Offensive

Anybody you know?

From TheGuardian.co.uk

“A statue of the crucifixion has been taken down from its perch on a church in Sussex because it was scaring local children and deterring worshippers, a vicar admitted today.

“The Rev Ewen Souter, the vicar at St John’s Church in Horsham, West Sussex, ordered the removal of the 10-foot sculpture of Jesus on the cross just before Christmas, branding it “unsuitable” and “a horrifying depiction of pain and suffering”.

“The 10ft resin sculpture, by Edward Bainbridge Copnall, a former president of the Royal Society of British Sculptors, will be replaced by a more “uplifting” stainless steel cross – to the dismay of more traditional parishioners.”

In my church we parade the crucifix up and down the aisle, with all eyes fixed on it. I imagine that running through everybody’s mind is “Thank God that’s not me.”

 

One message…A Corpse!

“You cannot have the true and loving God without the bloody death of Christ. God will not love you without the gruesome spectacle of His Son’s corpse. God cannot accept you except through the naked, bloody, dead Savior on Golgotha. That is the theology of the cross.” –Klemet Preus

This quote by Pastor Klemet Preus reminds me of what the evangelistic mission of the Church is: to preach Christ crucified for sinners.  It is very tempting for Christians to present extra-biblical incentives to unbelievers as to why they should become Christians or come to church.  “Who wants to hear about a bloody execution?  Who wants to be told how sinful they are?”  We reason ourselves out of proclaiming the full “bloody” Gospel because we don’t think it will be appealing to those who are outside of the faith. 

Rather, we try to bait-and-switch.  We provide incentives and reasons apart from the Cross in order to bring people in, all the while justifying doing it by telling ourselves that we’ll give them the Gospel later–we’ll tell them about the Lamb of God, sacrificed to pay for our sins later.

But do we? 

We tell people that the Church can give them the power to be more confident in life, more purpose driven, more successful, and happier–but at what point do we switch to showing them their sins and need for a savior?  Where does that transition take place?

The sad reality is that in churches where material things or emotional highs are the focus of preaching and outreach, the Gospel is largely taken for granted or forgotten. 

The unfortunate thing about false evangelism methods is that everyone is guilty of doing them.  Everyone at some time or another has presented the treasure of the Church as being something other than the Gospel of Christ.  Whether it be entertaining worship, interpersonal fellowship, beautiful liturgy, or rich history, when we put forth anything other than the bloody corpse of Christ as being our highest valued possession, we are being deceitful–we are lying. 

How terrible is it that we do not trust God to do what He has promised to do when His Word is preached?

How terrible is it that we are embarrassed by or devalue the crucifixion of our Lord so that we do not share it with other people? 

It is indeed terrible and damnable before God that we would replace the message of how He has freely reconciled Himself to us with a message of our own making. 

But, we take heart!–For these great sins against our Lord Jesus have been forgiven in the very body that we would withhold sharing with others.  His body–His beaten, bloody, and sinless body–is where our very sin of being ashamed of it is placed and forgiven.  The “naked, bloody, dead Savior on Golgotha” is where our unrighteousness has been atoned for and forgotten by our loving God. 

And for that free gift, we give thanks.

 

Ostensibly

I would never tell a lie unless it was absolutely convenient.

When I was young, I lied easily. Nothing big (as if a lie isn’t big by nature), just what was convenient. Having learned better since then, it is safe to report that I’m a repentant liar with a great respect for the truth and a great sensitivity toward that which is false.

Issues, Etc. has a nice web extra where Todd and Jeff speak about why Issues, Etc. was cancelled at KFUO. It is a story of paranoia, ignorance, sucking up, and plausible lies. Now paranoia is an honored tradition of those in power, unhealthy and false in the end, but understandable as a human trait and I’m not convinced that paranoia is a sin. Ignorance can be irritating, moreso when it is deliberate, but again even a Christian might be excused for being ignorant. Sucking up might well be included in the doctrine of vocation, e.g., “sucking up as to the Lord.” But lies anger me because I know them too well and they have no place for a Christian. The great thread of the Issues, Etc. firings and the operation of KFUO is the great thread of ostensible lies that wend through it. The lies weave through it both in time and throughout the workings of those entrusted to run the LCMS. Purported Christians who instead of laying out the truth without regard to consequences instead lay out a soft bed of lies to cushion the effects of what they do.

Lies are not a part of Christian liberty.

