Of course, church attendance and frequency of receiving communion does not make one a "superior Christian" but it has always been the case that those who do not practice their faith, pray daily, attend worship....eventually pay a price in that the weeds of neglect may grow to overtake their Christian witness. In our spiritual life, we need the contact and nourishment that is provided under the hearing of God's word, in receiving the Lord's supper, singing the hymns with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and.....as we are present in these circumstances the Holy Spirit frequently lifts us up, gives us unspeakable joy, and we are encouraged in our walk. There are ONLY benefits to regular attendance, and nothing beneficial about just staying home, playing golf, or avoiding time spent in worship of the God we claim to love, and who gives us grace daily. Jesus paid for our souls and redeemed us....and if we really appreciate this close and enduring relationship....we will not hesitate to make church on Sunday a top priority.
Friday, August 1, 2014
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Reply From Matt Richard Regarding frequency of Communion
In other words, the reason why I am an advocate of communion every Sunday is probably best stated in the words of Ambrose, “Because I always sin, I always need the medicine.” Indeed, it gets really bad through the week for me, as well as the majority of the parishioners that I have come to know. I know that I constantly fail in my vocations as a pastor, father, and husband. Add on top of that the 10 Commandments and I’ve run dry come Sunday. Thus, I go to church, along with others, as a beggar who is hungry and empty; left with the week’s memories of doing the very things that I shouldn’t and failing to do what I ought. Damned, weak, and tired. AND this is where it is great! In the Divine Service, as printed in the Lutheran Service Book, I get to go to church and receive both Sacraments and the Word! Yes, all three! As we come into the Divine Service we confess our sins and hear the Word of Absolution. We even make the sign of the cross numerous times in remembrance of our Baptism. The Divine Service also delivers to us lessons from the Old Testament, Epistles, and Gospel. There is a Sermon too. Then, the Divine Service ushers us into the Sacrament of the Altar. Yes, indeed the Divine Services in the Lutheran Service Book delivers all three means of grace! No stinginess at all! It is like combining my birthday, fathers day, and pastor appreciation month into one incredibly fabulous event! We hear absolution, we are reminded of our baptism, we are pulled out of our man-centered narcissistic narratives into God’s narrative, the Word of Law obliterates the old Adam and the Word of Gospel grants us grace and faith, and we get to see, smell, taste/feel, and eat the body and blood given and shed for us. All of our senses are involved in receiving forgiveness! (And thank God for I surely need it every Sunday.)
With all of that said, I agree 100% that the Gospel of Christ is not confined to Communion only. Yes, it is found in the Absolution, the Proclaimed Word, our Baptism and the Sacrament of the Altar! And get this… it is better than a birthday, father’s day, and pastor appreciation month combined into one event. Indeed, all three means of grace are given to us ‘every’ ‘single’ ‘week’ at the Divine Service. Ha! It makes one laugh with joy to think that Sunday is abounding with gifts, gifts, and more gifts for us poor miserable sinners!
So, the question that arises now is, “why exclude the gift of Communion from Sunday?” Furthermore, on a very practical note, to conduct the divine services ‘without’ communion does provide a bit of liturgical maneuvering for the divine services are organized to embrace absolution, the sermon, communion, etc…
Grace and Peace!
Friday, July 25, 2014
Do you remember my Grandparents basement? First there were piles of National Geographics on the steps top to bottom. On the right was his work bench where he repaired shoes, sharpened lawn mowers using some kind of oily grit. He had Nat geo maps on the wall hanging from tubes so you could roll one up and another down. My grandma had a large set of shelves filled with canned jelly, and tomatoes and other stuff. On the left side of the stairs was my Grandma's wash machine , it was round and on the top were two rollers to squeeze the water out of the finished clothes.
Grandma hung the clothes outside on lines in the garden. I don't remember what she did in the winter. Also I think Grandpa had National Geo on the steps to the attic.
It is funny about the roller skating I never thought about it till I saw a skate Key on the internet. Never entered my mind. Funny what words can do. Between when I was born and my mom's death we lived on Park-view lane by Garfield Park, We lived a block or so north from the Hi way Roller Rink...you used to take me there when I was two or three and very often after that. So I learned to skate very early.
