Awakenings

A Christian from the Middle East with a message for his Muslim brother

2013-05-23T17:09:00.002-04:00

Dear Muslim friend,

We invite you to visit the Horizons website. We want you to know that the reason Horizons exists is because of two things: First, we exist because of God’s great love for all the people of the world. The Bible says that God is love and that he loves the world he created. In fact, he loves every man and woman, every child, and every adult. In the Gospel of John, we read these amazing words:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16 (NIV)

Because of God’s great love for us, he desires that not one human being would die and go to hell. He wants us all to live with him in paradise forever. This is what God said in the holy Injeel:

He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish [die and go to hell], but everyone to come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9 b (NIV)

Repentance is the key to new life.

Second, God’s love compels us to love you. We love every Muslim man and woman on earth. We love you so much that we are willing to sacrifice everything to share with you the great love of God.

My Muslim friend, we do not believe that all those who claim to know the truth are right. There are many who are deceived. No human being likes to be deceived. If a merchant charges you more than the fair price, wouldn’t you feel cheated and get angry? I would. God does not deceive us. He gave us the Tawrat and the Injeel to guide us to the truth. Please do not believe those who deceive you and tell you that the Tawrat and the Injeel are corrupted. If you believe this lie, you are accusing God of being too weak to protect his precious and holy word. God would never allow his eternal word to be corrupted.

The Bible is the ancient revelation of God to man. In it you will find truth, life, peace and joy.
Here are some words of Jesus from the gospel of John (Injeel Yohanna) that you will find helpful in your search for the truth:

I AM the bread of life. – John 6:35,48
I AM the Light of the world. – John 8:12
I AM the door, anyone who enters through me will be saved. – John 10:9
I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in me will live. – John 11:25
I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life.
No one comes to God except through me. – John 14:6

We love you and want you to discover the great truth that if you would believe in Jesus and give him your life, he will give you eternal life and while you are still on earth he will give you peace, joy, and a wonderful life that is free from guilt and shame.

We would be happy to send you a free copy of the Injeel. You will find in it the entire story of the life of Jesus, his miracles, and his teachings. May the God of love and salvation bless your life and lead you to His Truth.

http://horizonsinternational.org/for_muslims

http://horizonsinternational.org/for_muslims

Your Support and the Mission of the Institute of Lutheran Theology, Continued.

2013-05-23T16:06:00.001-04:00

Institute of Lutheran Theology

ILT News

May 23, 2013

605-692-9337

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Your Support and ILT's Mission Continued

We want to give you some more information about what your support does for ILT. As we have said, primarily your support helps us to hold down tuition costs. Our goal is to give our students the best theological education at an affordable price. Your support helps us to make sure Biblically grounded classes remain available for our growing number of students. Our tuition rate is significantly less than other schools (and of course it is not normally necessary for our students to relocate, so this really helps with their debt-load).

Your support helps ILT to recruit students for both ILT and for our graduate school, Christ School of Theology. While ILT depends much on word-of-mouth concerning our school and what it has to offer, we still must continually advertise in order for people to get to know who we are and what we offer. It might be said that ILT is one of the best kept secrets in the world. However, the word is getting out, and this through your assistance and help. Our prayer is that someday ILT and Christ School of Theology will be household words implying great theological education for pastors, teachers, scholars and congregations.

The Institute of Lutheran Theology (with its graduate school, Christ School of Theology) is known around the world, particularly in East Africa. Your support helps us to reach into these areas and bring outstanding Biblical education into the hearts and minds of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who look to us for their educational needs. Already the Lutheran Church of South Sudan (LCSS) in East Africa considers us 'their' seminary! The church body's North American Offices are now at ILT headquarters in Brookings, South Dakota.

We have two new exciting courses in Ethiopian languages: one in Amharic and one in Oromo. Here the Gospel is proclaimed and the Word is taught to a potential audience only limited by the Internet. There is always the possibility of offering courses in other languages. Our main limitation does not consist in the lack of ideas or in teachers and staff, but in the money needed to carry through our ideas.

As you can see, there is much for ILT to do, and your support, both in prayers and monetary gifts, is greatly needed and appreciated. God is doing a great work through ILT. Recently He provided us with two grants, one from Faith Community Lutheran Church in Longmont, Colorado and the other from the Hawks Foundations in Omaha, Nebraska. These grants will help the school go a long way in providing the quality Biblical education needed if we are to educate men and women so they may work on the 'frontlines' of 21st century society with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While we are thankful for grants, we also know that the gifts of individual believers and congregations are much needed and we truly appreciate all of the support given to us in the past, as well as the support we know will come to us in the future through God's gracious hand and the generosity of His people.

