Messages

1

Your Turn / Re: March for Life

« on: Today at 09:22:04 PM »

Pastor Morris:
2/3 of American Lutherans are pro-choice? Citation, please.
Me:
Pew research, which, by the way, says nearly half of the Missouri Synod members polled believe abortion should be legal in most cases.

2

Your Turn / Re: March for Life

« on: Today at 04:32:32 PM »

Pastor Bohler:
So, in your view, only those who not pro-life ought be allowed as moderators?

Me:
Don’t be ridiculous. You know that’s not what I said. But one who refers to 2/3 of American Lutherans as  Judas, I wonder.

3

Your Turn / Re: March for Life

« on: Today at 01:21:36 PM »

Peter:
The pro-choice movement is external to the Church-- that is, it is not part of and is in fact contrary to the overall Christian mission. I believe in that regard I was simply restating what the Cardinal/Archbishop said in his statement.

Me:
Newsflash: the Cardinal/Archbishop does not speak for the whole church or the overall Christian mission.
If you think he does, then it’s time for you to get wet in the Tiber.
There is indeed a pro-choice movement within Lutheranism. But in your opinion anybody who has anything to do with it is no longer part of the church. And is a Judas.
You can make your apologia pro vita sua here as many times as you wish. I think it disqualifies you from holding a position as moderator in this inter-Lutheran forum.

4

Your Turn / Re: March for Life

« on: Today at 11:53:47 AM »

Peter, you and certain Roman Catholics can, if you wish make pro-choice/pro-life absolutism your final litmus test of who is a Christian and who isn't.
    To do so, however, you must appropriate to yourself rules and rights that are not yours and you re-define Christianity down to one issue, that issue having nothing to do with our Creeds or our Confessions.
   Those of us who have considered pacifism as the proper moral stance (I have not yet come fully to that position) and have studied the historic "peace" churches, such as the Amish, the Quakers and the Mennonites have learned that, while unwavering in their commitment to pacifism, they do not de-Christianize all those in Christendom who do not take that position.
   It seems to me that you do.
   Now, you often say I do not understand you. But how am I to take these words? "The pro choice movement is external to the Church, and that movement masquerading under the auspices of the Church is comparable to Judas."
   With those words, I say you have arrogantly and wrongly condemned not only fellow Lutherans in this country, but our colleagues around the world, along with members of dozens of other Christian denominations.
   With that and on other issues - usually relating to sexuality - you denounce and pronounce judgment on millions of us Lutherans and you end any possibility of dialogue.
   Do that if you wish, but if you do, I think you should abandon the ALPB forum and go your own way, for you are in no way representative of the mission of the ALPB.
   The recent issue of Forum letter has some of the history reminding us how your famed uncle seemed to be promoting his personal views through the newsletter. During those days, when I was in the "higher" circles of Lutheran officialdom, I frequently defended him with the label of "loyal opposition" and "strong critic." But I never heard him - either in print or in his evening salons - denounce entire denominations and millions of believers as "Judas."
   You do. And, although I know it is small and symbolic, you are costing ALPB my contributions and vocal support.

5

Your Turn / Re: Is there a biblical morality?

« on: Today at 01:57:29 AM »

The "morality of money" is a tricky matter. The love of money may be at the root of all evil, but a healthy desire for what it takes to live comfortably is not evil.
And "what it takes" depends upon many things, including the personality and inner being of the individual.
Beloved Spouse and I have been through various stages, times when we had to worry about almost every penny and times when we were reasonably comfortable. We bought a house, took vacations, traveled, got a daughter through college, funded some job-training for a son, saved when we could to provide a base for retirement on top of pension and social security.
Since both of us worked professionally all our lives, salaries were on a professional level, so pensions were decent and social security reached a good level.
I don't think finances shaped our "morality" at all, and "happiness" is also a tough term to define.
I do think ostentatious wealth, miserly hoarding of money, and failing to generously share what comes from God-given blessings like the skills we have to earn a living is sinful.
And on a merely practical level, I favor taxing the incredibly rich at a very high level. Proportionally, the very very rich pay less taxes than professionals, plumbers or factory workers. That's wrong.

6

Your Turn / Re: Coronavirus news

« on: January 22, 2022, 05:34:52 PM »

“Most of the people who are not attending [services] are afraid,” he told us. “They are uncomfortable being around crowds.”...

