What are your Intentions?

We had an interesting discussion in our Sunday School class recently. One member said it seems that Lutherans often emphasize justification (the fact that Jesus died for our sins and thereby restored our relationship with God) and minimize sanctification (the ongoing process of becoming more Christlike). That’s probably true. We want to be sure people are aware that their good works don’t earn them God’s favor and are not necessary for salvation. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t important. After all, the Bible tells us that:

“… we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

The good works we do will benefit us and others. It pleases God when we seek to do His Will — and isn’t that what the Christian life is about? If we repent, and yet make no plan to amend our behavior, is our repentance genuine? Here’s a quote from my devotional reading that addresses that question.

“This doctrine (the intention to please God) does not suppose that we have no need of divine grace or that it is in our power to make ourselves perfect. It only supposes that through the lack of sincere intention to please God in all our activities we fall into irregularities of life that by the ordinary means of grace we should have the power to avoid; and that we have not that perfection of which our present state of grace makes us capable because we do not so much intend to have it.” From a Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life by William Law

In other words, if we’re honest, we often repent without any real desire to do better in the future. We know we are sinners (and that’s good) and since we can’t change that, we don’t even try. So, next time you examine your life and confess, take the second step — ask God to help you make a plan to avoid that sin next time. Intend to change. God will be pleased.

For more posts about good works see:

Good and Bad Fruit

Luther on Good works

Study to Do Good

What is the Office of the Keys?

Recently the church I attended included in the bulletin an explanation of parts of the service. Many of us can probably use a refresher on why we do what we do during worship, so I’ll be including some of these explanations this month. The first one is on the Office of the Keys, and Confession and is taken from Luther’s Small Catechism.

What is the Office of the Keys?

The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His Church on earth and Pastors to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.

Where is this written?

This is what St. John the Evangelist writes in chapter twenty: The Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples, and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:22-23)

What do you believe according to these words?

I believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His diving command, in particular when they exclude openly unrepentant sinners from the Christian congregation and absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us Himself.

(1965, Luther’s Small Catechism, pg. 18).

For more about the catechism see:

A Feast to Remember

A Book of Questions — Luther’s Catechism

The Catechism Teaches

Examination of Conscience, Again

This is a topic I’ve posted about before (Examination of Conscience) and it’s an important exercise that we should all do regularly. Basically, it’s pondering and confessing our sins. Of course, we do this corporately, when we attend worship, but it’s also good to make time to think about how we’ve fallen short in very specific ways. Recently when I reread Of the Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis (Of the Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis–Book Review) I came across a format that I found really helpful. I’m going to include it here today for others who might like to use it:

(Imagine Christ is speaking to you)

Diligently examine your conscience, and to the utmost of your power purify and make it clear, with true contrition and humble confession; so you may have no burden, nor know anything that may breed remorse of conscience, and hinder your drawing near. Think with displeasure of all your sins in general, and more particularly bewail and lament your daily transgressions. And if time permits, confess to God in the secret of your heart all the wretchedness of evil passions. Groan and lament that you are yet so carnal and worldly, so unmortified from passions; so full of the motions of concupiscence, so unwatchful over your outward sense, so often entangled with many vain imaginations. So much inclined to outward things, so negligent in things inward. So lightly moved to laughter and unbridled mirth, so hardly to tears and contrition. So swift to ease and pleasures of the flesh, so dull to zeal and strictness of life. So curious to hear what is new, and to see what is beautiful, so slack to embrace what is humble and mean. So covetous of abundance, so niggardly in giving, so close in keeping. So inconsiderate in speech, so reluctant to keep silence. So unruly in manners, so fretful in conduct. So eager about food, so deaf to the Word of God. So swift to take rest, so slow to labor. So wakeful after gossiping tales, so drowsy at the sacred services of night; so hasty to arrive at the end, so inclined to wandering and inattention. So careless in observing the hours of prayer, so lukewarm in celebrating, so dry in communicating. So quickly distracted, so seldom thoroughly self-collected. So suddenly moved to anger, so apt to take displeasure against another. So ready to judge, so severe to reprove. So joyful at prosperity, so weak in adversity. So often making good resolutions, and yet bringing them at last to so poor effect.

These and other defects being confessed and bewailed with sorrow and great displeasure at your own infirmity, make a firm resolution to be always amending your life, and making progress in all that is good.

Then, with full resignation and with your entire will, offer up yourself to the honor of My name, on the altar of your heart a perpetual whole burnt offering, even your body and soul, faithfully committing them unto Me.

For more about confession see:

Samuel Johnson’s Prayer of Confession

Confession — It’s Good for the Soul

A Via de Cristo Prayer of Confession and Forgiveness

A Prayer of Surrender

The Covenant Prayer by John Wesley

I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit thou art mine, and I am thine.

