DISCUSSION GUIDE
by Jonathan Fisk
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This downloadable resource is provided free of charge as a supplement to the publication Broken: 7
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Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©
2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights
reserved.
The quotations from Martin Luther are taken from Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, copyright ©
1986, 1991 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.
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EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION
This discussion guide has been designed to support the reading and study of Broken:
7 “Christian” Rules That Every Christian Ought to Break as Often as Possible. It is assumed
that those participating in the discussion of Broken would have read the material before
participating in the discussion.
In Broken author Jonathan Fisk addresses today’s Christian church and unveils false
truths that have infiltrated the churches of our age. The seven false truths that Fisk
presents are ones that he says are being taught as if they were doctrine, but are really
nothing more than the traditions of men. These false truths raise up false saviors that
replace the real Savior. In talking about the book, Fisk says, “That’s what is so sad about
much of what passes for Christian spirituality in America today: it’s a bunch of opinions
camouflaged as revelations from God, loosely connected to the Bible but more so
connected to the classic heresy of justification by works.” Fisk continues, “Broken is
about Scripture’s message and doctrine of Law and Gospel and justification by grace
through faith. Broken is also about confessing that theology without getting bogged
down in jargon. It’s about where this theology intersects with real life, and how real
faith is affected by the ways the devil twists our hearts, minds, and hands away from
that theology. All of this is to say that it is a book about Jesus—who He is, what He has
done, and what He is coming again to do—and how that Word impacts you, now, by
setting you free from your sin.”
Each chapter features key concepts, these “traditions of men” and “opinions” that
have become the “rules” for many Christian churches. Many of these are listed in the
Discussion Guide, and should be noted, highlighted, and reviewed at the outset of the
discussion. Pastor Fisk has prepared several videos to help convey the key “isms”
presented in the book. These videos are useful to promote the reading of Broken, and
can be presented as teasers for reading the next chapter, and/or as a way to break the
ice and begin the discussion after reading the material. The Broken videos are available
for either streaming from the internet or download from cph.org/broken or by using
the QR code below. The videos are:
Mysticism: Never #1: The Educated Harlot
Moralism: Never #2: The Cowardly Warrior
Rationalism: Never #3: The Tyrant Scientist
Prosperity: Never #4: The Party-girl Churchlady
Pragmatism: Never #5: The Prince of Salesmen
Restorationism: Never #6: Grandma Got Turned
Into a Werewolf (Werechurch)
You Can Find God: Never #7: Seven Degrees of You
Broken stands on the foundation of Scripture and exposes the ways that the devil
twists hearts, minds, and hands away from the true and real theology of the Lord. The
lessons aren’t easy to learn, but they are vital to the survival of the Church. May the
Lord of the Church bless your study of His Word.
—The Editor
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WHATUP
Punk Rock John and the Enslaving Ex-Christianity of Death
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Terms
Enthusiasm
Postmodernism
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS
1. In the story of Punk Rock John, we see a young man who is distraught and
seeking for advice in Spiritual matters. His youth leader told him to seek God
in prayer. Read John 5:37–40 and John 14:16–24. Where should the leader
have pointed Punk Rock John for answers?
2. In the section “Dirty Crow Tricks,” Dr. Luther points out that “enthusiasm”
always has been and always will be at the heart of unbelief. If you have a Book
of Concord, read the Smalcald Articles III VIII 9–13. Why is Luther so hard on
“enthusiasm”? How does 2 Timothy 3:6–8 affirm this teaching by Dr. Luther?
3. In the section “Famished,” we learn about some of the struggles the Church
has faced in the transition from the modern age to the postmodern age. The
most common answer to these various struggles is “Rely on yourself,” or “We
need to fix it!” Read Matthew 13:3–9 and discuss how Jesus’ parable warns us
about such answers. After that read Amos 8:11–14 and answer the question,
“What are people really starving for?”
4. In “The Golden Cow’s New Clothes,” the story of the Emperor’s New Clothes
teaches us about how people can be “willfully ignorant,” preferring to trust
their own idols to trusting in God. 2 Peter 3:1–7 talks about how, in these
latter days, people would scoff at ideas like the Genesis flood. We know that
today in America people scoff at the flood, at a six-day creation, at traditional
marriage, and even at baptismal regeneration and the bodily presence of
Christ in the Sacrament. According to Peter’s text, why are people willfully
ignorant?
5. Glance over the last four paragraphs of the introduction and then compare
them to what the Bible says in James 1:12–18. Who is the real threat to your
faith? Why?
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WHATUP—LEADER
Punk Rock John and the Enslaving Ex-Christianity of Death
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Terms
Enthusiasm
Postmodernism
Ask the Group
Ask the group to share their thoughts after reading the chapter, including
favorite quotes or powerful ideas.
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. In the story of Punk Rock John, we see a young man who is distraught and
seeking for advice in Spiritual matters. His youth leader told him to seek God
in prayer. Read John 5:37–40 and John 14:16–24. Where should the leader
have pointed Punk Rock John for answers?
The Word of God, particularly that which testifies to the life, death, and
resurrection of Jesus as the payment for the sins of the whole world.
Presenting an apologetic for the evidence of the resurrection would also be
valuable at this point.
2. In the section “Dirty Crow Tricks,” Dr. Luther points out that “enthusiasm”
always has been and always will be at the heart of unbelief. If you have a Book
of Concord, read the Smalcald Articles III VIII 9–13. Why is Luther so hard on
“enthusiasm”? How does 2 Timothy 3:6–8 affirm this teaching by Dr. Luther?
Enthusiasm always points people away from the Word rather than to the
Word, with the result that the “object of faith” is removed. Once the object is
removed, saving faith slowly withers, or, worse, is placed in idols. St. Paul
points out in 2 Timothy that the most common place to point people when
striving to deceive them is to their “passions” or their emotions and desires.
3. In the section “Famished,” we learn about some of the struggles the Church
has faced in the transition from the modern age to the postmodern age. The
most common answer to these various struggles is “Rely on yourself,” or “We
need to fix it!” Read Matthew 13:3–9 and discuss how Jesus’ parable warns us
about such answers. After that read Amos 8:11–14 and answer the question,
“What are people really starving for?”
There are several directions the leader might take this discussion, but the most
evident is that the crow always snatches the Word/Seed away so that it cannot
be believed. This is similar to pointing Christians and congregations back to
themselves as the answer to the problems that the Church faces.
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The Amos text teaches us that people are starving for God’s Word.
4. In “The Golden Cow’s New Clothes,” the story of the Emperor’s New Clothes
teaches us about how people can be “willfully ignorant,” preferring to trust
their own idols to trusting in God. 2 Peter 3:1–7 talks about how, in these
latter days, people would scoff at ideas like the Genesis flood. We know that
today in America people scoff at the flood, at a six-day creation, at traditional
marriage, and even at baptismal regeneration and the bodily presence of
Christ in the Sacrament. According to Peter’s text, why are people willfully
ignorant?
Peter teaches us that this is not merely because they do not “know” God’s
Word, but more so, because they do not know the power of God’s Word—that
is, they do not believe what it is capable of achieving.
5. Glance over the last four paragraphs of the introduction and then compare
them to what the Bible says in James 1:12–18. Who is the real threat to your
faith? Why?
James 1:14 emphasizes that sin comes when we are tempted by our own
desires. That means we actually want to focus on ourselves rather than on the
Word of God, much less on doing the right thing for our neighbor. In this way,
we are our own greatest threat. A discussion of Original Sin based on Augsburg
Confession II would be an appropriate way to end the session.
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NEVER #1
Never follow a rule that follows your liver, your heart, your
pancreas, or any other bodily organ that could conceivably have
its mind changed by the shifting of the wind.
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Term
Mysticism
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS
1. What is “The Devil’s First Rule”? Why might this seem unfair?
2. In the story of Emo Dan, from the section “Deconstructing Emo Greek
Mythology,” Emo Dan was looking for a sign from God. Read Matthew 12:38–
42 and then compare it with 1 Corinthians 1:21–23 and Hebrews 1:1–2. What
was Emo Dan missing from his theology?
