Radical Grace/the Lutheran Difference

On this edition of Radical Grace Radio we talk about Blasphemy Laws.  They don't exist in the US pretty much, but in several European countries there are still blasphemy laws on the books...  I forgot to mention, those are in Christian countries.  We talk about specific instances in Greece and how if we were in Greece right now much of what we would preach would be considered blasphemy.  And with another word that ends in "y", since the season of Epiphany started on a Sunday this year, we took some time to talk about Gentile kings and things like that.  What a surprise it must have been for Jews in the first century to see Gentiles seeking out the newborn King.   Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

We share out thoughts on what has to be the best movie of 2012, and likely the best movie of 2013, Les Miserables.  Not only are the themes of the film striking, but the story of redemption told of Jean ValJean is one that every Christian should pay attention to.  One can clearly hear strains of law and gospel and how living under the law can lead to spiritual death...  as well as physical death.  We also, once again, take up the topic of doomsday, in this case self made doomsays, like the so called "fiscal cliff".    Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

After a really tough year in a lot of ways, it's a good thing that Christmas comes this time of year.  We all need some good news.  But here's something about the Good news that we usually don't think about.  Where did Jesus learn it?  You can say, if you want, that He's God and he therefore knows everything, but in his human nature, growing up from a baby to a young man, where did Jesus hear this good news?  You'll be surprised at the answer.   Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

It's Doomsday at Radical Grace Radio!  Yes, it's the end of the Mayan Calendar, and this is it.  It's over.  Again.  Oh wait, we've been here before, haven't we?  But all is not lost because Christ has won.Also, we talk about the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary, which isn't an easy topic because it's so difficult to make sense out it.  However, we may not be able to make sense out of it, but we can try to move forward and find meaning for ourselves and lost loved ones.  As pastor Gary say, out minds and spirits rebel against the idea that life and death have no meaning, and whether we believe it or not, even the most disturbing and tragic things can have meaning in our lives.   Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

When John The Baptist came and was calling the people of Israel to repent and be baptized, he wasn't having them do it because they needed to get holy really fast.  He was calling them to repent, or to "defect" because something was about to shake this world.  The one whose advent was foretold was coming to dispense his blessing on his people, and to lay an axe at the foot of the root of the tree as well.  Something was about to shake the world...   Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

Keeping the Holidays pure, or at least not getting them mixed up...  Look up!  For your redemption draw near.  It's Advent Folks, and that's important because the church at large is living in what can be described as a long, long wait for Jesus to return.  It was a long wait the first time, and since he came the first time we have assurance he will come again.So Look up!  Your redemption draws near.   Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

Is it ever right to ignore the things that God has put in your lap to do?  Now there's a loaded question, especially in a Christian culture that is constantly asking people find "God's will for your life".  Well, the problem is that too many people think that God's will basically stops at conquering sin in your life.  This is where Martin Luther in his Small Catechism, when talking about the commandments, shows that not only is there a prohibition in each commandment, but also a prescription.  In other words, the commandment doesn't just say "do not", but it also says "do this instead".  That and more about "Defecting" and believing the good news.   Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

So We're exploring Repentance lately, mainly because we think people's understanding of Repentance is off base, again...  So we looked at the passage from Luke Chapter 3 verses 1 through 14..."John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?  Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.  The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”           “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.            John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.”           Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him

So the elections are over, and Barack Obama won.  So what's a Christian to do?  Fret over the coming Gloom and Doom, that's what.  Or at least that's what the buzz has been ever since.  In fact, there's been such a loud call to repent from various corners of Christendom that you'd think God's about to go off on the United States for not voting Obama out.  But here's a game, if you will, consisting of some questions, and you have to answer them in order.1.  What criteria would you use to show that the United States is under God's blessings or judgement?2.  What means do you think God would use to dispense Blessings or Judgment?3.  What behaviors, attitudes, policies or cultural trends result in either God's blessings or God's Judgment?Answer me these questions 3!   Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com Bumps:  Top Deck at Perth, by Uncle Hamish and the Hooligans, Agn

It's Election Day folks!  And what better topic for a Christian Radio Show than to talk about Voting and Politics!  Yes!  All your electioneering needs are met in this one episode.  Yes!Then it's 7 principles for measuring your Christian Walk.  Or is it 70 times 7, I keep forgetting.   Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

