Pastor John M. Taggatz, Carol Wentz, Secretary
December, 2009 Lela Rehmer, Custodian Kevin Kahle, Groundskeeper
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Serving on the Altar Guild for December are: Linda Schoenbeck & Susan Piel
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Ushers for the Month of December are:
Gary Huebner, Leland Junge, Tony Junge, Carl Laufer, Gene Luthy, Corey Roscow & Mark Schoenbeck
Ocotober, 2009
TOTAL RECEIPTS $10,371.41
Total Personnel Expenses 5,638.24
Parochial School Tuition 1,421.00
District-Synod Missions 2,041.00
Operating & Misc. Expenses 18,668.61
TOTAL EXPENSES 27,768.85
ENDING BALANCE 3,213.38
CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE…
(618) 785-2344 (or)
(618) 785-2602
-When a member of your family is admitted to the hospital, so a visit can be made by Pastor Taggatz.
- When your group plans to hold a meeting, so it can be cleared and placed on the church calendar.
-When your home or business phone number is changed, so church records can be corrected.
- When you are planning to move either out of town or locally.
- When you know you are pregnant so that we will be able to assist you in any way we can with prayers, encouragement and support.
- When a new baby arrives in your family or in the family of another church member.
- When you are planning a wedding or baptism.
“He Comes!”
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
Advent is a time of preparation. Advent, in Latin, means, “he comes.” In that sense, Advent is a confession of the faith that the Word who was there at the beginning, before the dawn of time, comes. Not “he came,” but rather, “he comes.” He continues to come to us as He is, the Word, not only through the hearing of the Scriptures and the preaching of Himself in all purity and truth, but he continues to come in His enfleshed self, through His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper. He who was there before the dawn of time comes for us.
John the evangelist, while writing his Gospel, knew that there were already in his day (and probably assumed there would be in the future) those who would doubt who Jesus really was. There were some who would say the divinity of God could never suffer death on the cross. The purity of God would never pollute itself so radically as to become flesh. Jesus must have only just appeared to be human. Others would say that Jesus was someone special, but not really divine. Both ideas rob us of the joy of salvation in knowing that He was “tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15 ) and that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14 ).
The Advent season focuses our attention not only on what happened at a manger in Bethlehem but also on what happened on a cross at Golgotha, what continues to happen at the altar of the Lord, and what will happen on the Last Day. He comes.
See You in Church!
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Pastor Taggatz
Do You Have a Question? There are tracts in the narthex that may be able to help… Take a moment as you come into church to check out the Lutheran Hour Ministries tract rack. These pamphlets are free for you to take home. You may see one that would be interesting, maybe not for yourself, but for a friend or relative who is experiencing or questioning a particular topic.
New topics are added throughout the year. The newest pamphlet added to the rack is entitled, “Why do Bad Things Happen?” If you are interested in a particular subject that’s not on the rack, please contact Pastor Taggatz.
Bids for Lawn Mowing and Janitorial Services are to be given to the head Trustee Dennis Wegener before the November 22nd Annual Meeting. For the mowing estimate bids should include what it will cost per week to mow at the church and the cemetery.
Please remember to contact the church office by no later than Wednesday of the week that you plan on having something in the bulletin for FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR or SPONSORING THE BULLETIN.
