Utah Lutheran

Those Who Followed Were Afraid

2012-01-30T10:21:00.002-07:00

Mark 10:32-34 (ESV)
And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, [33] saying, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. [34] And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise."

And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. It doesn’t say who “they” were, but they were amazed. Presumably they are the people watching Jesus calmly walk to his death. They are the outsiders looking in, Amazed, and yet perhaps even more afraid then those who are following. They know what is in Jerusalem. Bewildered they must ponder if Jesus knows. How could he not? Everyone knew, and yet Jesus keeps walking down the road.
The disciples are following, perhaps more than just the twelve. They are afraid but they follow. I suppose this is true of disciples of Jesus even today. There is a certain amount of fear that is to be expected if you are to follow Jesus. He was always saying that the student is not above the teacher. Jesus was mocked, Jesus was cast out, his family turned on him, his people killed him. And we who follow? How often are we mocked? How many have lost family, and friends? How many are actually killed?
Jesus takes the twelve aside, and as to confirm their fears tells them exactly what is in store. He will be handed over, he will be condemned, given over to gentiles, mocked, spit upon, flogged and killed. But e ends with reassurance. Aver three days he will rise.
What kind of assurance is that? The disciples didn’t seem to take much stock in it. Jesus was their friend, and as good friends do, they were going to follow him to the end. Perhaps as in an old cowboy movie, Young Guns, or Tombstone. Men long for friendships like that, and adventure. It’s what keeps our military units fighting. They were going to follow him to the end. That was their plan until Jesus told Peter to put his sword away. Jesus didn’t plan on going out in a blaze of glory, and take out the glory the disciples fled. Fighting till the end is one thing, handing yourself over? Do that on your own time Jesus. The disciples certainly didn’t take much stock in this bit about rising in three days. In fact, the disciples seemed to have forgotten about it, the Pharisees put more stock in it when they posted a guard. The disciples seemed to have dismissed it as crazy talk. What would you have done? What do you do?
The assurance is for us too. He rose three days later. He promises our resurrection. He knows times are going to be tough for us for being Christian. He doesn’t promise success, wealth, or any of the things pagans demand from their gods. He promises us tribulation in this world. And who can say he is wrong? But he also promises us resurrection, eternal life, and when we follow him, in this worl it will mean tribulation, but he has overcome the world, and so then, so will we.

Transfiguration, 2012

2012-01-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

Transfiguration
Matthew 17:1-9 (ESV)
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. [2] And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. [3] And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. [4] And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." [5] He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." [6] When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. [7] But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." [8] And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
[9] And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."

Jesus only. All three of the synoptic gospels, that is Mathew Mark and Luke, called synoptic because of their similarities in telling the gospel, the story of Jesus, record the transfiguration. 2 of them say they saw Jesus only, Jesus monon. Luke says they found Jesus alone, Jesus monos. This event, which marks a turning point in the gospels, ends with Jesus only. And this is more than might first meet the eye. Jesus ascends the mountain with three of his closer disciples, for prayer, to speak with the Father, to discuss his future with Moses and Elijah, because when this is done he will start making his way toward Jerusalem. Transfiguration in a way marks the beginning of Lent, except that Easter moves and the Transfiguration doesn’t, at least not historically. It does with the three year lectionary, the three year lectionary has made the transfiguration a moveable feast, which apart from being a Hemingway Novel, is a feast dependent on Easter. (There was a day when cultural icons were apt at making references to the Christian faith and practice. Today you get art professors debating whether or not Leonardo De Vinci was a cross dresser, because they are so bereft of knowledge concerning the Christian faith, the cornerstone of Western Civ., that they can’t understand his subject matter.) In the one year lectionary they just use a couple filler weeks, Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima, which basically are a countdown to Easter, seven weeks to Easter, six weeks to Easter, five weeks to Easter. And I suppose that can be a bit confusing, but a lot more fun. But in any case, Transfiguration ends with Jesus Only.
Jesus Only. The story begins with Moses, Elijah and Jesus speaking. A cloud covers them, A voice from the cloud, that is the Father, says, This is my Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. And the when the cloud is lifted, Moses and Elijah are gone, Jesus only remains. Jesus only. The phrase jars with dissonance. It isn’t the way we speak. We would say, only Jesus. But the dissonance emphasizes Jesus only. Why Jesus only? Because he fulfills the law and the prophets. Because he alone is our savior. Because in him alone, Jesus only, Solus Christus, do we have salvation.
Oh, Solus Christus, Christ alone, Jesus only, is as controversial a statement as it ever was. Everyone wants to hedge their bets with works, and the law. It Just doesn’t seem wise to put it all on red and spin the wheel as it were. It’s counter-intuitive, especially to our old adam that does not want to give to God all the glory concerning our salvation. Jesus only, Solus Christus. It was one of the five onlys, the five solas as they are called of the reformation, Christ alone, Grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone. Christ Grace and Faith alone, that is these three apart from works, go together, Scripture alone emphasizes that there is but one place, one authority with which to judge doctrine, and this is scripture alone, which teaches salvation by grace alone, through faith alone on account of Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. To the Glory of God alone, because it was his love that kicked our salvation into action, and our works and good behavior have nothing to do with it. Jesus only. Yes it is controversial.
I’ll be a little forthright now. I lifted this theme for Transfiguration Sunday from Bo Giertz, who lifted it from Schartau. He uses it in one of my favorite books “The Hammer of God.” He revisits it often in his other works. Yesterday I found a little more information concerning why it was so important for him. I spent the day reading his biography, made it half way through. But I think his life illustrates a common dilemma. Bo Giertz was not brought up a Christian. His father, a doctor was an Atheist, his mom and agnostic. In Sweden one had to go to confirmation, it was your duty as a good citizen. He did, and spent the time reading Atheist propaganda, and the works of Darwin and Haeckel, arguing with his instructor. He was given the general impression that in order to be a pastor one had to be extremely naïve, or dishonest. But he was brought up with a moral code, borrowed capital from a Christian past, which he found had been discarded by his atheist friends in Med. School. It was there he converted, though he would say his conversion was more or less an intellectual one, when a very unorthodox layman convinced him of Jesus, and his death and resurrection. And though Bo Giertz went on through to become ordained, and preached as a youth pastor for many years, before becoming a parish pastor, he tortured himself with this question: “What right do I have to call myself a Christian?” Why? Because he knew that he did not live up to the law, he did not live a Christ like life. He knew he was a sinner. It wasn’t until he spent time on a self imposed vicarage with a pastor from the west coast of Sweden, where they have a strange sort of pietism the rest of the world might call confessional Lutheranism, that he came to understand, that being a Christian wasn’t about what he did, but what Christ did for him. It was a theme brought home by Schartau’s sermon for Transfiguration, Jesus only, that drove the point home for him. He learned that he hadn’t been preaching badly, but preaching falsely. A critique he said cut very badly for him. It’s Jesus only. This is what makes us Christian, not our work, but his work. When the Father exhorts us to listen to him, his beloved son, he means Jesus only, because only Jesus says, your sins are forgiven.
Yes, there is a point to the disciples seeing Jesus only, the disciples that is. Jesus stands alone as our savior, he alone fulfills the law and the prophets. He is the one concerning whom Moses warned saying he will raise up from among you one like me. He alone is the one we are to see. For he alone, lifted up like the bronze serpent, can cure us of the serpents bite that is sin. Jesus only. Therefore he is the only one to be preached, the only one that matters. In him we have all, in him we have God, in him we have the fulfillment of the Law and the prophets, in him and him only we have salvation, the only name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Many Who are First Will be Last

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 10:23-31 (ESV)
And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" [24] And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! [25] It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." [26] And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?" [27] Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." [28] Peter began to say to him, "See, we have left everything and followed you." [29] Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, [30] who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. [31] But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

“Save your life you lose it, lose your life you save it.” This is one instance where a bird in hand is not worth two in the bush. This life, our house, our home, our families, they are lost already if we don’t have Christ. Gone. Oh we will live this life, perhaps even in the lap of luxury. It won’t last. We forget there is an eternity waiting for us. There is. As they say, the only question is “Smoking or Non?” That makes light of the reality. But there is reality to it. What we have here, we only have as long as we are here. We don’t take it with. Those things we are buried with, they just stay buried. But there is eternity. And there God will give us a hundredfold those things we have lost on account of the gospel here.

Jesus Loved Him

2012-01-26T10:25:00.002-07:00

Mark 10:17-22 (ESV)
And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" [18] And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. [19] You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.' " [20] And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth." [21] And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." [22] Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

“Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” Today there is a tendency for shallow minded critics to read this as Jesus denying he is God. Historically, people read this as Jesus driving a point home, you call me good, do you then not know who you are talking too?
Of course it goes against the grain here. Think about it. Jesus doesn’t think you are good. According to him, no one is good. This is infact a point made again and again throughout scripture, but why read it? I mean we can all agree it is the inspired and inerrant word of God, why should we go further and actually bother ourselves with what it says. Of course, I’m good. I’m better than you anyway.
People want to believe they are good. People really can’t stand to hear anything different. If you challenge the notion that they are good, well the truth hits too close to home, more often then not. It is unbelievably difficult to get a church to grow when you tell people what the Bible actually says about them. This is why the cross is such a scandal. It says you are so bad, that to be redeemed God actually had to sacrifice himself for you. Of course this is also why the commandments are often so unpopular also. You can’t take them seriously and think you come out smelling like roses.
I find it dumbfounding the things for which people think they are good. Some it is complete ignorance. I asked a woman once if she thought she could keep the Ten Commandments if God gave her a clean slate today. She answered in the affirmative. Stunned, I asked her if she knew the Ten Commandments. She did not. So I recited them for her. We didn’t get past an explanation of the first one, before she was in hysterics and didn’t want to hear anymore. It dashed her hopes of getting into heaven for being a good person.
Of course, it didn’t work on this man. He had duped himself into believing he had kept the commandments, at least best he could. Funny though, he didn’t think it was enough. He knew the commandments, he kept them best he could, but he knew he needed something else. This is why he is asking the question. One might think he is close to despair already. Jesus, I’ve done these things. But he still felt guilty, he couldn’t see that he had not done them. He didn’t know why he felt guilty. He knew he hadn’t been good enough, but the answer must be elsewhere, outside the commandments.
Jesus looked on him and loved him. The same is true of you. Jesus doesn’t consider you good, but he still loves you. The news this morning, Demi Moore, was quoted saying she was scared that at the end of her life she would find there was something fundamentally unlovable about her. This seems to be what drove her to a prescription pill addiction. I can understand that. I think most of us are afraid of that. And there is something fundamentally unlovable about us, it is called sin. We are told to love our neighbors as ourselves. I think we are guilty of that, loving our neighbors as ourselves. And I mean guilty. Guilty, because more often than not we don’t get around to loving ourselves as we should, there are days when I quite despise myself. Oh, I have a love for myself, but it is a perverted sort of love that manifests itself not in love for others but in narcissism. And of course, it is a brittle love, way too often dependant on the approval of others. Of course that drives me to excel…. Yep. You can see where that dead end leads. Then I take my frustrations out on those whom I do love.
Yeah, if we could figure this love thing out, if we could figure out how to love ourselves despite our sin, then maybe we could figure out how to love our neighbor in the manner they ought to be loved. Sin might be something about ourselves fundamentally unlovable, but it doesn’t stop Jesus from loving us. He loved this man, whom he found not to be good. He loved him the text says. He loved a man who could not love himself more than he loved his money. What perverted people we are. Believe me you are no different. If rich people believed it was only material, they wouldn’t have so much of it, and if poor people believed it, they wouldn’t be so envious. This man wanted eternal life, but when it came to his money and possessions, he was unwilling to give them up, that he might have eternal life. How different are we? People haven’t changed much. I’ve watched many choose friends and family over Jesus, if not money. The disciples gave up their boats. Sometimes I wonder if I have ever given anything up. I know Jesus did though. He gave up his life for this man, for you and for me. Despite our sin, he loved us. That is what it means to be good, to love unconditionally. And in that love, we find reason to love our neighbor, and ourselves.

Let the Little Children Come

2012-01-25T10:12:00.002-07:00

Mark 10:13-16 (ESV)
And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. [14] But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. [15] Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." [16] And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
Let the Children Come to me… This verse circles the rims of many a Lutheran Baptismal font. It is fitting. For it is in baptism that we bring children to be blessed by Jesus. It is the blessing he gives. And it is a blessing, an anointing with the Holy Spirit. Of course this is where Lutherans differ with so many Anabaptist groups. I find it odd, but many Baptists seem to treat baptism almost as if it were a curse. If not a curse, then somehow a voluntary acceptance of a heavy yoke. Jesus never speaks of baptism in the terms they do, neither do Paul or Peter. Baptism is always mentioned in the context of gift and blessing. It is through baptism that one receives the Holy Spirit. It is great. Jesus blesses us with the Holy Spirit, with his kingdom in baptism.
To such as these belong the kingdom of God…. So much so that if we do not enter like little children we will not enter the kingdom of God. Now the only way one enters the kingdom of God is through faith. So the little children are capable of faith, and we should mimick this. Little children are normally a bit smarter than us adults in this. Adults get caught up on physics and philosophy, let their faith be undermined by vain philosophy of men. Children, they believe in God, Almighty as he is, and figure if he can create the world he can do whatever he wants, when he wants and who are we to contradict.

And Marries Another....

2012-01-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 10:10-12 (ESV)
And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. [11] And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, [12] and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
This will give a person a few things to ponder. What strikes me right away is that there is an equal warning to women not to divorce their husbands. This strikes me, because it is absent from other events in which Christ speaks on divorce. And the absence isn’t conspicuous, its presence here is. Women simply didn’t have the right to divorce under Jewish law. Men divorced their wives. For a woman to divorce her husband was but impossible. Of course, they could easily manage to get their husbands to divorce them, but legally it was always the husband’s duty to write the note. Women normally didn’t want to do this sort of thing, because divorce came with stigma, and the kids stayed with the husband, and there wasn’t any alimony, and it might be near impossible for her ever to find another husband or livelihood.
But this passage is quite egalitarian, what is good for the goose is good for the gander as they say. Divorce is divorce no matter who leaves who. Interestingly enough, it was the leaving that constituted a divorce, which is framed in the language of “freeing, untying, unloosing.” I could make a few hundred jokes about that. I won’t. It would probably indulge my more chauvinist side. I also found it interesting that looking up 1 Corinthians 7:13 in relation to this, the language for marriage is to live together. That wants to get me going on a completely different topic. And I will. I hereby break to talk about this language found in 1 Cor. 7:13 and just for a minute because I want to write those thoughts down, I may never get them again. The idea of marriage is two people, a man and a woman living together. This is at the base of it. In reality, Biblical reality, reality as God sees it, a man and a woman can’t live together, share sexual relations and not be married. But people seem to think the marriage is a piece of paper signed at the court house to be avoided at all costs. Over and over again I hear, well we don’t ever want to get divorced. If we don’t get married, we won’t divorce. Right, if you don’t move in, you won’t move out. But the minute you move in, you are married, you move out, and Biblically speaking you are divorcing. And this puts a conundrum to the church. These people are married. We in the LCMS don’t commune people who are “shacked up”, we say because they aren’t married they are living in sin. They are living in sin, but the sin isn’t “having sex outside of marriage” it is really a sin of not recognizing they are married, treating the marriage as something superfluous. The sin is actually one of wanting to pursue divorce. Because they are really refusing to love their spouse fully, refusing to make a commitment to each other. The whole idea of “shacking up” is keeping the door slightly open so that when using and abusing each other is no longer fun, you can make a quick exit. But it is still divorce all the same. Sure you kept the State out of it, the court has less to do with the division of assets, but it is divorce all the same. (Of course this arrangement is the original no fault divorce, so the state in making all divorces “no fault” has essentially, as far as they are concerned made the whole institution one of more or less shacking up. And this to the detriment of society as a whole. But more than that, they have really made it a no win situation for the man. Shacking up, the man still has some legal protection for himself, getting married, the legal protection goes to the woman, with no reciprocation for the man. Unless of course he is smart enough to get a prenup, which is just a man trying to win the same legal protections his grandfather had when he married his grandma. The problem is, if you think you need one, then you probably shouldn’t be getting married to the girl. It does sort of set a bad few first steps in the marriage. That’s why the state should be doing it. And there are times when those protections are nice. The woman you marry is definitely a different one after the honeymoon, the birth of children can cause all sorts of things to go wrong. The old saying is Men marry women hoping they will never change, and they always do. Women marry men hoping to change them, and they never do. When the woman has incentive to divorce, which with no fault divorce is precisely what they have, then it is more likely that when the man doesn’t change, and the woman does, divorce is going to be in the making. Really, no fault divorce, is society, through the state, breaking the tenth commandment by enticing one’s wife away from him, at least as Luther explains the tenth commandment. No wonder they don’t want those posted there anymore….) well hey, there are those thoughts.
Now back to Mark. This of course isn’t everything Jesus or the New Testament has to say about divorce. There are reasons for divorce. And at times one finds oneself divorced for various reasons. Jesus is warning men here that though it may be legal it is morally wrong to divorce so you can go marry the next hottest model that walks by. He warns the same for women, who in Roman law were allowed to divorce their husbands, and occasionally would secure a divorce to marry up. Here one only has to recall Herod and his brother’s wife, the arrangement for which John the Baptist had his head chopped off. Paul in 1 Cor. 7 indicates he himself was divorced. He also in that passage thinks it is better for those who find themselves divorced not to remarry. Of course, he seems to think that was good advice for anyone in the state of singleness, remember when the disciples learned the ramifications of marriage and divorce they thought it better no one ever get married. (Sometimes I just love the disciples for their complete humanity, the thoughts of men that clouded their minds.) And who can say there isn’t truth to that? It isn’t something to be taken lightly. And taking sometime after going through a divorce to sober up, and by that I mean, to let the emotions clear, before getting married again is but the best advice one can give. But there is no law saying you can’t get married again. (And by the way, a man who does this is still a man of one woman, assuming he isn’t a womanizer as well as a divorcee.) Paul stops very well short of making his advice anything near a law, and with good reason. The gift of celibacy does not come with divorce papers. Man was never made to be alone. It may even be that you were in the wrong with the previous marriage, things may be at the point where no reconciliation is possible. Getting married is still a better option than whoremongering, womanizing, and addictions to pornography. Really, there is only one thing to do when the divorce is done, be absolved. But don’t think because your divorce and remarriage are legal, they are then necessarily moral.

Left Befuddled

2012-01-23T16:19:00.000-07:00

Left Behind or Left Befuddled
By Gordon Isaac
This book is one of the more pleasant I have read regarding the phenomena of millenialism. It is short, concise and to the point for one. He also deals with why it matters, which is something often missing from other books trying to convince the premillennalist of his error.
“Left Behind or Left Befuddled” takes on pre-millennial dispensationalism head on, by taking on the book series most responsible for promulgating this irresponsible position, “The Left Behind Series.” And though he quotes from this series in many places, he does not limit his critique to the book series itself, but in critiquing the pre-millenialism, he brings this critique to bear on the books themselves. The concentration on the left behind series, though, helps to keep the critique short, and down to earth.
I found several points in this book to be quite interesting. For instance, I had never realized the organic relationship of dispensationalism to Campbellite and other nondenominational movements stemming from Darby’s exile from an established church. That premillenial dispensationalism was also a reaction to Secularism and Darwinism which had undercut the authority of the Bible in society was also something that would not have dawned on me. Not only do I find these points interesting, but also helpful for my understanding of those who hold these views.
His treatment of Luther on Revelation was interesting, though I would have liked to see a bit more discussion on how Luther could appeal to Revelation while at the same time labeling it antilegomena.
Finally, the real treasure of the book is his treatment of “why this matters.’ Interestingly enough Isaac Gordon goes on to show how the millenial mindset has all sorts of awful consequences, personal, social, and national in scope. He shows how this sort of interpretation of the bible, comes at a hig price in regard to the interpretation of the rest of scripture, in actuality robbing a person of proper hermeneutical skills to interpret scripture in any way that will let the gospel free them from fear. He shows how the codes and language used in these circles close them off from meaningful evangelism to the rest of society, and worse, paint the church as being dangerous for society. And on the national scope he shows how dangerous elements of the Israeli underworld have used this movement to support violence in the Middle East, duping Christians from their money, even while turning their assaults on Palestinian Christians, and trying to disrupt peace talks. In fact, such is the vision that it will not allow for peace. I had always thought that premillenialism was an assault on the gospel, the forgiveness of sins that Jesus Christ won for the world with his death and resurrection. Dr. Gordon shows that in fact it is.

He Taught Them

2012-01-23T07:43:00.001-07:00

Mark 10:1-9 (ESV)
And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.
[2] And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" [3] He answered them, "What did Moses command you?" [4] They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away." [5] And Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. [6] But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' [7] 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, [8] and they shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. [9] What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

As was his custom, he taught them. I like how Mark emphasizes that It was the custom of Jesus to teach, it is as if this part took him over so much that he had nothing else to do but teach, he knew nothing else to do with a crowd. Well, I suppose he either taught or avoided crowds. What is interesting though is the form of teaching that is happening. It is rather informal. I suppose he must have had some short monologue type introduction to the topic of the day, but then it seems everything opens up for questions and answers. It seems this was the norm for teaching in the church. It is why Paul in 1 Cor. tells women to ask their husbands at home, the sermons were more or less open ended discourses, grounded in the death and resurrection of Christ. We know this was also the manner in which Rabbi’s taught in the synagogues.
Of course the people of the day were not much different than they are today. Divorce was big on their minds. I suppose marriage has never been easy. When the Pharisees are asking the questions though, they aren’t really asking for their own personal benefit, but to test the waters. They want to pigeonhole Jesus, and then judge his doctrine. I suppose this is a pretty common phenomena even today, and to some extent needs to be done. The people of the day, well they treated Rabbi’s like people treat Doctors today. Where as today they go from doctor to doctor to get the right one to write them the prescription they want, people then would go around and find the rabbi who would give them the answer they wanted to hear. Well in that regard, I guess that is how they still do it if you switch out rabbi with pastor. It’s a dangerous road. It is an attitude that doesn’t care about truth, but nonetheless seeks to be pacified by the law, a legal loophole. We are all lawyers at heart, just some are better than others at justifying their actions.
The problem is there are not loopholes in God’s law, and coincidentally Jesus comes off stricter than the most strict of Rabbi’s concerning this issue. This isn't what people expect of Jesus who cares for them so much. That is a tendency of man, to go lax on the law when it concerns a friend. We confuse that with mercy. Not Jesus. Jesus shows mercy, not by relaxing the law, but by forgiving the sin. Jesus won’t let a person find refuge in a legal loophole. The law will not give you rest. There is rest in him alone, who forgives sins. The only thing that can justify us before God, is the blood of Christ. That she burns coffee, got fat, and mean is just not going to justify you before God, even if in the eyes of men it makes perfect sense. We would do better to forgive than excuse. And as Christians we are called to forgive, even if we do find it hard to excuse.

Sons of the Kingdom

2012-01-22T08:55:00.003-07:00

Matthew 8:1-13 (ESV)
When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. [2] And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." [3] And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. [4] And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them."
[5] When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, [6] "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly." [7] And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." [8] But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. [9] For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." [10] When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. [11] I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, [12] while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." [13] And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment.

“Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from the east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
A few laughed. It wasn’t anything I found particularly funny. But there was laughter, as the speaker mentioned he believed in hell, and believing in its existence thought a few would wind up there. I think he was trying to defend his conservative, confessional credentials to the audience. It was a great lecture. But I couldn’t see why this was a matter for laughter. Those laughing, if I were to guess believed the same with the speaker. And there is nothing funny about it. He was denying being a universalist. I told my old seminary mentor and friend, you know, I’m not a universalist, I don’t believe everyone goes to heaven, but I wish I could be, and I do not think I’d be sad if in the end Jesus figured out a way of letting everyone in, even those who don’t want to go.” See, Jesus has some dire warnings for the sons of the kingdom here, for those who ought to have known better, the Israelites who had the word from their youth, he says that they will be thrown into outer darkness, a term by which he means hell, a place where the weeping and gnashing of teeth he speaks about betrays the torture with which the people are pained. This reality is something that pained Jesus as he walked amongst us, the people he loves, it is something that pains him still, and should be a source of contrition for you and I. Christians don’t tell people to go to hell, because we know of what an awful place that is, and of the love of our lord for that very person whom we would curse. We take no joy in the death of the wicked, because this is something our Lord takes no joy in. We pray for their repentance, for them to believe, because our Lord, who died for us, died for them, and we who know the Love of God who would shed blood for wretched sinners such as you and I, share that love with patience, with forgiveness, with prayer, and when opportunity presents, with the comforting word of God. Yes, this is what you do. We aren’t perfect at it. We may not even be good at it. (Soul searching this past week, I am amazed at the bitterness, and resentment I carry in my own soul. Well perhaps I’m not amazed, but a little saddened. The people I avoid talking to. Grudges that resurface. I think I found a few more people to add to my prayer list.) No we may not be good at it, but it is what we as the church, we as the body of Christ do, because it is what our Lord does. We do it together as the body of Christ, as we gather together here Sunday after Sunday confessing our sins, receiving absolution, rejoicing at the death of by drowning of one sinner after another in baptism, who rises to new life in Christ, and Praying the Lord’s Prayer together saying “thy Kingdom Come, thy Will be Done, and receiving the Lord’s Supper as nourishment for our souls. Yes, we do this together here. People too often right off church as empty ritual, as not important, not Christ, he established it with his word and his sacraments that here the world would here his gospel, be absolved, be forgiven, and grow in faith and love as they grow together being one and ever becoming one, receiving love that they might share love. This is why we come to church, this is why we support the church, this is why we build Church buildings even as we support charities and build hospitals, because we realize that it is not only their bodies that need a hospital, but their souls too need healing. And the one, despite worldly criticism, is far more important than the other. We go to church, and support our church, because we love the sinners for whom Christ died, around the world and in our own neighborhood.
The sons to the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness…. Yes hell exists, but it is peculiar in whom Jesus says will be going there. It is curious of whom he gives his warning. The sons of the kingdom. The traditional view of this is that he means the Jews, and especially those who would refuse to believe in him. I have no problem with that interpretation, except that I think it falls a bit short. It doesn’t quite deal with the whys, and not dealing with those fails to be a warning for us. Of course the texts today are about gentiles being saved, the kingdom of God expanding beyond the nation and people of Israel, to Naaman, to the centurion, to Jew and Gentile, For as Galatians says in Christ there is no male or female, Jew or Greek, slave for free, but all are the same, saved in the same manner. And that is where the more traditional interpretation, if we were to stop at “Jews” being identified as the sons of the kingdom would fall short. Jesus is addressing an attitude that rejects him as savior. It is an attitude that thinks it needs not forgiveness.
It was quite common for Israelites to believe they were saved for being Israelites and following their laws and customs best they could. Jesus turns everything on its head. Here is a centurion. A roman. A gentile and Jesus says he has greater faith, that it is the likes of him that will sit at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob the Blest. Today, I think some of this is still common among the sons of the kingdom, you and I who have been baptized, stones of whom God has made children of Abraham. It is all too natural, and therefore all to pervasive to think that it is those whom the world marks good, who go to heaven, not so much for belief in Christ Jesus, but for being good. Of course, what the world calls good is open for debate as to its essential goodness. We like law abiding citizens, indeed we like laws in this world, we need them and citizens who follow and enforce them that we might live peaceful and prosperous lives. And it is quite right to reward the good and punish the evil doers. But that sort of thinking is best left to the polls and courthouse, it has small room if any at all in the kingdom of God, that reigns not by law, but by forgiveness, by gospel. See this is where we so often get in trouble. Jesus here is not warning those whom the world would see as bad, (though possibly at the time as eccentric and maybe fanatical) he is warning those who have lived what the world deems as good lives. He is warning those for whom if they converted you would see very little in the way of exterior change as they adjusted to living in accordance with the gospel, in love for their neighbor. He is warning your middle class neighbors, who do food drives, donate to pregnancy resource center, partake in the civil life of the community, who would be embarrassed ever to be arrested, or see their children in jail, those who never cause trouble, those who the centurion protected from anarchy. Here Jesus warns church goers, or synagogue attenders, who have lost sight of the cross, who have lost sight of the mercy of God, who believe heaven is attainable by their own merits. But he blesses and praises the centurion forbidden from the temple, forbidden from the synagogue for eating pork and being a sinner, because this man has faith in Jesus Christ who would die for his sins, just as he died for you and your unloving, resentful hearts. Yes, he forgives your sins too.
Now the peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.

