The Crucifix...

is only TOO Catholic if Christ only died on the cross of Roman Catholics. I was listening recently to an archived episode from Issues, etc. with Rev. James Wetzstein on Church Architecture (see March 18, 2007). Several of the callers (so far) have expressed their distress at having to "nice" of a church. One caller in particular made that "ol' time religion" (read, generic American protestant dribble) argument that we don't need to keep putting Christ on the cross. I'm sure any pastor who has ever had this conversation is tired of hearing about "my Jesus" that people seem to think is somehow different than the Jesus who died for their sins. "My Jesus isn't on that cross anymore!" "My Jesus is Resurrected! Take that awful thing off the altar (or out of the sanctuary)!" "I'm not Catholic!!! My Jesus is alive!"

Those arguments are all dangerously bordering on mocking that most precious gift of God in the sacrifice of His Son for YOU! Your Jesus did die for your sins! Your Jesus bore the burden of every sinful, blasphemous, mocking thought! Your Jesus did hang on that cross for you, He bled for you, suffered for you and died for you! If that isn't YOUR Jesus on the cross, then its not YOUR Jesus who was raised and it is not YOUR Jesus who continuously offers His own Body and Blood for your forgiveness.

Enough of this foolish argument. Christ died for sinners, of which I am chief! We preach Christ crucified. Look to Him on the cross and give thanks for the loving-kindness and steadfast love of the Triune God offered on the altar of the Cross.

Come back later...

After listening to a three episode series on the Issues, etc archive with Dr. Ken Wieting, author of The Blessings of Weekly Communion, I was again taken aback by the attitude of many life-long LCMSers that weekly communion would somehow diminish the value and "specialness" of the sacred visitation and digestion of Christ's most perfectand sacred gift to us: His very own body and blood.

I couldn't help but think of that old favorite portrait of Christ at the door. I guess someone inside is telling him "Come back at Christmas and Easter, we don't want to see you too much, it would make it less SPECIAL!!"

WHERE DID THIS FOOLISHNESS COME FROM!?!? Listen to the archives with the good and faithful Dr. Wieting to learn our love-hate relationship with the Eucharist.

To quote the Church Lady, "Well, isn't that SPECIAL?!"

Technicolor Theology

That's what I always think of when I watch those Biblical epics from the 50's and 60's (think Charleton Heston in the Ten Commandments, or older CPH "art"). I think this portrayal of Biblical figures and events has greatly influenced our thinking of Scripture and Christ. Everything is perfect, the colors all vibrant, the characters beautiful or majestic. Not a hair out of place, not a speck of dirt on any one's clothes. In other words, these people were not human. And it has hurt at least one whole generation's view of their faith. This "technicolor theology" is just as bad as the prosperity gospel in that it has given such a perfect view of the lives of the faithful. I have seen the dangers of this first hand. "Pastor, why do we need a crucifix? It is so dark!" So, what has replaced the truth of our faith? Bright pictures and saccharin worship that has given the church a bad case of spiritual diabetes. Jesus smiling, or worse, laughing, has distorted our understanding of who Christ is and the purpose of His coming. It was not to smile or laugh or to make us smile or laugh. It was not to make us feel warm fuzzies, as if He were some sort of heavenly Lawrence Welk (note: Welkian Theology is closely related to Technicolor Theology--both are fake!) with the lovely Andrew Sisters singing "So Long, Farewell" at the Ascension.

Christ came to earth to DIE for SINNERS! It was a dirty and grimy job. It was often thankless and unappreciated. People are not good, they do get dirty and in fact they ARE dirty, down to the very fiber of their beings. We are so disgustingly filthy with sin. And this is why "technicolor theology" is so attractive. It tricks us into thinking we came from a idyllic, epic, majestic, beautiful spiritual lineage. It ultimately would trick us into believing that we can obtain that technicolor glory on our own. It lulls us into a false sense of security. Behind the glitz and glitter, Satan is cunningly whispering, "See, you're not that bad. Look at the power you have, you can cover any blemish so well no one will ever see it!"

And we do try to cover the blemishes. When Christ walked the earth they whitewashed their tombs, today we present our faith in brilliant technicolor. But when it comes down to it, be it technicolor or the latest high def picture, it is all infected with sin and grime. When it comes down to it, anything that takes our eyes off of Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the CROSS, is an idol.

Don't get me wrong, you can watch your technicolor Biblical Epics and enjoy them. You can think Lawrence Welk is truly "wunnerful," but beware the effect those temporal entertainments may have on your faith.

Is there a connection...

Between the generation (mostly, from what I can discern, in my grandparents age, commonly called the "greatest generation") that was told by "knowledgeable" doctors, nurses, mothers, friends, etc. that breast feeding their babies was the worst thing they could do and the same generation that was told by "knowledgeable" pastors, district presidents, seminaries, etc. that weekly communion was the worst thing they could do???

It seems to me that there must be some connection and it seems the connection lies in some uber-confidence in the know-how, intuition and ultimate perfection of man through scientific reason and theory. In both instances, the good gifts of God, given for the perfect nourishment of His people are utterly disregarded in favor of a starvation diet of the intellect.

As my lovely wife and I are taking pre-birthing classes, I am amazed, as are many of the younger nurses and doctors, that there was ever a time when something as perfect as breast feeding would have been cast aside. My parents generation, and in many cases, my own generation are now reaping the bitter fruit of that "wisdom" of men with lowered immunities, hightened allergies and a long list of other possible ailments that came from this denial of God's provision.

Many of my peers in the Office of the Holy Ministry are also amazed that there was ever a time when pastors, well-meaning or not, would have denied the faithful feeding of their flocks. Our Church is also reaping that bitter fruit with apathy, spiritual anemia, allergic reactions to sanctification, and general disease.

And yet, there are still some die-hards who insist breast feeding is not nearly as good as formula, those same die-hards insist that weekly communion is not nearly as "special" as monthly, or even, God forbid, quarterly communion.

What a shame. God, preserve us from looking too highly on our own abilities and know how and turn us to Your perfect wisdom which shines forth from the bright light of the Incarnate Word!