And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen

 

In 1775,  a covenant service was introduced by John Wesley and became an important part of spiritual life in the Methodist Societies. This renewal service was a time for the Methodists to gather annually in a time of self-examination, reflection, and dedication, wholly giving up themselves and renewing covenant with God. Repentance through confession and commitment was a key focus of the service, demanding humility.  The prayer above is used during the service which is usually held on the Sunday nearest January 1st.

For another prayer of surrender see:

The Serenity Prayer in Action

What to Change

 

 

Before We Forget edited by Nathan Millican & Jonathon Woodyard–Book Review

This book is a series of brief essays written by pastors about the challenges of shepherding a congregation.  One of the editors calls it “an exercise in the discipline of confession.”  Remembrance is also highlighted as a key spiritual practice.

“We want to remind ourselves of God’s work in our lives as He has conformed us into the image of Jesus and molded us into (hopefully) more faithful followers and more careful and helpful shepherds.”

Topics discussed include:

• Insecurity
• Pride
• Taking the Pastorate for granted
• Character
• Sexual purity
• Patience
• Reconciliation
• Suffering

Each theme has one chapter written by a young pastor, and one by an older pastor.  If you are not in ministry yourself, you should still read this book for a better understanding of the problems pastors encounter. The ministry is not easy;  it requires the ability to properly order priorities, persevere in the face of difficult circumstances and lead others while also acknowledging your own sins and shortcomings.

 

The topics covered are relevant to all church leaders, and in fact every Christian.  I especially liked the chapters on patience and reconciliation (which probably needs I need to work on these things!)

VERDICT:  5 Stars.  Very interesting and readable.

If you would like to purchase this book follow the link below:

https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/before-we-forget-P005815461

The Lutheran Ladies received a free copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review. Disclaimer pursuant to FTC 16 CFR part 255.

 

 

 

Sick of Me by Whitney Capps–Book Review #2

This book was previously reviewed by one of our other authors, Michele (Sick of Me – Book Review).  It sounded interesting, so I thought I would take a look for myself.  Here’s the book in a nutshell:

• Whitney was “just plain sick of myself”
• The cure for being sick of yourself is to become more like Christ
• Becoming more like Christ is a process called sanctification

This is repeated in different ways throughout the book.  According to Whitney, most of us are quite happy to be “transparent”…. i.e. to admit to our sins.  The problem is, we’re also pretty happy to stay the way we are!  This is not the life God wants for us.  We’re called to be holy, not happy.  We’re called to be at odds with the culture, not adapt our behavior to it.  We’re called to mature in the faith, not stay spiritual infants.

In an engaging, easy to read style, Ms. Capps defines and helps her readers understand a number of important theological terms:  regeneration, justification, sanctification, condemnation and conviction. If you don’t know what they are when you start, you will by the end of the book.  Her emphasis is on the need for Christians to go beyond recognizing their sin to a true transformation in the way they live.  This isn’t easy and it doesn’t happen overnight.  In fact, none of us will be totally sanctified in this life.

I found her style a little flippant for such a weighty topic, but many will like it.  It makes for an easy read, but one that is also meaty and informative.

VERDICT:  4 STARS.  I didn’t learn anything new, but well presented and clear.

Are You Missing Something?

In a recent post, I talked about the sermon my family heard the Sunday after Thanksgiving in South Carolina.  It was a good one.  However, there was something missing in the service itself.

It was contemporary — not my favorite, I love the liturgy.  However, I can enjoy a contemporary service now and then. But this one was missing some key pieces.  First of all, no confession!  To me, this is crucial.  We can’t appreciate the light if we don’t understand our own darkness, which is sin. Without sin, all the darkness around us is reduced to bad luck, or something we can blame on another person.  Worse yet,  if we don’t acknowledge our sin, there is no need for the good news of the gospel.  We can save ourselves by becoming better people.

Also, no recitation of the Lord’s Prayer of the Apostle’s Creed.  Because we are sinners, we constantly need to remind ourselves of just who God is and what He has done for us.  Advent is a time, like Lent, when we should be pondering these things.  When we rush too quickly into Christmas, we forget the message of Advent– the anticipation, the meditation, the true joy of knowing that Christ came in human form to die for each of us.

So, don’t leave out the important stuff.  Don’t leave it out of the church service or out of your life.  Take time to appreciate the real meaning of Advent– confess, give thanks, remember Who you believe in and why. Christmas will mean so much more when you realize why we needed it so much.

For another post on a similar topic:

“Hello – It Is Not Christmas Yet”

Choosing to Sin

Our small group has been reading and discussing the book, Outrageous Grace, by Grace Fabian Outrageous Grace by Grace L. Fabian–Book Review.  One of the study questions at our last meeting was:

” In what ways do you think Christians are guilty of reading and studying God’s Word, but not applying it to their own lives and obeying it?  Are we guilty of saying/singing that we love Him, but still hesitating to obey Him?”

