The Law kills. Anytime you preach the Law, anytime you correct and admonish, you kill. You break. You destroy. That's what the Law does.
So the question becomes, why are you using the Law? Why is this the theological tool you bring forth?
If it is because a person is doing someone that annoys you and you wish to smack them down... that is an erring use of the law. If it is because you want them to know how lousy they are... that is an erring use of the law. If you simply know that they are bad and ought to be killed... that is an erring use of the Law. (Caveat - unless you are in the kingdom of the left, in which case, the law is simply meant to punish)
The Law kills, but it kills for one reason - that the person hearing the Law might be resurrected by the Gospel. The Law is always to meant to lead to repentance, lead to the proclamation of the Gospel.
So - why do you preach the Law? IF it's because X annoys you, that's a false reason. If it's because you want to correct society and make it nice, not really the job of a theologian. If you preach the Law because you love the one in err and would have them turn away from their sin so that they might behold their Savior Christ Jesus both now and forever - then you have done well.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Today's Sermon - Trinity 14
Trinity 14 – Luke 17:11-19 – September 5th, 2010
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost +
This lesson should be quite familiar to you, for you hear it twice a year. You hear it right around the time school begins, and then you hear it again on Thanksgiving day. It is the story of the 10 lepers. Isn’t that how we normally think of it – 10 are healed, but only 1 is thankful. And yes, on Thanksgiving Day that will be the angle we look at this text from. However, really, this text isn’t primarily about the lepers, and it isn’t first and foremost about thankfulness or our lack thereof – it’s about Jesus – who Jesus is, what He does. So, let’s look at this text and watch with care our Lord and see what we learn about Him here today.
On the way to Jerusalem He was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. This is actually important – when Luke in his Gospel says that Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem, this means Jesus is getting ready for Palm Sunday and Holy Week, that our Lord’s passion is coming closer and closer. This happens but days before Palm Sunday – and so Christ’s focus would be clearly on winning us salvation – He’s on that task, on target and focused – He is on His way to Jerusalem. “And as He entered a village, He was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’” So, Jesus is focused on salvation. He’s journeying, He’s probably tired and worn out from the road – He’s just entering a village to get some rest – and what happens? Lepers show up – lepers. Dirty, filthy, unclean, nasty looking. And they cry out for mercy. Have mercy on us.
Now, consider for a moment your own life. It is the end of a long day, and you have things to do, you have big, important things on your mind – and then, just as you are ready to rest, someone comes up and wants something. What is your reaction? How quick and ready to love the neighbor in that situation are you? The old sinful flesh likes to rise up then and there, doesn’t it, grumble and complain? But, what does Christ do? These people are calling out to Him when He most certainly is tired and has other things on His mind. Does He brush them off? Does He say come back tomorrow? No – He cares for them.
Now, we learn from this. Of course, we learn that Christ’s attitude is to be our attitude as well. We learn what we ought to do – and in reality, we learn that we fail. Whenever we compare ourselves to Jesus we are simply going to see how we don’t measure up. If anything, when we compare ourselves to Christ we realize we look more like those scrubby lepers, disgusting and wretched. So, consider this. Have you felt worn and weary? Have you looked at your life and been disgusted by what you see? Do you know that you are unclean – an utter mess? You are – if you aren’t sure if you are, compare yourself to Jesus. Are you as holy and good and righteous as He is? Then you’re a mess – and don’t try denying it, ain’t none of us here going to buy it. Each of those 10 lepers knew every other one was a leper, and every one of us knows we all are sinners right along with all the other sinners. And we know that we need Christ, that we need His healing, His forgiveness, His mercy.
But here is where Satan can creep in. Do you ever feel as though – well, you know, you really shouldn’t bother Jesus with that. Well, ought you really pray again about this, I mean, come on, Jesus has to have other things on His mind? Are you going to bring yet another problem and burden to God – sheesh! We can be so ashamed of our problems, of our sin, that Satan tries to isolate us, tries to separate us from God. The Devil is a liar and a murderer, and when he stirs up these thoughts, he is lying to you so he can try to murder you. In our text, does Jesus ever hesitate in helping these lepers? Does our Lord cop an attitude? Does He throw up His arms, make a big sigh, come on people I was just getting ready to have dinner and wash my feet, why are you bugging me now? No. Simple as that. There’s no bad reaction from Christ – He’s not bothered or annoyed by this in the slightest – having mercy is what He came to do, so He delights in getting to deal with these lepers. Learn this, know this – Christ delights in dealing with you. Christ Jesus delights in having you pray to Him and bring your burdens to Him. Christ Jesus delights in having His Word proclaimed to you, enjoys having you receive His Body and Blood in His Supper for your forgiveness, for the strengthening of your weary faith, for your healing. That’s why He had the Apostles and prophets write down the Scriptures, why He has sent you a called and ordained Pastor, and had one here for over 100 years. This is what He delights in.
And as our Lord delights in mercy, He heals these lepers. “When He saw them, He said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’” If you were a leper, you were banished from the community until your disease cleared up – and when it cleared up, you could present yourself to the priests, who would then declare you fit for returning to the community. So when Jesus says, “Go show yourselves to the priests”, He is making them a promise that they will be healed. And so, they go. And the wondrous thing is, they aren’t healed yet when they start walking, but they start heading into town anyway, and then what happens? “And as they went, they were cleansed.” Simple as that. As they are going, they get healed. No big production – simply Jesus says it, promises it, and it happens.
