If Luther Wrote a Letter to Pastors Today
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- Dubh_Sidhe
- barton
- HenryB_2
- Dubh_Sidhe
- barton
- Dubh_Sidhe
- Becky
- Minnie
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» Dubh_Sidhe - I think your letter...
Is absolutely wonderful! I agree with one of the above. It should be sent to many Christian churchs! Not that it would help them all--some are too far into the world to understand what you are talking about. How sad. I am glad you are here if this is an indication of your future articles.Stop by and visit me at Folklore under Humanities.
Dubh Sidhe
-- posted by Dubh_Sidhe
» barton - Know Christ
I think for the most part your letter was fine. But in this time when people are saying you need to be born again to be saved, this letter might be seen in that light. I am a lutheran pastor, I believe with my whole being that we are born again each day in Christ through baptism, not just a one time experience. So yes I want to know Christ, but as a Lutheran, I believe that Christ of his will comes to me to save me first, then I act. As long as you letter doesn't turn salvation into my work then it is fine.-- posted by barton
» Dubh_Sidhe - Uh, Tim...
I am not sure I understand where you are coming from! Do you preach continuous rebirth from your pulpit? Christ only died once for us--are you saying we have to be born again every day for Him. Please do not confuse what I am saying with a Christian's daily walk. Surely you are not saying the two are the same.Dubh Sidhe at "Folklore"
-- posted by Dubh_Sidhe
» barton - to know christ...
I am saying that I do not need a one in a life time experience, the time, date and place, of my conversion to be a christian. I can daily be renewed in Christ and still be as good a christian as those you contantly say, you have to know the time date and place of your born again experience to be a true Christian.It is Christ who makes me a Christian not me
-- posted by barton
» Dubh_Sidhe - Tim, thanks for your reply...
but it did not exactly answer that which you originally stated, but that's o.k. just forget it--I don't think too many born again Christians think that a time, place and hour is a requirement--they simply remember it because it was such a life-changing experience. I don't think even Bob Jones University requires their students to remember "when" as a prerequisite. I am not being argumentative, really. Just trying to understand you--I am not a Lutheran. Hope to chat with you again, sometime.-- posted by Dubh_Sidhe
» Becky - The Proper Distinction Between Law & Gospel . . .
Dear John and Others:I appreciate the article because it distinguishes Law from Gospel. It describes how the Law convicts us of our shortcomings and sins, thereby preparing us for the Gospel message of our Sweet Savior, in Whom we have forgiveness, reconcilation, and eternal life.
It is very sad in today's evangelicalism that people assume or are led to believe that the Law works once in our lives for conversion (perhaps at the time one accepts Jesus by way of decision). After that, it is further assumed or taught that once a person is saved, then he or she must live the Law in the sense that "we aren't sinless; but we sin less and less." (I heard an evangelical person say this over the radio.) So the tendency is to assume that we can now obtain a perfection by living "up to" the Law this way (those who believe this would never say that we're living "under it"). How utterly distorted this makes both Law & Gospel!!
Luther says about our sinful natures: "If this sin did not exist there would be no actual sin. This sin is not committed like other sins; but it exists, lives, and commits all other sins--it is the essential sin, **that sins not for an hour or a season, but wherever the person is and as long as he lives.**"
But in regard to a couple of statements made, I'm not sure that I see where the article might imply "something we do" to be saved. The fact that it states "I need to know Christ" is a very truthful statement, isn't it? How could we possibly know Him well enough in our lifetime? After all, Christianity is a **relationship** with God on account of Christ alone! And we all know that true relationships never cease in growing in understanding each other and ourselves. "For now we see in a mirror, dimly . . ." (1 Cor. 13:12). Therefore, it will take a lifetime to realize the depth of my sins, the extent of my pride, and the horror of my guilt before a just and holy God! Conversely, or as a result, it'll take a lifetime to understand more and more the depth of Christ's love, the extent of His sufferings, and the pure joy of His salvation. In other words, the two doctrines rightly distinguished and applied in sermons for our hearing, or in our teachings for understanding, keep us contrite and repentant before God, and it keeps us at the Cross yoked to our blessed and beautiful Savior. There is no other Christianity.
Thanks, John. It's an excellent article. I've sent it to a number of people already.
-- posted by Becky
» Minnie - Excellant Article!!!
John,As you already know, I really liked your article. I appreciate you putting it on my site after I practically begged you to do it.
I did add to the discussion topic title so that others would put their Dear Pastor letters there, too; And hopefully read your post before submitting theirs.
I know Christianity-Protestant covers a wide range of beliefs and that I need to try to be impartial in encouraging all opinions to be shared. I really get excited when something is so well written and gives Pastors feedback on what their audience wants.
Thanks for everything!
-- posted by Minnie
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