"Comparing Holy Scripture with other writings, we observe that no book is apparently so full of contradictions as the Bible, and that, not only in minor points, but in the principal matter, in the doctrine of how we may come to God and be saved. In one place the Bible offers forgiveness to all sinners; in another place forgiveness of sins is withheld from all sinners. In one passage a free offer of life everlasting is made to all men; in another, men are directed to do something themselves towards being saved. This riddle is solved when we reflect that there are in the Scriptures two entirely different doctrines, the doctrine of the Law and the doctrine of the Gospel." -- The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel, C. F. W. Walther
As a system of theology, Lutheran doctrine can be very unsettling. As with many churches there are always those who try to discredit that which they do not wish to obey. However, Lutheran teaching is perhaps best distinguished by its ability to and insistence that we maintain a delicate balance between ideas that appear on their face to be mutually exclusive. For those who rely on reason, this is an incredibly disquieting perspective. Even those who steadfastly place God's word above reason often do so on pins and needles. After all, can an infallible, inerrant Scripture contradict itself in its central message?
Here Walther touches on what is perhaps the most important of these questions: Faith alone? Grace alone? Or not? Do we earn our place in the kingdom of God by our works, or are we welcomed in spite of them? What must we do to be saved? What CAN we do to be saved? Can we do anything at all to be saved?
On one hand we read that we must keep God's law in order to be saved. In Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus affirms the law, and says, "...unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." In case you weren't sure just how high that bar is, that same chapter ends with v. 48, "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Jesus says it again so that even the disciples are astonished. Matthew 19:16-22 relates the story of the rich young ruler. He poses a very straight-forward question to Jesus: "What good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" Jesus responds, "If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." When the rich young ruler tells Jesus he's done all those things, Jesus brings it home to him. "Sell everything you have and give it to the poor." The rich young ruler went away grieving.
So we gain eternal life by not sinning, right?
Wrong.
The disciples are astonished at Jesus' conversation with the rich young ruler. "Then who can be saved?" -- An honest question, asked by those who understand just how sinful each man is. James tells us that, "Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all." (2:10) The disciples understood this.
Hinting at the big picture, Jesus tells them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Of course, if we were perfect we could not only save ourselves -- we wouldn't need saving! But like the scribes and the Pharisees, we have to confess that we are not without sin. (John 8:7-9)
We would have no hope, but with God, all things are possible. With God, our righteousness can and does exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. Philippians 3:8-11 shows us how, "...not having a righteousness of my own, derived from the law, but ... the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith." (V. 9) Jesus fulfilled all righteousness. (Matthew 3:15) He is the manifestation of righteousness. (Romans 3:21-24) That righteousness is given to us as a gift. (Romans 5:17-19)
In Lutheran theology, the musts and the must-nots, the shoulds and should-nots, the dos and do-nots are understood to be the Law. The declaration of what Jesus has done for us is called the Gospel.
The teaching on the distinction between Law and Gospel, introduced by Paul, described by Augustine, and relied on by Luther, is brilliantly expounded by Walther, who explains that it's not a question of contradiction but of application. It's like asking, "How does a surgeon save a life, by cutting open or sewing up? The answer is that they are both life-saving medicine when used at the right time with the right patient and the right diagnosis, and they're both harmful when used wrongly. So it is with Law and Gospel. Used well, both work together to save eternal lives.
The Law tells us what we have to do to be saved. The Gospel tells us what Jesus has done to save us. If we could keep the Law perfectly, it too might save us, but because we can't, it will continually rub our noses in our failure until we admit defeat and turn to the Gospel. This is why God's design in giving us both works so perfectly -- the Law shows us why the Gospel is our only hope.
Rather than opposing one another, these two messages work together like finger and thumb, to pick us up and set us right. Rather than contradicting each other, they show the incredible unity of the scriptures, whose beginning, end, and center is Jesus Christ.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Chicken Little
Sometimes I feel like the Chicken Little of Facebook. My friends frequently get treated to articles about the growing persecution of Christians in the US. As I come across evidence of this in the news, I post it, afraid that I'm less Chicken Little than a canary in a coal mine.
It's not as if the persecution of Christians is a new phenomenon. The world crucified Jesus; do we expect it to treat us better? Peruse the history of the church from the Garden of Eden to Reddit and you will find the blood of God's people staining the timeline of civilization like a red carpet on which the saints and martyrs have walked into heaven.
Hebrews 12:1-3 -- Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
In the US, however, after hundreds of years of cultural acceptance and Constitutional freedoms, we have grown comfortable. Our faith is rarely, if ever, directly challenged in more than a moral or intellectual way, and even in that limited arena we often stumble. We have been free to believe and worship as we choose.
