A blog of the Evangelical Lutheran Liturgy
Yes, we do not have an organ there, and instead of an altar we use an ordinary table, but the priest serves in vestments, and we do not shorten or simplify anything, do not replace church hymns with modern Christian songs. We consider it important that everything is "churchly." The liturgy should be celebrated clearly and God-fearingly. This is important for our children, who were brought up to take the liturgy seriously.
Read MoreOne of the persistent strategies of the progressive wing of the LCMS is to advocate for non-ordained church workers to be voting delegates at conventions. Another related strategy is to push for proportional representation of congregations based on membership size. Make no mistake. This is all about power, and is a means to a progressive end.
Read MoreI was, I instantly knew, in the presence of a man seriously dedicated to glorifying his Savior through the dignity of liturgical singing done well.
Read MoreIn America it has not in the past perchance been orthodoxy or doctrinal decision that has threatened the doom of the Lutheran Church, but indifference in doctrine and practice.
Read MoreAn inordinate number of people seem to think that we faithful clergymen are shrinking violets and milquetoast buffoons unable (or unwilling) to hear of your demons and sins. It may help to remember that we spend every single day in hand-to-hand combat with Satan himself and his demons.
Read MorePicking up where we left off previously, only a decade and half younger than Hilary of Poitiers, Basil the Great (c. 330–379) emerged as one of the early church’s most zealous critics of usury. Like many before him, he appealed to Psalm 15 in particular as clear evidence of the binding moral prohibition against lending at interest, and he once preached a powerful homily against usury on the text of this psalm. I assure you, the entire sermon merits careful and repeated reading; here, however, I offer only a few representative excerpts:
Read MoreThe preacher must learn to plagiarize Scripture.
Read MoreThis is the time of year in which we are ordaining men into the Office of the Holy Ministry. And because of this, it is also the time when we call to mind our own ordinations.
Read MoreThey were there because they had “bought spices.” For this was the continuation of an interrupted funeral. Little did they know that the funeral was not just delayed, but had been cancelled. They came bearing spices, including myrrh to anoint the body of the Anointed One.
Read MoreIt’s all about the numbers for them, and they want churches to be so big that you don’t get a pastor to visit you with the body and blood of Christ, to hear your confession, to comfort you with God’s Word. No, you get Doug from the bowling team or Sally the attorney.
Read MoreWherever the Lutheran Church ignored her symbols or rejected all or some of them, there she always fell an easy prey to her enemies. But wherever she held fast to her God-given crown, esteemed and studied her confessions, and actually made a norm and standard of her entire life and practise, there the Lutheran Church flourished and confounded all her enemies.
Read MoreI have no idea who is behind Liturgy Matters. But check out their videos on Facebook for their series of AI creations that show C.F.W. Walther’s reaction to “contemporary worship.” Great stuff!
Read MoreThe return to authentic Lutheranism and the restoration of the treasures that past generations have squandered are emerging both here and abroad. And it is a youthful movement, not only in terms of the freshness of this phenomenon, but also in the youth and vigor of those leading the way back to the road of faithful authenticity.
Read MoreI didn’t grow up in the LCMS. I entered as an adult, colloquizing as a pastor from another Lutheran body. Why did I do this? Because I wanted to freely teach and preach what the Bible says and publicly hold to the doctrine drawn from it and confessed in the Book of Concord without compromise.
Read MoreFor the next several parts of our series we will be discussing the early church fathers, whose collective witness on the question of usury is both extensive and strikingly unified. Given the breadth of their engagement with this topic, our survey must necessarily be selective. To illustrate the remarkable consistency with which these theologians opposed usury, I will present brief representative excerpts from a curated group of fifteen influential figures: Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Cyprian, Lactantius, Athanasius, Cyril of Jerusalem, Hilary of Poitiers, Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory Nazianzen, Ambrose, Jerome, Chrysostom, Augustine, and Leo the Great.
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