tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34936115471119275672024-03-12T22:53:48.149-05:00Lutheran 101Sharing truths and insights into Lutheranism. Are we Christians? Of course! To say that someone is a "Lutheran" is to say that s/he is a Christian. I would add that "Lutheran" is the historic "catholic" (note the small "c"), that is, universal Christian religion, since Lutherans, properly understood, are the universal Christian faith before the errors which were introduced.Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-51358109783564758902023-01-30T14:54:00.000-06:002023-01-30T14:54:15.594-06:00PARENTS ESPECIALLY -- READ THIS! READ, MARK, LEARN, & INWARDLY DIGEST THIS . . .<p> FROM:</p><p>https://blog.cph.org/serve/repetition-february-2023-everyday-faith-calendar?_hsmi=243821807&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_8zv5Xk7tazsglkUDX2KCMKkchuLh9VHcVJiN6xNFVfApxoOGtJ04QGLkcseMZ_3bAGLyNwTfbgV-uIIMvHKo0ccHz7g</p><p>Repetition: February 2023 Everyday Faith Calendar</p><p>Picture of Kyla RodriguezKyla Rodriguez</p><p>January 30, 2023</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>The words of Proverbs 3:1–4 tumble around in my head and heart often as I go through my day with my three small children:</p><p><br /></p><p>My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.</p><p><br /></p><p>The constant repetition needed for learning is front and center as we work on learning how to share, how to eat table food, how to manage our emotions, how to put on a shirt, how to drink from an open cup, how to read, how to remember mom’s cell phone number, and so on.</p><p><br /></p><p>Repetition helps build memory and skill as we work on these tasks and lessons.</p><p><br /></p><p>Repetition and Reminders</p><p>In the midst of trying to teach my children, again, how to scrub all of the shampoo out of their hair or remind someone where to put away a dish or a toy, the words from Proverbs 3:3 echo: “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you.”</p><p><br /></p><p>The easiest way to access God’s teaching is His Word, the Bible. Day in and day out, the ability to recall or memorize Scripture verses gives us peace in our home. Like any other task or skill, learning to memorize Bible verses takes consistency and repetition. Here are three ideas to help you start adding Scripture memorization to your family routines.</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Pair Memorizing Scripture with an Existing Part of Your Day</p><p>Instead of adding in a new time to specifically work on learning a Bible verse, try using the drive to school, lunchtime, playtime in the bath, or putting on pajamas at the end of the day as a time to add dialogue about the Bible!</p><p><br /></p><p>2. Make It Fun!</p><p>Find a song or make up a song using the words from the Bible verse you’re working to memorize. Bonus points if you add actions! Try searching online using the Bible verse reference and “song” to find ideas. The goal of memorizing Scripture is to integrate God’s Word into your everyday life so deeply that it is “written on the tablet of your heart.” It’s okay if it takes weeks to learn one verse well.</p><p><br /></p><p>3. Celebrate Together</p><p>As you learn verses and develop a rhythm for memorizing Scripture, make a point to celebrate your progress together! Brainstorm ideas that deserve an occasion for celebration. That might include a dance party, a movie night, a special treat, or maybe a special outing. God’s Word is a gift to us, and adding positive memories to the experience of memorizing His Word will help cement His teaching for years to come!</p><p><br /></p><p>This month, the Everyday Faith Calendar features a weekly rhythm of prompts to help with Scripture memorization at home. Download the calendar and follow along for daily Bible readings and encouragement.</p><p><br /></p>Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-47280953180199820292023-01-27T14:10:00.005-06:002023-01-27T14:10:44.286-06:00LUTHERAN FUNDAMENTALS and a new book I am reading<p>DISCLAIMER: I used to blog fairly regularly, but then the "phase" of blogging seemed to past and I was truly busy with life in our parish (at the time - I'm retired (kind of) now). Not all info on the sides of this blog are still accurate. </p><p><br /></p><p>I am reading a book (the pdf of it). Here is the title page of it:</p><p><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><b>Lutheran Fundamentals: A Simple</b></p><p><b><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>System of Scripture Truth with</b></p><p><b><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Applications for the Common Man</b></p><p><b><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>By G. H. Gerberding, D.D., LL. D.</b></p><p><b><span> </span><span> </span>PROFESSOR OF PRACTICAL THEOLOGY </b></p><p><b>NORTHWEST</b><b> LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY MINNEAPOLIS,</b></p><p><b><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>MINNESOTA</b></p><p><b><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>ROCK ISLAND, ILL.</b></p><p><b><span> </span><span> </span>AUGUSTANA BOOK CONCERN</b></p><p><b><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>© 1925 / 2021</b></p><p><b><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(CC BY 4.0)</b></p><p><b><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>LutheranLibrary.org</b></p><div>Yes, I know that the title page (above) looks rather daunting (all title pages look daunting), but it isn't a difficult book to read. MY HUGE THANKS to <u>LutheranLibrary.org</u> for making this book & others like it available. If you would like to read this book, get in contact with LutheranLibrary.org and then get on their mailing list, or email me at ajwrev@gmail.com and I'll send you the pdf in reply.</div><div> <span> </span>Some people will say that too much doctrine is staid "too formal" or is "not flexible enough," or other silliness. Clear doctrine clears up confusion! Clear doctrine shows us the truth about God, especially His astonishing love for us poor sinners!<span style="background-color: #fcff01;"> <u>Never</u> be afraid of clear doctrine</span>. DO BE AFRAID of doctrinal statements which are wishy-washy, and DO BE AFRAID of doctrinal statements which are not statements at all but are mere opinions, and DO BE AFRAID of doctrinal statements which are not thoroughly founded on the Word of God. There are surely other "do be afraid's" which you might care to share with me in a reply to this blog. Oh, and let me add here that some people avoid clear doctrine because they do not want to believe anything which is not full of wishy-washy-ness. <br /></div><div><span> <span> </span>I can say for a fact that people, young & old, tend to welcome clear & simple doctrinal truths. A number of years ago, when Saxony Lutheran High School (Fruitland, MO) was beginning, I was blessed to be one of the pastors who offered a religion course there. I can safely say that most (alas, not all) of my students remarked how much they liked the course: it was clear, concise, they could always say "prove it, Wollenburg," and I would take out my Bible to prove a statement with which they might take issue (or simply had never heard before).</span><br /></div><div><span><span> <span> </span>Oops, I digress!</span><br /></span></div><div><span><span><span> <span> </span>I hope to be able to share some insights which I have gleaned from the book. A couple of them for now:</span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span> <span> </span>FROM "A LAYMAN'S FOREWORD" to the book: "</span></span></span></span>In these days when there is so much laxity and carelessness in spiritual things we often hear it said that one church is as good as another. The peculiar glory of the Lutheran Church is that she holds fast to the Word of God; that she emphasizes the things which that Word emphasizes; that she neither adds to nor detracts from that Word. When the day shall come that the common man in our Church understands and therefore appreciates the great fundamental teachings of God’s Word, the Lutheran Church will be a vital force not only in the lives of those who constitute her membership, but also in the life of our nation."</div><div><span> </span><span> FROM THE INTRODUCTION: "</span>DIVISION! Division is again called for. From the beginning division has been called for. Over and over again, division has come. To the end, division will come.</div><div>Inside the Garden of Eden God said to the serpent: “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed.” Division was predicted in Paradise. At its very gates humanity divided. Abel and Cain were both religious. Both brought offerings to the Lord. God had respect unto Abel and to his offering. But unto Cain and his offering He had no respect. There was division. From that day forth, some followed the faith of Abel, others walked in the way of Cain. Humanity was divided." You just cannot say it much more clearly than this!</div><div><span> </span><span> In the INTRODUCTION, the author makes a point of saying that his book is written for laity & clergy alike. It is written in a style which, truly, anyone can understand.</span><br /></div><div><span><span> </span><span> If you have not lately stopped to ponder the presence of God in the world & in your life, perhaps Chapter 1 will cause you to do so.</span><br /></span></div><div><span><span><span> </span><span> So far for now. More when I get motivated. :-)</span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span><span><span><span> </span><span> Let me add here that I truly long for L</span></span></span></span>UTHERAN Leaders in the Lutheran Church(es), laity and clergy alike, who do not make any concessions whatsoever to scoffers. Also for Lutheran laity and clergy alike who will not say "We already studied that when we were kids!" but those who long to be reminded of the timeless truths of Holy Scripture so that we can be taught and re-taught throughout our lives. Let us speak truth! Let us be unashamed to be Lutherans! Not in a proud way but in the humble way which those who have the Truth will share the truth. God, grant that we will carry these truths, in our hearts, to our very graves!</div><div><span> </span><span> Another very short note here: there is a plethora of solid Lutheran preachers, teachers, writers, bloggers, etc. in our day and age. Let us use our computers and our smartphones, so readily at our disposal, to sit at their feet to learn more about the eternal God, Father, Son, & Holy Spirt. Let us never be ashamed to ask those writers for clarity with our polite "What do you mean by that?" when there is some truth taught which might feel contradictory to the holy Christian faith.</span><br /></div><div><span><span> </span><span> Peace and blessings to you and yours! - ajw</span><br /></span></div>Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-80135275846113172982015-06-29T14:30:00.000-05:002015-06-29T14:32:30.234-05:00Toward UNConfusion!<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<b>[ NOTE:</b> The below article was first published in our parish's July Newsletter. The rest of the newsletter can be found <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;"><a href="http://lcmssermons.com/images/aut112/new.july.2015.pdf">HERE.</a><b> ]</b></span><br />
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Confusion reigns. Lord, help us!<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Someone recently took me to task for commenting on the Bruce/Caitlin Jenner sex change which has recently been in the news. They said that it is so obviously wrong that it needs no commentary at all, much less from a pastor. My answer was/is that if I remain silent, then there will be some people who, confused by the media responses, will say that, hearing nothing to the contrary from the church, they figured that the church agrees. It’s maddening.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Even as I write this article, I am waiting, with others of you, for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on same sex marriage.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There is so MUCH confusion in our culture. People are confused about who they are, where they belong, what they should (or should not) do, and what is their future (if they even have one).<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>On top of people’s personal crises, there are far too many “churches” which are trying to find out where the cultural winds are blowing, and then are rushing to get out in front to pretend that they are somehow representing God. Many are MISrepresenting God!<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I offer here for you and anyone who will pay attention, the cure for the astonishing cultural confusion: DOCTRINE.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Yes, that’s right. The very doctrines (teachings) which too many people (and even churches!) reject, are what will lead us toward Cultural UNconfusion!<br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">+ + +</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">THE PROBLEM</span></b></div>
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was/is a problem which repeats itself. Judges 17:6 - “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.”<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Whenever Scripture says this, it always carries a negative connotation. Look up some other, similar Scriptures in:<br />
Judges 21:25<br />
Psalm 81:12<br />
Proverbs 3:5<br />
Proverbs 14:12<br />
Proverbs 21:2<br />
Isaiah 63:10<br />
Jeremiah 8:2<br />
and others.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Our culture (and some churches) arrived at this point by the relativism phase through which we went some years ago. Your pastor preached against that, too. :-) Relativism taught us that there is no such thing as absolute truth. You may have your truth and I may have my truth. And, even though those truths may conflict with each other, they are both equally true.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Yep, it always confused me, too! 2 + 2 can equal 4 AND 5? BOTH are true? It can’t be! Can you see the devastating effects which such thinking could have on families? The husband’s “truth” is that he can have girlfriends; the wife’s “truth” is that she can have man-friends; what a mess will be made of that family! Who CAN’T see that?!<br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">+ + +</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Toward UNconfusion: The Doctrine of Man</span></b></div>
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The purpose of doctrine is to teach us how things are, and how they are to be. A famous theologian has been noted as saying “doctrine is life” (“google” the phrase sometime). The doctrine teaches us about man. While MUCH has been written to teach us about man, we share a nutshell teaching here.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We come from God. God created humankind. We were created for life with Him. We do not exist independently from God. He created us for fellowship with Him. We were intended, by our very creation, to live forever in fellowship with God. We were made the way He wanted us to be: perfect. Man and woman. Together. To serve each other. And to procreate. In other words, to be a family.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>BUT, tragically, our parents Adam and Eve rebelled against God. As a result of their “fall” into sin, the entire creation has been tainted with sin. Where there is sin, there is death. Where there is death, there will be decay and trouble. Now we are subject to things like disease (of the body and the mind). As we all know, there are entire industries which have sprung up to deal with disease (consider St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the Kenny Rogers Center, etc.)<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Where there is sin, there is continuing rebellion against God. Some things which we know are right we do not do. Intentionally or unintentionally. Some things which we know are not right, we do anyhow. This is called “sin.” The Bible says that “sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Therefore, humankind is in need of redemption. If you do not believe that, you do not have to look any further than to history, where you will learn all manner of the atrocities and perversions of humankind.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">Toward UNconfusion: The Doctrine of God</span> </span></b></div>
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>God is not something which you can just make up (though many try to do just that). God has existed from before the beginning of time, and will exist until after the end of time. He is eternal.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Bible ascribes any number of attributes (characteristics) to God. Omnipotent. Omniscient. Omnipresent. eternal. Just. Merciful. Holy. Just to name some of them. You can find more of them by reading Luther’s Small Catechism (or, directly, by reading the Bible).<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>God has revealed HImself to us as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, three separate and distinct Persons in the one God. While we generally speak of God the Father as the Creator, of God the Son as the Redeemer, and of God the Holy Spirit as the Sanctifier, it is proper to understand that all Three Persons participate in all of the work of God (see the Athanasian Creed).<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ that God the Son became flesh and blood, born of the virgin Mary. Jesus is God Who took the sins of the world upon Himself. He never sinned. He died to pay for all sins. He arose from His grave on Easter morning. He forgives the sins of those who repent of their sins and believe in Him. He does not forgive the sins of those who are impenitent. He will visibly return to the the world when time ends and will judge all sin and evil. The unbelievers will be damned to hell for all of eternity. The believers will be taken into heaven for all of eternity.<br />
<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"> + + +</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Toward UNconfusion: What Happens When . . .</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>So, we rightly ask, “What is happening when so many societal values are being challenged?”<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The answer, simply, is sin. Mankind is naturally inclined, since the fall into sin, to challenge God’s Word and Commands. Different people challenge different commands: one challenges marriage by committing adultery; another challenges marriage by “shacking up;” another challenges marriage by refusing to befriend his/her spouse; still another challenges marriage by their homosexuality; and on it goes. One can easily discern that it is not just one sin which marks man’s rebellion, but many different sins. Against many different commandments, not just against one. Nor are these sins unique to one generation or the other (some years ago, there was reported to be a significant rise in STD’s in some of the retirement communities where there were a number of widows and widowers who reasoned that, since they could not get pregnant anymore . . .).<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All of this results in the confusion which we see in our current day. We have seen it before. We will see it again. It is man’s rebellion.<br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Toward UNconfusion: What is the Cure? What shall we do? </span></b></div>
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Two different questions need two different answers:<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>[1] The “cure” is obvious, but many people don’t “get it.” Repentance is: turning from the sin and trusting in God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Just like faith is the gift of God, so this repentance truly is a gift from God. He is the one who teaches you His ways, shows you the error of your ways, and breaks down whatever rebellion or stubborn pride is keeping you stuck in the world’s confusion. He will also welcome you and not throw your past in your face.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>[2] We in the Christian Church need to learn to simply stand fast. Too often, we long to be a part of the latest and greatest “movement.” We get tired of being called “fuddy duddies,” or the like, we get tired of our statistics going the wrong way (because the world keeps rejecting God!), and we are sorely tempted to compromise with the Word of God.<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>May the Lord help us poor sinners to get things straight and to keep things straight! We know of the Lord’s great love for us. We rejoice in the forgiveness of sins which we have through our blessed Savior! </div>
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And may the Lord cause us to stand fast against societal confusion, model the life which God intends for us all, and make a concerted effort to reach all who are confused, and to lead them (with us!) to repentance! <b><span style="color: red;">+</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> In Christ,<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Pastor Wollenburg</div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Audio of the Sermons for each Sunday are ordinarily posted on the Church’s FaceBook page. Announcements are made there also. Please “friend” us on FaceBook by looking for: “Concordia Lutheran Church & School” in Sikeston, MO.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Audio of our Sunday Services are also posted at: lcmssermons.com/ajwrev . You may go to that site at any time to listen to past sermons and services.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">QUESTION: </span></b>So, Pastor, I have acquaintances (friends) who are homosexual. How should I as a Christian treat them? And what does the Church say about them?<br />
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">ANSWER:</span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span> That’s a very big and certainly “loaded” question in our day and age. EVERY SIN is an abomination in the Lord’s eyes. He Who is holy in every way is offended by our every transgression of His commandments. That is what makes the work of Jesus shine so very brightly! That God would place every sin upon His Son and that Jesus would pay for every sin is awesome.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You or others may be troubled by another’s sin. But try to remember that Christ has paid for every single sin. What God wants is for every sinner to be led to repentance and to war against their own sinful flesh. God wants the heterosexual to repent of his/her natural (and sinful) tendencies toward lewd thoughts and crude words and actions. He wants the same for the homosexual.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You should continue to love your friend, and they should continue to respect your Christian view of homosexual acts. Even though some in the homosexual community have sought to rewrite the Scriptures and even though some of the churches have “bought into” those rewrites, it will be plainly evident to any student of the Word that God condemns such actions and tendencies. If the person says that they can’t help but be homosexual (another discussion for another time), remind them that the Lord still expects them to be celibate (the heterosexual is also commanded by God to live a celibate life unless the Lord brings him/her into marriage). <br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As to the subject of same-sex marriage, same-sex marriage plainly is NOT God’s plan for our world. He created Adam and Eve and placed them together in Eden. There is simply no Biblical support whatsoever for same-sex marriage.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Please try to understand that your friend/acquaintance may be just as lonely as the heterosexual might be. We in the Church befriend all kinds of sinners. We call all sinners to daily repentance. As the heterosexual should repent of his/her unnatural and sinful desires, so should the homosexual. When the heterosexual sins, s/he confesses his sins and receives absolution. The same would be true of the homosexual. No one should EVER use confession and absolution as a license to sin more.<br />
<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In a nutshell, then, while the Christian Church condemns every sin of every stripe, so the Christian Church is also called by God to love and speak of Christ’s forgiving work to sinners of every stripe.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>By maintaining an appropriate relationship with your friend/acquaintance, the Lord may be giving you the opportunity to lead him/her to repentance.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There is SO MUCH MORE which could be said on this subject. I pray that this much is helpful to you . . . for Christ’s sake! /s/ Pastor ajwRev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-55764463480695555952012-03-04T21:11:00.002-06:002012-03-04T21:31:58.465-06:00Wilderness Travels -- and Travails -- and Lessons<div><span >This short article was written in the monthly newsletter of our congregation for the March edition of that newsletter. No, it is not as polished as it might be. But, perhaps, the reader will find some encouragement in Christ herein. /s/ ajw</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; "><span ><b><br /></b></span></div><span style="font-size: 100%; " ><b>Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ our Lord:</b></span><div><span ><b><span style="font-size: 100%; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> </span>So, we are now in the middle of Lent. 40 days. Some people give up something for Lent as a reminder of the Savior’s suffering. Others add something salutary to their lives (an extra time for devotions each day, a pledge to work in the community in some way, coming to all of the Lenten services, etc.). At any rate, the purpose of it is NOT the action itself – the purpose is to be reminded of some greater thing.<br /> We Christians do well to guard ourselves against “giving up something for Lent” or “adding something for Lent” which shows others that we are particularly pious. It is entirely possible to do certain acts of piety which, we imagine, will make others think that we are somehow “more saved” than others. If you are tempted to either one of these sins, please be sure to re-read the appointed Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday (the words of our blessed Savior in Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21).<br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>We are in this 40 day period as a time for personal discipline so that we are focused on God. It’s a lot like (and is truly reminiscent of) the travels of the children of Israel for 40 years in the wilderness. After they were rescued from their 400 years of bondage in Egypt and before they were brought to their “promised land” of Canaan, they spent 40 years – yes, YEARS – in the wilderness.<br /> Reflect on it with me, please . . . .</span><br /><div style="text-align: center; "><b><span >+ + +</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center; "><b><span >You’re Not Always in Control Nor are You Setting the Direction!</span></b></div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>When the children of israel were delivered from their captivity in Egypt, all they knew was that they were going to be free! They did not know where they had come from (they were a nomad nation), and they did not know where they were going. What they did know was that they had been promised a “Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”</span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"> “Flowing with milk and honey” sounded pretty good to them. They had grown up – every single one of them - in slavery. They had been conceived, born, and raised in slavery. Until they were led out of Egypt, they all figured that they were going to die in slavery. They knew no other way of life. They had no hope. They had nothing.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>They had one thing which was intangible: God. God had made them His own through the promise which He had given to Adam and Eve, and which He had renewed through the generations of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were the descendants of Jacob (aka Israel). They had God’s promise. There were times when they were not so sure that they wanted to live in God’s promise. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"> When you live under a promise there is one thing which you have to do: believe it. And, when you believe it, you have to conduct yourself accordingly. This is, sadly, why so very many marriages fail and why friendships destruct: either promises are not made, or promises are not kept, or promises are never believed. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>When you live under another person’s promise, you are not necessarily in control of where you are going. All that Israel knew was that they were going to be “free.” What they truly wanted was to be in charge of themselves: what they would receive and where they would go. But, when they found themselves in the wilderness, with the Red Sea before them, and Pharaoh’s army pursuing them, they were ready to surrender and return to the land of Egypt.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>They expressed their lack of faith in God’s promise in terrible ways:</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"> <blockquote>“They said to Moses, ‘Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: “Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians”? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.’”(Exodus 14:11-12 ESV) </blockquote><span >Yeah, right.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span >Or, do you remember when the children of Israel became discontented with the miraculous manna which God was giving them every day? Their discontentment is astonishing:</span> “Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, ‘Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at’.”(Numbers 11:4-6 ESV) <span >Astonishing ingratitude, huh?</span></span><span ><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><u>LESSON</u>: They kept trying to control that of which they weren’t in control, and they could not.