tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post4264202410831394842..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: What does God NOT know of your need?Pastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-67591062237360315172011-08-13T20:54:34.832-05:002011-08-13T20:54:34.832-05:00Dear Santa, err, I mean - God: Please do this for...Dear Santa, err, I mean - God: Please do this for me....please give me this.....please give me that.....please heal me/us/them.<br /><br />If God already knows of the things that we need prior to asking for them, then for what should be pray?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-76673603406304790372011-08-12T19:02:00.869-05:002011-08-12T19:02:00.869-05:00Thank you.
GeorgeThank you. <br /><br />GeorgeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-41215242640149989252011-08-12T17:11:55.175-05:002011-08-12T17:11:55.175-05:00George, I was not particularly thinking that it is...George, I was not particularly thinking that it is automatic that we are distracted by sins and fears until God intervenes through the absolution, but it could be. We certainly do not need to wait until Sunday morning for that absolution, but Sunday does clear the way for the Word to makes its home in our hearts by getting rid of the baggage of sin, guilt, shame, regret, etc. God's forgiveness comes to us in many forms between the Sunday public absolution (including private confession). I was merely pointing out that guilt, fear, and doubt turn our attention away from Jesus as easily as Peter began to see only the water and his fears and sank into those doubts until Jesus intervened.Pastor Petersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-18470130964405912752011-08-11T21:09:16.712-05:002011-08-11T21:09:16.712-05:00>>It sounds like anger.<< That's h...>>It sounds like anger.<< That's how I always took God's response-like a parent scolding an insolent, rude child. <br /><br />I never imagined that God was speaking in almost a comforting way, "Were you here when I did this? No? Then trust that if I could do 'x', that I can take care of you".I wonder as I wanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01788234130211214031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-22225955037061639652011-08-11T12:29:26.142-05:002011-08-11T12:29:26.142-05:00Dear Rev. Peters, what a much needed admonition, a...Dear Rev. Peters, what a much needed admonition, and how well worded. I sometime cringe a little inwardly when we give God His “to do” list on Sundays. Often I feel that the Pastor uses the prayer to inform the congregation of certain circumstances that God obviously knows, and it makes me feel uncomfortable.<br /><br />But there was one item, and please don’t think that I am being picky, or that I want to enter into a debate on the subject. I have genuinely been troubled by it for a long time. When you write, “Unpleasant as it (i.e. Confession) is, our trust will always be distracted by our sins and fears until God clears the way through absolution.” Does that mean that our trust is at a high point immediately after the Absolution, and then declines until the next Sunday, or when we are absolved again? I know that our Doctrine of Absolution is based on John 20: 23, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained," and other passages. On the other hand, the concept of “justus et peccator” demands that we are, in fact, “justus” even before we receive Absolution. One could also argue that when we pray, “And forgive us our trespasses”, we are asking to be forgiven the sins we will commit “this day”, because God has already forgiven those sins that we have committed in the past. Although few pastors will say it so clearly, I heard at least one LCMS pastor ask, “When are your sins forgiven?” Then he answers, “As soon as you commit them!” I believe this is a true reflection of the state of grace in which Christians find themselves. At the same time I cannot simply dismiss the Absolution as something done “pro forma”. Could you shed some light on this for me? Thank you.<br /><br />Peace and Joy!<br />George A. MarquartAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com