Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am aware that many of you hold to your convictions with great sincerity and zeal. Even if I disagree with you, I applaud you. However, if you want to go and get into a theological argument, please stick to discussions along denominational lines (unless the post is clearly wanting a cross denominational discussion/rumble). Seriously, Lutherans, don't just walk up to a Roman Catholic blog and yell, "The Office of the Papacy is the Antichrist - oh, you got PWNED!" It's rude and foolish. Conversely, please my Roman Catholic friends, it's rude and foolish to jump in randomly and just start trashing Lutheranism on a Lutheran website. Likewise the East - same thing. Likewise Methodists (I have no idea if Methodists even read blogs, but you too as well), Presbyterians, Lions, Tigers, and Bears. . . unless the blog is seeking to explain or illuminate differences in thought - don't snipe. Don't take pot shots.
Feel free to ask for clarification, as a polite guest would (I thank those who have answered my questions about how they would approach an issue) - but show some decent decorum. Yes, we have different beliefs and traditions - show some courtesy.
So, let it be noted -- this is not to go on here. Also, Lutherans, if I am on a blog and I see you behaving poorly in this regard, I will join in on the mockery and lambasting of you until you cease your own boorish behavior. It is unbecoming and just makes Lutherans look like schmucks, which I am not generally in favor of.
If you comment on a blog, you are a guest - at least be somewhat polite in how you post. Sheesh!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Trinity 9 Sermon
Trinity 9 – Luke 16:1-9 – August 1st, 2010
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost +
Today in our Gospel we hear the parable of the Dishonest Manager. I don’t know of many texts that cause more consternation than this one. I mean, this dishonest manager is sleazy. First off, he wastes the master’s possessions, and then when he finds out he is going to be fired, he basically makes himself a nice little golden parachute. And then this dishonest manager is. . . commended? In fact, he’s not just called “dishonest” – in Greek he’s the unrighteous manager. How can this unrighteous man be commended? Not because he is unrighteous, but because he is shrewd, because he is “wise” – because he sees what is going on and acts accordingly. And likewise, Jesus doesn’t want you to be dishonest, doesn’t want you to be unrighteous – he wants you to see and understand what is going on what is going on in your life.
Listen. He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him to him and said, “What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.” There’s the situation. The manager, the bookkeeper, the lawyer running the show is caught wasting, caught squandering, caught messing things up. Things are bad, and the rich man, the owner knows it. So what happens? “and the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.” Right here, this manager is using his head – he’s thinking clearly. Trouble has come – what is he going to do? Does he plan to try to talk his way out of it – never even crosses his mind. He’s shrewd, he knows he’s guilty and he’s not going to be able to talk his way out of it. Does he try to get some other job – decides not to really quickly, and why? Because he’s shrewd, he’s realistic, he knows his own strengths, and his weaknesses. He’s not the manual labor type – he’s a weakling, and he knows it, he admits it. Or maybe he could just beg, head out to the streets. He’s not going to do that. He’s too ashamed – everyone knows that he was the manager for this big, powerful man – who’s going to sympathize with him? When the fired head of BP starts begging for money, how much sympathy is he going to get? No, his begging would only bring scorn and shame, not sympathy, and a beggar who doesn’t generate sympathy is a beggar who goes hungry. This man sees his situation, understands his situation perfectly.
Now let’s pause and apply this. Compare this manager to Adam. Who is Adam? Adam is the man put by God Almighty into the Garden to tend it. He’s a manager – that’s what Adam is. And God says, “Adam, all this I give to you to care for.” And what does Adam do? He squanders it. Ruins it. Wastes it by his sin. The garden is gone, and now he has thorns and thistles and eating bread by the sweat of his brow. Now Eve’s helping of Adam means she gets pain and suffering and strife. The management, the care of the earth that Adam was given was an utter disaster. And when God calls Adam to account, what can Adam do? Can he talk his way out of it – he tried, “It’s the woman you gave me, it’s her fault.” Doesn’t work. God doesn’t buy it. So what is left to Adam? Is he going to be able to fix things by his own strength? Is he able to say to God, “Don’t worry God, I’ll fix it!” Not really. Is Adam going to be able to be all sympathetic, bat his eyes at God and say, “Oh, I didn’t mean it, give me another chance”? He’s not going to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes. He’s guilty, and that’s that.
Now let’s consider you, for you are Adam’s son, Adam’s daughter. You too squander the things that God has given you. Your time, your talent, your treasure – anyone here want to make the case that they have used these gifts like they ought? This is the truth of sin – sin is squandering God’s blessings. God gives us strength – do we use it to serve our neighbor, or do we waste it in vain pursuits? God gives us a Church – do we take advantage of worship and learning like we ought, or do we run off after other things? God gives us wealth – do we use it to provide for our neighbors, or does the love of money become our master, where we worry more and more and more about cash? To sin is to squander the gifts that God gives you – every and any sin can be described this way. Wasting a gift God has given you – and the simple fact is, every one of us here has squandered and wasted God’s good gifts to us.
So, what should our response to this be? When God calls us to account for our sin, what shall we say? Shall we pretend that we aren’t all that bad? Oh, no God, I haven’t squandered stuff. . . well, at least I haven’t squandered it as badly as that fellow over there! That isn’t going to cut it. . . but how often are you tempted to compare yourself to your neighbor and feel smug because you are “better” than him? Not good. Doesn’t work. Or shall we try to make things up to God? Oh God, I know I’ve been bad in the past, but I’ll work really hard and I’ll make it up to you? Really? How? What are you going to do that is going to make up for your sin, for the pain you’ve cause the people in your life? We can’t – we don’t get to make up for things, we don’t get to take it back. That doesn’t fly either. Or shall we try to generate sympathy – oh poor little old me? Really? Do you think God, who knows everything, is going to buy a sweet little ol’ innocent me act? No. When it comes to sin we need to be shrewd and say simply, “I am guilty, and I can’t get out of this on my own.