Saltiness

2012-01-20T16:31:00.000-07:00

Mark 9:50 (ESV)
Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

Salt is good. Tell that to your dietician. Who you going to believe some quack or Jesus? Personally I go with Jesus. But that’s because I like salt… I didn’t really need him to tell me it was good. Food without salt is tasteless. Salt brings out flavor. But if it loses its saltiness…
Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. To have salt in yourself is to be at peace with others, forgiving them. So how does the salt regain its saltiness? Simple, God restores it. This he does for you when he forgives you your sin.

Cut it off

2012-01-19T16:25:00.000-07:00

Mark 9:43-50 (ESV)
And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. [44]
[45] And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. [46]
[47] And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, [48] 'where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.' [49] For everyone will be salted with fire. [50] Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

This is the law. Cut it off. Tear it out. If it causes you to sin, get rid of it. And if you take this to seriously, well just take out your heart. Of course, Origin the Church Father, took this a bit seriously, and chopped off his man parts. His bishop then refused to ordain him because he was no longer a man. You just have to love church history…. You can’t make it up! But this interesting case study, shows you the absolute in ability of a person to get anywhere by the law. To follow through with this is self mutilation which is also against God’s Law! To really manage this a man would have to commit suicide, which itself is a sin.

These Little One's Who Believe in Me

2012-01-18T16:12:00.000-07:00

Mark 9:38-43 (ESV)
John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." [39] But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. [40] For the one who is not against us is for us. [41] For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward. [42] "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. [43] And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.

This is a rather curious passage. One because you always hear people using this to justify the existence of all sorts of other churches whose doctrines conflict with what Jesus taught. “But they are doing it in the name of Jesus…” whatever. But this quickly turns into a warning against those who are most apt to use this verse, the Baptists. I say this because they are constantly teaching the little one’s who Jesus says here believe in him, not to believe in him. Of course, they would deny this. But it’s true. To believe in Jesus is to believe him. And to believe Jesus is to believe what he says concerning baptism through those whom he appointed to be his apostles. Things like, “Baptism now saves you.” But no Baptists are constantly teaching the little ones that they don’t believe in Jesus until they reach some mystical age of accountability. In teaching this they teach the little one’s to despise the gifts Jesus has given us. The little one’s believe. They ought to be baptized and nurtured in that faith.

Servant to All

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 9:33-37 (ESV)
And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" [34] But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. [35] And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." [36] And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, [37] "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me."

If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and a servant to all. The paradox of humility. Our culture has crown to have great respect for humility. Perhaps that is somewhat on the wane. But I do believe it is still generally true. It wasn’t always that way. Humility is a virtue not recognize everywhere. It definitely wasn’t one to be honored in the ancient world. People were expected to blow their own horns in the ancient world. As a sergeant once told me in my enlisted days, if you don’t blow it, no one will. Today we have the oddity of taking pride in our humility. Oh we try, at least at times.
Jesus teaches the disciples, that if they truly want to be great, then they need humility, they will attain greatness by serving others. So often we want others serving us, or just to be left alone to take care of ourselves. Funny, I often see old people who can no longer take care of themselves complaining that others are now taking care of them. They feel in the way. They feel like a burden, and often feel useless. I suppose it is humiliating to be in that position. To be at that stage in life, where as Jesus says, “others will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” Working with hospice gets you thinking about the gym, because you really don’t want to end up an invalid. Who knows if the gym will help you in that or not… But I think they often think of themselves as more of a burden than they are. And sure, maybe they aren’t doing a whole lot, but they are giving someone else something to do, and that shouldn’t be overlooked. But our pride gets in the way of enjoying our humility…. God didn’t make us to be self sufficient. He made us to live in communities with others. To take care of eachother. Jesus gives them the example of the Child. They weren’t loved in the ancient world. They weren’t respected. Not the way they are doted on today in any case. Jesus picks one up and says, here taking these in, receiving them in my name, you receive me.
We would run to serve Jesus. Or so we say. That is until our neighbor asks us to help him.

Fear of God

2012-01-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 9:30-32 (ESV)
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, [31] for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise." [32] But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
“But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.” Afraid to ask. I suppose I can understand. I doubt they though Jesus would fly off the handle at them. More they were afraid of what the answer might be, and what it might mean for them. The fear got in the way of their understanding in the first place. Sometimes when I hear other people rant and rave against Christianity, I sense this same fear. I only know of one man to ever articulate this fear, “Thomas Nagel” in “The Last word.” But I suspect it nonetheless, in many others.
I suppose the history of Christianity is one that gives people reason to fear. Bad theology leaves deep wounds that might not ever heal. Being a physician of the soul becomes a scary proposition when you realize that improperly dividing law and gospel can completely destroy a person. And you can error both ways mind you. It isn’t always as simple as concentrating on the gospel, do that to the detriment of the law, and you can have just as bad a problem, but the opposite as you have when you concentrate on the law to the detriment of the Gospel. But then too much Gospel, is usually not a matter of Gospel at all, but a matter of ignoring God’s word all together and replacing his law with the law of man, so that people feel guilty not for engaging in perverted acts of homosexuality, but for feeling sick to their stomach when a gay guy hits on them. As one friend put it, he is confronted by a pietism of the left arguing for Green energy and gay rights, and a pietism of the right arguing against the ordination and blessing of GALA. Both miss the Gospel. Both misuse the law.
And this is a problem that crosses denominations. I mean I’ve talked to ex Roman Catholics that are scarred from their experiences with confession. I meet ex Baptists giving horror stories about hellfire and brimstone sermons. I meet Lutheran’s carrying a weight put upon them by pietism. I’ve seen friends lose their demons at revivals only to have seven return when the experience goes south. I think we need to be honest, the church, bad theology, gives people reason to be afraid. It makes them afraid of God.
To be honest, it’s really the reason I became a pastor. I only did so after going to church for two years and not ever hearing the gospel. Now that I’m a pastor, I spend a lot of time wondering if I handled such and such a case well or not. Perhaps dwelling on the past doesn’t do much good, I like to think that I can learn and perhaps do better in the future, and then some days I’m left realizing God did what he wanted to do despite my best efforts to stop him.
But this fear, fear to ask. Can we blame one for having it? Sometimes I’m given the impression they are the smart ones. They see from the outside in. They don’t always see what we do, but they stand before a great mystery, and fear to hear God’s voice lest they die. And die they will. Die just as you and I died when we heard God’s voice in baptism where we drowned, where we were buried into Christ’s Death, where God took our lives from us. It’s a scary thing. God is not to be take lightly. He does take our life. His voice does kill us. And we so nonchalantly run around, treating God’s word with trite cliché’s, sticking it on Billboards, and bumper stickers, and wondering why the whole world doesn’t just bow and see the wisdom and beauty of Christianity. Hmm. God’s law, God’s word is not something to be treated with such triteness. We should be found idiots for doing so.
But then When one looks on the gospel, on jesus Christ dying for the sins of the world, on Jesus Christ rising from the dead. When one sees in hindsight, what the disciples could not make out before hand though Jesus spoke clearly, doesn’t that fear look silly? There God is, forgiving our sins, and yet we sinners let fear get in the way of asking what exactly he was doing on the cross in the first place. He was dying for you.

Prayer, It Drives Out Demons

2012-01-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 9:14-29 (ESV)
And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. [15] And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. [16] And he asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" [17] And someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. [18] And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." [19] And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." [20] And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. [21] And Jesus asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. [22] And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." [23] And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible for one who believes." [24] Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" [25] And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." [26] And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, "He is dead." [27] But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. [28] And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" [29] And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer."

“Anything but Prayer” Some ancient texts include “and fasting,” Which gives you insight as to the relationship between the two in the early church, that is prayer and fasting. Scripture mentions exorcisms many times, this is the only place I know of where Scripture speaks to how one is supposed to perform an exorcism. It seems some demons are easier to drive out then others. Increasingly we are finding need to reclaim exorcism in the life of the church. To this end I’m really looking forward to Robert Bennett’s book hitting market. There just aren’t very many resources on this topic. One is left wondering what it is one should do when confronted with the need for exorcism. Evidently Lutheranism in Madagascar has exploded as the result of a lay led exorcist movement. As the west becomes more and more pagan, as can be witnessed at earth day celebrations, or the fact that bookstore shelves are inundated with books on wicca and other forms of neo paganism.
By anything but prayer… I think there is something else to be said here, today we all too often underestimate prayer and it’s power. In Lutheran circles I think this comes about as a reaction to the sinners prayer and other abuse. It is peculiar, but I find people telling me the Bible doesn’t allow for men to forgive sins but demands you pray for the forgiveness of sins. They read a different Bible than any I’m familiar with, because the one I read does the exact opposite. I’m hard pressed to find where one is told to pray for forgiveness, even the Lord’s prayer is a bit ambiguous on this. But Christians over and over are told to forgive sins. No where is salvation directly attached to prayer either. It is not a means of grace. But that does not mean it is powerless or without purpose. It can drive out the strongest of demons. Luther blamed the entire Reformation on the prayers of the pious. We underestimate prayer. We way underestimate prayer. And as a result our prayer life suffers, and the spiritual health ofour communities suffer, our spiritual lives suffer. Pray. It’s such a simple thing to do, we always think it is too simple, to trite, it couldn’t possibly do anything.
Namaan thought that of washing in the Jordan. Baptists think that of baptism. Reformed think that of the Lord’s Supper. We always look to other means to bring about reformation, and church growth, perhaps a contemporary worshipt service would be better. Growth by human means is human growth. God grants the true growth, he works in the manner he determines, and he determines to work through our prayer. Yes it is simple, yes it doesn’t look like much. But don’t underestimate it. Prayer can bring down the walls of Jericho. Prayers can break thourgh unbelief and drive out demons. Want to know what to do about Mormonism? Pray. Want to know what to do about your children, baptize them, then bring them up in the faith teaching them day in and day out, and pray for them. And no that prayer is much more powerful than we ever give it credit for, The prayer of a righteous man… and in Christ you are righteous.

Rising from the Dead

2012-01-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 9:9-13 (ESV)
And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. [10] So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. [11] And they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?" [12] And he said to them, "Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? [13] But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him."

A rather curious section here, the disciples are asking what this rising of the dead might mean. At first blush, you get the impression they are questioning if it is possible for someone to rise from the dead. But Jesus starts talking to them about Elijah’s death, that is the death of John the Baptist, and the fact that the Son of man will suffer many things and be treated with contempt. It’s not that the son of man will rise from the dead, it is that right now they are confronted with the fact that he will die.

They just witnessed Christ in all his glory, saw him for who he is, God incarnate. Now they are certain he is the Christ, and they know he refers to himself when he speaks of the son of man. But they have peculiar ideas as to what this means. The Jews knew the Christ, the Messiah was coming. The Pharisees ask john the Baptist about him. There whole culture is consumed with this. Probably even more than our culture is, with all its bill boards, and the bestselling “Left Behind Series” that gets rewritten in a different form every 10 to fifteen years, flooding the news every time a Palestinian throws a rock and hits a Jew in the head, or a presidential candidate opens his mouth concerning the middle east. The time was ripe, the fig tree had budded, and the Jews knew the messiah was at hand. People walk for miles around to be baptized by John the Baptist, so conspicuous was this, John the Baptist could point to Gentiles in their midst and tell the Pharisees that God could raise up Sons of Abraham from these stones. (Stones, was even more a pejorative term than Gentile for a Gentile. Seems the writers of scripture knew little to nothing of political correctness. One wonders if those stones had felt the cut of a flint knife before they were baptized, but that would lead to nothing but speculation over and issue settled definitively later on. )There was a fevered pitch surrounding the coming of the messiah, you see it culminate with Jesus entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. And the disciples knew Jesus was it. What they couldn’t process was that Jesus would die.

Of course there are still those who have a hard time processing this. As I told my Son earlier this summer. When a church has a problem with a crucifix, I have a hard time considering them Christian. When a “Church” can’t seem to even tolerate a cross, well then it’s simple, they aren’t Christian. There are too many out there trying to say “Jesus, Jesus” who have no room for his cross. These are not churches. The church is made of sheep, and sheep look to the cross, they follow Jesus to the slaughter, to the sacrifice. Goats talk of Jesus and forsake the cross, and not only theologically, but in their life as well. These are they who reject forgiveness, and tell people that repentance is the turning away from sin, and this is what is needed for salvation. These are people who think the gospel is about Jesus coming back to set up a new kingdom, where those who have attained righteousness by their own efforts, the saints, shall rule over all others like the tyrants of Utah do over the population here. This is not Christianity, Jesus tells us not to Lord it over others like the gentiles do. But in the name of Christ, they lord it over others worse than the gentiles would ever consider. And why? Because they understand nothing of the cross.

The Jews expected a lot concerning the coming of the Messiah, they didn’t expect the cross. Only a few of the pious could consider it. But the cross was what Jesus came for. And here he explains to the disciples, not that he would rise from the dead, but first and foremost that he would die. He prepares them for this event as best he can. The messiah came to die, so that dying he might rise, and rising he might give to you and I eternal life.

Jesus Only

2012-01-11T12:02:00.001-07:00

Mark 9:2-8 (ESV)
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, [3] and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. [4] And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. [5] And Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." [6] For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. [7] And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." [8] And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

“And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.” One who has read the Hammer of God is instantly brought back to the great Schartau sermon the pastor reads because he has nothing prepared. Jesus only.
Would that those times lasted. Those times, when all we see is Jesus. He is the only person we need to see. When we are looking at him, we aren’t looking at ourselves, you aren’t looking at the law. Moses and Elijah were just there, the Law and the prophets. They are gone now. Now, in these last days, God has spoken to us by His Son. Moses is gone. Elijah has served his purpose, and the fulfillment is Jesus. Jesus only. Now the scriptures, even the Old Testament serve to do nothing but focus us on Jesus.
Too often we let the world take our eyes off of him. Too often our old Adam gets in the way. But what do I do now? The Old man cries in his dying breath. The new man looks to Jesus and realizes there is nothing left to do. It’s been done. When God dies on the cross for your sins, when he rises from the dead, who else is there to look to? What else is there to do? He has been lifted up like the serpent in the desert, our salvation, though bitten by the serpent, though poisoned with the venom of sin, we look to him and him alone, and looking on Jesus only, are cured from death. We ask with Peter, Lord to whom shall we go, You have the words of eternal life.
P.S. Yesterday, I had an experience that was almost word for word out of the first Novella of the Hammer of God, and yeah, still rejoicing with the angels in heaven. What a beautiful treatise in pastoral theology. You might could rejoice too, the angels are.

The Kingdom Coming in Power

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 9:1-8 (ESV)
And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."
[2] And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, [3] and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. [4] And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. [5] And Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." [6] For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. [7] And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." [8] And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

It’s easy to divorce this first verse from all that which comes after it, and lose focus. We tend to think if the generation was to see the Kingdom of God after it has come with power, than something is amiss. This is especially true, I imagine, if one is a millenialist who can’t seem to think of God’s kingdom apart from earthly ideas of what God’s Kingdom means. Jesus often speaks of his generation seeing the kingdom of God, he talks about this in regards to the cup in the events surrounding the Lord’s Supper too. But Jesus rarely means anything at all similar to earthly kingdoms when he speaks of the kingdom of God. Here is no exception, unless one thinks the disciples are hold up in a cave, yet undiscovered by Indiana Jones.

The statement that Jesus gives to the disciples here, finds its fulfillment in the Transfiguration. Of course only a few of those standing there get to see it, though none of them taste death until after Christ’s death and resurrection. This is where they see Gods Kingdom come with power, and it leaves them speechless. It is but a peek at things to come. They get a glimpse of heaven. That isn’t all that is going on there. But it is some of what is going on there. They get to see Jesus for who he really is, the king in all his glory.

Every Knee shall bow

2012-01-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

Matthew 2:1-12 (ESV)
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, [2] saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." [3] When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; [4] and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. [5] They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

[6] " 'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.' "

[7] Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. [8] And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." [9] After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. [10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. [11] And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. [12] And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Epiphany, It was on Friday, the twelve days of Christmas being over, the feast of Epiphany starts with the visit of the Magi, which so many associate with the story of Christmas. I thought I’d preach on it, because I always like the text, every once in a while it does fall on a Sunday. Not this year. And they had the Baptism of Christ as the theme for today instead. But I like the text for epiphany and so we are observing it today. The text always fascinates me. It’s an appropriate text for Epiphany, as it must have brought with it an Epiphany for many. Epiphany meaning revelation. It is during this season we pay most attention to Christ’s earthly ministry. His child hood is normally covered with the twelve days of Christmas, 1 day for each year before he showed up in the temple, before his Bar Mitzvah. At least, I think that is the reasoning behind the twelve days of Christmas. Advent through Easter the church concerns itself with following the life of Christ in a somewhat chronological fashion, somewhat. Epiphany is about his revelation of himself to the world, and people coming to know that he is Christ, that he is God, the almighty God.

Now the events surrounding the visit of the magi, in these is a peculiar Epiphany. Some two years after Jesus is born, (we assume two years, because after ascertaining the time when the start appeared in the east from the wise men, and it takes time to travel, Herod slaughters all the children 2 and under.) Some two years after Jesus is born, wise men show up, to worship Jesus and offer him tribute.
Of course things like this had been prophesied and even foreshadowed in the Old Testament, events such as the Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon was just one such foreshadowing of the event that occurs here, but will finally find it full fulfillment in the return of Christ on the last day, when every knew shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Sheba bows to the wisdom of the Lord that so far out does the wisdom of the world, the wisdom that God gave to Solomon. Yeah, want to know why I love Ecclesiasties? Because the wisest man in the world wrote it as a treatise on attaining happiness in this world, and what he writes seems like foolishness, but it’s the best advice a man can get. Basically it says, quit looking for the meaning of life, and start enjoying it you idiot. Sheba bows. She bows to the wisdom of God.

Now wise men from the east, they come, they bow. And on the surface it makes no sense. What has this child done, that sorcerers, magicians, necromancers, and astrologers, the priests of pagan gods, and practitioners of the black arts for which the Old Testament demands death, what has this child done that should command their attention? Oh, but these men know. These men were not stupid. Today we discount such hocus pocus almost out of hand. No investigation is really ever done to see if these people can do what they say. And its more probable than not that that lady you talk to on the phone at 3 dollars a minute, is a complete charlatan blowing smoke where the sun don’t shine. But that all such claims are bogus is not one a believer in the Bible can make. And there have been occurrences in my own life that give me pause for thought. But I think of Balaam, and the witch of Endore, and numerous other occurrences in the Scriptures, and I’m left with the belief that some of these people do in fact channel demons, and are capable of doing things otherwise impossible. When my friend Robert Bennett returns from Madagascar and Haiti telling stories of exorcism that make your hair stand on end, I listen. But there is a peculiarity to it all. In scriptures, the practitioners of the black arts, whether Pharoh’s priests, Balaam or the which of Endore, they know the true God. They don’t believe mind you, not in the sense of Christian faith, they believe in the manner of which the book of James speaks of the demons, “the believe God is one and tremble.” The wise men, the magi, knew God had visited. I can’t help but to think it was totally compulsory for these men, but they came. They knew what this child had done, this child had created this world, which he now came to inhabit. This child, they knew is God. This child is king of kings, Lord of lords, God of gods. And being wise they came to worship and bow down.

But more than that, these men then knew that here was their savior. They know he is the one to whom in the end every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is the God who commands the heavens to send a star to mark his coming. He is the God who saves his people. He is the God who dies for you and I, That we might know the forgiveness of sins, that we might confess long before it is too late, taking the example of those who are wise, that Jesus Christ is Lord. Yes this Lord who commands the worship of foreigners, of gentiles, is Lord of us gentiles, because he purchased us, with a sacrifice giving an aroma more pleasant than that of Frankincense, with a death that defied the embalming of Myrrh, and blood more precious than gold.

Christian Hedonism?

2012-01-06T16:56:00.002-07:00

Desiring God, Christian Hedonism
A friend asked me about this movement., Christian hedonism. I hadn’t heard of it before, I blessed with ignorance concerning many movements in American Evangelicalism. The whole reason I became a pastor was so I wouldn’t have to be subjected to that junk, and actually preach the gospel for a few others to hear, you know the good news that Christ died for their sins. That they are forgiven, yes even now, yes even though they took communion last week, and found themselves sinning Sunday afternoon, and probably harbored resentment for their family while taking communion, you get the picture. We are forgiven, Christ forgave you. And I’ve always thought that Christianity should be about joy. I mean, I always found it to be a joyful thing when my Baptist neighbors weren’t harassing me about drinking beer and talking to the cute girl across the street washing her car in a bikini. Seriously what does one do in that situation? Then I found out about in statu confessionis, and it took fun to a rather hedonistic level, (I mean I totally abused it, but had fun lighting up a cigarette whenever a Baptist would talk about how smoking was ruining your body God’s temple. Silly me, I thought God somehow enjoyed the aroma of smoke in his temple given the Old Testament, and all. Or drinking a beer, or four or five when someone would express objections to this.)

But upon reading up on “Christian Hedonism” just a skim really, it came to my attention that now, not only were Calvinists sucking the joy out of being Christian, they were taking all the fun out of being a hedonist. Quips aside though, this is really dangerous stuff. It is in a word legalism. Calvinists can’t seem to get out of the trap! I don’t mean for this to be a long piece. I’ll just quote this from the Desiring God Website, and then comment on where it goes frightfully wrong.

“My shortest summary of Christian Hedonism is: God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.
We all make a god out of what we take the most pleasure in. Christian Hedonists want to make God their God by seeking after the greatest pleasure—pleasure in him.
By Christian Hedonism, we do not mean that our happiness is the highest good. We mean that pursuing the highest good will always result in our greatest happiness in the end. We should pursue this happiness, and pursue it with all our might. The desire to be happy is a proper motive for every good deed, and if you abandon the pursuit of your own joy you cannot love man or please God. “

These are just the first two paragraphs of this essay. But really? Notice first that the onus is on you to make God your god. You are to do this by what? By trying to find your greatest pleasure in him. This seems to me that it just begs for all sorts of soul torture, and misconceptions. This is the kind of stuff that tortures the hell out of girls and boys who find quite suddenly, that perhaps they like hanging out with the opposite sex more than going to church. I’m sorry, I find great pleasure in God, I do. At least at times. I love reading his word, and studying it. Most think I’m somewhat of a kook for the joy I find in studying God’s word. I thank God for his gifts, and realize he gave them to me, and others are not going to find the same joy in reading the Bible they find in working on a car. They enjoy working on cars, and it is a good indication that God meant for them to be auto mechanics. I am thankful God gave them the gift of being an auto mechanic, not the least because I find myself in need of them especially in pursuit of other things that give me great pleasure. I need my jeep in working order so that I can spend time with my son, who though he enjoys going to church, does these days find trips to Topaz MT. to be slightly more enjoyable than Sunday School, which he often finds boring. I also like it to be in good working order when pursuing chukar and coyotes in the West Desert with my mechanic. I’m also thankful for gunsmiths, and game wardens in that regard. Can I say, I’m really appreciative of whiskey makers, brewers, and the designers that make dresses for my wife? And I’m glad they pursue these vocations with the same joy in which I pursue the reading of God’s word. God has given it to them to enjoy, and enjoying these they do the will of the Father.

But the problem with the above two paragraphs goes further. The onus is on us to make God our god, by finding our greatest pleasure in him. We are supposed to “Desire God.” Sure, but telling someone to desire God does not make one desire God. It does the opposite. The Biblical message is a bit different, even Augustine’s theology which Piper is trying to injudiciously rip off here, is just a bit different than that. The fact is, God is our god. And he certainly doesn’t need us to do anything to make that happen. God’s glory is not diminished in the least by our inability to be satisfied in him. His “glory” doesn’t depend one wit on a damn thing we do, and they are all damn things apart from his grace and mercy through which he revealed his true glory forgiving our sins on the cross. No one gets pleasure from desiring something. They get pleasure from attaining it.

Now attaining something can happen in a few different ways, you can work for it, or it can be given to you. And that is just it. God gives himself to us. That is he gives us our righteousness. He gives us himself. We don’t have to sit around desiring him. He is ours, just as we are his. That is what the cross was about. And in my mind he did this so we could get on with life, and enjoying the things he has given us to enjoy, which according to Ecclesiastes, are for fold: the toil of our hands, wine, bread, and breasts, the ones belonging to the wife of your youth.

So rather than sitting around and talking about how much one should desire God. Why don’t you just give them God. Give them Jesus. Forgive them their sins as God commands you to do, so that they can all go about the things they enjoy, the things God has given them to enjoy, like fixing my guns, and Jeep, making great whiskey and wine, preparing good food, and loving on their wives, in true hedonist fashion.

No Room Left for Theories of Evolution

2012-01-05T15:53:00.000-07:00

What Darwin Got Wrong,I enjoyed this book. I did not find it too hard to read, or written in to technical a manner, even though both author’s are very well educated with a good basis in the science. Basically the authors seeing that Skinner’s theories in behavioral psychology were undermined by his adherence to Darwinian explanations of evolution, specifically his ideas concerning Natural Selection.Upon examination of this it is shown that Natural Selection is tautological at best, and really offers no explanation as to how anything evolved. The authors throw this notion in with ideas about Santa Clause, the Tooth fairy, “the Selfish Gene” and God. Well I might object to them about their thoughts on God, but I found their reasoning concerning Natural Selection to be quite sound. Make no mistake, these men are not Christians or even theists, they are committed atheists. But they see a problem with the theory of evolution as it is normally presented and they are going to attack it, because in the end it is just a bad argument. In the end they go so far as to say there isn’t any theory of evolution. Well there are theories, it’s a matter of how valid those theories are, and the traditional theories have fallen on hard times, they just don’t hold water. In fact what Fodo andMassimo Piattelli-Palmarini show in this book is the same sort of thing expounded by James Shapiro in “Evolution: a View from the TwentyFirst Century” and Koonin in “The Logic of Chance”. It is really nothing new, Karl Popper tried to express the same sentiments quite a long time ago, and was severely lashed for it. But now it is coming to light that he was correct, and more and more scientists are coming to realize that the theory of evolution is untenable. The new trend is to try treat it as an historical phenomenon without much saying why or how it happened, just that it did. Infact, many of their peers originally reading the manuscript told them that no one was that kind of Evolutionist anymore, that is one who buys into Darwin and Natural Selection. Of course, that is just plain false, it may be that there are few wet biologists who think along these lines once they have their PHD, but one does not have to look far to find Darwinism being taught as fact. Fodor found his foil with Coyne, and Dawkins. And of course the stuff is still taught in schools, and one has to regurgitate the nonsense to pass college entrance exams and standardized testing. So the authors have done the world a favor in bringing their argumentation to publication. I found it to be a very insightful read.

