Cyberbrethren: A Lutheran Blog

iLife and iWork = Ultra Mac Goodness

I have a friend who was raving recently about iWork, Apple's productivity software for the Mac. It includes Pages, the word processing component; Keynote, the presentation software; and Numbers, the spreadsheet program. I was a bit skeptical, but...I'm a complete convert now. And the iLife software that comes loaded on Macs is truly superb. I'm up and running creating, and burning, really high quality DVDs. All of which is to say, if you are a Mac user, or you are considering it, you will not be disappointed and, I suspect, you will be blown away by the functionality that comes out of the box with a Mac. You have to pay for the iWork suite of programs, but you have a nice long trial period to consider it. iLife comes with the Mac and includes iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and GarageBand.

John Calvin was Not a Very Good Calvinist -- Thank Goodness!

I bumped into this very well done brief summary of John Calvin's view on what has become one of the five-pillars of Calvinist "wisdom" or, to put it more accurately, one of the things that is so wrong about Calvinism namely, the teaching that Christ's atonement was limited, not for all. It is a such a glaring contradiction of the teaching of the New Testament, but Calvinism finally is about logically arranging all things in a nice, tidy system. Well, seems John Calvin himself was not much of a Calvinist. Here are quotes from his Bible commentaries that refute belief in a limited atonement:

How Calvinistic was John Calvin? What did he teach concerning the extent of the atonement? Let us ponder his own words:

On Isaiah 53:12--"I approve of the ordinary reading, that He alone bore the punishment of many, because on Him was laid the guilt of the whole world. It is evident from other passages, and especially from the fifth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, that many sometimes denotes all."

On Mark 14:24 – "The word many does not mean a part of the world only, but the whole human race." In other words, Christ’s blood was shed for the whole human race.

On Matthew 20:28–"‘Many’ is used, not for a definite number, but for a large number, in that He sets Himself over against all others. And this is its meaning also in Rom. 5:15, where Paul is not talking of a part of mankind but of the whole human race."

On John 1:29 – "And when he says the sin OF THE WORLD, He extends this favour indiscriminately to the whole human race....all men without exception are guilty of unrighteousness before God and need to be reconciled to Him....Now our duty is, to embrace the benefit which is offered to all, that each of us may be convinced that there is nothing to hinder him from obtaining reconciliation in Christ, provided that he comes to him by...faith."

On John 3:16 – "He has employed the universal term whosoever, both to invite all indiscriminately to partake of life, and to cut off every excuse from unbelievers....He shows Himself to be reconciled to the whole world, when He invites all men without exception to the faith of Christ."

On Romans 5:18 – "He makes this favor common to all, because it is propoundable to all, and not because it is in reality extended to all (i.e. in the experience); for though Christ suffered for the sins of the whole world, and is offered through God’s benignity indiscriminately to all, yet all do not receive Him."

On 2 Corinthians 5:19 – God "shows Himself to be reconciled to the whole world" and Calvin goes on to say that the "whole world" means "all men without exception."

On Galatians 5:12 – "It is the will of God that we should seek the salvation of all men without exception, as Christ suffered for the sins of the whole world."

On Colossians 1:15–"This redemption was procured by the blood of Christ, for by the sacrifice of His death all the sins of the world have been expiated."

On Hebrews 5:9–"He (the writer of Hebrews) has inserted the universal term ‘to all’ to show that no one is excluded from this salvation who proves to be attentive and obedient to the Gospel of Christ."

Calvin even taught that the lost were purchased by Christ's blood: "It is no small matter to have the souls perish who were bought by the blood of Christ" (MG, 83).

In fairness, it should be stated that some of Calvin’s comments seem to indicate that he held to a limited atonement (see his comments on 1 Timothy 2:4-6, for example, where he says that the "all" refers to all classes or ranks of men, and see his comments on 1 John 2:2 where he says that the word all or whole does not include the reprobate). However, in his comments on 1 John 2:2 he mentions a phrase commonly used in the schools: "Christ suffered sufficiently for the whole world, but efficiently only for the elect." He then states that he is in basic agreement with this statement and that it is true. Calvin basically taught that the cross-work of Christ was unlimited in its extent, but limited in its application. Only those who believe benefit from it.

For a full discussion of Calvin’s views on the extent of the atonement, see Beyond Calvinism and Arminianism by C. Gordon Olson, Appendix E, pages 458-463.

