Comments on: A Luther Quote To Wake Up The Sleepers

By: Nathan L Peterson

Nathan L Peterson — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:05:32 +0000

Of course we can’t live our lives in Christ as worldly self-focused people. Unfortunately, Marty’s quote shows how self-righteous he actually was.

We Christians surely are called to strive toward the goal, love our neighbors, etc.

Read 1Cor. 10:23-31 for a discussion on the freedom we have in Christ: “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial…

Proverbs, along with common sense, has plenty to say regarding the perils of drunkenness.

By: Stan Hankins

Stan Hankins — Sun, 10 May 2009 11:47:28 +0000

One other thing of great importance. This is where Calvinism beats luckism to pieces. We are saved by the grace of Jesus through faith in Him alone. We are forever saved and cannot lose our salvation. If it were possible for us to lose our salvation, then we would. When you know that our eternal destiny rests 100% on Jesus Christ, it removes a burden from us that we were never equipped to carry. “When we sin, we have an advocate with the Father”
Remember, the worst sin by far is pride. It is satan’s original sin. When you struggle against sin and mourn and weep over your sin and trust only in Jesus for your salvation, where is pride?

By: Stan Hankins

Stan Hankins — Sun, 10 May 2009 09:55:41 +0000

The most miserable of all people is the one who tries to be righteous in his flesh. If we struggle against a besetting sin, and pray for deliverance, God knows that if we do overcome, PRIDE will creep in– which will be 7 times worse than the sin we overcame.
His grace is sufficient!! Praise Him guys!

By: Rev. Paul T. McCain

Rev. Paul T. McCain — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:39:47 +0000

Just struck me, that I forgot to comment on something Pr. Cwirla said. The “Weak on Sanctification” t-shirt is a very bad idea. Or, put it this way, it is as a good as an idea as walking around with a t-shirt that says, “Weak on the Gospel” or “Weak on Christ” or “Weak on justification.”

I understand the threat of legalism, but I’ve also seen the problems of antinomianism crop up in Lutheran circles I’m familiar with, people abusing the doctrine of the Gospel and the understanding of sanctification, to justify persisting in sinful behaviors.

I ran across a bunch of thirty-somethings a few years back trying to convince me that Christians could “enjoy” slasher-porn movies. Yup.

Weak on sanctification? To be sure. It is not something to joke about, or brag about, but to confess and repent of.

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 05:53:37 +0000

Ouch, Monk! your comment about Lutheran church planting hurts! The truth is, 20 yrs after evangelicals, the LC-MS is deep in the throes of the church growth movement. We’re actually doing a fair deal of church planting, but you wouldn’t recognize us. Instead of capitalizing on gems like the distinction between law and gospel, grace, and justification by faith which could set us apart, our new churches look an awful lot like any evangelical church built around the attractional model rather than the Great Commission.
Lutherans are just venturing into the vast wasteland that you are fleeing (venturing isn’t the word for it;actually, we are diving headfirst into the shallow end of the pool with our eyes closed). That’s why you resonate with me and other Lutherans so much!

For some great vintage monk, go to one of my favorites and my introduction to the world of iMonk: “Throw Luther from the Train.” You’ll find it in the archives!

By: Rev. Paul T. McCain

Rev. Paul T. McCain — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:20:44 +0000

Oh, by the way, I’d recommend to folks who want to read what Martin Luther was all about, down to his toes, to read what he regarded as one of his best books: The Small Catechism, and then check out a document he wrote, convinced while he was writing it he was soon going to die, called The Smalcald Articles.

You tend to say what is on your heart when you are trying to explain the Christian faith to children and their parents, as he does in the Small Catechism, and when you think you may be writing your own last will and testament, as he did with the Smalcald Articles.

Those interested can find both of these documents here:

http://www.bookofconcord.org

By: Rev. Paul T. McCain

Rev. Paul T. McCain — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:11:11 +0000

Ah, yes, the famous “sin boldly” quote from Luther. I can’t think of many things the man said, of the about a billion things he did say, or write, that has so horribly misunderstood and misapplied, by Roman Catholics and Protestants alike. The ecumenical Luther, if you will.

Interesting to read this chat about it.

By: Greg Jones

Greg Jones — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:01:02 +0000

The Pharisees thought of Christ as a drunken glutton, but was he? Scripture seems to indicate that they were judging with a “guilt by association” attitude.

A legalist is blind to the sin they already have. I am suggesting that the antidote is not go sin a little more, but its to recognize the sin we already have.

By: boaz

boaz — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:18:13 +0000

Luther’s “On Christian Freedom” is my favorite.

Luther is strong on sanctification there:

“Here is the truly Christian life, here is faith really working by love, when a man applies himself with joy and love to the works of that freest servitude in which he serves others voluntarily and for nought, himself abundantly satisfied in the fullness and riches of his own faith.”

By: mamazee

mamazee — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:47:34 +0000

the “be ye perfect” thing – i just don’t see Jesus looking at the Pharisees big long list and grabbing it from their hands and pushing it at me.

In fact, what i love about Jesus most i think is that He boiled it all down to two things – Love God, Love others as yourself.

Now, i was brought up a “don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t chew, don’t dance, don’t etc etc..” and i still don’t do any of those things (although i would love to be able to dance, but i think my dancer is permanently burned or inhibited by my previous life

But i think when Jesus says “be perfect as I am perfect” – can we look at this other saying, as well? Being perfect *starts* and ends with loving God and loving others. Now just those two things could take me my whole life to master, and in doing that, i know He will change in (and has changed me, and is continuing to change me) – and other things will be pulled out or planted… But why get all “this means i have to do all 653 things commanded all at once, perfectly…”

Like a previous poster wrote, it’s a form of religious OCD. I am trying, very deliberately, to extricate myself from religion, and only do what i hear God saying to me. Just about impossible! I’m married (14 years) so dh has a say, i’ve got seven little children that i worry about screwing up – and yet, i know if i could find a way to be free from religion, they would be free, too – and maybe they would grow a way that i can’t even imagine…

We are going to church again after “doing homechurch” for years. and it’s hard – all those little extras that are tucked into every single thing. all of the polite ways that denigrate truth or politely ignore when truth is deftly deked…

i’m loving this blog for being bold *for* me. I’m exploring this or trying to on my blog, with my friends, but i love reading here (and the comments too) and feeling a kinship, that i’m not alone in feeling like there’s more going on than i’m comfortable with…