We went to the Tübingen Stiftskirche this morning to hear Eberhard Jüngel preach. His sermon was based on the nativity stories of Matthew and Luke, and involved an honest treatment of the differences in the texts, plenty of personal, social and political application (with a strong sideswipe at Bush’s foreign policy – though no one was named) and theology in the best Lutheran tradition. A vintage a Jüngel sermon; lively to the end!There was also a beautiful rendition of Bach’s Weihnachtsoratorium, and I for one experienced a lovely sense of God’s presence.
But the combination of Jüngel plus Weihnachtsoratorium meant that the church was packed, even though the building is a seriously big one. It looked almost like a revival (apart from the wailing, beating of breasts, tears of repentence etc)!
6 comments:
Did you upload the wrong picture of the pews? They were packed with over 1000 people (plus those standing)!
Anyway, it was indeed a very moving service!
Sure, Jungel in a good theologian, but "theology in the best Lutheran tradition"?
Don't get me worng, I'm simply pointing out that Jungel is not really Lutheran, that is, if the confessional theology of the Lutheran symbols and the writings of Martin Luther mean anything. Jungel is more of a mix of Barth and Bultmann. If that is being a Lutheran, then yes, he is of the best Lutheran tradition.
CT, Just curious on something--seems to me like preaching contra Bush in Germany is a bit like preaching contra Gath in Bethlehem... okay not that extreme, but my point is, don't we have an obligation to preach to our own specific audience?
Granted Bush's foreign policy needs some preaching-against, but Texas might be a good location for such sermons...not Germany. Am I wrong on this?
Just reminds me of American televangelists preaching about/against "radical Islam" and Kim Il Sung and Hugo Chavez... what does that accomplish? Making enemies (which also makes us feel good about ourselves). Not much else.
Biran wrote: "Jungel is not really Lutheran"
Well, he may not be Luther, but he is certainly Lutheran. Besides, I didn't mean that everything he says is what Luther would approve of. Nevertheless, his theology most certainly is remarkably imprinted with luther's hand prints all over the place - and these elements came to clear expression in the sermon.
JB,
You have a good point, there! However, I heard a 'sermon' recently where the preacher was suggesting that USA and the UK are the two standing alone for righteousness in the earth cos of their battle against terror. The preacher is an authority figure, and many will simply vote in elections accordingly. Jüngel was using his opportunity, I guess.
Chris: I am quite envious of the opportunity to hear Jüngel preach.
Biran: You simply haven't read enough Jüngel, apparently, or else you have a strong bias against Barth and Bultmann, which is unfortunate. The "Lutheran tradition" doesn't just end with Lutheran orthodoxy -- at least I hope not!
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