Archbishop of Canterbury says Anglican church wounded, not dead - Yahoo! News

Archbishop of Canterbury says Anglican church wounded, not dead - Yahoo! News:

"LONDON (Reuters) - The leader of the Church of England on Tuesday said a vote last month that struck down proposals to allow women to become bishops had been "deeply painful", but that Christianity was still relevant in Britain despite falling numbers of believers.
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who leads the global 80-million-strong Anglican Communion, said in his Christmas day sermon that the answer to the question of whether Christianity had "had its day" was a "resounding no".
The Church of England narrowly voted against allowing women bishops last month - to the dismay of Williams and Prime Minister David Cameron - in a move its leaders said risked undermining its role as the established church in society with clerics in parliament's upper chamber."

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Sewanee Chapel Catches Up with Augustana College, Rock Island. VirtueOnline - News

Was this chapel built to honor gay marriage?

VirtueOnline - News:

"In a move that will raise eyebrows if not close check books among conservative Episcopalians, All Saints Chapel at the University of the South, a five-story Gothic church at the center of the college campus, will formally allow the blessing of same-sex couples, embracing the decision of General Convention last summer which approved controversial Rites for homosexuals and lesbians.

The controversy has placed Sewanee in a tricky position, said John McCardell Jr., Sewanee's vice chancellor and president. His friends say he is orthodox in faith and morals and that this decision undoubtedly places him in a personal theological quandary. He was a speaker last Winter at Mere Anglicanism, a gathering of world class orthodox Episcopalians and Anglicans who meet in Charleston, SC, to consider weighty matters of the faith, church and culture.

The college itself isn't part of any one diocese. Its religious governing authority is the chancellor, a post that rotates among the bishops of the 28 owning dioceses. In the midst of this announcement, McCardell is calling on alumnus to give $250 to $300 million dollars in a campaign to ensure the university's future, a future that might be jeopardized by this action that many consider outside the bounds of Biblical faith even though culturally acceptable.

"An absolute yes or an absolute no was just not possible," McCardell said. The college feared its chapel could become a sort of Las Vegas for blessings of gay unions -- an end-run for couples whose bishops won't permit the rite in their own diocese.

The compromise: Gay and lesbian couples who meet the other eligibility requirements for a Sewanee wedding will be able to have their union blessed in the college chapel, as long as their bishops are supportive.

McCardell described the decision, reached by the college chaplain, dean of the School of Theology, and the two bishops on the Board of Regents, which oversees university governance, as "the only sensible thing."

Weddings at Sewanee are relatively rare; McCardell said he doesn't expect a flood of requests to bless gay unions. (Tennessee, where Sewanee is located, doesn't permit gay marriage.) At least one member of the couple must be a student, graduate, member of the faculty or staff or a governing board, or a full-time resident of Sewanee. They must also be part of a church with a letter from their minister. Both members of the couple must write letters about why they wish to marry at the university.

A Sewanee insider and alumnus told VOL that McCardell believes that alumni voices "count" when warming them up to the idea of giving Sewanee a quarter of a billion dollars or more, but he never asked for alumni "voices" when he agreed to the latest step forward on Sewanee's gay transformation through All Saints' Chapel Same Sex Blessings enforcement. "Some of Sewanee's self-proclaimed "conservative" alumni still give money to the alma mater, but giving money to Sewanee CANCELS all claims of conservatism. Sewanee turns good people into liberals without their even agreeing or knowing," he said.

Furthermore, the chancellor of the university and former Bishop of Atlanta, Neil Alexander announced that he would resign that post and become the new Dean of the Seminary even though he said he would be leaving his bishopric to take up a post in Liturgics at Emory University. 

A source told VOL that Alexander's ability to give himself awards and earn TEC top dollars is unmatched. "He not only used his position as bishop trustee to get himself elected as a Regent, he then orchestrated his unopposed victory as Chancellor. As Chancellor, he named himself Dean of Sewanee Episcopal Seminary. Now he's put himself in a chaired Profe$$orship.

"Nobody in all of Sewanee's history has ever grabbed as much power, profit, and privilege as has Alexander, and he's not even an alumnus," the source told VOL. Another source said Alexander is in the throes of a divorce.

Replacing him as chancellor is the Bishop of Florida, Samuel Johnson Howard. This bishop has inhibited and deposed more orthodox priests in his diocese than any living bishop. Since 2003, more than 5,000 Episcopalians have left the Diocese and 22 clergy have been inhibited or deposed for "the abandonment of the communion of this church", including some retired distinguished clergy who were never informed of their inhibition until the letter landed in their mail boxes. The issue was the consecration of Gene Robinson an avowed homosexual.

Now the chapel is at the center of a conundrum at the college: Given the disagreements within the Episcopal Church over blessing same-sex relationships, should the university allow such blessings at All Saints'? If it does it might well seal its fate as an unsafe spiritual space for future generations.

*****

http://life.sewanee.edu/assets/uploads/Wedding_Guidelines_Dec2012_1.pdf

All Saints' Chapel
St. Augustine's Chapel
Wedding Guidelines

SHOULD WE BE MARRIED IN THE CHURCH?

At this point, the above may sound like a silly question. However, it is one you should consider.

A wedding is, at the least, a legal occasion, in that all weddings must conform to the laws of the state in which they are performed. It might also be a social occasion when family and friends gather together and, borrowing from a rich array of customs and traditions, join in celebrating the union of man and woman. All that is actually necessary for the legal and social requirements for a wedding to be fulfilled is an appropriate place for the ceremony (such as a house or garden) and a properly licensed official (such as a judge). If neither party in the marriage is a committed Christian, this kind of arrangement would be entirely proper; there would be no need for a church, and indeed a church would be inappropriate.

