Issues, etc. Audio Open Lines: The ELCA and Gay Clergy

We, as Missouri Synod Lutherans, need to know as much about this as possible so that we may answer the question: "Oh yeah, you're Lutheran, don't you allow...?"

A great sermon by Rev. William Weedon

May be listened to at Issues, etc. [Rev. Wilkens gives some commentary, which one may or may not find helpful, but the sermon is great with or without the commentary.]

Agreeing to Disagree

I've heard this little nugget of supposed civility and "wisdom" many times in my life and I have used it myself before. I've heard with increasing frequency as the "discussion" on health care continues. Those in favor of government run health care for all are using this little gem to quiet their opponents. I think at the heart of this idea to agree to disagree is really a desire to have our own way without having to give any explanation or justification for what we believe. Sometimes that is acceptable. I may, for example, agree to disagree with a neighbor who does not put in a garden. We have one, but our neighbor does not. That's OK. But I don't think it wise to agree to disagree about such important things as health care. How can you agree to disagree with something that will directly affect you? This is a spineless excuse for not standing up for what you really believe in and I get quite uncomfortable when I hear public officials telling the public whom they serve that we must just agree to disagree.

The Pendulum of History...

seems to always swing between extremes with a brief encounter with stability. The problem is knowing what is true stability and what is your own brand of extremism. Our guide as truly orthodox, catholic Christians (i.e., Confessional Lutherans) is always Holy Scripture, which never changes. Again, the problem is knowing what is truly Holy Scripture and what is your own brand of faulty interpretation.