with reference to striving and the desire to grow.
Cardinal Avery Dulles ...
The behavior of living organisms cannot be explained without taking into account their striving for life and growth. Plants, by reaching out for sunlight and nourishment, betray an intrinsic aspiration to live and grow. This internal finality makes them capable of success and failure in ways that stones and minerals are not. Because of the ontological gap that separates the living from the nonliving, the emergence of life cannot be accounted for on the basis of purely mechanical principles. In tune with this school of thought, the English mathematical physicist John Polkinghorne holds that Darwinism is incapable of explaining why multicellular plants and animals arise when single-cellular organisms seem to cope with the environment quite successfully. There must be in the universe a thrust toward higher and more-complex forms.
. . . Materialistic Darwinism is incapable of explaining why the universe gives rise to subjectivity, feeling, and striving.
From today's First Things, On the Square.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
A report from the Siberian Lutheran Church
I encourage everyone to read this story (Polish Lutherans found in Eastern Siberia by Vsevolod Lytkin translated by Igor Andreuk) about Lutherans in Siberia. It is a fascinating and inspiring story both on account of the Polish Lutherans found in Siberia after so long and also on account of the Siberian Lutherans who sought them out and found them. The Siberian Lutheran church is a amazing church all the way around and the Siberian Lutheran Mission Society here in America supports them.
It is a long article but well worth the read. here a few excerpts:
Once, about ten years ago, in our church the phone began ringing. A Roman Catholic priest from Irkutsk was calling. He said that during his trip within the Irkutsk region he found a village where the habitants told him that they were Lutheran.
We knew nothing about these people, but responded to the invitation and arrived in Irkutsk. At that time, our Church had no parish there. Actually, the fate of the historic Lutheran parish in Irkutsk deserves a special story. But now I will say only that the parish had been established in the early 18th century. In the heart of the city a beautiful church was built in 1864. This church was destroyed by the communists in the year of 1936. (Actually, in Siberia during the 1930s, ail Lutheran churches were destroyed, and all the pastors were murdered in concentration camps).
In Irkutsk, the church building was demolished and on the property a monument to
Vladimir Lenin was constructed. But for the communists, the destruction of the churches was not enough. As usual, they tried to desecrate the former church
location. There they utilized the stones from the church's altar for the
construction of the basement of the monument to Lenin.
...
Just imagine that during the first four years of the communist regime in our country,
360,000 clergymen, monks and nuns were murdered. Arid who can count the number of
laymen who were killed? Only God knows.
...
One day during such a trip, a Roman Catholic priest found out that 250 miles from Irkutsk, in the Taiga, there is a village, where some Poles live. He went there and found the village, but the villagers said that they were not Catholics, but Lutherans. Imagine this, Polish Lutherans in Siberia.
...
So a pastor from Irkutsk visited Pikhtinsk once a year. A pastor came, and served liturgy, baptized, conducted weddings and memorial services at the cemetery, etc. The last time the pastor from Irkutsk was able to visit Pikhtinsk was 1935. After that, there were no more services. Imagine, I was the first Lutheran pastor who had visited the village for 60 years!
There is much more to the story. Please read it.
It is a long article but well worth the read. here a few excerpts:
Once, about ten years ago, in our church the phone began ringing. A Roman Catholic priest from Irkutsk was calling. He said that during his trip within the Irkutsk region he found a village where the habitants told him that they were Lutheran.
We knew nothing about these people, but responded to the invitation and arrived in Irkutsk. At that time, our Church had no parish there. Actually, the fate of the historic Lutheran parish in Irkutsk deserves a special story. But now I will say only that the parish had been established in the early 18th century. In the heart of the city a beautiful church was built in 1864. This church was destroyed by the communists in the year of 1936. (Actually, in Siberia during the 1930s, ail Lutheran churches were destroyed, and all the pastors were murdered in concentration camps).
In Irkutsk, the church building was demolished and on the property a monument to
Vladimir Lenin was constructed. But for the communists, the destruction of the churches was not enough. As usual, they tried to desecrate the former church
location. There they utilized the stones from the church's altar for the
construction of the basement of the monument to Lenin.
...
Just imagine that during the first four years of the communist regime in our country,
360,000 clergymen, monks and nuns were murdered. Arid who can count the number of
laymen who were killed? Only God knows.
...
One day during such a trip, a Roman Catholic priest found out that 250 miles from Irkutsk, in the Taiga, there is a village, where some Poles live. He went there and found the village, but the villagers said that they were not Catholics, but Lutherans. Imagine this, Polish Lutherans in Siberia.
...
So a pastor from Irkutsk visited Pikhtinsk once a year. A pastor came, and served liturgy, baptized, conducted weddings and memorial services at the cemetery, etc. The last time the pastor from Irkutsk was able to visit Pikhtinsk was 1935. After that, there were no more services. Imagine, I was the first Lutheran pastor who had visited the village for 60 years!
There is much more to the story. Please read it.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
The physical bookstore is doomed
What does this mean? I am not sure but I do know that buying used books has never bee easier or cheaper. I do it all the time.
Read all about it here.
The first bit:
Book publishers and booksellers are full of foreboding — even more than usual for an industry that’s been anticipating its demise since the advent of television. The holiday season that just ended is likely to have been one of the worst in decades. Publishers have been cutting back and laying off. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt announced that it wouldn’t be acquiring any new manuscripts, a move akin to a butcher shop proclaiming it had stopped ordering fresh meat.
Bookstores, both new and secondhand, are faltering as well. Olsson’s, the leading independent chain in Washington, went bankrupt and shut down in September. Robin’s, which says it is the oldest bookstore in Philadelphia, will close next month. The once-mighty Borders chain is on the rocks. Powell’s, the huge store in Portland, Ore., said sales were so weak it was encouraging its staff to take unpaid sabbaticals.
Don’t blame this carnage on the recession or any of the usual suspects, including increased competition for the reader’s time or diminished attention spans. What’s undermining the book industry is not the absence of casual readers but the changing habits of devoted readers.
In other words, it’s all the fault of people like myself, who increasingly use the Internet both to buy books and later, after their value to us is gone, sell them. This is not about Amazon peddling new books at discounted prices, which has been a factor in the book business for a decade, but about the rise of a worldwide network of amateurs who sell books from their homes or, if they’re lazy like me, in partnership with an Internet dealer who does all the work for a chunk of the proceeds.
