Comments on: Christ Speaking to Us: The Essential Nature of God’s Word http://cyberbrethren.com/2010/02/04/christ-speaking-to-us-the-essential-nature-of-gods-word/ Devoted to authentic Lutheranism Thu, 24 May 2012 13:51:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Gregory DeVore http://cyberbrethren.com/2010/02/04/christ-speaking-to-us-the-essential-nature-of-gods-word/comment-page-1/#comment-10393 Gregory DeVore Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:45:47 +0000 http://cyberbrethren.com/?p=5128#comment-10393 This is the difference between Luther's Meditatio and traditional monastc lexio divina. In lexio the meditator ascends from the text of Scripture to contemplate divinity above and beyond Scripture.In Meditatio God descends to us and speaks to us through the text of Scripture. There is no going beyond the text. This is the difference between Luther’s Meditatio and traditional monastc lexio divina. In lexio the meditator ascends from the text of Scripture to contemplate divinity above and beyond Scripture.In Meditatio God descends to us and speaks to us through the text of Scripture. There is no going beyond the text.

]]> By: John Walton on Genesis | The Church of Jesus Christ http://cyberbrethren.com/2010/02/04/christ-speaking-to-us-the-essential-nature-of-gods-word/comment-page-1/#comment-10383 John Walton on Genesis | The Church of Jesus Christ Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:01:21 +0000 http://cyberbrethren.com/?p=5128#comment-10383 [...] on the same token, you might want to check out this post, which begins: This is an essential catholic and evangelical truth: the Word of God does not speak [...] [...] on the same token, you might want to check out this post, which begins: This is an essential catholic and evangelical truth: the Word of God does not speak [...]

]]> By: Pastor Peters http://cyberbrethren.com/2010/02/04/christ-speaking-to-us-the-essential-nature-of-gods-word/comment-page-1/#comment-10362 Pastor Peters Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:20:19 +0000 http://cyberbrethren.com/?p=5128#comment-10362 <a href="#comment-10359" rel="nofollow">@Darlene </a> Do Lutherans celebrate Lent, and if so, how? Classicaly Lutherans observe Lent with additional worship services, extra devotional disciplines, almsgiving and acts of charity, some kind of sel-denial, and liturgical chances (the elimination of the alleluia, veiling of the crosses, etc)...HOWEVER Lutherans are a diverse group and there are Lutherans for whom Lent is no different from any other time. I wish I could say there was more consistency here. Do Lutherans fast? Lutherans do fast but more as an individual discipline and less as a formal discipline as a group... it does depend upon ethnic background to a certain extent. For example, we practice a Wednesday fast except for soup and bread after sundown... Do Lutherans practice confession, and if so, is it both private and public? Lutherans do practice private confession -- I see a number of folks each week... but that majority do not avail themselves of this wonderful gift. The public or general confession as preparation for the Divine Service is generally upheld with some measure of seriousness and solemnity (except among those who offer contemporary worship)... Do Lutherans accept the 7 Ecumenical Councils of the Church from the First Century? What do Lutherans believe about the Filioque? The Lutheran Confessions quote as much from the fathers as they do from Scripture. For Lutherans the ecumenical councils are very important, especially the creed(s) and Chalcedonian christology. Lutherans are western catholic Christians who accept the Filioque (although there are some Lutherans who regret its inclusion without the consensus of the whole church). Please feel free to email me through my blog (www.PastoralMeanderings.blogspot.com) for more... @Darlene
Do Lutherans celebrate Lent, and if so, how? Classicaly Lutherans observe Lent with additional worship services, extra devotional disciplines, almsgiving and acts of charity, some kind of sel-denial, and liturgical chances (the elimination of the alleluia, veiling of the crosses, etc)…HOWEVER Lutherans are a diverse group and there are Lutherans for whom Lent is no different from any other time. I wish I could say there was more consistency here.

