Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Lord's Prayer Introduction, Part 3: Click here and read 21-34.
The basics:
- We should be drawn to prayer because God arranges the words and form for us. He places them upon our lips. Through this we may see how heartily He pities us in our distress and never doubt that such prayer is pleasing to Him and shall be answered.
- The Lord's Prayer has a great advantage over all other prayers that we might compose ourselves, because we can be certain it is pleasing to God.
- The Lord's Prayer has been prescribed so we should see and consider the distress which ought to urge and compel us to pray without ceasing.
- Prayer done as a good work and without asking of God is to be rejected. Those who do this act as though they are unwilling to take anything from God, but wish only to give Him something.
- There must be earnestness in true prayer. We must feel our distress - such distress that presses us and compels us to call and cry out. The distress which ought to concern us most is abundantly set forth in the Lord's Prayer.
- God requires that we plead for our necessities and wants, not because He does not know them, but that we may have our hearts opened to stronger and greater desires, and expect to receive much.
- We should accustom ourselves from youth to daily pray for all our wants, and for the needs and wants of those among us: our pastors, the government, neighbors, etc.
- The devil is well aware of what damage and harm it does him when prayer is in proper practice, and therefore, he works to discourage prayer.
- All our shelter and protection rest in prayer alone. We are too weak to cope with the devil and all his power. We must take up the weapons with which Christians must be armed in order to stand against the devil.
- Whenever a Christian prays, "Dear Father, let Thy will be done," God speaks and says, "Yes, dear child, it shall be so, in spite of the devil and all the world."
- Each petition of the Lord's Prayer states a need, every need we have, so great that it ought to constrain us to keep praying it all our lives.
My thoughts today:
The Lord's Prayer - the perfect prayer to pray each day and the perfect prayer to instruct and guide our other prayers.
A few times throughout these readings Luther has discussed how little we actually see our own needs. Sure, we think we know them, but we are blinded by this world. What we see as needs are generally not what God knows our needs are. He has given us a prayer that instructs us to see our true needs.
The distress which ought to concern us most is abundantly set forth in the Lord's Prayer.
There is nothing wrong with praying God will help you find your lost keys.
There is nothing wrong with praying God will help your baby go back to sleep [you know, like I was crying out at 12, 3, and 5 a.m. this morning].
Luther reminds us God desires spontaneous, crying out prayers. But these prayers should be stemming from a prayer life filled with the Lord's Prayer. From this prayer, God works our hearts to be turned to greater desires. He molds our perceptions of needs and wants. He points us to His will, which is the greatest will that could possibly be done.
Dear Father, let Thy will be done.
Yes, dear child, it shall be so, in spite of the devil and all the world.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Large Catechism: The Lord's Prayer Introduction, Part 2
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Lord's Prayer Introduction, Part 2: Click here and read 12-21.
The basics:
- On our account prayer would amount to nothing, but He has commanded it. Therefore everybody should always come before God in obedience to this commandment.
- It is disobedient to do prayer for the work of it, but expect it may not be heard. That is staking prayer on risk, and therefore it is a lost prayer.
- No matter the holiness of the man, prayer is still commanded. It is commanded as much for St. Paul as it is for me.
- Our prayers are precious, holy, and pleasing to God. God does not regard prayer on account of the person, but on account of His word and obedience to it.
- All our prayers must be based and rest upon obedience to God, irrespective of our person, whether we be sinners or saints, worthy or unworthy.
- If God did not intend to answer our prayers, He would not command that we pray.
- God promises it shall be done as we pray. Psalm 50:15 and Matthew 7:7.
- "This you can hold up to Him and say: Here I come, dear Father, and pray, not of my own purpose nor upon my own worthiness, but at Thy commandment and promise, which cannot fail or deceive me." Paragraph 21.
My thoughts today:
Here are a few quotes from today that I need to pin up on the fridge for reminding. If I was awesome, I would make you free printables. We all know that is what awesome bloggers do.
I am no awesome blogger. So, you just get the words. Do some old school WordArt to it, and you got yourself a printable. And it's free!
"Here I come, dear Father, and pray, not of my own purpose nor upon my own worthiness, but at Thy commandment and promise, which cannot fail or deceive me."
"My prayer is as precious, holy, and pleasing to God as that of St. Paul or of the most holy saints...For I gladly grant that he is holier in his person, but not on account of the commandment; since God does not regard prayer on account of the person, but on account of His word and obedience thereto."
"...I pray for the same thing for which [the saints] all pray and ever have prayed; besides, I have just as great a need of it as those great saints, yea, even a greater one than they."
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Lord's Prayer Introduction, Part 2: Click here and read 12-21.
The basics:
- On our account prayer would amount to nothing, but He has commanded it. Therefore everybody should always come before God in obedience to this commandment.
- It is disobedient to do prayer for the work of it, but expect it may not be heard. That is staking prayer on risk, and therefore it is a lost prayer.
- No matter the holiness of the man, prayer is still commanded. It is commanded as much for St. Paul as it is for me.
- Our prayers are precious, holy, and pleasing to God. God does not regard prayer on account of the person, but on account of His word and obedience to it.
- All our prayers must be based and rest upon obedience to God, irrespective of our person, whether we be sinners or saints, worthy or unworthy.
- If God did not intend to answer our prayers, He would not command that we pray.
- God promises it shall be done as we pray. Psalm 50:15 and Matthew 7:7.
- "This you can hold up to Him and say: Here I come, dear Father, and pray, not of my own purpose nor upon my own worthiness, but at Thy commandment and promise, which cannot fail or deceive me." Paragraph 21.
My thoughts today:
Here are a few quotes from today that I need to pin up on the fridge for reminding. If I was awesome, I would make you free printables. We all know that is what awesome bloggers do.
I am no awesome blogger. So, you just get the words. Do some old school WordArt to it, and you got yourself a printable. And it's free!
"Here I come, dear Father, and pray, not of my own purpose nor upon my own worthiness, but at Thy commandment and promise, which cannot fail or deceive me."
"My prayer is as precious, holy, and pleasing to God as that of St. Paul or of the most holy saints...For I gladly grant that he is holier in his person, but not on account of the commandment; since God does not regard prayer on account of the person, but on account of His word and obedience thereto."
"...I pray for the same thing for which [the saints] all pray and ever have prayed; besides, I have just as great a need of it as those great saints, yea, even a greater one than they."
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Large Catechism: The Lord's Prayer Introduction, Part 1
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Lord's Prayer Introduction, Part 1: Click here and read 1-11.
The basics:
- We have learned what me must do and believe in the previous sections, now we learn how we ought to pray.
- We are unable to follow the Ten Commandments even though we have begun to believe the Apostles' Creed. Therefore, we must pray to Him, that He would give, preserve, and increase in us faith and the fulfillment of the Ten Commandments, and that He would remove everything that is in our way of doing so.
- It is our duty to pray because of God's commandment. In the Second Commandment, we are commanded to call upon the name of our Lord in every need.
- Some fall into a pattern of not praying, because they think someone else will pray.
- "Just as it would be idle for a son to say to his father, 'Of what advantage is my obedience? I will go and do what I can; it is all the same;' but there stands the commandment, Thou shalt and must do it, so also here it is not left to my will to do it or leave it undone, but prayer shall and must be offered at the risk of God's wrath and displeasure."
- The heart is by nature so depressed that it always flees from God and believes He does not wish or desire our prayer because we are sinners and have merited nothing but wrath.
- By the Second Commandment, He shows us that He wishes to draw us to Himself, that we are humbled and share our misery and plight with Him, and pray for grace and help.
My thoughts today:
Throughout my life, I have gone through various stages of praying. I distinctly remember in college that I kept a sheet of paper taped by my bed. It was a list of all the things I should have been praying for. Each night I would say, "Dear Lord, You know the list. Amen."
OK, maybe a few other words were in there, but that was pretty much the extent of it. And while He did, in fact, know the list, I am pretty sure that isn't exactly what He commands in calling upon His name in every need.
The truth is it is just so hard sometimes. Life takes over - in whatever stage or season of life we are in. Papers must be written. Chores must be done. Dinner must be cooked. Diapers have to be changed. Lessons have to be taught. Blog posts must be written...Oh, maybe not that one. But you get my point. There is so much to pray for that our brains can literally start believing there isn't really anything to pray for because there is simply too much stuff and not enough time. Our hearts are so depressed that they flee from God, in the words of Luther. We are sinners, and because of that, we are sinners in our prayer life, as well. But, oh gracious Lord of ours, He does not hold this against us.
"For by this commandment He gives us plainly to understand that He will not cast us from Him nor chase us away, although we are sinners, but rather draw us to Himself, so that we might humble ourselves before Him, bewail this misery and plight of ours, and pray for grace and help." Paragraph 11.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Lord's Prayer Introduction, Part 1: Click here and read 1-11.
The basics:
- We have learned what me must do and believe in the previous sections, now we learn how we ought to pray.
- We are unable to follow the Ten Commandments even though we have begun to believe the Apostles' Creed. Therefore, we must pray to Him, that He would give, preserve, and increase in us faith and the fulfillment of the Ten Commandments, and that He would remove everything that is in our way of doing so.
- It is our duty to pray because of God's commandment. In the Second Commandment, we are commanded to call upon the name of our Lord in every need.
- Some fall into a pattern of not praying, because they think someone else will pray.
- "Just as it would be idle for a son to say to his father, 'Of what advantage is my obedience? I will go and do what I can; it is all the same;' but there stands the commandment, Thou shalt and must do it, so also here it is not left to my will to do it or leave it undone, but prayer shall and must be offered at the risk of God's wrath and displeasure."
- The heart is by nature so depressed that it always flees from God and believes He does not wish or desire our prayer because we are sinners and have merited nothing but wrath.
- By the Second Commandment, He shows us that He wishes to draw us to Himself, that we are humbled and share our misery and plight with Him, and pray for grace and help.
My thoughts today:
Throughout my life, I have gone through various stages of praying. I distinctly remember in college that I kept a sheet of paper taped by my bed. It was a list of all the things I should have been praying for. Each night I would say, "Dear Lord, You know the list. Amen."
OK, maybe a few other words were in there, but that was pretty much the extent of it. And while He did, in fact, know the list, I am pretty sure that isn't exactly what He commands in calling upon His name in every need.
The truth is it is just so hard sometimes. Life takes over - in whatever stage or season of life we are in. Papers must be written. Chores must be done. Dinner must be cooked. Diapers have to be changed. Lessons have to be taught. Blog posts must be written...Oh, maybe not that one. But you get my point. There is so much to pray for that our brains can literally start believing there isn't really anything to pray for because there is simply too much stuff and not enough time. Our hearts are so depressed that they flee from God, in the words of Luther. We are sinners, and because of that, we are sinners in our prayer life, as well. But, oh gracious Lord of ours, He does not hold this against us.
"For by this commandment He gives us plainly to understand that He will not cast us from Him nor chase us away, although we are sinners, but rather draw us to Himself, so that we might humble ourselves before Him, bewail this misery and plight of ours, and pray for grace and help." Paragraph 11.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Large Catechism: The Apostles' Creed Article 3, Part 4
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Apostles' Creed Article 3, Part 4: Click here and read 61 - the end of the Apostles' Creed section.
The basics:
- The congregation of the Christian Church on earth is appointed for the dispensing of the Holy Ghost and the Word. This is where He speaks and does everything.
- We believe He brings us to the Church by the Word, and through the same Word bestows, strengthens, and increases our faith.
- The Apostles' Creed surpasses and exceeds the wisdom, mind, and reason of all men.
- Beyond all He gives us on this earth through His creation, in the Apostles' Creed we learn of His gifts of His Son and the Holy Ghost.
- Our Lord Jesus Christ is a mirror of the paternal heart of the Father.
- These articles divide Christians from all other people upon earth. All those outside of Christians, whether heathen, Jews, or false Christians and hypocrites, may believe in one true God, yet they do not know what He thinks of them and cannot expect any love or blessing from Him. For they have not Christ, and are not favored by any gifts of the Holy Ghost.