Read all about it here.
The first bit:
Book publishers and booksellers are full of foreboding — even more than usual for an industry that’s been anticipating its demise since the advent of television. The holiday season that just ended is likely to have been one of the worst in decades. Publishers have been cutting back and laying off. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt announced that it wouldn’t be acquiring any new manuscripts, a move akin to a butcher shop proclaiming it had stopped ordering fresh meat.
Bookstores, both new and secondhand, are faltering as well. Olsson’s, the leading independent chain in Washington, went bankrupt and shut down in September. Robin’s, which says it is the oldest bookstore in Philadelphia, will close next month. The once-mighty Borders chain is on the rocks. Powell’s, the huge store in Portland, Ore., said sales were so weak it was encouraging its staff to take unpaid sabbaticals.
Don’t blame this carnage on the recession or any of the usual suspects, including increased competition for the reader’s time or diminished attention spans. What’s undermining the book industry is not the absence of casual readers but the changing habits of devoted readers.
In other words, it’s all the fault of people like myself, who increasingly use the Internet both to buy books and later, after their value to us is gone, sell them. This is not about Amazon peddling new books at discounted prices, which has been a factor in the book business for a decade, but about the rise of a worldwide network of amateurs who sell books from their homes or, if they’re lazy like me, in partnership with an Internet dealer who does all the work for a chunk of the proceeds.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Technology does nothing, nothing for education
This article is an interesting look at how people read on the Web. The conclusion is they don't. They skim, they jump around, they click to something else. A sideline to the main point is the paragraph below that says what I have read elsewhere: the race to spend money on technology in the classroom is a bust. It does nto improve any measurable educational achievemetns.
I have always maintained that the best way to improve education is get teachers who can interest kids in reading, reading alot. Better yet, get parents to do that. Most are too busy watching TV.
It is a huge challenge.
By the way I didn't finish the article I am citing. It is was too much to read online! I clicked onto something else.
Those and other trials by Nielsen amount to an important research project that helps explain one of the great disappointments of education in our time. I mean the huge investment schools have made in technology, and the meager returns such funds have earned. Ever since the Telecommunications Act of 1996, money has poured into public-school classrooms. At the same time, colleges have raced to out-technologize one another. But while enthusiasm swells, e-bills are passed, smart classrooms multiply, and students cheer — the results keep coming back negative. When the Texas Education Agency evaluated its Technology Immersion Pilot, a $14-million program to install wireless tools in middle schools, the conclusion was unequivocal: "There were no statistically significant effects of immersion in the first year on either reading or mathematics achievement." When University of Chicago economists evaluated California schools before and after federal technology subsidies (the E-Rate program) had granted 30 percent more schools in the state Internet access, they determined that "the additional investments in technology generated by E-Rate had no immediate impact on meas-ured student outcomes." In March 2007, the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance evaluated 16 award-winning education technologies and found that "test scores were not significantly higher in classrooms using selected reading and mathematics software products." Last spring a New York State school district decided to drop its laptop program after years of offering it. The school-board president announced why: "After seven years, there was literally no evidence it had any impact on student achievement — none."
I have always maintained that the best way to improve education is get teachers who can interest kids in reading, reading alot. Better yet, get parents to do that. Most are too busy watching TV.
It is a huge challenge.
By the way I didn't finish the article I am citing. It is was too much to read online! I clicked onto something else.
Those and other trials by Nielsen amount to an important research project that helps explain one of the great disappointments of education in our time. I mean the huge investment schools have made in technology, and the meager returns such funds have earned. Ever since the Telecommunications Act of 1996, money has poured into public-school classrooms. At the same time, colleges have raced to out-technologize one another. But while enthusiasm swells, e-bills are passed, smart classrooms multiply, and students cheer — the results keep coming back negative. When the Texas Education Agency evaluated its Technology Immersion Pilot, a $14-million program to install wireless tools in middle schools, the conclusion was unequivocal: "There were no statistically significant effects of immersion in the first year on either reading or mathematics achievement." When University of Chicago economists evaluated California schools before and after federal technology subsidies (the E-Rate program) had granted 30 percent more schools in the state Internet access, they determined that "the additional investments in technology generated by E-Rate had no immediate impact on meas-ured student outcomes." In March 2007, the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance evaluated 16 award-winning education technologies and found that "test scores were not significantly higher in classrooms using selected reading and mathematics software products." Last spring a New York State school district decided to drop its laptop program after years of offering it. The school-board president announced why: "After seven years, there was literally no evidence it had any impact on student achievement — none."
Your love is deepest than the deepest ocean...
My high school youth group (Lutheran) sang this Petula Clark song with the lyrics changed to "your love" and addressed to Jesus.
Try it. It fits. It makes for a good Jesus movement conversion song. "Something happened to my heart the day that I met you." The lyrics are down below the video.
Nice pop song in any event.
My love is warmer than the warmest sunshine
Softer than a sigh.
My love is deeper than the deepest ocean
Wider than the sky.
My love is brighter than the brightest star
That shines every night above
And there is nothing in this world
That can ever change my love
Something happended to my heart the day that I met you
Something that I never felt before
You are always on my mind no matter what I do
And everyday it seems that I want you more
My love is warmer than the warmest sunshine
Softer than a sigh.
My love is deeper than the deepest ocean
Wider than the sky.
My love is brighter than the brightest star
That shines every night above
And there is nothing in this world
That can ever change my love
Once I thought that love was meant for anyone else but me
Once I thought you'd never come my way
Now it only goes to show how wrong we all can be
For now I have to tell you everyday
My love is warmer than the warmest sunshine
Softer than a sigh
My love is deeper than the deepest ocean
Wider than the sky
My love is brighter than the brightest star
That shines every night above
And there is nothing in this world
That can ever change my love
My love is warmer than the warmest sunshine
Softer than a sigh
My love is deeper than the deepest ocean
Wider than the sky
My love is brighter than the brightest star
That shines every night above
And there is nothing in this world
That can ever change my love
Try it. It fits. It makes for a good Jesus movement conversion song. "Something happened to my heart the day that I met you." The lyrics are down below the video.