That’s what this unrighteous manager realizes. He knows that he is unrighteous, he knows that he is unable to by his own strength fix anything. So what does he do? “’I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their homes.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and sit down quickly and write down fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ And the master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness.” Here’s the plan – he is going to cook the books. Here you, you owe 50 measures of olive oil less. A measure was right around 875, 900 galleons. That’s over 40,000 galleons of olive oil. Quite a sum, isn’t it? Here, have that much free. Or the measure of wheat – that was around 1200 bushes – here, have 24,000 bushels of wheat. Even with today’s lousy prices, that’s a pretty hefty sum. This generosity will be repaid to this manager – if I save you $90,000 and then ask, “Hey, I’m having a hard time, can you help me out,” are you going to say no? Of course not.
There’s only one catch. Will the master let it stand? Will he follow after the manager and say to these people, “That man was acting illegally, pay me the full amount”? And the answer is no – and here’s where the shrewdness comes in. This unjust manager knows the rich man, and knows that the rich man will be merciful with this, and will let it stand. That’s the key – this unrighteous servant is able to live, able to survive because of one thing and one thing only – the rich man is merciful – and the unjust steward knows this and lives.
Now, again, what of Adam? What of you? No strength of your own to stand upon? So what happens? You have no righteousness whereby to justify yourselves, you have no strength to save yourselves. But Who does? Christ Jesus our Lord. And what happens? He is merciful. Christ Jesus, true God and true Man comes down from heaven, and He is holy and righteous – and what does He do? He offers you His own righteousness to save you. You don’t even have to come up with a plan like the manager – God Himself says, “Here you go, I will be your Savior, I will take up your sin, your debt and crucify it, and in exchange, I will give you life in My name.” A good deal. And it was no accident that in this parable, Jesus uses oil and wheat. Oil is associated with Baptism and Wheat with the Lord’s Supper. In the Early Church, even many places today, when you baptized would also anoint the head with oil, rich and fragrant. A friend of mine had her child baptized last week, and when she was home she could smell the oil, and she remarked, “I love it, the house smells like baptism.” And then wheat – you turn wheat into bread, and then you have the Supper. And what do both Baptism and the Supper have in common? Those are places, those are means by which Christ Jesus erases your debts and gives you blessings and forgiveness and salvation. God is merciful to you, and because of this, you live.
So what happens now? For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. Christ here is calling you to be honest spiritually – to be honest in looking at yourself. Be shrewd, see your sin for what it is – sin. Vile sin. But more importantly, true shrewdness, true wisdom and intelligence and smarts is this – see Christ Jesus Himself, see that He is merciful, see how He has come to be your great and wondrous friend, see how by His being put to death, the most unrighteous execution in the history of the world, by this death upon the Cross you are given wealth beyond compare, you are made for His sake to be welcomed into the eternal dwellings of the resurrection of the dead, you are given complete and full pardon and forgiveness for your sin, all on account of Him. This is His mercy. This is the wisdom of God, this is the love of God for you, that Christ Jesus has won salvation and forgiveness for you, and that He gives it to you through His gifts of Baptism and His Supper – and praise and glory and thanks be to God our Father through Christ Jesus our Lord, for this great love unto us, His unworthy yet forgiven and blessed servants. 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 +
Today in our Gospel we hear the parable of the Dishonest Manager. I don’t know of many texts that cause more consternation than this one. I mean, this dishonest manager is sleazy. First off, he wastes the master’s possessions, and then when he finds out he is going to be fired, he basically makes himself a nice little golden parachute. And then this dishonest manager is. . . commended? In fact, he’s not just called “dishonest” – in Greek he’s the unrighteous manager. How can this unrighteous man be commended? Not because he is unrighteous, but because he is shrewd, because he is “wise” – because he sees what is going on and acts accordingly. And likewise, Jesus doesn’t want you to be dishonest, doesn’t want you to be unrighteous – he wants you to see and understand what is going on what is going on in your life.
Listen. He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him to him and said, “What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.” There’s the situation. The manager, the bookkeeper, the lawyer running the show is caught wasting, caught squandering, caught messing things up. Things are bad, and the rich man, the owner knows it. So what happens? “and the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.” Right here, this manager is using his head – he’s thinking clearly. Trouble has come – what is he going to do? Does he plan to try to talk his way out of it – never even crosses his mind. He’s shrewd, he knows he’s guilty and he’s not going to be able to talk his way out of it. Does he try to get some other job – decides not to really quickly, and why? Because he’s shrewd, he’s realistic, he knows his own strengths, and his weaknesses. He’s not the manual labor type – he’s a weakling, and he knows it, he admits it. Or maybe he could just beg, head out to the streets. He’s not going to do that. He’s too ashamed – everyone knows that he was the manager for this big, powerful man – who’s going to sympathize with him? When the fired head of BP starts begging for money, how much sympathy is he going to get? No, his begging would only bring scorn and shame, not sympathy, and a beggar who doesn’t generate sympathy is a beggar who goes hungry. This man sees his situation, understands his situation perfectly.
Now let’s pause and apply this. Compare this manager to Adam. Who is Adam? Adam is the man put by God Almighty into the Garden to tend it. He’s a manager – that’s what Adam is. And God says, “Adam, all this I give to you to care for.” And what does Adam do? He squanders it. Ruins it. Wastes it by his sin. The garden is gone, and now he has thorns and thistles and eating bread by the sweat of his brow. Now Eve’s helping of Adam means she gets pain and suffering and strife. The management, the care of the earth that Adam was given was an utter disaster. And when God calls Adam to account, what can Adam do? Can he talk his way out of it – he tried, “It’s the woman you gave me, it’s her fault.” Doesn’t work. God doesn’t buy it. So what is left to Adam? Is he going to be able to fix things by his own strength? Is he able to say to God, “Don’t worry God, I’ll fix it!” Not really. Is Adam going to be able to be all sympathetic, bat his eyes at God and say, “Oh, I didn’t mean it, give me another chance”? He’s not going to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes. He’s guilty, and that’s that.
Now let’s consider you, for you are Adam’s son, Adam’s daughter. You too squander the things that God has given you. Your time, your talent, your treasure – anyone here want to make the case that they have used these gifts like they ought? This is the truth of sin – sin is squandering God’s blessings. God gives us strength – do we use it to serve our neighbor, or do we waste it in vain pursuits? God gives us a Church – do we take advantage of worship and learning like we ought, or do we run off after other things? God gives us wealth – do we use it to provide for our neighbors, or does the love of money become our master, where we worry more and more and more about cash? To sin is to squander the gifts that God gives you – every and any sin can be described this way. Wasting a gift God has given you – and the simple fact is, every one of us here has squandered and wasted God’s good gifts to us.
