tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5728845570179741211.post4164151531114964059..comments2023-11-16T00:38:23.751-08:00Comments on Stand Firm: Christian First; Lutheran Second?Scott Diekmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03227142854778319475noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5728845570179741211.post-2362877500108963882012-09-03T15:14:37.157-07:002012-09-03T15:14:37.157-07:00I agree Joe, On Being a Christian ought to be requ...I agree Joe, <i>On Being a Christian</i> ought to be required reading.<br /><br />Thanks for the compliment John.<br /><br />I'm actually a layman Derek. Thanks for reading.Scott Diekmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03227142854778319475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5728845570179741211.post-90903244207344508582012-09-03T11:35:58.548-07:002012-09-03T11:35:58.548-07:00Pastor,
I was referred to your post off Brothers...Pastor, <br /><br />I was referred to your post off Brothers of John the Steadfast and am very encouraged by it. Too often, many Lutherans I know overcompensate when they interact with other Christians, feeling as if they will come off as judgmental. Perhaps a better way to say it is we are Christians who just happen to observe the theology in the Lutheran tradition because it best reflects the Scriptures. It's tough-we don't want to alienate fellow Christian, but at the same time, we shouldn't oversimplify our differences or say that they aren't important. We can still hold to our Lutheran identity and treat other Christians with respects. Thanks again, and God's blessings.Derek Johnsonhttp://derekjohnsonmuses.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5728845570179741211.post-29535227094411992692012-09-03T05:35:53.335-07:002012-09-03T05:35:53.335-07:00Excellent post, Scott.
This also explains the sa...Excellent post, Scott. <br />This also explains the same confusion of many lay people. Perhaps Lutherans apologize for being Lutheran because they don't understand what being Lutheran means. <br />When a pastor feeds his flock a steady diet of Beth Moore, The Story, Rick Warren and The Shack this is what happens. <br />When youth directors usher their youth to non-denominational retreats, promote artists that melodiously croon about what we can do for God this is what happens.<br />When Sunday School and VBS uses non-Lutheran materials, this is what happens. <br />When new member instruction becomes a weekend retreat, this is what happens.<br />When Lutherans don't know the difference between the theology of glory and theology of the cross, because they have not been taught, this is what happens.John Brandthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06694520585756434122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5728845570179741211.post-61588545330627810432012-09-03T05:16:13.439-07:002012-09-03T05:16:13.439-07:00From "On Being a Christian," by Henry Ha...From "On Being a Christian," by Henry Hamann (Northwestern Publishing House):<br />"The sentence 'I am a Lutheran because I am a Christian' asserts<br />(1) that the Christian faith is clearly revealed, (2) that it can be grasped and understood, (3) that it can be accurately stated, taught, and confessed, and (4) that this has been done in traditional Lutheranism. It is a further consequence of this conviction to hold that convinced members of other denominations would think exactly the same way about their view of the Christian message--and, thinking that way, would reject my views which are specifically Lutheran. The big enemy of the true Christian faith is compromise, toleration, and the spirit that we all are right--as if the important thing is not to be Lutheran, but to be Christian without any denominational confession whatever." pp. 11,12 <br /><br />Ought to be required reading.<br /><br />Joe StrieterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com