Gottesblog

In our polity in the LCMS, we have episkope but not episkopoi. In other words, we have ordained men charged with oversight (episkope) of pastors and congregations, but they are not bishops (episkopoi). They are “presidents.” It’s a bit of an unfortunate turn of phrase, as a president is one who presides over a parliamentary meeting. Our district and synod presidents do this, but they have other tasks as well in addition to chairing the triennial conventions.

Since a lot of our readers may not know what people mean by CoWo (“Contemporary Worship”) - or as it is increasingly known, “Modern Worship” - in the LCMS, here is an example of such an ordo in the form of a Divine Service with Holy Communion.

The Roman Catholic Church knows what people are looking for. And we Lutherans have it. At least, some of us do.

Liturgical worship developed organically in response to the miracle of our Lord’s Presence with us in Word and Sacrament. It is no accident that every ancient pre-Reformation church tradition was, and is, liturgical.

In a discussion about praying to the dead, a Roman Catholic FB friend was critical of a Protestant FB friend. They went back and forth while I scooped popcorn into my mouth and enjoyed the show. Full contact theology is way more entertaining than MMA fights that inevitably become grappling on the floor, and you don’t have to pay for cable. Real theological debate is more lively, like the old Big Time Wrestling that my cousins and I used to watch on Saturday mornings.

The author of Hebrews explains the “regulations for worship” in the “first covenant.” He makes reference to the tabernacle that God commanded the Israelites to build (Ex 26-31). It was a place of beauty, with the Most Holy Place being where the Presence of God dwelt. It was a place unlike anything else on earth: precious metals, beautiful fabric, the “bread of the Presence,” vested priests, and incense.