Was Washington a deist or not?
Comic book saints
Gifted: The "Christian" American Idol... please! Must we have a Christian version of everything the culture produces? I'll take the secular version, thanks.
Frederica Mathewes-Green on Why We Need Hell
70 percent of chaplains oppose Congressional move to allow Chaplain's prayer in the name of Jesus
Study: Intercessory Prayer Has No Major Effect on Recovery
Friday, March 31, 2006
Thursday, March 30, 2006
On the Difference between Roman Catholic and Lutheran Thought
I have begun reading a marvelous book by Daphne Hampson Christian Contradictions: The Structures of Lutheran and Catholic Thought, Cambridge University Press, 2001). It lays out clearly the differences between Catholic and Lutheran approaches to theology. Here is a little "taste" as I have only begun to devour this tome!
The best quote first (emphasis added):
Here however we immediately progress to a disparity at a more fundamental level, for as we have already seen it would appear almost impossible for Catholicism to accept the basic Lutheran proposition, that God accepts sinners.
It is fundamental to the Catholic structure of thought, embedded in the philosophical context of the ancient world within which Catholicism grew, that our relationship to God is founded on our likeness to God. Thus it is in so far as we are not sinners that we are in relation to God, for sin implies non-being. Catholics are thinking 'substantially' about the goodness (or not) of human beings, which implies being (or lack of it). Indeed, quite apart from any Aristotelian' substructure to Catholicism, the whole sacramental system of the church suggests that we must first be right in ourselves (in a state of grace) before we can be in relation to God.
By contrast, Lutherans are thinking of the human relationally , understanding human ‘change’ in terms of the difference which acceptance makes to how one views oneself and how one behaves towards others.
Stuff before the quote above :
Catholics seem to think that they can separate 'justification by faith , from 'extrinsic righteousness', saying that they accept the former while they must deny the latter. However by 'justification by faith , they understand what they conceive to be the Lutheran way of saying that we are justified by God (that is to say the Lutheran equivalent to a Catholic saying that all grace comes from God) …
But in speaking of 'justification by faith', Lutherans are not referring to virtue infused by God which thenceforth becomes an intrinsic property of the human. They are referring to that act whereby I trust in another and not in myself. In other words they are proclaiming the Christian to live by an 'extrinsic' righteousness. The Christian is accepted on account of Christ's righteousness and not on account of anything about the way that he or she is. In this situation to say that Catholicism too is not Pelagian, that Catholics proclaim all grace to come from God, is simply beside the point. What is pivotal to Luther is to have escaped the kind of introspective concern which an interest in receiving grace implies.
The misunderstanding of the phrase simul iustus et peccator is part and parcel of the same failure to understand the structure of Lutheran thought. What Lutherans intend by this catch phrase is that we have a double sense of self: on the one hand we live from the future, from the promise, our sense of ourselves bound up with God; but while we do this we know ourselves to be unworthy. Catholics will commonly apply both terms 'iustus' and 'peccator' to the interior state of the human being -and then proclaim this to be a paradox or a contradiction in terms, frequently saying that Lutherans could not possibly mean this.
Now it is true that the phrase does in a sense represent a paradox for Lutherans. For it expresses the paradox which they believe lies at the heart of the Christian gospel -namely that God accepts sinners … The phrase captures two ways of speaking about the human, accepted by God, while a sinner in oneself.
P. 98-100
The best quote first (emphasis added):
Here however we immediately progress to a disparity at a more fundamental level, for as we have already seen it would appear almost impossible for Catholicism to accept the basic Lutheran proposition, that God accepts sinners.
It is fundamental to the Catholic structure of thought, embedded in the philosophical context of the ancient world within which Catholicism grew, that our relationship to God is founded on our likeness to God. Thus it is in so far as we are not sinners that we are in relation to God, for sin implies non-being. Catholics are thinking 'substantially' about the goodness (or not) of human beings, which implies being (or lack of it). Indeed, quite apart from any Aristotelian' substructure to Catholicism, the whole sacramental system of the church suggests that we must first be right in ourselves (in a state of grace) before we can be in relation to God.
By contrast, Lutherans are thinking of the human relationally , understanding human ‘change’ in terms of the difference which acceptance makes to how one views oneself and how one behaves towards others.
Stuff before the quote above :
Catholics seem to think that they can separate 'justification by faith , from 'extrinsic righteousness', saying that they accept the former while they must deny the latter. However by 'justification by faith , they understand what they conceive to be the Lutheran way of saying that we are justified by God (that is to say the Lutheran equivalent to a Catholic saying that all grace comes from God) …
But in speaking of 'justification by faith', Lutherans are not referring to virtue infused by God which thenceforth becomes an intrinsic property of the human. They are referring to that act whereby I trust in another and not in myself. In other words they are proclaiming the Christian to live by an 'extrinsic' righteousness. The Christian is accepted on account of Christ's righteousness and not on account of anything about the way that he or she is. In this situation to say that Catholicism too is not Pelagian, that Catholics proclaim all grace to come from God, is simply beside the point. What is pivotal to Luther is to have escaped the kind of introspective concern which an interest in receiving grace implies.
The misunderstanding of the phrase simul iustus et peccator is part and parcel of the same failure to understand the structure of Lutheran thought. What Lutherans intend by this catch phrase is that we have a double sense of self: on the one hand we live from the future, from the promise, our sense of ourselves bound up with God; but while we do this we know ourselves to be unworthy. Catholics will commonly apply both terms 'iustus' and 'peccator' to the interior state of the human being -and then proclaim this to be a paradox or a contradiction in terms, frequently saying that Lutherans could not possibly mean this.
Now it is true that the phrase does in a sense represent a paradox for Lutherans. For it expresses the paradox which they believe lies at the heart of the Christian gospel -namely that God accepts sinners … The phrase captures two ways of speaking about the human, accepted by God, while a sinner in oneself.
P. 98-100
Too Much
Occasionally I try to pay attention to my family (Just so they know I am still alive ... Where is Dad? He's on the computer.) and my congregation. So I miss alot of what is going in blogland. There is too much to keep up on.
Apparently, one thing I missed is a huge discussion prompted by a post of mine on Lutheranism and the church fathers that the pontifications website picked up on. It is up to 91 comments and is way beyond what started it. If anyone wants to read it all and tell me what is about ... thanks.
Apparently, one thing I missed is a huge discussion prompted by a post of mine on Lutheranism and the church fathers that the pontifications website picked up on. It is up to 91 comments and is way beyond what started it. If anyone wants to read it all and tell me what is about ... thanks.
The Palm Sunday Donkey
The fathers were fascinated with the image of the donkey that Christ rode into Jerusalem. They draw much significance from the details. Especially interesting are these points :
1. Humanity is the donkey.
2. Christ riding the donkey into Jeruslaem is taken as a metaphor of humanity's redemption.
3. The sending of the apostles to untie the colt and bring it to Jesus is seen as a picture of the apostolic ministry of loosing sins.
Luther also uses the image, though not in Palm Sunday detail. His point is that humanity with free will or choice. It is ridden either by Satan or Christ.
Take a look at the selections that follow. The first too are from the Sunday Sermons of the Fathers Series for Palm Sunday. The Luther quote is from "The Bondage of the Will."
Origen :
And if an ass and a colt, upon which the Saviour rode, chance to be put before us, take care not to be scandalized at the comparison between those who have sustained Christ, and dumb beasts of burden. Something of this kind perhaps the prophet had in mind when he said that he was a beast, not literally, but before God, or before His Anointed, in these words; I am become as a beast before thee (Ps. lxxii. 23 ).
For before the Majesty of God, and before His Word, not alone are we as beasts, but they also who are wiser and more intelligent than we are. Compared with the power of mind of Our Shepherd we are His sheep; for the mind of even the wisest of men compared with the wisdom which is in the Word is remoter from it than the mind of an ass or a colt or ofa sheep is from that of a man.
And such are the ass and the colt which, carrying Jesus, go up to Jerusalem. But after they have come there they are no longer a beast of burden and its colt but now, transformed and enriched, made sharers of the divinity of the Word and of His sublime doctrine, and changed by the Lord, they may, for the glory of God, be returned to the place whence they were loosed; receiving this as a reward for carrying Him, that they are sent back to their former place but not to their former service.
John Chrysostom :
Because of certain resemblances men are likened to these animals; not knowing God, nor the Son of God.
For this is an unclean animal, and more unintelligent than other beasts of burthen, stupid and weak and ignoble, and toiling under a load. Such men were, before the Coming of Christ:
soiled ... by every passion,
unreasoning ... without sense in their speech,
foolish ... in their neglect of God-for what greater folly than to despise their Creator as though He were a creature, and to adore the work of their own hands, as if it were their Maker
weak of soul;
ignoble ... because, forgetful of their heavenly origin, they had become slaves of their passions and of the demons.
laden ... because they suffered under the burden of pagan darkness and superstition, laid on them either by the demons or by the Pharisees.
The ass was tied, that is, held by the chains of diabolical superstition, so that it had no freedom to go whither it willed. For before we can sin we have freedom of will, to follow or not after the will of the devil, according as we wish. But if we once have sinned we have bound ourselves to his service, and cannot free ourselves of our own power. As a ship with a broken helm is led hither and thither at the sway of the storm, so man, when he loses the aid of divine grace through sin, does not that which he wishes, but what the devil wishes. And if God does not deliver him by the strong hand of His mercy he will remain till death in the bonds of his sins.
And so He commands His Disciples: Loose them, namely, by means of your teaching, and through your miracles; because all, Jews and Gentiles, have been freed by the Apostles. And bring them to me; that is, convert them to the blessedness of My Kingdom.
Luther
In short, if we are under the god of this world, away from the work and Spirit of the true God, we are held captive to his will, as Paul says to Timothy [II Tim. 2:26], so that we cannot will anything but what he wills. For he is that strong man armed, who guards his own palace in such a way that those whom he possesses are in peace [Luke 11:21], so as to prevent them from stirring up any thought or feeling against him; otherwise, the kingdom of Satan being divided against itself would not stand [Luke 11:18], whereas Christ affirms that it does stand. And this we do readily and willingly, according to the nature of the will, which would not be a will if it were compelled; for compulsion is rather ( so to say) "unwill."
But if a Stronger One comes who overcomes him and takes us as His spoil, then through his Spirit we are again slaves and captives though this is royal freedom-so that we readily will and do what he wills.
Thus the human will is placed between the two like a beast of burden. If God rides it, it wills and goes where God wills, as the psalm says: "I am become as a beast [before thee] and I am always with thee" [Ps. 73:22 f.]. If Satan rides it, it wills, and goes where Satan wills; nor can it choose to run to either of the two riders or to seek him out, but the riders themselves contend for the possession and control of it.