So, what should our response to this be? When God calls us to account for our sin, what shall we say? Shall we pretend that we aren’t all that bad? Oh, no God, I haven’t squandered stuff. . . well, at least I haven’t squandered it as badly as that fellow over there! That isn’t going to cut it. . . but how often are you tempted to compare yourself to your neighbor and feel smug because you are “better” than him? Not good. Doesn’t work. Or shall we try to make things up to God? Oh God, I know I’ve been bad in the past, but I’ll work really hard and I’ll make it up to you? Really? How? What are you going to do that is going to make up for your sin, for the pain you’ve cause the people in your life? We can’t – we don’t get to make up for things, we don’t get to take it back. That doesn’t fly either. Or shall we try to generate sympathy – oh poor little old me? Really? Do you think God, who knows everything, is going to buy a sweet little ol’ innocent me act? No. When it comes to sin we need to be shrewd and say simply, “I am guilty, and I can’t get out of this on my own.
That’s what this unrighteous manager realizes. He knows that he is unrighteous, he knows that he is unable to by his own strength fix anything. So what does he do? “’I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their homes.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and sit down quickly and write down fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ And the master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness.” Here’s the plan – he is going to cook the books. Here you, you owe 50 measures of olive oil less. A measure was right around 875, 900 galleons. That’s over 40,000 galleons of olive oil. Quite a sum, isn’t it? Here, have that much free. Or the measure of wheat – that was around 1200 bushes – here, have 24,000 bushels of wheat. Even with today’s lousy prices, that’s a pretty hefty sum. This generosity will be repaid to this manager – if I save you $90,000 and then ask, “Hey, I’m having a hard time, can you help me out,” are you going to say no? Of course not.
There’s only one catch. Will the master let it stand? Will he follow after the manager and say to these people, “That man was acting illegally, pay me the full amount”? And the answer is no – and here’s where the shrewdness comes in. This unjust manager knows the rich man, and knows that the rich man will be merciful with this, and will let it stand. That’s the key – this unrighteous servant is able to live, able to survive because of one thing and one thing only – the rich man is merciful – and the unjust steward knows this and lives.
Now, again, what of Adam? What of you? No strength of your own to stand upon? So what happens? You have no righteousness whereby to justify yourselves, you have no strength to save yourselves. But Who does? Christ Jesus our Lord. And what happens? He is merciful. Christ Jesus, true God and true Man comes down from heaven, and He is holy and righteous – and what does He do? He offers you His own righteousness to save you. You don’t even have to come up with a plan like the manager – God Himself says, “Here you go, I will be your Savior, I will take up your sin, your debt and crucify it, and in exchange, I will give you life in My name.” A good deal. And it was no accident that in this parable, Jesus uses oil and wheat. Oil is associated with Baptism and Wheat with the Lord’s Supper. In the Early Church, even many places today, when you baptized would also anoint the head with oil, rich and fragrant. A friend of mine had her child baptized last week, and when she was home she could smell the oil, and she remarked, “I love it, the house smells like baptism.” And then wheat – you turn wheat into bread, and then you have the Supper. And what do both Baptism and the Supper have in common? Those are places, those are means by which Christ Jesus erases your debts and gives you blessings and forgiveness and salvation. God is merciful to you, and because of this, you live.
So what happens now? For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. Christ here is calling you to be honest spiritually – to be honest in looking at yourself. Be shrewd, see your sin for what it is – sin. Vile sin. But more importantly, true shrewdness, true wisdom and intelligence and smarts is this – see Christ Jesus Himself, see that He is merciful, see how He has come to be your great and wondrous friend, see how by His being put to death, the most unrighteous execution in the history of the world, by this death upon the Cross you are given wealth beyond compare, you are made for His sake to be welcomed into the eternal dwellings of the resurrection of the dead, you are given complete and full pardon and forgiveness for your sin, all on account of Him. This is His mercy. This is the wisdom of God, this is the love of God for you, that Christ Jesus has won salvation and forgiveness for you, and that He gives it to you through His gifts of Baptism and His Supper – and praise and glory and thanks be to God our Father through Christ Jesus our Lord, for this great love unto us, His unworthy yet forgiven and blessed servants. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost +
Saturday, July 31, 2010
The World and Death
Many people have lamented that Christianity is on the decline. I don't have to list names, I'm sure you can think of many different articles or speakers and the like. However, why? What is bringing about this decline? We are seeing an increasing love of the world. There is much more in the world that entices, that pulls Christians away - the dissipation of life are pulling folks away.
But why is the world so much more enticing? Is money and lust and power just that much better today than it was in the past? No - people still could run after these like fools in the past, just as people do today. Is it technology - that we have such easy access? No - Satan has always made temptation and vice seem easy.
No, the big difference that I see is our attitude toward death.
Today, I get to bury a friend and colleague - the Rev. Joseph Myers. He died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 61 (and he didn't look 61). He was in good health - and then there is death. He's the second youngest person I will have buried - the only person younger was in horrible health, lungs destroyed by smoking, and Kerrie fought a good multiple year battle.
No one saw Joe's death coming. . . and that's why Christianity is on the decline; that's why the world's appeals are so much stronger. We forget about death - we push it out of our minds - we all assume we've got our 80 or 90 years coming to us if we stay healthy. There's not a person who I've talked to who hasn't been not only shocked at his death, but also *surprised* by it.
Think about that. We will find death to be surprising.
Now, contrast that to the Centuries past. Death was never surprising. Oh, it's occurrence might be shocking, might be tragic - but unexpected. No. There was the knowledge that death comes to us all, and it probably will come sooner rather than later. And so there was this understanding, this knowledge that the fleeting joys of this life were temporary - it was the joys of the life to come that are lasting.
But we don't see that now. Now, we all know that we have miles to go before we sleep - so we might as well live it up in the meantime. This comes out in our approach to God, our approach to worship, our hymns. In old hymns. . .you almost always died... but who cares, in Christ you will live forever, you will be raised to new and better life. Even the old classic American hymns that Lutherans will sometimes denigrate do that - Amazing Grace, Rock of Ages - you die at the end - but who cares - Christ has risen and won me salvation.
