Theology About Town

I have the undeserved privilege of attending college in historic St. Augustine, FL. I walk streets once trodden by Timucuan Indians and Spanish explorers. I dine and learn in facilities that were once the playgrounds of Gilded Age elites and Presidents; I mean, my college is a certified national landmark! For history buffs like myself, St. Augustine’s siren song, carried on the warm ocean breeze, beacons me to explore her centuries old alleyways and discover her secrets. However, what deeper meaning and truth can one hope to uncover in this ancient city? From the many monuments, towering churches, and aged architecture, one can reflect on the Truth that is clearly articulated in Holy Scripture.



Why not start with the city’s namesake? Augustine of Hippo, the Doctor of Grace, was the foremost theologian of the church’s first one thousand years. He laid the theological groundwork for the doctrines of human depravity and salvation by God’s Grace alone that would later be expounded upon by the likes of Luther and Calvin during the Reformation. My favorite quote by Augustine is a prayer he had regarding his own chastity. He would pray to God, “God, make me chaste…but not yet.” Here was a flesh and blood saint who struggled through the same sin and temptation we all do, yet he was used by God to do great things for the Body of Christ. His major works include De Doctrina Christiana (On Christian Doctrine), De Trinitate (On the Trinity), The Confessions, and De Civitate Dei (The City of God). So, I implore everyone to “tolle lege, tolle lege” (take up and read, take up and read)!



Next, we have the City Gate. My mind immediately goes to two passages.

“Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” –Matthew 7:13-14

"Jesus replied, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” –John 14:6

Believing on Jesus Christ and following Him is difficult, but He is the only way to God the Father. We cannot try and come into God’s Heavenly Kingdom our own way on our own terms. This is the essence of all false worldviews, belief systems, and religions. The exclusivity of Christianity is a point of contention for many believers and nonbelievers. The logic follows that all non-Christians’ good works, no matter how noble, piety, no matter how devout, and beliefs, no matter how sincere, are not enough to escape eternal damnation. Tough stuff, I know. We may think that it is unfair, nay, evil, to condemn a seemingly “good” pagan into hell. However, there is one problem: sin. So, in reality, according to God’s standard of holiness, there is not one good person, no, not one! This includes Christians who are also sinners, but they are sinners who have received unmerited mercy and grace. Seeing that man was dead in sin and incapable of meeting the standard of the Law, God provided Christ to fulfill the Law and to atone for that sin. It was by faith in Christ’s perfect righteousness that we enter into God’s Kingdom. So, rather they reviling the exclusivity of Christ, embrace it; embrace Christ as the ultimate expression of God’s love and mercy to us fallen, wretched sinners. God had no responsibility or obligation to save us from His awesome wrath. We often cry to God for "justice"; few realize that true justice would only bring condemnation. We should instead cry "mercy, mercy!" Fall prostrate atop Calvary’s hill at the base of the cross and leave your transgressions and guilt there, Beloved. Then, comfort yourself with thoughts of one day treading the streets of gold in the presence of your Savior and Lord!



St. Augustine’s emblematic structure would have to be the Anastasia Lighthouse. You see it everywhere from storefronts to car dealerships, postcards to key chains, and clothing to paintings. Its black and white stripe pattern is instantly recognizable. It also reminds me of an oft-quoted verse:

"Then Jesus spoke out again, 'I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” –John 8:12

Jesus lights the dark corners of our hearts so that we may understand true godliness. So that we may clearly see our own sinfulness and God’s own righteousness. Jesus is the lamp of Truth in a dark world of falsehood and lies. There are other verses that come to mind:

“Arise! Shine! For your light arrives! The splendor of the Lord shines on you!”—Isaiah 60:1

“If then your whole body is full of light, with no part in the dark, it will be as full of light as when the light of a lamp shines on you.” –Luke 11:36

The lighthouse is a light source, much like God. God is the sun and we are the moon. We do not produce our own light; we are only capable of reflecting the light of God. The words Paul wrote to Timothy are also very pertinent:

“To do this you must hold firmly to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith.” –1 Timothy 1:19.

