Remembering and Thanking God for Nicaea

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

On June 12, the holy Christian Church remembers and gives thanks to God for the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, which began on that date in A.D. 325.

Emperor Constantine summoned this first ecumenical council in the city of Nicaea, which is located in modern-day Turkey. Constantine invited every bishop of the Church – some 1,800 bishops – but only approximately 300 attended.

The council was called primarily to deal with the heretical teaching of Arius of Alexandria, Egypt. Arius taught about Jesus that “there was a time when He was not,” which was a heresy, a false teaching that would endanger Christ’s flock of their salvation if they would believe that. Arius was very persuasive as he had many influential people on his side. The issue with Arius’s teaching is that he taught that there was a time when Jesus was not God, but this is against Christ’s very words, “ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22:13); “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30); “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58); and on, and on, and on.

So, to combat this heresy, the council was convened. The council dealt with various other Church issues as well, but the main issue was condemning this heresy. As the bishops arrived, they all confessed the Apostles’ Creed, but they desired to develop it more so it would be boldly asserted that the Son was “homoousious” (that is, of the same substance or essence) as the Father. While at the council, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, the bishops agreed upon the wordage of the Nicene Creed, which all came directly from Scripture. At the First Council of Constantinople in A.D. 381, the Church would later affirm the Nicene Creed as we confess today.

The pattern of Church leaders meeting to confess doctrine, reject error, and offer guidance for the practical questions of the day became established with this council. Today, the first seven ecumenical councils are recognized by the entire Christian Church (First Council of Nicaea, 325; First Council of Constantinople, 381; Council of Ephesus, 431; Council of Chalcedon, 451; Second Council of Constantinople, 553; Third Council of Constantinople, 680-681; and the Second Council of Nicaea, 787).

In the heritage of the church councils, the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod meets for convention both synodical wide and at the district level. So, such councils, or conventions, still characterize the Church’s life today.

Oddly enough, among the famous participants at the First Council of Nicaea was Nicholas of Myra, who the legend of Santa Claus is modeled after. According to folklore, Nicholas slapped Arius for speaking heresy against Jesus Christ. Also, Athanasius of Alexandria attended this council. Due to his steadfast faith, the Athanasian Creed is named in his honor.

By confessing the Creeds today, we confess the basics of the Christian faith as revealed in God’s Holy Word!

The Lord bless you and keep you always!

In Christ,

Pastor Adelsen

O You of Little Faith, Why do you Doubt?

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26).

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? … But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown in to the oven, will he not much clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:25, 30).

“O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31).

Over and over again, Jesus rebuked His holy apostles saying, “O you of little faith.” We are not much different from Christ’s holy apostles. We doubt. We doubt that God will provide. We worry about money and finances, especially during times of Inflation. Often, our worries are inward focused – on ourselves – instead of where they ought to be as outwardly focused on God.  

We often find ourselves playing the role of the rich fool, who would rather store up his goods, so we can say, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry” (Luke 20:19). After all, that is the American way, right? We store up goods, instead of giving back what rightfully belongs to God.

But what always happens, despite our doubting? God always provides for our needs. God is always faithful, even when we are “of little faith.”

Each Sunday, we confess our faith using the Creed (from Credo meaning, “I believe”). We confess, “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible” at each communion Divine Service (First Article of the Nicene Creed) or, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth” at each non-communion Divine Service (First Article of the Apostles’ Creed). But what exactly are we confessing?

Martin Luther noticed that during his time, many parishioners were just going through the motions and never gave much thought on what they were actually confessing. In his Large Catechism, Luther wrote[1]:

“Here much could be said if we were to describe how few people believe this article. We pass over it; we hear it and recite it, but we neither see nor think about what the words command us to do. For if we believed it with our whole heart, we would also act accordingly, and not swagger about and boast and brag as if we had life, riches, power, honor, and such things of ourselves, as if we ourselves were to be feared and served. This is the way the wretched, perverse world acts, drowned in its blindness, misusing all the blessings and gifts of God solely for its own pride, greed, pleasure, and enjoyment, and never turning to God to thank Him or acknowledge Him as Lord or Creator.

