A dear friend of mine went to a meeting the other day and upon entering the meeting hall he removed his coat and hung it up. In the pocket of his coat were his car keys and the keys to the church. There were several coats hanging there that looked the same, black, hung to mid-calf, wool, long sleeves etc. You get the picture and you can probably guess what happened.
The meeting ended and people retrieved their coats as they went to leave. Some other gentleman took my friends coat, put it on and drove off. When my friend went to retrieve his coat it was not where he had put it and so he waited to see if someone might return with his coat. No one did. When everyone had claimed their coats there was one that remained that looked like his but was not. His keys were not in the pocket, it was a different manufacturer and different size. Fortunately there was a pen in one of the pockets that allowed those who remained to determine the location of the man who was wearing the wrong coat. A few phone calls later and the errant and careless gentleman was contacted and asked to return. Of course he was already an hour and a half down the road so it would take that long to return. Three hours and much frustration later my friend had his coat and was enroute home. They all look the same but they are not and putting on the wrong one is a no win situation for anyone.
The same can be said for Christian denominations, Churches, rites and even teachings. They all look the same so what difference does it really make which one I "put on". For the sake of this writing I will divide Christendom into three groups, Lutherans (confessional and liturgical), Roman Catholic, and reformed (all who are not in the first two groups). I know this is extremely general and will not suffice for the entirety of the conversation but its lack of specificity will, I think, add to the point I am trying to put across.
Let me continue with another brief story: Back in 1988, while serving in the USMC, I had taken a unit to Korea. We were training at their mountain warfare school on the ropes course. We had to cross a very wide (approx. 150 yards) and very deep (approx. 125 feet) canyon on various rope bridges.
The first bridge was a single rope bridge. Not much of a bridge but more like some thread strung across this canyon 125 feet off the ground. You had to lay on the rope with one foot tucked up behind your rear end, the other leg hanging down for a balancing post and pull yourself along on your belly with your arms. (there were many other techniques used, but no other techniques worked for the duration of the trek)Uncomfortable to say the least as the rope was not in the most pleasant of places. Precarious for certain as there was no net and no one was coming out to get you if you became fatigued, got scared or what ever (that's what I told them even though I did rescue several as did the instructors). (You did have a harness on your waist with a carribeaner that clipped to the single rope so that if you lost your grip you would not fall to your death. Many did not make it and had it not been for the small little clip that held them to the rope we would have had several funerals. (we did have to slid out and drag some of them across and that really was never racking)
The second bridge was two ropes, the first was like the former bridge and the second was like it as well only about four and one half feet higher up and parrallel. The two ropes were very loosely kept together by many small ropes tied in between them at uneven intervals. As you "walked" along with your feet on the bottom rope and holding on for dear life to the top rope, you found the bottom one swinging from side to side constantly threatening to throw you off and leave you litterally hanging there. The best technique was to walk sideways, arms extended, leaning on the top rope and shuffling your feet along the bottom one. Other techniques were used but they resulted in many falls, greater fatigue and much more fear. Again you had the harness and clip to hold you from falling all the way down. It was fatigueing and nerve wracking as well but a bit easier than the first although you had no real confidence in either rope truely supporting you. Most all made it across this one with out retrieval but it was hard and slow going.
The final bridge was a three rope bridge. One bottom rope and two top ropes. The top ropes were tied to the bottom rope so as to form a V with your feet on the bottom and one hand on each of the other ropes. It still swayed but with the two hand ropes you almost enjoyed and played with the sway as you walked fairly easiely across with little fatigue other than the distance of 150 yards going toe to toe on a sagging rope and balancing with your arms. All made this one and in pretty good shape except for those who feared heights. Of course they were a mess on each of the bridges and yes, I did compel them to cross each bridge.
So why the reminising? Well, at the risk of great criticism from any who might venture to read this, I am going to suggest that the ropes represent Biblical truths or more accurately the Means of Grace given us by God for Jesus sake for the salvation of our souls.