In conclusion, Calvin made some statements which seem to indicate he held to a limited atonement, but he also made many more statements which seem to better harmonize with an unlimited atonement. The best indication of where he stood on this issue, as Norman Duty suggests, should come from his final statement on the matter. Calvin made a statement in his will, drawn up when he was 54, shortly before his death. The year was 1564 and may be regarded as his final judgment concerning the extent of the atonement: "I testify also and profess that I humbly seek from God, that He may so will me to be washed and purified by the great Redeemer’s blood, shed for the sins of the human race, that it may be permitted me to stand before His tribunal under the covert of the Redeemer Himself." [See Douty, The Death of Christ, pages 175-176. For an excellent discussion of Calvin’s position on the extent of the atonement, see Morison, The Extent of the Atonement, pages 126-128.] See also Norman Geisler's Systematic Theology, Volume 3, pages 382-387.

The New Year's Challenge

Greetings in Christ. Pastor Weedon and I agreed last year to strive to read through the entire BOC, following the order or readings in the front of the book, and read the daily lectionary in LSB last year. He did. I did not. But...I'm glad I tried.

Once again therefore, I'm going to issue the challenge:

Will you join me in reading through the Book of Concord in the next year? And...reading the daily lectionary in Lutheran Service Book? And trying to pray at least one of the daily prayer offices therein? Matins, or Vespers?

Let's pray for each other that we not only agree to do it, but .... do it!

Blessings.

Adoration of Christ

As frequent readers of this blog site know, I really love fine art, and most particularly, fine art depicting Christian themes. While preparing our family's Christmas newsletter, I came across this striking painting: The Nativity by Federico Fiori Barocci (1597, oil on canvas, Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain). What I find unique about this painting is that it sets the birth of Christ in quite a realistic setting, unlike many depictions from the 16th century. Most interesting to me is how Joseph is opening the door of the stable to the shepherds, who are coming to see this great thing that has come to pass, as the angels had told them. You can almost hear St. Joseph saying, "Yes, he is right here, come in and see!"

Preach to Pain

Pastor David Petersen offers on his blog site, in the following words, some very wise and helpful advice to preachers. This is a lesson most men new to the preaching office are usually oblivious too until they get some good, practical, life-experience under their belt ministering to real people with real problems. Sadly, however, some pastors never do get it. I'm going to produce here Pastor P's thoughts, then follow them by a comment I made in response to it. I really appreciated his thought-provoking remarks, and I hope you do too.

Preach to pain.
by Rev. David Petersen

We sometimes forget this at Christmas. Strangely, I think we even forget it sometimes at funerals.

We need to remember that Christian joy is not giddiness and generic feelings of happiness or good will toward the world. It is not simply gratitude that we have nice families who like us and a day off work. Christian joy is better captured by the mood of Silent Night than it is by Jingle Bells. It is solemn and serious. It runs deep. It knows suffering and sorrow and fear.

Shepherds quake at the sight of God laid into a manger in infant weakness. So should we at the thought of it. It is not all glitter and eggnog and new toys. There is something deeply troubling in the sorrows of Mary and the hardships endured by her Son already during His first night on earth.

Those who have mourned for years are more conflicted and troubled at Christmas than most any other time of the year. They don't know how to feel. They are hurt and yet they are at peace. They joy is painful.

That pain is righteous. The faithful are disappointed with the world, outraged at its injustices, weary of its failures and disease. At Christmas they glimpse anew the love of God that has entered into our brokenness to restore and recreate us. The good work that has been begun in them is not yet complete. They are waiting. They are eager for the end. They are full of fear and love of God and awed by the magnitude and consistency of grace. Faith is always disaffected with the world, always eager for the new creation, and on this side of glory it always hurts.

"Preach to pain," Dr. Deffner used to say, "and you'll always have active listeners."

Not only that, I say, but you might actually help them. You might give them some understanding of their suffering, some encouragement that their suffering is not in vain, and some hope of the Day when what they long for will be delivered in full.

McCain response:

Dave, I've been thinking a lot about this post. Among the many wonderfully thought-provoking things you've posted here, I think this is truly one of the finest. I would encourage you to expand this into a full-blown article for the CTQ, or LOGIA.