1. Humanity is the donkey.
2. Christ riding the donkey into Jeruslaem is taken as a metaphor of humanity's redemption.
3. The sending of the apostles to untie the colt and bring it to Jesus is seen as a picture of the apostolic ministry of loosing sins.
Luther also uses the image, though not in Palm Sunday detail. His point is that humanity with free will or choice. It is ridden either by Satan or Christ.
Take a look at the selections that follow. The first too are from the Sunday Sermons of the Fathers Series for Palm Sunday. The Luther quote is from "The Bondage of the Will."
Origen :
And if an ass and a colt, upon which the Saviour rode, chance to be put before us, take care not to be scandalized at the comparison between those who have sustained Christ, and dumb beasts of burden. Something of this kind perhaps the prophet had in mind when he said that he was a beast, not literally, but before God, or before His Anointed, in these words; I am become as a beast before thee (Ps. lxxii. 23 ).
For before the Majesty of God, and before His Word, not alone are we as beasts, but they also who are wiser and more intelligent than we are. Compared with the power of mind of Our Shepherd we are His sheep; for the mind of even the wisest of men compared with the wisdom which is in the Word is remoter from it than the mind of an ass or a colt or ofa sheep is from that of a man.
And such are the ass and the colt which, carrying Jesus, go up to Jerusalem. But after they have come there they are no longer a beast of burden and its colt but now, transformed and enriched, made sharers of the divinity of the Word and of His sublime doctrine, and changed by the Lord, they may, for the glory of God, be returned to the place whence they were loosed; receiving this as a reward for carrying Him, that they are sent back to their former place but not to their former service.
John Chrysostom :
Because of certain resemblances men are likened to these animals; not knowing God, nor the Son of God.
For this is an unclean animal, and more unintelligent than other beasts of burthen, stupid and weak and ignoble, and toiling under a load. Such men were, before the Coming of Christ:
soiled ... by every passion,
unreasoning ... without sense in their speech,
foolish ... in their neglect of God-for what greater folly than to despise their Creator as though He were a creature, and to adore the work of their own hands, as if it were their Maker
weak of soul;
ignoble ... because, forgetful of their heavenly origin, they had become slaves of their passions and of the demons.
laden ... because they suffered under the burden of pagan darkness and superstition, laid on them either by the demons or by the Pharisees.
The ass was tied, that is, held by the chains of diabolical superstition, so that it had no freedom to go whither it willed. For before we can sin we have freedom of will, to follow or not after the will of the devil, according as we wish. But if we once have sinned we have bound ourselves to his service, and cannot free ourselves of our own power. As a ship with a broken helm is led hither and thither at the sway of the storm, so man, when he loses the aid of divine grace through sin, does not that which he wishes, but what the devil wishes. And if God does not deliver him by the strong hand of His mercy he will remain till death in the bonds of his sins.
And so He commands His Disciples: Loose them, namely, by means of your teaching, and through your miracles; because all, Jews and Gentiles, have been freed by the Apostles. And bring them to me; that is, convert them to the blessedness of My Kingdom.
Luther
In short, if we are under the god of this world, away from the work and Spirit of the true God, we are held captive to his will, as Paul says to Timothy [II Tim. 2:26], so that we cannot will anything but what he wills. For he is that strong man armed, who guards his own palace in such a way that those whom he possesses are in peace [Luke 11:21], so as to prevent them from stirring up any thought or feeling against him; otherwise, the kingdom of Satan being divided against itself would not stand [Luke 11:18], whereas Christ affirms that it does stand. And this we do readily and willingly, according to the nature of the will, which would not be a will if it were compelled; for compulsion is rather ( so to say) "unwill."
But if a Stronger One comes who overcomes him and takes us as His spoil, then through his Spirit we are again slaves and captives though this is royal freedom-so that we readily will and do what he wills.
Thus the human will is placed between the two like a beast of burden. If God rides it, it wills and goes where God wills, as the psalm says: "I am become as a beast [before thee] and I am always with thee" [Ps. 73:22 f.]. If Satan rides it, it wills, and goes where Satan wills; nor can it choose to run to either of the two riders or to seek him out, but the riders themselves contend for the possession and control of it.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Shallow, stupid, irreverent, and ugly
Here is a delightful piece by S.M. Hutchens on the horrors of mega-church worship. I just ran across it though it was posted sometime back in 2005.
A taste:
The liturgy began with the Worship Leader giving a Tonight Show downbeat to the band: “a-one-two-three-four . . . .” And then it began: “CELEBRATE!” everybody bawled, “CELEBRATE!” As the jubilation continued I looked at my wife, she looked back at me, and we mouthed the question, “Traditional?” at each other. I looked over at the anciennes veuves on the other side of the aisle. They were quite unfazed—the old ladies were celebrating right along with the rest.
No liturgy can be justified to any degree whatever by the level of attraction or repulsion it exercises—especially on those who are in no position to evaluate the ways of a church for which they not only do not bear pastoral responsibility, but to which they do not even yet belong!
Legitimate attractiveness of the worship service must always be a by-product of sanctification, and so of the ability to understand and appreciate beauty in the broadest and deepest senses, the beauty of God in Christ as reflected in the sounds and acts of worship.
A taste:
The liturgy began with the Worship Leader giving a Tonight Show downbeat to the band: “a-one-two-three-four . . . .” And then it began: “CELEBRATE!” everybody bawled, “CELEBRATE!” As the jubilation continued I looked at my wife, she looked back at me, and we mouthed the question, “Traditional?” at each other. I looked over at the anciennes veuves on the other side of the aisle. They were quite unfazed—the old ladies were celebrating right along with the rest.
No liturgy can be justified to any degree whatever by the level of attraction or repulsion it exercises—especially on those who are in no position to evaluate the ways of a church for which they not only do not bear pastoral responsibility, but to which they do not even yet belong!
Legitimate attractiveness of the worship service must always be a by-product of sanctification, and so of the ability to understand and appreciate beauty in the broadest and deepest senses, the beauty of God in Christ as reflected in the sounds and acts of worship.
A Pastoral Response to Eastern Orthodoxy
Here is a web site devoted to a Lutheran response to the teachings of Eastern Orthodoxy.
This is not an academic exercise but one put together by pastors who are facing the defection of neighboring Lutheran pastors to the Orthodox. Here is a part of the introduction to the site:
On this web site we hope to present study papers to show the differences between Eastern Orthodox and Evangelical Lutheran doctrine. We do not intend to villainize anyone, and we recognize that the Eastern Orthodox churches have many strengths. But we also cannot remain silent as to the serious errors present in that communion, especially now when our fellow Lutherans are being tempted to doubt the integrity of salvation present in the Lutheran Church. Those who wish to remain true to the writings of the prophets and apostles (the Holy Scriptures) need to consider these issues fully.
Here is a list of the papers available :
"Scripture and Tradition," by the Rev. Benjamin Mayes,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, MI
"Where is the True Church?" by the Rev. Dr. Albert Collver III,
Hope Lutheran Church, Dewitt, MI
A sermon on the True Church by the Rev. Mayes
"Faith and Works," by the Rev. Tony Sikora,
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Middleville, MI
"The Invocation of the Saints," by the Rev. David Fleming,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, MI
Quotations from an essay on the authority of Scripture, of tradition, and of the Church. From "Commentary on Romans," by Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560). Melanchthon was the author of the Augsburg Confession, the foundational confession of the Lutheran Church.
A sermon preached on Sep. 4, 2005 at Epiphany Lutheran Church, Dorr, MI on Gal. 5:25-6:10, about bearing burdens, diagnosing problems in the LCMS, and prescribing the right cure. By the Rev. Benjamin Mayes,
"On Temptations to Go East," by the Rev. Dr. Burnell F. Eckardt Jr.,
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Kewanee, IL
This is not an academic exercise but one put together by pastors who are facing the defection of neighboring Lutheran pastors to the Orthodox. Here is a part of the introduction to the site:
On this web site we hope to present study papers to show the differences between Eastern Orthodox and Evangelical Lutheran doctrine. We do not intend to villainize anyone, and we recognize that the Eastern Orthodox churches have many strengths. But we also cannot remain silent as to the serious errors present in that communion, especially now when our fellow Lutherans are being tempted to doubt the integrity of salvation present in the Lutheran Church. Those who wish to remain true to the writings of the prophets and apostles (the Holy Scriptures) need to consider these issues fully.
Here is a list of the papers available :
"Scripture and Tradition," by the Rev. Benjamin Mayes,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, MI
"Where is the True Church?" by the Rev. Dr. Albert Collver III,
Hope Lutheran Church, Dewitt, MI
A sermon on the True Church by the Rev. Mayes
"Faith and Works," by the Rev. Tony Sikora,
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Middleville, MI
"The Invocation of the Saints," by the Rev. David Fleming,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, MI
Quotations from an essay on the authority of Scripture, of tradition, and of the Church. From "Commentary on Romans," by Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560). Melanchthon was the author of the Augsburg Confession, the foundational confession of the Lutheran Church.
A sermon preached on Sep. 4, 2005 at Epiphany Lutheran Church, Dorr, MI on Gal. 5:25-6:10, about bearing burdens, diagnosing problems in the LCMS, and prescribing the right cure. By the Rev. Benjamin Mayes,
"On Temptations to Go East," by the Rev. Dr. Burnell F. Eckardt Jr.,
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Kewanee, IL
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
intelléctum illúmina, afféctum inflámma ...
... which being translated means : illumine (my) intellect and inflame my affection
These two phrases cone from the prayer before the daily office in the Roman church. It is a pretty nice.
Here it is in English and then in Latin.
Open thou, O Lord, my mouth to bless thy holy Name; cleanse also my heart from all vain, evil, and wandering thoughts; enlighten my understanding; enkindle my affections; that I may say this Office worthily, with attention and devotion, and so be meet to be heard in the presence of thy divine Majesty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Aperi, Dómine, os meum ad benedicéndum nomen sanctum tuum: munda quoque cor meum ab ómnibus vanis, pervérsis et aliénis cogitatiónibus; ut digne, atténte ac devóte hoc Offícium recitáre váleam, et exaudíri mérear ante conspéctum divínæ Majestátis tuæ. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.
These two phrases cone from the prayer before the daily office in the Roman church. It is a pretty nice.
Here it is in English and then in Latin.