</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span >+ + +</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span >Hunger, Danger, Enemies</span></b></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span >We have already seen how the children of Israel were hungry. When they cried out for hunger and suggested that maybe they should return to Egypt, God provided them with the miraculous manna. Manna was an amazing food. Wikipedia gives about as good and concise definition as any: </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><blockquote>“In the description in the Book of Exodus, manna is described as being ‘a fine, flake-like thing’ like the frost on the ground. It is described in the Book of Numbers as arriving with the dew during the night; Exodus adds that manna was comparable to hoarfrost in size, similarly had to be collected before it was melted by the heat of the sun, and was white like coriander seed in color. Numbers describes it as having the appearance of bdellium, adding that the Israelites ground it and pounded it into cakes, which were then baked, resulting in something that tasted like cakes baked with oil. Exodus states that raw manna tasted like wafers that had been made with honey. The Israelites were instructed to eat only the manna they had gathered for each day. Leftovers or manna stored up for the following day ‘bred worms and stank’: the exception being the day before Shabbat (Preparation Day), when twice the amount of manna was gathered, which did not spoil overnight; because, Exodus 16:23-24 [states] ‘This is what the LORD commanded: “Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.”‘ So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it.’”</blockquote></span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span ><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>For this manna they should have been wonderfully thankful. And they were . . . until they got bored with it.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span ><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Then they cried out for meat to eat so the Lord miraculously provided the quail:</span> “Then a wind from the LORD sprang up, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day's journey on this side and a day's journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the ground. And the people rose all that day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail. Those who gathered least gathered ten homers. And they spread them out for themselves all around the camp.” (Numbers 11:31-32 ESV) </span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span >There were times when they ran out of water and they cried out:</span> “But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, ‘Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?’” (Exodus 17:3 ESV) . </span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span >We do not know precisely who all of their enemies were, but we do know that they had enemies. It angered and frustrated Moses when the people would rebel against God and so their enemies could make fun of them</span> (Ex. 32:25). </span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span >On more than one occasion, the people tried to replace Moses: while he was up on Mt. Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, they started to worship an idol; Miriam and Aaron tried to rebel against Moses (Num. 12). In these and other cases it caused Moses to question God’s call to him, and it caused him heartache.</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span ><u>Lessons</u>:</span></span></b></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span ><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>[1] When you’re in the wilderness, at some point you’ll get hungry and thirsty. [2] When you get hungry and thirsty it will be tempting to blame God and His appointed leaders. [3] When you are hungry and thirsty, it is tempting to go back to a life and lifestyle which you start to imagine to have been good - but it was really just slavery! [4] When you are bored, lonely, and frightened, it is tempting to lash out at God and those whom He has made your leader(s). [5] In the wilderness, it is tempting to fall into idol worship. </span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span >+ + +</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center; "><b><span >HARD Lessons to Learn</span></b></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span >It IS hard to learn our lesson, isn’t it? We are just like the child who must be told over and over again to do some thing. That child, we hope, will soon grow up to some level of maturity and come to the realization that we are trying to teach them for their own good. </span></span><span ><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"> Alas, it is difficult to be a child who is to learn a given lesson. A child is so full of what he wants to do at the moment, that he refuses to see the good which is being taught to him. He keeps going back to old habits and wrong, even self-destructive, activities.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span >Why? Because a child can only see what tastes good or what he desires (candy, etc.). Our sinful nature is a bit too much like a little child. We see what we want, we covet what we do not have, and decide that, no matter what, we will have it. But we were not raised that way, and that certainly is not the way of the Christian.</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span >+ + +</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center; "><b><span >God’s Constant Provision</span></b></div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It is really interesting to reflect on the Children of Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness and to see the constant provision of God, and to observe how, over and over and over again, He remained faithful to His promises!</span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>They were hungry. God gave them manna.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>They craved meat in their diet. God gave them quail.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>They needed water: God provided for them. Example: It has been estimated that the Israelites who left Egypt numbered somewhere around 2.5-3 million. If you figure (conservatively?) that each person would need 5 gallons of water/day (I’m not even counting livestock here!), then they would have needed some 12,500,000 gallons of water DAILY at a minimum. The standard for a railroad tank car is 34,500 gallons maximum. So, at at a minimum, they would have needed, and God would have daily provided, the equivalent of more than 36 railroad tank cars of water daily! In the wilderness! Amazing!</span><br /></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span ><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Know what God’s lesson was?</span> “And He humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” - Deut. 8:3</span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span >You could not be an offspring of that generation of Israelites and not know that God is faithful and all powerful!</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span >+ + +</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center; "><b><span >God at the Center!</span></b></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span >Another observation: Did you know that, whenever the Israelites broke camp and moved, when they made camp again, everything was arranged (by God’s direction) so that each “tribe” was located in relationship to the Tent of Meeting. The Tent of Meeting was exactly what its name implies: it was the place where God met with Moses. And the Tent of Meeting was NOT removed from the people but was always the center of the camp so that everything was built around it. The lesson? God is at the center! God WANTS to be with His people! God IS with His people. Even though traveling through the wilderness can be full of travails, God had chosen to be with them!</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span >+ + +</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center; "><b><span >The Obvious Parallels!</span></b></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>We Christians are “pilgrims” who traveling through our wilderness of this life on our way to our “Promised Land.” That Promised Land for us is, of course, our heavenly home, purchased by Christ and prepared by Him for our eternity.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Any “pilgrimage” will have its share of difficulties, ranging from just plain being hard to travel for a long time, to getting lost, to robbers, to the possibility of wild animals, to getting sick along the way, to burying dead loved ones as you travel along, to losing interest in the traveling, to possibly going broke, etc., etc.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>But these lessons, and more, are surely ours to learn as we are journeying through the Lenten Season to ward Easter and, in the larger picture, as we traveling through the frail, mortal existence on our way to heaven:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;">1. We are not in charge of their lives – God is.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;">2. He sometimes allows trouble to enter our lives to cause us to repent of our sins.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;">3. He sometimes allows trouble so that we will learn to cry out to Him and depend upon</span></b></span></div><div><span ><b><span style="font-size: 100%;"> Him in every need.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;">4. We are not the center of it all. Life, as worship, is about God Who has loved us and</span></b></span></div><div><span ><b><span style="font-size: 100%;"> redeemed us in Christ!</span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;">5. We are in the wilderness with other believers – none of us is in this alone – what we</span></b></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; "> each individually and/or as a group do or don’t do will affect the others!</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; ">6. God is faithful! Always!</span><br /><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: center; "><b><span >+ + +</span></b></div><span style="font-family: arial; "><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span >How to Arrive at the “Promised Land”</span></b></div></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span >When God, in His mercy, decides that the time is right, He will open the way for us.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial; "><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"> In all of your contemplation, consider as the most important thing of all, that God who created you has also redeemed you. He has redeemed you from sin, death, and the power of the devil. He has redeemed you by the holy, shed blood of Jesus, by the Christ’s innocent sufferings and death. He has opened heaven for you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>As a true pilgrim longs for the day when he “arrives,” so we in the Church long to “arrive” at blessed Easter. More importantly, we long to “arrive” in our eternal home of heaven.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; "><span ><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>In Christ, + + +</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 100%; "><span > Pastor Wollenburg</span> </span></b><br /></div>Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-42544213456833402432012-02-24T13:38:00.004-06:002012-02-24T13:40:55.365-06:00time to update this blog<span style="font-weight:bold;">OK -- it's been entirely too long! Stuff happens which sidetracks a person. I hope to renew my blogging in the very near future. It will probably consist of parish newsletter articles, and other things as they come up. Sorry for being so far apart with blogposts.</span>Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-84833051877993301772010-04-06T13:43:00.008-05:002010-04-06T14:00:25.141-05:00Don't Just DO Something! STAND There!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OVBEKey0DvE/S7uEMMUEUYI/AAAAAAAABrQ/zZCljw663B8/s1600/SOLDIER-COLOR.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OVBEKey0DvE/S7uEMMUEUYI/AAAAAAAABrQ/zZCljw663B8/s320/SOLDIER-COLOR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457100718488179074" border="0" /></a>
<br /><meta equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><title></title><meta name="GENERATOR" content="OpenOffice.org 3.2 (Win32)"><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --></style><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><u>NOTE</u>: This article was prepared for the April 2010 Parish Newsletter of Concordia Lutheran Church of Sikeston, MO. One of the problems which has surfaced in modern Christendom (perhaps it has always been there and I have been blissfully unaware of it until recent years) is that we always feel that we in the church must be “doing something.” We are “builders” and are proud of it. For decades we have heard pastors remind us, from James 1:23, that we must be “doers” of the word of God. I know, of course, what James the brother of our Lord meant; but I also believe that we have not always presented James in the context of the rest of Holy Scripture, and a Lutheran pastor in particular MUST always present a proper mix of Law and Gospel to his hearers. On top of this, we are, by virtue of our sinful nature, people who believe that we must somehow “help God along” in His work of salvation. On top of this, we look at lagging numbers in terms of church attendance, church membership, youth at worship and active in the life of the church, young adults who seem in some large measure to be abandoning the modern church (I'm not quite sure this statement “paints” those young adults fairly), and we resolve that “by gum, we had better DO <u>some</u><span style="text-decoration: none;">thing!” So we begin all manner of frenzied activity. We resolve to “remake” the church. Some write books and put on seminars. Others purchase said books and attend said seminars. To and fro. Back and forth. Rising early and staying up late. Burning gasoline and electricity. Wringing our hands. Pointing the finger at those who caused it. I fear that we are only making things worse and worse. But, dear reader, do you not know that God (Psalm 46:10) says: “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Amongst all of the church leaders who constantly tell us to “do something,” are there any who tell us to “be steadfast, immovable?” Does the Lord Christ want us to “be busy” by serving our neighbors? Of course! But, sometimes, ‘busyness’ keeps us from standing firm in the faith! Read on, please . . .</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ our Lord :</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> No, it does not seem like a familiar title at all. What we are accustomed to is the phrase: “Don’t just sit/stand there; do something!” Frankly, this more familiar title is much more to my personal liking. I like to think of myself as a man of action, a person of energy, one who is willing to do the hard work.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> But I have deliberately rephrased the familiar so as to cause you, I hope and pray, to rethink how we too often think in (post-)modern Christendom. </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:arial;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:180%;">+ + +</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:arial;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:180%;">Remember “Busy Work?”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Ahh, what great disdain we in high school had for those terrible teachers who assigned us what we termed “busy work.” “Busy work,” by our high school definition was: work which we had to complete and which took up our time but which was so shallow as to not require any thinking whatsoever; it was work in which we merely went through the motions of learning without learning or reinforcing anything. “Busy work,” we thought, made the teacher look good because s/he was giving assignments and sometimes (but not always) grading those assignments. From our perspective as students, they took up our time and energy but produced no lasting results. </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Please permit me here, as a teacher of adults and children (for so very much of what a pastor does includes teaching!) to defend proper homework assignments. Writing out memory work, for example, is an excellent exercise which reinforces things which we think that we have committed to memory. Most students do not want to do memory work because memory work, whether for children or adults, requires some effort (sometimes quite a bit of effort!) on our parts — and most of us are lazy and do not want to be forced to do anything! This is different from “busy work” which only amounts to doing things which give the appearance of work while not accomplishing anything (why does the filling out of government forms spring to my mind when I think of “busy work?” :) ).</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> I fear that there are too many things which we do in Christendom in our day which accomplish little except giving the appearance (usually to ourselves but sometimes to others) that we are doing lots when, in fact, we are doing little or nothing. This we do while ignoring things which we ought to be doing but which we imagine to be too much work or rather boring or just not “cool” enough. Sometimes we change things which we ought not to change. I’ll try to explain but I do not have a lot of space here . . . read on, please . . .</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:arial;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:180%;">+ + +</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:arial;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:180%;">“</span><span style="font-size:180%;">Idle Hands Are the Devil’s Workshop”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> That adage is most certainly true! It is the reason why parents sometimes impose curfews on their children (“What can I do after midnight that I couldn’t do before midnight?” Answer: “Nothing, but you are more likely to do the sinful, life-changing things, because there are less of the wholesome things to do before midnight.”).</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Every parent knows that, when children are left in one another’s company without any supervision or direction, they will often end up fighting or bothering one another simply because they get bored. For that very reason, good parents and teachers will help their children structure their time with wholesome activities like playing running games outside, or drawing things inside, or putting together puzzles, etc. </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> “Idle hands” is also one of the reasons why we teach ourselves that a proper posture for prayer (it is NOT required by Scripture but it is an ancient practice) is to fold our hands and close our eyes: doing this, we keep ourselves from being distracted from our prayers whether when we awaken, at mealtime (before AND after), during our daily devotion, at bedtime, or at any other time.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> We should stay busy. If you are bored at home and need something to do, for example, there are always some things which we need to have done here at the Church: floors can be scrubbed and buffed, shrubs can be trimmed, leaves can be raked, windows can be washed, stuff can be dusted, papers folded, neighborhoods can be visited (a great way to take a walk), etc. If, however, you are bored at home and tend to fill your time with internet sites which tempt your sinful flesh or with junk on TV which only fills your mind with sinful ideas, well, then, the adage is proven true: “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop,” and you should get busy with something edifying (easy for me to say, I know, and harder to do).</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> THIS IS IMPORTANT: When you get bored and start looking for stuff to do, be very careful that you do not start messing with the wrong stuff, including at church!</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:arial;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:180%;">+ + +</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:arial;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:180%;">The Case for “Just Standing There!”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Dear Concordians (and anyone else who reads this), please mark this well: the pastor who is forever cajoling you to “do something” is probably beginning to panic as he fears for the future. I know about that because I have sometimes thus cajoled folks in the past AND because I sometimes still do fear for the future of Christ’s Church (I am not supposed to be afraid but when I forget to look at Christ’s promises, my sinful flesh sometimes becomes very afraid).</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> When we who are “ministers of the Gospel” start telling the sheep whom we serve that they must do all kinds of things, we are guilty of skewing the Word and counsel of God. Look at these Bible passages which tell us to stand:</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">+ Remember when the Children of Israel were being brought out of Egypt? And Pharoah was sooo angry and pursued them? And they were at the Red Sea? And they got angry with Moses? And they were ready to go back to Egypt or just surrender? Remember how scared they were? Remember what Moses told them? “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." (Exodus 14:13-14)</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">+ In his great “Resurrection Chapter,” St. Paul reminds us of our “standing” because of the work of Christ: “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you — unless you believed in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:1-2)</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">+ At the end of that same great chapter, as the apostle comes to his grand conclusion, he tells us who live in the grace and power of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:58)</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">+ In the parting words of his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” (1 Cor. 16:13)</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">+ Gal. 5:1 - “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">+ Did you know that one of the reasons why God has established the office of the ministry (what I am!) is “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, . . .” (Eph. 4:14-15)</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">+ In the apostle’s great metaphor of how we Christians are dressed up in the armor of God, he speaks of what soldiers do: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, . . .” (Eph. 6:11-14)</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">+ Philippians 1:27, Philippians 4:1</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">+ Colossians 4:12</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">+ 1 Thessalonians 3:8</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">+ 2 Thessalonians 2:15</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">+ 1 Peter 5:12</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> The above list is by no means exhaustive on the subject. Sure, we actively serve in the Lord’s church, but more important (if one can say it that way) is that we stand firm!</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:arial;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:180%;">+ + +</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:arial;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:180%;">It’s Hard to Just “Stand There!”</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> No kidding! Just ask any soldier! Or, ask any Congress! When there’s no immediate danger, the “job” of a military is to “stand there.” “Standing there” is a deterrent to our enemies. A strong defense keeps them from attacking or, if they do attack, makes it less likely that they will do any lasting damage. I am not trying to make a big political point here, and I apologize if I am accidentally stepping on your toes politically, but everyone knows that the job of a military is to at least be there in front of our enemies (example: playground bullies do NOT pick on kids who are bigger or stronger than they are — guess why!). When we are not being attacked, it is easy for our military to become complacent even as it is easy for our congress to quit spending money on military readiness.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> It should come as no surprise to you to be reminded that the Church on Earth is properly referred to by a couple of very descriptive names: “Kingdom of Grace” and “The Church Militant” (sadly, you do not often hear of the Church described in the latter way in our day and age because it is not popular to Christians these days that suffering might be a part of their life in Christ — but suffering is very much a part of your lives, dear Christians! — oops, I’m ahead of myself here). </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> The church on earth is often called the “Kingdom of Grace” because the Lord Christ rules over our hearts with His grace (He does NOT rule the Christian with His holy laws). </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> The Bride of Christ (the church) is also called “The Church Militant” because the Church is always at war on this side of heaven — our enemies are the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh. Amongst the enemies of our souls are false doctrine and false practice.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> It truly is difficult to “stand fast” when people around us are ducking for cover or whenever people are taking the easiest ways “out” of problems. It is hard to “stand fast” when it seems to be very boring for a soldier to “man his foxhole,” but give thanks for those who do stand fast!</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Similarly, when the enemies are attacking and others are deserting their posts, it is hard for a soldier to “stand fast,” but because he stands fast others are kept safe from the enemy! Try to picture your “standing fast” in that way.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Your pastor and other Christians who are learning to “stand fast” despite the trends and fads which come along throughout Christendom are protecting you from silly ideas and false notions which waste your time, money, and other resources (and which could destroy your soul).</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:arial;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:180%;">+ + +</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-family:arial;" align="CENTER"><span style="font-size:180%;">How do I Stand?</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> There are a couple of things which you “do” in order to stand fast! [1] Attend worship every single Sunday (and other times) for there the Lord comes to you and bolsters you for the hard times; He also uses your presence to give much needed encouragement to others (including your pastor). I know that many Christians no longer think that it is “cool” to go to every Sunday worship, but how can you be a Christian who does not worship? In Worship you are reminded over and over again of the baptism by which your merciful heavenly Father has brought you into His family of faith (what privilege!), you will repeatedly hear the Lord’s own absolution spoken to you to bolster you, and you will receive the Supper in which Christ Himself comes to strengthen and renew you! [2] Attend Bible Classes; sadly, this is quite a problem for our own congregation as for other churches — in Bible Classes we examine some of the trends which are coming along and give answers, from the Word of God, which will help you to be steadfast. We study the Word (obviously) so that, when false ideas come to us, we will be able to spot them as false and will be ready to answer them. [3] Daily devotions (read the daily devotions which I send out in my daily email or read the Portals of Prayer devotional, or both!).</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> This is needed in Christendom today, “Don’t just <u>do</u> something . . . <u>stand</u> there!” May God give you grace, dear Christian, to stand fast. In Christ, Pastor Wollenburg </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Most of this article, along with our entire April newsletter, is available online at: <span style="font-size:85%;">http://lcmssermons.com/images/aut112/2010.april.newsletter.pdf</span> </span></p> Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-39938015809069018312010-03-27T13:22:00.006-05:002010-03-27T13:35:36.523-05:00Living in the End Times, Etc,.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Well, it has been quite some time since I have blogged -- sorry about that. I'm going to start doing more of that and hope that it can be a blessing, at least in some small way, to some . . .</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Below is the start of a discussion which I have had online at the Wittenberg Trail site with a man who had questions about end times stuff. Perhaps his questions are yours and perhaps my answers will help you, too. Feel free to comment or ask more questions below. His questions are in red. My answers are in purple (a nice, Lenten color) . . . /s/ ajw</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >They say that when we look back on the "Good Old Days", they weren't really as good as we might remember them. We may repress bad memories, focusing on our successes while seemingly forgetting our failures. </span><div class="discussion"><div class="description"> <p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family: arial;">In Bible Study, most members seem to have the idea that things are getting worse and worse as time progresses. Some have leaned toward premillennialism, and see this pessimism in light of the end times. Another member is more optimistic and sees that some things have gotten better. She does not go along with the view that things are always getting worse.</p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family: arial;">If we were to look at specific things that have gotten worse, some may be legitimate (increased violence in schools) whereas some may not, as crimes and troubles are better reported today than in the past.</p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family: arial;">Scripture tells us that before Jesus returns again, things will be just like in the days of Noah. Pastor, it is true we can have great joy about the imminent return of Jesus, but regarding the sin that is rampant in the world, is it right to see each generation as more evil than the one before it, or is this a faulty look at the world, theologically? What is a healthy, Christian view of the overview of human existence on the earth over the centuries?