If you put a Gospel tract into someone's trick-or-treat pumpkin, would you be worried about the reaction?
In today's hyper-sensitive times, it's a prudent thought - but what a great way to spread the Good News? In a non-regulated poll at USA Today, over 47% of voters said they would be happy to discuss Salvation with trick-or-treat children, only 30% said they would throw the tract away with the stale candy. 18% said they would be "Offended", which considering the pagan embrace of Halloween culture, isn't as bad as it could be.
Undoubtably, Halloween's roots are rooted in pagan Samhain - but paganism is a factor in the placing of many of our Christian Holy Days - Christmas stands atop Saturnalia and Easter lies near the Spring Equinox. These proximate dates were selected by the Church as a way to distract and combat paganism, while spreading the Word and glorifying God.
So, I'm liking this idea. If I suffer the little children to knock upon my door next year, they'll get their customary candy, and something that will, if accepted, last them a whole lot longer - a message that never gets stale.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Reformation Sunday - A Bulwark Never Failing
To those "Anglicans" who question the effectiveness of the Reformation, or whether is was a good thing - today, as we read of alleged "Anglicans" abandoning the reformed Church of England for reprobate Rome, we are reminded that the winnowing of grain from stubble is an ongoing and perpetual process until Kingdom come.
Though I must extend some sympathy to my estranged Roman brethern, for at least they know what they believe and hold fast to it. Luther, however, has demolished the "Treasury of Merit" notion which still holds countless Roman Catholics in error.
"I believe that there is no concept within the Roman Catholic Church that is more basely repugnant to Protestants than the concept of the treasury of merit. A person who believes in justification by faith alone weeps at this notion. This is because Protestants also believe in a treasury of merit, one that is infinite and inexhaustible, but we believe that treasury is filled with the merit of the Son of God alone. The issue in the indulgences controversy is the sufficiency of Christ alone to redeem a person. According to Protestantism, justification happens on the basis of Christ’s merit credited to His people. For Rome, we are never finally saved until we have sufficient merit of our own."
—R. C. Sproul, Are We Together? A Protestant Analyzes Roman Catholicism (Reformation Trust Publishing, 2012), 76.
Spiritually earnest people were told to justify themselves by charitable works, pilgrimages, and all kinds of religious performances and devotions. They were encouraged to acquire this “merit”, which was at the disposal of the church, by purchasing certificates of indulgence. This left them wondering if they had done or paid enough to appease God's righteous anger and escape his judgment. This was the context that prompted Luther’s desire to refocus the church on salvation by grace
through faith on account of Christ by imputation of Christ’s righteousness to us. To those spiritually oppressed by indulgences and not given assurance of God’s grace, Luther proclaimed free grace to God’s true saints:
God receives none but those who are forsaken, restores health to none but those who are sick, gives sight to none but the blind, and life to none but the dead. He does not give saintliness to any but sinners, nor wisdom to any but fools. In short: He has mercy on none but the wretched and gives grace to none but those who are in disgrace. Therefore no arrogant saint, or just or wise man can be material for God, neither can he do the work of God, but he remains confined within his own work and
makes of himself a fictitious, ostensible, false, and deceitful saint, that is, a hypocrite (Luther W.A. 1.183ff).
Though I must extend some sympathy to my estranged Roman brethern, for at least they know what they believe and hold fast to it. Luther, however, has demolished the "Treasury of Merit" notion which still holds countless Roman Catholics in error.
"I believe that there is no concept within the Roman Catholic Church that is more basely repugnant to Protestants than the concept of the treasury of merit. A person who believes in justification by faith alone weeps at this notion. This is because Protestants also believe in a treasury of merit, one that is infinite and inexhaustible, but we believe that treasury is filled with the merit of the Son of God alone. The issue in the indulgences controversy is the sufficiency of Christ alone to redeem a person. According to Protestantism, justification happens on the basis of Christ’s merit credited to His people. For Rome, we are never finally saved until we have sufficient merit of our own."
—R. C. Sproul, Are We Together? A Protestant Analyzes Roman Catholicism (Reformation Trust Publishing, 2012), 76.
