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Gottesblog

A blog of the Evangelical Lutheran Liturgy

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Throwback Thursday: Muslim Friendly Worship?
Throwback Thursday: Muslim Friendly Worship?

"For an instant even I was appalled - but only for an instant."

Caught between the pincers of the world and the church, I find myself so jaded these days as to rarely find the energy to even shrug my shoulders at what I see going on around me. But, in the case of the following published paper by the chairman of the Missions Department of Concordia University, Portland, the Rev. Dr. Herb Hoefer, who is, of course, an ordained minister of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, I have nothing else to do than to quote Sir Harry Flashman.

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Larry Beane Comments
Keeping a Holy Advent
Keeping a Holy Advent

The beginning of the new year brings with it a great many resolutions, and I hope that the new church year, beginning today, brings with it some worthwhile resolutions on the part of the everyday Christian. I once read somewhere that a new year’s resolution for January 1st is more effective if begun December 1st, and has a much higher rate of success. So, by all means, begin whatever resolutions you have underway in the coming week, most especially those pertaining to the Christian life.

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Stefan Gramenz Comments
We Have Got to Talk About Usury (Part XIV): After Luther—Spangenberg, Melanchthon, Brenz, Aepinus, Chemnitz, and Selnecker
We Have Got to Talk About Usury (Part XIV): After Luther—Spangenberg, Melanchthon, Brenz, Aepinus, Chemnitz, and Selnecker

Shortly before Luther’s death, Johann Spangenberg, an early supporter of the Reformation and pastor at Nordhausen, wrote the following in his 1545 commentary Der Apostel Geschichte: Kurtze auszlegung—Für die jungen Christen, in Frage verfasset (pg. 190): “Dear friends, do you imagine that it causes no anguish to a preacher when he learns that within his own congregation, among the very sheep entrusted to his care, there are found open blasphemers, usurers, idle swindlers, misers, adulterers, profligate drunkards, and similar scoundrels? Have you not heard what God declared to the prophet: that He will require their blood at the hands of those who failed to preach and punish their sin?” Here Spangenberg alludes to Ezekiel 3:18, 20 and 33:6, 8, where the Lord warns His shepherds that they will be severely judged if they neglect to lead their flock according to His law and truth. Notably, in this brief catalog of scandalous sins demanding pastoral attention in 1545, Spangenberg includes usury. Perhaps he was inspired by Luther’s words half a decade prior in his public admonition to brother pastors.

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