. . . And The Power Of The Devil.

I came across this article a few weeks ago about the Roman Catholic Church looking for a few good priests. Apparently there is a severe shortage of trained exorcists in the United States. According to the article there are only about "five or six exorcists in the United States."

That is not good.

How does the Roman Catholic Church in the United States allow itself to let something as significant and important as trained exorcists dip to such low levels?

Follow up question -

Does the Lutheran Church still believe in such things?

I'm serious here. I do not take this topic lightly.

During the time of Luther, there was an acknowledgement that the Devil did exist. It was was firmly believed that the Devil and his minions were very active. Even in Luther's Order of Baptism (1523) there are minor exorcisms.

When I attended seminary, the question was asked in my Pastoral (Mal)Practice class about what a pastor should do if they came across a member that was suspected to be demon possessed. The response from the professor was none too helpful. The response consisted of having that individual seen by a psychiatrist to make sure that it was not mental illness (which made sense). If it was determined that it was not mental illness, than we as pastors were to contact our respective district president who would then "take care of things."

What exactly did that mean?

Was there some secret "black ops" team of trained exorcists that would just magically appear after that phone call was made?

Or did it mean that the LCMS was "sub-contacting" exorcisms to the Roman Catholic church? That their people would take over and "take care of things."

If there is one thing that should never "go out of fashion" in the Lutheran church is the fact that the Devil and his minions are just as active today as they were then. Some may not believe that. Others may want to refuse to accept that concept.

Again, I do not take this topic lightly. Personal experience leads me to firmly believe that this is a force that should not be ignored. 

I guess I worry how, today, it seems that the Devil is thought of in more of an abstract way. It sounds great to talk about "the Devil" in a sermon in an impersonal way. A really neat "straw man" to blame things on. Yet, the Devil is much more than than. The Devil is a very real thing that people do struggle with.

I think there needs to be a renewed focus on this. Just as the Roman Catholic church is looking to add new exorcists to its ranks here in America, the Lutheran Church should not be that far behind in looking at topic and discussing it openly.

The thought I had then, I still have now.

I left that class wondering if the church of today really believed as the church of Luther. Especially those words "the power of the devil."

Bits and pieces

I'm back!

I know, I was greatly missed.

I know I also have a lot of catching up to do.

Shame I missed the whole election cycle in October and November.

I do have a few thoughts on that.

Mainly, the amount that was spent.

The best guess estimates from the 2010 midterm election cycle peg this one at $3.98 billion and still counting.

That's right, billion.

That makes this the most expensive midterm, ever.

If this doesn't turn a Christian off to the political process, I really don't know what will.

$3.98 billion dollars spent. To elect what?

Just think about what could have been done with that money. Even half of it.

Please don't shovel me the crap that the "good guys" are in control now. There are none in politics. If you believe that, please stop singing "A Mighty Fortress". Especially the part about not trusting in princes.

If you have donated money to a particular candidate or political party, or PAC. Please stop.

Your local parish, mission project, missionary, or food pantry could do so much more with that money.

Bonus! You also can get a tax deduction and there are no contribution limits.

OK, enough of that.

On to other things.

Stayed tuned.

Has Lutheran Education Failed (To Keep Its Graduates Lutheran)?

In case you were wondering, I'm on Facebook.

Yippee!

It is kind of nice to "reconnect" with some people. At least to find out what became of them.

I was going through my "friends" list recently and noticed something disturbing.

Looking at my "friends" from grade school and high school got me kind of depressed. No, not because they portray themselves as having a great job and a great life. (Believe me, there are other things that depress me more.) It's that part where one can list their "religious views."

Let me backtrack here.

I am what can be affectionately called a "system kid." I attended an LCMS grade school, I attended an LCMS high school, I attended an LCMS college and I attended an LCMS seminary. Through all of that, I am still a member of the LCMS. (Sadly, no award exists for those of us who have accomplish such a feat.)

It was looking at those "religious views" that got me depressed.

Reading over and over again the "religious views" of people that I had gone to grade school or high school with and seeing the views posted: "Methodist", "I believe there is a God,", "non-denominational", blah, blah, blah.

This was painful to read. I grew up with these people. I went to church with them. I knew their parents and, in some cases, their grandparents. I know that a majority of those that I went to high school with also went to an LCMS grade school. What the hell happened?

Who does this reflect poorly on? Do you blame the churches? Do you blame the schools? Do you blame the parents? Do you blame the pastors? Do you blame the teachers? Is it some of the above? All of the above? I don't know.

What I do know is that it looks like almost a whole generation just disappeared. Gone.

I wonder if the parents who sacrificed (I know my parents did) so their children could get an education at a Lutheran school wasted their money? Maybe they would have been better off sending their children to public schools and treating themselves to a better car or vacation.