If either of the persons being married is a committed Christian, though, a third dimension is added to the legal and social aspects. By choosing to be married inside the church, a faith statement is made to family and friends which in effect says, "As a couple, we are choosing to make a marriage covenant before God and in the presence of God's people. In a service of worship we want to stand before God's altar and commit ourselves to each other for the rest of our lives. We intend to live our married life in the community of the faithful (the Church). We are inviting God's life and love to be at the center of our marriage. In order to make an appropriate beginning, we have come to this place to ask a priest, in the name of God, to bless our commitment and to ask the congregation gathered to pray for us."

As you can see, a Christian wedding is far more than a legal and/or social event; it is above all a service of worship. Indeed, it is a sacrament-an event whereby the grace and love of God are given and made known through the words and actions of the couple.

As such, it is both a joyful and a solemn occasion whereby one declares before God and the company there gathered one's intention to share a whole life with another person and to ask God's blessing upon that union. The promises of marriage cannot be maintained by human love alone, so the vital element in a Christian marriage is the invocation of the blessing of God, whose grace and love alone can sustain a Christian marriage.

WHO MAY BE MARRIED AT ALL SAINTS' OR ST. AUGUSTINE'S?

All Saints' Chapel is available for marriage ceremonies when one of the persons to be married is: a) a student currently enrolled full time in the University, or b) a current member of the staff or faculty, or one of the University's governing boards, or c) a year-round resident of the Sewanee community, who has lived in Sewanee for at least one full year, or d) the direct offspring (i.e. son or daughter) of one of the above, or e) a graduate with a degree from either the College, the School of Theology, or the School of Letters.

In addition, there are these criteria: 1) At least one of you must be presently tied to a worshipping community and provide the Chaplain's office with: a) a letter from your pastor/minister/priest attesting to this relationship, and b) separate letters (from both the bride and groom) describing your reasons for wanting to be married in All Saints' Chapel or St. Augustine's Chapel.

PLEASE NOTE: NO DATE WILL BE SET UNTIL ALL THREE OF THESE LETTERS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN OUR OFFICE

2) One of you (the bride or groom) must be a baptized Christian. 3) The canons (laws) of the Episcopal Church require a minimum of thirty days' notice to the clergy preceding the wedding date. However, it is far better to contact the clergy well in advance in order to guarantee that no conflicts in scheduling develop. 4) In the event that either one of you has been previously married and has had that union annulled or dissolved by a civil court, the officiating priest must request from his or her own bishop permission to solemnize the marriage. (Please note that All Saints' Chapel is not a "wedding chapel" per se. It is important to us and to the ministry that we seek to carry out here that persons married in All Saints' be first grounded in the church at the local parish level. To this end, the Chapel staff reserves the right to decline consent on any request made if the rationale behind being married here is contrary to our understanding of the sacrament of marriage.)

FORM OF SERVICE TO BE USED

All wedding services held in All Saints' Chapel must conform to the worship tradition of the Episcopal Church as found in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. All services are to be conducted by an Episcopal priest. Ministers from other traditions may be invited to participate in the service, but cannot be responsible for conducting the Episcopal rite.

WHO MAY SOLEMNIZE YOUR WEDDING?

The question of who officiates at your wedding is an important one. Hopefully, the choice of presider is an invitation that the couple extends to someone they know and trust, someone with whom they feel comfortable in his or her role as representative of the Church. Though it is appropriate to ask the availability of one of the University Chaplains, they are not always able to preside. It is the responsibility of the couple (not the Chapel staff personnel) to find an Episcopal priest willing to solemnize the wedding. Once this person has been selected, he or she must write a letter to the Chaplain of the University requesting permission to preside in this place. It is not necessary for that priest to write to the Bishop of the Diocese of Tennessee or the Chancellor of the University for permission to officiate.

While the Chapel staff is willing to provide the names of one or two local clergy, it is not their job to secure these services for you. This is your responsibility. Should one of these local clergy be selected to solemnize the marriage rite, a gift, typically $200 to $400, to his or her discretionary fund is appropriate and appreciated. If you select a non-local priest, please consider a similar gift 
END"

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Christmas Day, 2012

The Day of Christmas

Bethany Lutheran Church, Springdale, Arkansas

December 25, 2012

Live Lutheran Worship Service, Sundays, 8 AM, Phoenix Time

The Hymn # 85:9-15 From Heaven Above                        4.55
The Invocation p. 5
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 6
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect
The Epistle and Gradual

The Hymn #657                     Beautiful Savior                                 4:24
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Apostles Creed, p. 12
The Sermon Hymn #83        Hark What Mean Those Holy           4:40
The Sermon - Full of Grace and Truth
 
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn  #99                      Now Are the Days Fulfilled               4:64

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KJV Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. 5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

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KJV Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

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Full of Grace and Truth

KJV John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Many concepts and traditions have accumulated around Christmas, but the most important one is condensed in this one verse.

Although John can repeated the simplest words for emphasis, the Evangelist can also summarize with the fewest words.

The Fourth Evangelist gave us the Little Gospel - John 3:16 -

KJV John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Christmas means that the eternal Son of God willingly took on our frail flesh, to be born of a Virgin. He lived among us, full of grace and truth.

Those are majestic, holy words - full of grace and truth.

Grace is a word often used, but what does it mean? Grace means God's love and forgiveness, offered freely through Christ.Therefore, the word carries the meaning of forgiveness and love, without human price or merit.

We are attracted to a gracious person, because a gracious person does not exact a price for his or her friendship. Nor does a gracious person hold grudges. We live in a world where there are hundreds of unspoken rules about who is welcome or not - an ungracious world.

Although graciousness is a fine quality, we all have limits on that. A gracious person does not  have the power to grant forgiveness to people, but Christ freely offers this forgiveness to those who believe in Him.

His very arrival, His manifestation, was gracious. He did not come to us as a mighty warrior, as a vengeful god, but as a tiny child in a manger. How unlikely that was, and yet how appealing for everyone, even the tiniest child.

