We Are All Beggars

Resurrecting A Crucifix

2012-03-06T08:28:00.000-05:00

Sometime after the inception of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Standish MI, in 1903 a crucifix was placed on the altar. [A crucifix is a cross upon which the statue of Jesus’ crucified body is depicted.] This cross stood proudly on the altar of the Church for decades until sometime in between 1948 and 1950 when it was taken down. Although there are theories, no one knows exactly why it was taken down from the altar but we do know that its home for the last 60+ years has been the basement. Except that as long as anyone can remember it hasn’t been a crucifix. The cross has been empty. A nice, plain, black cross, but empty. It has lost the corpus, the statue of the body of Christ, once fixed onto its wood.

Now there’s certainly nothing “wrong” with an empty cross, per se. We have many empty crosses in our church. However, it should be understood that using an empty cross on a Lutheran altar is a practice that comes from non-Lutherans.

At the time of the Reformation there was conflict between Lutherans and Reformed Christians over the use of such art in the church. Lutherans stood with historic Christendom in realizing that art in the church is not “wrong” as many suggested, but is a great aid for helping us focus on the truths of God’s Word. This protest, however, continued, and was especially taken up in the age of Lutheran Pietism, which strongly rejected much of Lutheran teaching and practice, including the use of the crucifix. As a result, many misinformed individuals, including life-long Lutherans, still question the crucifix:

“Isn’t the crucifix a Roman Catholic thing?”
“Didn’t Jesus got down from the cross?”
“Doesn’t an empty cross remind us of the Resurrection?”

Certainly there’s nothing wrong with an empty cross. However, the crucifix is not more Roman Catholic, nor is the empty cross somehow more Lutheran. Rather, the history of the Lutheran Church demonstrates that the crucifix was a regular aspect of Lutheran worship, both in Martin Luther’s day and among the founding fathers of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Christendom has always considered the crucifix to be a powerful and vivid reminder of the great sacrifice our Lord Jesus made for us and our salvation on the cross.

While it is true, in part, that Jesus did get down from the cross, He was still dead. His body was pulled down from the cross and He was placed in the tomb. Had Jesus never risen from death the cross would still have been empty. Therefore, the “empty cross” is no more a symbol of the resurrection than is the empty manger.

No one would argue that we should only have a nativity with Mary and Joseph staring at an empty manger because Jesus got out of the manger and grew up and is risen. The Christ child depicted there in the manger is intended to help us reflect on His humanity. So also, the cross, whether or not it is an empty cross or a crucifix, is intended to preach one essential truth: the death of Christ for the salvation of the world.

Every single cross is a symbol only of the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. It visually preaches Christ crucified. Thus, to quote Rev. David Petersen, “An empty cross is only a stylized crucifix.” For if the cross does not represent the crucifixion event, then it has no place in Christianity. God has suffered for us, as one of us, on our behalf, in weakness, in humility, that we might be reconciled to the Father. The image of the crucifix focuses our eyes on this great comfort, as Martin Luther once said:

“It was a good practice to hold a wooden crucifix before the eyes of the dying or to press it into their hands. This brought the suffering and death of Christ to mind and comforted the dying.” - M. Luther, Sermons on John, Chapters 6-8, 1532; LW 23, 360

It’s not as if the crucifix has some mystical powers mind you. You cannot ward off vampires with it, only Staurophobics (i.e. Those afraid of crosses. It’s a real phobia, I looked it up). Nor is the crucifix an idol. It’s not actually Jesus, but only a symbol of Jesus in the central act of all salvation history. As such, in the crucifix there is nothing contrary to God’s Holy Word, nor our Lutheran Confessions. Rather, in it there is a powerful and vivid reminder of our salvation that cannot be taken from us, for the image of Christ on the cross already dwells in our hearts.

“[W]hen I hear of Christ, an image of a man hanging on a cross takes form in my heart, just as the reflection of my face naturally appears in the water when I look into it. If it is not a sin but good to have an image of Christ in my heart, why should it be a sin to have it in my eyes?” - M. Luther, Against the Heavenly Prophets, 1525; LW 40, 99-100

The black cross that was once in the basement is no longer there. Nor is it empty anymore. A couple in the congregation have searched for a corpus that would fit this historic cross of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. They have graciously bought one, refinished it, and fixed it onto the cross. On Palm Sunday of this year we will rededicate that crucifix for use in our Sanctuary.

It will once again stand proudly upon the altar of the Church, continually preaching to us the immense comfort and benefit that we have in Christ the Crucified. For no greater truth can be found in all of Christianity than the death of Jesus Christ our Lord for the salvation of us sinners. As we come to the Divine Service, as we partake of the body and blood of Christ, we have the benefit of looking upon the crucifix in confident faith, and seeing in His wounds our forgiveness. Christ is Crucified for you.

Thanks for reading

This Is Lent!

2012-02-22T08:37:00.000-05:00

While some will scoff at the celebration of the season of Lent, suggesting that it’s no different than any other time of the year, the truth remains that our purpose for recognizing the season of Lent, our very identity as Lenten Christians, is all wrapped up in the forgiveness of sins. Look! God was, in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself. Come receive this forgiveness. With such a call to repentance and faith there is no question of why pray, why fast, why attend extra services, why Lent. Instead, there is nothing but the forgiveness of sins.

“Everything, therefore, in the Christian Church is ordered toward this goal: we shall daily receive in the Church nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word and signs, to comfort and encourage our consciences as long as we live here. So even though we have sins, the ‹grace of the› Holy Spirit does not allow them to harm us. For we are in the Christian Church, where there is nothing but ‹continuous, uninterrupted› forgiveness of sin. This is because God forgives us and because we forgive, bear with, and help one another [Galatians 6:1–2].⁠” - Martin Luther, Large Catechism, II, 55

Harrison shares Lenten blessings

2012-02-21T13:24:00.000-05:00

President Harrison Speaking to the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform

2012-02-16T12:29:00.001-05:00

Praise be to God for the Word of President Matthew Harrison on behalf of the Lutheran Church!

Wherever Christ Sows

2012-02-16T08:27:00.000-05:00

“If a church has pure doctrine, it does not become a false church on account of the sins that occur in it. In fact, if a church is really a Christian Church, it is inevitable that many sins will occur in it. The purer the doctrine in a church, the more hostile Satan is toward it and the more he strives to shame it. Wherever souls are truly rescued from sin and brought to peace with god by the pure preaching of Christ, Satan angrily attacks and seeks to make the Church appear to be a haven for every type of sin. Wherever there is true unity of faith, Satan creates an illusion of discord and strife. It is quiet and peaceful wherever the devil rules. But wherever his power is taken from him by Word and Sacraments, he rages with all his might as the prince of darkness. In short, wherever Christ sows His good seed, we can be certain Satan will scatter his weeds there also.”

C.F.W. Walther, God Grant It, 179

Stop Arguing For The Historic Liturgy Using The Law

2012-02-08T08:50:00.000-05:00

The way that confessional Lutherans often argue for the historic liturgy is to use the law. We demonstrate how the liturgy is normative for the Christian life, or we appeal to the long standing tradition of the Church, or we point out the ever shifting waves of pop-culture’s influence on worsihp, or we pull out Ap XV and even attempt to prove the liturgy from Scripture.

But if you get into a discussion over which bible passages require the use of the liturgy then you have already lost the argument. For then you are pleading for the use of the liturgy according to the law, which will eventually force you to explain whether it’s a human law or a divine law, both of which will lead you away from orthodox Lutheran worship.

The liturgy is not a worship of the law. On the contrary, worship which departs from the liturgy of the Church through one's personal preference, desire, or ability to give something to God is worship of the law. As our confessions state:

“The worship and divine service of the Gospel is to receive gifts from God. On the contrary, the worship of the Law is to offer and present our gifts to God” Ap V:189

Don’t argue for the historic liturgy using the law.

Use the Gospel. Use what the liturgy says. Let it speak for itself. The Divine Service is not a jerry-rigged, cut-and-paste, gallimaufry, mishmash of disconnected scripture references. Its not an experimental construction developed from your pastor’s imagination. It’s the proclamation of the pure gospel of Jesus Christ as it has developed in the life of His bride, the church. The liturgy has a rhythm and flow which leads you through from the invocation made at your Baptism to the reception of Good Friday's gifts in the Lord’s Supper, much in the same way that the four Gospels lead you through the life and death of Christ. In it’s various parts, you hear the Gospel you need, ultimately culminating in the reception of that Gospel in the sacrament of the altar (see more in depth information on the parts of the liturgy here).

Thus, Lutherans retain the historic liturgy not because the law requires us to, but because the very nature of the Gospel necessitates its proclamation to be pure and unadulterated. As such, the liturgy - which we have inherited from our Fathers, which the Holy Spirit has preserved for us in our Mother, the Church, which proclaims the Gospel in all its fullness - is something upon which we simply cannot improve.

“The chief worship of the Gospel is to desire to receive the forgiveness of sins, grace, and righteousness.” Ap V:189

Thanks for reading.

Woe To The Preacher

2012-02-02T08:47:00.000-05:00

“Woe to the preacher who - from laziness and fear of hard work, or fear of people, or desire to please people, or desire for fame, or because he spends time on other things (whether from passion for other occupations or greed or ambition) - does not plan his sermons according to the text and the needs of his listeners but according to how he can most easily talk for a while without special preparation, shake something out of his sleeve, and take care of this obligation without effort - or according to how he can give the least offense or be the most pleasing and brilliant ‘pulpit orator!’”

C.F.W. Walther, Pastoral Theology, 61

The Personal Relationship

2012-01-31T08:49:00.001-05:00

All those who discuss the "personal relationship" aspect of Christianity are not really arguing over these words but their meaning.

For those who want to argue that we don't have a personal relationship with Jesus, you are dead wrong. You do. Jesus died for all people, which includes you (filthy sinner you), and in that way your faith is personal. God has given you this faith in your Baptism and thus it’s relational.

But for those who want to argue that we do have a personal relationship with Jesus, here’s the thing. Personal does not mean autonomous.

If you think of your personal relationship with Jesus as only between you and Him, then you will tend to think of your faith as self-governing, you will mistake your desires and notions with that of Jesus’, you might attempt to use it as an excuse for rejecting your buddy's bride, the Church, and you run the risk of falling into an apostate religion of self.

But you don’t control this "personal relationship" nor what it means for you.

You don't decide to be a part of it. You don't determine how your relationship is going. Jesus does. Your feelings don’t validate the Gospel, your experiences do not determine what God desires of you, and God does not speak to you through your wishy-washy emotions.

“God does not want to deal with us in any other way than through the spoken Word and the Sacraments. Whatever is praises as from the Spirit - without the Word and Sacraments - is the devil himself.” SA III, VIII: 10

Jesus achieved your faith. All of it. He made the decision, not you. He won it for you. He delivers it to you in Word and Sacrament. And your personal relationship with Jesus is not left up to you. Thankfully! For if it were left up to us and our obedience, then our faith would have gone to pot long ago.

Rather, your personal relationship is always led by Jesus, formed around Law and Gospel, and bound together in the corporate life of the Church, where your relationship is not dependent upon your attitude, your devotion, or how well you’re doing in your faith. You’re not required to have the perfect emotions or a stress free life.

Very simply, your relationship with Jesus is always made sure and certain as you are personally fed with the lifeblood of His Church: Word and Sacrament. For it’s in the corporate life of Christ’s Church that your personal relationship with Jesus lives and breaths and eats.

Thanks for reading.

Historic Trinity St. Louis

2012-01-26T09:36:00.000-05:00

While on vacation in St. Louis my family and I stopped by Historic Trinity Lutheran Church. It's the parish that C.F.W. Walther served from 1841 until his death in 1887. We were unable to see the chalice but this video shows it well.

Jesus Loves Religion

2012-01-25T12:48:00.000-05:00

Here's what Bethke should have done.

Wonderful response!

Why Must Lutherans Be So Different?

2012-01-24T08:41:00.000-05:00

Given the recent Bethke video, Jesus>Religion (see post here), many have expressed concerns which suggest that we Lutherans should refrain from pointing out Bethke’s theological errors because of his good intention to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is nothing new.

The claim will always be put forward against the Lutheran Church: “Why must we be so different from everyone else? Why must we take issue with every little bit of false theology? We all believe in Jesus don’t we? Why insist on a confession that separates us from other brothers and sisters in Christ?”

Such is the cry of false humility.

These types of questions will continue to arise, for heterodoxy will continue to pit true orthodoxy against the gospel. In the name of Christian love, false teaching will lay claim to the true confession of the faith, attempting to suggest that we don't really need to have pure Gospel, and leading us down the path of universalism.

However, and this is key, Lutherans never argue doctrine for the sake of showing ourselves to be in the right. We never argue doctrine to put one in his place. The task of arguing over doctrine is always for the sake of the very thing which is central to the Christian life: the justification of the sinner through faith alone. For every single error, no matter how seemingly minor, is an assault on this central article of the Christian faith.

As Luther points out:

Nothing of this article can be yielded or surrendered, even though heaven and earth and everything else falls [Mark 13:31]. For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). And with His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). Upon this article everything that we teach and practice depends, in opposition to the pope, the devil, and the whole world. Therefore, we must be certain and not doubt this doctrine. Otherwise, all is lost, and the pope, the devil, and all adversaries win the victory and the right over us. (SA II, I:5)

And again:

This doctrine can never be urged and taught enough. If this doctrine is overthrown or disappears, then all knowledge of the truth is lost at the same time. If this doctrine flourishes, then all good things flourish, religion, true worship, the glory of God and the right knowledge of all conditions of life and of all things. (Introduction to LW 26)

A Christian cannot give up any ground on this article of justification for, very simply, it is always why we say what we say. It is the heart and soul of everything we believe, teach, and confess, even the Gospel itself. That God justifies us wretched sinners by his grace alone, through faith alone, by freely reckoning to us the righteousness of Christ, forgiving all our sin for His sake alone.

Thanks for reading.

Sacristy Prayer

2012-01-20T07:20:00.000-05:00

“Lord God, thou has appointed me to be a bishop and pastor in thy church. Thou seest how unfit I am to undertake this great and difficult office, and were it not for thy help, I would long since have ruined it all. Therefore I cry unto thee; I will assuredly apply my mouth and my heart to thy service. I desire to teach the people and I myself would learn ever more and diligently meditate thy Word. Use thou me as thine instrument, only do not thou forsake me, for if I am left alone I shall easily bring it all to destruction. Amen.”

Martin Luther; Doberstein, John, Minister's Prayer Book, 130 (emphasis added).

Jesus vs Religion

2012-01-16T22:34:00.000-05:00

For those who've heard the word's: "Jesus hates religion," or "You don't have to be religious to be spiritual," or "I love Jesus but not the church," or maybe you've just seen this video:

In response, Rev. Fisk does a spectacular job putting the word "religion" in its proper definition and context. The cross. While we should all fight against moralism, pharisaicalism, legalism, and the like, these all fall under false religion.

True Religion = Jesus.

Fist pump!

Skills and Abilities For The Ministry

2012-01-12T12:49:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I had the privilege of preaching at Lutheran High North, Macomb MI. It was a great school to visit and they did a wonderful job making me feel welcome. LHN is a blessing to our synod and I encourage all Pastors to preach chapel when asked in order to support our Lutheran Schools and the youth of our Lutheran Church.

I also had the opportunity while I was there to speak to youth who were thinking of going into the ministry. What a joy that was! I was able to give them some of the same advice given to me. But more than that, I was able to give them something I wasn’t. Something of which I use to be very confused. Something I wish someone would have written across a two-by-four and hit me up the side of the head with.

That being a Pastor is not about your skills or abilities.

When I was young, despite many Pastors prodding me into the ministry, I was beset with self doubt, continually telling myself “You're not good enough to be a Pastor.”

However, the beauty of the ministry is that I was right. I’m not good enough, but Christ is!

So many young Pastors are conned into thinking that they should be able to bring something extraordinary to the Church. Creativity, Enthusiasm, Dynamics, High-Energy, Engaging Speech. Skills and abilities.