What happened? Why was there a disconnect?

How, why, did this faith not get passed on to my generation?

Is there any way to get them back?

Not likely, I think.

Is this still happening today?

What can be done to prevent this?

Does something need to change?

Here's my challenge to you:

If you are on Facebook, and you graduated from an LCMS grade school and/or high school, check out your friend's "religious views" and see where they are today. (If you went to an LCMS college, I guess you can play as well.)

Let me know what you find.

Coming To A Parish Near You

I know you have been waiting for it.

You're going to have to wait just a little bit longer for it.

That's right, the new English translation of the Roman Missal will debut in Advent 2011!

It looks like Rome has done an excellent job with this one.

How do I know? Because there are already people complaining about it before it is even released! Here's the article for you to read.

I love the complaints that appear in this article.

Here's a few quotes:

"It will impact every Catholic in every parish because they will have to learn new responses in place of the ones they have been using since Vatican II," Reese said. "I believe that the new translations are a step backwards and confusing to the people in the pews."

Critics contend the translation is too literal and includes too many theologically complex terms.

I really enjoy the rationale behind this as well:

Critics like Bishop Trautman argue that Jesus Christ taught in the language of the common man and, further, that Vatican II reforms that first allowed the Mass to be translated from Latin to the vernacular are being unraveled by the more complicated words used in the new translation.

What are some of these big changes?

Those who have reviewed the translation say it requires new responses from church members in about a dozen places in the Mass. Generally, those responses are relatively simple, as when members will respond "And with your spirit" after the celebrant says, "The Lord be with you." The current response is, "And also with you."

Yikes! I don't know if your average parishioner will be able to handle that!

Enough about the people. What difficult things will the priests have to change and say?

Currently, priests dismisses the congregation by saying, "The Mass is ended; go in peace." Priests will now have four more specific options, including two suggested by Pope Benedict XVI: "Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord" and "Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life."

Prayers offered by the priest will include more complex terms such as "consubstantial," "inviolate," "oblation," "ignominy" and "suffused."

If the priest doesn't know what those words mean, and if they cannot explain them to their parishioners, maybe there needs to be an investigation by Rome as to what is being taught at their seminaries in the United States.


That's right, Jesus didn't use big words, let alone complex thoughts, nor did the authors of the Bible. Or the early church. I guess we shouldn't either when we worship.

Just For Fun

I came across this blog and I feel compelled to share.

Maybe you can find out what your pastor is hiding under his clerical!

Enjoy!

Lutherans Ashamed of the Mass?

While following a news story regarding upcoming changes to the missal of the Roman Catholic Church, I found myself wandering around the Archdiocese of Milwaukee website. The image above caught my eye. Of course I clicked on the pretty picture and was taken to this site.

Wow! Why can't our synodical district websites look like this? Furthermore, looking at the Living Our Faith initiative, there is more substance there than "the-program-that-cannot-be-spoken-unless-you-want-to-get-sued-by-the-LCMS". The message is so simple, "See You At Mass." It looks like they're a sacramental church body.

Here's the question - Why is the LCMS afraid to be sacramental?

Look at your district's website. Is there a something there to let the average person know that the LCMS puts the sacraments as a central part of its beliefs? On a congregational level, it may be a different case. Right now, I am focusing on the district level and higher.

Look at the Lutheran Confessions, specifically the Apology to the Augsburg Confession XXIV - The Mass. The section is titled, The Mass! The first paragraph states, "At the outset we must again make the preliminary statement that we do not abolish the Mass, but religiously maintain and defend it. For among us masses are celebrated every Lord's Day and on the other festivals, in which the Sacrament is offered to those who wish to use it, after they have been examined and absolved. And the usual public ceremonies are observed, the series of lessons, of prayers, vestments, and other like things." (Italics mine.)

Why do some in Lutheranism prefer an a la carte approach when it comes to the Lutheran Confessions and Lutheran doctrine that are believed, promoted, and taught?


I'm not at the banks of the River Tiber. I'm not looking to cross over, nor am I promoting such things. I am just asking a question that needs a serious answer.

Why are Lutherans ashamed to publicly proclaim the centrality of the Mass?

Christmas In July?

Like 54% of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, I am pretty excited about the election of Rev. Matthew Harrison as the new president of this church body. It is no secret that there are several issues that will challenge Rev. Harrison while in office, and I, like 54% of the LCMS, will pray for his success.

As one of the members in that 54% of the membership of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod who are excited about Rev. Harrison becoming president and who will pray for his success in this office, I would like to share a few thoughts. I do not claim to speak for the whole 100% of that 54% in what I am about to write. I am sure there will be parts in what I am about to write that will meet the approval of about 55% - 63% of that 54%.