Paul made long ocean voyages to evangelize the Gentiles. He knew all to well the dangerous possibility of a shipwreck. He was also aware of the Lighthouse at Alexandria, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. We must always look to Christ and His truth to avoid being run spiritually aground by false doctrine and sinful desires; He will guide us safely across the tumultuous seas of life. Though we are tossed by the waves, battered by the rain, and blown by the wind, by fixing our gaze upon His holy light, we will one day safely make port in paradise!



The other structure synonymous with St. Augustine is the Castillo de San Marcos. The fort was used as a defense against enemy attacks upon the city. Its massive coquina walls protected the soldiers within who stood on guard to fight any aggressor who would mount an attack upon St. Augustine. In a similar fashion, God is our refuge and strength who serves as protection against our three main enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. These three are the REAL "Axis of Evil." I am immediately made to consider the 46th Pslam. However, my first thought went straight to what has been called both “the greatest hymn of the greatest man of the greatest period of German history” and the “Battle Hymn of the Reformation.” I speak of course of Luther’s famous hymn derived from the aforementioned Psalm: A Mighty Fortress is Our God. Take time to meditate upon these lyrics; they are very edifying:

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal!

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle!

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him!

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever!

Lastly, we come to the Mission of Nombre de Dios and The Great Cross. For a brief history, go here. This mighty symbol stands like the Colossal of Rhodes above our fair city. It reminds us of Christ’s atoning sacrifice for us helpless sinners. The Crucifixion along with the Resurrection lie at the heart of the Gospel. It should be at the heart of our preaching. Paul makes it clear what we Christians proclaim:

“But we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.”—1 Corinthians 1:23

The Cross confounds men. It goes against our grain. It cannot be rationally explained or comprehended. It contradicts all other religion that makes man the author of his own salvation. We seem to think that we are good enough to attain salvation: My good deeds outweigh my bad; surely God will let ME into heaven. Foolish sinners are we! Our faith we place in our own merit is ill-founded. Paul was a brilliant and pious Pharisee, but he did not brag about his own work, but rather be boasted in Christ’s work:

“But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”—Galatians 6:14

We Christians have no excuse for self-righteousness, since it is not by our own righteousness that we have justified but by Christ’s! Christianity is ultimately not about happy marriages, functional families, full back accounts, good health, or "your best life now." Christianity is all about Christ and Him cruicified.

Whenever you stroll through the quaint alleys of St. Augustine, take time to consider God’s holiness, mercy, and love for sinners embodied by Christ Jesus. This city’s charm will take on a whole new meaning!

Soli Deo Gloria!

*All Scripture citations come from the NET Bible at bible.org

The Dark Knight: A Theological Review

To preface this theological review of The Dark Knight, I think Christians tend to fall into opposite errors with respect to popular, secular culture. On the one hand, it is treated with paranoid suspicion or outright hostility by its detractors as a realm entirely controlled by Satan and his minions. On the other, it is wrongly treated as a suitable source for sermons and doctrine along with, or, in the worst cases, in lieu of, the Scriptures. I tend to take the middle road. Popular culture has its place, and its fruits can be enjoyed by Christians in their liberty with thanksgiving. Music, art, and storytelling in any medium can be entertaining, thought provoking, and even God-honoring. Beauty and truth can be creatively expressed even by those who are unregenerate. If one believes that God is sovereign, this should come as no surprise. Likewise, if enjoyment of such fair replaces our Christian duties of discipleship (Bible study, prayer, church attendance, good works, et al) they should be plucked out of our lives and cast from us as Christ commands. My goal with this review is to analyze some of the overarching themes (the nature of man, law, providence, morality, faith) raised in the film by looking at some of the crucial scenes. Caution: there are some spoilers.

I was reading an article where Christopher Nolan was describing his favorite scene in The Dark Knight: the interrogation scene between Batman and The Joker, hero vs. villain, good vs. evil. He said it was the hinge on which the whole movie turned. In it, The Joker presents his own brand of chaotic nihilism. He spoke of the goodness (or lack thereof) of Gotham's citizens,

“Their morals, their ‘code,’ it’s all a bad joke; dropped at the first sign of trouble. They're only as good as the world allows them to be. When the chips are down, these, uh, ‘civilized people’: they’ll eat each other. You see, I’m not a monster, I’m just ahead of the curve.”

