Do you believe in the Lord's Prayer?
Do you believe that it is a perfect prayer given to us by Jesus Himself?
Do you believe that what our Lord taught us to pray for must be the most important things for us?
Consider the first petition of the Lord's Prayer - the very first thing Jesus teaches us to ask for.
"Hallowed by Thy Name"
Heavenly Father, hallowed be Thy Name. What does this mean?
God's name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also.
How is God's name kept holy? God's name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God's Word profanes the name of God among us. Protect us from this, heavenly Father!
Jesus is teaching us that when we consider where we go to church the number one thing we should be concerned about is this: Is the Word of God taught in its truth and purity at this church? Jesus is teaching us that doctrine matters. It is the first thing we pray for. Pure doctrine. The pure name of God.
Furthermore, we are praying that God would protect us from teaching that is contrary to His Word. Protect us from false doctrine, false teaching and false teachers in His Church.
So, what does all of this mean for you?
Don't catch yourself praying the Lord's Prayer and then treating doctrine like it doesn't matter, or that it divides people. If you do this, you are divided - praying one thing but believing another. Instead, repent and believe in the free promise of Jesus. He forgives you for such twisting of His name, and calls you to seek after purity of doctrine. He frees you to look honestly into His Word and hear what He says is pure and true.
Each of us makes light of God's Word every day of our lives, but in His mercy God forgives us and calls us to return to what He says, instead of what our heart says or what the world says. We need this first petition of His prayer to continue to teach us. We need to keep praying it. And we need to believe that it is true. God bless you and attend you as you seek His truth in a place of worship.
Friday, 16 January 2015
Thursday, 11 December 2014
Why does God forgive me?
Have you ever noticed that when people say "I'm sorry" or "Excuse me" (at least in public) they don't really mean it? And before you think I'm talking about them - like all those people over there - I'm not. I'm talking about you.
Honestly, when you say "excuse me" to someone, do you really mean: "I am at your mercy. You could totally take issue with me. You have every right, because I have done wrong. Please, according to your graciousness, excuse me of this terrible thing that I've done, that I promise to never do again."
No, you don't.
You probably mean something along the lines of "I didn't mean to do that. Hopefully your not too offended by my inadvertent selfishness."
We've changed the meaning of the words, haven't we? We don't really mean "excuse me". We don't really consider ourselves under the judgment of the other person. We expect them to politely return our social nicety, and nothing more.
The problem is that this starts to influence the way we look at forgiveness. It makes us think we deserve it. Like it is due to us because we've said the right thing, or followed the proper protocol. Can you imagine what you would think if someone said, "I certainly will not excuse you. I hold this on you"? You'd probably think "HOW RUDE!"
Now, put this whole forgiveness discussion into the relationship you have with God. Do you think He changes the meaning of words for social niceness? Do you think He views the process like its some sort of vending machine - put in the right words here and out pops forgiveness? "I'm sorry God. I sinned. Now where is my forgiveness?"
Of course not.
In fact, I'm going to say a deeply shocking thing. You don't have a reason for God to forgive you. You don't have a reason - so He sent One. You don't have a reason - so He gave you One - and that reason is His Only Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
God doesn't forgive you because you say I'm sorry. He forgives you because of what Jesus did for you. Because He died for you. Because He rose for you.
God doesn't forgive you because you deserve it - you don't. He forgives you because that is who He is - a gracious God. A giving, loving merciful Father that wants to rescue His children from their foolish rebellion.
So don't let people tell you, "You have to confess your sins or God won't forgive you." That puts the focus on what you do - on your apology. NO - God declares His forgiveness to you and that is what frees you up to agree! You are right Lord. I am a sinner, through and through - but You are merciful. For the sake of Your Only Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me. Forgive me, renew me and lead me, that I may delight in Your will and walk in your ways to the glory of Your holy Name. Amen.
Don't let the world form the way you understand forgiveness, because your Lord offers it to you now, even before you ask.
Honestly, when you say "excuse me" to someone, do you really mean: "I am at your mercy. You could totally take issue with me. You have every right, because I have done wrong. Please, according to your graciousness, excuse me of this terrible thing that I've done, that I promise to never do again."
No, you don't.
You probably mean something along the lines of "I didn't mean to do that. Hopefully your not too offended by my inadvertent selfishness."
