LHP Review: Gerhard on the Church

 

Gerhard, Johann. Translated by Richard J. Dinda. Edited with Annotations by Benjamin T. G. Mayes. On the Church (Theological Commonplaces: XXV). St. Louis: Concordia, 2010. 870 Pages. Cloth. $54.99. https://www.cph.org/p-12935-on-the-church-theological-commonplaces.aspx?SearchTerm=gerhard%20church (LHP) For far too long, the encyclopediac dogmatic masterpiece of Johann Gerhard was not available in English translation. We rejoice to present to you Gerhard's massive volume on the Church. The doctrine of the church was contentious as Lutherans argued for the scriptural catholicity of their churches, which embraced the Reformation, over against Roman Catholic claims to be the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church confessed in the creeds. Distinguishing between visibility and invisibility as aspects of the same church, Gerhard discusses whether the church can err and defines the true marks of the church. Yet this volume covers much more than just the doctrine of the church. It deals with mission, miracles, prophecy, the curious case of "Pope Joan," and the corruptions of the papacy in the centuries leading up to Gerhard's time. The Theological Commonplaces series is the first-ever English translation of Johann Gerhard's monumental Loci Theologici. Gerhard was the premier Lutheran theologian of the early seventeenth century. Combining his profound understanding of evangelical Lutheran theology with a broad interest in ethics and culture, he produced significant works on biblical, doctrinal, pastoral, and devotional theology. Gerhard interacts with the writings of the church fathers, Luther and his contemporaries, and the Catholic and Calvinist theologians of his day. His 17-volume Loci is regarded as the standard compendium of Lutheran orthodoxy, with topics ranging from the proper understanding and interpretation of Scripture to eschatology. Useful for research on Lutheran doctrine, Gerhard's accessible style makes this a must-have on the bookshelf of pastors and professional church workers. Each embossed hardback volume includes •the translation of Gerhard's Loci (originally published from 1610 to 1625) •a glossary of key theological, rhetorical, and philosophical terms •a name index •a Scripture index  •a carefully researched works cited list that presents guidance for deciphering the numerous abbreviations of the other titles from which Gerhard quotes. Call 1-800-325-3040 or CLICK HERE and become a subscriber to the series and save 30% off the retail price! View All Gerhard Titles Click Here (Publisher's website) Now more timely than ever, Gerhard's volume On the Church will help Lutherans and Christians better understand the claims of the Roman Office of the Papacy.  I shared the following with my congregation in our March Newsletter: There are really only two seasons in Wyoming. Winter and Road Construction. Both are seasons for Caution.       You can tell that "Spring" is here when it snows on your way in to church on Sunday and it has melted by the time we get out of church.       Everybody knows when it is Road Construction Season. We see orange cones, orange signs, and orange vests on workers. And we have to slow down and switch lanes.       Since the Pope announced his resignation, and the Roman church is preparing for a conclave to select a new Pope, I'd like to offer some evangelical words of caution.       