The Lutheran view of creation, and the Lutheran view of Luther?

[@villarrealmarta6103]

Martin Luther and his writings have helped me so much to turn to Christ.

[@paulmcwhorter]

The flash cards that popped up over your face make me very uncomfortable as it makes me think you no longer have a clear view of the road, and potentially will have an accident. Just kidding. Love your description of genesis. I have a masters degree from stanford in electrical engineering and solid state physics, and I agree with your reading of Genesis. If God did not want to wait 8 bazillion years for his universe to cook and form, He certainly could simply speak a mature universe into existence. On day two of life, Adam certainly would have looked older as well. I see zero problem with the Biblical account. Blessed by your videos, thanks.

[@SeanusAurelius]

Inorganic chemist, now PLC programmer here; I regularly load my controllers state RAM to restore them to whatever state I want them to be. From there I could extrapolate backwards to a long ago prior state completely coherently, logically, and....wrongly.

[@paulmcwhorter]

@@SeanusAurelius I often have similar thoughts doing engineering or working with state machines. I can start them in whatever state I want, and move them forward at whatever rate I want. Extrapolating backwards is meaningless.

[@petestorz172]

My perception while growing up in the LCMS was that Luther was very much respected/revered, but not in the sense that Catholics revere their Saints. The focus was on teachings, not the man. Personally, I found Schwiebert's "Luther and His Times" extremely helpful in understanding from where he came theologically and his process of working through what he had been taught, throwing out the junk and holding fast to what was good. As Bryan suggested, that took years, and can be seen in his early writings. "Luther and ..." also was interesting in telling what Luther did after leaving the Catholic Church, forming a new church organization, keeping what was useful, throwing out what was not, and creating whatever was needed to fill needful gaps. "Luther and ..." was published in 1950, so I'm sure it's incorrect at places and incomplete at others, but it was helpful to me. I've not read Luther's writing about the Jews, but there were some 4 centuries between Luther and Hitler. Luther's failing, at most, was not rising above the antisemitism of 15th/16th Century Europe. He would have condemned utterly Hitler's oppression and slaughter of Jewish people. Sorry, brevity is not my spiritual gift.

[@BirdDogey1]

I believe he might have condemned the genocide but wrote the Jews' businesses and homes should be forfeit. They should be forced into hard servitude and killed if needed.

[@Telamonian]

On the jews and their lies by Martin Luther

[@ruthgoebel723]

God said it. I believe it. This is where I have an issue with my church (non-Lutheran). Our church holds that Holy Communion is a symbolic remembrance of what Christ did for us, despite the Bible saying "This is my body....this is my blood". They say we are to take the Bible literally yet in the same breath they say that Jesus didn't mean that literally. This irritates me to no end! (I was raised in an LCA/ELCA church, then left about 16 years ago, for obvious reasons. I now attend a conservative Mennonite church to get away from the ordination of women and homosexuals). There are no LCMS churches near me unfortunately. Hopefully, someday, I will be able to receive REAL Holy Communion before I leave this earth. Your prayers are appreciated. Thank you for your teaching!

[@emrandall2540]

A friend once simplified the Creation in 6 (earthly) Days question this way: The first and most important question is, do you or do you not believe that God created the earth? If the earth was created by God then creation of the earth can be accomplish in any way God chooses.

[@jordantsak7683]

Oh, Bryan, how much i love you. I thank God for you.

[@theroguetomato5362]

I read Luther's "Bondage of the Will". It is a masterpiece of sarcasm, as well as brilliant theology.

[@voyager7]

It's a complete dismantling of Erasmus' position, shared by many then and since, that the will contributes or refrains from not-contributing to the monergistic work of God.

[@oddlycreatetiff8920]

I checked it out from the library four of five times. I finally bought my own copy a few years ago, realizing that I'd never get tired of reading it.

[@jimflys2]

Luther was an intellectual giant. His writings, it has been told to me, equaled approximately 100 times the volume of the encyclopedia Britannica. Does anyone remember what those were? Library anyone? Aside from the enormous output, he definitely has had a huge impact in education. Established Kindergarten etc. Lots of cultural impact. But enough of that. Lutherans hold a qui subscription to the Lutheran Confessions (the book of Concord) Meaning we subscribe to them because they are true and proper explanations and interpretations of scripture most particularly in light of the various heresies that caused them to be written down. Not a "inso far as" subscription as the highly liberal Lutherans hold. An important distinction. Luther did not write the vast majority of the Lutheran Confessions. Wow! So we subscribe to the Book Of Concord where all these are written down and recorded for study, use and apology. Where Luther teaches from scripture, we agree. His sermons fantastic, his Commentaries outstanding. His books heavy duty. Where he goes off script, we do not have to agree. I won't go into detail, because some things cannot even be discussed they are so polarizing in light of recent history. They would not have been polarizing in the day because there was a common way of talking and using polemic to drive your point. Now everyone is offended by everything from the color of your shirt to what you drive. In Sum: Correct me if I am wrong, but as far as the Lutheran Confessions go... Luther wrote the 95 Theses (which are not actually part of the Lutheran confessions, but the fuse that lit the reformation), The large and small catechisms, The Treatise on the power and primacy of the Pope. The Augsburg confession, The Apology of it was Phillip Melancthon, The Formula of Concord by Martin Chemnitz, Jacob Andre, David Chytreaus being the primary contributors. The Book of Concord also contains the historic creeds of the Apostles, Nicea and Athanasia. These are the things to which Lutherans subscribe. Not to the man himself. And we do so only because he points to Christ, the Way of salvation. That's it.

[@tonybasoni8443]

Anyone who writes anything in addition to the word of God has said, the word of God is not sufficient, you need me to explain it to you. God did not explain it correctly, let me write a book or whatever to help you understand it. This is an abomination and is why the entire church is 100% apostate.

[@judithtaylor6713]

Thank you for this cool, calm assessment. Some people get really fired up over these issues. I’ve seen people get in big trouble when they start mythologising history. Thank you for these helpful words.

