tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.comments2013-10-28T15:35:59.795-07:00The Gift of Faith†Miguelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341398125452787627noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-91556500247421545062013-10-28T15:35:59.795-07:002013-10-28T15:35:59.795-07:00MiguelMiguelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-88606135671668574292013-10-23T19:22:48.712-07:002013-10-23T19:22:48.712-07:00Miguel,
This is Robert F, too frequent commentator...Miguel,<br />This is Robert F, too frequent commentator at iMonk. <br /><br />I did receive your e-mail last month, but through a series of technical mishaps lost it along with my intended response and your e-mail address. At this remove, I think it would be pointless for me to attempt to revisit the events of last month at iMonk in an to make a belated response to you. Suffice it to say that I regret, not the position I took regarding that issue, but the vitriol that I allowed myself to feel and express; it was uncalled for, and un-Christian.<br /><br />I'm posting this message because I have a question, and I hope that you might have an answer. It concerns the presence of Christ's Body and Blood in Holy Communion as understood in orthodox Lutheran theology, and specifically how it related to the Last Supper. Since Luther was so emphatic that when Christ said "This is my body" at the Last Supper he meant "is" rather than "represents," does Lutheran theology explain how that could literally have been true, since his body had not yet been broken nor his blood shed? How could the word "is" have meant anything but "represents" when his very body and blood were quite obviously locally distinct from the bread and wine at the Last Supper? And if "is" meant "represents" at the Last Supper, how could it subsequently come to mean "is," except by mistake?<br /><br />I hope I'm being clear; the question is one of some import to me, because I have found Luther and Lutheran theology very compelling in recent re-reading of it, but this one issue is a significant sticking point for me, and I've not heard it addressed.<br /><br />It would mean a great deal to me if you could offer an answer to my question.<br /><br />PeaceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-77612777915364182452013-08-29T02:52:13.303-07:002013-08-29T02:52:13.303-07:00DOES GOD ARBITRARILY BESTOW FAITH?
Many believe t...DOES GOD ARBITRARILY BESTOW FAITH?<br /><br />Many believe that Ephesians 2:8 teaches that God arbitrarily bestows faith on a selected few so they can believe and be saved. Nothing could be farther from the truth.<br /><br />Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.(NKJV)<br /><br />Salvation is the gift of God, not faith. The gift God gives is forgiveness from sin.<br /><br />How do men receive faith?<br /><br />Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God.(NKJV)<br /><br />Faith comes from hearing the gospel preached. Faith is not arbitrarily dispatched to a chosen few.<br /><br />Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greeks,<br /><br />Salvation is attained by believing the gospel. Salvation is not predetermined by God and forced on a select few by forcing them to have faith and be saved.<br /><br />1 Corinthians 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God , it pleased God through the foolishness of the messaged preached to save those who believe.(NKJV)<br /><br />God saves men through preaching the gospel. God does not preselect men and the force them to have faith so they will be saved.<br /><br />John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but that the wrath of God abides on him."(NKJV)<br /><br />If God imputes faith to all who believe, why would those who do not believe receive the wrath of God. Non-believers would have no responsibility nor capability to believed and be saved.<br /><br />1 John 3:20-23....And this is His commandment: that we we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.(NKJV)<br /><br />Why would God command us to believe on His Son Jesus Christ if we are not capable of believing, unless He arbitrarily bestows that faith on non-believers?<br /><br />Jesus said "He who believes and is baptized will be saved.."(Mark 16:16) Jesus did not say God will give you the gift of faith so you can believe, be baptized and be saved. <br /><br /><br />YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY CHRISTIAN BLOG. Bing search>>>steve finnell a christian viewSteve Finnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12863026367048527526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-2198895798074640992013-07-15T20:22:22.892-07:002013-07-15T20:22:22.892-07:00I love British humor. This could have been a Flyi...I love British humor. This could have been a Flying Circus skit with Eric Idle and John Cleese arguing with Graham Chapman. Steve Newellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-49473372101152102192013-07-08T15:28:55.466-07:002013-07-08T15:28:55.466-07:00I shared your blog with my wife and two daughters ...I shared your blog with my wife and two daughters who attended the NYG. They appreciated your insights as one new to LCMS and providing context of what you find different, in a good way. This was my wife 3rd as an leader and 4th overall.Steve Newellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-88277624770100011612013-07-07T18:41:34.495-07:002013-07-07T18:41:34.495-07:00The best reason to confess our sins is because we ...The best reason to confess our sins is because we are commended to we read in 1 John 1:8 to 2:6.<br /><br />The good news isn't that we confess our sins, but we hear the absolution of our sins by our pastor.Steve Newellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-70115361727138617062013-07-06T22:50:12.720-07:002013-07-06T22:50:12.720-07:00I believe that I was at the service when this was ...I believe that I was at the service when this was recorded-Higher Things conference in Grand Rapids a couple of summers ago! Looking forward to more robust singing at Higher Things, Purdue this week....at a "Hymn Sing" with HT it isn't unusual to hear high school youth requesting the very songs you mention...HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH!! and as far as the Te Deum, esp. when Chris Loemker is at the organ the kids beg for it....Glad someone captured this!