“Therefore, if we believed it, this article should humble and terrify all of us. For we sin daily with our eyes, ears, hands, body and soul, money and property, and with all that we have, especially those who even fight against the Word of God. Yet Christians have this advantage, that they acknowledge that they owe it to God to serve and obey Him for all these things”

So, what are all these things? What exactly are we confessing in the First Article of the Creed?

Well, we confess that God is the giver of all things. He always provides. We only receive. We don’t earn anything by our own merit. God is the giver of all wealth. God is the giver because He is the Creator of heaven and earth.

Luther again writes in his Large Catechism[2]:

“What is meant by these words or what do you mean when you say, ‘I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator,’ etc.? Answer: I hold and believe that I am God’s creature, that is, that He has given me and constantly sustains my body, soul, and life, my members great and small, all my senses, my reason and understanding, and the like; my food and drink, clothing, nourishment, spouse and children, servants, house and farm, etc. Besides, He makes all creation help provide the benefits and necessities of life – sun, moon, and stars in the heavens; day and night; air, fire, water, the earth and all that it yields and brings forth; birds, fish, animals, grain, and all sorts of produce. Moreover, He gives all physical and temporal blessings – good government, peace, security. Thus we learn from this article that none of us has life – or anything else that has been mentioned here or can be mentioned – from ourselves, nor can we by ourselves preserve any of them, however small and unimportant. All this is comprehended in the word ‘Creator.’”

In the First Article of the Creed, we confess that God provides. God always provides! Great is His faithfulness to us! He provides our temporal needs (food, clothing, shelter, and the like) to all people, believer and unbeliever alike, and He provides our eternal needs (forgiveness of sins, which begets eternal life and salvation) to all who trust in Jesus Christ alone!

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
   his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
   “therefore I will hope in him” (Lamentations 3:22-24).

In Christ,

Pastor Adelsen

---

[1] Kolb, Robert and Wengert, Timothy. The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2000), 432-433.

[2] Ibid.

The Side of Truth

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

“You don’t want to be on the wrong side of history.” This is an idiom that is often repeated these days. Or it can go this way, “You want to be on the right side of history.” Both ways have the same meaning, which is to persuade the person to follow the prevailing winds of the culture.

 

But what about being on the side of truth? Truth is never mentioned. Instead, truth is replaced by feelings, which is opinion. What about remaining loyal to the one true God?

 

In today’s secular world, the truth has been replaced by opinion. These days, immoral living is seen in a positive light, while moral living is not. What has happened?

 

The Pew Research Center in December 2021 released its findings from a study on religious affiliation in the United States. In the study[1], Pew found that the secularizing shifts in the United States are not going to slow down any time soon as it found that self-identifying Christians now outnumber religious “nones” by a ratio of a little more than two-to-one. Back in 2007, Pew found that Christians outnumbered “nones” by almost five-to-one.

 

As more and more people are no longer affiliated with Christianity, society’s change has become more secular. As America becomes more secular, the more the culture’s morality has deteriorated. And among practicing Christians, according to this Pew study, only 26 percent said they attend a religious service at least once a week.

 

Now, none of this is a shock. We all live in 2022. But, this is alarming. Where is truth to be found? God is truth. Jesus is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No person is saved from sin, death, and hell apart from Christ.

 

In the world we live in today, there is a search for truth, but this search does not include Jesus Christ. In a world without truth, we don’t know who we are. In a world without truth, grammar is destroyed in order to apply “my pronouns.” In a world without truth, nothing matters. This is a world of nihilism where nothing has meaning.

 

But we do matter! God says we matter! God created mankind in His image as He created us all male and female. He created us, because He loves us. He knitted us together in our mother’s wombs. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made by God and He never makes mistakes.

 

God not only created us, but He also redeemed us from the powers of sin, death, and Satan through Him becoming man as He suffered, died, and rose from the dead — for us! This is the truth! And we all need to hear this wonderful truth as much as we can, or else we could fall away.