Advent Midweek Series Coming to St. John 7pm during the month of December we will once again be having our Advent Midweek services. We will be following the Order of Vespers from TLH and the services will be on Dec. 2nd, 9th & 16th. This year we will be looking at the Genealogy of Jesus and its significance to his birth as the prophets of the Old Testament had foretold… The messages will be as follows:
The Genealogy of Jesus: God Keeps His Promises
1. Wed. Dec. 2nd @ 7pm —Joseph: Of David’s Lineage (Matthew 1:16 ; Luke 3:23 )
2. Wed. Dec. 9th @ 7pm —
Rahab: God Makes Heroes Out of Zeros (Joshua 2:1–21; 6:25 ; Matthew 1:5–6a)
3. Wed. Dec. 16th @ 7pm —
Joash: A Child with a Destiny (2 Chronicles 22; 2 Kings 8–12)
Please Note: Due to the Advent Midweek Series Confirmation & Pre-confirmation will be meeting at different times on Wednesdays. Pre-Confirmation will be meeting at 4:30pm and Confirmation will be meeting at 5:30 pm …
We Remember in Our Prayers— We pray for John Eggerding, Linda Nagel & Max, the uncle of Laura Conway, and for Pastor Tim Weiser, all who are battling serious illnesses. We pray for Pastor Arnold Wagner, as he continues to heal from his surgery. We pray for Alberta Erdmann as they recover from hospitalization. We pray for Lucy Higgins, the sister of John Nieweglowski, that God would grant her healing. Pray for Erna Sommer, as she recovers from her recent surgery. We also pray for all those in our congregation who are without current employment, that God would enable them to stand up under his everlasting arms in this time of trial and that He would graciously, according to His will, find new employment for them.
If you would like your High Five donations to COSLHS to count toward your taxes please be sure to put your offering envelope number on your donation so we can record it to your account.
Adoring Him with Our Gifts
Throughout Scripture, everyone who has come into the presence of the Lord has been in awe of Him and has adored Him. Think of Moses and the burning bush. Quietly watching over his father-in-law’s sheep, Moses saw a bush on fire but not being consumed. When God spoke to Moses telling him to remove his shoes, Moses realized who was speaking, and “Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God” (Exodus 3:6). But he listened and spent 40 years showing adoration to God by obediently leading God’s people according to God’s direction.
Isaiah writes about the vision through which God called him to be His prophet: “I saw the Lord . . . high and exalted . . . [and the angels] were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty.’” His reaction was to confess his sinfulness and, like Moses, to adore God by answering His question, “Whom shall I send?” with “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:1-8).
This is the Christmas season, and we cannot help but think of the Wise Men, too, who came in search of the newborn King, bringing their gifts and bowing before Him in adoration. Matthew 2:11 records, “On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him.” And they offered to the Christ Child the gifts they had brought for Him, “gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”
The shepherds adored Him, too. They heard about Jesus from the angels as they sat outdoors watching their sheep and ran to Bethlehem
God gives gifts to each of us and uses us to tell the Good News of the birth of His Son Who came to bring us forgiveness of sins and life eternal. Some of us, like the Wise Men, are blessed with monetary gifts to be used to support mission and ministry. Others of us are more like the shepherds, able to “spread the word concerning what [we] have been told . . . about this Child.” By God’s grace, all of us can respond in faithful obedience to God’s Word. In these ways, we adore our Savior.
Please be sure to sign the attendance pads during each worship service as it helps us keep track for not only our records, but also for Synods. Also so we can keep track of who has been receiving Holy Communion as that is
also sent to the Synod.
PUTTING CHRIST BACK INTO CHRISTIAN RADIO… Do any of these topics interest you?: Predestination, Daniel in the Lion’s Den, Closed Communion, American Lutheranism, Darwinian Evolution and more. Issues, Etc. is hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken and produced by Lutheran Public Radio. You can listen LIVE weekdays from 4-5 p.m. on KSIV, 1320 AM in St. Louis
LYF UPDATE— The LYF will be selling buckets of Cookie Dough through June 2010 for $15.00 a bucket to earn money for the Youth Gathering next summer. There will be an order sheet on the table at the back of the church.
The LYF will also be selling Rada Knives during the Season of Advent just in time for Christmas. Be watching for further details.
Also, the children will begin practicing for the Sunday School Christmas Program before church during the normal Sunday School hour (practice will be from 8:45am-9:45pm ):
-Sunday Dec. 6th
-Sunday Dec. 13th
-Sunday Dec. 20th
You Were Off Key…
One Sunday morning I sat behind a couple and their five young daughters. During the closing hymn, I noticed that the daughter at the end of the pew was whistling the tune instead of singing it. The father, concentrating on his bass part, didn't notice, but the mother was clearly mortified. But the child was sitting too far from her for a reprimand.