Thank you for your support!

Story of heroism: the London woman who got off the bus thinking to help an accident victim but it was jihadists waiting

2013-05-23T10:18:00.003-04:00

Moments earlier, the killers had hacked at the soldier “like a piece of meat”, and when Mrs Loyau-Kennett arrived on the scene they were roaming John Wilson Street waiting for police to arrive so they could stage a final confrontation with them.

She said: “I started to talk to him and I started to notice more weapons and the guy behind him with more weapons as well. By then, people had started to gather around. So I thought OK, I should keep him talking to me before he noticed everything around him.

“He was not high, he was not on drugs, he was not an alcoholic or drunk, he was just distressed, upset. He was in full control of his decisions and ready to everything he wanted to do.

I said 'right now it is only you versus many people, you are going to lose, what would you like to do?’ and he said I would like to stay and fight.”

The suspect in the black hat then went to speak to someone else and Mrs Loyau-Kennett tried to engage with the other man in the light coat.

^{Ingrid Loyau-Kennett confronts one of the attackers (@dannymckiernan)}

She said: “The other one was much shier and I went to him and I said 'well, what about you? Would you like to give me what you have in your hands?’ I did not want to say weapons but I thought it was better having them aimed on one person like me rather than everybody there, children were starting to leave school as well.

Mrs Loyau-Kennett was not the only woman to show extraordinary courage. Others shielded the soldier’s body as the killers stood over them.

MPs praised the “extraordinary bravery” of the women and raised concerns about why it took armed police 20 minutes to arrive at the scene while people’s lives were at risk.

Read it all.

Will the UK take steps to end this madness or continue political correctness?

Send donations of needed supplies for tornado victims to Peace Lutheran Church, Edmond, OK 73034.

2013-05-23T08:12:00.001-04:00

Send donations of needed supplies for tornado victims to Peace Lutheran Church, 2600 E Danforth Rd, Edmond, OK 73034. Contact: Pastor Keith Falk. Donate such things as Gatorade, non perishable foods, diapers, water, formula and wipes, hand sanitizer, gloves, trash bags, rakes, shovels, flashlight and batteries, and sunscreen.

Pray for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Multiple baptisms at a service at a church there in this inspiring video.

2013-05-22T14:04:00.001-04:00

This church's blog is here. Follow them on Twitter.

Pray For Oklahoma. MercyMe - The Hurt & The Healer

2013-05-22T11:35:00.003-04:00

Lutheran Church of South Sudan has formally established its North American headquarters

2013-05-22T11:14:00.004-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The Lutheran Church of South Sudan has formally established its North American Headquarters in Brookings, South Dakota.

In cooperation with the Institute of Lutheran Theology (ILT), the Lutheran Church of South Sudan (LCSS) is working to establish strong relationships between North American congregations and LCSS congregations to begin the work of ministering to people in the world’s newest nation ravaged by a bloody civil war that claimed 2.5 million lives.

Brookings, SD, May 17, 2013 – In the first meeting of the North American Board of Trustees for the Lutheran Church of South Sudan, the work began to bring together the resources entrusted to Christians in the world’s wealthiest nation to support the proclamation of the Gospel to the people of the world’s most impoverished nation. The work of the LCSS North American Headquarters will focus on generating support for the establishment of LCSS church buildings where people may worship free from the fear of persecution, children may gather for schooling, and families may come to receive medical attention. The LCSS North American Headquarters was established in partnership with the Institute of Lutheran Theology (ILT) of Brookings, SD. ILT serves as the seminary for the LCSS and is working closely with the LCSS as they work to establish their own seminary, equipping pastors, teachers, and evangelists to serve the congregations of the LCSS.

Currently, the shade of trees is the only shelter available for most worship, schooling, and medical treatment across South Sudan. The people of South Sudan face a fundamental lack of the basic services that we take for granted. For a nation of over 10 million people, there are only 130 doctors. Over 1.5 million children have no access to basic schooling. More than this, the Christian people of South Sudan have faced over 50 years of oppression and persecution at the hands of their militant Islamist, northern neighbors.

Now free from state sanctioned persecution for the first time in half a century, the Christian people of South Sudan seek to place their churches at the center of the effort to rebuild their nation. LCSS President, Rev. Jordon Long said, “As Scripture says, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. The number of Christians has grown from 20% during the war to around 60% today. We are a Church without war for the first time in over 50 years. We are meeting together under the trees. The whole nation is beginning from scratch. The goal of the Lutheran Church of South Sudan is to prepare, equip, and send leaders. Jesus sent His disciples to spread the Good News from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria, and to the end of the world. Today, South Sudan feels like the end of the world.”