 

We are being catechized every second of our lives. The only question is how are we being catechized? Are we being catechized by the secular world (with waiting with bated breath as daytime co-hosts discuss “hot topics,” with idolizing rose ceremonies, and joining TikTok challenges), which always ends in despair and nothingness. Or are we being catechized by the one true God, who gives us hope that is sure and certain. We certainly live in the secular world, but don’t let the secular world become your false idol of worship. Always remember that the secular world’s goal is to sway us away from truth.

 

Just like we matter to God, truth matters. It is so easy to give in to popular trends, but in the end truth prevails, because God prevails. God is truth.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Adelsen

---

[1] https://www.pewforum.org/2021/12/14/about-three-in-ten-u-s-adults-are-now-religiously-unaffiliated/

Christmas Joy!

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Merry Christmas!

As the secular world began commercialized Christmas as soon as the porch lights went out on Halloween night and kicks commercialized Christmas into high gear between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and then promptly moves on from Christmas at 12:01 a.m. on December 26, the one holy Christian and apostolic Church has only begun celebrating the birth of the Savior.

Christmas, for Christians, cannot be contained to only one day – December 25. The Church continues the celebration that began on December 25 with the 12 days of Christmas! The Church celebrates “the Word (Jesus Christ) became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

There in the manger, wrapped up like any other human child, is the Second Person of the Trinity – the very Son of God – who has come as the only Savior for mankind. There in the manger is God in human flesh. There in the manger is the definition of true love that He came to “lay down his life for us” (1 John 3:16) so that all who would trust in Christ would be saved from the power of sin, eternal death, and damnation.

The secular world may be tired of and finished with Christmas, but for us there is simply too much to squeeze into a single celebration. Christmas joy spills over and fills the 12 days of Christmas with praise to the incarnate Lord.

We are all familiar with the carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” From all appearances, the lyrics appear to be a total nonsense rhyme set to music. But within those lyrics is a hidden song of Christian catechesis and Christmas joy:

1. The Partridge in a Pear Tree: Jesus Christ (December 25)

2. Two Turtle Doves: Old and New Testaments (December 26)

3. Three French Hens: Faith, Hope, Charity (December 27)

4. Four Calling Birds: The Four Gospels (December 28)

5. Five Golden Rings: The Pentateuch [The Books of Moses] (December 29)

6. Six Geese A-laying: Six Days of Creation (December 30)

7. Seven Swans A-swimming: The Seven Gifts of the Spirit (December 31)

8. Eight Maids A-milking: The Eight Beatitudes (January 1)

9. Nine Ladies Dancing: The Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit (January 2)

10. Ten Lords A-leaping: The Ten Commandments (January 3)

11. Eleven Pipers Piping: The Eleven Faithful Apostles (January 4)

12. Twelve Drummers Drumming: The Twelve Points of Doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed (January 5)

Then on January 6 – the Day of Epiphany – Christmas joy continues as that is the day when the first Gentiles (non-Jews) fell down and worshipped the child Savior. There, the Magi, opened their gifts and gave the Savior gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Like the “Twelve Days of Christmas” carol, these gifts present a mysterious confession. The gold confesses the child to be a king. Frankincense confesses Him to be God Himself in our flesh. Myrrh confesses the child’s death as He came to be a sacrifice, to offer His life on our behalf. This Epiphany joy adds to the Christmas joy with the season of Epiphany, for which we remember that Christ came for all people. The Magi, on that first Epiphany, are the first fruits of the Gentiles to be brought to faith and give Christ their worship.

Jesus came as the One and Only Savior for all people and this is why Christmas cannot be contained to one day! Merry Christmas and Happy Epiphany!

In Christ,

Pastor Adelsen

An Example of Discipleship

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47). These were the crying words Jesus heard said from a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

We have much in common with Bartimaeus. For Bartimaeus, he was begging to people he could not actually see. Yet, oddly enough, he is an example of a model disciple. Despite being blind, he recognizes Jesus. He “sees” Jesus through his spiritual eyes. He “sees” Jesus through his faith.