But when it matters most, what can any one man bring? What does he add to the ministry of Christ? Which of his skills does he bring out for the rape victim or the terminally ill? What does he have to give to the sobbing wife and children gathered around their dying husband and father? It is then that the young Pastor will see that his skills and abilities are hevel, vanity, futility, vapor.

Yet, as one who stands in the place of Jesus for the people, as one who bears the office of Christ, acting as the mouthpiece of our Lord, that pastor is able to give something greater than the wealth of this world no matter how young or inexperienced he may be. He brings the Word of God. He offers the hope of the resurrection. He delivers the fullness of the forgiveness of sins, salvation, life everlasting. The comforting absolution of the Gospel is placed into his hands in Word and in Sacrament so that he might deliver them to the people.

It’s not about his skill or abilities, it’s not about what the Pastor can bring to the table, or what he can do, it’s about what Christ has done and continues to do through him in Word and Sacrament.

It’s no secret that we need more Pastors in our synod (only 16 percent are under the age of 40), so we continue to seek and beg youth to go into the ministry. But maybe if we preached the office of Christ more often, we wouldn’t have to.

Blessed Epiphany

2012-01-06T09:30:00.000-05:00

"The greatest and foremost skill - no matter who the person is - is to cling firmly to the Word and conceive of the things of God in no other way than as the Word tells us. For this reason we should accustom ourselves to know nothing about God and Christ apart from the Word. If we have the Word, we ought to stand firmly on it and say, You may want to make Christ a judge or jailer, but his Word states, "Come unto me all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." I am sticking to the Word. We, therefore, should not try to pry into the hidden things concerning Christ's rule over his kingdom, and so on, but simply adhere to the Word as he deals with us in the preaching of his gospel, in baptism, absolution, and the Lord's Supper."

Martin Luther, Epiphany Sermon on Matthew 2:1-12, 1532

Blessed Epiphany!

Qualities of The Preacher As The World Would Have Him

2012-01-04T10:11:00.000-05:00

As the world would have him, six things are necessary to the preacher:

He must have a fine accent.
He must be learned.
He must be eloquent.
He must be a handsome person, whom the girls and young women will like.
He must take no money, but have money to give.
He must tell people what they like to hear.

Martin Luther, Minister's Prayer Book, 422

What Is Most Needed For A Blessed New Year

2011-12-31T09:17:00.000-05:00

Most of the world ushers in the New Year with a party. Drinking, dancing, game-playing, fireworks, sports, watching the ball drop. But without a savior all the New Year’s celebrations are quite meaningless.

People will look back at 2011 and look ahead to 2012, but if they really knew their spiritual condition they would not be laughing but crying. They would don funeral attire instead of goofy New Year's glasses that say 2012. For they would look back at the regrets and sins of life and see that they have no relief from such peril. Their sins still count against them before God. So too, they would look ahead and see the unknown of the future as a dark storm cloud. Not knowing what will befall them or if they will even be around this time next year. No amount of New Year’s resolutions will, without a savior, bring them the relief and comfort they need.

What is most needed for a truly joyous and blessed celebration of the New Year is not alcohol, or fireworks, or sports, or Dick Clark, or a giant light filled ball that does nothing but a 10 second drop. Rather, it is sins forgiven, life redeemed, and death conquered.

That is why, as silly as it seems, the church begins the year with the circumcision of Jesus.

How silly indeed, even ridiculous, that God established a covenant with this requirement. That to be a part of the people of God, to share in the blessing of forgiveness and life everlasting one must bear the mark of circumcision. It’s downright offensive and strange that this is the text to be considered at the beginning of the New Year.

But reason is not the judge here. If reason were to rule and judge in such matters, then we must also conclude it to be ridiculous and laughable that under simple bread and wine we are eating the true Body and Blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Or that simple water in Baptism washes the sin found in the depths of our heart. How much more ridiculous still that God would become a man, even more so, an infant. How ridiculous that God would die for anyone, let alone us.

Outwardly, for Abraham, it was nothing but cutting of flesh, yet he believed the Word of God and so it was counted to him as righteousness. Sins forgiven, life redeemed, death conquered.

That is what is needed above all else.

With this savior, who bears the requirement of the law in circumcision, spilling his precious blood for the sins of the world, you may now look back at the past year and see that none of your sins damn you. You can look too to the future and see that the New Year will most assuredly be filled with trouble and sin, but so too will it be filled with the presence of your savior who will never leave you, and whose blood atones for all your future sin as well.

So as you plan your New Year, plan to frequent the place where you may receive the goods of Christ. Hear from the pulpit and taste from the altar what is needed more than anything else for a blessed New Year, sins forgiven, life redeemed, death conquered, for you.

A Blessed New Year to you in Christ!

The "O" Antiphons

2011-12-17T11:16:00.000-05:00

On these last seven days of Advent I encourage you to make use of the Ancient "O" Antiphons, praying them each evening in eager expectation for the coming of Christ.

December 17

O Wisdom, proceeding from the mouth of the Most High, pervading and permeating all creation, mightily ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.

More HERE and HERE

December 18

O Adonai and ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the Law on Sinai: Come with an outstretched arm and redeem us.

More HERE and HERE

December 19

O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign before the peoples, before whom all kings are mute, to whom the nations will do homage: Come quickly to deliver us.

More HERE and HERE

December 20

O Key of David and scepter of the house of Israel, You open and no one can close, You close and no one can open: Come and rescue the prisoners who are in darkness and the shadow of death.

More HERE and HERE

December 21

O Dayspring, splendor of light everlasting: Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

More HERE and HERE

December 22

O King of the nations, the ruler they long for, the cornerstone uniting all people: Come and save us all, whom You formed out of clay.

More HERE and HERE

December 23

O Emmanuel, our king and our Lord, the anointed for the nations and their Savior: Come and save us, O Lord our God.

More HERE and HERE

Death & Advent

2011-12-08T09:07:00.000-05:00

A good friend of mine just lost the baby she was carrying.

Kyrie Eleison

Such tragedy will inevitably change the way we act and celebrate the season of Advent and Christmastime, yet it does not change the meaning. For all of the things that we surround ourselves with during Advent, it’s the things which are not there that carry the greatest understanding of the need for this season.

More than anything else Advent is a time of longing and darkness, and as such it fits us well. We long for what was, for what we thought might be, for all that is gone, and that which we cannot get back.

A person absent from the Christmas table. An empty spot in the pew on Christmas Eve. One less person to shop for, one less set of arms to hug, one less set of ultrasound pictures to pass around. The pain, the darkness, the longing for what is gone, for what we cannot get back, is crippling.

But this is what Advent is all about. For God has not promised that you will ever feel better about such death in this world. He has not promised that life will turn around for you, or that next year will be better, or whatever shallow or false comforts you’ve been given. Christ, however, the Savior of the Nations, has promised to come.

This is Advent. Christ comes again on the last day to forever set things right. He binds the broken-hearted, He lifts the fallen, He strengthens of weak, He rescues those in need of saving. And during Advent, we long for His return to do exactly that, to wipe away our tears and to make all things new.

As such, we who live with wants and desires and dreams that will never be in this world, we need Advent, for it points us to the promise of our Savior. The one who comes wrapped in our flesh as a newborn child so that He might go to the cross for my friend’s lost baby, for your loved ones, for you. He comes to us now in Word and Sacrament, delivering this life and salvation purchased on the cross, and He will come again.

So we wait. We long. We utter the words, “O come, o come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.”

A Shower of Grace

2011-12-01T12:03:00.000-05:00

The Advent celebrated by the Church is vastly different from the Advent of this world. It's not about lights or ribbons or tinsel, it's not a pre-Christmas. Advent is a preparation for the coming (adventus) of the Christ. A preparation not seen in decorating and shopping and placing a coin into Santa's red bucket, but in repentance (see previous post). It's the preparation of John the Baptizer, and it's for the poor in spirit, who receive the kingdom of heaven.

As such, Advent cannot be separated from Repentance. How wonderfully blessed are we that the President of our Synod (LC-MS) understands and teaches this so well.

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How To Prepare For Christmas

2011-11-29T08:39:00.000-05:00

For most, preparing for Christmas suggests decorating, baking, shopping, etc. The thought is that these activities help us to “Get in the spirit of Christmas” (whatever that means). But preparing for the birthday celebration of the child who will bear the sin of the world requires more than tinsel and eggnog. It requires repentance.

In fact, the church already has something very helpful to prepare our hearts for Christmas. It’s called Advent.

The time when we hear readings not about shepherds and angels, but about Christ's glorious return and John the Baptist calling us to repent. We sing hymns, not of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” but “Prepare the Royal Highway.”

We do not prepare for the Christ child by trying hard to “get in the holiday spirit” or by acting nice like Santa wants. We do not somehow by our thoughts, emotions, or actions become worthy of the joyous Christmas tidings. To prepare for Christmas, we become unworthy, poor in spirit, sinners.

“My beloved, just as it is not a person whose stomach is full, but only one who is suffering hunger pains and thirst, who most deeply rejoices when he is called to eat and drink; and just as it is not a healthy person, but one whose illness makes him suffer pain who heartily rejoices when he is given the assurance that he will soon be healed; and just as it is not a free man, but only a prisoner who heartily rejoices when he gets the news that he is being set free; and just as it is not a rich man, but only the one who is threatened and worried because of his debts who rejoices when he hears that his debts are being paid; so also only he who has come to a vivid acknowledgment that he is a poor lost sinner that heartily rejoices when he hears the Savior of sinners is here. See, this is the true preparation for the holy joy of the Christmas Feast during the holy season of Advent. That is, you are prepared, when you become a poor sinner.”

C.F.W. Walther, “Confessional Address On Advent 1, 1884,” Occasional Sermons and Addresses By C.F.W. Walther, Joel Basely, 162.

What a blessed Advent Season it is when a person experiences this. Then he is prepared, not for presents or parties, but for Christ.

A Blessed Advent to you!

I'm Not Thankful

2011-11-22T10:22:00.000-05:00

Not really. I should be. But I’m not.

I could make up a list of things that I think I’m thankful for, like so many often do, but that list ends up being so trite and superficial. Family, friends, food, health, Michigan State Football, etc. Should I not also be thankful for things like hot water, refrigerators, toilet paper, trash bags, zippers, shoes, plastic, ball-bearings, and opposable thumbs.

I should be thankful for these and all sorts of things, but if I’m really honest with myself, I’m not thankful at all. Everything I have I take for granted and neglect. Everything. My universe is completely self-centered and vain. I use what I have as if it’s my right to have it, and when the trash bag rips or the hot water runs out, I get all upset as if I've somehow been wronged.

I’m not really thankful. I’m selfish. Really selfish.

So how is a Christian to spend a holiday centered on giving thanks? Not by eating pie, watching the Detroit Lions, and drinking beer (all of which I will definitely do), but that's not we give thanks. We give thanks, rather, by approaching the throne room of God at the altar of His own Son’s body and blood, saying “I, a poor, miserable sinner…”

This is the way a Christian gives thanks. Not by giving anything at all. Let us not be so arrogant as to think we can adequately give enough of our thanks to God for the infinite blessings He graciously bestows. Rather, we give thanks by receiving the one thing God so desperately desires to give us.

“Where is there a more certain testimony and pledge of Your grace than in the precious blood of Your Son, poured out for my sins on the altar of the cross? This, the price of my redemption, You give to me as the firmest testimony of Your grace toward me. As often as I have, through sin, fallen from the baptismal covenant, so often does a return to it stand open to me through true repentance and the salutary use of this Supper. It is a Sacrament of the New Testament. It blesses me again and again with new gifts of grace. Life itself dwells in this body and this life restores me to eternal life and makes me alive. Through the shedding of this blood, satisfaction for sins was obtained. Thus drinking it ratifies the remission of my sins.”

Johann Gerhard, “Thanksgiving for the Sacrament of the Altar,” Meditations on Divine Mercy, 86

I plan to feast on the body and blood of Christ this Thanksgiving. I pray you get to as well.

Sermon Filler

2011-11-17T09:29:00.000-05:00

In many ways, I was taught to preach using sermon filler. Illustrations, metaphors, stories, jokes, pictures, video, 1st person reenactment, etc.

That’s not to say what I wasn’t taught a disciplined exposition of Scripture. I was. I was shown how to seriously study the text, to mine and plum the depths of the Divine Word. But then to add filler.

Regardless of how useful you think sermon filler may be, my argument here is not with the filler itself. I’m not condemning sermon illustrations, but I do wonder about our reliance on the Word of God to do what it say it will do. If we truly believe that God’s Word is efficacious without our trite stories and comic relief, then it seems that we spend too much time learning and developing what is just filler, either to satisfy our own desire to be creative or as a desperate attempt to keep people it the pew. On one hand, we teach that the sermon is, in fact, God's own Word, but on the other hand, a great portion of the sermon is filled with stories, jokes, and illustrations of which we cannot say "Thus says the Lord."

Again, I'm not arguing against sermon illustrations. But rarely do I hear an illustration that supports the delivery of the Gospel, rather than hinders it. In order to develop an appropriate illustration, and not just something thrown in to give the hearers a mental break, it takes a lot of time and energy. It's work spent on something that’s not actually the Word of God, but the filler. It's time that could be better spent on studying the depths of Scripture in order to deliver that to the people.

For, in the end, what will a cute story or a cleaver joke do for the people of God? Are they to survive and combat the sufferings of this world, the temptations of their flesh, and the assaults of Satan, with sermon filler rather than Christ and Him crucified?

We live in a world where people are lacking the nourishment of God’s Word and they don’t even know it. They have been fed a steady diet of life improvement lessons and therapeutic dribble. They’ve been given a buffet of so-called "spiritual truths" from which they are free to pick and choose as they like. A Pastor has the ears of his flock for 15-20 minutes a week. Should he not spend that precious time giving them nothing else than Christ and Him crucified?

“We must have no illusions about the fact that the Divine Service, as it has developed since the time of Pietism and the Enlightenment, no longer seizes souls. The average sermon no longer fills churches. The reason for this is not that the Word of God has lost its power over minds, nor that the natural man rejects the Word of God. The reason is that in so many of our sermons the Word of God is drowned out by our human words and therefore no longer heard.”

Hermann Sasse, “The Lonely Way: Selected Essays and Letters, vol II,” 314.

As sinners, we need to hear the declarative condemnation of the Law that points out our wretched condition and kills us in it. We need to hear the sweet comforting words of the Gospel that are not overrun by sentimentality or even sacred living, but are the pure proclamation of forgiveness, life, and salvation won in Christ Jesus and imparted in Word and Sacrament.

We need Christ not filler.

Paternal Pedagogy

2011-11-10T09:09:00.001-05:00

If you want your child to learn the piano you send her to a piano teacher. If you want your child to learn sports you send him to a coach. So it only makes sense that if you want your child to learn the faith you send them to church. Wrong!

“We recognize far too seldom that religious and confirmation instruction and the Sunday school can in no way give what previous generations knew from home through Bible reading and what was learned from pious parents.”

“Do we really believe that the members of our congregations take so much with them from a few hurried hours of confirmation instruction… that they are able to live on it throughout their whole lives as people who daily return to their baptism?”

Hermann Sasse, “Word and Sacrament Preaching and the Lord’s Supper: Letters to Lutheran Pastors, No. 42 July 1956,” We Confess Anthology, The Sacraments, 22-23.

One of the greatest things a father can do for his children is to read, memorize, and cherish the catechism with them. Take joy in these eternal truths of Scripture so that they will be on the hearts of your children. Not so your kids will do well in life or develop proper morals, but so that they might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing they may have life in His name.

“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:7

The son of a fellow brother in the ministry.

