The Weekend Word

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25 Responses

  1. Jean says:

    This week’s lesson is very encouraging.
    I’ve been a lost sheep most of my life.
    Thank you MLD.

  2. JoelG says:

    Thank you MLD.

    Does verse 20 only apply to church, or anywhere we share the Gospel as individuals? For example a family bible study or simply sharing the Gospel with individuals in our daily lives?

  3. JoelG says:

    Never mind. Stupid question. He is always pesent with believers. Jesus seems to say He will be with us in a special way where 2 or 3 are gathered in His Name. The context is church discipline, from what I gather.

  4. Hi Joel – this must be the problem with books like the Shack – they distract from good Bible study.
    You are correct the context of this passage is church discipline / reconcilliation.

    But to your previous question, Jesus will be with us, in the places and manner that he has promised us. My concern iss that when the question comes up (not necessarily you) but people are looking to justify – ‘well Jesus is with me on the golf course this Sunday just as he is if I were in Church.’

    This is not true – Jesus has promised to be with us in his word, the waters of baptism and through the bread and the wine – but he has also instituted the office of the ministry to carry out this function.

    Without getting legalistic, I will just drop it there. 🙂

  5. Michael says:

    Who are these “little ones”?
    Who do they represent today?

  6. The little ones are children – infants – the babes.
    Today they represent the children – infants – the babes.

    When you check out the texts, the ones who many in the church are too young to have faith, the ones who are too young to receive God’s grace directly are indeed the ones who Jesus says are not only qualified, but we are to become like them – or no salvation for us.

  7. My note above says to check the Luke 15 passage and in my class we went through that to see that Jesus saves not only uniquley but also unilaterally and that he compares the one he went out and found with repentance — how Jesus even repents us.

    There is a verse I remember, but not where – in the KJV that states, turn me Lord and I will be turned. I love that.

  8. Michael says:

    So…does this represent all children?
    How would they be kept from Jesus today?

  9. Being kept from the baptismal font is one way — but I think you knew I would say that.

    How about by deceiving them into thinking that having Jesus is their choice, but they need to be old enough to make that choice?

    Can you help me with others?

  10. Michael says:

    I’m asking…would you say that doing anything that harms the welfare of a child is keeping them from Christ ?

  11. Michael – perhaps I would, but I don’t think that was what Jesus was speaking about at that time in that passage – and as we all know, a Bible passage cannot mean something to us that it did not mean to the original hearers.

  12. Michael says:

    So lets draw this out…this passage says that each child has an angel and that angel is a conduit between God and that child.
    The angel seems to advocate for the child in heaven.
    Would you agree to that?

  13. yes

    Just as Jesus advocates for us regarding the accusations of Satan these angels advocate for the souls of the children..

  14. Michael says:

    I’m very curious as to what those angels report in heaven when we refuse to give them sanctuary when they are fleeing poverty and violence.

  15. Michael – they may report all the dastardly things – but as I said, I do not think Jesus is speaking about that in this passage.

  16. Michael says:

    MLD,

    I do not think it’s a primary application of this passage either…but allowable as a secondary one.

  17. anything is possible except squeezing toothpaste back into the tube.
    Not you, but I have seen people beat up their congregations with ‘allowable’ applications.

    I do not think Jesus was making a political or social application at all. I think it was all are welcome into the kingdom, so do not prevent anyone – even the smallest of people from entering..

  18. Michael says:

    Again, the question comes down to how we define “prevention”…

  19. Xenia says:

    MLD, why don’t Lutherans give Communion to babies and little children?

  20. Martin Luther's Disciple says:

    Xenia – some Lutherans have in the past and there is no Bible or church law against it. It becomes an issue of church order.

  21. Xenia says:

    It seems like the consistent thing to do.

  22. Paul A. Lytton says:

    MLD,

    I have an honest question, if it is a general Lutheran practice to baptize a very young child, why is it a “Church order” issue to give that baptized child communion? Or, have I misunderstood what a “Church order” is?

  23. Church order is just something the church decides to do so that there is order in the church instead of everyone doing any thing at any time.

    So in this case we will baptize babies because God has promised to save those who are baptized. In the case of communion, which does carry actual forgiveness with it, the church has decided to run people through a catechesis program and have them confirm & confess that faith before approaching the table.

  24. Jean says:

    There is a distinction between baptism and the Eucharist. The Eucharist must be eaten in a worthy manner, following self examination, because it carries a serious warning. Therefore, catechesis is given before one may partake in the Eucharistic meal.

  25. JoelG says:

    “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

    This sounds like a serious warning too.

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