3. The section “Consumer-Market Mystics” teaches us “Mysticism is the belief
that direct knowledge of God can be attained through your subjective
experiences of God or something godlike. Mysticism, then, is nothing more
than worship of your emotions.” Read Romans 1:21–25. How does St. Paul
link this idea of Mysticism to the ancient “pagan” worship of nature?
4. In the section “I Have Some Wild Geese to Sell You,” we see that one of the
greatest objections to the biblical teaching that “Baptism saves” (1 Peter 3:21)
is that it doesn’t “feel right” to believe such a thing. Watching a Baptism, or
being baptized, the only “feeling” that is received is some water poured on the
head. But what is the real power in Baptism? Read Romans 6:1–5 and
Ephesians 5:25–27. Why do Lutherans insist that it doesn’t matter how you
feel, Baptism does save?
5. The section “Breaking Alone” reveals the real, ultimate danger in seeking after
God through experiences and emotions. That danger is that the “god” a person
comes to believe in is nothing more than his or her own imaginary friend.
Read Romans 1:18–25 (again). How does Paul’s description compare to this
idea?
6. In the section “When God and Spirit Smash, You Get Jesus,” both 2 Timothy
3:16 and John 6:63 were used to demonstrate that the place where God’s
Spirit is most certainly found is in the Word of God, particularly the Words of,
from, and about Jesus. Discuss how this idea might be contrary to other
Christian groups’ view of “the Spirit.”
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7. Read the final paragraph of the chapter one more time and then discuss the
difference between recognizing God’s good gift of emotions and putting our
“fear, love, and trust” in these emotions as God’s way of communicating with
us.
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NEVER #1—LEADER
Never follow a rule that follows your liver, your heart, your
pancreas, or any other bodily organ that could conceivably have
its mind changed by the shifting of the wind.
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Term
Mysticism
Ask the Group
Ask the group to share their thoughts after reading the chapter, including
favorite quotes or powerful ideas. Make sure to review and empathize the
connection between Emo Dan and the concept of Mysticism.
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. What is “The Devil’s First Rule”? Why might this seem unfair?
This question is answered in the first section by the same title. The devil’s first
rule is to lie, specifically, to lie about God’s Word, to either (a) say that God has
said something which he has not said; or (b) question something which God
has surely said to cast it into doubt.
Christians want to be naturally trusting people. This is what makes this tactic
so dangerous. Where we would like to trust what we hear, we cannot. The devil
can lie with a straight face, giving him an unfair advantage, which is why we
must learn to be discerning by training ourselves in the Word.
2. In the story of Emo Dan, from the section “Deconstructing Emo Greek
Mythology,” Emo Dan was looking for a sign from God. Read Matthew 12:38–
42 and then compare it with 1 Corinthians 1:21–23 and Hebrews 1:1–2. What
was Emo Dan missing from his theology?
Emo Dan did not know that God no longer speaks to his people with signs.
Although He once performed signs, for example, for Gideon, these Old
Testament histories are not to serve as moral examples, but to point to Christ.
When God speaks and yet we ask for a sign, we only reveal our unbelief in
what He has said. God no longer wants us to look for Him in signs and
wonders (in nature) but in His Word, specifically the Words from and about
Christ.
3. The section “Consumer-Market Mystics” teaches us “Mysticism is the belief
that direct knowledge of God can be attained through your subjective
experiences of God or something godlike. Mysticism, then, is nothing more
than worship of your emotions.” Read Romans 1:21–25. How does St. Paul
link this idea of Mysticism to the ancient “pagan” worship of nature?
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Paul teaches that seeking to find God in the experiences of nature leads
directly to a fuller releasing of all the desires of the human heart. Paul makes it
clear in verse 24 that the human heart does not naturally desire good things,
but seeks out worse and worse things. Far from “follow your heart,” the Bible
teaches that the human heart is “deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9).
4. In the section “I Have Some Wild Geese to Sell You,” we see that one of the
greatest objections to the biblical teaching that “Baptism saves” (1 Peter 3:21)
is that it doesn’t “feel right” to believe such a thing. Watching a Baptism, or
being baptized, the only “feeling” that is received is some water poured on the
head. But what is the real power in Baptism? Read Romans 6:1–5 and
Ephesians 5:25–27. Why do Lutherans insist that it doesn’t matter how you
feel, Baptism does save?
Because God promises by the power of His Word, which created heaven and
earth, that the water of Baptism, united to the Triune Name, both buries and
raises the believer with Christ’s own perfect death and resurrection. Not only
does Scripture clearly say this, but it is also great Gospel!
5. The section “Breaking Alone” reveals the real, ultimate danger in seeking after
God through experiences and emotions. That danger is that the “god” a person
comes to believe in is nothing more than his or her own imaginary friend.
Read Romans 1:18–25 (again). How does Paul’s description compare to this
idea?
Paul teaches that unbelievers naturally have hearts that are darkened and
that replace the true God with a lie, worshiping a variety of images, “man”
himself being central. Seeking after such things, there are as many “gods” as
there are things in the universe that one can conceivable put his or her “fear,
love, and trust” into.
6. In the section “When God and Spirit Smash, You Get Jesus,” both 2 Timothy
3:16 and John 6:63 were used to demonstrate that the place where God’s
Spirit is most certainly found is in the Word of God, particularly the Words of,
from, and about Jesus. Discuss how this idea might be contrary to other
Christian groups’ view of “the Spirit.”
Most other American denominations consider the Spirit to be active
somewhere other than God’s Word. God’s Word may still be important to
them, but the Spirit is more likely to be active in things like emotions, prayer,
or ecstatic signs and wonders. Terms like “spirit-led” and “spirit-blessed” will
be used to “anoint” decisions that are simply our own preference or majority
vote. The great danger in this is that we believe God wants us to do something
when He has not said so at all.
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7. Read the final paragraph of the chapter one more time and then discuss the
difference between recognizing God’s good gift of emotions and putting our
“fear, love, and trust” in these emotions as God’s way of communicating with
us.
God made all things in the world good. It is our abuse of them as tools for
manipulating God or worshiping them as gods that has made them a problem.
The same is true for emotions. Feelings are to be received with thanksgiving.
However, they cannot replace the Word of God, much less trump this Word.
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NEVER #2
Never follow a rule that wasn’t written in stone a very, very
long time ago (doubly so if the grass is only greener on the other
side because it’s made of plastic).
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Terms
Moralism
Opinio Legis
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS
1. In “Me versus the Hand-Sewn, Not-Plastic, Carrot” and “Interior Design
Legalists,” the author relates an account of his family’s battle with toys in
their living space. What was the purpose of this story? Is the author trying to
say that having too many toys is a sin?
2. So then, is “Moralism” having rules and establishing goals in life?
3. The section “Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda” mentions that a key component in
Moralism is learning how to cheat. This can be compared to “lowering the bar”
or using a “sliding scale.” What is the great danger in cheating on the rules
that you believe are the measure of goodness?
4. If a person is not driven to rigid self-righteousness by Moralism, what is the
second option discussed in “The Placebo Defect”? How does this compare to
God’s Word in 2 Corinthians 7:9–13?
5. How does the idea of the “opinio legis” (or the sinful, built-in opinion that the
better keeping of the Law is the answer to our problems) compare with what
God’s Word calls “foolish” in Galatians 3:1–11?
6. In “In this Corner, the Winner, by Gumming,” the author points out that the
real danger of Moralism is not a full frontal assault, but a gradual winnowing
away of faith in grace through inch-by-inch reliance on “self.” How does any
attempt to rely on “self” for finding comfort compare with God’s Word in
Romans 7:14–20?
7. In “Grave Paintings,” we read, “The problem is not that American churches are
full of sinners. . . . The problem is that our churches have decided they’re
better off not believing they are full of sinners.” Compare this statement with
Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:13, and Galatians 6:2.
