I do not drink alcoholic beverages and do not recommend them to others. Yet, the Bible commands us not to be drunk. It doesn't say a believer cannot drink something alcoholic.
However, reflecting on my college days is sometimes heartbreaking for alcohol ruined part of my time during those days. It has deprived me of memories (some, I suspect, are better off forgotten!). Thankfully, the Lord removed all desire for such beverages when He regenerated my soul. He certainly knew I could not (and would not) give it up on my own volition.
Martin Luther is my Christian role model. I try to emulate those traits which were godly and positive for living and avoid those which were not. As a human, he had both. As a German, he loved his beer (for those who snicker at Luther as my model and prefer someone like Spurgeon, remember CHS loved his cigars!). Here is one of his more famous quotes:
"Whoever drinks beer, he is quick to sleep; whoever sleeps long, does not sin; whoever does not sin, enters heaven! Thus, let us drink beer!"
Sorry, Dr. Martin, but I will take a pass.
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Luther on James 1:16-18
Our pastor preached on this text this past Sunday and I have written some personal observations here. But, reflecting once more on the text, I decided to make a Luther observation as well in this blog.
It is well-known that, in his early reforming years, Luther was not a fan of several Biblical books, including the book of James. His famous statement about James being a "right strawy epistle" is often quoted by some to claim Luther disregarded James as part of the canon. That may be true in the early 1520s, but his view changed with time.
In his German translation made during his "imprisonment" in the Wartburg Castle (1521-1522), Luther did translate James. Yes, he moved it to the back of his Bible, but it was part of the collection. Later, his sermons were collected into what are known as his Church Postils, many of these preached between 1525 and1529. Contained in the postils is a sermon from the very text of James preached by my pastor. It was first printed in 1536. But, clearly, either by the late 1520s or mid-1530s, Luther had a different view of James. I cannot envision this reformer preaching a message from a text he did not recognize as being Biblical.
If you are interested in his message, you may read it here.
It is well-known that, in his early reforming years, Luther was not a fan of several Biblical books, including the book of James. His famous statement about James being a "right strawy epistle" is often quoted by some to claim Luther disregarded James as part of the canon. That may be true in the early 1520s, but his view changed with time.
In his German translation made during his "imprisonment" in the Wartburg Castle (1521-1522), Luther did translate James. Yes, he moved it to the back of his Bible, but it was part of the collection. Later, his sermons were collected into what are known as his Church Postils, many of these preached between 1525 and1529. Contained in the postils is a sermon from the very text of James preached by my pastor. It was first printed in 1536. But, clearly, either by the late 1520s or mid-1530s, Luther had a different view of James. I cannot envision this reformer preaching a message from a text he did not recognize as being Biblical.
If you are interested in his message, you may read it here.
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