Video from BEING LUTHERAN — NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF

These are low-production videos of three of the four evening of the Lutheran identity/renewal week. The fourth evening’s video should be up by Friday, June 12.

The first, third and fourth evenings were held in the fellowship space of St. John’s Riverside Lutheran Church outside of Gillett, Wisconsin. The second evening was filmed in the sanctuary on the evening of June 2, 2009–Tuesday after Pentecost.

Again, many thanks to Pastor Cota for serving as chaplain during the event.

Your comments are encouraged so that we can refine this for use throughout the circuit. Ideally each evening would have a different presenter.

May God use our feeble efforts to strengthen the faith of the faithful.

Treasures in the Attic, part 1:

done

Treasures in the Attic, part 2:

done

God’s Pottery Wheel, part 1:

done

God’s Pottery Wheel, part 2:

done

On the third evening, the record button was pressed — but the camcorder had not been turned on. Sorry!!

Honorable Beggars, part 1:

done

Honorable Beggars, part 2:

done

Renewed and Refreshed

It was a joy for all who participated. Special thanks goes to Pastor Shane Cota who led the opening prayer service each night which included a meditation. They were so good, people asked for copies. There was a general consensus that it was worthwhile for those who were able to attend. Participants included members of St. John’s Riverside, members of sister LCMS congregations, other Lutherans, and non-Lutherans. It is now hoped that this can be refined and expanded to include more pastors and to be held in each parish in the Gillett circuit. God willing, that will happen.

One of the joys of the evenings was closing with Compline. Compline will certainly become a staple in St. John’s Riverside prayer life.

If you would like to gain a sense of what each evening was like, you can link to the handouts which provide the information for the prayer services and a summary of what was covered. Note that these are tri-fold brochures. The content is on the second page of each pdf. We hope to upload video of the evenings also. The third evening did not get recorded because of human frailty. The record button was pressed — but the recorder had not been turned on!

May God guide and bless the continuation of this endeavor to renew and deepen our faith and understanding.

1 – Treasures in the Attic — Our Faith is Not Clutter

2 – God’s Pottery Wheel — The Shape of Worship; Worship that Shapes

3 – Everyday Life — Where Faith Bears Fruit

4 – Sharing the Gospel — Being Honorable Beggars

Being Lutheran — Nothing to Be Ashamed Of!

St. John’s Riverside Lutheran Church
LC–MS
5686 Highway 32 South
Gillett, Wisconsin

June 1 – 4, 2009

Four Evenings to Renew and Deepen Our Faith and Understanding

Monday June 1	Treasures in the Attic Our Faith Is Not Clutter
Tuesday June 2	God’s Pottery Wheel The Shape of Worship; Worship that Shapes
Wednesday June 3	Everyday Life Where Faith Bears Fruit
Thursday June 4	Sharing the Gospel Being Honorable Beggars

7:00 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

Everyone is encouraged to attend all four evenings. Each evening will be valuable on its own. If you can’t join us on a certain evening, come on an evening or evenings that work out for you.Each evening will include the participation of a presenter and a pastor who will lead opening and closing worship and provide opportunities for conversation and advice.

Schedule for Each Evening
7:00    Responsive Prayer and Hymn
7:10    Presentation
7:55    Questions and Discussion
8:15    Compline Service

On Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, we will meet in our fellowship space in the basement. Tuesday evening, we will meet in the sanctuary.
A handout will be distributed each evening so that what is learned can be reviewed and shared with others.
Chaplain: Pastor Shane Cota
Presenter: Michael Zamzow

April 20th — Johannes Bugenhagen

A Short Synopsis of Bugenhagen’s Life

On April 20, 1558 Johannes Bugenhagen was born to eternal life. His earthly life began on June 24, 1485 in the Hanseatic city of Wollin in Pomerania. Bugenhagen’s father was a member of the town council and made sure that Johannes was given an especially good education. In 1502 he began his studies at the university in Greifswald where he came in contact with the growing Humanist movement, but did not pursue theological studies. In 1504 Bugenhagen was called to serve as a teacher and rector of the municipal Latin school in Treptow on the Rega. In the following year he was called serve simultaneously as lector (lecturer) for the canons of the Premonstratensian Abbey of Belbuk outside of the city. The abbot not only headed the abbey, but was the patron of the congregation and the school in Treptow. He was to give the canons an introductory course in Holy Scripture with an emphasis on Paul’s Pastoral Epistles and the Psalms. His reputation as a scholar grew and spread. In 1509 Bugenhagen was ordained a priest and began preaching (it is worth noting that his sermons in Wittenberg sometimes lasted three hours).