</p><p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Dear __:<br /><br />Neither pessimism nor optimism, as such, is in order for the Christian. We live by faith. To be sure, we know that in all things God works together for good with those who love Him (<a target="_blank" class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://bible.logos.com/passage/esv/Romans%208.28">Romans 8:28</a>); in other words, God will most certainly take care of us Christians. This is, in part, the Gospel teaching of election (do NOT fall prey to the false doctrine of double predestination). Herman Sasse, has a great quote about pessimism and optimism: "Only this faith in the living Lord poises us properly for our tasks. He guards us from the two great sins of Christianity of our times. The terrible sin of pessimism doubts the possibility that the church can accomplish anything, because it no longer takes seriously the confession of the present Christ. Such pessimism does not take it seriously that to Christ also today all power is given in heaven and on earth, and He is just as near to us as to Christianity of the beginning. He guards us too from the terrible sin of optimism, which overlooks the fearful reality of sin in the world, and knows nothing of the fact that the power of evil works most wretchedly where it destroys the community [Gemeinde] of Jesus. Pessimism and optimism are human emotions. Where they rule, faith is falsified. For faith has nothing to do with emotions. It is the unshakable trust in the unbreakable promises of God."<br /><br />Will things get worse? Sure. The "signs of the end" are always intensifying. They have been in place all along but they continue to intensify as the world groans under the weight of sin (<a target="_blank" class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://bible.logos.com/passage/esv/Rom.%208.18ff">Rom. 8:18ff</a>.). But we Christians have the reassurance of the Lord Christ Himself that He will preserve us safe. For the Lord's own discussion of the signs of the end AND His promise to preserve us, look closely at Matthew 25 -- in particular, note the changes in verb tenses in v. 22-25.<br /><br />The book of Revelation indicates that there will be a "little season" of great trouble right before the End - <a target="_blank" class="lbsBibleRef" href="http://bible.logos.com/passage/esv/Rev.%2020.3">Rev. 20:3</a>. Of course, the church of every age has asked the question, "are we in the 'little season' now?" since it always seems as though it can get no worse -- at least to each succeeding generation. So we keep on crying out "How long?" AND we keep being fed with Word and Sacraments so that our faith may be kept alive during the trying times of our lives -- incidentally, I am right now working my way through a little book titled "Handbook of Consolations" written by Johann Gerhard -- in his book, he suggests that we all do quite well to closely contemplate death since death will come upon all of us, sooner or later (most American Christians, in my experience, hate to consider this b/c we seem to think that admitting to our mortality is somehow sinful (?)). Gerhard's book is an excellent devotional tool, in my opinion.<br /><br />Is your friend wrong who thinks that things are getting better? Well, overall, yes. To be sure, we get to see some wonderful technological advances (the internet, for one -- well, mostly, although we have heard what pornographers and others have done with it, too). However, the world is wearing out: just as our bodies which are not perfect and are more and more subject to age and disease and will eventually succumb to them, so this wretched world which we think we know and love so well, will also betray us and will wear out.<br /><br />Our hope is Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebr. 13:8)<br /><br />Helpful? Want to unpack some of the stuff referenced above? :)</p> </div> </div><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Then the gentleman asked this followup question:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Yes, this helps some. I shouldn't have really used the words "pessimism" and "optimism"--I knew as Christians we have a real, solid hope in Christ, who is able to do all things, who conquered the grave. "God desires all men to be saved..."</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">This clearly doesn't leave room for pessimism.</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">African-Americans are treated better today than they were over a hundred years ago. We have been given people with smart minds who have made all kinds of inventions, vastly improved transportation, and all kinds of convenience (yet while these conveniences have helped save time, much of the time they saved is now wasted, IMO). For decades, the Cold War dragged on, and in God's good time communism fell, the Berlin Wall came down, Poland and other satellite nations found new freedom. Yet today our country seems less of a democracy than in the past, and Roe v. Wade has not yet been overturned, socialized medicine is making inroads, replacing freedoms with governmental demands. Many needed jobs are still overseas, and uncontrolled immigration is still not solved, as U.S. citizens can no longer count on unity of language. Public schools are required to proselytize our children with a God-less form of universalism which demands tolerance yet is quite intolerant of Christianity. The government was only called to make sure all children had access to a good education, yet the government monopolizes education, and when budget cuts are inevitable, we sacrifice our children's exposure to art and music, even though some may be going into these fields.</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">But even if I could only see the positives, optimism is not the way of the Christian, as we know the realities of Satan (who lurks as a lion, seeking whom he may devour) and his demons, their craftiness, and the world's blindness to their existence. St. Paul is quite clear about the evil in "the ways of the world", and how Christians are not to conform to this. Clearly, we are told that no matter how bad things get (or appear to get), God is still in control, Satan was defeated, death is dead, and God loves His people. The gospel has transformed us, taking us from the prison of spiritual death to new life and freedom, and we have been trusted to carry this Great News forward to others who dwell in darkness.</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">But, overall, will the wickedness of future years, decades and centuries get more and more evil (unprecedented), and will persecution of God's people become as it was in the first century (a.D.) or worse? How could you explain this to us in relation to Amillennialism, to a generation who has largely been exposed to Premillennialism? Some talk of a required implanted chip with health records as if it were the "mark of the beast." Some seek to stockpile food to prepare for a period of unprecedented persecution. Amillennialists recognize that Christ could come back ANY day, and that nothing more needs to be fulfilled before the parousia. Could you please further explain this, contrasting Biblical eschatology to the dominant eschatology of the day, rampant in much of 21st century Protestantism, helped along by Hal Lindsey, the Left Behind books & movies, etc.? I appreciate your help here.</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">You wrote, "</span><i style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Will things get worse? Sure. The "signs of the end" are always intensifying</i><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">." I remember being told the world was going into another ice age, yet some herald "global warming" as a threat to our coastlands, and arctic habitats! I understand that there is to be an increase in natural disasters, but how will things get worse in other ways? When I was growing up, the thought of a one-world government was pure science-fiction, yet there are many who push for just that. Christians should not expect material prosperity beyond God providing for our daily bread. But how bad could persecutions really get here? And please return us to the comfort of God in Christ.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Dear __: How will things get worse? Your guess is surely at least as good as mine. But Holy Scripture makes abundantly clear that the world is not "curing" her problems -- not by a long shot. One of the big problems is that we all tend to think that we know so much about time AND eternity based on our relatively insignificant span of time.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Example: So I live to be 100 years old (highly doubtful). What difference does my one life make in the greater scheme of things? I live, I sin, I am forgiven (by God's grace in Christ), and then I die. What changed? The only ways in which i might influence the future is by the faithful witness of faith in Christ which God may use to influence (an)other(s) -- so that the whole concept of Christian vocation becomes a central theme of my existence. Sure, every so often some bright shining star bursts upon the scene for a short lifetime and that person's life leaves a lasting influence (Luther for one) -- but in truth, unless that bright shining star changes things for eternity (as did Luther b/c he spoke, preached, taught and wrote of the things which are eternal), it has only changed things, at the most, for the short time of this world, a world which will come to an end.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Some passages to contemplate in this regard: Romans 8:18ff. and 2 Cor. 5:1ff. There are others, but if you try to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest these very plain scriptures, they will remind you (and me) of how very frail our short existence is. I suppose that, speaking for myself, whenever I imagine what a difference my life ought to make in the greater scheme of things, I am being a bit (OK, a lot) vain.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">The global warming, new ice age, and blah blah blah debate is a classic example. People think that WE are such a big influence on the life of the planet. But those who closely study history note that the planet tends to cycle through things, or at least that seems to be the indication of science (I'm not a scientist so I cannot speak with the authority with which others speak). Who knows what will come? My grandparents (3 of whom I never ever met but at whose graves, in Lutheran cemeteries, I have stood) could not imagine just my mp3 player on which I listen to Issues, Etc. and other great stuff -- shoot, I didn't imagine such a thing 30+ years ago when I was admitted to the Pastoral Ministry (and I remember a secretary who REALLY did not want to give up her typewriter for 'one of those new computers' when i told her that it was the future -- that was a little over just 20 years ago). Imagine what else will change! I am as concerned as the next guy (probably more b/c I tend to worry -- may Christ continue to forgive me for that) about what governmental changes are coming to us and to our children and grandchildren, but even a cursory reading of especially the minor prophets will demonstrate how God picks up one nation and uses it to punish another, and how He changes the whole course of world history in the blink of an eye.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">I share some of the concerns of the Christians who get all worked up about chips being implanted. BUT, I also like 'plastic money" (debit cards) even though some fundamentalist Christians have warned against it for years (and likely will continue). I remember, in the very early '80's, when attending the MO. State Fair (at Sedalia in case you care), being behind fundies who had a hissy when the guy tried to rubber stamp their hand so they could be readmitted if they returned to the parking lot during the day ("Oh, God, it's the mark of the beast...."). All of that to say that i don't know altogether what to worry about b/c it seems like there's new stuff coming along all of the time -- and deadly serious stuff, but there are issues which remain the same: sins against the 10 Commandments, including adultery, a generally low regard for marriage, abortion (THE great moral failing of our age!), homosexuality, abusing our neighbors, turning our backs on God and His word, false doctrine, etc., etc.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">The premillenialists and postmillenialists and dispensationalists all misread Holy Scripture which is truly amillenialistic as that term is commonly understood. The 1,000 year reign of the gospel is a perfect number (10 x 10 x 10, aka 10 to the third power) and is the rule of the Gospel era -- not necessarily a literalistic 1000 year reign. Rather, at the end of time (as we know it), Christ will visibly return on the clouds of glory, the time of grace will be over, He will send His angels to gather the elect, and we will be with Him in the new heaven and new earth (whatever that will be like). I've heard some pastors try to describe the new heaven and the new earth as being in (a) new dimension(s) -- that seems plausible to my incredibly puny, finite mind.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">So I am driven back, again, to the things which do not change: God's mercy in Christ (but be sure to read 2 Cor. 6:1ff. lest you or I think that the day of grace will never end); Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebr. 13:8); God stands above time (2 Peter 3:1-13 is EXCELLENT commentary -- and note how succinctly the psalmist affirmed it in Psalm 90:2 and other psalms). In fact, in all of my contemplation, I try not to wander from these truths (alas, but I sometimes do) which do not change, for they are the truth of my salvation in Christ my Lord.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">I'm pretty sure that you already know this stuff but would just like to hear a pastor reaffirm it for you -- I'm delighted, frankly, to do so for you or anyone else. I think that a lot of Lutherans and other Christians have these kinds of questions but they never get around to asking them -- I wish they would so that they could be comforted and learn to live out their lives in humble faith in Christ, being fed by Him in His Word and Sacraments, and serving Him by serving their neighbors humbly.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">The Lord bless you and yours for Holy Week and bring you with humble joy to blessed Easter and the culmination of all our hopes! Again, I pray that this is helpful to you . . . .</span>Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-13767720717839959412009-11-02T20:17:00.004-06:002009-11-02T20:43:08.183-06:00Augsburg Confession Article XV: Traditions<span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong>PLEASE NOTE:</strong> This post is part of my continuing effort to educate myself and the members of the congregation which I serve about how very practical the Augsburg Confession is for our current day and theological climate. As its message and themes were valid in 1530 Germany, so its message and themes remain valid and important in 2009 U.S.A. It is my prayer that this short exposition will also be of some salutary use to you also, dear reader. To read the original article in the October 2009 issue of our parish newsletter, you may go to: <a href="http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/oI7vSmbVqET4rfLqnmDPBxXKz6V5DUYx1yQc1rbxa626ysbEeF9tAO0hnYRSm_WGNFPETdHNSVRCRvbDK7cBdg/NEWSLETTER.OCTOBER.2009.pdf">http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/oI7vSmbVqET4rfLqnmDPBxXKz6V5DUYx1yQc1rbxa626ysbEeF9tAO0hnYRSm_WGNFPETdHNSVRCRvbDK7cBdg/NEWSLETTER.OCTOBER.2009.pdf</a> . /s/ Pastor ajw</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>The Augsburg Confession<br />“Chief Articles of Faith”<br />Article XV — Church Ceremonies</strong></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000066;"><em>NOTE: Immediately below is Article XV itself . . .</em> </span></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">Our churches teach that ceremonies ought to be observed that may be observed without sin. Also, ceremonies and other practices that are profitable for tranquility and good order in the Church (in particular, holy days, festivals, and the like) ought to be observed. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><br />Yet the people are taught that consciences are not to be burdened as though observing such things was necessary for salvation (Colossians 2:16-17). They are also taught that human traditions instituted to make atonement with God, to merit grace, and to make satisfaction for sins are opposed to the Gospel and the doctrine of faith. So vows and traditions concerning meats and days, and so forth instituted to merit grace and to make satisfaction for sins, are useless and contrary to the Gospel. +</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000066;"><em>In Concordia The Lutheran Confessions A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord, there is this “forward” which is intended to help first time readers of the Augsburg Confession understand the context in which it was written: </em></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000066;"><em><br /></em>“Lutheranism embraces the good historic traditions of the Church, especially those of the Western Church. These include such things as following the pattern of the Church year, lectionary readings from the Bible, a liturgical order of worship, various festival days, vestments worn by clergy, and the use of candles, crucifixes, and other objects. As this article makes very clear, in the Lutheran Church, rites, decorations, or traditions are never used or followed to appease God’s wrath or to earn the forgiveness of sins. Lutheranism removed from the Church useless and harmful traditions such as monastic vows and insisting on certain foods on certain days. (See also Ap XV; SA III XV; FC Ep X and SD X.)(Source: CONCORDIA The Lutheran Confessions A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord. p. 64. © 2005, CPH, St. Louis, MO.)</span></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>“CORE VALUES: HARMFUL TRADITIONS”</strong></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong></strong></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong>Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ our Lord . . . </strong></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong><div align="justify"><br />TRADITIONS! Are they good? Are they bad? What makes the difference? </div><div align="justify"><br />Does your family have the tradition of gathering with other members of your family on Christmas Day? Most of us would agree that is a good tradition. BUT, if your family gathers to celebrate Christmas Day by stealing the hubcaps off of your neighbors’ cars; well, that would be a bad tradition. </div><div align="justify"><br />Traditions can be good or bad. They can sometimes be good and sometimes be bad. This is especially true in the holy Christian Church. Read on, please . . . </strong></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>+ + +</strong></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>ARTICLE XV: Church Ceremonies</strong></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong>The Lutheran reformers inherited a BUNCH of traditions from Catholicism of their day. There were certain ways of doing things which were traditional. Examples would include, but would certainly not be limited to, things like how to fold your hands, how to posture yourself when approaching the altar, how to make the sign of the cross over yourself, and things like that. </strong></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong><div align="justify"><br />They also inherited the tradition of having worship services on certain days besides just Sundays. They inherited the tradition of rosaries which, with their beads, could serve as a handy reminder and as a handy outline for praying. They even inherited some dietary traditions. </div><div align="justify"><br />Considering those traditions, the thing that the Lutheran reformers absolutely insisted on (and we MUST insist on it in our day) was: do traditions [1] serve the Gospel? and [2] build people up in the holy Christian faith? </div><div align="justify"><br />SO . . . when they were preparing the Augsburg Confession (to demonstrate that the “Lutherans” were not merely an impious group of troublemakers), they drafted Article XV on the subject of “Church Ceremonies.” Please go read that Article XV on p. 3 of this newsletter before you go on. Thank you . . . .</strong></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>+ + +</strong></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>The “WHY?” Question . . .</strong></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong>It is terribly important that, in the things which go on in the Church (the local congregation!), we always ask “Why?” In fact, the Passover Meal which the Old Testament church celebrated until the coming of Christ was a meal which, with its unusual setting and unusual foods (bitter herbs, unleavened bread, etc.), was designed to cause especially the children to ask “Why?” The liturgy of that meal came to be prepared so that a child would regularly ask “Why?” and then the father of the household, as the teacher, could answer and explain the meaning of the meal to the whole family over and over again. </strong></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong><div align="justify"><br />The “Why?” question was what was very much on Luther’s mind when he wrote the Small Catechism (intended to teach adults so that they could teach the children) the “What does this mean?” of Christian doctrine. </div><div align="justify"><br />“Why?” the hymns? “Why?” the liturgy? (Join us on the Sundays in the basement Bible Class starting in October for the answer to that one.) “Why?” worship on Sundays? “Why?” weekly worship? “Why?” Sunday School and Bible Classes? “Why?” crosses and candles and bowing and making the sign of the cross? “Why?” the midweek worship services during Advent and Lent? “Why?” the Church calendar? </div><div align="justify"><br />If we in the Church cannot “make the case” for the “Why?” of our traditions, customs, and ceremonies, then we had better re-examine them to be sure that they do (or not) three things: [1] that they do conform to Holy Scripture; [2] that they do serve souls for the sake of the Gospel; and [3] that they do not substitute our work for Christ’s holy work! You should also know that your pastor fully welcomes your “Why?” questions and is (mostly) prepared to answer them!</strong></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>+ + +</strong></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>When You MUST Say “NO!” to Tradition!</strong></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong>As a Christian, you are required to say “No!” to any tradition which violates the above two criteria. Consider this example as just one example: </strong></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong><br />Do Midweek Worship Services during Advent and Lent meet the above criteria? [1] They certainly are not against Scripture; [2] as the Law and Gospel are preached there and all of the Holy Scripture is expounded upon there, they serve souls; and [3] if they always point to Christ and His work for our salvation, they are ok; BUT, in the event that the impression is implied or explicitly given that by attending midweek services you are somehow meriting favor with God, then you must say NO. </strong></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong>What?! OK, a further word of explanation is truly in order. . . . </strong></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong><div align="justify"><br />Attending worship is good for your soul. It calls you to repent of your sins when the Law is preached to you. Thanks be to God, it strengthens your faith when the Gospel is preached to you. However, worship is NOT an act by which you garner any favor with God. If you worship God thinking that He now “owes me one,” then you have another think coming! There are bunches of Bible passages in which God says that He expected sacfices and burnt offerings in the Old Testament (for the O.T. sacrifices and burnt offerings were always to point the people to the coming Savior!). But there are other places where God plainly says that He does not want those burnt offerings (“Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to Me.” - Jeremiah 6:20) BECAUSE the people’s hearts were not given to Him. God wanted His Old Testament people to worship Him properly; just going through some motions by which they thought they might manipulate Him was NOT worship. See? </div><div align="justify"><br />So, similarly, we should attend Sunday worship services but NOT thinking that, by coming to Church, we merit salvation. That would turn worship into merely our gift to God and would ignore the wonderful truth that worship is primarily about God bringing His gifts to us! </div><div align="justify"><br />Eating fish on Friday’s was a custom in many Roman Catholic households. That practice was not restricted to only Friday’s during Lent; rather, it was every Friday, all year long. It was a salutary practice insofar as it was a kind of fast. By not eating meat on Friday’s, folks were supposed to be reminded that our Lord Christ died on a Friday. That is a very good thing to remember. But when the tradition becomes important in itself, it is no longer of salutary (for our souls’ good) purpose. </div><div align="justify"><br />Making the sign of the cross is likewise a very good thing to do. “I am baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” is what we are saying to ourselves when we make the sign of the cross. I as your pastor am glad to see more and more of our members freely making the sign of the cross. I even encourage making the sign of the cross and have taught it to our confirmands. BUT, no one may dare to insist on making the sign of the cross. Nor should anyone make fun of another who makes the sign of the cross. Nor should anyone think him-/herself more of a Christian if s/he makes (or not) the sign of the cross. It serves our faith. It does not give us faith. It does not make us “more righteous” with God or before others. </div><div align="justify"><br />The pre-worship light suppers which we customarily serve in our congregation are a wonderful tradition which I, for one, applaud. They serve our members who will attend worship later that evening. But if it happens that people come to the church for the meal and then ignore the worship service, or skip worship in order to prepare or clean up from the meal, then the meal has taken on the wrong significance.</strong></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>+ + +</strong></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">And the point is . . .</span> </strong></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong>. . . since the local congregation is supposed to distribute (properly!) God’s holy means of grace, the congregation must be careful that her time-honored traditions always serve souls by serving the Gospel to souls. May it ever be that Godly traditions may be properly observed for souls’ good! This is our prayer . . . </strong></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong><br />. . . In Christ,</strong> /s/ Pastor Wollenburg</span></div>Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-25520621791102587582009-08-27T22:19:00.004-05:002009-08-27T23:20:44.282-05:00CORE VALUES: Properly Prepared Pastors<p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">This article, prepared for the monthly newsletter of his parish, is a continuation in a series of articles on “core values” of the Christian faith. The articles of the Augsburg Confession were those “core values” of which the Lutheran reformers wrote when given the chance to prove that, far from an upstart sect, the “Lutheran” reformers were actually directly in step with the early Christian Church. It behooves Christians in our day and age to learn and to reaffirm these same “core values.” Immediately below is Article XIV of the Augsburg Confession. At the very end of this post is the introduction to Article XIV of AC which is written in <u>Concordia The Lutheran Confessions A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord</u>.<br /></span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#cc0000;">The Augsburg Confession<br />“Chief Articles of Faith”<br />Article XIV — Order in the Church</span></strong></span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><p align="left"><br /><strong><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="color:#cc0000;">Our churches teach that no one should publicly teach in the Church, or administer the Sacraments, without a rightly ordered call. +</span><br /></span></strong><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ our Lord:<br /><br />Another of the “core values” of the reformers is/was that there should be properly prepared pastors to watch over and serve the flock of God. Where a pastor is improperly prepared for his task, he will act more like a CEO or a kind of pope in all matters. It is a safeguard for the individual soul and for the Christian congregation to have a properly trained and properly called pastor! Yes, it is good for him, too, but it is primarily for the good of the individual Christian, the Christian congregation, and the whole Christian Church! Read on, please . . .</strong></span> </p><br /><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">ARTICLE XIV: Order in the Church</span></span></strong></p><br /><br /><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">“But why can’t we just put an add in one of our Lutheran papers? Then pastors could give us their resume’s, we could interview them, and decide who we are going to hire to be our pastor! It makes sense to me!”<br /><br />While it is unfortunately true that some of our Lutheran congregations are doing just that, and while at some level it does make perfect sense to secure a new pastor in that way, it also has pitfalls! What if a pastor deceives the calling congregation? What if a pastor tells a congregation that, because he is so good, they are going to have to give him more money than they might give to a ‘lesser quality” pastor? Can you see how some congregations might get “the cream of the crop” while others would imagine that they were getting the “dreg” which collect at the bottom of your coffee cup? Can you imagine, then, how congregations might not value their pastors properly? Can you imagine how pastors might start to compete with one another for “good” positions?