We, too, “see” Jesus through our faith in Him. Like Bartimaeus, we are also beggars. Now, we may not be as noticeably poor as Bartimaeus in fear of if we will eat that day, but we are poor: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We all live in poverty in our own sin, since we are all born sinful.

Like Bartimaeus, we also call on Jesus and trust in His power to deliver us from our poverty of sin. Apart from Jesus, we are doomed to suffer the depravity of our sin, which is eternal damnation. But the Triune God — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — is a loving God. Due to God’s love for us, Jesus became a beggar for us, as He took upon Himself our human flesh and suffered and died for our sins, so we could be saved. Each time we say the Kyrie (“Lord, have mercy!”) and call upon Him in prayer, we call on Christ as our Savior to save us from sin, eternal death, and Satan. And each time, we call upon our Lord, Jesus says to us: “Go your way; your faith has made you well” (Mark 10:52).

Each time we call upon the Lord, Jesus compassionately responds to us — just as He healed Bartimaeus’ sight — as He takes upon Himself the depravity of our sins and replaces it with His righteousness. 

This interaction between Jesus and Bartimaeus had a profound effect upon Martin Luther. It is recorded that Luther’s last words were “We are beggars. This is true.”

We are all beggars as we cling to Jesus for all of our needs of body and soul.

In Christ,

Pastor Adelsen

What About the End Times?

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

Jesus said to His disciples: “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains” (Matthew 24:4b-8).

 

I have often been asked this question: “Are we living in the end times?” I then typically ask, “Why do you ask?” “What are you thinking?”

 

Well, the short answer to this profound question is: Yes. We are living in the End Times. But the usual question to follow is this: “When did the End Times begin?”

 

Jesus said to His disciples: “‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ And when He had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven’” (Acts 1:7-11).

 

So, the End Times began with Jesus’ bodily ascension into heaven to which He said previously, “Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?” (John 6:62)

 

Since, Christ’s bodily ascension nearly 2,000 years ago, the world has been living in the End Times. Generation after generation has experienced wars and rumors of wars. Generations have experienced nations rising against nations. Generations have experienced famines, plagues, earthquakes, and other weather-related phenomenon. This, the fallen sinful world has experienced. But, if we are living in the End Times, why do these End Times last so long? The answer to this is that we are being tested. Our faith in Christ is being tested.

 

Jesus assures us saying, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:36-44).

 

Regarding Christ not knowing the day and hour, He spoke this during His time of humiliation when He voluntarily limited His divine powers prior to His death upon the cross. Now that He is risen from the dead and bodily ascended into heaven, the exalted Christ certainly knows when He will return, since He has resumed His full and constant use of His divine powers.

 

The end of the world will not be spurred on by man. There is nothing man can do to usher in the Last Day. The Last Day has been prepared by the Triune God — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As the Holy Spirit inspired the Psalmist: “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to earth; on that very day his plans perish” (Psalm 146:3-4). So, we are not to cling to sinful man, since sinful man always follows his sinful desires. Instead, cling to Jesus, for He “is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). By grace through faith in Christ alone, we come to the Father.

 

On the Last Day, the entire world will witness Christ’s return. He will return the same way He went up. On the Last Day, we “will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26) who will “judge the living and the dead” at His appearing (2 Timothy 4:1).

 

In Christ,

Pastor Adelsen

What is the Sacrament of the Altar?

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Like the Sacrament of Baptism, the greatest importance, according to Martin Luther, of the Sacrament of the Altar is God’s Word and command. Luther wrote in his Large Catechism: “It [the Sacrament of the Altar] was not dreamed up or invented by some mere human being but was instituted by Christ without anyone’s counsel or deliberation.”

Last month, I discussed the importance of the Creed – the statements of what we believe and confess as Christians. This month, we will look at what Martin Luther says about the Sacrament of the Altar, otherwise known as the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist, from his Large Catechism.