In 1517 Bugenhagen traveled throughout Pomerania gathering documents in order to write the first history of the Duchy of Pomerania. This enterprise was commissioned by Duke Bogislav X. Bugenhagen was thus connected with the past and then the future of his Pomeranian homeland.

The Meaning of Words, a Man’s Word, the Word of God — Part III

After a prolonged hiatus, the discussion of words and God’s Word continues. Apologies are due for the long delay in this discussion.
By its very length and place within a blog, this discussion cannot be exhaustive. To gain a more extensive understanding of Holy Writ as the Word of God, I suggest one dig out Augustine’s De doctrina Christiana. Paperback editions of accessible translations are available. I also highly recommend Kenneth Hagen’s Luther’s approach to scripture as seen in his “commentaries” on Galatians, 1519-1538, published by Mohr Siebeck, 1993. A preview of this gem can be accessed at Google Books. Sacra Scriptura by Hermann Sasse (edited by Friedrich Wilhelm Hopf, published by “Lutherische Blätter” in Hermannsburg) is also a joy to digest. What follows is not a scholarly exposition, but an encouragement to reflect and discuss a crucial issue in the life of the Church today (as it has always been).

Whether Holy Writ is the Word of God should not be up for grabs among those called to be servants of the Word. Unfortunately, subtle forms of gnosticism and rationalism nibble away at the authority of Holy Writ. Authority is moved from Holy Scripture to a principle which is crafted to make the reader or expositor the arbiter of to what degree Holy Scripture is true, is God’s Word, is authoritative. Often familiar Scriptural insights are transformed into means of undermining the authority of the written Word. When the witness of Holy Writ to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Word of God is gnosticized, what is left of it resembles more the Bible of Marcion or the tattered remains of the Bible after Thomas Jefferson got done with it. The tautological trap of this approach is not always evident to the unwary. If, for example, the Holy Trinity is deemed a construct of the Church rather than as a faithful expression of the witness of Holy Writ, all Trinitarian references and allusions are excised or dismissed as later additions. This approach to Scripture has been mainstreamed since Adolf von Harnack (who, incidentally, was a fan of Marcion). Consequently, we no longer listen to Scripture, but to the “experts” who provide the key to understanding Scripture. Expert opinions are eerily analogous to the passwords given the initiated in the gnostic mythological systems. The special knowledge of the experts allows them to change, reject, ignore, warp, or deny the witness of Holy Writ. The new gnostics are very slippery. If they do not take the plunge into open apostacy with Spong and Crossan, they are likely to protest that they are faithful to the biblical witness and even claim that they are more biblical or literal than the orthodox Lutherans who call the apostatic (not apostolic!) revisions into question. In the end, it comes down (as it often does) to prepositions. It is a question of where the servant of the Word stands. Apo, hyper, or hypo the Word of God.

The Meaning of Words, a Man’s Word, the Word of God — Part II

One of the things which saddens me most about the present state of the Lutheran Church is the basic lack of integrity among those called to proclaim and teach God’s Word and rightly administer the sacraments. By this I do not mean the human weakness and sinfulness in which we all find ourselves. We all are tempted. Only Christ was and is without sin. My concern is more focused and is basic to the health of the Church and the proclamation of the Word. Rather than beat around the bush, I’ll get to the point. If a pastor is going to be a faithful servant of the Word, he has to be a man of his word. Pastor’s make solemn vows when they are ordained. Those vows are not coerced, but freely spoken. They are not based on some fine print which the pastor has overlooked, but on years of hopefully careful study and acquaintance with the teachings of the Church, especially Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. Studying the ancient languages, learning to listen to God’s Word through careful and faithful exegesis, being immersed in the witness of the consensus of the church catholic in general, and the Lutheran Church specifically — these are not mere hurdles to be jumped, but preparation for ministry and a part of the informed consent involved in the ordination vows and subscription to the Confessions. The Church, including the average person sitting in the pews, should be able to trust that the pastor before them did not cross his fingers when saying his vows. The hearers of the Word should be able to trust that the man in the pulpit did not engage in some Lutheran form of the Jesuits’ reservatio mentis when he promised fidelity to God’s Word as witnessed in the Lutheran Confessions.