Nice pop song in any event.
My love is warmer than the warmest sunshine
Softer than a sigh.
My love is deeper than the deepest ocean
Wider than the sky.
My love is brighter than the brightest star
That shines every night above
And there is nothing in this world
That can ever change my love
Something happended to my heart the day that I met you
Something that I never felt before
You are always on my mind no matter what I do
And everyday it seems that I want you more
My love is warmer than the warmest sunshine
Softer than a sigh.
My love is deeper than the deepest ocean
Wider than the sky.
My love is brighter than the brightest star
That shines every night above
And there is nothing in this world
That can ever change my love
Once I thought that love was meant for anyone else but me
Once I thought you'd never come my way
Now it only goes to show how wrong we all can be
For now I have to tell you everyday
My love is warmer than the warmest sunshine
Softer than a sigh
My love is deeper than the deepest ocean
Wider than the sky
My love is brighter than the brightest star
That shines every night above
And there is nothing in this world
That can ever change my love
My love is warmer than the warmest sunshine
Softer than a sigh
My love is deeper than the deepest ocean
Wider than the sky
My love is brighter than the brightest star
That shines every night above
And there is nothing in this world
That can ever change my love
Shalom, my friends, shalom
My wife reminded me of another campfire/folk mass favorite from back in the old days: Shalom.
Perfect for the last minutes of a campfire or the dismissal hymn after communion. The lyrics are quite simple and are probably based on some Jewish thing. I would love to hear an mp3 of this. Just for fun. I think I recall it often being sung in a round. (By the way, does anyone still sing anything in a round? That was quite popular when I was groiwng up.)
Any other campfire type, folk worship songs that made it into worship/youth group songbooks that others can think of? I used to know many but have forgotten most of them. (beyond the obvious ones like Pass It On, etc.)
Shalom
Shalom my friends, shalom my friends
Shalom, shalom!
Shalom my friends, shalom my friends
Shalom, shalom!
Shalom my friends, shalom my friends
Shalom, shalom!
Til we meet again, til we meet again
Shalom, shalom!
Perfect for the last minutes of a campfire or the dismissal hymn after communion. The lyrics are quite simple and are probably based on some Jewish thing. I would love to hear an mp3 of this. Just for fun. I think I recall it often being sung in a round. (By the way, does anyone still sing anything in a round? That was quite popular when I was groiwng up.)
Any other campfire type, folk worship songs that made it into worship/youth group songbooks that others can think of? I used to know many but have forgotten most of them. (beyond the obvious ones like Pass It On, etc.)
Shalom
Shalom my friends, shalom my friends
Shalom, shalom!
Shalom my friends, shalom my friends
Shalom, shalom!
Shalom my friends, shalom my friends
Shalom, shalom!
Til we meet again, til we meet again
Shalom, shalom!
Found! Listen to Sons of God Hear His Holy Word
I have developed a minor obsession about the worship song of the late 1960's and 70's "Sons of God, Hear His Holy Word". It represents for me the impermanence of some worship music. The song was very very popular in its day yet has completely disappeared from the church landscape.
I could never find a recording of it and have blogged about it more than once. I continue to get people coming by the blog looking for it.
But today eureka! In a very unlikely place : a Coptic Orthodox website I found a mp3 of this song. Here is the collection of songs. It is third from the bottom.
I downloaded the song and you can listen to it here. Get out your acoustic guitar start strumming and enjoy! Below are 6 verses to this song.
Now, on to more forgotten classics of the folk worship craze ... Shalom, anyone?
Refrain: Sons of God: Hear His Holy word,
Gather around the table of the Lord
Eat His Body, drink His Blood
And we'll sing a song of love
Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia.
Brothers, sister we are one,
And our life has just begun,
In the spirit we are young,
We can live forever.
Shout together to the Lord
Who has promised our reward,
Happiness a hundred fold
And we'll live forever.
Jesus gave a new command:
That we love our fellow man,
Till we reach the promised land
Where we'll live forever.
If we want to live with Him,
We must also die with Him,
Die to selfishness and sin
And we'll live forever.
Make the world a unity,
Make all men one family,
Till we meet The Trinity
And we'll live forever.
With the church we celebrate,
Jesus coming we await,
So we'll make a holiday,
So we'll live forever.
I could never find a recording of it and have blogged about it more than once. I continue to get people coming by the blog looking for it.
But today eureka! In a very unlikely place : a Coptic Orthodox website I found a mp3 of this song. Here is the collection of songs. It is third from the bottom.
I downloaded the song and you can listen to it here. Get out your acoustic guitar start strumming and enjoy! Below are 6 verses to this song.
Now, on to more forgotten classics of the folk worship craze ... Shalom, anyone?
Refrain: Sons of God: Hear His Holy word,
Gather around the table of the Lord
Eat His Body, drink His Blood
And we'll sing a song of love
Allelu, allelu, allelu, alleluia.
Brothers, sister we are one,
And our life has just begun,
In the spirit we are young,
We can live forever.
Shout together to the Lord
Who has promised our reward,
Happiness a hundred fold
And we'll live forever.
Jesus gave a new command:
That we love our fellow man,
Till we reach the promised land
Where we'll live forever.
If we want to live with Him,
We must also die with Him,
Die to selfishness and sin
And we'll live forever.
Make the world a unity,
Make all men one family,
Till we meet The Trinity
And we'll live forever.
With the church we celebrate,
Jesus coming we await,
So we'll make a holiday,
So we'll live forever.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
The tiny God
Merry Christmas to all.
He by whom all things were made was made one of all things. The Son of God by the Father without a mother became the Son of man by a mother without a father. The Word Who is God before all time became flesh at the appointed time. The maker of the sun was made under the sun. He Who fills the world lay in a manger, great in the form of God but tiny in the form of a servant; this was in such a way that neither was His greatness diminished by His tininess, nor was His tininess overcome by His greatness.
St. Augustine, Sermon 187.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Eastern Orthodoxy and Ordained Women
Eastern Orthodoxy is often thought of as opposed to women's ordination in a unified, monolithic way. From what I can see this is less and less so. Not that any hierarch will be ordaining a woman soon but the thought patterns are becoming more diverse. What was once unthinkable is becoming, more and more, an open question.