Two lies run through the story:

• The operation of the secular KFUO-FM station. Over the years and in any number of ways (though often corrected), the losses of KFUO-FM have been covered up through accounting practices that knowingly and falsely attribute FM expenses to the Christian AM station. These practices have been known to any number of responsible people and yet they have been accepted practice, and they were implicitly relied upon in the Issues firing. But accounting is by nature supposed to be fact, not fiction – and we to will one day have to render a factual account: “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Heb 4:13). Ought not Christian accountants fear giving any false statement? Should not those who sign off on such accounting either through action or through assent hate falsehood?
• The real reason for the firings was not financial – Todd and Jeff even offered to go independent and run the show for free on KFUO-AM, which would have been cheaper than running a replacement show. The true reason for the cancellation was because Issues, Etc. is assertive in a most Lutheran way, and by nature an offensive program to those who do not believe the gospel. Also, apparently, offensive to the leadership of the LCMS. I can understand the firing, silly as it would be, if it were reported accurately, “We found Issues, etc. to be too clear in its doctrine, an offensive program, and instead have decided to rerun sermons of Joel Osteen, whom all the world loves.” But it was falsely reported as a financial decision. It was the WMD excuse. People found a convenient lie, a lie that would ease a difficult problem and allow them to save face, and like this little liar they waddled happily into the wide, joyous road. And now, instead of repenting the lie, they have simply hardened themselves in it.

Think before you lie. It is weak and despicable. Take it from an expert.

 

This Day in History . . .

The brilliant E. Christian Kopff (his “Devil Knows Latin” is a must read) reminds me that on this day in 1540: Lutheran clergyman Robert Barnes was burned as a heretic after being used by Thomas Cromwell and King Henry VIII to gain European support for their antipapal movement in England.

Dr. Kopff also notes that his radio show was canceled as well.

Thank God we do not face such persecution. We would do well to remember the example of Pastor Barnes.

 

If the Devil isn’t gunning for you . . . worry.

Gene Veith linked to this interesting post by “Father Hollywood” called “The Church: Rent and Distressed.” Below is an extended excerpt:

The assigned sermon hymn in the one year series for Lutherans using Lutheran Service Book for this past Sunday was a beloved modern American piece entitled “The Church’s One Foundation.”

Written in 1866 AD, this hymn proclaims the mysteries of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church. In the first stanza alone, the author 1) proclaims the centrality and the divinity of the divine person of Jesus Christ to the Church – linking the theological disciplines of christology and ecclesiology, 2) joins together eschatology (“new creation”) and sacramentology in a biblical baptismal reference (“by water and the Word”), 3) invokes the incarnation, the monergism of grace, and the mystery of the Church as the Bride of Christ, and 4) introduces the sacrificial theme of the atonement.

And that’s just stanza one.

The third stanza, however, is painfully poignant today. The author speaks of the Church “oppressed.” Surprisingly, the author is not speaking of external persecution in the worldly sense (e.g. the Roman arena and cross, Communism, Islam), but rather “by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed.”

For this is how the Church is truly oppressed, internally, by her most vicious enemy: the devil.

. . .

Luther considered the “cross” – that is persecution, to be a “mark of the Church.” If Satan is not working night and day to destoy you, you have become uninteresting to him. Only one who is hopelessly lost has that kind of “luxury.” As long as the Bride of Christ endures in the fallen world (and our Lord promises that not even the gates of hell will prevail against her) the true Church will suffer the assaults of schism and heresy bubbling up from within.

Some see our church body “by schisms rent asunder, by heresies oppressed” and conclude that this cannot be the Church. For certainly, the Church, the true Church, would not be rent and distressed. For such people, the cross is not a mark of the Church, but rather a mark of not being Church.

. . .

These are the kinds of things that converts, and those seeking converts, are not eager to discuss – any more than we Lutherans are too keen on talking about the blasphemous abominations that occur in places bearing the name “Lutheran”. These things are painful and grievous, but the Church, East and West, has always been “rent asunder” and “distressed” by both internal “schisms” and even by “heresies” emerging from within.

But these things in no way negate the faithful remnants within Eastern Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, and Protestantism as being constituent parts of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church. In fact, the East’s long history of struggles – theological and political – only serve to confirm that she, like the rest of the Church Catholic, is an enemy of the devil – because she is most certainly a part of the Bride of Christ.

While there is a place for theological debate, and even at times, polemics – we Christians would do well not to lose sight of who our real enemy is, as well as who our faithful Husband shall always be.

All Christians can indeed sing together stanza five of “The Church’s One Foundation”:

Yet she on earth has union
With God, the Three in One.
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won.
O blessed heav’nly chorus!
Lord, save us by Your grace
That we, like saints before us,
May see you face to face.

I think “Father Hollywood” has it spot on. Disagree?

 

To what are you listening?

What number, please?

I’ve got two hours per day of train and pedestrian commuting time. That’s a fair amount of space to fill on my ipod. But if you commute in a car, if you exercise, if you spend time in the car or time mowing the lawn, even if you work on a computer in an office, an MP3 player can be a marvelous accompaniment.

