Christian Rules of Prayer

To true, Christian and salutary prayer it is requisite:

1. That a man lift up holy hands (II Tim. 2) and offer his devotions with a good conscience; for God does not hear sinners who are not repentant (John 9).
2. That a man pray in every time of trial and need; for, the greater our need the stronger is our prayer.  Therefore also God, in the 50th Psalm, says: “Call upon me in the day of trouble.”  (Always and everywhere there is sufficient provocation to prayer if one will but realize it).
3. That a man pray, cry and sigh from out of the depths of his heart, without hypocrisy, anger, complaint or doubt, even as Moses prayed upon the shore of the Red Sea.  Lip-service and mouth-work in which the heart participates not, is a vain service of God (Matt. 15).
4. That a man call upon the one, true and only God as He has revealed Himself at the River Jordan, as Christ teaches in the Gospel (John 16), and in the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6; Luke 11).
5. That a man plead the name, merit, blood, death and intercession of Christ for help, and the support of the Holy Ghost (John 4, and 14).
6. That a man pray with all boldness as Abraham prayed (Gen. 18); with a mighty faith, as the centurion prayed; without murmuring or impatience, continuing instant, as did the Canaanite woman; and with humility, as did Daniel (Dan. 9).
7. That a man persevere, as Sirach teaches, and set no limit or goal for God, as is said in Chapter 8 of the Book of Judith.*
8. He that will thus pray needs first of all to believe, that he is reconciled to God through His Son, and must base his pleas upon baptism† and the blood of Christ as well as upon God’s command and promise.  He must embrace the promise of Christ and the example of all the saints; and remember that God has frequently helped others before us (Ps. 22:34).

If prayer is to be rightly offered, all these things must be well observed and kept:

1. Holy hands and a good conscience.
2. Our need.
3. From the heart, without hypocrisy.
4. Calling upon the name of the One, Only God.
5. In the name of Jesus Christ, who is the soul of all prayer.
6. Boldly.
7. Preseveringly.
8. In faith.  Such prayer pervades heaven, as Sirach says; and makes our joy perfect, as Christ witnesses, John 16.  It attains help, gives comfort, joy, and a sure defense against all devils and evil men.

Wilhelm Loehe, Seed-grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians

* Historically, apocryphal works were bound with the canonical scriptures as useful though not authoritative.  After the mass production of Bibles began, the Apocrypha was omitted to reduce cost.  Citations were regularly used to give examples and bolster arguments.
† Remembering that at baptism one confesses being buried into death, in order that "we too might walk in newness of life" (Rom 6:4; see also Col 2:12), and he who has died has been set free from sin (Rom 6:7).

How to Answer the Fool

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.  (Proverbs 26:5)

I had the pleasure of listening to an interview of Sye Ten Bruggencate by Chris Rosebrough of Fighting for the Faith concerning the former's new film How to Answer the Fool.

Every believer is called to "make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Pet 3:15).  God is knowable and has made himself known in the scriptures, but most well-intended Christians inadvertently undermine themselves by appealing to evidence or experience as their basis.  While neither of these is incorrect when used properly, one should begin with the truth of the God who revealed himself in his word and not try to prove him through the material world or what happened to you in your faith journey.

I have edited out the bump music from the program.  The interview is 65 minutes and worth the time whether or not you purchase the film.

Grace Leads to Repentance, Leading to Grace

It is the Lord your God you shall fear.  Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.  (Deuteronomy 6:13)

But where there is no fear, in like manner there is no change; where there is no change, repentance is of necessity empty, for it lacks the fruit for which God sowed it—that is, man’s salvation.  For God … when He had hastened back to His own mercy, did from that time onward inaugurate repentance in His own self, by rescinding the sentence of His initial wrath, engaging to grant pardon to His own work and image.*  And so He gathered together a people for Himself, and cared for them with many abundant distributions of His bounty, and, after so often finding them most ungrateful, ever exhorted them to repentance and sent out the voices of the universal company of the prophets to prophesy.  By and by, promising freely the grace which in the last times He was intending to pour as a flood of light on the whole world through His Spirit, He called for the baptism of repentance to lead the way, with the view of first preparing, by means of the sign and seal of repentance, them whom He was calling, through grace, to the promise surely made to Abraham.