So, what is the Sacrament of the Altar? Luther writes, “It is the true Body and Blood of the Lord Christ, in and under the bread and wine, which we Christians are commanded by Christ’s Word to eat and drink. And just as we said of Baptism that it is not mere water, so we say here, too, that the Sacrament is bread and wine, but not mere bread and wine such as served at the table. Rather, it is bread and wine set within God’s Word and bound to it. It is the Word, I say, that makes this a Sacrament and distinguishes it from ordinary bread and wine, so that it is called and truly Christ’s Body and Blood.”

How can bread and wine be Christ’s Body and Blood? “Christ’s lips speak and say, so it is; He cannot lie or deceive.”

What is the power and benefit to the Lord’s Supper? “We go to the Sacrament because there we receive a great treasure, through and in which we obtain the forgiveness of sins. … This is the very gift He has provided for me against my sins, death, and all evils. Therefore, it is appropriately called food for the soul, for it nourishes and strengthens the new creature. For in the first instance, we are born anew through Baptism. However, our human flesh and blood, as I have said, have not lost their old skin. There are so many hindrances and attacks of the devil and the world that we often grow weary and faint and at times even stumble. Therefore, the Lord’s Supper is given as a daily food and sustenance so that our faith may be refreshed and strengthened and that it may not succumb in the struggle but become stronger and stronger. For the new life should be one that continually develops and progresses. … So, when our heart feels too sorely pressed, this comfort of the Lord’s Supper is given to bring us new strength and refreshment.”

How can a Christian receive this Sacrament worthily? “Fasting, prayer, and the like may have their place as an external preparation so that one’s body may behave properly and reverently toward the Body and Blood of Christ. Christians should prepare themselves to receive this blessed Sacrament frequently. True Christians who cherish and honor the Sacrament should of their own accord urge and constrain themselves to go. For we know and feel how the devil always sets himself against this and every other Christian activity, hounding and driving people from it as much as they can.”

“However, those who are impudent and unruly ought to be told to stay away, for they are not ready to receive the forgiveness of sins because they do not desire it and do not want to be righteous. But those who earnestly desire grace and comfort should compel themselves to go and allow no one to deter them, saying, ‘I would really like to be worthy, but I come not on account of any worthiness of mine, but on account of your Word, because you have commanded it and I want to be your disciple, regardless of my worthiness.’

“The only ones who are unworthy are those who no not feel their burdens nor admit to being sinners.”

What is confessed in this Sacrament? “Let all heads of a household remember that it is their duty, by God’s injunction and command, to teach their children or have them taught the things they ought to know. Because they have been Baptized and received into the people of Christ, they should also enjoy this fellowship of the Sacrament so that they may serve us and be useful. For they must all help us to believe, to love, to pray, and to fight against the devil.”

In the Lord’s Supper, we confess that we, by faith, are receiving the true Body and Blood of Christ in and under the bread and the wine for the forgiveness of our sins, which begets eternal life, salvation, and strength for our weak faith. We also confess that this Supper is a testimony to our unity of faith and doctrine. God’s Law in the Ten Commandments teaches us what we ought to do. God’s Gospel teaches us what God has already done for us. Through God’s Law and Gospel, we come to the Lord’s Table knowing that we are sinners in need of restoration. This is what we receive in the Lord’s Supper. By faith in Jesus, we receive the medicine of immortality through His very Body and Blood. By faith in Christ alone, we are given eternal life!

In Christ,

Pastor Adelsen

Why Do We Confess the Creeds?

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

In everything, Christians are to adorn and teach the doctrine of God our Savior (Titus 2:1-10; 2 Timothy 3-4). This is what the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write to Timothy and Titus, as well as to you and me. In everything, we are to adorn the doctrine of Jesus Christ.

Some decades ago, the seemingly innocent phrase “No Creed but the Bible” became popular among many Christians, especially among Baptists and Pentecostals. But they were not the only ones with this idea. This phrase seems innocent since Christians are to revere God’s Written Word, after all, this is where God speaks to us. But there is some irony here, “No Creed but the Bible” is in fact a creed, since a creed is a statement that expresses what people believe and teach.

