Heterodoxy

What is heterodoxy? These new words are keeping my brain hopping.

From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterodox)

Heterodoxy includes "any opinions or doctrines at variance with an official or orthodox position". As an adjective, heterodox is used to describe a subject as "characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards" (status quo). The noun heterodoxy is synonymous with unorthodoxy, while the adjective heterodox is synonymous with dissident.

Gr. hetero - other, and doxa - teaching

Some Synonyms (from http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/heterodox)

agnostic, apostate, athesitic, differing, disagreesing, dissenting, dissentive, dissident, freethinking, heterodox, iconoclastic, idolatrous, impious, infidel, misbelieving, miscreant, nonconformiat, revisionist, schismatic, sectarian, skeptical, unbelieving.

I realize that some of these words are powerfully negative, but they are synonyms nevertheless.

About Original Sin

I watched an AIC video on the Holy Spirit from Messiah Lutheran (Seattle) today. One of the concepts that was discussed is original sin. I haven't thought much about original sin until the last few years when I started having faith conversations with my Christian friends.

I have always believed that I was saved BY God through the Holy Spirit at my baptism (as an infant) and I remember my baptism daily as I am both a saint and a sinner. Some of my Christian friends believe that you have to make a decision for Christ. That's where the concept of original sin becomes important.

From the Article II of the Augsburg Confession:

1] Also they teach that since the fall of Adam all men begotten in the natural way are born with sin, that is, without the fear of God, without trust in God, and with 2] concupiscence; and that this disease, or vice of origin, is truly sin, even now condemning and bringing eternal death upon those not born again through Baptism and the Holy Ghost.

3] They condemn the Pelagians and others who deny that original depravity is sin, and who, to obscure the glory of Christ's merit and benefits, argue that man can be justified before God by his own strength and reason.

What or who are the Pelagians?
(from http://www.issuesetc.org/resource/journals/diction.htm)

Pelagianism
The fifth century heresy of Pelagius who taught that man is not totally corrupt and can be saved by an act of his own will (see "Arminianism," "Revivalism," "Total Depravity").

Original sin in the Bible:

Romans 5:12-21 (New International Version)

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.

15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

18Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

20The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 5:22

22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.


My understanding is that I am spiritually dead, beginning at conception -- thanks to Adam and Eve. Just like a physically dead person can't bring themselves to life, I can't bring myself to life spiritually, but the Holy Spirit can. And the Holy Spirit creates faith, bringing me to new life (that is forgiveness of sins) through some kind of means. For me, the means initially was baptism. Then throughout the rest of my life my faith (believing that Christ died on the cross for my sins) is strengthened by the Holy Spirit through the Word and the Lord's Supper.

Here's my confusion with some of my Christian friends:

I can't figure out how a spiritually dead person can bring themselves to life. All the glory belongs to the Godhead and taking credit in any way for one's salvation seems to be an insult to what Christ did on the cross. I'm not known for being gentle with words at times and I can't figure out a loving and gentle way to ask about how it can be.

Happy Birthday Mozart

Happy Birthday Mozart

Mozart was born on January 27, 1756.

The Creeds

Some churches don't use creeds on a regular basis and some don't use historic creeds at all. In the Lutheran church either the Apostles' Creed or Nicene Creed is usually part of the service. The Creeds allow the worshiper to confess with other Christians what is true. What better way to worship than to tell God what He did for us.

Some interesting information about the Apostles' Creed: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles)

• Traditionally considered the oldest creed.
• Served as a summary of the Christian faith for the early Christians ( as well as Christians down through the centuries).
• Luther said "Christian truth could not possibly be put into a shorter and clearer statement."
• It was most likely formulated to combat the heresy of gnosticism.

Some interesting information about the Nicene Creed: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicene_Creed)

• Similar to the Apostles' Creed except that it confesses the Triune God and His gracious work in more detail.
• The earliest form adopted at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD
• It was formulated to reject the heresy of Arius who denied the Holy Trinity, especially the deity of Christ.
• Over time it was enlarged to present the deity of the Holy Spirit more fully.

The Hammer of God

The Hammer and the Cross

The Hammer of God was written by Bo Giertz, a Swedish pastor. It is a fictional and theological book that shows the power of God's Word over spiritual deadness, rationalism, pietism, and liberalism. The story is set within the parish of Odesjo over a period that reaches from the late 18th century to the middle of the 20th century. The book clearly illustrates the constancy of the Gospel over against the the rationalism of the Enlightenment, the subjectivity of Pietism, and the relativism of Liberalism. It's Law and Gospel!!

