Above Daniel Long's brother, Steven Long, shares his story of how he became a Lutheran.
Steven Long related how he was previously a very strong Calvinist, but found himself in a spiritual battle in which he describes a constant struggle regarding condemnation over sin.
Steven Long's struggles remind me of the main character in Pilgrims Progress, Christian, who was plagued by spiritual doubts and condemnation.
Justin Taylor: "When we meet him, Christian has an enormous burden on his back, and Christian’s burden represents not sin per se, but it represents the shame and doubt that he feels because of his sin. Christian’s sins get forgiven, and he was justified when he received Christ, which is represented by his entering the Wicket Gate. But Christian does not yet understand the basis of his forgiveness, so his conscience continues to bother or burden him. Put in more technical terms (always a welcome means of clarification) the burden represents psychological guilt not forensic guilt. Therefore, what Christian loses at the cross is his shame and doubt caused by sin, because his sins had already been forgiven when he entered the Wicket Gate. Also, at the cross Christian receives a scroll, which he later calls his assurance. When Christian entered the Wicket Gate, he received Christ. When Christian gazed at the cross, he understood substitutionary atonement and imputed righteousness, and this gave him assurance that his sins were forgiven." {1}
What struck me about Steven Long's story is that his deliverance seems to have come from the Lutheran church rather than directly through Christ, although I am sure he would protest otherwise.
Daniel Long: "We are receiving God's gifts to us in the service, We are receiving His word, we are receiving His sacrament, we are receiving the absolution spoken over us, we are confessing our sins.. partaking on a regular basis, partaking of the sacrament, the body of blood of Christ, and just having that strength, that assurance.. that gets me through the week."
Daniel Long quotes Chris Rosebrough: "We come to church and our sack is empty.. we hear that we are forgiven, and that is thrown into the sack, and then we have the absolution spoken over you, that's put into the sack, and then you are hearing the gospel that Christ forgave you through the Word, and that's put in the sack, and then you go and you partake of the sacrament and that's put into the sack, and then you hear the benediction spoken over you and that's put into the sack, and so you have got your sack full when you leave church.. that sack throughout the week starts to empty and you have to go back and do it again."
Steven Long: "Some weeks my sack is empty by Monday morning, so we need it all the time."
All these things are administered externally through the minister, the sacrament, the benediction etc. There appears to be an intermediary between the people attending the Lutheran service and Jesus Christ reminiscent of Roman Catholicism. To say that your sack empties until the next time you attend is very concerning to me. It is as if there is no immediate relationship between the person attending the Lutheran church and Jesus Christ Himself .
"If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 cf. John 15:5).
Very well put.
ReplyDelete( I had trouble leaving a comment a few nights ago, so this is my second attempt!)
I agree with you that a reliance on a ritual and a declaration by a priest in order to be assured of forgiveness is a holdover from Catholicism. I ask for forgiveness swiftly at times , but usually every night for both known and unknown sins. I believe it has been granted to me regardless of any persistent feelings of guilt and see no scripture supporting priestly absolution. The more Lutheran doctrine the (admittedly ) sincere Longs and Kozars promote, the more it sounds like a sect of Catholicism.
By the way, have you heard that the poster-child for an "ex-Bethel/NAR" Calvinist-Lindsay Davis- has returned to charismania? More evidence to me that the false gospel of Calvin can give no genuine grounding in the truth to someone who is newly out of gross error.
As you have said, it's truly a minefield of error out there in the churches. Too many false gospels and sadly Lutheranism with its promotion of baptismal regeneration, consubstantiation and intermediary absolution is just one more deception to ensnare the unwary. My best to you, Mike
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9). It is sometimes helpful to pray with someone else, but to rely on the declaration of a priest or a Lutheran minister on a regular basis is a perversion of the scriptures and is a form of idolatry. I also do not feel "forgiven" at times, but the thing is to trust in His word and feelings follow. For someone to suffer with condemnation for months/years like Steven, tells me that there is something terribly wrong. I hope that he will seek the Lord and find freedom in Him rather than relying on a false system like Lutheranism.
ReplyDeleteChris Rosebrough did a very interesting video about believers and demonic possession yesterday. It was very good, but it has caused quite a stir. Rosebrough is a "nice" man and I often agree with him. Nevertheless, his Lutheran affiliation is very perplexing and for this reason alone I have to reject him as a sound teacher. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZbqvmayGXI
I did not know about Lindsay Davis.. but this news does not surprise me.
God bless.