With that disclaimer posted and out of the way, I give you my open letter to President-elect Rev. Matthew Harrison. (I had to make a few changes and update a few things from a different letter from my files.)

Dear Santa President-elect Rev. Harrison,

I have been a very good boy faithful servant this past year. I don't ask for many things, but it would mean a lot to me if you were able to bring me these things this Christmas sometime within the next three years.

I would really like a new bicycle review of the SMP program and possibly a realistic study of the office of deacon in the LCMS.

I would also like a new computer review of worship in the LCMS and for you to get rid of all of the bad pastors out there.  



Wait a minute, I've just been informed of something.

What?

The powers of the President of the LCMS is about as realistic as the powers of Santa Claus?

So much for Christmas in July.

My Head Is Spinning

Oh what a week this has been thus far for the LCMS Synodical Convention.

The delegates vote to take on an even more American-style corporate structure.

The delegates elect Rev. Matthew Harrison as its new president, on the FIRST ballot! (54% - 45%)

And the week isn't over yet!

This will be an interesting post-mortem when this is all done.

Academic Freedom From Religion?

Over the past few weeks I have been following this story in Milwaukee, WI. I find it very interesting how this story ended.  What happened as this story unfolded was just as interesting.

Marquette University, a Roman Catholic school run by the Jesuits in Milwaukee, WI has been know for its theological education and scholarship in Lutheran circles (e.g. Franz Posset, and Kenneth Hagen), and nationally known for its basketball team  just about every March.

For those who are not inclined to read all of the articles, I will do my best to sum up the story.

Back in April, Marquette University extends a contract to Seattle University professor Jodi O'Brien to be dean of Marquette's College of Arts and Sciences.

O'Brien signs the contract and sends it back to Marquette University.

Early May, Marquette rescinds the job offer. Slight problem. O'Brien is a lesbian who has written scholarly works on gender and sexual orientation. Marquette says the reason for this is that some of O'Brien's writings "relating to Catholic mission and identity" made her an unacceptable candidate. (Doesn't anyone do their homework when hiring for a position like this?)

Students and faculty are up in arms. Students protest, faculty protest.

It is revealed that Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee might have told the president of Marquette, Fr. Wild S.J., about O'Brien's background and that this was not an acceptable person to have at the university.

The faculty issues a full page ad in the local papers in Milwaukee and in Seattle saying that this is wrong. Marquette is killing academic freedom.

Others state that the Archbishop has no right to interfere with Marquette, since the school is run by the Jesuits and not the archdiocese. Along with the academic freedom crowd, there is now also the "we are not under the control of the Roman Catholic church" crowd.

Fr. Wild says the Archbishop did not tell him what to do.

It also comes to light that back in 2001 Marquette had offered the same position to another faculty member at Seattle University, who also was an author on gender and sexuality issues. That professor declined the position.

Finally, at the beginning of June, Marquette and Professor O'Brien reach a settlement.

There's the summary.

Here's my question before I start my rant on the Concordia University System.

Was Archbishop Listecki right to step in and talk to Fr. Wild about this hiring decision?

On to my rant . . .

How does this relate to the wonderful world of Lutheranism? Think of it this way. In a Lutheran version of this tale, Marquette would be more along the lines of Valparaiso. An independent college "with historic ties to Lutheranism." The LCMS tries to intercede and have a say as to what is going on, but it never really works out. Slightly different from the Marquette version, where the Archbishop has some influence.

For decades the LCMS has wasted time and money in the hopes of trying to make Valpo more "Lutheran". It just isn't going to happen. Instead of expending that effort to make Valpo more "Lutheran", why hasn't the LCMS tried make the Concordia University System more "Lutheran"? After all, does not the LCMS like to brag that they are the owners and operators of this school system? Yet they act more like absentee landlords.

Insert your favorite Concordia horror story here.

Instead, the schools of the Concordia University System have been left on their own to do what they see fit. There is more academic and religious freedom in the Concordia University System (excluding the seminaries) than most other denominations that run colleges and universities. (Again, insert your favorite Concordia horror story here.)

I know that there is a balancing act that a religious educational institution must perform in order to give their students a viable education, (also make money), yet at the same time hold to their religious heritage (and ownership?). I just haven't seen it throughout this system. I know that the LCMS as a church body has given up financial ownership. Last figure I heard, support from the LCMS to a Concordia amounted to about 1% of that Concordia's budget. I know that the Purple Palace will always be quick to claim any success that a Concordia has, and even quicker to try to distance themselves from a public failure or scandal at a Concordia. (Remember Dr. George Heider at Concordia, River Forest?) The LCMS loses their influence when they don't help to pay the bills. That gives the Concordias less incentive to abide by what the LCMS wants doctrinally. He who has the money, gets to call the tunes.

