Messages

1

Your Turn / Re: Narcissistic personality disorder

« on: April 14, 2023, 12:43:13 PM »

In the three concrete instances I can recall over the past 14 years, All 3 have left the congregation, spent subsequent countless hours attacking both me and the congregation personally, and acquired a small following outside of the congregation.  I'm sure it is likely that I don't take a softline approach on such behavior.  Just the opposite.  So I guess I don't deal with it very well/in a very pastoral sense.  My .02, anyhow.

2

Your Turn / Re: truth = what we believe is true from our perspective

« on: March 13, 2023, 09:53:22 PM »

We as a human race have become exceedingly arrogant with our own past, believing ourselves to be smarter, better, stronger, faster, etc.  than virtually anyone who has gone before us. 

Isn't that a rather Western-centric view? There are plenty of people, all of them part of the human race who don't have that attitude; they just don't live in North America or Europe.

Yes, you would be correct.  But as goes Europe or North America....

3

Your Turn / Re: truth = what we believe is true from our perspective

« on: March 11, 2023, 12:43:58 PM »

Ah contemporary arrogance! People from the 1st or 10th centuries were so dumb, they thought the earth flat. For your information, the first documented reference to the earth being not flat but round was from 5th century BC Greece. By the 3rd century BC the Greeks had established the Earth as roughly spherical and had a reasonably accurate estimation of its circumference.

While the usual suspects have indeed cried "foul" with your post, the attitude you describe is exactly what I see with so many today.  We as a human race have become exceedingly arrogant with our own past, believing ourselves to be smarter, better, stronger, faster, etc.  than virtually anyone who has gone before us.  I did not take it as whimsy, but a serious assessment of the sad state of affairs here in 2023.   There is a general problem with the attitude expressed in this thread that all truth is relative, or whatever we make it to be.  Seems Jesus had something to say about that attitude before Pilate, and Pilate likely responds with the worldly attitude expressed in this thread of "what is truth?"

gone is the attitude expressed on the British 2-lb coin of "standing on the shoulders of giants."

4

Your Turn / Re: Theology of transgenderism

« on: February 09, 2023, 10:40:31 AM »

Thus, there are self-defined homosexuals who never engage in sexual relationships. I knew of an ELCA pastor who had that position. As a self-defined homosexual he believed he had to be celibate and abstain from sexual relationships.

As did I, but it begs the question that ought to be answered:  Why, exactly, did he hold to that position, especially in light of the ELCA's loose standards on sexual behavior?

5

Your Turn / Re: New CPH Large Catechism

« on: January 26, 2023, 09:59:01 AM »

I'm not on Twitter, and don't plan to be.  We use CPH and Sola almost exclusively, and I'm not familiar with this "new" LC.  Looking at the website doesn't yield any better results - the only one that seemed close to being the one in question has the Late Rev. Paul McCain attached to it.  Can someone post a link to the actual book please?

6

Your Turn / Re: Esolen in Touchstone on marriage as vocation

« on: January 05, 2023, 10:31:14 AM »

The shortest marriage that I ever officiated at the wedding of lasted a mere three weeks.  The woman had been married previously, and for the man, it was his first.  They met with me (this is about 15 years ago now) for 6 sessions during premarital counseling, where as it turns out, the woman lied repeatedly about her attitude toward marriage, her definition of it, of love, her feelings for her husband to be, and so on.  Three weeks after the wedding, she filed for divorce, and it soon became known that she only married the man to get back at her ex-husband.  I wish I could say that I was making this up, but sadly, it is a true story.

I believe that her attitude prevails among many "couples" today who cohabitate or who toss marriages aside because they are no longer convenient.

7

Your Turn / Re: Law-Gospel Dialectic?

« on: December 09, 2022, 11:12:36 AM »

It was often referred to it in certain contexts (usually when comparing to other thoughts and teachings on the classical Lutheran understanding) while in seminary, by the likes of Forde, Nestingen, and others.  To me it is a theological/academic term that doesn't make it's way into my teaching to congregations about law/Gospel and what Scripture teaches on the matter.

8

Your Turn / Re: Christian Nationalism? No

« on: November 18, 2022, 10:31:26 AM »

This whole thread makes my head spin.  Not so much because of what society is attempting to force in a redefinition of marriage, but because there are so many in the church who post here who are duplicitous in the secularization of the Holy Estate of Marriage.

9

Your Turn / Re: Whatever happened to Molech?

« on: November 08, 2022, 11:24:42 AM »

Didn't know anything happened to him/her/it (whatever their preferred pronoun is today).  All I know is that there are an awful lot of children still being sacrificed to him today.