Now, consider how our Lord deals with you. He has promised you forgiveness. He has washed you in Holy Baptism, so you are clean. He has spoken life and salvation unto you in His Word, He has given you His Body and Blood as the promise and token that you will rise again on the last day and have eternal life. Now, note two things. First – none of this is showy. God works through simple means. When He healed the Lepers there was no song and dance – when He heals you, it’s not that spectacular to look at. In baptism, you are joined to Christ, adopted by the Father to be His own redeemed child, made an heir of heaven and eternal life – and what do we see? Eh, a splash of water. In the Supper, Christ Jesus gives you His own Body and Blood, joins you together with all the saints of all ages, we participate for a moment in the joys of heaven and are prepared for them – and what do we see? Eh, a small wafer, a sip of wine. In preaching, in absolution, I as your pastor get to declare to you that you sin is forgiven, that Satan’s power and hold over you is completely broken because of Christ’s death and resurrection, that you are now holy and blameless in God’s sight on account of Christ, that you will rise to life everlasting – and what do we see? Eh, a short balding guy with a lisp. Jesus doesn’t make a big production of things. Why? Because that way they are repeatable. Is there someone new to the faith, does a baptism need to be done – we don’t need some weird, precious substance – look, here is water, what hinders us from baptism now? Nothing. Simple. Or do we need to be refreshed by Christ, forgiven and prepared for life now and for all eternity, could we use His supper? Eh, look here, Pastor’s got some bread and wine – let’s have the Supper. And seriously, should any of you ever desire the Supper, if you’ve missed communion, or even if it’s just been a bad day and you need comfort and forgiveness – let me know, all that is needed for this great gift is just a bit of bread and wine. Simple to receive. Or even with a pastor preaching – God keeps raising up new ones – so that if something happens to me, God will send you someone else – simple things. God gives His mercy to you in simple things. He doesn’t make stupid demands of you – He didn’t tell the lepers to do 100 pushups first, or to go travel 1000s of miles – simply go, and I will heal you. Likewise, in your life, simply come, hear His Word, receive His Supper, and you have God’s forgiveness in full.
Which leads to the second thing. As those lepers started walking, they looked down at themselves, and they saw their scabs, their sores, their illness. Yet their Lord Christ Jesus had told them to walk, and so they walked to go see the priest, and on the way they were healed. Likewise, dear Christians, when you look at your life now, when you see the problems and temptations that you face – they seem to stick around. You know, I expect that the burdens and trials you faced yesterday are still going to be here tomorrow. If you are struggling against a temptation now, probably you will still be struggling with it tomorrow. This healing of Christ’s, the forgiveness we receive – we don’t always see it right away. We don’t always see the life we have in Christ – and Satan wants to have us see our sin and say, “Eh, guess it didn’t take for you – give up, despair, curse God and die.” In contrast to Satan, I say to you – when service is done, head on out those doors and live your life – but live your life remembering the promises of God to you. Christ Jesus has given you His promise of life and salvation, and you shall have it. You have forgiveness now, and you will grow, you will see that life creep out in part now, but you will have it in full for all eternity. Now, you’re in your sinful flesh, and one burden, one temptation gets licked, well, another one pops up. That’s the burden of life in this sinful world – the problems of a decade ago, well, they might be gone, eh, then you have new ones. Or even if these old burdens linger on – it’s horrid, it’s difficult, it’s annoying. But Christ’s promise to you still stands. You are forgiven. You have life in Him. He works in you now, and He will on the last day call you forth to new life, and then you will see yourself healed, fully clean, fully redeemed and ready and prepared to spend eternity with Him and the family of God, and eternity where your praises will not be lacking, where you will be joined with all the saints of all ages in rejoicing before God and delighting in whatever it is that you’ll be doing in heaven, putting your restored and sanctified talents to good work there.
Christ Jesus is good. He is never too busy for you, for He is eager to save, eager to forgive. His promise of life and salvation is yours, and He wants you to know this always, to remember it always, to receive it often so that you might be always confident in Him. Satan will do his damnedest to make you forget this, but the love of Christ for you is more powerful than Satan, and His promises hold true now and forever more. Rest secure in Christ our Lord, for He reigns now and forever more. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost +
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost +
This lesson should be quite familiar to you, for you hear it twice a year. You hear it right around the time school begins, and then you hear it again on Thanksgiving day. It is the story of the 10 lepers. Isn’t that how we normally think of it – 10 are healed, but only 1 is thankful. And yes, on Thanksgiving Day that will be the angle we look at this text from. However, really, this text isn’t primarily about the lepers, and it isn’t first and foremost about thankfulness or our lack thereof – it’s about Jesus – who Jesus is, what He does. So, let’s look at this text and watch with care our Lord and see what we learn about Him here today.
On the way to Jerusalem He was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. This is actually important – when Luke in his Gospel says that Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem, this means Jesus is getting ready for Palm Sunday and Holy Week, that our Lord’s passion is coming closer and closer. This happens but days before Palm Sunday – and so Christ’s focus would be clearly on winning us salvation – He’s on that task, on target and focused – He is on His way to Jerusalem. “And as He entered a village, He was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’” So, Jesus is focused on salvation. He’s journeying, He’s probably tired and worn out from the road – He’s just entering a village to get some rest – and what happens? Lepers show up – lepers. Dirty, filthy, unclean, nasty looking. And they cry out for mercy. Have mercy on us.