As soon as the service was over, the mother leaned over to her husband and said in exasperation, "Honey, you have to do something!" He promptly turned to the offending youngster and said, "You were off-key, Susan."
—Janell Wheeler,Skellytown , Texas
As soon as the service was over, the mother leaned over to her husband and said in exasperation, "Honey, you have to do something!" He promptly turned to the offending youngster and said, "You were off-key, Susan."
—Janell Wheeler,
You Know that Santa is…
I wanted my daughter Kira to have a good understanding of the true meaning of Christmas by focusing on the birth of the Savior and downplaying Santa Claus.
The Christmas she was two-and-a-half, we were walking through the mall on our way to see Santa when I said, "Kira, you know Santa is make-believe."
Kira stopped in her tracks. "Don't tell me that!" she scolded. "I'm too little yet."
—Randy Thompson,Barrington , Illinois
The Christmas she was two-and-a-half, we were walking through the mall on our way to see Santa when I said, "Kira, you know Santa is make-believe."
Kira stopped in her tracks. "Don't tell me that!" she scolded. "I'm too little yet."
—Randy Thompson,
The Substitute Organist—
The minister was preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building. Therefore, he was annoyed to find that the regular organist was sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute The substitute wanted to know what to play.
' Here's a copy of the service,' he said impatiently. 'But, you'll have to think of something to play after I make the announcement about the finances.'
During the service, the minister paused and said, 'Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected and we need $4,000 more. Any of you who can pledge $100 or more, please stand up'
At that moment, the substitute organist played 'The Star Spangled Banner.'
And that is how the substitute became the regular organist!
' Here's a copy of the service,' he said impatiently. 'But, you'll have to think of something to play after I make the announcement about the finances.'
During the service, the minister paused and said, 'Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected and we need $4,000 more. Any of you who can pledge $100 or more, please stand up'
At that moment, the substitute organist played 'The Star Spangled Banner.'
And that is how the substitute became the regular organist!
The Comforter is Coming—
Sunday after church, a Mom asked her very young daughter what the lesson was about.
The daughter answered, 'Don't be scared, you'll get your quilt.'
Needless to say, the Mom was perplexed. Later in the day, the pastor stopped by for tea and the Mom asked him what that morning's Sunday school lesson was about.
He said 'Be not afraid, thy comforter is coming.'
The daughter answered, 'Don't be scared, you'll get your quilt.'
Needless to say, the Mom was perplexed. Later in the day, the pastor stopped by for tea and the Mom asked him what that morning's Sunday school lesson was about.
He said 'Be not afraid, thy comforter is coming.'
Remember: Every 3rd Sunday of the month we are praying for people who are in the military. If you have a relative or friend who is an armed serviceman and woman in our Nation’s military please let the Church know so that we may be able to pray for them on the third Sunday of the month.
New LUTHERANS FOR LIFE Chapter—If you would like to be involved in future meetings/events, or if you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Becker-Roscow at 618-282-5343 or mroscow@htc.net.
BIBLE STUDIES—
Monday Night (7pm )
“The Book of Daniel”
Location: School
Lead By: Pastor Taggatz
This course will focus on the Old Testament book of Daniel. Here we will learn that the Book of Daniel is a type of apocalyptic literature that became common among Jewish people at the close of the Old Testament era. As an apocalyptic book, Daniel has certain features in common with similar works, including Revelation and many non biblical writings. In this study we’ll learn how God communicates to us His message of judgment and salvation found in Jesus Christ our Lord and we will learn to appreciate the Book of Daniel’s message as one of encouragement to remain steadfast in the Christian faith.
