Lutheran Carnival III

Be sure to check out the fine essays submitted for the third Lutheran Carnival up at Intolerant Elle:Lutheran Carnival III

Lutheran Jargon: vote for the most dangerous telepreacher

Minister 2B has a blog! I just discovered it and would like to highlight it here. Be sure to vote on which telepreacher causes you the most concern: Lutheran Jargon My vote was for Robert Schuller, hands down!

Rev. H.A. Preus' 1893 address to the ELS Convention

The ELS website has a fascinating collection of ELS convention addresses, including 18 speeches given by Reverend Herman Amberg Preus.

In the 1893 address in Chicago, Illinois, Rev. H.A. Preus has a message to us in the future. I am not making any specific statements by highlighting his comments; I just find it fascinating that, indeed, there is nothing new under the sun. Our battles of today in keeping false teachings, often disguised by Satan as well-meaning attempts at unity for the sake of Christ, out of our churches are nothing new. Our forefathers also fought this battle. Our children and great-great grandchildren will also fight the same battles, so we need to teach them well and in love.

If by the grace of God the Norwegian Synod also in the future will remain faithful to its lofty task: to be a faithful witness for delivering souls, then it will never be able to enter into any union of churches with a church body which will not purify itself of such gross errors, even if a person wants to attempt to build the union over a many-sided, deep ditch which was supposed to cover over differences of belief.

...At this moment an extremely dangerous current is flowing through the various church bodies nearly everywhere in the world. It is a current which even if not always intended by its leaders and their followers, yet, however, by the instigator, Satan, the tempter, aims at nothing less than emancipating from the absolute, divine authority by the rejection of the doctrine of God’s Word concerning the inspiration of Scripture, that is, that all Scripture is inspired by God and is therefore the Word of God. As you know, at the present time not one theological seminary is to be found in “Lutheran” Germany which holds on the old Lutheran doctrine of inspiration. Similarly, unfortunately, it is discussed among leading theologians in the church of our dear fatherland as a theory abandoned long ago by everyone capable of forming an opinion. It is true, a clear testimony on the other side is heard in Germany from one or another old-Luth-eran pastor, just as in Norway there surely are also found many among the older clergy who do not want to be along in this apostasy from the Lutheran Church but who hold fast to its doctrine in this chief point.

This sentence, giving a picture of days long gone, also caught my eye:

And here, we will always remember with thanks to God the faithful help and support which the Lord gave us in the older, much experienced, Missouri Synod.

The entire speech is a great history lesson, as are many of the speeches. If you, like me, are less than knowledgeable about the history of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod, you can match the speeches up with this timeline.

"We want them to experience a relationship with God"

An article in the Chicago Tribune (free registration required, but worth it for the articles) caught my eye while on vacation there recently. On the surface, the story about some young newly-ordained Protestant pastors using their God-given gifts to bless other people is heart-warming:

The lights are dim, and the musicians are young and Latino, twenty-something dreamers creating magical jazz fusion sounds on bass, bongos and drums. The college-age crowd rocks to the beat, and the fresh-faced band rocks with them, improvising tunes that fill the small Pilsen cafe.

Few in the audience know that the performers are not just musicians, but newly ordained Protestant pastors, passionate men of God using music to bring their message to the music lovers and would-be artists in this traditionally Catholic enclave of Chicago.

This is a beautiful description of vocation- using our God-given gifts and talents in our daily lives, whether at work or play, freely sharing the joy of the gospel as the situation fits. Scripture tells methat only the Holy Spirit can work faith in the heart of anyone I meet; scripture also tells me to be ready to give an account of the joy I have in my heart.

They don't mention God during their performance, but Eli Orozco, Sam Menesses and Tony Escobar hope to spread the word of Christ to enough cafe patrons to cultivate a few potential congregants by October. That's when Community Christian Church, a Naperville-based "megachurch," hopes to launch its first urban satellite here

CCC leaders, aware of the potential for controversy, downplay the idea of competition. John Ferguson, one of the pastors, said the church is not coming to Pilsen to "impose our evangelicalism" on Catholics. Instead, he casts the young pastors' work as helping people "establish a personal relationship with Jesus."

