Mature over Hip ... any day!

Amazing what an impression a mature, straight-talking, forgiveness-seeking, and grace-of-God-giving church leader can make. I'll take him any day over the "hip" kind of "preacher"(?) shown here by contrast!



HT: Extreme Theology

Homily for Trinity 5

What's a preacher to do when a major societal holiday, such as the 4th of July, or Independence Day (U.S.), falls on a Sunday, the Lord's Day? It's always a conundrum because our people in the pews are most certainly thinking about and participating in the societal holiday, and fittingly so, and yet the conscientious preacher needs to focus on what God says and let the Church's sense of time remain paramount.

Such was the case this past Sunday. The Gospel reading for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity, Luke 5:1-11, gave us Jesus teaching from the boat and giving Peter and company a great catch of fish. It gave us Peter confessing his sinful state and Jesus absolving him with the words, "Do not be afraid." It also gave us Jesus calling Peter to his new vocation of "catching men alive," that is, proclaiming the Gospel and thus rescuing people from the "sea" of their sin and death by bringing them into the boat of the Church.

And yet Independence Day was also predominantly on the minds of the hearers!

What's a preacher to do? Stay faithful to the text (I hope) and yet give recognition that it is a big day in the life of our people (and, yes, in the life of the preacher as well).

So for Sunday's homily I tried to maintain this balance: preach the text and apply it to the context in which my hearer's found themselves. It was also a great opportunity to touch on the Christian understanding of "vocation," especially as citizens in our nation. Since "freedom" and "independence" were obviously on the minds of my hearers, I used the title "Real Freedom Where God Has Called You" to proclaim the freedom of Jesus' Absolution and how that freedom leads us into our vocation as citizens.

To listen to the audio file of Sunday's homily, click this link, download the audio file, and listen away.

"Imagine There's No Global Warming"

Okay, I'll be bold and admit it: I never really have cared for that infamous song by John Lennon called "Imagine," especially due to the lines about imagining "no heaven" and "no religion," not to mention the completely God-less, humanistic message of the song.

However, here's a version that I rather enjoy. No, it's not by John Lennon, though it does use his tune. No, it doesn't tout the same anti-God, man-centered philosophy as the original, but it does give a message that we need to hear these days, especially on the heels of reports not long ago on the "cooked books" of global warming climatologists.

Perhaps it's best to remember that "The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein." (Ps. 24:1) Somehow God has seen us through the scares of global cooling and nuclear holocaust; something tells me that He's still tending His creation and won't allow us puny human beings foolishly to destroy it.

Thoughts on Abortion

HT to Anastasia for these two thoughts on the horror and holocaust called abortion.

First, a twelve year old girl speaks very eloquently and persuasively on abortion. Talk about "out of the mouths of babes." This video is worth its 5 minutes and 20 seconds in gold.



Second, Anastasia herself weighs in with some incisive insight on arguments used in favor of abortion. I hadn't quite thought of the being less than human argument in this way before, but I shall not forget it, or forget to use it, because it makes perfect Christian sense. Here's Anastasia's "More on Abortion":

More on Abortion

The arguments in favor of abortion are so duplicitous. Well, okay, not all of them are. Some of them spring from genuine, if misguided, compassion for the pregnant woman. But the arguments I'm specifically thinking of are the one about a woman's rights, and the one about how the fetus is not really a human being yet, supposedly. Gimma a break!

Abortion isn't just about a woman's body. Yes, the baby is developing within her body, but it isn't her body (usually) being destroyed; it's someone else's! How does anybody have that "right"?

Yes, women have a choice; in fact, they have lots of choices. But those choices are made before the pregnancy begins. There is no right to choose once the baby is conceived.

But is that creature inside the mother really a baby, really a human being? When do we become fully human? The Orthodox answer is that we become fully human when we fully resemble Jesus Christ, for He is our measure of true personhood. That means none of us is fully human yet.

But we still aren't supposed to kill one another.

Fatherly Wisdom-No Favors, Please

This quote from C. S. Lewis (1898 – 1963) would teach us to say, "No favors, please," to our "compassionate" government that now tries to race in and bail out various institutions and even our whole economy. By the way, I'm still waiting for the "all-compassionate ones" in Washington D.C. and the state capitol to do the decent thing and return my money that they've taken in the form of various taxes (income taxes, sales taxes, cell phone fees, etc.). But don't worry, I'm not holding my breath. You see, our "compassionate" government now figures that letting us determine what to do with our money--pay off bills, save it, invest it, etc.--would not fit with their plans for our money.

