Radical Grace/the Lutheran Difference

Our opinions...  As much as we like 'em, sometimes they gotta go.  Still Ramping up on the topic "thinking with the Mind of Christ", we learn how devastating it is to our understanding when we can't admit that we are interpretting the scriptures by our "learned" responses and natural ways of thinking.

In this edition of Radical Grace Radio, we talk about how we as believers have a bunch of old habits that need to be broken when it comes to approaching the topic of "the Mind of Christ".  The number one habit is this:  not knowing we have bad habits of thinking in the first place.  Habits like believing we have to contribute something to the finished work of Christ in order to recieve every blessing and benefit of Christ...  or insisting on maintaining a Medevial world view rather than holding onto a Biblical world view.  Over the course of the next few weeks, we'll be talking about each of the habits that we have problems with, starting with this problem of upholding a Medevial world view without realizing what that means.  We can't keep doing this to ourselves and those who are young in Christ... 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 http://www.RadicalGraceRadio.com    

In this edition of Radical Grace Radio, we begin the topic of the year, thinking with the mind of Christ, by first setting up some ground rules.  Number 1:  Remember you're law and gospel distinction.  Number 2:  Remember that Jesus isn't just a cardboard cutout that people bend and mangle to make him fit their image of him.  He's a real person, both man and God.  He has a mind, just like you do, and he thinks with that mind and brain using synapses and neural pathways just like you do.  Radical Grace Radio:  It's not just academic anymore.   Visit Radical Grace Radio   Pastor Gary's Facebook   Matthew Pancake's Facebook

Being Angry at God.  We've all had that experience, but so few Christians are willing to admit it.  The reason they don't want to admit something so basic to the Christian experience is simple.  They likely will be vilified by other Christians for even saying or thinking such a thing.  But in an article on CNN's Blog "The Chart", Christians responding to a survey conducted by secular researchers admitted freely that they often are angry with God.  In fact, it's more prevalent these days among young people than every before. The article can be found here. http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/01/anger-at-god-common-even-among-atheists/ We also talk more about "the Gospel of Mark" project.

It's a new year at Radical Grace Radio.  A lot of things have happened over the last few years, not the least of which is discovering what the Christian Landscape looks like.  But perhaps more important is what we discovered about ourselves.  What we discovered was a couple of things in particular.  One is that doing Radio and Podcasting is not as easy as it sounds.  The other is that we discovered how we react to the situation.  We found that we have sort of strength that comes out between us that we didn't realize was there.  We both attribute this work of God, and the next question is this:  If God has worked this in the way that he has for everyone's benefit...  Where is he taking us? That is what this episode of Radical Grace Radio is all about.

In this Boxing Day edition of Radical Grace Radio, we talk about the ongoing battles between Christians and the secular world regarding the terms "happy holiday", and whether there should be a better attempt by Christians abroad to show the world what a real Christmas celabration would like.  This edition's bumps:  Blackmore's Night - Good King Wenceslas, Jose Feciliano - Feliz Navidad http://www.RadicalGraceRadio.com Listener Comment line:   (321) 252-4824, Free from Google Call Join the Hosts on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake, http://www.facebook.com/garyheld Twitter:  @RadicalGrace Email:  Lutherandifference@gmail.com

On This edition of Radical Grace Radio, we Talk to Tyrel Bramwell about his new Book, the Gift and the Defender.  As a gift to our Listeners, Tyrel has set up a coupon for 50 percent off of any eBook version of the book, which would include text versions, the Kindel version, the Nook version...  pretty much any version you could imagine.  We also read some of the responses we're getting about a question I posted on facebook and Christianity.com.  "What are the minimum conditions a person must meet in order to be saved?"  We also Talk about a former Military Man who has been arrested for stalking members of Westboro Baptist Church.  Ryan Newell lost his legs in Afghanistan to an IED, and members of Westboro Baptist now plan to picket the Elizabeth Edwards funeral, as well as the police station that Newell was set free from last week.

Ok, you know me by now.  I often listen to the radio Sunday Mornings, and this time I was listening to Dr. (sic) David Jeremiah...  Who sent out advice about what to say to God at Judgement seat...  And the advice was so bad that I totally retasked the show to address this.  See, it's one thing to get the Gospel wrong and leave your congregation to wonder to themselves about what to do, but it's another thing entirely to give them what to say to God...  WHEN IT MOST COUNTS...  and get that SO wrong that you're sure to hear the Claxons go off and the price is Right "awww" must play just before the Angels chuck you into the Lake of fire. "BZZZZZZZZZ"...  Wrong guess there dude.  No Consolation prize. 