Spiritually earnest people were told to justify themselves by charitable works, pilgrimages, and all kinds of religious performances and devotions. They were encouraged to acquire this “merit”, which was at the disposal of the church, by purchasing certificates of indulgence. This left them wondering if they had done or paid enough to appease God's righteous anger and escape his judgment. This was the context that prompted Luther’s desire to refocus the church on salvation by grace
through faith on account of Christ by imputation of Christ’s righteousness to us. To those spiritually oppressed by indulgences and not given assurance of God’s grace, Luther proclaimed free grace to God’s true saints:
God receives none but those who are forsaken, restores health to none but those who are sick, gives sight to none but the blind, and life to none but the dead. He does not give saintliness to any but sinners, nor wisdom to any but fools. In short: He has mercy on none but the wretched and gives grace to none but those who are in disgrace. Therefore no arrogant saint, or just or wise man can be material for God, neither can he do the work of God, but he remains confined within his own work and
makes of himself a fictitious, ostensible, false, and deceitful saint, that is, a hypocrite (Luther W.A. 1.183ff).
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Pray Now and Vote This November
America is at a historic crossroads and our nation urgently needs concerned citizens to step forward by taking two essential patriotic actions: Pray and Vote!
Monday, September 20, 2010
A Muslim Cries Out To Jesus
(Hat Tip: CBN.Com, Stand Firm)
This is a wonderful and amazing testimony to the life-saving and life-changing power of Jesus.
This is a wonderful and amazing testimony to the life-saving and life-changing power of Jesus.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
What if St. Paul Wrote Letters Today?
Here's an amusing bit of drollery from Christianity Today
Dear Christianity Today:
In response to Paul D. Apostle’s article about the Galatian church in your January issue, I have to say how appalled I am by the unchristian tone of this hit piece. Why the negativity? Has he been to the Galatian church recently? I happen to know some of the people at that church, and they are the most loving, caring people I’ve ever met.
Phyllis Snodgrass; Ann Arbor, MI
Hie thee hence and read all six epistles: LINK
Monday, April 12, 2010
Episcopal Barbie
Prof. R.W. Meade has a link to the newest craze in doll-sized Episcopal Clergy:
Episcopal Barbie
I will quote his insightful view of why the Episcopal Church has fallen under Judgement:
"I hate to say this, guys, but I think God mocks us and holds us in derision. I think the disasters we have already experienced and the much greater ones that are coming closer every day are signs of his wrath. I think he is giving us the taste of wormwood and gall: he’s letting us face the full consequences of our own silly deeds. He waited patiently for decades as we frittered away the inestimable riches and advantages accrued over centuries. He bore our hypocrisy — incompetent busybodies and Mrs. Jellybys lecturing the rest of the world on how to manage its affairs as our own household fell progressively into deeper disarray — and our general inconsequential messing around with low priority issues like ’sexist’ hymn lyrics as our seminaries edged steadily closer to bankruptcy. But we’ve exhausted God’s patience and spent down our endowments. The Bailiff of Heaven is knocking at our door; the notice of eviction is in his hands."
As our estranged Roman Catholic cousins might say...BINGO!
TEC isn't being punished because of Katherine Schori and Gene Robinson, TEC is being punished BY Katherine Schori and Gene Robinson, for straying from her scriptural and reformed roots OVER A CENTURY AGO.
Forty years in the Wilderness seems about right.
Episcopal Barbie
I will quote his insightful view of why the Episcopal Church has fallen under Judgement:
"I hate to say this, guys, but I think God mocks us and holds us in derision. I think the disasters we have already experienced and the much greater ones that are coming closer every day are signs of his wrath. I think he is giving us the taste of wormwood and gall: he’s letting us face the full consequences of our own silly deeds. He waited patiently for decades as we frittered away the inestimable riches and advantages accrued over centuries. He bore our hypocrisy — incompetent busybodies and Mrs. Jellybys lecturing the rest of the world on how to manage its affairs as our own household fell progressively into deeper disarray — and our general inconsequential messing around with low priority issues like ’sexist’ hymn lyrics as our seminaries edged steadily closer to bankruptcy. But we’ve exhausted God’s patience and spent down our endowments. The Bailiff of Heaven is knocking at our door; the notice of eviction is in his hands."
As our estranged Roman Catholic cousins might say...BINGO!
TEC isn't being punished because of Katherine Schori and Gene Robinson, TEC is being punished BY Katherine Schori and Gene Robinson, for straying from her scriptural and reformed roots OVER A CENTURY AGO.
Forty years in the Wilderness seems about right.
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