About Lutheran Church of South Sudan

Though relatively new, the Lutheran Church of South Sudan (LCSS) is growing rapidly. From a small handful of worshipers, the LCSS has grown to 33 congregations with over 6,000 regularly worshiping members.

Grounded in the scripture and inspired by God’s Word, the LCSS embarks on making “Disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I (the LORD) have commanded” (Mathew 28:19-20). The LCSS engages in carrying out this great commission through vibrant evangelism; significant church planting and new church buildings; and preparing, equipping leaders and building and strengthening stewardship.

Of course, Lutheran Church of South Sudan is a church without walls. Most of its member congregations still worship in tents, huts, or open spaces. The LCSS’ leadership puts strong emphasis on building partnerships with regional and international Lutheran bodies to raise funds to build the church and to equip its church leaders.

As a new and emerging church, the LCSS has no adult or children’s educational materials in the indigenous languages of South Sudan. With the exception of the Holy Bible and Hymnal Books, there are no other print materials in the local languages. As a result, the LCSS plans to partner with the Institute for Lutheran Theology and other Lutheran institutions to translate educational materials for children, adult, lay leaders and pastors into the language understandable to the local population.

Media Inquires:

Rev. Dr. Dennis Bielfeldt
Vice-President, North American Board of Trustees
Lutheran Church of South Sudan
605-692-9337

http://www.lutherancss.org/

For more details about the work of the Lutheran Church of South Sudan or to schedule an interview with Rev. Long or Dr. Bielfeldt, please call Rev. David R. Patterson (Advisor to the President, LCSS) at 605-651-9729, or e-mail pastordave@pioneerlutheran.org.

Suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us.

2013-05-22T10:41:00.003-04:00

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:1-5

Pray more for Moore.

2013-05-21T13:51:00.002-04:00

'WE NEED PRAYERS'

1689 world map produced in Amsterdam, copper engraving, extremely rare, original hand color.

2013-05-21T13:11:00.002-04:00

Praying for those who have been hit by tornadoes while mindful that more storms will come: "Shelter in the Day of Trouble"

2013-05-21T07:29:00.003-04:00

Shelter in the Day of Trouble

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

...For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.

I believe that I shall see
the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.

from Psalm 27

Book in the next few days and save $100 on Ireland

2013-05-20T22:13:00.001-04:00

News: Lutheran Church of South Sudan moving ahead, forming a North American Board of Trustees and Advisory Committee

2013-05-20T18:19:00.000-04:00

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On behalf of the Lutheran Church of South Sudan, I would like to welcome and congratulate the LCSS North American Board of Trustees for accepting to partake in the sowing of the Gospel in the World’s newest nation. The soil is fertile for the Gospel in the South Sudan and thanks for joining the LCSS in the proclamation of the God’s Kingdom at this formative stage of the nation. I give glory to God for each and everyone of you as we begin to carryout our new missional endeavor. Yes, emerging from 50 years of war, South Sudan is still the least of the least; and your Lutheran brothers and sisters in Christ are among the least of the new nation. St. Matthew stressed, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Mt. 25:40). The provision for pastoral training and funds for church buildings will enhance our vibrant evangelism and the spread of the Gospel.

We are working on the curriculum of LCSS Certificate of Pastoral Ministry (CPM) and the enrollment of LCSS students at ILT’s MDiv/MA programs for 2013-2014 academic year. The Theological education for LCSS pastors and evangelists was discussed at the LCSS North American Board of Trustees’ Meeting.

Rev. Jordan M Long, President

Lutheran Church of South Sudan

LCSS North American Board of Trustees

Malakal, South Sudan

www.lutherancss.org
211955602828
211914745210

US Contacts

71 Collins St. Unit B

Dubuque, IA 52001

"Behold, that is how eager Christ is to persuade His Christians to be comforted and courageous." Read the rest of this Luther quote:

2013-05-20T13:18:00.000-04:00

Behold, that is how eager Christ is to persuade His Christians to be comforted and courageous. And this is really necessary for them. For they have been called and destined to be bitten and scratched, not by flesh and blood but by the highest power in hell—which includes everything that wants to be smart, learned, and holy in the world—as well as by their own heart and conscience, which are frightened by sin and God’s wrath. From what source will Christians draw the strength and the courage to overcome this? Solely from Christ’s assurance: “I am in you and you in Me, and we are united in everything. Therefore hold firmly to Me! Through My Word I have made the beginning and have brought you to Me. And now if you prove this, if you fight to remain in Me, you will be greatly troubled at first, and it will be difficult for you. It will seem that you are all alone and that I have forsaken you and am abandoning you to fear and all wretchedness. But just hold fast, and I will prove that I love you. Then you will feel in your hearts how pleasing your faith, your confession, and your suffering are to God, And from this you will recognize and experience ever better who I am, how powerful I am, and what I am working in you. Thus I will manifest Myself from day to day, until you have been so tried that you can place all your trust in heaven and repel the devil when he wants to accuse you of being a sinner and of having faltered here and there.