The modern song. . . not so much. And the thing is, we don't miss it. Death doesn't necessarily hit us so soon. I remember being at high school in Minden, and a classmate died in a car accident. Now, Ryan was my third classmate to die, in addition to a grandmother and others. But for some of the people in the school, he was the first person they knew, really knew, who had died. And they were 15.
We push off death (here one might rant against the video games and say that we desensitize... but no, we have no experience of it to desensitive. Actually, sanitized urban life probably does more to keep the experience of death away than anything else), we pretend it doesn't come. And the thing is, Christianity has never been just about having your best life now, about being all that you can be, about having run and rock and roll. It was about conquering over our old foes Sin, death, and the Devil.
Is it any surprise that when one foe is treated as a myth and that another is a stranger that the appeal of sin would be that much greater?
Remember, you too shall die. But in Christ Jesus, because of his death and resurrection - death can go suck it, it shall not keep you, for it could not keep your Lord and Master, your Living Head, Christ Jesus.
This is the Christian faith.
But why is the world so much more enticing? Is money and lust and power just that much better today than it was in the past? No - people still could run after these like fools in the past, just as people do today. Is it technology - that we have such easy access? No - Satan has always made temptation and vice seem easy.
No, the big difference that I see is our attitude toward death.
Today, I get to bury a friend and colleague - the Rev. Joseph Myers. He died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 61 (and he didn't look 61). He was in good health - and then there is death. He's the second youngest person I will have buried - the only person younger was in horrible health, lungs destroyed by smoking, and Kerrie fought a good multiple year battle.
No one saw Joe's death coming. . . and that's why Christianity is on the decline; that's why the world's appeals are so much stronger. We forget about death - we push it out of our minds - we all assume we've got our 80 or 90 years coming to us if we stay healthy. There's not a person who I've talked to who hasn't been not only shocked at his death, but also *surprised* by it.
Think about that. We will find death to be surprising.
Now, contrast that to the Centuries past. Death was never surprising. Oh, it's occurrence might be shocking, might be tragic - but unexpected. No. There was the knowledge that death comes to us all, and it probably will come sooner rather than later. And so there was this understanding, this knowledge that the fleeting joys of this life were temporary - it was the joys of the life to come that are lasting.
But we don't see that now. Now, we all know that we have miles to go before we sleep - so we might as well live it up in the meantime. This comes out in our approach to God, our approach to worship, our hymns. In old hymns. . .you almost always died... but who cares, in Christ you will live forever, you will be raised to new and better life. Even the old classic American hymns that Lutherans will sometimes denigrate do that - Amazing Grace, Rock of Ages - you die at the end - but who cares - Christ has risen and won me salvation.
The modern song. . . not so much. And the thing is, we don't miss it. Death doesn't necessarily hit us so soon. I remember being at high school in Minden, and a classmate died in a car accident. Now, Ryan was my third classmate to die, in addition to a grandmother and others. But for some of the people in the school, he was the first person they knew, really knew, who had died. And they were 15.
We push off death (here one might rant against the video games and say that we desensitize... but no, we have no experience of it to desensitive. Actually, sanitized urban life probably does more to keep the experience of death away than anything else), we pretend it doesn't come. And the thing is, Christianity has never been just about having your best life now, about being all that you can be, about having run and rock and roll. It was about conquering over our old foes Sin, death, and the Devil.
Is it any surprise that when one foe is treated as a myth and that another is a stranger that the appeal of sin would be that much greater?
Remember, you too shall die. But in Christ Jesus, because of his death and resurrection - death can go suck it, it shall not keep you, for it could not keep your Lord and Master, your Living Head, Christ Jesus.
This is the Christian faith.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Are We Surpised? Really? It's not that big of a deal...
So, many people are shocked that author Anne Rice announced that she is no longer a Christian - which comes on the heels of her decision a few years ago to no longer write anything Vampire and instead write about Jesus.
There's shock and horror - how could she repudiate her faith! And then there's the accusations - she never really, really, really got it (like I do). Or the shrugs - she made all this vampire stuff popular, let the tramp burn!
Here is what she wrote:
"I quit being a Christian. I’m out. In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen."
This really has nothing to do with being "Christian" -- it has to do with the idea that being a Christian means you are supposed to be socially conservative.
But, but, but - aren't the Scriptures opposed to homosexuality? Yep. If she wants to defend homosexuality as a life-style, she is wrong and in error. It happens.
But also note what else is there -- anti-feminist. Anti-artificial birth control. Anti-Democrat. Anti-secular humanism. Anti-science.
In other words - she doesn't want to be conservative. That's all. Simple as that. And you know what -- um... can one be a democrat and still be a Christian? Sure. Can one think that women should get equal pay for equal work. . . or even think that women should be able to work and still be a Christian? Sure.
(A note on women working - yes, yes, yes, you will say the woman's place is in the home. Now go read Proverbs 31 and then tell me if your idea of a housewife includes purchasing and managing the property, producing goods, and selling the produce of the house)
Here's the hint. Anne Rice is/was a member of Rome. Rome says that they are Christian. . . so she's repudiating Rome. She still wants to confess Christ (with what errors, I don't know, everyone has personal heresies of a sort) but can't stand the things Rome is forcing her to believe. So she says that she won't.
Now, I can sympathize with that. If she had said, "I refuse to hold to the enforced celibacy of priests, I refuse to be forced to do good works to merit the salvation Christ has already won for me, I refuse to bind myself to Aristotelian ideas about the Supper - I simply want Justification to be the focus" - then we would have said, "A-ha! She has become a Confessional Lutheran!"
Rice is rejecting Rome -- and what has she become? Well, pro-gay, feminist, pro-birth control, Democrat who likes science. Let's assume that she still likes things liturgical and the like. Well, isn't that sort of a liberal Episcopalian? Eh, she'll end up there or some other such place. Hopefully she get enough of the Gospel is bits and spurts that her faith is not washed away completely. Who knows.
But it's not that big of a deal. Now, if she were going to write more Vampire Novels - maybe some more good Vampire Mythology stuff like "Queen of the Damned" - now that would be a big deal.
There's shock and horror - how could she repudiate her faith! And then there's the accusations - she never really, really, really got it (like I do). Or the shrugs - she made all this vampire stuff popular, let the tramp burn!