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-66512921854079002942013-07-06T10:57:51.551-07:002013-07-06T10:57:51.551-07:00Thanks, Pastor!Thanks, Pastor!†Miguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08341398125452787627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-73777080635927226212013-07-05T06:37:29.595-07:002013-07-05T06:37:29.595-07:00You, Miguel, are a great blessing to the Church. ...You, Miguel, are a great blessing to the Church. Thank you! <br /><br />Pastor Ted Crandall<br />Faith Lutheran Church<br />Beaufort, South CarolinaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-17439369756684046042013-07-04T21:23:41.401-07:002013-07-04T21:23:41.401-07:00Thank you for the absolution. It means a lot! Se...Thank you for the absolution. It means a lot! Seriously. And; I am pretty darned certain I don't have a musical critique to offer for anything I heard at the NYG. I was more than impressed, and especially after what I saw today, I could write an entirely new post equal in length to this one going on about what I thought was wonderful. The praise band's cover of "Let All Moral Flesh" made my day and was on par with Sting's cover of "The Angel Gabriel." The vocals were outstanding, the accompaniment tasteful. The blood, sweat, and tears poured into the event were clearly rewarded, and I could get exhausted just thinking about how much work went in to pull it off. Job well done.<br /><br />If I had a critique left to offer, it would pertain to the theology of some methods employed, not the music. But believe me, anything potentially constructive I might have had to offer to the conversation at this point is but a speck on the boot I am still trying to dislodge from my mouth. †Miguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08341398125452787627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-12592398476406416772013-07-04T10:13:14.477-07:002013-07-04T10:13:14.477-07:00Thank you for this. These people are my friends an...Thank you for this. These people are my friends and co-workers. They have worked long and hard (outside of their "day" jobs) to offer up the most excellent offering of praise they could. Filthy rags that they are, we have prayed that God would be honored. From all I've read you are a gifted musician and I value your musical critique. We all misstep and I am so thankful first of all for God's grace and then in response to His grace, the grace extended from my brothers and sisters in Christ. I know you walk in His forgiveness. Please know also that I forgive you.Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05043221274310463241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-56745525122953397512013-07-03T10:51:18.556-07:002013-07-03T10:51:18.556-07:00For many, the idea to publicly declare that we are...For many, the idea to publicly declare that we are all sinners and are deserving God's present and eternal punishment is just wrong. They also struggle with concept that we are simultaneously "saint" and "sinner".<br /><br />We are on constant need to remember that we are sinners who need to hear the words of forgiveness and that we live in a forgiven state. Steve Newellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-85830283448103005132013-06-27T19:56:32.538-07:002013-06-27T19:56:32.538-07:00There is harmony to the new songs, but they are us...There is harmony to the new songs, but they are usually just written by singer/songwriters who don't bother writing a traditional hymn harmonization to their music. Plus the utter simplicity of the overused 4 chord structures don't lent themselves well to 4 part voicing. There's no harmonic movement, so it is difficult to find such music very interesting. There are new songs being written with depth, but they are few and far between, and certainly not what is driving the CCM industry. Lord have mercy!†Miguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08341398125452787627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-70696346413370174602013-06-27T19:54:17.679-07:002013-06-27T19:54:17.679-07:00The doctrine of simul justus et peccator is very d...The doctrine of simul justus et peccator is very dear to my heart. My previous church taught that Christians were not sinners, our sinful nature had been removed from us, it is not natural for us to sin, and if we appear to be sinning, it isn't us doing it, but sin living in us. It was spiritual antinomianism at its worst, and I watched as over three years it sucked the life out of that poor little congregation. False doctrine kills faith, and that is why the simul is so essential.†Miguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08341398125452787627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-23329937305649720932013-06-27T19:52:10.685-07:002013-06-27T19:52:10.685-07:00Absolutely. For all our newer technology, I don&#...Absolutely. For all our newer technology, I don't think the worship experience is vastly improved from the days of singing out of books. I try to encourage use of the books whenever possible, that people don't forget how. The benefits are endless.†Miguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08341398125452787627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-64266136531097073842013-06-11T06:23:22.493-07:002013-06-11T06:23:22.493-07:00There are two aspects of traditional hymns that I ...There are two aspects of traditional hymns that I find lacking in many "praise songs" today: theological depth and musical complexity. Many of the best hymns, both old and new, have a depth of theology that you can use to point back to Holy Scripture. <br /><br />In terms of musical complexity, I am a baritone and I like to sing the base cleft part of the score. I have noticed that many new songs have only a melody and no harmony. Steve Newellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-4173478083281338662013-05-31T12:05:16.061-07:002013-05-31T12:05:16.061-07:00The human mind cannot handle paradoxes well. We b...The human mind cannot handle paradoxes well. We believe in the Holy Trinity but how can one God be three persons and three persons one God and each person is distinct from the others. The one thing that false religions do is to change the nature of the Triune God.