This is my third or fourth attempt at a blog.
Why call this blog-Lutheran in the middle? Well, Lutherans are somewhat of an oddity in the United States especially in the South where I was born. Are you Catholic? One of those high church Episcopalians? Are you a cross between a Methodist and Presbyterian? Then there's the reaction from my Baptist or Evangelical brothers and sisters-Are you saved? Born Again? and the Pentecostals and Charismatics asking me if I speak in tongues or believe in the Holy Spirit. Finally, there's the non-believers and atheists that wonder if I'm part of the Religious Right or one of those people that knock on doors with religious material either the Mormons or Jehovah Witnesses. What are we? Well we are Christians and we have a lot in common with Catholics, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, congregationals, and yes even the Baptists, non-denominationals,Pentecostals and Charismatics. More so with the former than the latter but it is Jesus who is the one who unites us as one.
A Lutheran in the middle. In the middle of the Evangelical sub-culture and the politics of Right and Left. In the middle of the theologies of glory which tries to keep our eyes off of the gospel of Christ(theology of the Cross) and on self.
I'm just a follower of Christ who thinks Luther got it right when he pointed to the scripture and says that it points to Christ. Lutherans don't always get it right but when we stay focus on the gospel then God makes it right.
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So true are we as Lurtheran's in the middle? I have always felt that we are a Bible beliving group that follows God path. I believe you are on target here.
ReplyDeleteI think the only issue I have ever had with any religion, is on certain issues the bible is not the predominant end of all ends on interpretation of faith and practice. With all do respect and certainly this is not you, but I have had Lutherans give me the writing of Luther or what Luther espoused which I am fine with and also think very highly of, but if there is a schism between that and the Word, I will always gravitate to the Word. I have had friends that are Lutheran (don't know thier synod) that because this is taught as part of their faith and practice, I believed mis- interpreted some of the scriptures to co-inside with Luther's approach on certain subjects. Not being a man of the cloth but a simple arm chair historian, I could be wrong, but then I felt that the end all should always be the scriptures... again I am not trying to mis- categorize Lutherans, I just have had such an experience before....
ReplyDeleteGood critique retic-man.
ReplyDeleteSome critiques of the more "conservative" Lutherans is that they used "The Book of Concord" like "The Book of Mormon". They legalistically use it. However, the Book of Concord is not another Holy book but a commentary on what Lutherans believe about God, Salvation,Sacraments,etc. Everybody is a theologian and uses a frame of reference to interpret scripture. You might say "No creed but the Bible" but what is your frame of reference? How do you interpret?
Speaking for some Lutherans, I intepret by the gospel-Christ is the center of scripture. everything points to him.
It is really dangerous to try to take evrything literally in scripture. What about the passage of stoning disobedient children in the Old Testament? If it doesn't point to Christ and does not give life then it is not good.
Two points, which may raise an eyebrow, but is there anything wrong with the Holy Spirit giving you clarity in what a scripture is about? Since its the same God in the Old Testament as the new, the Word is in harmony in my humble opinion, so I don't deny anything recorded in the Old Testament. There are lots of questions as to why God, but in my humble opinion to take everything literally may be an issue, but I don't deny the Words as set forth in the scripture, maybe I miss understood what your implication is, but I don't pick and choose scripture... Isn't the old testament a picture or reflection of the coming Christ as you said, you see it in the temple, you see it in so many places...God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. :0)
ReplyDeleteRichard I think I read your comment incorrectly by the way you categorized it, so I think I did misunderstand what you were saying....
ReplyDeleteThat's okay retic-man. Thats why we have so many churches. We misunderstand each other LOL
ReplyDeleteEverybody picks and chooses what scripture they take literally or not.
Some take baptism for the forgiveness of sins as literal and some don't.
Some take the bread and wine is the body and blood of Christ and some don't.
Some think that because musical instruments are not in the NT then the Church doesn't use it others point out Psalms 150.
Some take the Saturday Sabbath for the Jews as for the Christians and others take Sunday because of Christ's resurrection.
Some believe that Acts 2 means everybody must speak in tongues others think its just one of the gifts and not essential or it is passed away.
So it is a matter of interpretation and it's better to look at scripture with a grace focus but even then there might be disagreements like those above.
God will straighten all of us out in the end especially us Pastors. We will be surprised in heaven. God will not sort us out by denomination, race, etc. It's grace not Race or any other tribal religious tag.
Richard exactly right, that's why I try and focus on the essentials, although will talk about anything in the bible, many of those things we thought were important really have little relevance to Gods Grace, and his plan and his ability to restore us to sons and daughters of the kingdom. I think we will all be surprised who actually are there???
ReplyDeleteThanks Lou! Agreed.
ReplyDeleteRichard--I am one that doesn't beleive in the universal world wide flood, I beleive it was a local flood. I beleive there is not enough information to have all the details of what happened and there are too many questions unanswered about a world wide flood, even within the parameters of discussion about design by God and how design is repeated over and over which began with creation and how that design is prevalent in the animal kingdom, and if the flood did take place 5 to 6,000 years ago, how did the animals get to the islands like Australia and others? How did relational animals (symbiotic) such as the frogs in South America and the Picture plant or Fringe-toed Sand lizards get to this point from the ark? I just have a problem with the whole thing, I beleive it happened and it is historic no doubt, but the interpretations that people go through to meet their theology is incredible? Isn't Sanskrit and other Chinese writing something like 10,000 years old? So whats up with the 6,000 year thing??? I don't get it?
ReplyDeleteGood questions Lou. I am not one that takes Genesis so literally. There are two creation stories Genesis 1 and 2 and I don't believe there were 7 literal 24 hour days. I believe that God created the world but Genesis is not a literal word by word History or science book. It's main emphasis is to describe God as creator and how humans lost their relationship with God. You might be correct on the Flood theory and there is a lot of evidence for some of evolutionary theory but I'm not a scientist I only know what I've read.
ReplyDeleteThe Bible is a faith book and is not meant to be a guidebook for every problem or situation. However, God inspired the Word and this is how God communicates and gives himself to us. Jesus is called the living Word of God and is the source of our salvation. I do not think God and Science conflict but people's interpretation of scripture and science often conflict. I hope this makes sense.
Your very last sentence sums it up for me,not that anyone knows for sure, but I think I can substantiate a good argument from my point of view based on creation and God's design....
ReplyDeleteHey Richard. with respect to Ann Coulter, I heard something on the radio yesterday that falt out blew me away. I think your right she says some very hateful things and she ws trying to support some super racist remarks someone had made. I was insulted by her. and she should know better, so being a stright up guy I have come back to this subject and I think you do have her penned correctly. SOrry to say because ther is no excuse for this stuff. SHe definately is mean spirited and I don't get that at all.....
ReplyDelete