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NEVER #2—LEADER
Never follow a rule that wasn’t written in stone a very, very
long time ago (doubly so if the grass is only greener on the other
side because it’s made of plastic).
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Terms
Moralism
Opinio Legis
Ask the Group
Ask the group to share their thoughts after reading the chapter, including
favorite quotes or powerful ideas. Make sure to review and empathize the
concept of “lowering the bar” and its unexpected consequences of failure
and increased guilt.
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. In “Me versus the Hand-Sewn, Not-Plastic, Carrot” and “Interior Design
Legalists,” the author relates an account of his family’s battle with toys in
their living space. What was the purpose of this story? Is the author trying to
say that having too many toys is a sin?
The author is not trying to say that having too many toys is a sin. It is meant
to be something of a joking anecdote to show how even the little goals we set
for our lives can become far more complicated “rules” than we originally intend
and that our natural tendency is then to “bend” those rules in order to convince
ourselves that we are still keeping them. In this way, we always lean toward
“self-justification” even in the clearly non-spiritual aspects of our lives.
2. So then, is “Moralism” having rules and establishing goals in life?
No. Moralism, narrowly defined, is “the belief that access to God can be
achieved through your personal efforts or attempts to improve yourself.
Moralism, then, is nothing more than the worship of your works.” The story of
interior design legalism is intended to show how much we search for self worth
in the rules and goals that we follow. The problem is not having rules or goals,
but in thinking that through them we will find ultimate meaning, personal
value, and ultimate happiness. It is one thing to follow a rule because it is
good. It is another thing to believe that “I am good” because I follow a rule,
much more so “because I follow a rule better than you do.”
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3. The section “Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda” mentions that a key component in
Moralism is learning how to cheat. This can be compared to “lowering the bar”
or using a “sliding scale.” What is the great danger in cheating on the rules
that you believe are the measure of goodness?
The danger is “self-righteousness.” Inevitably you will begin holding others to
the standards you have convinced yourself that you are keeping (even though
you are not), and the result will be that you will think of others as “less than”
yourself. But this will be a faulty judgment. Within the Church, this is what is
usually meant by the term “Pharisaism” or “legalism,” not the holding to rules,
but the holding to rules for others which are more rigid than those to which
you hold yourself. This also results in an inward belief in personal
righteousness or goodness, which may or may not be held up to God with term
“justification” attached, but which will certainly be used day to day as a
personal measure of godliness based on “me” and “my works.”
4. If a person is not driven to rigid self-righteousness by Moralism, what is the
second option discussed in “The Placebo Defect”? How does this compare to
God’s Word in 2 Corinthians 7:9–13?
The second option is “guilt.” You will know that you are not keeping the rules
that you are telling others that they ought to keep. This pierces the conscience,
driving an inner suffering and feeling of worthlessness to the fore, like an
inflamed cancer of the heart. To the opposite of believing in one’s selfjustifying worth, one comes instead to believe that one cannot be justified at
all. This even has the effect of closing one’s ears to the grace of God’s
justification given in Jesus.
St. Paul teaches us in 2 Corinthians that there are two kinds of grief/guilt that
come about through confrontation with sin. One kind leads to repentance and
faith in the Gospel as it is preached. The other kind leads instead to death.
This is the distinction between the guilt which Moralism produces and the
guilt which God Himself produces through the proper distinction of His Law
and Gospel. The Law shows us our sin by accusing us of our shortcomings, but
only in order to point out that all the world is in such a state and needs the
answer given in the “free gift” of Christ. Moralism only knows more Moralism
as the hope, and so, made hopeless by the clear failure, leads only to the wages
of sin: death.
5. How does the idea of the “opinio legis” (or the sinful, built-in opinion that the
better keeping of the Law is the answer to our problems) compare with what
God’s Word calls “foolish” in Galatians 3:1–11?
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It is foolish for Christians who know they are saved by grace through faith to
think that they shall somehow remain saved or reach full sanctification by a
different answer. If the work of the Spirit is to impute righteousness by grace
through faith to save, why should we think to add to this work by our own
rules and regulations, even if they are God’s rules and regulations? It is never
human works that bring about the goodness that God requires. God must work
that good work in us, and the seat of that work in the present is “faith alone”
in the promise that Jesus is enough. This will surely produce good works in the
Christian, but to see these works as trustworthy for self-worth and reliance is
the height of foolishness and Pharisaism.
6. In “In this Corner, the Winner, by Gumming,” the author points out that the
real danger of Moralism is not a full frontal assault, but a gradual winnowing
away of faith in grace through inch-by-inch reliance on “self.” How does any
attempt to rely on “self” for finding comfort compare with God’s Word in
Romans 7:14–20?
This key section of Scripture makes it clear that if we seek to find goodness in
ourselves, we will only find constant disappointment. We can lie to ourselves
about the results, but this will be like building a castle out of glass. Moralism
has the power to “gum to death” only when we decide it is a battle worth
fighting. Once we refuse to fight for personal righteousness, and instead
confess that my best works (which still help my neighbor!) are nonetheless
filthy rags in God’s sight, and not the source of my personal worth in any way,
suddenly we are free to do good works without selfish intent. Moralism cannot
touch us, even as we do moral things because they are good and helpful to the
world around us.
7. In “Grave Paintings,” we read, “The problem is not that American churches are
full of sinners. . . . The problem is that our churches have decided they’re
better off not believing they are full of sinners.” Compare this statement with
Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:13, and Galatians 6:2.
All of these texts are potent in pointing out that Christian love does not
overcome sin in triumph, but learns to endure sin through forgiveness.
Galatians 6:2 mentions “the Law of Christ,” which is not a work to be done,
but a rule of faith: “You are justified by faith through the gift of Christ.”
Knowing this, believing, teaching, and confessing this, we “bear” each others’
sin as we live together, overlooking each others’ selfishness. Through
confession, absolution, and the consolation of the brotherhood, we keep each
other comforted in the midst of our sinfulness while we wait for Christ’s
return, at which point we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye so that the
righteousness we now have by faith alone will also become a righteousness we
see and experience as a Church together in the eternal world to come.
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NEVER #3
Never follow a rule just because it makes sense (especially if it
promises to work because it makes sense [and especially,
especially if it either contains the words “spirit-led” or can be
entirely explained by a petri dish full of midi-chlorians]).
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Terms
Rationalism
Pragmatism
The Enlightenment
Modernism
Romanticism
Education
Postmodernism
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS
1. What do Midi-chlorians have to do with anything?
2. In the historical study, what threat did the Enlightenment Rationalism pose to
Christianity?
3. When Romanticism fought back, was this a good thing for Christianity?
4. The end of the story leaves us the birth of a fourth personality: Pragmatism.
How is Pragmatism not a single “rule,” but a combination of the two?
5. Should it be surprising to Christians that Americans will buy books that teach
the same “religion” that Luke Skywalker used in order to defeat the Death
Star? What does the Bible have to say about this in Jude 8–13 and Genesis
3:1–6?
6. What does Romans 16 say about how we should regard Christians who teach
and believe such things?
7. As with our emotions, it is clear that the problem is not “thinking” or
“intellectualism” or “reason,” but placing these things over and above the work
of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. Consider 2 Corinthians 4:1–7,
and talk about how a love of knowledge is an integral part of Christian life and
discipleship.
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NEVER #3—LEADER
Never follow a rule just because it makes sense (especially if it
promises to work because it makes sense [and especially,
especially if it either contains the words “spirit-led” or can be
entirely explained by a petri dish full of midi-chlorians]).
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Terms
Rationalism
Pragmatism
The Enlightenment
Modernism
Romanticism
Education
Postmodernism
Ask the Group
Ask the group to share their thoughts after reading the chapter, including
favorite quotes or powerful ideas. Make sure to review the history of the
shift from Modernism to Postmodernism, as it relates to the
Enlightenment, Romanticism, and the impact of the “Great War” on
western culture. Playing with the question “How on earth does Star Wars fit
into this mix?” can help keep the discussion slightly jovial.
