Radical Grace/The Lutheran Difference

Hate. We've heard this before. For all the talk that Christians make concerning holiness and self help, it appears that even after 2000 years the church still hasn't come to terms with this most perplexing problem. To this day, because the majority of Christians do not properly distinguish law and gospel, people are calling all the time at each other blindly to repent of this or that or there can be no unity... But with the Gospel, there is unity in Faith, in Baptism, in one Lord... How do we know this is too often driven by hate?

I present for your consideration, Westboro Baptist Church. Fred Phelps and his little congregation sound just like a lot of churches and church leaders. But ever since someone set of an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) outside his church, Fred Phelps has made it his single obsession to let the world know that his god would not let this aggregious act go unpunished. In fact, if you didn't already know, they don't randomly pick which funerals they want to picket, no. They always picket the funerals of soldiers who died from being killed by and IED. Now, I want you to imagine for a second. For all his theological bloviating, Fred Phelps' problem winds up being tit for tat. You tried to blow up my church, my god will blow you up.

Really? Is that what the Christian message is? You attack him, God will attack you back?

It's getting close to Advent folks. That time of year where we celebrate the first coming of Christ while looking forward to the first coming. Today, we're going to turn the end times on it's ear again by showing how that "terrible last day" will be the most joyous day of all times and ages.

But first, more magical thinking, more annointing of doors and windows, and more sorcery in the name of God... yeah, it's still going on after thousands of years of being told not to. Oh, and be sure you don't think we're talking about the cults that do this stuff. We mean you average, run of the mill church. Could be yours if you're not careful.

Today on Radical Grace Radio, we talked about what Christian Churches talked about last Sunday in lieu of Reformation day... Magic and witchcraft. More importanly, how Magic is incorporated by Christians when they get confused about what Magical thinking is and how dangerous it can be. It's not about Bedknobs and Broomsticks. It's about taking God's Holy Name and practicing magic and dark arts in his name...

How does the Gospel appear to effect reality? Most of the time, it looks like everything is being turned on it's ear. In this reformation day special, we talk about the effects of the Gospel, and what there needs to be done for real reformation to occur... He said, "what needs to be done" Hu-hu-hu...

Rev 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. Rev 14:7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Ro 3:27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. Ro 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

Jn 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jn 8:33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jn 8:34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

This edition of Radical Grace Radio is brought to you by the new book, Humility and how I achieved it by the High Reverend Gary Held. Learn the finer points of achieving the most humble walk with God you will ever experience!

Luther did say, in all seriousness, "those who think they are humble know the least about true humility".

We also talk about a simple subject... one that is very difficult to master: Prayer

A lepers, all the time, on Radical Grace Radio. Ever wonder if we're getting it right when we read and interpret the passages where Jesus heals the lepers? Whether it's the 1 leper in Mark's Gospel or 10 in Luke's Gospel, there's more there than meets the eye.

I was mistaken when I said on the air that this episode of Radical Grace Radio is still on the feed. This was back in 2008 when the Pew Forum Report told us that Americans (this included Christians) believe that all faith and faith traditions lead to God and salvation. One term that was used by a respondent to the poll said that we have a "Pragmatic respect" for other religions. What on earth does that mean?

An important show. Expect this past Sundays show soon.

First up, there's the pew forum report on General Knowledge of Religion in America. Atheists, Agnostics, Jews and Mormons scored the highest, while Bible belt Christians scored the Lowest.

http://pewforum.org/Other-Beliefs-and-Practices/U-S-Religious-Knowledge-Survey.aspx

Then, when asked what's the difference between the way Baptists baptise and how Lutherans baptise, we decided to take that on... no one called during the show, but someone did call imediately after the show... It just goes to show, a lot of people not only lack knowledge, but know it and are afraid to call us sometimes for fear of embarrassment.

Anne Frank wrote: "It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart."

We have to tackle this issue, because ultimately it's the biggest lie the world tells itself. "You good! You just need to find a better system of government or laws that will make the difference!" But if that were true, wouldn't we have found it by now? After all, look at all the systems we've created over time. We can do such great things, from sailing around the world, and flying around the world, to the moon and back. Great achievements require great systems to accomplish them.

So what gives?

Here is a classic Radical Grace Radio, from the time when we were on WMEL, and topic flowed around the causes of some of the senseless Drama that goes on in our world. How often are we tempted to grow angry, outraged, dispondent, at the events of our time and lives when we should be remembering God and His promises in Jesus Christ, our Lord?