- The Ten Commandments teach us what we ought to do. The Apostles' Creed teaches us what He does for us. The Ten Commandments are written on the hearts of all men. The Creed is beyond comprehension for all men, and must be taught by the Holy Ghost. The law makes no Christian, because we are not able to follow them. The doctrine of faith brings grace and makes us acceptable to God.
My thoughts today:
I have to confess there are many times I ramble off the Apostles' Creed without even realizing what I am saying. My family says it every night, we say it at two different churches every Sunday - it is pretty much just there in my brain somewhere. When it is time to say it, out it comes.
Some people may see this as just a silly thing. Why say it so often? Why repeat something every Sunday in church that you know most people are just saying from rote memory?
For anyone who thinks that, I am quite certain they have never had the experience of sitting next to an elderly, dementia or Alzheimer's stricken Christian with a background in repeating the Apostles' Creed thousands of times.
They might not be able to tell you their roommate's name. They may not remember their own spouse. They might not be able to recall the names of their children or grandchildren. They might not even know their own name.
But...
It brings tears to my eyes just thinking of the bedsides my family and I have sat by in the past two and a half years...
They have always remembered the Apostles' Creed. The words might be jumbled. They might accidentally slip into the Nicene Creed [but really, who doesn't do that...]. But when it is time to say it, out it comes.
Their eyes are closed, they breathe quick breaths between lines, and they recite that Apostles' Creed like they did so many times in their youth. This is the faith brought by the Holy Ghost. A faith that goes from womb to tomb, yet completely incomprehensible to the greatest of human minds. This isn't a faith they made for themselves. This is a faith given to them.
What makes Christians different?
We have the one true God who does everything for us. We don't work to earn His favor. We don't wonder what He thinks about us. We don't speak the Creed without the Holy Ghost doing it for and through us. We don't seek to explain away our faith by reason. We take God by His Word, and we repeat that Word over and over again. All the while, the Holy Ghost is sustaining and strengthening our faith.
May the Holy Ghost continue to sustain and strengthen the faith of all Christians, that we may boldy proclaim the words of the Apostles' Creed every chance we get.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Apostles' Creed Article 3, Part 4: Click here and read 61 - the end of the Apostles' Creed section.
The basics:
- The congregation of the Christian Church on earth is appointed for the dispensing of the Holy Ghost and the Word. This is where He speaks and does everything.
- We believe He brings us to the Church by the Word, and through the same Word bestows, strengthens, and increases our faith.
- The Apostles' Creed surpasses and exceeds the wisdom, mind, and reason of all men.
- Beyond all He gives us on this earth through His creation, in the Apostles' Creed we learn of His gifts of His Son and the Holy Ghost.
- Our Lord Jesus Christ is a mirror of the paternal heart of the Father.
- These articles divide Christians from all other people upon earth. All those outside of Christians, whether heathen, Jews, or false Christians and hypocrites, may believe in one true God, yet they do not know what He thinks of them and cannot expect any love or blessing from Him. For they have not Christ, and are not favored by any gifts of the Holy Ghost.
- The Ten Commandments teach us what we ought to do. The Apostles' Creed teaches us what He does for us. The Ten Commandments are written on the hearts of all men. The Creed is beyond comprehension for all men, and must be taught by the Holy Ghost. The law makes no Christian, because we are not able to follow them. The doctrine of faith brings grace and makes us acceptable to God.
My thoughts today:
I have to confess there are many times I ramble off the Apostles' Creed without even realizing what I am saying. My family says it every night, we say it at two different churches every Sunday - it is pretty much just there in my brain somewhere. When it is time to say it, out it comes.
Some people may see this as just a silly thing. Why say it so often? Why repeat something every Sunday in church that you know most people are just saying from rote memory?
For anyone who thinks that, I am quite certain they have never had the experience of sitting next to an elderly, dementia or Alzheimer's stricken Christian with a background in repeating the Apostles' Creed thousands of times.
They might not be able to tell you their roommate's name. They may not remember their own spouse. They might not be able to recall the names of their children or grandchildren. They might not even know their own name.
But...
It brings tears to my eyes just thinking of the bedsides my family and I have sat by in the past two and a half years...
They have always remembered the Apostles' Creed. The words might be jumbled. They might accidentally slip into the Nicene Creed [but really, who doesn't do that...]. But when it is time to say it, out it comes.
Their eyes are closed, they breathe quick breaths between lines, and they recite that Apostles' Creed like they did so many times in their youth. This is the faith brought by the Holy Ghost. A faith that goes from womb to tomb, yet completely incomprehensible to the greatest of human minds. This isn't a faith they made for themselves. This is a faith given to them.
What makes Christians different?
We have the one true God who does everything for us. We don't work to earn His favor. We don't wonder what He thinks about us. We don't speak the Creed without the Holy Ghost doing it for and through us. We don't seek to explain away our faith by reason. We take God by His Word, and we repeat that Word over and over again. All the while, the Holy Ghost is sustaining and strengthening our faith.
May the Holy Ghost continue to sustain and strengthen the faith of all Christians, that we may boldy proclaim the words of the Apostles' Creed every chance we get.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Large Catechism: The Apostles' Creed Article 3, Part 3
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Apostles' Creed Article 3, Part 3: Click here and read 54-60.
The basics:
- In the Christian Church we have forgiveness of sin.
- Everything in the Christian Church is ordered so we shall daily obtain there nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word, to comfort and encourage our consciences.
- There is nothing but continuous, uninterrupted forgiveness of sin in the Christian Church - both in that God forgives us and in that we forgive, bear with, and help each other.
- Outside of the Christian Church, where the Gospel is not, there is no forgiveness, as also there can be no holiness or sanctification. All who seek to merit holiness, not through the Gospel and forgiveness of sin, but by their works, have expelled and severed themselves from this Church.
- We expect that our flesh will be destroyed, and arise to perfect holiness in a new eternal life.
- In our eternal life, there will be no more forgiveness, but only perfectly pure and holy people, full of righteousness, removed and free from sin, death, and all evil, in a new, immortal, and glorified body.
My thoughts today:
There are a lot of reasons to love traditional Lutheran liturgy, but this section of the LC solidified in my mind why it is vitally important for the Church.
Because of the liturgy, I am able to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have heard, recited, and received the forgiveness of sins and the Gospel. My husband is my pastor, so I know I am sure to get a pretty stellar Law and Gospel sermon, but let's just say for some unknown reason [cough, three small children, cough, OR cough, my own poor attention span, cough], I was unable to hear or even be present for the goodness of the sermon...
Even then, I know I still received the forgiveness of sin. We read the Word, we repented, we were absolved, we sang hymns of the faith, we prayed the Psalms, we received Christ's Body and Blood in Communion.
Luther says EVERYTHING in the Christian Church is ordered so we obtain there nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word. The liturgy is part of that order.
Without the liturgy, with the Word bleeding throughout it, I would not be as sure about what I had received. The liturgy forces our sinful minds to stay focused back on the Word of God, because it is all from the Scriptures.
The order of the liturgy matches the order of our God.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Apostles' Creed Article 3, Part 3: Click here and read 54-60.
The basics:
- In the Christian Church we have forgiveness of sin.
- Everything in the Christian Church is ordered so we shall daily obtain there nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word, to comfort and encourage our consciences.
- There is nothing but continuous, uninterrupted forgiveness of sin in the Christian Church - both in that God forgives us and in that we forgive, bear with, and help each other.
- Outside of the Christian Church, where the Gospel is not, there is no forgiveness, as also there can be no holiness or sanctification. All who seek to merit holiness, not through the Gospel and forgiveness of sin, but by their works, have expelled and severed themselves from this Church.
- We expect that our flesh will be destroyed, and arise to perfect holiness in a new eternal life.
- In our eternal life, there will be no more forgiveness, but only perfectly pure and holy people, full of righteousness, removed and free from sin, death, and all evil, in a new, immortal, and glorified body.
My thoughts today:
There are a lot of reasons to love traditional Lutheran liturgy, but this section of the LC solidified in my mind why it is vitally important for the Church.
Because of the liturgy, I am able to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have heard, recited, and received the forgiveness of sins and the Gospel. My husband is my pastor, so I know I am sure to get a pretty stellar Law and Gospel sermon, but let's just say for some unknown reason [cough, three small children, cough, OR cough, my own poor attention span, cough], I was unable to hear or even be present for the goodness of the sermon...
Even then, I know I still received the forgiveness of sin. We read the Word, we repented, we were absolved, we sang hymns of the faith, we prayed the Psalms, we received Christ's Body and Blood in Communion.
Luther says EVERYTHING in the Christian Church is ordered so we obtain there nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word. The liturgy is part of that order.
Without the liturgy, with the Word bleeding throughout it, I would not be as sure about what I had received. The liturgy forces our sinful minds to stay focused back on the Word of God, because it is all from the Scriptures.
The order of the liturgy matches the order of our God.
Friday, October 24, 2014
Large Catechism: The Apostles' Creed Article 3, Part 2
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Apostles' Creed Article 3, Part 2: Click here and read 47-53.
The basics:
- Luther uses this section to unpack a word study expressing why he believes some of the words of the Apostles' Creed can be translated better into German.
- He argues that "the holy Christian Church" and "the communion of saints" are the same thing.
- The "Church" is not a place or building, but an assembly. "Communion" is better translated as congregation. So, we believe in the holy Christian assembly or congregation of saints.
- Until the last day, the Holy Ghost abides with the holy congregation. He brings us to Christ, He teaches and preaches to us the Word, He works and promotes sanctification, and causes the community to daily grow and become strong in the faith and its fruits which He produces.
My thoughts today:
I really connected with the comments about the Church not being a building or location. My husband serves a dual parish, and one of those churches doesn't have a building. They meet in a side building (former parish house) of another Lutheran church.
It is just a room with a folding table covered with a cloth to hold the Holy Body and Blood of Christ. There is a cross, some folding chairs, seat cushions, and a Baptismal font and podium that scoot out when they are needed. Someone recently donated a piano, so we do have one of those.
The Church is not the little, cold room we meet in each Sunday and Thursday. The Church is the people gathered there with their pastor. The Church is the communion of the saints joined in that circle as we receive Christ's Supper. Where Jesus is, there is the Church.
There is so much to be learned from a congregation who owns so little. The Gifts still flow. The Gospel is still preached. The Word is still there.
I have written so much about my own contentment [or need for it], but in this place I have learned about the contentment of the Church - finding contentment in the space, the belongings, and the location God has given us for His purposes. Thanks be to God for that cold, little room we call Church; for there, we receive eternal life and salvation.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Apostles' Creed Article 3, Part 2: Click here and read 47-53.
The basics:
- Luther uses this section to unpack a word study expressing why he believes some of the words of the Apostles' Creed can be translated better into German.
- He argues that "the holy Christian Church" and "the communion of saints" are the same thing.
- The "Church" is not a place or building, but an assembly. "Communion" is better translated as congregation. So, we believe in the holy Christian assembly or congregation of saints.
- Until the last day, the Holy Ghost abides with the holy congregation. He brings us to Christ, He teaches and preaches to us the Word, He works and promotes sanctification, and causes the community to daily grow and become strong in the faith and its fruits which He produces.
My thoughts today:
I really connected with the comments about the Church not being a building or location. My husband serves a dual parish, and one of those churches doesn't have a building. They meet in a side building (former parish house) of another Lutheran church.
It is just a room with a folding table covered with a cloth to hold the Holy Body and Blood of Christ. There is a cross, some folding chairs, seat cushions, and a Baptismal font and podium that scoot out when they are needed. Someone recently donated a piano, so we do have one of those.
The Church is not the little, cold room we meet in each Sunday and Thursday. The Church is the people gathered there with their pastor. The Church is the communion of the saints joined in that circle as we receive Christ's Supper. Where Jesus is, there is the Church.
There is so much to be learned from a congregation who owns so little. The Gifts still flow. The Gospel is still preached. The Word is still there.