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. What do Midi-chlorians have to do with anything?
It’s important that the leader points out that understanding the Star Wars
lingo is not really necessary to get the point. The point is that “midi-chlorians”
were a Rationalist/Modernist way of “explaining away” the
Mystic/Postmodern idea of “the Force.” They reveal a clash between two ways
to view the world, one in which everything can be explained by
physical/material principles, and the other in which there are some things that
remain “supernatural.” Depending on the age group of the study (young adult,
emerging adult, Gen-x), the leader might also jest that it was a chance for the
author to “strike back” against the “new” Star Wars movies, which many old
fans considered to be apostasy. And what could be cooler than a spirituality
book that has an elongated discussion on how Star Wars is the key to western
civilization?
2. In the historical study, what threat did the Enlightenment Rationalism pose to
Christianity?
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Gradually, scholars began to believe that they could subject God to scientific
inquiry, “testing” to see whether He was there. This led others to “test” the
trustworthiness of the Bible, not by testing the quality of its manuscript
evidence, but by testing whether or not things it said were “believable” or
“rational.” So, Jonah being swallowed by a whale came to be considered a
myth, while some of Jesus’ moral teachings, like the Sermon on the Mount,
were considered “authentic.” However, by subjecting both God and the Bible to
this kind of scrutiny, the Rationalist Movement did not create a more
reasonable reading of the Bible. Rather, it shifted the foundations of
reasonableness, limiting them only to what can be tested physically.
Interestingly enough, even “Reason” itself cannot stand up to such a test.
3. When Romanticism fought back, was this a good thing for Christianity?
Not necessarily. Love of experience and emotion is neither good nor evil in
itself. As we learned in the chapter on Mysticism, an over reliance on feeling is
just as dangerous to Scripture and the Christian faith. Romanticism was a
helpful resistance to the cold, unreasonable deification of science, but that does
not mean it pointed people back to the Word. Remember, the devil has several
“spices” for the lie, and replacing one lie with another does not help us at all.
4. The end of the story leaves us the birth of a fourth personality: Pragmatism.
How is Pragmatism not a single “rule,” but a combination of the two?
Pragmatism has the goal of making this “work.” But it “works” with two
different points of reference. To the question, “what does it work for,” the
general answer is a mystical one: “to bring about the best possible experience.”
To the question, “how does it work,” the answer is a rational one: “let’s test it
and find out, then apply it over and over again!” Ultimately, Pragmatism must
rely on Rationalism more than Mysticism, in that the bottom line of “does it
work” is answered only by tests. But the “working” is always in service to the
mystical goals of building a better, more “feel-friendly” user life-experience.
5. Should it be surprising to Christians that Americans will buy books that teach
the same “religion” that Luke Skywalker used in order to defeat the Death
Star? What does the Bible have to say about this in Jude 8–13 and Genesis
3:1–6?
It should not be surprising because we are warned about false teachers who
will make up all manner of things in order to avoid the truth that God is God.
In Genesis we see that our first great temptation was our own desire to be
God, which means to control nature or have super powers beyond those given
to us in our created existence, such as the power to manipulate the universe
with our thoughts. Jude teaches us that there is no end to this kind of
deception and those who teach it. On the other hand, it is surprising that an
age that still considers itself to be highly “rational” (meaning “scientifically
materialistic”) is also so open to such wild and mythical deceptions.
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6. What does Romans 16 say about how we should regard Christians who teach
and believe such things?
Romans 16 is very clear that it is one thing to tolerate pagans who teach such
myths, but it is another to put up with this kind of talk from those who claim
the name of Christ. Deception brought about by smooth talk and flattery, or by
appealing to our desires, is no excuse. Christians must call out false doctrine
for what it is and avoid fellowship with “Christians” who believe false doctrine
is no danger to the faith.
7. As with our emotions, it is clear that the problem is not “thinking” or
“intellectualism” or “reason,” but placing these things over and above the work
of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. Consider 2 Corinthians 4:1–7,
and talk about how a love of knowledge is an integral part of Christian life and
discipleship.
Christian faith is faith in a certain specific knowledge, summed up most
succinctly in our Creed. It is a knowledge of who Jesus is and what Jesus has
done, as well as a knowledge of what He is coming again to do. This knowledge,
while true knowledge, can be veiled by the willful ignorance of an unbeliever,
who prefers to create his own mythologies to believe in. But the entire mission
of the Church is to proclaim this knowledge, like a light shining in a dark place.
Though we still hold this knowledge in sinful, dying bodies, hearts, minds, and
hands, it is nonetheless the power of God for salvation to all who believe it.
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NEVER #4
Never follow a rule because it benefits you now (and if it
mentions “abundance,” run screaming from the room).
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Terms
Sitz im Leben
Prosperity
Culture
Revivalism
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS
1. The great irony of “Ozymandias” is that all of his power and glory, even his
statue made of stone, could not stand the test of time. How does this compare
with the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 6:19–34?
2. In the section “Life in America,” we read the story of an elderly woman who
was caught by surprise by her own mortality. This might seem surprising, but
according to 2 Timothy 3:1–7, 10–17 what does the Bible teach us is the
common state of unbelieving mankind?
3. How does the lie of Prosperity line up with Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 3:10–12
and Luke 6:24–26?
4. In “How to Know If You’re a Heretic,” we read about the historic connection
that movements of human philosophy have with new false teachings in the
Church. What are the great human “ideas” of our current age that we might
take for granted are Christian teachings, even though the Bible is silent about
them?
5. Today’s churches across many denominations are involved in “worship wars,”
which have an established tradition of pitting “contemporary” music against
“traditional” music. How does the American history of “Revivalism” bring light
to this 150-year-old debate? What is the real issue at stake in trusting Charles
Finney’s “new measures”?
6. How does “the Law of Prosperity” work to destroy faith?
7. What role does the lie of Prosperity play in Matthew 13:3–8 and 18–22? How
does the parable point you back to “God’s Measures”?
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NEVER #4—LEADER
Never follow a rule because it benefits you now (and if it
mentions “abundance,” run screaming from the room).
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Terms
Sitz im Leben
Prosperity
Culture
Revivalism
Ask the Group
Ask the group to share their thoughts after reading the chapter, including
favorite quotes or powerful ideas. Make sure to talk about the poem
“Ozymandias” and its meaning.
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. The great irony of “Ozymandias” is that all of his power and glory, even his
statue made of stone, could not stand the test of time. How does this compare
with the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 6:19–34?
Jesus makes it very clear that all things in this life are passing. Nothing here
lasts forever, except for His Word. He also points out that, therefore, our
worries are fleeting and silly as well. On the one hand, our worry cannot stop
the truly tragic things from happening (and “death” will happen!) On the other
hand, God is in control and has a plan for His children, not to mention for the
birds and the flowers. This is very different than the average human life lived
as if “owning” as much as possible is a path to happiness, much less the belief
that earthly wealth will benefit those who come after us.
2. In the section “Life in America,” we read the story of an elderly woman who
was caught by surprise by her own mortality. This might seem surprising, but
according to 2 Timothy 3:1–7, 10–17 what does the Bible teach us is the
common state of unbelieving mankind?
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The common state of sinful man is to be in a constant growth from “bad to
worse.” The vast list of ways in which we are bad are only the fruit growing
from a rotten root. One of these common “bad” things about us is that fallen
humans are “deceiving and being deceived.” This means that we live in a
constant state of self-imposed illusion, in which we lie to ourselves, and seek
out others to lie to us, in order that we might convince ourselves that our
plight on this broken planet is better than it really is. The result is the rest of
the list: folly, arrogance, violence. The only answer is the Word from God
about Jesus: who He is, and what He has done, not to mention what He is
coming again to do.
