by Matthew C. Harrison There is a near universal human conviction that somehow something of human consciousness lives beyond death, whether a continuation of the human person absent a body, or absorption of the individual consciousness into some “stream of consciousness,” or a higher final state of oneness and being with “god.” Genuine Marxists or Communists are an exception. As “materialists,” they limit all reality to what is material in nature. Thus no soul. No heaven. No aft...| The Lutheran Witness
by Matthew C. Harrison We are “Book of Concord Lutherans.” Every rostered church worker in the LCMS; every congregation, district and LCMS institution; every school and LCMS university has defined itself as a Book of Concord Lutheran endeavor. It’s on display most vividly when a pastor is ordained and installed in a congregation. He swears to believe and teach in complete accord with the divinely inspired Scriptures and the Book of Concord. The Book of Concord was ratified in 1580 on ...| The Lutheran Witness
by Matthew C. Harrison “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame” (Rom. 5:3–5). Do you ever feel like quitting? Quitting friends? Quitting family? Quitting a class? Quitting sports? Quitting school? Quitting church? Quitting life? Of course you have. We all have, and the reasons vary. Life is painful and complicated. It’s a good thing to get out of toxic s...| The Lutheran Witness
by Matthew C. Harrison We live in strange times of exploding scientific knowledge and deep ignorance of the Bible and Christianity. Our young people are taught the Bible is myth. They are told that the books included in it were selected for political and prejudicial reasons, while the “gospels” excluded from the canon of Scripture (the “Gospel of Thomas,” for example) were rejected for their broader, more open views of women, sexuality and so on. In reality, these other “gospels...| The Lutheran Witness
by Matthew C. Harrison “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). The kingdom of heaven is God’s good Gospel gift. Luther commented, “If our dear Father were not to give the kingdom to us, we would never buy it from Him or earn it. The word is give, give, give. Therefore, we should thank Him with a cheerful heart and not boast about our worthiness” (Luther, St. L. IX.1812; my translation). John the Baptizer saw this king...| The Lutheran Witness
by Matthew C. Harrison Luther says that the Fourth Commandment is the most important commandment in the second table of the Law (Commandments 4–10). It’s the source of all temporal blessings; good order in the home; and love, peace and even joy in society (LC I 126). “Honor your father and your mother, that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth,” as the old translation of the catechism said. This temporal promise is a good reason, says Luther, for us ...| The Lutheran Witness