There are a number of good podcasts to which I listen, but I’m always interested another good one. I’ll tell you mine if you’ll tell me yours, and if we come up with some goodies, perhaps we can make a separate page here at PlanetAugsburg.

Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod-specific

Pirate Christian Radio Streaming radio. Avast! And stop what yar listenin’ to, you scurvy rats! When Issues, Etc. was keelhauled and sent to Davey Jones’ Locker, we thought she was a’goner. But no! She be back from the dead, ‘n they built a whole new ship just to hold ‘er and a whole flotilla of upcoming confessional programming akin! Shiver me timbers, it may only be good for streaming internet radio, but it’s a great place to turn for Issues, Etc. and other great Lutheran programming. Blow me down!

Issues, Etc. Daily podcasts and on Pirate Christian Radio. Now surpassing 64 listeners, Issues, Etc. is the 900 pound gorilla of LCMS broadcasting and podcasting. Host Todd Wilken provides “Christ-centered Cross-focused Talk Radio” on a wide variety of issues, pursing in good Lutheran fashion heresies, unclear thinking and societal issues. Riveting guests and incisive commentary make you wish for more commuting time just to get through the ten hours of programming per week. It’s got good sermon reviews, too.

Fighting for the Faith. Daily podcasts and on Pirate Christian Radio. Chris Rosebrough is the captain of Pirate Christian Radio (Arrh, arrh, arrh) and he’s out for the blood of heretics! Never one to use the small hammer when high explosives will do, FFTF is a sarcastic, invariably entertaining but never irreverent romp through the fields of really bad Christianity. Really, really bad Christianity. A recent episode carried an exclusive interview with Satan, who turns out to have a soft spot in his heart for Jefferson Hills Church after all.

Kramer Chapel services at Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Daily, streaming only with Real player. A great source for services when school’s in session, with a full liturgy, a short homily and oftimes the sacrament of holy communion – something surprisingly comforting to listen to, even in recording. Audio quality is so-so but it’s reasonably listenable.

Bethany Lutheran Church‘s Sunday services. Weekly podcasts. As the audio editor it’s a shameless plug, but my home church’s service has a lot to offer. For one thing, it’s the full service (almost), not just the sermon. For another, we have great special music, a good organ, a talented cantor, confessional pastors, and a vigorous congregation. Sorry, no clowns or Harley Davidson’s in our services. Audio quality for the pastoral parts is very good, the audio for the congregational parts is okay. In the background, we make sure that people are coughing and babies crying so you’ll know it’s a real, Lutheran service.

Other Christian

Critical Issues Commentary. Weekly podcast. CIC does a lot of in-depth work on current fads and heresies in the church. While Bob DeWaay isn’t a Lutheran, I haven’t heard anything egregiously wrong.

White Horse Inn. Weekly podcast. This is a reformation-based program discussing Christian Theology and apologetics. Interesting because the shows hosts include reformed theologians, a baptist, and an LCMS professor but they rarely come to fisticuffs. It’s been on the air since 1990.

Other Other

In Our Time with Melvyn Bragg. Weekly podcast. I have no idea who Melvyn Bragg is, but I want his job. Produced by the BBC, ol’ Mel gets to speak in that cooly-sophisticated BBC way (“Jesus Christ returned today, accompanied by a large band of seemingly angry angels. In the studio to discuss these events we have…”). Each week he has a different subject matter and three expert guests, at least one male and one female. Don’t ask me who made the one-of-each-sex rule, it’s the UK after all. If you want to be the life of the party, if you want to be erudition on esoterica itself, at IOT you can learn about Occam’s Razor, the Poincare Conjecture, and The Enclosures. For the rest of you, you can go out on the deck and have a cigar with Pastor Rossow. But don’t throw the butts in the yard, the dog eats them.

* * * * *

That’s all I’ll fess up to at the moment. If you’ve got a favorite program, write a review in the comment section and tell us why it’s good. If there’s interest and a good selection, I’ll try to make up a set of links.

 

True Worship

We had an interesting discussion in Sunday School class today about worship, specifically what is true, correct, proper worship. Should we make judgments, positive or negative about the way people worship?

Mind you I am not asking about doctrine or the content of the theology . . .

Can we separate the substance from the style of worship? Should we?

We talked about a few examples in our local community. One is brother Osteen and his success-driven Christianity. Is it the content (or lack thereof) of his theology that takes him off track or is it also his (for lack of a better word) style?

We talked about another church where the Pastor had a month long series with a pirate-theme. Apparently, it was during the release of Pirates of the Caribbean came out. He had a giant Pirate ship constructed and everything!