We've changed the meaning of the words, haven't we? We don't really mean "excuse me". We don't really consider ourselves under the judgment of the other person. We expect them to politely return our social nicety, and nothing more.
The problem is that this starts to influence the way we look at forgiveness. It makes us think we deserve it. Like it is due to us because we've said the right thing, or followed the proper protocol. Can you imagine what you would think if someone said, "I certainly will not excuse you. I hold this on you"? You'd probably think "HOW RUDE!"
Now, put this whole forgiveness discussion into the relationship you have with God. Do you think He changes the meaning of words for social niceness? Do you think He views the process like its some sort of vending machine - put in the right words here and out pops forgiveness? "I'm sorry God. I sinned. Now where is my forgiveness?"
Of course not.
In fact, I'm going to say a deeply shocking thing. You don't have a reason for God to forgive you. You don't have a reason - so He sent One. You don't have a reason - so He gave you One - and that reason is His Only Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
God doesn't forgive you because you say I'm sorry. He forgives you because of what Jesus did for you. Because He died for you. Because He rose for you.
God doesn't forgive you because you deserve it - you don't. He forgives you because that is who He is - a gracious God. A giving, loving merciful Father that wants to rescue His children from their foolish rebellion.
So don't let people tell you, "You have to confess your sins or God won't forgive you." That puts the focus on what you do - on your apology. NO - God declares His forgiveness to you and that is what frees you up to agree! You are right Lord. I am a sinner, through and through - but You are merciful. For the sake of Your Only Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me. Forgive me, renew me and lead me, that I may delight in Your will and walk in your ways to the glory of Your holy Name. Amen.
Don't let the world form the way you understand forgiveness, because your Lord offers it to you now, even before you ask.
Monday, 24 November 2014
What does it mean to be confessional?
My son does this hilarious thing. Standing with both his mom and I, he will ask one of us a question.
"Mom, can we go to the park?"
When he receives the affirmative answer "Yes, we can," he immediately turns to the other parent (the one not speaking) and repeats the joyful news. "Daddy, we are going to the park." (As though I wasn't there for the whole thing.)
At first, this seemed a little silly to me. But then I realized that this is the purest and simplest way of communicating. He knows I had heard the news. But he wanted to speak it. He wanted to tell me. He wanted to share in this goodness with me - put it in the air himself - say the same thing that the authority had said.
This is what is means to be confessional. To say the same thing. To confess the good news. To know that one believes in the heart and confesses with the mouth. To hear God speak His Word and immediately speak it back to Him. Christians know that God knows His own Word. But we want to speak it. We want to tell Him. We want to share in His good Word with Him. Put it in the air from our lips - say the same thing as our gracious heavenly Father. No, its not the park we get to go to - its His heavenly kingdom. But we cannot hold back from sharing this good news.
There is another part to this idea.
Those who are confessional gather and speak/believe the same thing as others in their confession. They do not worship with those who speak differently than them - that would be like my son getting excited about going to the park with someone who kept saying "We are not going to the park." It would never happen. He would quickly find someone else who could excitedly repeat with him "Yeah! We are going to the park."
What does this mean?
There is a pure and simple way to faith in God's Word - confessing it. Uniting with those who confess it with you, and sharing it with those around you (whether they confess with you or not). We are going to the park - the eternal kingdom of our heavenly Father.
"Mom, can we go to the park?"
When he receives the affirmative answer "Yes, we can," he immediately turns to the other parent (the one not speaking) and repeats the joyful news. "Daddy, we are going to the park." (As though I wasn't there for the whole thing.)
At first, this seemed a little silly to me. But then I realized that this is the purest and simplest way of communicating. He knows I had heard the news. But he wanted to speak it. He wanted to tell me. He wanted to share in this goodness with me - put it in the air himself - say the same thing that the authority had said.
This is what is means to be confessional. To say the same thing. To confess the good news. To know that one believes in the heart and confesses with the mouth. To hear God speak His Word and immediately speak it back to Him. Christians know that God knows His own Word. But we want to speak it. We want to tell Him. We want to share in His good Word with Him. Put it in the air from our lips - say the same thing as our gracious heavenly Father. No, its not the park we get to go to - its His heavenly kingdom. But we cannot hold back from sharing this good news.
There is another part to this idea.
