Comments for Concordia TheoBLOGical Seminary http://seminaryblog.com A blog by the Admission Department of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:54:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 Comment on Dark Knight of the Soul by Stiegemeyer http://seminaryblog.com/2008/07/24/dark-knight-of-the-soul/#comment-915 Stiegemeyer Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:55:54 +0000 http://seminaryblog.com/?p=498#comment-915 Peter, Yeah, I thought that was a pretty cool scene too. It was counter-intuitive. To wax theological, the people in each boat resemble the church (which has interestingly often been represented as a ship). They are sinners who willingly offer their lives for the good of the others, whether they deserve it or not. It's love. One could say that the influence of Batman had "rubbed off." Or simply that the reasonableness of natural law prevailed. Peter,
Yeah, I thought that was a pretty cool scene too. It was counter-intuitive. To wax theological, the people in each boat resemble the church (which has interestingly often been represented as a ship). They are sinners who willingly offer their lives for the good of the others, whether they deserve it or not. It’s love. One could say that the influence of Batman had “rubbed off.” Or simply that the reasonableness of natural law prevailed.

]]> Comment on Dark Knight of the Soul by Peter http://seminaryblog.com/2008/07/24/dark-knight-of-the-soul/#comment-914 Peter Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:30:40 +0000 http://seminaryblog.com/?p=498#comment-914 What did you think of the scene in which the folks in the two boats had the opportunity to save themselves by destroying others? In the end, the citizens of Gotham come out looking pretty good. Did you think this rang true, or was it a false note in an otherwise fine movie? What did you think of the scene in which the folks in the two boats had the opportunity to save themselves by destroying others? In the end, the citizens of Gotham come out looking pretty good. Did you think this rang true, or was it a false note in an otherwise fine movie?

]]> Comment on NATIONAL 08 — The National Lutheran Youth Workers Conference by Bill Morgan http://seminaryblog.com/2008/07/22/national-08-the-national-lutheran-youth-workers-conference/#comment-913 Bill Morgan Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:59:24 +0000 http://seminaryblog.com/?p=459#comment-913 I remember as a young boy,watching the Lutheran hour, and enjoyed it very much. I am now 60 years old,go to a Pentecostal Church. We believe that Martin Luther believed and taught, that salvation was by faith in Jesus Christ alone, Ephesians 2:8,9. Our good works play no part in salvation,and one can have Assurance of their salvation by Trusting in Jesus Christ that He laid down His life for us. When we take Communion we repent of any sins we committed,knowing that the LORD, is just and willing to forgive. Now I will add,that I am not saying we can intentionally sin, or that Luther taught that we could. Would I be correct in Luther's teaching on salvation. He taught " salvation by faith in JESUS CHRIST, not by works". I remember as a young boy,watching the Lutheran hour, and enjoyed it very much. I am now 60 years old,go to a Pentecostal Church. We believe that Martin Luther believed and taught, that salvation was by faith in Jesus Christ alone, Ephesians 2:8,9.
Our good works play no part in salvation,and one can have Assurance of their salvation by Trusting in Jesus Christ that He laid down His life for us. When we take Communion we repent of any sins we committed,knowing that the LORD, is just and willing to forgive. Now I will add,that I am not saying we can intentionally sin, or that Luther taught that we could.

Would I be correct in Luther’s teaching on salvation. He taught ” salvation by faith in JESUS CHRIST, not by works”.

]]> Comment on Dark Knight of the Soul by Rick Krueger http://seminaryblog.com/2008/07/24/dark-knight-of-the-soul/#comment-912 Rick Krueger Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:34:15 +0000 http://seminaryblog.com/?p=498#comment-912 Thanks, Scott. I'd already glommed onto a "the Joker is Satan with the mask off" motif via Jeffrey Overstreet; your take brings the impact of TDK all the way home to the real target: our sinful selves. What an intense movie! I just listened to the soundtrack about an hour ago, and all the emotions and reactions I had while watching it came roaring back ... Thanks, Scott. I’d already glommed onto a “the Joker is Satan with the mask off” motif via Jeffrey Overstreet; your take brings the impact of TDK all the way home to the real target: our sinful selves.

What an intense movie! I just listened to the soundtrack about an hour ago, and all the emotions and reactions I had while watching it came roaring back …

]]> Comment on Dark Knight of the Soul by Stiegemeyer http://seminaryblog.com/2008/07/24/dark-knight-of-the-soul/#comment-911 Stiegemeyer Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:26:03 +0000 http://seminaryblog.com/?p=498#comment-911 Andrew, I think you're right. He is a type of savior, a scapegoat, a suffering servant, and one rejected. That is, in fact, what I like about superhero comics and movies. I think the recent Spiderman movies, esp the first one, display the messianic character of the hero well. My over all impression of "The Dark Knight" - and this is subjective - is that Batman really is not the dominant figure. In the Gospels, Jesus is obviously the central figure. In "The Dark Knight," it seems to me that the Joker simply steals the show. Andrew, I think you’re right. He is a type of savior, a scapegoat, a suffering servant, and one rejected. That is, in fact, what I like about superhero comics and movies. I think the recent Spiderman movies, esp the first one, display the messianic character of the hero well.