[@peterdawson2403]

I grew up as an ELCA Lutheran and became LCMS as an adult.

[@steveferguson698]

Thankyou so much for taking the time and insight in answering my question! There is much controversy in the Christian and secular world on both issues. Your obviously honest and heartfelt answer has given me a great respect for you.

[@tonybasoni8443]

SF,....He did a terrible job of answering the question of creation. He is not a Christian, he is a Godless man of the Godless world and one who is 100% steeped in the Godless worlds 100% fake manmade religion of scientism, absolutely not the Bible Christianity. The Bible is clear that the earth God made is stationary and flat, I guess he forgot to mention the most important thing about creation. He of course did this because he like the entire apostate church is 100% on board with the God hating worlds 100% fake manmade graven image of their spinning ball (baal).

[@JA-mg8cn]

It's good to see that Lutheran Faith is still alive in the US! In my country, the people who are Christians naturally default to Lutheranism as no other church has gotten a proper foothold. Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is quickly becoming like your ELCA, but there's a very strong conservative faction that they can't afford to lose. Do you know what would be the best way to confront the "Lutherans" who have abandoned all of the 5 solas, and who even call Luther a bigot? It pisses me off, but I want to be patient with them.

[@wessbess]

Give them the law and the gospel brother. Likely they need to be converted. I like Ray comfort methodology the way of the master. He goes through Four of the 10 Commandments and ask them if they’ve kept them. Law first then gospel.

[@petestorz172]

Show them Christ, the lostness of humans outside of Christ, and the grace of the redemption Christ offers. And let the Holy Spirit do "His job". We cannot make people believe. Luther was a human being. His antisemitism (I assume that is what people refer to) was real, but Luther's faults don't make truths he taught untrue.

[@wessbess]

How do they realize that they are lost? Bad news first. Or the good news won’t make sense

[@mikeduke8932]

I hear and see you J A. 😁. If it helps, I had to examine why it “pissed” me off 😁 Pastor Wolfmueller just helped us see that truth is still here. The truth will never be stopped. It can’t be stopped. I’ve realized I can’t force anyone to see truth. This sight is a gift given by God. This makes you and I very different. Different is very good. 😁. Grace and peace to you.😁

[@jimflys2]

@J A I tired for a while. It is a lost cause. They follow what their itching ears want to hear. Speaking the Law and the Gospel is always useful . I have personally confronted pastors and bishops regarding the colossal liberal slide. That was more that 30 years ago. I was called a judger, a bigot, a person that cannot be helped. I mentioned I am not any of those things, but only one who is pointing to the Bible that has already pronounced judgement on such things as they were promoting. As Luther put it, I was stared at "like a cow that stares a freshly painted barn". There is a Confessional Lutheran Church in Sweden. Perhaps there is one in Finland you can trek to as time permits. God bless you friend.

[@dave1370]

If people like St. Basil, St. John Chrysostom, St. Ambrose, and yes, even St. Augustine held Genesis is literal actual history, a literal worldwide deluge, a literal Adam and Eve, even regarding the "days," why would we read the text differently than they (other than to try to fit in to a modern consensus of academia which makes it scientific axioms based upon possibly erroneous presuppositions)?

[@sierragrey7910]

Rev, you are one of my fav Lutherans. I’m Dutch Reformed and have been blessed by several Lutherans in my life. I enjoy your enjoyment of teaching as much as I enjoy your teaching. Lutherans possess a beautifully uniform theology that Christians of all denominations should become familiar with. As a confessionally-Reformed Christian, I have come to a better understanding of my own theology, piety and practice. One cannot fully underarms the Reformation without understanding Luther and Lutheran teachings.

[@sierragrey7910]

@@IronPoorBlood I am not familiar with him. I am familiar with Christian Reconstructionism but have no agreement with its teachings or theology.

[@sierragrey7910]

@@IronPoorBlood There seems to be a revival amongst the Reconstructionists/Theonomy groups, again. As for neothetic counseling, thankfully it is no longer recognized by most Reformed and Presbyterian pastors, but I can imagine it appeals to some theonomists. Doug Wilson and his group at Moscow, Idaho are quite popular to some Reformed Baptists and Presbyterians who are drawn towards it. The small denomination he founded is growing. His “Federal Vision” theology was judged either heretical or errant by several of the denoms in the North American Presby and Reformed Council, thankfully. In all, the Recon group is still fringe, I agree that we can appeal to unbelievers with reason, as reason and logic are God’s works.

[@sierragrey7910]

@@IronPoorBlood I agree with your assessments and I appreciate your comments. There have been many people harmed by such movements. In these difficult times, such groups offer a refuge of sorts to those with concerns about the culture war. And their eschatology offers some sort of comfort to the flesh. It is unfortunate that they are labeled Reformed when they are in clear conflict with the other Reformed groups. My denomination (URCNA) regularly picks up the people damaged by their hyper-patriarchal teachings. 😢. Like you I am blessed by pastors like Rev Wolfmueller. Thankfully we’ve been blessed with many in my denomination, but who has such skills and talents needed to produce media as Rev W. does? He is a real treasure.

[@H4HDJD]

I literally lol when you said “it’s not complicated” because I feel like I say that a lot too because people seem to want to complicate stuff all the time

[@ronrossa3901]

Congrats Pastor on your subscription goal reached and always being edifying in your sermons

[@OwenDavis-tl9iw]

I’m so happy to hear you standing on the literal understanding of the Genesis account of creation. I believe that people who are willing to compromise on the historicity of Genesis don’t truly understand the implications of rejecting God’s Word on creation. Thanks for your teaching ministry on You Tube.

[@kathleensanford1950]

Thank-you. What a blessing you are! My experience of asking important questions, (back in mid 1960's), of my LCA Lutheran pastor was meant with dismissal and disdain. He must have been a hireling and not a true shepherd. You are a shepherd worthy of the name. God has blessed me in my old age by letting me hear you answer these questions. Interestingly, one of my main questions in my late teens had to do with Genesis 1&2. Your answer was spot on. Many thanks..and God bless you richly for standing on His clear Word.