The Meaning of Words, a Man’s Word, the Word of God–Part I

We live in a paradox in the world of blogs. On the one hand, the importance and power of words underlies the whole blogging enterprise. On the other hand, post-modern thought tends to downplay the meaning of words per se and centers meaning in the hearer. The former is the underlying assumption of this post. The latter is a malignancy which threatens not just language, but faith, trust, integrity, and any sense of Truth. As Lutherans, we are very aware of the centrality of God’s Word not only in theology, but in the very existence of the Church and the genesis of faith. As Christians, especially as theologians, we have a decided interest in words and meanings. We also trust that no matter how much men may try to empty words of their meaning, no matter how worthless a man’s word may be, VDMA.
From my perspective, the whole post-modern enterprise is a matter of deception. It is a matter of deconstruction and reconstruction. What this entails in regard to words is to render words meaningless or to at least raise doubts as to the meaning of words.

A Thoughtful Reflection on Issues, Etc.

For a thoughtful reflection on what Issues, Etc. has meant for the Church and what its loss means, go to this link. Pastor Ruesch is to be commended for his tempered discussion.

Issues, etc. Taken Off the Air

Host Todd Wilken and producer Jeff Schwarz have had their employment terminated. The web presence of Issues, Etc. has disappeared in a matter of minutes. No explanation has been forthcoming. The old Lutheran question becomes pressing: What does this mean? Was ist das?

• What are the reasons for the decision to eliminate an important  witness?
• Why was the termination so abrupt?
• Who made the ultimate decision?
• What does the decision imply?
• What is the proper response?
• What does this mean for the future directions of the leadership of the LCMS?
• Quo Vadis?

Posted by pomeranus.

Lent Renamed: “Christian Ramadan”

Foolishness is rampant among Christians in the West. It is equaled only by ignorance. This article relates how Dutch Catholics have renamed Lent. They now call it “Christian Ramadan.” This action demonstrates ignorance in a number of ways:

• Christian observances of fasting and devotion predate Islam and its practices
• the 40-day preparation of catechumens is well-documented and well-established by the third century
• “Ramadan” is the Islamic name for a month, not for a period of fasting
• the “fast” of Ramadan is only a daylight fast. After sundown, over-indulgence is not uncommon
• Christian Lenten observance is focused on Christ; renaming it to “Ramadan” changes the focus

The foolishness of this renaming reflects a foolishness which is thoroughly human and contrary to the foolishness of the Cross. The renaming demonstrates that

• post-modern “spirituality” has created a synkretist mindset which very superficially blends practices and observances which at their core are distinct and even mutually exclusive
• political correctness has convinced people that accommodating Christian faith and practice to Islam will appease the blood lust of Islam
• a basic difference between  Islam and Christianity is that Muslims find redemption in shedding infidel blood; Christians know themselves to be redeemed by the blood of Christ

Given the decline in Lenten Observance in the United States, how long is it before some congregation in the name of “outreach” renames Lent and makes it more acceptable to the culture around us?

Posted by pomeranus

Evolution Weekend

There seems to be no lack of foolishness in this world. One may even sign on to a letter declaring evolution established fact and truth. One only has to be a clergy person. It is interesting that the letter does not declare an open mindedness to consider all possibilities. It declares evolution to be established fact. It seems that for over 11,000 clergy, the doctrine of creation is not established, but evolution is. The real shocker is that over 400 LUTHERAN clergy, including seminary and college profs have signed on. To sign on to the letter goes beyond a mere willingness to consider a theory. It declares a working theory to be fact which must be accepted. I wonder if those Lutheran pastors and professors are willing to subscribe to the witness of Scripture or the Lutheran Confessions. I guess that’s all optional. Evolution is mandatory and not up for discussion.

As we observe the First Sunday in Lent, others observe Evolution Weekend—in past years observed as Evolution Sunday.

We can only cry: Kyrie eleison.

Posted by pomeranus

If This Is How We Pray, What Do We Believe?

A rather disturbing video of an Ablaze!(c) event is available online. The event took place at Salem Lutheran Church in Houston, TX. President Kieschnick spoke at this “worship”. Beginning with shofar and an idiosyncratic confession of sins, the “worship” moves to liturgical dance and then something which might remind one of the Lord’s Supper if all the dispensationilist trappings were removed. If this is where the LCMS has moved or is moving to, there are serious questions which need to be asked by every pastor and congregation faithful to the witness of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. There are so many questions—and I fear the answers. Personally, I am so weary of wackos taking over the Lutheran Church. In the ELCA the left-wing revisionist have seized the reins. If this “worship” which featured Lutheran bishops from overseas (some of whom were not amused by the foolishness) is how the LCMS wants to present the Gospel and itself to the world, it can hardly be considered Lutheran. Has Zola Levitt superseded Loehe, Walther, Pieper and Sasse in matters of worship and doctrine? The “worship” seems like some sort of dispensationalist production with tiny remnants of classical Lutheran liturgy. If this is what Ablaze!(c) is all about, then it seems more like the flames of hellfire than the kindling of the Holy Spirit.

