Daniel Baker has left a new comment on your post "Words of Wisdom":
I really think that Northwest SD Lutheran's last paragraph sums up the situation nicely. Pastors and teachers are simply not teaching adequately (if at all) what a vital and biblical foundation the written and sacramental Word of God is to the Church.
So-called "Lutherans" like to pretend that they present the Sacraments in their biblical truth and purity, but the reality is that they are diminished to ordinances in the same manner as they are among the Protestant sects. The Sacraments are relegated to bi-monthly (or less) mandates, which is no doubt a prominent factor behind the diminishing use of liturgy - of what use is the mass when its core and chief purpose is removed? What is the Church offering if not our crucified and risen Lord? This is why "Lutherans" are resorting to felt-needs "evangelism."
Likewise, the written Word - though widely acclaimed as of the utmost importance (as it is among the various Reformed/Evangelical sects) - is in reality seen as a document that we need to analyze and examine with our reason; one that we need to "dig deep" into in order to increase our own understanding.
This is a predominant view among Protestants and faux-Lutherans, one which directly conflicts with the work of the Holy Spirit as the life-giving Author of faith and enlightening Sanctifier of souls. We cannot accept the simple truth of the Gospel. No, we have to add SOMETHING to it. It HAS to be more difficult than it seems. Of course, this is a fallacy. As the hymnist wrote: "Nothing can be added, no word on bended knee, beyond the simple Gospel -- My Savior calls for me."
The problem, as always, is anthropocentrism. The first thing that needs to change is our man-centered ideologies with regard to the Word and Sacraments. If that occurs, all the other problems we have in the WELS (and Lutheranism as a whole) will slowly fade away.
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GJ - Twice a month is quite an improvement over once a month. The Pietistic Lutheran standard was three times a year. In Ontario, which was a blend of orthodoxy and Pietims in the old days, Holy Communion was offered once a month and most people left during the communion hymn.
The Syn Conference is a blend of Pietism and post-Concord orthodoxy. Pietism has been victorious, so now the trendy copy-cat Emergent Church parishes (The SORE, CrossWalk) hide Holy Communion or avoid it altogether.
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LutherRocks has left a new comment on your post "Not Even Lutheran":
What power is left in the Sacraments when all men are already forgiven according to UOJ; Before they were even born?
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GJ - They never face their contradictions. Since a baby is justified before he is born, does he "make a decision" as J. P. Meyer said, when he is baptized? I would love to hear Jay Webber explain that riddle.
