Wednesday, December 3, 2008

To Sing at the Ed Stetzer Church and Chicanery Conference



VP Don Patterson, stealthy member of the Church and Change network
famous African zebra hunter.


O Lord, Look Down from Heaven, Behold


by Martin Luther, 1483-1546


1. O Lord, look down from heaven, behold


And let Thy pity waken:

How few are we within Thy Fold,

Thy saints by men forsaken!

True faith seems quenched on every hand,

Men suffer not Thy Word to stand;

Dark times have us o'ertaken.

2. With fraud which they themselves invent

Thy truth they have confounded;

Their hearts are not with one consent

On Thy pure doctrine grounded.

While they parade with outward show,

They lead the people to and fro,

In error's maze astounded.

3. May God root out all heresy

And of false teachers rid us

Who proudly say: "Now, where is he

That shall our speech forbid us?

By right or might we shall prevail;

What we determine cannot fail;

We own no lord and master."

4. Therefore saith God, "I must arise,

The poor My help are needing;

To Me ascend My people's cries,

And I have heard their pleading.

For them My saving Word shall fight

And fearlessly and sharply smite,

The poor with might defending."

5. As silver tried by fire is pure

From all adulteration,

So through God's Word shall men endure

Each trial and temptation.

Its light beams brighter through the cross,

And, purified from human dross,

It shines through every nation.

6. Thy truth defend, O God, and stay

This evil generation;

And from the error of their way

Keep Thine own congregation.

The wicked everywhere abound

And would Thy little flock confound;

But Thou art our Salvation.


Hymn 260
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Ps. 12
Author: Martin Luther, 1523
Translated by: composite
Titled: "Ach Gott vom Himmel, sieh darein"
Tune: "Ach Gott vom Himmel"
1st Published in: Enchiridion
Town: Erfurt, 1524

---

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "To Sing at the Ed Stetzer Church and Change Confer...":

Clearly you regard Martin Luther very highly. Perhaps then you'll remember that he also wrote the following:

We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame our neighbor, but defend him, speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.

***

GJ - That the first Eighth Commandment post I have seen today. As Luther wrote, and we confess, false teachers are not covered by the Eighth Commandment, which is about private sins. When people have published their error and attacked God's Word, obviously, they cannot be slandered by discussing their doctrinal errors.