When one grounds all hope and all authority in mankind, one must certainly reach The Joker’s bleak conclusions. If the law was conjured up within the mind of man, it is a bad joke. It is moral pretension. It has no ultimate power or intrinsic authority. However, the Scriptures declare that the moral law, the ultimate standard of goodness and purity, finds its origin in God. It is the product of the Ultimate Judge and is binding on all men. It is the bedrock for the laws of the state, itself instituted by God to bear the sword, to protect the innocent, and to punish the guilty. Civilization is a gift of God. It certainly is a means by which He restrains the evil of men.

Sadly, The Joker’s anthropology is more Biblical than that of many professing Christians. Man is NOT basically good. We are basically corrupt. Every aspect of our being is tainted and deformed by sin to one degree or another. This is often called total depravity, though a more apt term I’ve heard applied to it is radical corruption. We are not as evil as we could be, but there is not one aspect of our beings that is left unaffected by sin. Apart from God’s grace, we would indeed “eat each other.” So, too often, we see ourselves as “better” than the serial killers, the rapists, and the deviants of society. Horizontally, we may be better than The Jokers of the world. Vertically, however, we are all sinners deserving of God’s just condemnation. In comparison to God’s holy standard, we are all lawbreakers and criminals. We are the scum of society. That is why faith in Christ alone is so important. It is through faith in Christ, itself a gift from God, that Christ’s perfect righteousness is imputed to us. This allows us to stand before God blameless. For as Christ gives us His righteousness, so too did He take upon Himself our sin. He became sin and was crushed by God’s wrath that we might be saved from the Judgment. In terms of sin, we are all “monsters.” Despite this, God in His loving mercy still chose to save us.

The Joker continues to expound his twisted worldview in the hospital scene with Harvey Dent:

“I’m not a schemer. I like to show the schemers how pathetic their attempts to control things really are…You were a schemer. You had plans, and look where that gotcha.”

A quick point, I know it wasn’t the script writer’s intention, but there is a droplet of truth here. We are all schemers. We are going to attend college here, we are going to do this, we are going to marry when we’re this age, have this many kids, live here, travel here, do this, do that, ad nauseam. God is the one who often shows “how pathetic our attempts to control things really are.” He alone is sovereign. While we should plan diligently, we must not do so assuming that we have the final say. God has measured our days. We shouldn’t delude ourselves into thinking that we can plan the time and the means by which we will come to God for our eternal destiny. The Scriptures declare that today is the day of salvation, now is the time to believe. Likewise Christ is the only way by which we may gain both acceptance by God and entrance into His heaven. Walking an aisle, signing a card, saying a prayer, getting baptized, taking communion, joining a church, singing a hymn, doing good deeds, and “living a good life” won’t save the first soul from hell. Only God-given faith in Christ can accomplish such a feat.

The Joker goes on:

“See, I’ve noticed something. Nobody panics when things go 'according to plan,’ even if the plan is horrifying. If I told the press that tomorrow like a gangbanger would get shot, or a truck load of soldiers would be blown up, nobody panics, because it’s all ‘part of the plan.’ But if I say that one little old mayor will die, then everyone loses their minds! Introduce a little anarchy; upset the established order and everything becomes chaos. I’m an agent of chaos.”

Hear we see the philosophical conclusion of an atheistic worldview, or at least a worldview with a non-Biblical god. The Bible declares that God is dread sovereign over the entire universe. He has the hairs on our heads numbered; he knows when a sparrow falls to the ground dead. We may see mayhem erupt in riots, wars, and other violence, but God remains in total control of every atom in Creation. Though God is not the author of sin and evil, He still may use these things to accomplish His purposes. We need look no further than the Cross for evidence of this. The Crucifixion of Jesus was the most evil act ever perpetrated by the hand of man. Pure innocence was executed. Jesus was murdered. By killing Jesus, his accusers and executioners committed cold-blooded murder of the first degree. However, out of this murderous act, God brought salvation. Through the greatest sin, God brought the greatest good. What men meant for evil, God meant for good.

However, while The Joker is the antagonist of the film, the films hero has a faulty worldview as well. So do the other ‘good’ characters. In her letter to Bruce, Rachel, lets him know that she has chosen to marry Harvey. She also says something worst examining:

“If you lose your faith in me, please, don’t lose your faith in people.”

