LCMS U, Indiana District Campus Workers Meeting
Psalm 50:1-6/Acts 24:24-25:12
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
Caesar is lord. He is due what belongs to him. His authority has been instituted by God. To resist him is to resist what God has appointed. Those who resist will incur judgment. Therefore pray for your leaders; mentioned them by name with right honor and praise, not in slander or malignant speech. Speak well of them in public and private. Submit to them for the Lord’s sake, if not for your own peace and tranquility.
But beware, my friends, for itching ears are an epidemic. They tickle the cardboard mats of the lowliest pauper to the feather pillows of the highest prince. There is no authority except from God. But politics and religion make for strange and interesting bedfellows.
St Paul knew this. Perhaps better than most. He indeed teaches us much about good Christian preaching. We can also learn from his clever political savvy. Few have walked that fine line as nimbly.
Among them is the commemoration for today, Dr. Robert Barnes, martyr. Unless you’ve had Dr. Mackenzie on the English Reformation or have watched The Tudors on Showtime, you’ve likely never heard of him. His commemoration was added to the LSB by the Commission on Worship. This does not mean it is without cause, though.
Born in 1495, Barnes was an Augustinian at Cambridge. Following in the footsteps of Erasmus, he left Cambridge for Louvain, returning in 1523 with his Doctor of Divinity. He was made prior of his house and used this position to introduce English monks and laity to the theology of the Lutheran Reformation. Barnes was among those who would regularly meet at the famous White Horse Inn, along with Thomas Cranmer, William Tyndale, and Miles Coverdale.
Already in 1525 Barnes was preaching the doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith alone from the pulpit of St Edward’s Church at Cambridge. He was tried and arrested. Escaping from London Tower Prison by 1528, Barnes made his way to the University of Wittenberg where he studied under Luther, ate at his table and lodged in his house until 1531.
By 1532 is was politically expedient for him to return to the King’s Court, under the protection of Thomas Cromwell, then Chancellor of England. With his theological confession and his Supplication to Henry VIII well received, Barnes rejoined his Cambridge Reformers, openly teaching Lutheran theology. He even brought back a copy of the recently presented Augsburg Confession! By 1534 he was back in Germany this time as the English liaison to the Smalcaldic League.
The English political winds shifted as quickly as the King’s fickle lusts. By 1536 Barnes was again in prison. Only to be out for a brief stint in 1538 again as a “freelance preacher.” Within two years, King Henry had married and divorced twice more, Charles V and Francis I found themselves on peaceful terms, forcing England to align once more with Rome, and Barnes was behind bars again.
He preached during Lent 1540, but by July was awaiting execution according to acts of attainder; a legal device which permitted the English parliament to condemn and sentence without trial and without naming the charges on which the sentence was based.
The executions had a religious flavor. Barnes was the primary victim on 30 July 1540. Two days prior Thomas Cromwell was beheaded for supporting his “heresies.” Three papists - Abel, Featherston, and Powell, defenders of Queen Catherine - were burned as heretics. Barnes and two Protestants, Garrett and Jerome, were hanged, drawn, and quartered for treason.
In his preface to the German publication of Barnes’ Confessio Fidei, Luther wrote, “This Dr. Robert Barnes we certainly knew, and it is a particular joy for me to hear that our good, pious dinner quest and houseguest has been so graciously called by God to pour out his blood and to become a holy martyr for the sake of His dear Son” (PrayNow 30 July).
Henry was his lord. By all accounts Barnes was faithful to Christ and crown unto his death. May God grant us such faithfulness and courage! But the hotbed of religio-political debate is no longer the King’s court, it is the campus quad. How is one to athletically maneuver amongst the rhetoric of the feminist atheists for abortion club and the liberal Christian frisbee-golf group? There is no appeal to Caesar.
There is Christ. Jesus is Lord. “Thanks, praise, and glory be to the Father of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, who again, as at the beginning, has granted us to see the time in which His Christians, before our eyes and from our eyes and from beside us, are carried off to become martyrs (that is, carried off to heaven) and become saints” (ibid).
It is written, Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath, but also for the sake of conscience (Rm 13:5). But in your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood (Heb 12:4). Christ Jesus has. He did. Forsaken by His Father, rejected by His people, executed by Caesar, Christ Jesus has endured for you the ridicule, mockery, and contempt of the political-religious establishment. And He continues to bear the vehemence from the feminists atheists and the persecution of the liberal Christians. For He bears them in and with you.
Therefore be immovable and steadfast; abounding in the work of the Lord. You have been washed in the martyrs bath of Holy Baptism. You have already died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. As you walk the tightrope of political-religious dialogue and debate, as you stand in the public square of the quad, you have these words of the Psalm: Gather to Me My faithful ones, who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice!” The heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge! (Ps 50:1-6). You are gathered to your God and Father by the all availing sacrifice of His Son upon the Cross. There is no one to judge you. No one to condemn you. God Himself is judge. And in Christ you are already declared righteous with His own righteousness. The absolution is the King’s final verdict upon you, spoken in the here and now. For in Christ you are robed in the royal dress of the Prince of Peace.
“Let us then praise and thank God! This is a blessed time for the elect saints of Christ and an unfortunate, grievous time for the devil, for blasphemers, and enemies, and it is going to get even worse” (ibid).
