Witness, Mercy, Life Together

Wow! What more can be said? What beautiful words to hold up together as Christ's Church in the Missouri Synod.

Witness, Mercy, Life Together

This sounds like church language, which is good considering that these words are what our new Synodical President, Rev. Matthew Harrison, is focusing on as he takes office (installation tomorrow at the Chapel of Sts. Timothy and Titus).

Read more about witness, mercy and life together.

Some thoughts after a long hiatus

I have not really blogged in a very long time. There have been many reasons for this, the biggest of which is just shear laziness and lack of interest. But, I think it important that I do begin to blog again. So, here is a thought after the long hiatus: Why can't western Christians (especially in the US) take their faith as seriously as many Muslims? I am not suggesting that we threaten death to anyone who criticizes us, or draws a blasphemous cartoon of the Lord of Life, Jesus Christ, or even martyrs one of our brethren in a country that is hostile to Christianity (most of the predominately Muslim eastern nations). But what I do think is missing is a healthy reverence for holy things. We grumble a bit when someone does this, but, by and large, we do not seem to care when the holy things of God are trodden upon. This sends a very clear message to those outside the one true faith, just as the reaction of many Muslims to the proposed Koran burning in Florida sends a very clear message. We are telling those outside of Christ's Church that we don't really believe what we say we do. When a female priest (sic) gives a dog communion it is a hard sell to nonbelievers that we really believe the bread and wine are Christ's Body and Blood or even represent our Lord and Savior. And just as bad a message is sent to the unbelieving world when we haphazardly celebrate the Lord's Supper in our churches in the LCMS. The clear and unmistakable message Western Christians are sending the world is that tolerance for falsehood, a casual, almost flippant attitude towards holy things, and the individual is our God. These things we will not tolerant any irreverence towards. These are the things we get really up tight about. And that is not right. Repent, Church of Christ! Hold dear and sacred those blessed gifts, those most holy things that have been given through the merit of Christ Jesus!

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...?"

Rev. Matt Harrison on the ELCA's decision to ordain openly gay and lesbian clergy

This man speaks wisdom with force, with confidence, with humility and wisdom. I pray that God would raise him up for the office of Synodical President in the LCMS at our next convention.

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.]

Divine Service 5 and Bearing with one another

Yesterday Good Shepherd celebrated the Holy Mysteries and received the Blessed gifts of Word and Sacrament in the 5th setting of the Divine Service from the Lutheran Service Book. I think it is very important for Lutheran pastors to present all of the services in the new hymnal on a regular basis. The reason for this: so that we all learn how to bear with one another.

Since I have been their pastor, Good Shepherd has used every service except Morning and Evening Prayer (and we will use those soon). In learning some of the new services I have gotten a lot of feedback, both good and bad about the services. That is good! In just about every service we have used I have had some people who absolutely loved them and others who absolutely hated them. I myself like some services better than others. This is a good lesson for Christians, it teaches us to bear with one another in love. And that is the lesson I try to teach my dear sheep. Sure, you may not like Divine Service 2, you may not like that I chant the Verbum in some verses, I may not like the less formal feel of Divine Service 4, but the Divine Service is not given for our entertainment, it is given as a vehicle for transporting the Word and Sacraments. As Christians who love one another, we gladly bear with a service we may not like for the benefit of our brothers and sisters. This is what Christian love and charity demands. And this is the beauty of Lutheranism. It is not about everyone doing their own thing, it is about everyone bearing with one another in love and patience. It is not about everyone doing what is right in their own eyes, but it is about bearing our crosses (and that may very well be the Lutheran Service Book or one of the services in it, or the liturgy in general). This is what it means to be Lutheran.

Is this true?

I heard today from two reliable sources that CPH's Women Pastors? has officially had its certification challenged, and it will probably be pulled. There is some speculation that President Kieschnick is somehow involved and in favor of this move. I would like to have this report either confirmed or denied by someone who knows. I had been hearing rumors about it since Issues, etc. was shamefully cancelled on Holy Tuesday. Perhaps brother McCain could shed some light on the subject? Anyone else know about this?

If this is true, it is certainly disturbing news and faithful pastors and laity need to stand up for the true Biblical teaching on the role of women in the Church.

I would certainly hope and pray this is not the case considering Pres. Kieschnick affirmed the Biblical teaching that women are to not hold the pastoral office. However, in the same letter he does acknowledge that there are some disagreements about the role of women in the church.

Please, clear this up someone. There are too many unspoken, unpleasant goings on in our synod. If this is or is not happening, let's clear it up soon.