Observing Reformation day this year has me thinking about a couple of things.  One, doctrines of men wind up flaying the consciences of the faithful wide open and abusing them for work in man's agenda.  But also, over and against that we have to thinking about Grace alone through Faith alone on account of Christ alone, which we at Radical Grace Radio call having a "reckless confidence in Christ".  "So when the devil throws your sins in your face and tells you that you deserve death and hell, tell him this:  I admit that I deserve death and hell.  What of it?  For I know one who suffered and made satisfaction in my behalf.  His name is Jesus Christ, son of God.  Where He is there I shall be also."   Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

Why do Christians Worship on Sunday instead of the Sabbath?  You'd be surprised, but there is still discussion on this topic after 2000 years.  We talk about the what and the so what, and we also talk about Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban because she wants to go to school.   Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

In the 16th Century Pope Leo X wanted to build a Basilica to house the bones of the Apostles, but to do so he needed money, and lots of it.  So, this Roman Pope hit upon a plan to sell indulgences, or get out of purgatory free certificates, to fund this project.Why does this matter?  After all, it's ancient history, right?  Well, it matters because today we have preachers telling their people that tithing serves a similar purpose, which is getting connected to God's promises via the "covenant".  Now folks, the reformation was about this problem.  How does someone get into God's kingdom?  By purchasing something?  By tithing?  By giving alms?  Or is it by faith apart from works of the law?  This IS the Christian difference.  By Christ's shed blood, for me, for you, for everyone who is far off.  Anyone who says otherwise is selling you something.   Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.Rad

"There is nothing more dangerous than an isolated individual with a Bible".  ~ Pastor William Cwirla - The God Whisperers A listener sent us a message asking about a conversation we had in the show titled "Rage Be Unto You", that got us to talking about how there are so many Christians basically making up their faith and then blaming the Holy Spirit for it, er...  I mean attributing it to the Holy Spirit.  Find out why you should avoid this trap in this edition of Radical Grace Radio.   Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

Are you ready for Radical Law Radio?  For a good segment of the back half of this show we took one commandment.  Just one.  And Pastor Gary, in his usual gregarious way, describes all the way in which people break this commandment.  Turns out there are lots of them.  I mean a lot.  That and a jab or two at 'greasy grace' and 'easy believism'.   Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

And Jesus said unto them, "My Wife"...  This little scrap of Papyrus set the world on fire with a promise to "turn the Christian world upside down"...  Haven't we been here before?  Doesn't pretty much every new "discovery" promise to shatter everything Christians believe?  That and we go off on "Pulpit freedom day" for Pastors preaching something other than Christ from their pulpits.    Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

Muslims in some foreign countries become enraged and attack some US Embassies, killing some people.  Why?  Because of a movie.  No, not even a movie.  A trailer for a movie...  that didn't actually get made.  Let us help you next time someone asks you what is the difference between Christianity and Islam.  In Islam, Allah calls for the deaths of his enemies at the hands of his people for even so much as insulting the prophet.  In Christianity, when the people crucified the son of the Most High God, the result was peace and reconciliation with God.  I don't know about you, but I don't think these two are the same God.Do you? Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

Why do so many Christians think that to "lukewarm" means to be living an immoral life?  Has it ever occurred to any of them that it could instead be that "lukewarm" means to live in denial of your wretchedness and go on merrily believing your a good person?  It's a serious problem, and one that makes me sometimes want to change the name of our show to "Radical Law Radio".  Maybe we need to preach God's law to some of these blind and naked Christians so they'll realize their true situation.   Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

To today's teachers of Christian Lifestyles who are throwing God's children into confusion.  You want to be teachers of the law, but you don't know what you're talking about.  You who advocate for the law, have you not read the law?  You're constant admonition to those in your care to put on the yoke of slavery again after having begun in the spirit and by hearing through faith is doing nothing for them other than making them more a child of the devil than they were before.So Please Stop.   Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

In this edition of Radical Grace Radio we talk about Neil Armstrong, who passed away at age 82 this past weekend.  Don't know what else to say about it that we didn't already say.  We also talk about Lance Armstrong, and that Akin guy, the "legitimate rape" guy, you know him...  Yeah.   Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com