Our Order of Service is not unique to us Lutherans. Martin Luther did not break away from the universal Christian Church, but rather, he recalled the Church to Her original doctrine and practice. The Church still existed, but She had become corrupt through false teachings. It was Luther’s intention to keep everything (the order of service, the furnishings, the music, vestments, candles) as long as they were not contrary to the Word of God. A manufacturer may put out an automobile with a faulty radiator, but one does not throw out the entire car for that reason – one replaces the radiator. Continue reading
How Come Growing up I could Say the P Word but not the N Word?
I really don’t get this. Growing up my parents didn’t use and I was not allowed to use the “N” word, but I could use the “P” word. Though my parents weren’t Polish (I could say “thank God” here and most Poles would even laugh.), they were from the heavily Polish Bay City, Michigan. We could say Polack and even tell jokes about them, but never, ever about Black people. They might have been Negros back then; I don’t think they were African-Americans yet. In any event, it troubles me that certain ethnic slurs are all right and even used in church newsletters. Continue reading
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Distinctions that Matter
For some time I’ve wondered why liberals in general and scholars in particular want to make a distinction between resurrection and resuscitation. At first, I thought there were some plausible reasons for doing so; then I concluded it ought not to be done; now I’ve seen the argument was going the opposite direction I thought. (This is not an unusual experience for me.) Continue reading
Posted in For Anyone who dares
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Presidential Politics and Closed Communion
I received two interesting pieces of mail on the same day. One was from Houston Lutheran’s Life; the other was another LCMS church’s newsletter. They both had startling information. Continue reading
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Lutheranism 101 is Really LCMS 2.0
Surely someone has already pointed this out. Lutheranism 101 published in 2010 is the popularization of the positions taken in the 2004 synodical convention. It’s LCMS 2.0 Continue reading
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BTO Is Back
Bachman Turner Overdrive was a 70’s band with hits such as “Let it Ride,” “Taking Care of Business,” “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet.” To say or read these titles is to hear them all over again. But of that band I do not write. Of another Bachmann, I do. Continue reading
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Idols for Destruction
I’m rereading Herbert Schlossberg’s book Idols for Destruction. I first read it 25 years ago; I always planned on rereading it. What I’m struck by is how many American idols I have set up in my life that need destroying. One that by God’s grace I haven’t is this mantra “worship is adiaphora.” At this altar liturgical, contemporary, blended, praise, cutting edge and bleeding edge worshipers are all said to be able to kneel. I don’t think so. Continue reading
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A Head Start
At last the world has given the Church a head start by openly admitting that their 45 year old Head Start program hasn’t worked. Continue reading
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From Pulpit to Pew
I had occasion to attend Divine Service as a lay person for the first time in almost 20 years. What follows is not all that I experienced but all that pained me. I know; I know; “you got to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.” But as the first verse of that song goes I “feel a sermon coming on,” and by all means even though I’m preachin’ from the pew I will heed the advice of the rest of the song and won’t “mess with Mister In-Between.” Continue reading
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Unverifiable
I have been told the following Luther quote is unverifiable. Continue reading
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