So, the faith is something that we can genuinely commend to our children and grandchildren as well as our neighbors. But we cannot do that if we do not seek to mature in the faith ourselves through study of the Word and its bearing on this world." P. 96 In his latest work entitled, "Law and Gospel in Action: Foundations, Ethics, Church," the Rev. Dr. Mattes brilliantly accesses the state of the Lutheran Church and all of Christianity today. Three ideas that I gleaned from this collection of essays are: 1) a Christian must mature in the faith, 2) the will of the sinner is captivated and unable to free itself, and 3) pastoral care is not about modern psychology, rather it is for the care of souls. American Evangelicalism has put so much emphasis upon conversion and altar calls that they have forgotten that there is a calling, post conversion, to mature in the faith.
Mattes eloquently states this in the above quote. It behooves a pastor in parish ministry to remember that there must be teachers in addition to evangelists. In 19 theses Mattes communicates the reality of the captivated will. Conversion from sinner to saint is the work of Christ, not the human will. When one hears the doctrine of election as gospel and not law, one is captivated by the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Because reason alone has become the main hermeneutic in today's culture, pastors spend a majority of their time studying the latest counseling or business growth strategy. God's called and ordained are to 1) preach the Word, 2) rightfully administer the sacraments, and 3) care for the maturing souls of their respective congregations. Mattes points out that pastors need to return to confessing the faith of the church and not to the faith of their own understanding.
Today's clergymen must focus on the killing blow of the law and the resurrecting word of the Gospel. Rev. Dr. Mattes has been an inspirational mentor and instructor in the Christian faith to many. Namely, yours truly. I can hear him speaking directly to me through this collection of essays which are essential to any man in pastoral ministry. Rev. Jamie M.
Strickler St. Timothy Lutheran Church Charleston, WV.