I have come to a point in my own preaching that I recognize that this is precisely the very thing that is key to making preaching, preaching, as opposed to:

Lecturing
Dogmatizing
Rhetoricizing (is that a word?)
Instructing
Musing on certain random irrelevant concepts
Browbeating
Chiding
Nagging
Scolding
Cajoling
Manipulating
Entertaining
Amusing
Shocking
Pandering

To preach to pain; often, to preach through pain, to pain, is what preaching is all about. It is one sinner declaring the reality of sin and the comfort of the Gospel, to another. It is one hungry man saying to hungry people, here is where will find the bread that lasts. It is one man parched with thirst showing others where, and how, to find the living water. It is one sick man saying to sick people, here is healing; one dying, to the dying, pointing them to Life Incarnate.

We tend to come out of seminary believing that if are able to parse every verb, decline each noun, analyze grammar, syntax and theme, we will have a good sermon; similarly, we tend to think that if we are able to give a dogmatic lecture, more fitting for the seminary classroom, or bible class, we have a good sermon. We are under the impression if we follow a somewhat slavishly formulaic pattern that goes: law, gospel, come take communion, we have preached a good sermon. Then, some, in reaction to this, fall into the other ditch: preaching sermon that are not much more than expanded Hallmark greeting cards, or more akin to stand-up routines.

As I read the sermons of the fathers, and listen to good sermons, I am struck, repeatedly, by precisely what you say in your post. "Good sermons" -- those that reach me the most deeply, that speak to me most profoundly, are sermons that are actually speaking to the hearer. The pastor is talking to me. He is preaching to me. He is not trying to impress some long-distant seminary professor. He is not attempting to "follow the formula and get it just so." He is not trying to manipulate me.

He is preaching. He is, as you say, preaching to pain. The pain of my sin is preached to, with clear words of God's judgment against that sin. The Gospel is preached concretely so that the great "for you" is "for me."

The more I ponder these things, the more I come to appreciate and understand what was said about our Lord, "And looking out on the crowd, he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd."

All of which is to say, Pastor Petersen: well done and many thanks for a fine post!

A Happy and Holy Christmas and New Years to You All

I pray that our Lord will bless you richly as you meditate and ponder all the wonders, joys, mysteries and blessings of these days celebrating and rejoicing in our Lord's nativity.

All my heart again rejoices
As I hear
Far and near
Sweetest angel voices.
"Christ is born!" their choirs are singing
Till the air
Everywhere
Now with joy is ringing.

Hear!  The Conqueror has spoken:
"Now the foe, sin and woe,
Death and hell are broken!"
God is man, man to deliver,
And the Son
Now is one
With our blood forever.

Should we fear our God's displeasure,
Who, to save,
Freely gave
His most precious treasure?
To redeem us He has given
His own Son
From the throne
Of His might in heaven.

See the Lamb, our sin once taking,
To the cross,
Suff'ring loss,
Full atonement making.
For our life, His own He tenders,
And His grace
All our race
Fit for glory renders.

Softly from His lowly manger,
Jesus calls
One and all,
"You are safe from danger.
Children, from the sins that grieve you
You are freed;
All you need
I will surely give you."

Come, then, banish all your sadness!
One and all,
Great and small,
Come with songs of gladness.
We shall live with Him forever
There on high
In that joy
Which will vanish never. 

All My Heart Again Rejoices

by Paul Gerhardt, Lutheran Service Book, #360

Women Pastors? The Ordination of Women in Biblical Lutheran Perspective

I'm pleased to announce the publication of Women Pastors? The Ordination of Women in Biblical Lutheran Perspective. It is a four hundred page book, paperback, 6x9. Price: $26.99. You may place an order on the Concordia Publishing House web site or call 800-325-3040.

As the ordination of women becomes more commonplace, it is increasingly important for all faithful Lutherans, clergy and laity alike, to be able to articulate why, because of the teachings of Holy Scripture, women should not be ordained as pastors. This book offers a rich variety of essays on this topic from Lutherans around the world as they have, in the past century up to the present time, responded to the practice of placing women in the church's pastoral ministry.

There are over twenty essays in this volume, representing Lutheran churches throughout the world. The essays are divided into four sections, including: Biblical studies, historical studies, doctrinal studies and practical studies.