Hebrews 12:3-4 -- For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin ...
I post warnings because, as Christian soldiers, we are out of shape, poorly trained, and ill-equipped for battle. As our military keeps itself prepared for an attack, no matter how unlikely it seems, we must maintain readiness to wage the spiritual warfare building around us.
Matthew 24:42-44 -- "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will."
That's how it is with Christ's enemies in the world. They may seldomly attack openly for now, but they are positioning themselves to do so, and the average Christian is not prepared. In fact, we are told to be, not merely prepared, but overprepared.
Matthew 25:2-4 -- "Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps."
So what should be doing?
Study the Word. God's word arms us for the fight. It is the standard by which we test or measure everything else, and it is the sword of the spirit, the weapon we carry into battle.
Hebrews 4:12 -- For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Train. Learn and practice speaking about your faith. Share the Gospel with your neighbors, co-workers, and friends. As with other types of training, what you practice is what you will instinctively rely on under stress.
1 Peter 3:14-16 -- But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed, and do not fear their intimidation and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
Get equipped. Take classes.find a mentor. Read books from solid Christian thinkers. Expand your spiritual toolbox. Practice spiritual disciplines. Develop your knowledge, wisdom, faith, and courage.
James 1:4 -- But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Consider the saints and martyrs. Read about them. Watch movies about their lives. Their examples of faith under persecution provide inspiration and courage in addition to all the things we can learn from them.
Hebrews 13:7 -- Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.
Prepare your children. Teach them not only what, but also why. Make sure they are well-grounded in both Scripture and theology. Model for them a life of commitment to worship and service. Lead them in an unashamed and joyful witness. Offer them the absolute clarity of the Gospel. Above all, pray constantly for them. They're going to need it. Whatever we must endure in our lifetimes, it is likely to become even more challenging in theirs.
Deuteronomy 6:5 -- You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you sit down and when you rise up.
It's not as if the persecution of Christians is a new phenomenon. The world crucified Jesus; do we expect it to treat us better? Peruse the history of the church from the Garden of Eden to Reddit and you will find the blood of God's people staining the timeline of civilization like a red carpet on which the saints and martyrs have walked into heaven.
Hebrews 12:1-3 -- Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
In the US, however, after hundreds of years of cultural acceptance and Constitutional freedoms, we have grown comfortable. Our faith is rarely, if ever, directly challenged in more than a moral or intellectual way, and even in that limited arena we often stumble. We have been free to believe and worship as we choose.
Hebrews 12:3-4 -- For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin ...
I post warnings because, as Christian soldiers, we are out of shape, poorly trained, and ill-equipped for battle. As our military keeps itself prepared for an attack, no matter how unlikely it seems, we must maintain readiness to wage the spiritual warfare building around us.
Matthew 24:42-44 -- "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will."
That's how it is with Christ's enemies in the world. They may seldomly attack openly for now, but they are positioning themselves to do so, and the average Christian is not prepared. In fact, we are told to be, not merely prepared, but overprepared.
Matthew 25:2-4 -- "Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps."
So what should be doing?
Study the Word. God's word arms us for the fight. It is the standard by which we test or measure everything else, and it is the sword of the spirit, the weapon we carry into battle.
Hebrews 4:12 -- For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Train. Learn and practice speaking about your faith. Share the Gospel with your neighbors, co-workers, and friends. As with other types of training, what you practice is what you will instinctively rely on under stress.
1 Peter 3:14-16 -- But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed, and do not fear their intimidation and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
Get equipped. Take classes.find a mentor. Read books from solid Christian thinkers. Expand your spiritual toolbox. Practice spiritual disciplines. Develop your knowledge, wisdom, faith, and courage.
James 1:4 -- But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Consider the saints and martyrs. Read about them. Watch movies about their lives. Their examples of faith under persecution provide inspiration and courage in addition to all the things we can learn from them.
Hebrews 13:7 -- Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.
Prepare your children. Teach them not only what, but also why. Make sure they are well-grounded in both Scripture and theology. Model for them a life of commitment to worship and service. Lead them in an unashamed and joyful witness. Offer them the absolute clarity of the Gospel. Above all, pray constantly for them. They're going to need it. Whatever we must endure in our lifetimes, it is likely to become even more challenging in theirs.
Deuteronomy 6:5 -- You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you sit down and when you rise up.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Mean People Suck.
Lesson for the Day: Mean people suck. Suffering in silence to avoid confrontation only condemns others to suffer the same way after you. By not tolerating their behavior, you not only benefit yourself, you help save countless others the same heartache.
