Over the past year, I’ve noticed a strange phobia in some sectors of the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. Specifically, the fear of “binding consciences” with God’s Law.
Now, note, this does not have reference to the binding of consciences through teaching the commandments of men as if they were God’s. Rather, this is the fear that if we speak of walking uprightly before the Lord, according to His statutes, we may drive sinners away from the Gospel.
In a sense, it seems to represent a reluctance to say with Paul that, “…we uphold the law.” And this out of the fear that consciously striving to do so (even WHILE recognizing that all fall short) constitutes a Theology of Glory — trying to justify ourselves rather than trusting in Christ’s accomplished work.
My guest in this episode, Rev. Christopher Jackson, has been thinking and writing about this subject for several years now. His most recent piece — which discusses one outcome of this approach to theology — appeared in First Things earlier this month:
Tullian Tchividjian’s Upside Down Christianity — Pr. Christopher Jackson on First Things 9/5/19
The Twitter thread which spun out of it was useful as well:
In this episode, Pastor Jackson graciously allows me to pick his brain on this subject. Listen in as we explore some of the history and theology behind what has come to be known as Radical Lutheranism.
Related:
Losing Luther — Pr. Christopher Jackson on First Things 5/10/15
A Radically Toxic Combination — Pr. Christopher Jackson on First Things 7/20/15
The Theology of Radical Lutheranism – Pr. Christopher Jackson on Issues, Etc. 7/22/15
Solomon Warns His Son Against Adultery — Still Water Sermoncast 8/30/19
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