Richard Neuhaus died January 9, 2009 at the age of 72.
In our January 25, 2009 Bible study, Pastor Genig said, "I'm still struck by the following:"When I come before the judgment throne, I will plead the promise of God in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I will not plead any work that I have done, although I will thank God that he has enabled me to do some good. I will plead merit other than the merits of Christ, knowing that the merits of Mary and the saint are all from him; and for their company, their example, and their prayer throughout my earthly life I will give everlasting thanks. I will not plead that I had faith, for sometimes I was unsure of my faith, and in any event, that would be to turn faith into a meritorious work of my own. I will not plead that I held the correct understanding of "justification by faith alone," although I will thank God that he led me to know ever more fully the great truth that much misunderstood formulation was intended to protect. Whatever little growth in holiness I have experienced, whatever strength I have received from the company of the saints, whatever understanding I have attained of God and his way - these and all other gifts received I will bring gratefully to the throne. But in seeking entry to that heavenly kingdom, I will ... look to Christ and Christ alone.
Richard John Neuhaus, Death on a Friday Afternoon, 70.
6 months later, I too am still struck by what is written here. I did some research and there is much to say about his pen and his good works. Even as a Roman Catholic he acknowledged justification by faith alone, and adds faith is never alone but always accompanied by love. I found him to be a quite humble Roman Catholic theologian and polemicist that recognized that only through truth can there be Christian unity, and that it is an essential of the Christian faith. He worked hard at bringing the various Christians sects to the table. It was Jesus’ fervent prayer that we be one. I am stunned at some of his political views but clearly believe that he died a Lutheran.