[@tonybasoni8443]

KS,...He has done a terrible job of answering this question of creation. He totally neglected to mention the most important thing that everything in Christianity hinges upon, the shape of the earth. Is the earth the God hating worlds 100% fake manmade spinning ball, or is it the Bibles stationary flat earth? Only one can be true and each one makes the other impossible and a false religion. It is a battle of two completely opposed religions and he totally failed to mention anything about it. This is an abomination.

[@gregorydaack7354]

I've learned a life lesson about just clicking on a "Lutheran " video.

[@yellowrose13]

I'm LCMS and I'm being faced with the conflict within the LCMS Church of those who have divine service and those who take less of a "high church" approach. The LCMS Church just posted an article on this too. Would you please comment on this? Is it still doctrinal if an LCMS church offers contemporary worship or doesn't use the LSB?

[@sharondoan1447]

Just for your consideration. Where in the Bible is a particular form or order of conducting worship services spelled out? Where does the Bible sanction only LSB music, liturgy, pastoral roles, or length of sermon. Is it biblical to limit a worship service to 60 minutes, 10 to 15 minutes reserved for preaching the Word ? Where in the Bible does Jesus tell us to spend 45 minutes singing, repeating over and over again one of the three Creed’s , the Lord’s Prayer, and all the many nuances required to rigidly maintain proper form ? So much effort has been put into monitoring the way worship services are conducted so as not to offend the LCMS standards. I am an LCMS member and I find myself longing for some more relaxed and spontaneous worship services. The way things have always been done, is not necessarily a just reason to take umbrage when the Pastor preaches for 30 minutes , or we skip the Nicene Creed. Or is it ? In one LCMS church a lady was angered that the Pastor had taken to walking out into the congregation as he preached his sermon. By coming down out of the pulpit, he was offensive? Does he not know proper form and where he is required to stand ? Horror. Things to ponder.

[@BramptonAnglican]

Also I think Martin Luther should be a saint. In the Anglican Church we love working with Lutheran church’s.

[@JudySattelmeier-lt3oy]

Watching from Peoria AZ, member of Fountain of Life, Sun City AZ. Thank you.

[@nictomlin9152]

I could cry😢. After decades of charasmatic church going (albeit as a black sheep), I've stumble on Lutherans being/claiming to be grounded in the word. But, now Pastor is stating adherence to literal interpretation😢. PLEASE, if you love truth, there IS another rational way to read the ancient scriptures. I've learned so much about the differences of Eastern (pattern and story) vs Western / Greek (facts, science) worldviews. Our bible is Eastern, we are not! Eastern scriptures included Chiasmus patterns, and, it appears Genesis 1 is such. In short, the first 3 x days God 'formed' the spaces and then sequentially 'filled' those spaces on days 4-6. Then rested. If only Christendom could get a hold of the original Eastern paradigm of writing and thinking, we could bring, dare I say it, Unity, at least a little, to the Bride of Christ. Look up Marty Solomon podcast for more info...

[@wessbess]

Love you brother. Thank you for your authenticity. Great Pastoral Advice! Let’s just focus on the positive legacy that Dr. Luther left us! The supreme authority and value of Holy Scripture! The important doctrine of justification by faith! These are invaluable legacies. We should thank God for Martin Luther!

[@basketbasket1225]

Wow, brave commentary especially on naming THAT book. It's courageous to stand by truth even if it is revealed by problematic men. Luckily for us, even sinners lead others to Christ through the Holy Spirit

[@OwenDavis-tl9iw]

I would appreciate your elucidation of the errors that you perceive in Luther’s commentary on Romans. I used it along with the Concordia Commentary on Romans and Melanchthon’s commentary on Romans to delve deeper into the Apostle Paul’s Epistle. Knowing the errors that you perceive would be helpful in understanding the Biblical text.

[@carolynkading456]

Thank you Pastor Wolfmueller for you very very wonderful talks /mini sermons. Also so right and applicable for today's learning. Another site that is also confessional Lutheran with wonderful applications is 'Time of Grace's.

[@sdb6757]

I’ve been a Christian for over 60 years and have been reading the scripture for many decades. When I was a child I believed God created in 6 days and there was a talking snake. But after reading Genesis countless times I’ve come to understand it as true history written in the style of mythology-poetry. We must not forget God’s other book, creation itself. (Romans 1:19-20) As we study creation, we learn about God.

[@augustinian2018]

In the early 17th century, a Lutheran astronomer, Johannes Kepler, described science as the vocation of those who are priests in the book of nature (which I suspect is what you are alluding to). It was Kepler who took Copernican heliocentrism and realized that modeling planetary motion with elliptical rather than circular planetary put the balance of evidence strongly in favor of heliocentrism over geocentrism. Three centuries later in the early 20th century, LCMS Lutheran theologians like Francis Pieper were still insisting that scripture demands that we believe geocentrism is true, essentially betting the truth of Christianity on that claim. Though sometime in the last century LCMS theologians came to accept that the earth orbits the sun, they haven’t shown any signs of budging from literalistic readings of Genesis (aside from those forced out of the synod in the 1970s, resulting in there being virtually no moderate voice in the LCMS and virtually no conservative voice in the ELCA, which formed in the aftermath). To my knowledge, both of the LCMS’s seminaries still use Francis Pieper’s dogmatics series to teach Lutheran theology, presumably glossing over the bits demanding adherence to geocentrism, and presumably paying close attention to the parts demanding adherence to 6 24 hour day young earth creationism. What’s sad is that Genesis is so much more illuminating when one reads it in its Ancient Near Eastern context and sees its creation-temple themes recurring throughout both the Old and New Testaments.

[@sdb6757]

@@augustinian2018 Amen.

