catechism Archives - Faith Lutheran Church, Wesley Chapel

Kurt Steinbrueck April 2, 2019

Blog blog, catechism, Christ, Commandment, Exodus, god, jesus, Luther, lutheran, shall not steal, steal

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It’s Not Really Stealing, Right?

“You Shall Not Steal.” – Exodus 20:15

“What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor’s money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income.” – Luther’s Small Catechism

Most of us know that stealing is wrong. If we walked into a department store, we wouldn’t take a product off the shelf and just walk out. We wouldn’t walk into someone’s home and steal their wallet. If we did, we would at least recognize it’s wrong, even if we didn’t care it was.

However, there are many other ways to come into possession of someone else’s property that is just as dishonest but may not seem to us like stealing.

Just after college, I did several jobs as a temp worker. At one company, I was doing some monotonous work along with several other temp workers. It wasn’t fun but produced a paycheck. I didn’t really follow how much work the other temps were completing each day. I just did the work I was able to get done.

One day, one of the other temps came over to me and asked me to slow down. Confused, I asked him what he meant. He said I need to take it easy and take more breaks because that’s what the other temps were doing. By not doing that I was making them look bad. Also, since the work we were doing was a single project that would eventually be completed, by working quicker, the project would be done sooner and we’d be out of our jobs.

That other worker may not have realized it, but he was stealing. He had agreed to do a job for an hourly wage. It was expected that he would do his best, but by intentionally working slower and taking more breaks, he was making the job take longer. This would cost the company more money which would end up in his pocket.

Conversely, the principle behind this Commandment would not only have us working diligently but if we saw a way to make the work more efficient and thus benefit our employer, we should share that. We aren’t to simply not steal, but also to seek to help our neighbor protect and improve their property.

What I love about that last part is it takes our focus away from just following the letter of the Law and puts our focus on loving our neighbor. I don’t want to just not harm them, I want to help them.

This is what God does for us. He provides for us. We can trust that He will take care of us. So, we don’t need to steal and we can help.

Heavenly Father,

You provide food for the birds. How much more will You provide for us whom You love? Thank you. Help me to trust Your provision. Help me love my neighbor as You do.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck March 28, 2019

Blog adultery, catechism, Commandment, Exodus, marriage, purity, sex, temptation

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Do Not Commit Adultery

“You shall not commit adultery.” – Exodus 20:14

“What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other.” – Luther’s Small Catechism

I imagine this commandment has always been a challenge, but today it seems that challenge has reached new heights. Temptation seems to lurk around every corner, in every book and magazine, in every movie and song, and on the Internet. If that weren’t enough, provocative dress is the norm, sexual promiscuity is not only no longer shameful, but glorified in our culture, no sexual practice is taboo, and premarital sex is considered a “wise” way to see if a couple is compatible.

The great irony of our culture today is that it champions all this as sexual “liberty”, when in fact, it is actually slavery. Addictions run rampant among both men and women. Marriages and families are torn apart. Depression and loneliness are common. And human trafficking is the third largest crime industry in the world, where it is estimated that 80% is related to sex. (find stats)

Sex, itself, isn’t bad. In fact, it’s good. God created it good. He commanded Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. However, He also created it to be within certain boundaries, the bonds of a loving marriage between. When it is taken outside those bonds, it is not only sinful, but destructive. However, like all sin, when we obey God’s commands and avoid sexual sin, we find the loving and compassionate blessing that God intended.

Heavenly Father,

Today, the world is upside-down and inside-out when it comes to your gift of sex. Please protect me from the temptations that surround me everyday. Please forgive me for the times I gave into the temptations. Keep me from being influenced by false messages of our culture and may Your truth reign in my life.

Amen

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck March 26, 2019

Blog catechism, Commandment, Exodus, god, harm, help, murder, physical, spiritual

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Thou Shalt Not Kill

“You shall not murder.” – Exodus 20:13

“What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in His body, but help and support him in every physical need.” – Luther’s Small Catechism

There is an idea among some Christians that seeks to separate the spiritual from the physical. They emphasize the spiritual affects and blessings of God and downplay the physical, even to the point of saying that we need to deny our physical selves, needs and wants, an only seek the spiritual.

God, however, created us as physical and spiritual beings. Both parts of our being need to be nurtured, cared for, and protected. We see this in the 5th Commandment where we are commanded to not harm others physically as well as care for and protect them.

We also see this in how God cared for Israel in the wilderness (manna, quail, water, their shoes didn’t wear out, etc.). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said not to worry about what you will eat and the clothes you wear, not because they aren’t important, but because God knows you need them and will provide them for you.

We are physical and spiritual beings. Both need to be protected. Both need to be nourished. Both need to be cared for. Let us seek this not only for ourselves, but for our neighbor as well.

Dear Jesus,

Help me not to worry about my physical needs and trust that you will care for me. Keep me from harming my neighbor and help me also to be your hands and feet so that I care for and protect the physical needs of my neighbor.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

catechism

It’s Not Really Stealing, Right?

It’s Not Really Stealing, Right?

Do Not Commit Adultery

Do Not Commit Adultery

Thou Shalt Not Kill

Thou Shalt Not Kill

Faith Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, FL serving Lutz, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, and New Tampa, FL