I have written so much about my own contentment [or need for it], but in this place I have learned about the contentment of the Church - finding contentment in the space, the belongings, and the location God has given us for His purposes. Thanks be to God for that cold, little room we call Church; for there, we receive eternal life and salvation.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Large Catechism: The Apostles' Creed Article 3, Part 1
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Apostles' Creed Article 3, Part 1: Click here and read 34-46.
The basics:
- I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
- This article relates to sanctification, because the Holy Ghost makes us holy.
- The Holy Ghost sanctifies us through the communion of saints or the Christian Church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. He leads us into His holy congregation, and places us in the bosom of the Church, where He preaches to us and brings us Christ.
- None of us could come to Christ on our own.
- Christ accomplished the work, but if it were to remain hidden, no one would receive it. Therefore, God sends forth His Word to be preached through the Gospel, and the Holy Ghost delivers the work of Christ.
- What do you mean by the words: I believe in the Holy Ghost? Answer: I believe that the Holy Ghost makes me holy, as His name implies. What method does He use to accomplish this? By the Christian Church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
- Luther discusses the misunderstanding of the Holy Ghost in the Roman Catholic Church, as they believe in personal works and merit.
- Where Christ is not preached, there is no Holy Ghost who creates, calls, and gathers the Christian Church, without which no one can come to Christ the Lord.
My thoughts today:
One of the greatest lessons I have been taught since entering the Lutheran church is that language matters. The way I speak about my faith makes a big difference.
When I say that I came to Christ or invited him to live in my heart, I am putting the emphasis on my own work. I did this. Language matters.
When I say that all you need to do to be saved is ask God into your life and heart, I am putting the emphasis on your own work. You need to do this. Language matters.
In a culture obsessed with what you and I can do for ourselves, it is so refreshing to be freed from this burden in the Church. It isn't about you, and it isn't about me. It is about Him. We are not the ones doing the action. He is. Language matters.
The Holy Ghost delivers Christ's completed work to us. He brings me to church, He fills me with Gospel, He sends me out, He makes me holy, He will raise me from the dead, He will bring me to live eternally by His side.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Apostles' Creed Article 3, Part 1: Click here and read 34-46.
The basics:
- I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
- This article relates to sanctification, because the Holy Ghost makes us holy.
- The Holy Ghost sanctifies us through the communion of saints or the Christian Church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. He leads us into His holy congregation, and places us in the bosom of the Church, where He preaches to us and brings us Christ.
- None of us could come to Christ on our own.
- Christ accomplished the work, but if it were to remain hidden, no one would receive it. Therefore, God sends forth His Word to be preached through the Gospel, and the Holy Ghost delivers the work of Christ.
- What do you mean by the words: I believe in the Holy Ghost? Answer: I believe that the Holy Ghost makes me holy, as His name implies. What method does He use to accomplish this? By the Christian Church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
- Luther discusses the misunderstanding of the Holy Ghost in the Roman Catholic Church, as they believe in personal works and merit.
- Where Christ is not preached, there is no Holy Ghost who creates, calls, and gathers the Christian Church, without which no one can come to Christ the Lord.
My thoughts today:
One of the greatest lessons I have been taught since entering the Lutheran church is that language matters. The way I speak about my faith makes a big difference.
When I say that I came to Christ or invited him to live in my heart, I am putting the emphasis on my own work. I did this. Language matters.
When I say that all you need to do to be saved is ask God into your life and heart, I am putting the emphasis on your own work. You need to do this. Language matters.
In a culture obsessed with what you and I can do for ourselves, it is so refreshing to be freed from this burden in the Church. It isn't about you, and it isn't about me. It is about Him. We are not the ones doing the action. He is. Language matters.
The Holy Ghost delivers Christ's completed work to us. He brings me to church, He fills me with Gospel, He sends me out, He makes me holy, He will raise me from the dead, He will bring me to live eternally by His side.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Large Catechism: The Apostles' Creed Article 2
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Apostles' Creed Article 2: Click here and read 25-33.
The basics:
- And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
- God has completely poured forth Himself and withheld nothing from us through the Second Person of the Godhead, Jesus Christ.
- In this article, we learn how we have been redeemed. What do you believe in the Second Article of Jesus Christ? I believe that Jesus Christ, true Son of God, has become my Lord. But what is it to become Lord? That He has redeemed me from sin, from the devil, from death, and all evil. Before I had no King. I was captive under the power of the devil, condemned to death, enmeshed in sin and blindness.
- The devil led us into disobedience, sin, death, and all evil, and we fell under God's wrath and displeasure, as we had deserved. The Son of God had compassion on our misery, and came from heaven to help us. He has made us free.
- The sum of this article is that the word Lord signifies Redeemer - He who has brought us from Satan to God, from death to life, from sin to righteousness, and who preserves us in the same.
- The rest of the article explains this redemption: how and whereby it was accomplished, how much it cost Him, and what He spent and risked that He might win us,
- He did none of this for Himself.
- On the last day, He will completely part and separate us from the wicked world, the devil, death, sin, etc.
- The entire Gospel which our pastors preach is based on this.
My thoughts today:
OK, so this section cannot be read only once. Seriously, find another five minutes later today and read it again. Why? Because it is the Gospel.
The Gospel is good for you to hear and read over and over again. First, because it creates faith in you. Second, so you can recognize when you are hearing the Gospel being preached and when you are hearing rubbish from the pulpit.
From paragraph 33:
"Ay, the entire Gospel which we preach is based on this, that we properly understand this article as that upon which our salvation and all our happiness rest, and which is so rich and comprehensive that we never can learn it fully."
Who is Luther talking to again? Oh, yes, back to the introduction a long time ago - the Large Catechism is for everyone but most especially pastors.
Itching ears want to hear new and different things. We want to hear things we don't need to hear. Here, Luther is reminding preachers of the Gospel that they are indeed preachers of the Gospel. What do they preach? The Gospel.
Preachers don't preach about how you can do something to get to heaven.
Preachers don't preach about how you win people for Christ.
Preachers don't preach about how you can have your best life now.
Preachers preach the Gospel - in season and out of season.
They keep preaching the same Gospel when you think you know it.
They keep preaching the same Gospel when you know you don't know it.
"...which is so rich and comprehensive that we never can learn it fully."
Upon this article rests our salvation and all our happiness. Preachers need not preach anything else.
So, go ahead and find another five minutes today to read Luther's words again.
The words of a preacher. The words of the Gospel.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Apostles' Creed Article 2: Click here and read 25-33.
The basics:
- And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
- God has completely poured forth Himself and withheld nothing from us through the Second Person of the Godhead, Jesus Christ.
- In this article, we learn how we have been redeemed. What do you believe in the Second Article of Jesus Christ? I believe that Jesus Christ, true Son of God, has become my Lord. But what is it to become Lord? That He has redeemed me from sin, from the devil, from death, and all evil. Before I had no King. I was captive under the power of the devil, condemned to death, enmeshed in sin and blindness.
- The devil led us into disobedience, sin, death, and all evil, and we fell under God's wrath and displeasure, as we had deserved. The Son of God had compassion on our misery, and came from heaven to help us. He has made us free.
- The sum of this article is that the word Lord signifies Redeemer - He who has brought us from Satan to God, from death to life, from sin to righteousness, and who preserves us in the same.
- The rest of the article explains this redemption: how and whereby it was accomplished, how much it cost Him, and what He spent and risked that He might win us,
- He did none of this for Himself.
- On the last day, He will completely part and separate us from the wicked world, the devil, death, sin, etc.
- The entire Gospel which our pastors preach is based on this.
My thoughts today:
OK, so this section cannot be read only once. Seriously, find another five minutes later today and read it again. Why? Because it is the Gospel.
The Gospel is good for you to hear and read over and over again. First, because it creates faith in you. Second, so you can recognize when you are hearing the Gospel being preached and when you are hearing rubbish from the pulpit.
From paragraph 33:
"Ay, the entire Gospel which we preach is based on this, that we properly understand this article as that upon which our salvation and all our happiness rest, and which is so rich and comprehensive that we never can learn it fully."
Who is Luther talking to again? Oh, yes, back to the introduction a long time ago - the Large Catechism is for everyone but most especially pastors.
Itching ears want to hear new and different things. We want to hear things we don't need to hear. Here, Luther is reminding preachers of the Gospel that they are indeed preachers of the Gospel. What do they preach? The Gospel.
Preachers don't preach about how you can do something to get to heaven.
Preachers don't preach about how you win people for Christ.
Preachers don't preach about how you can have your best life now.
Preachers preach the Gospel - in season and out of season.
They keep preaching the same Gospel when you think you know it.
They keep preaching the same Gospel when you know you don't know it.
"...which is so rich and comprehensive that we never can learn it fully."
Upon this article rests our salvation and all our happiness. Preachers need not preach anything else.
So, go ahead and find another five minutes today to read Luther's words again.
The words of a preacher. The words of the Gospel.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Large Catechism: The Apostles' Creed Article 1
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Apostles' Creed Article 1: Click here and read 9-24.
The basics:
- I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
- This Article aligns our knowledge of who our God is with the First Commandment - If we were to ask, "What sort of God have you? What do you know of Him?" our response should begin with, "This is my God: first, the Father, who has created heaven and earth; besides this only One I regard nothing else as God; for there is no one else who could create heaven and earth."
- Luther describes in detail all which is included in calling God our Creator: He has given and preserves my body, soul, and life; He causes all creatures to serve for their uses; He gives good government, peace, and security.
- None of us can create or preserve our lives or anything that is given in this world, because all is comprehended in the word Creator.
- God the Father, out of pure love and goodness, preserves and defends us from all evil.
- Because we have been given everything in this life from our Creator, it is our duty to love, praise, and thank Him for it without ceasing.
- If we believed this Article with our hearts, we would not boast as if we had anything because of our own merit.
- In all good that comes to us and in all calamity that avoids us, we know God the Father has given and preserved us. There we see His Paternal heart and love towards us. We are to be thankful and employ all good things to the honor and praise of God.
- The Father has overwhelmed us with unspeakable, eternal treasures by His Son and the Holy Ghost.
My thoughts today:
Have you ever known a person who glows with the humbleness of God? I have. In fact, the person I am thinking of is actually part of a whole family who exudes Christ's humility. And I have learned more from that family and their attitude than possibly anyone else.
That is what humbleness does in this world, because true humbleness given by Christ is so rare. The people who have it are like lighthouses - steady, firm fixtures of the light of Christ. And just like lighthouses, they are literally houses for the light within them. This is why they know not to boast of their own merit, because without the light they would simply be another dull and drab house in the middle of the darkness.
If we were able to fully comprehend and believe this first article of the Apostles' Creed, we, as Luther says, would stop running around acting as if we made ourselves into anything. We would only boast of the Creator, of the Light within. We would point every achievement, every talent, every gift, every award, and every honor to its rightful Creator and Giver.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Apostles' Creed Article 1: Click here and read 9-24.
The basics:
- I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
- This Article aligns our knowledge of who our God is with the First Commandment - If we were to ask, "What sort of God have you? What do you know of Him?" our response should begin with, "This is my God: first, the Father, who has created heaven and earth; besides this only One I regard nothing else as God; for there is no one else who could create heaven and earth."
- Luther describes in detail all which is included in calling God our Creator: He has given and preserves my body, soul, and life; He causes all creatures to serve for their uses; He gives good government, peace, and security.
- None of us can create or preserve our lives or anything that is given in this world, because all is comprehended in the word Creator.
- God the Father, out of pure love and goodness, preserves and defends us from all evil.
- Because we have been given everything in this life from our Creator, it is our duty to love, praise, and thank Him for it without ceasing.
- If we believed this Article with our hearts, we would not boast as if we had anything because of our own merit.
- In all good that comes to us and in all calamity that avoids us, we know God the Father has given and preserved us. There we see His Paternal heart and love towards us. We are to be thankful and employ all good things to the honor and praise of God.
