Lesson 2 Paradox, Mysteries and Contradictions

Free Books from Amazon to your Kindle or tablet by Martin Luther and John Calvin

One must take advantage of this offers!!

Click on the pictures to be taken to Amazon. If you have an e-reader, this is a good chance.

Mohler doesn't get it Wright

I like Mohler. But it sounds more like Luther cannot be wrong on any front!!!

Luther is one of my heroes, but if Mohler would have hold to his view of Justification by faith, that alone (no pun intended) would not have been enough to spare him of Luther's wrath because Mohler stands for believer's baptism, as well as Mohler's view of the Lord's supper. Therefore, Luther would not care if he held to the Gospel, as we saw in Zwingli's case.

Tradition, and a bad one at that!!!!

Martin Luther, again, this time, on prayer

....Take note that a prayer is not good and right because of its length, devoutness, sweetness, or its plea for temporal or eternal goods. Only that prayer is acceptable which breathes a firm confidence and trust that it will be heard (no matter how small and unworthy it may be in itself) because of the reliable pledge and promise of God. Not your zeal but God’s Word and promise render your prayer good. This faith, based on God’s words, is also the true worship; without it all other worship is sheer deception and error.  -- Martin Luther

Luther again, now, the difference between men and women

“Men have broad shoulders and narrow hips, and accordingly they possess intelligence. Women have narrow shoulders and broad hips. Women ought to stay at home; the way they were created indicates this, for they have broad hips and a wide fundament to sit upon [keep house and bear and raise children].”  -- Martin Luther

[Please direct all your angry hate mail to Luther].

Via Zwinglius Redidivus

Martin Luther's advice on reading Scripture

You should diligently learn the Word of God and by no means imagine that you know it. Let him who is able to read take a psalm in the morning, or some other chapter of Scripture, and study it for a while. This is what I do. When I get up in the morning, I pray and recite the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer with the children, adding any one of the psalms. I do this only to keep myself well acquainted with these matters, and I do not want to let the mildew of the notion grow that I know them well enough. The devil is a greater rascal than you think he is. You do as yet not know what sort of fellow he is and what a desperate rogue you are. His definite design is to get you tired of the Word and in this way to draw you away from it. This is his aim (WA 32, 64f.) -- Martin Luther

Martin Luther on Mother's Day (sort of)

You say that the sins which we commit every day offend God, and therefore we are not saints. To this I reply: Mother love is stronger than the filth and scabbiness on a child, and so the love of God toward us is stronger than the dirt that clings to us. Accordingly, although we are sinners, we do not lose our filial relation on account of our filthiness, nor do we fall from grace on account of our sin.  -- Martin Luther

[The context is Luther's argument with those schismatics who believe salvation, once obtained, can be lost].

Via zwinglius redivivus

The Reverend Timothy Lovejoy

By Sebastian Moll
Theological Faculty
University of Mainz, Germany
February 2012

A few years ago, The Times stated that Groundskeeper Willie of The Simpsons was “the most instantly recognizable Scot in the world.” Perhaps the same could be said about Reverend Lovejoy as the world’s best known minister. As such, I feel his exegetical and theological wisdom deserves a closer look here as an attempt to assign him his place in the history of theology. So let us take a look at three classic statements by this pastor of the “Western Branch of American Reform Presbylutheranism.”

1. “Marge, just about everything is a sin. [holds up a Bible] You ever sat down and read this thing? Technically we’re not allowed to go to the bathroom.”

Biblical Reference: There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:22-23)

Theological Impact: Martin Luther

Context: When Marge and Homer are having marital problems, Reverend Lovejoy visits Marge to counsel her. To her big surprise, however, he plainly suggests she get a divorce, which causes Marge to ask him whether divorce was not considered a sin. In Lovejoy’s above stated theological comment on sin, certain traits of Lutheran theology shine through. Not only does the Reverend consider the Bible the sole basis for the evaluation of sin (sola scriptura), he also strongly emphasises man’s sinful nature and his subsequent incapacity of living without sin. Unfortunately, he then draws a false conclusion from this insight, i.e., the idea that since man is a compulsive sinner anyway, there is no need for moral decisions anymore – which is exactly the reproach that Luther’s opponents always brought forward against him.

2. “Ned, have you thought about one of the other major religions? They’re all pretty much the same.”

