"Unless you have the faith of a child, you cannot enter the Kingdom."
By Norma Boeckler. Quasimodogeniti, The First Sunday after Easter
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worshipBethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Daylight Savings TimeThe Hymn # 199 Jesus Christ is Risen 1:83
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 # 200 I Know that My Redeemer 1:80
Faith and the Holy SacramentsThe Communion Hymn # 187 Christ Is Arisen 1:45
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 # 195 (Luther) Christ Jesus 1:46
First Sunday After EasterLord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee, that of Thine ineffable grace, for the sake of Thy Son, Thou hast given us the holy gospel, and hast instituted the holy sacraments, that through the same we may have comfort and forgiveness of sin: We beseech Thee, grant us Thy Holy Spirit, that we may heartily believe Thy word; and through the holy sacraments day by day establish our faith, until we at last obtain salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
KJV 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
KJV John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Faith and the Holy SacramentsThese two lessons, the Epistle and the Gospel, teach us about faith and the Sacraments.
The perfect unity of the Scriptures is always visible in the texts, but sometimes it is so obvious that I wonder how people miss it.
Usually the Epistle and the Gospel go their separate ways and do not relate to each other directly. The historic texts--abandoned by the liberals for the Vatican A-B-C readings--are so old that no one can really explain the reasons behind some selections. Luther complained a little about some.
But tradition is the democracy of the dead and we have to respect that. Modern motives are more transparent.
The reading from the Gospel is obvious because it deal with Easter Sunday and its octave (one week later, but 8 days by Jewish reckoning).
The epistle is also by John, so the two readings naturally go together: the Gospel telling the story itself, the Epistle explaining the meaning of the Gospel.
The EpistleFaith must be important for the disciple Jesus loved, John. The victory which overcomes the world is faith.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Those who try to make faith into something man-centered are wrong. The meaning of the word in its Biblical context is most important.
As taught in John 3, we must be born “from above” (the Greek word has a double-meaning, primarily “from above” but also “born again.”) Born from above means being water-Spirit born, - baptized. God Himself plants this faith in our hearts - by the Word if we are converted by preaching as adults, by Holy Baptism if we are converted by the visible Word as babies. In both cases, the Holy Spirit works through the Word to convert unbelievers into believers.
This epistle lesson glorifies God by saying first – whatever is born of God overcomes the world. The disciple, in his Gospel and letters, emphasized the animosity of the world toward the believer. But this hatred is overcome something God-created: our faith.
“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Son of God has that faith which overcomes the world.” (My paraphrase of the next verse.)
These are beautiful statements, revealed for us to comfort and encourage us. We can hardly imagine how much greater the animosity was toward the Christian faith in the apostolic era. The officially recognized religion of Judaism became opposed to Christianity because of the many converts won over from preaching in the synagogues.
At the same time, the Roman Empire persecuted the Christians for being a sect of the troublesome Jews. After the great Zealot revolt of 69 AD and the lesser known Bar Kochba revolt, about 50 years later, Jews were hated and feared in the Empire. Christians claimed to follow a Jewish leaders, so they were in the same category of political rebels.
These verses do not say that we overcome the world, but that God-created faith overcomes the world.
The GospelFor an example of that faith – or the lack thereof – we have the John 20 passage, often called the Doubting Thomas story, just as this Sunday is often called Doubting Thomas Sunday, also “Dead Sunday” because ministers are on vacation and attendance is low.
This should be the highest attendance Sunday of all for Lutherans. This Gospel lesson defeats rationalism and reveals rationalism for what it is – poison.
By rationalism I mean subjecting the Bible to the limits of human reason. If something cannot be reasonable explained, then it is not true. For example, walking on water was a case of knowing where the sandbars were. That is an example rationalism being used to explain away a miracle.
The rationalism used against this passage is subtler, so it should be examined for what it is – and exposed.
The doors were locked for fear of the Jews, on Easter Sunday and this Sunday – both times. We know what many modern locks are like today, most of them poor excuses. Locked doors were much sturdier in Jesus’ time. Hewn lumber was placed across the door to prevent forced entry. Because the previous occupant was worried about an ex son-in-law, we have those and we also have chains for each of our doors.
