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Author: Nina Schmidt

The Second Sunday of Advent, December 8, 2024

2 December 2024
Nina Schmidt
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Categories: Epaphras Letters

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Ro. 15:4). Paul is adamant when he declares hope to be the product of endurance and encouragement. We must remember, though, that Paul has in mind here a special sort of endurance and particular form of encouragement. For Paul, the endurance that produces hope results from suffering. He has told us so. “We also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance” (Ro. 5:3). Enduring suffering establishes us in hope. The form of encouragement which Paul has in mind is simply the promises of God—that is, the encouragement of the Scriptures. Those promises… that encouragement is simply Jesus Christ, the very Word of God. Paul uses the name Jesus, Christ Jesus, or Christ four times in four verses, calling to mind all the promises of the coming Messiah delivered to the people of Israel. The Israelites hoped in his coming; the Gentiles will now hope in his coming. The God of both the Israelites and of the Gentiles is a God of hope so that through faith in him all people will abound in hope because “the Holy Spirit has poured the love of God into their hearts” (Ro. 5:5).

Prayers from those who need hope…

Heavenly Father, your love in our hearts brings hope, so grant us to hear your Word, Jesus Christ, that through him the Holy Spirit pours your love into our otherwise barren, hard hearts. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, your love in our hearts brings hope, hold us fast in your promises as we suffer the work of the devil, the world, and our sinful selves to be done unto us. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, your love in our hearts brings hope, as we endure such suffering, encourage us in Christ so that the suffering indeed leads to hope and casts out despair. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, your love in our hearts brings hope, let us hope for the future of the Institute of Lutheran Theology that it would hold generations-worth of valuable training for preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, your love in our hearts brings hope, grant, during these days of our baptism, that this hope does not disappoint us because we, held in your love, anticipate eagerly the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ, the very Word of promise that encourages us all our days. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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Remembering Rev. John Rasmussen

21 November 2024
Nina Schmidt
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Categories: Events, News

The Institute of Lutheran Theology has lost a committed faculty member, an excellent student, and a very close friend. Reverend John Rasmussen passed away on November 13, 2024, losing his earthly body to cancer.

What can we say about this?

John was not his earthly body but rather a baptized child of God who lived each day with the sure and certain belief of the resurrection. His life was a witness to the future rather than to the past. He boldly proclaimed the Word of God, insisting that his students likewise proclaim with good tidings and clarity the eminent Kingdom of God. They learned that there is no time to talk about oneself when there is such exciting news to share.

Among the scores of things I could say about John, I am thinking about three things right now:

  1. John Rasmussen and his wife Lenae were perhaps the first to talk very clearly about the need to form a new seminary. Long before I was selected by the WordAlone Network in 2005 to head the Study to develop a “house of studies that would employ the hermeneutic of the Lutheran Reformation,” John and Lenae were talking with me about the need for a new institution that would take theology seriously again.
  2. In 2011, I had the opportunity to team-teach the Lutheran Confessions with John. What fun we had! Sometimes we talked on the phone about what happened in the class a full hour after the students had gone home.
  3. In 2021, I offered a PhD course in Kant, in which John was a student. While I was blessed to have John as a student in a number of my courses, I remember with clarity how good he was in this course. His summary of the First Critique of Kant was simply excellent.

These three memories show John as visionary, teacher, and student, roles that he assumed and performed gracefully for decades.

While I will miss John as a friend, colleague, and student, I know that John’s work is not done among us. There will be posthumous works appearing soon, the first forthcoming in the next issue of Verba Vitae. There is the manuscript of Usus Legis edited and translated by John Rasmussen and Tim Swenson currently at ILT Press that will be published in the next year. There are other writings that will likely see print as well.

Brother John, I will miss you, the faculty will miss you, and your students will miss you. However, you above all people have taught us to attend to the important. ILT is not about us, after all, nor are our lives about us. We live in anticipation of the One who has already come, the One who has livened your days and animated your witness, the One who is our hope as well as yours. We are blessed to have known you, John!