Tertullian, On Repentance, 2

* I.e., mankind.

Striving for Stellar Performances

Actors and actresses are not the only professionals who should endeavor to give grand performances.  Here is bit of instruction officials that execute, legislate, or administer justice should heed in their duties.

Hear therefore, you kings, and understand;
learn, you judges of the ends of the earth;
give ear, you that have dominion over multitudes
and boast of many nations,
because your dominion was given you from the Lord
and your dominance from the Most High.

He will examine your deeds and inquire into your counsels,
because, being servants of his kingdom, you did not judge rightly
or keep the law
or walk according to the counsel of God.

Terribly and swiftly he will come upon you,
because a severe judgment falls on those in high places.

For the least may be pardoned in mercy,
but the mighty will be mightily tested,
for the Sovereign Lord of all will not give way to anyone
or have regard for greatness,
because he himself made small and great
and takes thought for all alike,
but a strict inquiry awaits for the powerful.

To you therefore, you princes, my words are addressed,
that you may learn wisdom and not fall into error.

For those who have observed holy things in holiness will be made holy,
and those who have been taught them will find a defense.

Set your desire therefore on my words;
long for them, and you will be instructed.

Wisdom of Solomon 6:1-11

He Humbled Himself—for You

Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  (Phil 2:6-8)

Will you deem Him little on this account, that He humbled Himself for your sake, and because to seek for that which had wandered the Good Shepherd, He who lays down His life for the sheep,¹ came upon the mountains and hills upon which you used to sacrifice,² and found the wandering one; and having found it, took it upon His shoulders³ on which He also bore the wood; and having borne it, brought it back to the life above; and having brought it back, numbered it among those who have never strayed.  That He lit a candle,⁴ His own flesh, and swept the house, by cleansing away the sin of the world, and sought for the coin, the Royal Image that was all covered up with passions, and calls together His friends, the Angelic Powers, at the finding of the coin, and makes them sharers of His joy, as He had before made them sharers of the secret of His Incarnation?  That the Light that is exceeding bright should follow the Candle—Forerunner,⁵ and the Word, the Voice, and the Bridegroom, the Bridegroom’s friend,⁶ that prepared for the Lord a peculiar people⁷ and cleansed them by the water⁸ in preparation for the Spirit?  Do you reproach God with this?  Do you conceive of Him as less because He girds Himself with a towel and washes His disciples,⁹ and shows that humiliation is the best road to exaltation;¹⁰ because He humbles Himself for the sake of the soul that is bent down to the ground,¹¹ that He may even exalt with Himself that which is bent double under a weight of sin?  How comes it that you do not also charge it upon Him as a crime that He eats with Publicans¹² and at Publicans’ tables, and makes disciples of Publicans¹³ that He too may make some gain.  And what gain?  The salvation of sinners.  If so, one must blame the physician for stooping over suffering and putting up with evil smells in order to give health to the sick; and him also who leans over the ditch, that he may, according to the Law, save the beast that has fallen into it.

Gregory Nazianzen Oration 45.26

1 John 10:11		5 Luke 15:8-9		8 Matthew 3:11		11 Luke 13:10ff
2 John 5:35		6 Luke 1:23; 3:9, 29		9 John 13:4-5		12 Mark 2:15-16
3 Hosea 4:13		7 Luke 1:17		10 Matthew 23:12		13 Luke 15:2
4 Luke 15:4-5

Good Friday by the Numbers

One word in the Greek language that sums it all up, tetelestai.  It means, "it is finished."  It is the word Jesus spoke on the cross announcing to the world, to His people, and to His devilish enemies that His mission was accomplished.  It means everything to us weary souls.  It is finished.  It is paid for.  It is over.  Sins are paid for.  Heaven is secure.  Now hope can reign.  One word, tetelestai.

Two natures of Christ are in this one person Jesus: human and divine.  What a strange mixture that isn't a mixture!  What a strange combination that isn't a combination!  He is 100 percent truly divine and 100 percent truly human all at once.  It is mysterious.  It is mysteriously gracious.  He had to be true man to actually live and die in this flesh.  He had to be true God to live and die perfectly for our salvation.  Think about that: God died for you!  Two natures of Christ.

