A blog of the Evangelical Lutheran Liturgy
If I need a pilot to fly the plane I'm on, or a SWAT officer to kill the bad guy who has taken me hostage, or a surgeon to remove my tumor, I'm not really that concerned that such a person be a Christian, heterosexual and monogamous, godly, a role model, good with kids, loves animals, doesn't use bad language, doesn't watch reality TV, reads Shakespeare, understands Latin, loathes modern art, prefers an ad orientem celebration of the Eucharist, and stands for the national anthem.
Read MoreIn 1977, while on a European academic exchange program, I found myself in line to view the preserved body of Vladimir Lenin, brought out from his mausoleum in his glass coffin and on special, open display in Red Square.
Read MoreThe Magdeburg Confession is a remarkable document. As a teacher of fourth year high school students at Wittenberg Academy, I have added a study of the Confession into our Paideia IV course (which includes Christian Apologetics, Economics and Government, and Modern Literature)
Read More'Take away theology and give us some nice religion' has been a popular slogan for so long that we are likely to accept it, without inquiring whether religion without theology has any meaning. And however unpopular I may make myself, I shall and will affirm that the reason is not that they are too bigoted about theology, but that we have run away from theology."
~ Dorothy Sayers, “Creed or Chaos”
Read MoreIn the days immediately after the death of Apostles there is no question that the office of bishop began to be distinguished from that of presbyter. It’s true, as St. Jerome and our Confessions point out, that the New Testament is utterly ignorant of this distinction and therefore it cannot be considered a matter of divine mandate (at least not for anyone who insists that the faith once delivered to the saints cannot come unglued from the apostolic witness in the Scriptures). Yet the history is clear that as the Church developed, there was a single man who usually stood at the head of the Eucharistic assembly, and he was called the bishop or the president (as in Justin Martyr).
Read MoreWhen I was first asked to serve as a fire chaplain, I received advice to read a book written by the Rev. Dean Kavouras, a fire and law enforcement chaplain. The book is called Nine One One The Aftermath. It was, and is, an outstanding explication of the pastor as chaplain. The subtitle of the book says it all: “The Word Works.”
Read MoreO faithful God, lover, protector, and preserver of mankind, Lord of hosts, before whom stand a thousand times a thousand, and ten times a hundred thousand which minister unto You, through whom were made all things, visible and invisible, the thrones and dominions: how dearly You love mankind, that You should set over them from childhood Your holy angels…
Read MoreAs a postscript to my post “I Promise to Get You Out of Here…”, here is an excerpt from a sermon by St. John Chrysostom (hat tip: Eric Obermeyer):
Read MoreI just saw a video of a worship service by an LCMS congregation online. It may have been led by a pastor, or it may have been a layman. I suspect the latter, but I cannot say for sure. He was wearing a suit and tie with no vestments. He was an older guy, but did not seem to be used to celebrating the Mass.
Read MoreWatch this!
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