- The Father has overwhelmed us with unspeakable, eternal treasures by His Son and the Holy Ghost.
My thoughts today:
Have you ever known a person who glows with the humbleness of God? I have. In fact, the person I am thinking of is actually part of a whole family who exudes Christ's humility. And I have learned more from that family and their attitude than possibly anyone else.
That is what humbleness does in this world, because true humbleness given by Christ is so rare. The people who have it are like lighthouses - steady, firm fixtures of the light of Christ. And just like lighthouses, they are literally houses for the light within them. This is why they know not to boast of their own merit, because without the light they would simply be another dull and drab house in the middle of the darkness.
If we were able to fully comprehend and believe this first article of the Apostles' Creed, we, as Luther says, would stop running around acting as if we made ourselves into anything. We would only boast of the Creator, of the Light within. We would point every achievement, every talent, every gift, every award, and every honor to its rightful Creator and Giver.
Monday, October 20, 2014
Large Catechism: The Apostles' Creed Introduction
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Apostles' Creed Introduction: Click here and read 1-8.
The basics:
- The explanation of the Creed follows the Ten Commandments so we are able to properly understand what we are to receive and expect from God.
- The Ten Commandments are set so high that no man is strong enough to keep them. If he could, he would need nothing else - no creed, no Lord's Prayer, etc.
- Before explaining the necessity of the Creed for use in aiding us with the Ten Commandments, Luther says "it is sufficient at first for the simple-minded that they learn to comprehend and understand the Creed itself."
- The Creed can briefly be comprehended in these words: I believe in God the Father, who has created me; I believe in God the Son, who has redeemed me; I believe in the Holy Ghost, who sanctifies me.
My thoughts today:
I love how Luther keeps reminding us that the basics of the faith are to be learned by everyone - no matter their age or ability. He uses the term "simple-minded" quite a bit, and while that can seem somewhat offensive at times, it is the truth.
We are all a little simple-minded in the faith. We are all in constant need of hearing and reading the exact same things over and over. I would call that pretty simple-minded. Part of this need comes from the fact that God's Word is active and actually makes changes in us as we digest it - figuratively in our reading of Scripture, and literally in our receiving of the Lord's Supper. The other part of this need comes from the fact we are sinful and cannot by our own power follow even one command.
Our sinful flesh is pretty simple-minded. And so, this, Luther tells us, is how we are to learn the faith and how we are to teach it to our equally simple-minded children.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Apostles' Creed Introduction: Click here and read 1-8.
The basics:
- The explanation of the Creed follows the Ten Commandments so we are able to properly understand what we are to receive and expect from God.
- The Ten Commandments are set so high that no man is strong enough to keep them. If he could, he would need nothing else - no creed, no Lord's Prayer, etc.
- Before explaining the necessity of the Creed for use in aiding us with the Ten Commandments, Luther says "it is sufficient at first for the simple-minded that they learn to comprehend and understand the Creed itself."
- The Creed can briefly be comprehended in these words: I believe in God the Father, who has created me; I believe in God the Son, who has redeemed me; I believe in the Holy Ghost, who sanctifies me.
My thoughts today:
I love how Luther keeps reminding us that the basics of the faith are to be learned by everyone - no matter their age or ability. He uses the term "simple-minded" quite a bit, and while that can seem somewhat offensive at times, it is the truth.
We are all a little simple-minded in the faith. We are all in constant need of hearing and reading the exact same things over and over. I would call that pretty simple-minded. Part of this need comes from the fact that God's Word is active and actually makes changes in us as we digest it - figuratively in our reading of Scripture, and literally in our receiving of the Lord's Supper. The other part of this need comes from the fact we are sinful and cannot by our own power follow even one command.
Our sinful flesh is pretty simple-minded. And so, this, Luther tells us, is how we are to learn the faith and how we are to teach it to our equally simple-minded children.
Friday, October 17, 2014
Large Catechism: Conclusion of the Ten Commandments Part 3
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
Conclusion of the Ten Commandments Part 3: Click here and read 326 - the end of the conclusion.
The basics:
- Luther goes through each of the commandments and connects it to the First.
- The First Commandment is the source and fountainhead from which flows all the rest, and again, all return and depend upon it. The beginning and the end are bound to each other.
- It is commanded in the Old Testament to write these laws upon your doors, homes, hearts, clothing, etc. This is so they may be ever-present in our minds and lives. Our eyes should be permanently fixed on them, and have them constantly in our memory.
- The Ten Commandments should be taught and esteemed precious and dear, as the highest treasure given by God.
My thoughts today:
Is it okay for me to just say, "WOOHOO?"
We did it! We finished reading the Ten Commandments section of the Large Catechism!!!
Of course, if Luther heard me say this, I would promptly be chastised for thinking I was finished at all. "Now go back and read it again. And again. And again."
You are right, Luther. I do need to hear it and read it daily and much.
Onto the next section...
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
Conclusion of the Ten Commandments Part 3: Click here and read 326 - the end of the conclusion.
The basics:
- Luther goes through each of the commandments and connects it to the First.
- The First Commandment is the source and fountainhead from which flows all the rest, and again, all return and depend upon it. The beginning and the end are bound to each other.
- It is commanded in the Old Testament to write these laws upon your doors, homes, hearts, clothing, etc. This is so they may be ever-present in our minds and lives. Our eyes should be permanently fixed on them, and have them constantly in our memory.
- The Ten Commandments should be taught and esteemed precious and dear, as the highest treasure given by God.
My thoughts today:
Is it okay for me to just say, "WOOHOO?"
We did it! We finished reading the Ten Commandments section of the Large Catechism!!!
Of course, if Luther heard me say this, I would promptly be chastised for thinking I was finished at all. "Now go back and read it again. And again. And again."
You are right, Luther. I do need to hear it and read it daily and much.
Onto the next section...
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Large Catechism: Conclusion of the Ten Commandments Part 2
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
Conclusion of the Ten Commandments Part 2: Click here and read 319 - 325.
The basics:
- Luther restates the promise added to the First Commandment - "For I the Lord, thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments."
- Since all commandments are connected to the first, the promise can thereby be added to each commandment as well.
- This is an angry threat and a friendly promise.
- Thou shalt have no other gods before Me is explained in this demand: Thou shalt fear, love, and trust in Me as thine only true God.
- Where there is a heart able to do the First Commandment, it has fulfilled all the others. However, whoever fears and loves anything else in heaven or earth will not keep any commands.
My thoughts today:
In reference to keeping the First Commandment:
"...whoever fears and loves anything else in heaven and upon earth will keep neither this nor any." Paragraph 324.
Tis true, Luther. Every sin I commit boils down to one simple yet profound commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods.
The god of time.
The god of language.
The god of authority.
The god of hatred.
The god of sex.
The god of belongings.
The god of gossip.
The god of desire.
I have served too many gods in my life, and my God is a jealous one.
But my God is also a merciful One. He rains down blessings onto thousands of generations of those who keep His commands.
And you know who keeps His commands?
Christ.
And you know who grafted me into His family?
Christ.
So, you know who I descended from?
Christ.
You see, the promises God gives us always point us to Christ. He is the answer to every Law and the focus of all Gospel. Without Him, I fall into that first category with the "those who hate Me" crowd. But through Him, I become one of the holy ones.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
Conclusion of the Ten Commandments Part 2: Click here and read 319 - 325.
The basics:
- Luther restates the promise added to the First Commandment - "For I the Lord, thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments."
- Since all commandments are connected to the first, the promise can thereby be added to each commandment as well.
- This is an angry threat and a friendly promise.
- Thou shalt have no other gods before Me is explained in this demand: Thou shalt fear, love, and trust in Me as thine only true God.
- Where there is a heart able to do the First Commandment, it has fulfilled all the others. However, whoever fears and loves anything else in heaven or earth will not keep any commands.
My thoughts today:
In reference to keeping the First Commandment:
"...whoever fears and loves anything else in heaven and upon earth will keep neither this nor any." Paragraph 324.
Tis true, Luther. Every sin I commit boils down to one simple yet profound commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods.
The god of time.
The god of language.
The god of authority.
The god of hatred.
The god of sex.
The god of belongings.
The god of gossip.
The god of desire.
I have served too many gods in my life, and my God is a jealous one.
But my God is also a merciful One. He rains down blessings onto thousands of generations of those who keep His commands.
And you know who keeps His commands?
Christ.
And you know who grafted me into His family?
Christ.
So, you know who I descended from?
Christ.
You see, the promises God gives us always point us to Christ. He is the answer to every Law and the focus of all Gospel. Without Him, I fall into that first category with the "those who hate Me" crowd. But through Him, I become one of the holy ones.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Large Catechism: Conclusion of the Ten Commandments Part 1
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
Conclusion of the Ten Commandments Part 1: Click here and read 311 - 318.
The basics:
- The Ten Commandments cover everything which we are to do in order to please God and be considered a good work. Outside of the Ten Commandments nothing can be a good work, no matter how good it is in the eyes of the world.
- Our hands our quite full trying to maintain even one of these commands.
- Meekness, patience, love toward enemies, chastity, and kindness are considered common domestic works, and are shown no regard in the eyes of the world. It is believed that anyone could do them, so they are not precious.
- Luther disputes the idea of creating a higher calling than that of the Ten Commandments. He says the works of priests, monks, and nuns are no greater than that of the poor girl who tends the little child faithfully.
- No man can get so far as to keep even one of the commands as it should be done. The Apostle's Creed and Lord's Prayer come to our aid in asking for the power and strength to keep the commandments.
- Luther says you are to occupy yourselves only with the Ten Commandments [and no higher order of works we make up], and try your best, apply all power and ability. You will find so much to do that you will never seek any other work or holiness.
My thoughts today:
I grew up in churches based out of the holiness movement and the ideas of John Wesley. I live in great gratitude for the strong Bible memorization focus in those churches. I literally memorized books of the Bible as a child. Yes. Memorized. Books. And again, I am so thankful for that foundation.
However, a focus was instilled in us to live a holy life, free from sin.
To aspire to such is a great work, but to state that one can actually live in holiness by actions is to put one on the same level with Christ. Just as the Pharisees throughout scripture, we like to set up special rules to keep us holy. Luther reminds us in this reading to occupy ourselves only with the Ten Commandments, and in doing so, you will find for yourself more than enough good works to keep you busy. You need not create a bigger list.
But let us never go too far, my fellow Lutherans. Let us not live up to the ideas others have of our faith - that we just go on sinning because we know we are free in the Gospel. Nothing I have read from Luther in the Ten Commandments section says anything about it being okay to sin. He says we can't even keep one of them, yes, but he says a million times that we should be trying to keep them.
Yes. I said it. I try not to sin. I try to live a holy life.
All the while, I recognize I will never succeed. I sin and fail daily.
The freedom I have in the Gospel comes in the knowledge of my failures. I get to stand up with everyone else in my church and say, "We have not loved You with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves."
To hear, "I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," dear Christians, is freeing.
To know that even though you have tried, you have failed.
To know that your family of believers and your pastor have done the same.
To admit it openly. We have tried, and we have failed. And yet we are forgiven.
There is freedom.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
Conclusion of the Ten Commandments Part 1: Click here and read 311 - 318.
The basics:
- The Ten Commandments cover everything which we are to do in order to please God and be considered a good work. Outside of the Ten Commandments nothing can be a good work, no matter how good it is in the eyes of the world.
- Our hands our quite full trying to maintain even one of these commands.
- Meekness, patience, love toward enemies, chastity, and kindness are considered common domestic works, and are shown no regard in the eyes of the world. It is believed that anyone could do them, so they are not precious.
- Luther disputes the idea of creating a higher calling than that of the Ten Commandments. He says the works of priests, monks, and nuns are no greater than that of the poor girl who tends the little child faithfully.
- No man can get so far as to keep even one of the commands as it should be done. The Apostle's Creed and Lord's Prayer come to our aid in asking for the power and strength to keep the commandments.
