Löhe on 1.Corinthians 1:6

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

fireworksGod is thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. (1Co 1:6 NIV)

Our thoughts and ideas fly to and fro. There is hardly anything fixed or constant in them. The argumentation for this one are the reasons against for the other. Even those things that seemed quite stable and permanent for a while, begin to shake and move after just a short reprieve. In this constant fluctuation and uncertain foundations our soul is constantly endangered to loose all grounding and firm footing. That is why the word is so true: For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace (Heb 13:9 KJV). This is the best we can hope for our friends – that their hearts be established on the firm foundation of God’s truth and conviction of the biblical revelation. If we have the Word of Jesus Christ and still not come to peace and quiet, it is like a hidden bug gnawing away at our heart and causing us radical distress. We won’t find joyful peace until our heart is firmly anchored in Jesus Christ and his blessed salvation. Through faith in him all fear of calamity and death dissipate and all weakness parts. We look into the future, which might look bleak and glum, but his promises assure us of the coming bliss and deliverance. That is the strong confidence the Corinthians share with all Christians. The testimony about Christ resided mightily amongst them just like a firm rock in the gushing sea. This word granted them insight, but also inexpressible joy and the firm conviction that they were well taken care of and that their eternal salvation was in good hands with Jesus Christ – their Lord and God. That is why the apostle St. Paul was so happy and grateful for this gracious blessings amongst his people.

We bow our knees before you oh Lord and God. We bring before you all our sin, care and anxiety, but also our innermost desires and passions. Forgive us all our transgressions and iniquities. Forgive us our sins of haste and oversight. Forgive us were we did not listen to you and our ears were blocked for your gentle admonitions. Remove all guilt and shame from us and our souls as we seek your grace and peace. We thrust all our burdens onto you. Pacify our hearts. Bring to rest our thoughts and wondering ideas. You know what is good for us. You know how to keep us from collapsing and despairing. As our thoughts are in conflict, battling it out in excuses and accusations, while ever at a loss to understand and ground themselves, we plead you to grant us the one thing that is crucial. Give us the fullness of your peace, that the world doesn’t know and can’t give.  Amen. (Arper-Zillessen)

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Refrain: It is well, it is well, With my soul, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath she’d His own blood for my soul. Refrain: It is well, it is well, With my soul, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, It was nailed trough his cross, and I bear it no more, Bless the Lord, bless the Lord, O my soul! Refrain: It is well, it is well, With my soul, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Wednesday after the eighteenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 344 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Herrenhuter readings for Tuesday, the 2nd October 2013

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

good samaritan3It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy. (Pro 14:21 NIV)

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luk 6:36 NIV)

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Löhe on 1.Cor.1:5

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Word-&-sac-poster-edges-copFor in him you have been enriched in every way– with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge– (1Co 1:5 NIV)

Here we witness the spiritual prosperity of this Corinthian congregation and church with which the almighty Lord wanted to surpass the glory and opulence of that famous trading metropolis in the Mediterranean. More than anything else the Corinthians received God’s holy word and with that the doctrine and teaching concerning all vital aspects of the eternal and temporal life. This word granted insight and wisdom and truth. It did not just pass over them like some noise passing while asleep during Church or following some other ideas while switching off during the worship service. No – this word reached the hearts of the hearers. It brought light and insight to their hearts. The divine wisdom brought along Christian wisdom, so that there was ample light, advice and judgment concerning all things in that congregation and church. The Corinthians were not so poor with regards to the Word of God as many of our congregations are today. The devil did not succeed in robbing the good seed of the Word planted with godly sermons, rather the Corinthians were enlightened and filled with the Holy Spirit. That is why the Apostle St. Paul is thanking and praising God. For us on the contrary many find the word of God burdensome and a bit of a plague. Sermons and Christian teachings are endured as tiresome and somewhat of a bother too. On the other hand a lot of idle, vain and worldly chatter and banter are viewed as entertaining and so delightful. The divine Word however is experienced as joyless and cheap. What do we give for the revelation and insight into the divine matters? It’s regarded as useless and even as a handicap for a prosperous and flourishing life in this world. Let us therefore learn from the holy apostle what is truly a more precious treasure than all gold and silver of this world – the Word and knowledge of the Lord, our God.

Almighty, eternal God and Father! You have blessed us so richly and handsomely with all sorts of wholesome and goodly gifts of salvation and eternal life. We plead your gracious goodness and mercy, awake in us gratitude and joy over your fatherly love and preserve for us the truthful use of your holy Word so that it may keep and nurture us in this life in true faith until the coming of your dear Son in glory. Amen. 