Ave et Vale

Dr. Dennis Bielfeldt, ILT President and Chancellor

John Rasmussen’s funeral will be held Friday, November 22, in El Paso, Texas. Here is a link to the details: https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/33789397/john-h-rasmussen.

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The Last Sunday of the Church Year, November 24, 2024

18 November 2024
Nina Schmidt
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Categories: Epaphras Letters

“Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves” (Mt. 25:9). “Nah, nah, na nah, nah. We have oil and you don’t!” Can’t you just hear those teenagers taunting the oil-less ones in that snide, sing-song voice so irritating to those on the receiving end? Those five virgins may have been called “wise,” but they weren’t necessarily “nice.” Regardless of that display of selfishness, that little bunch of teenage girls went in to celebrate the wedding while those with whom they refused to share were denied entrance. As the parable began, all ten of the virgins counted themselves as a part of the wedding celebration. They were included. Even as they are roused from their sleepiness by the announcement of the bridegroom’s impending arrival, all ten—wise and foolish—were there, ready to be admitted. Only in the wake of the wise virgin’s (perhaps we should call them “wise acres”) selfish refusal to share and suggestion to go to the dealers, do those foolish ones absent themselves from the imminent arrival of the bridegroom with his beloved. Notice that when the bridegroom did arrive, he didn’t conduct a lamp inspection, checking to see if they were well-lighted and well-oiled. Those awaiting the bridegroom’s presence, including the wise virgins, simply trusted the groom’s invitation that those present would go in with him and his bride to celebrate the marriage. And so, they did.

Prayers from those feeling inadequate as they wait…

Holy Father, you have bid us wait until the time of your Son’s glory, while we wait hold us in eager confidence that your promises are sure, and your Word is certain. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Holy Father, you have bid us wait until the time of your Son’s glory, while we wait put your Word on our lips that we would encourage our neighbors to wait in confidence as well. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Holy Father, you have bid us wait until the time of your Son’s glory, while we wait set our hands to useful tasks for the building up of our families, our neighbors, and our communities. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Holy Father, you have bid us wait until the time of your Son’s glory, while we wait grant to the Institute of Lutheran Theology the fulfillment of its purpose and the joy of seeing its purpose fulfilled. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

Holy Father, you have bid us wait until the time of your Son’s glory, while we wait let us not lag in the hearing of your Word for that Word and that Word alone sustains us through these days of our baptism. For Jesus’ sake. Amen

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The Last Sunday of the Church Year, November 24, 2024

18 November 2024
Nina Schmidt
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Categories: Table Talk

For first century eastern Mediterranean society, wedding festivities were lengthy, multi-local, and very physical. The wedding usually encompassed two places, the bride’s family home and the groom’s home prepared to receive the bride. The festivities began at the bridegroom’s home where a parade of family and friends assembled for the march through town to the home of the bride. At the home of the bride, more family and friends were gathered and the whole lot paraded back to the home prepared by the bridegroom. Once there, the marriage would be consummated while the crowd waited anxiously to see evidence of the bride’s virginity. Once evidence was displayed, all those gathered erupted into feasting and celebration that might last days.

The ten virgins in our story have gathered outside the bridegroom’s home and await the arrival of the bride and the bridegroom. For, when they arrive, the marriage will be consummated, the evidence of virginity produced, and the celebration and feasting begun in earnest. Those virgins with oil were there at the gate to welcome the arriving nuptial couple. Those virgins without sufficient oil, and without friends who would share their oil, abandoned their post in search of oil to buy. While they were gone, the nuptial couple arrived, those present went in with them, and the door was locked behind them. There is no mention that the bridegroom checked the oil on the lamps of the waiting virgins. But we are told, that when the other virgins arrived and pleaded to enter, the bridegroom answered with abrupt and surly words, “I do not know you!” Perhaps he had no appreciation for their tardiness and interruption of his marriage consummation.

