Not My will, but Thine.

I recently listened to an Issues Etc edition on prayer (above), and I thought there were some very helpful and insightful points in there.  Over all, I really enjoyed it.  But I would like to respectfully offer a contribution to the conversation.  The following is a revision of a post I wrote on propterchristum.blogspot.com.

Prayer

God will in fact listen to the prayers of His own. He does not tell us to pray merely for moral support to remind ourselves that God is there and in control while He just does what He wants anyway. No, God actually listens to your prayers, sanctifies them, and answers them. And His answer is always yes.First, God listens. He has commanded us to pray, and He promises to hear us. So He listens. He listens to the pleas of mercy for your body and your soul. Sometimes it feels like your body is getting worse and worse. You see loved ones die, and you wonder if God really heard their prayers. But God has heard the prayers of His saints who have gone before us. And He does hear the prayers of the saints today.

God sanctifies our prayers. Paul writes in Romans 8:26 that the Spirit intercedes for us when we pray. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us through His Word and Sacraments, and He thus sanctifies our prayers. So you might pray that Susie Smith will go out with you. The Spirit might sanctifiy that prayer that God would provide for you a good wife, not necessarily Susie Smith. Or maybe the Spirit sanctifies that prayer that God would simply provide for your bodily needs. And then the Holy Spirit teaches us by His Word what we are to pray for by pointing us, for example, to the prayer which our Lord Jesus taught us, and pointing you to the promises of God. Then, the Holy Spirit strengthens you through the forgiveness of sins in Baptism, Absolution, and the Lord’s Supper, which all flow from and receive their efficacy from the vicarious Atonement of the sinless Son of God. This forgiveness is not only the ultimate answer to prayers, but by this, He reminds you who your Heavenly Father is — better yet, He reveals your Heavenly Father to you — that He is a God who forgives. And if He has forgiven you, you may know that He wants to hear your prayers.

God answers prayers. St. John describes Jesus in chapter 17 praying to the Father. He asks that the Father would glorify Him, and for your sake, God glorified Him by first of all having Him lifted up on the cross. He was lifted up, and in this way, God loved the world by giving His only Son into death for the sins of all. He gives to all believers the right to be called children of God. So if God answered the prayer of His only Son, and you are united with His Son through the grace and faith of your Baptism, then God certainly answers your prayers. What a thing for Jesus to pray for! He prayed that the entire plan of Salvation would be fulfilled in Him! Hanging on a cross and pierced for our transgressions, we see that God has given to Jesus what He has desired and asked for. He desired death so that you may live! That is His glory, and that is God’s answer to you! So pray! Because God answers.

Finally, God always says yes to His believers. The fact that God answers our prayers is not very comforting unless His answer is yes.  When it seems like God didn’t answer your prayers, you might hear explanations from others that God did answer, and He simply said no or not yet.  But God says yes! Jesus is His yes to us! Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:20 that all the promises of God find their yes in Jesus.  These are the promises of God, and one of them includes Jesus’ words that “whatever you ask the Father in His Name, He will give to you”, and  ”Ask, and you shall receive…” (John 16:23-24) But what about Paul’s prayer to God to take away his affliction (2 Cor 12:8-9)?  God said that His grace is sufficient for him, and that His power is made perfect in weakness.  The answer was yes, maybe not from carnal eyes or ears, but to faith, the answer was yes.  Paul by faith already possessed the promises of God; even though he pressed on to make them his own, Christ has already made him His own (Phil 3:12).

In Jesus’ Name, we find healing from all sickness, the raising of the dead, the feeding of our bodies and our souls, and even the calming of storms. All of these miracles of Jesus prove His divine authority over the remnants of sin that have corrupted His creation. Through Him all things were made that were made, and as Paul Gerhardt writes, the Father “lays the One into the grave who built the earth’s foundation.”  Yes, Jesus restores creation, and this is not by means of a gradual change through a pious expression of Christ’s presence through a covenant with His Church.  No, He did this by dying for your sins and rising for your justification.  He does this by forgiving you your sins.  How does Jesus establish His Church and preserve her in unity?  By the bond of peace, that is, the forgiveness of sins, the promise of the Holy Spirit!  (John 20:21-23; Eph 4:3)  If your sins are forgiven, then all your prayers are answered whether you can see it or not.

And you cannot truly see it without eyes of faith.  This is why Jesus says, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)”  Those who are born of the Spirit and live in the Spirit, that is, by faith in Christ, can look with confidence to Christ as God’s yes to all their prayers.

