More Martin Luther

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Volume 60 in the New Series

Here are some highlights from this new translation of Luther’s writings:

“Next to the Holy Scriptures there is no doctor in the church who is to be compared with St. Augustine in Christian knowledge …. especially where he argues against the Pelagians, the Donatists, and the Manicheans. For here is a man of solid learning in Christ” (44). “In the Church one must have … the sure Word of God [certum verbum Dei], in which we may trust with certainty and assurance, and in this certainty of faith both live and die” (63-64). “Next to the Holy Scripture, there is indeed no book more helpful for Christendom than the legends of the dear saints, especially those which are pure and authentic” (73). “There was an extraordinarily great spirit in John Hus [1370-1415] …. In the end he so manfully accepted the most shameful death for the sake of the truth” (126). “I have no doubt that the Last Day is not far away, though the highly intelligent and super-rational world is not concerned about this” (149). “When a person is dying or in some other extremity, he must forget … money and property, honor and power, and must cling solely to God’s Word, stake his life on it alone” (212). “Chastisement … forces us to pray fervently. A fervent prayer is an almighty, powerful, and victorious thing” (243). “Muslims have for so many centuries enjoyed nothing but … success against the Christians …. yet this does not happen because the faith of Mohammed is true …. God allows Christians to be punished and oppressed on account of their sins” (255). “Oh, the hard and unyielding minds of men!” [O duras et ferreas mentes hominum] (273). “You cannot read in Scripture too much, and what you do read you cannot read too well, and what you read well you cannot understand too well, and what you understand well you cannot teach too well, and what you teach well you cannot live too well” (285). “Of good books … there have never yet been too many, and there still are not” (300). “The devil … most avidly seeks out … everything that is highest and best in the world. He has a dainty gullet [delicatae est gulae]; his food is choice” (314). “I am nothing” (329). “The elect must be tested, tried, and refined” (335).

May we ever give thanks to God for Martin Luther, our “most eminent teacher” (The Book of Concord, p. 576)!

                                                                                                                   Pastor Marshall

President’s Report… by Matthew Kahn

The coming of Summer brings kids out of school, the fulfillment of God’s miracle of life as vegetables grow from small seeds that were sewn only weeks before. It also brings forth many thoughts of travel and vacation. Whenever I am on vacation I have a nasty tendency to drag my family to what are often called boring historical sites, obscure museums, and to see random pieces of architecture. Many times we see churches. One time we were in St. Louis for only 36 hours for a friend’s wedding. The weekend schedule was full but I had to see the Cathedral Basilica of St Louis which contains over 83,000 square feet of mosaic tiles, one of the largest collections in the world. Yes, never take a vacation with a history major. Early that Saturday morning before the afternoon festivities began, Samantha, who just started walking, Dana and I searched for the church. I was thoroughly impressed and as I was sitting in the back pews it made me thankful for our beautiful church. With so many other Lutheran churches built after the war looking more like living rooms, ours stands out as something special. We were blessed by God to have church members who chose this traditional style of architecture. In addition, we have continued to be blessed with parishioners that have sought out and adhered to the traditional style of worship as well.

This July 29th marks the date for the mid-year congressional meeting. I encourage everyone to attend and help guide our church. The most important topic is to finish voting on the changes to the constitution that deal with the terms of the church officers.

The month with Easter generally is a successful month financially and this April was no different.  We were able to catch up slightly on our monetary goals for church operations. We saw $22,232.47 in Total General Budget Income this month compared to a goal of $20,323. We also continue to keep our expenses down. We had budgeted $8,520 for Total General Operating Expenses but kept them down to $6,663.84 for the month. We have been blessed with $78,744 in Total General Budget Income compared to a goal of $80,449 for the first four months of 2012.  Let us pray that this next trimester will be as good so that we can continue to spread His word in West Seattle.

Many commentators throughout history have remarked that good art and architecture speaks to the audience.  Last month I wrote about a suffering Christ. There is another crucifix I wish to mention that, when I saw it, in one of those truly rare moments, stirred my understanding of His plan. The famous Kaiser Wilhelm Church in central Berlin is well known for the ruined remains of the spire destroyed in 1943 by a bombing raid. But what stirred me was inside the new church which was built inside the old building’s foot print. There within the context of total war, rebuilding and a reunited Germany was a clearly modern take on a church; bland, sleek and with comfortable chairs.  However hanging above the alter was a crucifix like I had never seen. There was Christ not in agony or sedate, but Christ saying to me, “Do not pity me, pity yourself.” It is a Christ looking down on the assembled saying, “You are the pitiful ones, and you have squandered all that you have been given, you of little faith. Look at what God must do just to save you”. After seeing it I felt small, humble and unworthy; unworthy of His sacrifice.  I was blessed to have that experience and I am thankful to this day for it, as I am thankful for finding First Lutheran Church of West Seattle.

