Radical Grace/The Lutheran Difference

Most of the time when discussing church discipline, Matthew 18 comes to mind. Pastor Gary, however, does not think that this is a good application of that text, and when it's all said and done, it's a good thing. Mostly we rail against people using Matthew 18 to beat people up... that's what they do with it you know, beat people up. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a way to look at this through the Gospel?

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Hurricane Irene has come and gone... isn't it interesting how the storm was named "Irene", which in Greek means "peace". Think Irenaus, the early church Father. I like to look at hurricanes as another of God's works in nature that shows us His work. The storm surrounding a peaceful center, like Jesus is the peace in the stormy sea of the Law's condemnation.

We also talk about the 9-11 memorial controversy where Mayor Bloomberg has banned any Clergy from participating in the service. But more importantly, we talk about the parable of the talents and it's parallel passage in Luke to answer the question, "what do the 'talents' represent?

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Have you ever wonder about your faith? Thinking about your faith might not sound like a bad idea, like thinking about how much faith you have, or if it's strong enough, that kind of thing. There is a time for introspection, for examining, but when you want your faith to grow, thinking about getting your faith to grow doesn't make it grow.

What does? Listen to this episode of Radical Grace Radio to find out.

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"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation"

We know most of you desperately want your salvation and all the blessings you recieve from God to have something to do with your righteousness. We know you do. But we refuse to leave you in that condition. You did nothing to contribute to your salvation other than resist God and sin with impunity. For the most part, that's what you do now. Deny it and you're a liar, but confess it and you're forgiven.

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The other day I heard on a Christian radio broadcast the folling statement. "I has been said that when you don't pray to God, it's like you slapped him in the face". Why it is that people think this is a helpful statement escapes me, but apparently "fundidgelicals" just love this sort of thing. So now I not only have a problems with my prayer life, but I'm slapping God around each time I don't pray to him... So Pastor and I talk a bit about "the impassability of God", meaning that he doesn't need anything from us to get his work done. And how the Christian life can be compared to standing on top of the 30 foot pole while worrying your going to fall off.

"God says of Jesus, "this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased"... So if the Father is pleased with Jesus, and we're in Christ, doesn't that mean that the Father is pleased with us?"

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Boogity Boogity Boogity Amen! Oh wait, we're not sure that's how a Christian Prayer is done, but it sure did get done at a NASCAR race... It's funny, we often joke about how NASCAR competes for church time on Sundays. A caller from Rockledge calls to suggest that it's a problem caused by churches practicing a "ministry of death" that leads to death outside of Christ...

Also, we're going to talk about the feeding of the 5000 from Matthew's Gospel. Now there's something to be thankful about.

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Thios week we Wrap up talking about Matthew 13 and the Kingdom Parables. I think that Pastor has a slam dunk of a case when he says that Jesus is telling these parable as a way of reflecting on his ministry. Also, in the mail, I recieved a prayer rug! I had it with me during the show... and you have to listen to see that we're not ridiculing this or the people behind, but it really does cast God as being Petty.

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A mustard Seed. Jesus talks about the Kingdom being like the smallest of Seeds Planted. On this edition of Radical Grace Radio we talk about how the Kingdom Grows, and how we often interpret these parables as things that we're supposed to do ourselves. In fact, we often spend too much time inserting ourselves into the grand story of Christ and Redemption that he has won for us!

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In this edition of Radical Grace we talk about the question "Preacher, where is thy fruit?" in context the parable of the sower and the seed. it's a law and Gospel distinction you don't want to miss.

Also, the jurors weren't morons. We talk a bit about the outcome of the Casey Anthony trial and the vitriol and death threats that have made against here and the rest of her family.

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In this edition of Radical Grace Radio, we pick up the discussion of 3rd Use of the Law, and offer a law and Gospel take on Psalm 119.

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