At some time when I was a baby one or two we lived right on the corner of West Center and David streets in a two story duplex. I used to ride my tricycle on that corner. There was a firehouse next to us on the east.The duplex is torn down now.
We also lived out further on west center on the north side of the street. The trains would pass right behind our backyard really close and sparks would fly out when they applied sand to the brakes. That stuff really scared me when I was a baby.I still remember the screeching.
Do you remember any more details about these places?
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Romans 10/ 9 " if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved ; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."
Thursday, July 10, 2014
From Rev. Matt Richard
Have you heard of the Keswick Movement? No? I bet you have. You can tell that Keswick theology has impacted you and others when you hear a Christian ‘testimony’ like this:
I was saved when I was nine years old, and I yielded to Christ when I was nineteen.
Did you catch it? I was ‘saved’ when I was nine (step 1). I ‘yielded’ to Christ when I was nineteen (step 2). Jesus saved them, but then they surrendered, emptied, let go and let God when they were nineteen. Do you hear the two-tiered progression? Typically these testimonies end with how the person is apparently living in a completely different Christian dimension; higher and more victorious than they were before. Yes, indeed they were ‘saved’ but they also ‘surrendered.’
Keswick theology is commonly known as higher life theology. Keswick theology tries to answer the problem of sin with what is frequently called the second blessing but steers away from the perfectionism of the American Holiness teachings often found among old Methodism.[1] Even though it originated in Britain, it was brought to the United States and promoted by D.L. Moody.[2]
Practically speaking, what Keswick theology looks like is a two-tiered Christianity. The first stage can be classified as a ‘carnal Christianity,’ and the second stage can be classified as ‘spiritual Christianity.’ “To move from the lower to the higher state takes a definite act of faith or ‘consecration,’ the prerequisite to being filled with the Spirit. This consecration means an ‘absolute surrender,’ almost always described by the Biblical term ‘yielding.’”[3] Thus the main idea is a movement from the Christian’s original conversion experience to receive a second experience within the realm of living the Christian life. Keswick theology is best explained in the following illustration.
Practically speaking, what Keswick theology looks like is a two-tiered Christianity. The first stage can be classified as a ‘carnal Christianity,’ and the second stage can be classified as ‘spiritual Christianity.’ “To move from the lower to the higher state takes a definite act of faith or ‘consecration,’ the prerequisite to being filled with the Spirit. This consecration means an ‘absolute surrender,’ almost always described by the Biblical term ‘yielding.’”[3] Thus the main idea is a movement from the Christian’s original conversion experience to receive a second experience within the realm of living the Christian life. Keswick theology is best explained in the following illustration.
Our sinful nature is like an uninflated balloon with a cart (the weight of sin) attached. Christ fills the balloon and the resulting buoyancy overcomes the natural gravity of our sin. While Christ fills our lives we do not have a tendency to sin, yet we still are liable to sin. Were we to let Christ out of our lives, sin would immediately take over.[5]
Why should this concern us? It should concern us because it creates a two-tiered Christianity: carnal and spiritual. This results in the focus of the Christian needing to yield, surrender and/or empty oneself to God in order that one can be filled. This filling would then free the Christian from committing any known sin and certainly eliminate any excuses for tolerating sin. Alas, ever so slightly directional language is introduced into the Biblical narrative, putting the focus on the Christian and not the Christ. Thus, this Keswick theology downplays the seriousness of original sin in the life of the Christian and emphasizes the Christian’s free will as being capable of starting and stopping sanctification as if it was as easy as 1… 2… 3… Frankly, the most tragic result of Keswick theology is that its material principle becomes a message of Law where the goal is the second level and the means to accomplish it is the Christian working to yield just a little more and to surrender just a bit more. Instead of returning to Christ saving blood and one’s baptism, Keswick theology shifts the focus away from Justification towards a man-centered Sanctification. I believe one could fairly state that Keswick theology separates Sanctification from Justification thus allowing for a Crossless Sanctification to emerge.