“Be prepared!” That’s a popular message drawn from this parable. More aptly, one might say, “Be present!” The arrival of the bridegroom and his bride thrust an immediacy upon the waiting guests, including those “well-oiled” virgins. The time of preparation is over… the time of waiting, done… there is no more time. The oil supply issue distracts the foolish ones from being present at the immediacy of the nuptial couple’s arrival, leaving them shut out.

Table Talk: Discuss the distinction between immediacy and urgency.

Pray: Father, hold me with no distraction as I await Christ’s coming. Amen

Matthew 25:1–13

1 Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us. 12 But he answered, Truly, I say to you, I do not know you. 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

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New Course: Evangelism

15 November 2024
Nina Schmidt
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Categories: Events, News

Introducing Evangelism: PT 400 and PT 500 with Dr. Mark Mattes

The purpose of this course is to encourage, equip and empower Christians to share the good news of Jesus. Students will not learn a one-size-fits-all method of evangelism. Instead, they will be led, in addition to knowing scripture and confessions thoroughly, to read the room and know their audience well. Pastors are not expected to be the sole evangelists in their congregations. Instead, pastors are encouraged to model a life of witness and help create a culture in which pastors and members form a team creating momentum for outreach.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
• Understand and articulate why evangelism is important
• Gain courage to do evangelism
• Discern how evangelism is to be conducted differently in different contexts
• Think of strategies of evangelism that are workable in their own contexts

The course begins January 23, 2025. Classes are held Thursdays at 6-9pm (CST) and are taught by Dr. Mark Mattes, with a number of guest lecturers.

Sign up now by contacting Joel Williams at jwilliams@ilt.edu or call 605-692-9337.

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Twenty-Fifth Sunday After Trinity, November 17, 2024

11 November 2024
Nina Schmidt
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Categories: Epaphras Letters

“But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short” (Mt. 24:22). “Those days” of tribulation… “those days” of affliction… tribulation and affliction so great and severe as to have never been seen before and will never be seen again… “those days” will be cut short, minimized for the sake of the elect. In other words, those chosen by God to believe will not suffer as much tribulation and affliction as would have been possible for them to suffer. What a blessing for them! But… but it is also a blessing for everyone else. The days of tribulation will be cut short for everybody on account of the elect. Surely, the elect are the children of Abraham for they believe in the Lord as Abraham did and it is reckoned to them as righteousness (Ge. 15:6). These elect, the descendants of Abraham, bring the fulfillment of the covenant made by God with Abraham that all the nations of the world would be blessed through him (Ge. 18:18). In the coming of those days… those days of affliction and tribulation… those days which will be cut short on account of the descendants of Abraham… those days will see all the nations blessed because of Abraham.

Prayers from those thankful for the mercy shown upon the children of Abraham…

Father God, your mercy and steadfast love have been of old, thank you for cutting short the anticipated days of tribulation and affliction so that the coming of the Son of Man will arrive even sooner. Praise be to him! Thanks be to God.

Father God, your mercy and steadfast love have been of old, grant to us the fruits of your love and mercy that we may live these days without fear of “those days” and live these days in anticipation of the coming of the Son of Man. Praise be to him! Thanks be to God.

Father God, your mercy and steadfast love have been of old, as we live these days in anticipation and hope, grant that your Word fill our ears so that the wicked one would have no power over us. Praise be to him! Thanks be to God.

Father God, your mercy and steadfast love have been of old, in these days of anticipation and hope, turn our attention to our neighbors that we may be of use to them while we await the coming of the Son of Man. Praise be to him! Thanks be to God.

Father God, your mercy and steadfast love have been of old, as we are of use to our neighbors, grant that our families and communities grow stronger and live at peace one with another while together we anticipate the coming of the Son of Man. Praise be to him! Thanks be to God.

Father God, your mercy and steadfast love have been of old, raise up students for the Institute of Lutheran Theology so that they may be trained in the faith and sent out as preachers of the Good News of the Son of Man. Praise be to him! Thanks be to God.

Father God, your mercy and steadfast love have been of old, in these days of anticipation and hope, return us again and again to the promise of our baptism: the forgiveness of sins and our being joined to Jesus’ death and resurrection, so that we do not flounder in our faith but confidently face toward the coming of the Son of Man. Praise be to him! Thanks be to God.

