CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Timothy J. Wengert, professor,
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, led a bible study
Aug. 10 analyzing the concept of "freedom in Christ" for
participants at the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of
the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 6-11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall.
About 2,000 people are participating, including 1,069 ELCA voting
members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's
Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
Comparing the fifth chapter of the book of Galatians with
Martin Luther treatise, "Freedom of a Christian," Wengert began
his study by quoting the Apostle Paul -- "In Christ you are
free!" he said. "Free from sin, free from law, free from death,
free from the devil and evil, free from guilt and shame, free
from doubt and despair, free from working your way into God's
good graces!"
However, Wengert said, too many Lutherans are unaware of
this freedom. "According to a recent poll, almost half the
Lutherans in the United States think that we are saved by our
works, by our moral rectitude! We are not! We are saved by God's
grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone!"
Then Wengert challenged participants, asking, "So, now that
you are free from doing anything, what are you going to do?"
Quoting again from Paul's Gospel, Wengert emphasized that God's
grace isn't an excuse to sin. "For you were called to freedom,
brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an
opportunity for self-indulgence."
Instead, said Wengert, this freedom is an opportunity to do
good in thanksgiving for God's grace. He urged participants to
consider this quote from "Freedom of a Christian": "I will
therefore give myself as a Christ to my neighbor, just as Christ
offered himself to me; I will do nothing in this life except what
I see is necessary, profitable and salutary to my neighbor, since
through faith I have an abundance of all good things in Christ."
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Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be
found at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