In summary, there is no such thing as a two-tiered Christianity. Furthermore, our goal is not to journey to a second level, rather it is to abide in Christ. We never journey away from Christ, even if that which we journey to is right, holy, and just. Rather, we progress by beginning again daily in Jesus’ death and resurrection for us.
______________________
[1] George M. Marsden, Fundamentalism and American Culture: New Edition (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2006), 77-78.
[2] Donald W. Dayton, Theological Roots of Pentecostalism (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1987), 104-106.
[3]Marsden, Fundamentalism and American Culture: New Edition, 78.
[4] Ibid.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Cloward-Piven Strategy
Sociologists Richard Andrew Cloward and Frances Fox Piven, the Cloward-Piven Strategy seeks to hasten the fall of capitalism by overloading the government bureaucracy with a flood of impossible demands, thus pushing society into crisis and economic collapse. Get a sense of this Today ? It is purposeful right out of the handbook.
Sociologists Richard Andrew Cloward and Frances Fox Piven, the Cloward-Piven Strategy seeks to hasten the fall of capitalism by overloading the government bureaucracy with a flood of impossible demands, thus pushing society into crisis and economic collapse. Get a sense of this Today ? It is purposeful right out of the handbook.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Sin is like Quicksand !
Sin is like Quicksand !
"My friends,one can step in quicksand without knowing it. Just a couple steps and then it is too late! Quicksand may be found on a path where you walk. It looks like the rest of the terrain , but after a couple steps and you start to sink. As you sink deeper and deeper you struggle to get free, to extract yourself, the deeper you sink in the muck until until it is too late and you are swallowed up in it . The more you struggle the deeper you sink until you disappear in it,and lost for ever.
Jesus walks on water, and quicksand. He will take your hand and pull you free from your sin that you will not be consumed by the quicksand and your own efforts. Let Him set you free today........"
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed...."
From The Book of John Chapter 5 24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life."
"My friends,one can step in quicksand without knowing it. Just a couple steps and then it is too late! Quicksand may be found on a path where you walk. It looks like the rest of the terrain , but after a couple steps and you start to sink. As you sink deeper and deeper you struggle to get free, to extract yourself, the deeper you sink in the muck until until it is too late and you are swallowed up in it . The more you struggle the deeper you sink until you disappear in it,and lost for ever.
Jesus walks on water, and quicksand. He will take your hand and pull you free from your sin that you will not be consumed by the quicksand and your own efforts. Let Him set you free today........"
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed...."
From The Book of John Chapter 5 24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life."
Monday, July 7, 2014
From Luther's Heidelberg Disputation
- fulfill everything through him since he was made ours through faith.
- Actually one should call the work of Christ an acting work (operans) and our work an accomplished work (operatum), and thus an accomplished work pleasing to God by the grace of the acting work.
Since Christ lives in us through faith so he arouses us to do good works through that living faith in his work, for the works which he does are the fulfillment of the commands of God given us through faith. If we look at them we are moved to imitate them. For this reason the Apostle says,»Therefore be imitators of God, as belovedchildren« (Eph. 5:1). Thus deeds of mercy are aroused by the works through which he has saved us, as St. Gregory says:»Every act of Christ is instruction for us, indeed, astimulant.« If his action is in us it lives through faith, for it is exceedingly attractive according to the verse,»Draw me after you, let us makehaste« (Song of Sol. 1:4) toward the fragrance»of your anointingoils« (Song of Sol. 1:3),
Monday, June 30, 2014
Lesson From Matt. 10. 34/42 Excerpt from PM Notes
“Our heavenly Father wielded the righteous sword of His wrath against His own Son so that you would never have to experience such a brutal eternal death. He slayed His own Son; poured out His holy and precious blood, for you, so that you may have life, and have it to the fullest. And this once-slain, but now resurrected and victorious Christ continues this amazing, loving work of the Father on us, His blessed creations, as He endeavors to kill the sin within us that constantly seeks to destroy us, confronting and slaying that sin with the sword of His Law, all so that He can make you alive anew in the life-giving joy of His Gospel; making you alive with His Gospel gifts of His own victorious body and blood. I know that may not be exactly what you want to hear, but it’s true. Because you still wear sinful flesh; because you still “occasionally” give in to sin and sinfully stand in opposition to Christ, He loves you enough to wield His sword of righteous love against that sin so that that sin within you can be put to death, and you can have and enjoy the life and peace that He purchased for you with His own body and blood.”[4]