Jesus appeared bodily, in spite of the locked doors.
Calvin, who founded the Presbyterians and influenced all the Protestant groups, including the Lutheran Pietists, explained Jesus’ appearance as coming through a secret entrance. That entrance was so secret that its existence was hidden from the apostle John (yet strangely revealed to Calvin 1600 years later).
That is a case of rationalism. Calvin did not believe that Jesus was able to be in that room bodily unless He had a secret entryway. Some other explanations are even more pathetic.
This explanation by Calvin reveals His faith in Christ – or lack of faith. Calvin imagined that Jesus’ divine nature was limited by His human nature. While God can be present everywhere, the Son of God is limited by His body with the scars still showing.
This same attitude is reflected in Calvin’s response to the Sacraments. He argued that Christ could not be bodily present in the element of Holy Communion. Calvin mocked the Real Presence in his Institutes, the most basic doctrinal documents of Calvinism.
Continuing the rationalism, Holy Communion could not forgive sins. Then what? It is an ordinance, a law commanded by God – to be a witness to faith in Christ. Some faith! “Given for the forgiveness of sin” – denied.
“This is My body. This is My blood.” – denied.
The room was locked – denied.
The Word is efficacious in Holy Communion – denied.
The Holy Spirit always works through the Word – denied.
What we believe about Christ is reflected in what we teach about Holy Communion. What we believe about Holy Communion is a reflection of our faith in Christ.
If Christ cannot enter a locked room, then He could not leave a sealed tomb. Therefore, we find Calvinistic paintings where the risen Lord seems to be escaping the tomb because angels have rolled away the stone lid (door) to the tomb. Thus the angels are more powerful than the Lord of Creation.
Rationalistic explanations have a corrosive effect on the Gospel itself. Soon the person who subjects the Gospel to his reason and experience will deny the divinity of Christ altogether. Many a young Calvinist turns into an old Unitarian.
The Pietists of today quickly turn into the social activists of tomorrow. Losing their trust in the Word, they trust in their ability to “redeem the world” by making it a better place. The environmentalists have discovered recycling, as if farmers did not do the same throughout time, especially in the Great Depression. Farmers did not save bailing wire and twine to save the planet. They just wanted to save their cash.
FaithWhat does Jesus commend in people? Faith – child-like faith. No child has ever failed the doctrinal test about Jesus. All their answers are the same – “Because He is God.”
How did He walk on water?
How did He still the storm?
How did He raise the dead?
How did He turn water into wine?
How did He enter the locked room?
And I asked more than one child – Because He is God? What does that mean?
They all say, “God can do anything.”
That is the faith of a child, and it is a constant witness to adults.
The faith of a child does not emphasize self but glorifies God in the simplest possible words.
When I teach people about writing, I ask them to explain matters as they would to an 8-year-old child. I use that example because children know a lot at that age, but they remember their information with concrete examples.
The Bible is full of concrete examples so we can remember and trust in their message.
How can Jesus be present in Holy Communion?
He entered the locked room.
His two natures represent the finite body united with divine nature.
How can Jesus offer His body and blood to so many?
He fed the 5,000 with a few loaves and fish.
How can He forgive my sins with His Word?
He stilled the storm and turned water into wine.
He cured the sick and raised the dead with His Word.
Why is intellectual knowledge inadequate?
Jesus took children in His arms, blessed them and said, “Unless you have the faith of a child, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”
Doubting Thomas – RationalistThomas did not believe the Word of the apostles. He demanded physical proof of the resurrection.
He believed again when Jesus offered the proof earlier demanded. Thomas responded, not by the actual touching which he required before, but by giving his confession of faith, “My Lord and my God.”
Doubting Thomas was restored to faith by Christ and His Word. The disciples were given another chance to overcome their fear. According to tradition, Thomas traveled to India to preach the Gospel. History is never neat and tidy, but one province of India is Christian and they attribute their faith to Thomas. The church there is named after him.