Here is what she wrote:
"I quit being a Christian. I’m out. In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science. I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen."
This really has nothing to do with being "Christian" -- it has to do with the idea that being a Christian means you are supposed to be socially conservative.
But, but, but - aren't the Scriptures opposed to homosexuality? Yep. If she wants to defend homosexuality as a life-style, she is wrong and in error. It happens.
But also note what else is there -- anti-feminist. Anti-artificial birth control. Anti-Democrat. Anti-secular humanism. Anti-science.
In other words - she doesn't want to be conservative. That's all. Simple as that. And you know what -- um... can one be a democrat and still be a Christian? Sure. Can one think that women should get equal pay for equal work. . . or even think that women should be able to work and still be a Christian? Sure.
(A note on women working - yes, yes, yes, you will say the woman's place is in the home. Now go read Proverbs 31 and then tell me if your idea of a housewife includes purchasing and managing the property, producing goods, and selling the produce of the house)
Here's the hint. Anne Rice is/was a member of Rome. Rome says that they are Christian. . . so she's repudiating Rome. She still wants to confess Christ (with what errors, I don't know, everyone has personal heresies of a sort) but can't stand the things Rome is forcing her to believe. So she says that she won't.
Now, I can sympathize with that. If she had said, "I refuse to hold to the enforced celibacy of priests, I refuse to be forced to do good works to merit the salvation Christ has already won for me, I refuse to bind myself to Aristotelian ideas about the Supper - I simply want Justification to be the focus" - then we would have said, "A-ha! She has become a Confessional Lutheran!"
Rice is rejecting Rome -- and what has she become? Well, pro-gay, feminist, pro-birth control, Democrat who likes science. Let's assume that she still likes things liturgical and the like. Well, isn't that sort of a liberal Episcopalian? Eh, she'll end up there or some other such place. Hopefully she get enough of the Gospel is bits and spurts that her faith is not washed away completely. Who knows.
But it's not that big of a deal. Now, if she were going to write more Vampire Novels - maybe some more good Vampire Mythology stuff like "Queen of the Damned" - now that would be a big deal.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The Implication of Freedom
I find that many folks despise freedom. Freedom means that there are options - that you may do this or you may do that or even this third thing - and that all are fine. Act as you think to be fit. And if you are free to do something - how you use that freedom is okay (provided you don't use freedom as a pretext to sin). Freedom means that if it is not sinning, it's okay to do.
The problem is, we don't like having multiple options. How many of you like getting merely a participation ribbon? How many of you like having a game where you are simply free to play and no score is kept? Not many, I'd wager. And we do the same thing as regards our life - we want to know who is the best (and hope that it is us). We don't want to be content with the freedom God has given us, we want to know what is *best*.
Now, I'm not saying that we shouldn't strive to do what is best, that we shouldn't seek to be as loving as possible... but we are called to freedom. That means what some other sap thinks is best for him may very well be different than what you think... and that's okay. It means we aren't keeping score - it means that you answer isn't necessarily the *best* answer for everyone. And that's okay.
Freedom means other people get to do things you wouldn't - things you have no interest in doing - and yet they still please God in doing. Freedom means you don't have to plumb the hidden will of God and pretend you know things beyond Scripture (hmmm, does God really, really, really want me to hire this plumber...maybe I should pray and wait for the Holy Spirit to give me a sign). Just go. Be free.
Seriously. Go enjoy the options and opportunities God gives you. For Freedom Christ has set you free. Try your best. If God wants you going in a different way - He'll turn you. You don't have to try to out guess Him. You don't have to have everyone else do the same things as you, think the same things as you, pat you on the back for everything to validate you as the best - just go be free. Confess your sin, receive forgiveness, and enjoy the blessings God gives you.
Freedom is a good thing -- but it means that I don't get to elevate myself over my neighbor, I don't get to win over him, I don't get to prove that I'm better by having his acclaim. And that is distasteful to the sinful flesh which wants to dominate over others and take away their freedom. Thus is life in a sinful world.
The problem is, we don't like having multiple options. How many of you like getting merely a participation ribbon? How many of you like having a game where you are simply free to play and no score is kept? Not many, I'd wager. And we do the same thing as regards our life - we want to know who is the best (and hope that it is us). We don't want to be content with the freedom God has given us, we want to know what is *best*.
Now, I'm not saying that we shouldn't strive to do what is best, that we shouldn't seek to be as loving as possible... but we are called to freedom. That means what some other sap thinks is best for him may very well be different than what you think... and that's okay. It means we aren't keeping score - it means that you answer isn't necessarily the *best* answer for everyone. And that's okay.
Freedom means other people get to do things you wouldn't - things you have no interest in doing - and yet they still please God in doing. Freedom means you don't have to plumb the hidden will of God and pretend you know things beyond Scripture (hmmm, does God really, really, really want me to hire this plumber...maybe I should pray and wait for the Holy Spirit to give me a sign). Just go. Be free.
Seriously. Go enjoy the options and opportunities God gives you. For Freedom Christ has set you free. Try your best. If God wants you going in a different way - He'll turn you. You don't have to try to out guess Him. You don't have to have everyone else do the same things as you, think the same things as you, pat you on the back for everything to validate you as the best - just go be free. Confess your sin, receive forgiveness, and enjoy the blessings God gives you.
Freedom is a good thing -- but it means that I don't get to elevate myself over my neighbor, I don't get to win over him, I don't get to prove that I'm better by having his acclaim. And that is distasteful to the sinful flesh which wants to dominate over others and take away their freedom. Thus is life in a sinful world.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The 3 Laws of Heresy
I posit that Heresy is like Physics - it behaves in some generally predictable ways. Hence, here they are, the three Laws of Heresy.
1. A Hersey moving away from truth keeps moving away from truth. So, what does this mean? Heresy never just stops with a little error, with being a little off, It keeps getting worse and worse. This is something that one can see historically. Once you end up denying something like the Sacraments, your theology about the Person of Christ continues to decay -- this Law is what led the Puritans of the Northeast to basically fall apart into Unitarian Universalism. This can also be seen in ordination issues. Once you ignore Scripture to let women be ordained, that heresy is going to keep moving further away, and you will lead into homosexual ordination and the like.