So if you are assailed by bodily sickness, financial burden, or family problems, then pray!  Don’t think that these prayers will not be answered with a merciful yes.  And if they seem like they have not been answered, ask yourself this question: Am I forgiven of my sins? And to find that answer, listen to the Word of God! The answer is yes! Yes you are forgiven, and you hear it and receive it whenever you go to Church! The cause of all family problems, diseases, and every heartache is sin, and it was placed on Christ. He gives you His righteousness in exchange, and from this flows every good thing.  So seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, which is yours by faith, and all these things shall be added unto you.  (Matthew 6:33)

As many of you may know, for the last couple of years our Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has been organizing its work under the banner of “Witness, Mercy, Life Together.” You can see the symbol that is being used for this emphasis on your bulletin insert, encircled by those three terms. But this is more than a slogan in a marketing campaign. No, “Witness, Mercy, Life Together” really describes what the church does, whether on the national and international levels, as our synod operates, or on the local level, as, for instance, here at our own congregation.

“Witness, Mercy, Life Together”: I guess first we should define what we mean by these terms and how they’re being used. “Witness” means the testimony that is given, specifically, telling the good news about Jesus–bearing witness to Christ and the salvation that is found in him. “Mercy” is the term used to cover works of Christian love and service that benefit persons in need in a very practical way. And “Life Together” refers to the church’s common life as brothers and sisters in Christ, our unity as God’s family in the life that we share.

Now turn again to your bulletin insert, to the other side, and you’ll see a symbol for each one of these three terms, along with a corresponding Greek term from the New Testament. For “Witness” you see the Greek word “Martyria,” because “Witness” or “Testimony” is how that word is always translated. Next you see the word “Diakonia,” which is generally translated not as “Mercy” but as “Service.” However, “Diakonia” still is a good word to associate with the church’s works of mercy, since “diaconal” ministry is practical service done for the neighbor in need. Finally, you see the word “Koinonia,” “Fellowship,” the “Common Life,” the “Life Together” that the church shares. “Witness, Mercy, Life Together”: “Martyria, Diakonia, Koinonia.” Whichever way you say it, these words describe what we do and how we live as Christ’s church.

But then this is nothing new. In the Book of Acts, we see a church that can be characterized by those very same words. You know, we refer to that particular book of the New Testament as “The Book of Acts” or “The Acts of the Apostles.” But what kind of “Acts” were they? As we look at our text today, I think we will see that these “Acts” are “Acts of Witness, Mercy, Life Together.”

“Witness, Mercy, Life Together”: The church has operated in these three ways, going all the way back to the earliest days of Christianity. In our reading today from Acts 4, we encounter a brief description of the first church in Jerusalem, which goes as follows:

“Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

“Witness, Mercy, Life Together”: It’s all there, here in this one brief text. Let’s take these three terms, one at a time, and see how that works. As we do, we can also reflect on and realize how these three aspects of the church’s life apply to our own situation, as synod and as congregation today.

First, “Witness,” “Martyria.” We find this emphasis in verse 33 of our text: “And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” The apostles were giving their “testimony.” That’s how the “martyria” word is translated in this verse, as “testimony.” The apostles were giving their “testimony” or “witness” . . . concerning what? “The apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” That’s why this text has been selected for use during this Easter season, because it shows the apostles bearing witness to the resurrection. You will see this in just about all the readings from Acts that are used in the Easter season–they all have to do with the church’s testimony to the resurrection of Jesus.

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus is the heart of the Christian message. That Jesus died and rose again and what that means for us–this is the gospel itself. This gospel is what makes Christians. It’s what forms and gives life to and expands the church–the witness or testimony to the resurrection of Christ. You would not be a Christian and saved and going to heaven if it were not for this preaching of the Lord’s resurrection. There would be no church, no congregation or synod of congregations, if it were not for the apostolic witness to the resurrection.

Why? Because Jesus had to die for you if you were going to live. It is Jesus Christ, dying on the cross for you, as your substitute . . . it is the holy Son of God, dying for all the sins and all the sinners of the world, in our place, taking the punishment we deserve, the righteous for the unrighteous . . . it is this sacrificial death of Christ that is the only way any of us has redemption from the fallen sinful nature we share, forgiveness for the countless sins we commit, and righteousness to enter into God’s heaven. “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus by definition means that Jesus rose from the dead. He died, and the reason he died was this: to save us from our sins and eternal death. The message of Christ’s resurrection is tied to the meaning of his death. But now has Christ arisen, and we rise with him! We rise to newness of life, and when that happens to a whole bunch of us, there is the church! “Witness,” then, “Martyria,” is essential to the formation and the expansion of the church.

