Like much of the liturgy, it's words from the Bible, in this case 1 Peter 2:2. That's good advice for the whole year. We need to turn this into a bona fide holiday. I suppose we could observe Quasimodogeniti by drinking milk. We could get the Wisconsin Dairy Council to help promote it. But for the true meaning of the day, we should also do some serious Bible reading." ~Dr. Gene Edward Veith, Jr.

Consider this an appropriate introduction to the most recent edition of the Lutheran Carnival, which I have also neglected during the American Idol season. There are some new faces in this 22nd edition of the carnival and a nice tie-in to Quasimodogeniti. Pastor Snyder at Ask the Pastor is the host and he opens the carnival with this:

Quasimodogeniti, the Second Sunday of Easter’s “week of weeks” brings the twenty-second installment of the Lutheran Carnival to light. Pastor David Petersen provides a quick summary of “Hunchback Sunday” at CyberStones (and don’t forget to read the comment cum literary critique).
The antiphon of today’s introit comes from 1 Peter 2:2-3. “Like newborn babes,” saith the King James Version, upon which many of us were nourished in our youth — that certainly provides a carnival theme with promise. Yet what if some readers aren’t thrilled with babies? Or, if they’ve been drinking the “pure spiritual milk,” perhaps they’re ready for some meat (see Hebrews 5:12-14) — or not (see 1 Corinthians 3:1-3).

Well, I then thought, since this is Carnival-22, how about a Joseph Heller theme, reminiscent of his classic novel Catch-22? I gave it some thought, but decided to pass. Certainly Heller understood paradox and irony, two major literary types used in Holy Scripture. However, Catch-22 never comes to a resolution. Certainly our ongoing celebration of Easter provides ample reminder that Christ provided complete resolution of our alienation from God in His suffering, death, and glorious resurrection.

Finally, I decided to fall back on the Lutheran Carnival’s regular feature, the introduction to relatively unknown Lutherans. Therefore, I’d like to take a moment to tell you about a child born upon the Ides of March in the Year of Our Lord 1992. Read on...

Putting Out The Fire: "We only believe in the Bible"

2006-04-25T08:19:00.000-05:00

In a post over at Putting Out the Fire, Frank posts We only believe in the Bible. Frank writes:

Here’s an example of how playing a guessing game as to what a particular church’s confession is has personally affected me: I wouldn’t commune at a church in my hometown because the pastor reworded the Nicene Creed. Why is this a big deal you ask? This pastor had so butchered the creed that I no longer tell if this church, which I had visited many times in the past and communed there as well, shared the same confession of faith. And since I didn’t hear said pastor preach Christ crucified in his sermon, it was as if I was in a church that just liked to make it up as they go. There are no words for how angry I was when I left after the service. I was not fed by either Word or Sacrament in the very place that I know I should’ve been fed. Was I making too big of a deal out of a little matter? No I was not! In his epistle to the Romans 10:9,10 St. Paul wrote “That if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” This is why people like me cling to the confessions, because it ensures we are all on the same sheet of music. If you like your music to be of the Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant variety that’s fine, just don’t interrupt my Bach Chorale and tell me we’re listening to the same thing!

In a related post, which Frank used to bolster his point, Pastor Stiegemeyer writes, in Doctrine vs. God's Word:

It matters WHAT you believe, friends. You can't just say, "I love Jesus." Nearly everyone says that from Mormons to Muslims. "Who do men say I am?" WHO is Jesus? WHAT did he do?

If you say that God is not going to judge you according to your doctrine, be careful because it sounds like you are suggesting that your relationship to God is not related to what you believe.

According to St. Paul... (read on)
~ Pastor Stiegemeyer

In my experience, too many evangelicals and fundamentalists do not understand how their ancient Christian forefathers fought false teachings and developed creeds from those battles. Someone who has as their creed, "Just give me Jesus!" or "We only believe in the Bible." might as well be carrying a banner into the future for all the false teachings of the past centuries. At the very least, that person is holding open the door to false teachings in their family's lifetime and for his or her great-grandchildren. Everyone has a creed, spoken or not, written or not. In my youth, I thought it drudgery to state one of the creeds in church; now I see it as hope for the future members of my church.

Beggars All: America's Lowest-Common-Denominator Christianity

2006-04-14T07:50:00.000-05:00

Tim the Enchanter over at Beggars All posts on the latest embarrassing study on Christians in America. Once again in this age of "Just give me Jesus!" and as-you-like-it worship, it is CLEARLY ILLUSTRATED why our faith forefathers went to all the time and trouble to develop the various creeds. Satan has used false teachings and neglect of teaching to attempt to harm God's children and draw them away from their father. Next time you are in church and your eyes and ears begin to gloss over at the reading of one of the creeds, close your eyes and imagine yourself chanting the summary of your beliefs all with the millions of Christians throughout the ages. If your church rejects any creeds, ask yourself who is happier about that : you, God or Satan?

Most Americans don't believe they will experience a resurrection of their bodies when they die, putting them at odds with a core teaching of Christianity.

The findings of a new Scripps Howard/Ohio University poll surprised and dismayed some of the nation's top theologians since it seems to put Americans in conflict with both the Nicene Creed and the Apostles' Creed, ancient statements of faith meant to unify Christian belief.

The Nicene Creed, adopted in 325 at the First Council of Nicea under Roman Emperor Constantine, concludes with the famous words: "We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen."

Similarly, the Apostles' Creed professes a belief in "the resurrection of the body." Read on...

The Last Supper

2006-04-13T16:05:00.000-05:00

When he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me," 1 Corinthians 11:24,25.

A little treat for the kids

Strange quote of the day: Kirk Cameron

2006-04-13T10:33:00.000-05:00

From Laura Ingraham's website...

It was a personal step of faith. 'God, if you're there, show me ... if you did what you did on the cross for me, then make me the man you want me to be, and I'm in.'
-- Actor Kirk Cameron, on his conversion to Evangelical Christianity.

I would like to compile a list of SCRIPTURE verses supporting his point and contradicting his point. Wanna help?

Can God's Word be summarized?

2006-04-12T22:32:00.000-05:00

I has an interesting conversation with my 16 year old daughter the other day. She asked me why people always use John 3:16 on signs at stadiums, on bumper stickers, etc. I told her that many think of that verse as a good summary of God's Word. She said, "I know that, but WHY do they do that?" What she was asking was WHY use it? She had seen it on a shopping bag given out by a popular clothing store (I think it was Forever 21).

Her question was a good one and one with a couple of answers. First of all, the owner of any store is free to put any kind of message he wants on his customers' shopping bag. Second, the owner is most likely a Christinan and believes that John 3:16 is a verse that will lead his customers to read God's Word. But what I took away from our conversation is my daughter questioning the purpose of a widely-accepted evangelical practice of stamping John 3:16 on everything.

We didn't end up condemning the use of John 3:16 (the word and numbers, not the actual verse), but since turning to confessional Lutheran practice that verse no longer carries the sole weight that it once did for me as an evangelical. I don't turn to that particular verse to summarize God's Word. To me, a good summary must clearly illustrate the law and the gospel.

John at Confessing Evangelical posts:

In the second of his expository lectures on Romans from 1989 (see previous post), Dick Lucas quotes the Lutheran theologian Anders Nygren on Romans 1:16,17:

The Gospel is not the presentation of an idea, but the operation of a power.

In other words, we need to avoid an intellectualised, "static" view of the Gospel as being nothing more than a set of facts and doctrines that we appraise and then either accept or reject. Instead we need to recognise that, as Nygren continues...

Hat tip to Rob at Love and Blunder