Shortly after Christ bodily ascended into heaven (from whence He came and will one day return from), false teaching arose. Many of these false teachings were taught against immediately by Christ’s apostles Paul, Peter, and John in their epistles, since they were taught by Christ who is Himself the Truth (John 14:6). One of the earliest Creeds was in fact written by Paul: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). As the Apostles all eventually died, their teachings did not die. It was due to the Holy Spirit’s work that the apostolic teaching has survived all these centuries even as this one holy Christian and apostolic Church had to combat false teaching after false teaching. Now, most of these false teachings dealt with the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. In order to confess the truth and avoid errors, the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed were written to defend the truth of what the Bible teaches about the triune God. Every word from each of the creeds is taken directly from Scripture.

Each Creed was written to protect the Christian Church – and each individual Christian – from false doctrine, since only sound doctrine has the power to save.

Even better yet – with possibly the exception of the Athanasian Creed – each Creed was written in a way that they would be easily memorized. This is certainly a comfort to remember God’s saving work through the Creeds. So, when we have a question about the Christian faith, we can always remember what we have been taught in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds.

In Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms, the Creed immediately follows the Ten Commandments. This is all on purpose. The Ten Commandments are written on the hearts of all people by virtue of their creation. They reveal our sin and prepare us to receive the gifts of salvation confessed in the Creed. Luther teaches in the Large Catechism that “the Commandments teach what we ought to do. But the Creed tells what God does for us and gives to us.”

In each Creed, we recite a summary of all of God’s work in creation and human history as taught in the Bible.

Ultimately, we need the Creeds. Although we can believe in a god through what we see and touch in nature, we cannot fully know the one true God by nature alone. Nature cannot reveal God’s identity and His name. The Creed and its source – God’s inerrant Scriptures – however, gives us as Paul Harvey famously used to say: “the rest of the story.” The Creeds teach us to know God more fully and about how all of humanity was saved and how God continually provides for His people through Word and Sacrament in the one holy Christian and apostolic Church:

I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth
and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of His Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried.
And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures
and ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,
whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,
who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,
and I look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Adelsen

The Christian Response to Critical Race Theory

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

As the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to say, our identity is in Christ: “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20), and “in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26-28). In other words, Christians do not speak of fellow human beings based on their specific cultural, racial, sexual, or national identity, but upon their redeemed identity in Christ as a precious and beloved Child of God – one who has been justified and sanctified by the shed blood of Christ and His Holy Spirit. So, historic Biblical Christianity does not create theology and ethics based on the racial, ethnic, national, or pigmented identity of human beings.

In the last year or so, words and phrases like “equity,” “woke,” “antiracist,” “social justice,” “systemic racism,” “white privilege,” and “Critical Race Theory” have become a part of the mainstream. As Lutheran Christians, we may ask, “What does this mean?” Before I get too far, I would like to remind us all that all injustice and oppression can be traced back to Satan, the world, and our own sinful nature and that all humankind is depraved as a result of the fall into sin. However, it is true that human depravity explains the existence of racist oppression and injustice, it by no means excuses it. Rather, Christ has given His Church the commission to proclaim both repentance and remission of sins in His name. So, it is our duty to call each and every sinner to confess all sins of thought, word, and deed and find full and free remission in Jesus Christ for the sake of His bitter suffering, death, and bodily resurrection. Therein, this new life in Christ will also bring a change in behavior and care for our neighbor.

Recently, Rev. Dr. Lucas Woodford, the district president of the Minnesota South District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, published a paper titled What Does This Mean? Responding to Social Justice & Critical Race Theory. In this well-developed paper, Woodford goes into the details on how Lutheran Christians are to respond when confronted with social justice and the Critical Race Theory.

In Chapter 2 of his paper, Woodford lays out definitions of what those many words or phrases above actually mean. First off, Social Justice and Critical Race Theory have become dogmas. This means that these ideas have become a doctrine, like that as proclaimed by the Church. So, for people who adhere to Social Justice and Critical Race Theory, they believe they are correct in their understanding and so they find it difficult to be swayed to believing otherwise. These ideas have become their religion.