Luther, M. (1999). Luther's works, vol. 24: Sermons on the Gospel of St. John: Chapters 14-16 (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.) (Jn 14:21). Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House.

JOURNAL REPORTS: "For Second Careers, A Leap of Faith." Growing numbers of boomers turning to divinity schools and a more spiritual life

2013-05-20T12:20:00.002-04:00

By ANNE TERGESEN

Call it a midlife epiphany.

For many, the answer is embracing faith—and devoting their lives to serving others.

Flocks of people in their 50s and 60s are putting aside thoughts of a comfortable retirement and heading to theological school, where they've become the fastest-growing age group in recent years. They're putting in years of study and field work to become chaplains, spiritual counselors, missionaries, and educators and social workers for nonprofits with religious ties. And they're taking that training everywhere from disaster zones to impoverished villages to hospital bedsides.

Boomers are "turning to careers in which meaning and purpose are front and center," says Marc Freedman, founder of Encore.org, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that promotes second acts (no connection to this publication).

Why the change? For many older adults, mortgages are paid (or nearly so), children are on their own and first careers are winding down; as such, there's time and freedom to "do good." Equally important, thoughts about one's mortality begin to surface, along with some tough questions: Have I lived my life well? Have I made a difference?

Iris

2013-05-20T10:10:00.000-04:00

Tim Keller on Interpreting the Bible

2013-05-20T09:40:00.001-04:00

This is not one of the Marks of the Church, but it still makes me deeply grateful!

2013-05-20T09:18:00.003-04:00

Hospitality on display, St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Lexington, SC!

Come to Chapel at ILT Chapel services 10am (CDT) Monday - Friday

2013-05-20T07:59:00.001-04:00

Below is the preaching schedule for this week:

May 20, 2013 - Mon	Sara Sorenson
May 21, 2013 - Tue	Tim Swenson	John 8:48-59
May 22, 2013 - Wed	Steve Bliss	Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
May 23, 2013 - Thu	Becky Hand	Psalm 8
May 24, 2013 - Fri	Mark Jamison	Acts 2:14, 22-36 2:

* Because parish life makes sudden and unexpected demands of its pastors, scheduled preachers and texts may be replaced by others without notice.

CLICK HERE TO COME TO CHAPEL

If you are unable to join us live for chapel, you may view any of our previous chapel services on the front page of our website or at our video archive (http://www.youtube.com/user/iltlibrary).

605-692-9337
www.ilt.org

A Sermon for Pentecost: The God in Overalls

2013-05-19T08:58:00.002-04:00

by Eric J. Swensson
Today is Pentecost and many preachers will talk about this being the Church’s birthday and such, but I want us to reflect not on the festive, glamorous or unusual, but the ordinary. Why? Well, have you heard, the Holy Spirit is the God who is wearing overalls. The Holy Spirit is the working-man of the Trinity. That’s what Jesus said, “I will send you a helper.”

What kind of help does the Holy Spirit offer? His stock in trade is making things happen, the things that need to happen for God to be God and for us to be His people. The means of becoming a Christian, and all the day to day activities happen via the Holy Spirit. As Luther said, "I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true." Holy Spirit does the heavy lifting. We do not become and do not remain Christians except for His work.

Long ago the Holy Spirit did a very important work and caused Scripture to be written. That is where humanity find the knowledge of God and the revelation about its Savior. Scripture was written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Additionally, there is a second work the Holy Spirit does concerning Scripture. He illuminates the reader’s way as the Bible is studied. Inspiration long ago and illumination today.

Now of course, some of the promises of God found in the Bible seem just too good to be true and have to be taken on faith. One of the readings for Pentecost Sunday is from Romans 8 “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Referring to this passage in one of his sermons on the Gospel of John, Luther wrote something that tells us about an interesting aspect his understanding of the Holy Spirit: Therefore the Holy Spirit must be the Master here and inscribe this knowledge and faith deep in our hearts and bear witness to our spirit, and say yea and amen to the fact that we have become and eternally remain children of God through faith in Christ (Rom. 8:16). St. John’s Gospel was not the product of human volition. No, the evangelist was impelled by the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth and, therefore, will surely not deceive us. Without the witness of the Holy Spirit it would be hard to believe that a poor human being is destined to be a son of God and a fellow heir with Christ.

