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Posts Tagged ‘Witness’

Tim Tebow was here.

December 5th, 2011 | Author:
Tebow celebrates

So what do we make of this – that the prayer of a righteous man availeth much, or that the Vikings are somehow cursed?  I am starting to go with the Vikings are cursed theory but that is a blog for another time.  If Tebow prays for a victory does God intervene in the football game to give him one?  That is also a discussion for another time – what I am interested in is this continued bludgeoning that takes place whenever a Christian brings their faith “out of the closet”.  This idea that faith is a “private thing” a personal thing is really starting to get old and needs to be addressed.

The entire trajectory of the ministry of Jesus leans toward sharing of the faith with others, (except for the times when Jesus tells the disciples to tell no one, but I believe that there is a very specific reason for that demand) and a public witness that takes place before the “whole world”.  The call of the disciples leads to making them “fishers of men” and will result in them being dragged before councils and Kings to bear witness.  The call of Christ is such that they cannot but “speak of the things that they have seen and heard”.  Jesus own witness is public.  He preaches in the synagogues and is publically examined by the religious authorities and does nothing in secret.  His call will ultimately demand that the whole world be told the message of salvation.  The second advent of Christ is even being delayed so that all get a chance to hear before the time of grace is over.  They can’t hear if we don’t speak, and we won’t speak if we believe that our faith is a private thing.
 
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All Saints Day – Witness,Mercy, Life Together

November 2nd, 2011 | Author:

 

Yesterday was All Saints Day and I meant to post this blog but didn’t.  I have thinking about the LCMS emphasis of Witness, Mercy and Life Together and trying to tie it into a worship service and I found this blog by Paul McCain.  If you notice the quote is the Apology to the Augsburg Confession and its encouragement ot honor the Saints is Witness – as they strengthen faith, Mercy- as they were examples of the same and Life Together – we imitate them in our vocation as we live with our neighbors and struggle for the sake of Christ. 

http://cyberbrethren.com/2011/11/01/we-feebly-struggle-they-in-glory-shine/

Here is what Article XXI of the Apology of the Augsburg Confession has to say about the proper manner in which we honor and remember the saints.

Our Confession approves honoring the saints in three ways. The first is thanksgiving. We should thank God because He has shown examples of mercy, because He wishes to save people, and because He has given teachers and other gifts to the Church. These gifts, since they are the greatest, should be amplified. The saints themselves, who have faithfully used these gifts, should be praised just as Christ praises faithful businessmen (Matthew 25:21, 23). The second service is the strengthening of our faith.When we see Peter’s denial forgiven, we also are encouraged to believe all the more that grace truly superabounds over sin (Romans 5:20). The third honor is the imitation, first of faith, then of the other virtues. Everyone should imitate the saints according to his calling. The adversaries do not require these true honors. They argue only about invocation, which, even if it were not dangerous, still is not necessary.

Source: Apology of the Augsburg Confession Article XXI Paragraphs 4-7. Concordia CPH: 2006, p. 202.

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