As the Kairos Journal website says, "C. S. Lewis, literature professor and Christian apologist, peered behind the 'compassionate' actions of government and discovered instead threads of tyranny. He notes that the most benevolent ideas imposed on others through the rule of law can often result in the exact opposite of what is intended."

Here's the quote from C. S. Lewis:

Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. (C. S. Lewis, God in the Dock, ed. Walter Hooper [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1970], 292.)

Pray for the Jobless...and the Politicians

With the economy in a slow down/recession/depression/crisis (or whatever other term we want to lob in there), those who lose their jobs certainly need our prayers.

However, it would also appear that our politicians *really* need our prayers. You see, their math is not so great when it comes to the economy. And *they* are the ones charging to our economic rescue? Get a load of this clip from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi:



Losing 500,000,000 jobs per month?!

Perhaps it was a slip of the tongue? Perhaps it was a miscalculation by a Ms. Pelosi staffer? Perhaps just one, two, or more zeroes were accidentally or subliminally added in during the Q & A? Or perhaps a comment like this is really intended to gin up more panic, fear, dread, and worry than the American people already have regarding the economy? Or perhaps it's just another line to stir up the so-called urgency for "Nanny Government" to swoop in and take control of more of our economy and more of our daily lives?

Some commentators today have tried to work the math upward. One blogger said, "If that's the case, I guess we’re on pace to lose 6 billion jobs this year." Um, isn't that closer to the population figure for the whole world?

I submit, though, that we must do the math downward, in the other direction, as it were.

The simple truth is this. According to the CIA website, the U.S. population stands at a mere 303,824,640 (July 2008 est.). Yes, you read that correctly. The whole population of the United States, as estimated last summer, stands at just over 300,000,000. That's only about 60% of Ms. Pelosi's figure for a month's worth of job losses.

If Ms. Pelosi's figures are correct--and how many unthinking fellow citizens in our land will assume just that?--then we will all be out of work not within a matter of a month, but rather in just under three weeks. (Hmm. I wonder how we should count those already retired and not even seeking employment?)

So, let's of course pray for those who have lost their jobs as well as those who may/will lose their jobs in the coming weeks and months of hardship. But let's also be discerning and vigilant regarding what our politicians try to tell us ... and let's pray for them. After all, it would appear that the wisdom requisite for leading our nation is in rather short supply these days.

Most of all, as Christians let's also not panic or join in the ever-present hand-wringing sessions over our economic doldrums these days. You see, such circumstances may very well have a God-given and salutary silver lining. We just may get to see how God Himself, not we ourselves nor the government itself, will provide for our every need, and with less stuff and economic "bling" than we think we may "need." And we just may get to see that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are really the true source of all of life.

The Lord Jesus said: "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:31-33)

St. Paul said, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7)

The psalmist said: "Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is not salvation. When his breath departs he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish." (Psalm 146:3-4)

Prayers for the Unemployed:
"Heavenly Father, we commend to Your care those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Grant that the wealth and resources of this rich land be profitably used so that all persons may find suitable and fulfilling employment and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ, our Lord." (LSB, 317)

"Heavenly Father, during His earthly ministry, Your Son had nowhere to lay His head. Look with pity on those who seek work but are unable to find any. Of Your tender mercy raise up opportunities for employment that in peace and thankfulness they may earn a juge wage, serve their neighbor in love, and find the contentment that You promise; for the sake of Him whose poverty we are made rich, even Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever." (Pastoral Care Companion, 452, adapted)

Prayer for the Nation:
"Almighty God, You have given us this good land as our heritage. Grant that we remember Your generosity and constantly do Your will. Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education, and an honorable way of life. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil course of action. Grant that we, who came from many nations with many different languages, may become a united people. Support us in defending our liberties, and give those to whom we have entrusted the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there may be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, may our hearts be thankful, and in troubled times do not let our trust in You fail; through Jesus Christ, our Lord." (LSB, 313)

DOXOLOGY Notes: Intersection of Psychotherapy and Pastoral Care

In my last post I praised the recent DOXOLOGY retreat which I was privileged to attend. Beginning with this post, God willing, I want to give a series of summations and reflections on what I heard and learned at DOXOLOGY. I will follow the outline notes that all of us received in our handy-dandy binder, along with some of my hand-written notes and some reflections and commentary as I look back on the points made by the two presenters. While I hope that these posts of summary and reflection are helpful to all who read them, please let me say at the outset that they are not intended to replace attending and taking part in DOXOLOGY first-hand. Though I joyously want others to know what great things are to be had at a DOXOLOGY retreat, nothing can compare to "being there" and experiencing everything, from the worship to the sessions to the camaraderie. Dr. Harold Senkbeil and Dr. Beverly Yahnke deserve all the credit for anything good and salutary you may find here, and, of course, any inaccuracies due to things such as distraction while listening, failing memory or illegible handwriting, belong solely to me. I hope you enjoy these posts, and I especially hope that they will spark a desire for my brothers in the pastoral office to attend DOXOLOGY themselves.