Open thou, O Lord, my mouth to bless thy holy Name; cleanse also my heart from all vain, evil, and wandering thoughts; enlighten my understanding; enkindle my affections; that I may say this Office worthily, with attention and devotion, and so be meet to be heard in the presence of thy divine Majesty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Aperi, Dómine, os meum ad benedicéndum nomen sanctum tuum: munda quoque cor meum ab ómnibus vanis, pervérsis et aliénis cogitatiónibus; ut digne, atténte ac devóte hoc Offícium recitáre váleam, et exaudíri mérear ante conspéctum divínæ Majestátis tuæ. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Ordinarily American Lutherans
Some quotes from a blog named Without Authority
"I just finished reading Mark Noll's 1992 article entitled "The Lutheran Difference", which provides an interesting sociological and historical analysis of American Lutherans. Despite the title, Noll admits that there are few differences between today's Lutherans and other American Protestants, and he concludes that they are "remarkably unremarkable... Lutherans may now and then have their eccentricities, but they are on the whole, and given their place on the immigrant curve, quite ordinarily American." Noll seems disappointed by his own conclusion, because he feels that Lutherans, with their unique theological and cultural heritage, may have a lot to offer Christianity in America."
"A similar point was made several decades before by Winthrop Hudson in his 1961 book American Protestantism:
The final prospect for a vigorous renewal of Protestant life and witness rests with the Lutheran churches... The Lutheran churches are in the fortunate position of having been, in varying degrees, insulated from American life for a long period of time. As a result they have been less subject to the theological erosion which has so largely stripped other denominations of an awareness of their continuity with a historic Christian tradition. Thus the resources of the Christian past have been more readily available to them, and this fact suggests that they may have an increasingly important role in a Protestant recovery. Among the assets immediately at hand among the Lutherans are a confessional tradition, a surviving liturgical structure, and a sense of community..."
"I just finished reading Mark Noll's 1992 article entitled "The Lutheran Difference", which provides an interesting sociological and historical analysis of American Lutherans. Despite the title, Noll admits that there are few differences between today's Lutherans and other American Protestants, and he concludes that they are "remarkably unremarkable... Lutherans may now and then have their eccentricities, but they are on the whole, and given their place on the immigrant curve, quite ordinarily American." Noll seems disappointed by his own conclusion, because he feels that Lutherans, with their unique theological and cultural heritage, may have a lot to offer Christianity in America."
"A similar point was made several decades before by Winthrop Hudson in his 1961 book American Protestantism:
The final prospect for a vigorous renewal of Protestant life and witness rests with the Lutheran churches... The Lutheran churches are in the fortunate position of having been, in varying degrees, insulated from American life for a long period of time. As a result they have been less subject to the theological erosion which has so largely stripped other denominations of an awareness of their continuity with a historic Christian tradition. Thus the resources of the Christian past have been more readily available to them, and this fact suggests that they may have an increasingly important role in a Protestant recovery. Among the assets immediately at hand among the Lutherans are a confessional tradition, a surviving liturgical structure, and a sense of community..."
Thursday, March 23, 2006
The Church of the Fathers?
One often hears the claim from the Orthodox that they have preserved the patristic doctrine whole from the "times of the apostles" so that if one wishes to connect one's faith and practice with the apostles and the fathers one must join the Eastern Orthodox church.
It is a claim that deserves a little scrutiny. This post is just that :> a very "little" scrutiny, really on just one point.
This claim is in large part simply romantic and a-historical. The present day Eastern Orthodox church has no more preserved whole the doctrine and practice of the Apostles and Fathers than has Rome or the Anglicans or the Lutherans. The Orthodox church in her expression of doctrine and practice has been conditioned by her experience. Her version of the patristic witness is that of an Eastern, heavily monastic, ascetic, Byzantine church, isolated from the West and dominated in large areas by Islam. All this has affected shaped that church just as pelagianism, the renaissance, enlightenment and other experiences peculiar to the West has shaped the Western church .
It is a claim that deserves a little scrutiny. This post is just that :> a very "little" scrutiny, really on just one point.
This claim is in large part simply romantic and a-historical. The present day Eastern Orthodox church has no more preserved whole the doctrine and practice of the Apostles and Fathers than has Rome or the Anglicans or the Lutherans. The Orthodox church in her expression of doctrine and practice has been conditioned by her experience. Her version of the patristic witness is that of an Eastern, heavily monastic, ascetic, Byzantine church, isolated from the West and dominated in large areas by Islam. All this has affected shaped that church just as pelagianism, the renaissance, enlightenment and other experiences peculiar to the West has shaped the Western church .
The Reformation and the Fathers
The Orthodox/Lutheran thing continues to flare up in the blog world.
Pastor Fenton references a post on Chris Orr's blog from a Lutheran Pastor who recently converted to Orthodoxy. John 13 then comments on the post here.
The post from the Lutheran pastor is compelling reading. I sympathize with much of it. But I do disagree with this :
"We wrestled with the fact that seriously reading the Confessions of the Lutheran church indicated that there really shouldn’t be a “Lutheran” church at all: for the Reformers were demonstrating that they were actually one with the ancient church. Indeed, it is clear that they would hold to the ancient fathers, to that which the Church had handed down. Their claim was that Rome had ceased doing that – thus a call for Reform!"
This is a misreading of the Lutheran reformation and of history.
First, as to the contention that the Reformers did not wish to start a "Lutheran" church, the truth is that the reformers contended that the only true church is the Lutheran church. That is, the true church of all the ages and places has always been "Lutheran" in that the reformers confessed that their doctrine was simply that of the Scriptures ( that is, of the apostles). When the Lutherans confessed they were only holding to the ancient fathers they meant they read the ancient fathers as being Lutherans. Orr's former Lutheran pastor, (Ezekiel) seems to imply that the Reformers somehow wished to be Orthodox and if Lutherans today would hold to their confession they too would hold to the ancient fathers and that which the church has handed down which for Ezekiel apparently means the Orthodox church. This is hogwash.
Second, while it is true that the Reformers obsessively referenced and claimed the ancient fathers they did so in the confidence that the true witness of the father agreed with them. The reformers did not claim that they were simply regurgitating the patristic deposit whole. The Reformers were not above criticizing and abandoning the Fathers when the Reformers felt the opinions of the Fathers did not match the Scriptural truth they were bound to confess.
Pastor Fenton references a post on Chris Orr's blog from a Lutheran Pastor who recently converted to Orthodoxy. John 13 then comments on the post here.
The post from the Lutheran pastor is compelling reading. I sympathize with much of it. But I do disagree with this :
"We wrestled with the fact that seriously reading the Confessions of the Lutheran church indicated that there really shouldn’t be a “Lutheran” church at all: for the Reformers were demonstrating that they were actually one with the ancient church. Indeed, it is clear that they would hold to the ancient fathers, to that which the Church had handed down. Their claim was that Rome had ceased doing that – thus a call for Reform!"
This is a misreading of the Lutheran reformation and of history.
First, as to the contention that the Reformers did not wish to start a "Lutheran" church, the truth is that the reformers contended that the only true church is the Lutheran church. That is, the true church of all the ages and places has always been "Lutheran" in that the reformers confessed that their doctrine was simply that of the Scriptures ( that is, of the apostles). When the Lutherans confessed they were only holding to the ancient fathers they meant they read the ancient fathers as being Lutherans. Orr's former Lutheran pastor, (Ezekiel) seems to imply that the Reformers somehow wished to be Orthodox and if Lutherans today would hold to their confession they too would hold to the ancient fathers and that which the church has handed down which for Ezekiel apparently means the Orthodox church. This is hogwash.
Second, while it is true that the Reformers obsessively referenced and claimed the ancient fathers they did so in the confidence that the true witness of the father agreed with them. The reformers did not claim that they were simply regurgitating the patristic deposit whole. The Reformers were not above criticizing and abandoning the Fathers when the Reformers felt the opinions of the Fathers did not match the Scriptural truth they were bound to confess.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
The Sea Refuses No River
I have always felt this was an interesting bit of theological reflection on the part Mr. Pete Townsend, notorious guitarist of that ancient rock band, the Who.
The lyrics are not exactly Christian but, pre-Christian, if you will. A naturalistic glimpse into acceptance and forgiveness.
Anyway, the CD the song is on is "All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes.".
I remember being richer than a king
The minutes of the day were golden
I recall that when the joint passed round
My body felt a little colder
But now I'm like a sewer channel - running lime and scag
Let me get at the master panel - let me at my stack
The sea refuses no river
And right now this river's banks are blown
The sea refuses no river
Whether stinking and rank
Or red from the tank
Whether pure as a spring
There's no damned thing stops the poem
The sea refuses no river
And this river is homeward flowing
I have seen a trace of strain
In other's eyes not spoken
I must admit that I enjoyed their pain
But this time it's me that's broken
I demand for you and His
This must be the time
When we decide what freedom is
Turn water into wine
For the sea refuses no river
We're polluted now but in our hearts still clean
The sea refuses no river
We tried not to age
But time had it's rage
We're washed over stones
From babes into clones of the mean
The sea won't refuse this muddy river
Nor deny the sulfurous stream
There was a fool in a dressing robe
Riding out the twilight hour
Lonely and cold in an empty home
Trying to assess his power
But now he's like a stream in flood
Swollen by the storm
He doesn't care if he sheds his blood
Let him be reborn
For the sea refuses no river
Remember that when the beggar buys a round
The sea refuses no river
And rain fills the gutters
No time for stutters
This is our chance
To sing and to dance and to clown
The sea refuses no river
And rivers were sprung to drown
The sea refuses no river
No pecking code respected for the damned
The sea refuses no river
Whether starving or ill
Or strung on some pill
Just 'cos you own the land
There's no unique hand plugs the dam
The sea refuses no river
And the river is where I am
The river is where I am.
The lyrics are not exactly Christian but, pre-Christian, if you will. A naturalistic glimpse into acceptance and forgiveness.
Anyway, the CD the song is on is "All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes.".