Now, consider for a moment your own life. It is the end of a long day, and you have things to do, you have big, important things on your mind – and then, just as you are ready to rest, someone comes up and wants something. What is your reaction? How quick and ready to love the neighbor in that situation are you? The old sinful flesh likes to rise up then and there, doesn’t it, grumble and complain? But, what does Christ do? These people are calling out to Him when He most certainly is tired and has other things on His mind. Does He brush them off? Does He say come back tomorrow? No – He cares for them.
Now, we learn from this. Of course, we learn that Christ’s attitude is to be our attitude as well. We learn what we ought to do – and in reality, we learn that we fail. Whenever we compare ourselves to Jesus we are simply going to see how we don’t measure up. If anything, when we compare ourselves to Christ we realize we look more like those scrubby lepers, disgusting and wretched. So, consider this. Have you felt worn and weary? Have you looked at your life and been disgusted by what you see? Do you know that you are unclean – an utter mess? You are – if you aren’t sure if you are, compare yourself to Jesus. Are you as holy and good and righteous as He is? Then you’re a mess – and don’t try denying it, ain’t none of us here going to buy it. Each of those 10 lepers knew every other one was a leper, and every one of us knows we all are sinners right along with all the other sinners. And we know that we need Christ, that we need His healing, His forgiveness, His mercy.
But here is where Satan can creep in. Do you ever feel as though – well, you know, you really shouldn’t bother Jesus with that. Well, ought you really pray again about this, I mean, come on, Jesus has to have other things on His mind? Are you going to bring yet another problem and burden to God – sheesh! We can be so ashamed of our problems, of our sin, that Satan tries to isolate us, tries to separate us from God. The Devil is a liar and a murderer, and when he stirs up these thoughts, he is lying to you so he can try to murder you. In our text, does Jesus ever hesitate in helping these lepers? Does our Lord cop an attitude? Does He throw up His arms, make a big sigh, come on people I was just getting ready to have dinner and wash my feet, why are you bugging me now? No. Simple as that. There’s no bad reaction from Christ – He’s not bothered or annoyed by this in the slightest – having mercy is what He came to do, so He delights in getting to deal with these lepers. Learn this, know this – Christ delights in dealing with you. Christ Jesus delights in having you pray to Him and bring your burdens to Him. Christ Jesus delights in having His Word proclaimed to you, enjoys having you receive His Body and Blood in His Supper for your forgiveness, for the strengthening of your weary faith, for your healing. That’s why He had the Apostles and prophets write down the Scriptures, why He has sent you a called and ordained Pastor, and had one here for over 100 years. This is what He delights in.
And as our Lord delights in mercy, He heals these lepers. “When He saw them, He said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’” If you were a leper, you were banished from the community until your disease cleared up – and when it cleared up, you could present yourself to the priests, who would then declare you fit for returning to the community. So when Jesus says, “Go show yourselves to the priests”, He is making them a promise that they will be healed. And so, they go. And the wondrous thing is, they aren’t healed yet when they start walking, but they start heading into town anyway, and then what happens? “And as they went, they were cleansed.” Simple as that. As they are going, they get healed. No big production – simply Jesus says it, promises it, and it happens.
Now, consider how our Lord deals with you. He has promised you forgiveness. He has washed you in Holy Baptism, so you are clean. He has spoken life and salvation unto you in His Word, He has given you His Body and Blood as the promise and token that you will rise again on the last day and have eternal life. Now, note two things. First – none of this is showy. God works through simple means. When He healed the Lepers there was no song and dance – when He heals you, it’s not that spectacular to look at. In baptism, you are joined to Christ, adopted by the Father to be His own redeemed child, made an heir of heaven and eternal life – and what do we see? Eh, a splash of water. In the Supper, Christ Jesus gives you His own Body and Blood, joins you together with all the saints of all ages, we participate for a moment in the joys of heaven and are prepared for them – and what do we see? Eh, a small wafer, a sip of wine. In preaching, in absolution, I as your pastor get to declare to you that you sin is forgiven, that Satan’s power and hold over you is completely broken because of Christ’s death and resurrection, that you are now holy and blameless in God’s sight on account of Christ, that you will rise to life everlasting – and what do we see? Eh, a short balding guy with a lisp. Jesus doesn’t make a big production of things. Why? Because that way they are repeatable. Is there someone new to the faith, does a baptism need to be done – we don’t need some weird, precious substance – look, here is water, what hinders us from baptism now? Nothing. Simple. Or do we need to be refreshed by Christ, forgiven and prepared for life now and for all eternity, could we use His supper? Eh, look here, Pastor’s got some bread and wine – let’s have the Supper. And seriously, should any of you ever desire the Supper, if you’ve missed communion, or even if it’s just been a bad day and you need comfort and forgiveness – let me know, all that is needed for this great gift is just a bit of bread and wine. Simple to receive. Or even with a pastor preaching – God keeps raising up new ones – so that if something happens to me, God will send you someone else – simple things. God gives His mercy to you in simple things. He doesn’t make stupid demands of you – He didn’t tell the lepers to do 100 pushups first, or to go travel 1000s of miles – simply go, and I will heal you. Likewise, in your life, simply come, hear His Word, receive His Supper, and you have God’s forgiveness in full.