The topic of psychotherapy may make some pastors a tad uncomfortable. I know that it used to raise the red flags for me. “What does secular, humanistic counseling have to do with the pastor’s task of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and giving out His life-giving Sacraments?” I used to ask. Too often we pastors, at least some of us, tend to dismiss wholesale the psychological disciplines and helps.

In recent years, though, I am coming to appreciate the First Article gifts of wisdom and cures in the mental health disciplines, both for myself and for my parishioners. No, that does not make me a “counselor” or “psychologist,” nor will I try to play one in my study or on TV. Yes, treating the mind and addressing human behaviors, healthy and unhealthy, are salutary and just down-to-earth helpful human endeavors.

The first session of DOXOLOGY addressed “Word, Sacrament and Psychotherapy.” Dr. Beverly Yahnke did a great job of showing the healthy intersection of psychotherapy and pastoral care while at the same time opening our eyes to the specific problematic aspects of the psychological disciplines. Let’s call it learning to cut with a scalpel rather than an axe. Instead of dismissing psychotherapy wholesale (the axe approach), let’s learn to receive the good First Article gifts that come down from the Father of lights in this area while steering away from those aspects that reject God and faith (the scalpel approach).

Since Dr. Yahnke has discovered first-hand the bias that many psychologists have against God and faith, she helps us discern the wheat from the chaff in the realm of counseling. Of course, secularists in the field reject all expressions of faith. Empathic responders ignore faith and respond merely to feelings. For them the counseling relationship is paramount and most helpful. On the other end of the spectrum we may encounter nouthetic counselors who reject all secular methodology and believe that the only useful treatment consists of repentance, forgiveness and trust in God. Finally, we can learn to spot the integrationists, those who take the best of the psychological methods and subject them to Scripture. In this realm, which I understand Dr. Yahnke to advocate, psychology has its salutary place, but it stops where God’s Word and the state of the soul begins. Think of an intersection, and not just a one-way road.

Many of us may already be familiar with the “creed of secular psychology,” but it’s always helpful to review it. In secular psychology, we are told to find our own truth, after all everyone has his/her own truth, and then we are told to find comfort in that self-determined truth. We are also told to take care of number one, shaping ourselves, working to achieve whatever good gift we determine we may want. And, of course, we must learn to forgive ourselves. Along with that comes the notion that we are not responsible for many of the things that are wrong in our lives. After all, people are innately good, says the secular psychological creed. Other tenets to this creed include: following a program (a certain number of steps) leads to health and success; happiness is a sufficient therapeutic goal; suffering is meaningless; and the therapists themselves are essential for healing.

With such humanistic underpinnings, we may wonder why our good laypeople so actively prefer psychotherapy to a pastor’s spiritual care. Here’s where the rubber of DOXOLOGY hits the road for pastoral work in the congregation. (And pastors, go ahead and get that little target out and place it right between your eyes. That’s what this part of the presentation did for me and, I would guess, many brothers also in attendance.)

Why do our good lay folk prefer psychotherapy to good ol’ Christ-centered spiritual care from one’s pastor? Dr. Yahnke gave these reasons:

• Even the best of Lutherans uses “pre-emptive personal pardon.” In other words, our good lay folk are quite used to saying, “I can forgive myself,” and hence they see and feel little need for the pastor or the church.
• Many in our pews simply are not aware that their pastor desires to offer spiritual care. As Dr. Yahnke would plead on behalf of her fellow laity: “Pastor, teach us what you do in offering Confession and Absolution, praying with us, and giving blessings.”
• Often we pastors (yes, I include myself in this indictment) are too engaged with the job of running the parish, the “organizational jungle gym,” as Dr. Yahnke called it. How many times have you, pastor, said, “I’m just too busy”?
• Pastors may be regarded as out of touch with real life. Our people may wonder if we really do get dirty with sin, sickness, and other problems. They may wonder if we know the challenges of being a father, and if we struggle with that parenting stuff as they do.
• Not everyone trusts his/her pastor to honor a confidence. Let that one sink in, brothers, especially when we gather together over food and libations and “let our hair down” with each other! Our people need to hear plenteous reassurances that all they discuss with their pastor will be kept confidential.
• Fear of the pastor’s personal judgment is a sufficient deterrent to seeking pastoral care. As Dr. Yahnke quipped, they may very well fear the pastor more than they fear God Himself. They know He is just and good; they’re not so sure about the pastor.
• Pastors may be so light-hearted and upbeat that they are unapproachable. (Very interesting, I thought.) Would the light-hearted, ever-upbeat pastor really take the dark secrets of the soul seriously?
• Finally, pastoral care is not “in,” that is, it is not socially sanctioned. Everyone knows about running to the counselor in time of need, but going to one’s pastor? Well, it’s not quite the culturally acceptable or common thing.