2. The popularity of a heresy is proportional to the personal Charisma/Power of it's proponent. Whenever there is a heresy, it's purpose is to pull and distract people away from the clear Word of God. The power for a heresy isn't anything from God, it comes from man. Therefore, the more Charisma, the more worldly sway and power that a person has, the more popular the heresy will be. That's why heretical sects end up being so strongly cults of personality.
3. For every heresy there is an equal and opposite heresy. You had Nestorious and you had Eutyches, you had the Judiazers and you had Marcion, you had Calvinism and you had Arminianism. Every time someone departs from the Scriptures in one direction, another person will depart from the Scriptures in the opposite way.
These are the three Laws of heresy, and historically, they hold true.
+++++++++++++
The brilliant theo-physicist "George" writes the following, which is worthy of front post notage:
I do think there are relativistic laws though.
The faster you're moving relative to the truth the harder it is to tell how fast other people are moving from the truth.
The point is -- that if you are a heretic, it's not really so easy for you to tell how heretical a different heresy is. E.g. fellowship between ELCA and UM, PCUSA, etc.
1. A Hersey moving away from truth keeps moving away from truth. So, what does this mean? Heresy never just stops with a little error, with being a little off, It keeps getting worse and worse. This is something that one can see historically. Once you end up denying something like the Sacraments, your theology about the Person of Christ continues to decay -- this Law is what led the Puritans of the Northeast to basically fall apart into Unitarian Universalism. This can also be seen in ordination issues. Once you ignore Scripture to let women be ordained, that heresy is going to keep moving further away, and you will lead into homosexual ordination and the like.
2. The popularity of a heresy is proportional to the personal Charisma/Power of it's proponent. Whenever there is a heresy, it's purpose is to pull and distract people away from the clear Word of God. The power for a heresy isn't anything from God, it comes from man. Therefore, the more Charisma, the more worldly sway and power that a person has, the more popular the heresy will be. That's why heretical sects end up being so strongly cults of personality.
3. For every heresy there is an equal and opposite heresy. You had Nestorious and you had Eutyches, you had the Judiazers and you had Marcion, you had Calvinism and you had Arminianism. Every time someone departs from the Scriptures in one direction, another person will depart from the Scriptures in the opposite way.
These are the three Laws of heresy, and historically, they hold true.
+++++++++++++
The brilliant theo-physicist "George" writes the following, which is worthy of front post notage:
I do think there are relativistic laws though.
The faster you're moving relative to the truth the harder it is to tell how fast other people are moving from the truth.
The point is -- that if you are a heretic, it's not really so easy for you to tell how heretical a different heresy is. E.g. fellowship between ELCA and UM, PCUSA, etc.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
So sick of the Law
The flier/fund-raising-appeal/guilt-trip arrived in the mail. "Two Children die every minute - what are you doing about it?"
Oh, guess it wasn't a fund raiser. . . it was an ad for a CPH children's book. It's about how children can get involved in helping to fund anti-malaria projects.
This is how we advertise a children's book about helping your neighbor? Really? This is how we get out information about the LMI (Lutheran Malaria Initiative - a joint project between Lutheran World Relief, the LCMS, and the ELCA)?
Well, other than buying this book, what can I do? The flier tells me where I fit in.
Pray - makes sense.
Learn - I am supposed to learn more about LMI, and help my community as well.
Advocate - I am supposed to write my senator or representative and tell them to send money to malaria programs.
Give - I am supposed to hold a fundraiser.
I am just so, so sick of the Law. It ruins everything, turns any kindness or goodness to ashes. If you are so moved to show kindness to those with Malaria - wonderful. But why, why do you think you have the right or authority to tell me that I should contact my congressman and tell them to spend money?
Yes, loving the neighbor is a wonderful thing. Go love your neighbor. Love him to the best of your ability. Encourage others to love their neighbor - let them know of opportunities that they have that they might not be aware of. . . but come on, enough with the guilt trips. There's always more than enough of the poor in need of support, there's always more than enough causes to champion. Don't try to use the law to guilt people into acting in accordance with your particular whim.
Please?
Yes, it's nice that my "purchase will help save lives by connecting people to the Lutheran Malaria Imitative and its mission." But I really want Church and Churchly mailings to be something more than "Lutherans are a powerful force for change!"
And not once, not at all is Christ Jesus mentioned in this flier. Not even a generic mentioning of "God".
I am so, so sick of the Law, and social "change" - whatever direction it takes, even if it is something that is fine and righteous, is nothing but the Law. Why? Because it can be talked about without reference to Christ. Ugh.
Just. . . ugh.
Oh, guess it wasn't a fund raiser. . . it was an ad for a CPH children's book. It's about how children can get involved in helping to fund anti-malaria projects.
This is how we advertise a children's book about helping your neighbor? Really? This is how we get out information about the LMI (Lutheran Malaria Initiative - a joint project between Lutheran World Relief, the LCMS, and the ELCA)?
Well, other than buying this book, what can I do? The flier tells me where I fit in.
Pray - makes sense.
Learn - I am supposed to learn more about LMI, and help my community as well.
Advocate - I am supposed to write my senator or representative and tell them to send money to malaria programs.
Give - I am supposed to hold a fundraiser.
I am just so, so sick of the Law. It ruins everything, turns any kindness or goodness to ashes. If you are so moved to show kindness to those with Malaria - wonderful. But why, why do you think you have the right or authority to tell me that I should contact my congressman and tell them to spend money?
Yes, loving the neighbor is a wonderful thing. Go love your neighbor. Love him to the best of your ability. Encourage others to love their neighbor - let them know of opportunities that they have that they might not be aware of. . . but come on, enough with the guilt trips. There's always more than enough of the poor in need of support, there's always more than enough causes to champion. Don't try to use the law to guilt people into acting in accordance with your particular whim.
Please?
Yes, it's nice that my "purchase will help save lives by connecting people to the Lutheran Malaria Imitative and its mission." But I really want Church and Churchly mailings to be something more than "Lutherans are a powerful force for change!"
And not once, not at all is Christ Jesus mentioned in this flier. Not even a generic mentioning of "God".
I am so, so sick of the Law, and social "change" - whatever direction it takes, even if it is something that is fine and righteous, is nothing but the Law. Why? Because it can be talked about without reference to Christ. Ugh.