Death of Kings

2012-01-05T15:16:00.000-07:00

Death of KingsThis is the sixth book of Bernard Cornwell’s series “Saxon Tales”. The tale of blood, gore, and intrigue maintains it’s intensity. Indeed the first three pages embroil you in battle, and the fights continue. Uhtred’s position and influence among the Saxons increases in this volume, as King Alfred dies, and Edward takes the throne, but his main goal of recapturing his birthright Bebbanburg is not yet attained when the book closes. Personally, as I read these tales, aside from Uhtred’s escapades, it is his interactions with the priests that holds my interest. In this volume Bernard introduces yet another one, Cuthbert. Cuthbert, proves to be as interesting a character as any of Bernard’s other beloved priests, even if he does, perhaps even because of his fondness for fawns. I look forward to the end of these tales, only because I’d like to draw up a monograph on pastoral theology using the characters of these stories, and it’s depiction of Christianity. In anycase, those who have been following the story thus far, will no doubt once again enjoy the ease in which Bernard weaves the story of Uhtred, a thread through the canvass of war and blood shed marking this tumultuous period, as if he himself was sitting at the roots of yggdrasil eavesdropping on the Norns in all their beauty. They will not be disappointed, and though one could pick up and begin reading her with this book, those that do, will be satisfying themselves with past volumes of this great story while waiting for the next installment.

Every Knee Shall Bow

2012-01-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

Matthew 2:1-12 (ESV)
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, [2] saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." [3] When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; [4] and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. [5] They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

[6] " 'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.' "

[7] Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. [8] And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." [9] After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. [10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. [11] And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. [12] And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Epiphany, It was on Friday, the twelve days of Christmas being over, the feast of Epiphany starts with the visit of the Magi, which so many associate with the story of Christmas. I thought I’d preach on it, because I always like the text, every once in a while it does fall on a Sunday. Not this year. And they had the Baptism of Christ as the theme for today instead. But I like the text for epiphany and so we are observing it today. The text always fascinates me. It’s an appropriate text for Epiphany, as it must have brought with it an Epiphany for many. Epiphany meaning revelation. It is during this season we pay most attention to Christ’s earthly ministry. His child hood is normally covered with the twelve days of Christmas, 1 day for each year before he showed up in the temple, before his Bar Mitzvah. At least, I think that is the reasoning behind the twelve days of Christmas. Advent through Easter the church concerns itself with following the life of Christ in a somewhat chronological fashion, somewhat. Epiphany is about his revelation of himself to the world, and people coming to know that he is Christ, that he is God, the almighty God.
Now the events surrounding the visit of the magi, in these is a peculiar Epiphany. Some two years after Jesus is born, (we assume two years, because after ascertaining the time when the start appeared in the east from the wise men, and it takes time to travel, Herod slaughters all the children 2 and under.) Some two years after Jesus is born, wise men show up, to worship Jesus and offer him tribute.
Of course things like this had been prophesied and even foreshadowed in the Old Testament, events such as the Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon was just one such foreshadowing of the event that occurs here, but will finally find it full fulfillment in the return of Christ on the last day, when every knew shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Sheba bows to the wisdom of the Lord that so far out does the wisdom of the world, the wisdom that God gave to Solomon. Yeah, want to know why I love Ecclesiasties? Because the wisest man in the world wrote it as a treatise on attaining happiness in this world, and what he writes seems like foolishness, but it’s the best advice a man can get. Basically it says, quit looking for the meaning of life, and start enjoying it you idiot. Sheba bows. She bows to the wisdom of God.
Now wise men from the east, they come, they bow. And on the surface it makes no sense. What has this child done, that sorcerers, magicians, necromancers, and astrologers, the priests of pagan gods, and practitioners of the black arts for which the Old Testament demands death, what has this child done that should command their attention? Oh, but these men know. These men were not stupid. Today we discount such hocus pocus almost out of hand. No investigation is really ever done to see if these people can do what they say. And its more probable than not that that lady you talk to on the phone at 3 dollars a minute, is a complete charlatan blowing smoke where the sun don’t shine. But that all such claims are bogus is not one a believer in the Bible can make. And there have been occurrences in my own life that give me pause for thought. But I think of Balaam, and the which of Endore, and numerous other occurrences in the Scriptures, and I’m left with the belief that some of these people do in fact channel demons, and are capable of doing things otherwise impossible. When my friend Robert Bennett returns from Madagascar and Haiti telling stories of exorcism that make your hair stand on end, I listen. But there is a peculiarity to it all. In scriptures, the practitioners of the black arts, whether Pharoh’s priests, Balaam or the which of Endore, they know the true God. They don’t believe mind you, not in the sense of Christian faith, they believe in the manner of which the book of James speaks of the demons, “the believe God is one and tremble.” The wise men, the magi, knew God had visited. I can’t help but to think it was totally compulsory for these men, but they came. They knew what this child had done, this child had created this world, which he now came to inhabit. This child, they knew is God. This child is king of kings, Lord of lords, God of gods. And being wise they came to worship and bow down.
But more than that, these men then knew that here was their savior. They know he is the one to whom in the end every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is the God who commands the heavens to send a star to mark his coming. He is the God who saves his people. He is the God who dies for you and I, That we might know the forgiveness of sins, that we might confess long before it is too late, taking the example of those who are wise, that Jesus Christ is Lord. Yes this Lord who commands the worship of foreigners, of gentiles, is Lord of us gentiles, because he purchased us, with a sacrifice giving an aroma more pleasant than that of Frankincense, with a death that defied the embalming of Myrrh, and blood more precious than gold.

The Circumcision of and Naming of Christ

2012-01-01T08:53:00.001-07:00

The Circumcision and Naming of ChristLuke 2:21 (ESV) And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. It’s such a short verse, such a short passage, but what happens here, is so unbelievably important. The Christ Child is circumcised and with that circumcision is given the name by which all must be saved, something that could not happen except that this child who knew no sin, who had no need of the law, was put under the knife of the law, and circumcised, so that when we are baptized, our baptism would be a circumcision made without hands, A putting off of the body of flesh by the circumcision of Christ, the circumcision that we celebrate today. Circumcision, why should this have such significance, that a little child a mere 8 days old, who has no choice in the matter, is subjected to pain, the letting of blood, deprived of his foreskin and injured in manhood? It perhaps goes a bit against our grain to think of this as being much significant. Today most little boys are unceremoniously, indeed almost without a second though, subjected to this same operation as a matter of course. No Mazel tov exclaimed in celebration, except perhaps in the event the boy is Jewish. For most it’s a matter of hygiene, a preventive measure against infection. Not so for Jesus, for Jesus, for Mary for Joseph this was a deeply religious event that bound the child to a covenant made long ago between God, Abraham and Abraham’s descendants, that on the eighth day after birth all boys would be circumcised as a sign, as a seal of the covenant God had made with Abraham. A rather curious covenantal sign though. Strangely curious, other gods worshiped at the time of Abraham, around the near east, would require scaring of sorts in various places as signs of devotion, even tattooing was practiced as a form of dedication to a god. But this sort of behavior God strictly forbids in the 19th chapter of Leviticus. To this day I run into people concerned about whether God will judge them for having a tattoo or not. Since moving to Utah, I have had the strange experience on more than one occasion of people being more concerned about the fact that they got a tattoo then that they are shacked up, hooked on drugs, and otherwise living in such a manner not condoned by the Ten Commandments, or in accord with the gospel and love of neighbor. Listen getting a tattoo of Daffy Duck has nothing to do with such practices forbidden by the 19th chapter of Leviticus. And such Old Testament ceremonial laws are done away with on account of Christ’s life, on account of his circumcision which he fulfilled for you that you might be saved with or without such mutilation. You might refrain from a swastika on your forehead though, just saying. Might not work so well for job interviews…But yes, it is a strangely curious rite of initiation into God’s people that God commanded of Abraham and his descendants. But hugely significant! It’s a topic so awkward to talk about today, it almost can’t help but be preceded by jokes bordering crude. It’s a topic so awkward that the rest of the readings today all but studiously avoid the subject all together. Personally I think a recounting of this covenant made with Abraham would have been appropriate for the Old Testament reading, and the Col. 2 that references this event in association with baptism would have made a better Epistle. There seems to be an overwhelming desire to speak of his name instead of this rite performed on him today. We hardly understand it any more. Why should God require his mark there, in such a personal place? Perhaps because it was so personal a member of the body, perhaps because it was with such a personal and private part of anatomy, that Abraham first broke fidelity with God’s Covenant.I mean at first God’s Covenant had no such strings, it was but a promise that Abraham would have a son, that his descendants would be as the stars in the heavens. It wasn’t until Abraham thought he could make this come about on his own, by taking his wife’s handmaiden instead of Sarah who was passed her child bearing years, that God decided to drive home his point as to who was in charge of this covenant, and to whom Abraham and his descendants belonged. That is when he required this act, of fidelity. Does it make a little more sense now? Perhaps this was not a matter so awkward for the time. At least in one place in the Old Testament oaths were sealed while holding this. And even in the New Testament, people seemed a bit more knowledgeable about other men’s anatomy, than I care for others to have concerning me. Yet it was highly personal even then. And a poignant reminder of just how much God demanded of a man, not part but all of the man was devoted to God in this ceremony, in this rite, for one is hard pressed to think of a different place where body and soul are so intimately bound in the psyche of man. But no matter how much God demanded it, it never seemed to take. Abraham’s descendants proved to be just as unfaithful as he, because this circumcision never could seem to devote the heart. Uncircumcised of heart was the accusation of the prophets. Uncircumcised of heart, and this led to infidelity of all sorts, and the worship of foreign gods, often requiring the use of that which had been devoted to God in this rite. And I dare say God’s people have not changed much in that manner, not in today’s society, where people are more concerned with a tattoo than an affair, or shacking up, or the pornography running their lives. Uncircumcised of heart, how often do you find yourself not living in accord with the love of the gospel, in a manner that would communicate that love to your neighbor, the love Christ has for you? Sometimes its just a matter of being too preoccupied with yourself, to take time to help another, to even sit down and chat. You know what I can’t get over? How instantly annoyed I became Thursday morning, when the JW’s rang my doorbell. The only reason I was home, was a headache I couldn’t get rid of, peacefully sitting and reading a book which thoroughly engrossing was somehow giving relief to the headache. And the door bell rings, and even as I lost patience, I could tell it. Have you been there? Uncircumcised of heart, sin rearing its head, For some reason, we can’t do it, we can neither love God with all our heart soul and mind, or our neighbors as ourselves. But that is why it is so significant what happened today, because here in the circumcision of Christ, body and soul were devoted to God, here divine blood splattered the floor as it coated the law’s knife. Here Christ made a down payment for our sins. Here on the 8th day, the child born, born anew that that created in seven days would be renewed on the 8th day the day of resurrection. Yes here, 8 days old, our God took a pledge to fulfill on our behalf the covenant made with Abraham. Here on the 8th day, he was circumcised heart soul and manhood, a down payment in blood, that his whole life would be in active obedience to the law of God, that calling on the name he was given there, the name put upon you when you called on it in baptism, the circumcision made without hands by the circumcision of Christ, you would be saved as his name promises to do. Jesus, the Lord Saves. As the angel said, "for he will save his people from their sins." And yes, baptized into his name, baptized into his life, we have been given the love of God, a circumcision made without hands by the circumcision of Christ, a circumcision that truly saves, because on the cross he paid in full what he paid down in circumcision giving all of his life over to God, over for you, that on the 8th day when he rose from the dead, you would share in the life everlasting. Now the peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Seeking God in Science

2011-12-30T16:09:00.002-07:00

Seeking God in ScienceThis book is more than a book about the debate between Evolution and Intelligent Design, this is a book that seeks truth while trying to ignore the culture war surrounding the issue. Well ignore might not be the word. Rather he is calling for a cease fire, calling for rational minds to cease treating this topic as if it were a foot ball game, and rather looking at the issues objectively. He says he doesn’t care which side of the culture war he is on, he just wants to find truth, and he wants science to be about that too.Interestingly he shows that today, many so called scientists are not interested in finding truth at all, their commitment to methodological naturalism, their own bias against belief in God, have made it so that they can’t be about the pursuit of truth. I suppose that might be a knife that cuts both ways in this debate. However Bradley does a wonderful job analyzing all this. I found the book to be quite enlightening. The book is short, but well written. In four chapters he discusses What intelligent design is, Why it is legitimate to treat it as science, What its best and worst arguments are, and why it should be taught in schools and why. In all this what he tries to do most is get science to return to being a pursuit of truth, and leaving the “culture” war alone. Chapter 3 is the heavy hitting. In this chapter he says he doesn’t so much care if intelligent design is science or not, what the real question is, is “Is it true?” He maintains this is the question we should all be asking. I agree. He then analyzes a few different intelligent design arguments, weighing the objections to them, and the objections to the objections. In the end he maintains that he finds some of them plausible, even if they haven’t quite convinced him. In the course of all this, he does an excellent job discussing what science is and isn’t, and why it shouldn’t draw up any barriers as to where it can lead. In doing so he calls sane, sober minds to prevail above the fray. I have to commend him in that.

Christmas Day, 2011

2011-12-25T08:35:00.002-07:00

John 1:1-14 (ESV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. [4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. [6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [7] He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. [8] He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. [9] The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. [10] He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. [11] He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. [12] But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, [13] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. [14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of Grace and truth. It’s an abstract text for Christmas day. It doesn’t say anything about babies, mangers, virgin births, angels in the sky or shepherds, but in plain language explains what happened when that Virgin gave birth, in no uncertain terms it spells out who the little child is, that was laid in a manger. He is God incarnate, God in the flesh, the only son from the Father, or as it used to say, the only begotten son of the Father, The one who was begotten of his Father before all worlds, begotten from eternity, A son, a child begotten, meaning not made, not adopted like you and I. In this he is distinct. In this he is different. In this he is God, the word made flesh, the word that was in the beginning, that was with God, that was God. The Greek word is Monogeneus, only generated, only begotten. I wish they kept that word in the more modern translations. I know it isn’t used much anymore. People don’t always know what it means, there are dictionaries, though. And saying he is the only son from the Father, lends itself to more confusion than saying he is the only begotten son of the Father. You read it in a modern translation and you might get the notion that we then are not children of God, but we are, and we are because of what the only begotten son did for us. He came to dwell among us, the Greek uses a word whose root is tent, and is meant to conjure up images of the tabernacle that Moses built. The tabernacle was a tent that housed the name of God, the glory of God, though God fills the entire earth, he remained in the temple in a special way, there he put his glory, it was from there the people received forgiveness, it was from there that God communicated his holiness to the people. And now, God had found a new tent, a new tabernacle, a new temple to house his name, his being, his glory and through which to communicate his holiness. His new tent was a child, a baby born of a virgin, laid in a manger. It was a temple that would be destroyed and raised up again in three days, and the disciples then understood he was talking about his body. It is a theme that runs throughout the gospel of John. Here God dwells among us. Here is our Emmanuel! The word become flesh to dwell among us, full of Grace and Truth. Yes, grace and truth, the things not expected, so unlike our earthly rulers, those in authority, who are so rarely merciful, so rarely given to grace, and whom can rarely if ever be trusted to be truthful. I mean it doesn’t matter which one’s you like, which ones you don’t, honest politician is an oxymoron, it is something non-existent. But here is Jesus, full of grace and truth, and if you ever wonder why our earthly rulers aren’t full of Grace and truth, realize that was tried once, and it did not go well. Grace and truth get you crucified in this world. Jesus didn’t care. He was the one man who had it, uncorrupted by sin, God in the flesh, he knew what grace and truth would bring to him, he brought it to the world anyway, but not first without warning those who sought his death with their lies, and ruthlessness, destroy this temple, destroy this tabernacle, and I will raise it up in three days. They did not understand, nor did they care too. They were going to crucify him, and they did. But then that was the point of this little child who was the word become flesh, this God who came to dwell among us, the only God there ever has been, who from the beginning was with God, and with God created everything there was, he this God full of Grace and Truth, allowed himself to be crucified, so that his Grace, his truth would be fulfilled, so that in his death, we would die to sin, and in his resurrection we would live in Grace and Truth, and in his flesh, and in his blood, we would be given the forgiveness of sins, and the peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that is a reconciliation between a Holy Father, and his rebellious children, brought about by the death and resurrection of his only begotten son, the word become flesh. Amen.

Christmas Eve 2011

2011-12-25T08:29:00.002-07:00

Christmas Eve12/24/11Luke 2:1-14Bror Erickson [2:1] In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. [2] This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. [3] And all went to be registered, each to his own town. [4] And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, [5] to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. [6] And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. [7] And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. [8] And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. [10] And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12] And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, [14] "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" Luke 2:1-14 (ESV) Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. So the Angel announces himself to the shepherds in the field, preaching the Gospel, preaching good news. A savior is born, unto you. And not just unto the shepherds mind you, but unto you, unto all the people, A savior who is Christ the Lord. Oh the meaning packed into those words. Mother Mary has given birth to her savior, to the Messiah, the Christ, to the Lord, to her Lord, to her God. Try to wrap your head around that if you ever really want a headache, it’ll put a knot in your brain. For man it is impossible, but for God all things are possible. This truly is gospel, which means good news. It is news, perhaps old news some 2000 years later, but still good news, the goodness just hasn’t worn off this news, because some 2000 years later, we still find ourselves in need of this savior who is Christ the Lord. Yes, a Savior has been born unto you. I mean this is why we celebrate this child’s birth with such pomp and circumstance. He is not just some random child, but he is our savior, the one who has come to save us, and we realize that we need saving. Perhaps at no other time of year, in a display of irony, do we see man’s need for a savior then the day’s between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, as people pepper spray others, elbow kick and stomp on each other trying to get the newest version of whatever at Walmart. Perhaps that’s not you. But then don’t you see your blood pressure rise as you look for a parking spot at the mall. So much easier to shop online, if only you knew what you were looking for. And ever wonder why it matters so much? Your trying to buy the perfect present, for who? Maybe you are afraid of the consequences if you buy them the wrong present. What they will think of you? What kind of friend or family member is that? Our greed and impatience comes out in spades at this time of the year. Mine does. After 35 years, I’ve never been able to tame my greed. It doesn’t seem to matter how much I have I always want more. Of course you can’t tame sin, you can’t tame your old Adam. It’s sin like this that will kill you. It will, as sure as you know your number is coming, it will be your sin that kills you. You can’t tame it. The only thing one can do with their sin, their old Adam is kill it. Kill it dead. But this is beyond our own ability. We can’t kill it without killing ourselves, and killing ourselves doesn’t even kill sin. And yes, sin lives, sin lives more than you live, it lives like a cancer on your soul, crushing the life out of you, like a persistent tumor squeezing the breath out of your lungs. And there is nothing you can do about it. Not you. But unto you, a savior is born, who is Christ the Lord. Yes, unto you. That is what is so special about this child born in a manger. He is your savior, whom God sent to be a propitiation for your sin. This little baby boy, this child, the long promised savior promised to Eve, promised to Adam, in the form of a threat to the serpent. Yes, her seed, the fruit of a virgin womb, that is truly her seed, because it can’t be his seed, born this day is your savior, marked to be your propitiation, marked for death, to be the death of your sin. His death will provide for you the propitiation, the satisfaction for your sins, so that when sin finally does claim this sinful life of yours, it will not mean your death, but the full glory of life. This savior will die in your place, to forgive your sins, to give you life. This savior who is the Christ, the long awaited for anointed one, who is himself the Lord, that is Yahweh. Yes, This little child, as announced by the angels, is God himself in the flesh, there to die for your sins, the only propitiation powerful enough to kill your sin with forgiveness, to satisfy the wrath of God, is the death of God. For this he sent his only begotten to be born this night. A savior born unto you, who is Christ, the Lord. Now the peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.

Will Return, have a Merry Christmas

2011-12-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here trying to get posts up for the upcoming weeks. Well I decided I'm going to quit while I'm ahead. I will resume posting after the Christmas holidays, after John heads back home. Otherwise I'll just throw up schlock worse than the normal drivel I serve up...have a Merry Christmas

Pick Up Your Cross...

2011-12-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 8:34-38 (ESV) And he called to him the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. [35] For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. [36] For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? [37] For what can a man give in return for his life? [38] For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me….” There is a lot of material packed into this. On the surface it seems to clash with the saying of Jesus concerning his yoke being easy, and his burden light. Crosses are known not for being easy and light. There is, to use a Lutheran Cliché a paradox here.The yoke and burden of Christ is easy and light, like a feather really. Salvation requires nothing of us. It is done. But in believing in Christ and the salvation that Christ gives us with his own cross, inevitably comes with a cross, this is not something Christ gives us, so much as something the world gives us, just as it was the world and sin that gave Christ his cross. It is as Christ says, this world will give you tribulation, but take heart I have overcome the world.See, too often people consider the cross that Christ here speaks of to be something of their own choosing. They make the burden and yoke of Christ to be something harsh and heavy, of their own accord. Usually this comes about by making the kingdom of heaven to be something about eating and drinking, perhaps about speech habits, or tithing. Of course in doing this, they have a tendency, more often than not, to ignore the law as it is taught in scripture. See you have to do this to make the kingdom of God about eating and drinking, because not only does God’s law make perfect sense when considering that it is just spelling out what it means to love him and love your neighbor, but it also forbids the making of laws where he has made none. This means that you can in fact dance, or at least attempt to if you are white. The crosses we bear are not of our own choosing, and trying to choose one of our liking will not prevent us from being handed real crosses. These will be things like losing family because you refuse to forsake Christ. These will be things like doing what is right, even when it’s hard. In some cases, our crosses will not look all that different than the toils and tribulations that the rest of the world suffers to, we receive no temptation that is not common to man. But what will mark the tribulation as a cross rather than a mere tribulation will be the same thing that marks our works good, and that of an unbeliever as not good, and that thing is Christ in whom we believe, and have salvation. Just as our good works are only good because of him, so our tribulations are our crosses because of him.

The Things of Man....

2011-12-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 8:31-33 (ESV) And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. [32] And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. [33] But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." Jesus knew what he was in for. Jesus knew. Jesus came to do it. It seemed crazy talk to Peter. It would seem crazy talk to us too. The Christ was supposed to be a savior, a king, one who restored Israel to her former glory! And if you know these things are going to happen, why do you make your way to Jerusalem? Peter it seems never really came to terms with this until after the resurrection. Today there are many who still haven’t come to terms with it. I find it peculiar that a large segment of the population where I live want me to consider them Christian, whilst still denying the cross. The cross has been central to Christianity since the beginning. It was central to Christ. Christ went to the cross, he spent his whole life focused on Golgotha, it was there that he would give his life for ours, it was there that he would overcome the world and the tribulation that it gives. When others eschew the cross, they are of Satan, Just as Jesus admonishes Peter for being Satan because of his problems with the cross. As I told my son this last summer, when a “church” has a problem with the crucifix, with a corpus hanging on the cross, I have a problem with them, when they can’t even bring themselves to put a cross on their building, an empty cross around their neck, they aren’t even close to being Christian. Paul would know nothing among the Corinthians but Christ and him crucified. Christians do well to keep their focus their too, it is their salvation.

Fourth Sunday in Advent 2011

2011-12-19T11:43:00.001-07:00

God has Raised One Up From Among You The Holy Christian Church

From Among You God Has Raised One Up

2011-12-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

John 1:19-28 (ESV) And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" [20] He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." [21] And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." [22] So they said to him, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" [23] He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." [24] (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) [25] They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" [26] John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, [27] even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." [28] These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. “He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” The Christ, the Messiah it is who we wait for in advent. John confesses that he isn’t the Christ. The priests and Levites think John the Baptizer might be the Christ. He is baptizing after all, something the people associated with the coming messiah, because of Ezekiel 36:25-27. Where God promises to sprinkle, and much to the chagrin of the Baptists, of whom John the baptizer was not one, the verse explicitly says sprinkle, clean water on you, and cleanse you from your uncleanness, cleanse you from your idols, with this water he will give you a new heart and a new spirit, indeed remove the heart of stone, give you a heart of flesh, and put his own Spirit in you. John the Baptizer, well, he confesses not to be the Christ, for this reason he says he baptizes with water, and only water. He isn’t the Christ. But perhaps we need a little understanding on this term Christ. It means the same as messiah, or Anointed one. It refers to a practice of pouring oil on a person. This was done as an induction into special offices, sacred offices, offices set apart. Kings would be anointed, Prophets would be anointed, Priests would be anointed. We see this in 1 Samuel chapter 16 with the anointing of David to become King, anointed by Samuel, and with this anointing comes the Holy Spirit. But the Christ, had special meaning. It was a term people came to designate the one of whom Moses had prophesied in Deut. 18 which we just read. The one to whom they should listen. It came to be a designation for the special one concerning whom the Old Testament Prophets continually prophesied with cryptic detail, some of which detail only became apparent to the disciples in hindsight. The title Christ, Messiah, it came to designate a savior, one in whom Israel rested her hope, and not always for the right reasons, or with the right expectations. Of course that could be overlooked in Christ’s day. The prophecies concerning the Christ were quite Cryptic, much more cryptic than Christ ever was in even in the parables, the dark and hidden words it was prophesied he would speak. But that is just it, the Christ is a title. This is a hard one for me. As much as I know it’s a title, as much as I know that saying Jesus Christ, is a confession of faith, a confession of who I believe Jesus to be, I tend to think of and use Christ as a last name. Something to distinguish the Jesus in whom my faith rests, from the bartender I visit on a monthly basis that goes by the same name. Of course such designations and sir names were very rarely if ever used in the Bible. People would distinguish by speaking of the Father to whom the child was born, or that town in which the man lived. Jesus of Nazareth, serves as the last name. Anyone who says Jesus Christ, or Christ Jesus, is really saying that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the one upon whom Israel rested her hopes. The one whom John the Baptizer confesses not to be, the one at whom he hints when he says I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” Meaning John the baptizer knew this man to be a man so great he could not so much dare to take on the slave’s job of washing his feet, much less to baptize him, One who would come and baptize with much more, not less than because to baptize means to use water, but more than water. John the baptizer baptizes with water, he says. It is redundant, except that John the baptizer is saying his baptism is not the one of the Christ, the one prophesied in Ezekiel 36. But then that means if Jesus is the Christ, than his baptism is so much more than water, it is an anointing with the Holy Spirit! Yes and this is what it is.John confesses he isn’t the Christ. But he knows the Christ has come. He says the priests and Levites do not know him, though he stands among them. Yes God has raised up a prophet like Moses from among them. And did he raise him up! Yes, we know Jesus is the Christ, precisely because God raised him up. Yes Jesus was anointed, having been baptized by John, the Spirit descended as a dove and lit on his shoulder. And there he was anointed to be our messiah, our Christ, our Savior, there he was anointed to take upon himself our sins as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the Lamb of God who had to be sacrificed on our behalf, to die on the cross, to die for you and me, the propitiation, the satisfaction for our sin, to be buried in death. But then, but then, oh yeah, then God raised up, then God raised up from among you, from among you who were dead, dead in your trespasses, dad in your sin, unclean and unholy, the servants, the slaves of idols bowing to your greed, your lust, your arrogance and pride, servants of death, slaves of death, yes he rose up from among you who were dead, a Prophet greater than Moses, He raised the anointed one from the dead, the Christ on the third day, the Christ no longer called the Christ so much because the spirit lit on his shoulder, but because now this Christ baptizes, Now this Christ sprinkles you with clean water, washes away your uncleanness, cleanses you from your idols, gives you a new heart and a New Spirit, The Holy Spirit Himself. Yes this Christ, this Messiah, This Jesus of Nazareth, when is the Christ, because when he baptizes you, he anoints you with the Holy Spirit, he anoints you with life, and forgives your sins.

