Preaching the Two Kinds of Righteousness

Last updated on: January 25, 2015 at 11:52 pm by Jordan Cooper

Preaching the Two Kinds of Righteousness 2015-01-25T23:52:31-06:00 Jordan Cooper

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A selection from my current work in progress, Hands of Faith: A Historical and Theological Examination of the Two Kinds of Righteousness:

The teaching of the twofold righteousness is not merely an academic one, but is immensely practical. Lutheran pastors sometimes feel constricted in preaching on specific good works for fear that doing so will result in legalism and displacing the central article of justification. With this distinction, however, the pastor is given the tools whereby the Christian’s good works can be helpfully explained in the Christian life, while retaining the central reality of justification coram Deo. As Luther and other Lutheran fathers were bold in proclaiming the importance and necessity of good deeds from the pulpit, so should the pastors of the Lutheran church today, so long as they continually emphasize the sole saving efficacy of faith before God.

Though passive righteousness is the primary context in which the pastor is placed in relation to the congregation, he is also called to equip and encourage the congregants unto lives of active righteousness in the world. The pastor is not primarily placed in his office to be a motivator to the congregation, but he must teach people that the passive righteousness received in faith always leads to active righteousness of love out in the world. An understanding of active righteousness solves several common congregational issues in Lutheran churches. Understanding active righteousness will give the people an understanding that the Christian faith affects all areas of their lives, not simply Sunday mornings. It also puts the mission of the church in reaching out with works of love and service in a proper and helpful context. Finally, teaching active righteousness helps to build the understanding of the church as a community.

It is a constant danger in the Lutheran church for people to assume that the Christian faith is only relevant to their lives on Sunday mornings. Because of the emphasis the church places on the forgiveness of sins, there are many congregants who go to church Sunday mornings to receive their forgiveness for the week in the sacrament and then leave the service ready to ignore their Christin faith until the next Sunday morning. They simply have no place for the Christian life in their daily activities, because what is talked about in church is the relationship one has with God, but during the week, one has to focus on their relationship with fellow human persons. It is easy for one to assume that the Christian faith is not relevant to ordinary life.

An understanding of active righteousness, especially in the context of vocation, will give the congregants a manner in which they can connect the forgiveness received on Sunday to their active life in their jobs, families, and communities. Luther argued that the faith has a profound impact on daily living, because God has called Christians into various vocations in the world. These vocations are opportunities to serve one’s neighbors, as God uses people as his own hands to serve the world. Pastors need to teach on this doctrine of vocation on a regular basis. The congregants need to understand that the Bible speaks, not only to their relationship with God in the church, but to their place in the broader community. The grace of God gives one motivation to serve the neighbor in their job, and also within the family life. Paul gives extensive exhortations to husbands, wives, parents, and children (Eph. 5:21-6:9). This need not happen in the context of motivational speeches during the Sunday service on how to be a good father, or husband. But as does Paul, the pastor can give such admonitions in light of the free forgiveness of sins that comes through the Gospel.

Uncategorized

Two Kinds of Righteousness

Previous Post

January 25, 2015

Book Review of Reclaiming Pietism: Retrieving an Evangelical Tradition

Next Post

January 26, 2015 Luther, Zwingli, and the Hermeneutical Principles of the Lutheran (Christian!) Church

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category American Lutheran Classics Blog Posts Book Review Christian Dogmatics Course Church Resources Curtis Leins Dogmatic Theology Ethics FAQs Historical Theology Just & Sinner Publications Luther Quotations Podcast Sermons The American Lutheran Theological Journal The complete works of Revere Franklin Weidner Theology Proper Uncategorized Videos

Select a Month October 2019 September 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the Greek word "Agape" mean in the Bible?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Peace Grace Unconditional Love Eternal Life