When God Sends Affliction

2011-11-08T08:29:00.000-05:00

“When God sends us such great afflictions, we, too, must learn not to follow our own thoughts or the advice of such people who send us here and there and direct us to our own or to other people’s resources. Rather, we should remember that we must seek Christ in His Father’s house and about His Father’s business. We must simply cling solely to the Word of the Gospel, which shows us Christ correctly and teaches us how to know Him. Learn, then, from this and from any other spiritual affliction that whenever you wish to communicate genuine comfort to others or to yourself, you must say with Christ: Why are you running here and there, tormenting yourselves with anxious and sad thoughts, imagining that God will not keep you in His grace and that there is no longer any Christ for you? Why do you insist on finding Him within yourselves, insist on feeling holy and without sin? You will never succeed. All your effort will be worthless… Come to the place that is driven neither by your own nor by any human being’s business, but by God’s business and rule. So come to His Word. There you will find Him and hear and see that there is no wrath and disfavor against you in Him, as you fear in your despair. Christ has nothing but grace and warm love in store for you.”

Martin Luther - Sermon for the First Sunday after Epiphany on Luke 2:41-52 quoted from C.F.W. Walther, Law and Gospel, Nineteenth Evening Lecture

All Saints Day Is Not A Hollow Comfort

2011-11-01T11:25:00.000-04:00

All Saints Day is, in many ways, the kind of church festival that means insurmountably more for those who are separated from loved ones by the dividing curtain of death. It’s a day to recall all the saints who have gone before us, as well as those to come. We even read the names of our dead in the Divine Service.

But let’s be certain of one thing. Today is not a day for the hollow talk of the funeral home. “He was such a nice man,” “She was always so good to us.” In our grief, in the face of death, we are prone to such false pretenses, but they’re all bull! He or she was a wretched sinner to the core. And if our focus this day centers on such hollow talk of meaningless chatter then we’ve reduced All Saints day to a comfortless remembrance filled with the hopeless desperation of loss.

Although the temptation will be to focus on our loved ones, All Saints Day is intended to fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, that we might not grow weary or fainthearted (Heb 12:2-3). We remember the Saints who have gone before us and we read the names of our dead during the Divine Service, but not for an empty remembrance of the dead, rather in confident trust in the forgiveness won on Calvary by the lamb who was slain.

The focus is on Christ. For in Christ, we are free to mourn this day for loved ones lost, because our God doesn’t give empty comfort. He gives the assurance of our salvation and the salvation of all the Saints. Christ’s death for the Saints. Christ’s life for the Saints. For those who have died in Christ, for those Saints yet to come, and for us.

For me, as I recall a particular Saint of God dear to my heart, my mother, it drives me to fix my eyes on the one whom she confessed before the world, who was her rock, fortress, and might, who was her slain lamb and mine.

1. For all the saints who from their labors rest, 
Who Thee by faith before the world confess, 
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest,  Alleluia! Alleluia!

2. Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress, and their Might; 
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight; 
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.  Alleluia! Alleluia!

3. Oh, may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old
And win with them the victor's crown of gold.  Alleluia! Alleluia!

4. O blest communion, fellowship divine, 
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; 
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.  Alleluia! Alleluia!

5. And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song, 
And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.  Alleluia! Alleluia!

6. But, lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day; 
The saints triumphant rise in bright array; 
The King of Glory passes on His way.  Alleluia! Alleluia!

7. From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, 
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,  Alleluia! Alleluia!

8. The golden evening brightens in the west; 
Soon, soon, to faithful warriors cometh rest.
Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest.  Alleluia! Alleluia!

LSB 677

Reformation Sermon at Historic Trinity in Detroit, MI: "Grasp These Words or Die in Your Sins"

2011-11-01T10:22:00.000-04:00

Reformation Polka

2011-10-31T09:06:00.000-04:00

Blessed Reformation Day!

Luther's Doctrine Shall Not Pass Away

2011-10-26T11:39:00.000-04:00

"Gottes Wort und Luthers Lehr, vergehet nun und nimmermehr!" ("God's Word and Luther's doctrine shall not pass away now or forever!")

That was the statement C.F.W. Walther used as the masthead for his newspaper, Der Lutheraner ("The Lutheran"), from 1844.

Unfortunately, not all Lutheran Churches celebrate Reformation Day. Why? Some out of a desire to be more "modern," some out of fear of looking too exclusive to Lutherans, and some simply worry that they're worshiping the man, Martin Luther.

This is far from the truth.

As we approach October 31st, the celebration of Martin Luther nailing the 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg Germany in 1517, let us not think that we are celebrating the birth of Lutheranism.

We call this doctrine Luther’s, but he did not produce it. We call our synod by his name, but he did not start a church. As long as there has been an orthodox church there has been the Lutheran Church. As long as there have been Christians who've believed in Jesus Christ and his Word, the Lutheran Church has been there. For her doctrine is that of the patriarchs, the prophets, and the apostles. It is none other than God’s.

"If a heathen man, living in a heathen country, found the Holy Scriptures and read them attentively and yielded to it by the governance of the Holy Spirit, rejecting none of the Words, but receiving it all as God’s Word, as it truly is, then he would come to no other doctrine than Luther’s doctrine. In his mouth and heart he would become a Lutheran. That is why we have every right to say: “God’s Word and Luther’s doctrine will never pass away.”

If we were ashamed of Luther and his doctrine and the doctrine of the Church named after him we would also be ashamed of Christ and his eternal Gospel and the rock of the church, which even the gates of hell shall not overcome."

C.F.W. Walther, “Reformation Sermon on Revelation 14:6-12 (1845),” Occasional Sermons and Addresses by C.F.W. Walther, translated by Joel R. Basely, 34-35

We forever remain unwavering and steadfast in Luther’s doctrine, unashamedly calling ourselves Lutheran, for it is the correct exposition of Scripture.

We join together as the body of Christ to celebrate October 31st 1517, not in order to bash the pope, nor to talk about how we're better than other denominations, nor to worship Martin Luther. We are Lutheran, like those of any era, simply because we believe the Word of God and confess it before men. So when we celebrate the Reformation we are celebrating nothing else than the eternal Gospel. We are "justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Romans 3:24

"Upon this article [Justification] everything that we teach and practice depends, in opposition to the pope, the devil, and the whole world. Therefore, we must be certain and not doubt this doctrine. Otherwise, all is lost, and the pope, the devil and all adversaries win the victory and the right over us." SA II I 5

So yes, we celebrate Reformation Day. We rejoice in Luther's doctrine. We make a big deal out of October 31st, indeed. For we are rejoicing over the fact that God still allow our ears to be filled with His precious Word of forgiveness by Grace, through Faith, in Christ alone!

"Gottes Wort und Luthers Lehr, vergehet nun und nimmermehr!"

This is it!

2011-10-23T14:11:00.000-04:00

Amen and Amen!

A Captivating Worship Experience

2011-10-20T09:17:00.000-04:00

The cover story of a recent synod publication contains an article exalting a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod which has developed “a captivating worship experience.” They’ve achieved this by “breaking down the typical church stereotypes” and offering something that “doesn’t look, sound, or feel like a traditional or contemporary worship service.”

<sigh>

“There is always an unthinking group that permits itself to be blown to and fro by all kinds of doctrinal winds, as a feather is blown about by air currents. This group always falls all over itself adopting innovations, as though the most modern were always the best. There are also the ever-changing weather vanes and the limber-necks, pedagogues and preachers who with delicate noses smell the direction of the wind, who are adept at twisting and turning with every change, and who, under the pretense of offering newly discovered and original truths, yet preach only that for which the ears of the people itch.”

H.C. Schwan, “On Preserving Unity While Avoiding Either Faddishness or Sluggishness 1890 Synodical Address,” Matthew Harrison, At Home In The House Of My Fathers, 542.

Change is not always good. Being “novel” and “different” is not always good. The great danger here is that if you work really hard to not look like a church, you just might succeed.

In terms of the Divine Service, the church needs to keep her nose clothes-pined to the wind of the culture, not incorporating every faddish desire of the heart, no matter how emotional or uplifted it might be, but instead holding fast to the Word of God.

“Oh, that we would take this to heart, that we would keep our eyes glued on the Word of God as a sailor keeps his eyes glued on the compass, so that no one be turned aside from the goal, so that we avoid shipwreck and finally attain the goal of our faith!”

H.C. Schwan, “On Preserving Unity While Avoiding Either Faddishness or Sluggishness 1890 Synodical Address,” Matthew Harrison, At Home In The House Of My Fathers, 545.

We don’t need “a captivating worship experience,” we need that which we cannot get from a live band or a down-to-earth Pastor or a worship service that strives to be “relevant,” we need forgiveness, life, and salvation. Let’s build a worship service around receiving those from the only place where they’re given: Word and Sacrament. Oh wait, we already have that.

If, as the article says, the purpose of this “captivating worship experience,” is “for the people that have strong faith and want to express that faith,” then I say let them.

Let the strong in the faith go and express themselves and confide in their experience, their novelty, their prayers, their struggles, their exertions, their self-denials, feelings, sensations, and sanctification.

But for those of us who are weak. For those who struggle in this life. For those whose world had come crashing down around them, let us confide in that which God has done for us and which He communicates to us by means of His Holy objective, clear, external Word and Sacraments.

Thankfully, God's grace isn't novel, it doesn't change with the culture, it doesn't look different from age to age. It's sure and certain, and it's for those who are weak in faith!

How To Appreciate Your Pastor

2011-10-06T08:45:00.000-04:00

It’s October, which means it’s Pastor Appreciation Month.

Now there are many websites giving suggestions for ways to celebrate your pastor. Some of their suggestions include giving a card shower, holding special banquets in their honor, giving a trophy, or even a surprise vacation.

Now, it’s not that those aren’t nice things to do. But this is not how you should appreciate your Pastor.

So how should you show appreciation for your Pastor? To answer that question, you must first ask “Why should a Pastor be appreciated at all?”

It’s not because he’s well liked, has a good personality, or is a snappy dresser. It’s not because he’s really good with kids or tells funny jokes. It’s not because he’s likable in any way. Your Pastor may very well be someone you can’t stand at all. Maybe you even pray that he takes a call somewhere else, and yet, you should still appreciate him.

Why? Because he’s the one chosen to stand in the place of Christ for you. He’s Christ’s mouth for you, delivering the Holy Words of God in Law and Gospel. He’s Christ’s hands for you, delivering life, salvation, and the forgiveness of sins in the Sacrament.

You appreciate your Pastor not because of him as an individual, but because of the office in which he stands.

So back to my original question, how should you show appreciation for your Pastor?

Here it is: Simply let him do those things for which he is called to do. Go to Church. Go to Bible Study. Let your ears be filled with the Word of God and your mouths be filled with the Body and Blood of Christ. Receive what your Pastor is there to give you. For when I urge you to go to the Divine Service and go to the Sacrament, I am doing nothing less than urging you to be a Christian. Be a sheep unto your under-shepherd, your Pastor.

Do this and your Pastor, if he's worth his salt, will feel more appreciated than ever.

"For the gospel is not delivered unto us that we should thereby seek our own praise and glory, or that the people should honour and magnify us which are the ministers thereof; but to the end that the benefit and glory of Christ might be preached and published, and that the Father might be glorified in his mercy offered unto us in Christ his Son, whom he delivered for us all, and with him hath given us all things."

Martin Luther, A Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians, 5:25

Thanks for reading!

Standing In Line For Absolution

2011-09-27T08:37:00.002-04:00

It seems that every time I go to the Pharmacist there’s a line. Sure, there are lines for most of the things we do in life (in fact we end up standing in line all the time without taking much notice), but at the Pharmacy, it’s different.

It’s not like standing in line to buy tickets for movie or ride a roller coaster. When I stand in line at the Pharmacy I’m not there to get something I necessarily want, but something I need. Healing medicine.

What if people stood in line to receive private Absolution?

It’s a crazy thought isn’t it? That something like simple words from your Pastor could be so important.

“If you are poor and miserable, then go to Confession and make use of its healing medicine. He who feels his misery and need will no doubt develop such a longing for it that he will run toward it with joy… so we teach what a splendid, precious and comforting thing Confession is. Furthermore, we strongly urge people not to despise a blessing that in view of our great need is so priceless.”

Martin Luther, A Brief Exhortation to Confession, 27-28

The sad reality, however, is that many Pastors today refuse to give private Absolution.

I realize that such practice has been greatly abused and is therefore distasteful to many, but what is private Absolution except the Gospel consolation which gives the remission of sins to all who believe? It is healing medicine we so desperately need.

“But Pastor, can’t I just confess my sins to God and be forgiven?”

Yes, do that! Confess your sins to God daily. Confess to your neighbor when you sin against him. But this is not a “Do I have to” issue, it’s not a law, it’s gospel, it’s a “I get to” issue! You get to confess your sins to your Pastor, the one whom God has given to you that you might have the benefit of hearing the clear, external, objective, official Word from God which applies the saving merits of Christ’s death to you personally, verbally, individually, for your sin.

“But Pastor, I’m scared to confess my sins privately.”

Yes, there is a bit of trepidation about confessing sins for which you need forgiveness, but know that there is no sin which you could confess that would make your Pastor blush, for in his heart he is just as bad a sinner as you. And though it can be a scary thought to divulge your innermost wickedness, what is more scary is trying to deal with your sin on your own.

Rather, if we really understood the words “In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” we would “be happy to run more than a hundred miles to Confession and not let yourself be urged to come. You should rather come and compel us to give you the opportunity” (Luther, A Brief Exhortation to Confession, 30).

What if people stood in line to receive Absolution?
What if people demanded their pastors to speak this word of Gospel to them, even if that Pastor shies from such a practice?
What if this healing balm of the Gospel were sought out regularly, not necessarily because it’s something we want, but because it’s something we need!

“As long as this sun - namely, the doctrine of justification through faith alone - does not set but shines brightly within our Church, we will not suffer the consolation of absolution to be taken away from her. But where this sun does not shine, where the article of justification by grace through faith alone is not pure, there infernal darkness must set in; there necessarily also the power of absolution, and with it, the perfection of Christ’s redemption, is denied.”

C.F.W. Walther, “Sermon on John 20:19-31 Regarding Absolution,” At Home In The House of My Fathers, 208

Christians are Sinners

2011-09-23T09:00:00.000-04:00

I know it sounds trite: "Christians are sinners." But this statement is very different than saying "We're all just human," or "Nobody's perfect," or "We can't walk on water." Rather, to confess that I am a sinner is nothing less than saying "I deserve the the everlasting torturous fires of Hell and damnation for even the smallest of my sins, yes even for being alive, and as such an empty-handed beggar there is nothing I can do to about my sin."

A Christian knows this all too well. For it's not good morals or being nice which make one a Christian. It's not a prayer, a feeling of peace, or membership at a congregation. Rather, a Christian is one who has been reconciled and redeemed by the blood of the cross.

“Converted Christians are not those who no longer sin. On the contrary, they are those who recognize themselves as sinners and who find God’s grace and forgiveness through their Savior and Shepherd, Jesus Christ. They do not need to possess great knowledge or a strong heroic faith. All they need to recognize is that Jesus is their Redeemer and that they must rely on Him alone. In heavenly things, they listen neither to the wisdom of this world nor to their own reason, but only to the voice of Jesus, their Good Shepherd. As our Lord says, “My sheep hear My voice” and “They do not know the voice of strangers” (John 10:27, 5). They are the ones who walk with Him on the road of suffering, but they enjoy, already here on earth, a blessed peace the world cannot give.”

C.F.W. Walther, God Grant It, 387-388

Not Living To Serve Ourselves

2011-09-20T10:54:00.000-04:00

We recently had another Food Pantry giveaway at our congregation (see more here), and I remain extremely pleased with our members.

It’s not easy to give away free food. This past Friday, we received 17,000 lbs of food which needed to be unloaded, counted, sorted, boxed, and then carried to someone’s car. Those who volunteer give up most of the day exerting the energy required to pull this off. And if that's not fun enough for you, we don’t always get a “Thank you.”

Some complain, saying that they didn’t get the kind of food they want.
Some argue, wanting to make sure they get the same amount as everyone else.
And some simply don’t say a word.

The congregation doesn’t get any new members out of the deal. It doesn’t receive a higher worship attendance. In fact, not much changes here at Bethlehem except that we get our hands dirty.

