Good Post

A good post from Rev. Juhl. His topic is Matt 22:1-14, and it looks like his Sunday sermon. Well worth the read.

The Place of Marriage

I have been listening to the Bible on CD while going to work and came across this clear reason for marriage in Malachi. With all of the popular culture focus on marriage and "who should be able to...", keeping perspective is quite important. First, the Word from Malachi, Chapter 2 (NKJV):

¹⁴ Yet you say, “For what reason?”
Because the Lord has been witness
Between you and the wife of your youth,
With whom you have dealt treacherously;
Yet she is your companion
And your wife by covenant.
¹⁵ But did He not make them one,
Having a remnant of the Spirit?
And why one?
He seeks godly offspring.
Therefore take heed to your spirit,
And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.

Clearly written is that God desires godly offspring from marriage, which is in keeping with other passages discussing the blessings of children, such as Psalm 127:3-4. This keenly and clearly illustrates the 6th Commandment "You shall not commit adultery." (Ex 20:14). If the purpose of marriage is to be blessed with godly offspring, then anything not towards that end (relations outside marriage, homosexuality, and so on) would be unrighteous and sinful. Note, though, that this wouldn't include those who cannot bear children as "adulterers" because the opening of the womb is God's doing. They can be faithful, even while barren, if they are following God's direction. 

It is important to note that the use of marriage is an inherently religious term, and should not be confused as a secular one. Secular life entails "civil unions" in the form of a contract. Even a "marriage license" you have to sign from the state at your wedding attests to this fact. You can be bound as man and wife (or some other collection of nouns) outside of the Church, but because it is done in the civil realm doesn't make it righteous, proper or even a good idea. Christians should strive to the example of Christ and the Church and eschew even worldly vocabulary if it muddies the clear meaning of Scripture. This is always our challenge. 

"Trinity in Unity"

We recited the Athanasian Creed last Sunday (Trinity Sunday). I know it is long, but I think we should recite it more. It encompasses the identity of God as well as the mystery of three Persons in one God. The part that stuck out most to me this past Sunday is the text that says, quite bluntly, "Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled; without doubt he shall perish everlastingly." This is clear profession of what the other creeds do not explicitly say, but is implicit. This warning goes back to 1 John 4 (NKJV):

¹Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, ³ and every spirit that does not confess that^[a] Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

The test to determine if a spirit (or thought or creed or anything else) is from God is to determine if it holds that Christ is the Son of God come in the Flesh (incarnate). Explicit here is the warning that failure to hold Christ in proper orientation with God is evil. The Athanasian Creed holds likewise, and also provides a similar warning. This is why it is important to guard against the devil, the world and the flesh. This is especially true in "safe haven" such as a church body. Why should we be so cautious? Because warnings like 1 John instruct that is both wise and prudent. The Athanasian Creed brings that to remembrance, which makes it something we should often review and ponder.

Sola Fide

Sola Fide "Faith Alone" is one of the tenets of the Reformation. Faith alone is what saves. As part of our ongoing Catechesis, I asked my daughter where faith comes from. She correctly answered "God." This is a sticking point for some because they can't, or won't, allow that they have no part in their salvation. They must have accepted Christ, for how else would He enter their life? The same way He entered the world for our salvation- by His action, and His alone. There are many Scriptural passages that support this, but one I recently found was striking to me because the Promise is wrapped up in a critique of Israel as a people being "stiff necked." God does it for our sakes, not because we merit it, but because He chooses to. The passage is the first six verses of Deuteronomy 9. I have copied verses 5-6 below because they make the point so precisely. I highlighted the sections to pull them out of the surrounding text.

⁵ It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the Lord your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. ⁶ Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.

 Before we Christians get puffed up, knowing what the Israelites did in rejecting God over and over and how they messed up time and again, take a look at verse 5. God specifically calls out "account of the wickedness of these nations". We, as Christians, are also a "stiff necked people." We too have been wicked, perhaps more so than the Israelites were. And yet Christ still died for your sins. The Old Testament holds chastisement for all the descendants of Abraham. What you think doesn't matter- only the Word that proceeds from God. Sola Scriptura "Scripture Alone" 


"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."  1 Peter 5:6 NIV

Harrison now apologizes...?