With all of this in mind, our people may not perceive their pastors as “experts,” but they know that they want the best services available. Also, our people begin to suspect that clergy cannot really do anything to help, especially if we clergy trivialize what we have to offer. How many of us pastors have thought, or even said, “Well, I only have God’s Word and Sacraments”? Yes, that may be “all” we have, but there’s no “only” about it. They really are mighty powerful tools—the Holy Spirit’s tools—for healing our most infectious contagion called sin and death, and thus affecting our health in other ways as well.

What can we pastors to do remedy this disconnect that truly exists in the minds and expectations of our people? Dr. Yahnke again made an appeal to pastors, as if speaking for all of our lay people, but I’ll speak from pastor to pastors.

We pastors must speak powerfully in the face of our post-modern culture. After all, our sheep are grazing in those pastures every day. Our people need to see that spirituality as revealed and given in the Scriptures is the real venue to genuine happiness. We pastors need to preach regularly on vocations such as mother and father, on the holy estate of marriage, and on receiving the love of the living God and His eternal yet presently life-changing gifts.

Our people do not want us to “get in the way” of God’s Word. They want us to talk about God and His Word, yes, but they also want us to talk in understandable ways and in terms that show we understand the life in which they live, work, rest and play.

While we pastors know it intellectually, we certainly do well to hear our people tell us: “Sir, we would see Jesus.” In all that we do and say, in all of our preaching and teaching, our people want to see Jesus. And, as Dr. Yahnke mentioned, we do well to boil it all down to two sentences or concepts that we want our people to take home with them.

We pastors also need to hear this one from Dr. Yahnke. Speaking for our good lay folk, Dr. Yahnke said, “We need both reverence and joy.” I love that coupling of terms and notions. Yes, our people need to see us act with reverence in the Divine Service and in prayer offices. That reverence underscores, as she said, the reality of Christ’s presence among us. However, our people also need to see the joy we have at being in His presence, proclaiming His words of forgiveness, life, and salvation, and giving out His gifts in water and meal. Our people do need to see us conducting the liturgy, as well as our whole office, with real life joy, not as mechanical automatons. Reverence and joy need not be mutually exclusive.

Our people need to hear their life’s issues cast into religious language, into terms that show they are dealing with spiritual realities, not just the day-to-day challenges that come rushing at them.

Related to this, our people would tell us they need to hear us, their pastors, talk about idolatry, the idolatry of their daily living—with idols such as money, success, and their own man-made, self-devised answers to their various problems. Dr. Yahnke offered a great picture for this when she referred to Luther’s treatment of the First Commandment in the Large Catechism. We need to hear our people speaking her words: “Pastor, super-size our Catechism.” I take that to mean, “Show us how our daily idolatries go against God and His will for us to look and cling to Him for every gift and blessing.”

Here’s one final thing Dr. Yahnke suggested that we pastors can do to teach and remind our people that we are there, in the congregation, to be their “spiritual physician.” Our people need to hear us preach about the implications of faith not only in eternity (“Jesus died for us, and someday we’ll get to go to heaven and be with Him.”), but also in time. After all, our hope in Christ is not only for “eternal life”; it’s also for life now. We need to preach not only “justification”—yes, it’s the central doctrine!—we also need to preach the hope that’s present now, the eager expectation that our gracious, forgiving, loving Savior is at work now to help and heal us with His cross-won forgiveness and His resurrection life.

Dr. Yahnke’s outline for this first session of DOXOLOGY ends with some questions upon which we pastors do well to reflect. I cite them here for my brothers in Office because, after all, a little reflection and self-evaluation can’t hurt…too badly…can it? (Good lay folk who read this, feel free to "turn the volume down" now. If you do choose to read these reflection questions for pastors, please don’t go to your pastor and say, “Hey, you’d better think about these things, Buddy.” ☺)

• How is it that my parishioners actually see me?
• Am I regarded as approachable? Too busy? Too aloof?
• What are the chief characteristics that I would appreciate in a pastor to whom I would turn for help?
• What are my expectations about how another pastor would treat me?
• What areas of my ministry do I want to examine mindfully in light of this conversation?
• What is my current comfort level in providing care to people who have spiritual and emotional problems?
• What is my level of comfort in collaborating with Christian psychologists or other mental health providers?