</span></strong></p><br /><br /><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">While it is certainly true that some of those attitudes will exist because we are sinners in a fallen world, nevertheless the Christian congregation should do everything in its power to negate such attitudes! Congregations and pastors should seek, in every way, to see to it that the Gospel is properly preached, and that souls receive proper pastoral care.</span></strong></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">Immortal Souls and “Church”</span></strong></p><br /><br /><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">The “Church” is the local congregation which God the Holy Spirit has brought together (see Dr. Luther’s explanation to the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed — If you do not have your Small Catechism handy, you can view this on p. 8 at <u>https://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/smallcatechism.pdf</u> ). The “church” is made up of those souls for whom Christ died who believe in Him and are fed by His Word and Sacraments.<br /><br />All souls are immortal in that all people will go on forever in either heaven or hell. These souls are not to be taken for granted. These souls are not to be trampled upon. These souls are to be nutured so that they will remain in the true Christian faith and be in heaven forever! (John 20:19-23, John 21:15-17) (For a largely excellent discussion of “church,” go to: <u>http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/CTCR/theofellow.pdf</u> .)</span></strong> </p><br /><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">Properly Trained Ministers and Immortal Souls</span></strong></p><br /><br /><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">So who SHOULD do the public teaching of these immortal souls? The Pastor, obviously! He cannot do all of the private teaching because he does not put your children to bed at night or sit with your family at the breakfast and supper table where your family might have a short devotion. But he is not to abdicate the public teaching of God’s Word for the same reason that not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry is supposed to teach in the school, namely, you want someone there who is going to get the teaching right. If whole generations of children are mistaught in the public schools, then our whole understanding of the role of government and the like gets changed, and our entire nation would suffer. Similarly, if people are mistaught in the Church, they might actually think that salvation depends upon them, their works, their decision(s), etc.; then, if people consistently believe the wrong teaching, souls could go to hell for eternity! Tragic!</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#000099;">The same holds true for the administration of the Sacraments. Many Christians think that just anyone should be permitted to distribute the Sacraments. All they see is the minister handing out Baptism or doling out bread and wine. But this is not something for just anyone to do. It is given to the Office of him who has been called to perform these functions.<br /><br />The pastor, by virtue of his training, has been instructed in God’s Word and has learned when to deliver the sacraments and when, sometimes, to withhold them. He has been put in the position of feeding Christ’s sheep much as the shepherd had been put in charge of feeding the sheep. The sheep should not learn to take feed from strangers lest a false shepherd come along and, deliberately or accidentally, poison them by feeding them wrongly.<br /></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Perhaps the case can be compared to going to your doctor, dentist, or surgeon, or pharmacist. You do not lest just anyone examine you because they do not know what, precisely, to look for. You will not permit just anyone who says that he has “read up” on appendectomies to perform your appendectomy. You will not permit just anyone to fill or pull a bad tooth. You do not want just anyone to mix up the prescriptions which are supposed to help and heal your body. It just makes good sense and it is ultimately for your good!<br /><br />So the reformers made the point that not just anyone should publicly teach in the church or administer the Sacraments without a proper call.</span></strong></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">Upstart Churches and Upstart Preachers, and Immortal Souls . . .</span></strong></p><br /><br /><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">One can understand the hanky-panky which could take place where ministers are improperly trained. As an example, it was not a new phenomenon when, in the days of the American tent revivals, “ministers” would realize that there was good money to be made in hosting tent revivals where there would be relatively little accountability for offerings brought to such revivals. We do not hereby call into question the sincerity of all traveling revivalists, but history has shown us that some were insincere. This same tendency arose also in the New Testament church (Acts 8:14ff.).<br /><br />This pastor has been acquainted with “ministers” who have spoken of dreams which they claim to have had so that they have awakened in the morning to quit their present vocations and have presumed to serve the flock of God. In many cases, they had the barest acquaintance with the Word of God. In many cases, they do not meet the Biblical criteria for being a pastor. In most cases, they knew nothing of the original languages of the Bible. In many cases, they attracted a small group, preached for a while, and then their “church” was dissolved, sending immortal souls adrift in many cases no longer (if they ever were!) being catechized in the holy faith. Most claimed to be “non-denominational” and mistaught those who were under their care, substituting their ideas for the Word of God.</span></strong></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">Keeping a Pastor Properly, and Immortal Souls</span></strong></p><br /><br /><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">In the liturgy of the Divine Service most well known in Lutheran circles (<u>TLH</u> p. 15, <u>LSB</u> DS 3), the absolution begins thus: “Upon this your confession, I by virtue of my office as a called and ordained servant of the Word, . . . .” The word “ordained” does not refer so much to the act of ordination as it does to the fact that the pastor has been called in an “ordered/proper way,” that is, he has not participated in attempts to manipulate the process of his call to either the pastoral office or that particular congregation. Therefore, the congregation may be assured that they do not have a “fly by night” pastor but one who has been properly trained and who, they may be reasonably assured, will serve them faithfully because of that proper training.</span></strong></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">And the point is . . .</span> </span></strong></p><br /><br /><p align="left"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">. . . that our Lord Jesus Christ lived His perfect life and suffered His innocent death so that YOU can have the forgiveness of sins and eternal life in heaven. He wants faithful pastors to serve as shepherds over His flock.<br /><br />Because there were those in the Church at the time of the Reformation who had forgotten the importance of a properly prepared and properly called clergy, the reformers wrote this article as they did. The need remains for Christendom today because God has redeemed you, dear reader, . . .<br />. . . In Christ,<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Pastor Wollenburg</span></span></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">In <u>Concordia The <span style="font-family:arial;">Lutheran </span>Confessions A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord</u>, there is this “forward” which is intended to help first time readers of the Augsburg Confession understand the context in which it was written:<br /></span><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">“When this article speaks of a rightly ordered call, it refers to the Church’s historic practice of placing personally and theologically qualifeied men into the office of preaching and teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments. This is done by means of a formal, public, and official call from the Church to do so. When this article was presented, it was understaood that a call into the preaching office would be confiormed and formally recognized by means of the apostolic rite of ordination (with prayer and the laying on of hands). (See also Ap XIV; SA III X.)</span></strong> <span style="font-size:85%;">(Source: <u>CONCORDIA The Lutheran Confessions A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord</u>. p. 64. © 2005, CPH, St. Louis, MO.)</span></span></p>Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-55324131097513405252009-08-19T11:34:00.005-05:002009-08-19T11:49:51.697-05:00The Ministry’s Promises: Vows Making and Vows Keeping and the Office of the MinistryI have been a pastor for 30+ years now; I have not always been a good one. I give thanks daily that I live under the grace of Christ’s forgiveness.<br /><br /> I have been a husband for 31+ years now; I have not always been a good one. I give thanks daily that I live under the grace of Christ’s forgiveness.<br /><br /> And here is the intended <em>tertium comparationes </em>(the point of comparison) for this essay. <br /><br /> This pastor has, over the course of the years, witnessed the destruction of some marriages when the husband, by his sinful actions, has destroyed the bond between husband and wife. At other times, the wife, by her sinful actions, has destroyed the bond between husband and wife. Biblically, there are only two reasons why the Lord permits a marriage to end: [1] adultery, and [2] malicious desertion. God is never glad for a marriage to end since He Himself has established the estate of marriage and the vocations of husband and wife. This pastor has also witnessed some of those destroyed marriages restored to wholeness: forgiveness and restoration, though wholly undeserved, are powerful, life-imparting, one-sided gifts!<br /><br /> Similarly, this pastor has witnessed the destruction of the relationship between pastors and congregations over the years. Sometimes that relationship has been destroyed by the pastor’s own sinful actions, actions which in some sad cases disqualified him for the Office of the Ministry to which God had called him. At other times, that relationship has been destroyed by the sinful actions of the congregation, with the result that the pastor, though not disqualified for the Office of the Ministry, has been forced to leave the Office in that place, sometimes never to receive a Call to a congregation again. Historically, the church has only recognized two, or three, “grounds” for removing a pastor from God’s call to serve as the pastor of a given congregation. Those “grounds” are: [1] persistent teaching of false doctrine, [2] leading a scandalous and offensive life, and [3] the inability or refusal to perform the duties of the office. (“The Divine Call.” A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. February 2003. p. 42-43. This same document notes, also on p. 43, <em>“. . . the removal of a man from the office of the public ministry is a very serious matter and should not be carried out capriciously or arbitrarily.”</em>)<br /><br /> In more recent years, this pastor has heard of “ecclesiastical supervisors” who have stated that there are, or should be, new ways and reasons for removing pastors from their calls to their respective congregations. This turn of events is of grave concern to this pastor because the act of removing a pastor from his office undermines the Office of the Ministry, denigrates the Word of God, and, besides the obvious devastating effects upon the pastor and his family, also results in the serious wounding of souls for whom the Savior Himself died. Whole congregations are thus weakened and the witness of the Gospel in a given community is compromised. The Lord is not honored thus.<br /><br /><strong>THE BASIS OF MARRIAGE</strong><br /><br /> If any do not know, then they must be taught that an essential element of marriage is the covenant relationship which is established by means of the mutual vows of husband and wife. Both husband and wife, mutually but independently, pledge their troth to one another, “to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy will; and I pledge to you my faithfulness.” (The Rite of Marriage, Lutheran Service Book. In this same rite, husband and wife are charged, <em>“[Name of bridegroom], will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony as God ordained it? Will you nourish and cherish her as Christ loved His body, the Church, giving Himself up for her? Will you love, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others, remain united to her alone, so long as you both shall live? Then say: I will.”</em> And <em>“[Name of bride], will you have this man to be your wedded husband, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony as God ordained it? Will you submit to him as the Church submits to Christ? Will you love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health and, forsaking all others, remain united to him alone, so long as you both shall live? Then say: I will.”</em>) <br /><br /> In their vows, properly made, wife and husband do not establish their vows conditional on the promises of the other; rather, the husband says to his wife that, whether or not she is faithful to him, he for his part will be utterly faithful; reciprocally, the wife pledges the same. This is the model of the perfectly unilateral covenant which God has made with His people in Baptism. Essential to marriage, then, is the promise given (and received) even as an essential element of God’s covenant with us is His promise unilaterally given (and received). With these faithful promises God fulfills the respective vocations of husband and wife, vocations which He Himself has established. With His faithful promise, He draws us into His holy family in Baptism. With faithful promises learned from God, husband and wife draw one another into marriage.<br /><br /><strong>THE BASIS OF THE MINISTRY</strong><br /><br /> The mutual promises of pastor and congregation is also an essential element in how God fulfills the Office of the Ministry. Pastor and congregation are also vocations which God Himself has established. The pastor is to care for the congregation, and the congregation is to care for her pastor. But what happens when one or the other, or both become unfaithful to their vows? <br /><br /> Consider the pastor’s vows of ordination:<br /><br />+ Do you acknowledge that the Lord has called you through His Church into the ministry of Word and Sacrament?<br />+ Do you believe and confess the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired Word of God and the only infallible rule of faith and practice?<br />+ Do you believe and confess the three Ecumenical Creeds, namely the Apostles’, the Nicene, and the Athanasian Creeds, as faithful testimonies to the truth of the Holy Scriptures, and do you reject all the errors which they condemn?<br />+ Do you confess the Unaltered Augsburg Confession to be a true exposition of Holy Scripture and a correct exhibition of the doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church? And do you confess that the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Small and Large Catechisms of Martin Luther, the Smalcald Articles, the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, and the Formula of Concord — as these are contained in the Book of Concord — are also in agreement with this one scriptural faith?<br />+ Do you promise that you will perform the duties of your office in accordance with these Confessions, and that all your preaching and teaching and your administration of the Sacraments will be in conformity with Holy Scripture and with these Confessions?<br />+ Will you faithfully instruct both young and old in the chief articles of Christian doctrine, will you forgive the sins of those who repent, and will you promise never to divulge the sins confessed to you? Will you minister faithfully to the sick and dying, and will you demonstrate to the Church a constant and ready ministry centered in the Gospel? Will you admonish and encourage the people to a lively confidence in Christ and in holy living?<br />+ Finally, will you honor and adorn the Office of the Holy Ministry with a holy life? Will you be diligent in the study of Holy Scripture and the Confessions? And will you be constant in prayer for those under your pastoral care?<br /><br /> Then consider the congregation’s vow:<br /><br />+ Beloved in the Lord, Holy Scripture says, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” Will you, the faithful, according to the Church’s public confession, and speaking for the whole Church, receive [name] as a servant of Christ and minister of Word and Sacrament? If so, then answer: We will.<br />+ Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, [name] has been called to be (a) pastor of [name of congregation]. I ask you now, in the presence of God: Will you receive him, show him that love, honor, and obedience in the Lord that you owe to the shepherd and teacher placed over you by your Lord Jesus Christ, and will you support him by your gifts and fervent prayer? If so, then answer: We will, with the help of God.<br />+ Will you honor and uphold your pastor as he serves Christ in all his God-pleasing responsibilities? Will you aid him as he cares for his family? Will you be diligent to “put the best construction on everything,” recognizing that “love covers a multitude of sins”? If so, then answer: We will, with the help of God.<br /><br /> In the marriage vows, husband and wife pledge their troth “till death us do part.” No provision is made to say, “till I get tired of you,” or “as long as my feelings for you remain this way,” or something similar. Husband and wife, by virtue of their vows, make it clear that they believe that their marriage is to last until God decides to end their marriage, by the death of one or the other of them. Their marriage is not a mutually agreed to contract; rather, God decides when the marriage is over. Husband and wife might have to endure all manner of trials and difficulties, hard times, frustrations, and disappointments with one another. But their vows are to remain; and the vows are written and given precisely in that way for that precise reason.<br /><br /> In the vows of ordination/installation, there is no provision made for “till we get tired of one another,” or “till you get older,” or even “as long as you keep improving your skills.” The pastor is pledged to faithfully serve God’s people in the congregation. The congregation is pledged to faithfully listen to and give respect to, honor and support their pastor as long as the Lord has placed pastor and congregation together. The Lord will decide when their time of service is over by the death of the pastor, moving the pastor to another place, or bringing the congregation to an end. The vows of both are to remain, even when – especially when! – there are difficult times for congregation and pastor. The vows are prepared and are exchanged in precisely that way for precisely that reason.<br /><br /><strong>WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN OUR DAY?</strong><br /><br /> As no fault divorce has impacted and brought about enormous changes – and not necessarily for the better, as most will agree – in the culture of marriage, so have these enormous changes impacted pastors and congregations – again, not necessarily for the better. Church leaders have long decried the fact that divorce statistics for Christians mirror the divorce statistics of our society. There is a crisis in fidelity.<br /><br /> No fault divorce turns its back on God’s institution of marriage and suggests that there may be any number of legitimate reasons for a divorce: husband and wife may “fall out of love,” they might become “sexually incompatible,” they might come to have “irreconcilable differences,” and any of a number of very creative “reasons” for the deposal of the marriage relationship.<br /><br /> But the Word of the Lord remains. The two Biblical grounds for divorce remain: adultery and malicious desertion. Even then the Lord only permits the divorce if the injured party is unable to restore the other. In an ideal relationship, the Lord wants the injured party, enabled by God’s love in Christ, to forgive and restore the other and thus to renew the marriage.<br /><br /> This same attitude of “no fault” divorce has found its way into the church’s understanding of the relationship between congregation and pastor. Are there other “grounds” for dismissing a pastor besides the three mentioned earlier in this essay? To be sure, some have shown great creativity in trying to define new “grounds” for the dismissal of a pastor from a congregation, but the question which must surely be asked again and again is, simply: are these “grounds” defined by God? Or, are they merely sinful man’s invention? Even as we in the church decry the divorce statistics of both the culture and the church, and as we vehemently decry the attitudes which result in our “divorce culture,” so we must surely learn to decry the statistics of congregations increasingly dismissing their pastors, and the attitudes which are producing a “divorce culture” or a “hire and fire culture” within the holy Christian church.<br /><br /><strong>POPULAR ARGUMENTS . . .</strong><br /><br /> <strong>“<em>We have to get rid of our pastor. We just cannot afford him anymore.”</em></strong> One hears that argument and, because every congregation struggles with budget issues, one is inclined to agree with it . . . until you start to rethink it! Can a family decide that it is time to “get rid” of one of their children because rampant inflation is making it harder and harder to raise children? May God forgive those parents who do such a thing. Can a husband or wife decide to “get rid” of their God-given partner because s/he has gotten “too expensive?” The expenses may have come because of one who is unable to work, or is unwilling to work, or is ill, or even who is plain lazy. But the marriage vow said: “for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health ‘til death do us part.” In the same way that the family is held together by promises given and kept, so the relationship between pastor and congregation exists by promises given and kept. Economies change. Let congregation and pastor do as husband and wife are to do, namely, explore ways to keep things together in a God-pleasing manner!<br /><br /> <em><strong>“He doesn’t really love us.”</strong></em> A variation on that one is, <em><strong>“We don’t love him anymore.” </strong></em>This writer has actually seen people walk up to their pastor and say, as though not to hurt his feelings, <strong><em>“Pastor, we just don’t love you anymore.” </em></strong>It sometimes happens. It is very sad. People use this as their reason for an unscriptural divorce. Too many pastors and other church leaders accept that excuse as a reason to be rid of a pastor. God has not promised that every love will grow and flourish. Surely, it is the Lord’s will that love between husband and wife grow and flourish, but because of sin, it does not always happen that way. Sometimes the pastor grows weary. Sometimes the congregation or individual members of the congregation grow weary. But the promises are supposed to remain. May the Lord help love to be renewed. May the Lord lead all to a proper understanding of Biblical love!<br /><br /> <em><strong>“But we’re getting smaller.”</strong> </em>This argument is advanced in two ways: [1] to suggest that the congregation simply cannot any longer afford to keep their pastor; and [2] to suggest that the pastor is “ineffective” at the work of “growing the church.” Sometimes the argument is used to suggest 1 or 2 above, sometimes to suggest both. Yet simple logic answers. Are the demographics of your community changing? Are businesses leaving? Are the young people leaving town in search of better jobs and greater work opportunities? Are people having smaller families? Are people generally waiting until they are older before they marry and have families? Are these things the pastor’s “fault?” Marriages and families go through changes, too, and not all of them are pleasant changes. Nevertheless, the “glue” of God’s love in Christ is what is supposed to hold the marriage and family together. Communities go through times of growth and decline; sometimes, they go through times of renewed growth. The changes in family sizes are certainly not the fault of the pastor (who himself might be trying to do his part by having a larger family than most – haha)! The answer, again, is for pastor and congregation to acknowledge those changes and to resolve, together, to continue to serve in the place where the Lord has placed them!<br /><br /> <em><strong>“His skills don’t match our community.”</strong> </em>This argument is usually followed with <em><strong>“but he’d make a good seminary professor.” </strong></em>The truth is that the Lord of the church has called His pastors to be shepherds and teachers in the flock of God. He might be a “city boy” who sometimes ends up in a small town or rural parish setting. He might be a “country boy” who ends up in an urban or suburban area. Consider: how many husbands and wives have been joined in marriage to partners who did not grow up in the same circumstances as did they? The key is a loving teaching-learning relationship. There are things which congregations can gently teach their pastor – about farming, livestock, etc. If he is stubborn, he will need to be more gently taught. Similarly, there are things which congregations can be taught by their pastors: teachings from the Word of God. When people are stubborn with respect to Bible classes, etc. and expect their pastor to be patient with them, surely they can similarly be patient with teaching him! This is how the decision to love one another is supposed to work.<br /><br /> <em> <strong>“He failed us!” </strong></em>Yes, he probably did. All sinners fail. It’s just a matter of when. Perhaps he failed to remember an anniversary. Perhaps he failed to make a hospital call, or a shut-in call. Have members of the congregation sometimes failed one another? Have they sometimes failed their pastor? Have we all sometimes failed God? Repentance and forgiveness are a part of that “glue” of love which God uses to hold His church together! If he is impenitent, then it becomes another matter. There are some failures which are egregious to the point that the pastor disqualifies himself for the Office of Pastor (the three reasons mentioned earlier). There are other failures which just plain happen. It is like when the husband forgets the wedding anniversary or the birthday of his beloved. It is truly painful. Hurt comes to the relationship. But it can be – and eventually should be – forgiven. Christ died so that our sins could be forgiven. Christ died so that we could forgive one another. Just like in marriage.<br /><br /> <em><strong>“He doesn’t make us feel good!"</strong></em> Increasingly, one hears variations of this complaint in our culture. It sounds similar to the adolescent who somehow becomes “ashamed” of his family. It is real. But it is immature. The Lord has not put His pastor into the local congregation to be in charge of eveyrone’s feelings! The Lord has put His pastor into the local congregation to preach and teach God’s Word of Law and Gospel and to administer the Lord’s Sacraments in that place. This pastor will attempt to be a genuine Seelsorger, that is, a pastor who is a “caretaker of souls.” Sometimes people will feel wonderfully good as the balm of God’s blessed Gospel comforts their hearts and consciences. At other times people will find themselves hurt by the application of God’s Law. The pastor is NOT in charge of people’s feelings even as a husband and/or wife is not in charge of his/her partner’s feelings or a parent is in charge of his/her child(ren)’s feelings. We care about one another’s feelings. We try to be considerate of one another’s feelings. And we forgive one another when our feelings do not cooperate.<br /><br /> <em><strong>“Pastors take calls willy nilly! Why should we be loyal to one who won’t be loyal to us?!”</strong></em> This is painful. It is sometimes true that pastors abuse their God-given calls. They view them as “stepping stones” to some other agenda. They are willing, when the going gets tough, to abandon their calls. This is to their discredit, for they are not fulfilling their God-given call. It also happens, of course, that the Lord may call a pastor to a given congregation for a relatively short period of time; this can be maddening to a congregation which has spent a great deal of money moving their pastor in, and which has invested all of the emotional interest in getting to know their new pastor and his family. This can also be quite maddening to a pastor and his family who tire of being called by God to pick up all of their earthly belongings and travel to a new place and try to get their whole family acclimated to a new place and congregation. Pastors who do abuse their calls are wrong! But it is not grounds for dismissing a pastor. If a spouse is, in some way large or small, disloyal to his/her spouse, it nevertheless behooves the other to act in a faithful way since that is the promise of the marriage vow. <br /><br /><strong>CONCLUDING . . .</strong><br /><br /> There is so much more which could be written on this subject. Much more probably will be written. This short essay has not answered all concerns. But this short essay has, the writer prays, accomplished what he has purposed to do, namely, to suggest that pastors and congregations and ecclesiastical supervisors all look at the divine call entirely differently from the merely pragmatic ways in which we have come to view it in today’s culture. Pastors make promises to God and to the congregation. Congregations make promises to God and to the pastor. In the same way husbands and wives make promises to God, to one another, and to their communities (yes, make no mistake about this latter facet of the marriage vow, one which we have not really discussed here, but which is vital to every community!). Where vows are broken, there must be repentance and renewal; this is the simple yet profound cure! Where inadequacies show up (not everyone gets to live in a perpetual honeymoon!), understanding is supposed to rule the day.<br /><br /> Grave harm has been done to many souls as congregations, pastors and families, whole communities, and the church’s public witness have been deeply harmed by improper understandings and practices surrounding the divine call.<br /><br /> May God have mercy on all sinners, lead us to repentance, and grant us a right understanding and a right practice. Amen.Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-5296970825207659402009-08-07T21:29:00.005-05:002009-08-07T22:10:37.766-05:00"Core Values of the Christian: Using the Sacraments Properly”NOTE: This "blog" is the length that it is because I have limited myself to preparing these posts first for publication in our parish newsletter. It is my sincerest desire that the members of our congregation will learn to rejoice in the Lutheran Confessions, for these confessions truly present a clear confession of the historic Christian faith to our world today. May you also be blessed, dear reader!<br /><br /> <strong>The Augsburg Confession<br /> “Chief Articles of Faith”<br /> Article XIII — The Use of the Sacraments</strong><br /><br />Our churches teach that the Sacraments were ordained, not only to be marks of profession among men, but even more, to be signs and testimonies of God’s will toward us. They were instituted to awaken and confirm faith in those who use them. Therefore, we must use the Sacraments in such a way that faith, which believes the promises offered and set forth through the Sacraments, is increased (2 Thessalonians 1:3).<br /><br />Therefore, they condemn those who teach that the Sacraments justify simply by the act of doing them. They condemn those who do not teach that faith, which believes that sins are forgiven, is required in the use of the Sacraments. +<br /><br />Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ our Lord . . .<br /><br />Truly, one of the “core values” of the Christian life is that we learn to realize that God's Sacraments are gifts which He has given to us and which He Himself uses to forgive our sins and thus grow our faith. By these gifts, which are His "visible Gospel," He grows His holy church. Thus, it behooves us use them as God intended them to be used, for their salutary (the good of our souls) purpose.<br /><br />When the reformers wrote about their “core values” they wrote separate, but short, articles on Confession (to deal with the practice of required Private Confession — more on that in a bit), and on repentance. Since the two really go hand in hand, I will treat of both of them here.<br /><br /> <strong>+ + + ARTICLE XIII: The Use of the Sacraments</strong><br /><br />“Pastor has been bugging me to go to Communion, so I guess I’ll go to get him off of my back.” - <strong>W R O N G!</strong><br /><br />“Well, now that we have a kid, i guess we ought to go and get him baptized. Then maybe everyone will quit pestering us about it.” - <strong>W R O N G!</strong><br /><br />If you do not know why those two statements are wrong, please go read Article XIII of the Augsburg Confession at the very beginning of this blog. Please try to read it closely.<br /><br /> <strong>+ + + Ever heard of: “Ex opere operato?”</strong><br /><br />It’s a Latin phrase. Sorry, sometimes I can’t resist using the Latin because that is how it was taught to me. It roughly translates to mean, “Just because you did something it was good for you.” It’s pronounced: “ex oh-per-eh oh-per-ah-toe.” The reformers decried those who attended the Lord’s Supper, for example, in an “ex opere operato” way. Reflect with me on the problems with it, please.<br /><br /> <strong>+ + + BAPTISM “ex opere operato”</strong><br /><br />BAPTISM “ex opere operato” is like when parents bring their child to the church and have the pastor baptize him. They make a big deal about finding some people to be “sponsors.” Then they take a couple of pictures. Then they leave, never to bring that baby back to the Lord’s house ever again; or, they will only return the child to the Lord’s house in such a haphazard way that the child will learn that worshiping God is not something to be valued. They may rationalize their action in a variety of ways; in fact, they usually rationalize their sinful action in a number of different ways.<br /><br />They say: “He’ll cry and be distracting to others during church so we’ll just leave him at home until he’s ‘older.’” But then, too often, because the child is never taught about how to act in worship, he is a full grown child (or even young adult) before he is brought back to the Lord’s worship. By then, he knows that if he acts up he probably will not have to stay and learn to worship, so . . . you know the rest of that story.<br /><br />Sometimes parents say that “While he’s a baby I can’t get anything out of church anyhow, so we’ll all just stay home until he’s older.” It’s a tad more self-centered reason, and the result is the same, of course.<br /><br />Or, what of the person who, at a certain point in his life, decides to get baptized “just to be sure that I’m ‘covered.’” But, after the baptism, there is given no thought for growing up in Christ our Savior, and the person is never to be seen again.<br /><br />In all of those cases, if nothing changes, are those persons “saved?” We do NOT presume to answer that question since it is God Who alone searches every heart. Nevertheless, we do know that God does NOT want a person to be baptized ex opere operato. Rather, He wants us to teach our children that their baptism means that they are His children and that they are to grow up in Him. He wants us bring children to His house to learn of Him. He wants parents to have family devotion time in their homes. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) links “baptism” and “teaching;” one should not be done without the other.<br /><br /> <strong>+ + + THE LORD’S SUPPER “ex opere operato”</strong><br /><br />Because we are human, and because we are sinners we always want to “turn the tables” on the Lord it seems. Our motive is not necessarily that we want to maliciously attack our Lord; we just tend to do that until we learn to think quite differently (and one of the reasons for going to Church, attending Bible Classes, having daily devotions, and even reading the church newsletter is that we learn to think differently!). We “turn the tables” on the Lord, as it were, by taking His gifts and turning them into things which we must do rather than receiving them as gifts from His hand of grace.<br /><br />When we begin to think of Holy Communion as something which we must do for the Lord, we stand in grave danger of turning the Lord’s gift of His body and blood given to us poor sinners for the forgiveness of sins into things which we imagine that we ought to do for Him. Sometimes we get this impression when we misunderstand what our pastor says when he says, “You really ought to go to Communion a lot.” The rest of what the pastor should say is “. . . for you and I are poor, miserable sinners who sin every day, lose sight of God’s mercy and love, and start to believe the devil’s and the world’s lies as our faith in Christ our Savior wanes. Jesus has taught us to receive His body and blood ‘often’ because this is one of the ways in which He forgives our sins again and restores faith to our weary hearts.” Or something like that.<br /><br />Attending Holy Communion ex opere operato would be, as examples: not examining ourselves prior to coming to the Sacrament but just going to Communon with little thought to either our sinfulness or Christ’s forgiveness; going to Communion “because if I don’t, Pastor might come calling on me;” thinking that we ought to have Communion because we have somehow earned or deserved it; and so on. . . .<br /><br /> <strong>+ + + HOW TO PROPERLY RECEIVE GOD’S GIFTS . . .</strong><br /><br />Answer: like a grateful beggar receives a wonderful meal. In fact, when Dr. Luther was known to remind people of how they/we stand before God when he would say, “Wir sind alle Bettler.” Translated, “We are all beggars.” Frankly, that is a wonderful picture of how we “do” evangelism: we do not try to manipulate others into believing in God; we do not try to trick them into coming to church; rather, we are like one beggar telling another beggar where the free lunch is!<br /><br />The right way to receive baptism (for you, if you have not been baptized, or for your child if s/he has not been baptized) is simply in faith to receive what God mysteriously gives. Then, gratefully, spend the rest of your life learning what it means that you have been adopted into the family of God.<br /><br />The right way to receive Holy Communion (if you are reading this and you are not a Christian or a Lutheran Christian or you are a lapsed Lutheran and you wonder if Baptism and Communion are for you and yours, call me up, it’s what I’m here for!) is to simply receive Christ’s own body and blood given and poured out for you for your forgiveness. Don’t let your questions get in the way. Don’t let your sins get in the way (confess them — see me about that, too :-) ).<br /><br />As little children gratefully receive wonderful things from their parents (and even come to expect those gifts!), so the Christian receives Christ’s life-giving gifts, and even comes to learn to expect all good things from the Lord’s hand.<br /><br /> <strong>+ + + THE LORD’S GOOD GIFTS . . .</strong><br /><br />May it be that we will so study Scripture that we learn to receive God’s Sacraments in a right way, for our souls’ good. We want to receive His gifts properly since we know that disdaining His gifts or receiving them in some arrogant way can bring harm to our souls (really — but rather than stay way to prevent that, see me!). May the Lord bless you, in Christ, to receive His gifts properly, for your soul’s good!<br /><br />In Christ, + Pastor Wollenburg<br /><br /><strong>NOTE: </strong>In Concordia The Lutheran Confessions A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord, there is this “forward” which is intended to help first time readers of the Augsburg Confession understand the context in which it was written:<br /><br />“God gives the Sacraments to His people for their forgivgfeness, life, and salvation, and this happens as they call forth trutst and confidence in Christ, the Savior. by the sixteenth century, the Roman Church had developed a complicated sacramental system that had transfoprmed the Sacraments into meritorious works, performed by priests, This was esxpecially evident in the Mass, where priests”sacrificed” Christ again and again on behalf ot he living and the dead. The Bible, however, reveals the key to the Sacraments: the p[romises of Gopd. God attaches His Word of promise ot the element of the Sacrament — water, wine, or bread — and gives and strenthens the fiaoth of those receiving them. (See also Ap XIII).”<br /><br />(Source: CONCORDIA The Lutheran Confessions A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord. p. 64. © 2005, CPH, St. Louis, MO.)Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-59972233341334854152009-07-07T23:12:00.004-05:002009-07-07T23:53:12.783-05:00CORE VALUES of the Christian: Confession and Repentance<p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">The Augsburg Confession “Chief Articles of Faith” Article XI — Confession</span></strong> </p><p><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Our churches teach that private Absolution should be retained in the churches, although listing all sins is not necessary for Confession. For, according to the Psalm, it is impossible. “Who can discern his errors?” (Psalm 19:12)</span></strong> </p><p><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">The Augsburg Confession “Chief Articles of Faith” Article XII — Repentance</span></strong> </p><p><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Our churches teach that there is forgiveness of sins for those who have fallen after Baptism whenever they are converted. The Church ought to impart Absolution to those who return to repentance [Jeremiah 3:12]. Now, strictly speaking, repentance consists of two parts. One part is contrition, that is, terrors strikeing the conscience thorugh the knowledge of sin. The other part is faith, which is born of the Gospel [Romans 10:17] or the Absolution and believes that for Christ’s sake, sins are forgiven. It comforts the conscience and delivers it from terror. Then good works are bound to follow, which are the fruit of repentance [Galatians 5:22-23].</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#990000;"> Our churches condemn the Anabaptists, who deny that those who have once been justified can lose the Holy Spirit. They also condemn those who argue that some may reach such a state of perfection in this life that they cannot sin. The Novatians also are condemned, who would not absolve those who had fallen after Baptism, though they returned to repentance. Our churches also reject those who do not teach that forgiveness of sins comes through faith, but command us to merit grace through satisfactions of our own. They also reject those who teach that it is necessary to perform works of satisfaction, commanded by Church law, in order to remit eternal punishment or the punishment of purgatory.</span></strong></p><p><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Truly, one of the “core values” of the Christian life is that we learn to repent of our sins and confess our sins to God and, where we have wronged our neighbor, we confess our sins to our neighbor. When the reformers wrote about their “core values” they wrote separate, but short, articles on Confession (to deal with the practice of required Private Confession — more on that in a bit), and on repentance. Since the two really go hand in hand, I will treat of both of them here.</strong></span></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">ARTICLE XI: Confession</span></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">ARTICLE XII: Repentance</span></strong> </p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">“Confession is good for the soul” goes the old adage. Generally speaking, this is most certainly true. To carry around an unconfessed sin is to require that your conscience become seared. If you refuse to confess your sins, you will soon teach your conscience that you are accountable to no one. This is spiritually dangerous! The whole world is, ultimately, accountable to God (Romans 3:19). That includes every single person. So when you sin against God who created you and redeemed you, and/or when you sin against your neighbor whom God has also made and redeemed, confession is good. (See Psalm 32:3-5.)</span></strong> </p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">In the Roman Catholic Church at the time of the Reformation, there were people then, as there are people now, who thought that God did not need to hear their confession. They were wrong then. They are still wrong. Every man, woman, and child is accountable to God. </span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">For this reason, the Lutherans said that the practice of private confession should be retained. The Lutherans wanted to correct some abuses in that practice, but they affirmed that the practice of private confession is truly Biblical and, therefore, catholic (in the sense that it belongs to the universal Christian church). </span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">However, the fact that the Lutherans wanted to correct some of the abuses which had arisen around private confession did NOT mean that the Lutherans were somehow “against” repentance. After all, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” is the exact same sermon that John the Baptist and our lord Christ Himself preached as they began their public ministries (Matt. 3:2 & Matt. 4:17). Repentance IS an integral part of the Christian life.</span></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Is Required Confession Really Confession?</span></strong> </p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">The problems that the Lutherans had with requiring private confession were: 1. That while teaching people to make private confession is certainly a good discipline for the Christian life, when you require private confession as a condition before being allowed to attend Holy Communion, for example, places a burden on souls which the Lord Himself has not required; 2. That trying to enumerate each and every sin will have one of two effects: a. it will cause you to think that you have enumerated all of your sins so that you will start to tell yourself that those are your only sins (they never are since we all sin in ways of which we are not even aware) and you will be proud of yourself for not being “too bad” of a sinner (hence you won’t see that you need Christ your Savior); or, b. you will be driven to despair at the realization that you cannot even begin to name all of your sins, so that you will wonder if Christ could have possibly paid the price for all of your awful sins; 3. the practice that we can somehow make some payment (“penance”) for our sins against God or others (while we should surely want to “make amends” to those whom we have harmed, we should never be led to believe that we can somehow pay for our sins); and 4. the concept of invoking the merits of the saints or others who have gone before us for our forgiveness (in truth, Christ is THE only payment for all sins — Hebrews 10:12).</span></strong> </p><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Repentance Is NOT Hard!</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Human nature being what it is, there is a part of us which shuns Biblical repentance. To repent means that we admit that we are thinking, speaking, or doing wrong (or not thinking, speaking, or doing as we ought). Our sinful pride despises the idea of admitting our faults. But if we do not admit our sins, then we will not see our need for our Lord Christ and His life and His suffering and death as the payment for our and all sins. If we do not see and believe in Christ, we will go to hell (Mark 16:16). </span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Repentance is not hard. The Christian acknowledges that he sins every single day. The Christian repents daily, simply clinging to the holy merits of our Lord Christ. It is not hard work. And it is not “too hard” for you to do!</span></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">"Once Saved, Always Saved?”</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">The Lutherans rejected the notion which the Anabaptists of that day popularized of thinking that once a person is brought to faith, he can never fall from faith. The doctrine of election does promise the Christian who is troubled by his sins that God will not let him fall (Romans 8:28ff.). But, the Scriptures also teach us that it is truly possible for the Christian to fall from faith. This could create a false hope and could cause a person to no longer see his need for daily repentance.</span></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">“Holiness” in This Life?</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Some Christians mistakenly think that we, by our works, can become holy in God’s sight in this life. We cannot. Even the great apostle Paul confessed that, in his sinful flesh, there is always sin (Romans 7:18). If one starts to think that he can become holy in this life, by himself or even with God’s help, then he will no longer see his need for daily repentance because he will no longer see his need for Christ. There is only one “holiness” which we can have in this life — a most blessed holiness! — and that is the holiness which God, by His grace, places upon us (Romans 3:21ff.).</span></strong></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#990000;"><strong>Sometimes You Can’t Repent?</strong></span></p><p>Th<strong><span style="color:#000099;">ere have been in the past those extreme sects which have taught that, once you are baptized, you are not permitted to fall from faith and if you do, you cannot be forgiven again. This false doctrine is condemned because it does not teach God’s mercy to sinners!</span></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">You Have to Earn Repentance?</span></strong> </p><p><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Finally, the Lutherans made it clear that we must not teach that we by our works, prayers, offerings, or the like can somehow merit God’s forgiveness. To think that we can merit God’s forgiveness is to deny the one, perfect, all-sufficient payment of God’s only Son, our Savior Christ.</strong></span></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Repentance is . . .</span></strong> </p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;"><em>“God, I have sinned against You and against my neighbor. For the sake of my Lord Jesus Christ, His suffering and death, please forgive me all my sins. Please help me, because of Your forgiveness, to live humbly and thankfully before You and my neighbor, and help me in my living to show forth Your love in Christ. And when I have particular sins which bother me, give my pastor grace to hear my private confession, to absolve me for Christ’s sake, and never to repeat my sins to others. All this I pray through Christ, Your Son, my dear Savior. Amen.”</em></span></strong> </p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">This is repentance, in Christ,</span></strong> /s/ <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#990000;"><strong>Pastor Wollenburg</strong></span></p>Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-24022020221084172972009-06-06T00:33:00.013-05:002009-06-06T01:11:20.259-05:00CORE VALUES for CHRISTIANS: Lutherans . . . and the Lord's SupperI have been sorely tardy in posting to this blog -- not that anyone much misses it, I'm sure. Still, because I was without a secretary for a few months and because of the press of parish business, I simply got behind on my project of writing a lay-oriented commentary on the articles of the Augsburg Confession. It is time to correct that. I am herewith continuing that little series with this post on AC Article IX. that said, I pray that this post will, in some measure, be a blessing to the few who might actually follow this blog. :-)<br /><br /><p align="center"><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION - “CHIEF ARTICLES OF FAITH” - ARTICLE X — THE LORD’S SUPPER</span></strong> </p><p align="justify">Our churches teach that the body and blood of Christ are truly present and distributed to those who eat the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 10:16). They reject those who teach otherwise. +</p><p align="justify">Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ our Lord . . . Herewith I am continuing the newsletter series which was started last year; I commend this article to the members of our congregation so that they/we may better know what it means to be Lutheran. I commend this article to other readers of this newsletter who might be curious to know what Lutheran’s believe. </p><p align="justify">The Augsburg Confession was written in the year of our Lord 1530 and was presented to Emperor Charles V as a statement of the chief articles of the Christian faith as understood by Lutherans. It was intended to show anyone who read it that the Lutherans were NOT just making up what they believed as they went along, but that they held to the true, Biblical Christian faith.</p><p align="justify">The Augsburg Confession, then, becomes one of the writings to which we point people who want to know “What IS Lutheran, anyhow?” . . .</p><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">+ + +<br />ARTICLE IX: THE LORD’S SUPPER</span></strong></p><p align="justify">It is a sad truth that the Lord’s Supper has come to be widely misunderstood. And with the misunderstanding have come practices which do NOT honor God’s Word nor do they properly serve the souls for whom Christ died. In the days of the Reformers, Luther and others were upset about some of the practices of the Catholic Church. The business of having people “hire” priests to perform private “masses” (Communion services — at some of which there were not even any communicants present besides the priest — which were thought to somehow merit “time off” from the time which would have to be spent in purgatory (another false teaching for another discussion) was rejected by the reformers. The practice of the Corpus Christi procession/parade was rejected. The notion that it was the priest’s “indelible character” which made him able to turn the bread into the Christ’s body and the wine into Christ’s blood was also rejected. The Lutherans rejected the notion that, in the worship service, Jesus was being somehow “resacrificed” in the Lord’s Supper.</p><p align="justify">But the Lutherans did not reject everything which the Catholic Church taught about the Lord’s Supper. The Lutherans agreed, on the basis of God’s holy Word, that whoever goes to Holy<br />Communion does most certainly receive Christ’s body and blood; so they were careful to reject the false teaching of those who came to say that Communion only symbolized Christ’s body and blood. They also rejected, then, those false practices which arose from that false theology: the substitution of elements, the giving of the Sacrament to just anyone, the lack of instruction about<br />the Sacrament, seeing it as our gift to God (v. His gift to us to feed and sustain our spiritual lives), etc. </p><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">+ + +<br />HOW TO GET IN TROUBLE WITH COMMUNION, #1 . . .</span></strong></p><p align="left">The number one way to get yourself to thinking improperly about Holy Communion is to try to answer the question: “HOW does it become Christ’s body and blood?” In order to answer this question, we have to become speculative since Holy Scripture simply does not answer the question. </p><p align="left">Whenever we decide that we will appeal to our own wisdom or rationalization in order to answer that question, we end up getting in trouble. In the Catholic Church, the question is answered by saying something to the effect that, when the priest with his indelible character speaks the words of institution over the elements, the bread ceases to be bread and is transformed into the body of Christ. Ditto with the wine which is transformed into the blood of Christ. If it is, then, the body and blood of Christ, there are different false practices which can arise out of that understanding. The Lutherans agree that in Holy Communion the communicant truly does receive the Body and Blood of Christ; however, Lutherans seek to avoid the question of “How?” and thus also seek to avoid the false practices which could come from the answer to that question. </p><p align="left">Similarly, there were others who “broke” from the Catholic Church in the days of the Reformation who answered the “How?” of Christ’s presence in the Sacrament by saying that He is not present at all. Rather, they said, because we cannot perceive how He could possibly be resent, He is not really present; the bread and wine are only symbols (reminders) of His body and blood. That understanding gives rise to a whole other set of false practices.</p><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">+ + +<br />HOW TO GET IN TROUBLE WITH COMMUNION, #2 . . .</span></strong></p><p align="left">The other way to get in trouble with the Biblical teaching about the Lord’s Supper is to make the assumption that the Lord’s Supper is the OUR (or the congregation’s or the denomination’s) supper! This is a terrible error. To be sure, the Lord’s Supper is Christ’s gift to the Church, and the Church (the local congregation) is supposed to dispense it properly; HOWEVER, the Lord’s Supper does NOT in any way, shape, or form belong to the Church.<br /></p><p align="left">Whenever churches (local congregations) decide that Holy Communion belongs to them to do with as they see fit, they begin to think that they can change how it will be distributed, to whom it should be given, when it may be offered, etc.</p><p align="left"><br />Please be totally clear on this point: the Lord’s Supper belongs to the Lord. It comes from the Lord. It is one of the means by which the Lord delivers Himself to us. It is NOT ours to decide how we will change it or adapt it. The Christian Church (and her pastors/ministers) is only a steward of the gifts and mysteries of God. </p><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">+ + +<br />THE LORD’S SUPPER AS OUR FOOD (“IS IS IS, AND ALWAYS IS IS.”)</span></strong></p><p align="left">When you finally clear away all of our attempts at rationalization and of our own explanations of the Holy Supper, and when you finally get past the idea that the Supper somehow belongs to<br />us to do with as we please, then you finally get to how the Lutherans did — and still do!<br />— view the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a Meal which the Lord uses to feed His Church.</p><p align="left">Lutherans sometimes employ the sentence, “Is is is and always is is.” as a way of teaching what we receive from Christ in His Supper. When Jesus said “This is My body . . . ,” He said that it is His body. When He said “This cup is the new covenant/testament in My blood . . . ,” He meant that this is His blood!</p><p align="left">His Supper is our food. We gladly eat and drink. We eat and drink properly prepared (for to eat and drink improperly prepared is to eat and drink to our spiritual harm). And with His Body and Blood we are forgiven our sins, and sustained in the Christian faith. </p><p align="left">Since, then, this supper is God’s gift to us and it is food for our souls, we gladly and humbly<br />receive it. We obey what Scripture says about how to prepare for it. With glad and joyful hearts,<br />we receive it often, clearing out of our lives those things which would prevent us from receiving it properly. </p><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">+ + +<br />THE LORD’S SUPPER IS . . . FOR YOU!</span></strong></p><p align="left">This Supper is for you. It gives the forgiveness of sins. It strengthens faith. It gives us strength for living the sanctified Christian life. Therefore we cherish the Supper and prepare others so that they may receive it properly as well. Thanks be to God for His wonderful gifts which sustain our spiritual lives! 1 Corinthians 10:16! + </p><p align="left">Pastor Wollenburg</p><p align="left">In Concordia The Lutheran Confessions A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord, there is this “forward” which is intended to help first time readers of the Augsburg Confession understand<br />the context in which it was written: By the time of the Augsburg Confession was written, deep divisions had arisen among the various reformers concerning the Lord’s Supper. The Lutherans were very careful to distance themselves from those who reject that the body and blood of Christ are in fact truly present in His Supper and distributed to all those who eat and drink.<br />Transubstantiation, consubstantiation, or any other human speculation asks the wrong question: how is Christ present? Lutheranism has no theory or philosophical explanation of how Christ is present.</p><p align="left">Rather, Lutherans insist on answering the what of the Lord’s Supper. We believe, teach, and confess that of the bread, Christ said, “This is My body,” and of the wine, “This is My blood.” These are given and shed “for the forgivenes of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28). We reject any teaching that is contrary to our Lord’s Word. (See also Ap X; SA III VI; LC V; FC Ep VII and SD VII.)