Which leads to the second thing. As those lepers started walking, they looked down at themselves, and they saw their scabs, their sores, their illness. Yet their Lord Christ Jesus had told them to walk, and so they walked to go see the priest, and on the way they were healed. Likewise, dear Christians, when you look at your life now, when you see the problems and temptations that you face – they seem to stick around. You know, I expect that the burdens and trials you faced yesterday are still going to be here tomorrow. If you are struggling against a temptation now, probably you will still be struggling with it tomorrow. This healing of Christ’s, the forgiveness we receive – we don’t always see it right away. We don’t always see the life we have in Christ – and Satan wants to have us see our sin and say, “Eh, guess it didn’t take for you – give up, despair, curse God and die.” In contrast to Satan, I say to you – when service is done, head on out those doors and live your life – but live your life remembering the promises of God to you. Christ Jesus has given you His promise of life and salvation, and you shall have it. You have forgiveness now, and you will grow, you will see that life creep out in part now, but you will have it in full for all eternity. Now, you’re in your sinful flesh, and one burden, one temptation gets licked, well, another one pops up. That’s the burden of life in this sinful world – the problems of a decade ago, well, they might be gone, eh, then you have new ones. Or even if these old burdens linger on – it’s horrid, it’s difficult, it’s annoying. But Christ’s promise to you still stands. You are forgiven. You have life in Him. He works in you now, and He will on the last day call you forth to new life, and then you will see yourself healed, fully clean, fully redeemed and ready and prepared to spend eternity with Him and the family of God, and eternity where your praises will not be lacking, where you will be joined with all the saints of all ages in rejoicing before God and delighting in whatever it is that you’ll be doing in heaven, putting your restored and sanctified talents to good work there.
Christ Jesus is good. He is never too busy for you, for He is eager to save, eager to forgive. His promise of life and salvation is yours, and He wants you to know this always, to remember it always, to receive it often so that you might be always confident in Him. Satan will do his damnedest to make you forget this, but the love of Christ for you is more powerful than Satan, and His promises hold true now and forever more. Rest secure in Christ our Lord, for He reigns now and forever more. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost +
Saturday, September 4, 2010
What does "Sin Boldly" mean?
Luther has a famous (and much maligned quote) - "Sin Boldly, but believe more boldly still."
What does this mean? Does it mean that as Christians we can simply go do whatever we want? Does it mean that I should and can give in to whatever sins I desire? Does it mean I should flaunt my sin?
No.
It means this. Everything, every single little thing you do in this life, is sin.
Every single thing you do in this life falls short of the glory of God.
But you say you are a good person? But you say you do good things? I ask, do you do them perfectly? Is your heart pure?
When I preach a sermon, part of my heart desires that I receive praise and glory - for I am a sinner.
When I love and care for my neighbor, part of my heart wonders how they will love me - for I am a sinner.
When I do any good, or more accurately, when God accomplishes any good through me, I am still what I am - a sinner, tainted to the core, corrupting all things.
The good that I want to do, I do not do, and the wickedness that I as a Christian do not wish to do, I still do. The taint always remains. I place my hand upon my chest and I believe what Scripture says of it - that in sin my mother bore me, and that my "life" in this world is nothing but a slow march towards the wages of my sin - that my imperfect lungs will cease one day, that my imperfect heart will fail in its beatings.
Everything I do is sin - no matter how hard I strive, no matter how many new rules I add, no matter how much more holy or more righteous I appear than my neighbor. I am a sinner, and I can do nothing to change this.
What then shall I do? Shall I simply try harder? Shall I set a more rigorous discipline - shall I shy away from blessings because I in my sin will abuse them? Shall I let this awareness of my sin paralyze me, keep me from acting for fear, for the knowledge that all my actions when left to themselves are acts of death and destruction?
No. I will sin boldly. I will go out and I will live, I will strive to do good, to show love, to enjoy the blessings of God... even knowing that every moment of my life and every act thereof is full of sin.
I will go and live boldly and without fear, and thus I will sin boldly, for I believe boldly. My righteousness has nothing to do with me, but rather it is Christ who is righteous for me.
Every moment of my life is sin - every moment of His life is perfect - and He gives this life to me.
My life is doomed to death - His life survives beyond death and to all eternity - and He gives this life to me.
Every fiber of my body is tainted with sin - His Body is pure and without spot - and He gives His Body to me.
My blood is corrupt with also sorts of wickedness and filth - His Blood washes away all sins - and He gives His Blood to me.
I love the phrase sin boldly not because it lets me do what I want - I love it because I know that I will never in this life be able to do what I want - that is be free of sin. I love the phrase sin boldly not because it gives me license to sin, but reminds me that every moment of my life is sin, no matter my intentions or desires. I love the phrase sin boldly, for it teaches me to always turn away from myself, for I am utterly sinful and depraved, even for all my growth, and makes me to look to Christ Jesus who is my life and my salvation.
I love the phrase sin boldly because it is only in the salvation of Christ that I am free to live without fear, to live boldly, because otherwise I am trapped by my sin, trapped by my futile efforts to rise above my sin, or to hide my sin, or to pretend that because my sin is less obvious than my neighbor's that it is not there.
In myself I see nothing but death and sin, but I will be bold, for in Christ I see nothing but life and mercy and salvation.
