tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post7756649171444654536..comments2023-11-05T02:55:10.230-06:00Comments on Gottesdienst Online: The Faith and Life of the Body vs. Missional "Lutheran" GnosticismPr. H. R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16756503062523543708noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-37342681904453798732013-10-15T09:17:40.905-05:002013-10-15T09:17:40.905-05:00Wisdom, indeed. Thank you, Pr. Stuckwisch.Wisdom, indeed. Thank you, Pr. Stuckwisch.William Weedonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01383850332591975790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-45106563046945958722013-10-05T07:53:08.815-05:002013-10-05T07:53:08.815-05:00"Real Wisdom belongs, not to the raw intellec...<i>"Real Wisdom belongs, not to the raw intellectual mastery of data, facts and information, but to the fear of the Lord."</i><br /><br />This is most certainly true. Those who simply tweak the vocal cords into pronouncing "Lord, Lord," have no guarantees of a recognition by the presumed target of the mouthings.<br /><br />Lutherans talk of a servant-God truly coming to converse and commune with them, but do they show it? Do they "mission" it, and witness such, in their behaviors? What exactly is meant by the fear (i.e., reverencing) of Lord Christ ... who swears NOT to be locked up tight in a Calvinist heavenly box, or to be on a distant vacation from us, like the cut-throat priests of Ba'al publicly maintained.<br /><br />But how does the pious and believing Christian react to Christ's Presence? The angels in heaven cover their faces and their forms, with humbling wings. Elijah of old took pains to cloak himself, as he went out to encounter the still, small Voice. Lepers collapsed at the feet of their saving Physician, as they importuned Him.<br /><br />But we, collectively as a thinking people, are offended by cloaking ourselves with the sign of our Redemption, and generally view genuflecting to God as medieval flimflam. We discount practice as being missional, as witnessing with our <i>whole</i> bodies to God's reality; while proudly pointing instead to our snare drums and our riffs as evidence of our faithful feelings, but not to things we come into this world with ... like our knees, for example. Let us recall that the publican in the Temple prayed not with words alone, but with downcast eyes and a hand which smote. The Pharisee, in contrast, was quite giddy. <br /><br />Both Calvinists and Ba'alists exhibit proclivities to be noisy (eventually but inevitably), in celebrating their noisome conceptualizations of gods that are distant (and, need it be mentioned, false). Why we Lutherans choose ... choose! ... to engage in the antics of these chuckleheads, so as to call upon the name of a deity for help or ego-endorsement, is evidence of madness.<br /><br />Yes, practice matters. It's not but an adiaphoron, given the blighted spirituality of America today. It's missional, through and through.<br /><br />I'd like to echo Fr. Messer's sentiments, Fr. Stuckwisch. Well done, indeed.<br /><br />Your (unworthy) servant,<br />Herr Doktor S.S.P. Michael L. Anderson, M.D., Ph.Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13158953802996685938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-23928253026836565032013-10-04T17:30:51.966-05:002013-10-04T17:30:51.966-05:00Yes, that was my intent. Both preaching and heari...Yes, that was my intent. Both preaching and hearing necessarily involve the body, and I've always been struck by Luther's emphasis on the external, even tangible character of the Word. It goes to the fact that, from the beginning, and fully realized in the Incarnation and Resurrection of our Lord Himself, human life as God intended is bodily. So, also, the Gospel is given and received in bodily ways and means, always by and with the external Word.Rev. Rick Stuckwischhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10664716292792101540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-21125633220379193652013-10-04T17:28:29.246-05:002013-10-04T17:28:29.246-05:00Interesting. Thanks for your comments, Cecil.Interesting. Thanks for your comments, Cecil.Rev. Rick Stuckwischhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10664716292792101540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-80333031691907294882013-10-04T17:08:55.110-05:002013-10-04T17:08:55.110-05:00"It is the body also that rests in the Sabbat..."It is the body also that rests in the Sabbath of Christ, in order to hear and receive the Word and work of the Lord in the external preaching and administration of the Gospel."<br /><br />Fr, Stuckwisch, "the external preaching and administration of the Gospel." Ah, does the "external ... administration of the Gospel" ah, do you mean by this the Sacraments as well as preaching of the Gospel? Cecil The Sea Sick Sea Serpenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13537345550560367967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-2355902183119855012013-10-04T16:58:46.041-05:002013-10-04T16:58:46.041-05:00"Then, whether we bend the knee, or stand, or..."Then, whether we bend the knee, or stand, or sit, and whatever it is our neighbor does with his or her body, we will not condemn or cast aspersions, but neither will we naively suppose that it doesn't matter."<br /><br />Fr, Stuckwisch, Thanks for your most insightful post. My family had a Pastor that on his first Sunday administered Holy Communion and thought is was very thoughtful of the congregation to let those among us to let those of weak knees go first and stand at the altar. After the second or third table he realized that no one in the congregation knelt. Cecil The Sea Sick Sea Serpenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13537345550560367967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-29161429389309772792013-10-03T22:32:53.991-05:002013-10-03T22:32:53.991-05:00Wow! This. Is. Sublime!
Thanks, Fr. Stuckwisch!Wow! This. Is. Sublime!<br /><br />Thanks, Fr. Stuckwisch!Rev. Thomas C. Messer, SSPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13740553600700598394noreply@blogger.com