There is no better evidence of this than this article in a 2008 book by St. Vlad's Press, where Alexis Karras argues from within the Orthodox tradition for the ordination of women.
http://books.google.com/books?id=oqIjyCKOAAUC&dq=thinking+through+faith&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=Kk8KUeI36S&sig=yo5p2BdQvHdDdq5XnCk-V6tNYos&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA113,M1
That is a google books link where you can read the entire article. The book is "Thinking Through Faith". The article in entitled " Orthodox Theologies of Women and Ordained Ministry."
My knowledge of Orthodoxy is limited and if any Orthodox want to add some perspective, feel free.
There is no better evidence of this than this article in a 2008 book by St. Vlad's Press, where Alexis Karras argues from within the Orthodox tradition for the ordination of women.
http://books.google.com/books?id=oqIjyCKOAAUC&dq=thinking+through+faith&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=Kk8KUeI36S&sig=yo5p2BdQvHdDdq5XnCk-V6tNYos&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA113,M1
That is a google books link where you can read the entire article. The book is "Thinking Through Faith". The article in entitled " Orthodox Theologies of Women and Ordained Ministry."
My knowledge of Orthodoxy is limited and if any Orthodox want to add some perspective, feel free.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Terrifying, asphyxiating ... a holiday classic
Love or hate the movie, this critic has it right when it comes to "It's a Wonderful Life":
“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a terrifying, asphyxiating story about growing up and relinquishing your dreams, of seeing your father driven to the grave before his time, of living among bitter, small-minded people. It is a story of being trapped, of compromising, of watching others move ahead and away, of becoming so filled with rage that you verbally abuse your children, their teacher and your oppressively perfect wife. It is also a nightmare account of an endless home renovation.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Why should men on earth be so sad?
Why, indeed?
Christmas approaches. The Sussex Carol struck me today. Out of darkness, in the midst of great and varied sadness there is, beyond all hope, a baby who is God. So sing. Be happy like a child. It is the greatest labor of all not to labor, not to worry, not to be consumed with care. I suppose it comes only as an answer to prayer.
God gives us Christmas and like feasts of the church year not only to learn the doctrines and the messages but to sing, to feel and know the joy that comes with losing oneself in the lifting up of one's voice.
"On Christmas night, all Christians sing" ... singing is part of Christmas above all other feasts.
You can listen to a nice rendition of the Sussex Carol at the bottom. Sing along if you wish.
On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring.
On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring.
News of great joy, news of great mirth,
News of our merciful King's birth.
Then why should men on earth be so sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad?
Then why should men on earth be so sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad,
When from our sin he set us free,
All for to gain our liberty?
When sin departs before His grace,
Then life and health come in its place.
When sin departs before His grace,
Then life and health come in its place.
Angels and men with joy may sing
All for to see the new-born King.
All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night.
All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night:
"Glory to God and peace to men,
Now and for evermore, Amen!"
Christmas approaches. The Sussex Carol struck me today. Out of darkness, in the midst of great and varied sadness there is, beyond all hope, a baby who is God. So sing. Be happy like a child. It is the greatest labor of all not to labor, not to worry, not to be consumed with care. I suppose it comes only as an answer to prayer.
God gives us Christmas and like feasts of the church year not only to learn the doctrines and the messages but to sing, to feel and know the joy that comes with losing oneself in the lifting up of one's voice.
"On Christmas night, all Christians sing" ... singing is part of Christmas above all other feasts.
You can listen to a nice rendition of the Sussex Carol at the bottom. Sing along if you wish.
On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring.
On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring.
News of great joy, news of great mirth,
News of our merciful King's birth.
Then why should men on earth be so sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad?
Then why should men on earth be so sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad,
When from our sin he set us free,
All for to gain our liberty?
When sin departs before His grace,
Then life and health come in its place.
When sin departs before His grace,
Then life and health come in its place.
Angels and men with joy may sing
All for to see the new-born King.
All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night.
All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night:
"Glory to God and peace to men,
Now and for evermore, Amen!"
Monday, December 15, 2008
The Twofold Coming of Jesus Christ
Cyril of Jerusalem:
We preach not one coming only of Jesus Christ, but a second also, far more glorious than the first. The first revealed the meaning of his patient endurance; the second brings with it the crown of the divine kingdom.
Generally speaking, everything that concerns our Lord Jesus Christ is twofold. His birth is twofold: one, of God before time began; the other, of the Virgin in the fulness of time. His descent is twofold: one, unperceived like the dew falling on the fleece; the other, before the eyes of all, is yet to happen.
In his first coming he was wrapped in swaddling clothes in the manger. In his second coming he is clothed with light as with a garment. In his first coming he bore the cross, despising its shame; he will come a second time in glory accompanied by the hosts of angels.
It is not enough for us, then, to be content with his first coming; we must wait in hope of his second coming. What we said at his first coming, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”, we shall repeat at his last coming. Running out with the angels to meet the Master we shall cry out in adoration, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’.
The Savior will come not to be judged again but to call to judgment those who called him to judgment. He who was silent when he was first judged, will indict the malefactors who dared to perpetrate the outrage of the cross, and say, ‘These things you did and I was silent’.
He first came in the order of divine providence to teach men by gentle persuasion; but when he comes again they will, whether they wish it or not, be subjected to his kingship.
The prophet Malachi has something to say about each of these comings. ‘The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple’. That is the first coming.
Again, of the second coming he says, ‘And the angel of the covenant whom you seek. Behold, the Lord almighty will come: but who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap; he will sit like a refiners and a purifier’. Paul pointed to the two comings when he wrote to Titus, ‘The grace of God
has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ’. You see how he has spoken of the first coming, for which he gives thanks, and of the second to which we look forward.
Hence it is that by the faith we profess, which has just been handed on to you, we believe in him ‘who ascended into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead; and his kingdom will have no end’.
Our Lord Jesus Christ will, then, come from heaven. He will come in glory at the end of this world on the last day. Then there will be an end to this world, and this created world will be made new.
We preach not one coming only of Jesus Christ, but a second also, far more glorious than the first. The first revealed the meaning of his patient endurance; the second brings with it the crown of the divine kingdom.