Child-like Faith and JustificationLawlessness is popular today, so much that it is often confused with the Gospel. The proper term is Antinomianism, which is hard enough to remember and to say on a good day. Lawlessness is an easy message, because everyone can do anything, because everything is already forgiven. Not surprisingly, a few years of lawlessness will turn people into atheistic do-gooders who imagine they can “redeem the world” and “make the world a better place” by their good intentions.
Justification by faith is that great mystery revealed by God in the Scriptures. It is the healing message for broken, contrite sinners. Those who have no concept of sin cannot understand it.
Feeling guilty is not the basis for being forgiven. There are many modern formulas for the old Catholic method of doing penance, as if doing penance earns forgiveness. The celebrity style today is to “accept responsibility” (as if we are not responsible) and to express a profound sense of sorrow, which seems to erupt only when someone is caught, videotaped, or arrested.
Some get misled into thinking that repentance means “change your ways,” as if man’s efforts earn forgiveness through good intentions, pledges, etc. The Greek word, so often battered by Greek 101 students, really means “regret” in its original state. But we have to translate in context rather than be mired down in the history of a word. (For instance, “neat” can mean tidy or it can be a positive response to some fact. A good pun would be – “I cleaned my room, finally.” The parent would say, “Neat!”)
The ancient Greeks knew all about regret, because they believed in an endless cycle of remorse from earlier deeds. They did not know about salvation through Christ until the Gospel was preached.
In the New Testament, that ancient word for regret came to mean – contrition for sin and faith in the Gospel.
One aspect of our human weakness is a lack of faith in forgiveness. People can believe in the articles of the Creed and yet think they are not forgiven by Christ. That is why so many helps are provided for us in the Scriptures.
Those who scoff at the Means of Grace fail to see how God builds up our faith in His Promises, through different means. Each one is called, by the Book of Concord, an instrument of God’s grace, a fine term to know and understand. Instrument may be a better, more concrete term that “means.”
Holy Communion is an individual participation in this forgiveness. We relive and remember the Last Supper of Christ, and in doing so, recall that He died for us sinners. We remember and re-enact that Last Supper while hearing the healing words of forgiveness. More than that, we participate as individuals so the words do not fly by our heads. Concentration on the Word is difficult, but when the Word is made visible in the Sacraments, that forgiveness is concrete and experienced. Christ is conveyed to us and we are conveyed to Him.
Similarly, when a child or adult is baptized, we remember the meaning of our own baptism.
Forgiveness and salvation do not depend on us but on God. He teaches us contrition with the Law and gives us forgiveness with the Gospel in many forms. Those forms include: the liturgy, the readings, the Creed itself, the hymns, the sermon, and the Sacraments. We have the absolution in the liturgy itself but also in our daily interaction with friends and family.
Christ appeared to the disciples to stir up their sense of sin, which manifested itself in their fear and hiding. In Thomas, it was his need for even more proof. Christ absolved the disciples, so they went from the greatest depths of despair to immovable faith in Him. After that, nothing could keep them from proclaiming His love and grace. They knew this grace. They experienced it. They extended it across the known world through the Instruments of Grace, the Word and Sacraments.
Quotations"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."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 355.
"This is going through closed doors, when He comes into the heart through the Word, not breaking nor displacing anything. For when the Word of God comes, it neither injures the conscience, nor deranges the understanding of the heart and the external senses; as the false teachers do who break all the doors and windows, breaking through like thieves, leaving nothing whole and undamaged, and perverting, falsifying and injuring all life, conscience, reason, and the senses. Christ does not do thus."
Sermons of Martin Luther, II, p. 355.
"Hence I send you into the world as my Father hath sent me; namely, that every Christian should instruct and teach his neighbor, that he may also come to Christ. By this, no power is delegated exclusively to popes and bishops, but all Christians are commanded to profess their faith publicly and also to lead others to believe."
Sermons of Martin Luther, II, p. 359.
"The first and highest work of love a Christian ought to do when he has become a believer, is to bring others also to believe in the way he himself came to believe. And here you notice Christ begins and institutes the office of the ministry of the external Word in every Christian; for He Himself came with this office and the external Word."