The media is excited. Roman Catholics are excited. We, as Lutherans especially, have reason for caution.       In 1537, Lutherans laid out our basic concerns with the Roman Church and the office of the papacy. The document is called the Treatise, short for the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, part of Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions and is also available to read for free online (http://bookofconcord.org/treatise.php).       The first four lines read like this:   1]The Roman Pontiff claims for himself [in the first place] that by divine right he is [supreme] above all bishops and pastors [in all Christendom].   2]Secondly, he adds also that by divine right he has both swords, i.e., the authority also of bestowing kingdoms [enthroning and deposing kings, regulating secular dominions etc.].   3]And thirdly, he says that to believe this is necessary for salvation. And for these reasons the Roman bishop calls himself [and boasts that he is] the vicar of Christ on earth.   4]These three articles we hold to be false, godless, tyrannical, and [quite] pernicious to the Church.   The Treatise is a quick read. It is only 82 paragraphs long. Lutherans should read it any time there is a vacancy in the office of pope. It answers head-on the false Roman claim that Jesus made Peter the first pope in Matthew 16:18.       If you don't own a copy of the Book of Concord and do not have access to a computer, please contact the office and we can arrange to print a copy of the Treatise for you.       The announcement of the new pope will be made soon, before Palm Sunday, with white smoke, ceremony, an announcement of the new pope's new name, and a post on Twitter. There will also be the Latin announcement: Habemus Papam! (We have a Pope!) As Christians we rejoice in what we have in common with other Christians from Scripture alone. Our announcement will remain: Habent papa. Habemus Christum! (Theyhave a pope. We have Christ!)     I had recently finished reading this volume of Gerhard's Theological Commonplaces. Can you tell? The Editor's Preface reminds us that "catholic" is really a synonymn of "universal" (xii, cf. 279ff.).  Gerhard shows the theological freight of "Church" flowing through the Old Testament and Septuagint into New Testament Greek (7).    Gerhard proves that "the pure preaching of the Word and the legitimate administration of the Sacraments are th emarks of the church" (241).  He writes of Jesuits (362) in connection with churches in the New World. Gerhard demolishes so-called apostolic succession (372ff), proves papal indulgences to be a novelty (419) while defending justification (passim), gives examples of divisions within "monolithic" Rome (506ff) and sins that flourish in the papacy (535, etc.). Gerhard shares fascinating "prophecies about Luther from the histories" (670ff).  Finally, he provides Chaper XIII, guidance "On the Use of This Commonplace."  Read together with Gerhard's volumes on the Ministry, On the Church will help the modern Christian respond Biblically to modern and ancient errors in understanding Church and Ministry.  A new study edition of Walther's book on the topics will be reviewed very soon. The Rev. Paul J Cain is Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming, Headmaster of Martin Luther Grammar School, Yellowstone Circuit Visitor (LCMS Wyoming District), a member of the Board of Directors of The Consortium for Classical and Lutheran Education, Wyoming District Worship Chairman, and Editor of QBR.

