Shane Rosenthal on "Issues, Etc."

White Horse Inn producer, Shane Rosenthal, was on "Issues, Etc." discussing "The Jesus of O'Reilly and Colbert."

Here's the audio link:  Shane on "Issues"

Here's the link to Shane's recent White Horse Inn blog post on the same topic: The Jesus of O'Reilly and Colbert

Comments

[Patrick Yamada]

Even a basic understanding of the Two Kingdoms and the law/gospel distinctions would clarify a lot of things, sweeping away of each party's fallacious arguments. You know we've really sunk far into the mire of absurdity when entertainers are duking it out over political matters (instead of leaving it to those who really understand the matters at hand).

[Lloyd I. Cadle]

Lutherans, the masters of law/gospel, would teach it like this: Law: Any imperative or command, or any passage of Scripture which shows God's wrath, judgment or hatred of sin. Gospel: Any passage of Scripture which shows God's love, grace, mercy and comfort.

We will go by the simple acronym SOS for both law and the gospel. SOS for law: Shows our sins. SOS for the gospel: Shows our Savior.

Law: Do and don't. Gospel: Done!

Luther on the two kingdoms: "To the end of the world men should not mix these two powers. But they must remain severed and separated from each other if we are to preserve the true Gospel and the true faith. And whoever is a preacher should leave the temporal government in peace so that he does not create confusion and disorder. For men are to rule the church with the Word, or the sword of the mouth, and are to use the rod of the mouth."

"Temporal government, however, has a different sword, the sword of the fist and a rod of wood, with which it beats the body. But the rod of the preacher strikes consciences alone, which feel what one says. Therefore we must distinguish between these two rods and swords so that one does not trespass upon the office of the other."

Luther goes on to say, "But tell them, You fool and miserable dunce, take care of your own calling, and do not preach; let your pastor do that. Conversely, the sectarian spirits will not stop and stay with the sword of the mouth but will, as seditionists, reach for the temporal sword and desire to rule in the city hall. The devil does all this. He takes no holiday until he has mixed the two swords. The devil brews everything into one mess. But, we preachers have a verbal rod and sword. The rod of temporal government is no concern of us preachers of the divine Word."

[Zrim]

So, Lloyd, what would you say to the idea that two-kingdom confusion is a variant of law-gospel confusion?

[Lloyd I. Cadle]

Hi Zrim:

Law/gospel confusion prevents folks from hearing the doctrine of justification. It heaps tons of condemnation down on the ears of the hearers.

It may be a variant in a way that confusing the law/gospel affects the kingdom of God, and 2k confusion affects the God ordained roles of the Church and state.

[Lloyd I. Cadle]

correction:

on the fourth line I forgot to add salvation. Should read "shows God's love, grace, mercy, comfort and salvation! I was in a hurry.