One of the the issues that’s concerned me for a period of time, is imbalance in the 3rd use of the law. At first, it was just a perception, but having talked to numerous folks, in addition to what I picked up this morning, I’m pretty convinced its hosed up in many churches.

The third use of the law in a nutshell is preaching the law to the regenerate, as contrasted with the first use, civil order, and the second, to convict folks of their sin/their need for Christ.

The reason for preaching the law to Christians, ie the third use from SDvi

(21)So, too, the doctrine of the Law, in and with [the exercise of] the good works of believers, is necessary for the reason that otherwise man can easily imagine that his work and life are entirely pure and perfect. But the Law of God prescribes to believers good works in this way, that it shows and indicates at the same time, as in a mirror, that in this life they are still imperfect and impure in us, so that we must say with the beloved Paul, 1 Cor. 4:4: I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified. Thus Paul, when exhorting the regenerate to good works, presents to them expressly the Ten Commandments, Rom. 13:9; and that his good works are imperfect and impure he recognizes from the Law, Rom. 7:off ; and David declares Ps. 119:32: Viam mandatorum tuorum cucurri, I will run the way of Thy commandments; but enter not into judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified, Ps. 143:2.

But one needs to make a distinction as to who one is preaching too, again from SDvi.

(26) Accordingly, we reject and condemn as an error pernicious and detrimental to Christian discipline, as also to true godliness, the teaching that the Law, in the above-mentioned way and degree, should not be urged upon Christians and the true believers, but only upon the unbelieving, unchristians, and impenitent.

***** to me, SDvi26 is a prohibition of fire and brimstone preaching to Christians, other folks mileage may vary.

I’ve been following C21 via twitter feed. Its fascinating to pick up the audiences perceptions, albeit its nothing like a video feed or even better being there in person.

A common thread through the twitter feed from Seth Donovan’s talk.. if only church was a place for love, and a place where one could be whole, ie decompartmentalized.

Its as if, believers are getting whacked with the third use so much, and either confession and absolution is skipped, or church is buried so much in whacked third use, confession and absolution arent even heard. Granted, not all churches provide for corporate confession and absolution, nor do many Lutheran churches make known, much less even promote private confession and absolution.

Another possibility is folks are putting on such a show, a perception of violating SDvi21 ie perfection is possible, or even must be the norm in church. A friend uses the term snowglobe Christianity.

Thus, if one adds in imbalanced third use, plus the inavailability, or downplaying of confession and absolution, or promoting snowglobe Christianity masks, absolutely things are going to get backed up in a huge way. Its like opening a fire hose, but then blocking off the sewer. There are going to be problems.

The solution… stop it, just say no to imbalanced third use of the law. If someone is going on a power trip over third use, whack em. Ok, well thats oversimplification, and its unlikely anyone would go that far. On the other hand, once a problem is brought to light, to sit back and do nothing, or just crab about it is as nearly as bad as creating the problem in the first place.

I would hope that when folks return form #C21, they will have their ears on to detect problems, and when they do, heart to heart talks will occur. Conferences are about useless, unless one can come back to ones own venue, and at least apply 1 thing which was learned. Addressing imbalanced third use is likely one of them, and its a biggey. I believe it creates many more stumbling blocks for believers, than nearly any other activity in the contemporary church. Overuse and imbalanced third use would be nearly equivalent to skipping the law entirely.