Generally speaking, everything that concerns our Lord Jesus Christ is twofold. His birth is twofold: one, of God before time began; the other, of the Virgin in the fulness of time. His descent is twofold: one, unperceived like the dew falling on the fleece; the other, before the eyes of all, is yet to happen.
In his first coming he was wrapped in swaddling clothes in the manger. In his second coming he is clothed with light as with a garment. In his first coming he bore the cross, despising its shame; he will come a second time in glory accompanied by the hosts of angels.
It is not enough for us, then, to be content with his first coming; we must wait in hope of his second coming. What we said at his first coming, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”, we shall repeat at his last coming. Running out with the angels to meet the Master we shall cry out in adoration, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’.
The Savior will come not to be judged again but to call to judgment those who called him to judgment. He who was silent when he was first judged, will indict the malefactors who dared to perpetrate the outrage of the cross, and say, ‘These things you did and I was silent’.
He first came in the order of divine providence to teach men by gentle persuasion; but when he comes again they will, whether they wish it or not, be subjected to his kingship.
The prophet Malachi has something to say about each of these comings. ‘The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple’. That is the first coming.
Again, of the second coming he says, ‘And the angel of the covenant whom you seek. Behold, the Lord almighty will come: but who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap; he will sit like a refiners and a purifier’. Paul pointed to the two comings when he wrote to Titus, ‘The grace of God
has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ’. You see how he has spoken of the first coming, for which he gives thanks, and of the second to which we look forward.
Hence it is that by the faith we profess, which has just been handed on to you, we believe in him ‘who ascended into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead; and his kingdom will have no end’.
Our Lord Jesus Christ will, then, come from heaven. He will come in glory at the end of this world on the last day. Then there will be an end to this world, and this created world will be made new.
Ugly sweater parties as a substitute for Jesus
This is a funny and perceptive post. From the humor blog: Stuff White People Like.
During the month of December, white people face an especially difficult challenge. This is the year when parties and drinking are most appropriate, but the most obvious theme of Christmas must be avoided. This is because Christmas forces Christianity upon others, and though their ancestors had no problem with this activity, modern white people are quite disgusted by the idea. Hanukkah parties are fun, but a bit too exclusive, and a Kwanzaa Party requires an enormous amount of physical, mental, and ironic labor that can only be done by the most elite of white people.
White people needed to find a party that was completely without religious affiliations, but still connected enough to the idea of Christmas that they could serve eggnog and hot toddies. The answer: ugly sweater parties.
During the month of December, white people face an especially difficult challenge. This is the year when parties and drinking are most appropriate, but the most obvious theme of Christmas must be avoided. This is because Christmas forces Christianity upon others, and though their ancestors had no problem with this activity, modern white people are quite disgusted by the idea. Hanukkah parties are fun, but a bit too exclusive, and a Kwanzaa Party requires an enormous amount of physical, mental, and ironic labor that can only be done by the most elite of white people.
White people needed to find a party that was completely without religious affiliations, but still connected enough to the idea of Christmas that they could serve eggnog and hot toddies. The answer: ugly sweater parties.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Dr. Larry Rast on Evangelicalism
There is a nice five part series on Issues Etc. radio where Dr. Rast, Academic Dean at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, explores American Evangelicalism.
Worth a listen.
Here is the last fifth part.
The rest of them are here on the IE on demand website.
Worth a listen.
Here is the last fifth part.
The rest of them are here on the IE on demand website.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Far from us, near to us
When Christ was on earth, he was far from us. Now he is far from us, he is near to us.
Bonhoeffer, quoting Luther on the sacramental presence, quoted in Christian Contradictions: The Structures of Lutheran and Catholic Thought By Daphne Hampson
Bonhoeffer, quoting Luther on the sacramental presence, quoted in Christian Contradictions: The Structures of Lutheran and Catholic Thought By Daphne Hampson
Obama, McCain, Lil Wayne and ... Martin Luther?
Maybe there is hope for our old world after all.
Google released its year end Zeitgeist findings with top searches and such. Here is a surprise. Under the category of "Who is" searches the top ten phrases were:
Who is...
who is obama
who is mccain
who is palin
who is lil wayne
who is miley cyrus
who is dolla
who is jonas brothers
who is chris brown
who is biden
who is martin luther
Hey, look at number 10. I have no idea what it means but it can't be bad. There must be a fair number of folks wondering about the German reformer. Maybe some were looking for King Jr. but even so number 10 is pretty impressive.
Google released its year end Zeitgeist findings with top searches and such. Here is a surprise. Under the category of "Who is" searches the top ten phrases were:
Who is...
who is obama
who is mccain
who is palin
who is lil wayne
who is miley cyrus
who is dolla
who is jonas brothers
who is chris brown
who is biden
who is martin luther
Hey, look at number 10. I have no idea what it means but it can't be bad. There must be a fair number of folks wondering about the German reformer. Maybe some were looking for King Jr. but even so number 10 is pretty impressive.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Good works are necessary
And first, as regards the necessity or voluntariness of good works, it is manifest that in the Augsburg Confession and its Apology these expressions are often used and repeated that good works are necessary. Likewise, that it is necessary to do good works, which also are necessarily to follow faith and reconciliation. Likewise, that we necessarily are to do and must do such good works as God has commanded. Thus also in the Holy Scriptures themselves the words necessity, needful, and necessary, likewise, ought and must, are used concerning what we are bound to do because of God's ordinance, command, and will.
Therefore the expressions or propositions mentioned [that good works are necessary, and that it is necessary to do good] are unjustly censured and rejected in this Christian and proper sense, as has been done by some; for they are employed and used with propriety to rebuke and reject the secure, Epicurean delusion, by which many fabricate for themselves a dead faith or delusion which is without repentance and without good works, as though there could be in a heart true faith and at the same time the wicked intention to persevere and continue in sins, which is impossible; or, as though one could, indeed, have and retain true faith, righteousness, and salvation even though he be and remain a corrupt and unfruitful tree, whence no good fruits whatever come, yea, even though he persist in sins against conscience, or purposely engages again in these sins, all of which is incorrect and false.
Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, 4, 14-15.
This was todays Confessions reading in the TDP.