Sunday Mornings (8:45 a.m. )
“1 Corinthians”
Location: Church
Lead By: Pastor Taggatz
In this Bible class we will be looking at Paul’s 1st Letter to the Christian church in Corinth Corinth
Emma Rehmer
New Athens , IL 62264
Edmund Buch Zuehla Rowold
Red Bud Nursing Home 202 W. Chestnut
350 W. South 1st Baldwin , IL
Red Bud , IL 62278
| Church Council Minutes |
Present - Mark Schoenbeck, Dennis Wegener, Terry Rehmer, Darla Porter, Dave Stahre, SuSan Piel, Linda Schoenbeck, Fleta Junge, and Connie Buch.
Guest - Rich Heuman of Heuman Heating and Cooling.
The meeting was called to order by Pres. Terry Rehmer.
Mr. Heuman was recognized. A detailed proposal was presented for annual furnace and air conditioner maintenance by Mr. Heuman. The bid included spring inspection of air conditioning units in Parsonage, school, and church and fall inspection of furnace units in Parsonage, church, and school, as well as, heat pump in Parsonage. Proposal included carbon monoxide checks. Total cost per year $825.00.
Opening devotions were given by Pastor Taggatz.
The minutes from the previous meeting were read and approved.
Financial Secretary's Report: Total receipts for October, 2009, $10,371.74.
Treasurer's Report: Ending monthly balance for October, 2009, $3,213,28.
Church Properties:
Bathroom in Parsonage needs repair.
Trustees will work on drainage issues in parking lot to eliminate standing water.
Discussion regarding AC and furnace maintenance in church, Parsonage, and school. A previous bid from Williams similar to Heuman's bid with the exception of carbon monoxide inspection was $1,157.00 per year. Motion was made and second to accept the Heuman bid of $825.00 for yearly AC and furnace maintenance. Motion carried. If repair is needed at the Parsonage for furnace or AC, Williams will be contacted while units are under warranty.
One lawn mowing bid and one janitorial bid has been received.
COSLHS:
Call meeting is set for November 15th to call a new principal. Candidates are Paul Leckband, Richard Schneider, and John Christman - all of which have experience as administrators of Lutheran High Schools. Pastor will be in attendance.
Sunday School:
The SS students will be singing in church November 22nd.
The Christmas Eve Program is call "The Wonder". Program practice will be after church from 11:15 to 12:15 starting November 15th, then November 22nd, December 6th, 13th and 20th. All Sunday School students are asked to attend.
LYF:
The youth will decorate the church on November 29th.
Youth meeting is scheduled for December 6th. At that time, Christmas bags will be filled for the Christmas Eve Service to be given to the SS students.
Pastor's Report:
PASTORAL ACTS
PALS (Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support) MEETING—met on Thur. Oct. 22nd (next meeting on Jan. 7th) …(this will be my 3rd year of belonging to this, also my last year)
-Attending the COSLHS Board Meeting on Thur. Nov. 12th & a special call meeting on Sun. Nov. 15th.
-Am on the COSLHS Call Committee and have met on Sun. Oct. 18th & Sun. Nov. 1st for it…
-Sunday School Christmas Planning meeting on Oct. 20th @ 7pm
-4th Wednesday of the month @ 2pm leading worship at Randolph County Care Center
-4 Hospital Visits & 12 Homebound visits…
-Pastor’s Circuit Meeting @ St. Peter’s Evansville
-2 Counseling sessions
-2 Pre-marital Counseling Sessions
-I’m doing chapel @ Trinity on Thur. Nov. 12th
BAPTISMS—
-Sidney Everett Pautler (daughter of Dallas & Joe Pautler) was baptized on Sun. Oct. 18th
Affirmation of Marriage Service in November—
-Sat. Nov. 28th for Sylvia Harms
-Planning & preparation for the Bi-Circuit Reformation service on Sun. Oct. 25th
The Annual Meeting is scheduled for the fourth Sunday in November, November 22nd at 7:00 p.m. Nominations for President and Vice President of our Lutheran Church Missouri Synod will need to be made. Please plan to attend.
