Benedict XVI and The Evangelion

The quotation which follows is from Jesus of Nazareth (p. 46-47) by Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI.

Both Evangelists designate Jesus’ preaching with the Greek term evangelion—but what does that actually mean?

The term has recently been translated as “good news.”  That sounds attractive, but it falls far short of the order of magnitude of what is actually meant by the word evangelion.  This term figures in the vocabulary of the Roman emperors, who understood themselves as lords, saviors, and redeemers of the world.  The messages issued by the emperor were called in Latin evangelium, regardless of whether or not their content was particularly cheerful and pleasant.  The idea was that what comes from the emperor is a saving message, that it is not just a piece of news, but a change of the world for the better.

When the Evangelists adopt this word, and it thereby becomes the generic name for their writings, what they mean to tell us is this:  What the emperors, who pretend to be gods, illegitimately claim, really occurs here—a message endowed with plenary authority, a message that is not just talk, but reality.  In the vocabulary of contemporary linguistic theory, we would say that the evangelium, the Gospel, is not just informative speech, but performative speech—not just the imparting of information, but action, efficacious power that enters into the world to save and transform.  Mark speaks of the “Gospel of God,” the point being that it is not the emperors who can save the world, but God.  And it is here that God’s word, which is at once word and deed, appears; it is here that what the emperors merely assert, but cannot actually perform, truly takes place.  For here it is the real Lord of the world—the living God—who goes into action.

—Benedict XVI in Jesus of Nazareth
(pages 46-47).

Benedict XVI may not clearly proclaim that the power of the Gospel is in the purity of its gift of life.  Nonetheless, those words are still a powerful statement about the efficacy of God’s word.  God’s word has power.  God’s word has power in the mouths of all who speak it.  This is true no matter who they are, no matter what denomination to which they belong, and no matter what rank they hold in the Church.  God’s word never returns to Him empty.  (Isaiah 55:10-11).

One of the cornerstone teachings of the Lutheran Reformation was that God’s word alone has the power to reach people and change the sinful human heart.  And yet today, there are numerous so-called “Lutheran” pastors who believe God’s word needs their efforts.  They believe that without their methods and salesmanship God’s word will not even be heard.

According to them, “To reach people no one else is reaching, [they] must do things no one else is doing.”  According to them, instead of God’s Word reaching people and performing great miracles through us, these false teachers are the ones who reach out and perform great miracles using the word.  They are the performers, not God.  They act as if without their money, their wisdom, their entertainments, their personalities, and their speaking abilities the elect will be lost.

Jesus taught us to judge teachers by their fruit, in other words, their teachings and practices.  (Matthew 7:15-23).  The fruit of these Church Growth pastors is rotten.  Do they trust the evangelion?  Do they trust God’s Word?  No.  Their practices show that they trust themselves.

How sad when the pope is more Lutheran than these so-called “Lutheran” pastors.  Should we not feel burning shame when we see the pope speak so clearly about the efficacy of God’s word while numerous “Lutheran” pastors see God’s word as a hindrance?  Of course, those who obstinately plagiarize false teachers in their sermons not only despise His word, but they also display a seared conscience incapable of shame.  (1 Timothy 4:2).

To these so-called “Lutheran” pastors Christ crucified is not the Rock upon which the Church is built, but rather a hindering stone in the path of church growth.  “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  (Romans 9:32-33, Acts 17:25-30).

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God’s Word Is Reality

God does not need paint and canvas to create a beautiful sunset.  His canvas is the sky, His paints are the colors of the rainbow, and His brush is the wind.  Likewise, God does not need to make up stories.  His word is life, His characters are actual people, and His stories are reality.

When God speaks, if His words are not already true to reality, they make reality true to themselves.  For what God says is always true:  God said, “‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”  (Genesis 1:3).

Recently, I heard a Roman Catholic priest say in a sermon that the stories in the Bible before Moses were not historical because they contain a lot of myth.  He compared the story of Jacob wrestling with God to Greek mythology.  According to him the value of these stories is merely symbolic because they can help us to learn helpful tips for living, like the fact that Jacob was close to God.

However, the Old and New Testaments are not “cleverly invented stories” (2 Peter 1:16).  We know this because “no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.  For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”  (2 Peter 1:20-21).  Because God’s word is always true, His Spirit does not inspire stories that purport to be true history, if they are not historical.  (John 17:17).

