Christianity “is not without good works” and “proves itself with good fruits” [LW 57: 191]. Luther said that in a sermon on this day in 1535. Faith alone is how we are saved; but faith is never alone. Luther continues in his introduction to that sermon, “the one who wishes to be a Christian must be serious about it and not hypocritical.”
Are you serious about it? That’s the question we each must ask: are we serious about being a disciple of Jesus?
Read MoreThe epistle of James has always been controversial. One of the earliest lists of canonical (or, accepted) books of the NT comes from the end of the second century, in Rome. James is not mentioned. Put differently, the Roman church did not accept James in the first centuries of Christianity. James gained widespread acceptance when Jerome included it in his Latin translation of the Bible, called the Vulgate, early in the fifth century.
It’s not uncommon today to find papal apologists slandering Luther by saying he removed James and other books from the Bible. This is not true. Luther, whose doctorate was in Biblical studies and patristics, was well aware of the controversial history of James. And he was aware of how the Roman priests pitted James against Paul. You really cannot understand Luther unless you’ve had a learned professor who says outrageous things to force you to reevaluate everything you believe. …
Read MoreSometimes you’ll hear folks slander Luther by saying things like, “He took James out of the Bible.” That’s nonsense. He included James, and the entire apocrypha, in his German translation of the Bible. But even if he had removed a book from the Bible, one of the great things about being Lutheran is we don’t have to regard him, or any man, as infallible. But did Luther in his later years keep saying the same things about James? …
Read MoreWhen we are angry, we are putting ourselves in the place of God the judge. The sin of anger puts our souls in danger. Jesus and John the Baptist would both say, “Repent.” James says, ‘Put away these sins, and receive with meekness, i.e., humility, the saving Word of absolution.” …
Read MoreThe Church’s “new song” has nothing to do with musical style or instrumentation. We are a people who are liberated from the world’s “old song” of hatred, despair, and lust, the funeral dirges and anthems of kingdoms passing away. The new song is the song of the new kingdom that the LORD has inaugurated in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The Church’s liturgy is the new song.
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