JW September 12, 2015 A Jagged Contention

A Jagged Contention: Most Christians

“[Are most Christians] concerned about their sins? Do they seek to understand them ever more clearly? Do they battle against them? Do they despite their flesh diligently watch and pray, hear and read God’s Word, that all sins may be purged from their hearts and life and thus grow in sanctification? Not at all! Most of them think: ‘To be that worried about sin is enthusiasm. That is pietism and Methodism. That is false legalism.’”

-CFW Walther, Gospel Sermons. St. Louis: CPH. 190.

(Quoted by Chris Jackson in the recent First Things blog: Losing Luther.)

Question:

Is this an accurate depiction of “most Christians?” In your experience, are “most Christians” unconcerned with their sins, intentionally lazy in prayer, negligent in attending to the Word? More broadly, are generalizations, like the one Walther makes here, helpful or harmful to pastoral ministry, preaching, and love for the neighbor?

Share your thoughts in the comments below

8Comments

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1

sean mucci on September 12, 2015 at 11:01 am

We all fall short in virtue and responsibilities but the Good News is we can receive forgiveness and Spiritual Life dose abide in us and Sanctification and virtue are present in some degree and It’s Gods work!..Blessings to you all,I love your Blog!

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Don Moore on September 12, 2015 at 11:37 am

My experience tells me that most Christians, being freed from the law, don’t waste a lot of time worrying about their sins. They don’t want to sin, but know they do and will. All their efforts to stop themselves will be unfruitful, so they spend more time doing Mary imitations instead of Martha. None of them do enough, worry enough, or strive enough – because they are sinners and saved.

I suspect Walther was on a Law tear in that one, at least at that moment. What did he say about the Gospel, I wonder?

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3

V. Williams on September 12, 2015 at 11:51 am

I think that the two choices of the assertions forget that there is middle ground. Which is where I imagine “most” (American anyway) Christians to be. The lukewarm variety. Neither constantly agonizing over sin/sanctification, nor even spending time considering the intellectual concept to reach the point of rejecting such agonizing as pietism/Methodism. I don’t think they are *intentionally* being lazy in prayer/attending to the Word, nor have a lack of concern for their sin, but rather, are distracted by the mundane. Taking life as it comes, knowing they are sinners and looking toward the gifts on Sunday and the promise of forgiveness. More a state of taking the hope and promise we are given for granted, rather than the amount of time/thought Walther assumes “most” Christians devote to either extreme. It’s more slipshod, not intentional. Remove the “intentionally” language, and yes! We are lazy and negligent. We are sinners. Unconcerned? Hmm… maybe, but also perhaps resting in hope in the promises of the Gospel.

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infanttheology on September 12, 2015 at 2:29 pm

The first part of the Walther quote describes me – I perpetually am distracted from my good intentions of being more like Mary, spending time listening to my Lord in the Word, and asking Him questions, making petitions in prayer. The part about “most of them think” probably does not apply to most Christians today, as most are not so theologically inclined. And it does not apply to me – because I think it would be good to be more concerned about growing in holiness through the word *for my neighbors sake* (not for my own salvation)… and that it is not legalism, methodism, pietism, etc.

+Nathan

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5

John J Flanagan on September 12, 2015 at 5:28 pm

Indeed, we should guard our hearts as the word of God commands us. The term “most Christians” is a generalization, however, and I dislike generalizations, especially about people, groups, and individuals. Walther’s statement about “most Christians” being unconcerned, lazy, lacking, etc. are not helpful, simply because it is not in his power to ascertain the minds and habits of anyone other than himself.

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Jean on September 13, 2015 at 12:16 pm

I believe that what ails many Western Christians is Deism and/or Epicureanism. It’s more serious than comfort or concern with sin. Secondarily, many Christians have compartmentalized their faith, so that their Christian identity doesn’t reign in their various vocations.

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hlewis2962 on September 14, 2015 at 10:05 am

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”
“What does such baptizing with water signify?–Answer.
It signifies that the old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts, and, again, a new man daily come forth and arise; who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.”

It is only the threat of Law that draws repentance. The issue, for many Lutherans (and I assume that this is Walther’s audience moreso than “most Christians”, including those of other denominations) is that the world and many other denominations tie sanctification and works into justification, they give a sanctified life of increasing holiness a judicial function. In order not to be confused for what we are not, ethics are downplayed. After all, the Gospel jumps in wherever we err, don’t sweat it. We lose track of the fact that the old Adam still needs to die in repentance and he doesn’t give in without threats.

But having been justified, we still ought to go about with fear and trembling. Faith can be lost, we can cast God out with negligence and diets high on worldly words and low on God’s Word.

Sadly, I think, apart from those who’ve fallen for “irresistible grace” and believe they are the preserved elect, or Lutherans scowling at works, most Christians do take sin seriously and want to be better and do better. We need to get on board with mortifying our old Adam, exposing him to the fear of God, and taking heart and encouraging each other. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Our sanctified lives are lived for our neighbors, not for our salvation. If this were a judicial issue, we would be living for ourselves, unlike Christ. When we live for others, we are most like Christ. Who doesn’t want to be more like Christ?

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Ken Miller on September 16, 2015 at 1:06 pm

I think V. Williams hit the nail on the head here. There’s a middle path to be trod in all of this. On the one hand, we may fall into a subtle legalism whereby we judge our standing before God based on our actions. On the other hand, we take the gospel for granted and care nothing for holiness.

I wouldn’t say “most Christians” fall to the latter extreme, it seems to be that some people (even churches or denominations) are more naturally predisposed to one or the other.

The key is to fight sin while resting in the grace of Christ, but also to keep in mind that we cannot spend all of our time in introspection, fasting, and prayer, since Christ also calls us to love and serve our church, family and neighbors. Maybe there’s a balance we can strike.

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The Jagged Word

A Jagged Contention: Most Christians

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