Happy Sunday, everyone!
Since we live in a Muslim country we typically worship on Friday mornings. Most people have a Sunday through Thursday work week. Until September it was the more traditional Saturday through Wednesday week, but they changed to have fewer work days out of sync with the rest of the world. But Sunday still seems like it should be special somehow, especially since I have to listen to students recite the Qur'an (I refuse to refer to it as "holy") during our weekly assembly. This is my usual Sunday morning:
For the last few months I've been downloading sermons from The Lutheran Hour and saving them on my iPod. I'm a few weeks behind on my listening but that's OK. I listen to The Lutheran Hour on my morning drive (or, if my friend is riding with me, I listen on my walk in the basement). Then during the Sunday morning assemble I have my Lutheran Prayer Book with me and I read through the Nicene Creed, pray the Lord's Prayer, read Psalm 122, or something to keep my mind where it belongs, not being annoyed to death by what I'm hearing.
This morning I listened to a wonderful sermon from a few weeks ago. The pastor's response to an e-mail was just as terrific. He really spelled things out very clearly. Basically he talked about how we're supposed to keep an open mind.Society says that if we say anything like Christ being the only way to the Father than we're being closed-minded and judgemental. His illustrations to the opposite were excellent.
After the sermon, before the Q & A portion they played one of my favorite hymns. I found myself singing along while driving up 55. It's a short stretch of road and the song was just the perfect length. LOL Here it is:
At the Lamb’s high feast we sing, Praise to our victorious King, Who hath washed us in the tide Flowing from his piercèd side; Alleluia.
Praise we Him, whose love divine Gives His sacred blood for wine, Gives His body for the feast, Christ the Victim, Christ the Priest. Alleluia.
Where the Paschal blood is poured, Death’s dark angel sheathes his sword; Israel’s hosts triumphant go Through the wave that drowns the foe. Alleluia.
Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed, Paschal Victim, paschal Bread; With sincerity and love Eat we Manna from above. Alleluia.
Mighty Victim from the sky, Hell’s fierce powers beneath Thee lie; Thou hast conquered in the fight, Thou hast brought us life and light; Alleluia.
Now no more can death appall, Now no more the grave enthrall; Thou hast opened Paradise, And in Thee Thy saints shall rise. Alleluia.
Paschal triumph, Easter joy, Only sin can this destroy; From sin’s death do Thou set free Souls reborn, O Lord, in Thee. Alleluia.
Hymns of glory and of praise, Father, to Thee we raise; Risen Lord, all praise to Thee, Ever with the Spirit be. Alleluia.
The words that I found online are a little bit different than what I'm used to but you still get the gist. Did I mention that I love this hymn?
BTW, someone had a question about a previous post of mine but didn't feel she knew me well enough to comment directly to me so she asked a mutual friend. Here's a link to an excellent answer to her question. So, if you ever have a question for me, you might want to ask her. LOL http://askalutheran.blogspot.com/2008/05/im-no-theologian-but.html
Have a nice day!
7 comments:
I love that hymn too!
Hi, Jane! Welcome!
Yep, I was humming that song off and on all day.
>>Basically he talked about how we're supposed to keep an open mind. If we say anything like Christ being the only way to the Father than we're being closed-minded and judgemental. His illustrations were excellent.
I don't understand. What other options are there?
Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
If Jesus's death were not the only way to come to Him, would He really have sent Him and put Him to death on the cross for our sakes?
Would Jesus, who could've called angels down to defend Him and serve Him, have undergone such a terrible death?
There was no other way. And there still is not. It's not being closed-minded. It's honoring God who said that there was no other way. It's honoring God who sent His only and eternally begotten Son to take on flesh and die for all sins, and all who believe in Him are saved. It's honoring Christ who created the world and had every power to simply destroy it but loved us so much to follow His Father's will to the cross in perfect obedience....who paid for us and cleanses us with His very blood.
In complete respect for you Beth, I really do hope I'm misunderstanding because I can't see how someone could say that it is closed minded to say that God putting His only son to death for our sakes and then sing that hymn (which is my most favorite).
Christ washes us in the tide that flows from his pierced side.
Gives His sacred blood for wine, gives His body for the feast, Christ the victim, Christ the priest.
Where the Paschal blood is poured, Death's dark angel sheathes his sword.
Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed.
Thou has conquered in the fight, Thou hast brought us life and light
Thou has opened Paradise, and IN THEE, THY SAINTS SHALL RISE.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
What other option could there be?
Oops! I wondered where you were getting your comments from so I reread my post. I guess I wasn't too clear. Sorry about that. He was talking about how we (Christians) are accused of being closed-minded and judgemental when we say that Christ is the only way to the Father. I guess I did make it sound like HE'D said that we were closed-minded and judgemental for saying that.
Thanks for you comments. I'll go back now and edit my post. ;)
PHEW....It didn't sound like something you'd agree with!!!!!
Thanks for clarifying, you had me SCARED
You'd be surprised how many people think I'm scary. Especially my students. LOL
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