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and + of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Psalm 50:1-6/Acts 24:24-25:12
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
Caesar is lord. He is due what belongs to him. His authority has been instituted by God. To resist him is to resist what God has appointed. Those who resist will incur judgment. Therefore pray for your leaders; mentioned them by name with right honor and praise, not in slander or malignant speech. Speak well of them in public and private. Submit to them for the Lord’s sake, if not for your own peace and tranquility.
But beware, my friends, for itching ears are an epidemic. They tickle the cardboard mats of the lowliest pauper to the feather pillows of the highest prince. There is no authority except from God. But politics and religion make for strange and interesting bedfellows.
St Paul knew this. Perhaps better than most. He indeed teaches us much about good Christian preaching. We can also learn from his clever political savvy. Few have walked that fine line as nimbly.
Among them is the commemoration for today, Dr. Robert Barnes, martyr. Unless you’ve had Dr. Mackenzie on the English Reformation or have watched The Tudors on Showtime, you’ve likely never heard of him. His commemoration was added to the LSB by the Commission on Worship. This does not mean it is without cause, though.
Born in 1495, Barnes was an Augustinian at Cambridge. Following in the footsteps of Erasmus, he left Cambridge for Louvain, returning in 1523 with his Doctor of Divinity. He was made prior of his house and used this position to introduce English monks and laity to the theology of the Lutheran Reformation. Barnes was among those who would regularly meet at the famous White Horse Inn, along with Thomas Cranmer, William Tyndale, and Miles Coverdale.
Already in 1525 Barnes was preaching the doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith alone from the pulpit of St Edward’s Church at Cambridge. He was tried and arrested. Escaping from London Tower Prison by 1528, Barnes made his way to the University of Wittenberg where he studied under Luther, ate at his table and lodged in his house until 1531.
By 1532 is was politically expedient for him to return to the King’s Court, under the protection of Thomas Cromwell, then Chancellor of England. With his theological confession and his Supplication to Henry VIII well received, Barnes rejoined his Cambridge Reformers, openly teaching Lutheran theology. He even brought back a copy of the recently presented Augsburg Confession! By 1534 he was back in Germany this time as the English liaison to the Smalcaldic League.
The English political winds shifted as quickly as the King’s fickle lusts. By 1536 Barnes was again in prison. Only to be out for a brief stint in 1538 again as a “freelance preacher.” Within two years, King Henry had married and divorced twice more, Charles V and Francis I found themselves on peaceful terms, forcing England to align once more with Rome, and Barnes was behind bars again.
He preached during Lent 1540, but by July was awaiting execution according to acts of attainder; a legal device which permitted the English parliament to condemn and sentence without trial and without naming the charges on which the sentence was based.
The executions had a religious flavor. Barnes was the primary victim on 30 July 1540. Two days prior Thomas Cromwell was beheaded for supporting his “heresies.” Three papists - Abel, Featherston, and Powell, defenders of Queen Catherine - were burned as heretics. Barnes and two Protestants, Garrett and Jerome, were hanged, drawn, and quartered for treason.
In his preface to the German publication of Barnes’ Confessio Fidei, Luther wrote, “This Dr. Robert Barnes we certainly knew, and it is a particular joy for me to hear that our good, pious dinner quest and houseguest has been so graciously called by God to pour out his blood and to become a holy martyr for the sake of His dear Son” (PrayNow 30 July).
Henry was his lord. By all accounts Barnes was faithful to Christ and crown unto his death. May God grant us such faithfulness and courage! But the hotbed of religio-political debate is no longer the King’s court, it is the campus quad. How is one to athletically maneuver amongst the rhetoric of the feminist atheists for abortion club and the liberal Christian frisbee-golf group? There is no appeal to Caesar.
There is Christ. Jesus is Lord. “Thanks, praise, and glory be to the Father of our dear Lord Jesus Christ, who again, as at the beginning, has granted us to see the time in which His Christians, before our eyes and from our eyes and from beside us, are carried off to become martyrs (that is, carried off to heaven) and become saints” (ibid).
It is written, Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath, but also for the sake of conscience (Rm 13:5). But in your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood (Heb 12:4). Christ Jesus has. He did. Forsaken by His Father, rejected by His people, executed by Caesar, Christ Jesus has endured for you the ridicule, mockery, and contempt of the political-religious establishment. And He continues to bear the vehemence from the feminists atheists and the persecution of the liberal Christians. For He bears them in and with you.
Therefore be immovable and steadfast; abounding in the work of the Lord. You have been washed in the martyrs bath of Holy Baptism. You have already died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. As you walk the tightrope of political-religious dialogue and debate, as you stand in the public square of the quad, you have these words of the Psalm: Gather to Me My faithful ones, who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice!” The heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge! (Ps 50:1-6). You are gathered to your God and Father by the all availing sacrifice of His Son upon the Cross. There is no one to judge you. No one to condemn you. God Himself is judge. And in Christ you are already declared righteous with His own righteousness. The absolution is the King’s final verdict upon you, spoken in the here and now. For in Christ you are robed in the royal dress of the Prince of Peace.
“Let us then praise and thank God! This is a blessed time for the elect saints of Christ and an unfortunate, grievous time for the devil, for blasphemers, and enemies, and it is going to get even worse” (ibid).
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and + of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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