I remember being richer than a king
The minutes of the day were golden
I recall that when the joint passed round
My body felt a little colder
But now I'm like a sewer channel - running lime and scag
Let me get at the master panel - let me at my stack
The sea refuses no river
And right now this river's banks are blown
The sea refuses no river
Whether stinking and rank
Or red from the tank
Whether pure as a spring
There's no damned thing stops the poem
The sea refuses no river
And this river is homeward flowing
I have seen a trace of strain
In other's eyes not spoken
I must admit that I enjoyed their pain
But this time it's me that's broken
I demand for you and His
This must be the time
When we decide what freedom is
Turn water into wine
For the sea refuses no river
We're polluted now but in our hearts still clean
The sea refuses no river
We tried not to age
But time had it's rage
We're washed over stones
From babes into clones of the mean
The sea won't refuse this muddy river
Nor deny the sulfurous stream
There was a fool in a dressing robe
Riding out the twilight hour
Lonely and cold in an empty home
Trying to assess his power
But now he's like a stream in flood
Swollen by the storm
He doesn't care if he sheds his blood
Let him be reborn
For the sea refuses no river
Remember that when the beggar buys a round
The sea refuses no river
And rain fills the gutters
No time for stutters
This is our chance
To sing and to dance and to clown
The sea refuses no river
And rivers were sprung to drown
The sea refuses no river
No pecking code respected for the damned
The sea refuses no river
Whether starving or ill
Or strung on some pill
Just 'cos you own the land
There's no unique hand plugs the dam
The sea refuses no river
And the river is where I am
The river is where I am.
This bride he took along wth him into heaven
To paraphrase Luther, by faith we are on honeymoon with Christ forever. Aaahh.
And take that, you law mongering Papsists and Muslims!
Some good stuff from Father Martin:
He said earlier: "No one has ascended into heaven but He who descended from heaven."
This article of faith, that Christ is our Lord, is what makes us Christians. It is the jewel, the gem, and the golden chain around the neck of the bride, who believes that Christ is true God from eternity, that He descended from heaven and became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and that He, and no other, ascended again into heaven. Thus He was declared the Son of God (Rom. 1:4), and He sits at the right hand of His heavenly Father. This is most certainly true, all appearances to the contrary notwithstanding.
Christ now construes His "ascending" to mean that we shall also ascend in Him, since Jesus Christ is the only one to ascend into heaven after first descending from there. Otherwise some might ask: "Well then, what about us?" Christ answers: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so, etc." Therefore we shall also ascend in Him.
You can throw this into the teeth of all Jews, Turks, and papists, who propose to be their own way to heaven with their orders, rules, and good works -they have invented so many roads to heaven -and say to them: "No one ascends into heaven but He who descended from heaven."
He, the Lord Christ, took with Him into heaven the body and the bride He had acquired and adorned on earth. No one has ever ascended into heaven apart from Him. From the word "no one" Christ does not mean those who follow Him. As the Bridegroom, He has ascended into heaven. When He descended from there, He did not intend to remain here alone; but He chose a bride on earth, and this bride He took along with Him into heaven.
The Turks say: "Whoever observes the Koran ascends into heaven." The Jews claim: "Whoever keeps the Law of Moses has a way of ascending into heaven." The pope declares: "Whoever obeys me ascends into heaven." There is no end or limit to the variety of methods. But they all prescribe heavenward journeys on which the travelers will break their necks. These are detours, and they spell disaster; for Christ says here: "No one ascends into heaven."
Sermons on St. John. AE, Vol. 22, p. 334.
And take that, you law mongering Papsists and Muslims!
Some good stuff from Father Martin:
He said earlier: "No one has ascended into heaven but He who descended from heaven."
This article of faith, that Christ is our Lord, is what makes us Christians. It is the jewel, the gem, and the golden chain around the neck of the bride, who believes that Christ is true God from eternity, that He descended from heaven and became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and that He, and no other, ascended again into heaven. Thus He was declared the Son of God (Rom. 1:4), and He sits at the right hand of His heavenly Father. This is most certainly true, all appearances to the contrary notwithstanding.
Christ now construes His "ascending" to mean that we shall also ascend in Him, since Jesus Christ is the only one to ascend into heaven after first descending from there. Otherwise some might ask: "Well then, what about us?" Christ answers: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so, etc." Therefore we shall also ascend in Him.
You can throw this into the teeth of all Jews, Turks, and papists, who propose to be their own way to heaven with their orders, rules, and good works -they have invented so many roads to heaven -and say to them: "No one ascends into heaven but He who descended from heaven."
He, the Lord Christ, took with Him into heaven the body and the bride He had acquired and adorned on earth. No one has ever ascended into heaven apart from Him. From the word "no one" Christ does not mean those who follow Him. As the Bridegroom, He has ascended into heaven. When He descended from there, He did not intend to remain here alone; but He chose a bride on earth, and this bride He took along with Him into heaven.
The Turks say: "Whoever observes the Koran ascends into heaven." The Jews claim: "Whoever keeps the Law of Moses has a way of ascending into heaven." The pope declares: "Whoever obeys me ascends into heaven." There is no end or limit to the variety of methods. But they all prescribe heavenward journeys on which the travelers will break their necks. These are detours, and they spell disaster; for Christ says here: "No one ascends into heaven."
Sermons on St. John. AE, Vol. 22, p. 334.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Stax-Volt !!!!
{theology mode off}
My car broke down. Which is good. Here's why. I've had to borrow a car and will probably now buy this car. My old car had a cd player in it. This car has a cd player and a cassette player.
So I dig out my old cassette tapes and what do I find but my cassette tape collection of Stax-Volt singles from 1959-1968!
If you do not know what Stax Volt is woe is you, my man!
Stax Volt was a Memphis soul record label which put out the most incredible soul sound you have ever heard. The most well known guy on the label was Otis Redding but also Sam and Dave, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas and on and on ... Booker T and the MG's. Just incredible stuff. Check out "Bar B-Q" by Wendy Rene. Or "Tramp" by Otis & Carla. The rhythm section on these records is amazing. I am telling you if this stuff doesn't make you move around in the driver's seat, you are probably dead.
My friend, Larry Rast, prefers classic Motown, but, of course, he is as wrong as wrong can be.
Here is the Amazon page with samples. Listen and learn and get your groove on.
P.S. If you anyone wants to buy me the complete CD collection it is only 90 bucks. 55 used.
{theology mode back on}
My car broke down. Which is good. Here's why. I've had to borrow a car and will probably now buy this car. My old car had a cd player in it. This car has a cd player and a cassette player.
So I dig out my old cassette tapes and what do I find but my cassette tape collection of Stax-Volt singles from 1959-1968!
If you do not know what Stax Volt is woe is you, my man!
Stax Volt was a Memphis soul record label which put out the most incredible soul sound you have ever heard. The most well known guy on the label was Otis Redding but also Sam and Dave, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas and on and on ... Booker T and the MG's. Just incredible stuff. Check out "Bar B-Q" by Wendy Rene. Or "Tramp" by Otis & Carla. The rhythm section on these records is amazing. I am telling you if this stuff doesn't make you move around in the driver's seat, you are probably dead.
My friend, Larry Rast, prefers classic Motown, but, of course, he is as wrong as wrong can be.
Here is the Amazon page with samples. Listen and learn and get your groove on.
P.S. If you anyone wants to buy me the complete CD collection it is only 90 bucks. 55 used.
{theology mode back on}
Confessional Lutherans in Sweden
From Mere Comments a report on the Lutheran Church in Sweden from "The Church Coalition for Bible and Confession" which is "an umbrella organisation for those within the Church of Sweden who wish to work together to ensure that the Bible and the Confessional Documents should be the only guiding principle within the Church."
Here is a pdf documentwith a set of five papers on the ministry of the church which look very interesting. The titles follow.
The Ministry of the Church
Its Deep Roots and Vision and Structures for the Future
London 13-16 February 2006
A selection of papers presented at the Conference
Daniel Alvunger, MA,
Captive to Ceasar - Church Politics in Sweden in the 20th Century
Björn Fyrlund, Rev Dr, SSB
Corporate Salvation or Self-Sufficient Solutions?
Oloph Bexell, Professor
The Oxford Movemnet as Recieved in Sweden
Henrik Lindeskog, Rev, SST
Sacramental Structures or Individual Idiosyncrasies in Parish Ministry
Dag Sandahl, Rev Dr, SSC.
Faith of the Fathers, the Faith for the Future: the Faith Today?
Here is a pdf documentwith a set of five papers on the ministry of the church which look very interesting. The titles follow.
The Ministry of the Church
Its Deep Roots and Vision and Structures for the Future
London 13-16 February 2006
A selection of papers presented at the Conference
Daniel Alvunger, MA,
Captive to Ceasar - Church Politics in Sweden in the 20th Century
Björn Fyrlund, Rev Dr, SSB
Corporate Salvation or Self-Sufficient Solutions?
Oloph Bexell, Professor
The Oxford Movemnet as Recieved in Sweden
Henrik Lindeskog, Rev, SST
Sacramental Structures or Individual Idiosyncrasies in Parish Ministry
Dag Sandahl, Rev Dr, SSC.
Faith of the Fathers, the Faith for the Future: the Faith Today?
Friday, March 17, 2006
Ambrose : Baptism leads to Eucharist
Ambrose on the Mysteries
Note:
1. Baptism must lead to Eucharist
2. Psalm 23 is Eucharistic
3. The Christian rites replace the Jewish
The cleansed people, rich with these adornments (the baptismal garments), hastens to the altar of Christ, saying: "I will go to the altar of God, to God Who maketh glad my youth;" for having laid aside the slough of ancient error, renewed with an eagle's youth, it hastens to approach that heavenly feast. It comes, and seeing the holy altar arranged, cries out: "Thou hast prepared a table in my sight." David introduces the people as speaking, where he says: "The Lord feedeth me, and nothing shall be wanting to me, in a place of good pasture hath He placed me. He hath led me forth by the water of refreshment." And later: "For though I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff have comforted me. Thou hast prepared in my sight a table against them that trouble me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil, and Thy inebriating cup, how excellent it is!"
We must now pay attention, lest perchance any one seeing that what is visible (for things which are invisible cannot be seen nor comprehended by human eyes), should say, "God rained down manna and rained down quails upon the Jews," but for the Church beloved of Him the things which He has prepared are those of which it is said: "That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love Him." So, lest any one should say this, we will take great pains to prove that the sacraments of the Church are both more ancient than those of the synagogue, and more excellent than the manna.
Note:
1. Baptism must lead to Eucharist
2. Psalm 23 is Eucharistic
3. The Christian rites replace the Jewish
The cleansed people, rich with these adornments (the baptismal garments), hastens to the altar of Christ, saying: "I will go to the altar of God, to God Who maketh glad my youth;" for having laid aside the slough of ancient error, renewed with an eagle's youth, it hastens to approach that heavenly feast. It comes, and seeing the holy altar arranged, cries out: "Thou hast prepared a table in my sight." David introduces the people as speaking, where he says: "The Lord feedeth me, and nothing shall be wanting to me, in a place of good pasture hath He placed me. He hath led me forth by the water of refreshment." And later: "For though I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff have comforted me. Thou hast prepared in my sight a table against them that trouble me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil, and Thy inebriating cup, how excellent it is!"