Now the story of these young men and their work in the community takes a sad twist. They've gone into the community saying that they aren't trying to change the faith of the Catholics, yet they are clearly drawing a line in the sand with their definition of a true Christian. For many evangelicals, it is firmly (and falsely) believed that you will only enter the kingdom of heaven through your own act of establishing a personal relationship with God. That kind of reversal of grace, a misunderstanding of Romans 10, is an excellent example of what drove me to despair after twenty years of evangelicalism. God, in my despair, drew me to a church that showed me a God who cannot be contained. I learned of a God who is jealous for His own and ceaselously seeks them out like water seeks any hole in a cup. I learned of the power of His Word to save us, even as we attempt to deny it; His Word works on our hearts whenever it is proclaimed. I also learned that He works through the Water, as He promised He would, planting a seed of faith in the hearts of those who are baptized.

Noel Castellanos, president of the Latino Leadership Foundation and an evangelical pastor, said he thinks Orozco's technique is original and bound to be effective.

"They're saying, `We're going to come in and integrate into the social fabric of the community, and that's going to provide opportunities to engage with potential members,'" Castellanos said. "I think it's working."

The young pastors say their mission is to reach people who might be alienated from their own church, whatever the denomination, by getting to know them in a casual atmosphere, befriending them and inviting them, eventually, to a group function during the week.

"We're trying to get unreachable people, the ones who are burned out, disgusted and haven't been to church for years," said Escobar, the bongo player.

"We don't go there and preach," Orozco added. "We see them at the cafe, and then we meet in a small group later on in the week. It could be a sporting event, an art exhibit or Bible study. We might say, `Hey, let's go to the movies.' It just depends."

The young pastors techniques are hardly unique; they are doing what any Christian should do and I commend them for that. Luther also encouraged Christians to do the same 500 years ago. In Luther's Large Catechism, he introduced the fourth through tenth commandments in this way:

Thus far we have learned the first three commandments, which relate to God. First that with our whole heart we trust in Him, and fear and love Him throughout all our life. Secondly, that we do not misuse His holy name in the support of falsehood or any bad work, but employ it to the praise of God and the profit and salvation of our neighbor and ourselves. Thirdly, that on holidays and when at rest we diligently treat and urge God's Word, so that all our actions and our entire life be ordered according to it.

Likewise, here is my advice to anyone who wants to share the gospel with people: Start a band and share the joy of the gospel with your community as you sing. Get to know people because you love them with a love that comes from the joy of your own salvation. Find out why they don't attend church. Share with them the good news of our salvation through Jesus. Encourage them to take joy in their salvation and rejoice in the baptism of their youth. If unrepented sins weigh them down, remind them that scripture says we are to confess our sins and we will receive absolution. But please don't tell them that they must experience a personal relationship with Jesus. Work with the faith that God has already planted in their hearts through the word and the water; if none has yet been planted, continue to proclaim the good news and don't save it for later on. God's Word does not come back empty-handed. I also encourage those bright young pastors to find a new organization. From their home church website I find the following:

About a Relationship with God

Our inability to reestablish our relationship with God leaves us dependent on God's mercy. God graciously provided the means to reconcile this relationship through faith in Jesus Christ. Our relationship is re-established when we make a commitment to accept Jesus as God's son and our Savior and Lord. Through faith in Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven, and we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and eternal life. Practically speaking, this acceptance is demonstrated through both a private and public commitment. We demonstrate our commitment privately by faith (acting upon our belief that God has the power to save us) and repentance (turning back to God and depending on Him to control our lives). At the same time, we publicly express our commitment by confessing our acceptance of God's salvation and submitting ourselves in Christian baptism.


Here is what SCRIPTURE actually says:

Romans chapter 10 tells us that if we have faith, we can profess with our mouths and believe with our hearts that Jesus is Lord. Scripture also makes it clear that faith is a gift from God that we cannot possibly give or attain for ourselves. Share those passages that tell us that faith is not a decision we make (or a personal relationship we "experiene"), but a miracle worked in us by the Holy Spirit whom God gives to us as a gift of his grace: 1 Co 2:14, Ro 5:5, 1 Co 12:3, Eph 2:8.