Either the LCMS should reorganize, maybe even close some of these Concordias, to better concentrate resources on these schools, or loosen their grip and  let the Concordias have more control over their destinies. What I mean by "loosen their grip" is to allow the Concordias to appoint a portion of their own regents.

I'm just thinking out loud here. What do you think?

Truly Ablaze!

Photo credit

Do you think they could recreate this for the convention? Better yet, maybe Ablaze funds could be given to rebuild? A special convention offering perhaps? Here's the link to the story.

Long On Words, Short On Action

Ah, Memorial Day has come and gone. The lasts wafts of grill smoke have dissipated. The temperature is starting to get warmer. This can mean only one thing.

Silly season is upon us.

By that I mean The 64th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

I know that it doesn't start until July, but I figured I'd start a little early.

Actually, compared to those who are running for office, I am starting quite late. I am also late to the game when you think about those who have been writing papers and sending junk mail to convention delegates.

But I digress.

As a famous theologian once said, "Get to the point!"

My point is this: I would like to think that I will not be let down, again, by those who have, and will, make such remarkably Lutheran statements about saving the church, restoring doctrine and liturgy, and people walking together in harmony.

I know, I'm kidding myself.

Just once in my lifetime, I'd like to see people actually take a stand. Not make idle threats if they don't get their way. I would like to see some action. I would like to have people stand up and tell the truth. Make the current leadership give an account of what they have done, or not done. Explain where all the money has gone. Explain where all of these members that were suppose to materialize with their programs are.

In other words, "No more Mr. Nice Guy." Seriously, the current administration doesn't play by the rules, why follow rules that everyone else feels they are not bound by?

I just would like to see a group stand up and say, "Enough is enough!"


Confidential to Jack C. from Michigan - I will not be paying for your drinks this time!

Laugh a Little

Ah, this brought a smile to my face. Let me know if this reminds you of anyone you know.

Realistic Options?

The state of Lutheranism in America is messed up. Surprised?

Doesn't take a PhD scholar to figure that out.

Here's a question:

Is it worth leaving?

I mean, is it worth abandoning Lutheranism altogether and going elsewhere?

Would going elsewhere be any better?

If the thought is that "the grass is greener" is the only reason to go, is that even a valid reason?

Wouldn't going to Rome be a step backwards? I doubt that Rome would let one join and let that individual choose a la cart the doctrines of the Roman Catholic church they wish to believe.

Its kind of an "all-or-nothing" thing wherever you go. Unless, of course, you go UCC.

Again, is it worth leaving?

Why Do We Hate The Liturgy?

OK, maybe that is an overreaching statement.

There are many congregations that do a wonderful job of using the Order of Service as laid out in a hymnal week in and week out.

I guess a better question would be, "Why do we hate including ceremony with the liturgy?"

I have always thought this. I bring this up now because I was out of town for the Feast of Easter and had the opportunity to worship at a sister LCMS congregation.

I was in awe. There was incense. There were torch bearers, thurifer, crucifer, servers, deacons, sub-deacons. I felt like I was in a special place. I knew that I was in the house of the Lord. What was even better was that it was done with reverence and it was done correctly. I do not understand why people are opposed to these things.

Yes, I know, there are groups out there that love to champion FC Ep. X and FC SD X. I get the impression that they have never read the whole thing. They pick out the parts from the confessions that they like and want to use to justify what they're doing, or are not doing, in the chancel.

Looking at the state of liturgical worship, or lack thereof, in this church body makes one stop and ask this question, "Are we the church of Luther and the Reformation, or are we the church of Karlstadt and the Reformation?"

I have never seen in a CPH catalog a reference book on how to do liturgical ceremony.  I am not talking about bits and pieces described in a book on the liturgy. I am saying, there is not a single book out there with pictures and diagrams and the how-to. There are more detailed guides for acolytes and altar guilds than there are for a pastor to have proper liturgical ceremonies included in the order of worship! What are we ashamed of?

In all honesty, I would much rather be confused with the Roman Catholic church in regards to worship, than to be accused of there being no difference with other Protestant church bodies in regards to worship. Is not Lutheranism really Roman Catholicism Reformed?

Why does Lutheranism in America so desperately want to be identified with the Methodists, Baptist and other Protestant descendants of Calvin?

The Response You Never Saw

A shout out to fellow blogger Latif Gaba for pointing me to the living definition of hypocritical.

I took the opportunity to try to respond to Rev. McCain, but, surprise, he refused to post it.

This is the blog post in question.

Here is my response. It appears that my response didn't praise and agree with Rev. McCain enough to get posted. Let me know what you think.

Well glory be! I'm not a pastor, but I am a confessional Lutheran! Following your line of reasoning, Rev. McCain, I guess that means I am not bound by your internet encyclical about anonymous blogging, since I am nothing more than a lowly layman.


