tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post3725837703217011784..comments2023-11-05T02:55:10.230-06:00Comments on Gottesdienst Online: Why?Pr. H. R.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16756503062523543708noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-23374556785333025032012-09-26T12:22:11.765-05:002012-09-26T12:22:11.765-05:00Wow!Wow!RobbieFishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14112535005437118728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-49269282581928510632012-09-26T11:15:11.989-05:002012-09-26T11:15:11.989-05:00Wish sem did a better job of preparing pastor'...Wish sem did a better job of preparing pastor's to go to church's that are Lutheran in name only.Gary Hall -- Bridgeton, NJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05880887471122164650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-70662951821049620302012-09-24T23:37:02.807-05:002012-09-24T23:37:02.807-05:00There is a reason that "fellowship" is t...There is a reason that "fellowship" is the elephant in Missouri's living room that nobody talks about. It is because it does not really exist. If all the pastors in Missouri actually kept their vows, followed the scriptures, followed the confessions, they know what will happen. They will be crucified. No one likes to be crucified. Not even Jesus.<br /><br />Satis est. But evidently that's not true any more. Do you want to know the answer? There it is. Unfortunately, that is the very thing that Missouri does not have. The unity around the Gospel (in the broad sense). It is a unity only in only so far as it does not slaughter someone's sacred cow.<br /><br />Always the same excuses. But if I taught the truth, people wouldn't tollerate it. Yes, that's right. They won't. And if you taught male headship, you will have thousands of women ready to leave, along with their husbands. You have that right. If you teach God's Word, people will hate you and leave. And so the answer is what? Don't teach the truth?<br /><br />As some famous St. Louis or Ft. Wayne professor or other said, the battle for the Bible was won. Now you must battle for the sufficiency of the Bible, that God's Word and true Christian preaching really does work, really does call people to repentance. That the sheep really do hear the voice of their shepherd, and will not follow another voice.<br /><br />If nothing more, at least admit that Missouri does not have any real unity at all. That it is really just a façade, and the "theological issues" that divide the synod are the differences between those who are your brethren, and those who are not.<br /><br />Admonish the old men as fathers, the old women as mothers, the young men as brothers, the young women as sisters. But don't forget, in the process, that it is still admonishment, and ultimately, many of these whom you admonish will reject your admonition, and they will reject you.<br /><br /><br />Martin Diershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14455045241461983409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-29961214844208180092012-09-24T17:24:32.099-05:002012-09-24T17:24:32.099-05:00O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the pr...O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!<br /><br />I hear Jeremiah was popular with all the right sort.<br /><br />You know stoning and tank smashing is still very popular in the Holy Land. <br /><br />If you haven't been stoned or bricked (we don't have stones here) to death yet, you must be doing "nothing" right.<br /><br />Where did Jesus go that he didn't confront and confuse. His own desciples understood him maybe half the time. The bible records him saying something really strange that caused most of his followers to leave him. If no one is leaving your church, you must be doing "nothing" right. <br /><br />Jesus never brought a steady eqilibrium to any place that he went. "I'm going to separate you, father from son, mother from daughter," pastor from pulpit.<br /><br />And the escapees hiding in nooks all round the church, those who have found sinecures and money flows that don't require any contact with the congregations, are they not blessed, rewarded?<br /><br />You do know that lawyers, German lawyers, were very influential in the statements that emanated from Altenburg. Walther was reacting to a fait accompli hoping it was not too late to change it. Are we still that same little church in Missouri, deeply ashamed of the bishop who wanted all the pretty young women in his bed, rather like the Mormon founders did?<br /><br />Like almost every other discussion we have, it's really about authority and respect. Herr Pastor, Pastor Beane, Pastor Larry, Larry, Pastor Man, my good buddy, Larry. <br /><br />I knew that when parishioners began to call their pastors by their first names that nothing good could come of it. You had authority because you had respect. Lots of professions are discovering that. Just think how much respect medical doctors will have when they are just another government employee and union member. <br /><br />Paul kept his self-respect by making tents and living off his own money. "I could order you to take him back, but I prefer to ask you kindly." It being understood that the order would come if the request were ignored. Crossing Paul was like spitting into the wind. You got a face full of spit and Paul still won the point. Paul had no sinecure, although many were happy to share what they had with him. I don't suppose his Roman home or guard were gratis. The Romans had a way of rubbing in the salt by charging you for your own simi-incarceration??<br /><br />This is an excellent article; I have seen every congregational and administrative sin he discribes for as far back as the 1950s. The dilemmas we know so well, the solutions are as he says, stay low and slow and wear something on your arm to deflect the brick-bats. Paul does describe it as warfare, only we didn't realize he meant church administrators and Christian congregations as being the opposing powers. The first few chapters of Revelation, though, tell us of 7 types of churches. It's nice to see John getting the last word on some of them.Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09777514643611989502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4778905687600416321.post-86635606524983285352012-09-24T15:37:57.755-05:002012-09-24T15:37:57.755-05:00I thought Missouri was all sunshine and rainbows. ...I thought Missouri was all sunshine and rainbows. God bless the Lutheran pastor who gets sent to an American Evangelical church.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com