Do Lutherans fast? Lutherans do fast but more as an individual discipline and less as a formal discipline as a group… it does depend upon ethnic background to a certain extent. For example, we practice a Wednesday fast except for soup and bread after sundown…

Do Lutherans practice confession, and if so, is it both private and public? Lutherans do practice private confession — I see a number of folks each week… but that majority do not avail themselves of this wonderful gift. The public or general confession as preparation for the Divine Service is generally upheld with some measure of seriousness and solemnity (except among those who offer contemporary worship)…

Do Lutherans accept the 7 Ecumenical Councils of the Church from the First Century? What do Lutherans believe about the Filioque? The Lutheran Confessions quote as much from the fathers as they do from Scripture. For Lutherans the ecumenical councils are very important, especially the creed(s) and Chalcedonian christology. Lutherans are western catholic Christians who accept the Filioque (although there are some Lutherans who regret its inclusion without the consensus of the whole church). Please feel free to email me through my blog (www.PastoralMeanderings.blogspot.com) for more…

]]> By: Mike Baker http://cyberbrethren.com/2010/02/04/christ-speaking-to-us-the-essential-nature-of-gods-word/comment-page-1/#comment-10360 Mike Baker Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:41:36 +0000 http://cyberbrethren.com/?p=5128#comment-10360 God does not speak as we speak. When He speaks, the universe is formed and takes shape. God's Word is not a simple form of communication. After all, the Father's breath is what brought life into Adam and the Son's breath is what brought the Holy Spirit to the apostles. At the Word of the Lord, mountains are formed, the sea obeys, the deaf can hear, the dead rise, and devils flee in terror. Our words are a gift that is but a tiny shadow of what is spoken by God. Our words are limited by what already is. We do not create and make things come into existence just by saying so--no matter how much we may wish for such an ability. We may have the power to influence others with our words on an emotional level and the ability to change minds on an intellectual level, but we work on the limited level of a creature. On the other hand, the Word of the Creator is an awesome and constructive force that kills and makes alive. It does more than merely convey perceptions and opinions as we do... it declares truth, changes chaos into order, and brings good things into existence from nothing! It is a mystical and awesome force that imparts faith and life upon its hearing. This is why Satan attacks the delivery of the Word at every opportunity by every means at his disposal. God does not speak as we speak. When He speaks, the universe is formed and takes shape. God’s Word is not a simple form of communication. After all, the Father’s breath is what brought life into Adam and the Son’s breath is what brought the Holy Spirit to the apostles. At the Word of the Lord, mountains are formed, the sea obeys, the deaf can hear, the dead rise, and devils flee in terror.

Our words are a gift that is but a tiny shadow of what is spoken by God. Our words are limited by what already is. We do not create and make things come into existence just by saying so–no matter how much we may wish for such an ability. We may have the power to influence others with our words on an emotional level and the ability to change minds on an intellectual level, but we work on the limited level of a creature.

On the other hand, the Word of the Creator is an awesome and constructive force that kills and makes alive. It does more than merely convey perceptions and opinions as we do… it declares truth, changes chaos into order, and brings good things into existence from nothing! It is a mystical and awesome force that imparts faith and life upon its hearing.

This is why Satan attacks the delivery of the Word at every opportunity by every means at his disposal.

]]> By: Darlene http://cyberbrethren.com/2010/02/04/christ-speaking-to-us-the-essential-nature-of-gods-word/comment-page-1/#comment-10359 Darlene Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:33:17 +0000 http://cyberbrethren.com/?p=5128#comment-10359 Dear Pastor Peters, I am an Orthodox catechumen and considering chrismation on Holy Saturday of this year. I've got a few questions. Do Lutherans celebrate Lent, and if so, how? Do Lutherans fast? Do Lutherans practice confession, and if so, is it both private and public? Do Lutherans accept the 7 Ecumenical Councils of the Church from the First Century? What do Lutherans believe about the Filioque? I attended a Lutheran Church for a short while, but I wanted an erudite answer from someone schooled in the Lutheran tradition. I look forward to your response as time permits. In Christ's Immeasurable Love, Darlene Dear Pastor Peters,

I am an Orthodox catechumen and considering chrismation on Holy Saturday of this year. I’ve got a few questions. Do Lutherans celebrate Lent, and if so, how? Do Lutherans fast? Do Lutherans practice confession, and if so, is it both private and public? Do Lutherans accept the 7 Ecumenical Councils of the Church from the First Century? What do Lutherans believe about the Filioque?

I attended a Lutheran Church for a short while, but I wanted an erudite answer from someone schooled in the Lutheran tradition. I look forward to your response as time permits.

In Christ’s Immeasurable Love,

Darlene

]]> By: Mike Bryant http://cyberbrethren.com/2010/02/04/christ-speaking-to-us-the-essential-nature-of-gods-word/comment-page-1/#comment-10358 Mike Bryant Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:21:28 +0000 http://cyberbrethren.com/?p=5128#comment-10358 WOW! What an insight! Thanks for posting this!! WOW! What an insight! Thanks for posting this!!

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