The single rope is the Word of God, without which there is no hope of crossing that canyon for the Word made flesh who was crucified has become the reconciliation between heaven and earth, God and man and without Him, Jesus CHrist, there is no hope, no way to enter into eternal glory.
The two ropes are again the Word of God which is foundational and the second is Holy Baptism.
The three are the two mentioned above with the third being the Holy Supper of our Lord.
Bear in mind that no analogy is perfect and most certainly this is so when trying to analogize Divine things. For in the analogy man is pulling or walking across each bridge on his own and no man enters heaven of his own effort or merit. The safety clip and harness that kept each man from certain death should he leave the bridge, no matter the reason, knows of no such "once saved always saved" parralell in Holy Scripture.
By the way, as my troops crossed the various bridges, their "friends" would jeer at any falter, laugh at any weakness, even step on and bounce the ropes on which a fellow Marine was depending to cross. It was also March in Korea which meant for us, bone chilling icy rain which caused you to shiver most of the time, made the ropes slick all of the time, all of which added to the difficulty of crossing. These conditions are not unlike those that Christians face each day of their lives as they journey through the world, not of the world, enduring and suffering the temptations and trials of the world, the devil and our own sinful nature.
All Christian denominations claim to have the Word of God and to depend on it solely for truth, understanding and clarity of God's promises yet their methods of reading and interpretation may leave them with a very tattered or even rather thread bear rope on which to support their "faith life". Most denominations have abandoned the "third rope", the Holy Supper, because it does not fit within human reason and understanding. Thus the bridge on which they traverse is more shaky than the three rope one. In these denominations they do not "lean" on that rope of Baptism for their theology has made baptism the work of man not the work of God.
They all make some sort of claim to have all three means of Grace and yet, if you reach into the pockets of their coats you will find they have the wrong keys and the coat does not fit well. They may all look the same but they are not.
Too many stories and a need to prepare for tomorrow's proclamation of the Word necessitate the trunkation of this blog. I shall return for this is a topic that must be further exercised that the truth be known that all might benefit from God's grace given us in His Word, preached, in the Water, and enfleshed in the Bread and Wine. To God alone be all glory, honor and power.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Baptism is for life
I recently had a man come in that I had never seen before who was concerned that he had lost his salvation. Not a trifling matter, this is a most serious question which deserved a clear, declarative answer. However, before an answer could be given, a question had to be asked. Sort of like the mechanic taking the car for a test drive to determine the cause of that squeak and not just presuming that the car owner knows where it is coming from.
I asked him if he was baptized and he said yes. Twice in fact. Once as an infant in the Lutheran Church and once as an adult in the Baptist church. So, you were Baptized as a infant. Oh, you mean you Lutherans believe once saved always saved. No. We believe once Baptized always Baptized. Baptism is God's work and it never fails even if we should depart from it. The return to ones Baptism always remains open through repentance. The ark of Holy Baptism will arrive at the shores of heaven with or without you aboard.
Although raised, catechised and confirmed in the Lutheran church, the wrong teaching of the Baptist church had robbed him of the trust, hope and joy that one knows in their Baptism. Baptism works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.
But in the Baptist teaching, clearly espoused on pages117-122 of that wretched and blasphemous book, Purpose driven life, Warren writes, "Baptism doesn't make you a member of God's family; only faith in Christ does that. Baptism shows you are part of God's family." Also on page 120 he says, "Your baptism is a physical picture of a spiritual truth. It represents what happened the moment God brought you into his family." "Your baptism declares your faith,...symbolizes your death, etc." They pass right by the clear teaching of Jesus about not only the necessity of Baptism (John 3, Mark 16) but its gifts(Romans 6, Titus 3, 1 Peter 3) its making the one Baptized an adopted child of God, washed clean of all sin, it creates faith, bestows a new name, marks and seals one in Jesus Christ. Baptism is not a conditional gift. It is the efficacious work of God in the water and the Word to bestow salvation upon men.
