“If now I seek the forgiveness of sins, I
do not run to the cross, for I will not find it given there… But I will find in
the sacrament or Gospel the word which distributes, presents, offers, and gives
to me that forgiveness which was won on the Cross.” (AE 40, 214)
Twas the night before we left for DTBL, and Bloghardt was filled with
reflections.....
It's the calm before the storm here at St. Mark. It's just starting to raining,
but I'm not talking about the Texas weather. In just a couple hours, our little
church is sending eighteen youth, five counselors, and their younger pastor to
the absolute-most-unbelievably-awesome-and-spectacular youth conference in the
history of all youth conferences. DTBL is here and the bus is about to take us
all the way to St. Louis!
I don't know how the kids do it every year. They went to Duluth, they went to
Arlington, then they went totally insane and flew to Seattle, now it's off to
St. Louis. And it's not like it's a few kids. No, it's the same absurd amount of
kids coming from our little-bitty parish.
I know... numbers are meaningless. Our Lord does two or three gathered in His
name. But, when they gather in front of that bus or under the arch to take a
picture.... It's just so..... unbelievable.
Silly Bloghardt, why don't you believe the Gospel? Jesus does it. Jesus gives to
them by grace alone, that is completely undeserved. Sure, the kids fundraise,
they study, they pray, and they work real hard, but that's not why they do
unbelievable things. Jesus does the unbelievable. He gifts them and they receive
His unbelievable good stuff.
What's the wild thing. The kids get it. Bloghardt may not believe, but they
actually do. They aren't going to St. Louis to just have fun, but they honestly
desire to hear the Word and receive the Lord's Supper. The Lord Jesus gifted
them with salvation, winning salvation for them on the Cross. His Body was
crucified for them. His Blood was shed for them for the remission of their sins.
He died for them. He rose for them. He ascended for them and they believe in Him
for He has made Himself known to them in the breaking of the bread. At the
Lord's Supper today He put His Body and Blood into their mouths for the
remission of all their sins.
What kinda strange kids are these? Some say our church is dying. But, if the
youth of our church are the hope of our little parish and Lutheranism the
future, then there is not a reason to despair. As Sasse says, "The Lord is the
Lord of the Church."
There wasn't a reason to despair before, but being grown up means being all
smart and know-it-all-ish (grin). I get to repent my idolatry, don't I? (SMILE)
Bloghardt's sin today is pride. I'm proud of my youth group. Or was it unbelief?
He's got so many sins!
So kudos to my uber Lutheran teenagers. No better... kudos to their crucified
Lord! He died not only for their sins, but for the sins of the whole world -
even for me!
And in 17 short hours (heh), St. Louis will have even more joys and gifts for
them and us tag-along-old folks too.... INI. Amen.
Posted On: July 20th, 2005 at 4:47pm by john pawlitz
Other people can probably give you more specific information, but Sasse was a German theologian in the 20th Century. He lived in Germany before World War II and was alienated from the followers of Karl Barth, who required the act of confessing (against Hitler's national socialist party) rather than respecting the theological content of a confession. Meanwhile, Sasse continue to confess, along with Dietrich Bonheuffer, the sinfulness of Nazi doctrine.
After the war, he was a man theologically estranged from almost everyone in Germany, left after the end of World War II and took up residence in Australia, where he became an important authority for a budding Australian Lutheranism. His theology would be something else to describe, but he often commands considerable respect as a broad thinker, a keen wit, and a faithful preacher.