"You are the Christ"

2011-12-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 8:27-30 (ESV) And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" [28] And they told him, "John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets." [29] And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ." [30] And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. Jesus is testing his disciples. People it seems are all over the map regarding Jesus, offering all sorts of explanations for his ministry and miracles. The disciples only list the pious explanations. The Pharisees of course had others, Beelzebub for one. But the disciples know that Jesus is the Christ. Everyone was expecting the Christ, the Messiah. Funny, these are terms that don’t appear in the Old Testament. This is a term that contemporaries of Jesus had come up with to give title to what the Old Testament talked about. Throughout the Old Testament there are cryptic prophecies. In fact Genesis 3 gives us the proto gospel, Moses talked of one who would come after him. Isaiah talked of a suffering servant. The scriptures testified of Jesus, just as Jesus said, (John 5:39). But you don’t find a comprehensive description, just cryptic prophesies, and often these prophecies talked about the end, the so called day of the lord, in the same breath as they talked about the “Messiah.” Of course, this gave rise to quite a bit of mystery, and confusion concerning Christ, and most were not as perceptive as Peter in this regard, and those who lined the streets of Jerusalem cheering Jesus as the Messiah they knew he was, expected him to do quite different things than he did. Some still expect him to do quite different things than he did. They expected an earthly reign and a millennial kingdom. It is these “myths” that Paul warns Titus about, perhaps the earliest heresy to infect the church, and one that keeps returning in different guises. Thankfully though, Jesus was the Christ, and he didn’t do what others thought he would, there dreams were to small, and that is the problem with the dreams today, they are earthbound, the thoughts of man, but Jesus had bigger plans, that had to do with eternity in heaven. Having not the thoughts of man in his head, he picked up his cross, and sacrificed himself to win with his death, eternal salvation for all.

Don't Even Enter the Village

2011-12-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 8:22-26 (ESV) And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. [23] And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Do you see anything?" [24] And he looked up and said, "I see men, but they look like trees, walking." [25] Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. [26] And he sent him to his home, saying, "Do not even enter the village." “Do not even enter the village.” Sometimes you get the impression Jesus isn’t for evangelism. He’s always telling people not to tell about him. Of course he instructs the disciples to do quite the opposite before his ascension. But while on earth, during his earthly ministry, he was cautious. Perhaps he worried for this man’s own safety. Perhaps he was getting tired of the crowds. Jesus does that, gets fatigued. His humanity shows through. Ever see celebrities get upset with the Paparazzi? Well This is Jesus trying to avoid them. Of course, he could have just avoided healing the man all together. One gets the impression he wanted to do that, the people had to beg him. But he doesn’t compassion mercy and love over rule. Jesus can’t just turn away, he heals the man. Perhaps though, there is another angle on this. Jesus just is not going to blow his own horn. He doesn’t need everyone in the world to know every good deed he does. He doesn’t do it for the glory. He does it out of love. He doesn’t want others seeing it. And too often that is where Christians mess up. They can’t help chasing the glory and earthly rewards that go along with doing good here on earth. And they receive their rewards. Sometimes it can’t be helped. But Jesus knows better than to chase the fleeting glory of this world.

A Warning Against Letting Legalism in the Backdoor Labeled Sanctification

2011-12-14T16:51:00.001-07:00

Jesus + Nothing =EverythingTullian Tchividjian gets the gospel. I’m normally skeptical when I here reports of people in the reformed camps (as a Lutheran, the distinction between Arminian and Reformed mean next to nothing to me. I throw up a lower case r, those who deny the sacraments get called reformed. Though I know Tullian is Reformed) getting the gospel. I have been a little suspicious concerning leaks concerning Tullian. My problem is that normally they are good when talking about justification, and mess everything up with sanctification, letting legalism through the back door, and taking with the left the gospel they gave with the right. Sometimes they aren’t even good when it comes to justification. Gospel means good news folks, it has to be news to be gospel, good news at that. A list of rules is not news, it does not fit the genre. Tullian, gets it. The Gospel, the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection, the forgiveness of sins, it’s not for converting unbelievers, it does that, but it is for Christians, it is for their salvation! The Gospel is for disciples. The gospel is for young and old, mature and immature believers. This is what Tullian preaches over and over again in this book. And if it is repetitive as some people complain, that is because repetition is the mother of all learning, and it needs to be repeated lest we rob ourselves of the gospel. Too often the gospel gets replaced with a list of rules, and what is begun in the spirit, Christians are urged to finish in the flesh. It’s an exercise in futility! And every once in a while, one subjected to this futility, opens up God’s word, and finally gets it. That is what this book is about. After years of spiritual masochism, after years of robbing himself of the gospel, at the virge of breakdown, Pastor Tchividjian went on vacation, opened up Colossians and had his whole life reoriented. All the pious idols of the Christian, were shattered, Jesus alone, Jesus only remained, he began to understand grace is for Christians even as it is for those yet unconverted. This book is an adaptation of many sermons he wrote upon returning from that vacation. It is the zealous joy of a grace filled inkwell overflowing and drenching the page. And he won’t let the pursuit of sanctification ruin what Christ has accomplished. It is shouting from the rooftops, what he learned in secret. He explicates the way in which the gospel is now, forgiveness cleans up the inside, and the love of Jesus pours out of the Christian into good works, good works are not done, or should not be done by the Christian trying to win the love of Christ. “outside cleanup” never leads to “inside cleanup” it’s the other way around. For the Lutheran this explication of the gospel is a little lacking in an explication of the sacraments, something curious given the focus of Colossians chapter 2, the book that inspired these sermons. Though towards the end, I began to see a few hints towards baptism as Tullian starts talking about swimming in grace and so on. One wonders if he hasn’t actually read Senkbeil’s “Dying to Live”, which he recommends in the back. Sasse warns that the gospel doesn’t last where the sacraments are neglected, Something Luther himself understood quite well. But it is hard to critique a book for what it doesn’t cover. But if I were to critique it, that’s where I’d critique it. In the end though I found the book delightful to read, and highly recommend it.

The Leaven of the Pharisees

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 8:14-21 (ESV) Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. [15] And he cautioned them, saying, "Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." [16] And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. [17] And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? [18] Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? [19] When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said to him, "Twelve." [20] "And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" And they said to him, "Seven." [21] And he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?" The disciples come out to be a little dense at times, one of the great and funny things about the gospels. Most people when writing about events have a tendency to make themselves out to be better during the events than they really were. Not the disciples, they record their warts, their failings, their stupidity. It’s one of the things testifying to the overall trustworthiness of their accounts of what happened, they aren’t afraid to be truthful. It is something we can learn from the disciples. And it’s a bit ironic that it happens here as Jesus talks of the leaven of the Pharisees. That leaven is pride, that leaven is hubris. The disciples seem to have heeded the admonition of Jesus because the show none of it in the recording of this story. Leaven is code for sin. That is what it represents. And it only takes a little leaven to leaven the whole lump. Just a drop of legalism can ruin the gospel. Legalism breeds pride and hubris, boasting and other unpleasant things. Not the law, but legalism. There is a difference. The law properly applied should result in humility. But improperly applied it makes people think they are doing something great for God, that they are actually avoiding sin, climbing the down ladder as it were. And when legalism infects a community it gets people to start putting on airs, masking their true sinful self. In fact the other day I ran into this in a discussion with a friend and his friends, when I said I had enough trouble following the ten commandments and I didn’t need anymore rules, I was chastised for being a sinner, and others were told they probably shouldn’t listen to me. To them, I was obviously proud of my sin. I felt a little sad for them. Wondered what Bible they read, because there is only one guy in the Bible who comes out with no sin, and he died for the rest of us.This is what the disciples knew. They knew they were forgiven. They knew they didn’t have to hide who they were from anyone. They could be open about their failings because they knew that was the only way others who were hurting under their sins would listen to them, and receive the forgiveness they need from Jesus Christ. It’s those who think they have no sin, who have the most sin, if there really was such a thing as “most sin.” But they have a much more dangerous sin, because their sin, blinds them. Christianity isn’t about living a perfect life, it is about living a forgiven life. And when you live a forgiven life, you aren’t worried about hiding your sin, hiding yourself, or acting as if you are better than others.

No Sign will Be Given

2011-12-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 8:11-13 (ESV) The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. [12] And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation." [13] And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side. “Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Jesus flat out refuses, or so it seems, to give the Pharisees a sign. He refers to them as “this generation.” And I’m left thinking somehow this generation must separate the Pharisees from the rest of that generation, since it seems he had offered many signs to many other people during this time. But I think that is just it. Just as Jesus wouldn’t put God to the test for Satan by jumping from the temple, neither will he let the Pharisees put him to the test to fulfill their sinful desires. To the pious, to the oppressed etc. He performs many signs. But these same signs that so clearly show he is the messiah, the Christ, are ones that antagonize the Pharisees who refuse to believe. This happens often enough today. There are people out there who will come up with any and every excuse they can to avoid belief in God. There are times when apologetics work. There are other times when one is just wasting air, and that is all with their efforts. Of course, sharing the gospel is never a waste of time. God will do wha he will do in his own good time, with what ever seed is planted. I’m just saying there are those who will not believe, and it doesn’t much matter what you do for them. One could take a hint from Jesus, get in a boat and head for the other side. Eventually though, he always comes back. Sometimes giving a little time for something to sink in is perfectly fine. Trying to force the issue, never helps.

Third Sunday in Advent

2011-12-12T10:20:00.001-07:00

Matthew 11:2-10 (ESV) Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples [3] and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" [4] And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: [5] the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. [6] And blessed is the one who is not offended by me." [7] As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? [8] What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. [9] What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. [10] This is he of whom it is written, " 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.' “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” The question is jarring. John hears of all the great things the man he proclaimed to be “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” was doing, and has to ask this question. A prophet has to ask? And this really makes it hard for many to swallow. Some try to say he was giving his disciples a helpful nudge in the right direction. Perhaps. But then, I don’t have so much a problem with John just trying to reassure himself as he sits awaiting execution in a dungeon. I mean the disciples all scattered as Jesus was being tried, Peter waffled and denied Christ three times that evening alone, and in another way later on in Antioch, where Paul had to confront him for being a hypocrite. So that as the sobering weight of death hangs over him, John the Baptist asks for reassurance, is not that hard a thing for me to get my head around. Reexamining our faith from time to time, looking at the sources, seeking to have it reaffirmed, well we could perhaps all take lessons from John the Baptist in that! This is why we study scripture together and alone, come to church to hear the gospel proclaimed, hear once again that our sins are forgiven, taste redemption in bread and wine, our faith nourished in the Body and Blood, confess our sins, and confess the faith with new members as they are baptized into the one true faith that is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Have you never asked this question of yourself? John is staring at death, rotting in a prison. I dare say we are not too far removed from his situation. Perhaps we too hear of all the things Jesus did for others as he walked the shores of Galilee. We experience the death of loved ones, and perhaps it’s a bit easier when it is a grandparent, a distant relative, emotions are a bit higher when it is a spouse, a close friend, a mom or a dad. We are reminded with each of our own pressing mortality. Prison? Don’t know about you, but there are days I feel trapped. Listening to the debates last night, I wondered how nice it would be to have their problems. I doubt it would be a whole lot better though. Experience says we all have our demons, and though money can solve a lot of problems, sometimes it creates problems I would not want to deal with. But when the bills come piling in every month, my blood pressure goes up. Does yours? Has it ever? Do you feel trapped? Or perhaps it’s a personality quirk you can’t seem to get rid of? I often resolve and pray that God would teach me to be a bit more patient with others, to reign in my sarcasm that isn’t always regarded as witty and charming, even at a cocktail party. On the opposite spectrum, perhaps you wish you could stand up for yourself a little more and not let everyone walk all over you. We all want the approval of others, don’t we? Maybe it is some sin you hide deep in your soul, one you can barely confess quietly before the Lord during the moment of silence on a Sunday morning, a sin you return to that leaves you feeling dirty and ashamed? Maybe it’s a relationship that doesn’t play out in a God pleasing way. Maybe one, where your love is not reciprocated, your person not respected, and yet you stay, praying for a change of heart. Perhaps, you spend hours in prayer, and wonder where things went wrong, why your life just doesn’t seem quite as fulfilling as your heathen neighbors who despite a life full of crass sin, somehow stay married, have three houses, and more toys than you care to list, and your left wondering how to buy Christmas presents your children will enjoy whilst keeping the house heated in the midst of December. Maybe now we understand the thrust of John’s questioning? “Are you the one to come, or should we wait for another?” Trapped, enslaved to sin, dancing around a volcano expected to blow, knowing that distant bell tolls for thee. Too much. Jesus doesn’t ignore these earthly problems. He gives us our daily bread. Each day we wake up. But whereas Our Father in heaven gives us what we need, this world gives us tribulation, and all we can really do is pick up our cross and follow Jesus. They come in many different shapes and sizes, custom tailored. For John, finally in the end, it was to spend his last days in a dingy cell, to die at the hands of a tramp, dancing for the amusement of a perverted father and his friends. Why shouldn’t he want out, and if Jesus could raise the dead? Why doesn’t he set him free? The answer Jesus gives, the blind receive their sight…. The answer is telling. Yes, John I am the one who is to come. Jesus leaves the bit about the captives being set free out of the answer though, perhaps a cryptic message to John, but you will not die in vain. Neither has John experienced any tribulation that is not common to man. Our crosses look not that much unlike the tribulation the world hands to everyone, but born in faith, it is our cross, but losing your life, you will gain it. Yes we can learn from John, he knew where to find rest, to find comfort, to find strength, in the words of Jesus. And Jesus holds out the same promises for you. And though he doesn’t ignore our earthly tribulations, his fix is so much bigger than the things we imagine. He simply forgives you your sins, and gives to you eternal life. That when finally our earthly tribulations are over, we enter in to those eternal realms, because Christ was the one to come, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, who came once in blessing to be sacrificed as that lamb, to die and atone for your sins, and yet is to come to judge the living and the dead, and put an end once and for all to this world of sin in which we live. Now the peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.

Introduction to Pannenberg

2011-12-09T12:58:00.001-07:00

"The Apostles' Creed" by W. PannenbergIn this book, one is given an overview of Wolfhart Pannenbergs overall thought process, his thinking concerning theology and its task as well as his approach to the task of Apologetics. It is a great and superb book, that is considerably lighter in style than “Jesus – God and Man”, but no less weighty in substance. I highly recommend the book.Article by article Wolfhart goes through the Creed explaining its history in the church, and philosophical problems and answers regarding each proposition. He admonishes the pastors and theologians to teach this creed, to make it make sense for the lay person. It is their job as teachers of the church. And here he is quite right. I found the first few chapters of this book to be incredibly insightful, as he discusses the decline in belief in God in the west through the propositions of Fichte, Feuerbach and Freud. And how ultimately, this atheism is unsustainable. Equally intriguing is his assault on the idea of Faith as being a personal decision, a “leap of Faith” that puts its trust in no facts whatsoever. This thought is probably more dangerous to Christianity today than any single other heresy. A Faith that has no foundation is no faith at all, and invites one to treat all religions the same, basically as fictions meant to make you feel better about yourself. He argues quite effectively that the logical line to the Christian faith, is first belief in God and then in Jesus, that the two are interrelated and are not easily separated is an intriguing one. In doing apologetics I like to start and end with the historical resurrection, something that W.P. does extremely well defending, and argue that this validates Christ’s claims not only to be God, but also about God. This does work, but at other times I have found some resistant to such argumentation, and W.P. has made me at least reexamine some of my underlying thoughts on all that. It may be a longer row to hoe to go his way, but perhaps needed, at least in some cases. The only real objection I have to this book, is that W.P. makes no sense whatsoever when speaking about the Virgin Birth. He is all over the map on that one, denying it, and yet trying to affirm it at the same time. I am not quite sure what his ultimate hang up is with that. In this he concedes way to readily to liberal scholarship and presuppositions. His whole argumentation seems to stand and fall though with Markan Priority, which is something I myself have never been fully convinced of. Call me traditional, or Lutheran, but Matthew was first, and Markan Priority is a Calvinist Camel with its nose in the tent.

Three Days

2011-12-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 8:1-10 (ESV) In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, [2] "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. [3] And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away." [4] And his disciples answered him, "How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?" [5] And he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven." [6] And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. [7] And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. [8] And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. [9] And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. [10] And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha. They had been with him 3 days, when they ran out of food. I marvel at that somehow. 3 days of listening to Jesus preach. Yes, I’m a bit jealous. And yet I don’t know that I would have been among those who went to hear Jesus. Sure I like to think I would have been. I probably would have been a Pharisee. Who really knows. Maybe I’m in awe, that Jesus could keep their attention for three days. I have a hard time listening to someone for 10 minutes, something I keep in mind when writing a sermon.In any case, Jesus has compassion on them, they have run out of food, and probably did not have much to begin with. He makes bread for them. Funny, the man who refused to feed himself with miraculous powers in the desert, is more than happy to feed others with his miraculous powers. On the third day, he became the bread of life for us.

Ephphatha

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 7:31-37 (ESV) Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. [32] And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. [33] And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. [34] And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." [35] And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. [36] And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. [37] And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." “He has done all things well, He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” And so he does even today. Every time another person comes to faith, it is the work of God opening one’s ears, and giving speech to ones mouth. But it does not end there. Many of us believers find ourselves deaf and mute. Something is constantly blocking our ears from God’s word. It gets neglected in our lives. I run into people at times who believe but have problems with this or that aspect of the Bible. Ephphatha! Or have trouble communicating the faith. Think on this, every time you open your mouth to speak to another about Christ, a miracle is happening, The Holy Spirit is operating, and he is using you.

Even the dogs....

2011-12-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 7:24-30 (ESV) And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. [25] But immediately a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. [26] Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. [27] And he said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." [28] But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." [29] And he said to her, "For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter." [30] And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. “Yes, Lord; even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Jesus was testing the woman’s faith, and not for his benefit. There is something we can learn from this, and about how faith works in us. This isn’t about our relationship to Jews or any other such thing, but our relationship to god. We are his humble servants. The woman in showing the humility to compare herself with dog’s not only throws a classic rejoinder at Jesus, which must have tickled him, but it shows the true position of faith. There is no bragging here of all that she has done. There is no talk of how strong her faith is or isn’t No talk about what she deserves or doesn’t because of all the great things she has done. In the end, she regards herself as a dog, and only asks for the crumbs, that dogs so quickly eat from the floor. So we all have reason to regard ourselves before God.

Foolishness

2011-12-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 7:17-23 (ESV) And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. [18] And he said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, [19] since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.) [20] And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. [21] For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, [22] coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. [23] All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." “Thus He declared all foods clean." It's sort of funny. This is Peter’s Gospel. At least that is how Peter regarded it. We know this from the writings of Eusebius who records Papias, who leaves a written account concerning Peter and Mark. Mark was Peter’s disciple, and wrote the gospel piecing together what Peter had said of Christ. In any case I say that is funny, because Peter recording this, and it was Peter who received the vision and went to the Centurion Cornelius’s house, knowing that all food was clean. But it was Peter who Paul had to admonish for falling into the temptations of the Judaizers, for making the kingdom of God about food and drink. But man seems to always have this backwards. We are much too proud of ourselves. We like to think our intentions are good. We like to think our hearts are worthy gifts for God. The problems with our hearts, is they are sinful by nature. This sin taints the best of our intentions, which normally end up showing themselves in foolishness. Foolishness, isn’t that one a humdinger. I mean here is a list of sins that just lists one bad thing after another, and ends with foolishness. Foolishness, when was the last time you found that to be evil? God puts in on par with adultery here. That’s nuts! It’s crazy! We write foolishness off as being more or less harmless, a source of entertainment, something to be laughed at. Of course that might be an indication of how different our society is from that in which Christ lived. People took themselves a bit more seriously in his day. We would consider bragging the nonchalance way they would blow their own horn. Foolishness was a trap that would fall on them, no one can take pride in foolishness. Well I shouldn’t say no one. But it wasn’t something most would brag about. But then look at foolishness and all the harm it actually does cause, when well meaning people show themselves to be foolish in the execution of their best intentions. How often does it happen that someone has great intentions, but their foolishness actually harms their cause rather than helping it? I can chock a lot of bad moments in life, to foolishness, naivety, stupidity, and being wet behind the ears. And when I see at times how my foolishness has effected the lives of others, especially as a pastor, getting into quarrels that I should have avoided, because I was foolish. How my foolishness as a young naïve pastor sunk my first couple years of confirmation classes, or caused some to leave, when I rather would have had them stay, because I was foolish in the way I handled their problems. Now I know how evil foolishness really is, and how evil I am. Well that right there is a foolish statement, I doubt I’ll ever have plumbed the depths of my foolishness, I doubt I’ll ever plumb the depths or sin and evil within me. So thanks be to God, it is not what goes out of a man that cleanses him, but what comes in, his body and his blood, which when I eat defiles me not, but forgives my sins and cleanses my soul.

What comes out of a Person....

2011-12-05T15:49:00.001-07:00

Mark 7:14-15 (ESV) And he called the people to him again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand: [15] There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him." “But the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” Jesus reiterates this time and time again. Man wants to make the kingdom of God about food and drink. Over the years, all sorts of things have been demanded concerning food and drink. Legend has it that the tradition of ham for Easter stems from the practice of forcing converts to affirm their conversion to Christianity in the Middle Ages, when the only adult converts to the faith would be Jews and Muslims. At one time, Coffee was condemned by pietist sects as being the Turkish drink. That never lasted too long among the pietist sects even. Of course today, it still has life within Mormonism that strangely forbids the drinking of Coffee and Tea, but not Coke, or any other caffeinated drink. The ban actually bans hot drinks, but for some reason hot coco and cider get a pass. (Can you really imagine surviving a Utah winter without a hot beverage?) Not too long ago, Joel Osteen attacked the eating of pork. Seventh day Adventists have a huge thing about a person’s diet. People seem to be fascinated by diets. By restricting some foods, recommending others. All these things deal with aspects of this world. Food is food and it has no bearing on one’s relation to God. Not since Jesus came along. In fact, What Jesus is saying here would have seemed somewhat blasphemous to the Jewish hearers. The early Christian church really had a hard time wrapping it’s head around this one. Even the great council in Jerusalem made itself largely a matter of eating and drinking, what goes into ones mouth. But it is the things that come out of a person that defile them. And Jesus isn’t making reference to deification. But the things a person thinks, says and does. Sin does not have its origin outside of us, as much as we want to blame it on temptations outside of us, these merely play on our inner desires. So leave food and drink out of it. If a German wants blood sausage, let him have it. Beer, wine, whiskey, cigarettes and cigars, there may be reasons to treat them with moderation, or even avoid them all together, but there isn’t a reason to make the kingdom of God, or make it a sign of faith that one abstains from them, or on rare occasions that they actually make use of them. I mean I find it hard to believe, but there are actually Lutherans out there that don’t drink beer, or wine, they are free in this regard.

Stay awake, Your salvation Draws Near

2011-12-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Luke 21:25-36 (ESV) "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, [26] people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [27] And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." [29] And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. [30] As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. [31] So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. [32] Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. [33] Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. [34] "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. [35] For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. [36] But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. “ Last time I journeyed into salt lake on the I-80 I think it was still there, the sign warning us of the end. Most predicted Harold Camping would be yet again proven a kook. And he was. Yet everywhere I went this last year, I met with uncertainty and heavy hearts. The slim chance he might have been right, was enough to put fear in many, a second guessing what if? And if it isn’t Harold Camping it is some Mayan Calendar, and if it isn’t that it is some massive catastrophy to be set off by the fact that the clock on your computer won’t know what year it is, because you know, the whole world is connected and controlled by that tiny little clock to the lower right of your computer, oh and it is the Millenium, no wait it’s next year. And it seems every year, something is happening to bring out the would be prophets to say, this is the year, this is the last. And thousands buy into it year after year, and some you run into look positively tired, worn out, exhausted from the hype, the hype they buy into year after year, a hype not accompanied with gladness, not anticipated with joy. They look with fear, and dread, paranoia. They stock up on food items, guns, generators. I’m not sure what they think those things are going to do for them on the last day. Why should you prepare for a day, by storing up food items to last you two years? It seems to go against all the good advice Jesus ever gave, about worrying about tomorrow. About worrying what you will eat, what you will wear, and the need to seek first the kingdom of God. Or the richman who builds barns to store his wealth, and his life is taken from him that very night. Want to prepare for the coming of Christ? Seems to me you should give that two years worth of food to someone who needs it. Spend the money on charity, support your church, and pray. Praying might help. It doesn’t seem to get enough play time in the lives of Christians anymore. Nothing could be more important, not for you and not for those around you. Truth is, we don’t know the time or the hour, the day. Christ warns us not to listen to those who say they do, who make their money off of fear mongering. We don’t have anything to fear for ourselves. We know that the day that comes is our salvation drawing near. Since birth we have been prepared, baptized in the waters of sanctification, made holy. With eager joy we anticipate our salvation, whether we see the great and glorious day before we die or not. We live with the signs. They are around us. The fig tree has blossomed even in the days of the apostles. We are well aware of the season. We don’t get mixed up in hype, but we stay awake. Salvation is drawing near. As time wears on, there are reasons for concern here and there. Parents worry for their children, friends for friends, perhaps, when we heed Christ’s words we even think on our enemies and pray for them, the most loving thing a person can ever do for another human. Fear and concern have their best outlets in prayer, even as our souls find comfort and strength, nourishment in God’s word and regular attendance to the Lord’s Supper where Jesus gives us his body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, where righteousness is freely given, that the prayers of a righteous man would be heard in the courts of a righteous, just and holy God. “Stay awake,” our Lord tells us, don’t be dragged down with dissipation and drunkenness. Oh those are the ways of the world. That is what the world does with fear and concern. Dissipation, that which this season of the year is so well known for, over-indulgence, overspending and squandering of wealth, drunkenness, as everyone begins to celebrate Christmas in anticipation of a day, upon which Christmas is hardly celebrated anymore. Christmas morning, I’m lucky to get ten at church. Always seems odd. I know you just went to church the night before! Two days in a row? What?!!! Yep. I have a feeling most people sleep in, unless they are those that think it is sacreligious to open the gifts on Christmas eve, when they are supposed to be opened. This Christmas morning bit is the invention of those who, after long boycotting Christmas as a satanic holiday, and some Christians still try that nonsense, decided that perhaps it wasn’t such a bad idea to celebrate Christ’s birth, but not understanding the Liturgical calendar thought the day started in the morning and not the evening before. There was evening and morning the first day. God knew what he was doing, he has our days start with a nap. See, I say this knowing you could go home after church on Christmas eve, unwrap presents, and then your kids won’t be waking you up at 5.Am making you too tired to go to church at 10. You can all get up at 8 or even nine now, get ready and come to church. Try it. But back to the main point. By the time Christmas comes, were too worn out with dissipation to even enjoy the coming of our messiah. The one thing Christ warns us about in this text. The twelve days of Christmas are all but forgotten, some make it a tradition to buy small gifts on each of these days, a box of Chocolates, or so on for the twelve days following Christmas. Retailers I think would be smart to capitalize on that, rather than thinking twelve days lead up to ChristmasChrist warns us against such things. Not that there isn’t a place for celebration, joy and family. And if ever there was it is the birth of our Lord and savior who humbled himself to become one of us, that he might die in our place. This truly is something to rejoice about, to celebrate, even anticipate with a little joy. Perhaps even more so, new years day when we celebrate his circumcision, where he made the down payment for our sins, spilling blood in our name for the first time, sinless and yet submitting to a law that had no bearing on him, and providing the foundation for our baptism. We are baptized into his circumcision, Col. 2. See there we were prepared for this last day, when that little infant first injured in his manhood for our sins, later to die under the law for our atonement, will come again to rescue us from this world. So stay awake, yes celebrate, but stay awake, mark your day with prayer, keep watch, for the season is at hand, the fig tree has budded, and our salvation is drawing near.