Could it be that, along with Law and Gospel, a plain sense reading of the text is absolutely crucial? Pastor Gary explains to us that there is a devotional aspect to reading the Bible that is crucial, and we don't deny that way of interpreting the scriptures.  But it's possible to learn, just like a lot of musicians might also learn, only one way of looking at the scriptures.   We talk about a different way of reading the texts in this edition of Radical Grace Radio. Matthew Pancake on Facebook   Pastor Gary Held on Facebook   Radical Grace Radio website

Last week we identified the problem of hate among Christians with regards to those who don't measure up.  This week, we're going to find out how Jesus handles hate, and how we should handle it from a law and gospel perspective. Rod Rosenbladt has been working on the problem of "Christians broken by the church" for many years now, and we agree with his assessment.  The problem, however, runs deeper than we all realize.  We hate.  We really do.  In fact, we hate MORE than the people of this world...  Imagine, the people of the light, are some of the biggest haters on the planet.

Hate.  We've heard this before.  For all the talk that Christians make concerning holiness and self help, it appears that even after 2000 years the church still hasn't come to terms with this most perplexing problem.  To this day, because the majority of Christians do not properly distinguish law and gospel, people are calling all the time at each other blindly to repent of this or that or there can be no unity...  But with the Gospel, there is unity in Faith, in Baptism, in one Lord...  How do we know this is too often driven by hate? I present for your consideration, Westboro Baptist Church.  Fred Phelps and his little congregation sound just like a lot of churches and church leaders.  But ever since someone set of an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) outside his church, Fred Phelps has made it his single obsession to let the world know that his god would not let this aggregious act go unpunished.  In fact, if you didn't already know, they don't randomly pick which funerals they want to picket, no.  They al

It's getting close to Advent folks.  That time of year where we celebrate the first coming of Christ while looking forward to the first coming.  Today, we're going to turn the end times on it's ear again by showing how that "terrible last day" will be the most joyous day of all times and ages. But first, more magical thinking, more annointing of doors and windows, and more sorcery in the name of God...  yeah, it's still going on after thousands of years of being told not to.  Oh, and be sure you don't think we're talking about the cults that do this stuff.  We mean you average, run of the mill church.  Could be yours if you're not careful.

Today on Radical Grace Radio, we talked about what Christian Churches talked about last Sunday in lieu of Reformation day...  Magic and witchcraft.  More importanly, how Magic is incorporated by Christians when they get confused about what Magical thinking is and how dangerous it can be.  It's not about Bedknobs and Broomsticks.  It's about taking God's Holy Name and practicing magic and dark arts in his name...   

How does the Gospel appear to effect reality?  Most of the time, it looks like everything is being turned on it's ear.  In this reformation day special, we talk about the effects of the Gospel, and what there needs to be done for real reformation to occur...  He said, "what needs to be done"  Hu-hu-hu... Rev 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. Rev 14:7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Ro 3:27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. Ro 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Jn 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and

This edition of Radical Grace Radio is brought to you by the new book, Humility and how I achieved it by the High Reverend Gary Held.  Learn the finer points of achieving the most humble walk with God you will ever experience! Luther did say, in all seriousness, "those who think they are humble know the least about true humility".  We also talk about a simple subject...  one that is very difficult to master: Prayer

A lepers, all the time, on Radical Grace Radio.  Ever wonder if we're getting it right when we read and interpret the passages where Jesus heals the lepers?  Whether it's the 1 leper in Mark's Gospel or 10 in Luke's Gospel, there's more there than meets the eye.

I was mistaken when I said on the air that this episode of Radical Grace Radio is still on the feed.  This was back in 2008 when the Pew Forum Report told us that Americans (this included Christians) believe that all faith and faith traditions lead to God and salvation.  One term that was used by a respondent to the poll said that we have a "Pragmatic respect" for other religions.  What on earth does that mean? An important show.  Expect this past Sundays show soon.  

First up, there's the pew forum report on General Knowledge of Religion in America.  Atheists, Agnostics, Jews and Mormons scored the highest, while Bible belt Christians scored the Lowest. http://pewforum.org/Other-Beliefs-and-Practices/U-S-Religious-Knowledge-Survey.aspx Then, when asked what's the difference between the way Baptists baptise and how Lutherans baptise, we decided to take that on...  no one called during the show, but someone did call imediately after the show...  It just goes to show, a lot of people not only lack knowledge, but know it and are afraid to call us sometimes for fear of embarrassment. 

Anne Frank wrote:  "It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart." We have to tackle this issue, because ultimately it's the biggest lie the world tells itself.  "You good!  You just need to find a better system of government or laws that will make the difference!"  But if that were true, wouldn't we have found it by now?  After all, look at all the systems we've created over time.  We can do such great things, from sailing around the world, and flying around the world, to the moon and back.  Great achievements require great systems to accomplish them. So what gives? 

Here is a classic Radical Grace Radio, from the time when we were on WMEL, and topic flowed around the causes of some of the senseless Drama that goes on in our world.  How often are we tempted to grow angry, outraged, dispondent, at the events of our time and lives when we should be remembering God and His promises in Jesus Christ, our Lord?