● August 2025 "The Mountain Top Messenger" Newsletter
(please click on above link to open current newsletter)
August is here, summer seems to be continuing its trend of ridiculously hot and humid alternating
with cold, wet, and windy Northeasters. Can't seem to find a happy medium, oh well, either one
beats snow, for now. July was a pretty good month, our youth we able to experience the LCMS National
Youth Gathering and praise the Lord with more than 20,000 other youth. We thank the Lord for
a good experience and safe travels. We also squeezed in our annual church picnic last weekend
with over 60 people in attendance. A huge thank you to all of those who help with the planning and
implementation, and a special thank you to Jeff Smuda for providing the music, I am not alone in the
opinion that our singing talents are improving. Now next month we will be looking toward the resumption
of Sunday School and Confirmation and also the Ordination and Installation of the new
Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mellen and the Installation of the new Pastor at Our Redeemer
Lutheran Church in Ramsey. And for the first time in recent memory, all of the churches in
the circuit will have pastors, praise the Lord!
Well, on to our study of the ten commandments. This month, the one that is always the most challenging
to teach to confirmands, commandment number six; "You are not to commit adultery". Now I
am guessing you understand the potential difficulties in teaching this commandment to young teenagers.
Particularly, when there can be substantial differences in the social understandings of those
teenagers based on their life, family, and social experiences. One thing I will say is that over the
years of my teaching confirmation, those who have an understanding of Adultery are becoming
younger and younger. While the name they use may not be the same, (i.e. cheating) the concept is
there.
In reading through Dr. Luther's explanation in the Large Catechism, I found it interesting that Luther
spends a large amount of time in reflecting on how this commandment is not just a discussion on
adultery but a much deeper discussion on marriage and how God ordains and desires marriage and
how adultery is not just a sin against husband and wife but against the sanctity of marriage and likewise
against God himself and his desires and directives. Luther points out that among Jewish people
it was ordered and commanded that one marry. And not only that but young people were to marry at the earliest age possible. He also states that "the state of virginity was not commended, nor
public prostitution and lewdness tolerated as they are now." (the 16th Century — can't imagine what
he would think of today?). He continues; "accordingly, adultery was the most widespread form of unchastity among them."
This is what he says about marriage in this commandment:
But since this commandment is aimed directly at the state of matrimony and gives occasion to speak
of the same, you must well understand and mark, first, how gloriously God honors and extols this
estate, inasmuch as by His commandment He both sanctions and guards it. He has sanctioned it
above in the Fourth Commandment: Honor thy father and thy mother; but here He has (as we said)
hedged it about and protected it. Therefore He also wishes us to honor it, and to maintain and conduct
it as a divine and blessed estate; because, in the first place, He has instituted it before all others,
and therefore created man and woman separately (as is evident), not for lewdness, but that they
should [legitimately] live together, be fruitful, beget children, and nourish and train them to the honor
of God. Therefore, God has also most richly blessed this estate above all others, and, in addition,
has bestowed on it and wrapped up in it everything in the world, to the end that this estate might be
well and richly provided for. Married life is therefore no jest or presumption; but it is an excellent
thing and a matter of divine seriousness. For it is of the highest importance to Him that persons be
raised who may serve the world and promote the knowledge of God, godly living, and all virtues, to
fight against wickedness and the devil." (Source: https://bookofconcord.org/large-catechism/#lc-i-0206)
So, I think it is quite clear how this commandment is in place to secure and protect marriage. Unfortunately,
I think you might agree, the world no longer looks on this commandment as it once did. It
seems in the world today that infidelity is almost encouraged. You can find all kinds of apps and social
media outlets to help you "hookup", all at the detriment of the sanctified life the Lord would like
us to lead. Luther also spends some time talking on how the Roman Church by forcing chastity/celibacy
on those in Holy Orders, Priests, Nuns, and Monks is violating God's laws and desires as
well, but that might best be left for a discussion on another
day. In closing Luther actually opens by pointing
out this commandment like others is there to teach us
to guard against harming our neighbor in any way.
Next month:
"You are not to steal."
The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His
face shine upon you and be gracious unto you, the
Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
Pastor Rick
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