Whenever a baby is present among small children, they will say, even before they know how to say the word baby properly, "Look, a beebee." Adults look at the toddlers and laugh, because the toddlers are still babies to them. But to a toddler, a newborn baby is small, weak, and intriguing.

Jesus born amid the animals of a stable - that is also attractive to all people. The difference from ordinary births is so great that it must make an impression.

So God makes it easy to believe in Christ. The start of faith in Him can be the moment a baby is born, when the newborn begins to hear about the Gospel. Baptisms are delayed today by the travel of the extended family. No so long ago, baptism took place immediately because of health concerns and custom.

But one way or another, the baby hears the Gospel and believes. Caring parents keep up an atmosphere of Christian nurture and they get to see their children memorize the words and hear them repeat those words. We made Beatitude geometric shapes in Sunday School, to memorize each verse. I still remember that from 60 years ago. Sunday School teachers think they do not matter much and avoid the extra work, but it must mean something if it is remembered 60 years later.

God makes it easy for people to believe. He plants faith in our hearts through the Gospel Promises, which is the action of the Holy Spirit in the Word, not an act of will or intelligence.

The second part is more difficult - truth. 

He dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. The problem with truth is opposition to it. Wherever truth exists, there will be several kinds of opposition.

Our sinful flesh rebels against it, an automatic reaction. The vast majority of religions in this world are full of falsehoods, absurdities, and abuses. Their claims are simply crazy, but they have plenty of followers. The worse the claims, the greater the following.

One way or another, the Christian Faith is made to look bad, dangerous, reactionary, bigoted, or anti-intellectual. Therefore, a believer must spend a lifetime in a battle against his own inherent weaknesses and the assaults of unbelievers.

Nevertheless, those assaults are good for us in the long run. I know many Lutheran pastors and laity who comb the Scriptures, Confessions, and great old theology books to understand the attacks on justification by faith, the Chief Article of Christianity.

We do not value what we take for granted, the biggest danger to an entire society. I have seen the truth taken for granted in many different areas, so now those truths need to be defended with great energy rather than simply being taught. 

One area is "constitutional rights." I have asked many college students to identify "constitutional rights" for the individual in the U. S. Constitution. In fact, the document is not known to them at all. When I point out that it does not deal with individual rights, they are stunned. They have no argument, because they are simply repeating what they hear. They even talk about health insurance as a basic human right, a constitutional right, and that is now taken for granted. The Bill of Rights was a separate document? That is a shock to people who repeat what they hear from TV.

That is political and historical. That can be repeated many times over in areas of revealed truth. Evolution has become the one way to explain everything - not Creation. Every religion (except Christianity) is considered good and worthwhile. Or - among the elite - all religion is bad and oppressive.

Simply to say that there is truth becomes a radical statement. I could publish in a lot of journals if I accepted modern philosophy as truth. I could promote books in Lutheran journals, magazines, and blogs if I trusted in synods rather than the Means of Grace.

But this verse goes far beyond saying, "There is truth." This verse means, "Jesus is truth. All truth is judged through Him alone. Anything else is falsehood."

Light was created by the Logos, the Word, the eternal Son of God. He created light, truth, before the sun and stars. Jesus said, 


KJV John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

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Christmas Eve, 2012

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Christmas Readings and Hymns
Bethany Lutheran Church
Springdale, Arkansas
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Hymn 77:1-6 All My Heart This Night Rejoices 2.25

The First Gospel
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

KJV Isaiah 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins. 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. 9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

The Place of Jesus’ Birth
KJV Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

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#102 O Come All Ye Faithful 1:7

KJV Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Virgin Birth
KJV Isaiah 7:10 Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. 13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

Incarnation
KJV Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

#109 While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks 1:35

KJV Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

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Sermon – Angels We Have Heard

Dusting off classic movies is one of the good things about Christmas. We saw The Bishop’s Wife with David Niven, Loretta Young, and Cary Grant. That movie has the expected Hollywood treatment of angels, but far more Christian content than any movie today would attempt.

People understand two basic concepts about angels –
1. They are messengers of God.
2. They have divine power delegated to them.

When I was at Notre Dame, one of the doctoral students, Charlie Caldwell, an Episcopalian, was known for his interest in angels. In fact, I took the Time cover for the TV show, Charlie’s Angels, and put it on his carrel door at the library. Someone else tore it off.

Charlie and I had disabled daughters, and we were the only traditional Christians in the entire doctoral program, as far as I knew. Two of our cohorts were deeply offended when I said I believed in the Virgin Birth of Christ and His actual resurrection. Both of them teach theology at Roman Catholic colleges, one of them being the president.

God’s created angels accomplish His work in many different ways, often among those who appreciate it the least. The most obvious cases are those where babies have accidents where they survive unharmed. In one case, a fall from a highrise. The diaper exploded but the baby was fine. In another, babies were trapped from a Mexican earthquake. They were trapped, unfed and lacking any fluids. But they were fine. If a skeptic could prove to me how this was done according to “nature,” without divine intervention, I would still ask about many other cases, among people of all ages.

Angels exist and do God’s work, but their work is not seen or understood or appreciated.

The Birth of Christ is that turning point in time where angels are featured. But how much of this miracle is acknowledged or appreciated?

Luther had a great observation about the Virgin Birth of Christ. When the sun falls on still water, we feel its warmth, because so little is lost from movement and waves. But when the water is loudly rushing over rocks and hidden obstacles, we no longer see or feel the power of the sun in the water.

Every Christmas I hear the same story from people, a demand to keep from having any extra meetings, because of the busy-ness of Christmas. The traffic shows there is a lot more rushing around, which my wife and I avoid all year. So the irony is – the quiet that people need is often missing. The superficial details of Christmas may be noticed, but how many stop beside the road and hear the angels sing?

