The Secret Wireless

  Some reactions to Matthew Bates’ Salvation by Allegiance Alone & Gospel Allegiance . Matthew Bates, associate professor of theology at Quincy University, has written two books ( Salvation by Allegiance Alone and Gospel Allegiance) that argue for a change in the way Christians, especially Protestants, talk about faith, the Gospel, justification, and salvation. This is not a book review, but more of a theological reaction to Bates’ arguments. These are just short observations. Obviously, to do justice to these arguments would take an entire book or two, and that is just not going to happen. First, the good.   In both Salvation and Gospel Allegiance Bates lays out what he believes should be the actual content of the Church’s Gospel. His summary looks a great deal like Saint Paul’s summary in First Corinthians 15 and the second article of the Apostles’ Creed. This is a needed reminder that a preacher is not called merely to talk about the Gospel, but is actually to ...

What did you do last Sunday? We...           ...watched an old man drown in a puddle of water.           ...witnessed a fresh man's resurrection.           ...heard the Almighty Voice.           ...experienced the power of the Divine.           ...received healing for our souls.           ...petitioned the Ultimate Power.           ...sang with the archangels.           ...feasted on the flesh and blood of God. If your church did anything less it's time to think about trading up.

             “ Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. ”   Jesus has graciously invited us to see God as our Father, and to pray to Him with the confidence of sons.   But what is a son to ask of His almighty, heavenly Father?                 We begin by praying that God’s name would be hallowed, or kept holy.   Luther’s explanation in the Small Catechism says:   “God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it.   Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven!   But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us.   Protect us from this, heavenly Father!” That’s interesting isn’t it?   The petition taught by Jesus is about the name of God being kept h...

I apologize for the bluntness of this statement, but it is NOT called the Law BUT Gospel distinction. It is called Law AND Gospel. God's Word of Law and Gospel are not to be separated, or even put in opposition to each other.  God is not a schizophrenic.  The Law is His good Word.  The Gospel is His good Word.  They have different content and different purposes, but they are both from God and are both good. The Law is God telling us how to act as human beings.  The Gospel is Him actually making us into human beings. The Law is His will.  It only seems like bad news to us because we ignore it.  The Gospel does not save us from the Law, but rather from our inability to keep the Law. So we should not hear sermons or read blog posts or articles that say, basically, that the Gospel frees us from the Law.  It does not. The Gospel sets sinners free from the accusations of the Law.  But we are never free from the content of the L...

Saint Paul wishes to see the Philippian Christians standing firm in one spirit and striving together for faith in the gospel.   This is the life worthy of the gospel of Christ, that they stand firm in the Spirit and faith that Paul gave to them, that they strive to remain in the one true faith.             This is Paul’s desire so much that he rejoices in his own suffering because it serves to advance the gospel in which they stand.   While he is imprisoned others have picked up the slack and proclaimed the Word of Christ in fearless fashion.   More people are preaching the gospel because Paul is in jail, and that makes him happy.             Paul desires them to stand and strive so much so that he is convinced that he should stay on this earth alive so that he may work harder and serve the Philippians with the gospel.   His greatest desire...

Jesus said to Peter, "Get behind me Satan!  You are a hindrance to me.  For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."  Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me."  (Matthew 16:23-24) In front of Jesus is the wrong place to be.  Likewise beside him. You are not supposed to be leading Jesus.  Nor are you his partner, walking side-by-side through all of life. You don't tell Jesus what to do, how to act, where to go.  You don't tell Jesus how to save the world, nor how to bring that salvation to the world today. But this is what we all want to do.  "Jesus, the church would grow if you stopped being so stubborn, if you overlooked sins rather than forgiving them, if you stopped being so exclusive, if you would just listen.  Let me help you!" But Jesus does not want your advice.  He does not really want your help either...

The Biblical David is a favorite for many people.  And who can blame them?  He is courageous, handsome, intelligent, charismatic, and eventually, powerful and rich.  Most men want to be him and most women want to be married to him. So it is no wonder that upon reading the history of David people want to identify with him. And so they begin to make comparisons from their life to his. He becomes a model for their life so that they can justify certain behaviors or certain personality traits. "Well, David was passionate, so I can be passionate too."  That sort of thing. The problem with people, no matter how good their intentions, comparing themselves to King David is that, well, they are not David!  Certainly the Lutheran Confessions mention that Christians can use the saints of years gone by as examples, but that is according to their vocation, not their life in general.  So, unless you are a shepherd, king, or polygamist, you are out of luck. You s...

  Can a Lutheran say, "My sin killed Jesus"?  Or is it better to say, "The wrath of God the Father killed Jesus on the cross"? The question was posed by a fellow pastor on Facebook a few days back and stirred up a few answers from various people.  Here is my response: If my sin did not kill Jesus then the Gospel is null and void.   Not only is this statement "ok", it is a necessary aspect of the proclimation of God's Word. The concern raised by several pastors was that by placing the blame for Jesus' death upon my sin I might be attempting to take some credit for the redemption of the cross.  This is, of course, not the case as anyone could easily tell you.  Saying that my sin caused the death of Jesus does not give me any credit from the positive effects of that death and more then saying that my drunkenness killed three innocent bystanders gives me credit for the foundation started by their family to combat drunk driving.  When I say t...