Löhe on John 16:33

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Jesus calms the storm 2In this world you will have trouble.  (Joh 16:33 NIV)

This life has troubles and fears in which we human beings are just not able to cope and where all our wisdom can’t comfort and all our powers fail. If a King dies no army of this world will save him and if a physician and medical professor is facing death no medical art or craft will save him. They must go and we must face it. This world does not bear any help nor comfort for this our mortality. In this our final strive – just as in our daily battles of sanctification and holy Christian living one single word from God’s mouth is much better and by far outweighs all worldly wit and fortitude.

Even the disciples of our Lord experienced this very fear and panic even  before they found their comfort and peace in Jesus Christ himself. How sorrowful and despairing were they after he had died on Golgotha? All hope had expired and was utterly lost to them. Those two disciples on the way to Emmaus revealed this their mourning and despondency to their strange companion on the way: “And we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” (Luk 24:21 NIV) We find them behind closed doors fearing the retribution and persecution from the authorities.

Yes, these first disciples knew of anxiety (Angst) and tribulation. Yet they too were allowed to experience the reconciling and comforting words from the mouth of their risen Lord and Savior. The peace that passes all understanding floods through their hearts and lives when Jesus greets them: “Peace be with you +” This word of our Lord changes fearful men into heroes in mission and conquerors of the world. It’s efficacious for sure – and it does mighty and wonderful things – creating all out of nothing.

We are by nature quite similar to those early Christians – fearful and rather miserable, not very powerful at all and least of all in doing good and promoting it in this world. Yet by the grace of God and through his most powerful gospel we too can be inspired like them, moving mountains by just little faith and heroes of God’s love and reconciliation, peacemakers of the Lord, witnesses of his gospel and forgiveness too – the gospel which grants life out of death through the forgiveness of sins and thus makes us Children of God and heirs of heaven.

O Lord Jesus Christ, you yourself offered prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears and learnt faithful obedience and reverent submission in suffering and hardships. We plead you to show us your judgment over your enemies and lead us out of all terror and alarm to victory and triumph in you and your glory. You are praised now and forever Amen.

Lord of our life, and God of our salvation, Star of our night, and Hope of every nation, Hear and receive Thy church’s supplication, Lord God Almighty.

See round Thine ark the hungry billows curling! See how Thy foes their banners are unfurling! And with great spite their fiery darts are hurling, Oh Lord, preserve us.

Lord, be our light when worldly darkness veils us; Lord, be our shield when earthly armor fails us; And in the day when hell itself assails us, Grant us Thy peace, Lord:

Peace, in our hearts, our evil thoughts are raging, Peace, in Thy church, our troubled souls assuaging, Peace, when the world its endless war is waging; Peace in your heaven! (Matthäus Appels von Löwenstern, 1594-1648; tr Philip Pusey 1799-1855)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Friday after the eleventh Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 297 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 Friday, the 16th August 2013

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

John the Baptist 1I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.  (Mal 3:1 NIV)

John the Baptist answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire“ (Luk 3:16 NIV)

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Adoption is the best solution

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Well, that is the opinion of Susan Cillier expressed in today’s paper: Noordwes-Beeld – Aanneming beste uitweg.

She wriAdd Polltes that South Africa has more than 2 million orphans and children at risk. This number could rise to 5,5 million by 2015. 

This is a problem aggravated by neglect and also rejection. She gives examples of a mother leaving her two year old toddler at a crossing in Klerksdorp or that on average in Rustenburg 5 babies are discarded at taxi-ranks every month. Single mothers, poverty, teenage-pregnancies, HIV/Aids and ignorance are part of this sad mix.

Adoption is really a very positive alternative for such children. The national adoption coalition in South Africa is making a concerted effort to address this challenge with the Add-Option campaign. It helps with awareness, but also practical options to adopt such children in need of care and protection. They work hard at addressing misconceptions and prejudices by stressing that only few adopted children have behavioral defects, most adoptions across racial boundaries are successful, you don’t have to be rich or perfect to adopt a child and that most adoptions are real success stories.

More is to be learnt from their website: http://www.adoption.org.zo or telephone 0800 864 658.

 

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… the mission goes on!

