Sancification, pietism and the Law redux
Yet again, one of the posts I linked to last week has opened a firestorm of activity. These are useful discussions which I may visit again when I have spare time. The Allure of Pietism
The Word of our lives is His Word. Everything about our "lives" as Christians is His–His life, His doing, His justification, His holiness, His redemption–which He graciously gives to us. (1 Corinthians 1:30).How to get more good works
If there is an insufficiency of "good works" in a congregation--that is to say, lots of immoral behavior--the underlying problem is not enough faith. It is faith and faith alone that produces good works.One sermon, three reactions
My point is that there is no preaching the third use of the law. (As in, "now that you have faith, now you've got to. . . .) Just preachiing of the Law, which then does its work in the different soil it falls on.Bloghardt's Reflector - "Enough about me, can we talk about the Cross of Christ?"
As St. Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain." (Gal 2:20-21)Bloghardt's Reflector - This is a Gospel Answer....
o, Bloghardt, how do you answer "in the way of the Gospel?" You answer: In the forgiveness of sins in Christ, in your baptism (Thank you, Stan), in the Lord's Supper, in Holy Absolution, as free Lord of all and subject to none, as perfect slave to all and subject to every one. The answer is not "you can do what you want" but "you are free."Cyberbrethren Lutheran Blog
by Pastor Paul T. McCain: Third Use of the Law and Preaching Sanctification
The New Testament provides plenty of parenesis, exhortation to holy living and good works. One person told me, "Preaching is not teaching, it is preaching. The goal of preaching is to send everyone home justified." But of course! Didn't our Lord though tell the woman, "Go and sin no more." Woops, how dare Jesus leave her with a word of Law!Cyberbrethren Lutheran Blog
by Pastor Paul T. McCain: The Roots and Fruits of Pietism
Pietism has been, and continues to be, one of, if not the most, influential movement within Lutheranism but also in the traditionally Reformed churches and even within Roman Catholic history, e.g. in the form of Jansenism. One historian has asserted that, "...the dominant influence among Lutherans in North America was pietistic." Like similar movements it has often caused controversy: it has brought comfort to some and consternation to others.
