Radical Grace/the Lutheran Difference

In Luther's time is was the sale of Indulgences (Certificates of Merit).  In our time it's the sale of Success.  These days, if a church wants to make a lot of money, all they have to do is sell their congregation on Biblical Principles of Succes.  They sell everything from Victorious Christian Living to Supernatural Debt Relief, but when it comes to giving Christ to the people and all his benefits?   Doesn't sell.    Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.panca ke Visit Pastor Gary Held's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Visit our Website www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

At Radical Grace Radio, we believe the time is coming where the majority of Christians are going to be burnt out on end times Prophesy.  There is so much talk of National Israel, allegoricalized imagery that is forced into us from birth by self proclaimed Bible prophets and being left behind that it's inevitable.  People will burn out. But we know one way you can interpret the prophesies that wont burn you out, and that is if you look at those prophesies like we're supposed to, and that is they are future witness to the victory of Jesus Christ.  He was victorious in the past.  He IS victorious now, and he will be in the future.   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 humans get together, they create for themselves doctrines that enslave.  A way I might say that today would be that when humans come together they write metanarratives that lie about who we are.  The gospel blows devilish doctrines and false narratives out the window.  So in this Special edition of RGR for Reformation Day 2011, we compare the practice of selling induglences in Luther's day to the Tithing practices of today.   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    

With all the emphasis that is given to end times, especially after the Harold Camping fiasco, how long is it going to be before Christians are burnt out on end times?  After all, over and over again, Prophets have forcast the second coming of Christ and nothing has happened.  We're witnessing a generation that has rejected the Church because of it's shenanegans, and one place that needs clean up is our doctrine of End times. That and for Deron, our new board op, we wen't over the passage covering the Rich young ruler.  Have you sold all that you have for the kingdom?

Do you pass the smell test of Rightesness?  If you're honest, you'll say no.  Pay close attention as this is a running commentary on how people will take law and gospel, pound it into a gooey ball of unreconstituted muck, then eat it while saying themselves "tastes like chicken".  Smelly Chicken at that.

On this edition of Radical Grace Radio, we talk Mit Romney, differences in faiths, but most importantly, a critical Question from the parable of the wedding banquet in Matthew 22...  You already asked the wrong question.  And you did it again.  You'll have to listen to the show, back half the of hour, to learn what the question is in the first place.   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 celebrate National Pulpit Freedom day by thouroughly trashing the concept.  Have you ever sat in your church and wished your pastor would just shut up about politics?  Give him a copy of this episode, maybe he'll get the point. 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    

Which brother are you?  Are you the brother who says he wont do what his father says to do but does it anyway?  Or are you the brother who says he's do what his Father's will is but never does it?  This episode of Radical Grace Radio ought to be titled "radical law radio", since we've decided to preach this text (Matthew 21:28) just like everyone always does...  Only with a Lutheran eye for the law, which is the same as a Biblical eye for the law.    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    

Here's a terrifying prospect for you.  Does your fear drive out the Love of Jesus from your heart?  Cephas (Peter) when he was in Antioch, withdrew from the Gentiles because a delegation of Jews from Jerusalem showed up to spy on their freedom in Christ.  Think about how you feel each time the boss shows up unannounced at work.  Or if your denominational president showed up at your church.  Actually, even an imperfect fear drives out love.  Too bad too many Christians miss that.  But where do you find a solution to the fears?   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    

Pastor Mark Moreno of Hope Lutheran Church in Viera Florida joins us in the studio to talk about 911, and the impact this has had on everyone's lives. What happens when "never forget" becomes "never forgive"?   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    

 Most of the time when discussing church discipline, Matthew 18 comes to mind.  Pastor Gary, however, does not think that this is a good application of that text, and when it's all said and done, it's a good thing.  Mostly we rail against people using Matthew 18 to beat people up...  that's what they do with it you know, beat people up.  Wouldn't it be nice if there was a way to look at this through the Gospel? 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    

Hurricane Irene has come and gone...  isn't it interesting how the storm was named "Irene", which in Greek means "peace".  Think Irenaus, the early church Father.  I like to look at hurricanes as another of God's works in nature that shows us His work.  The storm surrounding a peaceful center, like Jesus is the peace in the stormy sea of the Law's condemnation. We also talk about the 9-11 memorial controversy where Mayor Bloomberg has banned any Clergy from participating in the service.  But more importantly, we talk about the parable of the talents and it's parallel passage in Luke to answer the question, "what do the 'talents' represent?   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    

Have you ever wonder about your faith?  Thinking about your faith might not sound like a bad idea, like thinking about how much faith you have, or if it's strong enough, that kind of thing.  There is a time for introspection, for examining, but when you want your faith to grow, thinking about getting your faith to grow doesn't make it grow. What does?  Listen to this episode of Radical Grace Radio to find out.   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    

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation" We know most of you desperately want your salvation and all the blessings you recieve from God to have something to do with your righteousness.  We know you do.  But we refuse to leave you in that condition.  You did nothing to contribute to your salvation other than resist God and sin with impunity.  For the

The other day I heard on a Christian radio broadcast the folling statement.  "I has been said that when you don't pray to God, it's like you slapped him in the face".  Why it is that people think this is a helpful statement escapes me, but apparently "fundidgelicals" just love this sort of thing.  So now I not only have a problems with my prayer life, but I'm slapping God around each time I don't pray to him...  So Pastor and I talk a bit about "the impassability of God", meaning that he doesn't need anything from us to get his work done.  And how the Christian life can be compared to standing on top of the 30 foot pole while worrying your going to fall off. "God says of Jesus, "this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased"... So if the Father is pleased with Jesus, and we're in Christ, doesn't that mean that the Father is pleased with us?"   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.R

Boogity Boogity Boogity Amen!   Oh wait, we're not sure that's how a Christian Prayer is done, but it sure did get done at a NASCAR race...  It's funny, we often joke about how NASCAR competes for church time on Sundays.  A caller from Rockledge calls to suggest that it's a problem caused by churches practicing a "ministry of death" that leads to death outside of Christ...  Also, we're going to talk about the feeding of the 5000 from Matthew's Gospel.  Now there's something to be thankful about.   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    

 Thios week we Wrap up talking about Matthew 13 and the Kingdom Parables.  I think that Pastor has a slam dunk of a case when he says that Jesus is telling these parable as a way of reflecting on his ministry.  Also, in the mail, I recieved a prayer rug!  I had it with me during the show...  and you have to listen to see that we're not ridiculing this or the people behind, but it really does cast God as being Petty. 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    

A mustard Seed.  Jesus talks about the Kingdom being like the smallest of Seeds Planted.  On this edition of Radical Grace Radio we talk about how the Kingdom Grows, and how we often interpret these parables as things that we're supposed to do ourselves.  In fact, we often spend too much time inserting ourselves into the grand story of Christ and Redemption that he has won for us!    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 we talk about the question "Preacher, where is thy fruit?" in context the parable of the sower and the seed.  it's a law and Gospel distinction you don't want to miss. Also, the jurors weren't morons.  We talk a bit about the outcome of the Casey Anthony trial and the vitriol and death threats that have made against here and the rest of her family.  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 pick up the discussion of 3rd Use of the Law, and offer a law and Gospel take on Psalm 119.    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