The Father Directs Our Speaking

by Marvin Bublitz

When I was a very young boy, my brother and I were having a sibling discussion in the yard, and I said some things in a way I should not have. Suddenly, I heard my father’s voice through the open living room window. He said, “Marvin, we do not talk like that in this family.”

My first old Adam instinct was to deny. I didn’t say that. Then I deflected. I cursed that stupid window for being open. It was the window’s fault. It was my brother’s fault. It was Dad’s fault for eavesdropping. Then I deceived myself into thinking it did not matter.

Such is the way of the old Adam. He works hand in hand with the Devil against the will of the Lord and against the people of God. During stressful and difficult times, he often makes great progress. He convinces us that we know what is best and how everyone else should act.

This describes the situation in the world and the church today. Funds are getting tighter. People are out of work. Tensions are rising. I am finding with this whole pandemic and lockdown that people are more on edge, both in society and in the church. Is it because of a lack of personal interaction? Is it because people have not seen each other at work or school for a while? Is it because for months we have not met face to face in front of the font and altar?

It is because the old Adam is alive and active—even among the people of God. The old Adam convinces us to look at others through his eyes. Soon, like Cain, we see the worst in others. It is often said that when times are difficult the first commandment that falls is the eighth. We no longer strive to put the best construction on anything. We no longer look for the best in others. Rather, we look with the eyes of the old Adam. We see those around us the way the sinful nature intends. We see them as threats to our position, our control, and our power. We are more apt to accuse, condemn, and gossip about others than to build them up. And we do not see ourselves as we should. We deny, deflect, and deceive when we do something wrong.

Why? Because we look with the eyes of the old Adam rather than the eyes of the second Adam, Jesus Christ.

You see, it is not the eighth commandment that is the first to hit the cutting room floor. It is really the first commandment. The Devil and our old Adam convince us that we know what is best and right. Then we have really set ourselves up as a god. As Martin Luther said in the Large Catechism: “Whoever trusts and boasts that he possesses great skill, prudence, power, favor, friendship, and honour has also a god, but not this true and only God.” Once we do that, the rest of the commandments are quick to fall as well. Then it is no surprise that we fail to put the best construction on everyone and everything.

But I remember the words of my father: “We don’t talk like that in this family.” Well, at least we shouldn’t. Sadly, we do. Sadly, we look and listen with the eyes and ears of the old Adam. Now, don’t think that this old Adam is something outside of ourselves. It is not. It is our sinful nature within us. It is not something we can fix with our great skill, prudence, power, favour, friendship, or honour.

Only the second Adam is able to defeat the old Adam. So our hope is not that we deny, deflect, and deceive. Rather, we repent, confess, and receive. We repent of our sins against the Lord and against our neighbour. We confess them before the Lord Christ. Then we receive His holy absolution.

As He restores us, He also gives us new eyes to see others. He gives us new ears to listen to others. No longer do we look and listen with the eyes and ears of the old Adam. Now we look with the eyes of the second Adam. We see each other as He sees us. He sees us as one beloved for which He was willing to die. We listen with the ears of the second Adam. We listen to others out of love. In so doing, we put the best construction on everything.

See, our Heavenly Father has taught us how to talk to Him and to each other in this family: “I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto you all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended you.” Then we hear the second Adam declare, “I forgive you all your sins.” We, who have received such love and forgiveness, then show that love and forgiveness to others.

May the God of all mercy and grace sustain us through these difficult days in true Christian love toward one another.

Rev. Robert Mohns is Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)'s West Regional Pastor.