</p><p align="left">(Source: CONCORDIA The Lutheran Confessions A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord. p. 60. © 2005, CPH, St. Louis, MO.)</p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p>Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-90134684829332075322008-10-20T16:47:00.005-05:002008-11-17T23:01:55.349-06:00"CORE VALUES for CHRISTIANS: THE MINISTRY"<div style="text-align: left;">The below is taken from an article prepared for our congregation's monthly newsletter. You may access the entire newsletter (October 2008) at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/concordialutheran-sikeston/files/ . At the end of this article, I will print out the actual text of the Augsburg Confession Article V and the i<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">ntroduction to it.</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">+ + +</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">"CORE VALUES for CHRISTIANS: THE MINISTRY"</span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre; font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">“Everyone a Minister!” announces the sign in front of So-and-So-on-the-Corner Church.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">"Wow,” you think, as you gaze at that signboard, “that must be a really great church! All of their members are ministers!” </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">But then you start to wonder who really IS in charge of what goes on in that congregation. Who decides what should be preached? What should be taught? Who leads worship services? The praise band? What happened to the minister? Is preaching no longer popular? Do they vote on doctrine? Do they vote on what should be preached? Do they vote on what they think will be good for their souls?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">We who so often rebel against God’s wonderful gifts sometimes forget that the Reformers thought it important to say that the Office of the Pastoral Ministry was one of their core values! The Office of the Pastoral Ministry was/is one of our core values because through it God cares for our immortal souls! We value that office because, through it, God sees to it that His Word and the Sacraments are delivered to us in the right way!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Let’s still value that office today, ok? Read on . . . .</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">+ + +</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Article V - The Ministry</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Many people think that the clergy are the ones who made up the doctrine of the office of The Ministry. After all, from a human point of view, it would make sense for ministers to do just that. The congregation pays the minister. Maybe, when the pastor talks about The Ministry, he is just being sure that his own pocket is being properly padded.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Please go read Article V of the Augsburg Confession in the box on this page — it’s really short. Then come back here. Please? Thanks! I’ll wait . . . </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">It is admittedly true that there have been false prophets in the past as in the present, and that there will be false prophets in the future. It is also sadly true that some “preachers” have announced themselves as “preachers” just so that they could bilk people out of their money. That is truly sad. They abuse one of the gifts of God by trying to use it for their own purposes. The same is true of the pastor who becomes lazy and does not fulfill the work to which he has been called.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">But the very first thing which must be established about “The Ministry” is that God is the One Who has established that office. It is not up to us to decide to do away with that Office. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">+ + +</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Why God Gives Us Pastors! </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">In Ephesians 4:10-16, we are taught that it is God who has established the offices of The Ministry: </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">“And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him Who is the head, into Christ, from Whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Eph 4:11-16)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">As you read and re-read that text, you will note, of course, why God has established The Ministry. He wants His body (the Church, aka the local congregation) to be built up, so that we are brought to a unity of the faith, and to Christian maturity as people who know and trust in Christ our Savior. He does not want us to be tossed back and forth by every wind of false teaching. He wants His pastors to be faithful with respect to His Word and to be faithful to the Gospel. He does not want His pastors chasing down whatever is the latest teaching which goes around Christendom. He wants His pastors to so teach God’s people about Christ that they will know that they are from Christ and sustained only by Christ. When we know this, then the body of Christ will grow up in love.<br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Of course, the means for the pastor to accomplish all of this is what the Reformers wrote in the 5th “core value” of the Augsburg Confession. The means which the pastor uses is God’s “means of grace,” namely, the Gospel in His Word properly taught, and His sacraments (Baptism and Holy Communion) administered in the same way as they were instituted by God.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">It is terribly important that we understand that God wants His pastors to work through these means. Note carefully that the Reformers condemned the position of the Anabaptists of their day who said that God does not necessarily work through His means. There were some in those days, as there are many in our day, who say that God comes to people outside of His Word. Those are the folks (led by their “pastors”) who must go chasing around and around, trying to “find the Holy Spirit” in a kind of ecstatic sort of experience. These are the same folks who think that they can manipulate folks into “feeling the Spirit” by the right kinds of music, theatrics, or other means. Rather than comforting souls which are troubled by sin, these are forever asking troubled sinners if they “feel saved.”</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">+ + +</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">TV “Pastors” and the Divine Call . . .</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Someone says to his pastor that “You are not ‘dynamic enough,’” or something to that effect. They rather like the theatrics of the TV preacher. They say that they will get their worship of God from the TV, and that the TV minister is “my minister.” To that kind of thinking, we are quick to reply that, when they get sick and are scared nearly to death because of a sickness and/or some sin(s) in their lives, they should call the TV preacher. He surely will not come to their aid! It is highly likely that he will not even be in the least bit aware of their need. Hence, in an hour of tremendous need, when an immortal soul needs the consolation of the Gospel perhaps the most, there will be no “minister” there for him.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">In the Divine Call, you have the assurance that your pastor is called by God, through your congregation, to consistently and constantly bring Christ to you! Your pastor is pledged, by means of his Call from God (this call is no mere “feeling,” but is concrete and real), to stand with you “through thick and thin” and to ever bring you Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">+ + +</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">“Minister” = “Servant”</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">A true Christian “minister” postures himself NOT so much as the CEO of some corporation; rather, he postures himself as a servant. He serves Christ by announcing His Word of Law and Gospel, calling sinners to repentance, and consoling sinners who are bothered by their sins. He further serves Christ by administering His Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion in the way that Christ has instituted them.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">A true Christian “minister” also willingly serves the people of God by being available to them, and by calling to them from God’s Word. Sometimes he must serve them by serving up God’s Word of the Law to call them to repentance. At other times He serves them by serving up the Word of the Gospel so that they will know and trust in the dear Savior Christ as their Savior.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The pastor as “minister” does NOT mean that he is to be responsible for all of the things that must happen in the congregation from the sweeping of the floors, to the lawn mowing, to the banking, etc. His “servanthood” is one which makes him a servant to God, God’s Word, and God’s people.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">+ + +</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Jesus “with skin on” . . .</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">When the little boy, awakening from a nightmare, was told by his mother that he should “just believe that Jesus is here with you,” he replied: “Well, I want Jesus with skin on.”</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">In the writing of the 5th Article of the Augsburg Confession on the subject of “the Ministry,” the reformers had in mind that the pastor IS one who comes to us with Jesus. He comes in the Lord’s name. He comes to us again and again. He brings forgiveness of sins as he brings the Gospel of God’s Word and of God’s Sacraments.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">May it be that pastor and people will continue to rejoice also in this “core value” for our souls’ good! +</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">+ + +</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">+ </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);"> The Augsburg Confession</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">“Chief Articles of Faith”</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">Article V</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">The Ministry</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">So that we may obtain this faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. Through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given (John 20:22). he works faith, when and where it pleases God (John 3:8), in those who hear the good news that God justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake. This happens not through our own merits, but for Christ’s sake.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">Our churches condemn the anabaptists and others who thinks that through their own preparations and works the Holy Spirit comes to them without the external Word.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);">+</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">In Concordia The Lutheran Confessions A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord, there is this “forward” which is intended to help first time readers of the Augsburg Confession understand the context in which it was written:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">“How can what Christ die for us two thousand years ago - through His life, death, and resurrection - become effective in our lives today? God has given us sure, certin, and objective means by which He distributes the blessings of Christ’s salvation. These means are the Gospel proclainmed and taught, and the Sacraments administered according to Christ’s institution. Through these means the Holy Spirit creates and sustain our trust in Jesus’ merits. And through these means of grace the objective reality of Christ’s work is applied to us personally.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">“God established the Office of the Holy Ministry precisely to distribute Christ’s good gifts. He sends shepherds, whom the Holy spirit appoints as overseers, to care for His flock. The German version of the Augsburg Confession uses a very concrete expression to describe this office of pastoral ministry: ‘preaching office” (Predigtamt). During the Reformation, and even today, some imagine they can experience the Holy Spirit through their own reflections, by enjoying nature, or by ecstatic religious experiences. The Holy Spirit does not operate that way. Rather, He works through the powerful, external, objective Gospel in Word and Sacrament. (See also SA III VII and X; Treatise.) </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">(Source: CONCORDIA The Lutheran Confessions A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord. p. 57. © 2005, CPH, St. Louis, MO.) </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">+</span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div>Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-8463720495863636512008-09-11T23:38:00.007-05:002008-10-21T11:03:15.576-05:00"Core Values for Christians: Justification"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OVBEKey0DvE/SP39K_tLCSI/AAAAAAAABT0/GYlsjH2fYr0/s1600-h/LAMB-ON-ALTAR.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OVBEKey0DvE/SP39K_tLCSI/AAAAAAAABT0/GYlsjH2fYr0/s320/LAMB-ON-ALTAR.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259638305180027170" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(This article is taken from the July Newsletter of Concordia Ev. Lutheran Church of Sikeston, MO. That entire newsletter can be viewed as a pdf file at: <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia;"><a href="http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/cO79SMnIwnB2GDSe6YGI0w-h3zojhPbY8_I0c5a5I_FYMAasAdNgP_MM2UbF-fEZyFeoqOQEjYYW2Mfp_c9cjA/NEW-OCTOBER-2008.pdf">http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/cO79SMnIwnB2GDSe6YGI0w-h3zojhPbY8_I0c5a5I_FYMAasAdNgP_MM2UbF-fEZyFeoqOQEjYYW2Mfp_c9cjA/NEW-OCTOBER-2008.pdf</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. At the end of the below article I will include the text - and introduction - of Article IVof the Augsburg Confession -- or, go to this link and read it yourself: </span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.html" style="color: rgb(187, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.html</span></span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> .)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">THE CHURCH’S “JOB” IS . . .</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">As you look around our community or other communities, do you get a clear picture of what the Church’s “job” is? Here’s a short list of impressions which you might get if you just looked around (in person and on the internet):</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">+</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">to put catchy sayings on </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">billboards</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">+</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">to get members from other </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">churches to join your church</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">+</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">to make people feel good</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">+</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">to tell people how to “get along” in life </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">(marriage, life in general, home, work, ...)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">+</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">to host youth events (the bigger, the better)</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">+</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">to take trips to special places (for fun and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">recreation or for “missions”)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Well, those are just a few which your pastor thinks it might be easy for people to start to think of as the Church’s purpose — some are OK, but some of them are plain sinful. If you want some hints as to what the Church’s true purpose is, then see the pictures which are included in this article.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">+ + +</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Article IV</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Justification</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The truth is: the holy Christian Church will stand or fall on the basis of her belief in God’s message of justification to our fallen world. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Please go read Article IV of the Augsburg Confession on p. 3 of this newsletter — it’s really short. Then come back here. Please? Thanks! I’ll wait . . . </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">So . . . assuming that you have read the Article, what does it mean? Is what the reformers wrote a “no-brainer” to you? If you think so, then it means that you have been properly catechized (taught), and your pastor is so very thankful for that! If you are inclined to disagree with Article IV, then you are in big trouble — and not just now but someday when you are on your deathbed.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The fact that God pronounces you and I “justified” or “righteous” in His sight for the sake of Christ’s holy work at Calvary (Jesus suffered for all of our sins and died as the perfect payment for all sins!), should be of the greatest comfort to you. It will, when you come to believe it properly, take away your natural fear of God, AND it will motivate you for a life of service to God which will (probably) astonish you!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">+ + +</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">The Greatest Need of Every Sinner is . . .</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Back when we looked at Article II of the Augsburg Confession (a couple of months ago), we noted that the reformers wrote about the greatest need of every person in the world, namely, original sin. It is the sin which we have inherited from our parents. With the sin has come guilt. Because we are sinners. Just as the drug addict, whether or not s/he craves a “fix” at a particular moment, is still an addict, so the sinner, whether or not s/he is sinning at a particular point in time, is a sinner.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; white-space: pre;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Therefore, it stands to reason to say that, since the greatest need of every person in the world is their sinfulness, then the greatest gift which can be given to them is the forgiveness of their sins. This truly is the great gift which our Lord Jesus Christ came to our fallen world to give us. When Jesus died, He uttered one word, a word which means everything to us who hope in Him: it is the word which, translated into English, is “It is finished!” What was finished, of course, was the perfect payment for all the world’s sins.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">+ + +</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">The Right Motive for Anything is . . . </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; white-space: pre;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Forgiveness! It changes things. Years ago, this pastor became aware of a man who had been “on the outs” with his wife for a number of years. There were terrible hurts which the man had inflicted upon his wife. They had been painful. He came to be deeply sorry for those hurts which he had caused. He wanted, with all his heart, to take those hurts away (but he could not, of course — and there’s a powerful lesson in that fact for all of us!). His wife told him that he had to “re-earn” her love. He waited and he tried. But her required wait backfired on her. He became resentful and angry. Your pastor’s counsel to him was: quit trying because you cannot earn your wife’s (or anyone else’s) love. Your pastor’s counsel to her was: forgive him and love him even if you do not think he deserves it. Result: a marriage saved and a future hope for that home.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">God’s forgiveness changes everything about our lives. Your pastor cringes when he hears or reads about how church leaders in our own church body and/or church leaders in other church bodies try to motivate (a better word is manipulate) people to serve God out of a sense of personal or corporate guilt. Make no mistake: guilt is a quick motivator, that is, it gets people to try to do things. But guilt is a wrong motivator. People tire of trying to earn their “forgiveness.” Then they become resentful. Then they are no longer motivated. Or, worse, they think that they actually can earn their forgiveness. Then they become arrogant. Then they are no longer motivated. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Your pastor knows that it will take much longer to get people “motivated” to serve God by telling them that God truly does love them! But your pastor knows that love is the only right and the only lasting motivation for your life of service to God. God loves you! God forgives you your sins for Christ’s sake! As you get to know that and are reassured of it again and again, then lives of service will surely follow.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> + + +</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">What does the Church “Dispense” . . . ?</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Have you ever thought about that? Is the Church’s purpose to dispense “motivation” to folks <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">ala </span>Joel Olsteen? Or, what about the old mantra of “self-esteem?” Are we supposed to make people feel good about themselves? Some churches think that their job is to try to predict the future. Others dispense parenting advice. Still others offer Sunday morning sex advice (really — at least that’s what they have advertised). Other churches want to give you “an experience with God” of some sort. But none of those are the proper function of the Christian congregation! </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">On Easter evening our Lord Christ appeared to the disciples and said to them: “ . . . If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.” (John 20:23) That, friends, is what Christ’s Church is supposed to “dispense:” the forgiveness of sins which Christ has purchased by His suffering and death!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:21px;">+ + +</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Learn to Expect This at Church . . .</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Your pastor prays that you will expect to hear him preach to you about God’s love for you, about Christ’s perfect payment for all of your sins, and about how God, because you have been brought to faith in Christ’s work, declares you righteous in His sight. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Your pastor prays that the message of your justification in God’s sight through faith in Jesus Christ, will motivate you in your attendance at God’s house, in your offerings for His work, and in your resolve to invite your family and friends to God’s house. He also prays that you will encourage him NEVER to deviate from this central and most important message of Christendom, because it really is true that the doctrine of “Justification” is the doctrine by which the Christian Church finds her reason to exist.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">This teaching of “Justification” truly is, then, a “core value” for us Christians. It is the message about how God permits us to have life with Him. It is the message about His grace that makes us righteous in His sight. It fills us with His love.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> +</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:21px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(Oops! Because I got behind on my blogging, I neglected to save what I had keyed in as the text of AC IV. But you can go read it yourself online at</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; font-family:Georgia;"><a href="http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.php</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">).</span></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div>Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-32358282795451191422008-08-06T22:38:00.003-05:002008-08-06T23:22:52.375-05:00"Core Values for Christians: The Son of God"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OVBEKey0DvE/SJp3D_onO3I/AAAAAAAAA70/oFnMitQc50M/s1600-h/CHRIST-CROSS-BAPTISM-COMMUNION.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OVBEKey0DvE/SJp3D_onO3I/AAAAAAAAA70/oFnMitQc50M/s320/CHRIST-CROSS-BAPTISM-COMMUNION.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231624827649342322" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(This article is taken from the July Newsletter of Concordia Ev. Lutheran Church of Sikeston, MO. That entire newsletter can be viewed as a pdf file at:</span></span><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/concordialutheran-sikeston/" style="color: rgb(187, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/concordialutheran-sikeston/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> . At the end of the below article I will include the text - and introduction - of Article II of the Augsburg Confession -- or, go to this link and read it yourself: </span></span><a href="http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.html" style="color: rgb(187, 51, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.html</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> .)</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ our Lord:</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px;font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yes, I know, to you who have been properly instructed and who gladly receive God’s Word in worship every Sunday, to say that Jesus is truly the Son of God is a “no-brainer.” For this fact, you should get down on your knees and give thanks to God that you have been properly taught. :)</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You see, not every person has been thus properly taught. For that matter, not every person who calls him-/herself a “Christian” has been thus properly taught. And, sometimes, people who have been properly taught have rejected the true Christian doctrine which was given to them for their souls’ comfort!</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As a result, there truly are people who do not realize that “The Son of God” is THE “core value” of the Christian faith. It is easy to become distracted by trends and fads which come along in Christendom, or to be distracted by our own “felt needs” to start to think that there are other “core values” than “</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Son of God.”</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">+ Article III - The Son of God +</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">God has revealed Himself to us as three separate and distinct Persons in one God. He has revealed Himself as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is the blessed and adorable Trinity. You are right: the word “Trinity” and “Triune God” are not in the Bible. Nevertheless the doctrine is plainly there. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Please go read Article III of the Augsburg Confession at the end of this post OR at the post noted above). Then come back here. Please? Thanks! I’ll wait . . . </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So . . . assuming that you have read the Article, what does it mean? In a nutshell it means that we call ourselves “Christian” because we know and worship the “Christ.” This “Christ” is the very Son of God who has accomplished not just our salvation but the salvation of every man, woman, and child in the world.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When did He become the “Son of God?” That would seem a logical question since, to our finite way of thinking, everything and everyone has to have come from somewhere. Nevertheless Jesus is called the eternal Son of God. He has no beginning nor does He have an end. He is God. To say that Jesus is the “only-begotten Son of God” is simply to use Biblical language. God has chosen to reveal Himself to us in this way so that we may have some sense of realization of the gift of God in the giving of His Son for our salvation!</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">+ Why It Was Necessary for Jesus to be True Man! +</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It was necessary for our salvation that Jesus be true Man because we are sinners. A man needed to satisfy the justice of God because of sin. It was, after all, man who had broken God’s Law in the Garden of Eden and who had cast the whole world into sinfulness.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">According to Luther’s Small Catechism, (Question #122 in the 1991 edition - or go see this online at: https://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/explanation.pdf ), Jesus had to be true Man in order to: [1] “act in our place under the Law and fulfill it for us;” and [2] “be able to suffer and die for our guilt because we failed to keep the Law.”</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Law of God, of course, is holy and therefore demands our obedience. The problem is that we who are afflicted with Original Sin simply cannot, no matter how hard we might try, keep God’s Law perfectly.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So God takes our flesh and blood upon Himself (born of the Virgin Mary) and becomes the Man first who keeps God’s Law perfectly — He is tempted in every way just as we are tempted but He never sins — He is tempted and He never sins and He keeps God's Law not just once, but all the time!</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then, because God’s righteous justice demands a sacrifice for the sins already and continually being committed, Jesus the Man suffers and dies in our place.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Want proof of God’s “commitment” to you? Want proof of God’s love for you? Go stand at the foot of Christ’s cross and refelct upon what He endured for you, me, and for the whole world!