- Luther says you are to occupy yourselves only with the Ten Commandments [and no higher order of works we make up], and try your best, apply all power and ability. You will find so much to do that you will never seek any other work or holiness.
My thoughts today:
I grew up in churches based out of the holiness movement and the ideas of John Wesley. I live in great gratitude for the strong Bible memorization focus in those churches. I literally memorized books of the Bible as a child. Yes. Memorized. Books. And again, I am so thankful for that foundation.
However, a focus was instilled in us to live a holy life, free from sin.
To aspire to such is a great work, but to state that one can actually live in holiness by actions is to put one on the same level with Christ. Just as the Pharisees throughout scripture, we like to set up special rules to keep us holy. Luther reminds us in this reading to occupy ourselves only with the Ten Commandments, and in doing so, you will find for yourself more than enough good works to keep you busy. You need not create a bigger list.
But let us never go too far, my fellow Lutherans. Let us not live up to the ideas others have of our faith - that we just go on sinning because we know we are free in the Gospel. Nothing I have read from Luther in the Ten Commandments section says anything about it being okay to sin. He says we can't even keep one of them, yes, but he says a million times that we should be trying to keep them.
Yes. I said it. I try not to sin. I try to live a holy life.
All the while, I recognize I will never succeed. I sin and fail daily.
The freedom I have in the Gospel comes in the knowledge of my failures. I get to stand up with everyone else in my church and say, "We have not loved You with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves."
To hear, "I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," dear Christians, is freeing.
To know that even though you have tried, you have failed.
To know that your family of believers and your pastor have done the same.
To admit it openly. We have tried, and we have failed. And yet we are forgiven.
There is freedom.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Reality: The Wind in Their Hair
I was out shopping with my three children four and under today. This is never an easy task. I often see my worst self during these outings. I mean, how can you fit anything in a cart when it is full of children? And if you can't fit anything in your cart, why even go shopping? Right? But alas, there are times when it is necessary to venture my circus out into the real world.
I get stared at quite a bit.
I get the, "You have your hands full."
I even get the occasional whisper about how my oldest child doesn't exactly match my other two.
But I don't let too many things bother me out there. I keep on keeping on. The more I let someone else's comments bother me, the more stressful the whole shopping with three children thing is going to be. Less stress is better.
But today something happened that really made me think about our world. I was venturing out to purchase some supplies for a church banner I am currently working on, and so I made a stop at Hobby Lobby. If you have ever been there, you know they have the smallest carts in the history of the world. You may also know that they sell thousands of tiny breakable things. Things pre-schoolers and toddlers should never come into contact with.
So, the dilemma presents itself.
My youngest was slinged onto me, and the boys asked if they could ride on the two sides of the cart.
A rite of passage, right? I did it when I was little - the rush of the wind in your hair as you hang on for dear life around tight corners, brushing with death at each periling moment.
OK, maybe I am upping the adrenaline here to help you understand what happened next.
I passed a woman waiting in line at the check-out, and as I passed, she not-so-quietly said to her friend, "See her? I can't even watch when people do what that women is doing to those children!"
I instinctively looked around me waiting to find someone hurting a child.
Nope. It was me. I was the point of this woman's total disgust. Me and my crazy kids standing on the sides of the cart.
Look, I am quite certain there have been terrible accidents with kids on carts. I know somewhere in the world someone has broken an arm or maybe two. Maybe somewhere in the world a toddler even died from doing this. The reality is I really feel the need to explain myself - to tell you how small those carts are and how gently I was steering...to tell you how I didn't take my eyes off of them for even one second. Should I let my kids ride on the sides of the cart? The question to end all questions. And I will let you judge me or the question on your own.
I am not here to answer that question.
I am here to plead with the world to give us moms a break.
There are so many things out there to be scared of, and there are so many stories of how people have died in freak accidents. That world out there is scary. I get it. I know it. Every. Mom. Knows. It.
There is only so much I can do to protect my children. I try to do it everyday. Quite frankly, I usually say no to their pleas for the death-defying cart ride. But sometimes I let my hair down and get crazy. I let them do the things kids want to do. I let them feel the wind in their hair.
If I didn't, I am afraid of how afraid they might become of this world. If I didn't, I would drive myself and my children absolutely crazy. I can't save them from everything. What I can do is my best. What I can do is support women out there doing their best.
So, today, dear world, I plead with you for a little mercy and kindness. I plead for us to start worrying about the things that really matter and stop terrifying the moms out there doing their best. And maybe we should all hop on the side of the cart once in awhile and remind ourselves of what it feels like to have the wind in our hair.
I get stared at quite a bit.
I get the, "You have your hands full."
I even get the occasional whisper about how my oldest child doesn't exactly match my other two.
But I don't let too many things bother me out there. I keep on keeping on. The more I let someone else's comments bother me, the more stressful the whole shopping with three children thing is going to be. Less stress is better.
But today something happened that really made me think about our world. I was venturing out to purchase some supplies for a church banner I am currently working on, and so I made a stop at Hobby Lobby. If you have ever been there, you know they have the smallest carts in the history of the world. You may also know that they sell thousands of tiny breakable things. Things pre-schoolers and toddlers should never come into contact with.
So, the dilemma presents itself.
My youngest was slinged onto me, and the boys asked if they could ride on the two sides of the cart.
A rite of passage, right? I did it when I was little - the rush of the wind in your hair as you hang on for dear life around tight corners, brushing with death at each periling moment.
OK, maybe I am upping the adrenaline here to help you understand what happened next.
I passed a woman waiting in line at the check-out, and as I passed, she not-so-quietly said to her friend, "See her? I can't even watch when people do what that women is doing to those children!"
I instinctively looked around me waiting to find someone hurting a child.
Nope. It was me. I was the point of this woman's total disgust. Me and my crazy kids standing on the sides of the cart.
Look, I am quite certain there have been terrible accidents with kids on carts. I know somewhere in the world someone has broken an arm or maybe two. Maybe somewhere in the world a toddler even died from doing this. The reality is I really feel the need to explain myself - to tell you how small those carts are and how gently I was steering...to tell you how I didn't take my eyes off of them for even one second. Should I let my kids ride on the sides of the cart? The question to end all questions. And I will let you judge me or the question on your own.
I am not here to answer that question.
I am here to plead with the world to give us moms a break.
There are so many things out there to be scared of, and there are so many stories of how people have died in freak accidents. That world out there is scary. I get it. I know it. Every. Mom. Knows. It.
There is only so much I can do to protect my children. I try to do it everyday. Quite frankly, I usually say no to their pleas for the death-defying cart ride. But sometimes I let my hair down and get crazy. I let them do the things kids want to do. I let them feel the wind in their hair.
If I didn't, I am afraid of how afraid they might become of this world. If I didn't, I would drive myself and my children absolutely crazy. I can't save them from everything. What I can do is my best. What I can do is support women out there doing their best.
So, today, dear world, I plead with you for a little mercy and kindness. I plead for us to start worrying about the things that really matter and stop terrifying the moms out there doing their best. And maybe we should all hop on the side of the cart once in awhile and remind ourselves of what it feels like to have the wind in our hair.
Large Catechism: The Ninth and Tenth Commandments Part 2
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Ninth and Tenth Commandments Part 2: Click here and read 303 - the end of the Ninth and Tenth Commandments section.
The basics:
- Luther describes examples of our misdeeds in trade and commerce. especially those not forbidden by the world's laws.
- In respect to marriage, we see when one desires to have someone else's spouse as their own and uses flattering words and promises to lure them away.
- Whatever the case may be, God does not desire for you to take away from your neighbor, even if you could do it honorably in the eyes of the world.
- Coveting your neighbor's property is aiming at possession of it, enticing it away from him without his will, or being unwilling to see him enjoy what God has given him.
- These two commandments are especially directed at envy, because God is trying to remove all causes within you that may lead to you doing wrong to your neighbor.
- God wishes the heart to be pure, but we will never obtain it as long as we live here. Therefore, this command, Thou shalt not covet, will constantly accuse us.
My thoughts today:
"Coveting your neighbor's property is being unwilling to see him enjoy what God has granted him."
Just take a moment and let that sink in.
OK, need to read it again?
Coveting is being unwilling to see your neighbor enjoy what God has given him.
Whether it be a loving and caring spouse, a thriving career, seven beautiful children, quiet beach vacations, a new home, an amazing talent, a bigger television, a government position of authority, a job better than mine, a house better than mine, a life better than mine, a family better than mine, a pocketbook fuller than mine, a debt load less than mine...
The joy is we have a whole lot of things to watch our neighbors enjoy.
The sorrow is we will never obtain that pure heart as long as we live here.
O wretched flesh of mine, I keep on doing what I do not want to do.
I want to be joyful watching my neighbor revel in the gifts God has given him.
I want to be joyful reveling in the gifts God has given me.
"Thou shalt not covet" will constantly accuse us, because it gets to our heart.
Our Jesus knelt in Gethsemane and pleaded for God to take away the cup granted to Him. He desired His lot in life to be lifted so much that He sweat beads of blood. And yet, still His heart remained pure, and said, "Not my will by yours..."
He did that for you. He did that for me.
He filled His pure heart with all our covetous desires, and died with them...
That I may live anew with His purity -
seeking out opportunities to watch my neighbor enjoy what God has granted him.
seeking out ways to be thankful for the gifts God has granted me - namely the faith He sustains in my heart each day.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Ninth and Tenth Commandments Part 2: Click here and read 303 - the end of the Ninth and Tenth Commandments section.
The basics:
- Luther describes examples of our misdeeds in trade and commerce. especially those not forbidden by the world's laws.
- In respect to marriage, we see when one desires to have someone else's spouse as their own and uses flattering words and promises to lure them away.
- Whatever the case may be, God does not desire for you to take away from your neighbor, even if you could do it honorably in the eyes of the world.
- Coveting your neighbor's property is aiming at possession of it, enticing it away from him without his will, or being unwilling to see him enjoy what God has given him.
- These two commandments are especially directed at envy, because God is trying to remove all causes within you that may lead to you doing wrong to your neighbor.
- God wishes the heart to be pure, but we will never obtain it as long as we live here. Therefore, this command, Thou shalt not covet, will constantly accuse us.
My thoughts today:
"Coveting your neighbor's property is being unwilling to see him enjoy what God has granted him."
Just take a moment and let that sink in.
OK, need to read it again?
Coveting is being unwilling to see your neighbor enjoy what God has given him.
Whether it be a loving and caring spouse, a thriving career, seven beautiful children, quiet beach vacations, a new home, an amazing talent, a bigger television, a government position of authority, a job better than mine, a house better than mine, a life better than mine, a family better than mine, a pocketbook fuller than mine, a debt load less than mine...
The joy is we have a whole lot of things to watch our neighbors enjoy.
The sorrow is we will never obtain that pure heart as long as we live here.
O wretched flesh of mine, I keep on doing what I do not want to do.
I want to be joyful watching my neighbor revel in the gifts God has given him.
I want to be joyful reveling in the gifts God has given me.
"Thou shalt not covet" will constantly accuse us, because it gets to our heart.
Our Jesus knelt in Gethsemane and pleaded for God to take away the cup granted to Him. He desired His lot in life to be lifted so much that He sweat beads of blood. And yet, still His heart remained pure, and said, "Not my will by yours..."
He did that for you. He did that for me.
He filled His pure heart with all our covetous desires, and died with them...
That I may live anew with His purity -
seeking out opportunities to watch my neighbor enjoy what God has granted him.
seeking out ways to be thankful for the gifts God has granted me - namely the faith He sustains in my heart each day.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Large Catechism: The Ninth and Tenth Commandments Part 1
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Ninth and Tenth Commandments: Click here and read 292 - 302.
The basics:
- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house. Thou shalt not covet they neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is his.
- The Jews believed they had kept the sixth and seventh commandments when they had or had not done the act outwardly. This command was given to reach the heart, and forbid the desire of taking from the neighbor.
- It is wrong to take things from your neighbor, even when in the eyes of the world you are allowed.