Then I know a lot of Lutheran churches where they would feel comfortable.

7

Your Turn / Re: Lutheran Architecture

« on: January 22, 2022, 04:14:27 PM »

I think you are right, Bishop.
Often in Pericope gatherings in New York and New Jersey, I heard Brian‘s online studies quoted.

8

Your Turn / Re: Lutheran Architecture

« on: January 22, 2022, 01:59:43 PM »

I believe that is what he had in mind when he wrote the poem.

9

Your Turn / Re: Neglect, mental health, and resignation

« on: January 22, 2022, 09:50:00 AM »

Wise words indeed, Pastor Engelbrecht.
Pastors have “flexible time,“ that is, we don’t punch a clock, that many of our lay people do not have. When I was in secular work or in a staff job, it was harder to really carve out serious time for family life and self-care.
And while relief and comfort do certainly come from the Lord (although not always as quickly and fully as we would like), I found that comfort and renewal and inspiration often come from some things that have nothing to do with God, Jesus, or our faith.
For the past five or six years I have often used coloring pictures - The “adult coloring“ fad that was popular for a while - as a means to relieve stress. Even blogged it for a while, writing stories about the pictures that I colored. (Not updated recently, it is at Charlescolors.Wordpress.com)
Physical fitness is also essential. It is good now that every weekday morning at 9 o’clock, Beloved Spouse and I can go down to the fitness center where we live and join an exercise class.

10

Your Turn / Re: Neglect, mental health, and resignation

« on: January 22, 2022, 01:31:12 AM »

Prayers indeed for clergy wisely dealing with the mental health issues that we frequently want to ignore. I have seen several colleagues crash and burn, giving great trauma to family, not to mention the congregations they served, because they did not practice good "self care" and deal with their mental health.
We are "ordinary," "normal", "regular" people and what can afflict others can afflict us. The vocation is not a vaccination against disease.

11

Your Turn / Re: Lutheran Architecture

« on: January 21, 2022, 10:42:43 PM »

So the confessions make it clear that the pope and the papacy equals the antichrist. Yet you in the LCMS are willing to join with the pope and his minions to oppose abortion. Wassup with that?

12

Your Turn / Re: Lutheran Architecture

« on: January 21, 2022, 02:54:28 PM »

Pastor Bohler, I believe you’re living in a fantasy world if you believe that all your members, let alone all the clergy in your denomination believe that every written word, every phrase of the confessions is the ultimate word for guidance today.
   You’ll have to run fast and cover many miles in the LCMS if you want to tell those people, as you told me, “then stop calling yourself Lutheran.”
   I “subscribe” to the conversions as the foundation documents for our part of the Church. They provide good, scriptural, and sound theological guidance on many things. The Book of Concord was always within arms reach during all of my pastoral ministry.
   But, as I have said before, it is not 1580. And every word set down in 1580 doesn’t  get the final say in today’s ministry.
   And once again I have to say it seems you are more interested in keeping people away from the sacrament then bringing them to the grace and blessings and community of faith.

13

Your Turn / Re: Lutheran Architecture

« on: January 21, 2022, 09:21:32 AM »

Pastor Engelbrecht, I think I have said here before that if it were 1580 or 1623 or maybe even 1710, I would be staunch and literal in my defense of the Augustana and the Formula. And I would probably seek it’s guidance on numerous things and take that guidance as extremely significant, perhaps the last word on The Word.
I am not sure I can do that today. I’m not sure that today’s spiritual, pastoral, social, and ecclesial situation, let alone our vocation to reach out for the sake of the gospel and our witness and our relations with sister and brother Christians, enables me to do that.

14

Your Turn / Re: Lutheran Architecture

« on: January 21, 2022, 09:14:58 AM »

Nice reflection, Harvey, and the soul of a poet/pastor shines through.

15

Your Turn / Re: Lutheran Architecture

« on: January 20, 2022, 01:18:57 PM »

Pastor Bohler:
It says right there: "27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.”

Me:
So judgment means being weak and sick? And falling asleep? Does that mean dying?
So why don’t we have reports of bunches of people, maybe hundreds, dying after receiving the sacrament in an unworthy manner?
Do you, Pastor Bohler, threaten people with dire consequences if they should receive in an unworthy manner?