http://cyberbrethren.com/2010/04/21/a-betrayal-of-the-gospel-the-joint-declaration-on-the-doctrine-of-justification/
Cyberbretheren has lengthy post dealing with the joint declaration on justification and how it is a betrayal of Lutheran/Biblical doctrine. I read it and agree. I've posted it here, so it's handy. You may also comment. For me, today, it connects with the two previous posts I made today.
When Baptists, Roman Catholics, Pentecostals, etc. speak of a "whole" gospel, they are also getting away from justification by faith alone, no matter how they deny it. If one reads them, one can see right away that forgiveness of sins is no longer at the heart, but something else. And that something else varies from person to person and group to group. Unity is not gained this way.
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2 days ago
5 comments:
About your last several posts, I agree with them, and I think it would be really interesting to conduct a survey asking people to, "Define 'The Gospel'" and another one, "Define 'Grace'". I am sure we would be amazed and confused by the results.
My, how quickly the Gospel that Luther rediscovered has been once again obscured.
Semper reformata, as they say.
Same language, different definitions.
Unity at the expense of the gospel is foolishness.
Thanks, Brigitte.
"Semper reformata"...right, Jonathan! (and Marty)
Yes, one should ask people what they mean by "gospel" and "grace". It would be a good point to start discussion of the subject.
In googling "whole gospel" yesterday, I was surprised in how many places that showed up and how it meant something different to different people.
I've been mulling N.T. Wright's piece all day and am getting more and more overwhelmed by how he is being clever and artsy but not saying anything in relation to the passion.
He does have one sentence that deals with sin, but it is a very confusing sentence.
My best friend's husband has not taken kindly to her foray into confessional Lutheranism, which came about as a result of my joining the confession and kind of becoming an Amway salesman for the Book of Concord and all things confessional Lutheranism.
He had a breakthrough last week, though, when he realized how many "terms" were not the same between Baptism and Lutheranism. What he thought was being said was not was being said. Even when it came to being "saved."
I shudder, now, when I think of the "Christian" speak that used to fall so easily off my tongue, language so utterly separate, at times, from the Gospel.
A long while ago, I was a missionary in Africa. I cannot help but wonder if, ultimately, I served the Lord there or not, given how much works-base theology I had been fed for so long. My only hope is that I was a Protestant who loved the Living Word fiercely, believed it literally, and poured it out over people whenever I got the chance. Praise God that His Word never returns void!
[The BEST part about Divine Service is the HUGE helping of the Living Word we get--in Protestant Churches, on average, 2-4 verses...one week at my parish we had 151 read (yes, I still count up the verses though it has been nearly a year)! I am no longer the "bible freak" in the room.]
Thank you for the posts, Brigitte.
The ex-professor in me believes Jonathan has a great idea.
Hi, Myrtle, I don't know why the comment went to moderation.
Maybe you can write a dictionary: what the different terms mean in Baptist speak and Lutheran speak...
a comparison chart, or something handy. :) It's not funny, though, but serious matter.
Thanks for visiting.
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