Therefore the expressions or propositions mentioned [that good works are necessary, and that it is necessary to do good] are unjustly censured and rejected in this Christian and proper sense, as has been done by some; for they are employed and used with propriety to rebuke and reject the secure, Epicurean delusion, by which many fabricate for themselves a dead faith or delusion which is without repentance and without good works, as though there could be in a heart true faith and at the same time the wicked intention to persevere and continue in sins, which is impossible; or, as though one could, indeed, have and retain true faith, righteousness, and salvation even though he be and remain a corrupt and unfruitful tree, whence no good fruits whatever come, yea, even though he persist in sins against conscience, or purposely engages again in these sins, all of which is incorrect and false.
Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, 4, 14-15.
This was todays Confessions reading in the TDP.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Monday, December 08, 2008
Of calendars and culture
This article is a fascinating analysis of the Christian calendar versus our current one.
Some bits:
And we talk about how studying calendars is a way to understand cultures. Not only are they necessary for basic survival—if you plant either before the last frost or too late after it you’ll starve—but calendars are also ways societies mark their priorities and organize their memories. “Christendom” was very much Christian, and the calendar made that pretty clear.
So that’s our calendar, the way we organize our time and the grid through with we weave our memories. But what’s illuminating is to see it next to the old Christian calendar. That abutment makes it pretty clear: The old calendar commemorates the saving work of God through history, our American calendar celebrates money.
Why is Easter largely invisible and Christmas so prominent? Simple. We don’t give gifts at Easter. And why does Christmas have such a faint prolongation? Because the gifts have already been bought and given, there’s nothing to prolong. Why has the Super Bowl gained a significance that almost parallels Thanksgiving? There’s a lot of cash bet on the Super Bowl, nobody bets on the turkey (well, OK, sometimes we do). Why were Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays combined and King’s birthday, Memorial Day, and Labor Day all moved off their historic dates to Mondays? For money, to encourage the resort industry. July 4th would probably be moved too if weren’t so tightly bound to that exact date. And why is Mother’s Day eclipsing Easter? Because on Mother’s Day you take mother OUT to eat; Easter dinner is at home.
Some bits:
And we talk about how studying calendars is a way to understand cultures. Not only are they necessary for basic survival—if you plant either before the last frost or too late after it you’ll starve—but calendars are also ways societies mark their priorities and organize their memories. “Christendom” was very much Christian, and the calendar made that pretty clear.
So that’s our calendar, the way we organize our time and the grid through with we weave our memories. But what’s illuminating is to see it next to the old Christian calendar. That abutment makes it pretty clear: The old calendar commemorates the saving work of God through history, our American calendar celebrates money.
Why is Easter largely invisible and Christmas so prominent? Simple. We don’t give gifts at Easter. And why does Christmas have such a faint prolongation? Because the gifts have already been bought and given, there’s nothing to prolong. Why has the Super Bowl gained a significance that almost parallels Thanksgiving? There’s a lot of cash bet on the Super Bowl, nobody bets on the turkey (well, OK, sometimes we do). Why were Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays combined and King’s birthday, Memorial Day, and Labor Day all moved off their historic dates to Mondays? For money, to encourage the resort industry. July 4th would probably be moved too if weren’t so tightly bound to that exact date. And why is Mother’s Day eclipsing Easter? Because on Mother’s Day you take mother OUT to eat; Easter dinner is at home.
I drown thee in God's Name
Man, this is good stuff on baptism. As the kids say these days: Luther rocks!
This significance of baptism, viz., the dying or complete drowning of
sin, is not fulfilled completely in this life, nay, not until man passes through bodily death also, and utterly decays to dust. The sacrament, or sign, of baptism is quickly over, as we plainly see. But the thing it signifies, viz., the spiritual baptism, the drowning of sin, lasts so long as we live, and is completed only in death. Then it is that man is completely sunk in baptism, and that thing
comes to pass which baptism signifies. Therefore this life is nothing else than a spiritual baptism which does not cease till death, and he who is baptised is condemned to die; as though the priest, when he baptises, were to say, "Lo, thou art sinful flesh; therefore I drown thee in God's Name, and in His Name condemn thee to thy death, that with thee all thy sins may die and be destroyed. "
Wherefore St. Paul says, in Romans vi, "We are buried with Christ by Rom. 6..4 baptism into death"; and the sooner after baptism a man dies, the sooner is his baptism completed; for sin never entirely ceases while this body lives, which is so wholly conceived in sin that sin is its very nature, as saith the PS. 51:5 Prophet, "Behold I was conceived in sin, and in iniquity did my mother bear me"; and there is no help for the sinful nature unless it dies and is destroyed with all its sin.
So, then, the life of a Christian, from baptism to the grave, is nothing else than the beginning of a blessed death, for at the Last Day God will make him altogether new.
In like manner the lifting up out of baptism is quickly done, but the thing it signifies, the spiritual birth, the increase of grace and righteousness, though it begins indeed in baptism, lasts until death, nay, even until the Last Day.
Only then will that be finished which the lifting up out of baptism signifies. Then shall we arise from death, from sins and from all evil, pure in body and in soul, and then shall we live forever. Then shall we be truly lifted up out of baptism and completely born, and we shall put on the true baptismal garment of immortal life in heaven. As though the sponsors when they lift the child up out of baptism, were to say, "Lo, now thy sins are drowned; we receive thee in God's Name into an eternal life of innocence."
For so will the angels at the Last Day raise up all Christians, all pious baptised men, and will there fulfil what baptism and the sponsors signify; as Christ says in
Matt. Matthew xxiv, "He shall send forth His angels, and they 24:31 shall gather unto Him His elect from the four places of the winds, and from the rising to the setting of the sun."
Treatise on Holy Baptism (1519), Translated by C.M. Jacobs, Works of Martin Luther, p. 49.
Friday, December 05, 2008
Lies don’t need an aeroplane to chase you anywhere
This a humorous summary of one aspect of the American dream ... from the Onion....Moving To New City To Solve All Of Area Man's Problems.
The same lesson in a more serious vain is sung by the Avett Brothers here: "The Weight of Lies".
