The Fire and the Staff...

It's been said that "There is a great deal of difference between an eager man who wants to read a book and the tired man who wants a book to read." I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel like one, and then other times like the other. But more often it seems, I’m the tired man. I've recently read a book called "The Fire and the Staff" by Klemet Peus. This wonderful book is one that I recommend picking up! And take your time with it. The reasons are many, starting with the breadth of topics that are addressed in the book. Topics that span a great many doctrines and questions that every Christian has had, and perhaps even some that you've not yet considered, mostly due to our business of life. Topics such as the Divine Service, and what is happening in the service. Worship, and what it is. The question of 'what is faith, actually?' Objective justification, and conversely objective condemnation, regarding Original Sin. Why do Pastors wear collars, and robes? Baptism, the Lords Supper, So many rich topics with such depth of understanding, presented in a way that is very tangible, and accessible, and often knit together with wonderful, relate-able stories from the author and his years as a Lutheran Pastor, and from history. However the most amazing thing that happens in the book, is you start to see how in the end, the practice of one’s life will directly creep into his, or her doctrine. And simultaneously how the reverse is also true. That a person’s doctrine will affect that person’s practice, and their life. And the major thread that weaves through it all, is the True Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “Doctrine is life” he says, and as a shepherd uses his staff to keep his sheep close to, and warmed and safe by the fire, so the Doctrine of Christ does for us! This book brings to light so many things about our faith, things that in our "American Christianity" we may have found ourselves very accustomed to, and takes a much closer look into those things in the Light of Holy Scripture. Some of the things that reformed theology and others try to explain away. 

I'm not often brought to tears when reading Theology books, but this one did it. The story about a baby's Baptism. "Pastor," Said the father of the baby as he was helping the pastor dig a post hole at his house. "I never would have known what Grace alone meant if it hadn't been for seeing my daughter being baptized as an infant." "How do you mean?" asked the faithfully probing pastor. "That morning of her baptism, we changed her, we fed her and dressed her, we chose her food, and we chose her clothes, and when I saw that water being pored over her head, and hearing the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit being spoken over her, I realized what Grace Alone really means." Reading that, I had myself, understood anew how the Love of the Father is truly lavished on us in our Baptism. The Author also talks at length to our "American Christianity" and how we (American Christians as a whole) in many ways, through our practices, have left Christ and His Gospel out to dry. And it brings to light our confession of the glorious light of the Gospel of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. The Gospel of our salvation won for us objectively on the cross!

The author talks about Faith “it’s like a trick or treat bag”, he talks about passive faith, and active faith. "Saving faith is passive” he says. “Like a trick or treat bag, because we only think about the bag when we don't have one. Then when we do have the bag, we now only think about what is in the bag.” He continues with the scenario in regards to repentance and faith... "Trick or treat’ literally means I'm going to throw eggs at your house unless you give me candy." but what it really means is "I expect that you will give me some candy." Repentance and faith are in a way, mixed into the same dough. Because we trust that God is Good “(if we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleans us from all unrighteousness.”) Also comparing passive faith with active faith, in keeping first things first. "Active Faith", the author says, "can only be a response to Passive Faith." Imagine playing in the game of baseball in the outfield, when the ball is coming towards you, you can't throw the ball before you catch it.” We can’t and shouldn't let "Church activity" get in front of our own Salvation. You must first be passive and receive the ball. “Catching the ball does not depend on throwing it. Throwing the ball depends on catching the ball”, not the other way around. “As soon as you take your eyes off the ball to look around the field (to see where you might throw it) you'll not be able to find the ball again. The ball is God's Grace, and if you are thinking about what you are going to do with it before you catch it, you'll lose the Grace of God.”

This book exposes a lot of things about our home-style Christianity, and how some of the practices, have come from something other than the pure Gospel Doctrine. Here are a few nuggets that you can look forward to reading in the book.
“People today want ‘Spiritually without Theology"
"our spiritual health is in what we receive, not in how active, or how involved we are."
He talks about Church growth advocates, who promote a certain "dynamism" of character in the preaching and teaching of the Gospel and in Church life. He corrects that notion with "The Gospel is dynamic, not the one who speaks it, the Word is dynamic, not the one to whom it is spoken. The Message is dynamic, not the congregation that authorizes it's spread."  The author fearlessly addresses the role of women in the church, and the role of men. The Lord’s Supper, ‘witnessing -vs- confessing’ the list goes on.
Are you the “tired man” like me? Then I encourage you to pick up this book, and take your sweet time, and read it! Through it all, shines the beaming light of the Glorious Gospel of our Lord and Mighty Savior Jesus Christ!  Thanks be to God!