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LHP Review: Classics Old and New

 

Walther, C. F. W. Translated by Matthew Carver. Walther's Hymnal: Church Hymnbook for Evangelical Lutheran Congregations of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession. St. Louis: Concordia, 2012. 440 Pages. Paper. $39.99. https://www.cph.org/p-21601-walthers-hymnal-church-hymnbook-for-evangelical-lutheran-congregations-of-the-unaltered-augsburg-confession.aspx?SearchTerm=walther%27s%20hymnal (LH) Luther, Martin. Translated by Matthew C. Harrison. A Simple Way to Pray (for Peter, the Master Barber). St. Louis: Concordia, 2012. 32 Pages. Paper. $1.99. (Bulk discounts available) https://www.cph.org/p-21948-a-simple-way-to-pray.aspx?SearchTerm=simple (LHP) Fisk, Jonathan. Broken: 7 "Christian" Rules That Every Christian Ought to Break as Often as Possible. St. Louis: Concordia, 2012. 278 Pages. Paper. $16.99, now on sale for $12.99. https://www.cph.org/p-19471-broken-7-christian-rules-that-every-christian-ought-to-break-as-often-as-possible.aspx?SearchTerm=broken (LHP) Today's three books will stand the test of time. Two have already. The newest confesses timeless truths. Our first book will be a gift to my barber at my next haircut.   When asked by his barber and good friend, Peter Beskendorf, for some practical guidance on how to prepare oneself for prayer, Martin Luther responded by writing this brief treatise first published in 1535. A Simple Way to Pray is a fresh modern translation bringing us Luther's practical instruction, using Luther's I.T.C.P. method of prayer. This method anchors prayer in the catechism or other biblical texts, but allows the Holy Spirit to prompt thoughts via the Word, which may be chased more freely by the mind at prayer. Instruction: Lord Christ, You instruct me here that I am to listen carefully and heed the word of my pastor when he speaks Your Word. The pastoral office is profound; my pastor is not only charged to watch over my soul, but You also call him to account for his service to me. Finally, You tell me in this text that I am to be a joy to my pastor and not a pain, and this for my own spiritual benefit. Thanksgiving: Jesus, I thank You for my pastor. In fact, I thank You for the pastor who baptized me, and all pastors who have served me in my life as a Christian. Thank You for all the sermons that have clearly shown me my sin and delivered to me the free forgiveness of the Gospel because of Your sacrifice for me on the cross. Confession: Lord, I confess that so often I fail to pray for my pastor. I fail to be gracious to his family. I do not pay attention to his preaching. I have gossiped and failed to love and defend him and "put the best construction on everything." I deserve to have my faithful pastor taken away. Forgive me my many sins, and help me to do better. Help me especially to be a joy to my pastor and to encourage him in his difficult office. Prayer: Savior, bless my pastor with faithfulness to Your Word. Cause him to grow in knowledge of Your Word. Give him courage and strength for his tasks. I thank You for (name) and for all faithful pastors. Grant success to the work of our seminaries. Bless our professors and students. And give my pastor joy. I ask all this for Your sake alone. Amen.   Translator, Pastor Matthew C. Harrison is the president of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.  (Publisher's website)   Luther teaches us to pray the Catechism, setting an example of how to pray the Ten Commandments, The Apostles' Creed, and the Lord's Prayer. I am thankful for such a useful, affordable, and faithful tract/booklet that can help pastors, teachers, and households learn to see and use the Catechism as more than a textbook.  This would be a great gift for confirmands, graduates, new parents, and new elders. And gentlemen, don't forget to buy a copy for your barber! Our second book today is available for the first time in English, Kirchen-Gesangbuch fur Evangelish-Lutherische Gemeinden ungeanderter Augsburgischer Confession (1892).   Walther's Hymnal: Church Hymnbook is the first of its kind: an English translation of the first official hymnal of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. This was the hymnal that C.F.W. Walther edited and used, and that provided Christians throughout the LCMS a common experience during the Church's early years in America, in the same way that Lutheran Service Book provides a common experience for us today. Now presented for the first time in English, this is an invaluable resource for history enthusiasts, church musicians, and anyone who wants insight into how our grandfathers sang and prayed. This is a chance to share in that song and prayer of the saints gone before us. Matthew Carver, MFA, is a translator of German and classical literature. He resides in Nashville, TN, with his wife Amanda and their young son, where they pursue interests in art, orthodox Lutheran theology, liturgy, and hymnody.  (Publisher's website) Cantemus! Let us sing! That is how we often introduce forwards from Mr. Carver's blog site (http://matthaeusglyptes.blogspot.com/), where he posts great English translations of Latin and German hymn texts that deserve to be sung today.   