Sermons of Martin Luther, II, p. 359.
"Now God drives us to this by holding the law before us, in order that through the law we may come to a knowledge of ourselves. For where there is not this knowledge, one can never be saved. He that is well needs no physician; but if a man is sick and desires to become well, he must know that he is weak and sick, otherwise he cannot be helped."
Sermons of Martin Luther, II, p. 370.
"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.
"Reformed theologians, in order to support their denial of the
illocalis modus subsistendi of Christ's human nature, have sought, in their exposition of John 20, an opening in the closed doors, or a window, or an aperture in the roof or in the walls, in order to explain the possibility of Christ's appearance in the room where the disciples were assembled."
Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, 3 vols., St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1950, II, p. 127.
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Oh, Justin...where to start? I guess that the best place for me to start is by asking that you not take offense to what I write. I don't mean to discourage you from questioning whether or not we're doing things the right way. I simply see things differently. I'd like to highlight to you where I see things differently than you do, so that perhaps we can both come out of this dialogue stronger (Proverbs 27:17).
I believe that your reasoning for opposing open dorms is a little bit of a non sequitur. Closing doors and having sex are against the rules even in this new policy. Therefore, if people are having sex (which I do not deny, but I believe that the amount suggested by your friend is exaggerated), it's still done outside of the rules. People do not have sex because of a lack of rules. They have sex because of a lack of respect for the rules, whether those rules are man's or God's (oh, and also probably because they want to.) To put it another way, a law never causes people to obey itself. On the contrary, law causes rebellion (Romans 7:7). Rather, it's a desire to follow laws that causes people to obey them. Therefore, instead of imposing another rule onto an already agitated conscience, we should instead seek to provide motivation to follow the rules that do exist.
Out of the theoretical and into the practical...Did people never have sex before last year? People can have sex on the weekends. People can have sex in places not their dorm rooms (as a member of campus security, I realize that it would be nearly impossible for us to find people who are earnestly trying to dodge us...but don't take advantage of that). People can have sex in places off campus. Where do we stop policing the behavior of our fellow Christians through legislation? The Bible doesn't talk about that. What the Bible does talk about is being concerned from your brothers and sisters in the faith and addressing that on a personal level. If you and your friend are so sure that sex is taking place on campus, you're probably aware of the people that are doing it. You should probably talk to them rather than attempt to place one small road block in their way that penalizes the rest of them that use this privilege appropriately.
I have plenty of thoughts about your second section, but I'll save those until I hear some clarification on one point that you didn't provide support for. You say that, "students should not see that (Party in the MLC) about their teachers. This is a serious problem". I'd like to hear what about this is a serious problem. Then, perhaps, I'll share some more thoughts.
There's more to be said about your comments about Christian freedom and the thought of MLC being a "normal" college, but I'll save that for another comment or perhaps my own blog post. There's been plenty said in this comment that should provide some grounds to continue this discussion.
Justin and Tyler, as someone who as you know doesn't go to MLC it is interesting to read all of these remarks. Tyler, I do agree with you in the fact that people will continue to have sex whether or not there is a rule prohibiting it, but Justin brings up a very valid point. Just because they can doesn't mean that we should give the picture that it is easier for them to now. It may be that laws cause rebellion but they can also form lines. I would assume that while the "closed dorm" policy was in place it influence people not to have sex. Whereas, giving a launching point for sin by allowing the opposite sex into the dorm throughout the week, does not seem like something our pastors and teachers should be in support of.
As to the video. Perhaps what Justin is saying is that it was fine to show it in the midst of friends, but to open it to the public where it can cause a negative perspective may have been taking it a little to far. Personally, I thought the video was hilarious, but the entire time in the back of my head I kept thinking, "these are the examples my children are going to have in there churches and schools?" I know that even pastors and teachers are full of their own faults, just as I am full of my own personal ones. However, giving such a negative view of teachers to future students is something as a lay person I will not want my children to be apart of. If it means that I need to not be in support of WELS teachers because they do not provide a proper example well then home schooling is the way I will go. I don't want you to be perfect, just understand and contemplate the image those students put out there for the world to see.