Now, this seems like a kind letter that seeks to “let Bruce off easy,” but this final statement is truly foolish. We must put no ultimate faith in people, starting with ourselves. We are people of deceitful hearts and unclean lips. It is in Christ alone in whom we must place our faith if we hope to endure trials and tribulations.

The end of the film has Batman delivering an interesting last line:

“Sometimes the truth isn’t good enough. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded. Sometimes people deserve more.”

Gordon and Batman had “bet it all” on Harvey Dent. The Joker told Batman that he had brought Gotham’s white knight down to “our level.” If people were to know the crimes of Two-Face, then they would lose hope in what Gordon and Batman stood for, or so the protagonists assumed.

That is the overarching flaw of the film’s outlook on human existence. If man is the measure of all things; if God is not given his proper place, then The Joker will ultimately have the last laugh. If we put our faith in our government, our military, our wealth, our health, our family, our spouse, our children, our own moral performance, our heritage, or ourselves we will be eternally disillusioned. All these things, though good, cannot provide ultimate satisfaction or security. Only God can do that. Truth, Biblical Truth, is always good enough. People do not need to have their faith rewarded if that faith’s object is anything but the Living Triune God. Such faith should be torn down and exposed for what it is: a lie. The faith of Christians is the only faith that will bring reward. Not because of the faith itself but because of whom that faith is in: Jesus. We may not deserve Jesus, but He is the “something more” we all desperately need.

One scene from which I do draw inspiration in my Christian walk is the scene in the Bat Bunker before Bruce decides to turn himself in:

-Bruce: People are dying, Alfred. What would you have me do?
-Alfred: Endure, Master Wayne. Take it. They'll hate you for it, but that's the point of Batman. He can make the choice no one else will make, the right choice.

Many Christians like me who struggle with assurance and sin would benefit if we would take to heart the numerous Biblical passages that tell us to persevere in the faith. Knowing that our salvation is a free gift and that we are free from both the dominion and condemnation of sin, what will we now do? Turn ourselves back over to the world, the flesh, and the devil? God forbid! The world may hate us for it, but we must take it.
Let us press on to the goal keeping our eyes fixed on the Cross. Let us endure.

In conclusion, I loved The Dark Knight. It is a cinematic masterpiece. It raises the right questions that most movies shy away from even if it doesn’t offer the right answers.

Soli Deo Gloria

Theology: What's It Good For? An Introduction

A chief concern of Christianity in our age (well, in all ages) is theology. We are happy to discuss worship, fellowship, and drama but seldom do we discuss the “queen of the sciences.” I believe there are a variety of reasons people shy away from this most pertinent of topics. I assert that the foremost reason is ignorance. Many people are not well versed in the details of the Trinity, the Incarnation, or the Atonement. I’m not saying they are not true Christians. Many of these believers eagerly confess the aforementioned truths without fully understanding them. In fact, the place to start with sound theology is that the subject of study, God, is not fully understandable. The way many theologians have put it: we can apprehend God but we cannot comprehend God. No one, not pastor, priest, or Pope can come to an exhaustive knowledge of Almighty God. We can know God insofar as He has revealed Himself to us through both general revelation (the Creation) and special revelation (the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament). Many an agnostic will assert that God, being infinite, cannot even be apprehended by us finite beings. In short, God is unknowable. To those who hold this view, be careful what you assert. If God is unknowable, how did you come to know this? Unknowablility is an attribute you ascribe to God who, you claim, cannot be known. Your statement is self-contradictory.

ANYWAY, back to my main point. Theology and sound doctrine are also avoided for fear of division within the Body of Christ. When you start defining what beliefs are right and what beliefs are wrong, you’re bound to step on some toes. These well-meaning but misguided Christians cite texts such 1 Corinthians 12:25, “as so that there may be no division in the body, but the members may have mutual concern for one another.” I could cite Christ words in Luke 12:51, “Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!” The division spoken of in the epistles seems to refer to needless division that arises due to bigotry, gossip, grudges, pride, and other fruit of the flesh. Christ tells that He and His message will tear people apart. The Gospel is good news to those who are being saved but is ominous to those who are perishing. There are plenty of passages in the New Testament that we Christians need to be separate from the world. Not separate in the sense of hunkering down in a fallout shelter or joining the Amish, but being separate in our convictions and in our actions. We are to be in the world but not of the world.