Just. . . ugh.
The Passing of Rev. Joseph Myers
Yesterday afternoon a Pastor in our circuit, Rev. Joseph Myers, passed away in his sleep unexpectedly. What follows is the e-mail (slightly amended with additional info) to the pastors in the Circuit.
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
Gentlemen,
By now most of you have heard that Joseph passed away yesterday afternoon in his sleep over in Eastern Oklahoma. Again, not much is known at the moment. Mary has asked Tim [Dorsch - Pastor at Zion, Fairmont] to preside at the funeral, and it sounds as if Ladasau-Evans will handle the specific arraignments. As such, please do keep Mary, the people of Immanuel [Lutheran Church, Garber OK], and also Tim in your prayers as plans comes into shape.
While unexpected and shocking, we know that these sorts of things are what happen in a sinful, fallen world. This is part of the Law that we proclaim to our people every week. This is what Joseph himself faithfully and diligently taught his people as well. We know these sorts of tragedies have happened, do happen, and will continue to happen as long as this world lasts.
But we are not just preachers of the Law - we proclaim the Gospel, the death of Christ Jesus to take away our sin which earned our death, and His resurrection, which is the proof that we who have been claimed by Christ as His own, joined to Him in Holy Baptism, and nourished by Him through His own Body and Blood in His Supper shall have not only forgiveness but a resurrection of our own come the last day as well.
Joseph preached this - and with great joy even now he sings this victory of Christ over death with all the saints who have gone before. His time of having his voice be used to preach is at an end; now that voice is gladly part of the company of all heaven.
While I myself wish this day had been much delayed, it is for Joseph's blessing, it is for his care and benefit. We are right to mourn, but we mourn for the loss that Mary has suffered, the loss that Immanuel has suffered, the loss the we ourselves have suffered. But we know that on account of Christ Jesus' great love for Joseph and for us that the time of our mourning will come to an end, that we will indeed see and hold and rejoice with our brother Joseph and all the saints on the day of the resurrection of all flesh and even on to forever more.
The meantime, the time between then and now is rough. But this is why we proclaim Christ and Him crucified, why we are determined to know nothing but Christ, to have our eyes fixed upon Jesus, for He is both the author of our faith and the one who brings it to completion - and the completion of our faith is the resurrection of the dead. This is why we confess "I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come." All thanks be to God who has redeemed not only his servant Joseph, but us, His most unworthy servants as well.
Christ Jesus be with you this week,
Eric
We praise You Lord for Joseph
A shepherd, faithful, true,
Who with both love and zeal
proclaimed new life in You.
May we who still here labor
Likewise proclaim Your cross
Until the resurrection
removes all pain and loss
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
Gentlemen,
By now most of you have heard that Joseph passed away yesterday afternoon in his sleep over in Eastern Oklahoma. Again, not much is known at the moment. Mary has asked Tim [Dorsch - Pastor at Zion, Fairmont] to preside at the funeral, and it sounds as if Ladasau-Evans will handle the specific arraignments. As such, please do keep Mary, the people of Immanuel [Lutheran Church, Garber OK], and also Tim in your prayers as plans comes into shape.
While unexpected and shocking, we know that these sorts of things are what happen in a sinful, fallen world. This is part of the Law that we proclaim to our people every week. This is what Joseph himself faithfully and diligently taught his people as well. We know these sorts of tragedies have happened, do happen, and will continue to happen as long as this world lasts.
But we are not just preachers of the Law - we proclaim the Gospel, the death of Christ Jesus to take away our sin which earned our death, and His resurrection, which is the proof that we who have been claimed by Christ as His own, joined to Him in Holy Baptism, and nourished by Him through His own Body and Blood in His Supper shall have not only forgiveness but a resurrection of our own come the last day as well.
Joseph preached this - and with great joy even now he sings this victory of Christ over death with all the saints who have gone before. His time of having his voice be used to preach is at an end; now that voice is gladly part of the company of all heaven.
While I myself wish this day had been much delayed, it is for Joseph's blessing, it is for his care and benefit. We are right to mourn, but we mourn for the loss that Mary has suffered, the loss that Immanuel has suffered, the loss the we ourselves have suffered. But we know that on account of Christ Jesus' great love for Joseph and for us that the time of our mourning will come to an end, that we will indeed see and hold and rejoice with our brother Joseph and all the saints on the day of the resurrection of all flesh and even on to forever more.
The meantime, the time between then and now is rough. But this is why we proclaim Christ and Him crucified, why we are determined to know nothing but Christ, to have our eyes fixed upon Jesus, for He is both the author of our faith and the one who brings it to completion - and the completion of our faith is the resurrection of the dead. This is why we confess "I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come." All thanks be to God who has redeemed not only his servant Joseph, but us, His most unworthy servants as well.
Christ Jesus be with you this week,
Eric
We praise You Lord for Joseph
A shepherd, faithful, true,
Who with both love and zeal
proclaimed new life in You.
May we who still here labor
Likewise proclaim Your cross
Until the resurrection
removes all pain and loss
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Purpose of the Law and Gospel
The Law has 1 major purpose. It is to kill. The Law takes something, binds is, holds it in place, and then slays it. The Law is the electric chair, it is the firing squad, it is death.
The Gospel has 1 major purpose. It gives life. The Gospel takes the life and salvation that is Christ's, and it gives to a person, breathes it into a person, and then they live.
The Law is good. We need to be killed. We need to be bound. My pride - it needs to be bound and killed. My sinful flesh - it needs to be bound and killed. My sinful desires - it needs to be bound and killed. But if we stay there, we simply remain dead.
The Gospel, though is better, for it creates. The Gospel takes the man slain by sin and rises Him to new life now. The Gospel takes the flesh doomed to die on account of sin and makes it to live pure and perfect forever. The Gospel makes man to be again what Christ is.
This is what your preaching shall do, oh preacher! Do not dither. When you preach the Law, it is to bind and kill and you had better make sure you have the right would and bind the wound that needs binding; you had better make sure you have the right target and kill only what needs killing. Anything else than binding, anything less than killing is no longer Law but self-congratulatory self righteousness which pretends that the dying shall live.