We must now pay attention, lest perchance any one seeing that what is visible (for things which are invisible cannot be seen nor comprehended by human eyes), should say, "God rained down manna and rained down quails upon the Jews," but for the Church beloved of Him the things which He has prepared are those of which it is said: "That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love Him." So, lest any one should say this, we will take great pains to prove that the sacraments of the Church are both more ancient than those of the synagogue, and more excellent than the manna.
Sons of God, hear his holy word ...
A parishioner recently gave me a big box full of old books, mostly song books and sheet music. One was a "folk hymnal" from the 70's. I opened it to this song I had long since forgotten. I recall this song being almost omnipresent at Communion in the LCMS Lutheran churches I attended growing up in the 70's. You can sing along if you feel the urge :
Sons of God, hear his holy word
Gather round the table of the Lord
Eat his body drink his blood
And we'll sing a song of love
allelu alellu allelu allelu alleluia
Can't you hear those guitars strumming?
Isn't it funny how something so popular, used and touted by so many, can go away so quickly? The whole folk service craze is gone like so many hippies in the wind. One wonders how embarassed some will be 20 years from now looking back on the Amy Grant songs and the praise choruses of today and wonder, "What were we thinking?"
Sons of God, hear his holy word
Gather round the table of the Lord
Eat his body drink his blood
And we'll sing a song of love
allelu alellu allelu allelu alleluia
Can't you hear those guitars strumming?
Isn't it funny how something so popular, used and touted by so many, can go away so quickly? The whole folk service craze is gone like so many hippies in the wind. One wonders how embarassed some will be 20 years from now looking back on the Amy Grant songs and the praise choruses of today and wonder, "What were we thinking?"
Thursday, March 16, 2006
After Gay Marriage, Polygamy
A Newsweek article details the movement of polygamists to jump on the destruction of marriage bandwagon. Makes perfect sense, as the article says :
"If Heather can have two mommies, she should also be able to have two mommies and a daddy."
Or my family/marriage can be six daddies and three mommies, or three daddies and a bird or one cat, one aunt, six mommies and a nice man who lives with us. Monty Python stuff, huh?
Point being that once marriage loses its shape, it is meaningless.
Of course, polygamy will never catch on with the Brokeback Mountain crowd because it is too patriarchal and old fashioned. Mormons are alot of things but they are not hedonistic, New Age Gnostics, which is the flavor of the decade.
"If Heather can have two mommies, she should also be able to have two mommies and a daddy."
Or my family/marriage can be six daddies and three mommies, or three daddies and a bird or one cat, one aunt, six mommies and a nice man who lives with us. Monty Python stuff, huh?
Point being that once marriage loses its shape, it is meaningless.
Of course, polygamy will never catch on with the Brokeback Mountain crowd because it is too patriarchal and old fashioned. Mormons are alot of things but they are not hedonistic, New Age Gnostics, which is the flavor of the decade.
Conscience Trumps Truth
Minister who officiated at two lesbian unions was cleared of violating Presbyterian law
"As a lesbian, he said, Spahr believes that two people in love should not be denied the joy of holy matrimony — regardless of sexual orientation. Therefore, the court decided it could not punish her for acting as she did."
"As a lesbian, he said, Spahr believes that two people in love should not be denied the joy of holy matrimony — regardless of sexual orientation. Therefore, the court decided it could not punish her for acting as she did."
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Jumping off the Cliff
A most helpful insight of Luther's theology is his emphasis on faith as trust in the Divine Word. This leads directly into an existential experience of faith as a conflict. Faith relies on the Word of God, the living voice of the Gospel, against the experience and common sense of the flesh. Our sins are more "real" to us than the bare words of absolution. We "know" for certain that we are sinners, unworthy, guilty. Yet the voice of God says you are forgiven, that there are no sins. Behold the Lamb of God…." There is a conflict. Faith versus reason.
This is the struggle of the life of faith. Faith grasps the small insignificant things of God : baptism, Supper, spoken Gospel against the heavy weight of lived, known "facts" like sin and death. There is nothing more certain than death. A corpse is dead, dead, dead. Yet God says whoever believes in me will never die. There is a contradiction. My loved one is certainly dead I can see it, touch the body, it is a fact. Yet Jesus says he will never die. Faith must cling to the words in the face of all evidence to the contrary. I am baptized, I am righteous, I will live.
Death is the ultimate test and temptation. Jesus in the garden was being tempted. Abraham on the mountain with his son : tempted. When we face death, all that we know, feel, can, see, hear and touch lies behind and death, the great proverbial jump off the cliff, is ahead, into the blackness, clutching only a promise. But it is the promise of the creator God who brings creation out nothing, life out of death, the Father of Jesus, who is Risen.
This is the struggle of the life of faith. Faith grasps the small insignificant things of God : baptism, Supper, spoken Gospel against the heavy weight of lived, known "facts" like sin and death. There is nothing more certain than death. A corpse is dead, dead, dead. Yet God says whoever believes in me will never die. There is a contradiction. My loved one is certainly dead I can see it, touch the body, it is a fact. Yet Jesus says he will never die. Faith must cling to the words in the face of all evidence to the contrary. I am baptized, I am righteous, I will live.
Death is the ultimate test and temptation. Jesus in the garden was being tempted. Abraham on the mountain with his son : tempted. When we face death, all that we know, feel, can, see, hear and touch lies behind and death, the great proverbial jump off the cliff, is ahead, into the blackness, clutching only a promise. But it is the promise of the creator God who brings creation out nothing, life out of death, the Father of Jesus, who is Risen.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Rock 'n' Roll Generator
Ok, this is fun for few seconds. A random name generator for rock and roll band names.
The intro states:
Why aren't you hobnobbing with Christina Aguilera right now? Because your band's name sucks! Face it, you guys just aren't as catchy as...say...Prong. Ok, well never mind. Anyway, here is the feature you've all been waiting for, so get ready to Rock 'n' Roll all nite (and don't forget to party every day)!
Here are some of the names it spit out to me :
The Former Neon Habits
Mutant Kosher Disco
Gang of Artificial Sabbath
I have a few of my own from early American History (yeah whatever) :
Whiskey Rebellion
Cannibals All!
Valley Forge
I had some more but I cannot remember them, too old to rock, I guess.
Here is a sitewith real rock and roll band names.
A few choice examples :
The Body Bags
Insane War Tomatoes
Mr. Coffee & the Drips
Stabbity Stabbity Stab Stab Stab
Captain Zimbabwe and the Cabinet Shuffle
The intro states:
Why aren't you hobnobbing with Christina Aguilera right now? Because your band's name sucks! Face it, you guys just aren't as catchy as...say...Prong. Ok, well never mind. Anyway, here is the feature you've all been waiting for, so get ready to Rock 'n' Roll all nite (and don't forget to party every day)!
Here are some of the names it spit out to me :
The Former Neon Habits
Mutant Kosher Disco
Gang of Artificial Sabbath
I have a few of my own from early American History (yeah whatever) :
Whiskey Rebellion
Cannibals All!
Valley Forge
I had some more but I cannot remember them, too old to rock, I guess.
Here is a sitewith real rock and roll band names.
A few choice examples :
The Body Bags
Insane War Tomatoes
Mr. Coffee & the Drips
Stabbity Stabbity Stab Stab Stab
Captain Zimbabwe and the Cabinet Shuffle
Lutheran Numbers Grow Worldwide, Shrink in Global North
This may have been posted elsewhere.
The number of Lutherans worldwide rose by nearly a quarter million members, largely through the sharp growth of Christians in Africa.
According to data collected by the Lutheran World Federation, whose members account for more than 94 percent of all Lutherans, the total number of Lutherans rose to 69.8 million around the world, marking an increase of nearly 230,000 since 2004.
However, when separated geographically, statistics reveal a sharp decline of Lutheran adherents in much of Europe and North America.
Membership in Lutheran churches in Europe dropped by nearly 600,000 last year, bringing the total figure down to about 38 million. The Church of Sweden, the largest Lutheran church in the world, accounted for the loss of more than 200,000 members. And in Germany, the home of Lutheranism, more than 160,000 Lutherans left the denomination.
Small increases were noted in some places such as in France and Romania, but the growth was not enough to offset the waves of Lutheran Christians taking leave in Europe.
North America also suffered membership loss, down 96,000 to about 8.2 million. The Evangelical Lutheran in Church in America accounted for about half of that loss.
Despite such huge decreases in the Global North, Lutheran churches in the Global South welcomed nearly a million new more members.
In Africa alone, 904,500 new members pushed the total membership in Lutheran churches there to 15 million. Africa’s highest percentage increase was recorded in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Congo – a non-LWF member church – that grew 44 percent.
In Asia, the number of Lutherans increased by 25,890 in the past year. The Taiwanese Lutheran Church accounted for half the growth – it increased by 46.5 percent with a new total of 12,029 members.
In Latin America, Lutherans clocked-in at nearly the same amount as last year. There was a total of 4,966 loss compared to the year before, brining the new total to 1,111,948, members, according to the LWF.>
>
The number of Lutherans worldwide rose by nearly a quarter million members, largely through the sharp growth of Christians in Africa.
According to data collected by the Lutheran World Federation, whose members account for more than 94 percent of all Lutherans, the total number of Lutherans rose to 69.8 million around the world, marking an increase of nearly 230,000 since 2004.
However, when separated geographically, statistics reveal a sharp decline of Lutheran adherents in much of Europe and North America.
Membership in Lutheran churches in Europe dropped by nearly 600,000 last year, bringing the total figure down to about 38 million. The Church of Sweden, the largest Lutheran church in the world, accounted for the loss of more than 200,000 members. And in Germany, the home of Lutheranism, more than 160,000 Lutherans left the denomination.
Small increases were noted in some places such as in France and Romania, but the growth was not enough to offset the waves of Lutheran Christians taking leave in Europe.
North America also suffered membership loss, down 96,000 to about 8.2 million. The Evangelical Lutheran in Church in America accounted for about half of that loss.
Despite such huge decreases in the Global North, Lutheran churches in the Global South welcomed nearly a million new more members.
In Africa alone, 904,500 new members pushed the total membership in Lutheran churches there to 15 million. Africa’s highest percentage increase was recorded in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Congo – a non-LWF member church – that grew 44 percent.
In Asia, the number of Lutherans increased by 25,890 in the past year. The Taiwanese Lutheran Church accounted for half the growth – it increased by 46.5 percent with a new total of 12,029 members.