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Herod the kingDuring Matins Rev. M.J. Nkambule (MTh) preached on Acts 12:21-25 – King Herod persecuting the Church and how the Church survived and even continued to thrive as it went about its mission from God.  Listen here to what he said: 

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Löhe on 1. Corinthians 15:10

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

St. Paul teachingBut by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them– yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (1Co 15:10 NIV)

Doesn’t that sound quite the Pharisee? Paul comparing himself with the other apostles? He doesn’t compare himself with robbers, thieves, adulterers or tax collectors as that other Pharisee did in Jesus parable (Lk.18:10ff), but rather with his brothers in the high calling of the apostolate. Especially if he appears as the shining example in this comparison: “I worked harder than all of them…” Well, doesn’t that mean that he trumped the very best, the most blessed people in fruits and blessings and good works? That’s what he writes to those talkative, yes garrulous bunch in Corinth. They will make sure that that hits the headlines and reaches the rest of the apostles too. Yes, St. Paul accounts more to himself  than that notorious Pharisee mentioned above and in his own glorification he supersedes all others. And still St. Paul is no Pharisee anymore. Yes, comparing St. Paul with the Pharisee praying in the temple is really quite revealing in that it shows that these two are entirely different altogether and in now way of the same kind. The difference is made up of that little word “grace”. That changes everything. “By the grace of God I am what I am”. That praying Pharisee in the temple was convinced of his own merit and worthiness. The saintly apostle however gives thanks to God for his great and rich life, which was so full of incomparable suffering and hardship as he knows it is all thanks to the grace of God. He’s not proud, but quite humble. He praises God and gives him all honor and glory for he has called and converted the biggest sinner and turned him into the greatest missionary of all times. Not only his sermons and correspondence, but rather his entire life and doing was a splendid recommendation of the new way of salvation, that Jesus Christ had revealed as the new testament for God’s people. It is the way of grace, which leads out of depths to glorious heights, out of death to life with God.

O Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord and our King! You have revealed your glory and magnanimity in your apostle St. Paul. You transformed the persecutor of your Church into the precious instrument to build and consolidate it throughout the Roman empire. You converted a self-righteous Pharisee into a poor miserable sinner, who lives solely by your gracious forgiveness and is a living praise of your grace and mercy. You turned a person, who was self-content into a disciple, who sacrifices all of his life out of gratitude to your service. Let us learn from his shining example, that we too would gladly and willingly offer all and everything to lead this life in your grace as a blessing to your Church. Lord, we will not let you go unless you bless us. Amen.

By grace! On this I’ll rest when dying; In Jesus’ promise I rejoice; For though I know my heart’s condition, I also know my Savior’s voice. My heart is glad, all grief has flown Since I am saved by grace alone. (Korneluis Heinrich Dretzel 1742)

 This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Thursday after the eleventh Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 296 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 Thursday, the 15th August 2013

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Jesus in the lightSeek good, not evil, that you may live. (Amo 5:14 NIV)

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. (Rom 12:17 NIV)

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What is required ?

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

centurion of capernaumYou need money to go to war (Friedrich of Prussia), patience in missions (Christoph Johannes), humility to be a Christian (John Calvyn), but you need faith in Jesus Christ’s forgiveness of all your sin to be saved now and forever: 

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Löhe on 1. Corinthians 15:8-9

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Saulus auf dem Weg nach DamaskusAnd last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (1Co 15:8-9 NIV)

St. Paul compares himself with a prematurely born baby when the living Lord Jesus Christ appears to him on the road to Damascus, because he saw him even while he was not believing in him, but rather still rejecting him and his gospel – yes, persecuting him and his followers most severely. So when Saul – that was his name then – when Saul perceived the living Lord – his eyes were still those of an unbeliever and one, who actively resisted and rejected Jesus Christ as Lord and savior of the world. This off course is part of God’s plan. It’s significant for the Christian testimony St. Paul proclaims from this point onward, because he was not one, who would have liked it to be so, who was carried away by wishful speculation, but rather he was converted from his illusion and convinced to know better by the appearance of the living Lord himself. St. Paul confesses his horrible mistake and godless error – this most serious sin against God and his people: I persecuted the Church! This cancels all presumed merit, worthiness and prestige Saul might have had as a blameless Jew and passionate promoter of the pharisaic way of lawful life.

Oh, let this be a warning to all of us: Beware of any self conceited and proud boasting, which so easily permeates our being. Rather perceive your own sinfulness and praise God’s gracious forgiveness and unending mercy. The grace of forgiveness and of sanctification. Learn that this is not cheap grace and that it should not be offered to us in vain. May this grace accompany us on all your ways, in its manifold manifestations and with abundant fruit. This grace is our queen and she gowns us with the most glorious wedding vestment of Christ’s righteousness. Grace expresses all we have, all we need and could never do without in eternity.

