Hezký pátek
“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.”
Paul, Romans 1:17
Hezký pátek,
Luther once dreaded Romans 1:17. Thinking “the righteousness of God” meant the standard by which he would be judged—and knowing he fell short—he lived in fear.
Then he discovered the Gospel — that God was offering His righteousness to Luther. It was a gift received by faith.
“I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates,” Luther wrote.
BTW, the gates are still open. Walk through today.
Why Hezký pátek?
I opened with Happy Friday in Czech because I’m writing from Prague, where Lakelight’s Reformation tour has begun.
We started in Prague because Jan Hus – the Czech Catholic priest and reformer – preached here a century before Luther. Hus challenged church corruption, preached in Czech, and was burned at the stake for his “heresy.” From Prague we move to Germany (for Luther, et al.) and then Geneva (for John Calvin).
He’s Back!
Thirty years ago, I was told not to make much of a famous passage about Jesus by Flavius Josephus, the 1st-century Jewish historian.
Its references to Jesus’s extraordinary deeds and resurrection were thought to likely be later Christian additions. In Josephus and Jesus: New Evidence for the One Called Christ, T.C. Schmidt — a Yale PhD who spent more than a decade studying the passage — argues for its authenticity. Set this book alongside those of Richard Bauckham, N.T. Wright, Craig Keener and Peter Williams and the scholarship supporting the Christian faith is 10X more formidable than it was when I was born.
State Stickiness
Which U.S. states retain the largest share of those born there and which the smallest? Make your guesses. I list the top and bottom five below.
Without Comment
1) Per Pew, 35% of U.S. adults now identify with a different religious category than the one they were raised in.
2) The Liberty Bell’s famous inscription is from Leviticus 25:10.
3) Per this WAPO report, an analysis of CDC data puts the share of ninth-grade girls identifying as lesbian or bisexual at 17%, down from 30% in 2021.
4) The Moon is drifting away from Earth by 1.5 inches per year, and to date has left no forwarding address.
5) Among those attending church at least weekly, about one-third of Catholics and nearly three-quarters of Evangelicals read the Bible at least weekly outside of services, according to Ryan Burge.
6) Since '13, the percentage of Americans who view a college education as “very important” has dropped from 70% to 31%.
7) Per Gallup, just 22% of Israelis and 21% of Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem expect permanent peace ever to be achieved.
8) Roger Federer managed to win nearly 80% of his matches although he lost 46% of all points.
Yes
The fact that one must make coffee before having coffee is proof that we live in an unjust, chaotic universe.
FWIW
When deciding what to hand over to AI, consider what GPS has done to your sense of direction.
Overheard
1) If a labor-saving device saves us twenty minutes, it would be nice to occasionally enjoy the twenty minutes.
2) A person who can disagree with you without making you feel disposable is worth keeping close.
3) You believe something when you act as if it’s true.
Community
In John 13:35, Jesus claims people will know we are Christians by our love. Would anyone know you are a Christian by your love?
A State’s Stickiness
Using ’21 Census data, the Dallas Fed found the least sticky states are: WY (45.2% of those born there still live there), followed by ND (48.6%), AK (48.7%), SD (54.2%) and RI (55.2%).
The stickiest, climbing up from #5 to #1: UT (72.9%), CA (73.0%), GA (74.2%), NC (75.5%) and the stickiest of all—which retains 82.0% of those born there—is TX.
WOTW (German Edition):
Honorable mention goes to Kirchenaustritt (formally leaving the church, which also ends the obligation to pay its church tax). Full honors go to Anfechtung, the trial, doubt and distress so central to Luther’s experience of faith. He identified oratio, meditatio and tentatio—prayer, meditation and trial—as essential to spiritual growth. If you’re in an Anfechtung season, know that your struggle does not mean God has abandoned you. Bring it all to him.
(Reminder: WOTY nominations are due 11/23. Just hit reply.)
Resources
Click here to hear last week’s sermon — #9 in the series on The Greatest Story Ever Told. It explores the great value of understanding the Law.
Closing Prayer
“Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. Please fill it. I am weak in the faith; strengthen me. I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor. I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether. O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you. In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have. I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor. I am a sinner; you are upright. With me there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness. Therefore I will remain with you, of whom I can receive, but to whom I may not give. Amen.” (Attributed to Martin Luther, 1483-1546)
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