</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">+ Why It was Necessary for Jesus to be True God! +</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Even as Jesus had to be true Man in order to effect our salvation, He also had to be true God in order to effect our salvation. It is not hard to figure this out, is it? We naturally born people are sinners! We have inherited the problem of “sin” from our parents.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Because of that problem we simply could not keep God’s Law perfectly. We could, of course, suffer and die for our sins, but our sufferings and deaths would not be sufficient to pay for our own sins, much less for the sins of the whole entire world!</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So, the Small Catechism (Question #122 in the 1991 edition - or go see this online at: https://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/explanation.pdf ) says that our Lord Christ had to be true God so that [1] “His fulfilling of the Law, His life, suffering, and death might be a sufficient ransom for all people;” and [2] so that “He might be able to overcome death and the devil for us.”</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We do not need to stand around wondering, or lay on our sleepless bed in the middle of the night wondering, or be wracked with doubts while lying on our death bed wondering IF Christ has sufficiently paid for our sins and/or IF Christ has truly satisfied the almighty God! He is God. He has done it perfectly!</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">+ The Comfort of Jesus as True Man! +</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">There is also great daily comfort for you, dear reader, in the realization that Christ is true God and true Man. The fact that He is true Man is God’s reassurance to you that God truly can “relate” to you and me.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Ever had someone try to destroy you? Ever suffered innocently? Do you ever wrestle with temptation? God knows! Jesus is your Brother! Hebrews 4:14-16 is one of my favorite texts! Check it out.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">+ The Comfort of Jesus as True God! +</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You do not ever need to wonder if Jesus has worked out your salvation “enough.” You and I often wonder if we have done some thing good “enough.” Not so with Christ! As God He never sins. Ever. He is never insufficient. He never only “comes close.” Because He is God you can rest in the sure knowledge of His work (for your salvation!) being complete.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">+ Two Incredible Mysteries as The Church’s “High” Festivals +</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Son of God is true Man and true God! This is wondrous! Him we worship, for He has accomplished the whole world’s salvation.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">AT CHRISTMAS the Church marvels in the truth and rejoices in the fact that God became a Man and, at a specific point in time, stepped into our world as a flesh and blood man! Oh, the ecstasy (and the agony) of knowing God’s love for us! Angels sang of it!</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ON GOOD FRIDAY, we thankfully (but with overwhelming sadness in our hearts) watch God die nailed to a Cross as the bloody payment for mankind’s sins. Oh, the agony (and the ecstasy) of God’s suffering because of our sins. Oh, the joy of the forgiveness of our sins! And on Easter morning angels announced that He had risen! +</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In Christ, /S/ Pastor Wollenburg</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Augsburg Confession</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Chief Articles of Faith”</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Article III</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Son of God</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Our churches teach that the Word, that is, the Son of God (John 1:14), assumed the human nature in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. So there are two natures — the divine and the human — inseparably joined in one person. There is one Christ, true God and true man, who was born of the Virgin Mary, truly suffered, was crucified, died, and was buried. He did this to reconcile the Father to us and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for all actual sins of mankind (John 1:29).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He also descended into hell, and truly rose again on the third day. Afterward, He ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. There He forever reigns and has domininon over all creatures. He sanctifies those who believe in Him, by sending the Holy Spirit into their hearts to rule, comfort, and make them alive. He defends them against the devil and the power of sin.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The same Christ will openly come again to judge the living and the dead, and so forth, according to the Apostles’ Creed.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;">+ + +</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In Concordia The Lutheran Confessions A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord, there is this “forward” which is intended to help first time readers of the Augsburg Confession understand the context in which it was written:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“The Augsburg Confession teaches the historic, biblical doctrine of Christ. Many early controversies about Christ’s human and divine natures were resolved thorugh careful study of God’s Word, and are reflected in the Nicene Creed. Article III echoes that creed - our Lord Jesus Christ is one person having two natures: truly God and truly man. This is another mystery of the Christian faith that we receive with thanks, bowing before Christ in humble adoration. His incarnation in the womb of His virgin mother, Mary, was for our salvation. He is, and remains, for all eternity the God-man, the One who appeased, or propitiated, God’s wrath against our sin and won for us eternal life. Even now He is present with us through His appointed means of grace - the Gospel and the Sacraments. He comes to strengthen, sustain, and support us, and to bring us safely to our heavenly home.(See also Ap III; SA II I; FC Ep VIII and SD VIII.)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">(Source: CONCORDIA The Lutheran Confessions A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord. p. 57. © 2005, CPH, St. Louis, MO.)</span></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div>Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-36043695447388520172008-07-01T14:28:00.004-05:002008-07-01T14:50:08.669-05:00"'Core Values' for Christians: Original Sin"(This article is taken from the July Newsletter of Concordia Ev. Lutheran Church of Sikeston, MO. That entire newsletter can be viewed as a pdf file at: <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/concordialutheran-sikeston/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/concordialutheran-sikeston/</a> . At the end of the below article I will include the text - and introduction - of Article II of the Augsburg Confession -- or, go to this link and read it yourself: <a href="http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.html">http://www.bookofconcord.org/augsburgconfession.html</a> .)<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;">Okay, Okay. My wife wants to know how “Original Sin” is a “core value” of Christians. Granted that sin is NOT something that we want in our lives as Christians, BUT sin is a reality with which the Christian Church and every single Christian must deal! If you think about it, if it were not for sin there would not, of course, be any need for a Savior, and the Savior would never have needed to start His Church! So, do we believe in “sin?” Absolutely. Do we like it? Absolutely NOT. </span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;">This short article is the second in a series of “core values” articles for our monthly newsletter. Each of our “core values” will be based on an article of the Augsburg Confession.” BORRRIIINNNNGGG!!!, right? Wrong! The Augsburg Confession was written with two closely-related purposes in mind: [1] to demonstrate that the “Lutherans” were not a bunch of oddballs who should be labeled as a mere sect; and [2] to define what a “Lutheran” believes, teaches, and confesses. When Emperor Charles V permitted the Augsburg Confession to be read, it legitimized Luther and others. Because of that history, it may well be said that it represents the “core values” of Lutheran Christians.</span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;"></span></strong><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="font-size:180%;">+ + + ARTICLE II - ORIGINAL SIN + + +</span> </span></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;"></span></strong> </div><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;">As I wrote before, this is not a “core value” which we long to have. Rather, it is a “core value” which we believe and with which we simply have to deal! Please go read Article II of the Augsburg Confession (at the end of this article or go to the above link). Then come back here. Please? Thanks! I’ll wait . . . </span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;">So . . . assuming that you have read the Article, what does it mean? The authors of the Augsburg Confession are confessing, from God’s Word, that every man, woman, and child is born with a problem. Ever since the fall (into sin) of Adam in the Garden of Eden, everyone is afflicted with sin. Sin is rebellion against God. Sin is not just something that you do but it is something which you have. It is kind of the way it is when a person has a bad cough: the cough is both something which he does and which he has. He coughs because he has a cough. In the same way, every person in the world sins because s/he has sin. We believe that. Scripture teaches it.</span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></span></strong><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#990000;">+ + + ORIGINAL SIN'S ORIGIN + + +</span></span></strong></div><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;">The first question which we always find ourselves asking, whether about sin or a bad cough or a cancer, is “Where did it come from?” Many people — because of the disobedience and pride which is the result of original sin — point their accusing finger at God. They want to imagine that, since God is the creator of all things, He must also have created sin. How convenient to blame God thus! Then they can also accuse God of being inconsistent and even cruel! Nice try. It doesn’t work. </span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;">Sin comes from the devil. When God finished with His creating work, His opinion of the world which He had made (without sin!) was that it was “very good.” In other words, because it was without sin, it was perfect! But sometime between the creation of the world and the fall of Adam and Eve into sin, there was a war in heaven. One of God’s perfect angels, with help from some of the other angels, decided to rebel against God and usurp their Creator (oh, the arrogance of it all). Another of the angels, Michael, fought back. Satan (the one who rebelled) was cast out of heaven. Seeing that he was defeated, he went off to make war against those who are believers in God. He sought to mess things up good. And he did. </span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;">That is how sin came into existence! Remember who tempted Adam and Eve to sin against God in their perfect Garden of Eden? Yep. The same wicked angel. He’s a great deceiver, make no mistake about it. Want some proof texts for the above? Call me. Or, get out your <em>Luther’s Small Catechism</em> and look up “angels” in the back and read up on it. (Or, you can access a version of the Small Catechism and then follow the link to the explanation of the Small Catechism at: <a href="https://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/smallcatechism.pdf">https://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/smallcatechism.pdf</a></span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></span></strong><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="font-size:180%;">+ + + SIN IN YOU AND OTHERS! + + +</span> </span></span></strong></div><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;">Sin now gets passed on from one generation to the next. Here is the formula: Sinful Mommy + Sinful Daddy = Sinful Baby. If that seems simplistic, then so be it. Just as children inherit their eye color, hair color, and certain other physical characteristics from their parents, they also inherit this awful thing called “Original Sin” (<em>aka</em> “Inherited Sin”). It is not their (your, my, our) fault that they (we) have it. But we still have it. It is because someone before us was thoughtless and careless. And remember what it produces? As a cough will produce a cough, so original sin produces sins. </span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;"></span></strong><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#990000;"><span style="font-size:180%;">+ + + SIN AS A POISON! + + +</span> </span></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;"></span></strong> </div><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;">This sin poisons us inside and out. God told Adam and Eve that, as a result of their sin: [1] a woman’s child-bearing would not be as easy or as pleasant as it would have been by God’s original design; [2] a man would no longer find his work to be easy and enjoyable, but that now he would have to work with weeds, AND he would even sweat; [3] husbands and wives would no longer enjoy a perfectly happy relationship all of the time; and [4] DEATH had now entered into them and into God’s perfect creation! Sin had poisoned their lives and everything in it! </span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;">This pastor often uses the example of the child born addicted to crack or some other highly addictive drug. The mother uses the drug and the child ingests the drug <em>in utero</em>. Then the child is born, the umbilical cord is cut, and the truth is revealed: the newborn, so seemingly cute in the newness of his/her life, is nothing less than a drug addict! The doctors and nurses, recognizing that truth, need to deal with that baby’s addiction. If they don’t, the baby will die. When they save that child’s life, they remind that child — so that s/he can live a productive life — that s/he is a drug addict. S/He must learn that about him-/herself so that the drug does not control his/her life! This sin is a poison in our lives! It causes all kinds of other trouble, and dooms us to death.</span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></span></strong><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="font-size:180%;">+ + + SIN'S ANTIDOTE IS . . . + + +</span> </span></span></strong></div><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;">. . . HOLINESS! BUT . . . NOT a “holiness” which comes from you! Rather, the righteousness (“holiness”) which comes from Christ and is put upon you. God gives you the holiness earned by the absolutely perfect life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do NOT fall prey to those who think that you can somehow earn God’s favor by your goodness (as did Pelagius of old, and as do the different “holiness” groups of the present); that will cause you either to despair or — just as bad — to think that you do not really need God in your life (like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day). </span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;">GOOD NEWS! Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has become God’s holiness for you! He lived under God’s Law in a way which we could not (He never sinned!). When God brings us to faith in Christ and we are baptized, the perfect holiness of Christ, like a great big coat, is put over us. When God looks at us, then, though He knows that we are sinners, He sees the big coat of Jesus’ holiness and He declares us righteous, or holy, in His sight! </span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;">The antidote for our sins and sinfulness is the Lord Jesus Christ, and His holiness. Where there is sin, Christ — Who lived perfectly, and therefore died innocently, and arose again victoriously — is everything which we need!</span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></span></strong><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="font-size:180%;">+ + +</span> </span></span></strong></div><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;">May God preserve us safe in the holy, true and Christian faith! Though we Lutherans do not “value” Original Sin, we do “own” that it exists, AND we own that it exists in every man, woman, and child in the world. And, because it does exist in every man, woman, and child in the world (except for our Lord Christ, obviously), we ask God to help us do what He wants us to do in order that every man, woman, and child will know and trust in the only antidote to Original Sin: Christ! </span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;"></span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;">In Christ, Pastor Wollenburg</span> </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></strong><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;color:#3333ff;">The Augsburg Confession</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;color:#3333ff;">“Chief Articles of Faith”</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;color:#3333ff;">Article II</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;color:#3333ff;">Original Sin </span></strong></div><strong><span style="font-family:arial;color:#3333ff;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;color:#3333ff;">Our churches teach that since the fall of Adam (Romans 5:12), all who are naturally born are born with sin (Psalm 51:5), that is, without the fear of God, without trust in God, and with the inclination to sin, called concupiscence. Concupiscence is a disease and original vice that is truly sin. It damns and brings eternal death on those who are not born anew through Baptism and the Holy Spirit (John 3:5). Our churches condemn the Pelagians and others who deny that original depravity is sin, thus obscuring the glory of Christ’s merit and benefits. Pelagians argue that a person can be justified before God by his own strengths and reason.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#3333ff;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">In <em>Concordia The Lutheran Confessions A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord</em>, there is this “forward” which is intended to help first time readers of the Augsburg Confession understand the context in which it was written: <em>“Sin is much more than thinking, saying, and doing things that are wrong. It is a terminal disease. We are all conceived and born in sin; we inherit it from our first parents, Adam and Eve. The disease of sin can be overcome, but only by one medicine: the cleansing, healing, and forgiving blood of God’s own Son. By rejecting Pelagian errors in Article II, the Augsburg Confression subtly refers to the Roman view of sin. The Roman Church taught and still teaches that concupiscence (the inborn inclination to sin) is not actually sin. By misdiagnosing our fatal illness, Rome leads people to blieve they are able to cooperate with God’s grace for salvation. Lutheranism rejects all teachings that imply we are responsible for or contribute to our salvation. (See also Ap II; SA III, I; FC Ep I and SD I.)"</em></span></span></strong>Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-43740870605278917102008-06-20T20:21:00.001-05:002008-06-20T20:21:49.726-05:00Lutheran Social Networking!<embed src="http://static.ning.com/networkcreators/widgets/index/swf/badge.swf?v=4916" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="lt" wmode="transparent" bgcolor="#ffffff" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="206" height="64" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="networkUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwittenbergtrail.ning.com%2F&panel=user&username=2uaam8slj4w2t&avatarUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.ning.com%2Ffiles%2FvwzIt05Fr11wbA4kH2vLuhnzbo4bGhkWqHo0ppyzsns_%2FALANFALL2006FAST.JPG%3Fwidth%3D48%26height%3D48%26crop%3D1%253A1&configXmlUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.ning.com%2FWittenbergTrail%2Finstances%2Fmain%2Fembeddable%2Fbadge-config.xml%3Ft%3D1214005871" ></embed> <br /><small style="font-size: 12px;"><a target="_blank" href="http://wittenbergtrail.ning.com">View my page on <em>The Wittenberg Trail</em></a></small><br />Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-64546624247901917162008-06-05T21:11:00.010-05:002008-06-05T21:57:59.574-05:00Answering Satan's Attacks<strong><span style="font-family:arial;color:#cc0000;">One of the great hymns of the Lutheran Church is "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." Here are the words:</span></strong>
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<br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong>"A Mighty Fortress is Our God"</strong></span>
<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">by Dr. Martin Luther, 1483-1546</span>
<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">Composite Translation from the Pennsylvania Lutheran CHURCH BOOK of 1868
<br /><strong>1. A mighty Fortress is our God,</strong></span>
<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"><strong>A trusty Shield and Weapon;</strong></span>
<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"><strong>He helps us free from every need</strong></span>
<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"><strong>That hath us now o'ertaken.</strong></span>
<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"><strong>The old evil Foe Now means deadly woe; </strong></span>
<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"><strong>Deep guile and great might</strong></span>
<br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"><strong>Are his dread arms in fight; On Earth is not his equal. </strong></span>
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<br /><strong>2. With might of ours can naught be done,</strong>
<br /><strong>Soon were our loss effected;</strong>
<br /><strong>But for us fights the Valiant One,</strong>
<br /><strong>Whom God Himself elected.</strong>
<br /><strong>Ask ye, Who is this? Jesus Christ it is. Of Sabaoth Lord,</strong>
<br /><strong>And there's none other God;</strong>
<br /><strong>He holds the field forever. </strong>
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<br /><strong>3. Though devils all the world should fill,</strong>
<br /><strong>All eager to devour us.</strong>
<br /><strong>We tremble not, we fear no ill,</strong>
<br /><strong>They shall not overpower us.</strong>
<br /><strong>This world's prince may still Scowl fierce as he will, </strong>
<br /><strong>He can harm us none,</strong>
<br /><strong>He's judged; the deed is done;</strong>
<br /><strong>One little word can fell him. </strong>
<br /><strong></strong>
<br /><strong>4. The Word they still shall let remain</strong>
<br /><strong>Nor any thanks have for it;</strong>
<br /><strong>He's by our side upon the plain</strong>
<br /><strong>With His good gifts and Spirit.</strong>
<br /><strong>And take they our life,</strong>
<br /><strong>Goods, fame, child and wife, Let these all be gone, </strong>
<br /><strong>They yet have nothing won;</strong>
<br /><strong>The Kingdom ours remaineth. </strong>
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<br />Hymn #262 <u>The Lutheran Hymnal</u>
<br />Text: Psalm 46
<br />Author: Martin Luther, 1529
<br />Translated by: composite
<br />Titled: "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott"
<br />Composer: Martin Luther, 1529
<br />Tune: "Ein' feste Burg"
<br />1st Published in: Klug's Gesangbuch
<br />Town: Wittenberg, 1529
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<br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">So, what does the hymn reveal about Lutherans? Well, that we recognize that the devil is a big threat to our souls. Oh, not because the devil is so powerful - remember that Christ has defeated him! - but because of his lies (John 8:44), his deceptions, (2 Cor. 11:14), and his accusations ("Satan" means "accuser").</span></strong>
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<br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">The below is from an email exchange with a college student who is a member of my congregation. No names, of course, but it occurs to me that the exchange might be useful to someone who decides to read my blog. So . . . read on . . . </span></strong>
<br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;"></span></strong>
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<br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">POST ONE:</span></strong>
<br /><strong><span style="color:#993399;">Hi Pastor,</span></strong>
<br /><strong><span style="color:#993399;">So, I email to a list of friends these little devotions from a book called <u>God Grant It: Daily Devotions from C.F.W. Walther</u>. I had a church worker to be friend of mine reply to one of them and I'm hoping that you may have some insights that I can use when I talk to my friend. Please reference the two emails below. The first is the devotion...the latter is the response. Thank you for any advice and wisdom you might have! In Christ, { NAME }</span></strong>
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<br /><strong><span style="color:#993399;">"But when He heard it, He said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." -- Matthew 9:12-13</span></strong>
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<br /><strong><span style="color:#993399;">The first and most earnest truth in the words "Jesus receives sinners" is that Christ does not want to have anything to do with people who do not recognize themselves to be sinners. This does not mean, of course, that He takes no pleasure in the company of the truly pious and just and derives satisfaction from evil and godless people. As the psalmist says, 'For You are not a God who delights in wickedness, evil may not dwell with You" (Psalm 5:4). If we were as pious and just as when God first created man, we would still be dear and pleasing to the Son of God. (But in that case, He would not have become man and entered the world since there would have been no need of a Savior and Redeemer.) </span></strong>
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<br /><strong><span style="color:#993399;">Jesus came to earth because, as Saint Paul said, all men are sinners and fall short of the glory of God. We were sick in our souls, fatally and eternally sick; and Christ came as a physician to restore us to health. By nature, we are great, lost, and condemned sinners, and neither we nor any other creature under heaven has the power to heal us. As long as we pretend to be self-righteous, Christ does not concern us. What does our going to church avail if we do not call out from depth of our heart, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner' (Luke 18:13)? What good is Baptism or the Gospel or the Holy Meal if we do not embrace it as sinners? To those who continue to think they can cleanse themselves and do not need to be washed pure by Christ, the word He spoke to Peter applies: 'If I do not wash you, you have no share with Me" (John 13:8). </span></strong>
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<br /><strong><span style="color:#993399;">In short, if we are unwilling to acknowledge that we are poor, lost sinners, we renounce Christ. The truth that 'Jesus receives sinners' remains for us, as it did for the Pharisees and scribes, a stumbling block and a hindrance to salvation. It remains a thunderbolt of the Law from Sinai underscoring our judgment to eternal damnation. How good it is, then, when we admit our sinful state and draw inexpressible comfort from the words 'Jesus receives sinners.'</span></strong>
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<br /><strong><span style="color:#993399;">When the Pharisees and scribes called those who approached Jesus 'sinners,' they were absolutely right. Some of them were great sinners. Tax collectors, for example, were manifest deceivers of the people. The woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears and dried them with her hair was a notorious prostitute. The only thing that distinguished the sinners who drew near to Christ from those who did not was not that their sins were less significant than others, but that they vividly recognized themselves as sinners and sought forgiveness from Jesus.</span></strong>
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<br /><strong><span style="color:#993399;">What a great comfort, then, lies in the words 'Jesus receives sinners'! No matter how great the sins you have committed, do not harden your heart but recognize your sins and go to Jesus. He will receive you. Do not hesitate because you have sinned for a long time or because you believe your sins are so great that you are beyond forgiveness. Remember Peter, who denied his Lord three times. Remember Saul, who persecuted the Church of God and ridiculed His Word. Remember the thief on the cross, who was a robber and a murderer. Jesus received each of them graciously and so will He receive you. Even if your sins are as many as the hairs on your head and as numerous as the grains of sand on the beach, you can find forgiveness in Christ.'</span></strong>
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<br /><strong><span style="color:#993399;">Jesus receives sinners.' May these words comfort us at all times, even until the hour of our death. He is always ready to receive us and to help us enter His heavenly kingdom.Though great our sins and sore our woes, His grace much more aboundeth;His helping love no limit knows,Our utmost need it soundeth.Our Shepherd good and true is He,Who will at last His Israel freeFrom all their sin and sorrow, Amen. (TLH 329:5)</span></strong>
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<br /><strong><span style="color:#993399;">My Friend's Response:
<br />"Hey { NAME },
<br />Thanks for the devotion. Something I've been struggling with lately is that I always hear people say, "You've never done anything that Jesus can't forgive". That's very comforting, I wholeheartedly believe it, and I use it in witnessing situations sometimes myself. Like this study points to Paul and the thief on the cross and Peter's denials of Christ, those things should be comforting as well. But for me they have become more troubling than anything.