Or to paraphrase Gerhard, everything in me damns me - He still is Jesus for me.
Sin Boldly, but Believe more Boldly Still.
What does this mean? Does it mean that as Christians we can simply go do whatever we want? Does it mean that I should and can give in to whatever sins I desire? Does it mean I should flaunt my sin?
No.
It means this. Everything, every single little thing you do in this life, is sin.
Every single thing you do in this life falls short of the glory of God.
But you say you are a good person? But you say you do good things? I ask, do you do them perfectly? Is your heart pure?
When I preach a sermon, part of my heart desires that I receive praise and glory - for I am a sinner.
When I love and care for my neighbor, part of my heart wonders how they will love me - for I am a sinner.
When I do any good, or more accurately, when God accomplishes any good through me, I am still what I am - a sinner, tainted to the core, corrupting all things.
The good that I want to do, I do not do, and the wickedness that I as a Christian do not wish to do, I still do. The taint always remains. I place my hand upon my chest and I believe what Scripture says of it - that in sin my mother bore me, and that my "life" in this world is nothing but a slow march towards the wages of my sin - that my imperfect lungs will cease one day, that my imperfect heart will fail in its beatings.
Everything I do is sin - no matter how hard I strive, no matter how many new rules I add, no matter how much more holy or more righteous I appear than my neighbor. I am a sinner, and I can do nothing to change this.
What then shall I do? Shall I simply try harder? Shall I set a more rigorous discipline - shall I shy away from blessings because I in my sin will abuse them? Shall I let this awareness of my sin paralyze me, keep me from acting for fear, for the knowledge that all my actions when left to themselves are acts of death and destruction?
No. I will sin boldly. I will go out and I will live, I will strive to do good, to show love, to enjoy the blessings of God... even knowing that every moment of my life and every act thereof is full of sin.
I will go and live boldly and without fear, and thus I will sin boldly, for I believe boldly. My righteousness has nothing to do with me, but rather it is Christ who is righteous for me.
Every moment of my life is sin - every moment of His life is perfect - and He gives this life to me.
My life is doomed to death - His life survives beyond death and to all eternity - and He gives this life to me.
Every fiber of my body is tainted with sin - His Body is pure and without spot - and He gives His Body to me.
My blood is corrupt with also sorts of wickedness and filth - His Blood washes away all sins - and He gives His Blood to me.
I love the phrase sin boldly not because it lets me do what I want - I love it because I know that I will never in this life be able to do what I want - that is be free of sin. I love the phrase sin boldly not because it gives me license to sin, but reminds me that every moment of my life is sin, no matter my intentions or desires. I love the phrase sin boldly, for it teaches me to always turn away from myself, for I am utterly sinful and depraved, even for all my growth, and makes me to look to Christ Jesus who is my life and my salvation.
I love the phrase sin boldly because it is only in the salvation of Christ that I am free to live without fear, to live boldly, because otherwise I am trapped by my sin, trapped by my futile efforts to rise above my sin, or to hide my sin, or to pretend that because my sin is less obvious than my neighbor's that it is not there.
In myself I see nothing but death and sin, but I will be bold, for in Christ I see nothing but life and mercy and salvation.
Or to paraphrase Gerhard, everything in me damns me - He still is Jesus for me.
Sin Boldly, but Believe more Boldly Still.
Weedon gives on his blog the following Gerhard quote:
The very foundation and principle of a holy life is godly sorrow for sin. -- Blessed Johann Gerhard, Sacred Meditations III
Allow me to provide a corollary. The very foundation and principal for pietism is a smug sorrow over the sins of others.
The very foundation and principle of a holy life is godly sorrow for sin. -- Blessed Johann Gerhard, Sacred Meditations III
Allow me to provide a corollary. The very foundation and principal for pietism is a smug sorrow over the sins of others.
Just a quip
The exercise of piety does not make one a pietist; the disdain for the neighbor's lack of piety does.
Likewise, the doing of good works does not make one works righteous, assuming that you have more than your neighbor does.
Likewise, the doing of good works does not make one works righteous, assuming that you have more than your neighbor does.
Friday, September 3, 2010
You Can't Fix Things
People like to fix things, problems, and ultimately, other people. Sometimes you can fix the first two, but many times you can't, and even if you can, your fixes might unleash other problems. And as for fixing people. . . that doesn't work.
Why do we like fixing things. Well, then we are active, we are creative, we are restorative, we get to be the hero. But some things you simply can't "fix".
Don't be a hero. Don't try to fix things. . . simply show love to people in the middle of things. That might help, it might alleviate things, it might even "fix" things, but don't have that be your goal. That goal is results based, and you don't get to control the results - the ends don't justify the means. Just go show love.
Why do we like fixing things. Well, then we are active, we are creative, we are restorative, we get to be the hero. But some things you simply can't "fix".
Don't be a hero. Don't try to fix things. . . simply show love to people in the middle of things. That might help, it might alleviate things, it might even "fix" things, but don't have that be your goal. That goal is results based, and you don't get to control the results - the ends don't justify the means. Just go show love.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Or a shorter version
The pious, faithful man called out to Christ, "I believe, help my unbelief."
The arrogant tract writer said, "I believe, save me from my neighbor's unbelief."
Be a pious, faithful man.