Thirdly, sound doctrine is deemphasized by those who can’t see the relevance of what they see as modern-day scholasticism arguing over theological minutiae that has no bearing in their walk with Christ. I do admit that we Christians often strain out gnats while swallowing camels (Matthew 23:24), but this is precisely why theological training is needed in the churches! We need to learn the sine qua non (Latin for “without which not”) doctrines of the Christian faith. Those doctrines, which, if not believed fully and properly by someone, make them unchristian. Many will cry out that they “believe the Bible.” Well, so do many cults. The best heresies come from Scripture. We Christians need to rediscover the dynamism and beauty of Truth so that we may make disciples of all the nations. We think the clear and bold proclamation of eternal truth will drive people from the church. It may, but perhaps they weren’t the right people. Skits, dramas, self-esteem sermons may draw a crowd for a time, but only Truth will put the right people in the seats for the long haul. My first article that will deal with theology in everyday life will be focused on “Truth About Town: Seeing Theology in Nation’s Oldest City.” So, when you’re stuck in the library between classes, take some time to check it out.
As always, Soli Deo Gloria and Semper Reformanda!

*For some introductory theology check out these links:
http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/268theologyquestions?s=c1f7e682313f17d7b878c2d52ca3b648
http://www.ligonier.org
http://www.monergism.com/
For anyone with iTunes, go to iTunesU and search for RTS-Reformed Theological Seminary. They have whole classes for FREE; very edifying source.

*In regards to the picture, this is the Reformation Wall (or Reformers' Wall) in Geneva, Switzerland. It depicts four titans of the Reformation. From left: Guillaume Farel, John Calvin, Theodore Beza, and John Knox. Farel was the man who persuaded John Calvin to remain in Geneva. Calvin is the foremost theologian associated with Reformed Theology. Beza was one of Calvin's stellar students. Knox was the fiery preacher who brought the Reformation to Scotland.

Augustine, Pears, Norm MacDonald, and Human Depravity

I recently finished listening to the audiobook of Saint Augustine's timeless work, The Confessions. I encourage all Christians and non-Christians to read (or listen to) this book at some point. It paints such an intimate portrait of the spiritual struggles of one of the greatest theologians of Church history. By showing us the depths of his depravity, Augustine puts a mirror to our own hearts so tainted by sin. One noted event in the book and in the life of Augustine is the infamous stealing of the pears. Augustine recounts a time in his youth where he and some friends were looking for kicks one night and ended up stealing pears from a stranger's pear tree. Finding them sub par, Augustine and his coterie of ne'er-do-wells proceeded to throw the fruit away.
Most people today, and I venture to say, most people then, view Augustine's antics as a harmless prank. Augustine, looking back on this event, saw much deeper spiritual implications. Why did he steal the pears? He could have bought plenty of pears of much higher quality by his own means. Did he steal because of a sense of camaraderie among his partners in crime? Well, somewhat, but what was the root of his action? Augustine came to the conclusion that it was the natural affection we humans have for sin itself. Sure, we all sin for the pleasure or benefit derived from our unrighteous action. We lust and commit fornication for the pleasure derived from sex (Augustine knew plenty about this as well, but that's a whole 'nother issue!); we cheat and steal for what money and filthy lucre can get us. However, the severity Augustine saw in his sin of stealing those pears was the utter pointlessness of the act. He derived no pleasure or gratification from the pears. He sinned for the sake of sinning. And we are no different. Augustine saw humans as riding a bucking bronco that was our sinful nature. We do not have hold of any reins but only a whip. We can only store up more sin and thereby store up more wrath for ourselves on the day of judgment.
BUT, God has graciously made a provision on our behalf. He has given us a way to dismount the stead, as it were: it is the person and work of Jesus Christ. Though by Adam sin entered into the world, in Christ, sin is conquered. In Adam all die; in Christ all live and live more abundantly. God demands moral perfection that no man can attain (no, not one). So, God sent His son to live the life we could not and die the death of a criminal thereby atoning for all the sins of those who would come to believe. Christ's shed blood washes all our sins away, and His righteousness is imputed to all those who believe so when God looks at us, He no longer sees our iniquity but rather sees the perfect righteousness of Christ.
To all those who do not yet rest in Christ, I earnestly exhort you to repent of your sins and believe the gospel. We Christians tend to wrongly cast our heroes of the faith as marble statues who know nothing of human frailty. Nothing could be further from the truth! Augustine knew and struggled with sins few church-going Christians can mention without blushing. Augustine's example shows us that God shows mercy upon whom He will show mercy. God at times chooses the worst and most wicked among us in order to accomplish His sovereign purposes. Augustine knew this first hand. That is why he did not boast or seek salvation through his own devices and neither should we. He sought refuge in Christ and Christ alone. As a Christian who struggles at times with assurance of salvation, I always look to the Cross for true peace and to the Word for true solace. I am reminded that God's promises to those whom He has saved are not "yes and no" but "yes and amen"!
Now, on a lighter note, here is Norm MacDonald talking about lying for no good reason. He makes a valid point that reflects Augustine's sentiments regarding the theft of the pears. The part about lying begins about 45 seconds in...Enjoy!