Biblical reference: none

Theological Impact: Ernst Troeltsch

Context: Being annoyed with the constant questions and problems of Ned Flanders (classic: “I think I may be coveting my own wife”), Reverend Lovejoy encourages him to join another religion. The justification for this advice, although primarily caused by the mere wish to get rid of Flanders, is in fact perfectly in line with the position of Ernst Troeltsch, one of Germany’s most prominent theologians at the turn of the 20^thcentury. He stated that Christianity is the way we perceive God’s revelation in our lives and that we thus – because of the lack of an alternative – consider it the absolute religion. Meanwhile, other people in completely different religious circumstances perceive the divine in different ways and form different religions, which they also can rightfully consider absolute.

3. “All things are about Jesus, Homer, except this.”

Biblical Reference: Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made (John 1:3)

Theological Impact: Karl Barth

Context: When Bart is secretly working at a burlesque house, Reverend Lovejoy comes over to his parents’ house to talk it over. Before he knows why Lovejoy came, Homer, being afraid of a boring sermon, asks him if his visit was about Jesus, which results in the above stated answer by the Reverend. While the particular exception mentioned may be debatable, the idea that everything is about Christ sounds a lot like the motto of another German thinker, the (in-) famous Karl Barth, whom Pope Pius XII described as the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas. To Barth, Christ is God’s claim upon our whole life, and there can be no areas of our life in which we would not belong to Jesus Christ – even if it has something to do with your son working at a burlesque house!

All in all we might say that the designation “Reform Presbylutheranism” is not too farfetched when we consider Reverend Lovejoy’s wide-ranged theological basis. However, might he in fact be more influenced by the German tradition than has been acknowledged? At least that would account for his strong anti-Catholic sentiments. When asked to perform the last rites on a dying man, he just scoffs: “That’s Catholic; you might as well ask me to do a voodoo dance.”

Luther's death anniversary

Last week I was in a conference in Melbourne, Xpose Preaching, and couldn't post.

However, I am not going to let the opportunity go by, and will remember the death of Martin Luther, who died on the 18 of February, 1546.

None of my Lutheran friends wrote anything on their Facebook walls or blogs. I am not Lutheran, but have a great respect for the man.

Let us remember the Father of the Reformation. I am a child of the Reformation, although Luther hated my kind (Baptist/Anabaptists).

May he rest in peace.

Luther and his foul mouth

For all you, Lutheran friends who just despise Mark Driscoll for his "potty mouth", he is just competing with the Father of the Reformation, Martin Luther.

Go and read this link, and be amazed as to how the Reformer expressed himself very often.

Would people today would have followed such a guy??? Why are some of us (yes, I admit it) are still following in his footsteps?

Well, it shows that even our heroes are not perfect, only Jesus.

Luther on his drinking problem

“If our Lord God can pardon me for having crucified and martyred him for about twenty years [by saying mass], he can also approve of my occasionally taking a drink in his honor. God grant it, no matter how the world may wish to interpret it!” -- Martin Luther

If there's one thing that I admired Luther for, is his frankness. He liked to drink, some even say that he had a "sip" before he preached so he could give a stronger sermon!!! His late night drinking with his fellow students was legendary, since they were also talking theology. And hey, his wife run a brewery from their house, so they were used to the smell of beer.

So there you go, don't idolise the Reformers, not even Luther. But from my end, I admire him even more, since he didn't hide his weaknesses, not even when he knew that many would disapprove. He just proves that all of us are sinners, fighting against our fallen desires.

Luis Alberto Jovel

Remembering both those who fought for our lives here on earth, and those who fought so we could hear the message of eternal life

Did you notice that this year, Remembrance Day fell right on the 11 of the 11 of 2011? Much talk was made about it, since it is the first date that coincides with all the 11s. But regardless of that curious date, what’s most important is what we celebrate on Remembrance Day, which is that we remember the sacrifice done by others on our behalf. Men and women who went to fight or help in that fight in order for us to enjoy the free life that we have.

            Just in case you missed it, Martin Luther was borne on the 10^th of November. He was also one of those persons who were willing to put their lives on the line so other Christians would come to enjoy the fullness of life that is found in the grace of God. We cherished those who lost their lives fighting for our life here and now, but do we cherished similarly the lives of those who were willing to fight for our eternal lives?

            The only way we can fully honour those who gave their lives in wars is to continue to uphold the freedom their sacrifice gained for us. The only way we can honour those who endangered their lives so we could worship God freely, is to hang on the saviour they believed and served, Jesus.