The lyrics:
Disappear from your hometown
Go and find the people that you know
Show them all you good parts
Leave town when bad ones start to show
Go and wed a woman
A pretty girl that you’ve never met
Make sure she knows you love her well
But don’t make any other promises
The weight of lies will bring you down
And follow you to every town
Cause nothing happens here that doesn’t happen there
So when you run make sure you run
To something and not away from
Cause lies don’t need an aeroplane to chase you anywhere
I once heard the worse thing
A man could do is draw a hungry crowd
Tell everyone his name, pride, and confidence
But leaving out his doubt
I’m not sure I bought those words
When I was young I knew most everything
These words have never met so much to anyone
As they now mean to me
The weight of lies will bring you down
And follow you to every town
Cause nothing happens here that doesn’t happen there
So when you run make sure you run
To something and not away from
Cause lies don’t need an aeroplane to chase you down
The same lesson in a more serious vain is sung by the Avett Brothers here: "The Weight of Lies".
The lyrics:
Disappear from your hometown
Go and find the people that you know
Show them all you good parts
Leave town when bad ones start to show
Go and wed a woman
A pretty girl that you’ve never met
Make sure she knows you love her well
But don’t make any other promises
The weight of lies will bring you down
And follow you to every town
Cause nothing happens here that doesn’t happen there
So when you run make sure you run
To something and not away from
Cause lies don’t need an aeroplane to chase you anywhere
I once heard the worse thing
A man could do is draw a hungry crowd
Tell everyone his name, pride, and confidence
But leaving out his doubt
I’m not sure I bought those words
When I was young I knew most everything
These words have never met so much to anyone
As they now mean to me
The weight of lies will bring you down
And follow you to every town
Cause nothing happens here that doesn’t happen there
So when you run make sure you run
To something and not away from
Cause lies don’t need an aeroplane to chase you down
Thursday, December 04, 2008
It used to be the birthday of the man who saved our necks
Here is a rock song complaining about the crazy commercial "Christmas" we all endure and participate in. From way back in the early 1970's. Can you believe, kids, I was actually alive back then?
Christmas Time ... Larry Norman ... from the album "So Long Ago the Garden."
Santa Claus is coming and the kids are getting greedy
they know it's in the store because they seen it on the tv
you go into the forest and cut down all the trees
i know you got a power saw but who plants the seeds
it's christmastime
i gotta buy a present can't remember who it's for
but i'll see you in an hour when i get back from the store
it used to be the birthday of the birthday of the man who saved our necks
but now it stands for santa claus you spell it with an x
Christmas Time ... Larry Norman ... from the album "So Long Ago the Garden."
Santa Claus is coming and the kids are getting greedy
they know it's in the store because they seen it on the tv
you go into the forest and cut down all the trees
i know you got a power saw but who plants the seeds
it's christmastime
i gotta buy a present can't remember who it's for
but i'll see you in an hour when i get back from the store
it used to be the birthday of the birthday of the man who saved our necks
but now it stands for santa claus you spell it with an x
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Frisbee: The Life And Death Of A Hippie Preacher (2005)
Ok, somebody buy this for me or lend it to me so I can watch it.
Thanks.
Here is the description:
Imagine if John the Baptist came of age during the 1960s counter culture, the charisma of Jim Morrison flowing from the mantle of an Old Testament prophet. Meet Lonnie Frisbee, a seeker turned Jesus freak evangelist who compelled thousands towards a profession of Christian faith. It was during a trip into a canyon that Frisbee claimed that God gave him a vision of his future as an influential evangelist to the hippie generation. Four years later the vision would be fulfilled as pictures of Lonnie baptizing teenage converts were splashed across the pages of Time and Life magazines forever celebrating him as an icon of the Jesus movement. Despite the stories of spiritual prowess that surround his life, his enduring struggles overwhelmed him. And even though he was the charismatic spark plug igniting the rise of two worldwide denominations (Calvary Chapel & Vineyard), his name has all but been removed from their histories.
3 Songs: Chickens
Big Joe Turner, The Chicken and the Hawk. Don't watch the video. Just groove on the tune.
No video here just a decent snippet of a great little slide guitar piece called "Chicken Stuff" by Hop Wilson and the Chickens. Chickens all over and a great guitar sound.
And of course Hasil Adkins and the magnificent "Chicken Walk". I played this a lot driving my kids to school when they were little.
If you can believe it, this song is now the basis for a computer commercial.
Chicken Chicken Walk - Groovy Toughbook Commercial - video powered by Metacafe
No video here just a decent snippet of a great little slide guitar piece called "Chicken Stuff" by Hop Wilson and the Chickens. Chickens all over and a great guitar sound.
And of course Hasil Adkins and the magnificent "Chicken Walk". I played this a lot driving my kids to school when they were little.
If you can believe it, this song is now the basis for a computer commercial.
Chicken Chicken Walk - Groovy Toughbook Commercial - video powered by Metacafe
Monday, December 01, 2008
Somethin' mighty necessary 'bout 'em: Five songs about shoes
Chuck Willis ... Rock and Roll Shoes .... Jerry Lee Lewis has a good version of this song.
Carl Perkins ... Stockins and Shoes
Hank Williams Sr. ... Walkin Shoes ... This song is a humorous lament about women:
It starts ... WELL, YOU CAN'T LIVE WITH 'EM, YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT 'EM, YES, THERE'S SOMETHING MIGHTY NECESSARY 'BOUT 'EM ...
And of course: Elvis Costello ... The Angels wanna wear my Red Shoes
And finally ... Blue Suede Shoes ... Carl Perkins ... live!
Carl Perkins ... Stockins and Shoes
Hank Williams Sr. ... Walkin Shoes ... This song is a humorous lament about women:
It starts ... WELL, YOU CAN'T LIVE WITH 'EM, YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT 'EM, YES, THERE'S SOMETHING MIGHTY NECESSARY 'BOUT 'EM ...
And of course: Elvis Costello ... The Angels wanna wear my Red Shoes
And finally ... Blue Suede Shoes ... Carl Perkins ... live!
Thoughts on Isaiah 40
It is always interesting when you go digging around in a an ancient text. I was digging around in the vulgate Latin of Isaiah 40:1-11 for this coming Sunday (Advent 2). You find things that are simply absent in the English.