In Latin America, Lutherans clocked-in at nearly the same amount as last year. There was a total of 4,966 loss compared to the year before, brining the new total to 1,111,948, members, according to the LWF.>
>
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Faith and The Sign of the Cross
The Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus offers this explanation of why the sign of the cross wards off Satan. Notice the role of faith, the sign is not a talisman or good luck charm. This is from an internet translation.
If you are tempted, seal your foreheads reverently. For this is the Sign of the
Passion, displayed and made manifest against the devil, provided that you do it with faith, not to be seen by men, but by presenting it with skill like a shield.
Because the Adversary, when he sees the strength of the heart and when he sees the inner man which is animated by the Word show, formed on the exterior, the interior image of the Word, he is made to flee by the Spirit which is in you. This is symbolized by the Paschal lamb which was sacrificed, the blood of which Moses sprinkled on the threshold, and smeared on the doorposts. He told us of the faith which is now in us, which was given to us through the perfect Lamb.
By sealing the forehead and eyes with the hand, we turn aside the one who is seeking to destroy us.
If you are tempted, seal your foreheads reverently. For this is the Sign of the
Passion, displayed and made manifest against the devil, provided that you do it with faith, not to be seen by men, but by presenting it with skill like a shield.
Because the Adversary, when he sees the strength of the heart and when he sees the inner man which is animated by the Word show, formed on the exterior, the interior image of the Word, he is made to flee by the Spirit which is in you. This is symbolized by the Paschal lamb which was sacrificed, the blood of which Moses sprinkled on the threshold, and smeared on the doorposts. He told us of the faith which is now in us, which was given to us through the perfect Lamb.
By sealing the forehead and eyes with the hand, we turn aside the one who is seeking to destroy us.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
New Lutheran Blog
As I have said before I do a bad job keeping up with all the great blogs out there.
But here is one to look at : Pastor Paul Beisel's One Lutheran ... Ablog.
But here is one to look at : Pastor Paul Beisel's One Lutheran ... Ablog.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Lazy Sod, Holy Spirit
Because "I'm a lazy sod" ( kudos to anyone who can identify where the phrase "lazy sod"comes from ... come on, you punk rockers!) here is a blog rerun .. from way back in the mists of ancient time ... last year.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
The Spirit of the Church
Just a couple thoughts on the account of Pentecost in Acts 2. This text is a primary biblical locus for teaching on the Holy Spirit but often Lutherans can be a little shy about using it. The abuse of the text I think scares some off. We do not seem to experience anything like this outpouring of the Spirit with miraculous tongues of fire and rushing wind and multiple languages. Yet the text richly and emphatically directs us to the proper appreciation of the work of the Holy Spirit in the church.
Consider the effect of the Holy Spirit has on the apostles in Acts 2. Do they retreat into themselves for an ecstatic spiritual experience? No, what the Spirit effects is on the whole quite mundane: the preaching of the Gospel. Now, granted it is attended by a miracle : all who are there from many nations and languages understand the Gospel preaching. But the stress in on the Gospel. The point of the Spirit's coming on the apostles is that Christ crucified might be preached.
Notice also that the effect of the Spirit is to bring the church into existence. So often today the Spirit is individualized. The Holy Spirit's work is said to be interior of the individual Christian, working on his heart, known in subjective feelings. Nothing could be further from what happens in Acts 2. The Spirit gathers the those who have heard the Gospel into a communal, corporate existence: the church. There is not an internal, emotional encounter but rather this: they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42). Acts 2 teaches the same as the Creed that the Holy Spirit is the one who builds the church, who works through and brings about the holy Christian church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
This links up with the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. There, the Spirit is the bond between Father and Son, a community of persons in the unity of essence. The Spirit does the same in the church bringing the many into unity in Christ through faith in Him.
Note that the Spirit is given by the apostles through Baptism : "Brothers, what shall we do? Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38) The Holy Spirit 's descent upon the Apostles at Pentecost was their ordination into the preaching office; it was not the paradigm for the reception of the Holy Spirit. Peter followed the paradigm when he instructed the people in the Gospel and then baptized them, thus obeying his Lord's mandate to teach and baptize and this make disciples.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
The Spirit of the Church
Just a couple thoughts on the account of Pentecost in Acts 2. This text is a primary biblical locus for teaching on the Holy Spirit but often Lutherans can be a little shy about using it. The abuse of the text I think scares some off. We do not seem to experience anything like this outpouring of the Spirit with miraculous tongues of fire and rushing wind and multiple languages. Yet the text richly and emphatically directs us to the proper appreciation of the work of the Holy Spirit in the church.
Consider the effect of the Holy Spirit has on the apostles in Acts 2. Do they retreat into themselves for an ecstatic spiritual experience? No, what the Spirit effects is on the whole quite mundane: the preaching of the Gospel. Now, granted it is attended by a miracle : all who are there from many nations and languages understand the Gospel preaching. But the stress in on the Gospel. The point of the Spirit's coming on the apostles is that Christ crucified might be preached.
Notice also that the effect of the Spirit is to bring the church into existence. So often today the Spirit is individualized. The Holy Spirit's work is said to be interior of the individual Christian, working on his heart, known in subjective feelings. Nothing could be further from what happens in Acts 2. The Spirit gathers the those who have heard the Gospel into a communal, corporate existence: the church. There is not an internal, emotional encounter but rather this: they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42). Acts 2 teaches the same as the Creed that the Holy Spirit is the one who builds the church, who works through and brings about the holy Christian church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
This links up with the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. There, the Spirit is the bond between Father and Son, a community of persons in the unity of essence. The Spirit does the same in the church bringing the many into unity in Christ through faith in Him.
Note that the Spirit is given by the apostles through Baptism : "Brothers, what shall we do? Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38) The Holy Spirit 's descent upon the Apostles at Pentecost was their ordination into the preaching office; it was not the paradigm for the reception of the Holy Spirit. Peter followed the paradigm when he instructed the people in the Gospel and then baptized them, thus obeying his Lord's mandate to teach and baptize and this make disciples.
News from here and there
1. There is a big scandal brewing in the Orthodox Church in America over finances, embezzlement and the way the bishops have handled the crisis:
The Washington Post has an article as well as Religion News Service.
Here is website dedicated to covering the scandal.
2. Some seminaries may stop sending chaplains on account of restrictions over prayer, specifically the ability to pray in Jesus' name.
3.Lutheran Basketball school under scrutiny. It is apparently a school where kids can go to play basketball and not much else. Here is the money quote:
"When Darryl Schofield, Lutheran's coach and athletic director, was asked in an interview last month which Lutheran church the school was affiliated with, he said he had forgotten."
Sounds like some of my members (only joking of course!).
4. Oops A Greek Orthodox priest has been suspended in Cyprus after allegations he broke his sacred vows by using information from confessions to blackmail those who confided in him, media reports said.
5. What about Leviticus? A committee of legal experts who set policy for Conservative Judaism decided yesterday at a closed-door meeting in Baltimore to wait until December to vote on whether to lift the movement's ban on gay rabbis and same-sex union ceremonies.
The Washington Post has an article as well as Religion News Service.
Here is website dedicated to covering the scandal.
2. Some seminaries may stop sending chaplains on account of restrictions over prayer, specifically the ability to pray in Jesus' name.
3.Lutheran Basketball school under scrutiny. It is apparently a school where kids can go to play basketball and not much else. Here is the money quote:
"When Darryl Schofield, Lutheran's coach and athletic director, was asked in an interview last month which Lutheran church the school was affiliated with, he said he had forgotten."
Sounds like some of my members (only joking of course!).
4. Oops A Greek Orthodox priest has been suspended in Cyprus after allegations he broke his sacred vows by using information from confessions to blackmail those who confided in him, media reports said.
5. What about Leviticus? A committee of legal experts who set policy for Conservative Judaism decided yesterday at a closed-door meeting in Baltimore to wait until December to vote on whether to lift the movement's ban on gay rabbis and same-sex union ceremonies.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
On corpses, CSI and Christianity
Corpses are the stuff of horror movies and bad dreams. More and more TV shows (CSI, etc) feature corpses as a regular part of the fare. I must say these shows strike me as gruesome. The way they treat dead bodies says alot about us as a people, a culture and our "spiritual" outlook.
Christianity has traditionally treated the body with the greatest respect. This was so because of the truths of the Christian faith. The one true God created the body. The Christian Scriptures testify to a personal intimate creation of our first parents and point to the same concern in the creation of every individual. The human person is not other than the body. The body is not a "wrapper" or an adiaphoron to the self. The Incarnation of God in the womb of the Virgin is the pinnacle of the high regard our God has for the physical dimension of the human self. In concrete terms, we simply do not exist on this earth without the body. There is a small measure of truth to the claims of science that much of who we are is natural processes of chemistry and biology.
The gory dismemberment and display of body parts and corpses on television is a ghastly manifestation of the godlessness at the heart of our shared culture. Where as previous ages lovingly gathered the bones of its martyrs and at the risk of their own death gathered to proclaim the the Lord's physical resurrection victory and vindicaiton of those remains, our culture treats such remains as meat. Other more Christian ages instinctively saw the body and the person as co-terminous. There was no horrible divorce of physical and spiritual.
The scenes on CSI and other programs come across as nothing more than butchershops. This should come as no surprise since our intellectual tradition has banished any sort of transcendental meaning from the human body, We can abort, cavort, abuse, fornicate in and through our flesh in any number of ways and all of this apart from "true selves' which are seen somehow as a spirutal entity floating free from the body.
The sacramental rites of the church as well as the burial rites stand in contrast to such empty visions. Baptism is applied as water to skin and Eucharist as bread and wine to mouths and tongues and teeth. God himself is given to us through our bodies. We are temples of the Holy Trinity. The funeral rites of a Christian focus on the corpse, not as so much meat to be chopped up, but as the object of the enfleshed God's eternal promise of resurrection.
Christianity has traditionally treated the body with the greatest respect. This was so because of the truths of the Christian faith. The one true God created the body. The Christian Scriptures testify to a personal intimate creation of our first parents and point to the same concern in the creation of every individual. The human person is not other than the body. The body is not a "wrapper" or an adiaphoron to the self. The Incarnation of God in the womb of the Virgin is the pinnacle of the high regard our God has for the physical dimension of the human self. In concrete terms, we simply do not exist on this earth without the body. There is a small measure of truth to the claims of science that much of who we are is natural processes of chemistry and biology.
The gory dismemberment and display of body parts and corpses on television is a ghastly manifestation of the godlessness at the heart of our shared culture. Where as previous ages lovingly gathered the bones of its martyrs and at the risk of their own death gathered to proclaim the the Lord's physical resurrection victory and vindicaiton of those remains, our culture treats such remains as meat. Other more Christian ages instinctively saw the body and the person as co-terminous. There was no horrible divorce of physical and spiritual.