Anders Nygren, a great theologian from the Church of Sweden, said prophetically after his church adopted the ordination of women as pastors, "This decision not only means a determination of the specific issue concerning female pastor, but, I am convinced, also means that our church has now shifted into a previously unknown path heading in the direction of Gnosticism and the Schwaermerei. . . I must declare my deep sorry regarding the decision and give notice of my reservation over the same."

"Years ago, C.S. Lewis said that should the Church opt to ordain women, it would very quickly find that it had brought about a whole new religion. . . . His words have an uncanny prescience to them. Perhaps it is time to step back, reexamine what we have done, and if honesty requires us to say that we have done wrong, begin the necessary correction of the course."  from the essay in the book, How My Mind Has Changed, by Rev. Louis A. Smith, ELCA pastor

Editors:

Matthew C. Harrison is the Executive Director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care Ministries.

John T. Pless is Assistant Professor, Pastoral Ministry and Missions, and Director of Field Education, Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

What Others Are Saying
"It is striking that in the ancient Near East, where female deities and priestesses were abundant, Israel was told to have only male priests. Similarly, in the Greco-Roman world, where female gods and priestesses flourished, the Church restricted the apostolic-pastoral office to men. This volume is to be commended for similarly resisting the prevailing cultural novelties by supporting in a scholarly and churchly manner the God-given order for the Church's ministry. Women as well as men are blessed when they hear and follow the living, healing voice of Jesus in the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures."
— Rev. Dr. Dean O. Wenthe,
President, Concordia Theological Seminary,
Fort Wayne, Indiana

"The apostolic ordained ministry of Word and Sacrament cannot be made androgynous or gender-neutral against the plain text of God's Word. Against the tides of postmodernism and the fallicies of ancient paganism, we as biblical Christians maintain that above all varying and changing human truths, there is God's divine and eternal truth revealed to us in His Word. Departing from His Word, the Bible, means separating from the living God. The essays in this book are from able hands of ministers who still want the Church to continue praying, "Thy will be done," not, "my will be done" nor the "will of my time." This book reveals the truth from the God who was, who is, and who is to come. It will help many who doubt the truth of Holy Scripture and will build and nurture those who confess God to be faithful and living according to His Word."

— Most Rev. Dr. Walter Obare Omwanza,
Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya

"Being liberated from colonization in the last century and already facing the globalization of culture at the beginning of this new millennium, the African Lutheran Churches confront the issue of women's ordination with pressure form within and without. This book comes at the right time as spiritual illumination, strengthening hands and providing leadership and a path for them and for those [churches] in the same situation in their war over against a modern neopagan understanding of the office of pastor."
— Dr. Randrianasolo Joseph
Professor of Theology, Malagasy Lutheran Church
Fianarantsoa, Madagascar

Contributors
Louis A. Brighton
Peter Brunner
David W. Bryce
Bertil Gärtner
Bo Giertz
Charles A. Gieschen
Henry P. Hamann
John W. Kleinig
Peter Kriewaldt
Gregory Lockwood
Geelong North
Hermann Sasse
David P. Scaer
Robert Schaibley
Fredrik Sidenvall
Reinhard Slenczka
Louis A. Smith
William Weinrich
Roland Ziegler

Final Thoughts on the Compass Rumpus

Well said, by fellow Lutheran Anthony Sacramone. Kudos!

Merry Christmas, from Apple Computer.

Journeys of St. Paul via Google Maps

Here is a really great resource: a person has created, with Google maps, the journeys of St. Paul. You can view the journeys in various ways, including the "terrain view" which will let you see the topography of where St. Paul went.

A Case Study in The Ongoing Conversation in the Lutheran Church About What it Means to be "Missional"

How best to reach out boldly with the Gospel while remaining faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions continues to be a vital topic of ongoing study and conversation. It is often helpful to have specific examples on the table while examining the meaning and implication of being missional. Here are two.

First: A Christmas video prepared by a Lutheran congregation.

Second: This same congregation decided recently not to put the word "Lutheran" on their church buildings' signs. Here is how they explain that decision.

What are your thoughts?

The Bells of Thuringia

Thanks to a friend who sent me this wonderful link to recordings of church bells in Thuringia, Germany. Listen to this and you will know what church bells are supposed to sound like. My experience is that American Lutheran congregations often ring a bell for thirty seconds or so at the start of the service. In Germany they are rung regularly, throughout the day, on the hour, and even through the night. In Wittenberg, I recall sleeping with the window in my hotel room open, hearing the bell of St. Mary's tolling throughout the night to mark the passing hours. Here in the USA, people would protest that this is "noise pollution." To which, I would say, with all the gusto I can muster, "Bah! Humbug!"

