Archive for December, 2009

Ring them bells

Posted on December 31st, 2009

We are ever fighting hyper-American pietists and iconoclasts who would rob us of our Christian freedom. Lately, this has manifested itself in a certain spirit who accused good Pastor William Weedon of papism for ringing bells during the consecration (a practice that Immanuel also embraces). (Pastor Beane’s defense of Pastor Weedon is worth reading.) Here are a couple things to ponder from Luther on the topic: First, Luther regarded the use of bells in worship as a “thing indifferent”: Images, bells, eucharistic vestments, church ornaments, altar lights, and the like I regard as things indifferent. Anyone who wishes may omit them. Images or pictures taken from the Scriptures and from good histories, however, I consider very useful yet indifferent and optional. I have no…

Categories: Theology

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Dylan: Genius, or wife-beater?

Posted on December 28th, 2009

I came across two more items on the Bob Dylan Christmas album, particularly the video (see below) for “Must Be Santa”: Andrew Ferguson at The Weekly Standard discusses the Bob Dylan phenomenon and calls Dylan fans “the battered wives of the music industry.” Joe Carter at First Thoughts (a First Things blog) simply asks, “What’s the Deal with Bob Dylan?“

Categories: Music

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St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

Posted on December 27th, 2009

Readings for St. John’s Day: Rev. 1:1-6; 1 Jn 1:1—2:2; Jn. 21:20-25 Beloved, today is St. John’s Day, the beloved disciple of Jesus and the man inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the Fourth Gospel, as well as three epistles in our New Testament and the Book of Revelation. On Christmas Day, we heard the majestic prologue of John’s Gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Today, on St. John’s Day, the author of those great words testifies to this great truth: “That One who already was in the beginning, who existed from all eternity, and who was made flesh – that is the One whom we have heard, whom we have…

Categories: Sermons

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Christmas Day sermon

Posted on December 26th, 2009

Gospel: John 1:1-14 Dearly beloved: This bright morning, “The Ancient of Days has become an infant” [Chrysostom].  The Holy One leaps down from His royal throne to lie helpless in a feeding trough.  This bright morning, He who could not be touched has come among us, to be touched, not as a baby is touched, but to be touched with the whip on His back, thorns on His brow, nails through His hands and feet so tiny in infancy.  In death, He will be touched again by the loving hands of His mother, but not before a spear is thrust into the belly that longs for His mother’s milk this bright morning.

Categories: Sermons

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The Savior will help me when all have forsaken me

Posted on December 26th, 2009

Another gem from Luther, this time from his 1530 sermon on the Afternoon of Christmas Day, on the comfort of the Christ Child in the face of death and despair: In my sin, my death, I must take leave of all created things. No, sun, moon, stars, all creatures, physicians, emperors, kings, wise men and potentates cannot help me. When I die I shall see nothing but black darkness, and yet that light, “To you is born this day the Savior” [Luke 2:11], remains in my eyes and fills all heaven and earth. The Savior will help me when all have forsaken me. And when the heavens and the stars and all creatures stare at me with horrible mien, I see nothing in heaven…

Categories: Theology

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Parton/Townes Wedding Sermon

Posted on December 26th, 2009

From the wedding service of Richard Townes, III and Kyle Parton, on Saturday, December 19. We had a major snowstorm that caused the wedding to start late (see pictures below), and unfortunately some of the guests also couldn’t make it. But it was a beautiful wedding. I’ve been trying an experiment with some of my sermons lately – writing outlines instead of full manuscripts. Thus, what is below is not what I actually said. My experiment confirmed what I have learned before: I preach much, much better from a manuscript than just an outline. The Gospel reading was St. Matthew 25:1-13, The Parable of the Ten Virgins. Introduction: The bridegroom was delayed! And thus was the marriage. That’s from the parable, but perhaps you’ve…

Categories: Sermons

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Retraction

Posted on December 26th, 2009

In an earlier post I called Bob Dylan’s recording “Must Be Santa” “deliciously awful.” Kassie said I need to post a retraction. Fair enough. That crazy song got stuck in my head, and I’ve listened to it over and over again. Maybe it’s just that I’m a sucker for rhymes (ho ho ho, cherry nose, suit that’s red, cap on head, special night, beard that’s white), but there’s some brilliant musicianship on that track. It’s catchy, and I’m hooked. Now if I could only figure out why that guy is getting chased and smashing things in the video…

Categories: Music

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Canceling church

Posted on December 26th, 2009

Northern Virginia is a cowardly area when it comes to snow – schools have closed on the mere forecast of snow (including once when it ended up not snowing at all), and many churches cancel services if it snows. Last weekend, it seemed an awful lot of churches canceled Sunday services, but we don’t cancel the Lord’s Day at Immanuel. We had a very small number of worshippers – I think just under 40 – and about half the church ended up going out for lunch afterward at the same restaurant. The restaurant was full. I find it fascinating that schools and churches will cancel classes and services, and the people that we are trying to protect just go shopping or out to eat…

Categories: Theology

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