The scenes on CSI and other programs come across as nothing more than butchershops. This should come as no surprise since our intellectual tradition has banished any sort of transcendental meaning from the human body, We can abort, cavort, abuse, fornicate in and through our flesh in any number of ways and all of this apart from "true selves' which are seen somehow as a spirutal entity floating free from the body.
The sacramental rites of the church as well as the burial rites stand in contrast to such empty visions. Baptism is applied as water to skin and Eucharist as bread and wine to mouths and tongues and teeth. God himself is given to us through our bodies. We are temples of the Holy Trinity. The funeral rites of a Christian focus on the corpse, not as so much meat to be chopped up, but as the object of the enfleshed God's eternal promise of resurrection.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
A Russian Proverb
From the newsletter of the Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church:
It is similar to that Russian fairy tale: if you turn right, you will lose your horse, if you turn left, you will lose your life.
It is similar to that Russian fairy tale: if you turn right, you will lose your horse, if you turn left, you will lose your life.
The Pursuit of Happiness
The New Yorker has a nice essay/book review on happiness.
Some bits and pieces:
1. In virtually every Indo-European language, the modern word for happiness is cognate with luck, fortune or fate.
2. Happ was the Middle English word for “chance, fortune, what happens in the world,” McMahon writes, “giving us such words as ‘happenstance,’ ‘haphazard,’ ‘hapless,’ and ‘perhaps.’ ” This view of happiness is essentially tragic: it sees life as consisting of the things that happen to you; if more good things than bad happen, you are happy.
3. The next big turning point in the history of happiness came with the Enlightenment, and its vision of the world as a rational place, which might be governed by laws analogous to the newly discovered Newtonian laws of physics. In the words of the historian Roy Porter, the Enlightenment “translated the ultimate question ‘How can I be saved?’ into the pragmatic ‘How can I be happy?’ ” With this came a new emphasis on the legitimate pursuit of pleasure.
Some bits and pieces:
1. In virtually every Indo-European language, the modern word for happiness is cognate with luck, fortune or fate.
2. Happ was the Middle English word for “chance, fortune, what happens in the world,” McMahon writes, “giving us such words as ‘happenstance,’ ‘haphazard,’ ‘hapless,’ and ‘perhaps.’ ” This view of happiness is essentially tragic: it sees life as consisting of the things that happen to you; if more good things than bad happen, you are happy.
3. The next big turning point in the history of happiness came with the Enlightenment, and its vision of the world as a rational place, which might be governed by laws analogous to the newly discovered Newtonian laws of physics. In the words of the historian Roy Porter, the Enlightenment “translated the ultimate question ‘How can I be saved?’ into the pragmatic ‘How can I be happy?’ ” With this came a new emphasis on the legitimate pursuit of pleasure.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Theses on Lutheran Mission
From the latest issue of Logia, a fine article, (which is online) by Prof. Detlev Schulz, on the mission theology. It is entitled In Search of the Proprium of Lutheran Mission: Eight Theses.
Here is a taste:
Thesis One: The subject of Lutheran mission is the Triune God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who creates, redeems, and sanctifes. For his saving mission to the world, the Triune God calls the church into his service as his instrument. He alone provides and grants success and victory to her mission. Thus, confidence and unwavering trust should be placed in this God and not in our own human abilities and insights.
Thesis Three: Lutheran mission considers the means of grace, that is, the gospel in word and sacrament, not only as her visible and reliable marks (notae ecclesiae) by which the church of Jesus Christ, despite her hidden nature, can be seen and identified, but also as the definitive and exclusive content of her task.
From this follows Lutheran mission’s focus on the proclamation of the word and the administration of the sacraments. From this it follows that all other services in mission to the healthy and the sick are actually aligned and subordinated to the service of the gospel.
Finally, from this it follows that the struggle for the purity of word and sacrament is also a constant obligation for Lutheran mission.
Here is a taste:
Thesis One: The subject of Lutheran mission is the Triune God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who creates, redeems, and sanctifes. For his saving mission to the world, the Triune God calls the church into his service as his instrument. He alone provides and grants success and victory to her mission. Thus, confidence and unwavering trust should be placed in this God and not in our own human abilities and insights.
Thesis Three: Lutheran mission considers the means of grace, that is, the gospel in word and sacrament, not only as her visible and reliable marks (notae ecclesiae) by which the church of Jesus Christ, despite her hidden nature, can be seen and identified, but also as the definitive and exclusive content of her task.
From this follows Lutheran mission’s focus on the proclamation of the word and the administration of the sacraments. From this it follows that all other services in mission to the healthy and the sick are actually aligned and subordinated to the service of the gospel.
Finally, from this it follows that the struggle for the purity of word and sacrament is also a constant obligation for Lutheran mission.
Sanctification is Christology
Dr. David Scaer:
The Spirit who assisted Christ during the days of humiliation to do good to others and to offer Himself as a sacrifice to His Father is the same Spirit whom Christ by His death, resurrection and ascension gave to His Christians. Jesus, in requiring that we love God with our whole being and our neighbors more than ourselves, was not giving us an impossible goal to awaken in us a morbid sense of sinfulness. Nor was He speaking in exaggerated terms to make a point, but He was describing His own life and the life of His Christians who live their lives and die in Him.
Like Christ, Christians trust only in God and sacrifice themselves for others. Sanctification not only defines the Christian life, but in the first and real sense it defines Christ's life. Jesus Himself loved God with everything which He was and had and made us His neighbors by loving us more than He loved His own life. Sanctification is first christological, that is, it is Christ's own life in God and then our life in Him. His life did not follow a system of codes, a pattern of regulations or list of moral demands and constraints and restraints.
Sanctification: By Grace Alone
The Spirit who assisted Christ during the days of humiliation to do good to others and to offer Himself as a sacrifice to His Father is the same Spirit whom Christ by His death, resurrection and ascension gave to His Christians. Jesus, in requiring that we love God with our whole being and our neighbors more than ourselves, was not giving us an impossible goal to awaken in us a morbid sense of sinfulness. Nor was He speaking in exaggerated terms to make a point, but He was describing His own life and the life of His Christians who live their lives and die in Him.
Like Christ, Christians trust only in God and sacrifice themselves for others. Sanctification not only defines the Christian life, but in the first and real sense it defines Christ's life. Jesus Himself loved God with everything which He was and had and made us His neighbors by loving us more than He loved His own life. Sanctification is first christological, that is, it is Christ's own life in God and then our life in Him. His life did not follow a system of codes, a pattern of regulations or list of moral demands and constraints and restraints.
Sanctification: By Grace Alone
Purified
Ambrose, teaching the newly baptized, explains the white robes they now wear:
After this white robes were given to you as a sign that you were putting off the covering of sins, and putting on the chaste veil of innocence, of which the prophet said: "Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop and I shall be cleansed, Thou shalt wash me and I shall be made whiter than snow."
For he who is baptized is seen to be purified both according to the Law and according to the Gospel: according to the Law, because Moses sprinkled the blood of the lamb with a bunch of hyssop; according to the Gospel, because Christ's garments were white as snow, when in the Gospel He showed forth the glory of His Resurrection. He, then, whose guilt is remitted is made whiter than snow. So that God said by Isaiah: "Though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them white as snow."
The angels, too, were in doubt when Christ arose; the powers of heaven were in doubt when they saw that flesh was ascending into heaven. Then they said: "Who is this King of glory?" And whilst some said "Lift up your gates, O princes, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in." In Isaiah, too, we find that the powers of heaven doubted and said: "Who is this that cometh up from Edom, the redness of His garments is from Bosor, He who is glorious in white apparel?"
But Christ, beholding His Church, for whom He Himself, as you find in the book of the prophet Zechariah, had put on filthy garments, now clothed in white raiment, seeing, that is, a soul pure and washed in the layer of regeneration, says: "Behold, thou art fair, My love, behold thou art fair, thy eyes are like a dove's," in the likeness of which the Holy Spirit descended from heaven. The eyes are beautiful like those of a dove, because in the likeness of a dove the Holy Spirit descended from heaven.
On the Mysteries, 7, 34, 36-37
After this white robes were given to you as a sign that you were putting off the covering of sins, and putting on the chaste veil of innocence, of which the prophet said: "Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop and I shall be cleansed, Thou shalt wash me and I shall be made whiter than snow."
For he who is baptized is seen to be purified both according to the Law and according to the Gospel: according to the Law, because Moses sprinkled the blood of the lamb with a bunch of hyssop; according to the Gospel, because Christ's garments were white as snow, when in the Gospel He showed forth the glory of His Resurrection. He, then, whose guilt is remitted is made whiter than snow. So that God said by Isaiah: "Though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them white as snow."
The angels, too, were in doubt when Christ arose; the powers of heaven were in doubt when they saw that flesh was ascending into heaven. Then they said: "Who is this King of glory?" And whilst some said "Lift up your gates, O princes, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in." In Isaiah, too, we find that the powers of heaven doubted and said: "Who is this that cometh up from Edom, the redness of His garments is from Bosor, He who is glorious in white apparel?"
But Christ, beholding His Church, for whom He Himself, as you find in the book of the prophet Zechariah, had put on filthy garments, now clothed in white raiment, seeing, that is, a soul pure and washed in the layer of regeneration, says: "Behold, thou art fair, My love, behold thou art fair, thy eyes are like a dove's," in the likeness of which the Holy Spirit descended from heaven. The eyes are beautiful like those of a dove, because in the likeness of a dove the Holy Spirit descended from heaven.
On the Mysteries, 7, 34, 36-37
Monday, March 06, 2006
Fast Minister Ordainment
This is a hoot. It says so much about our culture, about how pastors are viewed today, about online culture, about getting everything fast and easy, about using religion to make money, and about weddings and marriage, I cannot begin to comment. Plus the English is humorously shaky: minister ordainment!
The continuing ed has open book tests! Cool!
You can download a "Ministry Startup Package"
Become an Ordained Minister.
Be legally ordained and licensed today to do weddings, baptisms and other religious services. Offerings for small, easy weddings are frequently between $100 and $450.
After ordination start a Wedding Chapel to help support your own ministry. Perform a wedding in a chapel, park, boat, air balloon, roller coaster, on the beach or in an apartment. Some folks get really creative with their weddings.
After ordination start your own Ministry or church and perform any religious service normally performed by an ordained minister. The mission of the Christian Glory Church is to spread the Christian Word. If you believe in Jesus Christ and would like to be ordained into the Christian ministry so you can spread the word in your own way, we can help. We ordained our first minister in 1978. You can be a legally ordained and licensed to perform weddings, baptisms and other religious services. You can receive everything you need today with a quick and easy download. Our downloads are usually less than ten minutes.