Humilitas

2011-12-02T15:08:00.001-07:00

Humilitas,John DicksonLeadership books are a dime a dozen. But this one is exceptional. Perhaps because it isn’t first and foremost about leadership, it is a book that attempts to define humility, chart its history in western Civilization, and give pointers as to how one might develop it in one’s own life. In the end, you end up realizing, humility is the secret to great leadership. It just is.At first, you have to wonder what kind of pompous jerk would take it upon himself to tell others about humility. It is a paradox that John Dickson deals with well, though. The fear is that the book will be a sermon on humility. It isn’t. At least it doesn’t come off preachy, and the best sermons never do, so maybe it is… I think the book is better towards the middle and going into the end. As a pastor, I found his insights into Jesus Christ to be eye opening. That biographical sketch is necessary, because as Dickson shows, Jesus was the culture changer that made the West recognize humility as a virtue. What western Culture was like before Jesus is completely different than what it has become since his appearance, and he is responsible for the greatest of these changes in one way or another. That Humility seems to be diminishing today, is something to ponder. It is perhaps the greatest indicator of the wane of Christianity in recent years. Should western culture want to regain it’s former glory, though, then it will have to regain appreciation for humility. I suppose it is something we all struggle with.

Easy Money

2011-12-02T14:21:00.001-07:00

Easy Money, by Jens LapidusI was hesitant to pick up this novel, but then found myself thoroughly enjoying it. Jens Lapidus, a criminal defense Lawyer in Stockholm, offers insight into the underworld. One wonders how much of this he has culled from his professional relations with this underworld, and how much of it is pure fiction. I was hesitant, as I thought this was a book that would in adequately try to supply nourishment to a craving created by Stieg Larson. An Hispanic Criminal was cliche, turns out believable though, even in Stockholm, but most of all, because the letter they use for an O in "Easy Money" does not appear in the Swedish Language, that is a Danish Letter. I am glad I picked up the book any way, free was good incentive.Jens tells the story of a young man, JWs, trying to live beyond his means while attending college, a middle class kid trying to party with aristocracy. It is JW's, story more than anything. Added to his struggle is the loss of his sister some years before. JW wants to know what has happened to his sister, does some investigating on his own.The other characters, more or less, serve to compliment JW's Story. They are interesting in themselves, you have Jorge, a refugee from Chile, and Mrado, Rado, and Nenan who form the nucleus of the Serbian mob in Stockholm, all trying to earn a buck and avoid the police while doing so. As other reviewers said, there are no good guys in this novel.Interesting, is the social commentary in the book. The Serbians all fought in the wars that tore up the former Yugoslavia in the mid 90s. Mrado, hates the U.S. for its intervention, almost as much as he hates Muslims. Not only do you get the perspective of criminals, and those who are more than likely also guilty of war crimes, you get a perspective of those wars not available in too many other places. You also see how militias, turn into mafias. (I was awarded the Nato Medal for my services in that war, I feel no guilt for it. I think the problem of Islam is one the west is going to have to deal with, but I don't think the mass murder of civilians is the way to go about it. I also had to laugh a bit, when Jens mentions that Gambling is a Lutheran sin, by which he means something Lutherans consider sinful. I suppose there is some historical warrant for such a statement. But it did seem a bit odd to this Lutheran pastor who likes a game of black Jack or Poker now and then. Slot machines though, you can't play those, they are evil.) The writing style, is clipped. I didn't enjoy it at first. I wouldn't say it grew on me. But I got used to it. Jens I think used that clipped style more at the beginning than he did at the end. But it does persist through out.

The Traditions of Men, Supplanting Righteousness

2011-12-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 7:9-13 (ESV) And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! [10] For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' [11] But you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban' (that is, given to God)— [12] then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, [13] thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do." Reviling your parents is ok, as long as you do it in the name of God, that is what the Pharisees would have you believe. It haunted Luther his whole life, that he had not honored his Dad’s wishes and joined the monastery instead. Of course it was an oath, not to God, but to a saint, that made him join the Monastery. The traditions of men, they so often override God’s word. And I’m not talking about just any traditions here, neither is Jesus. Traditions are traditions, there are good ones. There are indifferent ones. And there are bad ones. I here reformed maligning the church year as a tradition. These are supposedly bad. I suppose they could be. When the liturgical year is celebrated in such a manner as to say that you earn extra grace for participating in certain days, and are maybe penalized for missing days, then yes it is bad. This is what Paul criticizes the Galatians for in the fourth chapter of that letter. I think the given the context of Galatians, these days, months, seasons and years, is the old Jewish calendar whose time had passed. And it is worth while noting that such pious legalism as this is what Paul gets at as satisfying the flesh, and so on in this letter. However, when the seasons are followed by traditions set up to emphasize different aspects of Christ’s life such as we have in the Liturgical year, and is acknowledged to be adiaphron for which one does not earn merit for observing a day, or get penalized for working on Christmas, then the charge that these are traditions of men that need to be done away with is itself a tradition of man. Of course, we are coming on the Christmas season. When I was a kid fundamentalists were mad about the secularization of the holiday, today they seem to have been reading Calvin and Zwingli again, and now they think the holiday is just as evil as the Puritans thought it was. Now parents are afraid to buy their children presents at all, much less in the name of Santa Clause. And from here comes a charge against the whole church year. It doesn’t make sense to me. Myself, I love the fact that as much as everyone for centuries from reformed stick in the muds, to atheists have tried to get rid of Christmas it is such a big part of our culture that it keeps going. The movies surrounding this season have never been good, in my opinion. Yet even there, it is the one time of year that you see a movie, and people just might end up in church. And this is true of the culture too. People come to church on Christmas Eve, not usually Christmas day for some reason. Easter does the same. It isn’t that people think they earn grace that they come, most these days could care less about that. But there is something missing for them if they don’t. They grew up in wonderment of those services that seem to hold special charm despite the pastor’s sermon. Most often they think Christmas and Easter are safe days for coming to church, days when they will hear sermons on themes they are somewhat familiar with. Pastors are prone to give the gospel on these days. So they come. I tend to think that is a good thing. I just do. Sure I wish they’d come more often, but I’ll take it as a start. And I’m glad Christianity still has this cultural hold on them. Love it really. So this is one area where I’d bid my reformed brethren, to join them, you aren’t going to beat them. Have a cup of Gluhwein, and preach the gospel.

Traditions of Men, Replacing the Righteousness of Baptism

2011-12-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 7:1-8 (ESV) Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, [2] they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. [3] (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders, [4] and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) [5] And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" [6] And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, " 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; [7] in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' [8] You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men." So Jesus was righteous and knew it, so he didn’t have to pretend by following traditions of men. So it is with Christians. We are baptized, we are righteous. It gives us freedom. We don’t have to follow traditions of men, pretend to be righteous, or try to be righteous, work on our sanctification as they say these days. And this to me seems to be the problem with Baptist theology, or at least the culture around it. They make baptism into something we do for God. They then do it repetitively, at least in many cases. But baptism to them, is nothing more than a confession of faith, and since they don’t believe it conveys righteousness or sanctification as scripture says, they then make it about the traditions of men. Now it is not baptism that makes you righteous, but the fact that you don’t use colorful language the likes of what Paul used in Phillipians. You Don’t Smoke. You don’t Drink. You don’t dance…. Of course, the sins of which God speak, gossip, coveting, using his name in vain, and by that I mean preaching false doctrine and claiming it doesn’t matter. Some of this is just crass Wesleyanism that would water down the law inorder to make righteousness attainable. But when this road is taken, more often than not, God’s law is swapped for man’s law. And if you do happen to drink a beer and smoke a cigarette, knock up your girlfriend and so on, you can always just be rebaptize, repledge. Be careful though, you might soon figure out that that best waits till you are ready to go, do it once right before death… Or just admit you are a sinner, and Christ forgives you, you are a saint, because “he is our righteousness.”

Baptism in Mark 7

2011-11-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 7:1-4 (ESV) Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, [2] they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. [3] (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders, [4] and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) When the Pharisees make their appearance in a gospel text I know there is going to be something good there. Jesus has to clash with them. He can’t help not to. His idea of righteousness is so at odds with theirs. Unfortunately this isn’t always true of Christians today. Too often Christians align themselves with the Pharisees, over such fundamental things as the forgiveness of sins, and baptism. (A side note, the other day a friend bid me watch a Christopher Hitchens video, in which he weakly impugned the idea of forgiveness saying it lets us off the hook. As I write this, it strikes me that Christopher Hitchens, Pharisees, and Baptists, all seem to have the same hang up here, and by extension the same religion. ) But you see this passage is about baptism, and what it does. Jesus, he was righteous. He knew it, and so was unconcerned with traditions of men, made up to give a person the appearance of righteousness. These many hand washings etc. are nothing more than religious make up. So many these days treat Baptism today, they abuse it with false notions. It works despite them, but you only need it once, and repetitive baptisms are nothing more than religious make up. I’ll return to that tomorrow as I pull in the second half of this section of scripture. I cut it short here though, because the word baptism makes an appearance here, and goes to the very notion and definition of baptism. There are two words in this passage that are translated wash, Nipto and Baptizo in the Greek. Verse four actually has them baptizing couches. But I think the main thing here is that Nipto and Baptizo are used interchangeably for wash. Baptism simply does not have the notion of immersion, though one could immerse to wash, one does not need to.

They won't Leave Him Alone

2011-11-29T07:15:00.001-07:00

Mark 6:53-56 (ESV) When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. [54] And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him [55] and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. [56] And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. Jesus can’t seem to escape the people. It doesn’t matter at which end of the lake he lands, there are people that want him, they want him to heal them. Perhaps it is the tangibility of not being able to walk, and then seeing someone walk. Maybe this is what excites the people. Every once in a while I hear of some charismatic healing another. I normally don’t see people flocking to them. They are greeted with skepticism. I imagine the people in Jesus day were pretty skeptical too, there were as many charlatans and faith healers in his day as there are now. But they flocked to Jesus, wouldn’t leave him alone. Not today. The fact is Jesus eventually heals us all, all of us who believe in him. We have assurance of this in his own resurrection. It may be hope in something we have yet to see, but we have seen the guarantee of our hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And there is quite a bit of healing that goes on even now with belief in Jesus, and the reception of his forgiveness that is the mark of faith. Being forgiven. It is a better healing. It heals relationships. It can be a bitter pill to swallow, it requires humility, it requires an admission that you have something for which you need to be forgiven. But then you are forgiven, made righteous, and given eternal life. And this is a greater healing than any that these others received, who have undoubtedly died since then, though I doubt any perished.

You king Comes to You, Yes you, (First sunday in Advent)

2011-11-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Matthew 21:1-9 (ESV) Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Beth-phage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, [2] saying to them, "Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. [3] If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he will send them at once." [4] This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, [5] "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.' " [6] The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. [7] They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. [8] Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. [9] And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” It does seem odd, the first Sunday in Advent, Christmas carols playing for a month now in the stores. 2 Weeks ago, Thanksgiving not even here yet, and I saw “the Twelve roasts of Christmas” at the grocery store. But we seem to be out doing them, because we have a Palm Sunday text before us, and Holy Week is a lot further out than Christmas is. Thing is most people have no idea what the season of advent is about. It isn’t really Christmas. One reason I love this congregation. Most pastors are mumbling under their breath about right now about advent trees, it not being Christmas etc. I figure in about two weeks someone will realize we don’t yet have a tree and put it up. My cynical side says it is just the laid back nature of this congregation, that never gets too much done in a hurry. My more positive side says it’s the fact this congregation knows the difference between Advent and Christmas. Advent is really an eschatological season, preparing for the coming of our king, the coming of the messiah. In reality it is a season invoking the same expectations of the Jewish people before the advent, the arrival, of Christ. The one that has them in the street crying Hosanna! Or Praise be! Here is there long awaited king, their long awaited Messiah, and they have no idea what they are waiting for, who he really is, what he will really do. This is the fulfillment of their hope, but it isn’t what they expected. The Son of David, coming in the name of the Lord. Their king coming to them on a donkey. Who would expect this? Even when it is written so plainly in scripture, it is not quite what they expect. It wasn’t what John the Baptist expected either. Neither were they expecting God to come as a child born of a virgin, to be laid in a manger. But in this manner, your king comes to you, oh Zion, yes you. You are Zion. I suppose that is somewhat a dangerous statement. We live in a state that has twisted the meaning of Zion. They weren’t the first. A movie about Walther came out a month ago. We really should watch it for Bible Study. He was considered the founder of the Missouri Synod, but the story doesn’t really start with him. It actually starts with a cult like frenzy around a charismatic fellow. I tell you now, I get queasy with the comparisons between that early group of settlers, and the pioneers of Utah. The only thing I can see that accounts for the differences in outcome is the word of God. It is amazing to see the repentance and wrestling of the people to remain true to God’s word. They thought they were Zion, they were, but not in the way one would first think. Zion, the kingdom of God, is not about earthly government, even if that government calls itself a church, a bishop, or a prophet. Zion the kingdom of God, is a spiritual kingdom. As it says in Romans 14, it is not about eating and drinking, but of righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. The Kingdom of God, Zion, is then spiritual. The righteousness is not about those things that we think make for righteousness, food and drink. That would make it an earthly kingdom, a matter of this world, that would make the righteousness depend on us and what we do. But it is his kingdom, his reign. It depends not on us but on our king who comes to us humble, on a donkey, to die for our sin. That is where Holy week culminates, his death for our life, assured by his resurrection. That is our messiah, our savior. And he comes to you. He comes today, he comes here. He comes in his word read, his word proclaimed, his word made flesh and blood for the forgiveness of sins, in bread and wine. Here, here he comes to forgive you your sins, to give you righteousness, and peace, and Joy in the Holy Spirit, for this reason he came as a baby to be laid in a manger, for this reason he came as a wandering prophet, for this reason he came humble on a donkey, and for this reason he makes himself known wherever two or three are gathered in his name. Behold, Zion, He is with you always, and yet he still comes. Yet he still comes. So we pray, thy kingdom come. So we pray, even so Lord, come quickly. Maranatha.

Jesus Gets In The Boat.

2011-11-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 6:45-52 (ESV) Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. [46] And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. [47] And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. [48] And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, [49] but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, [50] for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." [51] And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, [52] for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. “For they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.” It’s a rather startling phrase. Sometimes you don’t get the writers of the New Testament, they don’t show themselves on their best behavior. I mean, I would never admit to having hardened my heart towards Jesus, or not understanding the loaves, not if I was writing this. Amazing. The disciples themselves had a hard time swallowing Jesus, even as they ate the loaves. But Jesus walking on water, and making the wind stop, that sobers them up a little. You can buck the system if you want, but it will be a long hard row against the wind, and you’ll gain nothing. This is what people do when they want to have Jesus on their own terms. When they want Jesus to be impressed with their works rather than Jesus on the Cross. This is the way of those who want Jesus kissing babies, but not driving out the money changers, or crossing words with the Pharisees. But that isn’t Jesus. He does what he does, when he wants. So call out to him, get him to jump in your boat, it will be better that way than if he walks on by.

The Kingdom has Arrived

2011-11-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 6:33-44 (ESV) Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. [34] When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. [35] And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. [36] Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." [37] But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." And they said to him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?" [38] And he said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they had found out, they said, "Five, and two fish." [39] Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. [40] So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. [41] And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. [42] And they all ate and were satisfied. [43] And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. [44] And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. Thinking about labeling this one, leave your cell phones at home. Poor guys trying to get away, and everybody comes running after. There isn’t any rest for the wicked, and neither does there seem to be any rest for the righteous. Rather than less work, now they have more work. Jesus has the patience of Job. Maybe Job wished he had the Patience Jesus has hear. I’d be kind of put out I think. Jesus? Not so much. He decides to perform another miracle. Feeds five thousand with a couple loaves of bread and two fish. Not bad. The kingdom has arrived folks, the kingdom has arrived.

Need a Break

2011-11-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 6:21-32 (ESV) But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. [22] For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you." [23] And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom." [24] And she went out and said to her mother, "For what should I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist." [25] And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." [26] And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. [27] And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison [28] and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. [29] When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. [30] The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. [31] And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. [32] And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going and they had no leisure even to eat.” Perhaps, I just need a vacation and so I am grabbed by this. But I don’t know that I need just any vacation. I’m contemplating symposia right now, the one at Ft. Wayne. They normally have good speakers, good content. That’s fine. I’ve only been twice since becoming a pastor. The thing I like about it, what always begs me to return is camaraderie. Old friends, new friends sharing war stories over a beer. I think I could use that right now. I think that is what Jesus is getting at here. It is a bit of advice. Sometimes there are just traumatic events in a person’s life. Here the disciples of John had to be at an all time low. People are still pressing them from all sides, as they are just trying to figure out what happened. They need sometime to regroup, sort it through, figure out what to do next. They had to get some rest, take care of their own souls, mourn, grieve, process. There doesn’t necessarily have to be a traumatic event for this to be needed. Sometimes, you just need a break from the daily grind. Perhaps it’s just the stack up. And sometimes this requires going away. It isn’t something that can be done close to home, or even at home. Staycations are not vacations.

Was greatly Perplexed, but heard him gladly

2011-11-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 6:14-20 (ESV) King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him." [15] But others said, "He is Elijah." And others said, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." [16] But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised." [17] For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. [18] For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." [19] And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, [20] for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. “When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.” These are the kinds of people that occupy my prayers and keep me up at night. Sometimes I don’t know. There is law and there is gospel and they are in tension. I guess the phrase is “open and manifest sin” it can’t be ignored. And it bugs the hell out of me. I want to ignore it. I’m no less a sinner than they are. On my part, I can’t bring myself to do it. It’s the people who come to church Sunday after Sunday, but don’t come to communion because they are shacked up with boyfriends and girlfriends, and aren’t planning on marriage. Sometimes, it isn’t up to them anymore, they made a bad decision a while back, perhaps the only decision they saw open. Like the Samaritan woman at the well, been divorced and the man she now lives with is not her husband. (Theologians these days, it seems, don’t pay enough attention to that story and what it means for the Biblical concept of marriage, enough of this b.s. about being married to every girl you have sex with. Yes a one flesh union has occurred there, but it isn’t marriage.) Perhaps the man they are dependent on now for financial reasons doesn’t want to get married. I’ve seen the reverse be true too. I really don’t know what to do there. I think I’m as perplexed as they are, maybe more so. I see them as victims of another’s sin. Tell you the truth, given that they have been instructed, should these individuals come forward for the Lord’s Supper, I think I would not have the heart not to commune them. That is I think I’d commune them. Of course, then I wonder what that would mean for others. We are in communion, we who partake of the one loaf are one body, what one does, does not effect them alone. I pray for the younger generations, sometimes I pray that they show better wisdom than those in the older generations, refrain from these mistakes. Would we be condoning, encouraging these bad choices if we gave the wink, causing more grief, more broken homes, fatherless, children? Well it is somewhat the same position I think Herod was in. I don’t think he was a very strong man. I wonder what blackmail Herodias had over his head. I wonder why he didn’t just put her away. He heard John gladly. He was torn. In the end John dies. In the end the gospel loses. He gladly heard john. He knew John was right, knew he was correct. Knew he was sinful. But he was unwilling to do anything about it. Perhaps, in the end, that describes all of us to some degree. Forgiveness. Repentance.

God has not destined you to wrath

2011-11-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

1 Thes. 5:1-11 (ESV) Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. [2] For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. [3] While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. [4] But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. [5] For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. [6] So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. [7] For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. [8] But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. [9] For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, [10] who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. [11] Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. Judgment day, That is what today is about. The last Sunday in the church year. It has been known as Christ the King Sunday. The day we celebrate an event that has not yet happened, but an event that we know will happen. Perhaps that is misleading, it doesn’t give full reality to the paradox of now and not yet. For the event has happened, and yet it waits for completion, for the full glory of it to fall, for the day to come like a thief in the night, utter destruction for the world, utter grace and salvation for us who have not been destined for the wrath of God. For we have salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. The text translates it, “obtain salvation through him,” Peripetosin, the Greek word, can mean that or to safe guard and keep, or to possess. My Swedish Bible, often a true translation due to the fact that it uses the language of heaven, translates it to win. However you translate that verb, I think the emphasis needs to be on the “through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that … we might live with him. Judgment day has happened as I said, theologians like to say that Christ’s life on earth, his death on the cross was a proleptic event. That is a fancy way to say, that it was an event that happened before its time so to speak. It was the day of our Lord, in which the world was judged, and an innocent man died as a sacrifice in its stead, in it’s place. Our Lord Jesus Christ took the judgment, so that we would win, obtain, possess salvation through him. That we might live with him because he died for us. Yes he died for us. Phenomenal thing. Dawkins quite recently has made it popular to characterize God, our lord Jesus Christ, as a capricious demoniac, well he doesn’t believe in demons, so a jerk, who demands our obedience, and won’t give us a pass for living a “decent and charitable life” but demands we believe in him before he will give us salvation. I hear this juvenile bile, and delinquent thinking quite often from certain quarters, being parroted by people who think they are quite brilliant. I find it to be quite dumbfounding and ignorant. And I have to laugh a little at the thought of these people trying to argue their case infront of God, claiming that they have lived a decent and charitable life. Not that I think they are any worse than anyone else I know, but neither do I think they are any better. And I think the self-righteousness with which they try to lambast belief in God, has a stench to it. I personally don’t want God to let that stench in to heaven. No bother, God literally can’t stand it, his holiness must consume such sin as fire does paper. We don’t make it in on our own merits, we have none. We have salvation through Christ or we have nothing. But to lambast a God as capricious, who of his own free will climbed into the bed we made and slept in it. To lambast him as capricious for being honest with us and exposing our sin, and then dying for us on the cross anyway that we might have salvation. That doesn’t work. God, Jesus, did that out of love for us. For you. Who else do you know willing to die for his enemies, that they might live with him. And so yes, he demands that we believe in him. Is that such a hard thing? Is it so harsh that we acknowledge him who died for us and rose from the dead to give us life as our Lord? A God who so loves us, so loves you and I, that he forgives our sins, atoning for it with his very own blood? Foolish indeed is the person who does not believe. Foolish indeed like the virgins left out in the cold. Our lord desires not your damnation. I’ll say it again, our Lord desires not your damnation, desires not your destruction, the death of the wicked, and wicked you are. Damnation, destruction, condemnation and hell fire is what you deserve, it’s what I deserve. We are sinners, and we sin profusely, we sin in thought word and deed. I imagine God when he looks at us, sees us a bit like the cross I have around my neck. Most people don’t see it, or they are too polite to say. I made it out of agate, and by all accounts it’s beautiful, but one of the points in the fleur de lis did not come out quite right, there was some junk there on the edge of the slab where it cut. I live with it. I might fix it this next week. But that slight imperfection, reminds me that I am not perfect. God created us perfect. But I am no longer perfect. And you know what that little imperfection on the cross does to me? It drives me nuts, half the time I want to throw it in the trash and start over, with a new slab. But then I like it too much. So it is with us. But we destroyed ourselves, we are not imperfect on behalf of the God who created us, but on behalf of our sin. And God cannot tolerate that imperfection. So he decided to fix us, though it require in a way our destruction, so that we can be then re-created in a new heaven and a new earth. To accomplish this he sent his son, to live the perfect life we should have lived, to die as a sacrifice for us, to rise again to new life, so that now we might die in him and be raised to new life, so that when we die we do not perish but receive eternal life. God clearly does not want your destruction. He is a jealous God, who like a jealous lover goes to great lengths to win his lover back. Some people view jealousy as a character flaw, but then I think most women would like to know that there is at least a tinge of jealousy in their husbands, one can’t really love without jealousy. It is no sign of manhood to be unmoved as one’s wife flirts with another man, and neither should a woman be not jealous of her husband, when he flirts with the waitress. Jealousy can get out of hand, but in itself it is not a bad thing, it is but one aspect of love. And it is God’s love for you, his jealousy for you his creation that has inspired him to go through such great lengths to secure your salvation, your redemption. But his jealousy knows limits, and he won’t sit and beg for your love. He offers you his, he gives you salvation. But if you don’t want it, go on with your juvenile objections, your idiotic attempts at brilliance, as the text for today alludes, be drunk, be stupid. Go to hell, God won’t stop you, if that is what you really want to do, reject his son, reject his cross, reject his salvation. By all means don’t question your own facile attempts at brilliance, don’t investigate the Christian faith to see if it has any answers to your questions, after surviving two thousand years and giving birth to western culture as we know it, including the scientific revolution. But then if hell fire and brimstone does not appeal to you. Be awake, be sober, wait for the day of the lord with joy, because with it comes your salvation. For God has not destined you to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, who forgives our sins.

Repent!