My over all impression of “The Dark Knight” - and this is subjective - is that Batman really is not the dominant figure. In the Gospels, Jesus is obviously the central figure. In “The Dark Knight,” it seems to me that the Joker simply steals the show.

]]> Comment on Dark Knight of the Soul by Andrew Packer http://seminaryblog.com/2008/07/24/dark-knight-of-the-soul/#comment-910 Andrew Packer Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:43:25 +0000 http://seminaryblog.com/?p=498#comment-910 What do you think of Batman as a type of Christ/savior in the movie (albeit a cloudy type at best)? He becomes a scapegoat, rejected by those whom he is saving, etc...Your thoughts? What do you think of Batman as a type of Christ/savior in the movie (albeit a cloudy type at best)? He becomes a scapegoat, rejected by those whom he is saving, etc…Your thoughts?

]]> Comment on Dark Knight of the Soul by Dan at Necessary Roughness http://seminaryblog.com/2008/07/24/dark-knight-of-the-soul/#comment-909 Dan at Necessary Roughness Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:40:13 +0000 http://seminaryblog.com/?p=498#comment-909 Indeed. We enjoyed this movie last night. It is a good study of corruption and anarchy. Indeed. We enjoyed this movie last night. It is a good study of corruption and anarchy.

]]> Comment on Dark Knight of the Soul by Julie S. http://seminaryblog.com/2008/07/24/dark-knight-of-the-soul/#comment-908 Julie S. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:14:02 +0000 http://seminaryblog.com/?p=498#comment-908 Awesome post. Now I can appreciate the movie. Awesome post. Now I can appreciate the movie.

]]> Comment on Can Evangelicals Write Good Fiction? by Sacramental theology & the imagination — Cranach: The Blog of Veith http://seminaryblog.com/2008/07/18/can-evangelicals-write-good-fiction/#comment-907 Sacramental theology & the imagination — Cranach: The Blog of Veith Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:07:46 +0000 http://seminaryblog.com/?p=482#comment-907 [...] Scott Stiegemeyer, who offers some of his own insights on the [...] [...] Scott Stiegemeyer, who offers some of his own insights on the [...]

]]> Comment on I delight in your Law, O Lord. by Braaten http://seminaryblog.com/2008/07/15/i-delight-in-your-law-o-lord/#comment-906 Braaten Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:30:36 +0000 http://seminaryblog.com/?p=437#comment-906 Gordon, It's good to hear from you. I've enjoyed Glen Morangie, but my taste is more suited toward Lagavulin. Glen Morangie is sweater, and I particularly enjoy the smokier, peatier whiskies. On to your question: I fully realize that we live as Christians in the gospel because we live in Jesus Christ as his body. My question, though, is what does that mean? It definitely means that we live in freedom from the works of the law unto salvation and even the threats and punishment of the law (FC VI). But here's the difficulty: The gospel is that Jesus fulfilled the law for us for our salvation. Not only that but he let the threats and punishments of the law do to him what it should have done to us. Since we live as Christians, as saints, in Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of the law, we are in reality doers of the law, not out of fear or to work for our salvation but because that is who we are in Jesus Christ. So in a sense, we are still defined by the law, but only as having fulfilled it because of our life in Jesus Christ. The goal of my post was to draw attention to the fact that we are truly saints in this life in our bodies even as we are truly sinners in this life in our bodies. Neither of them are abstract concepts but earthly realities that are lived in time, bodily. I hope that clarifies things for you, and sorry for the delay in my post. Jason Gordon,

It’s good to hear from you. I’ve enjoyed Glen Morangie, but my taste is more suited toward Lagavulin. Glen Morangie is sweater, and I particularly enjoy the smokier, peatier whiskies.

On to your question: I fully realize that we live as Christians in the gospel because we live in Jesus Christ as his body. My question, though, is what does that mean? It definitely means that we live in freedom from the works of the law unto salvation and even the threats and punishment of the law (FC VI).

But here’s the difficulty: The gospel is that Jesus fulfilled the law for us for our salvation. Not only that but he let the threats and punishments of the law do to him what it should have done to us. Since we live as Christians, as saints, in Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of the law, we are in reality doers of the law, not out of fear or to work for our salvation but because that is who we are in Jesus Christ. So in a sense, we are still defined by the law, but only as having fulfilled it because of our life in Jesus Christ.

The goal of my post was to draw attention to the fact that we are truly saints in this life in our bodies even as we are truly sinners in this life in our bodies. Neither of them are abstract concepts but earthly realities that are lived in time, bodily.

I hope that clarifies things for you, and sorry for the delay in my post.

Jason

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