And now “we have the word of the prophets made more certain,” He is the word of truth made flesh, and His name is Jesus Christ.  (2 Peter 1:19, John 1:14).  According to Jesus, in the beginning of our history, God created two people (Adam and Eve) and they were one flesh.  (Matthew 19:4-6).  This shows that Jesus accepted Genesis as historical.  And following the lead of her Lord, the Church has also accepted the books of Moses as historical.  Calling Genesis a myth is a recent innovation.

One of the principles of sola Scriptura is that the Scriptures are clear and able to be understood.  That does not mean that the Scriptures do not contain unfathomable mysteries, but it does mean that in the Bible God has competently communicated His deep salvific truth.  (Luke 16:31).  (The more one knows about a true mystery (like the Trinity), the more fascinating and deep it becomes).

Because the Scriptures are able to be understood, and because Jesus promised to be with His Church to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20), that means that every generation of Christians since the time of Christ has been able to understand the Scriptures.  If those generations testify unanimously that they understood Genesis to be historical, then who are we to say it is myth?

Genesis was not written merely to share clever stories and spiritual truths.  It is real.  It is as real as the Lord’s Supper is the real Body and Blood of Christ.  These stories and sacraments not just symbols, but actual physical supernatural realities.  They are Christ given to us, and Christ is the truth.  (John 14:6-7).

Our God is almighty.  And an almighty God does not paint with canvas and brush and make-believe symbols, He paints with reality.

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The “Catalog of Testimonies” and Advent

The “Catalog of Testimonies” was appended to the Book of Concord to show that the Lutheran doctrine was not invented in the 1500s.

A person will easily recognize that when these doctrines are taught in the Book of Concord nothing new has been introduced, either in the doctrinal issues themselves, or in phrases and ways of speaking.  We have spoken and taught about these mysteries, first of all, just as Holy Scripture does, and also as the ancient, pure Church did.  [Catalog of Testimonies: To the Christian Reader].

Because these testimonies of “the ancient, pure Church” relate primarily to the natures of Christ they make excellent Advent meditations.  They also help to explain why Christians view the Lord’s Supper as an integral part of the Christmas celebration:

Christ always received worship and adoration from the angels, for He always was God.  Now they are adoring Him also as man.  [Theodoret, 632].

~

In regard to the flesh the Father has commanded, “Let all God’s angels worship Him.”  [Chrysostom, 631].

~

The Word did not become flesh in order to add to divinity.  In order that flesh might rise up, He came forth from Mary, not that the Word might become better.  There was a great addition to the human body from communion and union with the Word.  [Athanasius, 628].

~

The Word that became man did not confer a partial grace on the received [human] nature; rather, it pleased God that the whole fullness of Deity dwelt in it.  [Theodoret, 639].

~

… the divinity which is not seen is worshiped through the nature which is seen—this surpasses every miracle.  [Theodoret, 629].

~

Because the Savior’s flesh was joined to the Word of God, who is by nature Life, it was made life-giving.  [Cyril, 640].

The Word became one of us, and said, “This is my body given for you,” and thereby he puts his word, his body, his blood: his very life into us.  (John 1:14, Luke 22:19).

May you have a blessed Advent and Christmas.

Notes:  All page citations and translations are from Concordia, the Lutheran Confessions: A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord.

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Thy Word is a Trusty Shield and Weapon

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  (John 1:1).

“A mighty fortress is our God,
A trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from every need
That has us now o’er taken.
The old evil foe
Now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might
Are his dread arms in fight;
On earth is not his equal.”

The Word “of God is living and active.”  It is sharper than any sword.  (Hebrews 4:12).

“With might of ours can naught be done,
Soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the valiant one,
Whom God himself elected.
You ask, “Who is this?”
Jesus Christ it is,
The almighty Lord.
And there’s no other God;
He holds the field forever.”

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea …”  (Psalm 46:1-2).

“Though devils all the world should fill,
All eager to devour us,
We tremble not, we fear no ill;
They shall not overpow’r us.
This world’s prince may still
Scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none.
He’s judged; the deed is done!
One little word can fell him.”

“‘Is not my word like fire,’ declares the Lord, ‘and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?’”  (Jeremiah 23:29).

“The Word they still shall let remain,
Nor any thanks have for it;
He’s by our side upon the plain
With his good gifts and Spirit.
And do what they will—
Hate, steal, hurt, or kill—
Though all may be gone,
Our victory is won;
The kingdom’s ours forever!”