What are we, Protestants, really celebrating today?

I don't want to sound like a historical revisionist, but Jim West has been writing very interesting pieces about when did the Protestant Reformation really started. Lutherans love to think that everything started with Martin Luther. It is well known that the usual phrase "Justification by faith is the article by which the Church stands or falls" is not from Luther, rather, from Johann Heinrich Alsted, dating from 1618. So, after some 400 hundred years, it would be a good thing to start giving praise where it is due.  Also, the Lutheran project did not go as well as it was intended, but it did quash other movement, as the Anabaptist movement, and condemned Zwingli for rejecting the Luther's understanding (misunderstanding more like it) of the Lord's Supper.

Well, this is how Jim started his posts about the date where the Reformation really started:

And yes, it's just Lutheran Reformation Day.  Luther was 2 years late as the initiator of Reformation- Zwingli having begun work in that direction in 1515.  So, congrats, Lutherans- just as was true at Barmen- while the Lutherans slept, the Reformed worked.

And the next one:

The Lutherans are celebrating what they call ‘Reformation Day’.  They like to delude themselves with the unfounded belief that were it not for Luther, there would have been no Reformation. 

Alas, poor things, they seem totally unaware that Reform had already commenced further south, in Switzerland, where Zwingli and his colleagues had been lurching towards true Reform since 1515. 

To be sure, Luther matters.  But he doesn’t matter as much as his followers would like the world to believe. ...... 

Luther didn’t teach Zwingli either the Gospel or the proper understanding of the Supper of the Lord.  Zwingli knew and taught both before anyone had ever heard of Luther. 

So, dear Lutherans, enjoy your awakening day.  It’s ok with the rest of us if you were a bit late to the party.

Very revealing, indeed.

How Luther's hatred led him to invent history

Hey, I like Luther, but I detest the way he distorted some things in order to justify himself (what an irony!!) in his dislike, or just plain hatred against other reformers which whom he didn't agree.

Lutherans have kept up with their leader and founder when they describe those who don't agree with them. No wonder the Anabaptist saw Luther and Calvin as just another version of Rome, they could be as nasty as Rome against those whom they saw as opposing them.

Here it's a good article about how Luther made up a story against Zwingli in order to justify his hatred against Zwingli's opposition of Luther's position on the Lord's Supper.

Today is the anniversary of Zwingli's death. Let's set the record straight as how he died, and not as Luther would have liked him to die.

Where Did People Get the Idea That Zwingli Died Fighting? by Jim Certainly not from first hand evidence or witnesses on the scene, all of whom assert that Zwingli died never having drawn a weapon.  So where did the idea that he was hacking away at Zurich's enemies and died fighting come from?  From Luther, of course, whose hatred of Zwingli so colored his vision that he felt secure in making up things to suit his view- “Zwingli drew his sword. Therefore he has received the reward that Christ spoke of, ‘All who take the sword will perish by the sword’ [Matt. 26:52]. If God has saved him, he has done so above and beyond the rule.” No, he didn't.  But Luther had a text in hand (Mt 26) and he used it to his advantage.  Zwingli was dead so he must have drawn his sword, runs Luther's reasoning. And “The end of all heresy is the sword. We see this in the case of the pope, Münzer, Zwingli, the Arians, etc. They all started out [with a certain show of piety], but in the end they were driven to the sword. They were at first not wanting in the will [to carry out their intentions] but they didn’t have the opportunity. Satan, as Paul said, can’t deny himself. He must show himself to be a liar and murderer. Moreover, I think that Cain’s death also caused a great outcry. They said, ‘Behold, Lamech has killed our father,’ etc.” And They say that Zwingli recently died thus; if his error had prevailed, we would have perished, and our church with us. It was a judgment of God. That was always a proud people. The others, the papists, will probably also be dealt with by our Lord God. Luther was so filled with contempt for Zwingli (and the Zurichers) that he was willing to invent the story of Zwingli dying as a combatant. The historical facts indicate otherwise (as anyone familiar with them knows). Zwingli certainly wore a helmet and he had a sword strapped to his side (as all Swiss did on the field of battle).  But his was a ceremonial sword.  He was a chaplain ministering to the troops, not a combatant engaged in killing.  He despised war and had since 1515 when he saw it first hand at the Battle of Marignano.  Don't accept Luther's badly colored view.  His eyes were blinded by the blackness of contempt.