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<br />What these three had in common is that they committed their sins before committing their life to Christ. Paul persecuted the church, but after his conversion never committed those sins again; the thief on the cross (granted he didn't have the opportunity) was the same; and Peter did deny Christ while he was a disciple, but after the resurrection there was a transformaion in his heart and he never again denied Jesus as Lord.
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<br />The sins that I have struggled with, and the ones that I still do, are all things that have surfaced while being a baptized and confirmed Christian. I feel that my sins are worse than any of the examples listed above, because I knew Christ as my Savior at the time. And now I am studying to become a leader in the Church, how can I struggle with an addiction and justify that? Although I have taken numerous steps to rid myself of this, like I found out yesterday, I'm beginning to wonder if it will ever completely go away. It is no longer a habitual sin, but nevertheless it still finds ways of creeping back into my life. I know that Christ will and has forgiven me for this and all my sins. But that doesn't mean that I should be working in ministry.
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<br />So I guess this is one example of how I can see only law in what is meant as Gospel. I cannot find anything in Scripture that makes me feel more at ease about studying for ministry while dealing with this particular addiction. All I find are more reasons for me to not be in ministry. Ok... I'm done... sorry to have dumped all of that on you. You really probably didn't need it. God bless."</span></strong>
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<br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">MY REPLY:</span></strong>
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<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>Hello, { NAME }: Those are wonderful devotions. Whenever I see someone using these as their devotions, I find myself thinking that they are surely pretty mature Christians who seek to be more mature in Christ. Keep using them. Please consider just giving this to your friend and having him sit down to read what I write here. Your friend needs to get honest with the doctrine of original sin. Original sin is not what we do. It is what we are. And, original sin causes us to commit other sins - sometimes on purpose, sometimes not. Original sin does not care whether we have been brought to Christ already or not (and this whole business of thinking that our "commitment" to Christ will somehow make us exempt from sin and its effects is simply wrong). </strong></span>
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<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>I liken it to the child born of a crack-addicted mom. As soon as the umbilical cord is cut that poor kid is in deep trouble. He needs a fix. He doesn't know what's wrong - and it is certainly not his fault - but he knows that something's wrong. The best way to help that kid is to admit that he is most certainly a crack addict -- then he can be treated and maybe even saved. But until the doctors, <em>et al.</em> recognize and diagnose the problem they cannot help him. As that kid gets older, he does well to own the fact that he is a crack addict. He will remain thus his whole life. Sometimes he will fall. Because he is a crack addict. </strong></span>
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<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>Your friend does not like the fact - and in fact is troubled by the fact - that he sins. The deeper problem is the original sin which causes him to sin. Even when he doesn't want to sin. Romans 7:7ff. MUST be studied. It is written by Paul AFTER he has been brought to faith. But he still sees himself as a wicked sinner ("who will deliver me from this body of death" is a phrase rich and deep in meaning - loaded with nuance - ask me about it sometime soon). Paul is stuck with sin. It's in him. He can't root it out. It causes him to sin. he despises sin. He hates his sins. But he has Christ. </strong></span>
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<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>We in the Lutheran Church have, for far too long, discouraged individual confession and absolution. Huge mistake! Lutherans full well understand that we, though we are saved by grace through faith for Christ's sake, still have sin in us. Mom and Dad passed it on to us. It eventually results in death. It always leads us into other sins. When the troubled sinner confesses his sins to his pastor and his pastor speaks to him (sometimes even touches him in blessing!) and absolves him in Christ's name and for Christ's sake, the sin has been dealt with. The cure is given. The sin no longer has to control and accuse. Christ has paid for all sins. </strong></span>
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<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>But I also recognize the devil's ploys - there is nothing new in what your friend has written. It is exactly what Luther felt (go watch the movie "Luther" again - do this right away - and see when he was taught to pray, "I am Yours! Save me!"). Did you know that the name "Satan" means "accuser?" One of his chief ploys is to constantly accuse us! He accuses your friend of not repenting good enough. He accuses your friend of not being "good enough" for ministry (is he planning to go into the Pastoral Ministry?). The devil is not the least bit creative. I've been watching his b.s. for 29+ years of pastoral ministry now. It's what the devil does to every Christian, and also to unbelievers. If he can get us to think that we are "too bad," then he can get us to despair and thus deny the Gospel itself (and Christ!). That is why we must keep getting the Gospel in proper preaching every week AND rejoice to taste our Lord Jesus Christ in His Meal to sustain us -- then we can preach the Gospel to ourselves every time the "old evil foe" attacks us! </strong></span>
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<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>But Christ died for every sin! And for every sinner! We are saved by grace, through faith, for the sake of what Christ has done! We poor, miserable sinners (see? even the common confession on Sunday morning - unless you participate in that stupid contemporary worship - admits that, though we are saved, we are still poor, miserable sinners!) humbly fall before the cross and pray: "I am Yours! Save me!" </strong></span>
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<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>Please feel free to invite your friend to write to me. Please also direct him to my blog: </strong></span><a href="http://lutheran-101.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>http://lutheran-101.blogspot.com/</strong></span></a><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong> . Also please mention my page (with audio's of our Sunday worship services!) on the Wittenberg Trail: </strong></span><a href="http://wittenbergtrail.ning.com/profile/PastorAlanWollenburg" target="_blank"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>http://wittenbergtrail.ning.com/profile/PastorAlanWollenburg</strong></span></a><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong> . </strong></span>
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<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>OK, that's about it for now. Pax tecum! - Pastor ajw</strong></span>
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<br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">HOW IT CAME OUT:</span></strong>
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<br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">Hi Pastor,</span></strong>
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<br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">I sent your words, with a couple grammatical revisions to my friend. I had to email them because the person is back in { CITY } and I'm in { CITY }. Regardless, I thought you would appreciate reading the response.</span></strong>
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<br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">In Christ, { NAME }</span></strong>
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<br />Hey,</span></strong>
<br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;"><strong>
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<br />Thank you so much for that reply. God spoke volumes through you, more than you know. That was, for many reasons, the first time in a while I have been able to hear gospel in anything, which makes me realize what a serious predicament I had actually put myself in. I have heard Satan being called the Accuser, but never had I looked at that as his primary role. I have always considered his worst work to be done in tempting. However, the events of the past few days, now that I look back at them, have shown me that he is most destructive when he is accusing.
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<br />I have not been able to stop praising God since I read your email. A tremendous burden was lifted from me last night, and I am so glad that you were willing to let God work through you. I'm really not sure what else to say; I don't think I can actually explain what a blessing you and your words were. I guess that is one of God's wise ways, not to let us actually know what awesome and great work that He is doing through us. But I hope I can at least give you a glimpse of how much that meant to me. Thanks for being there, and for caring. God bless
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<br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">WHAT DID WE LEARN HERE?</span>
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<br /></span><span style="color:#cc0000;">That the devil accuses. That we feel the burden of our sins. That we need Christ! That Christ sets us free! Look for other blogs, okRev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-23187083994269165812008-04-11T23:35:00.008-05:002008-04-12T23:11:55.662-05:00"This is Most Certainly True!"<strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">"This is most certainly true"</span></strong> is another one of those things that Lutherans like to say. Because we like to be right. Not just right about something which we have made up. But right in order to be right. There is a wonderful reason to be right. Come to think about it, we MUST be right. For the right reasons . . .<br /><br />Some people like to be right about stuff because it makes them look superior and important. That is the wrong reason to be right.<br /><br />I like it when my auto mechanic is right about things. When he fixes the car (or the old van), I then know that it is reliable for me again. I can depend on it. I can go someplace late at night and be reasonably certain that I will be able to get home again. I can drive it in bad weather and be reasonably certain of my safety in it. Sometimes my very life is in the balance. My mechanic HAS to be right. I need reliability. I need dependability. I need security. Genuine security. I bet that you do, too (go ahead, admit it!).<br /><br />I need my religion to be the same way - because only the real Truth can get me into heaven. And I want it to be an unadulterated, un-watered-down, totally dependable religion. My very soul (immortal, eternal) is in the balance. My religion MUST be right! I need reliability. I need dependability. I need security. Genuine security. I bet that you do, too. And <u>that</u> is precisely where doctrine comes in.<br /><br />Yes, I know - you might think that "doctrine" sounds too, well, doctrinal. Bear with me. Do you know why a theologian (and every Christian pastor had <u>better</u> consider himself to be a theologian!), if he is worth his salt, had better insist on sound doctrine? Because, if your doctrine is sound, then you can approach the most important part of religion and say, <span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>"This is most certainly <span style="color:#cc0000;">true</span>!"</strong></span><span style="color:#000000;"> (Yes, there is a part of religion which I would say is "most important." We're coming to that.)</span><br /><br />Think about it. If my mechanic does not know how to change a tire on my car, it's a sure bet that I will not trust the engine to him! If he cannot change a mere fuse, it's a sure bet that I will not trust the transmission to him! If he can't figure out the simple things, I am certainly not going to entrust the more complicated things to him. Frankly, I would be a fool to do so!<br /><br />In the same way, if my pastor cannot teach me about Baptism, for example, then he really cannot teach me about the Lord Jesus Christ (because one of the ways that Jesus brings Himself to us is in Baptism - more on that some other time!). If my pastor cannot teach me about Holy Communion, then he cannot teach me about Christ as my Savior (again, because one of the ways that Jesus brings Himself to me is in the Lord's Supper - more on that some other time, too). I had better get the right stuff if I want to end up in heaven! It just makes sense!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">So, here is the "job" of doctrine. All Christian doctrine supports the central and most important truth, namely: you and I and the whole world are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ Who is Himself the perfect and only Savior of every man, woman, and child in the world! There! That's it! The central truth. And it is a truly profound truth. It is the most important truth (if you can say it that way). </span></strong><br /><br />Even if you have heard this truth over and over again throughout your life, it is still wonderfully profound. And if you are here reading about this truth for the very first time, it is wonderfully profound. God loves you. God saves you! He did this by the work of His only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is God who actually died for your sins. In truth, He took your sins (the little petty ones and the really big ones) upon His sinless shoulders, He faced the wrath of His Father against each and every sin, and He died as the one and only, sinless, once-for-all-time sacrifice for sin! For your sin! For my sin! For every person's sin! AND . . . ready for this? . . .<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">"This is most certainly true!"</span></strong> This HAS to be true! If this is not true, you and I and literally everyone else in the world will go to hell. If this is not true, no one can possibly go to heaven. The alternative is hell. There is no inbetween. Romans 6:23 - check it out!<br /><br />Enter Martin Luther and his Small Catechism ( <a href="https://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/smallcatechism.pdf">https://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/smallcatechism.pdf</a> ). Go to The Creed. Dr. Luther wrote an explanation to each of the three articles of the Apostles' Creed. The Apostles' Creed dates from about 100 A.D. It was not written by the apostles (disciples) of our Lord. It is so named because it is a statement about the apostolic (New Testament) faith! The New Testament faith tells us that God loves us, that God has worked out our salvation. Each "article" of the Creed tells us about a different "Person" of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (God has revealed Himself to us as the blessed "Three-in-One," aka "Holy Trinity," "Triune God,"). And, as Luther ends each article of the Creed, he affirms its veracity when he writes, <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">"This most certainly true."</span></strong> In other words, you can depend on it. You can stake your very life on it! In fact, you can (and had better) stake your eternal life on it! <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">This is most certainly true.</span></strong><br /><br />Dear friend, if you think that all truth is relative, you are plainly wrong and even sound reason tells you that you are wrong. If you think that there is no such thing as absolute truth, then bring your car over to my house and pay me $50/hour (a bargain these days) to fix it (I can always use the money). If you think that no preacher should be able to tell you sound doctrine, then why do you need a pastor at all? For that matter, fix your car (and your soul) by yourself.<br /><br />Thinking about the above, do you <u>really</u> want to try to work out your own salvation? Do you <u>really</u> think that all Christian doctrine (teaching) should be "up for grabs?" Do you think that you can entrust your salvation to just any upstart preacher, or to a preacher who thinks that he should follow the latest trends? Or, to a preacher who trusts in his own cleverness and "cuteness?" Or to one of those "bait and switch" preachers (they promise you one thing but when you show up they give you something else)? Friend, do not reject absolute truth! Do not be a fool! Do not think that you are personally in charge of "truth" according to whatever whims of feelings you have! Truth IS truth! Thank God for it. THE Truth shows you everlasting life! THE Truth allows you to live (and die) in the holy, true, and Christian faith. And it is utterly dependable. I need that. So do you. Christ is the Giver! Christ is the Gift!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">This is most certainly true!</span></strong> Sweet!Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-4715029591159274902007-12-20T22:55:00.001-06:002007-12-21T00:15:44.144-06:00"What Does This Mean?So, how <strong>does</strong> a Lutheran go about studying the Bible? First things first . . .<br /><br />Anyone who has ever read through Martin Luther's <em>Small Catechism</em> will know that Dr. Luther asked the same question whenever he approached God's Word: <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">"What does this mean?"</span></strong> was his question. It's important for what it does ask, AND for what it does NOT ask. Here's what I mean . . .<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">"What does this mean?"</span></strong> is the right question to ask when we consider who God is! If He truly is the Author/Creator of all people and all things, and if He is going to be the Judge of every heart, then we had better be concerned with what He thinks or wants! If the Bible truly is God's own Word to us, and if it does, in fact, tell us everything about God which He wants us to know about Him on this side of heaven, then we had better ask, and ask clearly: <strong><span style="color:#990000;">"What does this mean?"</span></strong> But then we run into the problem . . .<br /><br />Our sinful pride and its resulting arrogance really does not want to know what God wants. It really does not care about God. In some respects (I'm really saying this wayyyy too gently, actually), our sinful pride actually considers God to be our enemy. It does not really care about what God means about anything . . . and especially if God labels as "sin" some of the things which we like! So, what to do? Easy, says our sinful nature, we'll find a way around that crazy <span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>"What does this mean?"</strong></span> question. And that is how we arrive at what, in its current form, is called "post-modernism."<br /><br />Post-Modernism asserts that there is no such thing as an objective, verifiable truth about anything. Post-Modernism says that you cannot say that the sky is blue, for example, because the blueness of the sky is only your personal perception -- well, or something like that. However, the post-modernist does not want to say that he can tell you that you are not right about anything, either -- that would imply that he has an objective, verifiable truth. So . . . he comes forth with the doctrine that <em>"You have your truth, and it is true for you; but it is not necessarily true for me!"</em> How convenient! Then I can say, <em>"I have my truth but I cannot insist that you embrace my truth because there is no objective, verifiable truth, so my truth really is true for me, but it is not necessarily true or binding for you."</em> This way everyone gets to have his or her own "truth," feel good and moral about themselves, and still do whatever s/he wants. Yes, I know, it starts to make your head spin. The old farmer would have reminded you that, before you go into that particular barn, you had better put on your boots because it might get deep in there. :-)<br /><br />SO WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH <strong><span style="color:#990000;">"WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?"</span></strong> I'm getting to that . . .<br /><br />When Dr. Luther asks <strong><span style="color:#990000;">"What does this mean?"</span></strong> it is important to note what he does not add to his question. In our day and age many Christian denominations ask, <em><span style="color:#cc0000;">"What does this mean <strong>to me</strong>?"</span></em> And those two little extra words get us into big trouble! They say that we are not really interested in what God has to say on a given subject. Those extra words say that we are in charge of deciding what God thinks on a given subject. Those extra words put us in the driver's seat. Those extra words tell us that we are not interested in objective, verifiable truth -- rather, those two little words tell us that we are the ones who are, ultimately, in charge (sorry, I know that I'm repeating myself here). Then, when you are in the Bible class or worship service where everyone present gets to decide what a given Bible passage means "to me," you can have as many different interpretations as there are people present. You might even decide that you can vote on what a passage of Scripture means. How very democratic of us! ;-) And how very foolish!<br /><br />I am so thankful that Dr. Luther knew nothing of the above stuff. <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">"What does this mean?"</span></strong> was his question. It was what had to be answered. From the Word. From God's perspective. There was no room for a creative reinterpretation of what God means. This is wonderfully useful to us! Read on, please . . .<br /><br />How many husbands have gotten into trouble with their wives when they said, <em>"Honey, what I thought you meant was . . . "?</em> :-) How many children have gotten in trouble with their mothers or fathers when the youngster said, <em>"But what I thought you meant was . . ."?</em> (I remember saying dumb stuff like that when I was growing up . . . and getting into all kinds of trouble because of it.) See what I mean? There was no excuse. There really was an objective, verifiable truth, and failing to recognize it -- and playing word games about it instead -- only resulted in getting in worse trouble!<br /><br />So, may the Lord help us, when Lutherans open up the Word of God, our question MUST be <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">"What does this mean?"</span></strong> No extra words. No "wiggle room." No game playing. The truth really is objective, and verifiable. Thank God. Know why? . . .<br /><br />Because Jesus said of Himself, <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."</span></strong> (John 14:6) Jesus would not (could not?) have said that if you would have to ask, "What does this mean . . . <strong>to me</strong>?"<br /><br />Peace be with you!Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493611547111927567.post-83144764741291220542007-12-17T23:57:00.000-06:002007-12-18T00:10:14.851-06:00Getting Started<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> I'm just getting started at this. I wish that I had a better idea of what I am doing, but I guess that I will learn.<br /><br /> God has finally led me to a point in my life where I think that I have something to offer to others. To other Lutheran pastors (especially you confessional guys, my brothers!). To Lutheran pastors who are knee-deep into the Church Growth and "evangelical" kind of stuff. To other Lutheran Christians. To other Christians. To other men. To women. To college students. To teens. To children. To other people who are just plain struggling with the anomalies of life and want to know if anything means anything.<br /><br /> God has shown me that the Lutheran faith truly does have the answers which our world needs. People are wounded. People are hurting. People are confused (oh, man, how true is that!).<br /><br /> We have answers. They are solid answers. Rock solid answers. There is no baloney attached. The answers are from the Word of God. God questions? Please bring them. I will TRY to answer. I will try to answer from the Word of God.<br /><br /> It is late tonight. More later. My next post will be on the subject of "What does this mean?" :-)<br /><br /></span></span></span></div>Rev. Alan J. Wollenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06753189129488408333noreply@blogger.com2