Now this word “Witness” literally has to do with eyewitnesses, people giving testimony to things they themselves have seen and heard. Notice, it is the apostles who are giving their witness, because those men had literally seen the Lord Jesus risen from the dead. Thomas and the rest of the apostles actually saw and heard Jesus in person standing there in their midst. The apostle John starts his letter by speaking of that “which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands”–John is talking about Jesus himself, in the flesh–“we have seen it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life.” The apostles were literal eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Christ.

But we are not. We have not seen Jesus in the flesh, standing in our midst, as those guys did. So does that mean the church now has no witness to give? By no means! We have the apostles’ own testimony in the pages of the New Testament. And we have seen and heard, too, in a sense. We see Christ with the eyes of faith that the Holy Spirit has given us. We hear the saving message that is still proclaimed to this day. Remember what Jesus said: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” So, yes, the church today still gives witness, testimony, “martyria,” to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

And this witness is what fuels these other two aspects of the church’s life and work, namely, “Mercy” and “Life Together.” Let’s go next to “Mercy.” “Diakonia” is the word used, “Service,” but in the sense of diaconal service, that is, works of mercy. It’s right here in our text. Verses 34 and 35: “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

Now what’s the first thing you think of when you hear these verses? Be honest. That the early Christians were Communists? And that this was some sort of “failed experiment” that didn’t last? Wrong on both counts. The Christians were not Communists, or even Socialists. The difference is this: Communism or Socialism or forced governmental redistribution of wealth, taking people’s money away from them, against their will, and giving it to others: that is wrong, that is immoral, that is a form of stealing–it’s a form of involuntary servitude, really. But that is not what was going on here. No, the Christians’ helping of those in need was entirely voluntary. It was done out of love, the mercy engendered in Christians’ hearts by the mercy God has showered upon us. So this type of “redistribution of wealth” is very good, it is highly commendable, and it is true to the church’s character.

And no, this was not some “failed experiment” that didn’t last. This is how the church has always responded to human needs, with acts of Christian charity and love. We still do this today. Where there are people in need, the church will respond. For instance, when there was that terrible tornado in Joplin last year, our church responded big-time with the love of Jesus in the form of real physical and material help. When there are people in need here in our own community, especially in our own congregation, we help them out in whatever ways we can. Look around you. Do you see people with needs? Whom can you help? How can you help? Look also at the people who are not here this morning. What are their needs? Illness, loneliness, financial need? These are your opportunities, this week, this month–these are our opportunities as church–for putting into action acts of mercy done in Christ’s name.

“Witness.” “Mercy.” Finally, “Life Together.” “Koinonia” is the Greek term. It means “having things in common.” And that’s what we see in the Book of Acts. Verse 32: “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.”

Now we’ve already said that the church “had everything in common,” in the sense of their willingness to give to those who were in need. But their Life Together, their Koinonia, was more than just shared wealth. The things that those Christians had in common, the things that we have in common, start with the things of God. “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” This is what we have in common. One bread, one cup, the body and blood of Christ–this Holy Communion, this Koinonia, is what makes us the communion of saints. These are the things we have in common–God’s gifts, the things of the gospel–that form us into a united community. And then the love and the mercy and the life together flow from that. “Those who believed were of one heart and soul.” That’s us, because our heart and soul are being knit together with cords of love, the love of God we all have received and believe.

“Witness, Mercy, Life Together”: It’s not just a slogan. It’s the banner under which we live and move and have our being. “Witness, Mercy, Life Together”: “Martyria, Diakonia, Koinonia.” Whichever way you say it, these are the “Acts” the church does, willingly and joyfully, in Christ, for the church and for the world.

- – - – - – - – - -

Witness, Mercy, Life Together
Tune: Rex gloriae

Witness, Mercy, Life Together,
Life in Christ, for Church and world;
Witness, Mercy, Life Together–
This shall be our flag unfurled!
Gathered, going, speaking, serving,
New life flowing from our Lord;
He shall feed us, onward lead us,
By His own life-giving Word.

Christ came down and dwelt among us,
Law and Prophets to fulfill;
Sent to save a world of sinners,
Jesus did the Father’s will.
Dying, rising, then ascending,
Christ is making all things new;
Pouring out His Spirit on us,
Christ now gives us work to do.