[@doriesse824]

Hello Pastor, do you have a video about the two different accounts of creation, and how they're viewed by Lutherans? Thank you. I'm searching for where to belong.

[@uranomichiaruki1]

Thanks for the content, Pastor!

[@BramptonAnglican]

I think it should be ok that we all differ in denominations. At my congregation conservatives and liberals worship together and we get along amazingly. They’re all great people.

[@hagenjunger2914]

Thank you Brian. Though not Lutheran, beginning to explore and becoming convinced by many of your doctrines. Only problem, there's no conservative lutheran church anywhere near me. Regarding the 7 days creation, why is that literal, amd the 1000 year millennium not? They both only mentioned one in scripture, at creation and fulfillment. What I'm trying to understand is what rule of interpretation you use to say 1 is literal and the other not? I'd really be grateful if you vould explain. From port elizabeth, south africa 🇿🇦

[@carolynkading456]

Please check Pastor's explanations of the 1000 years. He does a good job with that is . Note that he already did a good job of calling Genesis a historical book to be taken literally as we do all the NT except the very last book. Revelations at it's begining is declare to be a vision not historical and so it is read with a different mine set. But keep listen to Pastor. Also check for other confessional Lutheran synods like the WELS.

[@hagenjunger2914]

@@jameswillison1527 thanks. I'm already swaying away from dispensational pre trib rapture theology and can understand that. Then what makes the creation account historical? Is there some sort of hermeneutic rule? Also if historical/literal, would that mean God literally walked in the garden looking for Adam? Do you think that would have been Jesus in a preincarnate human body? Just things I been thinking about.

[@travist7777]

Time may not have always been uniform, so what was created in days could now look like billions of years. Diamonds take millions of years to form naturally, but they can be manufactured in a lab today and the difference is energy/pressure. Revelations is a different genre than Genesis. They both reveal Christ, though.

[@carolynkading456]

The Lord GOD tellis us in the Bible that he chose holy men to write down HIS story that we might know HIM and what he wants for us in our lives. It is faith worked by the Holy Spirit that helps us believe al things. So Genesis is Gods words telling us how the world and all in it was formed. For all believers that makes it fact thus historical. And Revolution is a vision given to John of what will come. And in the vision what do the lamp stand, the seals, the horsemen, the 1000 years mean. These are mysteries that need thinking about. Confessional / conservative Lutherans Pastor's from both the LCMS and the WELS synod have written explainations . A warrenting, this is an area where many have tried to explain very mystical ways where as Confessional Lutherans will always go back to the rest of the Bible to determine what is being said in Revelation and tie this vision into what the LORD has already told us.

[@carolynkading456]

And yes the LORD GOD almighty walked with Adam and Eve. This was when they were still in HIS image (that they were still holy too). After they disobed and sinned , then GOD no long walked with them. Remember that we look to Jesus to wash away our sins and make us holy again so in heaven we will walk with GOD again. How blessed is that !!!!

[@billannis6295]

I am wanting to buy a book of Concord on Amazon I see several which should I purchase

[@howardbabcom]

So, in respect to history, would you have any place for the narrative presented by the Intelligent Design movement? Where would you place the work of Christians like Dr Stephen Meyer, Dr John Lennox and Dr Hugh Ross?

[@thoman1458]

You may have answered this somewhere but, if so, I missed it. What does Scripture say about praying FOR the dead?

[@subiediva]

I have a question for you. Do you have book recom xxxmendations to learn more detailed in on Lutheran faith. I feel like I've been lead to become a leader in the church for several years but I'm 42 and not going to go back to school for it but I want to be more knowledgeable without a degree.

[@jonathant3425]

Not related to you video at all but are you going to the national youth gathering that is in Houston in July?

[@Im40ImAMan]

Looking at the six days. Do you see 2 Peter 3:8 having any insight that the six day creation are not necessarily as six days as we know them as God is not bound to our restrictions on time?

[@augustinian2018]

The first time 2 Peter 3:8 shows up in a Christian document outside the New Testament, it’s in a document called the Epistle of Barnabas written between 70 and 135 AD likely by a different Barnabas than Paul’s companion. That author believes it refers to the days of creation, which he believes to have been symbolic. (To my knowledge, this document is also the first place creation is discussed outside the New Testament in church history. The author takes each day of creation to represent a thousand years, making him a young earth creationist but not a literalist about the days of creation. That combination pops up from time to time throughout the early church. Young earthers tend to focus on that these folks were also young earthers, but overlook that their exegetical method would predispose them to hold something other than a young earth view were they writing today. (The church fathers noticed that Adam couldn’t have named all animal on the sixth day, and the the order of events in ch. 1 is slightly different from the order of events in ch. 2, and also that light is creating on the first day before the sun, moon, and stars, so as a result many came to the conclusion that God and the human author intended for us to interpret it after an allegorical or literary many-they believed that such was the literal intent of the authors.) That doesn’t really answer the question as to whether that was or was not the authors’ real intent (though I find their reasoning sound), but it does demonstrate that it’s not just what modern science claims that has led people across history to read the opening chapters of Genesis as less than strictly historical narratives. John Walton, an evangelical scholar at Wheaton College, has a pretty fascinating take that actually yields a more Christological reading than literalists without trying to-it just kind of emerges from the text when recurring symbols from the Ancient Near East like the seven days and the rest of a god are examined. His (and some others’) take is that the narrative is something like a corrective account to the ideas the ancient Hebrews would have had from their neighbors in the Ancient Near East and Egypt as to how (roughly) the world was ordered, couched in a cultural idiom that his audience would understand (e.g., if Genesis 1:1 began with theoretical astrophysics, the cultural idiom of material creation accounts in contemporary Western culture, the ancient Hebrews wouldn’t have known what to do with it).

[@intensity33]

Can I get a DSIII triple amen?

[@chapagawa]

I guess as with the Eucharist, we can believe the scriptures and say “ok,” while looking at the bread and wine in front of us, we can accept the scriptures account of Creation and the scientific data of the cosmos, the Sun and the Earth.