The ‘Sacraments’ Do Not Confer Grace

As the Consensus Tigurinus rightly declares-

Article 17. The Sacraments Do Not Confer Grace.By this doctrine is overthrown that fiction of the sophists which teaches that the sacraments confer grace on all who do not interpose the obstacle of mortal sin. For besides that in the sacraments nothing is received except by faith, we must also hold that the grace of God is by no means so annexed to them that whoso receives the sign also gains possession of the thing. For the signs are administered alike to reprobate and elect, but the reality reaches the latter only.

 I am not happy at all with the Catholic position on the sacraments, which I see it more like a blasphemy. Many weren't happy with the Lutheran position either. So the Reformed/Calvinistic position served as a via media for the rest of us.

Not all things that Calvin said were wrong. That's why we can't close our minds to either Luther or Calvin, or the Anabaptists for that matter.

Calvin on Spiritual Warfare

I have previously posted of how Luther advised some of his parishioners as to how deal with Satan.

Now, I would like to mention what Calvin says about how to conduct Spiritual Warfare.

Being forewarned of the constant presence of an enemy the most daring, the most powerful, the most crafty, the most indefatigable, the most completely equipped with all the engines and the most expert in the science of war, let us not allow ourselves to be overtaken by sloth or cowardice, but, on the contrary, with minds aroused and ever on the alert, let us stand ready to resist; and, knowing that this warfare is terminated only by death, let us study to persevere. Above all, fully conscious of our weakness and want of skill, let us invoke the help of God, and attempt nothing without trusting in him, since it is his alone to supply counsel, and strength, and courage, and arms. - John Calvin

Well, no farts with Calvin. That's an improvement from Luther!!!

Luther to the Tea Partiers

I will not quarrel with anyone about it, but I think it would be more fitting if there were no more begging in Christendom under the New Testament than among the Jews under the Old Testament; I hold that the spiritual and temporal authorities would be discharging their duty properly if they did away with all the beggars sacks.

Many in the Tea Party are conservative Lutherans. It will be wise for them to listen to their founder and leader on helping the less fortunate.

Never too late to say sorry

“Lutherans” to Anabaptists: Sorry
Wednesday, July 28, 2010, 10:37 AM
Anthony Sacramone
So, after 450-plus years, some Lutherans*, presumably trapped in an airport somewhere, bumped from their flights to see the La Brea Tar Pits, or unable to compete in their respective bowling leagues due to wrist-lock, have decided to kill time by issuing a formal apology to the descendants of the 16th-century Anabaptists, namely, Wanda and Earl Kolodny of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Some perspective. To begin with, one must understand that, in nailing his theses to the Wittenberg church door, Martin Luther bore a hole large enough to let loose a bevy of self-proclaimed prophets, apostles, revolutionaries, screwballs, and unitarians. Some were calling for the violent overthrow of the existing order. Some were calling for the near-total withdrawal from the existing order. And some just wanted to prance around naked and sing an early version of the theme to Caddyshack.

Among this dappled crew were those who believed the church to be so corrupt that only the re-baptizing of professing adults could make a clean spiritual start of things. Infant baptism was mere thralldom to an ecclesiastical leviathan that had made common cause with corrupt civil government, pious hypocrites, and whoever invented the atomic wedgie.


Luther, never known to mince words, felt something to be amiss with these folks: “Who seeth not here in the Anabaptists, men not possessed with devils, but even devils themselves possessed with worse devils?” Luther being Luther, he encouraged their being tossed into rivers and beaten with sticks—oh, you know how he gets.

Among the radicals, however, was one relatively benign sort, a guy named Menno Simons, from whom modern-day Anabaptists take their name: the Simonizers. Harmless, pacificisististical, and really bad drivers, the Simonizers can be found buffing a Hyundai near you.

And here we are, in 2010, making amends. So, Mr. and Mrs. Kolodny, as a poor Lutheran layman, allow me to offer my deepest apologies for the 1500s and the rather intemperate recommendations of Dr. Luther.

I promise: it will never happen again.

* It should be noted that the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is not in league with the Lutheran World Federation, which issued the apology, but is in league with the Justice League of America. Which is to say, as far as I know, the LCMS does not apologize, but may still feel really bad about it all. Rumor has it that the new president of the LCMS has asked Congorilla to mediate a brunch in the not-too-distant future.