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.

Each Gospel writer has a speciality, which we can appreciate in comparing one to another. The Fourth Gospel supplements the first three. Mark is the most concise and has a very important, unique passage – the seed growing secretly.
Matthew’s structure is similar to the Five Books of Moses and places great stress on fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

Luke’s Gospel is precise about historical details. 99.99% of all history is lost forever. C. S. Lewis has a great parable – all the libraries are gone. The only surviving one has burned. All the books are burned. One line of one book is readable – that is how much we know about human history. So Luke’s emphasis is very good in locating the time and details of Jesus’ birth.

There is an important theological detail noted by Luther. Jesus was born at a fixed time. Why not earlier? One reason is the Shiloh prophecy from Genesis, that the rule of Herod was not certain until 30 years of turmoil had passed. But it also took place during a census for taxation.

Jesus was born, subject to governmental rules, even the rules of a pagan government – Rome’s. This tells us that the Christian faith exists and expands in the midst of unbelief. Pagan governments were united with the religion of the era, because they saw government and religion united in official acts and public piety.

The Christian faith transcends culture, so we should not be so upset that our culture despises the faith. That is another sign of the end, which must come sooner or later. The Apostles did not ask why all religions were tolerated except theirs. They knew why. Only one religion was true, so it had to be persecuted and driven, spreading its influence across the known world.

Jesus was born subject to Rome, but not united with the culture of the time. He was not born near the Temple or the palace, but away from the center and the important people.

Joseph and Mary’s journey was uphill all the way, from Galilee to Jerusalem, to get to Bethlehem. Luther thought that the couple might have gone toward Bethlehem without realizing that the baby would be born so soon. The trip there is something we would not even think to start, with a birth so near. To travel uphill is another hardship, yet those details are imagined by us rather than emphasized in the concise text, with so few words given to this great moment in time.

Everyone was celebrating, with their grand reunions and celebrations. Joseph and Mary were nothing to the great and wise. For that reason, the great and wise were omitted from that one great event. The ones blessed by the event were Joseph and Mary, the shepherds, and the wise men (whose arrival time is debated).

This is the ultimate paradox – what the world esteems, God despises. What the world despises, God esteems and praises. If you want to be despised, especially by nominal Christians, just express complete faith in the Word of God. These learned people, laity and clergy alike, will carefully explain how the obvious is not true.

God created, but through evolution, they say. The Bible is a fine book, one of the best, but it is a book written by men, they explain. And on they go. Anyone who believes the Word of God to be what it is will find himself treated like the village idiot, while many praise the obvious apostates and crypto-atheists.
But that does not matter, because God takes care of the faithful, as He did with Joseph and Mary, who braved many more dangers and insults to their honor than most face in a lifetime. No room was there for a young woman at full term. Could they not see it? They let Joseph and Mary have a few square feet in the stable, not in the warmth and security of the inn itself.

How could anything worthwhile happen in a rented room? Yet there is no word of protest. How does a young woman give birth alone? We are not told the details, except that Mary gave birth and wrapped up her baby in swaddling clothes, as they still do today. A new mother recently asked about how to help her baby sleep better. The mothers told her, on Facebook, “Swaddle the baby.” And he slept well, wound up like a mummy.

The paradox continues with the shepherds being given the first birth announcement. The wise men were on their way, but the shepherds were the first to see the baby. The angelic choir appear before the shepherds and terrified them. We would love to see the same wonder, but it would be scary. People become frightened over things they do not see, let alone what is placed right before them, completely out of the ordinary – beyond their imagination.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses and pagans have spread doubt about Jesus being born on December 25th, which should make people wonder why the early church was wrong, being so close to the actual event. All those debates and explanations are quite silly and only detract from the account.

Fear comes from not trusting in God, not trusting in His Word.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

The opposite of fear is faith. To overcome fear, we should trust in the good news of great joy, the Savior sent to all people. This is a clear message for the entire world, yet it is also received in joy only among believers. The false teachers want this to apply to everyone without faith, which is quite absurd and contrary to the Word. They choose to pick up on some verses while ignoring the rest.

The importance of faith is clearly stated in the following verses:

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

I see three examples in two verses.

For unto you is born…

This has happened for individuals of faith. While Jesus is the Savior of the world, those without faith cannot comprehend this. His righteousness only comes to us through God-created faith, that is, the Holy Spirit working through the Word.

One of the worst fathers I have known said this about Christmas pageants, “No offense, pastor. But it means more when children say those words. You do it for a living. I always come to the Christmas pageant.” And he did. I do not know what problems kept him in his addictions, but he came and listened to the Word of God, spoken by the small children, including his own. What little faith he had was enough to grasp and receive the blessings of the Gospel, no less than rows of clergy dressed in their finest.

That is the dividing line, Without faith, the Gospel remains true for all people, but the benefits are not received apart from the Word, divorced from faith. On the other hand, the believer, no matter how weak that faith, receives all the blessings of the righteousness of Christ. A small child receives as much as an elderly theologian, but the child has the benefit of the child-like faith. Jesus never said, “You must have the explanations of a theologian to enter the Kingdom,” but “you must have the faith of a child.”

12 And this shall be a sign unto you

A sign is another way of saying – a miracle. This is a miraculous event to see, miraculous for you. So strange – to find people starting on the birth of Christ and ending with rationalism. A favorite story in The Lutheran (LCA) magazine was the birth of Christ, by Paul Tillich, a notoriously unbelieving “theologian.” He began with the Nativity and ended with talking about babies and how everyone loves them. It was not a sign for him, but something to decorate his pagan philosophy.

One believer heard him lecture and went to him afterwards, saying, “I hope you find Christ some day.”

The Nativity is a constant sign, a miracle for all believers, because it happened for each and every one of us.

Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Babies were being born that night, but one was lying in the feed trough for cattle or sheep, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

This is the Christ-child, born for you and for me.

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Luke’s Account
KJV Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

#646 Silent Night 4:38

Heavenly Host
Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

The Prayers and Benediction


#87 Joy to the World 1:20

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Galatians Has a Lot To Say about Justification - Has Anyone Read Luther's Commentary? Buchholz? Buchholz? Anyone?

A. Berean has left a new comment on your post "Luther, Following Paul, Recognized Two Justificati...":

It is interesting to note that while Galatians 5:4 is cited frequently against Roman Catholics and other work-centered religions, the following verse is forgotten.

"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith."

Again, as Paul stresses in all of his Epistles, there are only two types of justification: Justification by the Law (which is impossible) or Justification by Faith (Divine monergism).

A Happy Christmas to all of you!
"Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." - Ephesians 6:24 

The Book of Concord Acknowledges Faith Alone in Justification

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Luther, Following Paul, Recognized Two Justificati...":

The Christian Book of Concord thoroughly condemns the false gospel of Universal Objective Justification that Jon Buchholz teaches, defends and violently forces upon the clergy and laity of the (W)ELS.

Note here that the Lutheran Confessions only acknowledge two ways in which Justification is used in Christ's Word and neither of which teach that unbelievers are in any sense ever justified, forgiven or absolved by God.

Also, 71] "but we maintain this, that properly and truly, by faith itself, we are for Christ's sake accounted righteous, or are acceptable to God. And because "to be justified" means that out of unjust men just men are made, or born again, it means also that they are pronounced or accounted just. For Scripture speaks in both ways. [The term "to be justified" is used in two ways: to denote, being converted or regenerated; again, being accounted righteous. Accordingly we wish first to show this, that faith alone makes of an unjust, a just man, i.e., receives remission of sins".
http://www.bookofconcord.org/defense_4_justification.php

In these last days the WELS, ELS and LCMS have, once again, displayed their true confession and exposed themselves as the enemies of Christ and His Church.

http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2012/10/intrepid-lutherans-pastor-paul-rydecki.html  

***

GJ - Today I was thinking about how little Walther believed his own dogma of universal absolution. According to the hagiographies, which make the felon into a saint, he deeply regretted his kidnapping episodes and thought himself unworthy to be a pastor. How could he feel guilty when he was already righteous?

Walther was never a Lutheran, but remained a Halle Pietist in love with his own opinions, using Luther as a rabbit's foot.

Years later, he "confided" that Bishop Stephan's adultery was Mrs. Stephan's fault. For real belly laughs, consider this - Walther the Cell Groupie - thought Stephan was a bit of a Pietist.

Luther, Following Paul, Recognized Two Justifications. Justification by Faith or Justification by Law

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "The Heavy Price of Control":

Galatians 5:4, "Christ is become no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."

This one verse refutes the absolution of the world in any sense taught by anti-Christian Universalists Jon Buchholz, Jay Webber, Paul McCain and the apostate Lutheran Synods. Along with the whole of Scripture and the faithful Lutheran Confessions it crushes their false gospel and nullifies their war on God's Word.

Appropriate that the Lutheran Synods have been financing the establishment of the New Age religion in the world and have followed their father below in excommunicating Christ's Church from their "Lutheran" churches while rewarding and defending the most heinous physical and spiritual abusers this world has known.

(W)ELS, the Vicar of Christ warmly welcomes you as he has also declared anathema on Christ's chief article of Justification solely by Faith in Christ alone.

The Heavy Price of Control

McClaren is one of those Fuller Seminary cool guys.
He participated in his son's pagan/Christian marriage to another man.
SynCon leaders adore anything from Fuller Seminary.

Frightened church leaders are faithless church leaders. They do not believe in anything except the need to maintain control of the money and power spigots. Therefore, they control everyone as much as possible.

Martin Luther College (WELS) students know that they should not be caught reading Ichabod. If they say something positive about the blog, woe be unto them. And yet they are in higher education to learn critical thinking and be open-minded? No, they are in a parochial college to be fashioned and dulled into proper synodical drones.

The great tyrants of the world have shown that little progress is accomplished, little thinking is done when the dictators control everything. There is not only a fear of total exclusion--in the form of death--but also a terror of being shunned, becoming a non-person. As a result, everyone remains in a state of paralysis - except for carrying out Great Leader's plans.

As an LCA observer pointed out to me, the elected official is not really the leader. He is a figurehead representing the power structure. That is why the perennial discussion of picking the right synod president is so comical. There is no choice, except for Bad Candidate A or Bad Candidate B. The outcome is 99% certain, just like presidential politics. The power structure makes sure that the money and power will flow their way. Everyone else is just a cog in the machine.

In the worst Depression since the Great Depression, WELS and Missouri leaders send themselves to luxury resorts 


Though ev'ry prospect pleases
And only man is vile.

Their pastors and teachers can put themselves into hock for a lifetime of student loan debt. No matter. Where can they go? The synods all work together to choke off any flow of dissenters from one pigsty to another. 

No one will openly discuss the Great Apostasy in Lutherdom today. No, I don't count. I blog and conduct worship services in from a "rented house." (I wonder what the CyberPlagiarist thinks about the Nativity stable, which Joseph rented for a brief stay.)

Bishop Stephan and Pope Walther led the way in showing how to conduct a complete dictatorship. The Muhlenberg tradition was quite congregational in contrast, until mergers consolidated power and mimicked the Walther Stalinism so effectively.

This is not exactly a secret.
Walther bided his time as the pimp and enforcer for his syphilitic bishop,
then organized a mob to rob and kidnap Stephan, taking over as the new pope.

---

Brian McLaren author, speaker, emergent networker, Christian activist

Brian McLaren / Dialogue / What if you created a "postmodern" seminary?