Two examples:
Verse 5: revelabitur Gloria domini … The glory of the lord will be revealed. An eschatological promise. The coming of the Lord will bring the public display of his glory. All flesh will see it. This them of glory is coupled with the theme of the unchangeable nature of God’s word. The mouth of the Lord has spoken. The word of our God remains forever.
But there is in the Latin a word play with the word “gloria” which points out a comparison between the permanence of God and his glory and word and the impermanence of flesh. Gloria is used in verse 6: omnis caro faenum et omnis gloria eius quasi flos agri.
All flesh is grass and all its glory is as the flower of the field.
There is the glory of the Lord and then there is the fading glory of impermanent flesh.
A similar wordplay is found in the verse 10 and 11. Verse 10 is a warning with the Lord God coming in might and … brachium eisu dominabitur … his arm will rule. The arm of the Lord here is a fearsome thing, coming in might to rule.
Yet the same word in verse 11 brings a different image:
Sicut pastor gregem suum pascet in brachio suo congregabit agnos
As shepherd feeds his flock with his arm he will gather the lambs.
Here the arm belongs to a gentle shepherd, gathering the lambs, feeding them.
The mighty God is a humble Shepherd, the omnipotent Warrior is the saving Servant. In that double use of the word brachium lies the Incarnation, Christmas, the Atonement, the cross and the ministry of Christ in his church.
Two examples:
Verse 5: revelabitur Gloria domini … The glory of the lord will be revealed. An eschatological promise. The coming of the Lord will bring the public display of his glory. All flesh will see it. This them of glory is coupled with the theme of the unchangeable nature of God’s word. The mouth of the Lord has spoken. The word of our God remains forever.
But there is in the Latin a word play with the word “gloria” which points out a comparison between the permanence of God and his glory and word and the impermanence of flesh. Gloria is used in verse 6: omnis caro faenum et omnis gloria eius quasi flos agri.
All flesh is grass and all its glory is as the flower of the field.
There is the glory of the Lord and then there is the fading glory of impermanent flesh.
A similar wordplay is found in the verse 10 and 11. Verse 10 is a warning with the Lord God coming in might and … brachium eisu dominabitur … his arm will rule. The arm of the Lord here is a fearsome thing, coming in might to rule.
Yet the same word in verse 11 brings a different image:
Sicut pastor gregem suum pascet in brachio suo congregabit agnos
As shepherd feeds his flock with his arm he will gather the lambs.
Here the arm belongs to a gentle shepherd, gathering the lambs, feeding them.
The mighty God is a humble Shepherd, the omnipotent Warrior is the saving Servant. In that double use of the word brachium lies the Incarnation, Christmas, the Atonement, the cross and the ministry of Christ in his church.
Athanasius on "The Word remains forever"
What advancement, then, was it to the Immortal to have assumed the mortal? Or what promotion is it to the Everlasting to have put on the temporal? What reward can be great to the everlasting God and King in the bosom of the Father? Do you riot see that this too was done and written because of us and for us, that the Lord, having become a human being, might make immortal us who are mortal and temporal and bring us into the everlasting kingdom of heaven?
Do you Arians not blush, speaking lies against the divine oracles? For when our Lord Jesus Christ was among us, we indeed were promoted, as rescued from sin; but lie is the same, nor did lie change when he became man, but, as has been written, "the Word of God abides forever." Surely as, before he became human, he, the Word, dispensed to the saints the Spirit as his own, so also when made human, he sanctifies all by the Spirit and says to his disciples, "Receive the
Holy Spirit,"
ATHANASIUS, DISCOURSE AGAINST THE ARIANS 1.12.4.8
in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol. XI, page 9
Do you Arians not blush, speaking lies against the divine oracles? For when our Lord Jesus Christ was among us, we indeed were promoted, as rescued from sin; but lie is the same, nor did lie change when he became man, but, as has been written, "the Word of God abides forever." Surely as, before he became human, he, the Word, dispensed to the saints the Spirit as his own, so also when made human, he sanctifies all by the Spirit and says to his disciples, "Receive the
Holy Spirit,"
ATHANASIUS, DISCOURSE AGAINST THE ARIANS 1.12.4.8
in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol. XI, page 9
If somebody was walking beside the river
In contradiction to people like this, Isaiah says to the bishops, "Comfort, comfort my people, you priests. Speak comfortably to Jerusalem."
It therefore behooves you, on hearing those words of his, to encourage those who have offended and lead them to repentance. Give them hope that it is not in vain that you enter into their situation of sin, because you love them. Readily receive those who are penitent and rejoice over them. Judge the sinners with mercy and compassion.
For if somebody was walking beside the river and ready to stumble, and you pushed him and threw him into the river, instead of offering him your hand to help, you would be guilty of murdering your brother or sister. Instead, you should lend a helping hand when they're ready to fall. Otherwise they will perish without anyone to help. And you do this so that the people watching are warned and so that the offenders may not utterly perish.
It is your duty, 0 bishop, neither to overlook the sins of the people nor to reject those who are penitent so that you may not unskillfully destroy the Lord's flock or dishonor his new name, which lie has imposed on his people. And you yourself should also be above reproach as those ancient pastors were of whom God speaks to Jeremiah and others.
CONSTITUTIONS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES 2.15. 6
in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, VOL XI, page 2.
It therefore behooves you, on hearing those words of his, to encourage those who have offended and lead them to repentance. Give them hope that it is not in vain that you enter into their situation of sin, because you love them. Readily receive those who are penitent and rejoice over them. Judge the sinners with mercy and compassion.
For if somebody was walking beside the river and ready to stumble, and you pushed him and threw him into the river, instead of offering him your hand to help, you would be guilty of murdering your brother or sister. Instead, you should lend a helping hand when they're ready to fall. Otherwise they will perish without anyone to help. And you do this so that the people watching are warned and so that the offenders may not utterly perish.
It is your duty, 0 bishop, neither to overlook the sins of the people nor to reject those who are penitent so that you may not unskillfully destroy the Lord's flock or dishonor his new name, which lie has imposed on his people. And you yourself should also be above reproach as those ancient pastors were of whom God speaks to Jeremiah and others.
CONSTITUTIONS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES 2.15. 6
in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, VOL XI, page 2.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)