We serve because people need it.

Sure there’s the occasional person who comes through the line typing away on her ipad, but most of the people really need this food and it doesn’t matter why. They might have been irresponsible with money, they might have had a string of bad luck, they might have a drug problem. It doesn’t matter, they need food, so we serve.

The members of Bethlehem serve. And I don’t hear any complaints from those who serve except about their sore muscles. They serve not to get a “thank you,” not to get new members (though it would be welcomed), and not because they’re deserving. These redeemed children of God serve their neighbors and community because they need to be served.

For Christ has served us in a greater way, that while we were kicking and screaming He dragged us to the font and baptized us into His death and resurrection. And though we are daily ungrateful for His salvation, He continues to provide us with Holy Absolution. So when we see a need and a way to help, we do so. It’s not rocket science, it’s just being human, it's not living to serve ourselves.

“For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” Romans 14:7-8

Back to Church

2011-09-13T09:14:00.000-04:00

There’s a lot of talk on facebook lately, promoting National Back to Church Sunday on September 18th. There's even an edgy video!

Let’s be sure, this is great! If you aren’t going to church, YES, go back. I can't emphasize that enough. But the existence of a "National Back to Church Sunday" seems to presuppose a "National Stop Going to Church Sunday." This is not true.

I often hear Pastors and Laity lament a general lack of attendance at certain times of the year. They long for their members to seek Christ in His Word and Sacraments, desiring that people remain a part of the body of Christ rather than stray from it. I know they do, because I’m one of them.

However, instead of promoting National Back to Church Sunday, let us speak plainly about the Gospel. Preach and teach the value, the benefit, the blessing of Christ’s Word, His Body, His Blood. Make people thirst and hunger for it more than their own life, so that we might never need to encourage them to "come back to church" and receive the sacrament, but rather they beg to receive it.

“Therefore, you must not make any law about this, as the pope does. Only set forth clearly the benefit and harm, the need and use, the danger and the blessing, connected with this Sacrament. Then the people will come on their own without you forcing them. But if they do not come, let them go their way and tell them that such people belong to the devil who do not regard nor feel their great need and God’s gracious help. But if you do not urge this, or make a law or make it bitter, it is your fault if they despise the Sacrament. What else could they be than lazy if you sleep and are silent? Therefore, look to it, pastors and preachers. Our office has now become a different thing from what it was under the pope. It is now become a serious and saving office. So it now involves much more trouble and labor, danger and trials. In addition, it gains little reward and thanks in the world. But Christ Himself will be our reward if we labor faithfully. To this end may the Father of all grace help us, to whom be praise and thanks forever through Christ, our Lord! Amen.”

Martin Luther, Preface to the Small Catechism

Walther on Preaching Clearly

2011-09-08T08:35:00.000-04:00

“Not only must we pastors proclaim the truth, we also must speak so plainly that a peasant listening outside of the sanctuary can understand it and feel drawn into the church. We should preach so clearly that everyone would understand without a doubt that “this is the way to be saved. There is no other.” I would not be surprised if God would hurl a lightning bolt at every preacher who fills his manuscript with fancy terms, intending to shine by his speech-making.”

C.F.W Walther, Law and Gospel, Eighteenth Evening Lecture

Teaching The Catechism

2011-09-06T08:56:00.000-04:00

I am privileged to be able to support Rev. James May and Lutherans in Africa, the purpose of which is to equip African Lutherans in various countries to teach the faith to their own people. In his recent Newsletter Rev. May describes the situation in the country of Togo:

"Even though there are not enough catechisms for all the members of the Lutheran church of Togo (in fact we were only able to print enough for the pastors) the pastors decided to make themselves available 3-4 times per week to sit with the confirmands who came to the church. The pastor would recite the catechism and the confirmands would repeat after the pastor over and over again until they put the Word of God to heart (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). In three months, nine confirmand students memorized the entire Ten Commandments with their explanations AND the Apostles’ Creed with its explanations, and they did it without their own personal copy of the catechism! So often I have heard that memorizing the catechism is too hard and cannot be done, but I never told the Togolese that Americans say it is too hard. They did it because they want to have the Word of God in their minds and hearts so that even if they are far off without a bible, they will know the promises of God."

(The rest of the August 2011 newsletter article can be found here)

How wonderful that these people so long to hear and learn the Word of God and the promises contained therein that they devote themselves to memorization of the Catechism. No one forces them, it’s not simply a hoop they must jump through during 7th and 8th grade, they simply long for it. Yet, among us, the Catechism, the learning of God’s Word, preparation for the Sacrament, is so easily disregarded.

We must heed Luther’s warning:

“Now, whoever does not highly value the Sacrament shows that he has no sin, no flesh, no devil, no world, no death, no danger, no hell. In other words, he does not believe any such things, although he is in them up over his head and his ears and is doubly the devil's own. On the other hand, he needs no grace, no life, no paradise, no heaven, no Christ, no God, nor anything good. For if he believed that he had so much evil around him, and needed so much that is good, he would not neglect the Sacrament, by which such evil is remedied and so much good is bestowed. Nor would it be necessary to force him to go to the Sacrament by any law. He would come running and racing of his own will, would force himself, and beg that you must give him the Sacrament.

Preface to the Small Catechism

Yes, let’s run and race to the sacrament! Let’s force and beg to receive it! For the sacrament in nothing else than Jesus. This we can never have enough!

Thanks for reading.

Previous posts on the Catechism:

Low Expectations?

Catechetical Manure

The Catechism Isn't Just For Fun

Why Gather as Christians?

2011-09-03T10:57:00.000-04:00

He who suggests that he does not need to gather with other Christians for fellowship in the arms of Christ’s Church contradicts the promises and faithfulness of God, he contradicts even Christ Himself. For the great comfort in Christian fellowship is founded on the promise of Christ, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them.” Matthew 18:20

“Can anyone think of a greater blessing than that Christ wants to be in the midst of His followers as often as they gather in His name, even if they are only two or three in number? Could Christ ever be present among His gathered followers with empty hands, without distributing gifts of His grace among them? Just as light cannot be present without illuminating its surroundings, just as fire cannot fail to provide warmth, and just as rain certainly moistens the dry land, so Christ cannot come among His own without blessing them.”

C.F.W. Walther, God Grant It, 545-546

Why We Hymn

2011-09-01T09:22:00.000-04:00

Many think the reason we use the hymnal is either because that's just how we’ve always done it, or because we’re stodgy stubborn Lutherans. The assumption is usually made that the music is neutral and eventually we too will trade in our Hymns for the music we hear on Christian Radio.

But Music is never neutral.

In our culture today music is used either as a form of entertainment or a tool to affect the mood. Retail stores will choose specific music to incite you to buy buy buy. The radio plays a specific genre and style to tickle your ear. The elevator plays music which is suppose to keep you calm.

But the music we hear in church is neither mood-setting nor entertainment driven.

Hymns sung in the context of the Divine Service are countercultural, preaching and teaching the Word of God, delivering the gifts of Christ, and resembling a short sermon set to music. Thus the value of hymnody is not found in its emotional effect upon the hearer or its appeal to the masses, but according to its objective substance, proclaiming the benefits of Christ under the cross.

It’s not simply an argument for orthodox lyrics, like so many suggest. We cannot set the words of "A Mighty Fortress" to a tune resembling something we might hear at an AC/DC concert or a Jazz club and expect it to be just as beneficial in preparation for receiving the Eucharist.

When orthodox lyrics are accompanied by a primary desire to provide entertaining sounds, the truth within the lyrics may be obscured and confused. The sacred claims of the text are easily overpowered by its blending with strong secular overtones, thus taking the timeless truths of scripture and making them subject to the capricious wind of the culture. This is not to argue traditional verse contemporary, organ verse guitar, nor any one genre over another, but simply to maintain the countercultural aspect of the liturgy which is intended to transform the culture through the Gospel, not bow to it.

The foundational purpose of hymnody is not to provide a performance which drives the congregation to clap and sway or have their livers quiver for Christ, but to feed the people with the sustaining Word of God, which gives life and salvation regardless of how well one “feels” they have encountered God in the experience.

If the purpose of worship is for sinners to receive the gifts of Christ in Word and Sacrament, then success in worship is not dependent upon pew morale, driven by a mood-setting rhythm or a hip tune, but upon the Word of God, proclaimed and delivered in Christ. If we begin to suggest that the Word of God is better delivered with a culturally “relevant” upbeat tempo, not only do we degrade God’s Word, chasing the skirt tails of Lady Relevance, but we lose the Gospel all together.

We don’t need to “feel” Jesus. We need His death-bought grace.

The Catechism Isn't Just For Fun

2011-08-26T10:40:00.000-04:00

Yes, it's true. There's actually a purpose to reading and learning your catechism.

I will often hear parents lament how their children grew up and left the Lutheran Church. Some seek a more entertainment driven worship, others desire a spiritual connection of the emotions or a dramatic preacher or delightful liturgical dancers, and still others simply find their own form of “spirituality” in music, books, and watching television.

The Lutheran parents, however, often know that something isn’t quite right about that denomination or that way of living, but feel powerless to say otherwise.

So, aside from the fact that one has to get up the nerve to engage in a controversial discussion (something we are often afraid of doing), here’s some advice from Luther himself: just say “That doesn’t agree with my catechism!”

“For where the Christian is diligent, possessing nothing more than the catechism, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s prayer, and the words of our Lord about baptism and the Sacrament of the Altar, he could defend himself very nicely with them and hold his own against all heresies. No better word or doctrine will arise than what has been summed up in the catechism from Holy Scripture. Therefore, we ought faithfully cling to it so that when a heretic or fanatic appears with his contrary teaching, we can counter it and say that it is not true teaching, for it is not in harmony with my catechism.”

Martin Luther House Postil for the Eighth Sunday After Trinity, 1533

It may be obvious, but this will require you to read your catechism diligently, daily holding firm to the Word of God proclaimed therein, and continually arming yourself against all heretics, fanatics, and enthusiasts who come to you in sheep’s clothing.

“Let all Christians drill themselves in the catechism daily, and constantly put it into practice, guarding themselves with the greatest care and diligence against the poisonous infection of such security or arrogance.”

Preface the Large Catechism

Instructions for the Pious

2011-08-23T10:23:00.001-04:00

Instruction for a pious and virtuous life is the central teaching of every religion except Christianity. But in the kingdom established by Christ, the main thing is the forgiveness of sins. In order for all people to obtain this forgiveness, the Son of God became a man and died on the cross. This was the real purpose of His entire great work on earth. After Christ's life, suffering, and death gained for all people the forgiveness of all their sins, all His additional works and institutions have no purpose other than to bring all people to believe in the forgiveness gained for them.

C.F.W. Walther - God Grant It, 789

Morality Cannot Be Calculated

2011-08-17T11:20:00.000-04:00

My wife and I have three children between the ages of 1 and 5.

Warning: The following statement includes a high dose of sarcasm.

Now here’s the thing, if we had less children then I’m sure we’d be better parents. We’d have more patience, more compassion, more time on our hands to take care of the remaining child. We’d be able to take time for ourselves more, do the things we want, live the lifestyle we desire, and thus be happier. And of course, we’d have more money, which everyone knows equals happiness!

So my wife and I have calculated the morality of the issue and decided that the best thing is to put a hit out on one or two of our children. It sounds harsh, I know, but we’ll be better parents for it, and if we don’t then we’ll have nothing left inside of us to give to the other children, which just isn't right.

No one would agree with that logic. Yet, the New York Times ran a story about a couple who decided to eliminate one of the twins in their pregnancy for some of these same reasons. Here’s a snippet from the article:

Jenny’s decision to reduce twins to a single fetus was never really in doubt. The idea of managing two infants at this point in her life terrified her. She and her husband already had grade-school-age children, and she took pride in being a good mother. She felt that twins would soak up everything she had to give, leaving nothing for her older children. Even the twins would be robbed, because, at best, she could give each one only half of her attention and, she feared, only half of her love. Jenny desperately wanted another child, but not at the risk of becoming a second-rate parent. “This is bad, but it’s not anywhere as bad as neglecting your child or not giving everything you can to the children you have,” she told me, referring to the reduction. She and her husband worked out this moral calculation on their own, and they intend to never tell anyone about it. Jenny is certain that no one, not even her closest friends, would understand, and she doesn’t want to be the object of their curiosity or feel the sting of their judgment. This secrecy is common among women undergoing reduction to a singleton. Doctors who perform the procedure, aware of the stigma, tell patients to be cautious about revealing their decision. (All but one of the patients I spoke with insisted on anonymity.) Some patients are so afraid of being treated with disdain that they withhold this information from the obstetrician who will deliver their child.

The article can be found here.

Morality cannot be subjectively calculated. It’s not something that any one of us comes up with on our own. It's given to us. There are already objective moral rules in place for dealing with human life. Rather, once you begin to operate as if human life is based on a personal decision of pros and cons then you have reduced the issue to the realm of utilitarianism (i.e. what’s best for most people). This may work in some areas but not on the issue of life. I have no right to say to my wife, “Well, the 3-year-old isn’t pulling her weight around the house. She just seems to want to play and skip around all the time. So the way I see it, it’s just best for everyone if we call the hit-man.”

Morality has already been injected into the fabric of human existence. When you go against such Natural Law, then you will naturally bear the guilt that comes with taking a human life to satisfy your own personal convenience.

If you are in a situation where you are considering terminating a life, please go with adoption instead.
If you suffer from the guilt of taking a human life in this way, please see your Pastor, that he may absolve you of that sin and guilt, which can only be taken away under the cross.
And for the rest of you, don’t remain silent on the issue of human life.

Thanks for reading.

Walther's Great Sin

2011-08-16T14:39:00.000-04:00

Sadly, some pastors, without receiving another Call, leave their congregation as easily as one might leave a job at Arby’s. Other pastors leave their congregation to start synods half way around the world. I find Walther’s words to be extraordinary when he, 25 years after the fact, recalls leaving his Call as a pastor in Brauensdorf, Saxony to follow Martin Stephan to settle in America.

“This great sin of my life stand vividly before my eyes. It makes this day for me a day of repentance. I feel it deeply - God knows it, I am not lying. I would have deserved that God would have thrown me out of the Holy Ministry of His Church forever. Indeed, as a greater sinner than Jonah, I should have been swallowed by the depths of the sea. But behold! God, who is rich in mercy... allowed me to find grace in the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, for all my sins.”

C.F.W. Walther, 1862 Sermon on the Office of the Ministry, At Home In The House of My Fathers, 148.

"A greater sinner than Jonah!" If only all of us pastors would have such conviction and passion for the Call in which God has placed us. Yet, where even pastors fail as under-shepherds, there is grace in the blood of Christ for us as well.

We Don't All Agree

2011-08-15T09:25:00.000-04:00

It's easier to pretend that differences don't exist, especially when those differences lie in matters of theology. It's much more difficult to speak out against dangerous teachings within the church and lovingly discuss these problems with our brothers and sisters in Christ. But this is no minor issue. Sadly, the difference between the Lutheran Church and Reformed Churches lies in the chief article of the faith: Justification. Therefore, we cannot blindly assume that allowing our members to travel down this road, because they think all congregations are basically the same, is anything but dangerous.

“What the Reformed Church lacks is this: it cannot correctly answer the question “What must I do to be saved?” Ironically, it is in the doctrine of justification - the cardinal doctrine of the Lutheran Church - that the Reformed Church does not agree with us. It does not point the correct way to grace and salvation. There are very few in our day and age that understand this point. It is true that all the Reformed, and the sects that have come from the Reformed church, do affirm that a person is saved by grace alone. But the moment you examine their practice, you will immediately discover that - even though they hold this truth in theory - they do not put it into practice. Rather, they point people in the opposite direction.”

C.F.W. Walther - Law & Gospel, Fourteenth Evening Lecture, 161

The Supreme Worship of God

2011-08-12T13:15:00.000-04:00

Lest we find ourselves too eager to change worship in order to appease our own obscure sentimentalism or narcissistic idea of what God really wants in worship, let us first consider what true worship actually involves. Here's a hint, it's not singing!

