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from the augsburg pastor ...

Rev. Dick Smith

J. S. Whale authored, "The Protestant Tradition" wherein he describes Luther's understanding of the Law in the Scriptures as a mirror, a hammer, and a mask. It is a mirror because it shows us not as we would like to think we are but as we really are, sinful and unclean. Then it functions as a hammer knocking us down from our lofty opinion of ourselves all the way to total humbleness, even humiliation, utter despair, and death. Then it removes its mask and behind it we see the CROSS.

What we are confronting today is the terrible situation where man has grabbed the hammer and with it smashed the mirror and then in his arrogance torn away the mask ONLY TO DISCOVER THERE IS NOTHING BEHIND IT! There is NO CROSS for those who are not humiliated by the LAW.

In the Heidelberg Disputation, Luther wrote in Thesis 11: "ARROGANCE cannot be avoided or true HOPE be present unless the judgment of condemnation is FEARED in EVERY WORK." Who holds to that today in a society that "believes in itself," holds up self esteem as the good, identifies evil as only outside of itself and NOT WITHIN? St. Paul wrote, "If someone thinks he is something when he is NOTHING HE DECEIVES HIMSELF" (Gal. 6:3). Just try calling yourself NOTHING in the presence of others and see how quickly you are reprimanded. Yet that is what we are: NOTHING! Because out of NOTHING God creates a NEW CREATURE. "I don't live anymore. IT IS CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME" (Galatians 2:20; II Cor. 5:14ff.)!

In the present environment we can feel desperately isolated. One of the marks of the church is the mutual conversation and consolation of the brethren. I would encourage you to engage in conversation and consolation about the cross and what it means to be a real sinner for whom Christ died. Do you know any elderly, infirmed, etc, who are unable to get out and about? They have had opportunity to experience suffering and can be ready for the message of the Gospel. You might be pleasantly surprised to find kindred spirits there.

And remember, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. We are all connected in the corporeality of the Body of Christ. We share in the Body comfort, affliction, suffering. Paul put it so eloquently in the opening verses of his Second Letter to the Corinthians. He writes: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort" (II Cor. 1:3-7RSV).

From one dead person to another whose life is CHRIST (II Cor. 5:14 and Col. 3:4).

Rev. Dick Smith, serves Heart River Lutheran Church, bringing Christ to youth at the Youth Correctional Center in Mandan, North Dakota. You may write directly to Rev. Smith at dicksmith9@bis.midco.netmailto:dicksmith9@bis.midco.net

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