There is of course much uncomfortable truth in the original essay. I work almost entirely with nonChristians, however, and my impression is pointing out the weaknesses of Christians is simply an excuse for not engaging the issues. As evidence, I would point to those few Christians we all know who do show enormous humility, sacrifice, and kindness – the nonbelievers around them make the same accusations.

I say this because that was what I also did as a pre-believer.

I guess I can only say that there has been some excellent scholarship in the last 30 years that poses real challenges to Luther’s interpretation of Law as it was understood by Jesus, Paul and their Jewish contemporaries. Even if you decide to disagree, I’d encourage you to make yourself aware of the Biblical scholarship challenging your position. There is more going on here than just the human impulse to “do it ourselves”. There is solid textual evidence that must be dealt with that first century hearers, writers and readers did not share Luther’s penchant for internalized guilt with regards to the Law, nor did they divide grace and works so cleanly as you suggest. In fact, I think they would find your lasseiz-faire attitude rather offensive on this account.

No point in trying to go through the issues here. I’m just saying there are significant arguments both from the Gospels and from Paul that pose serious problems for a strict Lutheran perspective.

Peace.

It does not suprise me at all that people desire to water down the law. Jesus is then telling us to be ‘mature and whole’ as our Father in Heaven is ‘mature and whole’. Right. As if we could ever be those things either.

Our default position is the law. Doing is what we are all about.

When Jesus gives us the sermon on the mount, the desired effect would be for us to say,’depart from me Lord for I am a sinner’. Instead we get out our religious ladders and start climbing.

As a law/gospel guy my job is to shake the ladder so that you’ll fall off and get your feet back on the ground where they belong.

I have never said that those that do not agree with me on L/G are doomed to anything.

Christ’s death on the cross was enough for all. My hope is to fan the flames of the gospel into a bonfire for those that might yet only see a flicker.

To clarify my position when it comes to L/G…Gospel is King and always trumps the Law.

Thanks much.

– Steve Martin

PS – Give a listen to the ‘Law and Gospel’ radio program (Google KFUO) Yesterday’s archived program, Wed. May 7th was particularly informative.

For what it’s worth, the Jewish connotations of the word translated “perfect” in Matthew isn’t “flawlessness” like we use the word. It’s maturity or wholeness. Not that God isn’t flawless, that just isn’t really the aspect of God Jesus is calling us to imitate in that particular passage. Then of course there is the problem that Paul (and first century Jews in general) seemed to think they actually could keep the law…but of course we probably should reject all of that New Perspective rubbish out of hand.

Anyway, don’t assume those who don’t find the Law/Gospel distinction helpful either don’t understand or are doomed to works righteousness. Some do understand, and disagree for good reasons. That’s like saying all who hold to Law/Gospel as the core of the Gospel miss the Kingdom and are doomed to cheap grace. Both statements are true as strawmen, but both oversimplify the issue and (I think) the Gospel.

Michael, I appreciate your patient attempts to restore substance (and literalness) to Jesus’ teaching.

And as to grace versus law… Galatians 5 has a lot to say. I have had to read it and re-read it a lot over that last year or so to help overcome the performance based theology of my upbringing. Hmm… to me, this is the essence of where He has brought me (so far – long way from being done …

You progressively get to know Him more and more, do your best to do what He tells you (not what man says, what God says – important distinction in some circles), then rely on God’s incredible Grace to make up the difference in what you could not do and what you messed up in doing. Sleep. Wake. Do again. Follow Jesus, not men. Be a friend to friend’s even when their theology gets out of line with yours. Be a friend to those who have just fallen and need help getting back up. Stop being a supporting prop to cover the unacknowledged abuses of the ‘called’ and ‘gifted’ leaders of your church.

Anyway, that’s the idea… Good topic.

I wasn’t being sarcastic at all. I meant what I said.

I believe(and I am not alone)that God speaks to us in two ways. Through His demands and through His promises.

He gives us law and we break it. He promises to forgive us and he does it.

The meat and potatoes, the pitching and hitting, the fundamental paradigm for understanding the Bible and God Himself is through His Law and His Gospel.

As I’ve said before, there are many others that do a much better job of explaining this view than I.

You can google Law and Gospel and find some great materials, I’m sure.

Grace and Peace to you, WebMonk!

– Steve M.