Three persons of the Trinity groan at this event.  The Father, oh, can you imagine the Father, watching His one and only suffer so much?  Can you imagine the groans?  The Son going uncomplaining forth as a lamb to the slaughter.  Innocent, but not naïve.  He knows what is coming.  He knows He has to do it, and He groans.  The Spirit groaning groans that words cannot express.  The Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son to teach you all these things about the cross so that you never forget.  Three persons of the Trinity groaning.

Four legs are broken that day, two each from the thieves who flank the God-man.  Four bones cracking in the absolute horror that is mankind's evil.  How jaded do you have to be to break the bones of a dying man just to make your job end quicker?  Four legs showing us that we really are a rotten human race.

Five wounds on the body of Christ.  Two hands, two feet, and one side.  Five places where foreign metal was inserted into the body, not to help but to harm.  Five wounds that we will never forget.  Five spots wounded in our place and for our salvation.  Five wounds.

Six hours did He hang there.  Six hours of excruciating pain.  Six hours of agony for us.  Six long hours, in which He still found the kindness to save a dying thief and to take care of His mother.  Six hours, six long hours.

Seven words did our Savior speak from the cross.  He asked for a drink, and He got vinegar—more bitterness for a suffering man.  He spoke compassion to His mother and to John, "Her is your son, and here is your mother."  He pleaded for grace for His captors, "Father, forgive them; they do not know what they do."  He spoke grace to the thief, "Today you will be with me in Paradise."  And He spoke grace to us, "It is finished, tetelestai."  He spoke agony, "Why have You forsaken me?"  He spoke relief, "Father, into your hands I commit My spirit."  Seven words did our Savior speak.

Six days we labor on this earth before our heavenly Sabbath rest.  Six long days.  But our burden is light because our Savior suffered for six hours, six long hours.  Your burden is light because you have His grace.  You can suffer through it, you can.  He will never give you more than you can handle.  They are six long days but they are ultimately days of joy and peace because of Christ.  Six days, six good days.

Five wounds still haunt us and still lift us up.  Five wounds of Christ remind us of our sin but also of how precious we are in His sight.  How far He was willing to go so that we could have life!  Five wounds, five wounds we carry around in our hearts.

Four corners of the earth, that's where this message goes.  Almost everybody knows this; everybody needs to know this.  This is the most important event in the history of the world.  God died this day, and He did it for His creation.  And everybody is included.  He died for all.  And they need to know, they need to know this sacrificial love.  All four corners of the earth.

Three Marys stood by the cross.  Three women acting bravely while most of the manly disciples hid.  Three women, humbly pillars of a church.  Not unlike our women quietly holding up families and churches.  Three women who would be eyewitnesses to this horrifying death and eventually eyewitnesses to the Resurrection, too.  Three Marys who proceed into the world with His humble attitude of forgiveness and cross.  Three Marys who are role models.

Two thieves were there that day.  One penitently pleaded, "Forgive me."  One stubbornly said, "I do not need this grace.  I do not need it."  A cautionary tale to us all.  There is no difference between us and the worst of sinners.  We all stand condemned By grace alone are we on the side of the repentant thief.  By grace alone.  Two thieves so much like us.

On God speaking one word which sums it all up: Tetelestai.  It is finished.  One word from one God says it all to our tired hearts.  One God who was always there in the Old Testament, working in the New, preparing this sacrifice for each and every individual.  One God who was forgotten and spoken against and taken advantage of and disgraced.  On God who had the patience and mercy.  One God speaking one word.  One simple, eloquent, earthshaking, life-changing, eternity-securing word.  One beautiful word.  Tetelestai.  It is finished.  Amen.

Michael Berg, Gottesdienst 21.1, p. 6-7

Eating from the Right Tree

So it was necessary that the Word became flesh and lived among us, that He might overcome Satan by the tree of the cross as Satan once overcame man by a tree.  This Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, has dressed us in His righteousness by calling us through the word of the Gospel.…  That Gospel word proclaims Christ as the Tree of Life whose leaves are for the healing of the nations.…  The fruit of this Tree removes the curse from the sons of Adam.  The Holy Spirit has called us into faith by that blessed Gospel of the crucified Lord, that believing in this Word we may eat from the Tree of Life and never die.