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

(Luke 21:33).  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16).

Amen.

— “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” Christian Worship, 200.
Scripture quotes: NIV, 1984.

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WELS and the Intrepid Lutherans

There is talk among some leaders in the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) that the Intrepid Lutherans blog should shut itself down.

The WELS Conference Of Presidents is meeting this week, and they are planning to discuss the Intrepid Lutherans blog.  The Conference Of Presidents is composed of the Synod President, the Synod Vice Presidents, and the 12 District Presidents.  (The District Presidents are like bishops).

The concern is that the Intrepid Lutherans use of God’s Word to publicly question doctrine and practice in the WELS is causing division and bad public relations.  Recently, the Intrepid Lutherans criticized the sin of plagiarism, and also pointed out problems with the synod wide “Walking Together Sunday” service.  In response, at least one District President has counseled the Intrepid Lutherans to close shop.

However, there is unhealthy doctrine and practice in the WELS, it is also public, and it is spreading like a malignant cancer.  (See also WELS Northern WI District Doctrinal Issues).  The WELS is like a beautiful woman with melanoma.  Unfortunately, some among us think the cure for melanoma is to ignore it, and hope it goes away.  Others are impressed with how fast the cancer grows, and think growth at any cost is good.  And still others are promoting the cancer.

At first, false doctrine is tolerant: it just wants to be left alone in its own little area so that it can gain a strong foothold.  In fact, part of our doctrinal problem is tolerance:  There are already far too many WELS men who either act like doctrine is not important, and/or they will come right out and say: “Let’s agree to disagree on doctrine; and if we don’t agree to disagree, then you need to keep your mouth shut.”  The (world’s) culture we live in says it is intolerant of persons and bad to speak the truth in love.  However, we should not succumb to that thought trap.  The Church must speak the truth.  God’s Word is truth.

The solution for cancerous doctrine is not to ignore it and keep our mouths shut, but rather to cut it out using the scalpel of the Word of God.  Some are worried about division, but God’s Word divides even soul and spirit.  (Matthew 10:34-39, Hebrews 4:12).  A loving husband does not deny his wife chemotherapy because he is afraid of spoiling her beauty.  So also good shepherds do not deny their flocks the true Law that cuts to the bone, nor the true Gospel that restores and heals.

Satan wants us to focus on our outward beauty.  He wants us to pretend everything is OK, when on the inside we are dying.  If Satan had his way: there would be no pornography, there would be no abortion, there would be no theft, there would be no murder; and everyone would live in a good house, everyone would smile and be happy, and everyone would go to church on Sunday where we would not hear Christ crucified.  (Matthew 4:8-9).

Everyone would be happy and look good on the outside, but everyone would be going to hell, and no one would realize that anything was wrong.

Jesus did not come to earth to look good, but rather he came to proclaim truth.  (Isaiah 53:2-3).  So also His true Church focuses on proclaiming the truth, no matter the cost.  Any church that focuses on public relations instead of true doctrine is a church that damns:  Having lost its focus on the Truth, its mission then becomes one of darkness and lies.  (Matthew 12:30, Ezekiel 13:10-16).

God’s Word is our light.  God’s word is true doctrine, and doctrine dictates practice.  (James 2:18).  If false doctrine cannot be confronted, then of what use is God’s Word?  That is like putting the light of God’s Word under a bowl.  (Matthew 5:15).  Indeed the WELS will grow, if we hide the harsh Law and the Gospel salve and the efficacious Sacraments under a bowl, because men love darkness.  (John 3:19).  But at what cost?  (Matthew 6:23).

Hopefully, God will guide all earthly church leaders to realize that it is correct and proper for God’s people to openly discuss God’s Word.  It is not only proper for God’s people to question their church, it is good.  It is healthy.  (Acts 17:11).  It is the Holy Spirit who sanctifies and keeps His Congregation of Saints in the one true faith, and the Holy Spirit can handle some discussion.  (“Explanation of the Third Article,” Small Catechism).  We need pastors who trust God’s Word, who do not believe in WELS exceptionalism, and who are therefore willing to openly discuss doctrine and practice.  (Acts 20:28-31).

Anything less is a world of make-believe.  Anything less is the kingdom of Satan.  It is Satan who wants to shut up God’s people.  It is Satan who wants us to live in a world of make-believe where we pretend that everything is OK.  However, it is Jesus who wants us to live in the world of reality with all our true ugliness, along with His true redemption.