One can only wonder how acceptable it is to people today to call the Holy Spirit “Master”. One might also ask how well we know the Holy Spirit. What is it we need to know about the Holy Spirit here in our pilgrimage on earth? I have already told you the Holy Spirit is our helper, He does the heavy lifting of the Christian life, He birthed the Church on the Day of Pentecost, He caused the disciples to become apostles, that is, He took the students of Jesus and turned them into the sent ones, they went forth into the known world and preached until their last breath. After that he caused certain followers to write gospels and epistles, inspiring the Words of Scripture so that they would be the source of faith, encouragement, reproof, admonition, instruction and hope. I have also said already that the Holy Spirit is our Teacher and now Master. What else?

The Holy Spirit makes us holy. How does that work? The Holy Spirit is the Maker of Holiness. Christian life begins and continues through the agency of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit brings souls into the Church as part of the new life in God. Luther describes a special role for the Holy Spirit, making the people of God holy. How does the Holy Spirit make persons holy? "For it is the Holy Spirit who gives you Christ and His holiness and who works faith in you." Luther also wrote, "And what does the Holy Spirit have to do with me?” Answer: 'He baptized me; He proclaimed the Gospel of Christ to me; and He awakened my heart to believe. Baptism is not of my making; nor is the Gospel; nor is faith. He gave these to me. For the fingers that baptized me are not those of a man; they are the fingers of the Holy Spirit. And the preacher’s mouth and the words that I heard are not his; they are the words and message of the Holy Spirit. By these outward means He works faith within me and thus He makes me holy.' Therefore just as we should not deny that we are baptized and are Christians, so we should not deny or doubt that we are holy."

The Holy Spirit is the one who invites into faith, watches over our coming to faith and is the insurer of right teaching so we can know and grow. We need to be properly feed and our spirits are nourished by the Spirit of Truth. Truth feeds us; the grasping of a spiritual truth causes our souls to enlarge. It is like this: Where the promises about Christ are obscured, the sun has lost its brilliance and there is nothing but darkness, resulting in confusion and the loss of ability to see clearly, to discern rightly and ward off any error or heresy. On the other hand, where the sun of the gospel shines and illumines the heart, there is found a true and certain understanding of all things and a believer can maintain a firm position on all doctrines: "Then one also believes and teaches correctly regarding the Holy Spirit, Baptism, the Sacrament, good works, and the resurrection from the dead. Then the believer is able to defend the faith: "for he has on his side the true Teacher, the Holy Spirit, who alone reveals this doctrine from heaven and is given to all who hear and accept this Word or sermon concerning Christ.”

A few words can be said about the spiritual battles that are the Christian's lot in life. This persecution will be in real time, and it will be spiritual. Persecution has the potential to make us lose the one thing worth having, faith in Christ alone as savior. Luther said that the devil has his weapons but the Spirit of truth will guide you into all the truth. Otherwise reason and the human heart could never persist in such faith and confession but would have to sink and perish under the trials that come internally from the devil and the heart and outwardly from the world.

Self-centeredness and the fear of hell will drive us to doubt, which will result in attempts to win God's favor through good works. Luther's remedy is the work of the Spirit to help the Christian cling to Christ and His promise to be with them always. This then is the last thing we’ll look at here, the important place of prayer in Luther's theology:

"I know that my heavenly Father is heartily glad to hear all my prayers, inasmuch as I have Christ, this Savior, in my heart. Christ prayed for me, and for this reason my prayers are acceptable through His.” Accordingly, we must weave our praying into His. He is forever the Mediator for all men. Through Him we come to God. In Him we must incorporate and envelop all our prayers and all that we do. As St. Paul declares (Rom. 13:14), we must put on Christ; and everything must be done in Him (1 Cor. 10:31) if it is to be pleasing to God. But all this is said to Christians for the purpose of giving them the boldness and the confidence to rely on this Man and to pray with complete assurance; for we hear that in this way He unites us with Himself, really puts us on a par with Him, and merges our praying into His and His into ours. Christians can glory in this great distinction. For if our prayers are included in His, then He says (Ps. 22:22): 'I will tell of Thy name to My brethren'. In this, that our faith in Christ entitles us to be called His brethren and coheirs, that our prayer is to be like His, that there is really no difference except that our prayers must originate in Him and be spoken in His name.'"