Therefore the supreme worship of God that a man can offer… [is] to hear and read the Word. On the other hand, nothing is more dangerous than to become tired of the Word. Therefore anyone who is so cold that he thinks he knows enough and gradually begins to loathe the Word has lost Christ and the Gospel. What he thinks he knows, he reaches only by speculation...”

Martin Luther - AE 26:64

Why Read The Bible?

2011-08-09T11:58:00.000-04:00

Well, if your faith is internal then there's no need to read the Bible. If your faith is shaped in your heart or formed in your mind, if it pours forth from somewhere deep in the recesses of your gut, then you don't need the Bible.

You, dear Sir, may run to any such place you please to nourish and strengthen your faith. But it won’t be a Christian faith.

True Faith comes not from watching an inspirational movie, nor listening to uplifting music on a “christian” radio station, nor forwarding an email that talks about god and the blessings he will give to those who forward it to at least 10 people. No, but:

“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

Just as your redemption was obtained external from you by the Word made flesh dying and rising for you, so also your faith is imparted to you externally, through this same Word of God. The Word of God which enters your ears from the pulpit, your eyes from Scripture, your head from the font, and your mouth from the altar.

Faith comes from hearing the Word, and faith is nourished from hearing the Word. As such, not a day goes by in which we need not cling to this Word of God, for it daily rescues us from spiritual death.

“It is impossible for a person to become a Christian without the Word of God, and it is just as impossible for him to remain in the faith without it… Our body requires daily nourishment, and so does our soul, lest it sink back into spiritual death. No earthly fire maintains itself, and in like manner, the heavenly fire of true faith is soon extinguished if it is not fed daily by Holy Scripture.”

C.F.W. Walther - God Grant It, p 609

Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning (even the parts that we don’t understand). Grant that we may so hear them (even when we'd rather just watch T.V.), read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them (even when we lament and begrudge it) that, by patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Italics added.

Thanks for reading.

The Divine Service Needs No Innovation

2011-07-29T10:24:00.002-04:00

Macintosh 128K

I’m just not that excited about the new Mac Operating System Lion.

Don’t get me wrong I love Apple products, but I can’t stand it that every couple years I’ve got to shell out more money for an operating system that’s newer, better, and more advanced. Sure I could refuse. I could hold on to my current system, but then my computer will eventually look like the archaic Macintosh 128K; outdated and obsolete.

But what if technology didn’t need improvement? What if it reached its pinnacle, and was no longer able to make advancements but only unnecessary innovations? To be honest, my consumer driven mind cannot fathom such a reality. And maybe that's why we have trouble separating human innovation from the Church. Maybe that's why we struggle to grasp the fact that the Divine Service doesn't need improvement.

In the Divine Service God serves us. He delivers to us salvation, life everlasting, the forgiveness of sins through the Word, spoken by the Pastor, combined with water, bread, and wine… and it cannot be improved upon.

Yes we add in sound systems to help people hear, we add pew cushions to help them sit, we even change our hymnals every couple decades. But the forgiveness offered there does not change, it does not improve. There is no Beta version of the Divine Service, because it’s always perfect.

Even if the music is sung poorly, the sound system fails, the Pastor loses his voice, the children scream through the service, the power goes out, and the building starts to crumble, still, it is a perfect service, because in the Divine Service God delivers his perfect gifts to you every time. Christ gives to you forgiveness and life and salvation that is perfectly delivered to our imperfection.

Luther speaks regarding changing the Sabbath, “Because Sunday has been appointed for this purpose from ancient times, it should not be changed, so that things may be done in an orderly fashion and no one create disorder by unnecessary innovation.” LC I:85

Regarding changes in ceremonies our Confessions state, “All frivolity and offense should be avoided.” FC Ep X:5

It doesn't mean that the Church is like the Macintosh 128K, outdated and obsolete, quite the contrary. It means that in an ever changing world of the latest and greatest, you have the comfort of knowing that the forgiveness delivered in Word and Sacrament requires no innovation, no advancement, no improvement. It's perfect worship every time because it's God's service to you.

Liturgy and Hymnody is for Youth?

2011-07-26T09:56:00.001-04:00

You can argue against the notion that we must feed youth with the latest form of entertainment driven media when communicating the faith.
You can point out the underlying messages being communicated to youth through irresponsible and negligent pedagogy.
You can confess the promise of God to sustain His church over and against those who say we must conform or die.
You can regard liturgy and hymnody as something to be treasured in the lives of all ages, yes even the youth.

And yet, many will still not listen. Sometimes it's nice to just let the youth make the argument for you.

I was unable to attend the Higher Things Conference this year, but here's a look at the youth in the closing Divine Service from Atlanta. Enjoy!

Free Bread

2011-07-21T16:32:00.001-04:00

Over 11,000 lbs of food

Bethlehem Lutheran Church offers a Food Pantry 6 times a year because there is a need in the community.

We give away food to anyone who will come to receive it. Other than their names there are no strings attached and somehow people make it from all over. People who are suffering, the unemployed, the underpaid, those struggling to make ends meet, those afflicted by various troubles.

We can't offer much, just a box of food and a promise.

A promise for those afflicted by sin, that they may lay down their sin at the foot of the cross and receive the gift of forgiveness and eternal life, no strings attached. This is why we're out here even on days like today when the heat index is over 100 degrees. Although many are intent to never attend the Divine Service, we stand as an ever-present reminder that the Divine Service is here for them, Christ is here for them.

Lord, whose love through humble service Bore the weight of human need,
Who upon the cross, forsaken, Offered mercy's perfect deed,
We, Your servants, bring the worship Not of voice alone, but heart,
Consecrating to Your purpose Ev'ry gift that You impart.

Still Your children wander homeless; Still the hungry cry for bread;
Still the captives long for freedom; Still in grief we mourn our dead.
As, O Lord, Your deep compassion Healed the sick and freed the soul,
Use the love Your Spirit kindles Still to save and make us whole.

Called by worship to Your service, Forth in Your dear name we go,
To the child, the youth, the aged, Love in living deeds to show;
Hope and health, goodwill and comfort, Counsel, aid and peace we give,
That Your servants, Lord, in freedom May Your mercy know and live.

LSB 848

What To Expect From Your Pastor

2011-07-19T10:54:00.000-04:00

I use to have a beard.

When I was at Seminary studying to be a Pastor I had a beard and I was told stories of other men with beards, men who went into their first parish with beards... only to be told by their flock to shave.

I guess, everyone has expectations of their Pastor.
Everyone has an idea of how their Pastor could do his job better.

Some want him to be young. Some want a more experienced chap. Some prefer their Pastor to be strong suited in children's ministry, or young adult, or couples, or singles, etc. Some desire a Pastor who can adequately fill the pews with inspirational sermons, bring in the new programs and ideas, push the envelope of novelty so as to chart the future, spark interest, and scratch the ears of the people.

Yet, more than all these, the one thing people need from their Pastor also happens to be the one thing their Pastor ceaselessly longs to give: Absolution.

While many have sequestered confession and absolution to the realm of corporate worship and neglected to teach the value of private confession and absolution, still absolving sin remains as the chief joy and blessing of the Pastoral Office, as well as the chief need of God’s people.

At the end of the day, despite your Pastor’s age, his skill, his likability, even his hygiene, despite what we want from our Pastor, what we think he should be doing, what we need is for him to act as God’s ears to hear our confession, and as God’s mouth to forgive our sin. We need him to stand in the place of Christ for us, that he might fill our ears with the sweet words of the Gospel. This is what you ought to expect from your Pastor. This is what you ought to break down his door to hear. The absolution of your sins.

“So if there is a heart that feels its sin and desires comfort, it has here a sure refuge where it finds and hears God’s Word because through a human being God looses and absolves from sin.”

“If you are poor and miserable, then go and make use of the healing medicine. Those who feel their misery and need will no doubt develop such a desire for confession that they will run to it with joy.”

Martin Luther - A Brief Exhortation to Confession, 1529 revised edition of the Large Catechism.

Is there any greater joy for a Pastor than to absolve sin?

Is their any greater pleasure than to deliver Christ's forgiveness to those broken and crushed and despairing?

I know not one.

Thanks for reading

Got Baptism

2011-07-16T11:01:00.001-04:00

Wonderful exposition on Baptism as taught by Scripture and believed by Lutherans. Check it out.

Part 1

Part 2

Catechetical Manure

2011-07-12T08:53:00.000-04:00

Is this what you should look like?…

Let me explain.

I think that most of us look at Luther’s Small Catechism and think that it’s an old document. Well it is, 1529, but most of think that because it’s old, that, well, maybe it was great in its day but we’re living in different times now. To us it’s outdated. So, after reading the thing in Confirmation Class, after we think we've learned all we can from it, we toss it aside, pack it up in the basement, maybe even throw it away (the horror, I know).

Interestingly enough, however, when Luther wrote the preface to the Large Catechism, he mentions...

“Many regard the catechism as a simple, trifling teaching, which they can absorb and master at one reading and then toss the book into a corner as if they are ashamed to read it again.”

Not just in our modern age, but also back in Luther’s, people were despising learning the Catechism. Go figure. In fact, people will always despise learning the Catechism just as people always despise learning the Word of God. But, really, how arrogant of us to think that we know it enough already?

“Are we not the most marvelous fellows, therefore, who allow ourselves to imagine that, after reading and hearing it once, we know everything and need not read and study it anymore? We think we can learn in an hour what God himself cannot finish teaching.”

We are all guilty of this. Guilty of detesting the six main teachings of Scripture taught in the Catechism. For most of us do not read it daily. Most of us do not attempt to memorize it. Most of us don’t even bother to occasionally clean the dust off of it to pretend we read it. Is it important to us or not? Do we think we are more learned that God, and therefore do not need it?

So... back to the picture (surely you were curious how I was going to tie this in)… Since we so flippantly despise such benefits of learning the pure exposition of the word of God found in the Catechism, Luther comments, “we deserve not only to be given no food to eat, but also to have the dogs set upon us and to be pelted with horse manure.”

While I realize Luther is most likely speaking hyperbolically, I would love to walk into the Church parking lot one day to find a crowd gathered around throwing manure at someone. And when I inquire as to the reason why, the people respond in one voice “This person isn’t being diligent enough to daily read and memorize the Catechism!” Yes, I think I’d love to see this… except that some days I too would surely look like Mad Dog Tannen.

“Let all Christians drill themselves in the catechism daily, and constantly put it into practice, guarding themselves with the greatest care and diligence against the poisonous infection of such security or arrogance. Let them constantly read and teach, learn and meditate and ponder. Let them never stop until they have proved by experience and are certain that they have taught the devil to death and have become more learned that God himself and all his saints… Only then, hungry and thirsty, will they for the first time truly taste what now they cannot bear to smell because they are so bloated and surfeited. To this end may God grant his grace. Amen.”

All quotes taken from Luther's Preface to the Large Catechism

Thanks for reading!

How Long Should A Sermon Be?

2011-07-05T08:53:00.000-04:00

What would you do if your Pastor preached for too long?

Would you tap your watch, clear your throat, take a bathroom break, maybe fall asleep, send a child up to say "Wrap it up Pastor," or will you simply get up and leave?

I hear a lot of jokes from various church, about how they'll just hold up a sign in the back of the Sanctuary telling the Pastor his time's up. In fact, it seems that a large majority of jokes concerning Worship in America revolve around the length of the Pastor’s sermon. Though harmless and well-intentioned, there is much truth hidden under the laughter.

Pastors (including myself) and Laity alike, have had strong opinions about just how long the sermon should last. I hear many suggest that 15 minutes is the perfect time. Others say that anything under 20 minutes is homiletical negligence. And there are those who think 5 minutes is still too long. After all, our modern, over-scheduled, over-stimulated lifestyle demands that everything submit to our very fragile and pathetic attention span.

How silly of us and our superficial American mindset to think that we can choose the appropriate amount of time for the Holy Spirit to deliver the Word of God to our hears and hearts.

I would suggest an alternative… instead of watching the clock, focus on the content. Instead of thinking about whether a sermon was too long or too short, consider whether it was Christ Centered and Cross Focused. Did the law condemn you as the hell-deserving sinner you are? Was the sweet sound of the Gospel preached to it’s fullest extent; consoling, comforting, and delivering to you salvation and the forgiveness of sins in the blood Christ? Was Jesus' death and resurrection the point of the sermon, or a footnote?

It may seem to be an obvious point but in a day when so many sermons are spineless and empty, why bicker over the length? It's not that we should ignore the clock, but there are 10,080 minutes in the week, and we Pastors have about 15 of those minutes to deliver the Gospel to our flock.

I would much rather hear people joke about how they’re going to hold up a cross in the back of the Sanctuary to remind the Pastor to preach it!

Thanks for reading.

What About Lutherans?

2011-07-01T21:12:00.000-04:00

Great post describing Modern divisions in the Christian world and the lonely middle way that is Lutheranism! Listen all the way through.

Preaching

2011-06-30T08:40:00.001-04:00

Issues Etc., June 29th - Preaching

Click the above link to hear a great discussion on the task of Preaching today as discussed by President Rev. Matthew Harrison!

Transub-What?

2011-06-28T08:59:00.001-04:00

Ok, so I’ve been posting way too much on Celiac Disease in the Lord’s Supper (Here and Here)… I promise this is my last… probably… maybe...

But here’s what I’m thinking:

Celiac Disease ought to be a sure fire proof against Transubstantiation.

Transubstantiation is the erroneous Roman claim that during the consecration of the bread and the wine, the substance of the Eucharistic elements convert into the body and blood of Christ and are no longer bread and wine but only hold the appearances of bread and wine.

This contrasts the correct Lutheran understanding from Scripture that the body and blood of Christ are truly present in, with, and under the bread and wine. Both at the same time, and it rocks!

However, let’s just pretend that Transubstantiation is correct, and thus the bread is no longer bread but the body of Christ only. Then, whether an individual has Celiac Disease or not is inconsequential. The gluten content doesn't matter a bit. The Host, which is no longer bread, won’t cause stomach cramps or diarrhea or extreme fatigue or any such symptom which occurs when ingesting wheat. Problem solved.

But if an individual suffering from Celiac Disease gets sick after eating a consecrated wheat communion wafer, then someone needs to revise their theory on Transubstantiation… Just sayin:)

Jesus Used Wheat... Probably.

2011-06-26T15:25:00.001-04:00

I recently posted a brief argument for the use of gluten-free wafers in the Lord’s Supper (The Case for Gluten-Free Christ). I do realize that many well respected Lutherans (well some) are pushing for a wheat only Host. Although there is much more to say on the issue and many quotes to post, I think it’s more important to recognize and affirm, for those who argue the wafer must be Wheat, that Jesus was using wheat bread when first instituting the Lord’s Supper.

Sadly, this has often become too much the focus. I’m fully ready to concede that the bread used that night in the upper room was, like most bread eaten in the Ancient Near East, wheat bread.

However, proving that Jesus used wheat bread does not prove that His intent was to prescribe wheat. If we say that in order to have the Real Presence of Christ we must adhere to the exact ingredients of the bread and the wine, where are we to stop? This is poor Hermeneutics and will ultimately lead us down a slippery slope of additional mandates for the efficacy of the Lord’s Supper.

Are we to conclude that only certain types of grapes must be used for the wine, grapes that were accessible in the Ancient Near East? Or should we specify the specific variety of wheat that should be used? Typically, in the Ancient Near East, they used Emmer Wheat, does this mean we can’t use bulgur wheat, or durum wheat, or semolina wheat, spring, winter, hard, soft, red, white, etc.?

Wheat is a grass grain. One of the things it’s used for is to make bread. But other grass grains are also used to make bread, (not just barely and rye):

Barley, Bulgur Wheat, Corn, Durum Wheat, Fonio, Kamut, Millet, Oats, Popcorn, Rice, Rye, Semolina Wheat, Sorghum, spelt, Teff, Triticale, Wheat, Wild rice.