It is no wonder with such horrible teaching that one does not hope in their baptism but rather despairs the loss of their salvation in a time when faith may be weak, life may be troublesome or what ever. When Martin Luther of blessed memory was confronted by the devil he tells of a conversation that went something like this, "Martin, you are a filthy, wretched sinner, damnable on every account of your thoughts, words and deeds. You have not been holy nor have you kept yourself free from sin. You are not deserving of God's grace and mercy, you are deserving of hell. You are mine." "Satan, you are correct that I am nothing but a bag of worms, without any claim to heaven for I have sinned almost constantly throughout my life. Of my own accord I cannot stop your accusations before God and have nothing of my own to offer in my defense. But, I am Baptized! In the water and Word of Holy Baptism, all my sin was washed away. I was clothed in the spotless, righteous, holy life of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His cross and His shed blood cry out to God for mercy for me and God the Father answers, 'not guilty on account of Jesus', so Satan you have nothing in me."
This is the hope (certainty) that is Baptism. The hope of forgiveness, adoption by God, resurrection, eternal life, new name, new life and the like. You have not lost your salvation, it was given to you, a gift from God. Wrong teaching has clouded that hope to where you looked to yourself and the value or certainty of your work and there you found only failure thus despair and fear of your salvation. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame and has sat down at the Right hand of God. His joy is your salvation which He has given you in your Baptism.
Baptizing with water indicates that the old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
All by the grace of God. For time and unto eternity.
I asked him if he was baptized and he said yes. Twice in fact. Once as an infant in the Lutheran Church and once as an adult in the Baptist church. So, you were Baptized as a infant. Oh, you mean you Lutherans believe once saved always saved. No. We believe once Baptized always Baptized. Baptism is God's work and it never fails even if we should depart from it. The return to ones Baptism always remains open through repentance. The ark of Holy Baptism will arrive at the shores of heaven with or without you aboard.
Although raised, catechised and confirmed in the Lutheran church, the wrong teaching of the Baptist church had robbed him of the trust, hope and joy that one knows in their Baptism. Baptism works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.
But in the Baptist teaching, clearly espoused on pages117-122 of that wretched and blasphemous book, Purpose driven life, Warren writes, "Baptism doesn't make you a member of God's family; only faith in Christ does that. Baptism shows you are part of God's family." Also on page 120 he says, "Your baptism is a physical picture of a spiritual truth. It represents what happened the moment God brought you into his family." "Your baptism declares your faith,...symbolizes your death, etc." They pass right by the clear teaching of Jesus about not only the necessity of Baptism (John 3, Mark 16) but its gifts(Romans 6, Titus 3, 1 Peter 3) its making the one Baptized an adopted child of God, washed clean of all sin, it creates faith, bestows a new name, marks and seals one in Jesus Christ. Baptism is not a conditional gift. It is the efficacious work of God in the water and the Word to bestow salvation upon men.
It is no wonder with such horrible teaching that one does not hope in their baptism but rather despairs the loss of their salvation in a time when faith may be weak, life may be troublesome or what ever. When Martin Luther of blessed memory was confronted by the devil he tells of a conversation that went something like this, "Martin, you are a filthy, wretched sinner, damnable on every account of your thoughts, words and deeds. You have not been holy nor have you kept yourself free from sin. You are not deserving of God's grace and mercy, you are deserving of hell. You are mine." "Satan, you are correct that I am nothing but a bag of worms, without any claim to heaven for I have sinned almost constantly throughout my life. Of my own accord I cannot stop your accusations before God and have nothing of my own to offer in my defense. But, I am Baptized! In the water and Word of Holy Baptism, all my sin was washed away. I was clothed in the spotless, righteous, holy life of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His cross and His shed blood cry out to God for mercy for me and God the Father answers, 'not guilty on account of Jesus', so Satan you have nothing in me."
This is the hope (certainty) that is Baptism. The hope of forgiveness, adoption by God, resurrection, eternal life, new name, new life and the like. You have not lost your salvation, it was given to you, a gift from God. Wrong teaching has clouded that hope to where you looked to yourself and the value or certainty of your work and there you found only failure thus despair and fear of your salvation. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame and has sat down at the Right hand of God. His joy is your salvation which He has given you in your Baptism.