2011-11-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 6:7-13 (ESV) And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. [8] He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— [9] but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. [10] And he said to them, "Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. [11] And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." [12] So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. [13] And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them. “So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.” How does one repent? One sometimes wishes that you could hear a few of these sermons. See what they are about. How they instructed people to repent. Repent. It’s a word that confuses today. People think of repentence as saying sorry, or perhaps changing behavior. It is more than that. I think the misnomer occurs because of a confusion as to what sin is. Sin is unbelief. To repent of sin means to believe. I’ll illustrate it. What is the first commandment? “you shall have no other gods.” If we were to keep this commandment perfectly the other nine would not even be a question for us. Every time we break any one of the nine commandments that follow the first, we show that there is something we fear, love and or trust in more than God. This isn’t about crass idolatry, though it covers that too. But every sin we commit is a product of unbelief. Which means Christians are always left standing like the father praying “Lord I believe, help my unbelief.” One cannot repent without grabbing hold of the Gospel. One cannot repent without holding to the gospel, without being forgiven of one’s sins. To be forgiven, to receive forgiveness with joy, the kingdom of God, his reign in your heart, that is repentance. And this is where modern notions of repentance, are most often at odds with true repentance. When repentance becomes a prerequisite for forgiveness, it is not repentance. When repentance is thought of as something we must do, something that is akin to holding up our end of the bargain, it is not repentance. Repentance, when thought of as merely curbing bad behavior, is not repentance, though repentance will have the effect of curbing bad behavior, even when you find you still engage in it. Repentance, if it be repentance, is a gift from God, every bit as much a gift from God as is faith, indeed, repentance can’t be had without faith. So for true repentance to be proclaimed, Christ and him Crucified needs to be proclaimed. It’s that simple. For telling one to repent, is like telling someone they need to believe. They can’t believe if you don’t give them something to believe in. If you don’t preach Christ and him Crucified, if you don’t let the world know that it has been reconciled to God through Christ, then you haven’t preached faith or repentance, you have turned them back to the same god’s they had before, themselves.

A Pastor In His Household

2011-11-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 6:1-6 (ESV) He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. [2] And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? [3] Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. [4] And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household." [5] And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. [6] And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. “A prophet is not without honor, except….” Family, it’s a hard thing for a pastor. I think about growing up in a pastor’s house sometimes. It wasn’t easy. My dad certainly did not have the respect he deserved from me. I suppose this is difficult for most growing up as Pks. I don’t know that my dad had it all that easy trying to balance being a father and a pastor. I think he was probably a better pastor in my younger years. A man in this office is almost forced to make a choice between the two. I remember looking on with Jealousy as friends went fishing on Sunday morning. He was the pastor. And you can’t really be your family’s pastor. It’s just not the same. A pastor’s wife is as pastorless as the pastor, all the more reason for a pastor to have a pastor. But you get the point. It isn’t easy. Your brothers and sisters that grow up with you, are probably going to have a hard time taking you seriously as a pastor. Your parents? Your friends parents would find it easier. So just don’t even try there. Let someone else be their pastor, that is not your job. And drop the airs. I don’t know, I think that was the problem growing up. Especially in a small town. People expected things of the pastor and his family. That they would more or less be as dysfunctional as the family next door, was not what they expected. All that jazz in Timothy and Titus I suppose about managing a family. I’m not sure that I know what all that means. I think I read that once, and made a conscious effort to be unruly to discredit my dad. It didn’t work. I think the town’s people were unto me. Oh well, a pastor may not be a prophet in the sense of which Jesus is speaking here. He still has something to learn from that quip, anyone who makes a living proclaiming God’s word does. When you get home it’s time to be dad. Time to be a husband, because at home, you can’t be pastor.

Jesus Heals the Girl

2011-11-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 5:35-43 (ESV) While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?" [36] But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe." [37] And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. [38] They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. [39] And when he had entered, he said to them, "Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping." [40] And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. [41] Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Talitha cumi," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." [42] And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. [43] And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. We understand now, how urgent was the situation with which the ruler came to Jesus. The people had thought that the girl had died. One does wonder why they bother to go and tell the ruler to stop bothering Jesus. They evidently did not think Jesus could do anything for the girl. One can guess that they were not fans of Jesus. Perhaps they didn’t want the ruler to endorse Jesus, were hoping the girl would die before jesus was able to do anything to get the rule to believe him. In anycase Jesus doesn’t pay much attention. One does wonder if the girl was really dead or not as the servants said she was. Jesus says she was just sleeping. Maybe she had not yet died, but was just barely hanging on. It doesn’t make much difference, the servants were ready to burry her. Jesus heals her too. And of course the rest of them, are amazed.

You faith has made you well

2011-11-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 5:25-34 (ESV) And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, [26] and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. [27] She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. [28] For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I will be made well." [29] And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. [30] And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, "Who touched my garments?" [31] And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, 'Who touched me?' " [32] And he looked around to see who had done it. [33] But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. [34] And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease." “But the woman came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.” I don’t know that I can even begin to understand what it must have been like to be this woman. She had been unclean for 12 years. Women in this condition were supposed to politely remove themselves from society until which time the bleeding stopped. Doable I suppose for a week. 12 years? But her and anyone she touched would be considered unclean, unable to go to the temple, unable to participate in the festivals. They could come back and join society when they were no longer bloated, and cranky. This puts the woman in a little bit of a predicament. By touching Jesus she makes him unclean. Of course it is a matter of performing a couple rituals and waiting to become clean again, but it was at least a hassle. In touching Jesus, in touching his clothes, she did something that could be considered sinning against him. Technically she had made him unclean. So she responds in fear and trembling to the questions Jesus asks of the crowd. But Jesus heals her, and dismisses her. He lets her know that her faith has made her well. So when we come into contact with Christ, we too make him unclean, we contaminate him with our sin. But when we do so in faith, we are made well. Jesus Cleans us and makes us well. But we don’t merely touch his robes. Christ gives us his very own body and blood to forgive our sins, we consume his very flesh, and there our faith makes us well.

Twenty Second Sunday after Trinity

2011-11-14T16:50:00.001-07:00

Signs and Wonders Descended into Hell

Unless you see signs and wonders

2011-11-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

John 4:46-54 (ESV) So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. [47] When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. [48] So Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." [49] The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." [50] Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. [51] As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. [52] So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." [53] The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." And he himself believed, and all his household. [54] This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. “Unless you see sings and wonders you will not believe.” Jesus says it matter of factly. He hints that perhaps this shouldn’t be a requirement for belief, but in his mercy he offers the man a miracle. Tells him his son will live. The man believes him. Strangely enough, in the telling of this story, it says again after the boy is healed that the himself believed and all his household. There is faith and there is faith. The man believes all the more when the miracle is accomplished. “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”Sadly, many don’t believe even when they do see signs and wonders. I often wonder what kind of a sign, what kind of a wonder one has to see in order to believe. Maybe we don’t see miracles every day in our own life. Perhaps we are just blind to them. Perhaps we need to know what a miracle is. People don’t believe in God these days. They think one has to deny God, and accept evolution to be an intellectual. Rick Perry has been criticized for being anti intellectual because he doesn’t believe in Evolution for instance. I mean I don’t know the guy very well, and I don’t mean to be arguing politics, just bringing up from that discussion an example of the cultural zeitgeist with which we contend. Perhaps he is an anti intellectual, does seem to have a problem remembering things. But I wouldn’t call someone anti intellectual because they have problems with scientific naturalism, materialism, or the idea that evolution can explain all of life without recourse to God. I mean to do so, would be to call Karl Popper the father of Twentieth century Philosophy of Science and anti intellectual. To do so would impale Ludwig Wittgenstein as anti intellectual. I mean let me just give you a few names of men known for their intellectual prowess who remained, or remain unconvinced that evolution has the ability to explain all of life, Thomas Nagel, (one of today’s most prominent professors of Philosophy and constitutional law), Antony Flew, who was a hard boiled atheist and proponent of evolution until the last years of his life, when he was convinced by the intelligent design arguments the media would have you believe are anti intellectual. And sure these men are philosophers and not scientists, though they spend or have spent quite a bit of time looking at the arguments for evolution, and their realm of thought, analytical philosophy, specializes in critiquing arguments with logic. But then you also have men like Gregory Mendel, the father of genetics, whose whole theory was ignored for over thirty years, and by some realms of biology was being denied as recently as 1998, but whose theory forms the basis of paternity tests, and gave birth to DNA research. In the meantime, I have spent the last few months reading evolutionists, and judging by the blurbs on the jackets, the best the scientific community has to offer for arguments in favor of evolution, and do think those men could stand to take a few courses in logic, and come to understand what is and isn’t an argument. All this to say, quite frankly, want to see a miracle, go look in the mirror. Science is at a loss to explain how algae came into existence, Sceince can’t explain even the simplest of life forms, how bacteria came into existence, much less you. And until it can, it is rather useless for them to be arguing about how many life forms or what kind of life forms were first. Creation itself speaks that there is a creator, men are without excuse as it says in Romans. But I do wonder what kind of sign or wonder it would take. What kind of sign or wonder does it take for you. See jesus wasn’t getting at the existence of God. Theman he talked to was a leader of a synagogue. He didn’t need to be convinced there was a God. He needed to be convinced that Jesus Christ was who he claimed to be, the messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, God in the flesh. He was convinced by the healing of his son, the synagogue ruler was. What will convince you and I, what will convince your neighbors? What will convince guilty sinners? That’s the question. I firmly believe that most, even atheists, have a form of faith. I am convinced that most, not all, but many if not most, grab hold of shoddy arguments, because they like demons believe God is one, and shudder, as James says. Sure Christian faith is as Luther says in the 1st commandment a fear, love and trust in God. Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. But fear alone is not the faith of which paul speaks when he says “we believe we are justified by faith apart from works of the law.’ That faith is a fear, love and trust in God that is born of the gospel, born of forgiveness, born of the Holy Spirit working in and through the word of God that says “your sins are forgiven”, believe and be baptized and wash away your sins. See, perhaps the biggest hurdle to faith in God, is ironically the fear of God. We all have it, and not without good reason. We are sinners, and he is holy. We cannot stand in his light. We are like five year olds, who broke the cookie jar hiding from their parents under the bed for fear of punishment, fear of a spanking, fear of a scolding. We know what we deserve for our sins. And quite frankly the thought of God, should maybe terrify us a little when we contemplate our sin. These are not light matters. They are children of God, bought and paid for with the blood of Christ we sin against, when we lie to them, snub them, when we pass them buy cold and hungry on a street corner and offer them nothing to eat, zipping up our coats as we jump in our car and turn on the heater. They are children of God, created in his image, redeemed with his blood, just as we have been redeemed of his blood. How should God look at us who so despise his forgiveness that we act without charity to our fellow man, or woman. When we refuse to forgive as we have been forgiven. There is a naivety about Christianity today. A naivety that thinks of God as some sort of all forgiving, all loving, never angry grandpa, who would never so much as raise his voice at us for our sin. Some how we fail to conceive of his holiness, his righteousness or take it seriously. There is a naivety that would all but treat God as our equal. Of course, that is perhaps the biggest problem with Mormonism, is the idea that perhaps God is a little better than us now, but there comes a day when we will be his equal, be gods like him. We fail to see that God’s Holiness, as if by default demands our death. That we cannot stand in his presence anymore than wadded newspaper can survive our bbq pit on a summer Sunday afternoon. What sign, what wonder? Nothing but that which Jesus calls the sign of Jonah. That is the only sign, that will cause one to believe, cause one to go from faith to faith, from fear to fear love and trust. What sign and wonder? His death and resurrection. Because there, Jesus the man who claims to be God wins victory over our death, forgives our sins on the cross, and rises to life to give us life in him. There it is that we see what God’s holiness demands on account of our sin, our murderous thoughts, our get rich quick off the gullibility of our neighbor schemes, our adulterous dalliances, that we down play in our head as harmless fun. And there we see the satisfaction pain in the blood of the lamb who takes away the sin of the world. And in the resurrection we see the vindication of his claims to be God, to be the messiah, to be our savior. There and no where else. The resurrection of Jesus, the empty tomb. And before you say impossible, take a look at the miracle in the mirror. Explain to me how it is you are, and perhaps I’ll entertain your dismissal of miracles.

Some believe,

2011-11-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 5:21-24 (ESV) And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. [22] Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet [23] and implored him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live." [24] And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. Jairus had some faith. He knew what was happening. He knew that all Jesus had to do was lay his hands on his daughter and all would be made well. It is strange though. On one side of the lake, everyone is afraid of Jesus. On the other, everyone flocks to him. I suppose this is true even today. Some people are drawn, others are repelled. Some react in faith, others just in fear. There is no answer to that riddle. Why? But we pray for those we know that they would react to Jesus in faith.

Going home

2011-11-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 5:14-20 (ESV) The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. [15] And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. [16] And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. [17] And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. [18] As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. [19] And he did not permit him but said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." [20] And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. I don’t get the villagers. One might think they would be happy their compatriot was relieved of his suffering. It was too much to take in I suppose. They fear Jesus. I notice this happens often. The people seemed to be more comfortable with the presence of demons, than with the presence of God. I suppose that in and of itself isn’t so peculiar. Birds of a feather flock together. We are comfortable with what we know. We know and understand evil. We are perplexed by forgiveness. Jesus forgives, and because with him there is forgiveness, he is feared. Forgiveness undoes what we are. I am convinced people are more comfortable and hold to their sins like 2 year olds hold teddy bears rather than have someone forgive them. The thought of heaven actually horrifies many, “what will I do if I’m not sinning? I’ll be bored for all eternity!” The man wants to stay with Jesus. This too is natural. He is thankful for what has happened. This is true of Christians too. Thankfully, jesus is with us always where tow or three are gathered. We can find time to be with him in word and prayer. But there is a tendency for Christians to want to separate from the world. Some do it by joining a monastery. Others do it by consuming themselves in church work. There comes a time though, when the Christian must go out into the world, so that Jesus can work through them to heal others, cast out their demons, forgive them their sins. Jesus sends us out, just as he sent this man. To tell others.

The Demons know, and they shudder

2011-11-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 5:1-13 (ESV) They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. [2] And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. [3] He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, [4] for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. [5] Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. [6] And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. [7] And crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." [8] For he was saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" [9] And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many." [10] And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. [11] Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, [12] and they begged him, saying, "Send us to the pigs; let us enter them." [13] So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea. What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? The demon knew who Jesus was. He “believed in Jesus” in a sense, the same way Christians believe in the devil. We acknowledge his existence. But the demon had no love, no trust in Jesus, and no reason too. Jesus didn’t come to save demons, he came to save men. He came to save the sinners, demons possess. The demon had an unholy fear of God. There is a holy fear. But this is not what the demon had. He knew who Jesus was. Knew what he had come to do. Knew that he was doomed, knew that he was in danger. And yet he is evil, and so drawn to his own destruction. He doesn’t flee Jesus, he runs to Jesus. Can’t help but seek his own demise. Sounds like me. Does it sound like you? Jesus has mercy on the man, he casts out the demon. He even honors the demons request and sends him, them into the pigs, the pigs go and drown themselves. Even given a respite from destruction they destroy themselves. Perhaps the pigs would rather be dead, than be possessed.

Calming the Storm

2011-11-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 4:33-41 (ESV) With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. [34] He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything. [35] On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." [36] And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. [37] And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. [38] But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" [39] And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. [40] He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" [41] And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?" I do at times wonder if this is on purpose, that Jesus and Jonah fall asleep on a boat during a storm. I imagine it is. Jonah was but a prefiguring to Jesus, a type. Jonah stays 3 days in the belly of the whale, Jesus in the grave. The sign of Jonah. But where as Jonah has no answer but to throw him over board for calming the sea, Jesus calms the storm. The sailors that accompanied Jonah feared Jonah’s God. The disciples feared Jesus because here they realized he is their God. Jonah needed to sacrifice himself to pacify the storm. Jesus doesn’t sacrifice himself to calm this storm on the sea of Galilee. But he does sacrifice himself to calm the storm that rages in this world, the storm of battle between good and evil, the storm that rages in our hearts that rains with guilt as we contemplate our lives and our sin. Jesus here on the sea of galilee calms the storm with words, But the storm of guilt, the storm of sin and death, he calms first by offering his life as a sacrifice for sin, and then telling you, your sins are forgiven.

All Saints Day Sermons

2011-11-07T15:11:00.000-07:00

All Saints Day Suffered under Pontius Pilate

All Saints Day 2011

2011-11-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Matthew 22:1-14 (ESV) And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, [2] "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, [3] and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. [4] Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.' [5] But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, [6] while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. [7] The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. [8] Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. [9] Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.' [10] And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. [11] "But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. [12] And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. [13] Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' [14] For many are called, but few are chosen." “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ and he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.” “many are called but few are chosen.”It’s All Saints Sunday, All saints day actually being Nov. 1, but this is the Sunday we celebrate it. I Think it is fitting that it also happens to be the day Lutherans Commemorate Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, The Midnight Lion, who saved Lutheranism during the thirty years war. I recommend reading up on him on Wikipedia if nothing else, fascinating man. A great saint. But that brings up a couple questions as to what it means to be a saint. This day is normally set aside to remember the saints that have passed on in the last year from any one particular congregation. We remember Paul Roberts, and Vi Diehl, this year. Blessed souls that did so much over the years to keep this congregation going, but people, in the end no different from you and I. Baptized sinners who loved their Lord, the Lord that made them righteous, made them holy, made them saints, who gave them himself as a wedding garment, because many are called but few are chosen. The parable is a challenging one. It just might put the fear of God into a person. He seems rather capricious to us today, throwing a man out of the party, into the outer darkness, because he didn’t have the right clothes on? It hardly registers for us, not in our west of the Rockies’ laid back, casual dress atmosphere, where wearing a pair of jeans we paid $200 for because they butt is bejeweled counts as dressing up. Perhaps, at a wedding we will dress up, if we’re in the wedding party. But even then, culture has changed. I get a kick out of old hunting and fishing pictures where you see these guys dressed to the nines holding a stringer full of fish or standing next to a buck. But I suspect that even in a more formal society and culture, this treatment would seem a little harsh. After all most people realize that not everyone owns a suit, or can afford to dress up. But that isn’t quite the case of which this parable speaks, because the wedding garment of which Christ here speaks is himself, is freely given to all who are called. This parable isn’t about heaven, but about the church on earth, the church militant, rather than the church triumphant. (Those terms are used to describe two different aspects of the church, the church on earth is still at war, it must fight, it’s weapons are the word of God the scripture likens to a double edged sword, His Law, His Gospel, prayer, absolution, baptism, the Lord’s supper. Here on earth it is an ongoing battle against sin, death and the devil. The Church triumphant are the saints at rest, triumphant in the victory of Christ who has vanquished sin, death and the devil, who has overcome this world that gives us tribulation.) But this parable is the church on earth, where God gives to all a foretaste of the feast to come. Where he invites all to his wedding feast to partake of his gifts, his gospel, to be sanctified by the washing of the water with the word, Clothed in Christ through Holy Baptism, “for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. (Gal. 3:27) To hear his word, his absolution, to feast on the forgiveness of sins. Our wedding garment is Christ, put on through baptism, in which he clothes us with his righteousness. So what makes a saint? The world’s answer is wholly different from God’s answer, from the churches answer. The world would like you to believe that saints are only those who have led exemplary lives, perhaps of self-sacrifice, overflowing with good deeds before the world. Perhaps men who have not only aspired, but attained greatness, men like Gustavus Adolphus. Today, our list of heroes is so short they make a saint of Steve Jobs. I don’t know, perhaps he was. He was baptized Lutheran, but by all accounts he had rejected that baptism long ago, found Buddhism on a trek through India, no longer believed in God, though there are rumors of repentance in the last days. Every day is a last day. Every day a day for repentance. Every day a day to clothe yourself in your baptism, to put on Christ, to live in his righteousness, do destain the wedding garment with the forgiveness of sins. See, we never know when our number is up as they say. We just never do. Steve Jobs, dying of cancer, had time to contemplate. Others get hit by a bus. On the eve of battle, perhaps you have time to sing fear not the foe, with Gustavus Adolphus, to remember victory is yours, in Jesus Christ, who clothed you with his righteousness in baptism, makes you a saint. Baptism isn’t something that happened to you once so long ago. We don’t say, “I was baptized, “any more than a husband who values his life says,” I was married in front of his wife.” We say “I am baptized”. That baptism is now, that baptism is today. That baptism is life itself, the forgiveness of sins, the sanctification of you the sinner. It is not something to discard, to forget, to throw in a dumpster. It is the word of God applied to you, electing you, choosing you who are called. But people discard it all the time. Some perhaps with rioutus living, for a time like the prodigal son. Perhaps like Steve Jobs, they try to find answers in other religions that leave them empty in the end. I can think of nothing more empty than Buddhism. Turn their back on God for the sake of earthly family as we see so often in these parts. Others, completely forget their baptism in another more insidious manner, they find Christ’s righteousness to be stifling, and begin to try clothe themselves in their own righteousness. Repentance gone wrong, repentance done wrong. They try to make up for their sins. Opr perhaps they think Christ’s righteousness just isn’t good enough, it is only a start that they have to perfect. Perhaps they even go to church every Sunday, but in silence for confession of sins, they repent of nothing, they thank God they have managed to live a good life. God will not have this. There is but one righteousness that withstands the wrath of God, the righteousness that rose from the dead on the third day, after having suffered the wrath of God on the cross. Your righteousness may impress the world, it reaks of death before God. He will not stand for the stench of your sin, that which you call good works, that which you think is your righteousness, your best, he will not stand for that in his wedding feast. So he gives you his son, his righteousness, his death for the forgiveness of sins, his resurrection for your justification, Clothes you with him, that you might enjoy the feast. Clothes you with him. Just as he clothed Paul, and he clothed Vi, that on the last day, when we are visited by the king, we are found to be wearing the wedding garment he gave us to wear, that we might enjoy the eternal reception. Now the peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.

Kingdom of God grows and takes over

2011-11-04T07:00:00.000-06:00

Mark 4:30-32 (ESV) And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? [31] It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, [32] yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." I think it goes without saying that Jesus uses a bit of hyperbole here in describing the Mustard seed as the smallest of all seeds on the earth. Anybody the plants anything realizes this just isn’t true. Jesus knew that too. Of course, this doesn’t stop some people from dismissing the Bible for this reason, and positing that it is not inerrant. No one I know of dismisses Shakespear as a dolt because he is given to hyperbole now and then. It’s a function of speech, meant to drive home a point. Here he is just drawing a distinction between how small the seed, and how big the plant. That is the way of the kingdom of God. It starts out small, it grows to take over, at least it has that potential, and it is a glorious thing when it happens. Faith grows, becomes stronger more encompassing. Of course, it needs water for this to happen, the water that comes from constantly drowning your old adam in your baptism through daily repentance. It has a tendency to make one grow.

Putting in the Sickle.

2011-11-03T12:43:00.001-06:00

Mark 4:26-29 (ESV) And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. [27] He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. [28] The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. [29] But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." “He puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” The seed being scattered, the metaphor of wheat growing, taking root, Jesus uses them often to talk about the Kingdom of God. There is something mysterious about plants growing from seed. Scientists think they have explained it all when they talk of germination and so forth. Really they have just labeled the process, they have explained nothing about how it is even possible in the first place. I don’t know, it is woeful to me as of late, I decided to read some evolutionists to see if I just had their arguments wrong, if they really did make sense. I’m finding I was being to charitable. They want to be right so bad, they can’t see the holes, they can’t see alternative explanations, they can’t see just why it is that their explanations aren’t explanations, a lot of smoke screens and mirrors. But people buy it, and they let the argument rest not on coherency, not on it’s own merits, but on authority. Some evolutionist gave another evolutionist a PHD, so now he is an authority and it doesn’t matter if his arguments make sense, if they are pure speculation or not, we are to bow to his authority, he’s a scientist! Oh well get off topic there a little bit. Forgive me. They label what they observe, if that, they don’t explain it. It’s a mystery how life is possible, what really makes it tick. How it even came about. We see the grain growing in the field, or perhaps Tomatoes, Grapes, Raspberries. But we just don’t really know how is that it all happens, but when it’s ripe, we claim our gifts, we put in the sickle. Yes, those tomatoes, are gifts, straight from God. Ask anyone who grows tomatoes, giving them the proper soil, the proper sunlight, the proper water, does not guarantee a crop. So the kingdom of God. I like to think God is talking to pastors here. Jesus gives us this parable. Scatter the seed. It’s all a pastor can do. Scatter, plant, water, and then every once in a while you actually see it become ripe, and you know not how. It’s time to put in the sickle. Are the field’s ever white for harvest? Perhaps there is a field here and a field there, but they are always ready for seed. And just as the farmer rejoices at the harvest, to see his wheat crop come in, so the pastor jumps for joy as he swings that sickle.

The Gospel according to Carl Fr. Wisloff

2011-11-03T12:08:00.002-06:00

“The Gospel is the message that salvation is complete. God’s promise is fulfilled, sin’s debt paid, Jesus has died for all sin. He has opened a way for straight to God, and let it be known that all who come in his name may be beloved Children of God. All is finished, you have only to come. Listen to this glorious message, the God’s Spirit shall carry out his work in your heart and you may live by Grace in faith in the Gospel. Carl. Fr. Wisloff. (Swedish Theolgoian)Translated from Kyrka och Folk

More will be Given

2011-11-02T07:00:00.000-06:00

Mark 4:24-25 (ESV) And he said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. [25] For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." With the measure you use it will be measured to you. For to the one who hase, more will be given. Grace is like that, the more gracious you are with others, the more grace you receive. Of course grace is grace, forgiveness is forgiveness, and in many aspects it is all or nothing. That is kind of what Jesus is getting at here. But the more you practice being gracious, the more gracious you become. Salvation may not be dependant on this, but it is possible to grow in faith and love. Some churches call it sanctification, I avoid using that term for this. We grow, we grow stronger in the faith, we grow stronger in Grace. There are ways to do this. Taking time out for God’s word is one of those. The reward? I don’t know, I suppose one could go on about jewels in heaven. I think the reward is here in this life more than it is in heaven. I can’t wait to be proven wrong on that. But there is plenty of joy to be found in so feasting on the word of God, that you always have more than enough to share with others. There is reward in being able to share the faith with a friend in a manner that is intelligent and compelling, and seeing it take root, perhaps even bear some fruit.

Becoming a Lamp

2011-11-01T07:00:00.000-06:00

Mark 4:21-23 (ESV) And he said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? [22] For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. [23] If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket? Today it almost sounds odd, to talk about bringing a lamp anywhere, lamps sit on coffee tables, end tables, they rise from the floor from behind a couch, people walk around with flash lights, but that is wholly different. But lamps in Jesus day were small portable things quite like a flash light, and would often be put on a table to shed light into a room. This is what the gospel does. It sheds light on a place. It will not remain hidden. The more one exposes himself to the gospel the more it takes over a person’s own life, the more thay become that lamp that doesn’t hide under the bed. People always wonder how they can get to be better evangelists, there is no better way than to start dedicating time for yourself to study God’s word in prayer and devotion. The more your faith grows from feeding on God’s word in the Divine Service on Sunday, in Communion, in daily devotions and prayer, the more the light penetrates through you, and shines about you.