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Twenty-Fifth Sunday After Trinity, November 17, 2024

11 November 2024
Nina Schmidt
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Categories: Table Talk

Jesus delivers a piece of folk wisdom. A saying that expresses a fact of life, something like, “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar” or something like the seasoned cop on the original Law and Order TV show saying, “Follow the money.” Jesus, here at the end of his warnings regarding the apocalypse… the end times… the coming of the Son of Man… Jesus warns his disciples that there are those who will take advantage of the situation. Wherever there is opportunity to benefit, the opportunists will gather: the vultures will come to feed on the corpse (vs. 28). It is their opportunity.

These opportunists will claim some sort of special knowledge provided them by personal revelation. As Jesus claims, some will say, “Look there!” (vs. 23). Others will say, “No, look over here!” (vs. 23). Still others will make divine claims and perform great signs (vs. 24). They are all opportunists looking to benefit… perhaps monetarily… perhaps for prestige and status… perhaps at the whim of Satan… but the result will only be to lead the elect astray (vs. 24). Do not trust them, Jesus warns. Give them no credence when they claim, “He’s in the wilderness!” or “He’s inside here!” (vs. 26). Jesus tells his listeners that there will be no special knowledge provided by personal revelation. When the Son of Man comes, he will be revealed to the entire world, horizon-to-horizon. From the east as far as the west, his brilliance will illuminate the earth as lightening does all at once (vs. 27).

For you, my brothers and sisters… For you, fellow members of the elect… do not be deceived, do not be led astray, and do not follow after such opportunists who claim this special knowledge of the Lord’s coming. You already know where to find the Lord. You have already been told where Jesus Christ is handed over to be your life. You have a preacher who delivers Jesus Christ to you in the Word of God preached… in the Word of God poured out with water… in the Word of God placed in your hands, “Given and shed for you!” You already have the Lord so you can wait in patience for that day when the Son of Man appears in glory.

Table Talk: Discuss occasions when you or others have fallen for the opportunists.

Pray: Father, Grant me trust in Jesus’ word. Amen

Matthew 24:15–28

15 So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, Look, here is the Christ! or There he is! do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, Look, he is in the wilderness, do not go out. If they say, Look, he is in the inner rooms, do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

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AI and Theology

8 November 2024
Nina Schmidt
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Categories: Events, News

Dr. Daniel Hackman Speaks at a Conference in Iowa City

The conference on AI and Theology was held on October 17-20 at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. It was sponsored by six organizations, including the Geneva group, Navigators, the Christian Medical and Dental Association, ratiochristi, Good News Bible Church and two additional churches.

Dr. Daniel Hackmann, Dean of Christ School of Theology and Professor of Philosophical Theology presented four addresses on topics ranging from “AI, AGI and Imago Dei” to “AI and Caring.”

On Saturday night, October 19, Dr. Dennis Bielfeldt joined Dr. Hackmann and Dr. Jackson Samuel for a panel discussion on the topic of “AI and Ethics.”

All of the meetings had Q & A sessions after the talks, one of which lasted more than an hour and was attended by more than 40 students. Some of the addresses were recorded and distributed, as were notes for the various talks.

Altogether approximately 350 people attended the conference over four days. Attendees expressed high interest both in the subject matter and in degree programs at ILT.

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Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Trinity, November 10, 2024

4 November 2024
Nina Schmidt
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Categories: Table Talk

The gospel of Mark is more expansive on this ruler who came and knelt before Jesus. From there we learn that this ruler is a ruler of the synagogue, that the ruler’s name is Jairus, and that this is a “little” daughter. Jairus pays Jesus great respect by kneeling before him. This action represents the behavior of an inferior to a superior. Jairus, ruler of the synagogue, pays homage to this itinerant preacher. In addition, the ruler, who would have been of the elite class, forsook the normal class privilege of engaging professional healers and sought out this traditional wonder-working rabbi named Jesus.