Have a blessed and happy Summer.

Church Buildings Talk

By Paul Gregory Alms

Buildings talk. Old farm houses covered with vines, supermarkets and church buildings all tell stories. Especially churches. They whisper to us of those who built them, of the faith confessed within their walls. If we had ears to hear, those walls would sing of wed-dings and funerals and hymns and baptisms. Sanctuaries speak of the God who is worshiped within them.

Recently I had two church building experiences. The first was driving by a new church off of an interstate highway. I drive one stretch of this road every couple of months, and one day I noticed a new structure rising in the suburbs. It looked much like a typical warehouse or some commercial complex. I was quite surprised when I saw a sign go up which announced that the building was in fact a church. Well, actually the sign said it was a “worship center.” The complex had no identifiable design or markings or appearance that would mark it as a church. What is more, I am sure that the anonymous business character of the site was intentional. Retail Christianity, you could call it.

Otherworldliness

My second experience was walking into an old inner city cathedral-type Lutheran church. A huge statue of Jesus towered over a stone altar in-laid with a bright colorful painting of the last sup-per. Elaborate carved statues of Peter and Paul flanked him. A huge pulpit topped with spires seemed to reach to heaven and soared over the tiny pews. The font and altar environs were decorated and marked out with a holy reverence. Every detail of the sanctuary conveyed awe and otherworldliness and transcendence.

What Did They Say?

If buildings talk, what did each church say? What story did they tell? Of what God did each speak? The first spoke of what one might call a Walmart God, a God of the corporate mindset, a God who drives an SUV, a God of the suburbs. Those who designed that building no doubt built it specifically to be comfortable to outsiders, to appeal to those who are not at home with traditional Christianity. Still, that warehouse sanctuary tells a story about God; it is the story of a God who fits in, a God who talks and behaves much like middle class Americans in the twenty-first century.

The God that old inner city Lutheran church communicated could not be more different. That structure offered a vision of a God of inexpressible power, of distance and glory and yet recognizable in the human faces that looked down from the walls. Every detail in the church added up to a pointed contrast with the street and culture around it. I had gone from commerce to cathedral, from sales to saints.

Options for Shoes or Salvation

The two church buildings were aimed at opposite effects: one to fit God into our lives, the other to fit us into God’s life. But the incredible thing is not what is different about these churches, but what they hold in common: Christianity. Both claimed to be Christian, to follow the God of the Bible, to worship Jesus Christ, the Messiah. And yet they could not be more different in their expression of that faith.

So which one is better? The Walmart church or the cathedral church? Of course many today would say neither, or both. We like options in our shopping, whether for shoes or salvation. The numbers might suggest the Walmart church by a mile. Certainly today people seem to flock to such retail outlets of faith. Meeting needs, marketing services, pleasing visitors can add up to a potent recipe for growth.

But beyond that there lies a deeper question: what story do we tell with the building that we build? What kind of God does our sanctuary talk about? Is God really like a checkout line? Can the reality of the God who descended on Mount Sinai in smoke and thunder and lightning be adequately ex-pressed in a building that could just as easily be a Walmart as a church? Are the magnificent truths of the incarnation and crucifixion and resurrection of God-made-flesh easily expressed in the things of commerce and sales and marketing?

Church Building as Confession

Of course not all church buildings need be magnificent cathedrals. The humble country church and the modest struggling mission are as much the church as any dazzling Gothic structure. It is the gospel of grace, the preaching of Christ crucified and the giving of his holy sacraments, that is the true beauty of the church.

But Christians have always understood a connection between the structures of our faith and the structures we build. A tattered banner thrown across the wall of a rundown gym or a tarnished candlestick on a plain wooden table are evidences, however modest, that how we surround the Gospel we proclaim, how we decorate our sacramental worship, is a confession of what we believe about Christ. That country church building has much more in common with the Gothic cathedral than with the big box church structure.

In other words, our church buildings talk. They tell stories about God, and we should listen to what they say. How we build and furnish and deco-rate the places where we worship God and receive his saving gifts says something. It confesses the faith. Buildings tell stories. We should listen to them. Maybe we could learn something.

[Note: This article is a wonderful elaboration of our Mission Statement which says: “In our worship we honor the beauty and majesty of our church building as God’s holy house wherein we do far more than meet together, but primarily behold the awesome splendor of God’s presence.” It is reprinted with permission from Forum Letter, Volume 41, Number 5, May 2012. Copyright © 2012 American Lutheran Publicity Bureau. All rights reserved. Paul Gregory Alms is pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS), Catawba, North Carolina. An earlier version of this article appeared in the Charlotte Observer in 2005. – Pastor Marshall, First Lutheran Church of West Seattle.]