In the city of Magdeburg, I was sitting down in the cloister of the great cathedral there and all of sudden I just about toppled over backward as the bells of the cathedral began to ring. They rang, and rang, and rang. What was going on? It was just 3:00 p.m. and the bells were riging the passing of the hour for nearly twelve minutes non-stop! It was amazing.

The bell featured in the first recording you will hear is one of the largest bells cast during the Middle Ages, the "Gloriosa" at the cathedral of Erfurt. This was the bell Luther heard on the day of his ordination in the cathedral, and the bell he would have heard during all the years in the monastery, which was within short walking distance of the cathedral. Cast in 1497, it is the largest bell cast during the Middle Ages and, at 8 feet in diamater, it is still the world's largest medieval free-swinging bell. 

Read the extended entry for technical details about the bell and its sound qualities.

KFUO Radio Interview on Children's Books

I did an interview yesterday with the world's best Lutheran talk radio show, Issues, etc., on the subject of children's books. If you would care to listen, here is the MP3 file of the interview.

Download mccain_interview.mp3

USA Today and Christian Children's Books

Yes, you read that title correctly. Today, USA Today has posted an article about Christian children's books and much to my delight the reporter really "got it." The thrust of the article is how many Christian parents are now looking for books that do not treat the Bible as a collection of "rules" or Aesop Fables or Mother Goose stories. And if you read the article you'll notice a certain blogger whom you might know was interviewed for the story. He did not quite say things precisely as reported. He did not say a certain Lutheran publishing company was not interested in being innovative; rather, he said we are not interested in trying to make the Bible teach or say what it does not teach or say. But, well, overall I was very impressed by the piece and by the good job the reporter did. She told me (ok, yes, I was interviewed) that she loved the CPH Arch Book, "The Fall Into Sin." Why? "Because you guys really just tell it like it is!" She went on to say, "And I notice that no matter what Bible story you are telling you always end up coming back to talk about Jesus!" Yes!! I quoted to her what the Gospel of John says, which we understand to apply to the Bible, "These things are written, that you may believe, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

Sunny and Me

How many of you would guess I have, arguably, the world's cutest dog? His name is Sunny. He is a Bichon Frise. We got him when he was a pup. His grandfather won best-of-something at the Westminster Dog Show several years ago. He weighs all of 12 pounds, sopping wet. He is the most intelligent dog I've ever been around. And I've been around dogs my whole life. This is the first small dog I've ever had. I grew up with big dogs. This one I can carry in one arm. He doesn't shed. He doesn't smell. He only rarely barks, though he is very expressive with all sorts of little sounds. He can: shake, high-five, sit, lie down, stay, come, fetch, and roll over, and over, and over. His record is fifteen in a row. He "goes" on command, morning and evening. He was a challenge to house train, but my wife, the absolute queen of positive reinforcement training, won the day. OK, there. Now you know one of my secrets. I have a wimpy dog. What can I say? I'm just a big softie ok?

Wise Men Still Seek Jesus, Not Relics

In another reminder that Rome is still Rome, comes a report that alleged bits of bones of the three wise men will be on display in the Tucson, Arizona. The Apostolate for Holy Relics is co-sponsoring the visit along with an area Knights of Columbus group. I'm sure even many good Roman Catholics would beg to differ with Mr. Garcia who exclaimed, "This is the closest I'm going to get to God in my physical lifetime," said Arizona Knights of Columbus spokesman John Garcia. "And since this is a time of Christmas, it puts us closer in touch with the birth of Christ."

No, Mr. Garcia, the closest you are ever going to be to Christ is when you receive Him in Word and Sacrament.

But, wait! There's more to be seen. From the article:

The exhibit is also expected to feature relics from the manger, fabric from the Virgin Mary's veil and Joseph's coat, and a bone fragment from St. Elizabeth, who was the Virgin Mary's ninth cousin. "It's a tangible thread between heaven and Earth," said Thomas Serafin, a lay Catholic who is president of the Apostolate for Holy Relics.

