Christianity is More Than a Set of Rules – Lutheran Pastors – Be Looking for This Mailing
Christianity — more than a list of rules. You’d think that would be obvious, but it is amazing how many Christians actually enjoy rules, regulations, laws. As much as they complain about feel “tied down” many people actually like being told what to do, or think that if they follow a simple set of “how to” rules their lives will be better. I see it all the time in the latest self-help titles that remain so popular in secular publishing. “Follow these ten principles and you will have happiness and joy like you’ve never known before!”
Concordia Publishing House offers a Biblical antidote to all that thinking. We like to help out the losers, the sinners, the failures, people who feel trapped and guilty and beaten down by expectations placed upon them. We are publishing a fresh new translation of one of Martin Luther’s key Reformation writings, titled, “Christian Freedom” and it is … well … it is fantastic. Here are more details about this new translation:
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A new translation using the longer official version. Includes a nine paragraph “addition” on ceremonies, the Latin version only runs 73 paragraphs in the Weimar edition [the scholarly Latin edition of Luther's works].
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Offers an understanding of Christian freedom based on the Bible, as Luther intended.
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Connects the challenges of Christian life with Scripture, with salvation in Christ, with freedom in the Gospel, and with the way a Christian can make God-pleasing choices in life.
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Melanchthon’s summary on freedom.
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A forty-day reading plan that will guide the reader through Luther’s teaching on Christian freedom. This schedule may be followed at any time or during the forty days of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday, which makes an excellent plan for congregational reflection.
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Introductory notes, illustrations, and glossaries help these classic writings become meaningful in today’s world.
Pictured below are the materials being sent out to every Lutheran congregation: camera-ready promotional inserts, the 57 page sampler so you can take a closer look at the new translation, an explanatory letter, and a sign up sheet.
Here’s some great news…it is on sale for only $7.99 a copy if your congregation places an order for ten or more copies, otherwise they are $9.99 each. And because this book is part of our Spring Catalog, orders of $75 or more will receive free shipping.
Content of the Mailing
Indeed, Christianity is more than a set of rules.
But, don’t try to tell that to the tens of millions of adherents to the “faith” of American civic religion.
In their understanding, the Christian religion is all about rules and rules, only, chief among which is “Do good and avoid evil”. By responding to that admonition to the best of one’s ability, the “Christian” can be confident that he is earning his way into a blissful, heavenly afterlife.
Consequently, the festivals of the Incarnation and Resurrection become irrelevant and unnecessary, and are no more than holidays to be celebrated with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, respectively.
I look forward to reading the book.
(I only wish Melancthon’s Christian name on the outside cover had been spelled correctly, i.e., “Philipp”.)
It’s not “incorrect” merely Anglicized.