If we want the WELS to be beautiful, we should not worry how she looks in this world, we should just make sure she gets to heaven.  Entertainment, popcorn, and phony public relations efforts will not get anyone to heaven.  Only the reality of God’s Law and Promises will.

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Drawing Mohammed and Jesus

In the Spring of 2010 A.D., numerous advocates of free speech in America started an internet movement called “Everybody Draw Mohammed.”  It began in response to American media giants like The New York Times, Viacom, and Comedy Central self-censoring images and news about Islam and Mohammed.  There were threats that certain Americans would end up like Theo van Gogh, a Dutch filmmaker who was murdered for criticizing Islam/Mohammedanism.

The idea was that if all freedom loving folk would draw Mohammed, then they could not kill us all, or at least the threat level directed at specific individuals would diminish.  However, Islam’s goal is not just to stop us from drawing Mohammed.  Islam’s ultimate goal is to dominate the world both religiously and politically.  Islam is not just a religion, it is also a system of government based on a set of ideas that are not compatible with freedom of conscience.

These pictures are of members of the Islamic Jihad in Palestine.  They are of the sort of fellows that would like to kill you for drawing a picture of Mohammed, or for being Christian, or for not being the right kind of Muslim.  Do you want to see an image of Mohammed?  Look.  Unfortunately, they are the face of Mohammed.

There is another image of Mohammed: the word of Mohammed.

Mohammed says when they reject Allah’s word, then use the sword; (for example: fight the non-Muslims until they readily pay the protection tax.  Koran, Surah 9:29).  However, this is the word of man.  God’s word is powerful and does not need swords.  The true Prophet “Jesus commanded Peter, ‘Put your sword away!’”  (John 18:11).  Then later, Jesus told the pagan governor of Palestine:

“My kingdom is not of this world.  If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews.  But now my kingdom is from another place.”

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king.  In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

[John 18:36-37].

God’s word does not need swords.  Jesus is the true Prophet.  His followers conquered the pagan Roman Empire without the sword.  In fact, they did not even knock over the pagan idols.

In response to the radical “reforms” of Karlstadt who sought to destroy images, Martin Luther said:

Once, when Paul came to Athens (Acts 17 [:16–32]), a mighty city, he found in the temple many ancient altars, and he went from one to the other and looked at them all, but he did not kick down a single one of them with his foot.  Rather he stood up in the middle of the market place and said they were nothing but idolatrous things and begged the people to forsake them; yet he did not destroy one of them by force.  When the Word took hold of their hearts, they forsook them of their own accord, and in consequence the thing fell of itself…  For the Word created heaven and earth and all things [Psalm 33:6]; the Word must do this thing, and not we poor sinners.

In short, I will preach it, teach it, write it, but I will constrain no man by force, for faith must come freely without compulsion…  [God's word] is almighty, and takes captive the hearts, and when the hearts are captured the work will fall of itself.

[Luther's works, vol. 51: Sermons I.  III-78.  Philadelphia: Fortress Press.  (1999, c1959).  Emphasis added].

Nor did Paul resort to mere insult, but instead he reasoned with the pagans according even to their own poets.  (Acts 17:28).  (With freedom comes responsibility, and the purpose of free speech is to tell the truth.  Mere insult devoid of reason is an abuse, not a use of free speech).

God’s word created heaven and earth (Psalm 33:6), therefore, God’s word is also powerful enough to change the heart of sinful man.  True believers can trust God’s word alone.

Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”  (Luke 21:33).  Why did Jesus say this?  Because His words are Truth.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the true God, except through Jesus.  (John 14:6).

God does not need our services, but it is our privilege to speak His word; and His word does not lose its power simply because it is in our mouths.

Many Muslims are opposed to drawing any prophet (including Jesus) or any person or animal.  The Taliban believes that photographs are a sin.  (Religion Facts.com).  But if we stop making pictures or depicting Jesus or any prophet out of fear, we will have surrendered to the Jihad.  We will have become Mohammedans, because to act like a Mohammedan is to be a Mohammedan whether the motivation is faith or fear.

The true God wants to first change our hearts with His Word, but others are more concerned with immediate earthly results.  Have faith.  God’s word is our strength.  Jesus said,

“a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.  They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.”  [John 16:2-3].

Who is the true God and the true Prophet?  The true God has a different character than Allah and Mohammed; the natural man cannot understand Him.