Kath and I have been discussing this for over an hour and a half. We can't seem to come to a conclusion and this is all very confusing. What we are wondering is if there are boundaries set for example, do doors need to stay open during the floor hours? We feel like practice should be had for many MLC students. I feel, not so much kath, however, that for the students too immature to handle these circumstances it seems like a sketchy situation. It certainly is a tough topic and maybe it will only take time to discern whether this decision was God pleasing or not.
In Christian Love
Kath and Stephen
Dear Friends,
If and when you get back to this I hope you find what I'm going to say enlightening. My point with open dorms is that when Paul says we must not have even a hint of sexuality, then we must take that as what it means. Now then, this doesn't signify that there will not be any sex between the student body, but at the least, at the very least, we cannot permit it on the campus. Not that it is better anywhere else, or at all, but that if a Christian life is not supposed to have a speck of sexual immorality then also this college must not have that sort of reputation. Previously, did it happen on the weekends? Certainly, but there are two thoughts that I have about this: first, that the RA's are far more likely to check in upstairs if their rounds come only so often and sitting in the cage downstairs is less of boring routine; second, for the students daring enough to come to these extremes having more opportunities to assimilate to a common environment for sex is now easier. What I mean is that before on weekends it was harder to get comfortable with hiding in someone's room trying to make out when you didn't know schedules of friends or roommates or when an RA would pop in. Now, it's terribly easy to feel the routines and avoid other people. Now, two more things, I'm not ignorant enough to think that this wouldn't just happen elsewhere on campus, but I don't want the feeling that someone on my floor right now could be having sex. I just don't like that. Also, I think there's something to be said about those people who can be trusted here on campus, there are many stalwart (great word or what?) students who would not even do such a thing. Yet, it must also be acknowledged that these dorms are homes for all of us who lives here, and though there are certain freedoms that go along with this, there also needs to be respect. I know that here in Concord this isn't always the case.
As to the video, it should never have been put on YouTube. It should not be on Facebook right now, and I'm appalled at the group that wants it back. Not because I think that we're not allowed to have fun, but because in light of future ministry children will see that video and it will change the image of their teacher. I merely want us all to be above reproach. There is already a comment on the Facebook group by a student that I feel a little sore about. There's something to be said about having fun and the subculture of MLC, but we cannot hope that everyone out there will understand us. To some it's funny, and that's fine, but to a parent who watches the video and sees their child's teacher, it could cause a problem. I'd like that to be prevented. I think this is all, sorry for the late response. Pax.
"Just because they can doesn't mean that we should give the picture that it is easier for them to now." I think this is a valid concern and that we could all agree that if our policies communicate a lax attitude towards sex or that we're making it easier for people to do it, that it'd be a bad policy. However, I do not believe that this is the case with this policy. My support for this relies on the fact that open dorms during the week does not greatly differ than open dorms on the weekend.
First of all, the enforcement of the rules is exactly the same on the weekends as it is during the weeks. This neither communicates a lax attitude nor does it facilitate sexual immorality. You can argue that the enforcement isn't good enough, but that's a matter of enforcement, not policy. To distinguish between times is not founded.
Second, I'm nothing short of perplexed as to how you arrived at the conclusion that sex is easier to plan during the weeks than on the weekends. I find that during the week it can be hard enough to plan a nap because of roommates' study or video game plans. I can't imagine trying to plan a little 7:30-10 delight. However, I know that on weekends that jobs, sports, visits home and evening plans provide ample opportunity for this rampant sex to occur.
Justin opened his comment by saying, "when Paul says we must not have even a hint of sexuality, then we must take that as what it means." I couldn't agree more. However, I believe that I've sufficiently shown that this policy doesn't communicate to anyone that the college encourages promiscuity. The hints of sexual immorality that are present are present on an individual, not institutional level. Again, this should not be a matter of policy, but of individual concern, both on the parts of fellow students and the dorm staff.
Justin, someone on your floor could be having sex. this could happen regardless of what the policies were. We could provide anecdotes supporting this, but it's beside the point. The people living in your dorms are sinful. If you're looking for a place where you know that no sin is happening, you'll have a very disappointing life.