3. How does the lie of Prosperity line up with Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 3:10–12
and Luke 6:24–26?
It is a very different picture. In fact, contrary to such words from Paul about
experiencing persecution for taking a firm stand on the truth, today’s
Christianity is more likely to believe it is “better to not offend” someone and
remain quiet when faced with the possibility of disagreement over the Truth of
God’s Word. When the Christian tries to justify such silence with words about
tolerance, this betrays the Prosperity-driven desire to be liked and thought of
well by all. Jesus’ words in Luke 26 drive a stake through the heart of this lie.
Christianity “is no respecter of persons” but is impartial in its truth. More so,
the Gospel itself is the greatest scandal of all (1 Corinthians 1:23).
4. In “How to Know If You’re a Heretic,” we read about the historic connection
that movements of human philosophy have with new false teachings in the
Church. What are the great human “ideas” of our current age that we might
take for granted are Christian teachings, even though the Bible is silent about
them?
Along with Mysticism, Moralism, Rationalism, Pragmatism, and Prosperity,
others that are particularly tied to American culture include:
A. Democracy: the belief that a majority vote will always bring about the
godliest outcome is not taught in the Bible. However, many American
Christians today believe that democracy is an essential, Christian teaching and
practice.
B. Egalitarianism: the belief that there are no substantial differences between
men and women stands in direct opposition to clear passages of Scripture
about God’s wonderful design for sex and marriage. This is part of what has
led many people in America to see no difference between a “marriage” of one
man and one woman, and a “marriage” of two same-sex “partners.” Women’s
ordination is, of course, also touched by this issue, but so are motherhood,
fatherhood, and the headship of husband over his wife.
Other topics might include: Evolution, Relativism, and “Progress.”
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5. Today’s churches across many denominations are involved in “worship wars,”
which have an established tradition of pitting “contemporary” music against
“traditional” music. How does the American history of “Revivalism” bring light
to this 150-year-old debate? What is the real issue at stake in trusting Charles
Finney’s “new measures”?
The history of Revivalism makes it plain that the “worship wars” are not about
music or style, but about certain beliefs regarding what we should expect from
the churches. Should we expect them to prosper dynamically? Should we take
making them proposer into our own hands? Is it Biblically acceptable to
intentionally manipulate people in the name of “the Gospel”? Underlying all of
these is the real issue that by trusting in Finney’s “new measures” and building
upon his theories, churches are built on “another Gospel” (Galatians 1:6–10).
This “no gospel at all” gospel is rooted in promises made by Prosperity, whether
these promise target the heart, hands, or mind. The real danger is that by
building churches on the “new measures” the “old measures” which Jesus left
us (His Word and Sacraments) are put to the side. Once this is done, it is only
a matter of time before they are lost. The new measures made the United
Methodist Church what it is today. Congregations that buy into the same lie of
Prosperity today can expect nothing less from their progeny one hundred years
from now.
6. How does “the Law of Prosperity” work to destroy faith?
When you begin to measure your “faithfulness” against the “Law” of
prosperity, the vast majority of people will find that they do not measure up.
They cannot have the perfectly prosperous lives, which they are being
“promised” as a sign of God’s love to them, and, often, as a result of their own
faithfulness to God. The only logical outcome for their own conscience is the
quietly growing realization that either a) they are not faithful (and thus not
really saved) or b) God does not exist. Either way, one is cut off from Christ
and his faith-giving Word of promise rooted in the cross. The end result is a
faith weakened greatly by the choking of weeds, if not killed altogether.
7. What role does the lie of Prosperity play in Matthew 13:3–8 and 18–22? How
does the parable point you back to “God’s Measures”?
Prosperity is the weeds! “The cares and desires of this life” are the prosperous
promises that both tickle greedy ears and squeeze out the room for faithful
fruit to grow.
God’s measures remain the same: He sows good seed. He preaches a pure
Word. With that pure Word about who Jesus is and what He has done, He
promises that the cross of Christ, though not guaranteeing a life without
persecution and suffering in the present, does guarantee a resurrection into a
life of paradise that is waiting just around the corner. That world to come is
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NEVER #5
Never follow a rule that has to start over (again and again . . .
and again . . . ) again.
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Terms
Ecclesiology
IfWeCanJust
Restorationism
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS
1. One of the more silly caricatures in the book is the play on words in the name
“the W(h)ereChurch.” To pull this “punny” illustration apart, one must look at
both meanings in the word. First, how does “silver bullet” Churchology
connect to the words “Where” and “Church”?
2. Secondly, how does this “silver bullet” ecclesiology quest then connect to the
words “Were” and “Church”?
3. How does the history of the restorationist movement help illustrate this
point?
4. What is the “Threefold Path of Failed Churchology” and how does it help make
sense of the many different edges of “denominationalism”?
5. What then does it mean to say, “you cannot find God in the churches”?
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NEVER #5—LEADER
Never follow a rule that has to start over (again and again . . .
and again . . . ) again.
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Terms
Ecclesiology
IfWeCanJust
Restorationism
Ask the Group
Ask the group to share their thoughts after reading the chapter, including
favorite quotes or powerful ideas. Make sure to talk about the story of Tiger
and its meaning, especially focusing on how it illustrates the “silver bullet”
hope for the Church.
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. One of the more silly caricatures in the book is the play on words in the name
“the W(h)ereChurch.” To pull this “punny” illustration apart, one must look at
both meanings in the word. First, how does “silver bullet” Churchology
connect to the words “Where” and “Church”?
The first key ingredient in “silver bullet” ecclesiology is belief that the Church
isn’t what it is supposed to be. Even if you can find churches on every side,
something is wrong with them. In one sense, you cannot find the real Church
of Jesus no matter where you look. “Where is the Church I read about in the
Bible?” you might ask. Thus, the hunt begins for the “WhereChurch.”
2. Secondly, how does this “silver bullet” ecclesiology quest then connect to the
words “Were” and “Church”?
In fantasy mythology, werewolves are humans who turn into wolves at the full
moon, and end up doing all sorts of destruction. The sad historical fact of the
hunt for the “WhereChurch” is that churches that are shot with enough wouldbe silver bullets sooner or later transform into “WereChurches,” horribly
disfigured, monstrous, destructive beasts that do great damage to the one,
holy, Christian and apostolic Church. The analogy of the pun will break down
if you push it too far (as all analogies do), but it helps demonstrate these two
points: 1) “Silver bullet” ecclesiology is a hunt for a mythical creature that does
not exist in this life (i.e. the “perfect” “church”); 2) Firing “silver bullet” fix
after “silver bullet” fix into denominations and congregations only ends up
doing great damage to the actual universal Church in which Jesus is working
through His Word to save sinners.
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3. How does the history of the restorationist movement help illustrate this
point?
Restorationism started with the believe in the “WhereChurch,” the belief that
the true Church of Jesus was nowhere to be found in any of the visible
churches that existed on earth. It then moved to the “silver bullet” of starting
new congregations and fellowships that would really, truly, for sure, actually
be based only on the Bible, in the belief that this would bring about a
transformation and draw all Christians into the one, true Church. But, the
result was the “WereChurch.” Instead of unifying denominations, the
movement only created more denominations, and these new denominations in
turn fed into a pattern of splintering, dividing, and “starting over” in pursuit
of fixing everything that continues to plague American churchology to this day.
4. What is the “Threefold Path of Failed Churchology” and how does it help make
sense of the many different edges of “denominationalism”?
The threefold path is the idea that every false way of “fixing” the Church is
founded on at least one of three basic human elements: structure, worship,
and/or a charismatic person. All the many divisions that plague
denominations, from Rome and the Eastern churches to the countless
Protestant sects, can be traced to the confines of these three “silver bullets”
(see the chapter for examples). There are two common threads all three items
have: 1) They are based on the works of human beings other than Jesus, and
2) They are not answers given by the Bible.