This is just strange. LCMS President Harrison has apologized for the media distorting the issue. This is now a strange debacle where a proper action is being apologized for because some people took offense who were not involved. After this apology, I have to agree with Harrison- he is not leading like he should. It was right to ask for an apology from Pastor Morris. It is even right to ensure the details are in the open so everyone can see what transpired due to a public event. However, you should never apologize for doing the right thing. That does the same thing as the original offense- it equates correct action with incorrect as if there is no difference. It is a tenant of leadership that you don't apologize for proper action. To do otherwise just erodes your ability to lead and the weight of your word among those who follow.

I am sure there is a line of thinking and consideration on this I might be missing. If anyone can point it out, I am more than willing to ponder it and accept it. At this point though, this is looking more like Harrison trying to not offend people, and ignoring any potential offense to the Word. This brings this full circle back to the original error of diluting the Word. This is another example that the LCMS as a body is more lukewarm than hot. That isn't a good place to be...

Pastor apologizes for interfaith service

Pastor Morris had an extremely difficult position to deal with. He is a new Pastor only in Newtown several months and had to bury a little girl from his congregation due to a tragic act of violence. He chose to participate in the interfaith service soon after that horrible event. For those who remember the 9/11-Benke affair, it was a sense of deja vu. In this instance, Pastor Morris apologized for his participation. To his credit LCMS President Harrison originally asked for the apology and accepted it. The methods being used are markedly different than Kieschnick and Benke, which laid bare the divisions in the Synod many years ago. Harrison is choosing a more proper path. However, the devil is never far away and launching his arrows at the affair. Unfortunately they come from Kieschnick and Benke in addition from among secular and non-believing sectors.

This event still shows several misunderstandings of ministry persist in the LC-MS. It also shows that both Kieschnick and Benke need to be further instructed on both professionalism and proper doctrine or shown the door. I am willing to let Pastor Morris consider, be counseled and understand why what he did was over the line, even though his "apology" is fairly open to interpretation and weak. Kieschnick and Benke know better by now and need to be provided the opportunity to find another Synod or denomination to back-bite. Their behavior is more akin to a 6 year old than a church worker or official, and has been for some time. Church discipline is required, and I await to see if Harrison is up to the task.

For those who might not understand, the interfaith service was not, and could not, be about evangelism. It was an event supposedly to reassure and comfort a grieving town. However, modern society does not seem to understand that grief is personal and private and must be dealt as such. The grief of a church or town should be done from the confines of the Church and the Word, latter of which is the only balm for the woes of this world. A "service" where everyone speaks/preaches is only a platitude, showing we are all "the same." The Church is never the same as muslim or any other non-believer, even the Jews. This alone makes it over the line- there must be a clear distinction made in times like this, for this is the clearest time for witness. Yes, witness is done by choosing not to participate. The world sees the muslim, the christian and the jew at the same service and says "how nice- they are all together as one (and there is no true religion)." Then the world turns back to its lusts, untroubled by their deeds because no one is different. Now place into that mix a Pastor who holds a separate, clearly Christian service. The world would lash at it "Why are you so different? Why can't you be with them?!" The clear light of the Gospel, unblemished by the cloud of unrighteous teaching, is a two edged sword; when the Word is hidden by untruth, it is as prophesy without interpretation- "a clanging cymbal." That is why the world loves the "hypocrite" excuse. They want reassurance that there is no Judgement, there is no difference between Christians and themselves. Providing any suggestion that isn't a true division is less an offense to Christians than it is to the Word, which is Christ, and to the world, which needs to know that Christ is "the way, the truth, and the life." There is no division, no proper distinction if Christians share the pulpit with non-believers or cults, which undercuts evangelism and witness. That is why it was wrong to do so, even when in the midst of such tragedy.

Again... Really?

After the tragedy in CT, LCMS pastor Morris attended the interfaith service. This does a disservice to the Word by placing it as equal to unbelief! I doubt the LCMS will discipline the pastor. *Sigh* The LCMS became what it is now by holding fast to the Word despite the other synods and denominations. Now they can't seem too flexible... Warnings against being luke-warm, denying the faith and others come to mind.

A little behind

I haven't forgotten about the blog, but I have been busy lately and had to do some much needed computer repair just before the holidays. I will try and get a post together in the near future, provided I don't have any more drags on my time.  +SDG+