I find it interesting that you say in your response to Rev. Beisel, "I think we should also be willing to fact [I am guessing you meant "face"] some hard facts and start some “self-policing” among the “confessional” crowd." Help me out here, since I'm just a poor, uneducated, layman. Has there been created a special office for you? Paging through the Synodical Handbook, I didn't see anything along the lines of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Committee on Theology and Church Relations I found, but not your name as the prefect of this committee. I am seriously doubtful that your position at Concordia Publishing House as Publisher and as the Executive Director of the Editorial Department has granted you a special indult for "self-policing" the "confessional" crowd.

My question is this:

By whose authority do you get to play the role of Confessional Cyber Cop?

Feel free to ignore answering that, just as you felt the need to sidestep admitting wrong for making accusations against Rev. Beisel and his former parish.

I do enjoy how only in the LCMS is the 8th Commandment optional.

I also find some humor in how you speak with such authority, time and time again, about your experiences in the parish when the total time you have served a parish as a called pastor is a grand total of two years. To have that many stories about all the things you did really amazes me. This must have been a seriously damaged congregation for you to have experienced so much in only two years.

I also enjoy your hyperbole about all the stories you've heard about pastors who did this or that to their congregation. For almost 18 years you have been working as a bureaucrat, not as a pastor. I do not believe that living vicariously through the stories that you've heard over the years count as parish experience, let alone make you an expert. Furthermore, your views on these issues facing actively serving pastors have been clouded by your previous role as Assistant to the President. In that position, you were privileged to learn about situation that occurred in the parish involving pastors who may, or may not have, been at fault.

I also enjoy the cunningness of your witch hunt in this blog post. It sounds very innocent, "PS – In the spirit of this blog post, if you wish to offer a comment, sign your full name, and location to your remark. I’m trying to encourage the perpetually anonymous-inclined folks here to step out into the light."

Really? This is on par with Rev. Waldo Werning gathering together a list of names to be published in a book in the most unflattering light.

If you were serious about open and honest discussion, you wouldn't have this blog set up to control which comments get posted. I understand you have a reputation to keep and would not enjoy someone being critical of you.

This is why I will keep myself as an anonymous blogger. You have no interest in discussion. You only have an interest in attacking those who do not think like you.

Your actions, statements, and the way you treat other faithful pastors reminds me of my old Greek professor at Concordia River Forest. Rev. Prof. Froehlich said it was like a football game. The Devil and his minions are one team and the confessional Lutherans are on the other. When the confessionals come out on the field, they are tackling themselves, not the Devil.

Things You'll Never See Happen In The LCMS #3,461

Wow.

This is something that I didn't even think happened.

I know this has never happened in the history of the LCMS.

If it did, well, then there may not have been an LCMS.

It would be a refreshing change in this church body if things like this were taken more seriously.

Read this article and be just as shocked and surprised as I was.

The People You Meet In Bars

Several nights ago, I found myself out with some friends at a nice little drinking establishment. There was an older gentleman at the bar. He motioned to the bartender and told the bartender to buy us a round. Completely unexpected since none of us knew him. He did make one request, that we would put our cell phones away. Well, if someone is buying you a drink, you tend not to argue with the sponsor of your drink.

A short while later, he came over and introduced himself. His name was Gio. Gio went on to say that he was a bartender, and had been for some time, and that one thing that really annoyed him was people coming into a bar as a group and all of them playing with their phones. "When you come into a bar, you're suppose to talk to people", Gio said. "You're there to socialize, not ignore everyone."

I could also tell that Gio was a little intoxicated, but that really didn't bother me. We kept talking. I found out a bit of his life story. Gio had grown up in Chicago; his mother was an immigrant from Ireland. When I had mentioned that I had lived in Chicago for a few years, he became very excited. We talked about Chicago and Chicago politics. We talked about his growing up in Chicago and his love of the Cubs and the Blackhawks. We talked about life in this modern world. We talked about how young people today show no respect to others, that they would rather tune out the world listening to their iPods than actually talk to one another and see and hear the world.

Gio talked about the civil rights movement growing up in Chicago. You could see in his eyes that he was playing back those memories. He was happy that I knew about that time. He talked about being a Roman Catholic and how he still attends Mass.

Gio talked about going to visit his mother soon. I didn't ask, but if I had to guess, she was probably in her 80's. He said he would be gone for a month. At first, I didn't quite understand where he was going. I thought it was back to Chicago. I asked again where he was going to see his mother. He replied with a gleam in his eye, "Ireland." He went on to tell me about how he was happy to be going there. How to get to where his mother lived was a two day trip. Day one was flying to Ireland and driving to a long time family friend's place. He would stay overnight with his friend and the next day take the ferry to the island where his mother lived.