It is important to note that the Bible does insist on 1) good order in the
churches (1 Corinthians 14:40); 2) the Divine Service of God giving His gifts of
Word and Sacrament (Acts 2:42); and 3) the Office of the Keys exercised for
the Church through the Office of the Ministry (John 20:19–23). But only one
of these is a human action (#1 “good order), and this one has no prescribed
form but is left to Christians to decide together. The other two are not human
works, but the works of God in the midst of the world through His creative,
redemptive, and sanctifying Word.
The more any congregation, denomination, or tradition falsely puts its trust in
the “Threefold Path,” the more they will have their eyes (at least temporarily)
taken off of Jesus and His giving of gifts to mankind. It is too much to say that
all other false teachings in the Church flow from these three errors, but they
are most certainly connected. For example, Rome’s false teaching about
justification by “faith working through love” is directly connected to its
teaching about the primacy of the Pope (both charismatic personage and
structure of authority) and the priestly work of “the sacrifice of the Mass”
(worship). The same can be said for every tradition that does not receive the
Bible’s Churchology of “people gathered (structure) by the Word of God
(worship) preached (personage).”
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5. What then does it mean to say, “you cannot find God in the churches”?
It does not mean that you cannot find God in “church.” As Luther teaches, we
should not despise preaching nor God’s Word, but gladly hear and learn it. You
can only, ultimately, find God in Church, where, together with the assembled
(“churched!”) you are given real and precious promises, spoken especially over
water, bread, and wine. Of course, the Word of God can reach you elsewhere,
but it will always “assemble/church” you.
But this statement does mean that you cannot find God in the human actions
of either congregations, denominations, or traditions. In so far as any group of
people is living and teaching their own ideas, God is not present.
“Lutheranism” is not correct because it is from Luther or because it is German
or because it has organ music or because it has voters assemblies. Lutheranism
is only correct because Lutheranism clings to the Word and Sacraments of
Jesus as the meaning of “Church.” Lutheranism doesn’t have to go searching
for the “W(h)ereChurch” but believes in the “ThereChurch”: right there
wherever the Word of God is preached in its purity and the Sacraments given
as the promises God instituted them to be.
(The remaining time might be spent on the dangers faced by LCMS
Lutheranism under the guise of the “Church Growth Movement,” which has
consistently inserted alternative beliefs about structure, worship, and person
into our congregations, specifically with the essential teachings of “visioncasting” [structure], “contemporary worship/new measures” [worship], and
“pastoral leadership” [charismatic personage]. Each of these, within the CGM,
is taught as necessary elements to the health of the Church on earth, and for
that reason specifically, they are terribly dangerous distractions from the
Word of God as His gift for us.)
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NEVER #6
Never follow a rule that doesn’t like rules.
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Terms
Freedom
Lawlessness
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS
1. Why is the belief that “pure freedom is always a good thing” dangerous?
2. How does Romans 6:17–23 expand on this idea?
3. According to the section “Fear Junkies and Trust Winos,” who is the real
tyrant in human slavery to sin? How does Romans 1:18–32 illustrate this
point?
4. The parable of “Mixed Drinks in the Valley of the Shadow” tells the story of
the two different ways the idolatry of “freedom” has dominated American
“Christian” spirituality, illustrated by the opposite images of a vast high
waterfall and a low, bubbling cesspool. What real life traditions do the
characters chasing these images represent?
5. It is commonly thought in the culture wars that these two groups are on
opposite sides of the war. How is their common idolatry of “freedom”
surprising?
6. As opposed to “hating tradition on principle,” how does the love the Bible
teaches know the goodness of boundaries, rules, and laws, even if they are
manmade? What fruit of the spirit is most embodied by this idea (Galatians
5:22–23)?
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NEVER #6—LEADER
Never follow a rule that doesn’t like rules.
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Terms (These two definitions are intimately connected.)
Freedom
Lawlessness
Ask the Group
Ask the group to share their thoughts after reading the chapter, including
favorite quotes or powerful ideas. Make sure to talk about the story of Final
Fantasy X and its meaning as an illustration of how common culture
misconceives of “sin” as something “outside of you.”
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Why is the belief that “pure freedom is always a good thing” dangerous?
The question always needs to be asked, “Freedom from what?” If we mean
“freedom from God,” then the only possible result of such freedom is “slavery to
evil.” Conversely, if we mean “freedom from evil,” then the only possible result
of such freedom is “slavery to good.”
Since good only exists as a gift from God, to be free from that goodness is to be
the definition of evil. In this way, freedom from the many good things God has
created, such as “authority” (fourth commandment), “your neighbor” (fifth
commandment), “marriage” (sixth commandment”), the idea of “property”
(seventh commandment), or “truth” (eighth commandment), only becomes the
decay and destruction of these good things. “Freedom” in and of itself is a
meaningless word until we ask, “Freedom from what?”
2. How does Romans 6:17–23 expand on this idea?
Romans 6 establishes the teaching that to sin is to be a slave to sin (even if one
sins in the name of “freedom” or “free choice”). Paul goes on to also teach that
to be saved from this slavery to sin (“set free”) is to become a slave to
righteousness instead.
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In verse 19, Paul even talks about slavery to sin as being slaves to
“lawlessness.” Lawlessness is nothing other than “freedom from the Law.” This
then brings about the ironic paradox that the sinner is a “slave to freedom!” It
might be better said that the sinner is a slave to his will to be free from God,
which he believes is “freedom,” but is in fact the worst bondage of all. As verse
20 points out, a slave to sin is free from goodness, but the end of that is shame
and death. Now, verse 22 goes on, the Christian is free from sin in Jesus, but a
slave to God, which ends in the free gift of eternal life. The eternal life will not
be one of total “Freedom!” from all things, but of freedom from sin, death, and
the tyranny of the devil.
3. According to the section “Fear Junkies and Trust Winos,” who is the real
tyrant in human slavery to sin? How does Romans 1:18–32 illustrate this
point?
Contrary to a common idea, the real tyrant is not the devil. It is true that he is
behind all lies, and does exercise a certain tyranny over fallen humanity, but
he only does so by making sure to keep the real tyrant of your life securely
seated on the throne. That tyrant is “you” and this can be demonstrated most
clearly by how deeply you desire to keep your “freedom” in all things, to always
be the one to decide, to choose, to make, to do. All of these things are about
exercising the power of “your will” over every aspect of life. So great is this
need and belief, that you are, in fact, enslaved to it. You are enslaved to
yourself. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a good thing. It is a horrible
thing, for you are ruthless master.
Romans 1:18–32 demonstrates how our sin is kept in check by God, but as we
insist on rebellion, He “gives sinners up” to their sin so that it totally
dominates them. The end is all manner of evil and eventually death. So great is
our tyranny, that we spend a lifetime killing ourselves by the constant pursuit
of selfishness. So great is our blindness that we call this “freedom” and profess
how good it is, even as it brings us down to the grave. Thanks be to God that
“while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)!
4. The parable of “Mixed Drinks in the Valley of the Shadow” tells the story of
the two different ways the idolatry of “freedom” has dominated American
“Christian” spirituality, illustrated by the opposite images of a vast high
waterfall and a low, bubbling cesspool. What real life traditions do the
characters chasing these images represent?
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The waterfall represents the tradition of Revivalism and Prosperity. As
attempts to “fix” the Church and/or attain a truly “sanctified” life fail, rather
than repent at the foot of the cross, “freedom” offers an answer by teaching
that the things which stand in the way are “rules” and “traditions”—any of
them that get in the way of their current goal to reach the mountaintop
experience. For this reason, many Christians and congregations believe they
are pursuing “godliness” by getting rid of old rules and traditions. Instead,
what they are really doing is climbing an impossible mountain where they will
eventually find themselves stranded and alone. They will be free of everything
except themselves, with no one to save them.