<br /><br />Likewise, many Christians cannot understand how we can be both Saint and Sinner at the same time. Some believe that we are incapable of being saints due to our sinful nature. While other believe that as saints we care not still sinners.Steve Newellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-80879016275475774012013-05-20T06:47:45.908-07:002013-05-20T06:47:45.908-07:00I always thought that the hymn was a very green wa...I always thought that the hymn was a very green way for corporate worship. It can be recycled every Sunday. It doesn't require any electricity to power it. It's portable and it can be shared with two users at the same time. Due to its protective cover, it can last for decades thus not having to replace it for some time, thus saving natural resources.Steve Newellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-71970650581380630362013-04-21T17:23:30.685-07:002013-04-21T17:23:30.685-07:00The churches I grew up in followed the secular pat...The churches I grew up in followed the secular pattern as well. It's really quite sad. But why many churches refuse to follow the church year is a topic worthy of its own essay. I've heard all the excuses, and bottom line, they're pretty lame. I'll try to write up a post on it sometime.†Miguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08341398125452787627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-13776780430428892902013-04-19T15:34:31.453-07:002013-04-19T15:34:31.453-07:00One the first things I saw with a liturgical churc...One the first things I saw with a liturgical church is the effect of the Church Year on worship. Growing up in a non-liturgical SBC church, the only three days: Christmas, Palm Sunday and Easter. We followed more of the calendar for our society than for the Church. We had services for Mother's & Father's Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day. I believe that many churches follow the same pattern.<br /><br />There is a natural rhythm to the Church Year and is missing in many churches.<br /><br />I am now curious why many churches refuse to follow the Church year? Is it too "Catholic", too limiting?Steve Newellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-46316995484851514932013-04-19T10:07:50.608-07:002013-04-19T10:07:50.608-07:00It will be good discipline for me to get in the ha...It will be good discipline for me to get in the habit of writing at least a litte bit on a weekly basis (minus the last two I was on vacation). Plus, with the influence that the Evangelical subculture and publishing industry wield on unsuspecting conservative Lutheran congregations, we can not afford to not be intentionally catechizing our laity in the tradition of our church, in order that they can understand why we do what we do. It's the practical side of "knowing what you believe and why you believe it." The generation that does not understand the Divine Service is followed by a generation that does not practice it.†Miguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08341398125452787627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-21073521233848931952013-04-15T14:05:09.253-07:002013-04-15T14:05:09.253-07:00I am very excited to read your musings. At one w...I am very excited to read your musings. At one who did not grow up in the Lutheran Church, I am always interested to learn more about how we worship and why.<br />Steve Newellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-39850489353972073062013-01-23T17:22:33.645-08:002013-01-23T17:22:33.645-08:00Hey Robert. Good to hear from you! I'd love ...Hey Robert. Good to hear from you! I'd love to continue the conversation. I enjoy being challenged, but I must confess you are so much more well read and studied than I that I feel a bit in over my head. Oh well, it never stopped me before.<br /><br />Send me an email at mruizmusic @ gmail . com, and that way we can continue the exchange as time permits and take more time to think things through.†Miguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08341398125452787627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-70211299596678320252013-01-19T07:58:28.972-08:002013-01-19T07:58:28.972-08:00Miguel,
This is Robert F. You and I have been hav...Miguel,<br />This is Robert F. You and I have been having a dialogue over at Internet Monk about the finite containing the infinite as related to Christology. I'd like to continue that conversation for the sake of clarifying my own thinking, but am not sure, being technologically slow, about how to contact you in a more private forum. I think our disagreement is at least partly due to semantics, and the definitions we attribute to our terms. If you are willing, I'd like to continue the conversation; if you are able to help me interface with you, that would facilitate the possibility. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859253535729585150.post-78878384658629930902013-01-03T19:03:37.200-08:002013-01-03T19:03:37.200-08:00That is one thing I really love about the LSB. It...That is one thing I really love about the LSB. It gives you references for every scripture it quotes so that you can see how it is all about God's Word from start to finish. <br /><br />The first few won't quite deal directly with the liturgy just yet, there's some purple and candles to address, but I'll be starting in on the Divine Service soon.†Miguelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08341398125452787627noreply@blogger.com