It's really three stories in one:

1. The Hammer of God
2. Jesus Only
3. On This Rock

The title of the book, The Hammer of God, is based on Jeremiah 23:29, "Is not my word like a fire? Says the Lord. And like a hammer that breaks the rock into pieces?"

There's a study guide at Concordia Fort Wayne:

http://www.ctsfw.edu/academics/faculty/pless/giertz.htm

Nicene Creed

Apostle's Creed

Eusebius

I've started the LifeLight Bible Study on Revelation. It's enjoyable, challenging, confusing and reassuring all in a matter of moments. The leader introduced me to Eusebius.

Who is Eusebius?

Eusebius is considered the Father of Church History as he recorded the history of the early Christian church. He lived from approximately 263 to 339 AD.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eusebius_of_Caesarea

The Baptism of Jesus

Paolo Veronese 1528 – 1588

http://www.artbible.info/art/large/29.html

The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist is mentioned all four Gospels.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Matthew 3:13-17

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Mark 1:9-11

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Luke 3:21-22

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."

John 1:29-34

This is the collect for today from the Lutheran Worship Book:

The Baptism of Our Lord

Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and annointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirt, one God, now and forever.

Amen

Holy Spirit Window

My son received a stained glass piece in celebration of his baptism from his grandparents. The stained glass piece has been hanging in our front window for 9 years. About 1 month ago it fell and fractured into about 8 pieces. Fortunately it stayed within the lead frame. I couldn't really repair it, but I glued it. When it hangs in the window now, you can see the fractures.

The symbolism has increased. Now the story is that the fractured stained glass reminds Alex of his baptism and that God takes people who are broken and fractured because of their sinful nature and covers them with blood of Jesus.

On July 12, 1998 Alex became a child of God when the Holy Spirit created faith in him and his sins were forgiven. He was "ALL CLEAN". Our prayer for Alex every night includes remembering his baptism and what God did for him.

I discovered that we have a replica of the "Holy Spirit Window" designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany for the First Presbyterian Church in Springfield Illinois. http://www.first-pres-church.org/Lincoln_Family.htm. It was completed about 1895.

Belated Merry Christmas to My Orthodox Friends

It seems that yesterday was Christmas for Orthodox Christians who follow the Julian calendar. Since my son began life in Russia we try to be aware of things Russian whenever possible.

Epiphany

[Albrecht Durer (1504)The Adoration of the Magi]

http://www.artbible.info/art/three-wise-men.html

Epiphany is the day we celebrate the appearance of Jesus Christ to the Magi (representing the world). The date is celebrated traditionally is January 6, which is the day after the twelfth day of Christmas.

http://www.orlutheran.com/html/epiph.html
http://www.cresourcei.org/cyepiph.html

http://cyberbrethren.typepad.com/cyberbrethren/2008/01/how-beautifully.html
http://weedon.blogspot.com/2008/01/epiphany.html

Unrelated note sort of:

My son had a band concert today (January 6) that was rescheduled from December 16. He attends a Lutheran school. We had a snow issue on December 16. The band director renamed the concert and it was the Epiphany Concert. The musicians played "We Three Kings".

What's the Collect? Hint: It's not the offering basket!

I just keep on learning!!! During all my years in church I've said prayers at different places in the services. In all honesty I never understood much about the prayers -- just read them. In my quest to better understand the historic liturgy I've that 'collect' has nothing to do with passing the offering basket. It has a very rich history.

What is the 'collect'?

The collect is the 'prayer of the day'. The collect begins with "Let us pray", inviting the worshipers to join their hearts in prayer with the pastor. The collect is a prayer that gathers requeest related to the Scriptures of the day. They have been used by the church for at least 15 centuries.

The parts of this formal prayer usually includes:

1. Invocation - addressing God
2. Basis - why ask these things
3. Petition - our specific request
4. Purpose or benefit - desired result
5. Closing doxology - praise to God

Most Collects are addressed to God the Father and all close in Jesus' name, as Jesus instructed. John 15:16

Worshiping with Angels and Archangels

For Christmas we gave our 10 year old son a book that explains the historical liturgical style of worship in a Lutheran church. The book is Worshiping with Angels and Archangels An Introduction to the Divine Service. I thought it would be educational for him, but was surprised and STUNNED at what I didn't know. In all my years as a Lutheran so much was not explained. This book is awesome.