Monday, June 29, 2009

DE SERVO ARBITRIO: the theological paradigm for Lutheran theological discourse.
(as explained by Robert Kolb in Bound Choice, Election, and Wittenberg Theological Method)

Over the course of several postings, I'll be putting my understanding of Kolb's presentation of Luther's theological foundation as expressed by his answer to Erasmus in 'The Bondage of the Will.'

Thesis Number One:
quote from page 32
Let God Be God
God is a person, the almighty Creator of all that exists, the sovereign Lord and sole acting agent over his creation, totally responsible for all that takes place.

DISCUSSION:

These points explicate the thesis:

1) God is not an impersonal force nor an extension of human capability;

2) God alone is THE Creator;

--establishing human existence, identity, and righteousness;
--totally distinct from his creation;
--God's freedom is not contingent as is human freedom

3) God's foreknowledge is creative

--it brings about the future instead of observing it;
--God does not lie but brings about all things by his will which we know in Jesus Christ;
--The comfort that salvation from sin rests solely upon God's decision is not only biblical, but the basis for
pastoral care.


4) God's free agency is a "willing" synonymous with his providential care of creation,
especially its sinners.
--God's "willing" never ceases otherwise it would cease to be a "will;"
--God wills righteousness, not in the sense of "fairness" (justice), but in granting mercy and
the bestowal of love;
--This "will" of God is hidden from sinners and must be revealed to them.

5) --The gospel of Christ declared to the people is God creating them anew through Christ's
death and resurrection:
--in Luther's lectures on Galatians and using Paul in Romans 6;
--God's saving work is to put sinners to death and raise them up to new life in Christ--new
life/new creatures/new creation.


Sunday, June 28, 2009

DE SERVO ARBITRIO: the theological paradigm for Lutheran theological discourse.
(as explained by Robert Kolb in Bound Choice, Election, and Wittenberg Theological Method)

Over the course of several postings, I'll be putting my understanding of Kolb's presentation of Luther's theological foundation as expressed by his answer to Erasmus in 'The Bondage of the Will.'

from page 31 of Kolb's book:


3 axioms ground his response to Eramus' argument:
1. God is Creator
2. the human being is a creature fashioned by and dependent upon the Creator and his design for humanity.
3. God's chosen people--having been given the gift of faith--struggle life-long against sin and its consequent evil, i.e. daily repentance is necessary--a mysterious but incontrovertible fact.

These axioms presuppose and turn one back to this fundamental paradox:
"The Creator God's absolute responsibility and sovereignty over his creation AND the total responsibility of human creatures to carry out God's design for their humanity."

Kolb then continues with 10 Theses which summarize the reformer's application of the paradox and axioms.

I'll take up those theses in separate posts

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Online registration for the upcoming convention, Rock of Ages is now available on our website. See http://www.augsburgchurches.org/2009convention/convention.shtm for more convention information.

Monday, June 22, 2009

We're pleased to announce that our new website is live! Please check out our new site at www.augsburgchurches.org. While the new look is complete, we are still adding content to some of the pages, so please be patient with us while we continue updating the site.

We've posted information on our upcoming gathering, Rock of Ages, in El Paso, Texas on July 26th - 29th. You can download a brochure that outlines the convention schedule and includes a mail-in registration form from our home page. Please feel free to contact us (see contact page for links) if you have any questions about the convention. We hope to see you there!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Welcome to the Augsburg Lutheran Churches Blog!

Our intent for this blog is simply to provide a place where members can share their ideas and opinions on what's happening within ALC.
Hey!
I like this!
The look is really cool and the blog will be great for discussion, even some text study stuff for us preachers.
A welcome addition to the ALC line up of resources.
Tim