[@emtcubby]

Thank you for the wonderful work you do. I am hoping that you could explain/do a video on the books of the bible. Why it includes some books and not others. Why over time some have been removed. There is not much mention or explanation of why. If they are all the word of God how can some be included and not others (other than they don't all meet someones agenda). Keep up the great work and thank you.

[@Mygoalwogel]

The Corinthian Church knew that 1 and 2 Corinthians (for example) were canonical as soon as the Holy Spirit and the human author wrote them. The same is true for all Churches that received Books and Epistles from Apostles. Other books not of the Holy Spirit and true human author were rejected by their intended audiences in the primitive Church. For example the Peshittas, which have no relationship to papism or even later councils, do not include the "gospel" of Thomas. St. Thomas and his immediate disciples did evangelize the Assyrian Church of the East, but he didn't author any "gospel" to them. The Tawahedo Canon, the Peshitta Canon, the Greco-Russian Canon, The Papal Canon, and the Protestant Canon all differ. They all share the Homologoumena books and all have discrepancies among Antilegomena books to this very day. So we can dismiss the exaggerated claim that some one council magically created one definitive canon one day. Homologoumena has always been accepted by Assyrian Church of the East, Miaphysites, Palamists, Protestants, and Papists from the time of the Apostles until today. Even the Popes don't fret that Byzantine Catholics chant the portions of their longer canon in their Holy Liturgy. Antilegomena books do not present a challenge to Anglican or Lutheran protestants because they don't contradict their doctrines anywhere.

[@LisaB_12204]

Thanks. Name suggestion: Out of the box theology.

[@Zhought3391]

Wonderful LCMS encouragement, and just encouragement/education in the faith in general. Blessings to you!

[@dylan3456]

I’m deeply disturbed by 1. Luther’s general countenance as expressed in much of his writing (because it doesn’t seem like it’s at all touched by the peace of Christ) 2. In “Can Soldiers, Too, Be Saved?”Luther writes this: “God calls the sword his own ordinance…It is not man but God who beheads, slays, tortures…” Do I really have to say it? Honestly.

[@Mygoalwogel]

1. I know not "seems." His Catechism and Smallcald Articles are full of peace and beauty. So are his Genesis Lectures, and prefaces to the books of the Bible. Watch papalist Bishop Robert Barron's video on Luther. He says his theological exaggerations are due to "falling in love with God." Luther's polemical works are, of course, not peaceful. You have no basis for this claim. 2. Have you ever heard of the book of Joshua?

[@dylan3456]

@@Mygoalwogel 1. I said much not all of his writing. 2. Why go so far back? Was God the one torturing and beheading anabaptists? It’s a simple question.

[@Mygoalwogel]

@@dylan3456 1. Can you name a work of Luther's that is both non-polemical and non-peaceful? 2. When Luther wrote, "God calls the sword his own ordinance" he's confessing with St. Paul the teaching of Romans 13: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is *no authority except from God,* and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will *incur judgment.* For rulers are not a *terror* to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no *fear* of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, *be afraid,* for he does not *bear the sword* in vain. For he is the servant of God, an *avenger* who carries out God's *wrath* on the wrongdoer.

[@MamaCookie32]

The sound fx are the reason im here….jk but seriously lol well done 😂

[@juliethompson1370]

In Canada, we have the ELCIC, more commonly known and the Ei EI EI O synod.

[@carolynkading456]

Always check an online list for confession / conservative Lutheran synods. I very much enjoy the very good but simple way Pastor is able to explain issues.

[@PHOADirector]

Are there any scriptural reasons that the men known as apostles, disciples, and/or prophets be held in any higher regard than Luther? Even theologically speaking the acts and writings of these men were divinely inspired and powered.

[@hagenjunger2914]

Hi. Tha apostles and disciples wrote the scriptures by inspiration of the holy spirit. Luther and others then interpreted from their writings. So they had direct revelation from God to inspire His word, whereas luther had the word already.

[@PHOADirector]

@@hagenjunger2914 How do you explain Thomas and others like him (Scripturally revealed divine inspiration) in juxtaposition to Luther in John 24-29 “…Blessed are those that have not seen and yet have believed.” Further, who is to say which if any of Luther’s writings were or were not divinely inspired.

[@PHOADirector]

@@IronPoorBlood How do you explain Thomas and others like him (Scripturally revealed divine inspiration) in juxtaposition to Luther in John 24-29 “…Blessed are those that have not seen and yet have believed.” Further, who is to say which if any of Luther’s writings were or were not divinely inspired.

[@stephaniek4298]

Would love to hear more about his later writings related to the Jews as it is often brought up.

[@weeaboolutheran]

I remember he did a video on it but it was deleted. Probably ended up being too controversial for the channel

[@lorgaraurelian4076]

Luther made a literary hit piece on Judaism, calling it out for the paganism that it is. Those who practice the religion known as Judaism are as much enemies to the Gospel, and the Christian Church as Islam is. People conflate condemnation of a religion with the condemnation of a race.

[@gavinbruns8467]

I’d like to see a Barnes and Noble have a “Luther Section” 😂

[@mauriciorv228]

Well this is a slap to the face to science, to all the physicists and paleontologists.

[@Mygoalwogel]

Not his best video. I'd really recommend reading Luther's own Lectures on Genesis. 1. Luther admits that he learned in his own lifetime the proof that the moon gets its light from the sun. This contradicts "A lesser LIGHT to govern the night." 2. He explains that he accepts the proof. 3. He explains that he will continue to preach both on the literal meaning of Genesis, just as though he had never heard the proof. 4. And he explains he will continue to preach on the spiritual meaning of Genesis without regard to the literal meaning. 5. Because both have important and true theological points to teach. I wish modern Lutherans could think about the text this way. Most can't. You'll have heard that he rejected Copernicus. That's not quite right. He never heard Copernicus' name because nobody was willing to publish Copernicus until after Luther's death. He was reacting, essentially, to gossip and not to science when he insulted what he heard about it. One of Luther's own students, Osiander, was the first person in the world to publish Copernicus.