In his Large Catechism, Luther use the German word for relic, "heiligtum" to good effect when he writes:

"The Word of God is the true holy thing [heiligtum - relic] above all holy things. Indeed it is the only one we Christians acknowledge and have . . . God's Word is the treasure that sanctifies all things" (Large Catechism, Commandments, par. 91).

Antidote to An Aversion to Sanctification

The aversion to sanctification that has taken hold in some circles these days finds a healthy antidote in the good, solid teachings of the Reformation and Martin Luther. The boastful claim that one is "weak on sanctification" has no business being found among Lutherans who wish to be, and remain, faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. here is no place for "humor" like this with the holy things of God. The way to demonstrate orthodoxy is not by behaving impiously; a point apparently lost on some, unfortunately.

"It is most surprising to me that anyone can claim that I reject the law or the Ten Commandments, since there is available, in more than one edition, my exposition of the Ten Commandments, which furthermore are daily preached and practiced in our churches. (I am not even mentioning the Confession and the Apology and our other books). Furthermore, the commandments are sung in two versions, as well as painted, printed, carved, and recited by the children morning, noon, and night. I know of no manner in which we do not use them, unless it be that we unfortunately do not practice and paint them with our deeds and our life as we should. I myself, as old and as learned as I am, recite the commandments daily word for word like a child. So ff anyone perchance gained some other impression from my writings and yet saw and perceived that I stressed the catechism so greatly, he might in all fairness have addressed me and said, “Dear Dr. Luther, how is it that you emphasize the Ten Commandments so much, though your teaching is that they are to be discarded?” That is what they should have done, and not worked secretly behind my back and waited for my death, after which they could make of me what they would. Ah well, let them be forgiven who cease doing this."

Martin Luther, vol. 47, Luther's Works, Vol. 47  : The Christian in Society IV, ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald and Helmut T. Lehmann, Luther's Works, 47:109 (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1999, c1971).

The Lord's Supper in the Theology of Martin Chemnitz -- Free download

I'm pleased to report that Dr. Bjarne Teigen's magisterial work is now available as a free download. Please go to Logia: A Journal of Lutheran Theology's web site to download the book. It is a tremendously helpful book that will deepen your love for, and devotion to, the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.

The best way to say "thank you" for this gift is to subscribe to Logia, and purchase a subscription for your pastor and your friends. It is truly one of the very best Lutheran journals available, and has been going strong for fifteen years.

Free Bach!

I have been developing over the years a "personal policy manual" in playful deference to the many "policy manuals" I've worked with over the years. Two policies in the manual are: "The more Bach, the better" and "If it ain't Baroque, fix it." To that end, with thanks to Joe Eckman for pointing out the link to me, there is a web site offering free recordings of Bach's organ works. It is an ongoing project. Check it out. Here is the screen shot of the site

Martin Luther and Art

I came across some remarks by Luther about painting that are very good examples of the Biblical understanding that is somewhat unique to Lutheranism: whatever communicates God's Word faithfully is truly considered to be the Word of God. The key is that it must be faithful to the authoritative revelation of the Word of God: the Scriptures. We Lutherans, unlike the Reformed, do not despise music or the visual arts as vehicles for God's Word.  As regular readers of this blog site know, I lament the impoverished state of the visual arts in Lutheranism. The thought that a bare, sterile interior of a church is somehow more "spiritual," than one that has beautiful decoration and paintings is a notion foreign to the Bible and to Lutheranism. CFW Walther once observed that the worship spaces of the Reformed look like little more than sparse lecture halls; whereas, Lutheran churches are clearly seen to be true temples dedicated to the worship of the Living God. Let's here Luther on the value of painting. His quotes are in itals, source following:

God’s Word is presented so powerfully, lucidly, and clearly in preaching, singing, speaking, writing, and painting that they must concede it is the true Word of God. [1]

Therefore David put this blessing at the end, where a song should sound best. Who can completely express the greatness of this gift? For who can exhaust all the virtue and power of God’s Word? The Holy Scriptures, sermons, and all Christian books do nothing but praise God’s Word, as we also do daily in our reading, writing, preaching, singing, poetizing, and painting. This blessing abides and sustains us when the temporal blessings vanish and when through death we part from them and from one another. This blessing does not leave us or part from us; it goes through death with us, tears us out of it, and brings us to eternal life, where there is neither death nor fear of dying. But of this more later. [2]