So, when this reviewer met the translator in person this January, I shared, "There's one main problem with the book. It deserves a leather cover and gilded edges!" He politely accepted my compliment and gently reminded me that this is not intended to be an official hymnal of the LCMS. (In order to be so it must be adopted by convention action.) I agree, yet assert that it should be a sourcebook for better English translations of hymns already in LSB, as well as hymns that deserve the opportunity to be considered for a future LSB Supplement and the successor hymnal to LSB. At the congregation I currently serve, the original German version was used side-by-side with a Volga German hymnal. Making the transition to English took generations. I still today have four ladies in the congregation who request visits in German. At our congregation's recent 110th Anniversary service, the Epistle was read in both German and English and the Lord's Prayer was prayed in both languages. Walther's Hymnal gives English-only speakers and readers insight into our rich and living liturgical and hymnological heritage. Collects and Prayers (359ff), History of the Passion (371ff), and The Destruction of Jerusalem (380) served as edifying devotional material for me this Lent. Yes, some portions are omitted (see 387-8 for an explanation).  A Divine Service Liturgy is found in the Appendices before tunes not found in modern LCMS hymnals. Buy a copy of Walther's Hymnal if you have a family copy of Walther's original. Buy a copy especially if you don't have a copy of the original and then download a pdf of the original from Google Books. Today's third book is the newest by far, copyright 2012.  The errors the author warns against are far older.     Real Answers Real Religion Real Holy Spirituality There are only two kinds of spirituality in the world. One is false, and one is true. One is the manifestation of the old evil foe who has sent many false spiritualties out into the world, and the other is the holy spirituality found only in faith in the one true God. One is a lie, and one is real. But which is which? There is a cultural perfect storm shredding the spiritual landscape of the United States. It travels on the wind of a growing ignorance of both history and the Bible. Christians are losing faith because the kind of Christianity they are trying to believe is BROKEN   This book examines seven of the most common spiritual traditions and how they use speculation, mysticism, and moralism to break Christianity. Author Jonathan Fisk calls them the seven "counterfeit Christian rules that every Christian ought to break as often as possible," because they are seven myths that have infiltrated the churches in our age, seven teachings taught as if they were doctrine, but which are nothing more than the traditions of men.   The dark secret of Christianity in America is that we are losing. We hide it with light shows, Christian dance and music, and video games, but it's true. And it's not new.   The house has grown too dirty. Fisk is going to sweep it clean. All of it: the dusty corners where spores of speculation lay, the air filled with the mustiness of mysticism, the grout where the mold of moralism has grown thick over our clean confidence in Christ. Once the grime has been scrubbed away, Fisk shows how, under the cross of Jesus, you will find that your mind, heart, and hands, your reason, emotions, and sense of mercy, are the very things that our Lord has redeemed. In the resurrection of Jesus, in His fulfillment of the Law, in the essence of His Gospel, in the pure Word of God, you will find the truth. (Publisher's website) Best known for his Worldview Everlasting videos on You Tube, Pr. Jonathan Fisk communicates the Lutheran Confession of the Christian faith using fresh language. My review copy was waiting at home while I was stranded in an airport. Thankfully, I had my Kindle Fire with me, free airport WiFi, and a kindle version of Broken available in the Amazon store thanks to CPH. Reading Broken in that way helped me experience the book in the way many of today's young Lutheran Christians should consider the dangers of legalism, false worship, and not properly distinguishing God's Law and God's Gospel.   The graphic design of the book is unlike anything you've seen from Concordia. Line art reminds me of a tasteful and appropriate mix of pop culture, classic Christian devotional woodcuts, and an eye for composition borrowed from Monty Python. I always wondered what Worldview Everlasting would look like in print. Now I know. Broken is a book appropriate for youth and youth leaders, particularly youth disillusioned by caricatures of Christianity, hypocrites, failed preachers, and sectarianism. It should also be read alongside resources by Dr. Rod Rosenbladt for those who have been sinned against by the Church. More classics from Concordia Publishing House are coming in future reviews. In the meantime, order (or save up for) these three Lutheran classics.       The Rev. Paul J Cain is Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming, Headmaster of Martin Luther Grammar School, Yellowstone Circuit Visitor (LCMS Wyoming District), a member of the Board of Directors of The Consortium for Classical and Lutheran Education, Wyoming District Worship Chairman, and Editor of QBR.