What if you created a "postmodern" seminary?

In light of how much you have to say about postmodernism, I am wondering what your approach would be if you could start a "postmodern seminary." What kind of emphases would you like to see? How would you approach theological education? What kinds of courses might you offer?
Would there be a certain background you would look for in potential faculty members (that might be different from most other seminaries)?What else would be important for you that I have not asked about? Thanks!


I talk about this very thing at the end of A New Kind of Christian, and I’m glad to say that there are a number of seminaries exploring this territory – among them Mars Hill Graduate School, Biblical Theological Seminary, George Fox Seminary, Fuller Seminary, Carey Theological Seminary, and others, I’m sure. There are good things brewing – and it’s happening faster than I would have expected due to the good leadership at these and other schools.

Glende and Ski follow the Emergent Church model favored by Brian McClaren.
See below to discern where that leads.
"Don we now our gay apparel. Falalala-lalala."

WELS leaders Mark Schroeder and Keith Free funded this fiasco,
about $500,000+
with a grant! - a few blocks from a real congregation.

The Fourth Sunday in Advent. John 1:19-28.Beyond Jordan

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The Fourth Sunday in Advent, 2012

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time

The Hymn #477   Lord Jesus Thou            3:90

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual       

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #90 Come, Your Hearts             3.83

Beyond Jordan

The Hymn # 103 – Luther            To Shepherds            3.82

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #95 Savior of the Nations            3.42   

KJV Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

KJV John 1:19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Fourth Sunday In Advent

Lord God, heavenly Father, it is meet and right that we should give thanks unto Thee, that Thou hast given us a more glorious baptism than that of John the Baptist, and hast therein promised us the remission of sins, the Holy Spirit, and everlasting life through Thy Son, Jesus Christ: Preserve us, we beseech Thee, in such faith in Thy grace and mercy, that we may never doubt Thy promise, but be comforted by the same in all temptations: and grant us Thy Holy Spirit that we may renounce sin, and ever continue in the righteousness bestowed upon us in baptism, until by Thy grace we obtain eternal salvation, through the same, Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

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Beyond Jordan

Luther made an important point in his explanation of this passage – about the words – beyond Jordan.

This is his point – in his discussion of the spiritual meaning of the passage, “beyond Jordan” refers to John the Baptist being on the opposite side of the river, that is, taking another view of the Scriptures than those who were sent to grill him.

This is a major point, because every single confession starts with the Word of God. The Scriptures are the foundation for every heresy. The really abusive ones (WELS, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the mainline denominations) offer the Bible, but the Bible in their own words, because they cannot stretch the words enough to fit their dogmas. Therefore, new words are added and traditional verses are removed. Most modern “translations” fit this definition.

Inerrancy is one issue. There is no reason to discuss the Christian faith with those apostates who view the Bible as just another creation by man. There is no standard for them and they have already departed from the historic view of the Christian Church.

The most important issue is the Gospel itself. Justification by faith is the Chief Article of Christianity, the Master and Prince of everything else. Therefore, the Roman Catholic Church, ELCA, the SynCons (LCMS, ELS, WELS), and all mainline groups are on the wrong side of the Jordan. They reject justification by faith, no matter how able their theologians are in defining, side-stepping, explaining, and waffling.

Therefore the best way to see this text, and all others, is to view it from the opposite side of the Jordan, to see it as resting upon the righteousness of Christ and no other, understanding that faith and forgiveness go together always, that lack of faith is the foundation for all sin.

The only purpose of the Bible is to teach us faith in Christ. The Bible brings Christ to us in the Word, so we have the blessings of faith in Him as our Savior. Anything else is subordinate to that singular purpose.

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KJV John 1:19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

The leaders of the nation sent a delegation to John to ask about his mission. This alone was quite flattering. It showed how important he was at that time. His followers made the leaders uneasy.

The Shiloh prophesy was two-fold. First the kingship had to pass from the House of David. That happened when Herod was put on the throne. But the Jews did not like that and fought against him for 30 years. He finally subdued and subordinated them. The second part was now true. The scepter departed and he had control of Israel. Herod’s Temple was his peace offering to them.

Genesis 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.

Knowing this prophecy, all the leaders were anxious about John and what his great following meant for them.

John could have been tempted to confirm any of those titles that were offered to him, but he did not cave in.

20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

First year Greek students find this repetition strange, but it is an emphasis upon John’s mission both in the positive (confessed) and the double-negative (denied not). Thus there can be no doubt – he was not calling himself the Messiah (anointed king). The answer is first described and then quoted.

This is best explained in the context of his vast following at the time, the turmoil caused by it, and the presence of Jesus – still unknown.

False religious leaders are always afraid. They realize their security and luxuries come only from being in complete control. They look for information and manage it to suit their needs. These leaders were under Herod’s power, so they were serving him as well as their own needs.

21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

Because they relied on righteousness through the Law, they wanted to pin down John and place him in a role. Elijah was a prophet of great importance at that time, because he ascended to heaven in a chariot. For that reason he was expected to herald the Messianic age.

John said, “I am not Elijah.”

Another expected role was The Prophet – similar to being Elijah, the forerunner of the Messianic Age. The inter-testamental literature was full books about the Messianic age. They were not Scripture but written as if they were, so they had an impact on the thinking of Jewish leaders at that time. There are collections of the literature of that time.

Lenski:

The question itself rests on Mal. 3:23 (in the English and the German versions Mal. 4:5) as understood by the rabbis regarding the return of Elijah in person to prepare the Messianic kingdom. Perhaps something in the stern preaching of repentance by the Baptist, aided by his austere dress and mode of life, may have prompted the surmise that this rabbinic expectation was fulfilled and that the Baptist actually was Elijah returned to life. In this sense the Baptist utters his denial: “I am not,” omitting any pointed ego (I), which would add the wrong implication: I am not, but another is or will be. The Baptist’s denial, therefore, does not clash with what was promised regarding him in Luke 1:17, and with what Jesus afterward said of him in Matt. 11:14; 17:11, three statements which correctly interpret Malachi.

