1 Cor 1:17

-
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel -- not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

This verse jumped off the page at me, probably for all the wrong reasons. When I read 1:17, I could think only of one particular TV preacher. I am not sure what his name is, but I can clearly see his face. I have tried to listen to him from time to time, but I am always struck by his incessant rambling about things other than either the law or the gospel. Actually, he normally is talking about the law. So when I see his show, I sometimes try to listen for the gospel -- that is, the good news. You caught that last phrase, didn't you? The good news?

It's why I attend a Lutheran church. Lutheran pastors are trained to deliver the law with a heavy dose of gospel, in fact, more gospel than law. Clearly, as Scripture reminded me, quarreling doesn't advance our cause. But the Gospel does. Yet, too many "Christians" persist in quarreling, quarreling about the law, mostly with people who aren't Christian, instead of focusing on the Gospel after hearing the law. Is it any wonder why so many are still sitting on the fence, or have jumped back away from it? There are far too many quarrels amongst us.

"Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice," we are reminded in Proverbs 13:10. "Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen," 2 Tim 2:14b. "For since these is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldy?" 1 Cor 3:3

So ... I am a Lutheran who attends a conservative church that stands on the inspired Word of God. Quarrels end here, I hope.


"Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me," the first half of John 14:11 says. Then one of my favorites ... "or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves." My point is, stop quarreling; believe.

Popular posts from this blog

Upon this rock ...

-
I don't need to comment on this post. I just need to share it. Upon this rock... which one? Matthew 16:18 is a problem for Lutherans and Roman Catholics.  Rome points to Peter and the Petrine office of the papacy.  Jesus is pointing to a man, rather a succession of men, whose primacy is, in their view, undisputed.  Lutherans insist that Peter may have been the voice but it is the confession that is the rock.  This faith is the rock upon which the Church is built -- not a man but the confession that Jesus Christ is Lord.  Lutherans insist that this is affirmed in Jesus' own admonition that Peter did not confess this on his own but as the Father revealed it to Him.  Now surely this is a rather simplistic way of putting it and there are nuances on both sides that I have overlooked to put this into a brief paragraph. But allow me this for the moment.
Read more

It's not man's word: 1 Thessalonians 2:13

-
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. I have Christian friends who don't believe the Word of God. Do you believe? Think about that for a minute. Do you believe in God? Do you really believe the Word is from God? Do you believe the Word was God? Do you believe the Word was with God? (John 1:1-5). And that the Word became flesh? (John 1:14) Some people who call themselves Christians, don't believe. If they don't receive the word of God, if they say it is from men, that it is a human word, not the Word of God, then how can they call themselves Christian? It seems to me that is one of the points Paul is driving home in 1 Thessalonians 2:13. It is important because, what do we have without the Word of God? What we have are heresies taught by false prophets and greedy teachers. "We ar...
Read more

Voices

-
My wife doesn't write often enough. But years ago, she wrote this, which I found while looking through one of my old websites. I hope you enjoy it. Voices I never really listened to what I had to say If I had taken my own advice my life might've gone another way. I took on all the problems of those who couldn't cope I gave them all the answers I returned to them their hope. Though never did I realize that the words were meant for me I thought my problems were too big for all the world to see. But then one night I had a dream His face is what I saw He said to me “This is the way here's how to have it all.” “Listen to yourself” He said “The answers are within Within your soul I'll talk to you Truth shall you hear and happiness shall you win.” The moral of this poem is as simple as it is true The only one who has the answers is God listening, experiencing, acting they are all up to you. So listen to the Voice inisde when it says “Child, I love you” It's God ...
Read more