We’re not Repristinationists.

Saying that wheat bread must be used in order for Christ to be present, is making Prescriptive that which is, at best, Descriptive (assuming that the Greek "arton" means “wheat bread” and not simply the plain-old type of normal bread, which most likely was wheat, in which case the type of bread would not even be descriptive... I could go on).

So where do we stop? We don’t hold the Lord’s Supper in an upstairs room, though it certainly was. We don’t mandate the use of only the Common cup, though it was the only kind used (and I would argue is the preferred practice). We don’t specify that we partake in the evening, though it was originally. We don’t specify the amount of the bread or the wine, the type of wine, the alcohol content of the wine, the color, the other ingredients in the bread. We don’t even command that the celebrant break the bread during the institution, though it specifically says “Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it" (you see where I'm going with this).

So if we don’t pretend that the other original aspects of the Lord’s Supper must be adhered to, why specify the exact grain of bread? Are we not unnecessarily burdening the consciences of men?

I’m not suggesting we can substitute any kind of food for bread, but the Real Presence is not dependent on the recreation of the original event, but on the word of God.

“Take, eat; this is my body.”

Also, if Pieper, Walther, Baier, Chemnitz, and Luther are stating that any type of grain may be used for the host and not just wheat, then the burden of proof is on those who argue for Wheat only bread. They must prove that the church has always assumed the directive to be God's Word combined with wine and wheat... this they cannot do.

Thanks for reading.

The Case For Gluten-Free Christ

2011-06-24T16:33:00.004-04:00

My wife and my two daughters have Celiac Disease, and I have found that many Pastors are uninformed of both the disease and how to understand it within the context of a wheat dominated communion rite.

Let me preface this by saying that as a Pastor I have the responsibility and privilege of distributing the Sacrament. Thus, I attempt to do so with reverence and in the proper administration according to our Lord’s mandate. However, sin gets in the way…

Specifically, I’m speaking of the sin which we inherit from our parents. Ever since the Fall in the garden sin has infected the genetic makeup of mankind, passing it down through the ages, infecting not just our spiritual ability to have or do anything good, but also infecting our bodies.

It is the duty of the Church to minister to those suffering bodily afflictions, not compromising God's Word but finding ways to deliver the means of Grace also to the suffering. We go to the homes of those unable to attend the Divine Service, we put a drop of wine in water for those who suffer alcoholism, and today we are confronted with a disease which deals with the Host, a disease medical professionals are still trying to understand. It’s called “Celiac Disease.”

Medical information:

Celiac is an autoimmune disorder of the small intestines, it is not the same as a wheat allergy. It’s caused by a reaction to the gluten protein (glaidin) found in crops of the tribe Triticeae, i.e. Wheat, Barley, and Rye. Upon exposure to the gluten protein, the immune system reacts with the small-bowel tissue, causing an inflammatory reaction which leads to a truncating of the villi lining the small intestine (villous atrophy). This restricts the absorption of nutrients, causing any number of problems, both short and long-term.

The only treatment is a life-long gluten-free diet, without which causes the risk of other autoimmune disorders (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, sjorgen syndrome), Type 1 diabetes, Thyroid disease, Intestinal lymphoma, cancer, etc.

Being a Husband and Father of those with Celiac Disease, I take every precaution to protect from contamination, even in the Lord’s Supper.

Historically, wheat has been the proper mode of distributing the Sacrament of the Altar. In fact, the Vatican insists that it is the only way.

“Special hosts "quibus glutinum ablatum est" [that are gluten-free] are invalid matter for the celebration of the Eucharist.”

Prot. N. 89/78 Vatican City, 19 June 1995

Rome suggests that in order for Transubstantiation to occur there must be Wheat present. Their answer for Celiacs is to provide Low-Gluten Wafters (0.01% Gluten), hoping it will not hurt the communicant with Celiac Disease. However, there is no Scriptural mandate concerning the ingredients of the bread. It only says “He took bread” (Mt. 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:23, each time using the word arton).  

The mandate is to use “bread” and bread can be made from grains other than Wheat, Barley, and Rye. I can tell you first hand that if it’s made properly, you can’t tell the difference!

This was confirmed in the 1983 Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) report of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod on The Theology and Practice of the Lord’s Supper, stating:

“Since the Scriptures are silent on the source of the bread, it may be baked from the flour of wheat, rye, barley, or other grains.”

Furthermore, C.F.W. Walther also wrote in his Pastoral Theology,

“It is unessential whether the bread is leavened or unleavened, whether it be baked of rye, wheat, corn, barley, or oats, whether it have this or that shape, provided that it is real bread baked of flour and water.”

Pastorale, 168f.

We need not go beyond Scripture on the matter.

Practically speaking, for Pastors, if you have members with Celiac Disease (or a Wheat allergy), then you can purchase Gluten Free wafers here. If you do decide to offer Gluten Free wafers, please note that you must be extremely careful not to cross contaminate them with the wheat wafers. This is not as simple as keeping them in different containers, but it also becomes an issue during consecration and distribution. This will look different at each congregation, but the Pastor must not touch the Gluten Free wafer after your hands have touched the wheat. Yes, it’s that sensitive of an issue.

Many are born with defects, deformities, and diseases, but all of us are conceived with the terminal malignancy of sin that eventually leads us to the grave. There is but one solution… the body and blood of Christ given unto death for sinners!

See Part 2 here.

Thanks for reading!

Advice For the New Pastor

2011-06-21T08:34:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again. The time when many of our Seminarians become Pastors, ordained into the office of Holy Ministry.

Though the Seminarian may be a bit fragile and wet behind the ear, he is now the under-shepherd leading God’s flock. Regardless of how his sheep evaluate his ability, or lack thereof, everyone is looking to this man and calling him “Pastor.”

Now, for a word of advice to these new Pastors, those who think they know it all, and even to those who don’t.

No one likes someone who's boastful. But there is one thing in which you must boast, your Call. You may not be all that confident about being able to lead God's people, but you must be confident in your Call, in the fact that you stand in the place of Christ for the people.

“Every minister of the Word of God should be sure of his calling. In the sight of both God and man he should boldly glory that he preaches the Gospel as one who has been called and sent.”

“Let the preacher of the Gospel be sure that his calling is from God. It is perfectly proper that he should follow Paul’s example and exalt this calling of his, so that he may gain credence and authority among the people… To glory this way is not vain but necessary; for he does not glory in himself but in the king who has sent him and whose authority he seeks to have honored and elevated.”

Martin Luther - LW 26:16

Yes it seems strange for a Pastor to be boastful, we’re suppose to be humble and meek, and all that fluffy nice stuff. But when you boast about your Call, you are not boasting in yourself, but in the one who has called you. For when the congregation of God's people that you shepherd hears your words, they are not listening to you, but through you they listen to Christ.

“Just as men should devoutly honor the authority and majesty of God, so they should reverently receive and listen to His messengers, who bring His Word.”

Martin Luther - LW 26:16

So as you begin the ministry, boast in your Call, not to glorify you, the crummy, filthy, sinner that you are, but to glorify God. Boast in your Call, not to manipulate your people, but to care for them. For the people need to know that you are the one who stands in the place of Christ for them. They need to know that you are actually loosing their sins, actually declaring them forgiven, actually giving to them salvation and eternal life in Christ’s body and blood.

They need to hear it, they need to know it, they need to be confident of it! Please tell them...

“The reason for our proud boasting is that we are in a divine calling an in God’s own work, and that the people need to be assured of our calling, in order that they may know that our word is in fact the Word of God.”

Martin Luther - LW 26:20-21

In order for them to be sure of your call, you must be sure of your Call. Frame your Call document, hang it on the wall, put it in a place where you’ll see it all the time. Be sure of your Call. This is true humility in the sight of God.

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 10:17

Thanks for reading!

Children's Religion - Dora Style

2011-06-17T20:31:00.000-04:00

So I'm in the children's section of the Bookstore the other day, watching my children play so energetically with the store's toys one might wonder if they had ever seen toys before. When I looked up from the vicious play scenario, I found myself standing in the children's religion section of the store... the corner of the store.

Remember, the layout of any bookstore, as well as the books found in each department, speak volumes about what the store believes to be true concerning any one category.

In the children's section, under the sign "Religion," (Did I mention this is in the corner of the room?) are an assortment of books that say nothing about the true God revealed in Jesus Christ.

Among the "Mickey Goes On An Easter Egg Hunt" books, and "The Berenstain Bears Show God's Love" books, there's the main display book for Children's Religion. The only display book. It's not a Bible, it doesn't even talk about some ambivalent "god" that all religions would be able to relate to... it's the book "Dora's Magical Adventures."

On second thought... If this is the religion being sold to our children, then I'm glad the religion section is shoved in the corner.

Kyrie Eleson

So, a word of caution... if you're looking to purchase a children's Bible, don't go to the mainline bookstores, who don't know a thing about stocking Children's Christian books. Go to CPH and get "The Story Bible." It's a serious Bible and it's excellent! Each of my children have their own. And although I value the prayers, the pictures, and the questions provided, what's important is that it's text (Old and New Testament) is centered on Christ and His death and resurrection for sinners. It's well worth the price.

The Three Letter Word

2011-06-15T12:16:00.003-04:00

There’s one little three letter word that I find causes more offense, one word that is more disregarded, one word that causes even Christians to fear using it… “SIN”

To be sure, no one wants to hear that word. No one. No one likes to hear that they are a sinner. No matter what religion you hold to, referencing sin is about as comfortable as a root canal. And anyone who engages in the subject will find it to be a very sticky matter.

In the mind of our culture there is very little gray area. Either one is a loving, tolerant, unbiased, easy-going, kindhearted friend… or a narrow-minded, chauvinistic, intolerant, domineering, discriminatory, bigot. There seems to be no room for someone who loves me and calls me a sinner at the same time.

People easily become insulted and indignant if anyone suggests that he or she is a sinner. That person will automatically be regarded as judgmental as if the use of the word “sin” and “sinner” are a personal conclusion drawn from human reason (instead of Scripture).

So usually, what happens is that the word “sin” is either exchanged for a softer word, take your pick: bad, mistake, unfavorable, etc., or the word “sin” is altogether explained away, justified by contextual circumstances.

In the end, the word is ignored… and with it, so is Christ.

The plain and simple truth of the matter is that forgiveness does not exist for those who don’t know they’re sinners. And I’m not talking about the kind of “everyone sins, so what” attitude. Yes, God is merciful and loving and gracious. But NOT apart from the cross.

Take away the cross and our God is not merciful but wrathful.   Take away the cross and God hates us because of our sin. In fact all of Scripture says that I’m not God’s friend, but His enemy. My sin is a direct attack on Him, and all I deserve is judgment. We may not like being labeled as a “sinner,” but that’s what the Bible calls us… a God Damned Sinner. Unrighteous, unworthy, undeserving.

This is why we need a savior. Someone who is perfectly righteous to not only take away unrighteousness from us and suffer in our place, receiving the fullest extent of God’s wrath which we deserve, but also giving us His perfect righteousness which we absolutely do not deserve.

If we forget that we are sinners… we forget that we need this savior, His death for us, His resurrection for us.

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9

I do not mean to suggest that Christians should act in self-righteousness, disregard the need to love one another, or hold up signs that say “You’re going to Hell.”

But, if you are called a sinner, this is not necessarily a scornful attempt to insult you. Though you won’t like to hear it, it just might be the Holy Spirit using the Word of God to convict you of your sin, in order to show you your need for the savior.

I know this only because I know all too well how great and grievous are the sins which stain my soul.

Thanks for reading.

I Need A Vacation!

2011-06-07T13:35:00.000-04:00

“I need a vacation!”

I’ve thought those words many times. I’ve heard them from the lips of just about everyone I know. And now it is vacation season.

Summer is upon us.

It seems the warm weather is here for good.

People all over will be rushing to vacation spots, navigating through dense traffic, compelled to simply get away.

Our minds are filled with hopes of vacations, baseball, barbecue, beaches, relaxation, and attending the Divine Service to receive the body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, of which are many… well... at least that’s what should fill our minds.

“Those who do not hold the sacrament in high esteem indicate that they have no sin, no flesh, no devil, no world, no death, no dangers, no hell. That is, they believe they have none of these things, although they are up to their neck in them and belong to the devil twice over. On the other hand, they indicate that they need no grace, no life, no paradise no heaven, no Christ, no God, nor any other good thing. For if they believed that they had so much evil and needed so much good, they would not neglect the sacrament, in which help against such evil is provided and in which so much good is given. It would not be necessary to compel them with any law to receive the sacrament. Instead, they would come on their own, rushing and running to it; they would compel themselves to come and would insist that you give them the sacrament.”

Martin Luther - Preface to the Small Catechism, 23.

Though the unabated passion of my flesh cries “I need a vacation,” the ONLY thing it truly needs is forgiveness.

Rush to the sacrament!

Thanks for reading.

Looking Through The Nail Marks

2011-06-02T10:00:00.000-04:00

What a great comfort it is to know that the one who sits at the right hand of the Father Almighty, is also the one who has taken on my flesh, taken on my death, my present and eternal punishment, He is the one who bears the marks of my redemption.

This is a comfort, not for the joyous celebrations in life, but for the sorrows, for the pains, for the struggles I face… for the times when I mourn over my wretched sinfulness, over that sin which I cannot bear to recall. Yet I know that when my Father looks to me, He sees me through the nail marks of the one sitting next to Him.

This is why today we praise God that the Christ ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, to show Him the price that is already paid, the punishment that was already served, the marks of our redemption.

Thanks for reading!

Where Would He Be This Evening?

2011-06-02T07:50:00.000-04:00

"Now I should like to add one thing that Jesus' ascension does not mean. It does not mean that He has gone away. Before Jesus ascended, He promised that wherever we may be He is with us. The difference is that after the ascension, Jesus does not show us Himself anymore, or at least not until the next time, which will be the end of the world or when we die, whichever comes first. And it is a jolly good thing, too, for suppose Jesus had gone on showing Himself as He did before His resurrection. Where would He be this evening? In America or in New Guinea? We would say, "If He is there, then He is not here." But because Jesus ascended, His people in America and New Guinea and in this room know that He is with them. He has promised it."

Norman Nagel -1965 Sermon on the Ascension of our Lord

Concerning Public Worship and Concord

2011-05-31T09:21:00.001-04:00

“For those who devise and ordain universal customs and orders get so wrapped up in them that they make them into dictatorial laws opposed to the freedom of faith. But those who ordain and establish nothing succeed only in creating as many factions as there are heads, to the detriment of that Christian harmony and unity of which St. Paul and St. Peter so frequently write.”

Martin Luther - June 17, 1525 - LW53:46

Texting in Church

2011-05-27T11:20:00.001-04:00

I can understand texting at the movie theater, a concert, a sporting event, or a play… but at church? During the Divine Service?

Recently I've heard a number of people argue for the "freedom" to text in Church. I've even heard Pastors try to accommodate this obsession by brainstorming ways to incorporate texting into the service. This seems odd to me.

If it’s rude to text when someone is talking to you, why do it when God is talking to you? If it’s rude to text when you’re at the dinner table, why do it before the table of the Lord?

It’s not an issue of pleasing God by your posture or attention span. It’s not even an issue of the content of you’re text, in fact you're most likely texting about how great the sermon is, I'm sure of it.
But it's an issue of reverence.

What are you communicating when you send a text message during Church? Essentially, you’re saying that there’s something you need to tell someone, and that need is more important that what's right in front of you.

Think about it this way… if the queen, the president, or _____________ (insert your favorite actor, athlete, etc. here) were standing in front of you, talking directly to you, giving you something of great importance… would you look away from that person to your phone in order to send or receive a text? Hopefully not. Then why do it with God?

See, the time you spend in worship is NOT neutral. The time spent during the Divine Service is intended to prepare you for the Lord's Supper. The whole service, the parts that you find interesting, the parts you don't, and even the parts you wonder why we continue to participate in, all of it is preparing you for the reception of God's own body and blood given for you.