Those who are confessional gather and speak/believe the same thing as others in their confession. They do not worship with those who speak differently than them - that would be like my son getting excited about going to the park with someone who kept saying "We are not going to the park." It would never happen. He would quickly find someone else who could excitedly repeat with him "Yeah! We are going to the park."
What does this mean?
There is a pure and simple way to faith in God's Word - confessing it. Uniting with those who confess it with you, and sharing it with those around you (whether they confess with you or not). We are going to the park - the eternal kingdom of our heavenly Father.
Friday, 21 November 2014
Do good people go to heaven?
The most common religious teaching in the world is this very notion:
Good people go to heaven, bad people go to hell.
But good according to who? According to you? According to what society thinks is good in 21st century North America? Who is the judge that determines good and bad?
The Final Judgment is coming. There will be a Day of Reckoning when all will be laid bare, when the hearts and minds and actions of all people will be exposed and judged. And we will not be the ones determining what is good and what is bad. God will. The One who made us. The One who placed the notion of right and wrong in our conscience and continually torments it with us. Because the truth is - we are evil - all of us - we have not been good and we know it - we have not done the right thing - we wrestle inside about it - wouldn't a good person simply do good naturally? Why the struggle? Why the effort?
So we twist the rules, the expectations. We figure God will not destroy all of us. As long as we appear better than most of humanity, then we figure God will award us over the rest.
But this is not the judgment. The Word of God has already made its verdict upon us all. And the verdict is guilty.
"None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands,
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.
Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.
The venom of asps is under their lips.
Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood;
in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not known.
There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3:10-18)
We have so little fear for God's wrath that we fight against this verdict even though we know its true. We know we don't understand. We know we don't seek God unless it suits us. We know we speak deception, that our mouth has uttered bitterness. We know we get angry. Yet we deny it all!
Good people go to heaven - but you are not one of them.
Yet this Judge is merciful. He saw you in your guilt and took action to free you. He sent His only Son into your flesh to suffer your verdict. His Son, Jesus, was crucified in your place, taking your judgment upon Himself - that you might live. Hear this. Believe it, for He promises forgiveness, life and salvation to those who trust in Him. You cannot earn this. You do not deserve it. Yet He gives it. He did it for you. He came from heaven so He could take you there.
There is only One who is Good. Only One who goes to heaven - Jesus. Yet you go too - in Him. Trust in Him. He is your life and your salvation.
Good people go to heaven, bad people go to hell.
But good according to who? According to you? According to what society thinks is good in 21st century North America? Who is the judge that determines good and bad?
The Final Judgment is coming. There will be a Day of Reckoning when all will be laid bare, when the hearts and minds and actions of all people will be exposed and judged. And we will not be the ones determining what is good and what is bad. God will. The One who made us. The One who placed the notion of right and wrong in our conscience and continually torments it with us. Because the truth is - we are evil - all of us - we have not been good and we know it - we have not done the right thing - we wrestle inside about it - wouldn't a good person simply do good naturally? Why the struggle? Why the effort?
So we twist the rules, the expectations. We figure God will not destroy all of us. As long as we appear better than most of humanity, then we figure God will award us over the rest.
But this is not the judgment. The Word of God has already made its verdict upon us all. And the verdict is guilty.
"None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands,
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.
Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.
The venom of asps is under their lips.
Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood;
in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not known.
There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3:10-18)
We have so little fear for God's wrath that we fight against this verdict even though we know its true. We know we don't understand. We know we don't seek God unless it suits us. We know we speak deception, that our mouth has uttered bitterness. We know we get angry. Yet we deny it all!
Good people go to heaven - but you are not one of them.
Yet this Judge is merciful. He saw you in your guilt and took action to free you. He sent His only Son into your flesh to suffer your verdict. His Son, Jesus, was crucified in your place, taking your judgment upon Himself - that you might live. Hear this. Believe it, for He promises forgiveness, life and salvation to those who trust in Him. You cannot earn this. You do not deserve it. Yet He gives it. He did it for you. He came from heaven so He could take you there.
There is only One who is Good. Only One who goes to heaven - Jesus. Yet you go too - in Him. Trust in Him. He is your life and your salvation.
Monday, 17 November 2014
What is Islam?
The events of the last couple of months have generated a lot of varied discussion on the religion of Islam. But most of this attention and discussion has revealed that most people know very little about what it is about.