Lenski, R. C. H.: The Interpretation of St. John's Gospel. Minneapolis, MN : Augsburg Publishing House, 1961, S. 109.

KJV Matthew 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

KJV Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

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22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

The questions were not offered in a sincere spirit but in an effort to pin down and blame John in some way. The delegation was sent in the wrong spirit and would only use whatever answer they received in the wrong spirit. That John ended up executed is a good sign of how much they wanted to learn from him. They knew the power of his preaching, but they did not like it.

John identified his only role as pointing to the Lord, preparing the way for him. The one who tells the people to repent is not God, not the Savior. When the ancient monarchs visited, heralds went before him, so that everyone knew he was coming. They gave the news, but they were not the emperor, or monarch, or  lord.

John said, “I am preparing the way of the Lord.”

26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

John is teaching nothing more than faith in Jesus. They are to look for the Lord. As great as they imagine John to be (as reckoned by the crowds), he is nothing at all. He is not worthy to take off the shoes of Jesus.

Although Jesus is after John, He is before John in importance. (The Bible says so much in so few words.)

John is now pointing to the true Savior, the One who should have everyone’s allegiance, love, loyalty, and faith.

This is why Luther said that John was no longer a prophet. Prophesy ended with John, because all the Old Testament prophets were fulfilled in Jesus. That made John more than a prophet, because he had the most difficult job, to point to an ordinary looking man and say, “There is your King. Not a man riding on a charger and leading us into battle, but the Lamb of God who bears the sin of the world.”

Application

I thought about this passage during the week, about the LCA pastors complaining about being limited by the historic lessons. That is why they, Missouri, and WELS all follow the Vatican now – the three year series, invented by the Church of Rome.

John the Baptist keeps coming up as the lesson in Advent. They could not cope with that. But John the Baptist is not the main topic – faith in Christ is. “There’s the rub,” as Shakespeare said. Someone lacking in faith does not want to talk about faith. It is something to be avoided or slighted with faint praise.

Why did the ancient church leaders find this so important in Advent? The season is aimed at repentance, and John’s role was to encourage repentance in the people, before Jesus came. And John clearly told his audience that Another was coming.

To repent means to lay aside all our concepts of righteousness and despair of our own merit. The false teachers want to turn repentance into self-torture. Join Opus Dei and they will sell you some barbed wire to wear around your leg and a nice whip to use on your own back. Roman Catholic orders with whips are called flagellant orders. A Holy Cross priest said the flagellant orders also drink a lot. I looked at the rosy nose of the priest who told me that and thought, “More than your bunch?” But I did not say it out loud.

Luther was raised with the wrong kind of repentance, and he realized that as he was guided by Staupitz and the Word into the true concept of the Gospel. Repentance certainly means sorrow for sin, or godly contrition, but it does not mean self-torture to earn forgiveness. That easily becomes a work of atonement or appeasement, the old Roman system. Extreme versions are practiced in many countries today. They make a small whip seem mild in comparison.

To be on the other side of Jordan with John means to place all our trust in Christ Jesus alone. That means that we see the Gospel of forgiveness in all the texts, and the Gospel of forgiveness is the Gospel of faith.

Luther repeatedly said there were two doctrines – one of faith and one of the Law. We are justified by faith or by the Law. The Law may be from the Old Testament or from man’s own human reason. But that does not matter. All justification apart from faith is justification by the law and therefore false.

All justification apart from faith is man-centered and works centered. It can only lead to doubt and despair. Universal forgiveness without faith (UOJ) may seem to be all grace, but it really means that nothing matters. It is the spirit of atheism. First one says, “God loves so much that everyone is forgiven.” The old Unitarians were quite moralistic and at least confessed God the Father. But this great expression of grace (so-called) gives way to an antagonism toward God and all religion, because universal forgiveness teaches that nothing matters ultimately – only the self.

In contrast we have the truth of God’s Word. This Word shows us in an instant that we do not believe. If we did believe utterly in Him, we would not fear. We would not be anxious. We would rejoice in the forgiveness given to us through the Gospel promises. But we rest our confidence in ourselves and our abilities, our sanctity rather than the holiness of Christ.

When the Word shows us this truth, it also teaches us Christ, the Lamb of God, who appeared in the crowd as meek and mild, non-threatening except to the religion of works. He taught with divine authority, not like the Pharisees, and the people knew, long promised Good Shepherd was as anxious for each one of them as they were for Him. So the believers longed to hear His voice and come to Him.

Even so today He guides us to the green pastures and quiet waters of eternal life.

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Advent IV

"Melanchthon, the Hamlet of the Reformation, shrinking from action into contemplation, with a dangerous yearning for a peace which must have been hollow and transient, had become more and more entangled in the complications of a specious but miserable policy which he felt made him justly suspected by those whose confidence in him had once been unlimited."

            Charles P. Krauth, The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology, Philadelphia: 1913 (1871), p. 85.         

"If we would be Christians, therefore, we must surely expect and reckon upon having the devil with all his angels and the world as our enemies, who will bring every possible misfortune and grief upon us. For where the Word of God is preached, accepted, or believed, and produces fruit, there the holy cross cannot be wanting. And let no one think that he shall have peace; but he must risk whatever he has upon earth--possessions, honor, house and estate, wife and children, body and life. Now, this hurts our flesh and the old Adam; for the test is to be steadfast and to suffer with patience in whatever way we are assailed, and to let go whatever is taken from us."

            Large Catechism, The Lord's Prayer, Third Petition, #65, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 715.     