(But, but Luther condemned others! No, Luther condemned anything that obscured Christ - not because he was strong, but because he knew he himself was weak, and that without Christ to constantly aid him, he would be swept along by these wiles. There's a difference. Learn it).
The arrogant tract writer said, "I believe, save me from my neighbor's unbelief."
Be a pious, faithful man.
(But, but Luther condemned others! No, Luther condemned anything that obscured Christ - not because he was strong, but because he knew he himself was weak, and that without Christ to constantly aid him, he would be swept along by these wiles. There's a difference. Learn it).
What am I talking about?
You see the corruption all around you, and people don't care. The ones in power - the so called teachers of the Church - they are indifferent, they hold to their man-made theories and toss their pathetic books of pap back and forth - while all around, filth and chaos and anarchy, where no one does what is right.
Here is what we will do - you and I, we are sane. We will get together, form together, make an organization, and we will call people out. Oh, we will stay within the Church, we won't supplant, but we will just band together on our own and shout for them to get better. And of course, those not holy enough, those not pure enough, the people who just don't get it and cling to the muck and the mire -- we'll just leave them out.
So - who am I?
A. Jakob Spener speaking about the Dead Orthodox in the 17th Century.
B. Too many Confessionals speaking about the Contemporary Crowd today.
C. Both.
If you said C, as David Scaer would say, "For once in your life you are correct!"
Now, I'm sure objections could be made -- the pietists were wrong and we are right in our desires to fix the poor _______ practices in the LCMS. Well, so what. Spener had a very pious desire to fix the indifference to morals in his day, just as your desires are very laudable. But if he is wrong in going about it, why do you follow in his footsteps?
Where did Spener err? Was it in his desire for morality. . . no. It was his lack of trust in the Word of God. Instead of simply preaching the Gospel, pointing to Christ, delighting in the realities of who we are in Baptism, extolling the life we receive in the Supper, instead of these things - let's form holy clubs. Let's lay down the law. Let's circle the wagons (damn the anachronisms, full speed ahead!) and make things better - and form a group to do it.
So, what will it be, oh "Confessional" Lutheran? Will you too organize, make a petition, a new litmus test? Will you urge people to preach against the vile woes of the neighboring congregation (where they aren't really converted to truth Lutheranism)? You, oh Missourian, are of your father Spener! You too would build with the law!
The Law kills. This isn't bad. There's a lot that needs killing down here amongst us sinners - including my own sinful flesh, my own sinful heart, my own sinful dreams that I am going to be the one whom others will rally around, that I will be the one to write the theological shot heard round the world, that I will write the missive that will convince every one else to kick those wicked bums out.
God have mercy on me! Save me from my wicked desires -- and instead, make me to be not a corrector, not a judge, merely a confessor.
When the nobles and theologians signed the Augsburg Confession, they did not do so saying, "Sign this or else we will fight and kill and maim you," They signed it saying, "This is truth - and if you would have me not confess it, you can cut off my head." When Chemnitz and Andrae worked on the formula at the bequest of their princes, they did not say, "If you don't agree with this, to hell with you." They didn't send angry missives to Sweeden saying, "Why aren't you people signing our thing." No - they simply said, "On the basis of what the Scriptures teach, this is what we must support and must reject about these topics."
Or in other words - they confessed. They spoke the Words of God's truth, and then let the chips fall where they may.
Sometimes those chips fell nicely. 1530 was a good time. 1580 was good too. Sometimes, the chips didn't fall so well. 1555 was a bad year. The 1620s were horrid. But it was only when simply confessing the truth wasn't good enough - when we either abandonned the truth with our variata (a la Melanchthon, or if I were in a different synod, like your father Schmucker), or when we no longer trusted the Word to do what it said (a la Spener, or what ever group it is today that rants and raves), when we trusted ourselves to bring about unity and perfection on earth - it was ruined.
This is why Luther would have pastors pray that God be with them, for we are unfit for this office and without Him we will most assuredly bring it all to utter destruction.
Abandon your dreams of purification! The Church Militant has never been, for war is messy, war is hell. Abandon your dreams of power and glory - glory isn't winning a following, it is to bow your head before the axeman, before Caesar, your lips still confessing Christ and no other.
Go and speak Christ. Confess that you are a poor, miserable sinner. Cry out and extol all that Christ has done for you. Cling to that and nothing else - and maybe, maybe you will like Igantius of Antioch begin to learn what it is to be a Christian, maybe with Luther you will learn to beg as befits you.
Lord have mercy upon us!
Here is what we will do - you and I, we are sane. We will get together, form together, make an organization, and we will call people out. Oh, we will stay within the Church, we won't supplant, but we will just band together on our own and shout for them to get better. And of course, those not holy enough, those not pure enough, the people who just don't get it and cling to the muck and the mire -- we'll just leave them out.
So - who am I?
A. Jakob Spener speaking about the Dead Orthodox in the 17th Century.
B. Too many Confessionals speaking about the Contemporary Crowd today.
C. Both.
If you said C, as David Scaer would say, "For once in your life you are correct!"
Now, I'm sure objections could be made -- the pietists were wrong and we are right in our desires to fix the poor _______ practices in the LCMS. Well, so what. Spener had a very pious desire to fix the indifference to morals in his day, just as your desires are very laudable. But if he is wrong in going about it, why do you follow in his footsteps?