The hour got late, my friends had been long gone, and I had finished my drink. I wished him safe journeys.

As I left the bar and headed towards the door I looked back. Gio was sitting there with a smile on his face. I think he was happy that he had a night of being able to talk to someone and tell his story. While most would have dismissed him as an old drunk and would have stopped talking long ago, someone actually listened to him.

Sometimes living out one's Christian vocation is as simple as sharing a drink and letting someone talk.

I don't know if our paths will ever cross again. I do know that both of us parted ways with one of us feeling a bit younger and the other feeling a bit older. It was worth putting down my phone and listening.

I will end this with a bit of wisdom that Gio shared with me:

As the dyslexic theologian once said, "I believe that there is a dog."

Someone You Should Be Afraid Of

I will make this statement before I go any further. I do not condone the actions of any individual who abuses children. It is a most deplorable act and may God judge those unrepentant individuals severely. Furthermore, I do not condone any person, or persons, who, claiming to be acting for the good of the church, cover-up such previously mentioned actions.

With that being said, I will continue.

Who is this man? This man is Jeff Anderson. Mr. Anderson has made a career out of filing lawsuits across the United States against dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church for clients who were abused by priests. I understand that for those who were abused as children, money doesn't even come close to healing the pain that was caused by these individuals.

Why should you be afraid of Mr. Anderson? Read this article about him. Read what motivates him. Read what he believes in. He is an ex-Lutheran, recovering atheist, "religious" type who is bent on toppling a church. As he says, "I came to the stark realization that the problems were really endemic to the clerical culture, and all the problems we are having in the U.S. led back to Rome," Anderson said. "And I realized nothing was going to fundamentally change until they did."

Put away your papist bashing feelings for a moment and listen.

Why am I afraid of Mr. Anderson?

When he's done having his way with the Roman Catholics, and that church body is left in ruins, do you think he'll quit? What will he do for an encore? He has no religious affiliation to make him stop.

As the article states, "His office, however, is full of religiously symbolic art and sculpture, as well as items salvaged from churches - including a kneeler and confessional booths.


Anderson downplays the significance of the Christian objects, pointing out he also displays Buddhist and Native American religious relics.


"I like religious iconography," he said."


There are plenty of other church bodies left for him to collect and hang a few more trophies in his office. I mean "religious iconography."


So, please, take note:


If your church body has been harboring criminals, now's the time to turn them over to the proper authorities before Mr. Anderson shows up to publicly destroy your church body and leave it in ruins. Covering up such actions in the name of the church is no excuse. If your church body hasn't learned from the mistakes of the Roman Catholic church, then a visit from Mr. Anderson may be in order.

I Don't Know If That Was From God Or The Devil, But It Sure Wasn't Lutheran!

This past Sunday I went to church at another parish. Not one to go to strange places of worship, I went since this was a celebration of the grandmother of the woman in my life. Keeping in line with the 8th Commandment, I shall not say where this parish is located, or whom the pastor is that serves there.

What I will say is that the parish is in the country and the pastor there was an Alternate Route graduate of seminary. He was a Lutheran school teacher for several years before going to the seminary.

The service, how to put it nicely, was tolerable? Actually, it was quite grating on my nerves. This pastor had to announce everything, as if I could not read and follow the order of service myself. Of course, I also had to be told that the Gospel reading was going to be the sermon text, which then was re-read at the beginning of the sermon. Wow! Thanks for the heads up there! I would have been lost not knowing what you were going to preach on! The pastor seemed uncomfortable up there. The way he acted, I figured he must have graduated from seminary only two, maybe three years ago.

The sermon was an absolute disaster. I can't say that if was all Law, or if it was all Gospel. I do know it was not a sermon. It was more along the lines of having a grade school teacher lecturing to the students below their grade level. This guy felt it was necessary to explain to us what a parable was! Really? I guess the 90-year-old woman sitting in front of me had never known what a parable was until you came along! The "sermon" was just insulting. It was nothing more than a poorly taught Sunday School lesson. As much as I despise them, I've heard children's sermons that had more substance and Law and Gospel than this train wreck.

Yes, it was that bad.

I was sitting there, reading Luther's Small Catechism in my hymnal. (Thank you to the Commission on Worship for including that!) Trying to keep my mouth shut and trying to keep my sanity. Just thinking to myself about how this sermon reminded me of being in Homiletics I in my seminary days. I also remember that a majority of my classmates got better with their preaching over the years of study at the seminary. I just sat there and thought to myself, "He MUST have graduated from St. Louis! A Ft. Wayne grad would NEVER be this bad at preaching!"

After the service was done, we retired to the church basement where we had some time to kill (it's a dual parish, the one we were at was the early service). A few of us visitors (a.k.a. family) spoke of what had just occurred upstairs. I wasn't the only visitor that day who felt the same way. There was agreement that we would have been better off going to our own parishes for Mass then coming for the potluck at noon.