This then is how the Holy Spirit strengthens and preserves hearts in the faith. He brings us to faith, brings us into the Church, provides preachers to proclaim the truth, brings us into truth, we grow in holiness and even gives us the ability to grasp great spiritual truth. Also, it is the Spirit's work to gather our thoughts and prayers together with Christ's. Faith promotes, serves, strengthens, makes us more resolute to resist and overcome, to continue to seek help and comfort in God’s Word and to exercise and increase his faith by petitions, prayers, and thanks—to become all the stronger in knowledge and all the humbler, all the more patient. +Amen

On learning to defend sound interpretation of Scripture

2013-05-18T07:36:00.002-04:00

I wrote this down a few years ago while putting together a Bible Study on how to best interpret Scripture. I am a Lutheran but it can be used by anyone, and indeed, the principles are tools to fight the silliness which plagues all our denominations. Back then the question was over the gay agenda, but it will happen again and again whenever people do not grasp what is at stake and learn to defend sound interpretation.

Interpreting Scripture

Some background: The present generation has no new authority or special revelation to authorize new or additional meanings that contradict or undermine the plain sense reading of the Bible. Responsible scholarship deepens the church's understanding of the Word of God. One of the distinctive marks of such scholarship is a concern for continuity with those who came before us and builds upon what was given us. Any revision of the church's interpretation and application of the written Word can only be legitimately undertaken on the basis of the Scripture itself. Those who advocate for changes in interpretation and application are called to demonstrate how such changes are congruent with the comprehensive witness of the Scriptures and the confessions of the Church.

Some claim that both the traditional and the new contextual approaches reflect a legitimate diversity in Biblical interpretation. Not only are revisionist claims that both “are valid and irreconcilable” absurd, they are disingenuous. The contextual approach is subjective and relativistic and therefore cannot lead to anything but an ever-changing interpretation. Contextuality ignores the Lutheran teaching that “Holy Scripture remains the only judge, rule, and norm according to which all doctrines should and must be understood and judged” (Formula of Concord, Epitome I, 3). Revisionist teaching can only have a mystical understanding of passages such as “…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11) and “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Matthew 24:35

Introduction to the Bible Study itself:

It is perhaps best to open with a prayer such as this:

“Lord, keep us steadfast in your Word, curb those who by deceit attempt to wrest the Kingdom from your Son, and bring to naught all He has done." Illuminate us with your Spirit so we might interpret your Word to us today. Amen

You may open with this statement:

You have heard some people say that “God is doing a new thing” [The Episcopal Church] or "God is still talking" [United Church of Christ] but when that supposed new thing is something contrary to Scripture we must ask what it is that is actually going on. Scripture says, "Behold, I make all things new” (Isaiah 53) but that refers to the Day of the Lord. Is it actually possible for Scripture to become invalid? Can a present day revelation supersede something in the Bible? God is not doing a new thing so much as proclaiming the old, old story in fresh ways.

A suggested opening thought question (rather general and anticipatory, you create others of your own): What do the words of Jesus mean in John 10:35 “scripture cannot be broken”?

Talk about "Challenges to the Church" (why this is important now).

Ask, "What do you believe about Scripture?"

Further Bible reading passages:

Acts 24:14: "I worship the God of my fathers. I believe all that is written in the Law and the Prophets."

Prov. 30:5, 6:"All the words of God are purified; He is a shield to those who trust in Him. Add nothing to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar."

Ps. 12:6: "The Scriptures are pure, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, refined seven times."

Rom. 15:4: "Whatever was written before, was written to us for teaching."

2 Pet. 1:20, literally: "Every prophecy arose not by someone’s own explanation." "Every prophecy" means the entire content of Scripture, the whole of this revelation of the will of God.

Luther: "The Spirit speaks as if He did not know that there are any other books, although the whole world is full of them." (Walch, first edition, Vol. IX, p. 1364).

Other statements which may be used during the discussion include:

It is a fairly simple thing to discern if some teaching is biblically based or whether it rests on human understanding. Introducing doubt into the argument by stating that Scripture was written by humans so it is also fallible is not new. Luther wrote innumerable times that there were scholars and philosophers of his time whom in order to get Scripture to say what they want, they said what it didn't say.

Our understanding of the Authority of Scripture and the importance of our presuppositions, that is, how we approach Scripture, is critical to what we think the Bible has a right to speak to us (so to speak). We have to get honest here. Unless someone can admit that they have felt like saying "How dare the Bible tell me what to do," they have not been addressed by the Law. Our problem since at least the time of the Rationalists is that we will easily dismiss the hard demands by saying, "Oh, that's not God, that's the fellow that wrote it,” and there we are, we have the contextual approach to Scripture.

According to the opening lecture on inspiration by C.F.W. Walther, we need an awareness of the importance that the Bible is THE book from God, and its status of being inspired necessitates its on-going study. We should be able to say with him "for with the doctrine of inspiration the certainty, truth, and divinity of Holy Scripture stands and falls, and with it the whole Christian religion and church. It is not only one doctrine among others, but it is rather the basis of all other doctrines, on which they are raised up."