The Porpoise Driven Life

And now for something completely unrelated to Advent or Christmas or much of anything else ... except having a little fun with modern pop-Christianity.

CAUTION: You may find yourself laughing, or groaning, or a combination of both.

Doll Promoting Islam?

Can a cuddly little baby doll, made by Fischer-Price, promote Islam? Some are saying, "Certainly! Get it off the shelves," while others are dubious and wondering what the big deal is. Here's a YouTube video of an Associated Press report on the matter:



So, what is the doll saying? Is it promoting Islam, or not? Are the parents hearing things? Is the toy company being honest or disingenuous? As one TV commentator loves to say, "What say you?"

"Spread the Wealth Around"?

It would appear that one of our U.S. presidential candidates has had socialist tendencies (i.e. "spread the wealth around," "redistributive change," etc.) for some time now. Listen here:



Is this really the direction that our nation wants to go--politically, economically, and culturally--in this election? What does this say about the education in our land when so many seem to resonate with such a worldview? What impact would such a grand paradigm shift have on the Church in this nation? Might we Christians have to take a crash course in keeping the faith from our brothers and sisters in lands such as, say, Russia?

HT: The folks at Naked Emperor News for making this available.

Barak Obama: Not Just "Pro-Choice" But "Pro-Abortion"!

Here's an absolute must-read article on the intersection between politics and the moral issue of abortion: "Obama's Abortion Extremism," by Robert George. Mr. George takes on the weak claims from many Catholics and Evangelicals who claim that Barak Obama is "the preferred candidate from the pro-life point of view." He also shows just how bad a Barack Obama presidency could be for the support of human life in America.

Here's George's introduction to catch your interest:

Barack Obama is the most extreme pro-abortion candidate ever to seek the office of President of the United States. He is the most extreme pro-abortion member of the United States Senate. Indeed, he is the most extreme pro-abortion legislator ever to serve in either house of the United States Congress.

Yet there are Catholics and Evangelicals-even self-identified pro-life Catholics and Evangelicals - who aggressively promote Obama's candidacy and even declare him the preferred candidate from the pro-life point of view.

What is going on here?

And here's another paragraph to put a potential Obama presidency in its truly horrific perspective:

What kind of America do we want our beloved nation to be? Barack Obama's America is one in which being human just isn't enough to warrant care and protection. It is an America where the unborn may legitimately be killed without legal restriction, even by the grisly practice of partial-birth abortion. It is an America where a baby who survives abortion is not even entitled to comfort care as she dies on a stainless steel table or in a soiled linen bin. It is a nation in which some members of the human family are regarded as inferior and others superior in fundamental dignity and rights. In Obama's America, public policy would make a mockery of the great constitutional principle of the equal protection of the law. In perhaps the most telling comment made by any candidate in either party in this election year, Senator Obama, when asked by Rick Warren when a baby gets human rights, replied: "that question is above my pay grade." It was a profoundly disingenuous answer: For even at a state senator's pay grade, Obama presumed to answer that question with blind certainty. His unspoken answer then, as now, is chilling: human beings have no rights until infancy - and if they are unwanted survivors of attempted abortions, not even then.

By all means, read the whole article, not just in order to be informed, but also in order to support and defend God's gift of life ... for all human beings.

Who Says?

We keep hearing Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and his political allies place the mess of the failed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac--government-run mortgage companies--at the feet of "deregulation." Then, either by subtle insinuation or overt accusation, Sen. Obama and his cronies tell us that those "wascally Wepublicans" (my Elmer Fudd-esque term) are the culprits behind the "deregulation" of Fannie and Freddy.

But who was really trying to warn and regulate and who was truly stonewalling and putting the brakes on regulation? Let their own words answer that:

The Heart of the Financial Matter

The U.S. financial crisis has been front and center in the news and in discussions at the water cooler, to be sure. It's amazing how a singular vote in the House of Representatives--on whether or not the U.S. Government should spend $700 Billion of taxpayer money to buy bad mortgages--can grab our attention and the headlines. It's also fascinating to observe folks who normally don't give Wall Street the time of day perk up when it takes a nose dive of almost 800 points. As of this writing, however, it appears that Wall Street, contrary to yesterday's dire predictions, recouped almost 500 of those points in what looks like a pretty good day.

What's really going on, in the recent vote, in the Wall Street roller coaster ride, and in the pocket books on "Main Street" (to use the current politically fashionable word)? I won't pretend to be an economist, let alone to have grand answers, but I will pass on for your consideration some dispassionate explanation of what seems to be happening before our very eyes.