Reformation Sermons

2011-10-31T15:19:00.002-06:00

Sermon Children's Sermon

Reformation Sermon

2011-10-31T07:00:00.000-06:00

Matthew 11:12-19 (ESV) From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. [13] For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, [14] and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. [15] He who has ears to hear, let him hear. [16] "But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, [17] " 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' [18] For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' [19] The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds." For John came neither eating nor drinking and they say, “He has a demon.’ The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, “look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds. But wisdom is justified by her deeds. “Wisdom is justified by her deeds” Well this is the only place in the text where the word justified is used, and being reformation Sunday then, I’m figuring this is the key to the working of this text into the theme of the day, which has to be justification. Did I mention it is Reformation Sunday? Some Churches celebrate this day with church in the park, followed by bratwurst and so-called Lutheran beverages of the kind Luther used to brew for the town of Wittenburg. And other churches that have a conception of church and religion being a bit more like the fasting of John the Baptist, look at us a bit askew. But we pay no mind, because we left that conception of Christianity behind when we departed from the Roman Catholic Church. And if others accuse us of drunkenness and gluttony, well we will remember they uttered those death threats at our Lord Jesus too. Certainly he was not a drunkard or a glutton, but neither did he think it prudent to make fasting the center of religion, he brought the kingdom of heaven down to earth for us, The feast of heaven to us, that we might get a foretaste of the feast to come. Yes others might look at us askew, but we know that wisdom is justified by her deeds. Today we celebrate the justification of wisdom, we celebrate justification by faith alone. Justification by faith alone. It is central to Lutheran Theology, Lutheran doctrine and teaching, central to Lutheran life, and the Ethos of Lutheranism, which by the way we see as nothing but Christianity as it should be. We didn’t choose this name, it was foisted upon us as a derogatory remark by those who would have us give up our birth right, give up justification by faith alone. Rather than doing this we decided to glory in this persecution and where it proudly. When people accuse us of being Lutherans, they accuse us of being Christian, disciples of Christ who take his word as serious as a heart attack, and then celebrate it. There is nothing more precious to celebrate in life than the gift of life itself, and this is what it means to believe in justification by faith alone, that our life, eternal life, is a gift from Jesus who begs us to enjoy the feast he sets before us, even amidst this dismal world that knows neither how to dance or how to mourn. For John the Baptist came eating nothing and drinking nothing and they said he had a demon. He came playing the dirge. There are times and places for that. Some people reacted, he in fact drew large crowds, but the Pharisees and the Priests, the religious leaders would not repent when even the prostitutes knew to repent. The Pharisees the Sadducees the priests thought he had a demon, his way of life was to strict, his demands of repentance too much. But John just preached the law as it should be preached, so that it would silence every mouth, make every defense the old adam could muster moot. The Pharisees don’t like that, they want the law to be easy. We see it in our own day, when so many want to water it down. So many want to equate God’s law with our law, the laws that we set up in society to live by, to determine who is good and who is not. The Middle Class values we all want our children to grow up with. But God’s law is not so easy as being polite to your neighbor, he demands you love him. Politeness is but a start. Even today, you see this, perhaps with the churches that would look at us askew. So many of them preach against things not forbidden, and make the kingdom of God a matter of eating and drinking, rather than a matter of righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 14:17) For instance, take Halloween which we celebrate tomorrow night. I caution you against joining a witches coven or holding a séance in your living room. But for the life of me, I cannot see the harm in dressing your kids up for a parade around the neighborhood asking for candy. And please, bring them by my place. Where is such fun forbidden in scripture? But every year you here more and more about how bobbing for apples is satanic activity. Churches start having fall festivals as an alternative to fun. And then we wonder why kids resent the church and Christianity as they get older, when that has been the excuse their entire lives to keep them from enjoying life and harmless fun. The same could be said for the ridiculous rants against Santa Clause and the Easter bunny. I mean it shouldn’t replace church altogether, but there is no harm in a little make believe fun at those times of year either. The only time this becomes a problem is when you think the death and resurrection are also make believe, your kids can tell the difference. Jesus had a different conception of what the kingdom of God should be about. He came eating and drinking, even if he wasn’t a glutton and a drunkard. He made friends with tax collectors and sinners, ate and drank with them, danced and mourned with them. Just as he does with us sinners here today. And for this they uttered death threats, a glutton and a drunkard they called him. The elders of the town were to stone men like that outside the gates, put them to death. Something along the lines of he who does not work, shall not eat, not of the towns hard earned food. But they proved to be more than threats. Our Lord was then crucified, when stoning was no longer an option to the town elders. Put to death. But there wisdom is justified by her deeds. Because it was the wisdom of God that after they stoned the prophets and killed those sent to her, God would send his very own son to the town elders of Jerusalem, that he might die for the sins of the world, and give us life in the feast he sets before us, the body and blood of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, in with and under the bread and wine, where he forgives our sins, and in eating and drinking gives us the kingdom of God that we might know righteousness, peace, and Joy in the Holy Spirit. A righteousness, peace and joy that spills out over into all of our lives, whether dancing or mourning, fasting or eating. Now the peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord Amen.

Losing Faith

2011-10-28T07:00:00.000-06:00

Mark 4:1-20 (ESV) Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. [2] And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: [3] "Listen! A sower went out to sow. [4] And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. [5] Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. [6] And when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. [7] Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. [8] And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." [9] And he said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." [10] And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. [11] And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, [12] so that "they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven." [13] And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? [14] The sower sows the word. [15] And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. [16] And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. [17] And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; Then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. [18] And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, [19] but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. [20] But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." It’s a long bit, but I was hard pressed to find a way to break it up. In any case, I don’t know how one reads this passage and doesn’t believe that faith is something that can be lost. The word is sown. It takes root. It comes to life. But for one reason or another it is lost. That is the meaning of this parable. Watch so you don’t lose faith. Or perhaps it is meant to be a comfort to pastors who all to often see satan snatch the seed. All too often see their confirmands fall away from church due to peer pressure or what not. All too often see the daily grind choke out the faith of a once promising crop. Who knew getting on the Highschool football team could be so much more important that eternal life in heaven. Who knew? But then, every once in a while the seed lands where it should takes root, grows and bears fruit.

Jesus chose you over family.

2011-10-27T07:00:00.000-06:00

Mark 3:31-35 (ESV) And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. [32] And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you." [33] And he answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" [34] And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! [35] Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother." So often we encounter those who are given the hard choice of Jesus or their family. There are many ways in which this might come about for a person. I often do see it with those who want to leave the Mormon faith. Those who do, often loose friends and family. I can’t quite imagine what that would be like. But Jesus knows. Jesus chose you over his family. There they are the Virgin Mary, not so virgin at this point, but I’ll give her the title being she gave birth as a virgin. There she is the Theotokus, God bearer, chosen and most blessed among women, and she is giving Jesus an ultimatum. Them or me. She won’t joint the crowd, Joseph doesn’t even bother to take the day off work, James and his other brothers they hang outside aloof. There brother has finally gone insane. They are embarrassed, they want to take him away, silence him. If he goes with them, it means leaving us, leaving his destiny. He won’t do it. He chooses us, we become his family. His family can join too, they will later, but they never would have had he gone with them. The same is true for our families. Choosing excommunication from your family, choosing Christ over family, that can have a lasting impact, it can bring others along, maybe not right away, and maybe not ever, but it can. But not choosing Jesus, it leaves you and them high and dry. Jesus chooses you. “Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” And the will of God is that we listen to Jesus, his beloved Son, who says to you, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Blasphemeing the Holy Spirit

2011-10-26T07:00:00.000-06:00

Mark 3:22-30 (ESV) And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "by the prince of demons he casts out the demons." [23] And he called them to him and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? [24] If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. [25] And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. [26] And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. [27] But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house. [28] "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, [29] but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"— [30] for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." His family thinks he is crazy, the scribes and Pharisees think he is possessed. Jesus is quick to warn them of speaking to quickly. There is forgiveness for many sins, but not if you blaspheme the Holy Spirit. He is actually quite clear about what this is. They are saying he has an unclean spirit, but he is the possessor of the Holy spirit, they are saying the Holy Spirit is unclean. As long as they continue in this blaspheme there will be no forgiveness for them. There can’t be. To reject the Holy Spirit, is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit, it is to reject the forgiveness of sins freely offered.

Out of His Mind

2011-10-25T07:00:00.000-06:00

Mark 3:20-21 (ESV) Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. [21] And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, "He is out of his mind." He is out of his mind. I marvel at this. Other gospels record that Mary herself was there. They really did think he was crazy. He drew so much attention. It was crazy in those days to do that. But this isn’t them thinking he was just being foolish. They had heard what he had been doing, and really felt he was certifiable. They waited outside the crowd. Jesus actually rebuked them. I guess I marvel, because mary should have known better. But then mom’s are forgetful… well mine can be anyway. You would think she would remember all the circumstances of his birth. It I were to argue against the virgin Birth, this verse would play a central role. I’ve never seen one argue against the virgin birth from this verse. Most arguments I’ve read are just incoherent meanderings. It does bring to mind though C.S. Lewis, who leaves one with two choices regarding Jesus in “Mere Christianity.” One can say he is God or write him off as crazy all other options are closed. Jesus family tried to take the crazy option. Tell me you wouldn’t if Jesus was your brother. “See mom, I told you! You always wanted me to be like Jesus, he was always the good one. Well, what do you think of him now? Huh? Huh?” I mean Jesus as your older brother left some big shoes to fill. But in the end, the family changes its mind. Later, his brother James would become a bishop, and an ardent follower of jesus. Euebius records his family lineage living for quite some time, and mostly in poverty in Palestine, but proudly acknowledging their uncle who reigned at the right hand of God.

The Twelve

2011-10-24T15:00:00.000-06:00

Mark 3:13-19 (ESV) And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. [14] And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach [15] and have authority to cast out demons. [16] He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); [17] James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); [18] Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, [19] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Here Jesus commissions the twelve. He seems to have called them to follow him at different times, but now he calls them all together and commissions them to be apostles. Apostles, by the way are different than just disciples. Disciples are students. Apostles are ambassadors. The apostles were disciples, but not all disciples were apostles. There is a distinction. Just as pastors are, or at least should be, Christians, but not all Christians are pastors. And all Christians are disciples. Actually there is a big relationship between the pastoral office and that of the apostles. The Apostles were also commissioned to put in place pastors. You see this throughout Acts, where Paul appoints eldes, or leaves Titus on Crete to appoint pastors. Jesus sends the apostles, which is really what the word means, sent one, to preach, and cast our demons. And this is exactly why the church has pastors today, someone to proclaim God’s word. This office is needed to keep the church together, because the church is made up of believers gathered around God’s word and his sacraments. These are indifferent things. This is one of two places where the names are recorded of all twelve disciples. My parents once had wine glasses etched with the disciples and their names. No one ever drank out of the Judas glass.

Eighteenth Sunday After Trinity

2011-10-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity10/23/2011Matthew 22:34-46Bror EricksonMatthew 22:34-46 (ESV) But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. [35] And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. [36] "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" [37] And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. [38] This is the great and first commandment. [39] And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. [40] On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." [41] Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, [42] saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." [43] He said to them, "How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, [44] " 'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet'? [45] If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?" [46] And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. One does kind of wonder why the Pharisees are coming to question Jesus. He had just silenced the Sadducees, who were the theological liberals of first century Judaism, they didn’t believe in the resurrection, Angels or much of anything else for that matter. The Pharisees might have just been trying to see if he was one of theirs after all. Or they might have just been trying to show the Sadducees that they could do what they had failed at. At this point in the game, Jesus had made enough enemies that the Pharisees should have known he wasn’t one of theirs. And the Sadducees and Pharisees both were pretty much agreed on one thing. Jesus can’t live. In anycase, the question seems to be a soft ball lobbed in across the home plate. Anyone studying the Old Testament would have been able to answer this question just as Jesus did. What is the greatest commandment? The one our society tends to ignore, even in the church, the most. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Of the commandments of Scripture, it is most often those concerning our relationship to God that are ignored most blatantly. We don’t think it immoral to skip church. We don’t think it immoral for someone to be a Mormon, a Buddhist, a Hindu, or an Atheist. Mostly because those people will often excel at those commandments we hold dear, the one’s that effect us. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Well perhaps they don’t excel at love, but they can excel at honoring your mother and father, not murdering, being faithful to their spouses, not stealing, perhaps they don’t even gossip or covet much. However, these two commandments are inextricably linked to each other, in that they both command us to love. And from whence shall this love come? See none of our attempts at following the Ten Commnandments are at all valid if they don’t flow from love. Trying to squelch a guilty conscience with good works is self defeating. God does not consider it to be a good work that is done in an effort to save oneself. Doing good works with the goal of earning or keeping your own salvation are not considered good works in God’s eyes. Given the death and resurrection of his son Jesus Christ, they are rather more like insults. Good works can have but one motivation if they are to be good. The law demands but one motive, and allows for one motive for obedience. And this one motive is impossible for a sinful human being to have of his own volition, because there is but one person a sinner loves, and that is himself. Yet even the love a sinner has for himself is imperfect. Generally, we know this. When someone does something nice for us, expecting something in return from us, we know we aren’t being loved, but being manipulated. Do you think our all knowing God is fooled as easily as our credulous neighbors? Do you think he doesn’t know when he is being manipulated rather than loved? Most of our neighbors know. We tend to know when we are being manipulated rather than loved. And love is not an easy game to play. I dare say husbands and wives often resort to manipulation rather than love. Of course, that is why people would rather live together than get married these days. It’s so much easier to play the game of manipulation when there aren’t any commitments. Love demands commitment, not of the other person, but of yourself to the other person. See so many think Jesus made the commandments easier somehow, but wittling them down to Love. Most of them are ignorant of the fact that Jesus is merely quoting the Old Testament here. But worse they show ignorance as to what love is. Love doesn’t make the commandments easier to follow, it makes them harder. If the only reason you don’t steal is you are afraid you might be punished, or even rewarded for not stealing, then you have failed the law. You didn’t do it out of love. This is why it is said we sin in thought, word, and deed. Your heart betrays your motives, and desires, and if your desires are at odds with the law, than you are not following the law out of love. These are the greatest commandments, not only because they summarize the two tables of God’s Law, our relationship to him found in the first three, and our relationship to neighbor, God’s beloved whom he loved with his own life, and whom we despise with manipulation, in the last 7. See both tables really come out of this love for God. And it is our sin that will not let us love God, because our sin wants to be god. We want to be our own God, make our own choices. This can even be our motivation for following God’s law, as it is in the Mormon religion which imagines it follows God’s law. But then cannot explain the second half of our passage here today, but which is the secret and the key to love, a source of love that works in us a love for God and neighbor, even amidst our sin, despite our sin, which removes the need for manipulation of God.What is this? Jesus tries his own hand at the game of tripping your neighbor up. You want to play riddles? Whose son is the Christ? Everyone knows that it is David’s Son. But what few had ever thought, what they never came to grips with was the wording of Psalm 110. Perhaps they had other interpretations. I’ve read a few. But I’m biased towards Jesus’ own interpretation. He rose from the dead after all. “the Lord said to my Lord. “ It is one of the many not so cryptic allusions to the trinity found scattered throughout the Old Testament that is so adamant that God is one, that there are no other Gods, that we can have but one God. There is one God we should love, and only one God, and him we should love with all out heart, mind and soul. Whose son is the messiah? He is the Son of God, the son of the Father, the only begotten son, who was begotten not made, incarnate by the Holy spirit of the virgin Mary, or as we say in the Apostles Creed, Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He for us men and our salvation came down from heaven and was made man. This is what we believe concerning Jesus Christ, the messiah. That he was from all eternity and to all eternity God. For God is eternal without beginning and without end. That he is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns with them to all eternity one God now and forever. And it is here that we find love. That while we were still sinners, he died for us, he forgave our sins. Greater Love hath no man than that he lie down his life for his friends, and Jesus did it for us, his enemies, who were children of the wrath of God, who could not think, who often cannot think to do good except to avoid punishment or seek reward. Here is love. And with that death he forgave our sins, and with his resurrection he gave you life, and with his love he loves you so that you knowing the love of God, might then know love for God, Love for yourself, true love, and love for your neighbor be they husband, wife, friend or coworker, daughter or son, or someone you just met. As God forgives us with his death, he takes away our selfish motives, he leaves us with love. You can’t make up for sin, it is forgiven. You can’t earn your way to heaven, heave is given. Salvation is yours. All that is left is love that overpowers our sin, rises above, and subdues our old adam that we might walk in the newness of life.

Born of the Virgin Mary

2011-10-23T13:04:00.000-06:00

Children's SermonSermon

Bringing wisdom to its completion.

2011-10-21T07:00:00.000-06:00

Mark 3:7-12 (ESV) Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea [8] and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. [9] And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, [10] for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. [11] And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." [12] And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. Jesus does get a bit popular, at times. It seems this waxes and wanes in his ministry. Finally at the height of popularity he is crucified. And whenever they unclean spirits saw him the fell down before him and cried out, “you are the Son of God.” Jesus won’t have demons testifying for him. But it is amazing. Even the demons know God is one, and they shudder. Here you see it. They recognize who he is. They do not have faith. But they have knowledge. They know who he is. They have no love, no trust, for him. They tremble with but the beginning of wisdom, wisdom incomplete for it lacks love, lacks trust. Of course Jesus didn’t die for demons, he died for you. You have every reason not to stay with the beginning of wisdom, in the fear of God, but bring it to completion with love and trust in the one who shows his love for you with his death. There in love, wisdom is brought to its end.

Jesus Wasn't a Stoic

2011-10-20T14:40:00.002-06:00

Mark 3:1-6 (ESV) Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. [2] And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. [3] And he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come here." [4] And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. [5] And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. [6] The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. He looked at them with anger. Anger isn’t a popular emotion. I’m never sure why this is. Religious people aren’t supposed to ever get angry. That is the popular opinion. I never really have cared much for popular opinion. Then I get upset when I’m not popular…. But really, who comes up with this stuff. I suspect it isn’t so much an adherence to Christianity that has defined the good Christian, but people confusing stoicism with Christianity. They are different. Emotions are embraced by Christians, as they were by Christ. That’s not to say there isn’t good reason to keep a cool head at times. But there is no reason to shun one emotion or another as being unbecoming of a Christian. They are part of life, this life God gave us. One doesn’t have to be perpetually happy to be a good Christian. And when it comes to Christian debate, sometimes it is good to get a bit angry. To show it. Jesus taunts the Pharisees. He isn’t polite about it. He is very much in their face. It was no more acceptable inhis day than it is in ours. He gets angry at their hypocrisy. He dares them, eggs them on, and then he does what they were waiting for he heals the man on the Sabbath. The pharissess immediately begin to conspire with Herod and his men for his execution. Beware, the disciple is not above the teacher. I think about that some days. Why is it I’m surprised, or upset that others won’t hear the gospel. I have no reason. I should be rejoicing they haven’t stoned me yet. I do wonder if I’d be able to rejoice after being stoned.

Keeping the Sabbath

2011-10-19T14:43:00.003-06:00

Mark 2:23-28 (ESV) One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. [24] And the Pharisees were saying to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" [25] And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: [26] how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?" [27] And he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. [28] So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath." “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. “ I’m not sure why it is that this is so hard for people to grasp, even Christians. We don’t even worship on the Sabbath anymore, well most of us don’t. The Seventh Day Adventists and Jehova Witnesses, can’t seem to grasp the fact that Jesus rose on Sunday and that is worth celebrating on a weekly basis. And that is really the Christian idea of the Sabbath, of worship, that of celebration, commemoration. We recognize that something imminently important happened with the resurrection of Christ, Something that vindicated him and his blasphemous treatment of the Sabbath. He rose from the dead. The man who said his death would be for the forgiveness of the world, rose from the dead. That is reason to celebrate. We are no longer slaves to the law. And that is why week after week, we in principle, break the third commandment, and yet keep it in Spirit by celebrating his resurrection on Sunday. But even if Christ was not our Sabbath rest, and the Sabbath was in play, as it was while Jesus and his disciples were walking through the grain fields, this does not mean that to honor the Sabbath would be to keep yourself beholden to manmade rules of what is permissible or not. This was more or less the problem with the Pharisaical observance of the Sabbath. What was supposed to be for rest, something to ensure leisurely enjoyment of life and creation, became a chore. Resting was no longer restful. See the Sabbath was supposed to be gift. It was supposed to be something that could be enjoyed. It became a chore. This it does even today. Never mind the absolute ludicrousness of some who think that police and firefighters, military personnel and so forth should not work on the Sabbath. Even in the Old Testament the walls of Jerusalem were manned on the Sabbath, just as donkeys were pulled out of wells. But more insane is the idea that you can’t have fun on the Sabbath, that after church it would be improper to go to the beach, or hunt chukar in the hills, or some other thing a person might enjoy.

Fasting

2011-10-18T07:00:00.000-06:00

Mark 2:18-22 (ESV) Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" [19] And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. [20] The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. [21] No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. [22] And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins." Fasting, I can’t say that I do it much. I have done it on occasion. It is a way of intensifying prayer and so on. And is not a bad thing to do, all though there are bad ways to approach it and do it. I do wonder about this though. Jesus didn’t fast, well except for the forty days being tempted in the desert. The Pharisees are all over him about it. John’s disciple’s fast, why don’t yours. John was all about fasting. He took the religious life to the extreme. Jesus on the other hand takes life as it comes. Can’t fast while the Bridegroom is around. We have to wait till he leaves. We follow that rhythm somewhat in the church year, we fast during lent, in the somber period of the year, chronicling his days to Jerusalem. Perhaps fasting ought to be more of a Pentecost thing though. We don’t fast during those times when Jesus is celebrated as being with us. Christmas just isn’t a time for fasting, neither is Easter. Christians don’t fast on Sundays. We celebrate the resurrection on those days. But it is Pentecost though is that time of the church, where we more or less commemorate the time we are living in right now. The time between his leaving and his return. This is the time Jesus talks about when he says that his disciples will fast.

Maintaining the Unity

2011-10-17T12:39:00.003-06:00

Yesterday's sermon

Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity

2011-10-17T07:00:00.000-06:00

Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity10/16/2011Ephesians 4:1-6Bror EricksonEphes. 4:1-7 (ESV) I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, [3] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. [7] But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Paul urges the Christians of Ephesus to walk in a manner worthy of gospel, the calling to which they have been called, the calling to which you are called, the calling to which Claire has been called in Holy Baptism this morning. Paul explains what he means. We are to bear with one another in humility and gentleness, and be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit. The unity, Paul explains this, we must be unified, because there is only one Gospel one hope, so there is only one church, one body, one Spirit, so there is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. There is only One God. That is there is only one true God. We have many gods today. There are many things that we fear, love or trust in more than God, these are gods. But there is only one true God, and he is the Father of all. That is he is the maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. It is this first and foremost that gives him the right to be called God, that demands our obedience, our trust our worship and love. As the Psalm 95, the great Venite of Matins, says, the sea is his for he made it, and his hand formed the dry land. He made us, we belong to him, we are his. That was how things stood originally in the Garden. Adam and Eve knew their Maker, they knew the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But sin changed things. Sin changed things for us. Knowledge of God is no longer a self-evident thing. One perhaps can adduce that there is a God. Though the theory of evolution, as badly put together as it is, gives many a convenient excuse to go on believing that they are their own God. These days its chief argument seems to be that 99 percent of all scientists believe it to be true. No one ever bothers to check and see that they have several different theories all conflicting with each other, and all with their own holes and logical leaps, as to how evolution occurred. But with that, most tend today to write religion off all together. It’s all the same they say, just the subjective thoughts and opinions of people not willing to face reality, and in this case one persons thoughts aren’t any better than anyone else’s. That thought permeates society today. It’s all the same. Want a religion, pick one, go with what works for you, what rings true to you. Who cares about truth, there isn’t any such thing, not where religion is concerned. And people honestly believe that there really isn’t any difference. It’s all about being a good person and the thought that there is something more. The rest they think, is made up by man. Believe it or not, I find it to be the essence of faith for most Mormons I talk to today. And they make great use of the media in defending themselves along these lines. They capitalize on a secular media, that is all to willing to say, religion really doesn’t matter, it’s all cooky, and equally irrational. Of course, Mormon’s wouldn’t dream of treating your children that way on the play ground, and let them wear a cross or a crucifix uncontested. But hey, what’s Christianity, who are you to say what it is and isn’t? You, me, we are nothing. It isn’t for us to determine what Christianity is. It’s not for us, it is for Jesus. You see here, Paul says there is one hope. That is there is one gospel. It isn’t for us to go about changing this. And neither can we recognize those who do, as Christians. Christ decides who is Christian and who isn’t. Christ decides what that hope is. And he doesn’t do it out of a hat. We have one hope, and that is Jesus Christ, our Lord. He is our only hope, because he is the only one ever to die for your sins, ever to rise from the dead to give you life. And this he does in the one baptism, to the one faith, in the one body That worships the one who is God and Father of all, who is over all and through all, and in all. And that, his death and resurrection, didn’t happen in secret. Jesus was publically executed, and his grave was left empty for all to see, just as today it remains empty. This happened in history. It is open to historical investigation, just as Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, is open to historical investigation. It may be miraculous, it seem to defy explanation as to how it happened, but what is the difference between that and the life you are now living? So it isn’t all cooky, it isn’t all irrational. Oh, there are things about it that may defy rationality on the surface. There are things about the faith that our reason cannot explain on its own. The Triune nature of God, is foreign to our experience, for us whose being is so inextricably connected to our own bodies. For us it is hard to see how it is that Father, Son and Holy Spirit is God. How it is that they share one divine essence, and yet are three distinct persons. Perhaps it is hard for us to understand, how it is that something so simple as a few words spoken as water is being poured over an infants, or more miraculously still a jaded heart adult’s head, can give eternal life joining one to the death and resurrection of the living Lord, or how it is that simple bread and wine can be the body and blood of Christ, the very body and blood that was given into death, and shed on the cross, given for you for the forgiveness of sins. But then all of this rests, all of this is part of the one hope, that we have in Jesus Christ, the one man who died and rose from the dead to give us life, and therefore the one man, the only man, one ever need listen to in matters of religion. And if it doesn’t make sense to us how it all can be, what difference does it really make? Who are we, in the end to say what is and isn’t possible, did we make this world? Did we make the sea and all that is in it? Were we there when he formed the dry land? We can’t even make sense of how it is that we are alive. But here is one, who claimed to be God, who died for all to see, who in accordance with scriptures, with the prophecies of millennia, died and rose again on the third day, and he is our hope, he is the only hope, for he is the only one who forgives your sins. And more than a hope, he is our certain victory, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit one God, now and forever, and forgives your sins. He is God, He is our Lord, the only one, he determines how it is we are saved. He doesn’t leave it up to our speculation, but lays it all out in his word alone, which no man can rewrite, to which all who call upon his name are bound. And that is the one faith, given in the one baptism that unites us to the one hope that is in the one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all, and in all.