It's where God is present for you, it's where He gives you the forgiveness of your sins, your salvation, your eternal life. Everything we do from the moment we enter the building is pointing us, guiding us, getting us ready... for God.

"Dear Savior, at Your gracious invitation I come to Your table to eat and drink Your holy body and blood. Let me find favor in Your eyes to receive this holy Sacrament in faith for the salvation of my soul and to the glory of You holy name; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen."

LSB Prayers For Worship: Before Communing

Thanks for reading

Take Hold Of Your Ears!

2011-05-25T12:23:00.001-04:00

I was recently having a conversation with a good friend of mine about what it is that we do as Pastors. We are, in many ways, deliverymen. Pastors are those who stand in the place of God for the people. They are Christ’s mouthpiece. They deliver that which comes from God by His authority, and therefore, they are not free to speak any word to the people, but God’s Word.

Now, you’d think that this would mean that Pastors have small heads. You’d think that there wouldn’t be a problem with the theologian’s ego.

You’d think…

“But if you feel and think that you know it all and are tickled with your own booklets, your teaching and writing, as if you had produced something very precious and had preached admirably, and it pleases you much to be praised before others; if you are highly pleased when someone praises you in the presence of others, and would sulk or quit what you are doing if you did not get it: if you have that sort of pelt, my friend, then take hold of your ears. If you grab right, you will find a fine pair of large, long, shaggy ass’s ears; then risk the full cost and decorate yourself with golden bells, so that, wherever you walk, people can hear you, point you out , and say: ‘Look, look! There goes that wonderful creature that can write such fine books and deliver such eloquent sermons.’ Then you are happy, and superhappy in heaven; ay, where the fire of hell is prepared for the devil and his angels! To sum up, let us seek honor and be elated where it is in place. In this Book the glory belongs entirely to God, and it says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. To whom be glory forever and ever. Amen!”

Martin Luther, quoted from F. Pieper, Christian Dogmatics I, 190

Appropriate is the title of the blog, the title of our lives under the cross: wir sind alle bettler.

Thanks for reading.

Baptism Now Saves You

2011-05-23T10:00:00.000-04:00

Well spoken words from a sermon on 1 Peter 3:21, "Baptism... now saves you," by C.F.W. Walther.

"If Holy Baptism were something we do, then those who ask, 'What use is a few handfuls of water to a person?' would have good reason to raise the question. Why is it a great help to someone to observe such a ritual? How can a person be allowed to place his trust in such a poor work that even the most godless can perform? However, Baptism is not a work a person does, but one God performs. It may always appear to be something very insignificant, but it is so great and full of grace that no human tongue can stop speaking about it. God gave up His only-begotten Son for the whole world and through Him reconciled all sinners to Himself, removed condemnation from them, gained for them eternal righteousness and salvation, and thus reopened heaven to them.

Holy Baptism is the means through which God offers, dedicates, and seals all that Christ acquired for people."

The End of May 21st As We Know It

2011-05-21T18:00:00.001-04:00

So... well... it's 6:00 PM... we're still here... the end of the world did not come. Harold Camping has effectively turned the picture of Christianity into a mockery in the eyes of the world. Harold's self-proclaimed word has past, but the Word of God remains. May 21st is past, but Judgement Day remains.

Therefore... do not be deceived. The end is still near!

"The person who regards the present as the horrible end times is thought to be greatly mistaken. But appearances can be deceiving. The cry of 'Here is Christ! There is Christ!" that resounds from so many pulpits is precisely what makes our age so dangerous and abominable, and it demonstrates that the final, evil days of the world are approaching. For it is mostly a false Christ who is now being preached and praised in order to deceive even the elect. There are now many preachers and laity, both learned and unlearned individuals, who no longer believe the Bible is God's Word and faith in Christ is the only way to salvation. With their own imagined virtue and good works, they believe that they have made God their debtor, that He must rightfully receive them into heaven after their death, and that He must eternally reward them. They do not want to think of themselves as sinners who are in need of a Savior. The Word of the cross is foolishness and a stumbling block to them.

C.F.W. Walther, God Grant It, 883

Pr. Fisk does an excellent job with this... enjoy!

Pondering Reflections

2011-05-18T08:13:00.000-04:00

Recently I received an anonymous phone call from a couple wanting to be married at our Church, though neither individual was, or ever had been, a member at any congregation. After politely explaining the circumstance, and why the Lutheran church is different from a wedding chapel, somehow the conversation launched into an argument.

I must say, God’s Law is good and wise, for without any incitement or accusation on my part the couple felt the need to viciously defend themselves on an unrelated theological topic.

I was more than a little thrown off by this, but I simply went to Scripture to talk about what it says there (believing Scripture to be the sole rule and norm… but not everyone believes that).

And as it always seems to do, the argument ended something like this:

Couple: “Well, this is what we believe.”
Pastor: “Well, that’s not what the Bible says!”
Couple: “Well, this is what we believe.”
Pastor: “Well, then you don’t believe in God.”

‎"Without God's Word we can have no God" - Martin Luther (AE 13:386)

If we are not using the Bible as the very Word of God, if we instead use our reason, intuition, or just what makes sense to us, then, when we make statements about God or faith or spirituality, we are simply feeding our sinful egotistical desire to serve the self.

We put up a mirror that matches, not the God of Scripture, but the God of our subjective sinful reason, so that when we look in that mirror to see how we measure up... we look mighty good! Great even! Yet, what good will this do us on the last day, unless we our our own judge?

Sadly... this is not just a problem for the couple on the phone, but for all of us... for me.

The mirror of God's Law exposes all of our blemishes, deformities, and unsightly warts. It shows us how ugly we truly are... This is why the baptismal font is not hidden in the sanctuary, it's not even simply visible, it's uncomfortably in your way. In many churches you have to walk around it to get to the pew. In our sanctuary you must also walk around it to go up to the altar, so that you pause... if only for a moment... and ponder your reflection there. That you might peer in and gaze upon your new reflection! For in Christ you are.

Thanks for reading.

Do Not Attempt To Plead.

2011-05-17T08:26:00.000-04:00

“Oh, poor person who does not want to be lost, do not laugh at this righteousness with which Christians comfort themselves. It may seem foolish to you, but it is the only righteousness with which you can stand before God. Do not attempt to plead your own righteousness before the holy God. You will only be shamed by it. Before God, even the heavens are not pure and all human righteousness is like a filthy garment… Therefore, whatever your heart may say, Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection are your righteousness. This is the conviction the Holy Ghost holds out to you.”

C.F.W. Walther, God Grant It, 408

The Church Does Not Require Fighting, But Suffering

2011-05-14T08:22:00.000-04:00

“The Christian Church does not require fighting, but suffering. The Holy Spirit permits it now, and maintains his silence that Christ is thus crucified and abominably dealt with. Because we have the pure doctrine, it happens also to us that everything that is great in the world uses power and might against this doctrine. But God alone upholds His doctrine, else it would have been destroyed long ago… But since they vilify the doctrine and defend their godless estate, we cannot hold silence, but must speak against them. In this we are like John and James, and in our heart desire revenge upon the godless tyrants… Here everyone should repent thoroughly and pray God that He would keep us from such murderous thoughts. We should not desire revenge, but have compassion, and remember why the Son of Man is come...”

Martin Luther - Treasury of Daily Prayer, 252

Now apply this concept to the realm of the internet. Especially in the context of theological debates that so often occur on facebook, blogs, forums, etc. Not that we Christians should be silent and keep our convictions confined to the home, quite the contrary, we must speak the truth, though NOT as an exercise in demonstrating the superiority of one’s conviction… but in suffering. This is what we, the Church, needed from our Lord, and is that which defines our life as the Church.

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21

Thanks for reading!

On Account of Love

2011-05-14T07:46:00.000-04:00

"If faith receives the forgiveness of sins on account of love, the forgiveness of sins will always be uncertain because we never love as much as we should. Indeed, we do not love at all until our hearts truly realize that the forgiveness of sins has been given to us. Thus as long as our opponents require a trust in our own love for the forgiveness of sins and justification, they completely abolish the gospel concerning the free forgiveness of sins. For they neither render love nor understand it unless they believe that the forgiveness of sins is freely received." - Ap IV, 110

Gay Marriage

2011-05-11T11:53:00.000-04:00

Pastor Fisk does a great job explaining what Scripture says about Homosexuality!

Liturgy & Youth

2011-05-07T13:15:00.000-04:00

Below is the best way I can describe my reaction to President Harrison's above lecture!

Don't Skip Psalm 137

2011-05-05T10:36:00.002-04:00

I don’t think anyone would argue that we shouldn’t pray the Psalms… but...

"When he is tried, let him come forth guilty; let his prayer be counted as sin! May his days be few; may another take his office! May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow! May his children wander about and beg, seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!" Psalm 109:7-10

"Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it—to his destruction! Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation." Psalm 35:8-9

"O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!" Psalm 137:8-9

Really? Is this how we should be praying? Declaring blessed those who dash our enemies’ infants against the rock?

Well... Yeah!… pray the psalms, don’t skip over Psalm 137.
This text cannot not be minimized, it cannot be dismissed as Old Testamentish, and therefore doesn’t apply today. So Yes, pray the 137th Psalm against evildoers. Rejoice and Exult over their destruction (cf. Ps 35, Ex. 15:1). Rejoice that God’s has given his sword to the government who has wielded it appropriately, fulfilling their vocation and disposing of the enemy.

But… we still have to reconcile this with:

“I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked” Ezekiel 33:11

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” Romans 12:14

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” Matthew 5:44

Truly, shame on us for not praying more for Osama bin Laden’s repentance! Shame on us for not shuttering at his eternal torment.

But how is it that we can understand these two seemingly opposing views, that we should pray for our enemies and against them?

First, one must recognize that the Psalmists are perplexed by suffering. Assuming that the success or failure of their enemies was a direct correlation of where God’s love resided, their own love for God was stirred, zealously praying for the love of Yahweh. It is as if a wife is telling her husband “forget the other woman, love me!” and thus declaring the desire for enemies to perish justly.

The problem lies not with the enemy… but with God! Therefore, when we pray these imprecatory psalms we are holding God to his promise of love for us. We are asking for His Kingdom to be manifested among us.

This is a promise that is ultimately fulfilled at the cross where, as Paul points out in Romans 15:3 “For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, 'The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.'”

It is perfectly acceptable for us to join the Psalmists in praying for the destruction of our enemies, though NOT wanting their eternal damnation, but asking for God to step in and destroy evil! But we must fully recognize that in such a prayer you are asking for the eternal damnation of the Christ, who suffers the pangs of Hell in the place of you and me and Osama bin Laden, equally.

What is difficult for us to grasp, is that Osama deserves no less Hell than any one of us. Therefore, when praying these Psalms, when considering the death of Osama bin Laden, we cannot take our eyes off the cross.

For it is on the cross where we see those prayers against our enemies answered.
It is on the cross where the Son of God was consumed by evil to destroy evil.
It is on the cross where we behold the reconciliation of the entire world, even that of Osama.

While we await the day when Christ’s victory won for us will be made known in its fullness, we live in the tension of loving our enemies, praying for their repentance, and yet rejoicing in their death as a celebration of God’s victory over evil (in this case through the sword of the State).

This tension is not to be solved.
We are not to rejoice in the eternal damnation of a human for which Christ has already suffered Hell. Neither are we to reject those who rejoice over the destruction of evil. But we recognize that the end has not yet come. We lift our eyes to the cross, to await Christ’s return, and we declare in this, as in all things, “Lord, have mercy,” knowing that He already has in Christ!

God's Voice Is Not A Mooing Cow!

2011-04-30T09:21:00.000-04:00

From Martin Luther's 1534 Sermon on John 20:19-31

"If anyone knew of a church on earth where God’s voice could be heard, how he would run to get there! Yet he would hear nothing other than what he hears from the minister at home in his own church… Therefore, the holy Christian church is a beautiful and glorious thing because we can hear what God speaks, and what he desires of us, namely, that we should repent, be baptized in his name, and believe on his Son Jesus Christ… These things are preached to us every day, but we pass them by, paying no more heed to them than if a cow were mooing at us. But we should give our Lord God heartfelt thanks for this unspeakable gift of his Word being preached daily."

Luther’s House Postils, First Sunday after Easter Quasimodogeniti 1534, 57

The Mouth of God Through Preachers

2011-04-29T12:12:00.000-04:00

From Martin Luther's 1534 Sermon on John 20:19-31

"It is our great comfort and joy to hear Christ’s words through the word and mouth of the apostles and through those who received the word from them. It is a great and glorious thing for me and other preachers and servants of the Word to have the treasure which Christ gave to the apostles. But Christ also gave the apostles power to forgive or to retain sins whenever and as often as necessary. If you or I are frightened and are afflicted by sins, you and I should listen to the one who comes to us to comfort us with God’s Word, and believe his words, as if God himself were speaking to us. If you in your self-assurance go astray and sin obstinately, and your pastor admonishes you, retaining your sin until you repent, your sins are retained before Christ himself and by the Father in heaven."

Luther’s House Postils, First Sunday after Easter Quasimodogeniti 1534, 56

Planned Parenthood Lies

2011-04-29T11:00:00.001-04:00

How is it that Planned Parenthood received $363 million in government money last year alone?

You can read more on this here. I suddenly hear Frau Farbissina yelling "Lies all lies!"

The Greeting is Sweet and Pleasing

2011-04-29T07:58:00.000-04:00

From Martin Luther's 1534 Sermon on John 20:19-31

“The Lord does not wait for his disciples to go after him, but he goes after them, through locked doors, greets them in a friendly manner, comforts and strengthens them in the faith of his resurrection. He could not have done it in a kindlier manner than to offer them peace and show them his hands and side, so that they would be sure of his resurrection and would be comforted against all sorrow, fear, and terror. There is nothing unpleasant or fearful here. The greeting is sweet and pleasing. For “peace” in Hebrew signifies all good, happiness, and well-being.”

Luther’s House Postils, First Sunday after Easter Quasimodogeniti 1534, 55

Creativity in Worship

2011-04-28T08:50:00.002-04:00

Coming off a joyous Easter celebration, I know many Pastors probably felt the urge to be creative with the Easter worship services... mixing up liturgy a bit, changing the words of confession and absolution, rewriting the creed, watering down the preface, adapting different words for the benediction, all with good intentions of making the service more meaningful and inspirational. Sadly, I admit, there was a time when I fell to this pressure to be creative, wanting to make the service mean something more than what it was, or more than what I thought it was.

This is not to say that variety in worship is by itself a negative thing, and to be sure there is naturally a certain amount of variety in the change from Lent to Easter (In fact if you're looking for variety, just participate in the services of Holy Week, you will get all the variety you need). But the issue here is not with variety but creativity, and your pastor's job description doesn't say anything about his need to be creative with worship.

The reason the liturgy that you hear and digest on Easter morning (or another festival day for that matter) is the same as you hear other Sundays is not because Easter Sunday is boring, but because every Sunday is more joyous than you realize! Every Sunday we celebrate the once dead but now risen Lord! Every Sunday we celebrate Christ's resurrection, and so too our own!

So we hear the same confession and absolution, we recite the same creed, we repeat the same preface, the same Benediction, etc. Not because we don't know how to be creative, but because it's not our place to do so...

"Here you must make a distinction between the fanatics and the true preachers. The judgment must stand with you. You must be certain about it when the preacher remains in his office and when he oversteps it. You have the Gospel. If he preaches according to the same, well and good! To preach the Gospel is his office. If he makes up his own creed, teaching, or article, then I say: that is not your office, but your wantonness and your own person... the office is not ours, does not belong to the person, but to the Holy Spirit and to Christ."

Martin Luther - The 1529 Holy Week and Easter Sermons, 153

Don't rely on the Pastor's words that he makes up every week, rely and take comfort in the liturgy, it's simply Scripture, it's simply reciting God's Word back to Him. And God's Word is simply that good... that we hear it every week... even during the season of Easter!