Posted by pomeranus.

Blessed Nativity of Our Lord

May our observance of incarnation and birth of our Lord Jesus Christ renew our sense of awe at the miracle of God’s gracious condescension. May the mystery of the Word become flesh embrace our frail human minds and lead us to faith in Him who endured not only the manger, but death itself, death on the cross. May the love of Christ fill our hearts and our homes.

Should Preachers Pack Heat?

The tragic events over the weekend in Colorado raise the question of whether there should be some sort of arming of worshipers or people equipped to protect worshipers. The Two Kingdom doctrine is surprisingly understood by some in the Colorado situation. It is indeed sad that Christians have to fear gathering for Word and Sacrament in this country. It seems to be more than just a few weirdos doing this sort of thing. How much of it is due to the leftitst hysteria about the dangers of theocracy in America.

Posted by pomeranus

A Great Book for Free!

Pastor Paul McCain notes that Logia is offering a wonderful book on Chemnitz’ Theology of the Lord’s Supper for free!!! Just follow this link and download the pdf file. It is thoroughly hyper-linked so you can do all sorts of interesting searches and cross-referencing. The discussion of consecration is especially important and timely.

Be sure to visit Pr. McCain’s blog.

Posted by pomeranus.

Backdoor for Women Clergy in LC-MS?

Pastor Paul McCain has a link and a discussion of an ELCA lesbian who has been called to a Chicago parish. As disconcerting as the matter is, Pastor Cwirila notes that this woman originally served as a lay minister. He is very concerned that this will be imitated in the LC-MS — not the lesbian part, but the woman part. There are many concerns about recent decisions about lay ministers. They basically lack accountability. Is Pastor Cwirila correct in his concerns?

Posted by pomeranus.

Is It Really “Just” About Sex

Documentation of the purposes of those who started the “sexual revolution” is laid out in an article which is rather insightful in showing how undermining sexual morals is very much a part of undermining all of society and radicalizing politics. While the consequences for the church are not as direct as the “human potential” movement mentioned in the post below, those consequences are dealt with on a daily basis as teaching the catechism has become a counter-cultural endeavor. How do we go beyond lamenting, beyond cajoling and make a difference. The witness of the Church made a difference as the ancient pagan world became Christian. What can we do?

Posted by pomeranus.

What Seeds Have Been Planted? What Fruit Is Now Subverting the Church?

This article from World News Daily raises questions about the influence of the human potential movement on the Church. While it chronicles the demise of a Roman Catholic order of sisters, we see the same dynamic at work in many churches. How much of the youth work done in the 70s planted this virus in the Body of Christ? How much of this anti-Christian ideology is unwittingly propagated in classrooms from elementary school to high schools to colleges and even seminaries? It embeds itself in the fabric of the institutions and masquerades as “gospel.”  Dealing with it requires introspection, prayer, and the  counsel of Scripture. Perhaps even an exorcism is necessary.

Posted by pomeranus

Will It Take Two Hundred Years to Show Some Remorse?

In discussions regarding abortion, I have experienced the most vicious responses when I dared to point to analogous issues regarding slavery. I recall one woman bursting into tears because she was so offended. This article from The Telegraph in England makes the case very well and even brings in a basic Christian understanding in its conclusion. The images and arguments are good resources for our discussions with pro-abortion proponents.

Posted by pomeranus.

The Pornogogue Rising

Dr. Anthony Esolen posts an interesting analysis at Touchstone. It puts the changes in sexual mores in an understandable context and shows how the abandonment of Christian tradition is a loss for the whole of society.

Posted by pomeranus.

Accomodations to the Culture Are Not Universally Benign

One often hears so called progressives calling for accommodations to contemporary culture in order to “reach out with the Gospel.” The same appeal was made in Germany in the 1930s. It was hotly debated, even among those who were not sympathetic with National Socialism. A rift among students studying under Bonhoeffer even developed and led to a parting of ways. Accommodations are not necessarily innocuous nor are outward things necessarily “adiaphora.” This link to a Spiegel article from last year (in English) brings this home. If hip hop music is used in worship or sage brush burned before the altar, are those simply “adiaphora” or steps in the direction of paganism and slips away from a sense of the holiness and majesty of God? When does a blurring of boundaries signal their erasure?

Posted by pomeranus.

Resources for Feast of Reformation and More

Concordia Publishing House provides a wonderful webpage on the Lutheran Reformation with links to pictures, books, and gifts. It is well worth checking out.

Go to this link.

Posted by pomeranus.

The Last Letter from the Future from the Archbishopette?

