May 15, 2017
Devotions: Personalities of the Reformation: Martin Chemnitz

“Martin Chemnitz was born on November 9, 1522. He had to labor hard for his education, for his father died when he was a young man. In the course of time he became a student at Wittenberg where Philip Melanchthon impressed him. There was a saying from the seventeenth century that refered to Martin Chemnitz and Martin Luther – “If the second Martin had not come, the first Martin would not have stood.” It means that the writings of Martin Chemnitz rescued Lutheran theology which was being undermined by the teachings of Calvinists and Catholics alike. But, originally, Martin Chemnitz was not studying theology – he was studying math and astrology. Although the first Martin (Luther) was conducting the Reformation at the time, the second Martin (Chemnitz) paid little attention to Luther and his writings. Fortunately, Melanchthon was able to steer him toward theology. He read the works of the church fathers and the theologians of his own day. As a result, his keen mind became equipped to defend the Reformation teachings of Luther.

He engaged in theological controversy more mildly than most theologians of the day, who jeered and called each other names. Martin Chemnitz tried to allow reason and Scripture to speak for him. One of his best-known books was Loci Theologici, a commentary on Melanchthon’s theology. In it, Martin staunchly defended the doctrine of justification by faith alone, which had taken a beating, owing to a misunderstanding of what Lutherans meant by their teaching. In other writings, he defended Luther’s teaching on the Lord’s supper and the church’s ancient teaching that Jesus is both God and man.
Another important work by Martin Chemnitz was his Examination of the Council of Trent. At Trent, the Roman Catholic church restated and clarified its doctrines. In four volumes, Martin Chemnitz made a strong Protestant reply to the Roman claims. But for Lutherans, his most important contribution was his part in drafting the Formula of Concord. This was an orthodox restatement of Lutheran faith acceptable to most Lutheran factions, which had been growing apart over differences of interpretation. Martin Chemnitz died in 1586.” (Wikipedia)

“If the second Martin had not come, the first Martin would not have stood.” The writings of Martin Chemnitz rescued Lutheran theology. He quietly wrote in defense of Luther’s Justification by Faith through Grace – and was instrumental in putting together the Book of Concord, the central writings and teachings of the Lutheran Faith. He did not use the “in your face” style of apologetics (defense), instead he steadfastly and quietly worked to defend and spread the teachings of the Lutheran Protestant movement. Sometimes you need to speak loudly and carry a small pen, and sometimes you need to speak quietly but carry the big pen of defense – defending the writings and ideas of those who came before you.

Pastor Dave

Please bring in boxes of tissues this week for Trinity’s Table.

May 14, 2017
Devotions: Easter 5A

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” John 14:1-14

“Sports Illustrated reports that, back in 2008, the Rev. Jesse Jackson visited the locker room of the defeated Memphis Tigers basketball team after their loss to Kansas in the NCAA basketball finals. Memphis’ star player, Derrick Rose, was said to be “inconsolable.” Jackson told him, “Don’t look like a freshman crying. It looks pitiful. Smile through your tears and speak above your pain.”

In our therapy-infused culture, this is considered horrible advice. Feelings should not be “held in,” but expressed openly. Jesus must have missed that lecture. He gives his disciples a message not unlike the one that Jesse Jackson gave to Derrick Rose. “Do not let your heart be troubled.” Jesus urges his disciples to move beyond their anxiety and to “trust into God and trust into me.” (The word is pisteuein, more properly translated as “trust” or “faith” than as “believe.” Also, the preposition is eis, which means “into,” not “in.”) He asks his disciples to put their “troubles” in the proper perspective and to see them in light of God’s power. This is not a lot different from “smile through your tears and speak above your pain.” See your pain, or your troubles, through the light of Christ. In the English language, as is well-known, the word “you” serves as both the second person singular and the second person plural. Most other languages, however, have a distinct word for the second person plural. Most people don’t realize that the vast majority of all uses of the word “you” in the Greek New Testament are plural. To put it another way, if we read these texts as being individually addressed to us, we are mistaken. They were not addressed to individuals, but rather to a community.

Jesus says, “Do not let your (pl.) heart be troubled.” The disciples, collectively, have a “troubled heart.” In fourth gospel, Jesus himself had also been “troubled” on three occasions. He was “troubled” at the reaction to his raising of Lazarus (11:33), the approach of the cross (12:26), and Judas’ betrayal (13:21). Now, this emotion is ascribed also to the community itself. “In the house of my Father, they are many habitations.” The word translated as “habitations” is monai. In the popular imagination, this is often taken to mean that the Methodists will have a room–indeed, a mansion–and so will the Catholics and the Baptists. Monai actually means a temporary resting place for a traveler. It was associated with caravans. In those days, there would be a contingent of folks who would go ahead of the caravan to “prepare a place” so that when the caravan arrived there, the camp ground had been prepared, the water supply located, and food prepared. The travelers in the caravan would have a place of comfort to spend the night. Monai is less about getting some fancy digs in the hereafter, in a house separate from the people you can’t stand, and more about welcome, hospitality, and community for people traveling on a journey. This sentence is reminiscent of Moses’ speech in Deuteronomy 1:33 where he says that the Lord “goes before you in the way to choose a place.” Just as Moses led the people into the Promised Land, so Jesus will lead his people to the place where he himself is going. (“I come again and I will take you to myself so that, where I am, I and you might be.”) (Lectionary blogging: John 14: 1-14, May 16, 2011, progressiveinvolvement.com)

Tony Campolo, professor from Eastern University and well known preacher and speaker tells this story:

He and a friend went to a little airport in the town of Farmington, New Mexico. They were waiting to board a plane that would take them to Denver where they would catch a connector to head home. As they were waiting, there was an elderly woman sitting next to them. She had a look on her face that was unwelcoming, even mean, and Tony was determined to do something to make her smile. Now, Tony Campolo is someone who, when he makes up his mind to do something, he does it. He once got an entire elevator of people, the elevator was stuck between floors, but he got them to sing along with him before they got the elevator running again. Anyway, Tony started to joke with the elderly woman, and soon she was laughing and laughing, in fact she had to tell Tony to stop she was laughing so hard. Once she stopped laughing she began to interact with others around her and her demeanor changed dramatically. Tony got up to leave for his flight, and as he turned around, he saw the elderly woman coming over to him. She said, “Mister, you could not have known this, but it was exactly three years ago today that my husband of 54 years died. And I realized today that this was the first day since then that I have been able to laugh. I just wanted to thank you.”

Dare we say, dare we compare this story to the works of Jesus? I would say that if Jesus were to make a decision comparing this work to one of his own, he would most certainly say that giving joy back to a woman who had been joyless certainly is what he meant when he said “…those who believe in me will also do the works that I do”, because we know that Jesus was all about restoring people to life and giving them new life. To return life back to someone whose existence seems lifeless, to give hope and joy to one of God’s children – this my friends is what God, what Jesus commands us to do: to be instruments of God’s love and mercy and compassion on this earth.

Pastor Dave