Above reproach is a term that's thrown around a lot, but it usually carries very little meaning. In order to clearly define our terms, we need to once again get out of the theoretical and into the real. This is how it's defined in my mind:
(I expect that if someone still wishes to make the claim that this video causes its stars to lose their above reproach status that you'll either argue with my definition or provide concrete examples of how my fellow Summitites no longer measure up to it)
A person is no longer above reproach if his actions prevent him from effectively ministering to someone struggling with anyone.
For example, if a person regularly drinks in public and ends up drunk, this would cause problems for him in an attempt to minister to someone with a drinking problem. If a person was unfaithful in a relationship, this would cause problems for him in marriage counseling or in confronting someone about breaking his or her marital vow.
So, even if the video was seen by every student or parishioner that will ever be served by the men in that video, what would be the perceivable area in which they could be reproached?
*"...someone struggling with anything."
I apologize for my lack of proofreading. I generally figure that my composition is impeccable, but I often find that my sausage like fingers can't quite keep up with the speed of my mind. Ok, or maybe I just messed up.
Tyler,
I have a couple thoughts that I think will tie the entire matter together, because I think that when we are talking about this video and about open dorms it is the same thing. We are saying there must not be even a hint of sexuality, and why? So that they may be above reproach. I think that while the school doesn't say in its policy it advocates sex, it must take into consideration that sex will and does occur. Thus, maybe there must be some sort of policy enforcing stricter rules or patrolling or such. All so that not only the school, but also, the student may be above reproach. My point about it being easier to have sex during the week is easily shown. When you enter a new environment you must warm up to it. Then, even when you are completely comfortable there, possibly some things you may not do. I think that it is the same thing here, if you become accustomed to being in your room and progressing further and further through this sexual crescendo then eventually nothing in that environment holds you back. If it were only weekends, getting comfortable happens less fast. Also, you argue that there is you cannot perceive the difference between planning sex during the week as in contrast to the weekend. I argue that on the weekends it would be much harder because RA's would feel more inclined to make rounds and you become comfortable there less fast. On the week nights, it is easier to find the time when your roommate is going to be gone or busy and you can have the room to yourself. I mean that you learn more quickly and are able to replicate everything faster having week nights as an option. Once again so that we may be above reproach. All of us. The students in the "Party in the MLC" video also.
I think that first, I must define being above reproach. Paul says in 1 Tim. 3:2, "Now the overseer must be above reproach...." Now, Luther says about this: "that he may not be a fornicator, an adulterer, a greedy man, a foul-mouthed person, a drunkard, a gambler, a slanderer." (I sort of feel like Greg Jackson right now, but I'm coming to a good point.) Two more things I think that are important to keep in my before we clearly lay this down is the word ἀνέγκλητος which is used in Titus 1:6-7 and is translated "Blameless." Lastly, “We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited” (1 Corinthians 6:3). Now then I want to work a definition of this ministerial qualification. We can see that a minister must blameless, not before God, but transparent before men. There can be nothing evident in his life that could hinder someone's faith. To be above reproach is more than just not being able to minister to one group. It means we must be conscious of every group and able to always minister to them. Now then, we must find that matter of how they here may have forfeited this (I don't think they really did, but it's close in the public eye). Can we say insensitivity? How about being a poor role model? How about causing offense to those of weak faith? How about the image of MLC? To me, there is something very disgusting to see men acting like that, it wasn't funny to me. Now then, I think that this is what needs to be said about this. The part I despise most about this is that on the FaceBook group there is a student of Krause who has seen this video. They thought it was funny, but how much does it make that student feel like it would be okay to copy him. I think that as students we can do better, as future ministers we can be more, and that all in all our actions need to be more monitored.
(One last thing, I'm not Greg Jackson, I advocate having fun in a good setting, but how are we to have fun when we're imitating sin? We can do better. In light of MLC, the video went over well, I just think that nothing like it should be made again, nor do I think it should be on Facebook. I'm sure the train has left the station on this matter though.)