simply, Christian

sermons and body armor

thoughts on the third commandment

Silvrback blog image

We all know the type, the person that comes to church and maybe even bible study class but conveniently ducks out of worship--maybe all of it or maybe just the sermon--to 'fellowship' and have a cup of coffee instead of attending to the preaching of the Word. Usually folks like that are pretty smug about the whole thing, . . .

Read More

Posted in: theologyworship

August 12, 2021

fearing and loving God

thoughts on the catechism and worship

Silvrback blog image

In his explanation of the commandments, Luther beings every one with these words, 'We should fear and love God and...'

It is perhaps well known that there are some Christians today who maintain that Luther made a mistake in this. They strike out the 'fear' and say that we should love God, nothing more.
. . .

Read More

Posted in: theologyworship

August 11, 2021

Luther on struggling with Satan

"We must not imagine that we shall have peace from [Satan.] He takes no vacation and does not sleep. Choose, then, whether you prefer to wrestle with the devil or whether you prefer to belong to him."

-- Martin Luther, 1527 (AE 37:17)

Photo by Anandu Vinod on Unsplash

Read More

Posted in: quotestheology

August 09, 2021

in _____ we trust

thoughts on the first commandment

Silvrback blog image

Much of the 'news' (i.e. political commentary disguised as news) these days surrounding the events of the world is inconsistent and sometimes contradictory. For example, reading news from one source can lead us to believe that COVID-19 is the greatest threat to humanity since the dark ages while another news source leads us . . .

Read More

Posted in: lifetheology

August 04, 2021

Luther on studying God's Word

Silvrback blog image

In his preface to the Large Catechism, Martin Luther anticipates the objections of those who think they are too learned, too wise, or too mature to daily read God's Word. In our time, we might certainly add the objections of those who are too busy or find Scripture too boring or whatever other objection might be raised. . . .

Read More

Posted in: lifetheology

August 03, 2021

making a mockery of worship and life

This video makes me ashamed to point out the fact that I worship in a United Methodist parish. Come one, come all, to our three ring circus!

I realize that most of the criticism on this video focuses on homosexuality. It is an entirely relevant criticism with which I completely agree. Focusing only on that, however, . . .

Read More

Posted in: theology

July 20, 2021

relevance: a failed experiment in American Christianity

Silvrback blog image

Since the end of the 1950s, American Christians across the entire denominational spectrum have been enamored with 'relevance,' most commonly touted as a means by which to keep youth in the church and attract the unchurched. At its best, this goal was pursued to make Christianity more understandable to outsiders. At its . . .

Read More

July 14, 2021

Archive

This update link alerts you to new Silvrback admin blog posts. A green bubble beside the link indicates a new post. Click the link to the admin blog and the bubble disappears.

Got It!