Lutheran Hour Ministries (Men's Network) put out a series of short videos a couple of years ago that help provide a basic look at the teachings and history of Islam. Take a look by clicking the following link, you can pick and choose which videos you would like to view.
http://www.lhmmen.com/studyvideofull.asp?ID=11684&fid=1951&mode=
Lutheran Hour Ministries (Men's Network) put out a series of short videos a couple of years ago that help provide a basic look at the teachings and history of Islam. Take a look by clicking the following link, you can pick and choose which videos you would like to view.
http://www.lhmmen.com/studyvideofull.asp?ID=11684&fid=1951&mode=
Monday, 3 November 2014
How do I keep the devil away?
It might be because you feel the pressure of temptation, or it might be because of something more intense, like you are being haunted. But in either situation the same answer applies.
You don't keep the devil away - Jesus does.
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). We are helpless against the Evil One. We are powerless. He will always overcome us if we try to defeat him on our own. But that is why Christ comes.
Christ comes in His Word. A Word He invites you to speak. His Holy Name He invites you to speal. His holy blood He invites you to invoke. Spit God's Word at the devil. Shout if you have to. Say it outloud and believe every syllable. Christ comes in His Word.
Christ comes in His holy washing. If you are having trouble with evil thoughts, desires or temptations, dive in the cool waters of Baptism. Remember the promise God made to you there and say it outloud. The fiery darts of the Evil One must be extinguished by the wet promises of God in Baptism. And if you are not baptized - GET BAPTIZED! God wants to protect you with His holy washing, because Christ comes in His holy washing.
This may be a radical change of thinking for you. You do not take on evil by yourself. You don't even take on evil side by side with a teammate. Jesus takes on evil in your place. He takes it down by dying with it, crucifying it in His own body, ending its power against you.
And Jesus brings His protection - all the benefits of His death and resurrection - through His Word and Sacrament. So when the devil comes around, speak God's Word, remember His promise made in baptism, trust all that He has said, for the devil cannot endure God's Word.
You don't keep the devil away - Jesus does.
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). We are helpless against the Evil One. We are powerless. He will always overcome us if we try to defeat him on our own. But that is why Christ comes.
Christ comes in His Word. A Word He invites you to speak. His Holy Name He invites you to speal. His holy blood He invites you to invoke. Spit God's Word at the devil. Shout if you have to. Say it outloud and believe every syllable. Christ comes in His Word.
Christ comes in His holy washing. If you are having trouble with evil thoughts, desires or temptations, dive in the cool waters of Baptism. Remember the promise God made to you there and say it outloud. The fiery darts of the Evil One must be extinguished by the wet promises of God in Baptism. And if you are not baptized - GET BAPTIZED! God wants to protect you with His holy washing, because Christ comes in His holy washing.
This may be a radical change of thinking for you. You do not take on evil by yourself. You don't even take on evil side by side with a teammate. Jesus takes on evil in your place. He takes it down by dying with it, crucifying it in His own body, ending its power against you.
And Jesus brings His protection - all the benefits of His death and resurrection - through His Word and Sacrament. So when the devil comes around, speak God's Word, remember His promise made in baptism, trust all that He has said, for the devil cannot endure God's Word.
Monday, 27 October 2014
When is the devil preaching?
THE DEVIL?!? Preaching?
Pop culture has made the devil out to be a red guy with horns and a pointy tail. Always with a sneaky smile on his face. Other parts of culture have taught that the devil wants/does bad things to you - and those bad things usually mean hurting your body or your pocketbook or your family.
But do these ideas come from Scripture? What does God reveal about the Evil One?
The answer may surprise you - because he is not necessarily out to make life terrible for you, especially not in North America where our affluence has become our blindfold to God's Word.
In fact, the Bible describes Satan with these words - "accuser", "deceiver", "father of lies", "liar", "adversary", "enemy", "masquerading as an angel of light." You have likely noticed that putting these descriptions together you do not have a cheesy, red suited guy with a sneaky smile. Instead, you have an intelligent preacher of falsehood who appears righteous and beautiful. He preaches. He speaks lies. That is how he works. He doesn't want to make your physical life miserable, unless he can use it to shake your confidence in Christ, unless he can also get you to trust his fake words.