Noon rolled around and it was time to eat. As the afternoon wore on, the pastor made the rounds welcoming the family and the visitors who came. He stopped by our table. In the course of conversation with him, we found out that he had been a Lutheran school teacher for 14 years; was an Alternate Route student at seminary; graduated from seminary in 2002; that this was where he served as vicar and then became the pastor; and he was a graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, and his favorite professor was Dr. Fickenscher, who has a doctorate in Homiletics!

What do you say after that? "Maybe you should ask the seminary for a refund for the Homiletics courses?", or "Did you actually take any classes with Dr. Fickenscher?", or "Was Dr. Fickenscher in a coma the day you preached in class?" I was shocked. One of my other thoughts was to immediately take up a donation to buy this pastor a subscription to Concordia Pulpit Resources. Granted, those aren't the best sermons, but at least they have more substance than what he just preached.

I just couldn't believe it.

What are they teaching there?

They are not teaching how to preach and not how to conduct a proper Mass.

Ah, the days of Prof. Reuning teaching students as to the how of conducting the Mass are long gone. All replaced by esoteric thoughts and teachings on worship.

An Interesting Option

It is interesting what you can find on the internet. The picture above is the coronation of Archbishop Metropolitan Sherman Randall Pius Mosley as the primate of the Old Roman Catholic Church of America. The article and photos about this coronation is quite interesting. What is even more interesting is that there are still a few newspapers, such as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, that still cover religious events locally and on a consistent basis.

Prior to finding this article, I was not familiar with the OCCA. Reading their history, it shows a familiar pattern of the Roman Catholic Church excommunicating people who disagree with them publicly about doctrine that should be opposed publicly. (For the lazy folks, those who won't read the article or the website of the OCCA, one of the main issues of the break with Rome was papal infallibility.)

This is a very interesting church body. They allow for the marriage of their priests. They hold the liturgy in high regard. Almost a tempting option instead of waiting for Rome to issue its "Great Invitation" to disaffected Lutherans.

This might be worth further investigation.

The Great Invitation

I am still torn on this one.

Since the issuance of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus by the Vatican in November 2009, I have been wondering and, dare I say it, waiting. Waiting for the Lutheran version of this "Great Invitation." You have to admit, this is a great end run by the Holy See. Recognizing that the Roman Catholic Church is not getting any larger, that there is great turmoil in the Anglican fellowship (and some big cash in the Episcopal Church in the United States), and that there is phenomenal growth of a conservative branch of the Anglican fellowship in Africa, this is a win-win for all parties involved. Right?

I admire the love and forgiveness that the Roman Catholic church shows in this "Great Invitation." They love the possibility of gaining churches, priests and members by setting up an Anglican Rite subsidiary, allowing a large part of the Anglican theology and practice to survive. They show great forgiveness with regards to the shunning and ostracizing of believers in England and, lest we forget, the outright slaughter of Roman priests in England. All this for switching one's allegiance from the Queen to the Pope. Again, not a bad deal. Also, I wonder, will there be a blind eye turned to the Anglican idea regarding divorce?

Luther gets excommunicated. War is declared on the kingdoms that embraced the Reformation. The Counter-Reformation goes out of its way to burn books and believers alike. Yet, nothing. Not even an, "Oops. That was our bad. Sorry. What can we do to make this all better?" Yes, yes, I know, it's not as simple as that. I know that the Lutheran Church did a wonderful job of ostracizing Roman Catholics. (It was fun back in the 1950's when the local Lutheran high school played the local Roman Catholic high school in basketball. It was like the Reformation was being fought all over again.) Never, do I recall, someone from the Lutheran camp gathering an army with the sole purpose of killing Roman Catholics because they weren't Lutheran. Nor, have I ever read about the Lutheran Church being formed for the purpose of making a divorce an easier thing to acquire. Yet the Anglican Church gets welcomed back to the fold letting bygones be bygones. Reminds me of a line from the Monty Python's Holy Grail movie. "Let's not argue about who killed who."

No, I am not about to "jump ship" and find the nearest Roman Catholic Anglican Rite church to join. I am just wondering where the "Great Invitation" from the Pope is? I want my "Great Invitation." Lutheranism's history with Rome isn't that bad, is it? After all, the late Pope John Paul II the Great did call Lutherans "separated brethren." Doesn't that count for something? I think Lutheranism has met a majority of the terms to be offered an invitation to join. Let's see, dissatisfaction with women's ordination, check. Conservative theologians upset and being marginalized, check. Liturgical worship frowned upon, check. Inept leadership that is doing more to divide than to "walk together", check. What are the other qualifications that have not been met? What more needs to be done? When will there be a Roman Catholic Lutheran Rite established? When will there be issued a "Great Invitation" to the Lutheran Church?