Romans 10: 5-13

Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 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. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Tabletalk will be held outside tonight!

Join Us At The Table!

Today is Tuesday which means that it will be our mass gathering of confessional Lutherans in the chat channel I've told you all about, TableTalk. Since it is so nice outside, we will move it outdoors at the picnic tables behind the lodge under the great pines, the setting sun, rising moon and twilight stars. Fine cigars are always welcome, beer in moderation; young and old alike are welcome. It is sure to a good night for mutal consolation of the saints.

While the channel is always open, we're trying to gather specifically on Tuesday nights for great discussion. If you're interested in dropping by (9 p.m. EST 6 p.m. PST), the instructions are here . We used to keep a list of the blogkeepers and blog readers who have already stopped by, but the list grew too long! Hope to see you there!

Beckfest: Touching Really Old Things

One of my favorite Lutheran moms, Mutti Beck, posts on their recent summer trip to Ireland. She writes:

While we were in Ireland, we visited a lot of ancient ruins, like this Baptismal font in Fore Abbey. I would touch the walls and stones of these ancient buildings from the 1100's and 1200's and just basque in awe at the thought "these things are so old". Read on: Beckfest: Touching Really Old Things

New Blog: Lutheran Carnival

This is a great idea that was just waiting for two souls to take on the task. Daniel and Elle are up to the task, thankfully. A carnival, from what I understand, is a parade of essays on a certain topic or from a certain point of view. I've never been brave enough to participate in the famous Christian Carnival for fear that my thoughts would be rejected because of my adherence to scripture in the tradition of Martin Luther. This carnival is designed for Lutherans:
Your submission may be on any topic as long as it is written from a confessional Lutheran perspective and should be your best, favorite or otherwise notable post from from the previous week.
I can't wait to participate! Thanks to Daniel and Elle for helping to solidfy the renaissance of Christian writing, albeit through a keyboard. Read more here: Lutheran Carnival

Words from Jesus...

Words from Jesus are found here and not here. How sad for this woman and her followers. She has the blessing of the priest that Jesus "told" her was the one chosen to guide her: And she has the Vatican's blessing: .."she met with a Vatican official who reviewed the messages and affirmed her and the messages."

I can only wonder who is talking to Jennifer. I KNOW, however, that Jesus said:

^{Matthew 6:5-15
5}"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. ⁶But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

⁹"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹Give us today our daily bread.
¹²Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.^[a]' ¹⁴For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

The Lord's Prayer is a model prayer. It is not only a prayer for us to repeat; it is a lesson in how to pray and what to pray for. It covers all our needs of body and soul, but it is also concerned about the needs of all our fellow Christians and of all the uncounted millions who do not yet know the Lord Jesus as their Savior. It is an appropriate prayer on every occasion that calls for prayer. It puts first things first, but it leaves nothing out.

From the Matthew commentary by G.J. Albrecht and M.J. Albrecht from the People's Bible Series.

Jesus said this, too:

Matthew 7:15-23

A Tree and Its Fruit

¹⁵"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

²¹"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' ²³Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

False prophets direct people through the wide gate and along the broad road that leads to eternal destruction, so Jesus tells us to watch out for them. This implies that we should be able to recognize them and to keep them from leading us astray. They will not be easy to recognize at first glance, because they look harmless, as though they belong among us. They may even be gentle and perfectly sincere. They may be convinced in their own minds that they are proclaiming God's truth on the basis of the Holy Scriptures. And there will be some who claim that they have received special revelations from the Lord in addition to the truths revealed in scripture.

From the Matthew commentary by G.J. Albrecht and M.J. Albrecht from the People's Bible Series.

The reason that this person appears, to me, to be a false prophet is that she leads people away from God's Word. She says that God is still talking and that he is talking through her. That confuses the faithful and will lead them astray. That's this mom's take on it. What do you think?