God’s Word is our great heritage And shall be ours forever; To spread its light from age to age Shall be our chief endeavor. Through life it guides our way, In death it is our stay. Lord, grant, while worlds endure, We keep its teachings pure. Throughout all generations. (Nikolai F. S. Grundtvig, 1783-1872 tr Ole G. Belsheim, 1861-1925)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Tuesday after the eighteenth  Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 343 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Herrenhuter readings for Tuesday, the 1st October 2013

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

elisha and his servant“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (2Ki 6:16 NIV)

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Heb 12:3 NIV)

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Löhe on 1.Cor.1:4

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

St. Paul writingI always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. (1Co 1:4 NIV)

St. Paul thanks God for the multiple grace bestowed onto the congregation in Corinth. This gratitude reveals the great intercessor to us. Thanking is more difficult than asking, especially if we are to thank for gifts bestowed on others and not to us. Some people just pray for themselves and do not remember others, when they stand before God in prayer. So if it is remarkable that somebody would pray for others, it is even more so if he thanks God for them. If such a blessed moment would descend on you and you should thank God for others, then you should not just imagine that you are a companion of the apostle in praise and gratitude. You are but praying for a moment and then you already stop again. St. Paul however could confess that he always thanks God for them. This gratitude is more of a stable condition with the apostle – not just an instantaneous flash or passing fancy. He has learnt to be thankful through his experience and training. Even as he is going through personal suffering, persecution and severe troubles, he still rejoices and gives thanks for the gifts and grace received by others. We are not at this level of personal sanctification yet. Therefore we look with some shame on our own status: Praying for others is common, thanking for them is at a higher level and most elevated is to pray continuously in thanksgiving for others.

Lord, merciful saviour! Teach us to pray, just as you taught your disciples to pray so that we may first and foremost remember those divine petitions and not cling to the things below. Liberate us from ourselves so that we may pray for others in their suffering, sin and need, but also thank you for the grace and good gifts of peace, mercy and bountiful riches that you have bestowed on others – even our enemies. Let us grow according to the apostolic example, who in the midst of hardship and sufferings brought praise and thanksgiving for the good gifts received by the Corinthian Church. Grant that we continuously pray for our family, relatives, friends, neighbours and fellow citizens, for our congregation and your holy Church and her mission of salvation both here and beyond our borders, for our nation and continent. Amen.  

Now let all loudly sing praise to God the Lord; Christendom, proudly laud Him with one accord, Gently He bids thee come before Him; Haste, then, O Israel, now adore Him; Haste, then, O Israel, now adore Him.

For the Lord reigneth over the universe; All He sustaineth, all things His praise rehearse, The angel host His glory telling, Psalter and harp are the anthem swelling; Psalter and harp are the anthem swelling.

Come, heathen races, cast off all grief and care, For pleasant places your Savior doth prepare, Where His blest Word abroad is sounded, Pardon for sinners and grace unbounded; Pardon for sinners and grace unbounded.

Richly He feeds us always and everywhere; Gently He leads us with a true father’s care; The late and early rains He sends us, Daily His blessing, His love, attends us, Daily His blessing, His love, attends us.

Sing we His praises who is thus merciful; Christendom raises songs to His glorious rule. Rejoice! No foe shall now alarm us; He will protect us, and who can harm us? He will protect us, and who can harm us? (Matthäus A. v. Löwenstern, 1644 tr Catherine Winkworth, 1863)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Monday after the eighteenth  Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 341 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Herrenhuter readings for Monday, the 30th September 2013

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

talkingSpeak the truth to each other (Zec 8:16 NIV)

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices (Col 3:9 NIV)

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Löhe on 1.Cor.1:4

Posted on September 29, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

school childrenI always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. (1Co 1:4 NIV)

If we read the apostolic letters to the Corinthians, we might be surprised at the admonitions and plain warnings St. Paul expresses as they point us to variety of serious issues and disorders in that congregation. Still his introduction is not just flattery and downright misleading. Both are true. The congregation in Corinth was a mixed bag of beans and the apostle addresses them as a whole and does not distinguish more or less holy and sanctified members. Our verse addresses the rich gifts received by the congregation. Did the godless have a right to apply this to themselves? Certainly not. On the contrary. They must have thought that the apostle doesn’t know them at all and therefore does not include them in these praises of the congregation. If however he utters admonitions in this or that regard, then all feel addressed and are humbled. It is demonstrated that the members of the congregation are responsible for each other and that they should take care of each other. Once a teacher entered a school where most children were playing around uncontrolled during class time with only a few seated in their place and trying to work. The teacher scolded all children as even those well-behaved and working should have exerted a calming influence on those misbehaving.  This was similar to the Pauline wisdom expressed in his letters. Therefore pray, that you also would be eager in this constructive care and accountability.