Witness bearing, Martyria,
Bold proclaiming of the truth;
Tongues of fire on each believer,
Now as in the Church’s youth.
Preaching, teaching, faith confessing,
Gospel reaching far and near;
Lord, we pray that You would open
Mouths to speak and ears to hear.

Mercy works, Diakonia,
Service done in Jesus’ name;
Hearts so moved with His compassion
For the poor, the weak, the lame.
Giving, caring, helping, healing,
Love that takes the lower place;
May our lives of humble service
Show the riches of God’s grace.

Life Together, Koinonia,
Sharing in a common birth;
Fellowship, with Christ the center,
We His body here on earth.
Growing, bearing fruit, forgiving,
Brothers living all as one;
Breaking bread, the Lord’s Communion,
Life eternal now begun.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Triune God, whom we adore,
Source of all the Church’s blessings,
Praise to You forevermore!
Guarding, guiding, still providing,
For our mission is Your own:
Witness, Mercy, Life Together–
Glory be to You alone!

Text: © 2011 Charles Henrickson
Tune: REX GLORIAE (LSB 494, 583) 87 87 D

My brother-in-law sent me a book last year entitled “Why Johnny Can’t Sing Hymns.” It has quite a few interesting thoughts, many of which I think are spot on. These thoughts as well as things we had desired to do lead my wife and I to really teach our children the joys of the liturgy and the proclamation of faith in Christ in hymnody.

Further thoughts and observations. At our congregation we have been offering catechesis at a younger age than the previous 7th and 8th grade model, gradually lowering the available age by one year at a time. There has been expressed by some outside of the church that children this young cannot understand the truths of the faith leading to the faithful reception of the Lord’s Supper.

Why not though, what leads to this mentality? If the truths of the Christian faith, especially as expressed in the Small Catechism, are taught at a young age; if children are taught the joys of the liturgy and hymns; if children are taught to confess the faith and what these things mean, then what would prevent them?

It brings this father great joy to hear his 2 year old sing “On My Heart Imprint Your Image,” at random while we are out as a family. This child prays the Lord’s Prayer and is making attempts at the Creed and regularly asks to sing “Father Welcomes” and then read the account from John 3:1ff, as he refers to it as “the Nicodemus one.”

Is some of this by repetition that he has learned them? Of course. And yet, he knows when in the liturgy comes “Lamb of God” and when asked who the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world is, he will say “Jesus” and point to the crucifix on his wall.

Faith comes to us by hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ (Romans 10:17). So while we teach our children their shapes and colors and teach them to sing “Old McDonald” while teaching them animals and their noises, why not at this age hand over the Christian faith in Word and in song?

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. (Mark 10:13-16)

Purchase “Why Johnny Can’t Sing Hymns” at prpbooks.com or at Amazon.

Purchase “My First Hymnal” at CPH.

Dr. Gordon (author of Why Johnny Can’t Preach and Why Johnny Can’t Sing Hymns on Issues, Etc. (Thanks to Rev. Stephen Schumacher)

On Friday, Feb. 17, KMOX radio host Charlie Brennan interviewed LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison on his appearance before a House committee regarding the recent HHS mandate on health insurance and its mandatory coverage of contraceptives.

You can listen to the audio file of the eight-minute interview by clicking either here or here.

I tip my hat to Mrs. Jeff Gibbs of CSL who does wonderful work opening up eyes to this fact on CSL’s campus with Randy Alcorn’s book Does the Birth Control Pill Cause Abortions?

If you are interested in this topic, rather than have a lengthy debate in the comments I’d recommend the two links above and also this episode of Issues, Etc., as well as lot of thought and prayer.

+HRC

Here is Pres. Harrison’s letter:

February 14, 2012

LCMS reacts to contraceptive mandate ‘accommodation’

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In response to President Obama’s announcement Friday concerning an “accommodation” to a previous mandate that health plans must cover all forms of birth control (even those that can kill the unborn), The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) remains deeply concerned. We strongly object to the use of drugs and procedures that are used to take the lives of unborn children, who are persons in the sight of God from the time of conception. Drugs such as “Plan B” and “Ella,” which are still included in the mandate, can work post-conception to cause the death of the developing child, so don’t be fooled by statements to the contrary.