Where did Spener err? Was it in his desire for morality. . . no. It was his lack of trust in the Word of God. Instead of simply preaching the Gospel, pointing to Christ, delighting in the realities of who we are in Baptism, extolling the life we receive in the Supper, instead of these things - let's form holy clubs. Let's lay down the law. Let's circle the wagons (damn the anachronisms, full speed ahead!) and make things better - and form a group to do it.
So, what will it be, oh "Confessional" Lutheran? Will you too organize, make a petition, a new litmus test? Will you urge people to preach against the vile woes of the neighboring congregation (where they aren't really converted to truth Lutheranism)? You, oh Missourian, are of your father Spener! You too would build with the law!
The Law kills. This isn't bad. There's a lot that needs killing down here amongst us sinners - including my own sinful flesh, my own sinful heart, my own sinful dreams that I am going to be the one whom others will rally around, that I will be the one to write the theological shot heard round the world, that I will write the missive that will convince every one else to kick those wicked bums out.
God have mercy on me! Save me from my wicked desires -- and instead, make me to be not a corrector, not a judge, merely a confessor.
When the nobles and theologians signed the Augsburg Confession, they did not do so saying, "Sign this or else we will fight and kill and maim you," They signed it saying, "This is truth - and if you would have me not confess it, you can cut off my head." When Chemnitz and Andrae worked on the formula at the bequest of their princes, they did not say, "If you don't agree with this, to hell with you." They didn't send angry missives to Sweeden saying, "Why aren't you people signing our thing." No - they simply said, "On the basis of what the Scriptures teach, this is what we must support and must reject about these topics."
Or in other words - they confessed. They spoke the Words of God's truth, and then let the chips fall where they may.
Sometimes those chips fell nicely. 1530 was a good time. 1580 was good too. Sometimes, the chips didn't fall so well. 1555 was a bad year. The 1620s were horrid. But it was only when simply confessing the truth wasn't good enough - when we either abandonned the truth with our variata (a la Melanchthon, or if I were in a different synod, like your father Schmucker), or when we no longer trusted the Word to do what it said (a la Spener, or what ever group it is today that rants and raves), when we trusted ourselves to bring about unity and perfection on earth - it was ruined.
This is why Luther would have pastors pray that God be with them, for we are unfit for this office and without Him we will most assuredly bring it all to utter destruction.
Abandon your dreams of purification! The Church Militant has never been, for war is messy, war is hell. Abandon your dreams of power and glory - glory isn't winning a following, it is to bow your head before the axeman, before Caesar, your lips still confessing Christ and no other.
Go and speak Christ. Confess that you are a poor, miserable sinner. Cry out and extol all that Christ has done for you. Cling to that and nothing else - and maybe, maybe you will like Igantius of Antioch begin to learn what it is to be a Christian, maybe with Luther you will learn to beg as befits you.
Lord have mercy upon us!
To Be an American is to be a Heretic and Tyrant
Here is what Luther says about heresy:
(From a sermon in 1521 on Luke 17) The word “heresy” comes from the Greek language. "Airein" means to choose, select, and separate. Therefore heresy means a separate, selected, self-made, individualistic doctrine and manner of faith and life, apart from the commonly accepted ones. . . . therefore the word “heretic” really designates a person who is self-willed in matters pertaining to God, a queer fellow (Sonderling) who knows of something better and chooses his own way to heaven, a way the ordinary Christian does not travel. This vice the last of the doctors [of the Church] call singularitatem, capitositatem, etc., singularness, bigheadedness.
Now, what does this mean? It means that each and every American is, at his very core (use of the word intended) a heretic, and not only are we heretics, we are raised from childhood onward to believe not only that we have a God-given right to be a heretic and choose our own will, but we have come to understand that is our patriotic duty to become a tyrant as well, forcing the whims of our personal heresy upon our neighbors.
Don't believe it? Ever call for a vote to force another person to cave to your whim? Ever done so in the Church? Ever move beyond the Scriptures or the Confessions which expound them? Ever demand some point of your own order that did not point to Christ as the Savior of sinners, of whom you are chief?
Then you, my friend, are a heretic. You are a tyrant. You would wrest peoples' eyes off the Word of God and Christ Jesus and onto your own dreams. And God be merciful to me, I am one too.
We are a nation that values choice over revelation - whether it is our choice for freedom to do that which we are not to do or our choice for order and regulation that will force our wayward neighbors to be "good" as we see it. We are a nation that values our own hard work over the salvific work of Christ. We are a nation that demands to be given luxuries for this life while spurning the things of life eternal.
And the arrogance of it all - half of us think we are God's favorite nation.
So, how about it? Can you be bigheaded? Can you be singular - in terms of your lament that you are the only one who really gets it. . . how the fellows in your circuit and district are less than you (well, maybe not so and so, but sheesh!)?
You are a queer fellow, demanding your own desires. I know you are - I do it too, I see it in myself, and I see my vileness dimly reflected in you. Repent, pray, and be focused upon Christ Jesus, whom you do not choose. No, He has chosen you for salvation and forgiveness and redemption. Simply be forgiven and delight in His good will for you.
(From a sermon in 1521 on Luke 17) The word “heresy” comes from the Greek language. "Airein" means to choose, select, and separate. Therefore heresy means a separate, selected, self-made, individualistic doctrine and manner of faith and life, apart from the commonly accepted ones. . . . therefore the word “heretic” really designates a person who is self-willed in matters pertaining to God, a queer fellow (Sonderling) who knows of something better and chooses his own way to heaven, a way the ordinary Christian does not travel. This vice the last of the doctors [of the Church] call singularitatem, capitositatem, etc., singularness, bigheadedness.