Note: this post was compiled from the actual website and from an interview with her on the radio this morning.

Take the ELS poll on top Lutheran "fears"...

I visited our synod's website and found this funny and insightful quiz: My top two Lutheran fears are...

The top two fears I chose were my pastor receiving a call and missing orblowing a chance to give witness to Jesus Christ.

Preachrblog: Issues, Etc. radio program on Lutheran bloggers

Preachrblog posts on Issues, Etc's recent program on Lutheran bloggers. I recently discovered this program. Coming from the ELS, it is amazing to me to think that a synod would have their own radio station, but the Missouri Synod is that big. I plan to go through the show's archives and find shows of interest to me.

It was fun to hear the voice of Pastor Scott Steigemeyer, author of Burr in the Burgh blog. I suppose that is the first time I've heard the voice of a blogger (except for the voices of Northern Alliance Radio Network bloggers!). I don't know Sandra Ostopowich, author of Madre's Missives blog, but she had some good comments to make also. I was confused and disappointed to hear the show's moderator, Todd Wilken, take a cynical tone toward bloggers. I suppose the bad bloggers among us has colored the view of some people, but I think that blogging is here to stay and that the responsible ones will continue. Whether you blog in a magazine format, a diary format or as an apprentice writer, I encourage you to continue! Be responsible, always accurately research your topic and remember that real people read your comments (maybe even the person you think you are secretly writing about). Read the post here: Preachrblog

Ask the Pastor!

I've highlighted posts by Pastor Walter Snyder who keeps Ask The Pastor blog. He's added more and more great posts and this blog is on my list of favorite spots to read. Pastor Snyder does a great job of responding to questions in a clear manner without dumbing down the answer. I am thankful for Ask The Pastor.

Here's a list of his most recent and intriguing posts:

• Confessional and Orthodox Lutheranism
• Lutheran and Baptist Compared (Briefly)
• Non-Proverbial Proverbs
• The Book of Life
• Binding Demons
• Resurrection, not Reincarnation
• Satan Cast from Heaven
• The Unforgivable Sin
• Logos
• Contemporary Application of Revelation’s Church Letters

Wretched of the Earth: Aquaphobia

A pre-seminary student and Confessional Lutheran blogger, Ryan at Wretched of the Earth, aptly expresses his doubts of being a "good enough" pastor and also is able to encourage us all:

Voicing my reservations to God about this path he has me on, I'm reminded of a simple fact: it's not about me. And it's not about you. I've always felt like I had to put on a show for people 'cause we're all so concerned about impressions, and to be a religious person you have to keep up the grandest show of all. But I can't do it. None of us can do it, and it simply isn't worth the effort anymore. God has loved us in spite of ourselves, and made us sufficient in the sacrificial work of Christ. We are but earthen vessels, busted out clay pots whose weaknesses can only point to the strength of a gracious God.Read on: Wretched of the Earth: Aquaphobia

Ask the Pastor: What Is a Confessional Lutheran?

Since I sometimes refer to Confessional Lutheranism, I thought I'd post this explanation written by Pastor Walter Snyder: Ask the Pastor: What Is a Confessional Lutheran?

We’re familiar with “conservatism.” In Christianity, it means those unwilling or unlikely to make hasty change, who are connected to their past, and who interpret the Bible assuming that it is God’s revealed, true Word. We officially reject those who call the Bible a human invention, or a mixture of the divine and the human.

The word “confessional” is not so commonly used. Normally, we think of a confession as an admission of guilt. “Confess” has a root meaning of “acknowledge together.” In matters of error, we state that we have, indeed, done what’s wrong — we “fess up.” But confession also has positive application: It can be used to declare faith. Read on...

Sceleratissimus Lutheranus: Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation

Wildboar at Sceleratissimus Lutheranus writes:

I was in church recently and noticed that one of our elderly members, a woman named Marie, was in a wheelchair. Not unusual for some of the senior citizens in attendance, but I’d never seen her need one before. I didn’t get a chance to talk to Marie that day (her daughter wheeled her out the side door while I was still in the receiving line) but I received word the next morning that she had been hospitalized.