If the Bible was produced by humans and not inspired by the Holy Spirit, then anyone, be they people who are calling for change within the church, doubters in general, or people of other faiths may say to us that since Scripture is of human origin everything is nonessential and secondary material. For example, we hear that same-sex blessings are "not pertaining to core doctrine."

When human error is mixed with God's word, the whole of Scripture is set before the reader to judge. However, the Evangelical Lutheran Church has always held that Holy Scripture to be the pure source, the norm, and judge of all doctrines and arbiter in any religious controversies.

Beware those who would warn us that we cannot understand the plain sense of Scripture.

Why call another person a Fundamentalist when they may perhaps merely approaching Scripture with confidence?

For Further Reading: you can find online, “C.F.W. Walther, ‘The Question of Inspiration’" from Walther's “Evening Lectures on Inspiration” translated by Dr. Thomas Manteufel, Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis, Missouri, presented to the Walther Round Table, 2005-2007.

Concerning the salutary efficacy of prayer. The sighs penetrate the heavens. Sacred Meditations by Johann Gerhard

2013-05-18T07:25:00.002-04:00

Sacred Meditations

By Johann Gerhard

Translated by Wade R. Johnston

XXV. Concerning the salutary efficacy of prayer.

The sighs penetrate the heavens.

This is the greatest benefit of God: that he insists that the pious pray as if in a conversation with an intimate friend. He himself gives us the desire for prayer. He himself also gives the result of prayer. The power of prayer is great, which, issued on earth, nonetheless operates in heaven. The prayer of a righteous man is the key to heaven; the petition ascends to heaven and the acquittal of God descends. Prayer is a shield for protection by which all the arrows of the adversary are repelled (Ephesians 6:16). When Moses stretched out his hands the Israelites prevailed against the Amalekites (Exodus 17:17). If you extend your hands to heaven, Satan will not prevail against you. Just as a wall stands against an enemy, so also the wrath of God is turned aside by the prayers of the righteous.

Our own very Savior used to pray, not because he had to, but in order that the value of prayer would be commended to us. Prayer is an appraisal of our subjection because God instructs us to pray so that we might offer our prayers as a sort of daily spiritual tribute to him. It is our ladder for ascending, for prayer is nothing other than a kind of pilgrimage of the mind to God. Prayer is our shield of defense for the soul of the man living in prayer is shielded from the insults of demons. It is the faithful messenger of ambassadorship, for prayer ascends to the throne of God and summons him to produce aid. This messenger is never frustrated in attaining his goal for God indeed always hears us, if not according to our will, nevertheless according to our advantage and salvation. One of two things we are able to hope for without doubting is that he will either grant that for which we petition him or that he knows something better. God gave his Son, that most excellent gift, without our asking. What then will he do when we ask! We can doubt neither that the Father listens nor that the Son intercedes. For whatever reason, enter with Moses into the tabernacle to consult with the Lord through prayer and you will speedily hear a divine response. Christ was transfigured when he was praying (Luke 9:29). So also, a great transformation of the soul occurs when we pray, for prayer is the light of the soul that oftentimes leaves the very soul that it found despairing now rejoicing.

How will you gaze upon the face of the Sun unless you have first adored him who has sent that most sweet light for your eyes? How will you delight in peace of mind unless you first have adored him who has so abundantly furnished and bestowed such good things? With what hope may you hand yourself over to the nighttime unless you have first fortified yourself by praying. What fruit can you hope to reap from your labors unless you first adore him without whom all labor is useless?

If you then seek after spiritual or corporal gifts, ask and you will receive (Matthew 7:7). If you seek after Christ, seek him through prayers and you will find him. If you are afflicted with temptation and a lack of spiritual blessings in the desert of this world, approach the spiritual rock (1 Corinthians 10:4), which is Christ, through devotion. Strike it with the staff of prayer and you will experience that rivers of divine grace will gush forth to quench your thirst. Do you want to offer an acceptable sacrifice to God? Offer prayers. God will sense the sweet aroma and his anger will cease (Genesis 8:21). Do you want to occupy yourself unceasingly with God? Love prayers, spiritual conversations between God and the devout soul. Do you want to taste that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:9). Invite the Lord by prayer into the dwelling of your heart.