The slough represents the tradition of classical liberalism. Liberalism also
attempts to fix the Church, but it does so by trying to convince itself that there
are no problems at all. “Everything will just be fine as soon as we all can admit
that everything is fine and let everybody do whatever they like.” This is not the
official position of liberalism, but it is the practical position of liberalism: it is
what liberalism does. For this reason, many Christians and congregations
believe they are pursuing “godliness” by getting rid of “rules” and
“traditions”—any of them that get in the way of their current goal of having
everyone get alone in the valley. Instead, what they are really doing is
convincing people to drink the poison of self-content that will eventually leave
them unable to move, let alone leave the valley. They will be free of everything
except for themselves, with no one to save them.
Both of these images are part of the “Valley of the Shadow of Death.” Belief
that either “we can climb out of this valley with freedom’s help” or “life isn’t so
bad in this valley with freedom’s help” both leave us still in the valley, still
enslaved to sin and its wages: death.
5. It is commonly thought in the culture wars that these two groups are on
opposite sides of the war. How is their common idolatry of “freedom”
surprising?
Answers can vary here, but the leader can help the discussion by emphasizing
how in the public square the “Evangelical” churches are “conservative” on social
issues like evolution, homosexuality, and abortion, while the classically
“Liberal” churches are “liberal” on those same social issues. But on the truly
Christian matters of “justification,” “sanctification,” and the receptive worship
of “Word and Sacrament Ministry,” both groups are ultimately “liberal” in the
theological sense. That is, they have taken the freedom to disbelieve God’s
Word on key issues of salvation. More so, they have taken this freedom to
disbelieve precisely because they put a greater stock in “freedom” (whether the
Evangelical “free will” or the Liberal “free choice,”) than in the Word itself.
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6. As opposed to “hating tradition on principle,” how does the love the Bible
teaches know the goodness of boundaries, rules, and laws, even if they are
manmade? What fruit of the spirit is most embodied by this idea (Galatians
5:22–23)?
The definition of “love” is to know the boundaries of goodness and to pursue
them, whether this means submission to God (commandments 1–3) or service
to our neighbors (commandments 4–10). This also means that “good order”
itself is a gift of God, as shown by the fourth commandment and elaborated in
Romans 13. In this way, manmade traditions can be very good and helpful, for
example, the common tradition of celebrating the incarnation of Jesus on
December 25. It does not matter if Jesus was born on that day. What matters
is that Christians remember that Jesus was born.
Of all the fruit of the Spirit, the one that most demonstrates this point is the
final (and often, the most ignored), the gift of “self-control.” Self-control
teaches the goodness of “denying your will,” and of “not getting what you
want.” Self-control is the very opposite of “freedom,” yet against this “not
having total freedom” Paul says “there is no law”! Why? Because by denying
ourselves the freedom to do whatever we want, we can instead do what is best
for others (which is often the thing we don’t naturally want). Learning to love
God’s Word, both Law and Gospel, we can “restrain the flesh” (Galatians
5:16ff) and seek the good of others by drowning the old Adam within us
through repentance and forgiveness. In this way, the slavery of “self-control”
frees us from the tyranny of “freedom.”
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NEVER #7
Never follow a rule in order to justify yourself. Seriously.
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Terms
The Ever-Lie
Concupiscence
Original Sin
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS
1. Look again at the chart in the section “Seven Degrees of You” and trace how all
the rules that have been discussed so far are only different “spices” or “flavors”
of the same, single “rule.”
2. Review briefly the three vignettes in the section “Every Weed Has a Root” and
discuss how these stories further illustrate the chart.
3. It is often thought that the first and greatest sin is “pride,” however this is
only half true. Pride is the result of the first sin, but the true first and greatest
sin is “unbelief.” Just as Lucifer, before he fell from paradise by trying to
unseat God, had to first believe that God was not really “all powerful” as God
had declared. In the same way, before Adam and Eve could eat the fruit of the
tree of knowledge, they had to believe that God’s Words “you will surely die”
were not true. With that understanding in mind, take a look at the classic
passage in James 4:5–10, and discuss the true biblical meaning of the word
“humility.”
4. Using what you have learned about the word “concupiscence,” read Romans
3:10b–18, and discuss the practical application of this text as an explanation
of everything we see and experience as wrong with the world.
5. What does Romans 3:21–28 teach about “another kind of righteousness” than
the one the world is always seeking through “you”?
6. If this gift is free, then why do we need the human works of Word and
Sacrament Ministry? What does Romans 10:9–17 have to say about this?
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NEVER #7—LEADER
Never follow a rule in order to justify yourself. Seriously.
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Terms
The Ever-Lie
Concupiscence
Original Sin
Ask the Group
Ask the group to share their thoughts after reading the chapter, including
favorite quotes or powerful ideas. Make sure to review and empathize with
the story of Satan’s fall and rise in John Milton’s Paradise Lost, discussing
how this story illustrates the entire purpose of the book.
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Look again at the chart in the section “Seven Degrees of You” and trace how all
the rules that have been discussed so far are only different “spices” or “flavors”
of the same, single “rule.”
By walking through each rule and connecting them, the chart will allow the
leader to both review the entire book and establish the point that the real “lie”
is the lie that “you can justify yourself before God.” The leader might also
afterward distribute a copy of the Augsburg Confession, Article IV, and discuss
how this is the point of theology on which Christianity itself stands or falls.
2. Review briefly the three vignettes in the section “Every Weed Has a Root” and
discuss how these stories further illustrate the chart.
By focusing on the “practical” aspects of these stories, the leader can gradually
demonstrate the chart’s application to real life, how all decisions and actions,
as well as all false worldviews, ultimately are issues of “justification,” or the
need to “make things right.” This will allow again for expansion on the
distinction between Law and Gospel, and the difference between classic
“justification by works” (which includes all of the rules) and God’s answer of
“justification by grace” (which is received by faith alone).
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3. It is often thought that the first and greatest sin is “pride,” however this is
only half true. Pride is the result of the first sin, but the true first and greatest
sin is “unbelief.” Just as Lucifer, before he fell from paradise by trying to
unseat God, had to first believe that God was not really “all powerful” as God
had declared. In the same way, before Adam and Eve could eat the fruit of the
tree of knowledge, they had to believe that God’s Words “you will surely die”
were not true. With that understanding in mind, take a look at the classic
passage in James 4:5–10, and discuss the true biblical meaning of the word
“humility.”
Most people think humility means something like gentleness, or perhaps a
strong willingness to serve other people, but this is not the way James is using
the term. In the Bible, humility is more closely connected to our word
“humiliation,” that is, realizing the total inadequacy of yourself, and even
admitting your gravest wrongs. Similarly, this then means facing God’s Word
as it comes to us, in repentance, being brought beneath it through the
forgiveness that Jesus brings.
In this way, when James says that God yearns jealously for us, he means that
God wants us to trust Him because God knows that He will only bring us truly
good things. This is why God opposes the proud (that is, those who don’t
believe His Words), but gives grace to the humiliated (those who cannot lift
themselves up in rebellion against Him any longer). The call to “submit” to God
is the call to believe that God has you now, in Jesus. This faith alone makes the
devil flee from you, not by your own power but by the refusal to rely on your
own power any longer. Drawing near to God is to hear His Word, to receive
His Sacraments, and to have your faith grown by Him through these promises
and gifts. These gifts cleanse you, purifying your heart and renewing your
mind. For this reason, even while of yourself you are wretched and weak,
humiliated before the cross, in the cross preached, God exalts you to heaven
with your resurrected Lord, whom you are joined to in Baptism and the
Supper, and who will come again soon to rescue you from all humiliation and
lead you into total innocence forever.
4. Using what you have learned about the word “concupiscence,” read Romans
3:10b–18, and discuss the practical application of this text as an explanation
of everything we see and experience as wrong with the world.
The leader should rely on the long quote from Apology II 47–51 as his answer
to this question.
5. What does Romans 3:21–28 teach about “another kind of righteousness” than
the one the world is always seeking through “you”?