[@markhorton3994]

I was raised Missouri Synod and still consider myself LCMS although the nearest Lutheran Church is a full days trip away, round trip. I was tought and believe that every word of the Bible is the Word of God. It says what God meant to say. However it is not all literal. There are many figures of speach and, usually clearly identified, parables. "The four corners of the Earth" does not mean that the Earth is flat and rectangular. The Bible is not a science book or a history book and unimportant details are often omitted. I do agree with Luther that "this is my body" is literal. If I didn't I would need to find another church. I think that Genesis is indeed historical but without unnecessary details and somewhat simplified for completely unscientific readers. Genesis 1:1 is literal, God did bring the entire space time continuum, the universe, into being, probably with a thought. Adam and Eve are special creations just as written but I suspect that it was DNA not a literal rib that God took from Adam. People who didn't know about cells would find DNA a stumbling block. What God did in what order is indeed historical. And no Genesis 1 and 2 are not contradictory. But Hebrew 24 hour sunset to sunset days are impossible. The sun was created the fourth day so the first sunset started the fifth day. The word translated, and normally used as day has time period as one of its meanings, acording to Strong's. This makes it similar to the Spanish word Jornada which usually means day but often means work shift ie part of a whole day, "doble jornada" means a double shift. In sports leagues a jornada is the set of games in which all teams play. Unforseen events can change the order. For example a game of the 3rd jornada could be delayed until after the 4th jornada. A given day in Genesis could be 8 billion years, an instant or 24 hours. It really doesn't affect anything.

[@carolynkading456]

Please check for other confessional Lutheran synods that might be in your area. a pod cast from ready to Harvest does a good job of explains confessional Lutheran from liberal Lutherans and list several smaller synods.

[@trinitylutheranchurch-lcms2691]

Mark: "It really doesn't affect anything." I am sorry Mark, but it really does. I could not say it any better than this this anti-Christian magazine, "Christianity has fought, still fights, and will fight science {I would say here "pseudo-science" rather than "science"} to the desperate end over evolution, because evolution destroys utterly and finally the very reason Jesus' earthly life was supposedly made necessary. {Exactly, Romans 5:12} Destroy Adam and Eve and the original sin, and in the rubble you will find the sorry remains of the son of god. If Jesus was not the redeemer who died for our sins, and this is what evolution means, then Christianity is nothing." [G. Richard Bozarth, "The Meaning of Evolution," American Atheist, Feb. 1978]

[@markhorton3994]

@@trinitylutheranchurch-lcms2691 I don't think you understand my comment. Of course it matters that God created the universe, everything in it and Adam and Eve in the order given in Genesis. I never mentioned evolution. Microevolution: the adaption to the environment so that existing characteristics become more or less common is clearly part of God's creation. The hypocrites who demand evidence for the existence of God have no evidence whatsoever for evolution as the start of a single species let alone the origin of life, zero. What doesn't matter is exactly how God created everything and how long He took to create it. What does matter is that God created everyone and everything. To use labels Young Earth vs Old Earth Creationism does not affect Salvation. Creationism vs anything else does. God bless you.

[@doriesse824]

Mark Horton Could you please respond to this: "When Jesus spoke of Himself as being the bread, He was not teaching the fictitious transubstantiation of the Papal church. It is preposterous to hold that the Son of God turned a piece of bread into Himself. When Jesus said "this is my body" or "blood," He did not change the substance, but was explaining that He is the one "represented" by the passover bread and wine. Jesus did not say 'touto gignetai', this has become or is turned into, but 'touto esti', which can only mean this represents or stands for..."

[@markhorton3994]

@@doriesse824 The RCC seems to have borrowed from Greek philosophy in their doctrine that the essence of the bread and wine are changed to His body and blood while the bread and wine retain their appearance, color taste, texture etc. It is false. The Lutheran opinion which Luther was sure of enough to pound on the table shouting THIS IS MY BODY" sealing the definitive break between Lutherans and Reformed is clear. Both the bread and Jesus's body, both the wine and Jesus's blood have real presence. The expression used is "in with and under". Giving this doctrine a name, there is one, would be claiming to understand the mystery. God created the universe and everything in it. No human can come close to understanding. I don't understand quantum physics either.

[@scottmiller6958]

Great assessment of "On the Jews and their Lies." Excellent apologetic work with a couple cringe worthy chapters - especially from a modern perspective. Did you get a ticket from the cop that was trying to pull you over for about 10 minutes of the ride?

[@kensey007]

God could have said somewhere "take this part literally but not this part." But he didn't. So people for centuries literally murder each other arguing about all of the different possible interpretations. Certainly does not strike me as the work of an all powerful all knowing all good god that supposedly wants us to understand it.

[@ajplathwisconsin]

Could we call Luther a Doctor of the Church?

[@PastorBryanWolfmueller]

Yes, absolutely

[@oboostrauss8760]

Hey Bryan 😃

[@steventaylor7716]

I have asked questions to no response over two years

[@trinitylutheranchurch-lcms2691]

Steven, what questions? I will try to assist. That is if you are not simply "trolling" to start an argument. Pax.

[@danberres2133]

realistic

[@earlygenesistherevealedcos1982]

If the simple or plain meaning of the text is all that God wants us to see, then why is it necessary for the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to understand the scriptures? The Lutherans have very Christ-centered services, but when it comes to early Genesis, they see it almost exactly like the Rabbis who opposed Christ. Jesus said that Moses wrote about HIM. So much so that if you didn't believe in Him then you did not really believe Moses either. Would that the Lutherans gained a Christ-centered view of early Genesis, as they have a Christ-centered view of so much. The light of creation's days wasn't the sun. It was the Son. When God spoke, the Word of God entered creation (in a foreshadow of the Incarnation) and brought increasing light, form, and life to the world. The sun wasn't even authorized to track days until the fourth creation day, for the true light is not subject to solar days anymore than the sun in our sky is bound by a model of the earth-moon-sun system in some Jr. High classroom. Is early Genesis a historical narrative? Yes, but the Rabbis who opposed Christ had the narrative all wrong and if Lutherans insist on adopting their narrative then so will they. What the story says looks very different when you see it is all about bringing line of Messiah into the world per the Christ-centered model for early Genesis.