Prayer pleases God, but it must be offered in the appropriate way. Therefore, whoever desires to be heard should pray wisely, ardently, humbly, faithfully, steadfastly, and confidently. Pray wisely, that is pray for that which serves divine glory and the salvation of neighbors. God is omnipotent. Therefore, do not set restrictions on Him by the way you pray. God is omniscient. Therefore, do not prescribe an order for responses. Do not issue prayers without due respect, but let them flow from the faith that precedes prayer—the faith that respects the Word. Whatever God has thus absolutely promised in the Word, you may pray for absolutely. Whatever he has promised conditionally, such as temporal things, you may in like manner pray for conditionally. What he has in no way promised, that also you should in no way pray for. Oftentimes God gives us in his anger what he denies us in his mercy. Therefore, follow Christ who resigned himself completely to God’s will (Matthew 26:39,44).

Pray ardently. How indeed can you request that God hear you when you cannot hear yourself? Do you want God to call you to mind when you do not call yourself to mind? When you want to pray enter the closet and close the door (Matthew 6:6). The closet is your heart. You ought to enter into that if you want to pray in the right way. You must close its door, lest thoughts concerning the affairs of the world are able to disturb you. No voices come to the ear of God except the movements of the soul. The mind ought to be incited by the ardor of our thoughts so that it will greatly surpass what our tongue may express, for this is also to worship in spirit and truth, as the Lord requires (John 4:23). Christ used to pray on the mountain (Luke 6:12) and lift His eyes to heaven (John 17:1). So also, we ought to turn our mind away from every creature and to God. You do injury to God if you pray to him in order that he might regard you when you really have no regard for yourself. We are able to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) if we pray in spirit, so that our mind is vigilant with holy desires toward God. There is no need to always cry out loudly, for prayer also includes our thoughts. At times one sigh, stimulated by the Holy Spirit and offered to God in the spirit, is more pleasing to God than a long and drawn out repetition of prayers where the tongue speaks but the heart is completely silent.

Pray humbly so that you trust not in your own merits, but all the more in the grace of God. If our prayers lean upon our worthiness, they are damned, even though the heart may sweat blood in devotion. No one pleases God except Christ. Therefore neither may one pray correctly except through Christ and on account of Christ. Sacrifices that are not offered on the altar of the tabernacle alone are not acceptable (Deuteronomy 12:5). Prayer that is not offered solely on that one altar, that is, on Christ, does not please God. The prayers of the Israelites were promised to be heard if they faced towards Jerusalem when they prayed (1 Kings 8:44). So also, let us turn to Christ, the temple of the divine (John 2:19,21), in our prayers. When Christ prayed in the passion, he cast himself down on the ground (Mark 14:35). See how that most holy soul humbled himself in the presence of the divine majesty.

Let the Christian pray faithfully so that he may offer himself to the lack of every joy and to patience in every punishment. The sooner one prays the better. The more frequently one prays the better. The more fervently one prays, the more acceptable to God. Let the Christian pray with perseverance, for when God takes time in giving a reply, he is commending gifts, not denying them. Those gifts that have been desired longer are sweeter when obtained. Let the Christian pray boldly so that he petitions naturally in faith, never hesitating. O most merciful God, who has commanded us to pray, grant that we may also pray correctly.

This is available at Amazon.

A Pentecost gift, "Veni Sancte Spiritus" from The Chants of the Holy Spirit by Gloriae Dei Cantores Women's Schola.

2013-05-17T21:41:00.000-04:00

On the birthday of the Church, we offer this prayer for the unity of Christians everywhere, that we may all know the inspiration of the Holy Spirit - the Creator, the Giver of Gifts, the Comforter - and be drawn together by the power of His love.
A Blessed Pentecost!

Our Pentecost gift to you: please click here for a free download of "Veni Sancte Spiritus" from The Chants of the Holy Spiritby Gloriae Dei Cantores Women's Schola.

West Wall, Transfiguration-Architectural glass sculpture: Gabriele Wilpers, design; Derix Glass Studios, fabrication.

"The Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith..." -Martin Luther

2013-05-17T21:05:00.001-04:00

"I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true." -- Martin Luther, Small Catechism

Pluggin’ the Plugin [go to the World Mission Prayer League website, check it out, and if you are a prayer league member, use it!]

2013-05-17T07:32:00.002-04:00

For those of you who pray for God’s kingdom to come, you may have noticed a new feature on the wmpl.org website (log-in required) which facilitates prayer requests and prayer.

What you may not know is that our very own Joshua Vandercar authored the WordPress plugin that runs it. The plugin is called Amen.

Pray Now is where you can go to view and interact with the prayer requests. In the spirit of Facebook’s ‘Like’ button, you can click a ‘Pray Now’ button. A ‘Tweet’ button is also available.

A BIG shout-out to Joshua for his fine work on Amen. It only takes one glance to realize that it is a labor of love.

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