A blog of the Evangelical Lutheran Liturgy
A common theme in the LCMS podcaster world is “We are divided.” There is wailing and gnashing of teeth about it, and calls for the division to end. “Now is not the time to be divided,” they say. And I agree with that! But how do they propose to heal the rift?
Read MoreSome of them are converts (like me). Some of them have come from non-denominational churches with no connection to historic, creedal, liturgical Christianity. Somehow, they ran across a Lutheran pastor, a Lutheran podcast, a Lutheran church, or the Lutheran Confessions - and became excited about what they have learned about our confession and faith.
Read MoreThe Rev. Dr. D. Richard Stuckwisch, President of the Indiana District, has written this helpful commentary on President Harrison’s call that we should practice “Book of Concord Lutheranism.” This was recently published in his Indiana District column called Earthen Vessels. — Ed.
Read MoreThe question recently came up in my congregation about the lack of a U.S. flag in the sanctuary of the church. I did not remove it; my predecessor actually did it years ago, before I was called to my current congregation. And I support his decision to do so.
Read MoreJust under two months away from the fifth annual Henkel Conference, which aims to provide a forum of the best Christian speakers on theology and culture for the encouragement of God's church on earth.
Read MoreI'm amazed that so many people in this world still love communists. During the time of their leader, Vladimir Lenin, 360,000 priests, monks, and nuns were killed. Can you even imagine that? And God only knows how many laypeople were killed afterwards. Millions. Tens of millions. And countless beautiful church buildings were destroyed in our country.
Read MoreI’ve seen several similar discussions recently among LCMS Lutherans on social media concerning Holy Baptism. The question is whether or not a Lutheran grandparent should baptize his or her own grandchild if the parents refuse to have the child baptized.
Read MoreThese words from the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope (25) lay out one of the central exegetical arguments of the Lutheran confessors against the claims of the Roman pontiff — that the rock upon the church is built is not St. Peter himself, but his confession: that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This is still one of the texts on which claims to papal supremacy rest, and the identification of St. Peter himself — rather than his confession — as the rock upon which the Church is built is often painted by Roman apologists as the unanimous (or nearly unanimous) consensus of the church in all times and places.
Which is patently absurd.
Read MoreLex Orandi Lex Credendi, or the principle that style and substance are related and feed into one another, doesn’t need to be proven. It is axiomatic. It is self-evident. There are incongruities that are not a matter simple of cultural diversity.
Read MoreThe Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s presiding bishop offered a take on the Dobbs decision in which the Bible is not quoted a single time, but rather their social statement on abortion is many times. Eaton is unable to call those with child, women, but rather “pregnant persons”.
Read MoreWe have all watched in horror as our American education system has degenerated. It’s not just over the past few years, but has been a slide that goes back well beyond the births of our grandfathers. And this hits home for us Lutherans, as education has been front and center for us since the Reformation itself.
Read MoreWe require our presidents to be preachers. I think it is a helpful way to evaluate a contender for the office of president to see how he handles the Word of God in the pulpit.
Read MoreThe altar had been removed from the chancel and put into a corner with a tarp over it. I saw this at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Palm Springs, California, an LCMS congregation that had adopted Church Growth methods.
Read MoreThere is an interview with an LCMS pastor that is illustrative of how modern mainstream Wokism - with its assumption of “systemic racism” - is incompatible with Christianity. This is especially the case for Christians who confess the Book of Concord, specifically, Luther’s Small Catechism.
Read MoreDr. Harrison has earned our full support, and we wholeheartedly offer it for his re-election, and the continuation of the liturgical and confessional renaissance our Synod has been witnessing of late.
Read MoreYou may have seen videos by Roman Catholic apologists - like the popular Rev. Mike Schmitz, that assert that Luther (or “Protestants”) have “removed books from the Bible.”
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