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As opposed to the righteousness of human works, Paul preaches a
“righteousness of God” that is given completely apart from human works. This
is the “righteousness of faith,” which does not mean simply “having faith” in
general, but hearing and believing that in Jesus God was buying back the
world by satisfying His wrath through a payment bought with His own Son’s
blood.
This righteousness of God is doubly righteous in that it not only reveals Him as
ultimately just, but also as ultimately merciful. He is both just and the justifier
of the unjust. His justice is so great that it makes the unjust just again, and
that, not by demanding they earn it, but by simply spilling over and giving it to
them.
This is why boasting in any merely human righteousness we might create by
doing good works of any kind is sheer foolishness. These are totally different
categories! Although human good works are certainly good for our neighbors,
they never have had the power to create life, even in the Garden of Eden. Even
there, Adam and Eve needed the tree of life. How much more so now must we
be fed with the bread of life if we are to live forever!? This is why we must
insist that we are justified, not by works of the Law, but by the free gift of God
in Jesus.
6. If this gift is free, then why do we need the human works of Word and
Sacrament Ministry? What does Romans 10:9–17 have to say about this?
This is a trick question. Word and Sacrament Ministry is not a human work.
Certainly, pastors and people “do” many things in the Divine Service, but all of
these are “tertiary” or “next to” the work which God is doing by His Spirit-filled
Word. As Romans 10 illustrates, it is by that Word alone that the free
justification of all through Jesus’ death and resurrection are brought “to you”
in the present. The salvation God is working is not hidden, but is finding “you”
wherever the Word is preached and wherever the preachers are sent to preach
it. Even the feet of sinful human men are beautiful when they bring Words
from God about Jesus that regenerate you into a living faith and hope that for
Jesus’ sake you too will rise from the dead on the last Day and enter into a
restored paradise that will never end. This faith comes by hearing the Word of
God, which God preaches, even by the mouths of sinful men, whose own words
are but filthy rags on the sidelines.
(If there is more time, the leader might also discuss the concept of
“justification” as a courtroom term, focusing on the concept of being “declared
righteous” by the same God who declared “Let there be light!”)
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AND SO
Never Never Ever Landing on the Wrong Side of God’s Justice
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Terms
Mysticism
Moralism
Rationalism
Pragmatism
Prosperity
IfWeCanJust
Lawlessness
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS
1. One of the chief concerns of many people in American churches today is
“style.” Discuss how Mysticism, Moralism, Rationalism, Pragmatism,
Prosperity, IfWeCanJust, and Lawlessness are not “styles” of Christianity, but
rather distortions of it.
2. In the section, “Unbreaking the Broken,” it is recounted how famous Pastor
Rick Warren once tried to sell Jesus on national TV to talk-show host Alan
Colmes. How might presenting “the Gospel” in such a way do more harm than
good to those who are listening?
3. If the prophet Zechariah delivered God’s promise that His answer to our sin is
“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6), then where
should we look in order to find God’s Spirit? How does John 14:22–26 affirm
or change your answer?
4. How is something as dry and boring as “doctrine” the answer to all our
problems?
5. Review the chart/list in the section “The Wrong Side of God’s Justice.” How
are all these lies ultimately about the truth upon which the Church stands or
falls—“Justification by grace alone through faith alone for the sake of Christ
alone”?
6. What is God’s way of dealing with this Lie of self-justification?
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AND SO—LEADER
Never Never Ever Landing on the Wrong Side of God’s Justice
AS YOU BEGIN
Key Terms
Mysticism
Moralism
Rationalism
Pragmatism
Prosperity
IfWeCanJust
Lawlessness
Ask the Group
Ask the group to share their thoughts after reading the chapter, including
favorite quotes or powerful ideas.
DISCUSSIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. One of the chief concerns of many people in American churches today is
“style.” Discuss how Mysticism, Moralism, Rationalism, Pragmatism,
Prosperity, IfWeCanJust, and Lawlessness are not “styles” of Christianity, but
rather distortions of it.
The leader can use this opportunity to review these terms one more time, while
intentionally presenting them each as variations of “justification by works.”
This can be combined with texts such as 1 Timothy 1:3–7, which exhorts
Christians to seek healthy doctrine for the sake of retaining a clean conscience
in Christ. This healthy doctrine is the free and total justification of your sin in
Christ’s cross, preached as an entirely sufficient promise, which cannot be
“done,” but only received by faith.
2. In the section, “Unbreaking the Broken,” it is recounted how famous Pastor
Rick Warren once tried to sell Jesus on national TV to talk-show host Alan
Colmes. How might presenting “the Gospel” in such a way do more harm than
good to those who are listening?
There are several ways to answer this, but two of the most important are:
A. When promises are made about a “changed/improved” life, if those promises
are believed but do not come true, it is Jesus who will receive the blame from
the frustrated believer, even if Jesus never actually made those promises at all.
B. In a world increasingly craving authenticity and depth, presenting a
superficial view of Jesus makes Christianity appear a “religion” for only
ignorant, selfish people.
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3. If the prophet Zechariah delivered God’s promise that His answer to our sin is
“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6), then where
should we look in order to find God’s Spirit? How does John 14:22–26 affirm
or change your answer?
God’s Spirit is not a “super power” we feel, or use to overcome obstacles, but
His very own self coming upon us in order to create faith in His Words. As the
Small Catechism says, “God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives
us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead
godly lives here in time and there in eternity” (Second Petition). This Word is
especially and specifically made clearer in the revelation of who Jesus is, what
Jesus has done, and what Jesus is coming again to do.
4. How is something as dry and boring as “doctrine” the answer to all our
problems?
Doctrine is only dry and boring when we don’t understand it (or when it is
taught in such a way as to make it beyond understanding—though in such a
case it becomes, by definition, false doctrine). True doctrine is not dry or
boring, but is life itself. Compare this with John 6:63 and John 8:32, where
Jesus compares His words (His teaching/doctrine) to both the person of the
Holy Spirit and to the source of life itself. In this way, “justification,”
“sanctification,” “propitiation,” and other such terms are not merely answers
that tell us “what” we need to know, but “why” we are who we are, what and
where our problems come from, and what God’s own answers and plans are in
response to this. Such “answers” create life, regenerate faith, and keep us
steadfast in hope until Christ comes again.
5. Review the chart/list in the section “The Wrong Side of God’s Justice.” How
are all these lies ultimately about the truth upon which the Church stands or
falls—“Justification by grace alone through faith alone for the sake of Christ
alone”?
Each attempt to find God is an attempt at self-justification, or the “righting” of
oneself, either in one’s own eyes, or in the eyes of God. This is the great lie and
the great temptation, “to be like God,” to prove to God that we are good
enough, or even “better” than He says or believes. Adam chose this error, and
we inherit it. The seven rules are only “spins” on this one, ongoing error that
takes our eyes off God, off Jesus, and off our neighbors, placing them squarely
back “incurvatis” into ourselves.
6. What is God’s way of dealing with this Lie of self-justification?
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God’s answer is foolishness, but it is ultimately wise. He preaches Christ as the
answer: another man, who is also God, entirely outside of “you” and totally
taking your justification upon His own shoulders. Without even an ounce of
merit or worthiness in you, He totally and sufficiently “rights” you in Himself,
bearing your sin and rising with your forgiveness carried by His own
resurrected flesh. It is the Sunday School answer, but that makes it no less the
Church’s answer. When this answer is not merely parroted as a story for
children, but preached as the epic crux of the history of mankind, it is no trite
platitude, but the power of God for salvation to all who believe, to which you
can add nothing. It is that “good,” a good news. You can go, because you are
free. You are free, and have nothing more to do. The doing, in Jesus, is done.
Walking away in such freedom, chances are that the next time you see your
neighbor, you will not bear animosity in your heart, but faith itself will burst
forth in love. But let us not focus on that! That is to look back within. Instead,
let’s just keep hearing about Jesus. Faith, hope, and joy look outward, to Him,
for He is the answer to it all.
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