"That forbearance which is a fruit of the Spirit retains its characteristic kindness whether directed toward friend or enemy, toward rich or poor."

            Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VI, p. 103.

"Prayer is made vigorous by petitioning; urgent, by supplication; by thanksgiving, pleasing and acceptable. Strength and acceptability combine to prevail and secure the petition."

            Sermons of Martin Luther, VI, p. 107.

"The Lord's Prayer opens with praise and thanksgiving and the acknowledgement of God as a Father; it earnestly presses toward Him through filial love and a recognition of fatherly tenderness. For supplication, this prayer is unequaled. Hence it is the sublimest and the noblest prayer ever uttered."

            Sermons of Martin Luther, VI, p. 107.

"This, mark you, is the peace of the cross, the peace of God, peace of conscience, Christian peace, which gives us even external calm, which makes us satisfied with all men and unwilling to disturb any. Reason cannot understand how there can be pleasure in crosses, and peace in disquietude; it cannot find these. Such peace is the work of God, and none can understand it until it has been experienced."

            Sermons of Martin Luther, VI, p. 111.

"The reference [the Votum] is simply to a disposition to trust and love God sincerely, and a willingness of heart and mind to serve God and man to the utmost. The devil seeks to prevent this state by terror, by revealing death and by every sort of misfortune; and by setting up human devices to induce the heart to seek comfort and help in its own counsels and in man. Thus led astray, the heart falls from trust in God to a dependence upon itself."

            Sermons of Martin Luther, VI, p. 111.

"Thus we have two parts, preaching and believing. His coming to us is preaching; His standing in our hearts is faith. For it is not sufficient that He stand before our eyes and ears; He must stand in the midst of us in our hearts, and offer and impart to us peace."

            Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., xd., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 355. John 20:19-31.       

"For the devil will not allow a Christian to have peace; therefore Christ must bestow it in a manner different from that in which the world has and gives, in that he quiets the heart and removes from within fear and terror, although without there remain contention and misfortune."

            Sermons of Martin Luther, II, p. 380.

"Joy is the natural fruit of faith. The apostle says elsewhere (Galatians 5:22-23): 'The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control.' Until the heart believes in God, it is impossible for it to rejoice in Him. When faith is lacking, man is filled with fear and gloom and is disposed to flee at the very mention, the mere thought, of God. Indeed, the unbelieving heart is filled with enmity and hatred against God. Conscious of its own guilt, it has no confidence in His gracious mercy; it knows God is an enemy to sin and will terribly punish the same."

            Sermons of Martin LutherVI, p. 93.

"To rejoice in the Lord--to trust, confide, glory and have pride in the Lord as in a gracious Father--this is a joy which rejects all else but the Lord, including that self-righteousness whereof Jeremiah speaks (9:23-24): 'Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he hath understanding, and knoweth Me.'"

            Sermons of Martin Luther, VI, p. 95.

"Now, suppose some blind, capricious individual intrudes, demanding as necessary the omission of this thing and the observance of that, as did certain Jews, and insisting that all men follow him and he none--this would be to destroy equality; indeed, even to exterminate Christian liberty and faith. Like Paul, in the effort to maintain liberty and truth, everyone should refuse to yield to any such demand."

            Sermons of Martin Luther, VI, p. 98.   

"Christ's kingdom grows through tribulations and declines in times of peace, ease and luxury, as St. Paul says in 2 Cor. 12:9 'My power is made perfect in weakness, etc.' To this end help us God! Amen."

            Sermons of Martin Luther, II, p. 99.

"The ultimate purpose of afflictions is the mortification of the flesh, the expulsion of sins, and the checking of that original evil which is embedded in our nature. And the more you are cleansed, the more you are blessed in the future life. For without a doubt glory will follow upon the calamities and vexations which we endure in this life. But the prime purpose of all these afflictions is the purification, which is extremely necessary and useful, lest we snore and become torpid and lazy because of the lethargy of our flesh. For when we enjoy peace and rest, we do not pray, we do not meditate on the Word but deal coldly with the Scriptures and everything that pertains to God or finally lapse into a shameful and ruinous security."

            What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 18.

"The church is recognized, not by external peace but by the Word and the Sacraments. For wherever you see a small group that has the true Word and the Sacraments, there the church is if only the pulpit and the baptismal font are pure. The church does not stand on the holiness of any one person but solely on the holiness and righteousness of the Lord Christ, for He has sanctified her by Word and Sacrament."

            Martin Luther, What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 263. Matthew 24:4-7.     

"When you preach or confess the Word, you will experience both without, among enemies, and also within, in yourself (where the devil himself will speak to you and prove how hostile he is to you), that he brings you into sadness, impatience, and depression, and that he torments you in all sorts of ways. Who does all this? Certainly not Christ or any good spirit, but the miserable, loathsome enemy...The devil will not bear to have you called a Christian and to cling to Christ or to speak or think a good word about Him. Rather he would gladly poison and permeate your heart with venom and gall, so that you would blaspheme: Why did He make me a Christian? Why do I not let Him go? Then I would at last have peace."

            Martin Luther, What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 928.  

"We have no intention of yielding aught of the eternal, immutable truth of God for the sake of temporal peace, tranquility, and unity (which, moreover, is not in our power to do). Nor would such peace and unity, since it is devised against the truth and for its suppression, have any permanency. Still less are we inclined to adorn and conceal a corruption of the pure doctrine and manifest, condemned errors. But we entertain heartfelt pleasure and love for, and are on our part sincerely inclined and anxious to advance, that unity according to our utmost power, by which His glory remains to God uninjured, nothing of the divine truth of the Holy Gospel is surrendered, no room is given to the least error, poor sinners are brought to true, genuine repentance, raised up by faith, confirmed in new obedience, and thus justified and eternally saved alone through the sole merit of Christ." (Closing of Formula of Concord, Triglotta. p. 1095)

             

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