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Gottesblog

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There is Complacency and Laziness

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Just as the Law may not be allowed to infiltrate the Gospel, so the Gospel may not be allowed to infiltrate the Law. If the Gospel is isolated out of Scripture and the Law is neglected, there is complacency and laziness. A man stays at home with his ever-gracious Jesus and digs the garden on Sunday. The church is neglected, and the statistics of attendance at the Holy Communion fall appallingly low. The danger on the side opposite to Fundamentalism is this isolation of the Gospel. Instead of the whole Scripture a kerygma is extracted and the forgiveness of sins is diligently assured to men for whom the word "sin" has lost its meaning and crushing terror. Or a Gospel is proclaimed which is some piece of man's wisdom dressed in Scriptural terms that can be pressed into service while the rest of Scripture is ignored or suppressed.

Norman E. Nagel, “The Authority of Scripture” Concordia Theological Monthly, September 9, 1956. 27:693-706, pg. 705.

Ben BallComment