Thank you to all current council members who have served, especially to those whose terms are coming to an end. Their work is greatly appreciated.
Thanksgiving Day Worship - November 26th at 9:00 a.m.
Advent Midweek Services will be on Wednesday, December 2nd, 9th, and 16th at 7:00 p.m. Themes will be listed in the bulletin.
Old Business:
Budget meeting is scheduled for November 12th at 7:30 p.m.
New Business:
Volunteers are needed for greeters, altar guild, and ushers. Please call Susan Piel, 785-2383, if you would like to serve as a greeter, Harry Wetzel, 785-2931, if you would like to service as an usher, and Bev Schoenbeck, 785-2563, if you would like to serve on the altar guild.
Motion was made to adjourn.
The meeting was closed with the Lord's Prayer.
Pres. Terry Rehmer
Sec. Darla Porter
YOU’RE INVITED
Our Ladies Aid is hosting a PotLuck Dinner December 9th starting at 11:30 a.m. in the school. ALL members of St. John’s
CHRIST OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN
HIGH SCHOOL
Please keep COSLHS and Mr. John Christman in your prayers in the coming weeks. On Sunday night Nov. 15th the COSLHS Board voted to call John Christman as their next administrator. Mr. Christman is currently serving as an Asst. Administrator at a Lutheran High School Little Rock , Arkansas
Census: Need a little extra cash? Be a part of the 2010 Census Team! For more information call this toll-free job line 1-800-877-8339 TTY.
Something New: Evansville
We are planning a “Bazaar/Flea Market” at the gym on Dec. 12/13 Anyone wanting to make a little money before Christmas may set up a table to sell your wares! The price will be $20.00 for a 10X10 space which includes one 8’ and table and 2-3 chairs. You may bring your own tables or we have some to rent if you need more. ($3.00) For you last minute shoppers, you may also want to come to see what we have to offer. We have books, jewelry, antiques, jams, jellies, Tupperware, with much more to come.
Thrivent Matching Funds: Matching funds will be coming to an end shortly. Make your donation to the school before funds are depleted. New program information will soon be available.
$50,00.00: Once again we have received a large donation from an anonymous donor. We are asking for matching funds in order to double this donation. Thanks to all for your continued support.
Wish List: Someone to remove snow this winter. A gas kitchen stove.
Prayer Requests:
● Recruiters, we need students.
● Mr. John Christman as he considers our call as administrator.
● All who are sick, hurting, or just need prayers
Christ and Adoption
by Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb
God only has one "natural" child. He adopted all the rest.
by Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb
God only has one "natural" child. He adopted all the rest.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)
We were neither conceived nor born as God’s children. We were "illegitimate" children conceived and born in sin. We were children of slavery, "held captive under the law" (
But God made an adoption plan for us. Even before time began, this loving plan of adoption was in place. "He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will" (Ephesians 1:4-5). Then when everything was just right, when "the fullness of time had come," the plan unfolded.
It was a loving plan. "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him" (1 John 4:9). Out of love, God wanted what was best for us; so He sent the best for us, His only Son.
It was a sacrificial plan. "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians
It was an expensive plan. "You were bought with a price" (1 Corinthians
It was a glorious plan. "So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God" (Galatians 4:7). Adopted sons are no different than sons. They have an inheritance coming, eternal life with the Father. That’s why "sons" is used here and not "children." In thos e days sons received the inheritance. Paul makes the point that those who God adopts—men, women, boys and girls—all have the full right of sons, all have eternity waiting.
Christians and Adoption
Adoption is not always seen in a good light. Pregnant teens who are nervously but seriously considering abortion become very adamant when adoption is mentioned. "Oh, I could never give my baby up for adoption!" Even well- meaning Christians may contribute to the problem. "What mother would give away her baby?" The perception is that adoption is abandonment, a bad choice that is not very loving.