So I drove over to St. Joseph’s to see how Marie was doing. Thankfully, it was nothing serious, but it was causing her some serious discomfort. In the course of our conversation, she told me that the pain had started the day before, in the morning, before church! I asked “why didn’t you go to the hospital right away?” and she said “Oh, I wouldn’t miss church. I know how badly I need it.”I was astounded. Marie’s generation really seems to get what church is all about. Read on:Sceleratissimus Lutheranus: Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation

Tired of hearing about sin?

Someone very dear to me recently asked why our pastors preach so often on the topic of sin. She's got one foot still in the door of our church, but her other foot is in the door of a modern, "evangelical" ELCA "lutheran" church known for its praise services and focus on joy and love. She said that the pastor in her new church is just as good as our pastors, but he doesn't focus on sin so much. She told me she is tired of hearing about sin; she wants to focus on joy and love. Funny thing is that the more time she spends at that church, the less joyful and loving she has become. I say "funny" sadly; I know that irony of trying to achieve love and joy too well. I have walked down that very road and have tried to warn her of the dangers such a church will bring to her faith. My loving warning received accusations of lack of love and judgmentalism. I know that I spoken those things to other Christians in the past. My human heart is so unfaithful; I am so thankful that God has a sure plan to bring me into His holiness someday. My own plans for perfection certainly didn't work!

The more focus a Christian attempts to put a focus on joy and love as a discipline - as the actions and attributes of the good Christian life - the more those things slip right out of your hands. It took me too many years to learn that the only way to become more loving and more joyful is to be totally, completely and daily confronted by my own sinful nature and utter helplessness to become the person I wish I were. It is only at that point that the Holy Spirit can whisper to my soul of where my help comes from. The apostle Paul knew this. He wrote:

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!

And so my dear friend, if Paul himself knew that confession and absolution of sin must come before we can shout out for joy upon hearing the good news of our salvation, then how is it that your church is telling you otherwise?

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Jesus reminds us of where we can find rest from our sins and the gentleness and humility that we seek to own. Yesterday in church, my pastor reminded me that the ability to become loving, gentle and humble is a result of hearing the the law pronounced to me so that I understand that I am sinful; and hearing the gospel - the good news of my redeemer- and clinging to my king in desparate thankfulness. Jesus then shows me how to become that loving person I wish I were by taking His yoke upon me and learning from Him.


Even the Old Testament convicts of of our sin and points us to the Savior who will save us from our sins. This is why we can rejoice. Our king comes to us bearing our salvation!

The Coming of Zion's King

⁹ Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

¹⁰ I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the war-horses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.

¹¹ As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.

¹² Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope;
even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

The scripture for church yesterday is among my favorites. When Paul writes of his own sinful nature, he makes it clear that even the most "accomplished" Christian can not save himself and will not achieve holiness on this earth. But does this message discourage him or us? No! It is the source of our joy! Scripture is clear. We cannot know or experience real joy and love apart from the knowledge that God comes to us with the salvation that we are never able to achieve by ourselves. To tire of hearing about sin is to deny that you have a sinful nature and need a savior. A church that doesn't remind you that you are, indeed, sinful has no way to proclaim the good news that you have a savior. A joy-and-peace-only church is a church that doesn't need Jesus and cannot strengthen Christians. For the rest of us sinners, we need to hear about sin and we need Jesus.

The Burr in the Burgh: Back From Christian Worldview Conference

I knew I'd regret not going to this conference! Thankfully, we have an intrepid reporter in Pastor Stiegemeyer: The Burr in the Burgh: Back From Christian Worldview Conference

Ask the Pastor: Premarital Sex, Living Together, Ceremonies, and Marriage

This is just too good to leave on Pastor Synder's blog. I'll post it here, too! We humans are very sexual and, in certain moments and situations, we can come up with the darndest and creative excuses! This post is funny, sad and helpful all in one.