What is happening? It appears to be a tug 0f war between two vying economic systems: capitalism and socialism. That, it appears to me, is the real heart of the matter being played out in New York City, Washington, D.C., in the nation's headlines, and in the presidential campaign.

How can it be dispassionate in this time of highly charged emotions and over the top rhetoric? Because this was written in 1995 by Dr. David Noebel, a noted Christian apologist, in his book Understanding the Times: The Religious Worldviews of Our Day and the Search for Truth.

What Noebel has to offer won't put money in our pockets, ease our tax burden, set politicians straight, bring greedy CEOs to justice, or clean up the economic mess. But I hope that his words will help us understand what's happening before our eyes and inform us as we vote for the good of all people in our nation come November 4.

Here's Dr. Noebel:

We began our analysis of capitalism and socialism by noting that capitalism trusts the free market while socialism requires centralized control. From this most fundamental difference between the two systems springs a number of ramifications, including the counterproductive bureaucracies created by the welfare system in the United States. Because socialism requires a planned economy, including control over wealth, distribution, pricing, and production, it also requires a powerful central government to initiate the plans. As P.T. Bauer points out, "Attempts to minimize economic differences in an open and free society necessarily involve the use of coercive power." [P.T. Bauer, Equality, the Third World, and Economic Delusion (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1981), p. 18] Thus, the socialist must rely upon increased political power to achieve his goals of economic equality and a planned economy.

In a capitalist system, in contrast, far less political power is necessary, because the government need not worry about controlling incomes, prices, or production. Citizens are free to determine how they will spend their money and how they will use their resources.

Clearly, there is a relationship between the type of economy a society chooses and the amount of freedom the individual must sacrifice. In a socialist society, the individual must relinquish to the government much of the control over his life. "The only way to arrive at equal fruits is to equalize behavior," says Beisner; "and that requires robbing men of liberty, making them slaves." [E. Calvin Beisner, Prosperity and Poverty: The Compassionate Use of Resources in a World of Scarcity (Westchester, IL: Crossway Books, 1988), p. 54] Economic freedom and the right to private property are crucial for political freedom. (Understanding the Times, p. 330-31)

What's at the heart of our current U.S. financial crisis? It would appear to be a wrestling match between capitalism and socialism. Only time, perhaps measured only in months and years, will tell which one will (or has) become dominant. But it seems prudent to bear Dr. Noebel's words in mind as we listen to, watch, and read news reports about our financial crisis. I pray that keeping this "big picture," the principles of the matter, in mind will help us citizens be informed on what's happening and speak up, especially to our elected representatives.

After all, such matters do affect us in the Church and how we can confess the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Irrational Unbelief

Many secularists of various stripes (atheists, humanists, etc.) would say that religion, especially Christianity and it's beliefs (in things such as the Holy Trinity, the two natures in Christ, and the Real Presence of Christ in His Supper), needs to be overcome and left behind in favor of a more reasonable, rational way of life. However, such "logical thinking" may not hold water. Those who try to get rid of religion, especially Christianity, may very well tend to be the more irrational and superstitious of the bunch! Here's an intriguing article by M. Z. Hemingway over at the Wall Street Journal.

Here's a little paragraph from that article to pique your curiosity even more:

Anti-religionists such as Mr. Maher bring to mind the assertion of G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown character that all atheists, secularists, humanists and rationalists are susceptible to superstition: "It's the first effect of not believing in God that you lose your common sense, and can't see things as they are."

If Moses and the Israelites...

...lived in the 21st century American church scene, do you think this might have happened?


(This was sent to me by a member of my congregation, and I just couldn't resist posting it. :-)

UPDATE: Yes, I should give credit where credit is due. No, I don't want to steal intellectual property; I'm just passing on good stuff when I receive it or happen upon it. This comic comes from The Flying McCoys. You can find this comic here. Also, check out their comics each day at http://www.gocomics.com/theflyingmccoys/

Prince Caspian

My family and I just returned from seeing the new Chronicles of Narnia movie, Prince Caspian. You can read the IMBD information and plot summary here. You can also see the trailer and other Narnia related stuff at the Disney site.

Prior to going to the theater, I decided to listen to the story again via my iPod, with thanks to the Focus on the Family audio CDs made a few years back. Having the original fresh in my mind, I can honestly say that the big screen version of C. S. Lewis' second installment in the Narnia tales is well made, a feast for the mind as well as the eyes, and quite faithful to the original.