- We are inclined by nature to desire no man to have as much as we do, and each man acquires as much as he can, while the other man should fare as best he can.
- In court, lawyers and jurists twist and stretch the law to suit their case to the detriment of the neighbor. We see this in cases over inheritances, real estate, etc. In the end, a stamp of approval is given by the court to make it seem honest.
- This commandment is not given to the criminals in the eyes of the world, but to the most pious, who wish to be commended for their following of the other commandments. It gets to the heart of our desires.
My thoughts today:
I have previously written about contentment, and I think now would be a good time to just let you click back to this post and read it -
Reality: On Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Contentment
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Ninth and Tenth Commandments: Click here and read 292 - 302.
The basics:
- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house. Thou shalt not covet they neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is his.
- The Jews believed they had kept the sixth and seventh commandments when they had or had not done the act outwardly. This command was given to reach the heart, and forbid the desire of taking from the neighbor.
- It is wrong to take things from your neighbor, even when in the eyes of the world you are allowed.
- We are inclined by nature to desire no man to have as much as we do, and each man acquires as much as he can, while the other man should fare as best he can.
- In court, lawyers and jurists twist and stretch the law to suit their case to the detriment of the neighbor. We see this in cases over inheritances, real estate, etc. In the end, a stamp of approval is given by the court to make it seem honest.
- This commandment is not given to the criminals in the eyes of the world, but to the most pious, who wish to be commended for their following of the other commandments. It gets to the heart of our desires.
My thoughts today:
I have previously written about contentment, and I think now would be a good time to just let you click back to this post and read it -
Reality: On Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Contentment
Friday, October 10, 2014
Large Catechism: The Eighth Commandment Part 4
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Eighth Commandment Part 4: Click here and read 284 - the end of the Eighth Commandment section.
The basics:
- Where the sin is public, you may publicly testify concerning the sin. "For where the sin is public, the reproof also must be public, that every one may learn to guard against it." Paragraph 284.
- No one is to speak evil of anyone, whether friend or foe, whether true or false, unless it be done by commandment of office or for his reformation.
- We are to use our tongues to speak well of our neighbor, just as we wish them to speak well of us.
- We are to wear whatever blemishes we find in our neighbor, and promote his honor in place of his blemishes.
- Put the best construction on anything we hear about our neighbor.
- "For there is nothing on or in entire man which can do both greater and more extensive good or harm in spiritual and in temporal matters than the tongue, though it is the least and feeblest member." Paragraph 290.
My thoughts today:
My husband and I listen to Table Talk Radio podcasts when we are on long car trips. I couldn't help but sing a little song from them while reading this section. I can't remember the exact words they used, but this is the way I sing it -
To the tune of Beyonce's Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It):
If you don't like it, you shoulda put the best construction on it.
Oh oh oh oh oh oh.
Oh oh oh oh oh oh.
All the sinful Lutherans, all the sinful Lutherans,
All the sinful Lutherans, all the sinful Lutherans,
All the sinful Lutherans, now put your hands up.
I am still laughing about that one, and I sing it around the house often - with full Beyonce dance moves. You all totally wish you lived here now. Never a dull moment.
Anyway, where was I?
Oh yes, putting the best construction on it.
We would all be so much better off if we just gave each other the benefit of the doubt more often. Instead of assuming someone meant to hurt me, I should assume they were unaware of how I would react to a certain statement. Instead of assuming those women were whispering about me, I should assume they have much more important things to discuss with each other than my wardrobe.
I loved the image in my mind when Luther spoke about taking our neighbor's blemishes and wearing them ourselves while promoting our neighbor's honor. It is an image which points us to Christ - the One who took our blemishes as His own. He is the King of putting the best construction on us.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Eighth Commandment Part 4: Click here and read 284 - the end of the Eighth Commandment section.
The basics:
- Where the sin is public, you may publicly testify concerning the sin. "For where the sin is public, the reproof also must be public, that every one may learn to guard against it." Paragraph 284.
- No one is to speak evil of anyone, whether friend or foe, whether true or false, unless it be done by commandment of office or for his reformation.
- We are to use our tongues to speak well of our neighbor, just as we wish them to speak well of us.
- We are to wear whatever blemishes we find in our neighbor, and promote his honor in place of his blemishes.
- Put the best construction on anything we hear about our neighbor.
- "For there is nothing on or in entire man which can do both greater and more extensive good or harm in spiritual and in temporal matters than the tongue, though it is the least and feeblest member." Paragraph 290.
My thoughts today:
My husband and I listen to Table Talk Radio podcasts when we are on long car trips. I couldn't help but sing a little song from them while reading this section. I can't remember the exact words they used, but this is the way I sing it -
To the tune of Beyonce's Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It):
If you don't like it, you shoulda put the best construction on it.
Oh oh oh oh oh oh.
Oh oh oh oh oh oh.
All the sinful Lutherans, all the sinful Lutherans,
All the sinful Lutherans, all the sinful Lutherans,
All the sinful Lutherans, now put your hands up.
I am still laughing about that one, and I sing it around the house often - with full Beyonce dance moves. You all totally wish you lived here now. Never a dull moment.
Anyway, where was I?
Oh yes, putting the best construction on it.
We would all be so much better off if we just gave each other the benefit of the doubt more often. Instead of assuming someone meant to hurt me, I should assume they were unaware of how I would react to a certain statement. Instead of assuming those women were whispering about me, I should assume they have much more important things to discuss with each other than my wardrobe.
I loved the image in my mind when Luther spoke about taking our neighbor's blemishes and wearing them ourselves while promoting our neighbor's honor. It is an image which points us to Christ - the One who took our blemishes as His own. He is the King of putting the best construction on us.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Large Catechism: The Eighth Commandment Part 3
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Eighth Commandment Part 3: Click here and read 274 - 283.
The basics:
- This commandment does not allow evil to go unpunished. Civil government, preachers, and parents are excepted from this when they are doing functions of their office. If they fail to judge and condemn wrongs, they sin as well. Luther goes on to include brothers and sisters and good friends in the role of reproving evil in someone when it is needed.
- In Matthew 18:15-17, we hear Christ's words on confronting someone who has privately wronged you. In this verse, we are told to go to someone personally with a complaint. If the person changes, we have regained our relationship with them. If they don't listen, we are to take a couple witnesses of their behavior with us when confronting.
- It is our responsibility to also teach others to go to the person privately when they begin to speak poorly of someone.
- We are to seek to regain our brother by rebuking his sin privately. If we go around talking about his sin to others without his knowledge, no one will be reformed. If we were acting for our neighbor's best interest and love of truth, we would not sneak around to say things behind their backs.
My thoughts today:
Most people hate confrontation. Sure, there are the people who thrive on the abrupt confrontation and like to start brawls with everyone. But I am speaking about people who genuinely want to attempt a peaceful confrontation with someone. Ugh. It can make your stomach turn just thinking about it.
In my life before babies, I was a hall director in college residence halls. We had these things called "roommate contracts" that were supposed to be filled out to avoid negative confrontations later. No one ever cared about doing their roommate contract until about two or three months into the school year when their roommate wouldn't stop hitting the snooze button 17 times and it was literally going to kill them if they had to listen to it for one. more. day.
But naturally, they were not able to tell their roommates this. However, they were certainly able to tell their friends, their friends' friends, and all of the internet this.
Because that is how we get around confrontation. We think we know best, and it feels better to tell everyone else how bad our situation is because so-and-so is doing these terrible things. But somehow, so-and-so keeps getting avoided.
What I am about to tell you may not seem like rocket science, but it certainly helped many college students address that snooze alarm issue (along with other more pressing concerns). And it has helped me a number of times, as well. Because, let's face it, gentle confrontation is hard.
1. Is there anything you could do to improve your relationship with someone? Find your annoying habits or your misdeeds and make an effort to change those and apologize for those before seeking to change someone else.
2. Consider the reasons someone else's behavior has hurt or wronged you personally. Make some mental notes about how this has hurt you and made you feel.
3. Go to the person, and share how their actions have made you feel. Avoid all words like "always" or "never." They are rarely truthful and usually used just out of anger. Attack the sin, not the person. Say, "I felt very hurt when you lied about...." Don't say, "You are a liar."
4. Seek to understand their position by listening to them.
5. Forgive them.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Eighth Commandment Part 3: Click here and read 274 - 283.
The basics:
- This commandment does not allow evil to go unpunished. Civil government, preachers, and parents are excepted from this when they are doing functions of their office. If they fail to judge and condemn wrongs, they sin as well. Luther goes on to include brothers and sisters and good friends in the role of reproving evil in someone when it is needed.
- In Matthew 18:15-17, we hear Christ's words on confronting someone who has privately wronged you. In this verse, we are told to go to someone personally with a complaint. If the person changes, we have regained our relationship with them. If they don't listen, we are to take a couple witnesses of their behavior with us when confronting.
- It is our responsibility to also teach others to go to the person privately when they begin to speak poorly of someone.
- We are to seek to regain our brother by rebuking his sin privately. If we go around talking about his sin to others without his knowledge, no one will be reformed. If we were acting for our neighbor's best interest and love of truth, we would not sneak around to say things behind their backs.
My thoughts today:
Most people hate confrontation. Sure, there are the people who thrive on the abrupt confrontation and like to start brawls with everyone. But I am speaking about people who genuinely want to attempt a peaceful confrontation with someone. Ugh. It can make your stomach turn just thinking about it.
In my life before babies, I was a hall director in college residence halls. We had these things called "roommate contracts" that were supposed to be filled out to avoid negative confrontations later. No one ever cared about doing their roommate contract until about two or three months into the school year when their roommate wouldn't stop hitting the snooze button 17 times and it was literally going to kill them if they had to listen to it for one. more. day.
But naturally, they were not able to tell their roommates this. However, they were certainly able to tell their friends, their friends' friends, and all of the internet this.
Because that is how we get around confrontation. We think we know best, and it feels better to tell everyone else how bad our situation is because so-and-so is doing these terrible things. But somehow, so-and-so keeps getting avoided.
What I am about to tell you may not seem like rocket science, but it certainly helped many college students address that snooze alarm issue (along with other more pressing concerns). And it has helped me a number of times, as well. Because, let's face it, gentle confrontation is hard.
1. Is there anything you could do to improve your relationship with someone? Find your annoying habits or your misdeeds and make an effort to change those and apologize for those before seeking to change someone else.
2. Consider the reasons someone else's behavior has hurt or wronged you personally. Make some mental notes about how this has hurt you and made you feel.
3. Go to the person, and share how their actions have made you feel. Avoid all words like "always" or "never." They are rarely truthful and usually used just out of anger. Attack the sin, not the person. Say, "I felt very hurt when you lied about...." Don't say, "You are a liar."
4. Seek to understand their position by listening to them.
5. Forgive them.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Large Catechism: The Eighth Commandment Part 2
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Eighth Commandment Part 2: Click here and read 262- 273.
The basics:
- Godly preachers and Christians should expect others to call them heretics and wicked people, because the true Word of God is contradicted, perverted, and falsely cited and interpreted throughout the world. It is the way of the blind world to condemn and persecute the truth and the children of God.
- This commandment forbids all sins of the tongue in which we harm our neighbor's character.
- Speaking ill behind someone's back is particularly detestable, and the devil spurs us on in this act.
- We wish the world to speak only well of ourselves, and yet there is a common evil plague in which we prefer to hear bad about our neighbor.
- We are not to publicly judge one even if we see his sin. If we see our neighbor sin, tell others about his sin, and judge him for it, we have done a far greater evil than he. There are people who have the power of judgement by virtue of their office.
- Slanderers are those who know a slight offense of another, carry it to all ends, and find contentment in stirring up another's displeasure with the person.
- God forbids speaking ill of another even if he is guilty - when you know he is guilty by your own witness and especially when you only know of his guilt by hearsay.
- Unless you can stand before the proper authorities to lay claim to a man's offense, hold your tongue.
