tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post4793321856573686002..comments2023-11-05T02:55:10.230-06:00Comments on Gottesdienst Online: Worship as WorkPr. H. R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16756503062523543708noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-75755258848936529952012-02-08T16:00:48.209-06:002012-02-08T16:00:48.209-06:00Oops. My bad. It was never, ever my intent to re...Oops. My bad. It was never, ever my intent to refer to the Rev. President-Emeritus Kieschnick after the manner in which that quintessential used-car salesman, Mr. Trump, is referred to by mere millions. The Donald is, well, he<i> is</i> “the Donald.” The Rev. Kieschnick is very much “the Rev. Kieschnick” ... not "the Kieschnick." <br /><br />Unfortunately, it appears as though my fumbling fingers should be fired from assuming editing skills. Unpredictable things invariably happen, seemingly at random.<br /><br />I’d attempt to find out if the behavior is more guided, but the couch is currently occupied by an elephant. For all I know, it’s a therapist wanting to be friendly and establish a "therapeutic alliance," after the theory of Carl Rogers ... and a cleric or two. And who knows what sort of fees will be charged by the elephant, in consequence, if the TARP stimulus of 2008 is any evidence?<br /><br />By the way, I have no idea if the Donald has ever heard the stinging words, “You’re fired!,” addressed to his person. But I should hope that we, as a collective nation, will never be faced with the task of voting him from the presidency.Michael L. Anderson, M.D., Ph.Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13158953802996685938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-74280633933521196322012-02-08T15:26:02.441-06:002012-02-08T15:26:02.441-06:00The church is a community, people drawn out and dr...<i>The church is a community, people drawn out and drawn together by Christ.</i><br /><br />Hmm. I do wish the Rev. Louderback and the Kieschnick would express Lutheran things accurately, although it is quite true: they are expressing their theology ... which, as Fr. Petersen observes in his essay ... is perceptibly different from our own. At last! The rogue elephant, smugly sitting on the living room couch, has been sighted.<br /><br />The Church actually an entity incorporated into Christ, which is something quite different from that perception of Christ as the Great Recruiter, molding kids into a formidable bowl team, so as to win one for the Triune Gipper.<br /><br />The Church is where comes the Presence who serves. Outside that Divine Service, the revivified Church is indeed to work while there is yet day. Be all things to all men, there. But the mandate to be a cheery coach or gushing guidance counselor, when God is in His temple, is not from God but something from the spirit of Uzzah. Uzzah wanted to set right, something wobbly. His motivation was good, but short-sighted and theologically unorthodox. Setting the Ark of the Promise/Presence on top of a "new" (not my word, but that of the Authorized Version translation; cf. 2 Sam 6:3) ox-cart can lead to difficulties (call the cart "extroversion," if you will; it is the "new" burden assigned to Christian Church by the ex-Prez of the LCMS ... but all done with a toothy smile, no doubt, thank you!).<br /><br />The off-the-track, "Friendliness is Key," "Odd Fellows Lodge, But With Offering Baskets" perceptions of those like the Revs. Kieschnick and Louderback will only lead, inevitably, to further divisions and a behavioral laxity ... including the eating and drinking of Holy Things, to the destruction of those who do not recognize what is Holy.<br /><br /><i>"But Lord, we were only trying to be <b>adorable</b>, with the hugs and back-slapping and the loud checkered sport-coats ..."</i>Michael L. Anderson, M.D., Ph.Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13158953802996685938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-43201009361584929642012-02-07T10:45:51.841-06:002012-02-07T10:45:51.841-06:00When he says “one reason” people come to church is...When he says “one reason” people come to church is the friendly atmosphere they expect and hope to find there, he means, of course, one reason, indeed, for him the main reason, that non-Christians come to Church is for social interaction.<br /><br />----<br /><br />This is like saying, one of the reasons I get married is for physical interaction with my spouse.<br /><br />While accurate, it is not exactly expressing the truth.<br /><br />I think the fact of the matter is that while people are not seeking God when they come to a service they also are seeking community.<br /><br />The church is a community, people drawn out and drawn together by Christ.<br /><br />And if a person sense that they are unwelcome by the community, would they really desire to return and be a part of it?<br /><br />I'm glad that you are siding with the priest and the levite who were obviously not extroverts and were focused on serving the elect—they didn't know and love the beaten man! — I'm sure they need their defenders. <br /><br />But if the Samaritan is the one commended by Jesus, maybe people can smile and welcome strangers when they come into church.<br /><br />Not go out of their way and to care for them. Just say hello. And introduce yourself. Too much to ask? Too much law? Too much burden? <br /><br />I visited my brother who doesn't really go to church and I dragged him to the local Lutheran church and not one person said hello. Great. <br /><br />It is all very well to pretend as thought the elect are being take care of — but the fact is that maybe you should be welcoming the elect who come into your presence as well. <br /><br />"Worship, for him, is a place for the faithful to perform the good work of evangelism." Indeed. If you are not going to do it in the comfort of your own church home, then are you really going to do it at all?<br /><br />Which...is sorta the point, isn't it?mqllhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03571180618331662493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-23915215701278095982012-02-04T20:07:29.156-06:002012-02-04T20:07:29.156-06:00I should say "little more than" instead ...<i>I should say "little more than" instead of "nothing more than."</i>Josh Schroederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18173257261432970776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-13928510018307050522012-02-04T20:05:54.032-06:002012-02-04T20:05:54.032-06:00You can find him on the twitter here:
http://twit...You can find him on the twitter here:<br /><br />http://twitter.com/drjerrykiesch<br /><br />N.B. - His twitter feed is nothing more than a broadcasting outlet for his weekly message.Josh Schroederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18173257261432970776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-21699803448593190872012-02-04T13:25:50.485-06:002012-02-04T13:25:50.485-06:00This idea is actually one of the reasons I ended u...This idea is actually one of the reasons I ended up at the seminary. I was an introvert (and still am in most situations), but as an introvert, in that kind of climate you really do get the idea that it is sinful to not be outgoing. Recognizing this about myself, clearly one way to force your own hand is to put yourself in a position where you have to speak. Thus, I found myself taking Pre-Sem classes.<br /><br />While in college, one prof also noticed that I wasn't that outgoing, and asked if I would write a paper on being a quiet Christian. I never took him up on the offer, as I wasn't sure that being quiet was a good thing -- how was I going to justify my introversion? It took quite a while to get out of that trap. Turns out Lutheranism has an answer -- and it's not that everyone must be an extrovert.scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14341565491215527784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-91237442562091281902012-02-04T12:45:29.734-06:002012-02-04T12:45:29.734-06:00When I gave the election schpiel in Indiana one pa...When I gave the election schpiel in Indiana one pastor actually stated that everyone was supposed to be an extrovert. This is the apogee of the problem you note. You're not a good Christian unless you are outgoing and draw other people to Christ. <br /><br />Just like you are not a good Christian unless you speak in tongues, or make a pilgrimage, or have read Law & Gospel. . . <br /><br />+HRCPr. H. R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16756503062523543708noreply@blogger.com