Baptizing with water indicates that the old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
All by the grace of God. For time and unto eternity.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Just to say I did
Long day yesterday of not much that was productive. Was unable to even sign in and write to my first blog as it appears I forgot my password. The constant and continuous circle to try and get in via the various help menus proved nearly fatal for my computer. Not a single person to talk with, no way to truly search for the right answer, I have not been that frustrated in quite some time. Had to start a new blog, this one, and then it was to late to write anything of any consequence even if I possessed such a thing as I had to be getting home to my family. Not to worry, the Lord will provide for me tomorrow its own worry, He always cares for His bride that she need not worry and she never does. Or does she?
I have many dear saints to visit today who are in various states of trials and suffering. Knowing of my own insufficiency I am amazed that He accomplishes so much through so little. I am rereading Eyers "Pastoral care under the cross" along with several other books in the hope that I might offer more in the way of empathy, compassion and grace to those who are suffering under the crosses of this life. That is the life of the Christian, under the cross. There is no easy way out, no way out at all and one should be concerned should one find ones self free from such burdens. We are either shackled to Satan or to Christ Jesus but we are never free unto ourselves. Chained to Satan may feel like freedom as the flesh can revel and there may appear to be no cares or troubles - beware of such unabated folly. Bound to Christ, we are bound to the One who was crucified for us, suffered for us, has broken the bonds that bound us to Satan. We are free in Christ, free to labor under the cross. Hebrews 12 is so helpful at this point.
Here at the end of this post, still a child in this pursuit, I am at a loss how to end. Signing off or just stop writing or with salutation or benediction. For now, at least, as with all correspondence:
With love and peace in Christ Jesus, Pastor Foy
I have many dear saints to visit today who are in various states of trials and suffering. Knowing of my own insufficiency I am amazed that He accomplishes so much through so little. I am rereading Eyers "Pastoral care under the cross" along with several other books in the hope that I might offer more in the way of empathy, compassion and grace to those who are suffering under the crosses of this life. That is the life of the Christian, under the cross. There is no easy way out, no way out at all and one should be concerned should one find ones self free from such burdens. We are either shackled to Satan or to Christ Jesus but we are never free unto ourselves. Chained to Satan may feel like freedom as the flesh can revel and there may appear to be no cares or troubles - beware of such unabated folly. Bound to Christ, we are bound to the One who was crucified for us, suffered for us, has broken the bonds that bound us to Satan. We are free in Christ, free to labor under the cross. Hebrews 12 is so helpful at this point.
Here at the end of this post, still a child in this pursuit, I am at a loss how to end. Signing off or just stop writing or with salutation or benediction. For now, at least, as with all correspondence:
With love and peace in Christ Jesus, Pastor Foy
Getting my mind whet
I had lunch with a dear and bright friend a while back. I have been suggesting to him for some time that he has lots to say that we should be listening to and that he ought to at least have a blog for the benefit of his friends who enjoy engaging him in the verbal thrust and parry which he himself thrives on. Yet, here I sit with little to say and even less that needs to be heard and I am rambling on as if the world should stop and listen to this arrogant man, this broken vessel which can only pour forth from what has been poured in. However, over a burger and fries He has whet my mind even as He has fed my rotting flesh.
My brother and I spoke of the Holy Supper and whether one could be made sick even as one was receiving eternal life. I offered that such would be a contradiction within God. How could He grant you life whilst at the same time communicate to you some disease. Wisdom spoke, "but are we not dying all the time and does not the Lord kill and make alive? And so what if while He is placing His Body and His Blood into your mouth, the very medicine of immortality, you caught a cold? Does not our Lord, speaking through the Apostle Paul, say to the Corinthian congregation, "many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep", in direct reference to receiveing the Lord's Body and Blood? Of course that is because they were eating and drinking in an unworthy manner yet does that mean that all who receive it in a worthy manner will never be adversely affected in the consuming? Certainly not with regards to eternal life but what of the here and now in our germy world?
