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In the following quotations, Luther shows that Christian doctrine is
detrimental to faithless congregations or congregations that are weak in
faith. Many pastors quickly learn that watering down the doctrinal
content of their sermons is good for their job security and the numerical
growth of their congregation.
Make them feel good, try to keep the sermon interesting and current, but
go light on the doctrine, or the church could break into lots of tiny
pieces. One will be offended by this and another will object to that.
Of course, if the congregation has faith in God's Word and has over the
years been built on a steady diet of Christian doctrine, the people will
be increasingly strengthened and united by doctrinal preaching. If
they have faith, they will grow like a crystal instead of being shattered
like glass.
"For commandments do not make anyone better, in fact they make
everyone worse." LW13:5
"But the Gospel and the proclamation of God's name in Christ do
construct a solid highway, for faith furnishes a good foundation and dries
out every foul march of the wicked flesh. And now Christ rides on
them; that is, He performs in them His works, which are love, joy, peace,
kindness, meekness, chastity (Gal. 5:22). Let us note the word
'ride.' He does not stand still; for the life in faith implies
progress, a walk or journey toward heaven into another life."
LW13.5
"Apart from faith, all doctrine and life separate and disunite
mankind. The formation of sects is the inevitable result, even
though there may be only two persons in a house. For their whole
existence revolves about externa lworks and ways, which will necessarily
be varied. You will find one abounding in this prayer, one in
that. One is a Carthusian monk, or a barefoot friar. One goes
on pilgrimages, one endows institutions, one fasts. If
hearts cling to any of these, discord, hatred, pride, and all sorts of
misery will surely follow. Therefore there is no god, no doctrine,
no life, no means that produces unanimity other than this God with His
agency of faith. This faith draws us all into the Spirit; there all
things are harmonious, and all external difference disappear. This
does not imply that no external differences remain; it merely means that
the heart does not cling to these, that these do not set one person
against the other, even if the whole world dwelt together under one roof.
First of all, however, it is imperative that man be taken captive by the
Law and be placed into the bondage of sin, that is in terror of his
conscience. He who feels no sin will not be impelled to seek grace; he
will pay no attention either to the Gospel or to faith. Therefore
the Law is conscience, jailer, chains, fetters, and prison. The Law
points to sin and exposes it, and thus it takes conscience captive (Rom
4:17; 7:7,8). God does not deliver us from these bonds whenever we deem it
necessary, but He
permits us to be humbled and tormented in them until we thirst for grace.
Now He comes and gives us His Word, to which we cling, and leads us out of
captivity. Thus we escape a terrified and despondent conscience, and
we get a good and sure conscience. That is the twofold work and
performance of Christ in us: and He exalts us, each in His good season;
this indicated by the two pillars in the desert, the pillar of cloud and
the pillar of fire." (Ex. 13:21, 22). LW13:7-8
"Where God does not provide the message, a sermon is useless."
LW13:12
"Since faith alone purifies from sin, as St. Peter says in Acts 15:9,
and since faith is dependent solely on God's Word, no one can preach the
Word of God unless he is sent by God, as St. Paul teaches in Romans 10:15.
From this it must follow that all man-made doctrine is injurious and
renders a person unclean and coal-black." LW13:16
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