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FW: Marriage: What It Is, Why It Matters, and the Consequences of Redefining It

 

Read on…   Feed: God the Crucified Posted on: Monday, March 25, 2013 9:24 AM Author: noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Lange) Subject: Marriage: What It Is, Why It Matters, and the Consequences of Redefining It   Abstract Marriage is based on the truth that men and women are complementary, the biological fact that reproduction depends on a man and a woman, and the reality that children need a mother and a father. Redefining marriage does not simply expand the existing understanding of marriage; it rejects these truths. Marriage is society's least restrictive means of ensuring the well-being of children. By encouraging the norms of marriage—monogamy, sexual exclusivity, and permanence—the state strengthens civil society and reduces its own role. The future of this country depends on the future of marriage. The future of marriage depends on citizens understanding what it is and why it matters and demanding that government policies support, not undermine, true marriage. Full Article, by Ryan T. Anderson View article...

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FW: All Glory, Laud, and Honor - Old Tune ?

 

An interesting proposal…   Feed: HYMNOGLYPT Posted on: Saturday, March 16, 2013 7:33 PM Author: Matt Carver (Matthaeus Glyptes) Subject: All Glory, Laud, and Honor - Old Tune ?   Repost from 2010. Below is my tentative proposal for an alternate melody for the palmarum processional All Glory Laud and Honor (transl. of the "Gloria, laus, et honor"), mainly to avoid stealing a tune from another hymn (i.e. Herberger's "Farewell I Gladly Bid Thee"), mutilating it to fit it into another hymn . . . Following my tune I include an example of how a similiar thing was done long ago for the German vernacular version. I am no musician, so I welcome corrections and suggestions. Since it is used for the processional, it might be better to make it rhythmic as below. Work in progress version: Here is the music for the old German vernacular version. Note that the melody is somewhat expanded. The verses here (Israel es tu Rex) use what appears to be another melody from that in Liber Usualis. View article...

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FW: Download Our Entire Discography From NoiseTrade

 

Previously Reviewed by QBR…   From: Page CXVI Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 5:26 AM Subject: Download Our Entire Discography From NoiseTrade       Good morning friends! We have some exciting news. Noisetrade has partnered with us for our March Jubilee Giveaway! We are thrilled and honored to work with an outstanding team of people who care deeply about music. If you have not already received our 74 song, 11 album, 2 band (Page CXVI and The Autumn Film) giveaway, please visit our giveaway on Noisetrade now! Also, help us spread the word by telling your friends to access our giveaway on noisetrade this week! Tweet this on Twitter Share this on Facebook And if you want blog about it please cut and paste the info below and spread the word! Exciting news!!! PageCXVI and The Autumn Film are still celebrating 7 years of music by giving away their entire discography from both their projects Page CXVI and The Autumn Film*. Noisetrade has partnered with them for our March Jubilee Giveaway! They are thrilled and honored to work with an outstanding team of people who care deeply about music. If you have not already downloaded their 74 song, 11 album, 2 band giveaway please visit their giveaway on Noisetrade now! *They had to leave out a few songs due to copyright/royalty issues, but are all available on iTunes. Happy Tuesday! Blessings, Page CXVI        ©2013 Page CXVI | PO BOX 1025 Lafayette, CO 80026     Powered by Mad Mimi ®

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FW: Almost or Way Off. . .

 