When you preach the Gospel, you are to preach Christ and His life into people. This shall not be mixed - it shall not be Christ and your works, for that doesn't give life. It shall not be Christ and sappy sentimentality, because sentimentality doesn't make dead bones to live again. If it is not utterly and totally Christ, is becomes no longer Gospel but sanctimonious palaver which kills anyone who is honest enough to know they aren't the pollyanna your preaching described.
Be blunt. Preach the Law in its sternness, preach the Gospel in its Sweetness.
The Gospel has 1 major purpose. It gives life. The Gospel takes the life and salvation that is Christ's, and it gives to a person, breathes it into a person, and then they live.
The Law is good. We need to be killed. We need to be bound. My pride - it needs to be bound and killed. My sinful flesh - it needs to be bound and killed. My sinful desires - it needs to be bound and killed. But if we stay there, we simply remain dead.
The Gospel, though is better, for it creates. The Gospel takes the man slain by sin and rises Him to new life now. The Gospel takes the flesh doomed to die on account of sin and makes it to live pure and perfect forever. The Gospel makes man to be again what Christ is.
This is what your preaching shall do, oh preacher! Do not dither. When you preach the Law, it is to bind and kill and you had better make sure you have the right would and bind the wound that needs binding; you had better make sure you have the right target and kill only what needs killing. Anything else than binding, anything less than killing is no longer Law but self-congratulatory self righteousness which pretends that the dying shall live.
When you preach the Gospel, you are to preach Christ and His life into people. This shall not be mixed - it shall not be Christ and your works, for that doesn't give life. It shall not be Christ and sappy sentimentality, because sentimentality doesn't make dead bones to live again. If it is not utterly and totally Christ, is becomes no longer Gospel but sanctimonious palaver which kills anyone who is honest enough to know they aren't the pollyanna your preaching described.
Be blunt. Preach the Law in its sternness, preach the Gospel in its Sweetness.
Going to Hell in a Handbasket - 3 Responses
There is a phrase I like - "The World is Going to Hell in a Handbasket." It amuses me - I think the idea of going anywhere in a handbasket itself is amusing. And then the accuracy of the phrase describing the world - simply getting worse. And that's the simple fact, the world is always getting worse. If we make an "advancement" somewhere, somewhere else just gets worse. The world is always in decay -- and when you are in the handbasket, whatever time you are in, you know it's getting worse - and even more wondrous, if we could turn back the clock, it wouldn't feel any better. Only Romanticized views of the past think that it's better back in the "good old days".
So - how do we react to this persistent reality of the world? There are three response that arise:
1. The Antinomian
2. The Legalistic
3. The Christian
The Antinomian sees these changes in the world and decides that we must accomodate the culture. Get rid of anything that might offend so as to hope to save folks (because it's our actions and skill and power that save folks) - the bait and switch of theology - the welcome all to save all. But this destroys the Gospel, because if you do not see your sin, you will never have faith in your Savior, for you won't need Him.
The Legalist sees these changes in the world and desires to fix them - to stop the slide into depravity. And the solution - law. If we can just convince people to follow the rules, then things will be better. And there is movement, there is momentum, let's tighten the laws and rules beyond what Scripture says -- because that pesky freedom is being abused. This doesn't stop the slide of culture, and more over it gives more people simple reason to reject the faith in a bait and switch move -- because they reject what the Legalist says they end up assuming they should reject what Christ says as well.
The Christian though sees these changes in the world, shrugs, shakes his head, prays for his neighbor, and then says, "Well, y'all can do as you wish, but me and my house, we're going to follow the Lord." The Christian doesn't try to fix the world with his ideas, either way. He is content to focus upon the Word - and let the Word of God do what it does.
Or to think of it this way with an analogy - the Field Goal Post. 10 feet high, 18.5 feet wide. Now, imagine a man placekicker plying his trade.
The Antinomian thinks we should cheer and support a person even if someone misses field goals all the time - great job, you win, I support and validate you! Yea!
The Legalistic thinks, "Some of those kicks are really close to missing, if we don't do something, he's going to just miss more and more -- alright, now, unless you hit this target that is 20 feet high and only 9 feet wide, you haven't done well. And kicks that are still through the uprights are treated as failures because they are too close to missing.
The Christian simply says - oh, that one missed. No good. Oh, that kick is through - it's good! Now kicker, continue practicing, continuing kicking -- but as our Quarterback leads us to 60 point wins, well, you have the victory because of him, and it never comes down to you.
So - how do we react to this persistent reality of the world? There are three response that arise:
1. The Antinomian
2. The Legalistic
3. The Christian
The Antinomian sees these changes in the world and decides that we must accomodate the culture. Get rid of anything that might offend so as to hope to save folks (because it's our actions and skill and power that save folks) - the bait and switch of theology - the welcome all to save all. But this destroys the Gospel, because if you do not see your sin, you will never have faith in your Savior, for you won't need Him.
The Legalist sees these changes in the world and desires to fix them - to stop the slide into depravity. And the solution - law. If we can just convince people to follow the rules, then things will be better. And there is movement, there is momentum, let's tighten the laws and rules beyond what Scripture says -- because that pesky freedom is being abused. This doesn't stop the slide of culture, and more over it gives more people simple reason to reject the faith in a bait and switch move -- because they reject what the Legalist says they end up assuming they should reject what Christ says as well.
The Christian though sees these changes in the world, shrugs, shakes his head, prays for his neighbor, and then says, "Well, y'all can do as you wish, but me and my house, we're going to follow the Lord." The Christian doesn't try to fix the world with his ideas, either way. He is content to focus upon the Word - and let the Word of God do what it does.
Or to think of it this way with an analogy - the Field Goal Post. 10 feet high, 18.5 feet wide. Now, imagine a man placekicker plying his trade.
The Antinomian thinks we should cheer and support a person even if someone misses field goals all the time - great job, you win, I support and validate you! Yea!
The Legalistic thinks, "Some of those kicks are really close to missing, if we don't do something, he's going to just miss more and more -- alright, now, unless you hit this target that is 20 feet high and only 9 feet wide, you haven't done well. And kicks that are still through the uprights are treated as failures because they are too close to missing.
The Christian simply says - oh, that one missed. No good. Oh, that kick is through - it's good! Now kicker, continue practicing, continuing kicking -- but as our Quarterback leads us to 60 point wins, well, you have the victory because of him, and it never comes down to you.
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