- False witness is everything which cannot be properly proved. Whatever sin happens in secret must be secretly reproved and not spread to everyone.
- If you encounter someone who speaks ill of another, contradict them promptly. Honor and a good name are easily taken away, but not easily restored.
My thoughts today:
Um, I am pretty sure the internet should be turned off completely. It is a cesspool of Eighth Commandment breaches! And I can only say this because I, myself, have been the one to breach this law. Goodness me, have I breached it.
OK, so let's talk about this. I read this section about five times and just kept having more questions. I am not to call out the sin of another? Is that what I read? Or maybe I am not to judge the sin of another? What is the difference between calling out and judging? And I can judge if it is in my office to do so? What does that mean? Of which office is he speaking?
We could spend all day debating the details of what all of this means. And I think we like to do that, because we like to make a checklist for ourselves of "Yep, I didn't do that sin today...check!" When in reality, we really do know what this is getting at. We just don't want to admit it.
We are not to talk about others.
We are not to spread bad comments which we hear about someone.
We are not to assume someone's guilt without proper evidence.
We are not to tell people of another's sins.
We are to respect the office we have been given, and not assume it is our place to fix someone else outside of our office.
We are to respect the offices of those who are given the responsibility of judgement (courts, police officers, pastors, etc.), and allow them to do their job accordingly.
We are to speak up against those who speak out against others.
We are to seek reconciliation between each other privately, and allow private sins to remain private.
We know this stuff. And this stuff is easy when we are talking about those we admire and those we like. It's a whole new ballgame when we think of those who bother us, annoy us, hate us, or disagree with us. Our character is not defined by how we talk about those in our inner circle, but how we speak of those from the outside.
Lord have mercy on me, a poor miserable sinner - a woman who commits sins against the Eighth Commandment daily. And thanks be to God for a Savior who stood silent, holding his tongue to the false accusations thrown at him. He stood silently and claimed all the terrible things we would someday say as His own! In return we stand spotless. Where we deserve His judgement, He instead fills His tongue with glorious things about us and speaks them to His Father.
Lord, guard my tongue, that I may use it to uphold my neighbors' reputations, to repent when I have sinned, and to declare Your praise. Amen.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Eighth Commandment Part 2: Click here and read 262- 273.
The basics:
- Godly preachers and Christians should expect others to call them heretics and wicked people, because the true Word of God is contradicted, perverted, and falsely cited and interpreted throughout the world. It is the way of the blind world to condemn and persecute the truth and the children of God.
- This commandment forbids all sins of the tongue in which we harm our neighbor's character.
- Speaking ill behind someone's back is particularly detestable, and the devil spurs us on in this act.
- We wish the world to speak only well of ourselves, and yet there is a common evil plague in which we prefer to hear bad about our neighbor.
- We are not to publicly judge one even if we see his sin. If we see our neighbor sin, tell others about his sin, and judge him for it, we have done a far greater evil than he. There are people who have the power of judgement by virtue of their office.
- Slanderers are those who know a slight offense of another, carry it to all ends, and find contentment in stirring up another's displeasure with the person.
- God forbids speaking ill of another even if he is guilty - when you know he is guilty by your own witness and especially when you only know of his guilt by hearsay.
- Unless you can stand before the proper authorities to lay claim to a man's offense, hold your tongue.
- False witness is everything which cannot be properly proved. Whatever sin happens in secret must be secretly reproved and not spread to everyone.
- If you encounter someone who speaks ill of another, contradict them promptly. Honor and a good name are easily taken away, but not easily restored.
My thoughts today:
Um, I am pretty sure the internet should be turned off completely. It is a cesspool of Eighth Commandment breaches! And I can only say this because I, myself, have been the one to breach this law. Goodness me, have I breached it.
OK, so let's talk about this. I read this section about five times and just kept having more questions. I am not to call out the sin of another? Is that what I read? Or maybe I am not to judge the sin of another? What is the difference between calling out and judging? And I can judge if it is in my office to do so? What does that mean? Of which office is he speaking?
We could spend all day debating the details of what all of this means. And I think we like to do that, because we like to make a checklist for ourselves of "Yep, I didn't do that sin today...check!" When in reality, we really do know what this is getting at. We just don't want to admit it.
We are not to talk about others.
We are not to spread bad comments which we hear about someone.
We are not to assume someone's guilt without proper evidence.
We are not to tell people of another's sins.
We are to respect the office we have been given, and not assume it is our place to fix someone else outside of our office.
We are to respect the offices of those who are given the responsibility of judgement (courts, police officers, pastors, etc.), and allow them to do their job accordingly.
We are to speak up against those who speak out against others.
We are to seek reconciliation between each other privately, and allow private sins to remain private.
We know this stuff. And this stuff is easy when we are talking about those we admire and those we like. It's a whole new ballgame when we think of those who bother us, annoy us, hate us, or disagree with us. Our character is not defined by how we talk about those in our inner circle, but how we speak of those from the outside.
Lord have mercy on me, a poor miserable sinner - a woman who commits sins against the Eighth Commandment daily. And thanks be to God for a Savior who stood silent, holding his tongue to the false accusations thrown at him. He stood silently and claimed all the terrible things we would someday say as His own! In return we stand spotless. Where we deserve His judgement, He instead fills His tongue with glorious things about us and speaks them to His Father.
Lord, guard my tongue, that I may use it to uphold my neighbors' reputations, to repent when I have sinned, and to declare Your praise. Amen.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Large Catechism: The Eighth Commandment Part 1
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Eighth Commandment Part 1: Click here and read 254 - 261.
The basics:
- Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
- After our own body, spouse, and possessions, we have another treasure - our upright name and reputation. God desires that we maintain our neighbor's reputation.
- The first and plainest meaning of this commandment pertains to public courts of justice.
- Men do not like to offend others and instead flatter and speak to gain favor of those who can benefit them in money, prospects, or friendships. Therefore poor men can wrongly be oppressed, lied about, and suffer punishment in court.
- Being a judge or a witness in court requires a godly man with wisdom, modesty, and bravery.
- Everyone should help his neighbor secure his rights and not allow them to be taken away or twisted. He shall promote and strictly maintain his neighbor's rights and reputation.
- This commandment is especially set up for jurists that they deal truly and uprightly with every case, allowing right to remain right, and not making wrong out to be right, irrespective of a person's money, possession, honor, or power.
My thoughts today:
Allowing right to remain right and not making wrong out to be right.
Again, allowing RIGHT to remain right and not making WRONG out to be right.
Luther assumes we are able to decipher between right and wrong. It seems like it should be a pretty simple request, but somehow, we just keep muddying up the water. He says jurists should avoid "by their tricks and technical points turning black into white and making wrong out to be right."
I think that should be a poem or maybe a rap about our culture -
By their tricks and technical points
Turning black into white
Making wrong out to be right.
Allowing right to remain right
Not making wrong out to be right
To be right
To be right
I just need a little help with some beat boxing and I could take this show live.
OK, maybe I should stick to writing a blog read by tens of people.
But you get my point.
Luther assumes rightly that there is indeed a right and a wrong - an assumption which flies in the face of a culture filled with moral blindness.
I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes about right and wrong and light and dark from Concordia Theological Seminary Professor, Rev. John T. Pless.
"I'm told that trout swimming in deep caverns never venturing in streams above ground finally become blind, their vision adjusted to their lightless waters. So too perhaps our spiritual sight becomes dim as the eyes of the soul can no longer distinguish between light and darkness. Like the sub-terrainian trout we become at home in the pitch black of our cultural darkness so everything becomes a drab and dull shade of gray."
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Eighth Commandment Part 1: Click here and read 254 - 261.
The basics:
- Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
- After our own body, spouse, and possessions, we have another treasure - our upright name and reputation. God desires that we maintain our neighbor's reputation.
- The first and plainest meaning of this commandment pertains to public courts of justice.
- Men do not like to offend others and instead flatter and speak to gain favor of those who can benefit them in money, prospects, or friendships. Therefore poor men can wrongly be oppressed, lied about, and suffer punishment in court.
- Being a judge or a witness in court requires a godly man with wisdom, modesty, and bravery.
- Everyone should help his neighbor secure his rights and not allow them to be taken away or twisted. He shall promote and strictly maintain his neighbor's rights and reputation.
- This commandment is especially set up for jurists that they deal truly and uprightly with every case, allowing right to remain right, and not making wrong out to be right, irrespective of a person's money, possession, honor, or power.
My thoughts today:
Allowing right to remain right and not making wrong out to be right.
Again, allowing RIGHT to remain right and not making WRONG out to be right.
Luther assumes we are able to decipher between right and wrong. It seems like it should be a pretty simple request, but somehow, we just keep muddying up the water. He says jurists should avoid "by their tricks and technical points turning black into white and making wrong out to be right."
I think that should be a poem or maybe a rap about our culture -
By their tricks and technical points
Turning black into white
Making wrong out to be right.
Allowing right to remain right
Not making wrong out to be right
To be right
To be right
I just need a little help with some beat boxing and I could take this show live.
OK, maybe I should stick to writing a blog read by tens of people.
But you get my point.
Luther assumes rightly that there is indeed a right and a wrong - an assumption which flies in the face of a culture filled with moral blindness.
I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes about right and wrong and light and dark from Concordia Theological Seminary Professor, Rev. John T. Pless.
"I'm told that trout swimming in deep caverns never venturing in streams above ground finally become blind, their vision adjusted to their lightless waters. So too perhaps our spiritual sight becomes dim as the eyes of the soul can no longer distinguish between light and darkness. Like the sub-terrainian trout we become at home in the pitch black of our cultural darkness so everything becomes a drab and dull shade of gray."
Monday, October 6, 2014
Large Catechism: The Seventh Commandment Part 3
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Seventh Commandment Part 3: Click here and read 245 - the end of the Seventh Commandment section.
The basics:
- Those who steal will have their possessions stolen. Since everyone steals from another, God punishes one thief by means of the other.
- As believers we must trust that we will have enough and show pity and love to those who steal.
- Those who ignore the poor and needy will not prosper. God is the one who takes care of the poor sorrowful hearts, and He will not leave them unavenged.
- We are to instruct and reprove with God's Word, but there is a need for the government to establish and maintain order in manner of trade and business.
- We should not view this command too narrowly, but recognize that it extends to all dealings with our neighbor. It is forbidden to do any injury or harm to your neighbor and his possessions. It is even commanded we advance and improve his possessions. If he is need, we are to aide, counsel, and lend - to friend and foe.
- We are richly blessed by the good we do for our neighbor. Your Lord will not leave you to be in want, but bestow upon you a hundred times more than you could scrimp and save with unfaithfulness and wrong.
My thoughts today:
My husband and I have been very blessed during our marriage. We often talk about how when we figure all the money coming in versus all the money going out, we don't have enough. But somehow every month we have more money than we should.
Where does it come from?
Our families did a good job of teaching us how to save money, which plays a role in our ever-present supply of money to live a comfortable life.
We don't spend a ton of money on things we don't need, and we try to save on the things we do need. So, that too, plays a role in the bank account which never goes negative.
We have a different and more realistic definition of what a comfortable life is than the average young married couple. And, yes, that plays a part in our ability to save, as well.
We try to maintain a biblical perspective of what it means to be content with what we have been given. That too, plays a huge part.
But you know what? God blesses those who honor His commands.
I spend a lot of time in these posts discussing what a poor miserable sinner I am, so please do not confuse this one post about how God blesses my obedience with a statement of my holiness.
I am holy, because He makes me holy. And so, in this gift, I am able to do good works through Him. I am able to refrain from stealing. I am able to give to my neighbor in need. I am able to give generously to my church. I am able to pay off my debts. I am able to live within my means.
He makes me able to do those things, and then He blesses me because I did them.
He's a double-kind-of-giver that way. So much so that I am able, in the words of Luther, to gain a hundred times more than I could by my own unfaithfulness and wrong.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Seventh Commandment Part 3: Click here and read 245 - the end of the Seventh Commandment section.