Blessed Easter

2011-04-25T12:10:00.000-04:00

Exsultet

2011-04-23T18:46:00.000-04:00

Rejoice now, all you heavenly choirs of angels;
Rejoice now, all creation;
sound forth, trumpet of salvation,
and proclaim the triumph of our King.
Rejoice too, all the earth,
in the radiance of the light now poured upon you
and made brilliant by the brightness of the everlasting King;
know that the ancient darkness has been forever banished.
Rejoice, O Church of Christ,
clothed in the brightness of this light;
let all this house of God ring out with rejoicing,with the praises of all God's faithful people.

Holy Week is here!

2011-04-17T13:16:00.000-04:00

"O my Jesus, let Your bitter pains ever be before my eyes and in my heart. Let me draw from them comfort to obtain righteousness from it, and by it be made a godly person. Let me not spend a day on which Your bleeding image is not before my eyes. Let Your suffering, Your blood, Your wounds be written on my hands and in my heart so that with each breath nothing but Your Passion, Your death, Your blood, may be in my thoughts. Thus You will wean me from the world, sanctify, wash, and purify me."

Starck's Prayer Book, p83

Blessed Holy Week

2011-04-15T12:43:00.000-04:00

A great message from the President of the LCMS on the upcoming Holy Week!

Preaching The Death of Christ

2011-04-14T08:27:00.000-04:00

A great reminder to those of us preparing Holy Week Sermons!

“The preaching of the suffering and death of Christ, the Son of God, is a serious and terrifying proclamation and declaration of God’s wrath. By such preaching people are first led into the Law correctly - after Moses’ veil has been removed from them. Then they understand correctly for the first time what great things God requires of us in His Law, none of which we can keep. Therefore, they know we are to seek all our righteousness in Christ.
… As long as all this (namely, Christ’s suffering and death) proclaims God’s wrath and terrifies a person, it is still not properly the preaching of the Gospel. It remains the preaching of Moses and the Law, and it is, therefore, an alien work of Christ. Passing through this teaching, Christ arrives at His proper office, that is, to preach grace, console, and give life, which is properly the preaching of the Gospel.”

Treasury of Daily Prayer quoting the Epitome of the Formula of Concord V 8-10

Be Reconciled!

2011-04-12T12:03:00.000-04:00

"Some people allow the fear of their debt of sin to deter them from receiving reconciliation with God. Others hinder themselves by loving sin and the world. To all of these, God’s Son urgently calls, “Oh, be reconciled to God!” You who want to remain God’s enemies, what are you doing? How can you be unmoved by the greatness of the love God revealed for you through the death of His Son?..."

"Now His servants, with tears of love and sympathy, implore you to be reconciled with God. On the cross of the Reconciler is written in large, blood-red letters, “Be reconciled!” The blood that flowed from Christ’s wounds on the cross calls, “Be reconciled!” The cherubim cry out from the uncovered mercy seat, “Be reconciled!” The dead who were resurrected from their graves cry, “Be reconciled!” The cracking rocks thunder, “Be reconciled!” This same invitation sounds from the mouths of all perfected spirits already taken up into heaven by the death of Christ..."

"Woe to him who remains deaf toward these thousands of voices!"

"Consider this: God did not need you, but even from eternity, He desired to draw you to Himself and save you. He foresaw your fall, and He decided beforehand to redeem you and to reconcile you with Himself. You offended Him, but He did not wait for you to come to Him. He knew that if reconciliation depended upon you to make the first move, you would never seek Him. God the Most High, although He had been offended, took the initiate for your restoration by allowing His only Son to die for you. By this you are reconciled."

C.F.W. Walther, God Grant It, p342 (emphasis added)

When Is It Time To Find Another Church?

2011-04-07T09:21:00.002-04:00

No matter what you do as a Church you will always be perceived to be selling something. But what is it?

There will always be something about your congregation that is the reason why you attend worship (otherwise why are you attending), and by nature, when speaking about your congregation you will instinctively talk about those things that are the focus of your worship. You will be selling those things!

Well, recently the local paper here in Standish, Michigan did a piece on the area churches, asking for information, doing interviews, etc. (the article I wrote for the paper is posted here). Including ours, there were 13 area churches listed. And I am saddened by the content of most of these articles... not to criticize the paper, they did a fine job of compiling the information, but it's the information, the things that these Pastors were selling, that deserves criticism.

So if you read these articles, or for that matter any advertisement of any congregation anywhere, notice what's being sold. Notice where the focus lies. Here's a list, according to theses churches who advertised in the paper, of the reasons why I should attend their church:

The church's impressive history
The many programs offered
The pastor is personable
The events and activities offered
The opportunities to serve
The friendly people there
The impressive building they have
The emotional experience
4 churches went as far as to boast over their attendance!

If these things are the focus and purpose of your congregation... then it's time to FIND ANOTHER CHURCH!

God's Church was never intended to impress the culture with it's whistles and bells and yuppie foo-foo-ness. You go to church NOT for an emotionally uplifting experience! You go for the forgiveness of your sins in Word and Sacrament! You go to be crushed by the law that calls you "Sinner!" and then receive the Grace of God, which is only found in His Word and Sacrament. That is what the church should be selling... except they're not selling it, it's free and undeserved, but essential. Without it... we're no longer a church. I can't say that about the above list.

If the forgiveness of your sins in Word and Sacrament is not the reason your congregation gathers together on Sunday morning... Find another church!

Issues, Etc. 24

2011-04-06T08:03:00.000-04:00

Paul's Baptism Oopsie

2011-04-05T08:07:00.000-04:00

By far my favorite!! Just Genius!
Watch Hans Fiene take Lutheran Humor to a new level!

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Make Way For The Praise Team!

2011-04-04T12:43:00.001-04:00

I recently heard of a Lutheran church who had a beautiful marble Baptismal font that stood prominently at the front of the sanctuary… However, in order to make room for a praise band, the font was permanently torn out, and placed somewhere else.

No one’s saying that all sanctuaries MUST have a front and center baptismal font. Congregations are free to make those decisions according to the contextual situation. The issue is not the font's location, but the reason behind the font's location. I haven't seen the church myself, I'm not in that situation... but I can’t help but wonder… what does it say when we trade that which has stood as a focal point of worship, doctrine, and practice… for a new fad? Why is that so easy to do?

And why is it that we Americans have bought into the lie that how we arrange ourselves, our worship, and our semblance, no longer matters? And why can we not see that what we look at, what we listen to, how we act, what we say all, influence our confession of the faith? Indifferent issues are not always indifferent

Whenever this concern is brought up, I often hear quoted to me these two statements from our confessions:

“It is not necessary for the true unity of the Christian church that uniform ceremonies, instituted by human beings, be observed everywhere.” AC VII, 3

“We believe, teach, and confess that the community of God in every place and at every time has the authority to alter such ceremonies according to its own situation, as may be most useful and edifying for the community of God.” FC X, 2

While it’s great that pastors and laymen have a part of the confessions memorized, I long for them to read the whole thing! These statements do not mean that we have a blank check to do what we please in worship. We cannot simply adopt the worship practices of the Reformed simply out of preference.

The Formula of Concord goes on to say “Of course, all frivolity and offense must be avoided…” (FC X,3). The Augsburg Confession says that:

“nothing contributes so much to the maintenance of dignity in public worship and the cultivation of reverence and devotion among the people as the proper observance of ceremonies in the church.” AC XXI, 6

The original constitution of our synod made it a part of the “Business of the Synod” to “strive after the greatest possible uniformity in ceremonies”

“Furthermore Synod deems it necessary for the purification of the Lutheran Church in America, that the emptiness and the poverty in the externals of the service be opposed, which having been introduced here by the false spirit of the Reformed, is now rampant.

All pastors and congregations that wish to be recognized as orthodox by Synod are prohibited from adopting or retaining any ceremony which might weaken the confession of the truth or condone or strengthen a heresy.” Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly 19/3 (October 1946): 5, 12.

So did I miss something here… does replacing the font with a praise band foster good order and peace? Is it the most useful and edifying thing for the community of God? Is it void of offense?

So many of our congregations are divided over such issues. Adding screens, a band, a stage, etc. Simply because these decisions are neither commanded nor forbidden does not mean that they are unimportant! In fact, the Formula of Concord even acknowledges that these “indifferent” matters are no longer indifferent when they have pressing implications for doctrine. (FC X, 6)

Why have we ignored Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions? Why have we ignored our Synod’s constitution?… oh yeah, that's because we changed it.

In 1979 the Synod’s constitution Article III, 5 which read:

“The endeavor to bring about the largest possible uniformity in church practice, church customs, and, in general, in congregational affairs”

was changed to read:

“Encourage congregations to strive for uniformity in church practice, but also to develop an appreciation of a variety of responsible practices and customs which are in harmony with our common profession of faith.”

Not to suggest that this paragraph should be opposed, but it seems to open to door to subjective interpretation as to what practices and customs are actually in harmony with our common profession of faith. It seems to allow our congregations to do that which our original constitution prohibited, weakening the confession of the truth.

Unless, of course, that truth states that a praise band is more important that a silly old, inconvenient, not used everyday, baptismal font. Hmmm... I wonder if there's a rite in the agenda for replacing the font?

Make way for the praise team!

Bethlehem Lutheran Church in the Paper

2011-03-31T13:34:00.000-04:00

Here's the article that our Church sent into the local paper (The Arenac Independent) in their "Where We Worship" column that is out this week. Take a look!

Confessional - Liturgical - Sacramental

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a Confessional congregation of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. That means that we are Christ-centered and Cross-focused, confessing Jesus Christ and Him crucified for the forgiveness of sins.

We observe the Historic Liturgy based on God’s Word and handed down from the one Apostolic Church. Therefore, when you come for worship you won’t find a rock band or a light show, you won’t be handed the latest “Christian” fads or gimmicks. Simply put, we humbly gather around God’s Word and Sacraments to receive His divine gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation.

While visitors enjoy the family atmosphere, friendly people, and joyous fellowship, Bethlehem Lutheran Church is first and foremost a place where you will be confronted with sin and comforted with the assurance that Jesus has died for that sin so that you can live each day as his baptized, forgiven child.

Join us for Christ-centered, Cross-focused Worship on Sunday mornings at 10:30AM and Saturday Evenings at 7:00PM.

Was Luther Talking About Americans?

2011-03-30T09:24:00.001-04:00

Here, in his 1523 Formula Missae (Form of the Mass), Luther is talking about his hesitancy about changing the accustomed forms of the Liturgy... and it sounds like he's talking about us Americans and our insentient desire for novelty. Hmmm?

“Therefore, I have used neither authority nor pressure. Nor did I make any innovations. For I have been hesitant and fearful, partly because of the weak in faith, who cannot suddenly exchange an old and accustomed order of worship for a new and unusual one, and more so because of the fickle and fastidious spirits who rush in like unclean swine without faith or reason, and who delight only in novelty and tire of it as quickly, when it has worn off. Such people are a nuisance even in other affairs, but in spiritual matters, they are absolutely unbearable.”

(AE 53: 19)

Not Until I Say I Do

2011-03-29T08:12:00.000-04:00

So... Why Aren't You Going To Church Again?

2011-03-25T09:22:00.002-04:00

I hear them all the time... excuses.

Not that I'm demanding them, but my presence seems to elicit an excuse, born out of the Law of God doing it's work on the hearts of man, for not coming to church. Now, I'm not saying that you must never miss worship, and I'm certainly not saying that your excuse isn't valid. In fact I'm sure it IS valid. I'm absolutely certain that you have a valid excuse not to come to the Divine Service. I have them as well... but I tell you that you have a greater excuse TO come.

You have an excuse that is worth changing your plans. An excuse that is worth dropping everything. An excuse that's worth rearranging your social life. An excuse that's worth finding a different job if you have to in order to get to the Divine Service to receive there what is offered to you.

Do you not know what the forgiveness of sins is?

“Do you not know what the forgiveness of sins is? When you have the forgiveness of sins, there is God’s grace and mercy and the Holy Spirit, redemption from death against devil, world and flesh. In conclusion: Through the command “Do this in remembrance of me,” you are urged, and through the promise of the forgiveness of sin you are coaxed to go to the Sacrament, whether you are worthy or not. If you are unworthy, then ask God: Make me worthy!”

Martin Luther 1529 Sermon

So... Why aren't you going to Church again?

The One Part of the Liturgy that Keeps My Attention, by Pr. Rossow

2011-03-24T10:22:00.000-04:00

Below is an excerpt from an post written by Pastor Tim Rossow. Here is a link to the original article.

One of the four pillars of the Brothers of John the Steadfast is upholding the traditional liturgy. To that end I offer these personal thoughts on the old sinful self’s tendency to sleep walk through the Divine Service. The one part that really grabs me and keeps my attention is the Sanctus.

I suppose Confession and Absolution is right up there as far as an attention keeper. There is no greater hypocrisy than to say the words “I a poor miserable sinner…” without giving them undivided attention. So I will consider that a given, even though Satan has certainly distracted me even from these inherently heartfelt words. But it is the Sanctus that for the last several years has really grabbed my attention.

It may be for personal reasons that my usually drifting attention span is more focussed on the Sanctus but I think it is even more than that.

Speaking of my often drifting attention span, my favorite Simpson’s moment is when Marge is talking to Homer about his lack of attention as they are driving down the street and he says something to the effect of “I have a good attention span” and before he can finish his sentence his head darts off and he says ”look a blue car!” Sadly that seems to be me too often when I am in the middle of the Divine Service.

Critics of the traditional liturgy use this drifting attention as a reason to move the church to “contemporary worship” because it supposedly engages the worshiper to a greater extent and is more emotionally attractive. If you have ever spent any time around Pentecostals, the experts in emotionally engaging worship, you know that they complain just as much as the liturgical folks about lack of attention or simple repetition of the religious words without heartfelt attention. (By the way, I recently heard a story of a LCMS pastor in Southern California who routinely criticizes his parishoners as fuddy-duddy Lutherans if they do not sway and wave thier hands during the service.)

One of the most revealing things I ever read was a couple of books by Pentecostals who admitted that they faked speaking in tongues. They spoke in tongues as young boys only because there was so much peer pressure to do so. They also confessed that they knew of several others who did the same thing and they copped to simply going through the Pentecostal motions in church to be accepted.

The problem is not with the traditional liturgy. The problem is not with the lack of ability for the liturgy to emotionally engage us. There are few words more engaging than the Sanctus. The problem is not with the liturgy. The problem is with us sinners. There is no such thing as a purely emotionally engaging moment, that can be repeated and become useful in a rightly ordered service. Putting together an order of Divine Service that brings God’s objective word to his people and gives them a chance to be lifted up by His word into a joyful response means that there will need to be consistent order and form. The contemporary desire to recast each Divine Service into some unique emotional experience both denies the objective nature of the word of God and is unattainable or at the very least impractical.

Sorry for those “blue car” moments. Back to the Sanctus. Here is the text from the Lutheran Service Book (Setting Three).
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth,
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest.

Let This Pass

2011-03-22T10:18:00.000-04:00

"Wherever there are upright preachers and Christians, they must endure having the world call them heretics, apostates, even seditious and desperate scoundrels. Moreover, the Word of God must undergo the most shameful and spiteful persecution and blasphemy; it is contradicted, perverted, misused, and misinterpreted. But let this pass; it is the blind world’s nature to condemn and persecute the truth and the children of God and yet consider this no sin."

Luther, Large Catechism 8th Commandment

Pray the Scriptures

2011-03-21T10:16:00.000-04:00

"Prayer escapes the danger of disorder and confusion only when it is enkindled by the words of Scripture. From the Word proceeds its inner justification, as well as its life-giving power and the clearness of its petitions. A prayer that does not stick to Scripture will soon become poor in ideas, poor in faith, poor in love, and will finally die." - Adolph Koeberle, The Quest for Holiness, p.176-177

It can be burdensome to remember to pray... it can be exhausting to continue in prayer... it can be wearing to speak the right words...

Rely on Scripture, pray the Scriptures, pray the Psalms, take our Lord's simple advice... "Pray then like this: Our Father..." (Matt 6:9).