Stewardship under the Cross

Today I attended a very insightful workshop on Christian stewardship, sponsored by the Northern Illinois District (NID) of the LCMS and presented by the Rev. Heath Curtis. He gave me much to ponder on topics such as:

• the instructional aspect of preaching (where it fits into a Law/Gospel sermon),
• the various roles the Law plays in stewardship,
• the Gospel, God’s good gifts in Christ, and proper stewardship,
• how to teach stewardship,
• how to model stewardship,
• proper and improper motivations for stewardship,
• a New Testament perspective on tithing,
• the relationship of tithing and almsgiving,
• how financial stewardship trumps time and talents, and
• how good habits reinforce faithfulness to God’s Word.

I look forward to reading Pastor Curtis’ book “Stewardship under the Cross” and putting into practice his wonderful insights.

Why Did God Create?

“God created man in order that He might have someone upon whom to bestow His blessings.”

Saint Irenaeus
Adv. Haer. IV.14.4

Don't Be a Robot

Below is an intriguing video about the words we believe, confess, pray, and live in the Apostles’ Creed. May these words never become for us a mechanic recitation, but a living confession of our faith in the Triune God who created us, redeemed us, and sanctified us. They are the truest of all true words and therefore meant to be believed, confessed, prayed, and lived. Enjoy:

HT: Pastor Peters

Hygienic Idiocy

Personal hygiene is really quite simple. Wash your hands (regularly). Shower or bathe (regularly). Brush your teeth and floss (regularly). Cover your coughs and sneezes (always). Did I mention to wash your hands (regularly)? And guess what you should be doing after each and every bathroom stop? Wash your hands. I bet you already knew that!

But sometimes people go hygienically overboard. Nowhere is this more readily seen in churches than in the shot glasses used in the distribution of the Lord’s Supper. Although these little jiggers have only been around for about a century, for many they are the preferred method of receiving Christ’s blood in the Sacrament, even though there is not a shred of evidence that suggests individual cups are more hygienic than the chalice. None. Notta. Zero. Zilch.

There are at least four reasons why the Christian need not fear the chalice. First, our Lord Himself used “a cup” when He instituted this blessed Sacrament. Second, Saint Paul calls this cup “the cup of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:27). Third, Saint Paul speaks about the unity of those who partake of the one loaf and drink of the one cup (1 Corinthians 10:16-22). And fourth, the physical element used in the Sacrament is alcoholic wine. At a bare minimum, this should assure you that your Lord is giving you this gift, not to harm you in any way, but for your good, your forgiveness, your strength.

Our Lord’s words are simple and straight-forward:

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” [Matthew 26:26-28; cf. Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25]

Just when you thought there is nothing new under the sun in sacramental hygiene, a company called Purity Solutions is using false, unsubstantiated claims to market a new product: the Body + Blood Host and Dispensing System (click here to read more about this newest gimmick). The wafers are wine-infused (non-alcoholic), baked, and packaged in sleeves for their Purity dispenser.

This totally neuters our Lord’s command to “drink of” His blood. It’s impossible to drink of something that isn’t liquid. What’s more, a communicant is more likely to catch a cold from shaking hands, talking to someone, or opening a door at church than partaking of our Lord’s body and blood. If one is truly intent on hygiene, perhaps the pastor, elder, and ushers, as well as all the parishioners, should be required to scrub their hands before entering the building and then wear sterilized gowns and surgical masks until they exit the building. After all, if hygiene is the goal, let’s get serious about it!

As you can tell from my sarcasm, this is yet another example of hygienic idiocy.

The Very Opposite of Love

The Golden Rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” These words are a summary of the Second Table of the Law and God’s will for His people. Though we cannot fulfill these words as God demands, Christ fulfills them for us and gives us His perfect righteousness as a free gift in Word and Sacrament.

Sadly, many in our culture twist these words and pervert their true meaning. Loving your neighbor does not entail tolerating his sin or accepting his ungodly lifestyle. That is the very opposite of love.

Yet, President Obama would have us believe that the Golden Rule is the foundation for his recent announcement that he thinks same-sex couples should be able to get married:

“This is something that, you know, [Michelle and I have] talked about over the years and she, you know, she feels the same way, she feels the same way that I do. And that is that, in the end the values that I care most deeply about and she cares most deeply about is how we treat other people and, you know, I, you know, we are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others but, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it’s also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated…”

When the adulterous woman is brought to Jesus, what does He do and say? First, He forgives her. “Neither do I condemn you.” Then, He reminds her what the life of faith (i.e. living in Christ’s forgiveness) entails: “Go, and from now on sin no more.” Not “keep on committing adultery” but “sin no more.” Love does not tolerate or accept sin. On the contrary. It points others to Jesus Christ—His love, His forgiveness, His life, His salvation—where the Old Adam (the sinful nature) is drowned and dies and the New Man (Christ in us) emerges and arises to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Sorry, Mr. President. Tolerating and accepting sin is the very opposite of love. Instead, urge those caught up in this sinful lifestyle to repent and look to Christ for full and free forgiveness. In Him is perfect love. And isn’t that what this country so desperately needs to hear?!

Even More Jesus!

This past Sunday it was my privilege to confirm six youth—Ceili, Caleb, Quentin, Daniel, Elizabeth, and Booker—at Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church. Among the many blessings that accompany Confirmation in confessional Lutheranism is the reception of Christ’s true body and blood in the Lord’s Supper. For years these youth have lived within the blessings of their baptism, confessed their sins and received Holy Absolution, heard the preaching of Law and Gospel, and believed in Jesus Christ and Him crucified for their sins. All of those blessings continue. But now they get even more Jesus. For now they receive Jesus who comes to them in this Sacrament for the forgiveness of sins, that He might dwell in them and they in Him. I thank God for these youth and pray that He will keep them faithful to Him in Word and Sacrament all their days.

Even more Jesus. In Word and in Supper. Thanks be to God!

The Reliability of God's Word

This chart shows the incredible reliability of the New Testament Scriptures...