Peters…   Feed: Pastoral Meanderings Posted on: Saturday, March 09, 2013 5:00 AM Author: noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Peters) Subject: Almost or Way Off. . .   Lutherans have become adept at treating nearly all of evangelicalism as almost Lutheran but not quite.  Some describe evangelicals as incomplete -- especially with respect to the sacraments.  We seem to find ourselves fully at home with conservative evangelicals and fundamentalists in the way they speak of inerrancy, in their strident posture for the historicity of those things liberals have deemed myths, and in their emphasis upon personal faith.  ELCA is thoroughly at home in the liberal wing of mainline Protestantism and Missouri seems very comfortable with the conservative evangelicals and fundamentalists.  Should we? Perhaps it is because I am becoming older and more curmudgeonly.  Perhaps it is because I don't have a great deal of patience with certain things.  Whatever the reason, I am less inclined than I ever was to see the conservative evangelicals and fundamentalists as almost Lutherans or incomplete -- lacking mainly a sacramental theology.  Instead, I am more and more conscious of the fact that we are way off, very far apart, and not nearly as close as we seem.  Lutherans are not high church evangelicals or fundamentalists with sacraments.  We are nothing of the kind. When it comes to Scripture, I cringe when we cozy up to those who use the language of inerrancy.  While they have a vested interest in a Scripture that does not err, they have no conception of Scripture as a living voice.  They protect facts that bolster propositional arguments.  We confess the Word of God which is a means of grace -- the sacramental Word that delivers what it says and does what it promises.  We think we are on parallel courses but I fear we are not even headed in the same direction.  We are not protecting a book or facts or the historicity of events.  We are not protecting anything.  We are confessing what Scriptures says (note the tense) about itself.  We are confessing the voice of God that speaks through Scripture (note the tense).  Christ is not the message of Scripture but its very Word.  When Jesus stood up in the synagogue to say "Today this is fulfilled in your hearing," He was not saying merely that the prophets spoke of Him but that HE spoke/speaks through the prophets.  That is a far different perspective than what we hear of from either the conservative evangelicals or fundamentalists. When it comes to faith, I almost wish we had another word to use -- oh, wait, we do!  It is the Biblical word.  Trust.  Conservative and liberal evangelicals as well as fundamentalists speak of faith mainly on the level of intellect or feeling.  In terms of intellect, faith is knowledge of Jesus, of salvation, and adherence to the propositional truths on which they build their house.  Infants and small children cannot believe this kind of faith.  It presumes understanding and it requires the ability to consent.  In contrast Lutherans do not say that faith is the fruit of baptism but is present in the infants as they are baptized.  This faith, which flesh and blood do not reveal but which is the fruit of the Spirit working through the Word (see above), is trust.  Jesus speaks of the little children who believe in Him and insists that unless we adults become like little children we cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.  The trust that comes so hard to us as age, experience, disappointment, cynicism, and suspicion take their toll, this trust is what infants and small children are born for.  In our debate over infant baptism, we forget that the crux of the issue is not infants or baptism but what is faith.  We speak of faith as if we mean the same things but one group sees faith as largely human endeavor, a decision or choice, implying understanding and the ability to give consent.  The other sees faith as trust imparted by the Spirit working through the means of grace. When it comes to the Sacraments, it is not just that some real presence or actual power is missing in the way evangelicals and fundamentalists speak of the water or bread and wine.  It is a fundamental disagreement about the way God has chosen to work.  We Lutherans confess that God works through means.  These means are the Sacraments (the visible Word, so to speak) that convey exactly what they promise.  So it is not that their baptism is missing a little added extra, they have no baptism in which Christ works, the Spirit moves, connection to the death of Christ and the impartation of Christ's new life is given.  All that is left is human activity -- presence in obedience to a summons, promise of future compliance, and an adequate description of the ordinance itself.  In the same way, it is not simply that bread and wine are left without the corporeal presence of Christ, they do not believe that Christ can be present there.  Period.  Remember the old question, can God create a rock so heavy He cannot lift it?  Well, the bread and wine are that rock.  It is not merely that they do not go far enough, they are not even on the same path when it comes to the real presence.  They insist that Christ does not mean what He says, He cannot (in contrast to other places where they insist that Scripture says exactly what it means).  It is not a question of language but of belief.  These groups cannot use our language because they do not believe as we do.  A snack and a memory, no matter how spiritual that remembrance, and that is all you get, all Christ ever intends, no matter what He says. Now I am not saying we need to be Thomists and head on the road to Rome.  What I am saying is that our courtship with evangelicalism and fundamentalism (or for other Lutherans mainline Protestantism) has stripped us of our very identity.  We have become, for all intents and purposes, evangelicals and fundamentalists who like to use a liturgy and dress up on Sunday morning.  Worst of all, we believe it about ourselves.  We try to read our Confessions through this lens, we explain the liturgy as something no one ever has to use but it is part of our own history, and we treat the sacraments as if they were antithetical to our piety instead of the core and center of what it means for us to believe and to pray. The great danger facing Lutherans in America today is that some of us have exchanged a vibrant and vital Confessional identity and practice for the loosey goosey Alice in Wonderland of mainline Protestantism in which words don't mean what they say and faith is a good feeling that results in good behavior.  The rest of us seem content to believe that Lutheranism is basically a cleaned up evangelical or fundamentalist body which puts on dresses on Sunday morning and follows a ritualized format in which, guess what, words do not mean what they say but mental assent to propositional truth that results in good behavior equals faith. All in all, it makes me wonder what on earth we are observing in that 500th Anniversary coming up in 2017.  Perhaps instead we should have the ELCAites through a cocktail party featuring a great camembert and a whole grain cracker with their mainline counterparts and Missourians invite their evangelical and fundamentalist friends to a prayer meeting with sweet tea and fried pies for dessert.  "I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand." St. Anselm View article...