Now, what does this mean? It means that each and every American is, at his very core (use of the word intended) a heretic, and not only are we heretics, we are raised from childhood onward to believe not only that we have a God-given right to be a heretic and choose our own will, but we have come to understand that is our patriotic duty to become a tyrant as well, forcing the whims of our personal heresy upon our neighbors.
Don't believe it? Ever call for a vote to force another person to cave to your whim? Ever done so in the Church? Ever move beyond the Scriptures or the Confessions which expound them? Ever demand some point of your own order that did not point to Christ as the Savior of sinners, of whom you are chief?
Then you, my friend, are a heretic. You are a tyrant. You would wrest peoples' eyes off the Word of God and Christ Jesus and onto your own dreams. And God be merciful to me, I am one too.
We are a nation that values choice over revelation - whether it is our choice for freedom to do that which we are not to do or our choice for order and regulation that will force our wayward neighbors to be "good" as we see it. We are a nation that values our own hard work over the salvific work of Christ. We are a nation that demands to be given luxuries for this life while spurning the things of life eternal.
And the arrogance of it all - half of us think we are God's favorite nation.
So, how about it? Can you be bigheaded? Can you be singular - in terms of your lament that you are the only one who really gets it. . . how the fellows in your circuit and district are less than you (well, maybe not so and so, but sheesh!)?
You are a queer fellow, demanding your own desires. I know you are - I do it too, I see it in myself, and I see my vileness dimly reflected in you. Repent, pray, and be focused upon Christ Jesus, whom you do not choose. No, He has chosen you for salvation and forgiveness and redemption. Simply be forgiven and delight in His good will for you.
The ever present Eyeore
So now, we have a new President in the LCMS. Matthew Harrison is officially our President as of right now. So, what shall I do? The same thing I did for all my liberal friends from college when Obama was elected and took office.
Guys - ain't much going to change.
Seriously - it's not as though this Sunday when I head to Church there will be a sudden uproar for every Sunday communion simply because Harrison is now our president. Hordes of deliquents aren't going to return. The folks clamoring of entertainment that makes them feel morally superior and spiritually enlightened aren't going to suddenly say, "Hmmm, let's sing the Te Deum instead." District Presidents aren't suddenly going to say, "Oh man, AC 14, that's brilliant, I finally get it, I ain't authorizing anyone to do anything!" (well, some do, or at least do so most of the time, thanks be to God."
Or, if you are one who is on the other side of the aisle - squads of jackbooted-cassock wearing thugs aren't going to bust into your sanctuary and smash your drum kits. The power to the overhead projectors won't be cut-off by secretive missives from St. Louis. You won't be given a letter saying you have 10 days to join the NALC or LCMC or ELCA or else. . .
No, things will continue as they have for the past month, the past year. Maybe we'll talk about some different things. New folks will be worried about the top coming down on them, new people will be upset because the top folks haven't instigated the purge and vengeance they've long wished for - the Synod will not be suddenly recreated in anyone's vision.
Relax. It's not that different today than it was yesterday. And if you want it to be different - go read the Scriptures and teach them -- I have Psalms today. Go look at the confessions -- when was the last time you read the Apology. . . just sat down and read it? Or the Large Catechism?
Then there may be a slight difference - maybe not the one you were expecting -- a change and growth in you, rather than someone else fixing other people. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, study things yourself - and pray for mercy for all of us sinners, for we try our damnedest in our arrogance and pride to bring it all to destruction, no matter who is the President.
Now pray, and get back to work.
Guys - ain't much going to change.
Seriously - it's not as though this Sunday when I head to Church there will be a sudden uproar for every Sunday communion simply because Harrison is now our president. Hordes of deliquents aren't going to return. The folks clamoring of entertainment that makes them feel morally superior and spiritually enlightened aren't going to suddenly say, "Hmmm, let's sing the Te Deum instead." District Presidents aren't suddenly going to say, "Oh man, AC 14, that's brilliant, I finally get it, I ain't authorizing anyone to do anything!" (well, some do, or at least do so most of the time, thanks be to God."
Or, if you are one who is on the other side of the aisle - squads of jackbooted-cassock wearing thugs aren't going to bust into your sanctuary and smash your drum kits. The power to the overhead projectors won't be cut-off by secretive missives from St. Louis. You won't be given a letter saying you have 10 days to join the NALC or LCMC or ELCA or else. . .
No, things will continue as they have for the past month, the past year. Maybe we'll talk about some different things. New folks will be worried about the top coming down on them, new people will be upset because the top folks haven't instigated the purge and vengeance they've long wished for - the Synod will not be suddenly recreated in anyone's vision.
Relax. It's not that different today than it was yesterday. And if you want it to be different - go read the Scriptures and teach them -- I have Psalms today. Go look at the confessions -- when was the last time you read the Apology. . . just sat down and read it? Or the Large Catechism?
Then there may be a slight difference - maybe not the one you were expecting -- a change and growth in you, rather than someone else fixing other people. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, study things yourself - and pray for mercy for all of us sinners, for we try our damnedest in our arrogance and pride to bring it all to destruction, no matter who is the President.
Now pray, and get back to work.
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