[@voyager7]

As an LCMS Christian, I understand and appreciate your insight into this and many other issues discussed here, Pastor Wolfmueller. I will however offer that the creation account (which I agree is given as history in Genesis), it is not given there as process. It's certainly assigning the "who" of authorship, but not by any means exhaustive as to the "how" of that Author. I believe that we artificially force a 6x24hr interpretation on the text, when "yom" is often used in scripture in ways that denote many different periods of time. IMHO, the creation account as given in Genesis is true, factual and accurate, just not exhaustive. It's like the "artist's signature" on the bottom of an exquisite painting. Seeing it definitively attributes the magnificent work to the One who signed, but does not (and is not meant to) describe each moment of endeavor in mixing of color, choice of brush or direction of stroke.

[@petestorz172]

"And there was EVENING and there was MORNING, the first day." The other verses read similarly. Unlike more metaphoric usages such as "Day of the Lord", the Genesis 1 account adds details that indicate that the days of Creation are literal days.

[@voyager7]

@@petestorz172 With sincere respect, there is a paradigm in hermeneutics that says words to the effect of, "let scripture be literally taken, unless the literal taking suggests figure". I don't mean rationalism whatsoever, (ie deciding what is literal or true by what seems reasonable) but there is certainly room for dialogue around this usage of evening and morning, particularly given that the sun is not even created until day four. Further, in Genesis 1:5 itself, Moses records the usage of the term "day" in two different ways. I am not implying or suggesting that the text is obscure or worse, inaccurate...only that the usage may be far more involved and nuanced in truth that the bare words themselves, to modern ears, seems. To One for whom a day is as a thousand years and vice versa, the words of Genesis are true, and possibly true in a way that indeed only now is being further proven by cosmological inquiry.

[@BirdDogey1]

Luther did a number of great things for the church. His book, The Jews and their Lies, is a reminder he, like all of us, was a sinner.

[@lorgaraurelian4076]

I read the book. Reminded me why Paul wrote Galatians, and why paganism like Judaism is condemned. The Law does not save.

[@karinlofgren6359]

My brain is cooking.

[@NOVENA-h8u]

When the rapture comes those believers /followers will be taken up those left behind still has time to repent.

[@sarahsbusylife7903]

pork steaks on the grill that's whats cooking!

[@BrianJuntunen]

I am really sorry that Luther wrote such terrible things about the Jews. He misunderstood something, but he added to anti-semitism and it preceded the annihilation of untold millions of souls.

[@fighterofthenightman1057]

Pastor, I love your stuff but I cannot agree on Genesis. If the Bible says the sky is green and we look at it and it’s clearly blue, the issue is our interpretation of Scripture. Scientific evidence is nothing but natural revelation from God, and there is a lot of clear evidence the Earth is billions of years old. God is not a deceiver, and yet his language - discoverable by the natural laws of the Universe - is telling us the Earth is old. I’d argue this suggests He is NOT literally telling us the Earth is young at the same time. Jesus talked to an ancient population in a way that would reach their hearts. Why would it be a priority for Him to teach them cosmology they would not understand? Either way, I don’t think a reading of Genesis is an “essential” for Lutherans, ala the literal Resurrection or virgin birth. Those who interpret Genesis allegorically are NOT saying the Bible is “in error.”

[@joabthejavelin5119]

I am LCMS and believe the Genius is literal history as the Bible proclaims it to be. A good resource on creation is the "wazooloo" channel on KZbin.

[@938quilt]

"cultural accommodations" LOL

[@SojournerDidimus]

What's cookin'? Sausages for feeding my family hot dogs!

[@viennehaake9149]

I dont think you interpret everything in a an ancient text as literal. The science is kind of irrefutable and I believe we can believe both- I used to believe in Young Earth Creation. You can believe science AND scripture. I used to think I had to choose. Evolutionary Creation (EC) is a Christian position on origins. It takes the Bible seriously as the inspired and authoritative word of God, and it takes science seriously as a way of understanding the world God has made. EC includes two basic ideas. First, that God created all things, including human beings in his own image. Second, that evolution is the best scientific explanation we currently have for the diversity and similarities of all life on Earth.

[@rbelf001]

The problem with taking every word literally is seriously flawed. Scripture has passed through many hands and things have been taken out and put in that were not in the original. Genesis one is one passage that is very suspect. If you leave it out what's missing? Nothing but controversy. The Bible loses nothing by excluding it. God, Adam and Eve, the Garden are still there. Now Christians have to defend a 24 hour clock.. And an order of Creation that is bizarre to say the least. C. S Lewis said it best. You need three things to understand the Bible... Imagination, Reason and the Holy Spirit... I'm a big fan of Luther because he kept it simple, and straight forward. He had a heart for the common lay person.

[@dave1370]

But if you read the Hexaemerons of the early church fathers, most certainly help to Creation being literal history, and guys like Saint Basil adamantly told that the day in Genesis is still a 24-hour day. so, if it was good enough for them to read scripture in such a light, why would we differ (other than the obvious, which is that people cower into wanting to try to line up with the modern consensus of scientism which is based on erroneous presuppositions and axioms in the first place)?

[@rbelf001]

@@dave1370 I am not afraid to say the Bible is a story of redemption. Period. It is not a science book nor a history of the world. We can interpret it as a 24 hour day, but why would God be under a time constraint? And why would things be created out of order? I believe things have been added and deleted from God's original inspiration. Chapter one of Genesis is not the Gospel. I don't fear science, nor do I fear to use the rational mind God gave me. We have the privilege of knowing more than the early church fathers. Chariots of fire would be far more clear to them, if they lived today.