There is a need to shed some good light on adoption. Perhaps looking at it in the light of our adoption in Christ will help.
Making a Plan
Making a plan for placing a child in the loving arms of adoptive parents is not easy, but it is far from abandonment. Often times it is best for all involved. These days, a variety of plans can be made. Adoptions can be as open or as closed as the mother may desire. Even before the child is born, plans can be made for baptism, selecting Christian parents, and setting up the degree of openness desired. Making an adoption plan is not "giving a baby up." It’s giving a baby the best future possible for him or her.
A Loving Plan
True love, as demonstrated by God in Christ, considers what is best for another before considering what is best for self. Making an adoption plan for a baby is an act of great love. Certainly, parenting may be a loving option, especially if there is maturity and levels of support. But love asks what is best for the baby. Often the loving choice of an adoption plan ends up being best for all involved.
A Sacrificial Plan
Lovingly putting others first led Jesus to the great and ultimate sacrifice. Making an adoption plan is difficult emotionally. It requires sacrifice. Other plans may have to be put on hold for awhile as plans are made for a new life and a new future. But just as the sacrifice of Christ ultimately resulted in much good, so the sacrifice of adoption can result in much good. A life is saved, new life is given, a family is found for a child, and the birth mother can know, that in serving her child and sacrificing for what is best for that child, she is serving Christ. She can move forward in hope and joy.
An Expensive Plan
Practically speaking, adoption can be very expensive these days. Parents wanting to adopt sometimes find such expenses prohibitive. This is where the body of Chris t can help. Instead of just promoting adoption as a loving and life-giving option, congregations can make efforts to help fund couples seeking to adopt. They can support agencies that assist in the adoption planning and process. We were worth it to God! Helping birth moms make an adoption plan and helping couples adopt is worth it as well!
A Glorious Plan
The desired outcome of God’s adoption plan for us is heaven. That is the ultimate concern for the Christian as well. When a child is conceived, whatever the circumstances, a Christian’s first concern is for that child’s salvation. Subsequent decisions and plans need always to bear this in mind. Again, an adoption plan gives opportunity to place a child in an environment that will nurture and uphold that child’s eternal welfare.
There are many perspectives from which to view adoption. Perhaps we Christians will find needed strength and encouragement and hope when we view it through our adoption by God in Christ. Apart from Christ, all His children are adopted. He must know something about it!
ARTICLE XXVII
Monastic Vows
Introductory Note: This article has in view Martin Luther’s experience in the monastery, along with what other former monks had to say about life in the cloister. The idea that a person should hide himself behind the walls of a monastery, and perform spiritual works to make himself more worthy of God’s favor, has no biblical justification at all. During the Middle Ages, many common people believed that only priests, monks, or nuns were truly performing spiritual work. But such a view contradicts God’s Word, which teaches how all of life is an opportunity to serve God—giving Him glory by serving our neighbor. Even today, it is assumed that activities at church are somehow of greater value than the common, everyday duties life requires of us. This article extols such biblical duties as being a faithful husband, wife, son, or daughter, and takes great care to reject monasticism and explain how harmful and dangerous it is for those who are entrapped in it. Forcing chastity on those who have not been given this gift is particularly harmful, since many are led to believe they merit God’s grace by means of their sacrifice, not the sacrifice of Christ. (See also Ap XXVII; SA III XIV.)
It will be easier to understand what we teach about monastic vows by considering the state of the monasteries and how many things were done every day contrary to canon law. In Augustine’s time they were free associations. Later, when discipline was corrupted, vows were added for the purpose of restoring discipline, as in a carefully planned prison. Gradually, many other regulations were added besides vows. These binding rules were laid upon many before the lawful age, contrary to canon law.