Corollary: Standing up to those whose hobby is tearing others down is a selfless and charitable action in the long run even if you are the short-term beneficiary.
Corollary: Refusing to confront those who are mean to you is a selfish act that allows you to stay in your non-confrontational comfort zone (and collect martyr credit as a bonus), all at the expense of future victims.
Corollary: Leaders, teachers, and other authorities who refuse to stand up to mean people in their own defense teach those who follow to be victims also.
Corollary: Standing up to those whose hobby is tearing others down is a selfless and charitable action in the long run even if you are the short-term beneficiary.
Corollary: Refusing to confront those who are mean to you is a selfish act that allows you to stay in your non-confrontational comfort zone (and collect martyr credit as a bonus), all at the expense of future victims.
Corollary: Leaders, teachers, and other authorities who refuse to stand up to mean people in their own defense teach those who follow to be victims also.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Intimate Times With God
Last night my sons were having choir practice in a church, and while I was waiting for them I wandered into a side chapel. I wanted to pray, to have some private God-time. When I looked around the chapel, I realized it was connected to the main sanctuary by glass doors ... See-through glass doors. I immediately and instinctively sought out the seat in the chapel least likely to be visible to the practicing choir, only to realize that every singer that walked out that side during break would clearly see me through another set of doors. I looked around and peeked and checked lines of sight till I found the one seat that was least likely to be visible from either angle.
I saw a stand for lighting candles for prayer, and I wanted to know what donation they suggested for them, but I was too embarrassed to turn the light on and look more closely. Finally, realizing that it didn't matter because I only had a few coins on me, I fished the four quarters I did have from my changepurse ... and immediately began worrying about how much noise they would make if I dropped them in the donation box. I decided to wait till the choir was at a louder passage and drop one in, and was relieved to discover that some clever person had padded the bottom of the box so I deposited the other three with a sigh of relief and lit one of the candles, hoping I was not inadvertently offending my hosts. Then I sat back down in my carefully-calculated, least-visible spot.
Why am I so embarrassed at the thought of others seeing me in an act of worship or devotion? I am not ashamed to tell others I am a Christian, nor do I make any attempt to hide the fact that every Sunday morning I am not available for other things because I will be found at a house of worship. What am I hiding, or what am I hiding from?
Luke 9:26 " For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Earlier in the day, as I was taking my children to school, we passed a pick-up truck completely bedecked in signs telling about the driver's trust in God, a painting of Jesus, and fistfulls of flags of all sizes to honor our military veterans. Inwardly I recoiled at the thought of driving around in a car like that while also admiring that driver for his fearless proclamation of what he believes. Why should I want to hide something so precious to me, something obviously worth sharing with anyone and everyone? I found myself kneeling in prayer at my out-of-sight spot and speaking to God with my voice a tiny whisper so as not to be heard, seeking to understand my instincts and my fears.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
If I was not ashamed to tell people of my faith, to tell them I pray and worship, even to encourage them to join me, why would I be ashamed of being seen? Are there other things everyone knows, things I would even encourage them to do, but that I wouldn't want them to see? It only took a moment for me to realize just how long that list is: Dressing, bathing, making love to my spouse, getting a physical ... I'm certain anyone could add a dozen more to the list in a few seconds.
But what do all these things have in common with prayer, worship, or individual devotion?
It took me a while to come up with it, but ultimately the answer is really quite simple: They are private. Everyone knows I get dressed because they see me in clothes every day, but even my doctor doesn't actually watch me take them off or put them on, and I still recommend regular doctor visits. Everyone knows I have consummated my marriage at least three times, given that I have three children, and I certainly encourage husbands and wives to enjoy each other in that way, but that doesn't mean I want spectators in my bedroom. Those are not things I share outside the most intimate of relationships, and neither are those equally intimate moments with God in which I bare my soul to Him times at which I would welcome an audience.
Matthew 6:6 "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."
Furthermore, just because my car isn't festooned in mini-billboards doesn't mean I'm ashamed of Jesus. Some of us are more reserved by nature, shy even. Some of us, by choosing a more moderate course, do more to serve our families and reach our coworkers and clients than we could as a rolling Jesus-spectacle.
1 Corinthians 9:20-22 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
More ostentatious does not necessarily mean more sincere. It is not only acceptable, but also useful for private devotion to remain private. How dramatically does an audience change our conversations with others? How much more so does it change our conversations with God? Speaking publicly about Jesus has value, but so does speaking privately with Him.