No doubt some will decry the portions of creative license that the movie makers take, but let's remember that movies are a much different medium than written literature, and certain accommodations must needs be made. One such accommodation involves telling the back story of what happens to Narnia and its creatures during the 1300 year absence of the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve--a.k.a. the Pevensie children. While the book can legitimately tell of a dwarf relating the lion's share (no pun intended) of Narnia's subjection to the Telmarines in one sitting, that would make for some tedious film making and viewing. So the movie spreads out the details of the back story, but the effect is the same: we learn how Narnia falls almost to ruin between visits to Aslan's kingdom.

The plot and story line of Prince Caspian do remain intact, even though some "fresh" elements get added to spice up the story for 21st century movie-goers. A slightly darker Peter comes out, as does some conflict between Peter and Caspian, and Susan does more fighting than in the book, but, in my opinion, these new elements do not detract from the story, the plot, or the message of Aslan restoring his land through the unlikely heroes of Peter, Susan, Edmund, Lucy, and Caspian, not to mention the wonderful mythical characters--talking animals (Reepicheep!), minotaurs, etc.--that we've all come to love. An added battle at the castle of King Miraz, while unexpected, heightens the tension and provides a nice dramatic avenue for Caspian's discovery that Miraz actually killed his father, Caspian IX.

C. S. Lewis' themes of restored faith in Aslan and the restoration of Narnia still come through loud and clear. The scene of High King Peter dueling evil King Miraz and the final battle scene are well done. Whereas the book can describe the battle scene rather briefly, the movie version necessarily expands it for audience participation and "enjoyment" (after all, there's nothing like "rooting" for the young good guys in the midst of a furious battle in which the odds are stacked completely against them! :-).

I highly recommend going to see Prince Caspian, not only for the sheer enjoyment of a classic tale for both young and old, but also to keep sending a message to Hollywood movie makers that such classic tales are well worth putting on the big screen. What a marvel it is to have a clearly Christian story, complete with learning to "see" and trust Aslan, the savior, for all to view and enjoy. Just as C. S. Lewis no doubt sought to open the door to the message of the Gospel by means of his delightful fantasy stories, a new generation now has that same privilege thanks to the big screen version.

Now we'll have to wait patiently for a whole two years to see Voyage of the Dawn Treader, but something tells me it will be worth it come the 2010 release (again see IMBD). I just hope Edmund and Lucy don't look too old by then, and I look forward to seeing the annoying Eustace Clarence Scrubb, especially as Aslan painfully releases him from his dragon skin in that great baptismal scene.

Purpose-Driven *Decline*

Over at "Save the LCMS" one "Athanasius" has posted this about the real, realized fruits of the purpose-driven, seeker-sensitive methods used by our Southern Baptist friends. Perhaps the most incisive comments would be: "Let him who has eyes to read understand," and "Let the buyer (of purpose-driven drivel and seeker-sensitive schlock) beware!" Here's the post:

While President Kieschnick is in the middle of transitioning the LCMS into a "Purpose-Driven" denomination the Southern Baptists are actually waking up and realizing that so-called 'culturally relevant' and 'seeker-sensitive methods' are not growing their denomination but are instead shrinking it.

The Christian Post is reporting on statements made by Paige Patterson, the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. According to the Christian Post:

Weak preaching and cultural adaptability are just two of many reasons Southern Baptists give to explain the decline of membership and baptisms.

"[T]he shallow state of preaching has exacerbated the lethargy of the church and left the lost with no real Word from God," said Paige Patterson, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, in a column in Baptist Press.

"The pastor ought to be the major source of theological understanding and the most able teacher of the Bible,” he added.

"Anemic pulpits create anemic churches and denominations."

Since the release last month of the latest data on Southern Baptist membership and baptisms, both of which declined, Southern Baptists have speculated why the largest Protestant denomination in the country has been seeing lower numbers.

"Well, the time has come to identify the real problems," said Patterson.

Many church leaders have been calling for change to respond to what many identify as a shift from modern to postmodern culture. And the latest statistics showing shrinking numbers has made that call even more urgent. But cultural relevance has led many churches to lose the holiness of God and a thirst to be like God, Patterson noted.

A prominent conservative Southern Baptist, Patterson said he is the first to admit that "dullness and 'Baptist tradition' were too often the rule in our churches." But the suggestion that churches must chase after culture in order to be effective in evangelistic efforts is "misguided," he said.

"The more attune to culture Southern Baptists have become and the more we have incorporated the world into our worship, the more our baptisms have dropped!" Patterson noted. (Emphasis Added)

In other words, adopting Seeker-Sensitive methods viz. Rick Warren's Purpose-Drivenism or Bill Hybels Willowcreek methods will do nothing less than insure the long-term DECLINE of the LCMS.

Get Thee to a Theater

...and see Ben Stein's new movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed! I just returned from seeing it, and I must say that it is awesome, insightful, riveting, and very intelligent. Not bad for a documentary genre movie (after all, I do like the drama and action genres better in general). It also has great apologetics value.