The basics:
- Those who steal will have their possessions stolen. Since everyone steals from another, God punishes one thief by means of the other.
- As believers we must trust that we will have enough and show pity and love to those who steal.
- Those who ignore the poor and needy will not prosper. God is the one who takes care of the poor sorrowful hearts, and He will not leave them unavenged.
- We are to instruct and reprove with God's Word, but there is a need for the government to establish and maintain order in manner of trade and business.
- We should not view this command too narrowly, but recognize that it extends to all dealings with our neighbor. It is forbidden to do any injury or harm to your neighbor and his possessions. It is even commanded we advance and improve his possessions. If he is need, we are to aide, counsel, and lend - to friend and foe.
- We are richly blessed by the good we do for our neighbor. Your Lord will not leave you to be in want, but bestow upon you a hundred times more than you could scrimp and save with unfaithfulness and wrong.
My thoughts today:
My husband and I have been very blessed during our marriage. We often talk about how when we figure all the money coming in versus all the money going out, we don't have enough. But somehow every month we have more money than we should.
Where does it come from?
Our families did a good job of teaching us how to save money, which plays a role in our ever-present supply of money to live a comfortable life.
We don't spend a ton of money on things we don't need, and we try to save on the things we do need. So, that too, plays a role in the bank account which never goes negative.
We have a different and more realistic definition of what a comfortable life is than the average young married couple. And, yes, that plays a part in our ability to save, as well.
We try to maintain a biblical perspective of what it means to be content with what we have been given. That too, plays a huge part.
But you know what? God blesses those who honor His commands.
I spend a lot of time in these posts discussing what a poor miserable sinner I am, so please do not confuse this one post about how God blesses my obedience with a statement of my holiness.
I am holy, because He makes me holy. And so, in this gift, I am able to do good works through Him. I am able to refrain from stealing. I am able to give to my neighbor in need. I am able to give generously to my church. I am able to pay off my debts. I am able to live within my means.
He makes me able to do those things, and then He blesses me because I did them.
He's a double-kind-of-giver that way. So much so that I am able, in the words of Luther, to gain a hundred times more than I could by my own unfaithfulness and wrong.
Friday, October 3, 2014
Large Catechism: The Seventh Commandment Part 2
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Seventh Commandment Part 2: Click here and read 232 - 244.
The basics:
- It is everyone's duty to not only do no injury to your neighbor, not deprive him of gain, and not act unfaithfully toward in business and trade, but also to preserve his property for him and secure his advantage.
- We can see our misfortune in this world when we have sinned against this command. Luther speaks of where we have cheated someone of just one mite, we are found to pay thirty in another way.
- God will not forget His commandments, and those who live against them will be punished.
- We can see God's punishment on those who break this command. No stolen goods or dishonestly acquired possessions thrive.
- Because we ignore this command, God sends us one taxation after another and soldiers who pillage our homes and take our families.
My thoughts today:
If we all spent a little more time preserving our neighbor's property and securing his advantage rather than preserving and securing our own, we might all be a whole lot richer - if not in money, certainly in community.
Our government and the two sides who can't seem to get along could learn something from this commandment, as well. The far extremes either forget the poor or steal from the rich to give to the poor.
Over and over I am reminded through these daily readings that God set up the Ten Commandments for our good. Too often the world and my sinful flesh views them as a big list of rules rather than the love-filled guide they are - a description indeed of the world God created for us.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Seventh Commandment Part 2: Click here and read 232 - 244.
The basics:
- It is everyone's duty to not only do no injury to your neighbor, not deprive him of gain, and not act unfaithfully toward in business and trade, but also to preserve his property for him and secure his advantage.
- We can see our misfortune in this world when we have sinned against this command. Luther speaks of where we have cheated someone of just one mite, we are found to pay thirty in another way.
- God will not forget His commandments, and those who live against them will be punished.
- We can see God's punishment on those who break this command. No stolen goods or dishonestly acquired possessions thrive.
- Because we ignore this command, God sends us one taxation after another and soldiers who pillage our homes and take our families.
My thoughts today:
If we all spent a little more time preserving our neighbor's property and securing his advantage rather than preserving and securing our own, we might all be a whole lot richer - if not in money, certainly in community.
Our government and the two sides who can't seem to get along could learn something from this commandment, as well. The far extremes either forget the poor or steal from the rich to give to the poor.
Over and over I am reminded through these daily readings that God set up the Ten Commandments for our good. Too often the world and my sinful flesh views them as a big list of rules rather than the love-filled guide they are - a description indeed of the world God created for us.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Large Catechism: The Seventh Commandment Part 1
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Seventh Commandment Part 1: Click here and read 222 - 231.
The basics:
- Thou shalt not steal.
- To steal is to get possession of another's property wrongfully.
- It is easy to understand that theft of money and possessions is covered under this command, but Luther goes on to describe one's idleness or malice toward a master as stealing.
- While we can easily punish those who are caught stealing, the others, who steal through lack of work for their employer, are able to walk free.
- Laborers, mechanics, and others are breaking this command when they overcharge customers or are lazy in their work.
- "To sum up, this is the commonest craft and the largest guild on earth, and if we regard the world throughout all conditions of life, it is nothing else than a vast, wide stall, full of great thieves." Paragraph 228.
- Luther goes on to describe the stealing done by the noblemen, highly praised citizens, and the Pope. He says God will punish them as they deserve.
My thoughts today:
Oh, Luther, you do make me smile with your bluntness. Sometimes I really wonder what kind of man Luther really was. His words are full of such Truth and yet so brash sounding. I guess that is what Truth is, though. And when Christians talk about the need for speaking the Truth in love, sometimes I think we just have it all mixed up. We act like speaking in love means being weak or accepting or tolerant.
Sometimes love is brash. I looked up the definition of brash and it had something to do with being energetic and highly spirited in an irreverent way. But Luther's words here are totally brash and totally reverent.
Reverent to God, and just totally irreverent to culture.
We are talking about the commands of a jealous and vengeful God. Speaking Truth about them is love. Admitting when we, too, have stolen from others through our idleness is love. Repenting to our God for the times we have underworked, overcharged, and underpaid is love.
Pointing our neighbor to the cross where we find Jesus forgiving the thief to His side - that is love.
And sometimes, actually most of the time, those words are pretty brash to our flesh and to our culture.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Seventh Commandment Part 1: Click here and read 222 - 231.
The basics:
- Thou shalt not steal.
- To steal is to get possession of another's property wrongfully.
- It is easy to understand that theft of money and possessions is covered under this command, but Luther goes on to describe one's idleness or malice toward a master as stealing.
- While we can easily punish those who are caught stealing, the others, who steal through lack of work for their employer, are able to walk free.
- Laborers, mechanics, and others are breaking this command when they overcharge customers or are lazy in their work.
- "To sum up, this is the commonest craft and the largest guild on earth, and if we regard the world throughout all conditions of life, it is nothing else than a vast, wide stall, full of great thieves." Paragraph 228.
- Luther goes on to describe the stealing done by the noblemen, highly praised citizens, and the Pope. He says God will punish them as they deserve.
My thoughts today:
Oh, Luther, you do make me smile with your bluntness. Sometimes I really wonder what kind of man Luther really was. His words are full of such Truth and yet so brash sounding. I guess that is what Truth is, though. And when Christians talk about the need for speaking the Truth in love, sometimes I think we just have it all mixed up. We act like speaking in love means being weak or accepting or tolerant.
Sometimes love is brash. I looked up the definition of brash and it had something to do with being energetic and highly spirited in an irreverent way. But Luther's words here are totally brash and totally reverent.
Reverent to God, and just totally irreverent to culture.
We are talking about the commands of a jealous and vengeful God. Speaking Truth about them is love. Admitting when we, too, have stolen from others through our idleness is love. Repenting to our God for the times we have underworked, overcharged, and underpaid is love.
Pointing our neighbor to the cross where we find Jesus forgiving the thief to His side - that is love.
And sometimes, actually most of the time, those words are pretty brash to our flesh and to our culture.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Large Catechism: The Sixth Commandment Part 2
Read the Large Catechism with me.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Sixth Commandment Part 2: Click here and read 211 - the end of the Sixth Commandment.
The basics:
- Men and women were created for marriage and should not feel the need to vow against it for the sake of a monastic life. Luther says it is not possible to remain chaste without marriage due to our flesh and blood.
- Luther discusses the secret sins of people in the church who have sworn off marriage (monks, priests, nuns, etc.). Even when they abstain from the act, their hearts and minds are filled with suffering which is unnecessary and causes them to sin in thought. This can be avoided in marriage.
- The youth are to be raised to honor marriage and know that it is a blessed estate and pleasing to God. In this teaching to the youth, we might restore the honor in marriage and end the disorderly manner in which our world views it.
- This commandment not only demands us to live chastely in thought, word, and deed in his or her place in life, and especially in marriage, but also that everyone love and esteem the spouse given them by God.
My thoughts today:
It is pretty easy for me to think our world is in the sorriest state in all of history. I mean, really, we are goin' DOWN. Amiright?
It always gives me some sort of weird peace to know the world was really bad a long time ago, too.
Luther talks about how saddened he is to know about the adulterous sins of priests...
He talks about how little honor is given to married life in the youth...
He is disgusted by the debauchery which is happening through prostitution and distortion of marriage...
Did he write this yesterday? Because I am pretty sure he could have.
When I get a little too depressed about the state of our world, I try to remember that when there were only about four or five people living on the entire earth, one of them killed another one. That is a pretty bad statistical number there. Sin is sin. It has been here since there were only two of us. Our world is bad...REALLY BAD, and it has been since the fall when we made the decision to turn it from very good to very bad.
But you know what? The Church has survived. Through thousands of years, through murders, through adulterous relationships, through the denial of marriage, through every sin ever committed by a saint...she, the Church, still stands.
But not on her own, of course.
She stands because she is the Bride of Christ, and unlike us, He never breaks the Sixth Commandment.
Ten-minute studies on short readings from the Large Catechism.
Let's do this.
Click on the link below and read the short assigned reading. Then, if you have time, check out what I have to say about it. If not, no problem. Just soak up the goodness of the LC.
The Sixth Commandment Part 2: Click here and read 211 - the end of the Sixth Commandment.
The basics:
- Men and women were created for marriage and should not feel the need to vow against it for the sake of a monastic life. Luther says it is not possible to remain chaste without marriage due to our flesh and blood.
- Luther discusses the secret sins of people in the church who have sworn off marriage (monks, priests, nuns, etc.). Even when they abstain from the act, their hearts and minds are filled with suffering which is unnecessary and causes them to sin in thought. This can be avoided in marriage.
- The youth are to be raised to honor marriage and know that it is a blessed estate and pleasing to God. In this teaching to the youth, we might restore the honor in marriage and end the disorderly manner in which our world views it.
- This commandment not only demands us to live chastely in thought, word, and deed in his or her place in life, and especially in marriage, but also that everyone love and esteem the spouse given them by God.
My thoughts today:
It is pretty easy for me to think our world is in the sorriest state in all of history. I mean, really, we are goin' DOWN. Amiright?
It always gives me some sort of weird peace to know the world was really bad a long time ago, too.
Luther talks about how saddened he is to know about the adulterous sins of priests...
He talks about how little honor is given to married life in the youth...
He is disgusted by the debauchery which is happening through prostitution and distortion of marriage...
Did he write this yesterday? Because I am pretty sure he could have.
When I get a little too depressed about the state of our world, I try to remember that when there were only about four or five people living on the entire earth, one of them killed another one. That is a pretty bad statistical number there. Sin is sin. It has been here since there were only two of us. Our world is bad...REALLY BAD, and it has been since the fall when we made the decision to turn it from very good to very bad.
But you know what? The Church has survived. Through thousands of years, through murders, through adulterous relationships, through the denial of marriage, through every sin ever committed by a saint...she, the Church, still stands.
But not on her own, of course.
She stands because she is the Bride of Christ, and unlike us, He never breaks the Sixth Commandment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)