golter's mussings OCtober 2020

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

  • God wants Good Government

    October 1, 2020

    Of course, He does. And, He expects it, for He rules through it.

     

    God instituted government (Romans 13:1b). “And those that exist have been instituted by God.”

     

    For what purpose? To be a “terror…to bad (conduct),” (Romans 13:3).

     

    What is bad conduct? Anything contrary to God’s Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) or the moral law written in the hearts of every human being (Romans 2:14-15).

    The common practice of people is not the standard of conduct. If everyone cohabitates before marriage, this is not God’s standard, for example.

     

    The government is to promote good morality, and to threaten evil doers.

     

    If the government allows or promotes the personal taking of a life, e.g. Abortion or Euthanasia, or even personal revenge (Romans 12:19), then this is contrary to the Fifth Commandment.

     

    If the government spots another country’s oil or strategic location, and makes war or deals behind the scenes to get it…this is coveting, against the Ninth and Tenth Commandments.

     

    Solomon writes: “By justice a king builds up the land, but he who exacts gifts tears it down” (Proverbs 29:4). A government official who accepts bribes undermines the country.

     

    Government should not dictate a certain religion or even deny there is a god, i.e. atheism.

     

    A godless society—one that denies any divine intelligence—is left to reason and run amuck. No true north star or any objective standard of morality exists. Opinion becomes morality. Bottom line: it’s a mess.

     

    God tells Christians to pray for government officials, as they are His servants (1 Tim. 2:1-2; Rom. 13:4, 6).

     

    The government is to establish peace, a moral country…so that the Church may forgive sinners in the name of Christ.

     

    Let’s pray for our nation.


    Pastor Golter is the Senior Pastor at Trinity Lutheran

  • 640,000

    October 8 , 2020

    211,000. This number of 211,000 does not match the number in the title. You might recognize it though.

     

    211,000 is the number of deaths recorded for the corona virus in the United States since early Spring.

     

    What’s 640,000?

     

    The number of abortions during the same time period. Three times higher!

     

    Dr. Jim Lamb of Lutheran Family Services spoke at our pastors’ conference this past Tuesday (lutheranfamilyservice.org).

     

    He gave us the pandemic number, waited, and then gave us the abortion number. The group of pastors was silent. We’re so focused on the pandemic deaths that we forget about our littlest neighbors within the womb of their moms.

     

    Our new Lutheran Small Catechism (2017) states:

    Human life is God’s gift. The living but unborn are persons in the sight of God from the moment of fertilization (conception). Therefore, every human life is precious to Him and is also to be precious to us. Any destruction of embryos through the use of abortifacient drugs or in connection with procedures such as IVF (in vitro fertilization) is also, therefore, contrary to God’s will (p. 89).

     

    Every child is wanted by God, as He is their creator. His Son’s blood was spilt for them also.

     

    The Catechism also says: “Abortion, like all sin, is to be confessed to God, so that we hear and trust His forgiveness for Christ’s sake,” (p. 91).

     

    211,000. We grieve for all the families who lost loved ones through the corona virus. 

     

    640,000 We grieve for a country which has legalized abortions.

     

    We pray to our Lord for an end to abortion. In the meantime, we offer the Gospel for the bruised and broken.

     

    And, we speak up in the public square for our littlest of neighbor


    Pastor Golter is the Senior Pastor at Trinity Lutheran

  • It used to be…

    October 15, 2020

    It used to be that you could mention God but not Jesus. You dare not mention Jesus.

     

    This is quite something.

     

    For in the Bible, the Father preaches the Son (Matt. 3:17); the Son preaches the Son (John 5:37f.); the Holy Spirit preaches the Son (John 15:26). That sets a great precedent!

     

    I’d say that’s a good example to follow!

     

    Be specific, as the Triune God is. 

     

    Name Jesus, the One upon Whom your sins lie.

     

    But the cancel culture has matured in hostility and unbelief. (BTW, cancel culture’s goal is to cancel Christ and His Church.)

     

    You can’t even mention God now.

     

    In fact, expectation will rise. You must not only mention but denounce Jesus AND God.

    Silence won’t be accepted.

     

    Go see “The Infidel” movie if you can, a story highlighting the underground church in Iran.

     

    Please understand.

     

    “Darkness” owns by its nature a progressive hostility against Christ and His Church, per St. John’s writing (John 1:5).

     

    No matter. John also says it cannot “conquer” the Light, Jesus Christ.

     

    Don’t let the cancel Christ culture muffle your witness.