Lars Walker reveals once again a letter written in the future by Archbishop Hardanger Hansen. This is her letter of resignation as she submits to Islam, having been its PC lackey. In this piece of satire, Walker points out some very uncomfortable truths which are ignored by supposedly “open-minded” liberals.

Posted by pomeranus

Was heißt lutherisch?

An article from ten years ago is even more relevant than when it was written. It deals with the dangers of mistaking conservativism for a genuine Lutheran confessional stance. It raises questions we need to face:

• Have we become a mere sect which needs to die?
• Are questions of theology more important than institutional survival?
• Are we captives of the Word or just people with opinions about it?
• Are we willing to stand against forces from many sides which would snatch the Truth from us by stealth or force?
• Is there enough confessional understanding left for the Church to remain a creature of the Word and resist the slide into becoming a human institution which promotes convenience?

These are times which call for introspection, courage, and trust in the power of the Word.

Posted by pomeranus.

The Correct Focus of Worship

Greg Laurie has some fine thoughts in his WND article, The Worship of Worship. When Trinitarian worship is replaced by forms which glorify the self, the preacher, or the performers, it certainly does become a form of idolotry. Once the focus ceases to be the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, many other things take center stage. There is no doubt that worship needs our attention. Without the proper focus, the attention is misdirected.

Posted by pomeranus.

The Church Needs A Constant Reformation

One of our brethren has shared these reflections on the relationship of the LCMS and ELCA. It is thoughtful and timely.

Each year at the end of October we celebrate Reformation Sunday. This year it will take place on October 28, just three days before the actual anniversary of that great event. On October 31st, 1517, the eve of All Saints’ Day, Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the castle church in Wittenburg Germany. These were 95 points that he found wrong with the church of his day. By posting these 95 Theses it was Luther’s intent to debate these statements and to show where the church had erred. Luther never intended to break from the Roman Church – he simply wanted them to correct the false teachings that were not in accordance with the Bible.
Refusing to consider Luther’s claims the church excommunicated him and referred to him as a heretic. All of this is brought out very clearly in the movie called “Luther.” I suggest if you haven’t watched this movie that you either purchase it or rent it from the library and that you view it for yourself. It presents the struggles that Luther endured as he tried to bring the truth of the Gospel back to light. I especially like the part where he is asked to recant (to take back) his teachings. In that scene Luther makes his famous statement. “Unless convinced by Scripture or plain reason, – for I believe neither the Pope nor the councils alone, since it is certain they have often erred and contradicted one another, – I am overcome by the Scriptures quoted and my conscience is bound to the Word of God, I cannot and will not revoke anything, for it is unsafe and dishonest to act against conscience.”

The Focus of Worship

Paul McCain’s Cyberbrethren blog has an interesting discussion on worship based on the disaffections from the megachurch model toward the emerging church paradigm. Some of the comments give insight into what is really important in worship. It is worth a discussion in our circles where the rubber hits the road.

Posted by pomeranus.

Immoral Equivalence

Andrew Bostom coins the phrase “immoral equivalence” in his review of Robert Spencer’s latest book. It takes on the leftist apologists for Islam in the West who have made Christianity the source of all evil and misery in the world. The self-loathing among intellectuals is a puzzling phenomenon. This review and Spencer’s book are great resources in addressing the misinformation which permeates academia and the mainstream media. Sometimes it seems as if our government also has bought into the myths which keep us from addressing the challenges of Islam in a realistic way.

Posted by pomeranus.

Conservatism and Darwinism–Compatible, Symbiotic, or ….

There is a discussion going on in conservative circles regarding intelligent design. Some conservatives claim that Darwinism is the scientific underpinning of conservativism. The American Enterprise Institute recently sponsored a debate on the matter. Tom Bethell reports on the discussion at American Spectator. This is a matter that should be of interest among us. How much “sharing” is or can there be between conservatives and Darwinists? Can a Darwinist be a true conservative? Can a supporter of intelligent design or believer in Creation share a common basis with Darwinists in understanding the world in which we live and in making moral decisions?

I come away thinking that Darwinists want to co-opt conservative thought. Check out the report. There is a lot to think about and reason to be cautious over against just any one who claims to be conservative. They may not share our basic values.

Posted by pomeranus.

There ARE Consequences

Click here for a take on the results of the ELCA decision on not disciplining pastors practicing perversion. We are seeing the first moves of members of the ELCA checking out LCMS congregations. Especially older members seem upset. The above link raises questions for people who have children or youth in their families. How does a parent teach chastity when the church teaches that perversion is right. It affects the kids. How does one reach out responsibly to those who want to leave the ELCA?

Posted by pomeranus.