10

Your Turn / Re: Two Uses and Antinomianism

« on: September 06, 2022, 11:53:21 AM »

I"m way late to the party here, but having taken numerous courses from the now late Dr. Forde in seminary, I can tell you with certainty that his "denial" of the third use went only as far as he took the approach that the third use of the law was for all intents and purposes, seen in both the first two uses, and therefore was unnecessary as a separate use.  It was Dr. Forde who famously said (in "Justification by Faith:  A Matter of Death and Life")  "What are you going to do now that you don't have to do anything?"

My comment:  in earlier generations, that would work out fairly well, especially with the civil use.  But today when both government and many denominations stray and distance themselves from the law, it no longer does.

11

Your Turn / Re: Christian Nationalism? No

« on: August 02, 2022, 01:20:05 PM »

The thread title demonstrates that this whole thread is not even up for discussion or debate.  I guess I'm not surprised.

12

Your Turn / Re: Would a Good Samaritan kill someone?

« on: July 23, 2022, 09:41:38 AM »

Are you opposed to mandatory gun training or not? Apparently, some states require training others do not. I do not propose that all states must impose additional training to what they already require but that states who do not require training should require it.

My understanding is that in EVERY state, for a concealed handgun permit, there is mandatory coursework and training.  Obviously it will vary from state to state, but there is no state in the union where you can simply go in and get a CHP without taking the required course first.  Here in Nebraska, it is 8 hours in the class and 2 hours at the range, with the requirement of passing a range safety and shooting test, along with a written test first.  Nebraska, I've been told by a certified state police instructor, has some of the more lax requirements for the CHP.

13

Your Turn / Re: The Effort to Normalize Everything

« on: June 10, 2022, 10:26:39 AM »

Are you saying that you, with your tolerance for dissent, is typical of how members of the ELCA, including Bishops and Synodical administrations, seminaries, and the like treat those who do not fall in line with the policies growing out of Human Sexuality Social Statement. Would you stand up for those who feel themselves mistreated? Have you in this small forum stood up for those who feel mistreated for their dissent or is your first reaction to doubt the stories or explain that some who are mistreated bring it on themselves and so we should understand that their treatment is deserved.

I can answer that.  The answer is a resounding "NO."  My first encounter with one Charles Austin was on this forum.  My first post under my previous incarnation here (I left after a time because of the nastiness I encountered, and only came back when his previous incarnation was given a lifetime ban) - had to do with a failed first vote to leave the ELCA (failed by 1 vote).  The snark I received from him without him knowing any of the details of the congregation, me, or any other aspects, was overwhelmingly accusatory and negative.  It's been all downhill ever since.

Apparently the Fall of 2010 is archived or just gone now as I cannot find either of our previous incarnations, to post a link to it.

14

Your Turn / Re: Guns? Why?

« on: May 26, 2022, 02:35:27 PM »

And do you think, Pastor Cottingham, that guns in our society are not a moral and religious problem, a moral and religious issue?
What is your real objection to continuing discussion of guns in our society?
I’m tired of the discussion too. But I’m also tired of continual news such as the horrors that were reported yesterday.
Of course it’s “political.“
And so is your discussion concerning abortion laws.

NO, I do not think that guns are a moral or religious problem, any more than I think that obesity, cars, etc are.  Immoral people are the problem, not fat, or cars, or guns, yet cars and fat kill more people every year than guns do.

And since I so rarely post here, how are you privy to any discussion of mine on abortion laws? 

Now if you want to discuss the human heart problem, then I'm all in.  But until then, or until someone shuts this latest thread giving you a forum for your bully pulpit to screech against the horrors! of gun ownership, it is a complete and pointless waste of time.  I've heard every argument you've thrown out here before, which was my point.  Problem is you don't seem to be able to comprehend how some people might honestly disagree with your position, and how they might actually even be right.

15

Your Turn / Re: Guns? Why?

« on: May 25, 2022, 11:46:11 AM »

I will renew my objections to this whole thread, as it sure seems to have become a clear violation of the "non-political" rules that were enacted two years ago.

Please shut it down.  There is nothing new being said here, and the partisan lines are as stark as ever.

P.S.  There are at least 21 iterations of this same thread already archived on the forum...  and this list is just looking at the first 4 pages of searching for "guns."

A different take on the guns and schools debate
Guns, Government. and Gospel
Guns in church
Another School Shooting
Here's a Way to Control Guns
Another Explanation
Gun Control Again
Self Defense
The ALPB Guns and Ammo Thread
Church Shooting
What about guns in churches?
Resisting the deadly weapons culture
HHS and the NRA
Revolutionary Language of Gun Control
Joel Osteen Has Ushers With Guns
ALPB Forum Shooting Sports Fans
What does your congregation do to protect against an attack at the church?
Gun Control Issues and Clergy
A Frivolous Thread - Lutheran pastors and shooting sports
Louisiana moves to allow armed worshipers
ELCA PB weighs in on Trayvon Martin case