Lord, our God! You have given peace to people and a rich measure of your Holy Spirit to your Apostle and lips to confess your name and sing your praises. Open even our sinful lips and teach us to request the most appropriate gifts from you. Guide the rudder of our lives vessels towards you. You are the quiet haven for all, who are troubled by storms and tempest. Show us the way that we should walk. Discipline our fleeting senses by your Holy Spirit so that we would daily be guided in your holy ways. Yours is the praise and glory amongst your Church now and forever. Amen. (Basil the Great)

Praise to Thee and adoration, Blessèd Jesus, Son of God, Who, to serve Thine own creation, Didst partake of flesh and blood. Teach me that I never may From Thy fold or pastures stray, But with zeal and joy exceeding Follow where Thy steps are leading.

Let me never, Lord, forsake Thee, E’en though bitter pain and strife On my way shall overtake me; But may I through all my life Walk in fervent love to Thee, In all woes for comfort flee To Thy birth, Thy death, and Passion, Till I see Thy full salvation. (Thomas Kingo 1689 tr Kristen Kvamme et al. 1904)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the eighteenth  Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 341 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Herrenhuter readings for Sunday, the 29th September 2013

Posted on September 29, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

crowd-in-the-rain So be very careful to love the LORD your God. (Jos 23:11 NIV)

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. (Heb 4:1 NIV)

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SELK News: Friedrich Wilhelm Hopf in Ausstellung aufgenommen

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

hopfEvangelischer Widerstand gegen den Nationalsozialismus
SELK: Friedrich Wilhelm Hopf in Ausstellung aufgenommen

Hannover, 27.9.2013 – selk – Die seit dem 8. November 2011 einsehbare Onlineausstellung zum evangelischen Widerstand im Nationalsozialismus (www.evangelischer-widerstand.de) ist um die Person von Pfarrer Friedrich Wilhelm Hopf, D.D. (1910-1982), erweitert worden. Seine Predigt über Psalm 119, Vers 96, die er am Sonntag Rogate, 6. Mai 1945, in der evangelisch-lutherischen Pfarrkirche in Mühlhausen gehalten hat, gilt als beeindruckendes zeitgeschichtliches Dokument. In dieser Predigt macht Hopf die Schuld und das Versagen der Mühlhäuser Bürgerinnen und Bürger jener Zeit wie auch des gesamten deutschen Volkes in klaren und unmissverständlichen Worten deutlich. Auf der einen Seite prangert er die „Menschenvergötterung und Erfolgsanbetung wie nie zuvor in der Geschichte unseres Volkes“ an. Denn die „heiligen 10 Gebote galten nicht mehr als der unverbrüchliche Maßstab des Urteils über Recht und Unrecht, Gut und Böse, Wahrheit und Lüge.“ Hopf erkennt „auf der einen Seite die frevelhafte Selbstüberhebung derer, die sich hinwegsetzten über alle Ordnungen Gottes, weil ihre Macht sich gründete auf Lüge, Ungerechtigkeit, Mord.“ Andererseits „hatten wir die große Masse unseres Volkes, die sich verführen, betören und verblenden ließ, – teils im falschen Vertrauen auf Menschenworte, irdischen Machtmitteln und scheinbarer Erfolge, teils aus Furcht und unter dem Zwang.“ Wenige Tage vor Kriegsende kann er daher feststellen: „Zerbrochen und jämmerlich zu Schanden geworden ist alles, was man uns jahrelang hoch gepriesen hat, als sei es unvergänglich und heilbringend. Zerbrochen und zu Schanden geworden ist all das, wofür so viele Menschen haben leiden und sterben müssen, die Macht durch welche unsägliches Herzeleid gebracht worden ist zuerst über viele andere Völker und nun über unser eigenes Volk. Zerstörte Städte, Berge von Leichen, Millionen von Gefangenen, Enthüllungen über Verbrechen und Gräueltaten von ungeahnter Grausamkeit, Wahnsinn, Verzweiflung, Selbstmord.“

