Geometrical or Incarnational?

I was recently in a Lutheran church and noticed up in the chancel a lot of geometrical shapes. There were shield-like shapes, some other weird shapes and a cross shape. As I looked at these weird shield-shapes (I don't know if they have an actual name or not) I was struck by how strange this phenomenon is. I've often noticed it in stained glass windows too. Colored glass in strange shapes with no real meaning. It seems rather odd that a church would be into something that doesn't enhance the Gospel with clear depictions of what the Gospel is.

This, I think, is one of the real problems with a simple, empty cross. I've heard the argument made several times by clergy and laity, "We worship the risen Christ!" but that just doesn't hold water. Especially at Christmas, when so many Christians delight in nativity scenes with depictions of the Holy Family, the shepherds, wisemen, sheep, camels, manger, angels, etc. I have never heard anyone complain about these images, rather, they are often held as dear and salutary depictions of Christ's incarnation for us. But isn't this what a cross with our Lord on it is as well?

There is a real danger, and I believe we can easily see the fruits of it in the church today, of making the Gospel into some kind of geometrical abstraction that anyone can find meaning in, be it true or false. The cross is certainly dear to us, but it is just a shape. It is not the thing that saves us, but rather He who died on it is our only hope of salvation and forgiveness of sins. A cross is a shape, like weird shield-shapes, or a circle or a square. When we take Christ off of the cross we run a real danger of taking Him out of our Gospel as well.

I love the cross of Jesus Christ, for through it the gates of paradise have been opened up to humanity. A simple, plain cross can remind me of that just as well as a crucifix. But please, don't tell me that I don't worship Christ crucified for sinners! Don't tell me Christ is no longer on that cross! Don't force the God of the Incarnation off of His throne! In so doing, you will loose that sweet message of forgiveness through the merit and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

I worship an incarnational God who put on flesh and lived like me in all ways except sinning. I worship a God who loves me with such ferocity that He would hang in torment on that beautiful cross and bear the full weight of the sins of the world. Please, don't take Him off of that cross.

Retraction

In my previous blog post I used the word "retarded" to describe the Evangelical-Fundamental voting mentality that accepts the termination of life as long as it betters other life. While I still feel very strongly about the sanctity of life, I undercut my point by belittling those on the opposite side. It is still wrong to take human life in any way, be it through abortion, euthanasia or embryonic stem-cell research. It is not just politically wrong, it is morally wrong. Be that as it may, that is no excuse to call people childish names. To anyone I may have offended, I apologize.

Should we ever stand up for anything?

I am not a political person. I don't have the stomach for it. But every now and then I hear something on either side of the political spectrum that causes me to pause as a theologian and clergyman.

So far, both O'Bama and Biden have made it clear that, while they believe life does start at conception, it is "beyond their pay-grade" to protect that life. In other words, they believe it, but not enough to do anything about it.

This is the biggest bunch of bull I have ever heard, and it is statements like this from all politicians (especially in the BS--LCMS--that is, "Beloved Synod" LCMS) that make me want to vomit. How can anyone with two brain cells say that they believe that life begins at conception and then turn around and say that they cannot impose that belief on others by trying to protect what they say is life?? You either believe it is the beginning of life and therefore should be protected as all life should or you don't believe life begins at conception and is therefore open for termination (death) for the betterment of those who are "living." The saddest part is that the retarded Evangelical/Fundamental vote swallows this reasoning hook, line and sinker.

As the Church Lady would say: "Well now, isn't that special?"

His thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways His ways

In preparation for this Sunday's sermon (Pentecost 19/St. Matthew), I found these words from Bo Giertz especially powerful and important. I'm sure St. Matthew, tax-collector and sinner, would have been brought to near tears when he first heard his blessed Lord tell the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. What comfort he must have always found in that teaching.

By nature we are all Pharisees. That is, we tend to be legalistic
self-righteous snobs. We know when we shine brightly, and we like to
remember our shining moments. We think people ought to recognize us for
these shining moments and are offended if they don't. We think it's unfair
if others, who have done much less, are given preference over us. And
since God is to be the final judge, we feel that He, if anyone, should judge us
fairly, according to our merits and skillfulness.

But God doesn't do that. For our sakes, it's good that He doesn't do
that. If He did, judgment wouldn't be in our favor at all.

Bo Giertz, To Live with Christ, CPH, 2008.
From Septuagesima, Matthew 20:1-16.

Morning and Evening Prayer

Any churches have audio and/or video of Morning and Evening Prayer from LSB? I would really like to see the whole thing done from the book, so to speak.

A great new Lutheran Blog

One of my parishioners, Chuck Wiese, has started a blog that promises to present top-notch Lutheran theological insights. Please, take a few moments to check out his inaugural post here.

Keep this up, Chuck, and you will get more than a few suckers!

An exciting opportunity to earn suckers!

Anyone who memorizes any part of Luther's Small Catechism may come to me, recite the part (or parts) that they have memorized, and receive a sucker (one for each part).

Caleb Wiese was the first to cash in with the First Commandment and its meaning this morning. Keep up the great work!

Gone far too long...

I don't know why I haven't been blogging lately. I suppose part of the reason is just being busy with life: baby, wife, work, summer, etc. Another reason is that there is just too much to talk about (and unfortunately, too many negative things at that!) I just wouldn't know where to begins and how to remain charitable in my dealings with others. I have been sinfully cynical lately and its time to knock it off.

So, I will try to keep up on blogging.

My Jesus "Wordle" is Bigger than yours!

I am concerned with the obsession by some Lutheran bloggers with this "wordle" craze. So I decided to see just how our "Jesus" factors compared. Here is mine:


Here is another Lutheran blog:


Notice how much bigger "Jesus" is in mine? That must mean that I am more devoted to our Lord and Savior.

Divine Service 5 and Bearing with one another

Yesterday Good Shepherd celebrated the Holy Mysteries and received the Blessed gifts of Word and Sacrament in the 5th setting of the Divine Service from the Lutheran Service Book. I think it is very important for Lutheran pastors to present all of the services in the new hymnal on a regular basis. The reason for this: so that we all learn how to bear with one another.

Since I have been their pastor, Good Shepherd has used every service except Morning and Evening Prayer (and we will use those soon). In learning some of the new services I have gotten a lot of feedback, both good and bad about the services. That is good! In just about every service we have used I have had some people who absolutely loved them and others who absolutely hated them. I myself like some services better than others. This is a good lesson for Christians, it teaches us to bear with one another in love. And that is the lesson I try to teach my dear sheep. Sure, you may not like Divine Service 2, you may not like that I chant the Verbum in some verses, I may not like the less formal feel of Divine Service 4, but the Divine Service is not given for our entertainment, it is given as a vehicle for transporting the Word and Sacraments. As Christians who love one another, we gladly bear with a service we may not like for the benefit of our brothers and sisters. This is what Christian love and charity demands. And this is the beauty of Lutheranism. It is not about everyone doing their own thing, it is about everyone bearing with one another in love and patience. It is not about everyone doing what is right in their own eyes, but it is about bearing our crosses (and that may very well be the Lutheran Service Book or one of the services in it, or the liturgy in general). This is what it means to be Lutheran.