Lord God, heavenly Father! You let your Son appear as risen Lord after his victorious resurrection from the dead before the disciples and many more. He brought them his peace that passes all understanding and gave them perfect joy and gladness. We thank you from the bottom of our heart, that you revive us too with your peace and joy and that even today you let your forgiveness of our sins be proclaimed to us time and again. We ask you: Help us, that we will be strengthened and confirmed in the true faith by your amazing grace and that we overcome all sadness and fear by your comfort and care. Hear us for the sake of our risen and almighty Lord Jesus Christ – our savior. Amen.   (Diederici Manuale ecclesiasticum 1700)

I build on this foundation, That Jesus and his blood Alone are my salvation, My true, eternal good. Without him all that pleases Will vain and empty prove. The gifts I have from Jesus  Alone are worth my love. (Paul Gerhard 1607- 1676 tr Richard Masie 1800-1887)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Wednesday after the eleventh Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 295 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 Wednesday, the 14th August 2013

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

JerusalemAs the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore. (Psa 125:2 NIV)

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. (1Th 3:12-13 NIV)

 

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SELK update on the ILC “World Seminaries Conference”

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

ILC Seminaries„Leiden, Verfolgung und Martyrium“
SELK auf ILC-„World Seminaries Conference“ vertreten

Palanga (Litauen), 12.8.2013 – selk – Die Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Litauen richtete erstmals die „World Seminaries Conference“ des Internationalen Lutherischen Rates (ILC) aus. Dazu begrüßten Bischof Mindaugas Sabutis (Vilnius | Litauen) und Ortspfarrer Dr. Darius Petkunas (Palanga | Litauen) für die Zeit vom 8. bis zum 11. August Seminardirektoren, Professoren, Präsides und Bischöfe in einem neuen Tagungszentrum mit Kirche in Palanga.

Aus der Selbständigen Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche (SELK) nahmen der Rektor der Lutherischen Theologischen Hochschule (LThH) in Oberursel, Prof. Dr. Jorg Christian Salzmann (Oberursel), und der LThH-Lehrbeauftragte Pfarrer Dr. Christian Neddens (Saarbrücken) teil. Teilnehmer aus lutherischen Seminaren und Kirchen aus Afrika (Ghana, Kenia, Nigeria, Südafrika), Australien und Papua Neuguinea, Asien (Hong Kong/China, Japan, Korea, Philippinen, Taiwan), Europa (Belgien, Dänemark, England, Frankreich, Portugal, Russland), Südamerika (Argentinien, Bolivien, Brasilien, Chile, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela), Nordamerika (Kanada, USA) sowie Gäste aus Litauen, Finnland und der Türkei waren in den Ostsee-Badeort gereist. SELK-Bischof Hans-Jörg Voigt (Hannover), ILC-Vorsitzender, und Rev. Dr. Albert Collver (St. Louis/USA), ILC-Exekutivsekretär, begrüßten Teilnehmer und Gäste im Namen des ILC.

„Leiden, Verfolgung und Martyrium als ein Kennzeichen der Kirche“, so lautete das theologische Tagungsthema, das auf eine Aufzählung der Kennzeichen der wahren Kirche durch Dr. Martin Luther zurückgeht. In seiner Schrift „Von der Kirche und Konzilien“ nennt Luther das Wort Gottes, die Taufe, das Abendmahl, das Amt der Kirche, die Vollmacht der Beichte, Gebet und Lobgesang und schließlich „das heilige Kreuz“ für das Leiden. In Referaten zur neutestamentlichen Grundlegung, zu Aspekten des Martyriums in der Kirchengeschichte und aus dem Bereich der Lehre der Kirche (Dogmatik) wurde immer wieder betont, dass es notwendig sei, die Studierenden auch auf diesen Bereich der christlichen Existenz vorzubereiten. Dabei blieb auch nicht unerwähnt, dass auch von Christen selbst immer wieder Verfolgung ausgegangen sei. Die Ausführungen von Vertretern aus Afrika, Osteuropa und Asien machten deutlich, dass das Christentum gegenwärtig die am meisten verfolgte Religion weltweit ist.

Aber auch sehr praktische Fragen wurden intensiv diskutiert – wie die Entwicklung der Fakultäten, Akkreditierungsprozesse an den Seminaren, Finanzfragen, Entwicklung von Bibliotheken, die Versorgung der Studierenden mit Textbüchern und die Fortbildung von Gemeindepfarrern.

Die 5. „World Seminaries Conference“ des ILC wurde am gestrigen Sonntag mit einem Gottesdienst der evangelisch-lutherischen Gemeinde in Palanga abgeschlossen.
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