Well, of course the answer is yes.  We are all sinners, and although we may struggle to do what’s right, we often give in to our “default” position which is sin.  We all know this.  Somehow, though, this time the question struck me even harder or more personally than usual.  I thought, it’s not so different from saying, “I know that exercise is good for me.  It’s not someone else’s opinion, I truly BELIEVE that I will be healthier if I exercise;  and yet for most of my life  I have CHOSEN not to do it.

I can believe in God, know His Word, and still consciously and deliberately choose to sin.  It’s not always just an accident or something I do when I stop thinking clearly.  Sinning is sometimes a choice that I make.

For example, I know the Bible tells us to “go and make disciples.”  Yet, I excuse myself by saying I’m an introvert, and evangelism isn’t my gift.  I’ll just “choose” to serve in another way.  I know that the Bible says we should not take God’s name in vain — and yet, I watch TV shows and read books that do just that.  I tell myself that bad language is simply so pervasive that it can’t be completely avoided these days and after all, I’m not the one saying those bad words, right?  (Sorry, this is known as vicarious sinning).  I know the Bible says that we should respect the civil authorities God has placed over us, and yet I complain and speak badly about them.  I could go on and on, and I’m sure you can make your own list if you think about it for even a minute or two.

I don’t have an answer for any of this, it’s more of an observation–an observation that is making me examine myself and realize that I come up wanting.  I’ve taken God’s grace for granted, and treated it like a get our of jail free card that I can use indiscriminately.  I say along with Paul,

“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Romans 7:24″

If believe in God, then I should practice true obedience to His Word, just as I say every week in the confession.  I can’t stop sinning, but I can identify and work at those areas where I deliberately sin.  I’m going to try to take that seriously;  I’m going to pray about it;  and I’m going to stop making excuses and chip away at those attractive sins I don’t want to give up.  I believe that with God’s help, I can become a healthier Christian.

For more posts on sin, follow these links:

What is Sin?

Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges–Book Review

Sin Boldly?

How Do We Know Our Sins are Forgiven?

The answer to this question was in my daily devotional reading today.  The quote is from the writings of J.F. Clark (1810-1888), an American theologian and writer.

“We need to know that our sins are forgiven.  And how shall we know this?  By feeling that we have peace with God,–by feeling that we are able so to trust in the divine compassion and infinite tenderness of  our Father, as to arise and go to Him, whenever we have sinned and say at once to Him,  ‘Father, I have sinned, forgive me.’  To know that we are forgiven, it is only necessary to look at our Father’s love till it sinks into our heart, to open our soul to Him till He shall pour His love into it;  to wait on Him till we find peace, till our conscience no longer torments us, till we can feel that our sins, great as they are, cannot keep us away from our Heavenly Father.”

P.S. Lutherans also know they are forgiven when they receive the absolution every week as part of the liturgy.  What a blessing! As Martin Luther said about the Gospel– We need to hear it every week because we forget it every week.

Confess to One Another

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16

If there is one thing I have learned from our Fanning the Flame process of church revitalization, it is the importance of prayer.  Prayer permeated the life of the early Christians (read the book of Acts to picture what this looked like) and it should be the foundation for every Christian congregation today.  We must pray for our church leaders, and guidance to be led to the people and ministries God has planned for us.  Most of all, we must pray for one another and, according to the verses from James, we should confess to one another and request prayerful intercession.

This is hard for most of us.  It’s easy enough to confess in a general way, in the church service.  You can do this without even thinking about the actual sins you’ve committed;  and even if you do think them, nobody else has to know, right?  However, the apostle James seems to be telling saying that I should actually tell another person the nasty things I’ve done (or maybe just thought) — and admit that I need prayer and healing.  Pretty scary.  Confessing to someone else, even a sister or brother in Christ, puts me in a vulnerable position.  It means not only knowing that I’m a sinner, but admitting it to another person.  What if they think less of me?  What if they blab about it to somebody else?  What if it means I actually have to take a real, close look at those sins myself?

Well, all of those things are possible.  But to be effective witnesses, we need to get down off the self-righteous pedestal we like to stand on when we’re presenting ourselves to the world.  After all, if we’re sinners, we’re going to sin, and if we could keep from sinning, we wouldn’t need Jesus.  The people we want to reach with the Good News should know that our story isn’t any different from theirs.

So, my advice is, find an accountability partner or group (for me this is the Via de Cristo reunion group).  Meet with them regularly. Keep everything discussed confidential.  Admit your failings (in other words, ‘fess up).  Ask for prayer.  You’ll find that their prayers for you are powerful and effective.