Table Talk: Potpourri

I wanted to hit on a variety of topics today ranging from the serious to the frivolous. So let's pull up a chair at Dr. Martin's table and bend an ear:

OF SINS
CCLI.A magistrate, a father or mother, a master or dame, tradesmen and others, must now and then look through the fingers at their citizens, children, and servants, if their faults and offences be not too gross and frequent; for where we will have summum jus, there follows often summa injuria, so that all must go to wreck. Neither do they which are in office always hit it aright, but err and sin themselves, and must therefore desire the forgiveness of sins.God forgives sins merely out of grace for Christ's sake; but we must not abuse the grace of God. God has given signs and tokens enough, that our sins shall be forgiven; namely, the preaching of the gospel, baptism, the Lord's Supper, and the Holy Ghost in our hearts.Now it is also needful we testify in our works that we have received the forgiveness of sins, by each forgiving the faults of his brother. There is no comparison between God's remitting of sins and ours. For what are one hundred pence, in comparison with ten thousand pounds? as Christ says, naught. And although we deserve nothing by our forgiving, yet we must forgive that thereby we may prove and give testimony that we from God have received forgiveness of our sins.The forgiveness of sins is declared only in God's Word, and there we must seek it; for it is grounded on God's promises. God forgives thee thy sins, not because thou feelest them and art sorry, for this sin itself produces, without deserving, but he forgives thy sins because he is merciful, and because he has promised to forgive for Christ's sake.(Here, Luther is speaking againt what we might call "easy-believism". So many people want the freedom from God's wrath that Christ offers without desiring the freedom from sin that is a necessary and crucial part to saving faith. We should "work out our own salvation in fear and trembling" Philippians 2:12. A saving faith must bear fruit!)

OF TEMPTATION AND TRIBULATION

DCXXXIV.It is impossible for a human heart, without crosses and tribulations, to think upon God.
DCXLIII.Ah! how willingly would I now die, for I am faint and overwrought, and at this time I have a joyful and peaceable heart and conscience. I know full well, so soon as I shall be again in health, I neither shall have peace nor rest, but sorrow, weariness, and tribulations. But even that great man, St Paul, could not be exempt from tribulations.
DCLII.My tribulations are more necessary for me than meat and drink; and all they feel them ought to accustom themselves thereunto, and learn to bear them.If Satan had not so plagued and exercised me, I should not have been so great an enemy unto him, or have been able to do him such hurt. Tribulations keep us from pride, and therewith increase the acknowledgment of Christ and of God's gifts and benefits. For, from the time I began to be in tribulation, God have me the victory of overcoming that confounded, cursed, and blasphemous life wherein I lived in popedom. God did the business in such a way, that neither the emperor nor the pope was able to suppress me, but the devil must come and set upon me, to the end God's strength may be known in my weakness.