The Salt that has Lost its Flavor

2011-10-14T07:00:00.000-06:00

Mark 2:13-17 (ESV) He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. [14] And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. [15] And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. [16] And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" [17] And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." Christianity has lost its edge. The salt has lost its flavor. We can go preach at the bar, possibly even hold a Bible study, but can we just recline at the table anymore? I don’t want to advocate drunkenness and so on. But must it be the only justification for being with sinners and ulterior motive of conversion? It’s a tough one. I don’t know a person in the world I don’t want to convert. Seriously, I don’t. At the same time, I don’t think one should be befriending people for the sole purpose of converting them. Befriend them because you have common interests, or admire their perspectives. Go watch a football game with them for the sole reason of watching a football game. Of course, when you do such things, the chance will come to share the gospel. It will happen. And be ready to invite to church, and talk about the forgiveness of sins. I’m sure the topic came up enough with Jesus there at the party. But we should be leary of this pharisaical attitude that does not allow one to rub shulders with those outside the church, or who might not share our values. But if we close ourselves behind church doors, the salt looses it’s flavor.

Forgiving Sin

2011-10-13T11:05:00.002-06:00

Mark 2:1-12 (ESV) And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. [2] And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. [3] And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. [4] And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. [5] And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." [6] Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, [7] "Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" [8] And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question these things in your hearts? [9] Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'? [10] But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—he said to the paralytic— [11] "I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home." [12] And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!" There is so much that this text has to say to us. The paralytic wants to walk, Jesus forgives his sins. He takes care of the real problem. He doesn’t just treat the symptoms. It’s not that the man had done some particular sin and had lost his ability to walk as punishment. In the end it just doesn’t work that way. Sin was the disease that needed to be taken care of. Jesus, forgiving the sin, allows the man to walk. In the same way, because Jesus has forgiven our sin, we have eternal life, and can look toward the full glory of life in heaven. Even those of us who are in relatively good health, will marvel at how sick we really have been as we enter into heaven, as our bodies are pulled from the earth and transformed and healed, or transformed in the twinkling of an eye at the return of Christ even as we are caught up from the destruction of the earth. No more bad hips and knees that no longer seem to be able to take a 3 mile run, eyes continually deteriorating making it hard to read and type. But what I find amazing about this passage is that Baptists continually use it to try refute the Lutheran conception of the Office of Ministry. No, they don’t quote Christ, they quote the Pharisees! A pastor isn’t in the office long before he experiences the persecution of Christ here demonstrated. Just a couple Sundays and you are guaranteed to have a Baptist or American Evangelical of some type, begrudge you for forgiving their sins at the beginning of the service. Talk to them, and they will tell you only God can forgive sins. When you retort that this is true, but God gets to choose how he does so and he chooses to do so through the pastoral office as can be shown in John 20, you are told you are usurping the power of God. Never mind, that even in the Lord’s Prayer, we are admonished to forgive sins. Some would like to cut straws here, and say trespasses, show me the difference. We forgive sins. They say well those are only sins committed against you personally. No sins are committed against you personally. You are the temple of God, remember? To sin against you is to sin against God. Of course this is true when we sin against others too. Not only do we as representatives of God, thereby give him a bad name, but we sin against those whom God loves, whom he created, and for whom he died. The long and short of it being we cannot sin, without sinning against God. They are his commandments we are breaking, even when it is our neighbor we murder or steal from, or sexually abuse through prostitution, pornography, affairs, and so forth, and I do believe there is special torment held for those who abuse according to a legal definition of abuse subjecting children to torture they should not suffer. But here I’m more interested to show that when God commands us to forgive our brother seventy times seventy he is commanding us to forgive others sins they have committed against him. Why it is that Baptists and Evangelicals have such a problem with this concept, I don’t know. Why they so nonchallanlty align themselves with Pharisees in this, I don’t know. But they pout as if someone just took their favorite toy away from them in kindergarten. This is a problem. See if we are forgiven, if Christ takes away our sin, we have nothing left to boast about, nothing left to work for, our selfish motives are gone. But that’s just it, if our works are aimed at overcoming our sin on our own terms, well then, our motives are sinning even as we are handing out blankets on a cold evening. And that is why Jesus forgives, because he loves us, and knows that we are incapable of doing anything about our own sin. But when he forgives, he takes away the sin, he takes away the selfish motives, he takes away all, and leaves us with nothing but his love, and there is more than enough of that to share with all by forgiving their sins when they sin against us.

The Logic of Chance, The Nature and Origin of Biological Evolution

2011-10-12T17:18:00.001-06:00

I'm reposting this review here, Amazon removed it because I quoted the author too much. Go figure, so i need to revise it and repost it there, but it will be here just as I had it there. The Logic of Chance, The Nature and Origin of Biological Evolution By Eugene V. Koonin Due to some comments I have received on this review previously, I thought I should make a few things a bit more clear concerning this review. As for bias, I don't hide my bias, recognizing my biases is the only thing that helps me keep an open mind, which though it is critical, and skeptical, is in fact still open. That said, while I myself remain skeptical concerning evolution, my skepticism has been fostered and nourished reading atheistic and agnostic philosophers such as Thomas Nagel,[[ASIN:0195149831 The Last Word]] and Karl Popper,[[ASIN:0415135559 The Myth of the Framework: In Defence of Science and Rationality]], whom the author of this book himself enjoys and respects, writing a great critique concerning Popper's contributions to science in Appendix A. The book in question further piqued that skepticism. Yet,I am not one who finds belief in Evolution to be completely incompatible with Christianity. I say that because I know many Christians who have held or do hold to evolutionary beliefs. I also say that because my faith is not so much in creation, as it is in a man, known to have existed, who claimed to be God, who died, and left an empty tomb after three days according to all historical documents concerning the matter biblical and extra biblical, whose self purported reason for coming in the first place was to forgive sins,for more on that read [[ASIN:3932829808 Tractatus Logico-Theologicus, Revised Edition]], "[[ASIN:155635715X Religion on Trial]], Or "[[ASIN:0334028973 Jesus - God and Man (scm classics)]]. Whereas my faith would be refuted by the bones of Christ, 1 Cor. 15, even if evolution were to be true, I'd be forced ask why that tomb is empty, and the only rational explanation accounting for the evidence, is in fact the resurrection.Everything you think you know about Evolution is wrong, or at best only partly true. That's the basic message of the book, which in fact still argues for evolution. For those who don't agree with that, there is a diagram on pgs 398-399 in which the central propositions of Darwin and the Modern Synthesis are reassed. These "central propositions" though are still taught in schools, universities, documentaries on PBS and presumably elsewhere, even a casual walk through a Natural History Museum. For instance one is no longer warranted in referring to a "Tree of Life," rather this has been replaced by a "Forest of Life." Koonin set out to write a book of popular science explaining the current state of affairs in evolution, and the new theories being proposed. He admits himself, though, that the book fails to be popular. It is readable enough, but in some sections the reading gets a bit heavy and involved. A nice corrective to this, aside from Dictionaries and other internet resources, is that each chapter ends with a synopsis that is generally very readable, and overall the book is quite enjoyable. I do imagine that he will perhaps upset many with the honesty with which he approaches the subject, and perhaps some of his bluntness. He is a committed materialist, and even more committed to belief in evolution, but he is honest In showing that currently science just does not have all the answers and perhaps never will, as to how evolution has occurred. He is certain though, that it has not happened the way most everyone has been taught and conceives of it as happening. Scrapping the "Modern Synthesis" which most of us were taught in high school and even intro courses to biology in college, he argues for a "post modern synthesis". In the first two chapters of this book, and the intro, he argues that Darwinian Evolution and all that it relied on needs to be relegated to the "venerable museum halls where it belongs, so that we can explore the paradigm shift that has happened with the "post modern view of life." Indeed, the so-called "Tree of Life," pan-adaptationism" etc, are all shown to be wrong throughout the rest of the book. Even the concept that evolution is a process from simple to more complex life forms is thrown on the scrap heap of discarded scientific theories. For instance on page 399, and 261 he writes "There is no consistent trend toward increasing complexity in evolution, the notion of evolutionary progress is unwarranted." One begins to ask then, what is even left of the idea of evolution? Indeed, he spends a whole chapter talking about the streamlining of plants and insects, an "evolution" from complex to simple, what he calls on pg. 177 "reductive evolution." To his credit, he doesn't try to shy away from the problem of the origin of life. He maintains that problems here "cannot be overstated." He does not like the idea of "irreducible complexity" and sees intelligent design "malicious nonsense" pg 498, and would rather like to use the terms "purported or apparent irreducibility of complex structures." Yet he is at pains to find solutions to these problems, saying "All things considered, my assessment of the current state of the art in the study of the origins of replication and translation is rather somber. Notwithstanding relevant theoretical models and suggestive experimental results, we currently do not have a credible solution to these problems, and do not even see with any clarity a path to such a solution." (Pg. 377 After a long discussion of possible alternatives he hangs his hat on a theory known as MWO or "Many Worlds in One", maintaining that this "not only permits but guarantees that, somewhere in the infinite multiverse (moreover, in every single infinite universe), such a complex system would emerge; moreover, there is an infinite number of these systems. " Yet I keep wondering to myself, if there is an infinite chance that something will happen, there is an equally infinite chance that nothing will happen, and you are back at ground zero wondering why there is something rather than nothing. Perhaps it is better for science to contemplate what is, rather than why there is an is. And that strikes me as another peculiarity of this book. On pg. 250 You have the curious opening to his synopsis stating "The emergence and evolution of complexity at the levels of the genotype and the phenotype, and the relationship between the two, is a central (if not the central) problem in biology...." One wonders why this complexity has to be a problem, and not just a fact? It's only a problem because it doesn't fit with preconceived notions with which Koonin is approaching the information. In the end, one can see why even atheist philosophers like Thomas Nagel, remain unconvinced by the propositions of Evolutionary Theory. Yet Nagel shares a disposition with Koonin, that is comfortable maintaining his atheism, and waiting for an alternative explanation, to why there is something. And that is more or less what this book is about. Koonin readily admits "given that so much of evolutionary biology is about the unique history of a single instantiation of life known to us and that so much of this history depends on chance and contingency, a concise metanarrative seems to be impossible in principle." (pg. 422) "However, a "complete physical theory of evolution " remains an illusory goal in principle.... A widespread view holds that historical narratives with their inevitable descriptive aspect are, at best, scientifically marginal, a kind of stamp collection:" and, at worst, nonscientific speculation, given that rare and unique events are critical in evolution as emphasized in this book." (pg. 423) One reference for that emphasis is pg 418. This book is not about replacing the metanarratives of Darwin and the Modern Synthesis, but rather it "is primarily about concepts, ideas, and models rather than methods." pg 410) Yet one wonders then if evolution as a theory isn't dying a death of a thousand qualifications, indeed if it hasn't already? When Koonin is done, you begin to think "Evolution" is no longer even a workable theory, but a concept in want of a theory, a theory its proponents are desperately trying to find. If one is at a loss as to what brought about the "unique events" of evolution, or even as to what those "unique events" were, if "a complete physical theory of Evolution" is in principle an illusory goal, then I do think others are permitted to ask whether or not the emperor does in fact have any clothes on at all. It definitely makes it unwarranted to speak of evolution as if it was a given fact, or to dogmatically suppress any questioning of that which is no longer even in principle a theory. I suppose one is entitled try think of a new theory encompassing all the information if he wants, a metanarrative if you will, but it seems Koonin believes one would be wasting his time.

The Mormon Running for President Debacle.

2011-10-12T16:40:00.002-06:00

On Sunday I saw a Catholic Priest on television proclaim that Mormons are Christians, I saw a Jewish rabbi define a cult, in such a manner that I thought it fit Mormonism perfectly, and then say that was a reason I should not call them a cult. I read an article by an Episcopalian claiming they are a cult because they won't accept our baptisms, we don't accept theirs either. Nor should we. No one ever gets around to thinking that maybe Christ should define what it means to be a Christian, though Christ got there a few times, and when you deny that he is God, of which there is only one, you call him a liar.But then, Baptists aren't really exemplary in getting the doctrine of the Trinity right either. I've watched many a Baptist go cross eyed at the thought that Jesus is God. I cringe to think Lutherans probably do the same in many cases. I'm not sure the doctrine of the Trinity, and its importance for the doctrine of salvation is emphasized near enough these days, even in Christian Churches. This is a major cancer in the church today. If we don't call Mormons Christian because they mess up the doctrine of the Trinity, we can't call the female Episcopal priest baptizing in the name of the "Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier" Christian either. But then today's mantra is "Deeds not Creeds", doctrine supposedly doesn't matter, it's how you live. In fact, doctrinally, there is a sense in which Mormonism is just American Evangelicalism on steroids. Sure they have some other weird beliefs about who God the Father is, their conception of him is a man like us, who urinates in the erect position, but is just better. This precludes any ontological unity with the Father on behalf of Jesus. Practically speaking though, Mormons and Baptists, American Evangelicals don't disagree on what the Christian life is supposed to be about or how one gets to heaven,or the celestial kingdom, just the details. Mormons forbid the drinking of coffee as well as drinking and smoking. They both have a tendency to add to God's law, and ignore God's law at the same time. Baptists have WWJD, Mormons have CTR,(choose the right) essentially the same thing. Baptists talk of Free will, Mormons of Free Agency. This more than anything, I believe, is why for all the evangelical mission work in Utah, there is not much progress. To watch them debate is like watching brothers squabble. Let this be a call to clean up our own doctrinal back yard.On the other hand, I loathe the prospect of a Mormon president. Political differences with Romney aside, the Mormon question looms large. Most today would not want a Muslim president. They recognize that Islam is as political in nature as it is religious. Well, a few years in Utah have taught me that Mormonism is much the same in that regard. Jeffres is right when he talks about it giving credence to a cult. Mormons use that sort of thing all the time. But so do Baptists and Episcopalians. Thing is, Mormonism is extremely political, and political in the sense of using politics to further the aims of their "church." Romney lost credibility with me in the last election the minute he said "the church knows it's sphere, and I know mine." Anyone in Utah could tell you that's a lie, if they aren't Mormon. If they are Mormon they think "the church's" business is politics. When the survey came out saying some 20 % of Americans would not vote for a Mormon, Mormons were outraged. It played on the news for weeks here. (Martyr syndrome is big here.) Yet in Utah, accept for a few pockets in which the Mormons are outnumbered or equalized, you won't get elected to a state office unless you are a Mormon. I thought they should understand the bias more than anyone. Here, bills don't get passed in the state legislature unless they get a nod from the "Presidency" or the "Quorum of Twelve". And to further dispel this notion one needs only look at their participation in the prop.8 debacle of California. But what do you expect in a state where the first governor, was also "the prophet," Brigham Young, a man who also had his cult declare war on the United States. Of course, this is a religion that regards the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to be religious documents, inspired of God. Sounds good until you see what they do with other religious documents of theirs, totally ignore them, basically with a doctrine akin to the Muslim doctrine of abrogation. New prophecy usurps. Mormons don't believe the Book of Mormon, not in the sense that Christians believe the Bible. At least Baptists, though their interpretation stinks, find the Bible to be normative and are open to revisiting and revising their beliefs should they be shown to be wrong with use of the Bible. Mormons have ongoing prophecy, and are at the whims of another man, even more so than Catholics are to the Pope. This animal is not the same.

He Will, He Wills to make you Clean

2011-10-12T10:41:00.001-06:00

Mark 1:35-45 (ESV) And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. [36] And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, [37] and they found him and said to him, "Everyone is looking for you." [38] And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out." [39] And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. [40] And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean." [41] Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean." [42] And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. [43] And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, [44] and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them." [45] But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter. “If you will, you can make me clean.” This is faith. This is Christian faith. The Christian believes Jesus can. If you will, you can make me clean. The Christian realizes that it is beyond his control to make himself clean but it is possible for Jesus to make him clean. The Christian faith is not in one’s self, and what he can or can’t do, but in Jesus who can do everything. This is just as true for us as it is for the leper. In this case Jesus wanted to, he made the leper clean. He doesn’t always do that, and even more rarely does he do it in any miraculous way, not when it comes to the earthly manifestations of sin and death in our lives. We have sin. Sin illustrates itself in us not only in perverted and sick behaviors, but also in things like the common cold. Often when we get sick, we are healed after a time. Sometimes God uses doctors to bring about health. But sometimes he doesn’t. Some of us live for years with ailments. We might question what the reasons are, why God does not heal us. Paul was given his thorn in his side. We trust that God knows best what we need, Yet, Jesus is always willing to make us clean. We know that we cannot clean ourselves of sin. But Jesus does. He cleans us. He cleans us of our sin daily, even as we continue to sin. He forgives us daily and richly, through his word, through baptism, through the Lord’s Supper, confession and absolution. He daily forgives us.

Exorcisms in Mark

2011-10-11T08:18:00.001-06:00

Mark 1:32-34 (ESV) That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. [33] And the whole city was gathered together at the door. [34] And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. What always startles me, is that during his earthly ministry Jesus is constantly trying to hide who he is. He heals people. He lets the cat out of the bag, but he is always trying to hide who he is. Here he won’t let the demons speak. They know who he is. Perhaps he cares a bit who it is that is testifying for him. I don’t know. Today, it often seems incredible to hear of all these exorcisms. For the most part it is something that occupies a movie screen for us. We rarely ever hear of them happening. Thing is you can’t believe in Scripture without recognizing the reality of demons. Montgomery is quick to point out that, if only one percent of all claims of demon activity were valid then it would be enough. Yet I suspect most Christians are bit like me. We believe in the existence of Demons, and look cross eyed at the shop owner who complains of the activity happening in his store. One wonders if the morning incense hasn’t gotten to his brain. I suppose some skepticism is warranted. Luther cautioned against believing every tale of demonic possession. He also believed very firmly that there were demons, and is recorded to have given counsel concerning exorcism. Today, the Lutheran church of Madagascar has grown to over three million. My friend Robert Bennett has written and is publishing a book on this phenomena. It has grown into what might be the largest Lutheran church body, chiefly through a lay led exorcism movement. And to hear the accounts sends chills up one’s spine. The book has made me reexamine my own suspicions.

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

2011-10-09T09:24:00.001-06:00

The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity 10/9/11Luke 7:11-17Bror Erickson [11] Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. [12] As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. [13] And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." [14] Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." [15] And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. [16] Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!" [17] And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country. Luke 7:11-17 (ESV) Fear seized them all, and they glorified God saying, “a great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” Raising a man from the dead. It puts the fear of God into people. We have an uneasy relationship with death. I know people who avoid funerals at all costs. Of course today, the word funeral is out. We call them celebrations of life. There is a reason Christian’s don’t tend to do that by the way. Or I should say, a good reason for a Christian not to do that. And it is simply this. To call a funeral “A Celebration of Life” in this context indicates that life is now over and there is nothing more. That the life is now done. But we Christians really believe that life is just beginning for that person, especially when they die as Christians who have already been buried into Christ’s death and risen to the newness of life in baptism. Oh, we still mourn. Yeah Christians mourn. We mourn because we know this wasn’t supposed to happen. We mourn because we know death isn’t natural. We mourn because death is our enemy, and the result of our sin. We mourn because we are separated from those whom we love for a time. But if we celebrate anything at a funeral, it is baptism because there in baptism we are given eternal life, the promise of God for salvation. We really look at the funeral as the final consumation of baptism. In death, we receive victory over death, and the full glory of salvation, through him who conquered death, Jesus Christ, who even here, quite early on in his ministry shows his power over death by raising this man from the dead, the only son of a widow.We are reminded straightway of the Widow with whom Elijah stayed. How she fed Elijah and her son off the meager rations she had left when Elijah came to visit. How her son died, and Elijah raised him from the dead, with the word of God. And then she says the curious words “Now I know you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord is in your mouth.” I mean it isn’t as if Elijah had been lacking in miracles to attest to the fact that he was a man of God. Fire from heaven licking a water drenched sacrifice on cue, might have convinced me. The bottomless jar of flour and oil, might should have been a good indication for the woman. But raising her son from the dead, was the clincher. That hit home. Her son, son’s were like life insurance, like a pension fund for old widows at this time. You take care of them as children, and as adults they take care of you. That was the idea. It hadn’t changed much in Jesus day. And then there is just the horror of having to bury your own child. It isn’t supposed to happen. The parents I have known to suffer from that, suffer grief in ways I can hardly imagine. But then Elijah raises him from the dead. Then Jesus raises this man from the dead. That is convincing. At that, people begin to listen. Now they know there is a prophet among them. A great prophet like unto Elijah, regarded as the greatest of prophets. But Jesus is more than a prophet who can raise others from the dead. In him all of scripture, all of the prophets find fulfillment. Had a lovely conversation with a mormon lady on the plane this last Friday, hampered my reading a bit. But she asked if I didn’t think we needed prophets anymore. I pointed her to Hebrews 1:1.” Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, [2] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” Hebrews 1:1-2 (ESV) In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son. I told her to think we need prophets after the life, death, and resurrection of Christ is to phenomenally miss the point, not only of the prophets in the old Testament, but also the significance of Christ’s death and resurrection! The prophets were there to point forward to the coming fulfillment of the gospel, experienced then as only the promise of God. In Christ, all the prophets are fulfilled! Their promise finds its completion in Christ. In Christ God does what he said he’d do through the prophets. It is done! It is finished! And to drive this point home. Here is not just a man who raised a couple people from the dead. But here is a man, who when he himself experiences death, he raises himself, and after three days, when the stench of death should have been setting itself in good fouling up the tomb of rock! But no! He rolls the stone aside. He walks out. We appears to his disciples one by one, and all together, at different times, consuming fish, and telling them to touch his side, breaking bread, before finally ascending to heaven. He rises to completely new life, the newness of life that he gives to you and I in baptism. The newness of life that you and I share with him. Because his death is our death, his life is our life. His death for the forgiveness of his, his resurrection for the for the gift of life, and so it is that he gives us his body, crucified on the cross for the forgiveness of sins, and his blood there shed with which to share his life, that by his grace we live.Now the peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.

Simon's Mother in Law

2011-10-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

Mark 1:29-31 (ESV) And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. [30] Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. [31] And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. Hey, guess what, the first pope was married. His wife doesn’t make a mention in the gospels, but Mother in Laws, always know how to make an appearance it seems…. I’m always astounded by this sort of thing. Jesus heals this lady ill with a fever. And she is up serving right away. The healing is that complete. It’s quite amazing. Fevers, headaches, they’ll leave me weak for days after they break. Suffereing from that a little right now. But not the mother inlaw, she is healed and straightway begins cooking and serving. Of course, there are parallels for our own life. Having been healed, having been forgiven our sins, the natural reaction is to begin to serve Jesus, most often by serving others in our lives.

Teaching with Authority

2011-10-06T07:00:00.000-06:00

Mark 1:21-28 (ESV) And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. [22] And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. [23] And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, [24] "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are— the Holy One of God." [25] But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" [26] And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. [27] And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." [28] And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. “What is this? A new teaching with authority!” Even at Christ’s teaching the people knew there was something different. The gospel Jesus preached, the gospel he gives us to preach is not something to be trifled with. It has authority. It has the authority of God. It is this authority he gave to the disciples the authority given to pastors, to preach the forgiveness of sins. This isn’t something to teach with uncertainty, or to philosophize about, but something to proclaim. Our Lord has risen from the dead. Preach his gospel the way he did.

Fishers of men

2011-10-05T07:00:00.000-06:00

Mark 1:16-20 (ESV) Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. [17] And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." [18] And immediately they left their nets and followed him. [19] And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. [20] And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. I like the way Jesus calls disciples. One wonders if there isn’t more behind the picture. One wonders how many times these men had heard Jesus preach, if they were with john ofr sometime. It seems, seems, to incredible that disciples would just up and leave their occupations and families to follow Jesus, at just a word. Of course with God all things are possible. In any case, Jesus has a more important task for them, and they pick it up. Rather than fishing, they become fishers of men. Today the trend is becoming that of tent making. There is a push for pastors to be something other than pastors, to make their living doing work that isn’t related to the ministry. Paul did that, well at least at times he did. But this is not the model that is set out. To become fishers of men, the disciples had to leave their previous occupations. They went to follow Jesus, to learn their new occupation from him. It was important enough, to leave their occupations and do this. So it is today.

Repent and Believe

2011-10-04T07:00:00.000-06:00

Mark 1:14-15 (ESV) Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, [15] and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." Mark moves on. John is arrested and Jesus starts proclaiming the Gospel. Sometimes passages like this can be extremely useful. People use this term Gospel for many things. However, I’m always interested in how it is that the New Testament uses the term. Here, the gospel, the good news is, ”The time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God is at hand.” Jesus proclaims this as gospel, as good news. Indeed it is. The kingdom of God is what humanity hopes for it is what we long for. Jesus says it is at hand. But how is it at hand? If it was at hand during Jesus earthly ministry, why do we still pray ‘thy kingdom come” in the Lord’s Prayer? What does it mean for the kingdom of God to be at hand, what is it? These are the questions that a person asks. Nothing gets abused more than the concept of the kingdom of God. The most profane abuse is to equate it with an earthly kingdom. Of course this is what many even in Jesus day were expecting. In fact it is this desire that made them miss the messiah. But Jesus is the king, and his kingdom is with him, wherever he is. His reign. The kingdom of God, is at hand, because Jesus is near. The people don’t see it. John stays in prison, is even beheaded. The world continues as it ever has, or so many are led to think. Yet, in Jesus the kingdom of God will find it’s expression in his death and resurrection. Resurrection is key. It is resurrection that the people expect to usher in the Kingdom of God. And Jesus is the resurrection and the life. The kingdom is in him, in whom we alos will be raised if we repent and believe. Repent and believe in the gospel. Repentance is such an odd concept. We confuse it so badly. People hear repent and they think about the abortion they talked their girlfriend into in high school. They think about back seat escapades, or having to apologize to their parents after sneaking out to a party in high school, getting drunk and puking on their dad’s shoes as he scolded them for it. They think of the time they indulged themselves in the porn stash they found in an unguarded ice fishing house. Of course those are all things that need to be repented of. Those are things that need to be confessed before a father confessor, that one’s conscience may be cleaned with the forgiveness of sins. But, the repentance of which Jesus speaks is so much more. Jesus says repent and believe. The two are inextricably connected. To repent is to believe in the kingdom of God, the gospel. Unrepentance is unbelief. One can see this with just an examination of the Ten Commandments. Every time a person breaks one of the commandments 2-ten, he breaks the first commandment. Every concrete sin we commit, every act of fornication, every Sunday skipped from church, every time we have lied in the name of God, or used his name in vain, every time we have disobeyed, or dishonored our parents, every time we have passed the hungry in the street on our way to dinner, every time we have stolen, or gossiped, or let our neighbor’s possessions drive us to jealousy, we prove to God that we do not believe in him, that there is something we fear, love, or trust in more than God, more than Jesus who laid down his life for the forgiveness of our sins. Something we desire more than the kingdom he freely gives us. But the kingdom of God, which Jesus call’s us to believe in is the forgiveness of sins. It is not repentance to make a deal with God, or to pledge your life to him in return for salvation. Repentance is to believe that in him your sins are forgiven, and is no longer yours to give, was never yours to give, not even to him. Repentance is not to feel sorry, but to jump for joy knowing that here in him is the kingdom of God, eternal life that comes about by his death and resurrection.