We see President Obama’s action Friday as significant, in that it appears to have been prompted by the many voices united in concern over an infringement of our religious liberties. But the “accommodation” did not expand the exemption for religious employers, nor did it restrict the mandate in any way. It simply described a temporary enforcement delay and a possible future change—a change that, unfortunately, would not adequately protect religious freedom or unborn lives.

We remain opposed to this mandate because it runs counter to the biblical truth of the sanctity of human life. We are committed to working to ensure that we remain free to practice the teachings of our faith, that our religious rights are not violated, and that our rights of conscience are retained. Freedom of religion extends beyond the practice of our faith in houses of worship. We must be free to put our faith into action in the public square, and, in response to Christ’s call, demonstrate His mercy through our love and compassion for all people according to the clear mandate of Holy Scripture.

The government has overstepped its bounds. This controversy is not merely about “birth control” and the Catholic Church’s views about it. It’s about mandating that we provide medications which kill life in the womb. And moreover, and perhaps even more ominous, it is about an overzealous government forcing coercive provisions that violate the consciences and rights of its citizens. We can no longer expect a favored position for Christianity in this country. But we can, as citizens of this great nation, fight for constitutional sanity against secularizing forces. As we have vividly experienced in discriminatory state legislation with respect to homosexual adoption, we, and our institutions (and those of other religious citizens of good will), are being robbed of the right to the free exercise of religion absent government intrusion or threat. The next assault will come upon church-related retirement facilities. How much longer will it be legal in this country to believe and act according to the dictates of biblical and creedal Christianity?

Jesus bids us, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17). We will pray for and support our government where we can, but our consciences and lives belong to God.

In His peace,

Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison
President
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

I’ve also included it below for your listening pleasure.

Debate with Dr. David Scaer of Concordia Theological Seminary and Dr. Robert Price of Coleman Theological Seminary on the topic “Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?”

In the interview, Pastor Curtis recommends two other resources,

1. A Study Document Regarding Preaching and Administration of the Sacraments by Men Who Have Not Been Publicly Called to and Placed in the Office of the Ministry (PDF) by Pastor Curtis and Pastor Will Weedon, and
2. The Systematics Faculties Statement on the Office of the Ministry (PDF) from the July 2007 Concordia Journal.

Here’s another worth reading: Augsburg Confession XIV: Does It Answer Current Questions on the Holy Ministry? (PDF) by Dr. Naomichi Masaki
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Information prior to the conference can be found here.

Friday Evening Banquet from Pastor Harrison

Session 1: Witness by Cantor Phillip Magness

Session 2: Mercy by Tim Hetzner, Director of Lutheran Church Charities

The sermon from Divine Service by Pastor Fisk

Session 3: Life Together by Rev. Dr. Timothy A. Rossow, Director of the Brothers of John the Steadfast

Cherries Jubilee, the lighting thereof

Cherries Jubilee, the burning thereof

President Harrison reading a passage

President Harrison and the Three-Fold Emphasis

Witness, with Cantor Phillip Magness

Check back later for more…

This is the last two or three minutes of the Christmas Eve Service at my LCMS large contemporary church. My question: does this border on decision theology or is it an affirmation of faith by repeating line by line of a prayer spoken by the pastor. My 20 year old son attended the service with us and said he didn’t like that the pastor had a “repeat after me” type of a prayer. He said, how would you know what and where the pastor was going with the prayer and to blindly repeat after him just didn’t seem right. The following is end of the sermon — the “pray with me” prayer section is bolded.

A Savior that can walk with me through the valley of the shadow of death, yet I will not be bound by the grave.

A Savior who has the qualifications to step down into my world and my life and he takes upon himself my sin and my death who is both the Son of God and the Son of man.

Qualifications that take him from a manger to a cross and from a cross to a grave and from a grave he steps out. He stepped down and now he steps out. He says all this is for you. All of this was because of my love for you. I know that many of you finally in your heart believe that.

There may be some here this night that may be hearing this for the first time.

What I want us to do is have a moment of prayer together. A moment in where we affirm our faith or for the first time speak about Jesus as Savior.

So, here’s what I want to do is to take you, to kinda lead you through a moment of prayer and I’d like to ask you to consider strongly that I speak a line and then you speak a line after me. I begin this way.

God, I thank you for Jesus. He stepped down from Heaven, to a manger and into our world, from swaddling clothes, to a crown of thorns, from this first breath to his last, from His resurrection to His return, I acknowledge my sins and rejoice in Him my Savior. Together lets say Amen.

The sermon can be listened to below. The above trascript starts around 13:40 into the audio clip.