The Betrayal — Douglas Bond

One of my all-time favourite movies is Luther, the 2003 film based on the early life of the German Reformer.  It has often seemed to me that those involved with writing and producing this movie had read Heiko Oberman’s Luther: Man Between God and the Devil.  I’ve also often thought that, even if the film takes a few dramatic liberties here and there, Luther’s life lends itself well to that kind of story-telling.  Unlike Calvin.  I’ve long believed that Calvin’s life, interesting though it is, does not have nearly the same drama as Luther’s.  Douglas Bond has convinced me that I’m wrong.  In this novel he succeeds at portraying Calvin’s life in a compelling way.  No, unfortunately Calvin still doesn’t really have a sense of humour (certainly not compared to Luther).  Yes, Bond does take a few small liberties for the sake of the story too.  But overall, I think this historical novel succeeds.  I quite enjoyed it and if ever someone should want to make a film based on Calvin’s life, The Betrayal would be a great basis.  Following the book, one of the things the film would certainly do is set the record straight on Calvin’s role in the burning of Servetus.

Book Review: On Being a Theologian of the Cross

On Being a Theologian of the Cross:  Reflections on Luther’s Heidelberg Disputation, 1518, Gerhard O. Forde, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.  Paperback, 121 pages, $11.95.

When referring to various teachings about salvation which involve man cooperating with God (synergism), we often use the term “Arminianism.”  If we’re a little more sophisticated, we might use terms like Pelagianism or semi-Pelagianism.  This book re-introduces an old distinction formulated by Martin Luther:  a theology of glory versus a theology of the cross.  All the various synergistic ideas of salvation can be placed under the heading of a “theology of glory.”  This book may persuade you that these old categories of Luther are more helpful than the ones we often use today.  Moreover, it may surprise you how often we ourselves are drawn to a “theology of glory” which “calls evil good and good evil.”

The author, Gerhard Forde (1927-2005), was professor of systematic theology at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota until his retirement in 1998.  The book is his commentary on a set of theses that Martin Luther presented to the German Congregation of the Augustinian order in Heidelberg in 1518.  Even though the 95 Theses of 1517 caused a bigger stir politically and ecclesiastically, the 28 theses presented at Heidelberg have been more theologically influential.

This is an amazing little book and reading it may well turn your thinking upside down.  The theology of the cross is, of course, concerned with the cross of Jesus Christ, which Forde reminds us is “shorthand for the entire narrative of the crucified and risen Jesus.” (1).  It also includes the Old Testament preparation for that narrative.  But this is not abstract theology – what is brilliantly laid out here is the gospel whereby God alone saves sinners through Christ alone:  “Grace says ‘believe it’ and everything – EVERYTHING! – is already done.” (110).  Perhaps not surprisingly, there are numerous similarities between the Heidelberg Disputation of 1518 and the Catechism that was produced in Heidelberg in 1563.

Every now and then you come across a book that delivers theology in a devotional format – you read it and it propels you further on the journey of spiritual growth.  This is one of those books.  Read it and see what happens!  I have but one complaint and it is the image of Christ on the cross on the cover.  However, a post-it note with some tape quickly deals with that problem.  Aside from that, this book is highly recommended.

Luther: Look to Christ

“Dear friar George,

Learn to know Christ as the crucified one.  Learn to rejoice in him and to despair of yourself and say to him, ‘You, Lord Jesus, are my righteousness, but I am your sin.  You have taken all that is mine upon yourself and you have given me that which is yours.  You have taken what you were not and given that which I was not.”

Quoted by J. Van Genderen, Gerechtigheid als Geschenk, 40.

True or False?

“God will not deny his grace to those who do what lies within them.”

True or false?

This was a popular medieval saying.  Its modern equivalent is “God helps those who help themselves.”  At a 1996 Christian Booksellers Association Convention, 54% of those surveyed agreed with the medieval formulation.  Other surveys have shown that Christians often believe “God helps those who help themselves” to be a quote from the Bible.  It is not — in this form it comes from Benjamin Franklin.  It is not from the Bible, nor is it true.

Martin Luther had this to say in the Heidelberg Disputation:

Thesis 16:  The person who believes that he can obtain grace by doing what is in him adds sin to sin so that he becomes doubly guilty.

On the basis of what has been said, the following is clear:  While a person is doing what is in him, he sins and seeks himself in everything.  But if he should suppose that through sin he would become worthy of or prepared for grace, he would add haughty arrogance to his sin and not believe that sin is sin and evil is evil, which is an exceedingly great sin.  As Jeremiah 2 says, ‘For my people have committed two evils:  they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water,’ that is, through sin they are far from me and yet they presume to do good by their own ability.

Now you ask, ‘What then shall we do?  Shall we go our way with indifference because we can do nothing but sin?’  I would reply, By no means.  But, having heard this, fall down and pray for grace and place your hope in Christ in whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection.  For this reason we are so instructed — for this reason the law makes us aware of sin so that, having recognized our sin, we may seek and receive grace.  Thus God ‘gives grace to the humble’ and ‘whoever humbles himself will be exalted.’  The law humbles, grace exalts.  The law effects fear and wrath, grace effects hope and mercy.  ‘Through the law comes knowledge of sin,’ through knowledge of sin, however, comes humility, and through humility grace is acquired.  Thus an action which is alien to God’s nature results in a deed belonging to his very nature:  he makes a person a sinner so that he may make him righteous.

(Reposted from Yinkahdinay, 10.30.06)

Luther on the Lord’s Prayer

“To this day I suckle at the Lord’s Prayer like a child, and as an old man eat and drink from it and never get my fill. It is the very best prayer, even better than the psalter, which is so very dear to me. It is surely evident that a real master composed and taught it.  What a great pity that the prayer of such a master is prattled and chattered so irreverently all over the world! How many pray the Lord’s Prayer several thousand times in the course of a year, and if they were to keep on doing so for a thousand years they would not have tasted nor prayed one iota, one dot, of it! In a word, the Lord’s Prayer is the greatest martyr on earth (as are the name and word of God). Everybody tortures and abuses it; few take comfort and joy in its proper use.”

From A Simple Way to Pray

(Reposted from Yinkahdinay, 09.14.06)