[@run4cmt]

Luther has had very great failings that have been damaging. His hatred of the Jews is well documented in his writings. These writings were used in Germany against the Jews. He was upset by the Jews' rejection of the Gospel. These writings have been damaging in bringing Jews to faith. The LCMS has apologized for this as they should. I am a lifelong LCMS member. Again your analysis is lacking.

[@run4cmt]

I find many of your commentary to be very superficial. How about doing something that is not a drive-by literally. A bit more in-depth analysis would be appreciated instead of something that just seems tossed off as you are driving. How about a more Biblically based approach.

[@ghostl1124]

Jesus is not a rock. The bread is not Jesus' body. The wine is not Jesus' blood. These are called metaphors: You can understand the meaning because of simple words like rock, body, blood, ... are so easy to understand. The early church never taught that bread becomes Jesus' body, nor, the wine ever was taught that it was Jesus' blood. Nor was Jesus (nor Peter) ever a literal rock. Jesus created the rocks, and he never became one, nor did any of the apostles. Jesus created the heavens and the earth in six days. Those were not metaphors, so Luther understood history as it was written, just as you said here. Teaching the warped view of bread = body wine = blood is a warped view of the Lutherans. I was raised Lutheran, and really appreciate the Lutheran church (Missouri Synod). Still, I was able to get past some of the Roman Catholic teachings that he unwisely held on to during his own historical personal journey.

[@tonybasoni8443]

GL,....Correct. The fact that the church does not understand what you have laid out here is a huge problem. Also, an even bigger problem with Luther, the guy in the video, and the entire church is, they will say, oh yes we believe in the Bibles creation account, but the truth is, they do not. The Bible is absolutely clear that the earth God made is stationary and flat. The belief in the 100% fake, manmade graven image of the spinning baal (ball) earth is an entirely different religion to the Bibles Christianity. No Christian believes in the spinning ball. If the earth were a spinning ball then it is impossible for anything in the Bible to be true. The Bible is either true and the earth is stationary and flat as the Bible clearly tells us it is, or the earth is a spinning ball flying through endless space and the Bible is nothing more than the fables of men. For anyone claiming to be a Christian, (Luther, every church pastor, the guy in this video, etc) to not make this 100% clear has exposed that they are not a Christian. They are all in reality 100% steeped in the Godless worlds fake manmade religion of scientism and are only pretending to be Christians.

[@Mygoalwogel]

The Bible does not only say that the Lord's Supper is done in remembrance: Matthew 26:28 Jesus calls it the blood of the covenant. Hebrews 9:20 The author quotes Moses saying the exact same words about real blood. There is no precedent here for saying "is" means "represents." 1 Corinthians 10:16 The bread and the cup are a koinonia (co-union/intimacy/participation/contribution/distribution) of the body and blood of Christ. 1 Cor 11:20 There is an objectively true Lord's Supper. Unreconciled schism within the congregation make it objectively not the Lord's Supper. 1 Cor 10:21-22 The Lord, whose name is Jealous, is jealous of his cup and his table. 1 Cor 11:23 The Lord specifically and personally revealed the Supper to Paul. 1 Cor 11:27 Misuse of the Lord's Supper is not just a bad reenactment. It makes you guilty of sin against the very body and blood of the Lord. 1 Cor 11:28-30 Mere reenactments do not require earnest soul searching on pain of punishment and death. Therefore true Christian faith in these words: "This is my body which is for you, … This is my blood of the new covenant," must take all into account. 1 Cor 5:11 We are not to eat even secular food with christians who do not accept correction. Guests, whose lives are unknown to the pastor, should be catechised first. "Revilers" (who insult our face value belief) are rightly excluded.

[@kensey007]

Jesus is the literal door for literal sheep. John 10:7.

[@pntrmike0]

Since Luther had Catholic roots as a monk did he give up on the universalist idea of every knee on earth bowing to the King of Kings in Phil 2? Do LUTHERAN HIRELINGS TEACH THAT WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE ALONE BY FAITH ALONE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO HIDE HOW ROTTEN DEAD TREES ARE ONLY GOOD TO BURN?? CHRISTIAN MEANS MISSING THE MARK BUT TO THEM HE GAVE THE RIGHT TO BE SONS OF GOD EVEN TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIS NAME TO REIGN AS PRIESTS AND KINGS WITH CHRIST AND GOD FOR A THOUSAND YEARS... IS THIS MARK MISSING 101 FROM LUTHER'S LATEST HIRELINGS OR BULLSEYE ARCHERY FROM THE MASTER.. WHICH ARE YOU TEACHING?? IS THE KING'S KINGDOM COMING TO EARTH OR DID YOUR KINGDOM ALREADY COME PREMATURELY AS YOU LOVE THINGS OF WORLD TOO MUCH SO LOVE OF FATHER ISN'T IN YOU??

[@pntrmike0]

We are in Babylon and Jesus said good teachers would become like him not paid as a hireling- Jesus became homeless so no one could say he loved money not God- how many homeless preachers do you listen to who you know don't love money? Wolves care not for sheep so BEWARE AS JESUS SAID TRUST NO MAN!! READ MATTHEW AND REVELATION TO WAKE UP TO GODSTKINGDOM COMING TO EARTH SOON

[@trinitylutheranchurch-lcms2691]

@@IronPoorBlood : Bill, Mike is not asking a question but standing in his own self-righteousness is casting aspersions upon those whose theology he does not even casually understand. I have dealt with many like him. His own words give him away. Kyrie Eleison!

[@trinitylutheranchurch-lcms2691]

@@IronPoorBlood : I am not breaking the Eighth Commandment against you, I am simply reading your own words, "Do LUTHERAN HIRELINGS . . .?" It is you, dear sir, that is breaking the Commandment against all faithful and confessional Lutheran pastors. Sir, I seek your repentance. Kyrie Eleison!