But, let’s assume the church faithfully presented the Word and properly administered the sacraments. Would there still be something WRONG with liturgical dancers, a Pirates of Caribbean theme sermons series?

Is it a matter of style? Is it a matter of tradition? Is it more?

 

Christ to the rescue: purely proclaimed Law and Gospel

In my first post a few days ago, I published the speech that my roommate gave to the congregation at one of his last Sunday’s at our Lutheran Student Center.  One week later, I had my own opportunity to address the congregation after the Offetory in the Divine Service. 

This is what I said: 

It has been almost three years since I first began coming to the Lutheran Student Center.  Much has happened in the past three years and much has changed about me in that time too—but rather than tell you the whole story, I will summarize in one sentence:

 

Throughout my time here at Immanuel Lutheran Student Center, I went from disliking the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to being confirmed in it with hopes of someday becoming one of her pastors.

 

What caused the change?  Was it the friendly people who welcomed me every time I kept coming back after the first day?  No—the people were most certainly friendly and welcoming, but that’s not what kept me coming back.  Was it the beautiful hymns and music that I got to sing and hear when I came that kept me coming back?  No—while Lutherans do have one of the richest repertoires of hymnody of churches, that wasn’t what kept me coming back either.

 

While many factors contributed to both my change of heart about the Missouri Synod and my desire to become a member, there is clearly one that stands out far above the rest: the clearly proclaimed Gospel message of Jesus Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sins.

 

As with many people, starting college was a tough time for me emotionally and spiritually.  There were many changes that were taking place in my life.  However, as my comfort and confidence levels were on shaky ground, there was one thing in my life that I knew would always be there: sin.  The first night I came here to Immanuel for worship and Bible study, I came in convicted of my sinful imperfection and total depravity before God—those were not things anyone needed to tell me I had, because I was already well aware of my possession of them.  In fact, I was aware of my sin to the point of despair.  Past mistakes and shortcomings coupled with sinful habits made for me a very heavy cross to bear—a cross that I actually could not bear and did not know what to do with.  If you can remember what you learned in confirmation, you might recognize that I, as a young freshman, was broken by the Law: I was convicted and convinced of my sinfulness and need for help. 

 

That help came to me when I came to the Lutheran Student Center—it was the purely proclaimed Gospel that lifted the heavy burden that I was carrying. 

 

That Gospel I heard was that of the forgiveness of sins that was sure and certain in the words of Absolution after Confession when Pastor said: “As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  The message of Christ’s sacrificial life, death, and resurrection for the sins of the world—for my sins—was spoken in the sermons.  Here in the Lutheran Church, I found what I was looking for and am still looking for: the certainty of God’s forgiveness of my sins.  And that forgiveness, my friends, is not something that I could find anywhere else.

 

St. Paul tells us in Romans 5:

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

 

And this message is also proclaimed in Galatians 2:20—one of Bible verses that Pastor Burdick had us memorize the first semester I attended Bible Study at Immanuel:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who love me and gave himself for me.”

 

No social club, party, videogame, or television show you can find has news that is this good.  Nowhere but in the Church can you hear the great depths of God’s love for us—a love so deep that He sent His one and only son to this world to live the perfect life that we could not live, and die the horrible death that we deserve so that we may be found blameless and forgiven of all our sins against God.  Nowhere but in Church is this good news found.  Nowhere but in the Church can you be made righteous by the Blood of Christ poured over you through the water and Word of Holy Baptism.  Nowhere but in the Church are such great gifts found. 

 

So come today and receive this good news—the forgiveness of sins—here in the Holy Supper. Believe this good news for your sake, and tell it to others.  

 

As you can see, I kept coming back to Immanuel.  And I kept going to Immanuel for no reason more than this—it is in this place that I hear about what Jesus has done for me.  And what he did for me is summed up nicely in the words of this stanza from one of my favorite hymns. 

 

Because the sinless Savior died,

My sinful soul is counted free;

For God, the Just, is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me.    

 

Quick Update: Contributors to Planet Augsburg Soon to Increase!

In the upcoming days, be on the look out for some posts from two of our new contributors to the Planet (Aaron and JJ). Aaron and JJ if you are reading this, welcome to the Planet…and buy our T shirt!

 

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow…

I just wanted to share some good news with the blogosphere. I have been officially accepted into Concordia Theological Seminary! Praise God for the news today, but the adventure has just begun…..yesterday I was a “prospective student”, now I am a “seminary student”, and by God’s wonderful grace about 4 years from now I will be a “called and ordained servant of the Word”. A big thanks to everyone whom God has placed in my life; you have encouraged me, instructed me, and fed and watered me through Word & Sacrament, you are the Church.

Now for some entertainment, let’s play a game of “Where’s Luther?”