“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”  (This was foretold by the prophet Isaiah 53:5, NKJV).  Jesus paid the consequences for the sins of the whole world.  Your sins have been paid for by Jesus, now treat your fellow man as Jesus has treated you.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the true God except through Jesus.  He is the one God.  (John 8:58, 14:6).

Photo credits: via PicApp.

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“The Word,” a Martin Luther Quote

In his Second Sermon upon his return to Wittenberg, in response to the radical “reforms” of Karlstadt, Martin Luther said:

Once, when Paul came to Athens (Acts 17 [:16–32]), a mighty city, he found in the temple many ancient altars, and he went from one to the other and looked at them all, but he did not kick down a single one of them with his foot.  Rather he stood up in the middle of the market place and said they were nothing but idolatrous things and begged the people to forsake them; yet he did not destroy one of them by force.  When the Word took hold of their hearts, they forsook them of their own accord, and in consequence the thing fell of itself.  Likewise, if I had seen them holding mass, I would have preached to them and admonished them.  Had they heeded my admonition, I would have won them; if not, I would nevertheless not have torn them from it by the hair or employed any force, but simply allowed the Word to act and prayed for them.  For the Word created heaven and earth and all things [Ps. 33:6]; the Word must do this thing, and not we poor sinners.

In short, I will preach it, teach it, write it, but I will constrain no man by force, for faith must come freely without compulsion.  Take myself as an example.  I opposed indulgences and all the papists, but never with force.  I simply taught, preached, and wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing.  And while I slept [cf. Mark 4:26–29], or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends Philipp and Amsdorf, the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that no prince or emperor ever inflicted such losses upon it.  I did nothing; the Word did everything.  Had I desired to foment trouble, I could have brought great bloodshed upon Germany; indeed, I could have started such a game that even the emperor would not have been safe.  But what would it have been?  Mere fool’s play.  I did nothing; I let the Word do its work.  What do you suppose is Satan’s thought when one tries to do the thing by kicking up a row?  He sits back in hell and thinks:  Oh, what a fine game the poor fools are up to now!  But when we spread the Word alone and let it alone do the work, that distresses him.  For it is almighty, and takes captive the hearts, and when the hearts are captured the work will fall of itself.

— The Second Sermon, March 10, 1522, Monday after Invocavit.  [Luther, M. (1999, c1959).  Vol. 51: Luther's works, vol. 51: Sermons I.  (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.).  Luther's Works (51:III-78).  Philadelphia: Fortress Press].  Emphasis added.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”  (Luke 21:33).  Foolish pastors refuse to trust the Word of God, and instead trust the methods of the so-called church Growth Movement.  The church Growth Movement is a foundation of sand.  Instead, we should build on the Rock.  (Matthew 7:24-27).  The Word of the Lord is the Rock that endures forever.

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Scripture of the Day

Romans 3:22-24 (NIV)

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Romans 6:1-4 (ESV)

What shall we say then?  Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?  By no means!  How can we who died to sin still live in it?  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Hebrews 10:26-31 (ESV)

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.  Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.  How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?  For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.”  And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Romans 8:12-14 (NIV)

Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.  For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (ESV)

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

1 John 1:8 (NIV)

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

1 John 3:4-10 (ESV)

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.  You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.  No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.  Little children, let no one deceive you.  Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.  Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.  The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.  No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.  By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Matthew 12:31 (NIV)

And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

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In the Beginning …

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it…

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth…  Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

- John 1.

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Words of Truth

As Christians we must be careful how we use words.  Children of God must always testify truthfully, and in order to speak truthfully we must use words correctly.

We have been blessed by God because many English words were developed in the light of his Word.  We have words like sin, good, evil, and God; and most everyone still understands the meanings behind these words and the truth they represent.

However, imagine traveling to a land where they do not have a word for the idea of sin.  Or to them the word “sinful” is associated with ideas like delicious.  Then when someone like John the Baptist proclaims, “Repent of your sinfulness,” they hear but do not understand.

When Satan speaks, he lies because that is his native language.  And one of the first tactics of a liar is to use words incorrectly.  This causes confusion.

When we consistently misuse words we cause them to lose their incisive meaning in our lives. We lose the ability to cut through a fog of confusion.  For example, when we hear the phrase, “Buy one, get one free,” do we stop to think that “free” means we do not have to pay?  Are we able to get the “free” burger without paying?  No.  No matter what he says, the Burger King does not give out free burgers.  On the other hand, the King of the Universe has prepared an eternal banquet, and it is free.