Have no fear. Trust in Him above all things. God knows what He’s doing, even if it doesn’t make sense to you; even if He didn’t run it by you first for your approval; even if it offends you and [puts you at unease]. God knows what He’s doing. Be not afraid to let God work, whether it’s wielding the sword or waving the palm branch, dividing and slaying or resurrecting and rejoicing. Be not afraid. It is finished. You have nothing to fear, and you have every reason to rejoice and be at peace.”[5]
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
“Our heavenly Father wielded the righteous sword of His wrath against His own Son so that you would never have to experience such a brutal eternal death. He slayed His own Son; poured out His holy and precious blood, for you, so that you may have life, and have it to the fullest. And this once-slain, but now resurrected and victorious Christ continues this amazing, loving work of the Father on us, His blessed creations, as He endeavors to kill the sin within us that constantly seeks to destroy us, confronting and slaying that sin with the sword of His Law, all so that He can make you alive anew in the life-giving joy of His Gospel; making you alive with His Gospel gifts of His own victorious body and blood. I know that may not be exactly what you want to hear, but it’s true. Because you still wear sinful flesh; because you still “occasionally” give in to sin and sinfully stand in opposition to Christ, He loves you enough to wield His sword of righteous love against that sin so that that sin within you can be put to death, and you can have and enjoy the life and peace that He purchased for you with His own body and blood.”[4]
Have no fear. Trust in Him above all things. God knows what He’s doing, even if it doesn’t make sense to you; even if He didn’t run it by you first for your approval; even if it offends you and [puts you at unease]. God knows what He’s doing. Be not afraid to let God work, whether it’s wielding the sword or waving the palm branch, dividing and slaying or resurrecting and rejoicing. Be not afraid. It is finished. You have nothing to fear, and you have every reason to rejoice and be at peace.”[5]
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
I love the Church
Grandpa attended meetings and dinners and always took me . I was baptized on Sunday June 10 1945 I attended catechism for years and was eventually Confirmed on March 10 1958.I became a Church mouse. I also attended Catechism every Saturday and Junior Choir practice on Friday evenings. I went to Sunday school and then attended regular Church services afterwards.By the time I was 15 I could recite all the books of the Bible and the Ten commandments...and their meanings according to Luther...When I was 7 or 8, I used to read the bible to my grandpa from a little podium in his garage kinda preaching to him. I think that he used to get a kick out of it.
In the church basement I watched slides and movies of Missionaries who visited the church . I was inspired! I always had visions of being a missionary someday. While visiting the church Missionaries often stayed at our house in Oakland Heights they spoke to me of their adventures. I never thought it would happen but I became a missionary when I was 55 years old. My service lasted 8 years in the poorest parts of Mexico.
My mom was born in 1924 and was then adopted by Martha and Henry Dawson . I was born Oct 17 1944 twenty years later,and baptized on Sunday June 10 1945 at home in my grandparents house at 790 Merkle Ave . I think it was done at home because my mom was sick with kidney disease.I attended catechism for years and was eventually Confirmed on March 10 1958.
My mother was very sick with kidney disease and died only five years after I was born. Then my grandparents then adopted me, just like they did my mother 25 years earlier.I always called them Grandma and Grandpa, never mom and dad.
Later when they got sick I was sent to Wernle Children's Home in Richmond Ind. Sponsored by the Lutheran Church.
Grandpa attended meetings and dinners and always took me . I was baptized on Sunday June 10 1945 I attended catechism for years and was eventually Confirmed on March 10 1958.I became a Church mouse. I also attended Catechism every Saturday and Junior Choir practice on Friday evenings. I went to Sunday school and then attended regular Church services afterwards.By the time I was 15 I could recite all the books of the Bible and the Ten commandments...and their meanings according to Luther...When I was 7 or 8, I used to read the bible to my grandpa from a little podium in his garage kinda preaching to him. I think that he used to get a kick out of it.