Q: What Scriptures say to refrain from sex — not adultery or fornication, as one has to be married to commit these sins — between those who love each other and intend to marry? I can’t find anything against sex between two who love each other and are monogamous.

Q: Does having sex before the ceremony make it wrong? Do you become married in a spiritual sense when you have sex for the first time? Is the real seal on the marriage the first sexual experience, and not the ceremony itself?

Q: Is it a sin to have sexual relations with someone if we’re both not married? My mother and I are having a heated discussion about this. I am 51 years old; my husband passed away 2 years ago. I don’t intend to marry again. I want to be faithful to the Lord but to have complete abstinence seems a little old-fashioned to me.

Q: Could you tell me about sex before marriage? I’ve been racking my brains for ages with this issue; I know it's wrong but I want to be with my partner like that and I want to be a Christian. We aren't planning to get married for a long time, and I don’t want to wait that long to be intimate with him again. Can I still be a Christian?

Q: I have fallen in love with a woman I want to marry. She loves me as well. Previously, we had spent the night with each other in the same bed several times. After deciding that this may be a practice frowned upon by God, we were contemplating either living under the same roof without sexual relations and without sleeping in the same bed (in other words, as roommates) until the marriage.

Q: I asked my love to marry me and she accepted. Our parents agree. The problem: I cannot be with my wife for two years since she lives overseas. We met while she was in America for school. Before she returned home I proposed. At this point we became one, not through intercourse but through love. I’ll see her only once again before being able to wed her legally. But in heart and soul we are already in wed lock. My question is, if a man and a woman commit to marriage in all aspects of mind, body, heart, and soul, is intercourse a sin at this point?

For the answers, read here: Ask the Pastor: Premarital Sex, Living Together, Ceremonies, and Marriage


I'm also posting the answers here, just in case.

A: Adultery is marital infidelity. Fornication is general sexual sin. including consorting with prostitutes, homosexuality, or moving from sex partner to sex partner, with or without marriage.

A general implication is correct: Ceremony doesn’t make a marriage. Commitment establishes the relationship. Yet Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6:16, “He who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her. For, as it is written, ‘The two will become one flesh.’” Consummation seals the commitment. Thus, both a public declaration and a private action are part of marriage.

Sex defines and determines with whom you are “one flesh.” The commitment of your sex organ is final, no matter who your partner. Thus, you are, in God’s eyes, married when you have sex with another. One questioner specifically mentions monogamy: Monogamy means “one marriage” or “one marriage partner.” The Bible establishes no particular religious or civil rite and many governments recognize “common law” marriages, wherein living together, having sex, or merely representing themselves as husband and wife legally bind a man and a woman.

When a man and woman engage in sex without publicly representing themselves as married, they lie about their relationship. This happens among young people who may not be ready for the legal commitments or who want to maintain parental support while indulging their sexual desires. It also includes older people who live together without a public declaration or ceremony or a state license. They may do this so as to not lose pensions or possessions.

Paul wrote, “‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be enslaved by anything. (1 Cor 6:12)” Married is married and single is single. There is no trial period, no “test drive.” There is no benefit, rather loss, in dallying with another outside a lifetime commitment. Be married or be single — but be truthful. Without the public confession of unity and commitment to remain united, it is easier for one or both partners to enter the relationship casually — then to throw it away just as casually.

It isn’t easy to be one flesh with one person: Commitment and focus are difficult to maintain even when bound by vows, witnesses, and laws as well by sex. Secret or private relationships are even harder to sustain, since you lack the benefit of the support of family and society. For the young man wondering about beginning the sexual relationship before the vows, God said, “A man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh (Genesis 2:24)” Until ready to live together, man and woman should remain apart.

To the couple wondering about living together without sharing a bed and without sex, I ask first of all if you think that you can resist the temptations of proximity. Then consider your public testimony: What will the world assume about your shared living? What witness will it give about the Christian life? “Abstain from every form [appearance] of evil,” Paul advised (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Even if an action isn’t wicked, can it be interpreted as such by an outside observer?