However, some Christians still preach a message similar to “Buy one, get one free.”  They say, “Do good works, and then get salvation for ‘free.’”  But we are destitute.  We have nothing.  In fact, we have less than nothing:  We are sinners who owe an eternal debt that we can never repay.  Must we pay for what is “free”?  No!  Such a “gospel” is absurd.  We might as well tell penniless people to go to Burger King for “free” burgers.

If we must work for something, then “free” is no longer free.  If salvation is by “grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”  (Romans 11:6).

True faith is not useless.

Only after God makes us realize through faith that salvation is free, do we then begin to do good works.  This is because we no longer work out of fear of punishment or greed for reward, but rather our works are motivated by His love.  True good works are done for their own sake, and therefore can only come from a heart that is already free in Christ.  Salvation is what sets us free.

God’s free promise creates faith, and this faith loves and will work because this faith wants to work.  True love is free, and true love loves willingly.  Only God can make our unwilling hearts willing.  Then without fear or greed or self-conscious thought, we do good works motivated by Him.  Having received freely, Christians give freely.  Having received what is free, we have been made free.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  [Galatians 5:1].

This true faith is living and active in our lives because Christ works in us to produce his fruits through our faith.

On the other hand, dead faith is mere historical knowledge that Jesus died and paid for the sins of the world.  Dead faith is not a relationship of trust in Jesus.  Dead faith is useless.  Dead faith knows that God exists, but does not actually trust God.  Dead faith believes about the promise of salvation, but does not actually trust the promise.  Dead faith knows of Jesus, but does not know Jesus.

Anyone who calls himself “Christian” but makes a practice of sinning and does not daily repent and struggle against sin, and does not strive to do what is right, is no Christian at all.  Anyone who calls himself “Christian” and says, “I have faith” should ask themselves what they mean by “faith” and, “Faith in what?”  Is our faith merely knowledge that Jesus is our savior?  Or is our faith actual trust in Jesus?  Do we trust our “faith in Jesus,” or do we trust Jesus?

The person who trusts Jesus, believes Jesus’ words, and Jesus says: “Repent.” (Matthew 4:17).  Do we know what it means to “repent”?  Do we really trust Christ?  Then we should care what he says, and we should believe what he says.

Correctly using words keeps our minds clear.

If we want to communicate Jesus’ message of the Law and the Gospel we must always use words truly and correctly.  Only then will people’s minds be clear so that they can hear and understand and believe.

We should never say “bad” when we mean good, or “free” when we mean not free.  Misusing words is similar to misusing God’s name, which is a violation of the Ten Commandments.  Just as misusing God’s name causes confusion about who God is, so also misusing words causes confusion about reality.

Another word that people abuse is “truth.”  Some gibber, “That’s your truth, not mine.”  They might as well say, “Lies are true” or “Everything is true.”   To them the idea of Truth does not exist and the word “truth” has no meaning.

God’s word is truth.  It is a like sword that flashes like lightning.  It is sharper than “any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  (Hebrews 4:12, Ezekiel 21:28, & Revelation 19:15).  However, when we misuse words, we dull the impact of that sword in the minds of the hearers.  When we misuse words we make ears that cannot hear and eyes that cannot see.  (Isaiah 42:20 & Jeremiah 6:10).

So we must be careful how we use the tools that God has given us for communicating his word of truth.  Through misuse they can become dull and lose their incisive power.

If a prophet says, “Repent of your sin!” and the people who hear him identify the word “sinful” with ideas like delicious, tasty, and indulgent, then they won’t understand what he is saying.  We should be grateful to God because our language was shaped in part by an understanding of his truth.  The English language contains words like God, sin, grace, justice, love, and truth.  But if we allow or participate with the world in changing the meaning of those words, then we will have lost some very powerful weapons for communicating the truth.

Satan is smarter than we.  He is a prowling lion seeking whom he may devour and he is on the attack on fronts we do not even imagine.  But God is all powerful.  We are his servants who are at war with the spiritual powers of this dark world, and we must keep our swords sharp.  (Ephesians 6:12-17).

Free.  Grace.  Faith.  Love.  Works.  Truth.  Prepare your words/swords for the battle!

copyright © 2008 Rick T. @ vdma.wordpress.com

Notes:  This article was first published in the St. Peter Church newsletter May 2008 A.D.

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