Stein exposes the irrational prejudice of the scientific community to those scientists (many of them not even religious) who say much of anything about "Intelligent Design." He does this by focusing on freedom of speech and freedom of inquiry, and by using the metaphor of the "Berlin wall" of thought in the scientific community that separates the scientific from the seemingly religious. Many absolutely fear that they might have to admit that some intelligence is behind the causation of the universe.

This movie is an absolute must see, not just for Christians, but for all thinking people. And I would strongly urge seeing it a.s.a.p., because one never knows how long this "child" (Stein's movie) will be allowed to cry out that the emperor has no clothes. (I have heard the words "limited engagement" regarding this film.)

Also, check out http://expelledthemovie.com/ - but be ready to wait, as I have, for I'm sure many others are checking it out too.

"Get Religion" on Pope's Comments

The folks over at "Get Religion" are doing their usually fine job of analyzing how the media deals with stories of religion, especially in the public square. Here's a very fine treatment of how the press has treated some of Pope Benedict's recent comments on topics such as secularism and relativism in our American culture. I for one find some good comments by the pontiff, certainly many points on which we would agree here.

A Feast for the Ears!

(Blogger’s Note: Two posts ago I tantalized you with the sight of drums blocking the altar in the chancel of my church, Hope Lutheran in St. Louis. Here’s the promised development of the story … and, no, it’s not a permanent addition, let alone a move toward some sort of “seeker-sensitive” “contemporary” worship … and I may even throw in another thought or two in subsequent posts.)

On Friday, 4 April 2008, Hope Lutheran Church & School and the community in south St. Louis were treated to a real feast for the ears. The Concordia University—Ann Arbor Wind Ensemble graced us with their melodious and majestic music replete with sounds stirring, solemn, and sublime.

The Hope School Choir, grades 5-8 at our school, also contributed to the evening of music, and five (or was it six?) of our students actually got to play their band instruments with the “college kids” for one piece.

The CU-AA Wind Ensemble, conducted by Matthew Wolf, showed great accomplishment in their music as they also bore witness to God’s gift of music, even in pieces not specifically sacred. Here are the great pieces in the first half of the program that brought some great culture to our congregation and community:

• God of Our Fathers – by Thomas Knox (1937-2004), written for the inaugural ceremony of Pres. Ronald Reagan and premiered by the United States Marine Band on January 20, 1981.
• Canterbury Chorale – by Jan Van der Roost (b. 1956)
• Fortune Teller’s Daughter – by David Gorham (b. 1960)
• As Summer was Just Beginning – by Larry Daehn (b. 1939)
• Second Suite in F – by Gustav Holst (1874-1934)

Just prior to Intermission, the Hope School Choir did a fabulous job of singing:

• May Joyful Music Fill the Air – by Thomas Tallis (Russell Robinson, text and arr.), presented in true canon form, and
• A Clare Benediction – by John Rutter

I’m very proud of our students in grades 5-8, especially since this is their inaugural year as a combined choir.

After Intermission, our Hope band members had the distinct privilege of sitting with and playing “Rock .5” (or is it “Rock Point Five”?) with the CU-AA band. What a great accomplishment, but even more what a great inspiration to see where lots of practice on those instruments can lead! And you should have seen their beaming smiles after they finished. :-)

For the second half of the program, the CU-AA Wind Ensemble continued the feast for our ears with these pieces:

• Four Scottish Dances – by Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006) (Arr. John Paynter)
• American Elegy – by Frank Tichelli (b. 1958) (More on this stirring piece composed in memory of the victims of Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, in another post!)
• In the Forest of the King – by Pierre La Plante (b. 1934)
• Down a Country Lane – by Aaron Copland (1900-1990) (Trans. Merlin Patterson)
• On the Mall – by Edwin F. Goldman (1878-1956) (Ed. Edward Lisk)

I sure hope that the CU-AA Wind Ensemble will come to Hope again—and I registered that request with Conductor Matthew Wolf. The music covered the gamut from delightful (“Four Scottish Dances”) to regal (“God of Our Fathers”), and from somberly stirring (“An American Legacy”) to just plain fun (“In the Forest of the King” and “On the Mall”). With these several non-sacred music pieces still echoing in my ears and mind, I think it only fitting to sum it all up with a great hymn verse:

When in our music God is glorified
And adoration leaves no room for pride,
It is as though the whole creation cried:
Alleluia! (LSB 796:1)

(By the way, the chancel is back to its normal look and use with the furniture properly arranged so that the Altar, and what comes on it in the liturgy, remains in full view! :-)