So, what is it that they believe? According to Woodford:

Antiracist: A person must be an “antiracist.” Now, an antiracist is different than being “not racist.” According to their dogma, one can never be neutral. They must either be a racist or actively working against racism.

Equity: The equality of outcome is the demand that regardless of individual effort the outcome must be the same for all. The historical definition of equality which means an equal opportunity to achieve success is considered undesirable.

Woke: The perceived awareness of issues concerning social justice and racial justice. To be “woke” is to awaken from the sleep of ignorance or from outdated beliefs into the enlightenment of new cultural awareness about social and racial justice. According to Woodford, “woke” finds its roots in the Marxist Revolution. The Marxist Revolution needed the images of Christ to be removed, speech codes enforced against pastors, and icons of Biblical truth destroyed in order to clear the path toward socialism and communism. The social justice movement carries similar Marxian themes as it seeks to remake the whole of culture. To do this, new words must be added to our vocabulary and old definitions must be altered or reinvented and then repeatedly mainstreamed into social consciousness to modify thought and behavior.

Social Justice: The idea that true justice must be equality of outcome, rather than only equality of opportunity, upon all of society.

Systemic Racism: The belief that social structures have assumptions that systemically oppress minorities. This has nothing to do with the historical definition of racism, which is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to physical appearance and should be distinguished based on the alleged superiority of one race over another. (As God teaches through His written Word in the Scriptures, racism is a sin and must be treated as the sin that it is. Those who have committed racist acts or carry a racially prejudiced mindset need to repent and rest on the full forgiveness of Jesus Christ.)

White Privilege: The belief that white people are born with an unearned advantage based upon the color of skin (their whiteness).

Critical Race Theory: The theory that holds that race is a social construct that was created to maintain white privilege and white supremacy. This theory is rooted in “critical theory,” which was originated by German philosopher Karl Marx and was formally presented in the pamphlet, The Communist Manifesto. Critical Theory is about the struggle between the bourgeoisie (capitalists) and the proletariat (poor workers). Critical Race Theory expresses the desire to fundamentally alter the control of power in favor of the morals that they assert are essential. The goal is to deconstruct and upend power structures in favor of who they believe are the oppressed.

Critical Race Theory and Social Justice ideologies seek to reduce character to collectivist identities using their own definitions that constantly change. Christianity, on the other hand, does not change: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). In Christ, through repentance, there is forgiveness for every sin. However, according to Social Justice and Critical Race Theory, there is never any possibility for forgiveness.

As followers of Christ, we believe, teach, and confess that our identity and character is found in our baptism. Our baptismal identity as child and heir of God unites us to Christ and provides a spiritual way of life, which is also an ethical way of life. So, when the Christian is led to sin, we are called to repentance and prayer. Whatever the sinful thought, behavior, and vice, the sinner pleads for mercy and forgiveness and that sinner receives forgiveness. As baptized believers, we are delivered from the hands of Satan by Christ’s cross, as our Lord Jesus through baptism equips Christians to live with a divine identity, with moral integrity, and with the eternal destiny of a heavenly kingdom.

The only remedy for all sin, hurt, injustice, and oppression is the hope and healing that comes through our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Lord of the Church who breaks down dividing walls of hostility, reconciles the distressed, forgives sin, removes shame, and gives holy identity and moral character. There is only one body and one Spirit, just as we were called to the one hope that belongs to us all by God’s grace: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:5-6).

For even more on responding to social justice and Critical Race Theory, I strongly recommend reading District President Woodford’s paper, which can be found here: https://www.doxology.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/dox_2021_woodford_crt_final2.pdf?fbclid=IwAR00Yyc9sRgV-wSA19tiDMApGIbAX1GRSiZ0wLOgIXS-2Og-mcLijDfpIsw

Woodford also discussed his paper on Issues, Etc. (a Lutheran radio talk show): https://issuesetc.org/2021/06/11/1622-christianity-critical-theory-and-the-social-justice-movement-dr-lucas-woodford-6-11-21/

In Christ,
Pastor Adelsen

Spiritual Warfare: The Constant Battle of the Christian

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

Jesus teaches His followers that we are always to be prepared when Satan comes at us with his accusations. Due to Christ’s suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension, Satan is indeed judged and he has no power over Christ’s followers. However, just because Satan is judged, this doesn’t mean that he will just give up. Satan never gives up.