Consider our own times, in which we are preaching of the grace of Christ against our own presumptuous works and holiness. How few there are to see this or to accept it earnestly! Where does the fault lie? It is being preached and taught so lucidly; it is being read, written, sung, painted, and disseminated in every way, so that wood and stone could understand it if these were endowed with but a modicum of reason.[3]

Here again the interpreters are toiling and disagreeing. There was a similar command in chapter 8:11 above. This is customary procedure with the prophets: When the ungodly refuse to believe the bare Word, the prophets add an external sign. So Jeremiah, getting no results when he predicted the Babylonian captivity, wore a chain around his neck as an external sign (Jer. 27:2). So here the writing drawn on the tablet is a sign. Thus in our time the Word is read and taught by means of the tongue, the pen, songs, and paintings as a witness to the ungodly. [4]

There has been enough preaching, writing, printing, reading, singing, speaking, and painting. By this time they ought to realize that Christ is not a serpent, a vile worm, a dragon, or a demoniac, as His slanderers claim, but the Savior of all who believe in Him. Yet they wantonly refuse to believe it. Let them perish! But we know that He grants us salvation, that He is given to us by God as our King and Lord or Savior, and that God made Him a Wisdom for Jews and Gentiles which no reason can fathom. He is also our Resurrection, as He Himself declares: “I shall rise again, and all who accept Me and believe in Me will rise from the dead and ascend into heaven.” [5]

Thus Christ Himself says in Matt. 11:5: “The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the dead are raised up.” They are confronted by this twofold and powerful testimony.48 “Therefore neither I nor My Father can be blamed for the fact that they do not, and do not want to, know Me; their wickedness is to blame. Similarly, we can also say of our adversaries that they cannot adduce ignorance of the Gospel’s doctrine as an excuse. For we have preached it to them, painted it for them, written and sung it to them; and they have heard it and read it, yes, they themselves have attacked it in their writings. [6]

I have myself seen and heard the iconoclasts read out of my German Bible. I know that they have it and read out of it, as one can easily determine from the words they use. Now there are a great many pictures in those books, both of God, the angels, men and animals, especially in the Revelation of John and in Moses and Joshua. So now we would kindly beg them to permit us to do what they themselves do. Pictures contained in these books we would paint on walls for the sake of remembrance and better understanding, since they do no more harm on walls than in books. It is to be sure better to paint pictures on walls of how God created the world, how Noah built the ark, and whatever other good stories there may be, than to paint shameless worldly things. Yes, would to God that I could persuade the rich and the mighty that they would permit the whole Bible to be painted on houses, on the inside and outside, so that all can see it. That would be a Christian work. [7]

A cemetery rightfully ought to be a fine quiet place, removed from all other localities, to which one can go and reverently meditate upon death, the Last Judgment, the resurrection, and say one’s prayers. Such a place should properly be a decent, hallowed place, to be entered with trepidation and reverence because doubtlessly some saints rest there. It might even be arranged to have religious pictures and portraits painted on the walls. [8]

I do not think it wrong to paint such stories along with the verses on the walls of rooms and chambers so that one might have God’s words and deeds constantly in view and thus encourage fear and faith toward God. And what harm would there be if someone were to illustrate the important stories of the entire Bible in their proper order for a small book which might become known as a layman’s Bible? Indeed, one cannot bring God’s words and deeds too often to the attention of the common man. Even if God’s word is sung and said, preached and proclaimed, written and read, illustrated and pictured, Satan and his cohorts are always strong and alert for hindering and suppressing God’s word. Hence our project and concern is not only useful, but necessary—in fact, very badly needed. I don’t care if the iconoclasts condemn and reject this. They do not need our advice and we don’t want theirs, so it is easy for us to part company. I have always condemned and criticized the misuse of [religious] pictures and the false confidence placed in them and all the rest. But whatever is no misuse of pictures I have always permitted and urged the use of for beneficial and edifying results. This is the way we teach our common people; those clever fellows shall be neither our pupils nor our masters. May Christ be with an who believe in him and love him. Amen. [9]

