The Large Catechism – part 76
Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
Scripture Text: Acts 9:31
Series: Lessons in the Lutheran Confessions
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From the Confessions: The Large Catechism, The Ten Commandments
The Second Commandment
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Therefore, our young people should, above all things, have this commandment strongly enforced upon them. They should be trained to hold this and the First Commandment in high regard. Whenever they transgress, we must be after them at once with the rod, confronting them with the commandment, and constantly impressing it upon them, so as to bring them up not merely with discipline, but also in the fear and reverence of God.
Pulling It Together: Fear is a good thing. But we say that we do not want our children growing up, fearing the Lord. We want them to fear hot stoves, bad influences, and other harmful things, but not to fear taking the Lord’s name in vain, or to keep the Lord’s Day holy, let alone keeping the rest of the commandments. But this is what it is to fear God: to be mindful of keeping God’s statutes. In fact, keeping his commandments means we love him. Teaching our children to fear God does not mean they will grow up not loving and trusting him. In fact, the opposite is true. If you have a hard time wrapping your mind around this, consider children raised as hellions, and how they love their parents when they have become adults. Or consider the congregation without discipline, and without genuine, godly fear. Stand by; the rod will be taken them too, soon enough.
Prayer: Make me a good neighbor to children, Lord. Amen.
Click here for resources to learn the Ten Commandments.
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Rev. Dr. Mark E. Ryman has served as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC, since 2021. Previously, Pastor Ryman served congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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