     

    Progression of evil by biblical definition is reality.

     

    Our cover is Christ Himself, the Gospel.

     

    “For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard,” (Acts 5:20).


    Pastor Golter is the Senior Pastor at Trinity Lutheran

  • Prevarication

    OCtober 22, 2020

    Let’s learn a new word.

     

    I had an idea, but I was not sure.

     

    Prevarication means the avoidance of the truth.  I find prevarication all around today.

     

    Political speech today softens, distorts or twists the truth. “Sir, what’s your position on: Abortion? Marriage? Religious Freedom?”

     

    “Well, we tend to think...this is my private opinion…”

     

    Why can’t we just call a spade a spade?

     

    Childlike believers simply say what it is.

     

    You simply speak the truth. No cover up or deceit. How freeing!

     

    God sent Nathan to speak the truth to the adulterer King David. “You are the man!” that committed adultery (2 Samuel 12:7). No prevarication here! Just the plain, blunt, and bruising Law of God that accuses.

     

    Once David confessed the truth—“I have sinned against the LORD”—Nathan did not prevaricate but spoke reality.

     

    “The LORD also has put away your sin,” (2 Samuel 12:13).

     

    Nathan spoke the sweet, enlivening Gospel.

     

    The Holy Spirit speaks clearly; He doesn’t twist, distort or lie.

     

    God “never lies,” (Titus 1:2).

     

    The Holy Spirit is no prevaricator.

     

    That’s why the Holy Spirit’s Book, the Holy Scripture, is true, every word.  He speaks in absolutes. He says and writes what it is. God is honest. 

     

    Every believer of Jesus owns the freedom to be honest, calling a spade a spade.

    This country needs honesty.

     

    Speak it.


    Pastor Golter is the Senior Pastor at Trinity Lutheran

  • To Knock the Hell out of You.

    OCtober 29, 2020

    It was called Hell Week, way back when in the early 1970s. I joined a fraternity like my two older brothers. It’s what you did as a Golter. I knew no other.


    So, the first-year pledges went through Hell Week, yes, very silly. No use in detailing the ridiculous. There was discomfort, even pain.

    I suppose the process was to knock the hell out of you, whatever that was.

     

    The next year, this Golter became the presiding chaplain over the whole affair. Naïve, yes, especially when during seminary days at St. Louis I re-read my pledge book and saw how thoroughly unchristian it was in describing Jesus.

     

    Well, you learn.

     

    Consider this: Jesus’ sending out of His Twelve on their trial mission trip (Matt. 10: 5 f.). In His name, they were to teach, preach and heal. But they would be hated, flogged, “dragged before governors and kings for My sake,” (Matt. 10:18).

     

    This was not some kind of joy ride. Jesus’ intent was to knock the Hell out of them.

     

    “Oh, My dear disciples, this is for your good!”

     

    “Yah, right, Jesus, for our good.”

     

    We’re into staying in our little church world, secluded. We attend bible studies and prayer circles. But we never bring up religion. We like this kind of Christianity. Just leave the other stuff out.

    What stuff?

    • Like getting dragged into court for speaking biblical truth.
    • Refusing to bake a cake for a gay couple.
    • Saying only a woman can be a mother, and only a man can be a father.
    • A child does best when he has both a mother and a father.

     

    “Don’t you know that I say this because Jesus loves you, and so do I.”

     

    “Pipe down you hater. You bigot. You racist.”

     

    “Say, don’t you belong to that Trinity Lutheran Church, the one on the hill…”

     

    “Uh, er, well, I used to but not anymore. You know that Missouri Synod is so full of rules and hatred.”

     

    “Ah, that’s good to hear. Say, how about I take you out for lunch to Duck Bistro downtown, you know, the place where no prices are listed on the menu.”

     

    Jesus’ purpose is to knock the hell out of you.

     

    He’s going to knock the theology of SELF-glory out of you.

     

    It’s not about you, your name, your comfort, your reputation, your status, but His.

    More of Him and less of you. Then you confess humbly the truth, with childlike confidence and joy only in the Savior. That’s your safe spot.

     

    You’re not disposable property but prized by the Father. He spilt His Son’s blood for you.

     

    Verbal assaults and worldly pleasures won’t be your concern.

     

    Eyes will be fixed on the Savior, hearts rejoicing over grace, and a deep yearning for others to know Him.

     

    The bruised and broken need you. They need Jesus.

     

    And, some will believe.

     

    Speak.


    Pastor Golter is the Senior Pastor at Trinity Lutheran