"The consequences of imprecision in pneumatology may lead to a type of Lutheran quietism. Both clergy and laity can easily come to the conclusion that, as long as the Word is preached, the Spirit will be present, and sanctification will follow. They believe that proclaiming the gospel is necessary and sufficient for sanctification to take place." [my bold] p114 Jeffrey Mann, 'Luther and the Holy Spirit', Currents in Theology and Mission 34:2 (Apr 2007)
Ouch, how much does this sound like us!
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4 comments:
you just give me a quote? C'mon?
..."the conclusion that, as long as the Word is preached, the Spirit will be present, and sanctification will follow" might be the result of very precise pneumatology (wrong or right).
Anyone would think you have an exegetical to write...
I may have misunderstood your point, but it all sounds a bit self-conscious to me. Surely it is the Spirit that motivates us to preach in the first place. God is the prime mover.
This is the biblical pattern, and is the opposite of Quietism, which is very self-conscious. When we preach motivated by the Spirit, like Jeremiah, we can't contain it. Watch out anyone who gets in the way.
The Word of the Lord comes to US first. It is perhaps preaching when He hasn't that causes the problems. It's kind of like worrying about whether you have rocket fuel after you have taken off.
Get into the bittersweet Word and there will be Spirit enough to preach seven thunders.
Godly LOUDism!
he he, good to see balesy get pummelled. For my part, I quite like Lutherans.
Mike, I don't think matt is bagging the preaching of the gospel, rather a view of the Holy Spirit that is so closely conflated with speaking that discipleship never reaches other areas.
After some thought, I would only expand it from Word to Sacrament and Discipline. How often do Lutherans take communion? Eating puts the mind back into the body. It is totally anti-mysticism and should occur weekly.
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