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FW: Worship Series

 

Weedon…   From: Issues, Etc. [mailto:issuesetc@charterinternet.com] Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2013 4:25 PM To: revpaulcain@gmail.com Subject: Worship Series     Dear Friend of Issues, Etc., How the Church worships tells you what she believes. The Historic Liturgy of the Church has been her constant, weekly confession of faith in the crucified and risen Jesus.  What are the Scriptural roots of the Liturgy? How have its parts remained the same over the centuries?  How have they changed?  We have just completed an in-depth, 24 part series on the "The Historic Liturgy" with Pastor Will Weedon, Director of Worship for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. To listen to or download these 24 hours, click here. Thanks for listening. Wir sind alle Bettler,   Todd Wilken, host Issues, Etc.   P.S. Feel free to share this series with your friends on FaceBook, Twitter, Pinterest or via email.  You'll find share feature links at the bottom of the audio page.   Forward this email This email was sent to revpaulcain@gmail.com by issuesetc@charterinternet.com |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Lutheran Public Radio | PO Box 912 | Collinsville | IL | 62234

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FW: Why Evangelicals should adopt a Catholic form of Worship

 

Curious.   Consider…   Feed: Luther, Baptists, and Evangelicals Posted on: Monday, March 11, 2013 8:52 AM Author: noreply@blogger.com (Gary) Subject: Why Evangelicals should adopt a Catholic form of Worship   I was "surfing" the internet as per my usual early morning routine, and came across a link to this article on the blog of another Lutheran blogger.  Any evangelical or ex-evangelical should find it very interesting: http://www.hprweb.com/2013/02/what-evangelicals-can-learn-from-catholics/ View article...

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FW: Listen to Luther, Melancthon, and Chemnitz on your mp3 player for free!

 

Mp3 for free…   Feed: Steadfast Lutherans Posted on: Thursday, March 07, 2013 9:07 PM Author: Pastor Joshua Scheer Subject: Listen to Luther, Melancthon, and Chemnitz on your mp3 player for free!   On my way to the 2013 BJS Conference I had some time to listen to stuff on my cheap mp3 player while I sat in the airport and flew on the planes.  So since I was working on catechizing my youth on the glorious gift of baptism I was listening to the Large Catechism.  This was possible through a free download at Librivox of the Book of Concord.  I had been informed of this because the pastor who did this great work was from my own Wyoming District, Pr. Jonathan Lange.  Pr. Lange has done the Church a great service by reading and recording these texts for us to listen to.  He has also done a number of other great Lutheran works. Click here for the Book of Concord. For all of the works done by Pr. Lange, click here.  (includes Luther's Bondage of the Will and Galatians Commentary) So the next time you load up your mp3 player, along with those great podcasts from Issues Etc., Table Talk Radio, Fighting for the Faith, you may want to take something a little older and yet still relevant, the Book of Concord. When I asked if I could promote this stuff by Pr. Lange, he also let me know that a number of Luther's sermons can also be found in audio format.  Click here to listen to some Luther sermons.   View article...

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FW: Steadfast in Education: Why Lutheran Schools and Why Lutheran Teachers?

