Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

A good work, even though well performed, is a venial sin according to God’s merciful judgment, and a mortal sin according to his strict judgment.—Martin Luther, A Defense of All Articles, Article 32

Patristic Quote of the Day

Let us not therefore remain craving after the things of this life, neither after the luxury of the table, or costliness of raiment. For you have the most excellent of raiment, you have a spiritual table, you have the glory from on high, and Christ has become to you all things, your table, your raiment, your home, your head, your stem.—St. John Chrysostom, Instruction to Catechumens (Inst. 2, par. 2)

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

This captain gave a good witness: he had built a school [synagogue] and loved his servant. However, as he came to Christ, he forgot all this. So also we, when we deal with God, all trust in our own worthiness has to fall by the wayside. We must never think about our prior good works. Instead, purely and simply, we must cling to the goodness of God.—Johann Gerhard, Homily on the Third Sunday after Epiphany (Postilla I:174)

Patristic Quote of the Day

The presbyter accordingly is the same as a bishop... Therefore as the presbyters know that they are subject to the one who has been placed over them by an ecclesiastical custom, so the bishops should know that they are greater than presbyters more through custom than through the verity of an ordinance of the Lord and that they all ought to rule the church in common.—St. Jerome, Commentary on Titus 1:5

Redeemer Free Conference Video

I heard today that Redeemer has posted the presentation I gave to their free conference titled: Why Remain Lutheran? It's All About Conscience.

I confess that it was one of the most emotionally difficult presentations I've ever delivered and was very personal. I offer the links below for those who would like to see it:

Presentation Part One

Presentation Part Two

This is not offered here to open up old wounds, to stir some debate between fellow Christians. It is offered to explain why I remain a Lutheran Christian and find that of value. I'd kindly ask that there simply be no debate in any comments that are made. Any comment attempting such will simply be deleted.

Apostolic Succession and Lutherans

Just read a rather delightful paper on the topic by Fr. Heath Curtis located here: Apostolic Succession.

Do read Eric Phillips insightful comments following it as well. Fr. Curtis' paper reminded me of story told by Fr. Mark Buetow. He was attending some clergy gathering on a campus and wore his pectoral cross. An Episcopal or Roman priest (can't remember which) said: "In my tradition, that is worn only by a bishop." Without missing a beat, Mark responded: "In my tradition, I AM a bishop." Bingo.

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

The deeper we plunge Christ into the flesh of mankind, the better for us. For he subjected himself under the meanest purification Law, in order to show that he was an ordinary human being, yet a pure, holy person who places himself under the Law for our sake.—Martin Luther, Homily on the Purification, House Postils III:277.

Patristic Quote of the Day

The doctrine of the incarnation was very hard to receive. For the exceeding measure of His lovingkindness and the magnitude of His condescension were full of awe, and needed much preparation to be accepted. For consider what a great thing it was to hear and to learn that God the ineffable, the incorruptible, the unintelligible, the invisible, the incomprehensible, in whose hand are the ends of the earth, who looks upon the earth, and causes it to tremble, who touches the mountains, and makes them smoke, the weight of whose condescension not even the Cherubim were able to bear but veiled their faces by the shelter of their wings, that this God who surpasses all understanding, and baffles all calculation, having passed by angels, archangels, and all the spiritual powers above, deigned to become man, and to take flesh formed of earth and clay, and enter the womb of a virgin, and be borne there the space of nine months, and be nourished with milk, and suffer all things to which man is liable.—St. John Chrysostom, Homily on "Father, if it is possible..." par. 3

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

It is the intention of Paul that we should be rich in the Word of God, because our adversary, the devil, prowls around. Therefore it is not only pleasing to God, but also necessary for us that we abide in the Word of God, and we have no other weapons.—Martin Luther, Lecture on 1 Timothy 1:1.

Patristic Quote of the Day

And yet He is the only true physician both of souls and bodies. On this account He often seizes this nature of ours wantoning in prosperity, and travailing with a fever of sins, and by want, and hunger, and death and other calamities and the rest of the medicines of which He knows, frees us from diseases. But the poor alone feel hunger, says one. But He does not chasten with hunger alone, but with countless other things. Him who is in poverty He has often corrected with hunger, but the rich and him who enjoys prosperity, with dangers, diseases, untimely deaths. For He is full of resources, and the medicines which He has for our salvation are manifold.—St. John Chrysostom, Homily 1 Against Those Who Say the Demons Govern Human Affairs, par. 5

