Lutheran spirituality, properly speaking, is not some static state of bliss, but a dynamic oscillation between lows and highs, knowledge of sin and knowledge of forgiveness, repentance and assurance.
(p. 28, Gene Veith, The Spirituality of the Cross)
I often have trouble explaining Lutheranism to other Christians. This is probably mainly my poor verbal communication skills, but I think it is also because most people have a static view of the Christian life.
Perhaps they see one movement at their conversion, but even that is a transfer from one static position to another. In contrast Lutheranism always sees God doing something to us with a purpose.
This law-Gospel dynamic is one of the fundamental features of Lutheranism and something I bang on about so much because I now also see it as fundamental to how the Bible works and my whole existence. However, I now prefer now to talk about death-life, because it emphasises God's purpose in the law/Gospel, is more comprehensive, avoids confusion about biblical v. systematic theological terminology, is more clearly storied and most importantly also roots it more in union with Christ.
One thing I want to clarify from the quote though is that it is not a circular motion, where high leads to low before low leads to high. The 'low'/death happens as a consequence of the experience of sin and suffering in this old creation. The 'high'/life is eternal with no dark side to it. The constant oscillation is a result of our current situation as simul iustus et peccator living in the now/not-yet. One day the dynamic will change.
brilliant, love it dave keep writing ive learnt so much from you by following your observations over the past few yrs! Love the 'storied' comment - and i guess it means forgiveness is a foretaste of the future that began 2000 years ago... (hence hebrews 11-12 you have come to what you cannot yet see)
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