Also, not all public witness needs to be on mobile billboards to send its message. I have two items on my car that identify me as a believer to other drivers: a plain, white window decal of a simple heart with a cross-shaped hole in it and a "vanity" license plate most people readily recognize as a statement of faith in Jesus Christ. It may not be quite as in-your-face, but unlike the gentleman in the rolling Jesus-spectacle, I can drive to work and park in the parking lot without getting towed or fired. Unlike him, I can fit in drive-throughs, toll booths, and parking garages. My low-key approach will gain me access to people and places his approach will not.
1 Timothy 2:9-10 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.
It's ok to be private about one's faith. It's ok to let your deeds be your witness. It's ok to be quiet and subtle. It's also ok to be "loud and proud." God is not the sith emperor sending out an army of clones, but the creator sending out His godly bride, the body of Christ, to reach and to serve.
Romans 12:4-6a For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly ...
I saw a stand for lighting candles for prayer, and I wanted to know what donation they suggested for them, but I was too embarrassed to turn the light on and look more closely. Finally, realizing that it didn't matter because I only had a few coins on me, I fished the four quarters I did have from my changepurse ... and immediately began worrying about how much noise they would make if I dropped them in the donation box. I decided to wait till the choir was at a louder passage and drop one in, and was relieved to discover that some clever person had padded the bottom of the box so I deposited the other three with a sigh of relief and lit one of the candles, hoping I was not inadvertently offending my hosts. Then I sat back down in my carefully-calculated, least-visible spot.
Why am I so embarrassed at the thought of others seeing me in an act of worship or devotion? I am not ashamed to tell others I am a Christian, nor do I make any attempt to hide the fact that every Sunday morning I am not available for other things because I will be found at a house of worship. What am I hiding, or what am I hiding from?
Luke 9:26 " For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Earlier in the day, as I was taking my children to school, we passed a pick-up truck completely bedecked in signs telling about the driver's trust in God, a painting of Jesus, and fistfulls of flags of all sizes to honor our military veterans. Inwardly I recoiled at the thought of driving around in a car like that while also admiring that driver for his fearless proclamation of what he believes. Why should I want to hide something so precious to me, something obviously worth sharing with anyone and everyone? I found myself kneeling in prayer at my out-of-sight spot and speaking to God with my voice a tiny whisper so as not to be heard, seeking to understand my instincts and my fears.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
If I was not ashamed to tell people of my faith, to tell them I pray and worship, even to encourage them to join me, why would I be ashamed of being seen? Are there other things everyone knows, things I would even encourage them to do, but that I wouldn't want them to see? It only took a moment for me to realize just how long that list is: Dressing, bathing, making love to my spouse, getting a physical ... I'm certain anyone could add a dozen more to the list in a few seconds.
But what do all these things have in common with prayer, worship, or individual devotion?
It took me a while to come up with it, but ultimately the answer is really quite simple: They are private. Everyone knows I get dressed because they see me in clothes every day, but even my doctor doesn't actually watch me take them off or put them on, and I still recommend regular doctor visits. Everyone knows I have consummated my marriage at least three times, given that I have three children, and I certainly encourage husbands and wives to enjoy each other in that way, but that doesn't mean I want spectators in my bedroom. Those are not things I share outside the most intimate of relationships, and neither are those equally intimate moments with God in which I bare my soul to Him times at which I would welcome an audience.
Matthew 6:6 "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."
Furthermore, just because my car isn't festooned in mini-billboards doesn't mean I'm ashamed of Jesus. Some of us are more reserved by nature, shy even. Some of us, by choosing a more moderate course, do more to serve our families and reach our coworkers and clients than we could as a rolling Jesus-spectacle.
1 Corinthians 9:20-22 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
More ostentatious does not necessarily mean more sincere. It is not only acceptable, but also useful for private devotion to remain private. How dramatically does an audience change our conversations with others? How much more so does it change our conversations with God? Speaking publicly about Jesus has value, but so does speaking privately with Him.
Also, not all public witness needs to be on mobile billboards to send its message. I have two items on my car that identify me as a believer to other drivers: a plain, white window decal of a simple heart with a cross-shaped hole in it and a "vanity" license plate most people readily recognize as a statement of faith in Jesus Christ. It may not be quite as in-your-face, but unlike the gentleman in the rolling Jesus-spectacle, I can drive to work and park in the parking lot without getting towed or fired. Unlike him, I can fit in drive-throughs, toll booths, and parking garages. My low-key approach will gain me access to people and places his approach will not.
1 Timothy 2:9-10 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.
It's ok to be private about one's faith. It's ok to let your deeds be your witness. It's ok to be quiet and subtle. It's also ok to be "loud and proud." God is not the sith emperor sending out an army of clones, but the creator sending out His godly bride, the body of Christ, to reach and to serve.
Romans 12:4-6a For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly ...
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