Commemoration of St. John Chrysostom

He's got to be my all time favorite among the holy fathers. From our Synod's website and the Treasury:

Given the added name of Chrysostom, which means "golden-mouthed" in Greek, Saint John was a dominant force in the fourth-century Christian church. Born in Antioch around the year 347, John was instructed in the Christian faith by his pious mother, Anthusa. After serving in a number of Christian offices, including acolyte and lector, John was ordained a presbyter and given preaching responsibilities. His simple but direct messages found an audience well beyond his home town. In 398, John Chrysostom was made Patriarch of Constantinople. His determination to reform the church, court, and city there brought him into conflict with established authorities. Eventually, he was exiled from his adopted city. Although removed from his parishes and people, he continued writing and preaching until the time of his death in 407. It is reported that his final words were: "Glory be to God for all things. Amen."

A snippet of the writing assigned to today by St. John:

And what does "ransom" mean? God was about to punish them, but He did not do it. They were about to perish, but in their stead He gave His own Son and sent us as heralds to proclaim the cross. These things are sufficient to attract all and to demonstrate the love of Christ. [Treasury, p. 1157]

Collect: O God, You gave Your servant John Chrysostom grace to proclaim the Gospel with eloquence and power. As bishop of the great congregations of Antioch and Constantinople, he fearlessly bore reproach for the honor of Your name. Mercifully grant to all bishops and pastors such excellence in preaching and fidelity in ministering Your Word that Your people shall be partakers of the divine nature... [Treasury, p. 1158]

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

The important thing is that we have a tranquil and quiet heart and a mind filled with joy, that is, that we be content with the Word and work of God. —Martin Luther, On Ecclesiastes

Patristic Quote of the Day

If any man be effeminate, or a fornicator, or an idolator, or a doer of whatever ill you please, or if he be full of all the wickedness there is among men: should he fall into this pool of waters, he comes up again from the divine fountain purer than the sun's rays.—St. John Chrysostom, Homily to the Catechumens, par. 3.

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Therefore sin requires nothing else than God’s law. Where that enters the heart, sin is already alive and able to kill man if it wants to, unless he lays hold of this victory, which is Christ, our Lord.—Martin Luther on 1 Corinthians 15.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Neither is faith, he means, of ourselves. Because had He not come, had He not called us, how had we been able to believe? For how, says he, shall they believe, unless they hear? Romans 10:14 So that the work of faith itself is not our own.—St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 2

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

It is true and necessary and right that the Law reveals your sin and accuses you; and sin, in turn, has the right to kill you and death to devour you. That is beyond dispute and argument. For both your own testimony and God’s Word are against you there. However, there is help in the fact that the Man Jesus Christ has come and has assumed and borne our sin and death, which we had justly deserved, and that He now steps forth in our behalf, confronts the Law, sin, and death, and says: “I am of the same flesh and blood; these are My brothers and sisters. What they did I did; and I paid for it. Law, if you want to condemn them, condemn Me. Sin, if you want to bite and kill them, bite Me. Death, if you want to consume and devour, devour Me.”—Martin Luther on 1 Corinthians 15

Patristic Quote of the Day

For as he who is a child of man is by nature man, so also were we children of wrath even as others; i.e., no one was free, but we all did things worthy of wrath.—St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 2.

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

And now St. Paul appropriately concludes with a song which he sings: “Thanks and praise be to God, who gave us such a victory!” We can join in that song and in that way always celebrate Easter, praising and extolling God for a victory that was not won or achieved in battle by us—it is far too sublime and great for that—but was presented and given to us by the mercy of God. He had compassion with our misery, from which no one could rescue us, and He sent His Son and let Him enter the battle. He laid these enemies, sin, death, and hell, low and retained the victory. He transferred this victory to us, so that we may say it is our victory. It is just as if it had been gained by us.—Martin Luther, on 1 Corinthians 15.

Patristic Quote of the Day

Even so did Christ act: He represses first of all the source of the evil. For the source and root and mother of all evil is the nature of sin. This it is which enervates our bodies: this it is which brings on disease: therefore also on this occasion He said, "Son! Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you."—St. John Chrysostom, Sermon on the Paralytic, paragraph 5.

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

But now He has stepped into our place, and in our behalf He has let the Law, sin, and death pounce on Him. He has not only removed these from us, but He has also vanquished them completely and cast them at His feet. Now they are overcome for us and no longer have any right to or power over us. In that way we have a complete victory in Christ, now spiritually by faith but later also physically and visibly.—Martin Luther, On 1 Corinthians 15