I would hope never. I would hope that things would not get to the point that the remaining confessional, liturgical type Lutherans would seek protection from the Pope. I guess this is one of those "only time will tell" things.

What is the role of the pastor in the world of politics?

Like most Americans who are somewhat interested in the current debate on health care reform, it is interesting to see the passion, almost to the point of fanaticism on this topic. It is amazing to see how partisan the politics have gotten. I'm not here to say which side I believe is right or wrong. Both sides of the debate do have something to offer, sometimes even constructive in nature.

I have been somewhat concerned as of late. Actually, for quite some time. While I realize that as a citizen in this land voting for elective offices would fall under the 4th Commandment, as well as obeying our leaders, I would expect my pastor to remind me of these duties. I am disturbed though by those pastors who believe they have a voice in this debate, or any political debate for that matter. Does the pastor get to have a voice in politics?

I like my pastor. He's a nice guy. Very solid in his teaching and preaching. This is what confuses me: What gives him the right to give me a lecture on his political beliefs? I don't know if he is speaking ex cathedra since he is speaking to me either in his vestments or while wearing his clerical. I apologize for sounding old-fashioned here, but I always thought that if the pastor was wearing his clerical that he was "on duty" and representing the Office of the Ministry.

I wholeheartedly believe that one who is serving in the Pfarramt should remind me that abortion is wrong, that the world that we are just passing through is sinful and corrupt, that there are things happening that we should be aware of and speak out against that affect us as Christians. Yet, I really don't want to know, or should know, that my pastor is a fan of Rush Limbaugh, CNN, Bill O'Reilly, Keith Olbermann, Michael Medved, Michael Moore, Fox News, ad nauseam. (Actually, I can't stand any of the aboved mentioned persons or news outlets. I get my political news watching the Daily Show and the Colbert Report, who do a wonderful job of poking holes in politicians and those who report on them.)

Before you jump right to making a comment, hear me out. Again, I understand that there is a duty to let the flock know that this modern world is not all that great and we, as sheep, love to go astray. My point is, which path is the pastor to be keeping his flock on?
According to AC XXVIII:

8] This power is exercised only by teaching or preaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments, according to their calling either to many or to individuals. For thereby are granted, not bodily, but eternal things, as eternal righteousness, the Holy Ghost, eternal life. 9] These things cannot come but by the ministry of the Word and the Sacraments, as Paul says, Rom. 1:16: The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. 10] Therefore, since the power of the Church grants eternal things, and is exercised only by the ministry of the Word, it does not interfere with civil government; no more than the art of singing interferes with civil government. 11] For civil government deals with other things than does the Gospel. The civil rulers defend not minds, but bodies and bodily things against manifest injuries, and restrain men with the sword and bodily punishments in order to preserve civil justice and peace.

12] Therefore the power of the Church and the civil power must not be confounded. The power of the Church has its own commission to teach the Gospel and 13] to administer the Sacraments. Let it not break into the office of another; let it not transfer the kingdoms of this world; let it not abrogate the laws of civil rulers; let it not abolish lawful obedience; let it not interfere with judgments concerning civil ordinances or contracts; let it not prescribe laws to civil rulers concerning the form of the Commonwealth. 14] As Christ says, John 18:36: My kingdom is not of this world; 15] also Luke 12:14: Who made Me a judge or a divider over you? 16] Paul also says, Phil. 3:20: Our citizenship is in heaven; 17] 2 Cor. 10:4: The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the casting down of imaginations.

18] After this manner our teachers discriminate between the duties of both these powers, and command that both be honored and acknowledged as gifts and blessings of God.

20] When, therefore, the question is concerning the jurisdiction of bishops, civil authority must be distinguished from 21] ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Again, according to the Gospel or, as they say, by divine right, there belongs to the bishops as bishops, that is, to those to whom has been committed the ministry of the Word and the Sacraments, no jurisdiction except to forgive sins, to judge doctrine, to reject doctrines contrary to the Gospel, and to exclude from the communion of the Church wicked men, whose wickedness is known, and this without human force, 22] simply by the Word.

Why must my pastor, and other pastors that I have encountered, wear their politics on their clericals? What is the reasoning for this almost obsessive need to try to "fit in" with the rest of the world and proclaim to be a member of some part of the political spectrum? Whatever happened to the thought of being in the world, but not of it? As Romans 12:2 states, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

If anything, a pastor should be apolitical regarding politics. A pastor should know that there is not a party that fully embraces all of Christianity, especially a Lutheran understanding. It does not take a theologian to know that something man made like political institutions is inherently corrupt. As Psalm 146 states, we should "trust not in princes." Why do some want to do that?