And what of those individual cups? If the argument for the chalice were to move beyond what is actually received, the very blood of Jesus-God's Son and Mary's son, to what the vessel is made of, precious metal, and also filled with, alcohol in the wine, would these be fitting arguments to suggest that one could never become ill by consuming from the common cup. (I do not believe these are arguments that come from faith) The individual cups of plastic or even glass do not have any of the properties that aid in thwarting germ transmission that the precious metal chalice possesses. So what of them?
Much of my conversation here, stems from recently going to the Higher Things conference in North Carolina. At the Divine Service on Friday afternoon, I was an usher and the last to commune. The young man ahead of me tried to get behind me. I asked him to get back in front of me, to which he responded, "I have mono." I said something stupid and unpastoral like, that's fine, please get in front of me for I am last to commune and I cannot get sick receiving the very gift of life from Life Himself. Upon returning to my congregation I had several conversations with various members and this came up. One person suggested that this was the perfect way to get mono for it is transmitted by saliva and the incubation period was ten days. It has been several months now and I am not sick.
I would like to have my words and mind whet by some of you sharp brothers that I might present this in a positive way to my flock. Wrong understanding which leads to wrong practice which leads to or reinforces wrong doctrine makes for impoverished souls, not rich as the riches of His grace would like. So, off this goes, into the ethernet and beyond. Amazing how much trepidation one can have for this kind of open and public thinking even when of ones own choosing. Weekly into the pulpit to proclaim Him with the confidence that He will accomplish His purpose through this cracked pot and even in spite of the same, yet how much different when it is ones own thoughts, words and lack of wisdom that are exposed, even if by choice not force. I will trust that my fellow baptized will be merciful and gracious towards me even as our Lord is to us all.
My brother and I spoke of the Holy Supper and whether one could be made sick even as one was receiving eternal life. I offered that such would be a contradiction within God. How could He grant you life whilst at the same time communicate to you some disease. Wisdom spoke, "but are we not dying all the time and does not the Lord kill and make alive? And so what if while He is placing His Body and His Blood into your mouth, the very medicine of immortality, you caught a cold? Does not our Lord, speaking through the Apostle Paul, say to the Corinthian congregation, "many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep", in direct reference to receiveing the Lord's Body and Blood? Of course that is because they were eating and drinking in an unworthy manner yet does that mean that all who receive it in a worthy manner will never be adversely affected in the consuming? Certainly not with regards to eternal life but what of the here and now in our germy world?
And what of those individual cups? If the argument for the chalice were to move beyond what is actually received, the very blood of Jesus-God's Son and Mary's son, to what the vessel is made of, precious metal, and also filled with, alcohol in the wine, would these be fitting arguments to suggest that one could never become ill by consuming from the common cup. (I do not believe these are arguments that come from faith) The individual cups of plastic or even glass do not have any of the properties that aid in thwarting germ transmission that the precious metal chalice possesses. So what of them?
Much of my conversation here, stems from recently going to the Higher Things conference in North Carolina. At the Divine Service on Friday afternoon, I was an usher and the last to commune. The young man ahead of me tried to get behind me. I asked him to get back in front of me, to which he responded, "I have mono." I said something stupid and unpastoral like, that's fine, please get in front of me for I am last to commune and I cannot get sick receiving the very gift of life from Life Himself. Upon returning to my congregation I had several conversations with various members and this came up. One person suggested that this was the perfect way to get mono for it is transmitted by saliva and the incubation period was ten days. It has been several months now and I am not sick.
I would like to have my words and mind whet by some of you sharp brothers that I might present this in a positive way to my flock. Wrong understanding which leads to wrong practice which leads to or reinforces wrong doctrine makes for impoverished souls, not rich as the riches of His grace would like. So, off this goes, into the ethernet and beyond. Amazing how much trepidation one can have for this kind of open and public thinking even when of ones own choosing. Weekly into the pulpit to proclaim Him with the confidence that He will accomplish His purpose through this cracked pot and even in spite of the same, yet how much different when it is ones own thoughts, words and lack of wisdom that are exposed, even if by choice not force. I will trust that my fellow baptized will be merciful and gracious towards me even as our Lord is to us all.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)