It is most surprising to me that anyone can claim that I reject the law or the Ten Commandments, since there is available, in more than one edition, my exposition of the Ten Commandments, which furthermore are daily preached and practiced in our churches. (I am not even mentioning the Confession and the Apology and our other books). Furthermore, the commandments are sung in two versions, as well as painted, printed, carved, and recited by the children morning, noon, and night.6 I know of no manner in which we do not use them, unless it be that we unfortunately do not practice and paint them with our deeds and our life as we should. I myself, as old and as learned as I am, recite the commandments daily word for word like a child. So ff anyone perchance gained some other impression from my writings and yet saw and perceived that I stressed the catechism so greatly, he might in all fairness have addressed me and said, “Dear Dr. Luther, how is it that you emphasize the Ten Commandments so much, though your teaching is that they are to be discarded?” That is what they should have done, and not worked secretly behind my back and waited for my death, after which they could make of me what they would. Ah well, let them be forgiven who cease doing this. [10]

 

Go the extended entry for the footnotes.

Download 01_bach.mp3

Thinking of Switching to the Mac?

Great article in USA Today about why Apple is converting more and more people to Mac Goodness. In the past month or so, I've spoken to at least a dozen people in the past month or so who have talked to me about switching over, and then have. They are all happy as clams and are kicking themselves that they did not switch a long time ago.

Prince Caspian is Coming

Forget about the anti-Christian Golden Compass garbage. Save your money and get ready for the next installment of the Narnia movie series. Prince Caspian is coming in May. Here is a great site for regular and HD trailers.

Pope Declares Plenary Indulgence

Well at least, as far as I can tell, they are not asking people to pay for it, but....this story illustrates the fact, which some unfortunately today wish to sidestep, that Rome is still very much Rome. We can rejoice in all the signs of the work of the Holy Spirit in Roman Catholicism, wherever and whenever the pure Gospel is read or proclaimed and received in trusting faith, but it remains true that, precisely for the sake of the Gospel, we must continue clearly to reject and condemn the errors of Rome, exemplified in the latest announcement from the Vatican, which is offering a plenary indulgence in connection with the alleged Marian apparition in Lourdes, France.  

Here is a quote from the story:

"The first way to obtain the indulgence is to visit the following places in Lourdes between December 8, 2007 and December 8, 2008, preferably in the order suggested: (1) the parish baptistery used for the Baptism of Bernadette, (2) the Soubirous family home, known as the 'cachot,' (3) the Grotto of Massabielle, (4) the chapel of the hospice where Bernadette received First Communion, and on each occasion they pause for an appropriate length of time in prayer and with pious meditations, concluding with the recital of the Our Father, the Profession of Faith, ... and the jubilee prayer or other Marian invocation."

If the faithful are not in Lourdes, but wish to receive the plenary indulgence, then during the week of the anniversary of the first apparition, which is the week of  February 2, 2008 through February 11, 2008, and they must visit “in any church, grotto or decorous place, the blessed image of that same Virgin of Lourdes, solemnly exposed for public veneration, and before the image participate in a pious exercise of Marian devotion, or at least pause for an appropriate space of time in prayer and with pious meditations, concluding with the recital of the Our Father, the Profession of Faith, ... and the invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary."

There is also a provision for those who are unable to fulfill the previous two ways of obtaining the indulgence. Those who "through sickness, old age or other legitimate reason are unable to leave their homes, may still obtain the Plenary Indulgence ... if, with the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin and with the intention of observing, as soon as they can, the usual three conditions, on the days February 2 to 11, 2008, in their hearts they spiritually visit the above-mentioned places and recite those prayers, trustingly offering to God, through Mary, the sickness and discomforts of their lives."

Golden Compass Resources

Looking for materials to help you respond and understand The Golden Compass? There are several excellent resources available now.

Concordia Publishing House has a free downloadable resource, in various formats, designed to facilitate an adult bible class conversation, youth group or other small group discussion, or for personal reflection.

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod posted an article on The Golden Compass which provides good food for thought.

The journal, First Things, has a good review which was published when they first appeared.

My take on it? Don't bother with the movie or the books. No point in putting money in the pockets of people who are clearly intent on attacking and destroying the Christian faith. Better to read the Chronicles of Narnia or The Lord of the Rings, and watch the movies based on those books.

"What is Christianity?" A New Blog

My colleague, Rev. Edward Engelbrecht, has started a blog that looks promising. You may well with to refer members of your congregation to it, since its goal is to engage in purposeful basic catechesis on the Christian faith, based on the Small Catechism.

Please pay it a visit.