Hopf delegiert nicht Verantwortung, sondern bekennt: „Wir werfen jetzt nicht Steine auf andere, sondern schlagen an die eigene Brust und rufen: o unsere Schuld, o unsere Schuld, unsere übergroße Schuld! Denn wir haben oft geschwiegen, wo wir als Kirche Jesu Christi in Deutschland hätten laut reden und deutlich Zeugnis geben müssen: Es ist nicht recht! Wir hätten reden müssen zur Judenfrage. Wir hätten reden müssen zum Mord an den Blöden (gemeint sind die geistig Behinderten. Eine damals gebräuchliche Bezeichnung.) in den Heil- und Pflegeanstalten. Wir hätten reden müssen zu dem großen Unrecht an den Völkern und zu der unheimlich anwachsenden Menschenvergötterung.“

Hopf, der bis 1949 Pfarrer der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche in Bayern war, wechselte in die (alte) Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche, eine der Vorgängerkirchen der heutigen Selbständigen Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche (SELK). Er war bis zu seiner Emeritierung Missionsdirektor der Lutherischen Kirchenmission (Bleckmarer Mission e.V.) der SELK. Texte von Friedrich Wilhelm Hopf sind von Pfarrer Markus Büttner und Prof. Dr. Werner Klän neu im Partnerverlag der SELK, Edition Ruprecht , herausgegeben worden: Friedrich Wilhelm Hopf. Kritische Standpunkte für die Gegenwart. Ein lutherischer Theologe im Kirchenkampf des Dritten Reichs, über seinen Bekenntniskampf nach 1945 und zum Streit um seine Haltung zur Apartheid. (http://www.edition-ruprecht.de/katalog/autoren.php?id=501)

Mit seiner Rogate-Predigt hat Hopf seinen Platz in der Online-Ausstellung in der Rubrik „Bayern – Kritische Einzelstimmen nach 1945“ gefunden. Die Online-Ausstellung „Widerstand!? Evangelische Christinnen und Christen im Nationalsozialismus“ ist während der 11. Synode der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland (EKD) am 8. November 2011 freigeschaltet worden. Ziel der Ausstellung ist es, online die Geschichte des Widerstandes evangelischer Christinnen und Christen auf der Grundlage aktuellen Forschungsstandes multimedial der Öffentlichkeit zur Verfügung zu stellen. Zahlreiche Dokumente in Form von Texten, Fotos, Audios und Videos stehen zur Verfügung. Verantwortlich für die Ausstellung ist die Forschungsstelle für Kirchliche Zeitgeschichte der Evangelisch-Theologischen Fakultät der Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München.
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Löhe on Ephesians 4:5b-6

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Holy BaptismOne baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Eph 4:5b-6 NIV)

Holy Baptism is that great and wonderful instrument of our Lord through which he creates the one holy and saving Faith. Holy Baptism is simultaneously a divine and human action. Even as the one baptizing is acting in a human way, God is acting in the incomprehensibility of his awesome power and might. Even if the one Lord and one faith are not so impressive to our human senses the one holy Baptism is impressive to our sight. Even if we are quite limited in our vision and perception, yet we can realize that in holy Baptism the Church is present and active as  the one body and communion of the worldwide congregation of holy saints and Christian believers. Yes, there are striking differences between baptized believers, yet all Churches worldwide agree that in Holy Baptism  the calling to unity is manifest loud and clear. Holy Baptism is the foundation and unifying gift of our Christian communion. Through Holy Baptism we Christians are related and bound together with strong ties of faithful fellowship. That is why Holy Baptism is the universal trademark of all Christians and the living proof that they are all called to Church unity and communion of faith together.  This is given by the “one God and Father of all”. His fatherly goodness and mercy cares for all. He is graciously active amongst them in the Church. He dwells amongst them in his holy temple – the place where his glory dwells through his most holy Word and Sacrament. He is the driving force between Christian and Church unity. What a high and gracious calling to unity in faith, hope and love +

Heavenly Father! In Holy Baptism you have called us to be your children and blessed us with your gracious and heavenly gifts of divine life and salvation. We thank and praise you for this now and forever. Grant that we will not live according to our own ideas and desires, but rather live and behave as proper disciples of our Son Jesus Christ and obey the guidance and goodwill of your Holy Spirit as he leads and motivates us to promote the confessional unity in faith, truth and love. Amen. (Württemberg Church Book 1931)

He that believes and is baptized Shall see the Lord’s salvation; Baptized into the death of Christ, He is a new creation. Through Christ’s redemption he shall stand Among the glorious heavenly band Of every tribe and nation.

With one accord, O God, we pray: Grant us Thy Holy Spirit; Look Thou on our infirmity Through Jesus’ blood and merit. Grant us to grow in grace each day That by this Sacrament we may Eternal life inherit. (Thomas Kingo, 1689 tr George A.T. Rygh, 1909)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after the seventeenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 340 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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