A big advantage to downloading our "Ministry Startup Packages" is you get everything need. If you need more certificates for your ministry you just print more. You never have to purchase more supplies from us. Yes all of our documents are copyright protected, but once you are ordained by us you have permission to reprint all the documents you need for your own ministry or congregation. You may not give or sell them to other ministries for their use.
Jesus Christ required no special schooling for his disciples, only that they were called to his ministry. However, we do offer continued Christian Education to those who want it. Our easiest courses - Certified Training Courses have open book tests and certificates of training are awarded.
See what else we can do for you, browse through our web site.
The continuing ed has open book tests! Cool!
You can download a "Ministry Startup Package"
Become an Ordained Minister.
Be legally ordained and licensed today to do weddings, baptisms and other religious services. Offerings for small, easy weddings are frequently between $100 and $450.
After ordination start a Wedding Chapel to help support your own ministry. Perform a wedding in a chapel, park, boat, air balloon, roller coaster, on the beach or in an apartment. Some folks get really creative with their weddings.
After ordination start your own Ministry or church and perform any religious service normally performed by an ordained minister. The mission of the Christian Glory Church is to spread the Christian Word. If you believe in Jesus Christ and would like to be ordained into the Christian ministry so you can spread the word in your own way, we can help. We ordained our first minister in 1978. You can be a legally ordained and licensed to perform weddings, baptisms and other religious services. You can receive everything you need today with a quick and easy download. Our downloads are usually less than ten minutes.
A big advantage to downloading our "Ministry Startup Packages" is you get everything need. If you need more certificates for your ministry you just print more. You never have to purchase more supplies from us. Yes all of our documents are copyright protected, but once you are ordained by us you have permission to reprint all the documents you need for your own ministry or congregation. You may not give or sell them to other ministries for their use.
Jesus Christ required no special schooling for his disciples, only that they were called to his ministry. However, we do offer continued Christian Education to those who want it. Our easiest courses - Certified Training Courses have open book tests and certificates of training are awarded.
See what else we can do for you, browse through our web site.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
The Lord Jesus is present
Ambose on the office of the ministry:
Do not consider the merits of individuals, but the office of the priests. Or, if you look at 'the merits, consider the priest as Elijah. Look upon the merits of Peter also, or of Paul, who handed down to us this mystery which they had received of the Lord Jesus. To those [of old] a visible fire was sent that they might believe; for us who believe, the Lord works invisibly; for them that happened for a figure, for us for warning. Believe, then, that the Lord Jesus is present at the invocation of the priest, Who said: "Where two or three are, there am I also." How much where the Church is, and where His Mysteries are, does He vouchsafe to impart His presence!
On the Mysteries, V,27.
Do not consider the merits of individuals, but the office of the priests. Or, if you look at 'the merits, consider the priest as Elijah. Look upon the merits of Peter also, or of Paul, who handed down to us this mystery which they had received of the Lord Jesus. To those [of old] a visible fire was sent that they might believe; for us who believe, the Lord works invisibly; for them that happened for a figure, for us for warning. Believe, then, that the Lord Jesus is present at the invocation of the priest, Who said: "Where two or three are, there am I also." How much where the Church is, and where His Mysteries are, does He vouchsafe to impart His presence!
On the Mysteries, V,27.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Two nice little quotes ...
.. I've read in the comments section of the Pontifications blog.
1. My favorite quote from Mark Twain when asked if he believed in infant baptism:
“Believe in it? Hell, I’ve SEEN it.”
2. Many Protestants "read the Fathers like a drunk uses a lamppost - for support rather than illumination.”
1. My favorite quote from Mark Twain when asked if he believed in infant baptism:
“Believe in it? Hell, I’ve SEEN it.”
2. Many Protestants "read the Fathers like a drunk uses a lamppost - for support rather than illumination.”
What would a Lutheran town look like?
Domino's Pizza Dude building "Roman Catholic town".
"... the first town in America to be run according to strict Catholic principles. Abortions, pornography and contraceptives will be banned in the new Florida town of Ave Maria, which has begun to take shape on former vegetable farms 90 miles northwest of Miami. "
Hmmm, wonder what a Lutheran town would look like? Plenty of brew pubs, I would think. Bratwurst. Liturgy, stained glass, Bach. We would share much of the moral vision of the Roman burg.
But ... freedom! Rock and roll, video games, movies, fun and good old human life. Like Higher Things magazine.
What woudl a Lutheran town look like? I dont know .. its a weird question.
"... the first town in America to be run according to strict Catholic principles. Abortions, pornography and contraceptives will be banned in the new Florida town of Ave Maria, which has begun to take shape on former vegetable farms 90 miles northwest of Miami. "
Hmmm, wonder what a Lutheran town would look like? Plenty of brew pubs, I would think. Bratwurst. Liturgy, stained glass, Bach. We would share much of the moral vision of the Roman burg.
But ... freedom! Rock and roll, video games, movies, fun and good old human life. Like Higher Things magazine.
What woudl a Lutheran town look like? I dont know .. its a weird question.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Thursday, March 02, 2006
The Young Maid among the Captives
Here is Ambrose, interpreting the story of Namaan, the Syrian. What is so great about it is the last paragraph where he takes the figure of the young maid who points Namaan to the prophet as a picture of the church. Wonderful! The church points to THE prophet, Christ, who washes us clean in the eternal Jordan of Holy Baptism.
Lastly, let the lessons lately gone through from the Kings teach you. Naaman was a Syrian, and suffered from leprosy, nor could he be cleansed by any. Then a maiden from among the captives said that there was a prophet in Israel, who could cleanse him from the defilement of the leprosy. And it is said that, having taken silver and gold, he went to the king of Israel. And he, when he heard the cause of his coming, rent his clothes, saying, that occasion was rather being sought against him, since things were asked of him which pertained not to the power of kings. Elisha, however, sent word to the king, that he should send the Syrian to him, that he might know there was a God in Israel. And when he had come, he bade him dip himself seven times in the river Jordan.
Then he began to reason with himself that he had better waters in his own country, in which he had often bathed and never been cleansed of his leprosy; and so remembering this, he did not obey the command of the prophet, yet on the advice and persuasion of his servants he yielded and dipped himself. And being forthwith cleansed, he understood that it is not of the waters but of grace that a man is cleansed.
Understand now who is that young maid among the captives. She is the congregation gathered out of the Gentiles, that is, the Church of God held down of old by the captivity of sin, when as yet it possessed not the liberty of grace, by whose counsel that foolish people of the Gentiles heard the word of prophecy as to which it had before been in doubt. Afterwards, however, when they believed that it ought to be obeyed, they were washed from every defilement of sin. And he indeed doubted before he was healed; you are already healed, and therefore ought not to doubt.
On the Mysteries, Chapter 3, 16-18.
Lastly, let the lessons lately gone through from the Kings teach you. Naaman was a Syrian, and suffered from leprosy, nor could he be cleansed by any. Then a maiden from among the captives said that there was a prophet in Israel, who could cleanse him from the defilement of the leprosy. And it is said that, having taken silver and gold, he went to the king of Israel. And he, when he heard the cause of his coming, rent his clothes, saying, that occasion was rather being sought against him, since things were asked of him which pertained not to the power of kings. Elisha, however, sent word to the king, that he should send the Syrian to him, that he might know there was a God in Israel. And when he had come, he bade him dip himself seven times in the river Jordan.
Then he began to reason with himself that he had better waters in his own country, in which he had often bathed and never been cleansed of his leprosy; and so remembering this, he did not obey the command of the prophet, yet on the advice and persuasion of his servants he yielded and dipped himself. And being forthwith cleansed, he understood that it is not of the waters but of grace that a man is cleansed.
Understand now who is that young maid among the captives. She is the congregation gathered out of the Gentiles, that is, the Church of God held down of old by the captivity of sin, when as yet it possessed not the liberty of grace, by whose counsel that foolish people of the Gentiles heard the word of prophecy as to which it had before been in doubt. Afterwards, however, when they believed that it ought to be obeyed, they were washed from every defilement of sin. And he indeed doubted before he was healed; you are already healed, and therefore ought not to doubt.
On the Mysteries, Chapter 3, 16-18.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Ambrose on the Office of Pastor
You saw there the deacon, you saw the priest, you saw the chief priest [i.e. the bishop]. Consider not the bodily forms, but the grace of the Mysteries. You spoke in the presence of the angels, as it is written: "For the priest's lips keep knowledge, and they seek the law at his mouth, for he is the angel of the Lord Almighty."(Mal 2.5)
There is no place for deception nor for denial. He is an angel who proclaims the kingdom of Christ and eternal life. He is to be esteemed by you not according to his appearance, but according to his office. Consider what he delivered, reflect upon the rule of life he gave you, recognize his position.
On the Mysteries, Chapter 2
There is no place for deception nor for denial. He is an angel who proclaims the kingdom of Christ and eternal life. He is to be esteemed by you not according to his appearance, but according to his office. Consider what he delivered, reflect upon the rule of life he gave you, recognize his position.
On the Mysteries, Chapter 2
Ash Wednesday: Return
Ash Wednesday is similar to Transfiguration in that the themes associated with the day through the texts, the history of the day and liturgical practice are so many it is hard to concentrate on a one line of thought for preaching.
One particular line of reflection is that of "return". "Return to me," says the Lord through the prophet, Joel. The words spoken when ashes are imposed ("remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return") are the words of exile. They are banished from life itself, God, on account of sin. Our first parents were also exiled from the garden and the way was barred. In Christ God is calling us back. Christ is the way.
That is the call of Lent. Return. We return with repentance: fasting, praying, giving of alms, that is, we return in Christ. Lent, historically, was a time of return for penitents who were literally put of the church and on Ash Wednesday and through the practice of repentance, that is, faith were reconciled on Maundy Thursday and joined with the faithful in the Great Vigil of Easter.
One particular line of reflection is that of "return". "Return to me," says the Lord through the prophet, Joel. The words spoken when ashes are imposed ("remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return") are the words of exile. They are banished from life itself, God, on account of sin. Our first parents were also exiled from the garden and the way was barred. In Christ God is calling us back. Christ is the way.
That is the call of Lent. Return. We return with repentance: fasting, praying, giving of alms, that is, we return in Christ. Lent, historically, was a time of return for penitents who were literally put of the church and on Ash Wednesday and through the practice of repentance, that is, faith were reconciled on Maundy Thursday and joined with the faithful in the Great Vigil of Easter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)