One questioner knows that “it’s wrong” to have premarital sex, then wonders if she can do so and still be a Christian. Certainly, all Christians remain sinners. However, sinning with knowledge and intent is different from succumbing to temptation due to the weakness of flesh. In Matthew 4:7, Jesus referenced Deuteronomy 6:6, saying, “It is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Wilfully doing wrong dares God to withhold judgment.

Finally, sex only within the marriage is very “old-fashioned”: God fashioned it in the “good old days” of Creation, introducing it when He introduced Eve to Adam. His plan for those wanting sex remains simple: Be and stay married to one person. Depending upon laws, customs, and the like, the shape of the wedding may vary. However you promise yourselves to each other, consider what is legal in society and what is right by God’s Word. Does a secret relationship that you’ll “someday” reveal to others truly “honor your father and your mother”? Does wanting the state to not declare your relationship a marriage mean that, deep down, you don’t consider it a marriage, either?

“Flee from sexual immorality ...” said Paul, for “the sexually immoral person sins against his own body ... [which is] a temple of the Holy Spirit within you.... You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Cor 6:18-20)” Glorify God openly, honestly, absolutely. Compare who you are with whom God desires you to be. Marriage — especially Christian marriage — testifies to the world about Christ’s relationship with his Church (see Ephesians 5:15-32).

Declare your intent to each other and to the world, make your promises, then live according to them. Christ did not take a secret bride when He claimed the Church as His own. The Church does not secretly worship Christ. Nor is Christ honored by men and women taking secret wives and husbands. His commitment was absolute, even through crucifixion and death. That same death forgives our sexual sins and restores us to live in integrity from this day forth, until death parts us.

Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version™, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles.

To Ask the Pastor, send email to askthepastor@xrysostom.com.

Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book What Do Lutherans Believe.

Tablethoughts for 7/1

In regard to John's comment about Tabletalk times being just a bit late for the folks in the UK, I thought I'd post on the idea of opening the pub a little earlier on Tuesdays. I'm often home by 4pm which would be 9pm in the UK (I think). Maybe that time would work for others. I'll post this and see what the innkeepers say. It seems to me that people show up at the table a wide range of times. I know for me that the current time is very difficult - lots of family duties at that time. I often stop by at 8pm, chat for a bit, leave and then come after 10pm. There's still lots of folks there. People like Theology Geek and others have to get up early, so they leave by 10pm ET.

The dynamics of the Tabletalk Inn is interesting. Most people know WAY more than me about doctrine and theology, which is a good thing. Age is another thing; I've run into a whopping TWO people who are older than me. There are only occasionaly synodical differences. The other dynamic for me is that my own kids give me looks, as they patiently (not!) wait their turn on the family computer. They look at me as if to say, "Why are you in a CHAT room, mother? That's for our age group." Of course, they don't know I was in the AOL chatrooms when they were actually ASLEEP by 8pm way back in the old days of the mid to late 90's - scrapbooking, parenting, faith, etc. It's OK...I'll just let them think I'm weird. What's the point of trying to defend myself? I'll get my revenge! I think a sports car, new lap top and new clothes RIGHT when they are poor college graduates will do just fine. Me and my friend, Suzi, will taunt our grown kids and bribe them to come for weekly dinners with offers of laundry, groceries, etc.

The Burr in the Burgh: reports from Trego, WI

Pastor Scott Stiegemeyer reports from the conference I wanted to be at: The Burr in the Burgh: Moralistic Therapeutic Deism

Theomony : An inquiring mind wants to know...

I really enjoyed this thread by Monergon on Theomony blog. Mon writes:

Okay, let's say I'm a new Lutheran (I am) and let's say I still have a lot of Reformed pals (I have) and occasionally we have conversations that vary from low-key to rather intense over areas of theological disagreement (we most definitely do).

In light of this "scenario" what would be *your* answers to the following related questions:

1. When taking into consideration the bondage of the will, how is man able to believe the Gospel and put his faith in Christ?

2. Can a man reject the call of the Gospel and if so, how?

3. At what point does the Holy Spirit indwell a person?

Read on for an interesting thread of comments: Theomony