Psalm 83.16

Monthly Home Bible Study, June 2012, Number 232

The Reverend Ronald F. Marshall

Along with our other regular study of Scripture, let us join as a congregation in this home study. We will study alone then talk informally about the assigned verses together as we have opportunity. In this way we can "gather together around the Word" even though physically we will not be getting together (Acts 13.44).

We need to support each other in this difficult project. In 1851 Kierkegaard wrote that the Bible is "an extremely dangerous book.... [because] it is an imperious book... – it takes the whole man and may suddenly and radically change... life on a prodigious scale" (For Self-Examination). And in 1967 Thomas Merton wrote that "we all instinctively know that it is dangerous to become involved in the Bible" (Opening the Bible). Indeed this word "kills" us (Hosea 6.5) because we are "a rebellious people" (Isaiah 30.9)! As Lutherans, however, we are still to "abide in the womb of the Word" (Luther's Works 17.93) by constantly "ruminating on the Word" (LW 30.219) so that we may "become like the Word" (LW 29.155) by thinking "in the way Scripture does" (LW 25.261). Before you study, then, pray: "Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in Our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen" (quoted in R. F. Marshall, Making A New World: How Lutherans Read the Bible, 2003, p. 12).

Week I. Read Psalm 83.16 noting the word shame. What is this shame? On this read Ezekiel 16.53-63 noting the words disgrace, pride, wickedness, reproach, despise, lewdness, abomination, breaking, covenant, remember, confounded and shame. Is remembering or recognizing and admitting our wickedness and lewdness at the heart of shame? On this read Jeremiah 6.15 noting the words ashamed, abomination, not and blush. This blushing is about being struck to the heart over one’s wickedness – and giving up all efforts to explain away, cover-up or otherwise disregard the wrong we have done. On this problem of covering-up read John 3.19-20 noting the words loved, darkness, deeds, evil, hates, exposed and clearly. If we love the darkness, then we won’t be able to blush over our lewdness. What then?

Week II. Read again Psalm 83.16 noting the phrase fill their faces. How does this phrase help us blush? On this read Romans 7.13 noting the line sinful beyond measure. How do God’s commandments help us with that? On this read Romans 3.10-18 noting the lines none is righteous, no one understands, no

one does good, they … deceive, and there is no fear of God before their eyes. These verses exclude all excuses. Read also Mark 7.20-23 noting the line what comes out of a man ... defiles him, and the words evil, thoughts, theft, envy, pride and foolishness. Add to this Isaiah 65.6 noting the line all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags (KJV). What does all of this add up to? On this read Romans 7.18 noting the line nothing good dwells within me. Does that settle it? Not quite. Read also Job 9.15 noting the line I am innocent. How can that be? Have we been falsely charged? How so? No, read instead Psalm 125.5 noting the phrase turn aside. Note also Psalm 119.102 and the line turn aside from thy ordinances. If such turning takes place, then God’s commandments are weakened. But if their force hit us full in the face, then we blush. Wouldn’t you think so? Explain.

Week III. Reread Psalm 83.16 noting this time the line that they may seek thy name, O Lord. What is the point of this? On this read Psalm 9.9-10 noting the words trouble, trust, not and forsaken, and Psalm 105.1-5 noting the words thanks, call, remember and done. So seeking the Lord’s name draws us into a life of faith in him and service to him. What are the benefits in this? On this read Acts 2.21 noting the words call, name and saved. What does this seeking and calling save us from? On this read John 3.36, Romans 2.5, 5.9 and Ephesians 2.3 noting word wrath in all four verses. How bad is this wrath? On this read Mark 9.48 noting the words worm and fire, Luke 16.23, 28 noting the word torment, and Revelation 9.5 noting the word torture. Why is this wrath so bad? On this read Ezekiel 5.13 noting the words satisfy and jealousy. Why does God’s jealousy have to be satisfied by inflicting his wrath upon the disobedient? On this read Psalm 99.3 noting the words terrible and holy. Does this mean God has very high standards that cannot be compromised? If so, why can’t he cut corners for sinners? On this read 2 Timothy 2.13 noting the line he cannot deny himself. Where does that leave our inquiry? Why is that? Note the word unsearchable in Romans 11.33. Does that help?

Week IV. Read Psalm 83.16 one last time noting the word may. What will tip us in favor of faith and service? Does the word may suggest that the outcome is unpredictable? On this read Romans 9.16-18 noting the words depends, not, exertion, mercy, hardens and wills. Does that mean none of this is in our control? On this read Romans 10.10-21 noting the words man, believes, confesses, calls, heard, preacher, understand, seek, ask and contrary. What do these verses tell us? Are we free to listen or not, to go to church or not? On this read Acts 5.13 noting the line none of the rest dared join them. Read also 1 Corinthians 14.25 noting the line falling on his face. Do these passages suggest that going to church to hear the word of the Lord is harder than it looks? On this read Ecclesiastes 5.1-2 noting the words guard and few. How does that help us understand our situation?