In the church basement I watched slides and movies of Missionaries who visited the church . I was inspired! I always had visions of being a missionary someday. While visiting the church Missionaries often stayed at our house in Oakland Heights they spoke to me of their adventures. I never thought it would happen but I became a missionary when I was 55 years old. My service lasted 8 years in the poorest parts of Mexico.
My mom was born in 1924 and was then adopted by Martha and Henry Dawson . I was born Oct 17 1944 twenty years later,and baptized on Sunday June 10 1945 at home in my grandparents house at 790 Merkle Ave . I think it was done at home because my mom was sick with kidney disease.I attended catechism for years and was eventually Confirmed on March 10 1958.
My mother was very sick with kidney disease and died only five years after I was born. Then my grandparents then adopted me, just like they did my mother 25 years earlier.I always called them Grandma and Grandpa, never mom and dad.
Later when they got sick I was sent to Wernle Children's Home in Richmond Ind. Sponsored by the Lutheran Church.
Friday, June 27, 2014
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
From Geneva to Wittenberg: A-Ha Moments from Calvinism to Lutheranism Pt. II
From Geneva to Wittenberg: A-Ha Moments from Calvinism to Lutheranism Pt. II: My next “a-ha” moment came when I was challenged to take the Scripture in Matthew 26:26-27 plainly: " Now as they were eating, Jesus...
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Surburg's blog: Mark's thoughts: What's wrong with Luther here?
Surburg's blog: Mark's thoughts: What's wrong with Luther here?: Paul’s letter to the Galatians is a remarkable work in which he defends the fact that the Christian is justified by faith in Christ a...
Friday, June 20, 2014
From Geneva to Wittenberg: Is Your Baptism Valid?
From Geneva to Wittenberg: Is Your Baptism Valid?: This is a deep and loaded question. But in light of all the Scriptural statements regarding Baptism, it is definitely a question worthy of o...
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Surburg's blog: Mark's thoughts: How many sacraments? - Another wa...
Surburg's blog: Mark's thoughts: How many sacraments? - Another wa...: Recently I have had several congregation members ask me about how many sacraments there are. The Roman Catholic church says there are ...
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
From Geneva to Wittenberg: Matt Slick on Baptism: A Lutheran Response, Part I...
From Geneva to Wittenberg: Matt Slick on Baptism: A Lutheran Response, Part I...: Matt Slick, a popular Christian internet figure, is the head honcho at CARM (Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry). Matt is, to sum...
Monday, June 9, 2014
From Geneva to Wittenberg: Matt Slick on Baptism: A Lutheran Response, Part I...
From Geneva to Wittenberg: Matt Slick on Baptism: A Lutheran Response, Part I...: Today I continue my response to Matt Slick's article on the necessity of Baptism in salvation, found over at Matt's CARM (Christian ...
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Surburg's blog: Mark's thoughts: Why or Where? - Asking the right ...
Surburg's blog: Mark's thoughts: Why or Where? - Asking the right ...: “Why do bad things happen to good people?” It is a question that people often ask. And given what the Scriptures teach us about the ...
Monday, May 26, 2014
Sobering quote from Gerhard O. Forde
Without the sacraments, the words go inside of us. They become an internal matter. As we like to say, we 'internalize' the words. Once inside we begin to wonder what happened to them. We have an incurable tendency to feed on our own innards. We begin to wonder whether we really have taken the words seriously, whether we are really sincere, or perhaps whether we really have accepted Jesus as our 'personal Savior,' whatever that is supposed to mean. I may hear the words 'Your sins are forgiven, ' but then wonder whether it could be really me that is meant or whether it is even relevant to my needs. We become a prey to adverbial theology. Do we really, sincerely, truly, personally, believe? Do we live abundantly, joyously, affirmatively? Do we think positively, praise gratefully, respond generously? What do I do if I just do not see all those marvelous things happening that the preacher is always on about? I get caught in the marvelous hot-air balloon syndrome, dragged along in a game I can only lose. The self is a bottomless pit, a black hole, endlessly sucking everything within and crushing it. The internal self constantly defeats and swallows up the words.
Gerhard Forde (Theology is for Proclamation)
Gerhard Forde (Theology is for Proclamation)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)