True Christians are, through faith, different people. They are not compelled by the Law. No, from a spontaneous impulse of love poured into their hearts, they do all sorts of good wherever they can. -- C. F. W. Walther, *God Grant It!* p. 761
C.F.W. Walther is one of my favorite Lutheran champions of the Gospel. Nevertheless, regardless of the author, whenever that modifier “true” is used before “Christian” or “repentance” or “faith,” there is the inescapable implication that in my case it may not be “true”. I suspect that the writers are afraid to give voice to the full freedom of the Gospel, because they think people will take advantage of it. But our dear Father gives us the Gospel of His Son without any modifiers, even when we return from a “far country.” So there are no “true” Christians, only Christians, as is true of faith and repentance.
C.F.W. Walther is one of my favorite Lutheran champions of the Gospel. Nevertheless, regardless of the author, whenever that modifier “true” is used before “Christian” or “repentance” or “faith,” there is the inescapable implication that in my case it may not be “true”. I suspect that the writers are afraid to give voice to the full freedom of the Gospel, because they think people will take advantage of it. But our dear Father gives us the Gospel of His Son without any modifiers, even when we return from a “far country.” So there are no “true” Christians, only Christians, as is true of faith and repentance.
ReplyDeletePeace and Joy,
George A. Marquart