Why Christian News? There are many less than compelling reasons to continue Christian News: just because it is 57 years old and people are used to receiving it; for the memory of Herman Otten and his work; to relive the glory days of Christianity in America and the LCMS; as a tribute to the steadfastness … Continue reading Why Christian News?
A Pastoral Letter in the on-going Pandemic
Dear saints of God, Health is a fleeting thing for the dying. Trying to save your own life—at all costs—means denying the righteous life Jesus lived for us. While the virus-induced pandemic is a tragedy we pray for an end to, it has put many souls in jeopardy. This is the greatest risk: the loss … Continue reading A Pastoral Letter in the on-going Pandemic
Who is my Neighbor and who should I Love in Turbulent and Troubling Times?
Most all agree, in principle, that we should love and help our neighbors. But the purveyors of racial justice have grouped disparate people together by a very superficial and difficult to define characteristic. The biblical justification for leaders pushing this agenda in the church (Lutherans for Racial Justice, for example in the LCMS) is the … Continue reading Who is my Neighbor and who should I Love in Turbulent and Troubling Times?
Lutherans Going East: If You’re Going to Run Through the Bosporus Give Heed to CCR
Pastor Paul Harris Trinity Lutheran, Austin, TX Originally Published June 6, 2020 in Christian News PDF File:Download According to Wikipedia: “The Bosporus or Bosphorus is a narrow, natural strait and an internationally significant waterway located in northwestern Turkey. It forms part of the continental boundary between Europe and Asia, and divides Turkey by separating Anatolia … Continue reading Lutherans Going East: If You’re Going to Run Through the Bosporus Give Heed to CCR
Free Speech in Society and in the Church
Free speech is oftentimes simply an excuse to say anything of a divisive or offensive nature. But “free” does not mean that words do not have consequences. Rather, it is that the words and the ideas they express should stand on their own. External power, rule, pressure, and influence seem more useful, but when connected … Continue reading Free Speech in Society and in the Church
Lutherans for Racial Justice”: LCMS Pastor Calls for a New Gospel
The following is an edited partial transcript of a youtube “sermon” against racial injustice by LCMS pastor Matthew Ryan González of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, The Bronx, New York, posted on LutheransForRacialJustice.com. His church website states: “he serves as the chair of the Atlantic District Conference Committee and as a member of Atlantic District Task … Continue reading Lutherans for Racial Justice”: LCMS Pastor Calls for a New Gospel
Guilt and Reddress
Activism, protests, and legalism To be racist is said to be the greatest sin in our world—even greater than murder—and if you don’t say the correct three word magic phrase today—you are labeled as such. But words do have meaning and should be more than a political tool and symbol for outrage at perceived injustice. … Continue reading Guilt and Reddress
Martin Luther on Procreation
From Luther’s Lectures on Genesis in Luther’s Works What, then, is the reason for this remarkable procreation?...But the theologians say, far more reliably, that these events take place through the working of the Word, because it is said here: “He blessed them and said: ‘Increase and multiply.’” This Word is present in the very body … Continue reading Martin Luther on Procreation
Martin Luther on Suicide
It is often cited that Luther had a liberal, modern attitude toward suicide. Luther’s oft-referenced thought is from the Table Talk, which is not the written words of Luther himself, but purport to be recorded from Luther’s informal conversations (around the table). The much-quoted passage reads: I don’t share the opinion that suicides are certainly … Continue reading Martin Luther on Suicide
The Cause of the Suicide Crisis
The world cannot understand why people—young, affluent people, at that--do not want to live. We have so much wealth, freedom, entertainment, and pleasure—it seems. But these are not what we need, or were created for. What we were built for is meaning, purpose, and divine hope. But society has tried to get rid of the … Continue reading The Cause of the Suicide Crisis
Eucharistic Fasting or Self-Justification?
Some Lutherans have picked up the Roman language of “Eucharistic fasting” recently, applying it to not being able to receive the Lord’s Supper because many public church services are not being held. There are several problems with it, though it might be appealing at first glance. Fasting is biblical, but only in the sense that … Continue reading Eucharistic Fasting or Self-Justification?
