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Gottesblog

A blog of the Evangelical Lutheran Liturgy

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How Lutheran Hymns Train For Martyrdom: Meditation on Jesus’ Wounds

 The hymns of the Lutheran Church teach us how to be martyrs for Christ.  Martyrs are witnesses.  The most extreme form of witness is shedding our blood to seal our testimony to Christ, but before a Christian can do that, he must (usually) learn to be a faithful witness in smaller things.

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Christ Reigns not Caesar

Find yourself sowing in the spirit. Find yourself, receiving His word with joy. Even in the midst of terrible, evil, wicked things. There is still joy. Because Jesus Christ reigns. The church sings, “What God ordains is always good: This truth remains unshaken. Though sorrow, need, or death be mine, I shall not be forsaken. I fear no harm, For with His arm He shall embrace and shield me; So to my God I yield me.” (LSB 760:6)

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The Sons of this World are More Shrewd . . . .

In light of the Gospel reading from the One-Year Lectionary for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity on the parable of the Unjust Steward, I offer a few paragraphs from John Schaller’s “The Battle for the Christian School as a Battle for the Christian Worldview,” published in Theologische Quartelschrift, Vol 7, 1910, 204—221.

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Encouragement to Speak the Truth

I’m not naive to think that there are only those who support. My point is that people are looking to the church to speak to these things in public not just in the pulpit or behind closed doors. People are looking for pastors to have some skin in the game. So, my encouragement is to demonstrate what you stand for by reaching out in public ways to let those who feel cornered, that there is still a prophet in Israel.

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Marquart on The Question of Procedure in Theological Controversies

Given the current climate that Christians face in this world—a world that has lost its mind—here is a little sanity. It is a good reminder of what the task of the church in general, and her ministers specifically, are charged, yes, commanded, to be, do, and say. “In the world you will have trouble, but take heart (have courage, be bold, speak plainly and forthrightly), for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). And “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:4—5)? We have overcome the world. Let us act like it!

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