While the exact age of the daughter is not given, knowledge of the general situation regarding personal health and longevity sheds some light on the situation. Children dying in those days of antiquity would have been a common occurrence. Sixty per cent of children born alive would not live until their thirtieth birthday and those that did suffered from rotten teeth, the effects of protein deficiencies, internal parasites, and bad eyesight. Few lived to be forty. No wonder the aged were accorded such high status in the community.

Also notice that the ruler does not expect a mere healing from Jesus. The ruler grants to Jesus the power of life and death. Jesus’ touch will raise the dead. The ruler is confident of this. You might say it is his confession of faith.  In a turn of phrase that brings to mind Jesus’ call of his disciples (Mt. 4:20), Matthew tells us that “Jesus rose and followed him…” (vs. 19).  Arriving at the ruler’s home, Jesus’ entourage finds that the crowd of mourners has gathered, and their mourning begun. When Jesus goes to dismiss them because they are inappropriate, these gathered mourners laugh at him. After all, they are the professionals here. They know dead when they see it. Nonetheless, the scoffing crowd is expelled from the house. Jesus’ takes the daughter’s hand. And she miraculously arises from the bed.

You, my brothers and sisters in Christ, are exposed by these healings… exposed in your lack of faith… exposed in your reliance upon rationalism… exposed in your claims to status and privilege. This exposure reveals that you have nothing of your own to bring. Only Jesus matters… his faith… his work… his word.

Table Talk: Discuss being exposed in all these ways and being turned, then, to Jesus only.

Pray: Father, Grant me trust in Jesus only. Amen

Matthew 9:18–26

18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live. 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, If I only touch his garment, I will be made well. 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well. And instantly the woman was made well. 23 And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping. And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.

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Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Trinity, November 10, 2024

4 November 2024
Nina Schmidt
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Categories: Epaphras Letters

“And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment…” (Mt. 9:20). “Unclean! Unclean!” The curse this woman bore made her unclean and unfit for society. People would have ostracized her either by turning a cold shoulder toward her or by actively driving her out of their presence. One must wonder how she made it through the crowd to get close to Jesus. After twelve years of this curse, unhealable by the professional physicians, the woman turned to a more spiritual approach. The curse she suffers under is the result of someone putting an evil eye on her. The fringe of Jesus’ garment would have been tassels dyed purple, commanded by Moses, and bearing two historic meanings. One meaning gave the tassels as a reminder to obey the commandments. The older meaning, though, considered the tassels a talisman to ward off the evil eye. The woman’s touch of the tassels would claim the talisman’s power and reverse the curse of the evil eye. Jesus doesn’t let her get that far. He turns, sees her, and claims her, “Daughter!” Jesus does not permit the woman’s confidence in religious talismans to be the agency of her healing… nor does he let your confidence in your religious talismans to be the agency of your healing. Jesus claims that agency for himself when he declares, “Your faith has made you well.” Her faith—that is, Jesus, who is standing right in front of her. Jesus… who has come to be the woman’s life… who has come to be your life… Jesus comes bringing not only his life but his faith to you. The faith you might possess compares only to a mustard seed, small and meager (Mt. 17:20), unable to accomplish much of anything. Jesus’ faith, though… his faith is the faith that possesses you, heals you, and saves you. Jesus, your faith, indeed makes you well.

Prayers from those prone to boast of the faith that they themselves possess…

Father in heaven, you have sent your Son to be my life, grant that I enjoy his righteousness and his faith, trusting not in my own understandings. Amen

Father in heaven, you have sent your Son to be my life, grant that I know it is no longer I who live but that it is Christ who lives in me. Amen

Father in heaven, you have sent your Son to be my life, grant me such confidence in Christ as my life that I live out my mortal days being useful to my neighbors. Amen

Father in heaven, you have sent your Son to be my life, let me look upon the Institute of Lutheran theology with an eye of mercy and forgiveness even as I work to further its mission. Amen

Father in heaven, you have sent your Son to be my life, during these days of my baptism provide me with opportunity to hear your Word, receive your Sacraments, and confess my sin, so that the life of Christ would be restored within me. Amen

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