So when is the devil preaching? How do you know it is the devil who is speaking his lies in your ear?
Well, this can be tricky, because he is so crafty. He speaks through advertisements, politicians, news broadcasts, you name it - anytime words are being spoken in this world, they are either of God or they are of the devil. (Even the idea that there is some sort of neutral ground, that is not influenced by God or the devil - is his deception). He will even use God's Word to deceive you, by misinterpreting it, or emphasizing the wrong part of it over against another part. Here is a list of characteristics in his preaching that you can be on the lookout for.
1) His words oppose God's Word. Knowing God's Word is your certain defense against him.
2) His words focus you on glory. Christ came for a cross - not glory - the devil hates this.
3) His words put the focus on you. What you do - or what you don't do - the devil wants you focused on yourself - not Christ and what He does.
4) His words make promises for your life now. Christ looked past the shame of this life to the joy that follows, and He calls Christians to do the same. Any words that speak otherwise are of the devil.
5) His words create self-righteousness or despair. Either you are a good person, or you have no hope - there is no middle ground - there is no Christ to save you. This is what the devil preaches.
Certainly this list is not exhaustive, but it is a good start for you to be aware of. St. Peter said, "Be soberminded. Be watchful. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around you like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith."
In other words, your faith in God's Word protects you. You resist the Evil One by holding to God's Word. The devil wants to scare you into letting go of God's Word - perhaps he threatens you with being unpopular, or persecuted for your faith, or less successful than your peers - all of this is designed to make you release God's promises. But you have the promise of Christ. Christ defends you. His Word is your fortress. Run into His safety and fill your mind with His Word. Read it, meditate on and speak it back to God - against this the devil has no move.
Pop culture has made the devil out to be a red guy with horns and a pointy tail. Always with a sneaky smile on his face. Other parts of culture have taught that the devil wants/does bad things to you - and those bad things usually mean hurting your body or your pocketbook or your family.
But do these ideas come from Scripture? What does God reveal about the Evil One?
The answer may surprise you - because he is not necessarily out to make life terrible for you, especially not in North America where our affluence has become our blindfold to God's Word.
In fact, the Bible describes Satan with these words - "accuser", "deceiver", "father of lies", "liar", "adversary", "enemy", "masquerading as an angel of light." You have likely noticed that putting these descriptions together you do not have a cheesy, red suited guy with a sneaky smile. Instead, you have an intelligent preacher of falsehood who appears righteous and beautiful. He preaches. He speaks lies. That is how he works. He doesn't want to make your physical life miserable, unless he can use it to shake your confidence in Christ, unless he can also get you to trust his fake words.
So when is the devil preaching? How do you know it is the devil who is speaking his lies in your ear?
Well, this can be tricky, because he is so crafty. He speaks through advertisements, politicians, news broadcasts, you name it - anytime words are being spoken in this world, they are either of God or they are of the devil. (Even the idea that there is some sort of neutral ground, that is not influenced by God or the devil - is his deception). He will even use God's Word to deceive you, by misinterpreting it, or emphasizing the wrong part of it over against another part. Here is a list of characteristics in his preaching that you can be on the lookout for.
1) His words oppose God's Word. Knowing God's Word is your certain defense against him.
2) His words focus you on glory. Christ came for a cross - not glory - the devil hates this.
3) His words put the focus on you. What you do - or what you don't do - the devil wants you focused on yourself - not Christ and what He does.
4) His words make promises for your life now. Christ looked past the shame of this life to the joy that follows, and He calls Christians to do the same. Any words that speak otherwise are of the devil.
5) His words create self-righteousness or despair. Either you are a good person, or you have no hope - there is no middle ground - there is no Christ to save you. This is what the devil preaches.
Certainly this list is not exhaustive, but it is a good start for you to be aware of. St. Peter said, "Be soberminded. Be watchful. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around you like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith."
In other words, your faith in God's Word protects you. You resist the Evil One by holding to God's Word. The devil wants to scare you into letting go of God's Word - perhaps he threatens you with being unpopular, or persecuted for your faith, or less successful than your peers - all of this is designed to make you release God's promises. But you have the promise of Christ. Christ defends you. His Word is your fortress. Run into His safety and fill your mind with His Word. Read it, meditate on and speak it back to God - against this the devil has no move.
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