Many entered monastic life through ignorance. They were not able to judge their own strength, though they were old enough. They were trapped and compelled to remain, even though some could have been freed by the kind provision of canon law. This was more the case in convents of women than of monks, although more consideration should have been shown the weaker sex [1 Peter 3:7]. This rigor displeased many good people before this time, who saw that young men and women were thrown into convents for a living. They saw what unfortunate results came of this procedure, how it created scandals, and what snares were cast upon consciences! They were sad that the authority of canon law in so great a matter was utterly set aside and despised. In addition to all these evil things, a view of vows was added that displeased even the more considerate monks. They taught that monastic vows were equal to Baptism. They taught that a monastic life merited forgiveness of sins and justification before God. Yes, they even added that the monastic life not only merited righteousness before God, but even greater merit, since it was said that the monastic life not only kept God’s basic law, but also the so-called “evangelical counsels.”
So they made people believe that the profession of monasticism was far better than Baptism, and that the monastic life was more meritorious than that of rulers, pastors, and others, who serve in their calling according to God’s commands, without any man-made services. None of these things can be denied. This is all found in their own books about monasticism.
How did all this come about in monasteries? At one time they were schools of theology and other branches of learning, producing pastors and bishops for the benefit of the Church. Now it is another thing. It is needless to go over what everyone knows. Before, they came together for the sake of learning, now they claim that monasticism is a lifestyle instituted to merit grace and righteousness. They even preach that it is a state of perfection! They put monasticism far above all other kinds of life ordained by God. We have mentioned all these things without hateful exaggeration so that our teachers’ doctrine on monasticism may be better understood.
First, concerning monks who marry, our teachers say that it is lawful for anyone who is not suited for the single life to enter into marriage. Monastic vows cannot destroy what God has commanded and ordained. 19 God’s commandment is this, “Because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife” (1 Corinthians 7:2). It is not just a command given by God. God has created and ordained marriage for those who are not given an exception to natural order by God’s special work. This is what is taught according to the text in Genesis 2:18, “It is not good that the man should be alone.” Therefore, those who obey this command and ordinance of God do not sin.
What objection can be raised to this? Let people praise the obligation of a monastic vow as much as they want, but they will never be able to destroy God’s commandment by means of a monastic vow. Canon law teaches that superiors can make exceptions to monastic vows; how much less are such monastic vows in force that are contrary to God’s commandments!
If, in fact, an obligation to a monastic vow could never be changed for any reason, the Roman popes could never have granted exceptions to the vows. For it is not lawful for someone to make an exception to what is truly from God. The Roman pontiffs have wisely judged that mercy is to be observed in these monastic obligations. That is why we read that many times they have made special arrangements and exceptions with monastic vows. The case of the King of Aragon, who was called back from the monastery, is well known, and there are also examples in our own times.
In the second place, why do our adversaries exaggerate the obligation or effect of a vow when, at the same time, they do not have anything to say about the nature of the vow itself? A vow should be something that is possible; it should be a decision that is made freely and after careful deliberation. We all know how possible perpetual chastity actually is in reality, and just how few people actually do take this vow freely and deliberately! Young women and men, before they are able to make their own decision about this, are persuaded, and sometimes even forced, to take the vow of chastity. Therefore, it is not fair to insist so rigorously on the obligation. Everyone knows that taking a vow that is not made freely and deliberately is against the very nature of a true vow.
Most canonical laws overturn vows made before the age of fifteen. Before that age a person does not seem able to make a wise judgment and to decide to make a lifelong commitment like this. There is another canon law that adds even more years to this limit, showing that the vow of chastity should not be made before the age of eighteen. So which of these two canon laws should we follow? Most people leaving the monastery have a valid excuse, since they took their vows before they were fifteen or eighteen.
Finally, even though it might be possible to condemn a person who breaks a vow, it does not follow that it is right to dissolve such a person’s marriage. 35 Augustine denies that they ought to be dissolved (XXVII. Quaest. I, Cap. Nuptiarum). Augustine’s authority should not be taken lightly, even though some wish to do so today.
