tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post3274838987170971715..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: Salvation from ourselves. . . Pastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-15955824316832432032016-02-25T21:09:23.892-06:002016-02-25T21:09:23.892-06:00Dear Anonymous: When I see something that really ...Dear Anonymous: When I see something that really moves me in a positive way, I try to respond appropriately. On the other hand, when something really strikes me as being wrong, then I address that as well. Fundamentally, it is a matter of whether or not the pure Gospel is proclaimed. <br />Now, whether I am right or whether I am wrong is not determined by whether I am a pastor or not, but whether I am right or wrong on the issues I raise. If you are saying that lay people should know nothing but submit in everything to an ordained pastor, I do not think you could justify that position either from Scripture or from the Confessions. But the fact also remains that some LCMS pastors do agree with me.<br />So, if you have any counter-arguments to what I have written in this post, I will be happy to consider them. But please do not try to legitimatize the ad hominem fallacy.<br />Peace and Joy!<br />George A. Marquart <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-1470824266609068582016-02-25T19:55:21.547-06:002016-02-25T19:55:21.547-06:00Mr. Marquart,
I see your name surface on many Lut...Mr. Marquart,<br /><br />I see your name surface on many Lutheran pastor's blogs (and very solid Lutheran pastors too). Usually it is to correct, rebuke, or admonish. I'm puzzled. You're not a pastor, but you seem to think you know more than most pastors do. You are not called to preach, but you continually tell those who are, what they should say. You're not a seminary professor, yet it appears you think there is much that pastors can learn from you. Those that can't do, teach...is that how the expression goes? There appears to be a complete lack of humility on your part. If you want to be a pastor so badly, perhaps you should go to seminary to become one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-67593585559312390902016-02-24T13:14:29.061-06:002016-02-24T13:14:29.061-06:00Thank you, Anonymous from Wyoming. To me it is un...Thank you, Anonymous from Wyoming. To me it is unquestionable that the righteousness of our Lord is imputed to us. My sins were imputed to Christ in the sense that He made a sacrifice of Himself to “take away the sins of the world.” The book of Hebrews is quite clear on that.<br />If Christ had been punished for our sins, we would not need forgiveness, because a just God would consider the matter over. But in Jeremiah 31, He says, “I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sins no more.”<br />Where in Scripture does it say that Christ changed? If Christ became a sinner, de facto, then we are still in our sins. The fact that He did not change, even on the cross, is attested to by the writer of Hebrews, 2:10, “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.”<br />I don’t know where the notion came from that God could not tolerate sins and the only way to deal with it is to punish His Son for them. Anselm had something to do with it, but both the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox reject it. The argument against “penal substitution” is overwhelming. The idea that there could be a conflict between members of the Most Holy Trinity violates all of the creeds of Christendom. I think that the only reason we Lutherans still cling to it is that we are obsessed, similar to the Roman Catholics, with the idea of the infallibility of our own dogma. <br />If there is one thing we should all learn from the Old Testament, it is that sacrifice is ordained by God to atone for sin. Then, when it comes to the greatest sacrifice of all time, we say, “punishment.” It is an abomination to sully the greatest act of perfect love by God for His people with the idea that rage and hatred had anything to do with it.<br />Peace and Joy!<br />George A. Marquart<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-40394382903708786052016-02-24T12:44:45.953-06:002016-02-24T12:44:45.953-06:00Hello Mr. Marquart,
Your remarks are very interes...Hello Mr. Marquart,<br /><br />Your remarks are very interesting and it left a few questions for me. As I understand it, God didn't change, but Christ did when He took the sins of the world on himself. If my sin isn't imputed to Christ, then how can his righteousness be imputed to me? Or maybe you don't dispute the idea of imputation? The absolute idea that God cannot tolerate sin seems to be in question here, or do I miss your point entirely? I will look for your response and thanks for your note.<br /><br />In Wyoming Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-14425660003910395122016-02-23T12:20:02.127-06:002016-02-23T12:20:02.127-06:00First:
“C. F. W. Walther, “Law and Gospel”
Thesis ...First:<br />“C. F. W. Walther, “Law and Gospel”<br />Thesis XXV.<br />In the twenty-first place, the Word of God is not rightly divided when the person teaching it does not allow the Gospel to have a general predominance in his teaching.” The text does not say that Lent is an exception.<br />Secondly: Where the sermon reads, “As Jesus hung on the cross He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mk 15:34). God the Father turned His back on His Son, He rejected Jesus because Christ was carrying the sin of the whole world.” Well, “if He rejected Jesus, because Christ was carrying the sin of the world”, then our sins cannot be forgiven. “In Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself” by rejecting His own Son? The One about Whom, just a few days earlier He said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with Him I am well pleased; listen to Him!”? This is the God “who changeth not”? I know it is the official doctrine of the LCMS, but it is time we reconsider this abomination and reject it.<br />Peace and Joy!<br />George A. Marquart<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com