 

Pr. Hinton…   Feed: Steadfast Lutherans Posted on: Saturday, March 09, 2013 7:36 AM Author: Pastor Daniel Hinton Subject: Steadfast in Education: Why Lutheran Schools and Why Lutheran Teachers?   Why do we need Lutheran schools? Why do Lutheran schools need Lutheran teachers? Though these are simple questions, their answers get at the whole reason that the extensive system of Lutheran schools exists in the first place. Lutherans in North America have been school-builders from the beginning. In fact, the opportunity to establish schools apart from the purview of the State was at least as enticing to these first Lutheran immigrants from Europe as freedom from a state religion. But why? After all, schools are a lot of work. All the planning, budgeting, instruction, assessment, recordkeeping — operating a school requires immense sacrifice of time and money on the part of the congregation. Yet in spite of all that, Lutherans (especially those most interested in a confessional identity) have insisted upon operating schools all across the country. So what drove them to establish all these and work tirelessly to keep them open? Put simply, it's all about the gospel. Lots of other sorts of schools can teach lots of different things. Any school can teach children to behave and to be good boys and girls. Any school can dig deep into the wisdom of the ancient Greeks — in fact, there is much we all could learn from the founders of Western civilization. Any school can teach citizenship and character and morality. But all of that is of the Law, and we Lutherans know better than anyone that while the Law is good and wise, it lacks the power to save. It is wise for us to ask the question "What problem is the school designed to solve?" Naturalists like John Dewey would say that the primary problem that a school is designed to solve is that of ignorance of the world. We Christians, in contrast, might concede that a child ought to know something of the world, but that knowledge is of secondary importance when compared to the gospel, which alone can save us from death. In fact, ignorance is not the greatest problem facing man — death is. All worldly knowledge cannot fix death. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ saves sinful man from sin and death. Lutheran schools do teach math, grammar, and history — and many of them do so quite well. But above all, Lutheran schools proclaim this gospel — that Jesus Christ has taken away death and sin and hell by His atoning death. Many students in Lutheran schools don't get to hear that on Sunday morning. Many of the children in Lutheran schools are members of the congregation who attend the Divine Service faithfully — but they still need to hear what God has done for them in Christ. Lutheran schools are in the business of preparing young people for the Last Day when the dead are raised and the saints in Christ stand with Him in eternal peace and bliss. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews asks, "How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?" Christians must contend with fallen flesh, the world, and the devil — all of whom would snatch the precious gift of eternal life from us were it not for the Spirit's work through this gospel to keep us firm in the faith until that Day. But why Lutheran? After all, there are lots of other Christian schools and Christian teachers. Why does Lutheran identity matter? Simply put, it is when Lutheran schools are staffed with Lutheran teachers that the gospel has the best chance of being proclaimed in its purity. (For the record, the word "Lutheran" here refers more to one's actual confession than simply on which roster one's name appears.) To be sure, there are lots of Christian schools and Christian teachers and they are dedicated and sincere. But any adulteration of the gospel runs the risk of the Christian doubting — or worse, in causing him to trust someone or something other than Christ for his eternal salvation. The world thinks this is unloving, but it's why Lutheran schools ought to be for Lutheran teachers. No one else confesses justification the same as the Fourth Article of the Augsburg Confession. No one else's theology is designed to reflect salvation by grace alone through faith alone in all its articles. No other theology ought to be taught in our schools, and the way to ensure this is twofold: First, the pastor ought to oversee the theological curriculum and instruction of the school (if not outright do all the instruction himself). Second, teachers ought to hold to the confession of the Evangelical Lutheran churches (and remain diligent in the study of that confession) so that any time theological matters are discussed in class, students can be directed to the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. They seem like simple questions, and they are. But like so many simple questions, they matter a lot. Lutheran schools, at their best, deliver the gospel to students and strengthen them for the Last Day when the dead are raised and the saints stand with the Lord. And it's precisely for that reason that Lutheran schools ought to care about an unapologetically Lutheran identity. View article...

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