Although it appears that God’s command about marriage delivers many from their vows, our teachers introduce another argument about vows to show that they are void. Every service of God, established and chosen by people to merit justification and grace, without God’s commandment, is wicked. For Christ says in Matthew 15:9, “In vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Paul teaches everywhere that righteousness is not to be sought in self-chosen practices and acts of worship, devised by people. Righteousness comes by faith to those who believe that they are received by God into grace for Christ’s sake.
It is clear for all to see that the monks have taught that services made up by people make satisfaction for sins and merit grace and justification. What else is this than detracting from Christ’s glory and hiding and denying the righteousness that comes through faith? Therefore, it follows that monastic vows, which have been widely taken, are wicked services of God and, consequently, are void. For a wicked vow, taken against God’s commandment, is not valid; for (as the Canon says) no vow ought to bind people to wickedness.
Paul says, “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace” (Galatians 5:4). Therefore, anyone wanting to be justified by his vows makes Christ useless and falls from grace. Anyone who tries to connect justification to monastic vows bases his justification on his own works, which properly belongs to Christ’s glory.
It cannot be denied that the monks have taught that they were justified and merited forgiveness of sins by means of their vows and observances. Indeed, they even invented greater absurdities, saying that they could give others a share in their works. If anyone wanted to make more of this point, to make our opponents look even worse, even more things could be mentioned, things that even the monks are ashamed of now. And on top of all this, the monks persuaded people that the services that they invented were a state of Christian perfection. What else is this other than assigning our justification to works? It is no light offense in the Church to set before the people a service invented by people, without God’s commandment, and then to teach them that such service justifies. For the righteousness of faith, which ought to be the highest teaching in the Church, is hidden when these “wonderful” and “angelic” forms of worship, with their show of poverty, humility, and celibacy, are put in front of people.
God’s precepts, and God’s true service, are hidden when people hear that only monks are in a state of perfection. True Christian perfection is to fear God from the heart, to have great faith, and to trust that for Christ’s sake we have a God who has been reconciled [2 Corinthians 5:18 –19]. It means to ask for and expect from God His help in all things with confident assurance that we are to live according to our calling in life, being diligent in outward good works, serving in our calling. 50 This is where true perfection and true service of God is to be found. It does not consist in celibacy or in begging or in degrading clothes. The people come up with all sorts of harmful opinions based on the false praise of monastic life. They hear celibacy praised without measure and feel guilty about living in marriage. They hear that only beggars are perfect, and so they keep their possessions and do business with guilty consciences. They hear that it is an even higher work, a Gospel-counsel, not to seek revenge. So some in private life are not afraid to take revenge, for they hear that it is but a counsel and not a commandment. Others come to the conclusion that a Christian cannot rightly hold a civil office or be a ruler.
There are on record examples of men who hid themselves in monasteries because they wanted to forsake marriage and participation in society. They called this fleeing from the world, and said they were seeking a kind of life that would be more pleasing to God. They did not realize that God ought to be served according to the commandments that He Himself has given, not in commandments made up by people. Only a life that has God’s commandment is good and perfect. It is necessary to teach the people about these things.
Before our times, Gerson rebukes the monks’ error about perfection. He testifies that in his day it was a new saying that the monastic life is a state of perfection. So many wicked opinions are inherent in monastic vows—that they justify, that they cause Christian perfection, that they make it possible to keep the counsels and commandments, that they are works over and above God’s commandments. All these things are false and empty. They make monastic vows null and void.
Ap Apology of the Augsburg
SA Smalcald Articles
FC Ep Formula of Concord
SD Solid Declaration of Formula of Concord
Concordia : The Lutheran Confessions. Edited by Paul Timothy McCain. St. Louis , MO
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Kevin & Kari Luthy 12/6/2003
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TO ALL MEMBERS OF ST. JOHN HOLIDAY SEASON!
Pastor Taggatz, Roxanne, Eddie, & Baby Taggatz would like to extend our warmest Christmas regards to everyone of you! Because when you get right down to it, the only thing that matters is, Jesus.
John 17:3—And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
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