OF GOD'S WORKS
CXVII.The devil, too, has his amusement and pleasure, which consists in suppressing God's work, and tormenting those that love God's Word, and hold fast thereby; so the true Christians, being God's kingdom, must be tormented and oppressed. A true Christian must have evil days, and suffer much; our Adam's flesh and blood must have good and easy days, and suffer nothing. How may these agree together? Our flesh is given over to death and hell: if our flesh is to be delivered from death, hell and the devil, it must keep and hold to God's commandments - i.e., must believe in Christ Jesus, that he is the Son of God and our Redeemer, and must cleave fast to his Word, believing that he will not suffer us to be plagued everlastingly, but will deliver and remove us out of this life into life eternal; giving us at the same time, patience under the cross, and to bear with the weakness of another, who is also under the cross, and holds with Christ.Therefore, he that will boast himself to be Christ's disciple, a true Christian, and saved, must not expect good days; but all his faith, hope, and love must be directed to God, and to his neighbor, that so his whole life be nothing else than the cross, persecution, adversity, and tribulation.
XC.God delights in our temptations, and yet hates them; he delights in them when they drive us to prayer; he hates them when they drive us to despair. The Psalm says: "An humble and contrite heart is an acceptable sacrifice to God," etc. Therefore, when it goes well with you, sing and praise God with a hymn: goes it evil, that is, does temptation come, then pray: "For the Lord has pleasure in those that fear him;" and that which follows is better: "and in them that hope in his goodness," for God helps the lowly and humble, seeing he says: "Thinkest thou my hand is shortened that I cannot help?" He that feels himself weak in faith, let him always have a desire to be strong therein, for that is a nourishment which God relishes in us.(I think suffering is far more beneficial than we give it credit for. We must remember that God chasens those whom he loves. I always seek a "quick fix"; instant alleviation of my pain whether it be through medication, distraction, or amusement. When I grow physically ill or feel overwhelmed with school or worldly matters, I should use that hardship to meditate on God's mercy and providence. I consider that though I am a wretched sinner, God by His grace has saved me and will allow nothing to snatch me out of His hand! That's why, when I die, if it be God's Will, I pray mine to be a slow death for the sake of my own sanctification. No amount of mental anguish or carnal agony can eclipse the glory and majesty of what is prepared for me by Christ!)

Now, Luther's lighter side:

ON GOD'S WORKS
XCII.`Tis wonderful how God has put such excellent physic in mere muck; we know by experience that swine's dung stints the blood; horse's serves for the pleurisy; man's heals wounds and black blotches; asses' is used for the bloody flux, and cow's with preserved roses, for epilepsy, or for convulsions of children.(I don't think exegesis of this excerpt is necessary!)--Soli Deo Gloria

Table Talk: On God's Word

Martin Luther, the German reformer, often had friends and guests over to his house for some beer, food, and rousing discussions of theology, politics, science, and life. I am going to be posting some excerpts from Luther's Table Talk...I would encourage you to set aside some time and reflect on the musings of this famous reformer:

I.That the Bible is God's Word and book I prove thus: All things that have been, and are, in the world, and the manner of their being, are described in the first book of Moses on the creation; even as God made and shaped the world, so does it stand to this day. Infinite potentates have raged against this book, and sought to destroy and uproot it - king Alexander the Great, the princes of Egypt and of Babylon, the monarchs of Persia, of Greece, and of Rome, the emperors Julius and Augustus - but they nothing prevailed; they are all gone and vanished, while the book remains, and will remain for ever and ever, perfect and entire, as it was declared at first. Who has thus helped it - who has thus protected it against such mighty forces? No one, surely, but God himself, who is the master of all things. And `tis no small miracle how God has so long preserved and protected this book; for the devil and the world are sore foes to it. I believe that the devil has destroyed many good books of the church, as, aforetime, he killed and crushed many holy persons, the memory of whom has now passed away; but the Bible he was fain to leave subsisting. In like manner have baptism, the sacrament of the altar, of the true body and blood of Christ, and the office of preaching remained unto us, despite the infinitude of tyrants and heretic persecutors. God, with singular strength, has upheld these things; let us, then, baptize, administer the sacrament, and preach, fearless of impediment. Homer, Virgil, and other noble, fine, and profitable writers, have left us books of great antiquity, but they are naught to the Bible. While the Romish church stood, the Bible was never given to the people in such a shape that they could clearly, understandingly, surely, and easily read it, as they now can in the German translation, which, thank God, we have prepared here at Wittenberg.