 

I have heard it said, “If there is a hell, it is empty.” This could not be more untrue and this is not Biblical. This is what Satan wants us to believe. Satan enjoys when we overlook him. But, there he is lurking in the shadows, as he convinces our sinful flesh to do what is wrong by turning away from God. There he is as he convinces the world to follow his will, instead of God’s will.

 

The Apostle Peter informs us to “be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced” (1 Peter 5:8-9). Now, Satan isn’t always noticeable, after all he is the prince of darkness. Satan does his best work lurking in the shadows. 

 

Jesus often begins His teachings with “Truly, truly, I say to you.” This means His Word is truth and everything God speaks is truth (Psalm 119:160; John 17:17). Satan, on the other hand, is all about confusion and doubt as he constantly asks, “Did God actually say?” (Genesis 3:1). Satan has never relented from his lies, despite his eternal judgment. 

 

In my lifetime, I have never seen so much doubt as I see now. Truth has been replaced by “my truth,” which is actually personal opinion. We have people announcing their pronouns, as if they are a better judge than God who created them. We have people doubting their own very being. This is spiritual warfare. This is Satan working on our consciences as he lurks in the shadows.

 

Beginning on Sunday, June 6, for Adult Bible Class, we will begin a Bible Study on spiritual warfare with the aid of C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters. All ages are welcome! This fictional novel provides unique insight into the battles that we are all facing in the spiritual world. This book is told through a collection of letters from Screwtape, an undersecretary of hell, to his nephew, Wormwood, who is a junior devil. Wormwood’s duty is to lead his first human, a young man, to hell.

 

For all of us who believe in Christ and have been Baptized into His death and resurrection, we have a bullseye on us. Satan wants us back from the triune God, since he is not satisfied with only the current unbelievers and unrepentant sinners in his camp. So, we must always be ready. We must always be prepared for Satan’s lies.

 

So, as the Apostle Paul has said, we must “put on the whole armor of God, that [we] may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:11-12).

 

For everyone in Christ, we have the victory by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. We are saved from the powers of sin, death, and Satan. Martin Luther was very familiar with spiritual warfare as Satan constantly tormented him. But Luther always proclaimed that no matter Satan’s attack, our victory in Christ has been won through Jesus Christ. In A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, Luther proclaimed:

And take they our life, 

Goods, fame, child and wife, 

Though these all be gone, 

Our victory has been won; 

The Kingdom ours remaineth.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Adelsen

 

The Medicine of Immortality

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

 

In the past many months, there has been a lot of chatter about vaccines. Each effective vaccine is a miracle. Each vaccine gives people hope that they could avoid a particular sickness. But even with the most effective vaccine, humanity has the same mortality rate. To date, every person has a mortality rate of 100 percent. We all have the same fate: death. This is because the wages of sin is death, and since all have sinned, all will die (Romans 6:23a).

 

Even with the certainty of death on the horizon, the life of the Christian does not end at death. You see, Jesus offers everyone the free gift of eternal life through the medicine of immortality. Jesus says to us, “Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks my blood abides in Me, and I in him” (John 6:54-56).

 

Jesus gives us the medicine of immortality through His Means of Grace in His Word and Sacrament. Through the Sacrament of the Altar, Christ cures everyone from death itself. This is what the Great Physician does. Jesus calls us all to eat and to drink His true body and His true blood under the bread and the wine to give us forgiveness of sins. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is life and salvation.

 

As sinner-saints, we need this medicine weekly in the Divine Service, as we constantly need forgiveness for our sins and our Christian faith strengthened. This is what God does for us as He serves us — His flock — each and every Sunday.

 

This medicine of immortality is the greatest gift we could ever receive. This Christ offers to us freely and out of His abounding love for you!

 

In Christ,

Pastor Adelsen