Karl Fabrizius, Gottesdienst, 20.4, p. 20

The Gender Wars

There has a been a long-fought war to dabble in social experiments and redefine gender roles.  It did not start in my generation nor in the previous but has been waged for centuries, even millenia.  We are not enlightened, civilized, or progressive in pursuing this as a society.  Those who are spiritual recognize and call it what it is—sin and degradation.

Woman was not made for this, O man, to be prostituted as common.  O you subverters of all decency, who use men, as if they were women, and lead out women to war, as if they were men!  This is the work of the devil, to subvert and confound all things, to leap over the boundaries that have been appointed from the beginning, and remove those which God has set to nature.  For God assigned to woman the care of the house only, to man the conduct of public affairs.  But you reduce the head to the feet, and raise the feet to the head.  You suffer women to bear arms, and are not ashamed.  But why do I mention these things?  They introduce on the stage a woman that murders her own children, nor are they ashamed to stuff the ears of men with such abominable stories.

John Chrysostom, Homily V on Titus (2:11-14)

As Though It Were Actually True, Matthew Cochran – Book Review

Back in December, I was checking the website of a Lutheran church where a coworker of my wife was to be married. I noticed that one class under Christian Education was on the subject of apologetics using the pictured book and taught by the author.  This piqued my interest on more than one level: (1) this church was even teaching apologetics because the subject is usually perceived as boring or difficult; (2) the author was teaching the course using his own work; and (3) the author lives in the same metropolitan area as I.

Matthew Cochran is a software engineer and a graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary – Fort Wayne, IN.  These combined influences have been put to good use resulting in this introduction to Christian apologetics.

The book is organized into three sections.  The first establishes a foundation by examining the philosophy underlying Christian epistemology—reason and its relation to faith, the reality and denial of truth, sin and its evidence through the use of natural law, and God's existence.  The discussion allows the author to help the reader build a foundation of possible argumentation of those things that are evident in the world before opening the Bible itself.  This is a worthwhile goal, as many Christians lack basic skills of logic and reasoning, especially when confronted with an opposing view.

After demonstrating the reasonableness of Christianity, the second section interacts with its historicity.  The author begins with a critical view of the text, its nature and veracity, as well as the reliability of the authors, before examining the claims of Jesus concerning himself and scripture, then finishing with a comparison between genuine and false gospels.  As an aside comment, I appreciated the helpful explanation of accuracy and precision as it relates to inerrancy.

The third section of this book takes up practical matters with which Christians interact almost daily through the media, workplace, or various acquaintances: sciences, life issues, sexuality, feminism, and tolerance.  Worldly opinions in each are becoming increasingly antagonistic to the Christian worldview, and the author does a good job of demonstrating how the believer can demonstrate the fallacy of the world's arguments while demonstrating genuine concern for those making their claims.

As I said at the beginning, this is a good introductory text.  The content is well-written and accessible for any of teenage years or older.  I would encourage the purchase and use of this book for personal or group study.  It is published through Wipf and Stock and also available through retail book outlets.

To learn more of Matthew Cochran, visit his website or blog.

Listening for Something New or Something True?

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  Psalm 119:103

The pious listener learns then not so much to try to learn something new about God in the sermon, but to see himself as the object of the Law’s accusations and of the Gospel’s forgiving grace.  He is not so interested in hearing new information or so many facts as he is in being cut open and stitched back up again, or, even more pointedly, slain and raised.  He wants to interact with God, to be the object of God’s scrutiny according to the Law and then of God’s doting affection in the Gospel.  God enters into the hearer and bestows faith through the ear.  His Word has its way with the hearer and loves the hearer.  It never changes and yet is ever new.  Thus what the hearer hears he has always known, believed, and hoped.… Still it is ever new, for this Word of God is ever opening, revealing Himself and His grace to men, and making those blessed to hear His Word new.

David Petersen, "How to Listen to a Sermon," Around the Word 1.1, p. 15-16.