Northwoods Seelsorger

The other night I was perusing through the book Handling the Word of Truth by John Pless , and ran across a brief discussion of the RC teaching known in Latin as 'ex opere operato ' [Lit: "by the work working," or "from the work having worked."] This is the point that Lutherans usually cry foul regarding what we see as the blatant works righteousness of their sacramental theology. The point comes from the idea that the sacraments are supposedly "beneficial to those who receive them by virtue of 'the doing of the act," as Pless notes. "This turns the gift into a performance that merits grace - a work of human beings rather than the work of the Lord." (94) As I read this I began to think back to a comment I heard on Relevant Radio (the RC popular radio program that specializes in conservative Catholic apologetics, among other things) in one of the sermons by Fr. Corapi . He was commenting on the doctrine of ex opere operat...

It has been noted that history is written by the victors, not the vanquished. However, when it comes to writing textbooks for our schools and universities, history, it would seem is usually written by the politically correct liberal elite. It has been noticed for some time now that a historical revisionism has been taking place in our school's history books with a shift in emphasis. The founding fathers, being white mainstream fellows, were heavily edited in favor of history that highlighted women and minorities of note. And then there was the religion issue. With an increasingly pluralistic nation highly sensitive about offending anyone about anything, and with the ACLU valiantly attempting to erase any connection between faith and the nation, matters religious were also quietly edited out of history as if they were really only fringe moments of passing interest anyway. A recent AP article by Richard N. Ostling , however, gives the impression that the recent publication ...

Few churches - certainly few Lutheran churches - will pause to hold worship services in honor of the minor festivals between Christmas and New Years Day. I count myself fortunate to be in an older country parish that still has a tradition of having an Ascension Day Service. How many Lutheran parishes today still hold a service on such a day? I would imagine few. (I know I am the last one in my circuit to still have one!) The parishes I have served over the last 19+ years have never observed the festivals of St. Stephen, St. John, or the Holy Innocents. Yet here in cyberspace I have the opportunity to observe them, even if ever so briefly. I think that the last of these festivals, the Holy Innocents, especially needs to be remembered. Read the brief account at Matthew 2: 13-18. These little nameless martyrs may not have numbered more than a couple of dozen in all of little Bethlehem, but they were still innocent and unnecessary victims of Herod's satanic rage. Herod, of ...

The image to the right is a copy of the Orthodox icon I have in my office at the church. My wife gave it to me as a birthday gift a couple of years ago since my birthday falls on the Minor Festival of St. John, which is today. I suppose if my mother had been Orthodox or RC, I may have been named John instead of the Celtic name of Don (Donald.) What I find interesting about the inscription on the icon is what John is called. In the usual propers for this day John is listed (at least in LW ) under the broader heading of the Evangelists along with Mark, Matthew and Luke. But this icon adds the additional title of "Theologian." John's symbol, the eagle, has sometimes been explained on the basis that his gospel "soars" in terms of its beautiful and lofty writing. But more than beauty is here. A careful look at this gospel shows that he is every bit the theologian when it comes to addressing key issues about the doctrine of God and Christ. By the time t...

It seems odd to follow the joyous day of Christ's birth with the remembrance of one of the church's first martyrs. However, for those who truly understand the essence of Christmas, maybe it's not so strange to turn our attention briefly to this event. For we know that closely connected with the birth of our Lord was the activity of Satan stirring Herod to murderous acts of jealousy, resulting in the church's truly first martyrs: the slaughter of Bethlehem's innocents. Christ came into the world as it's savior, which meant He came to suffer and die. Christmas and Good Friday, and ultimately Easter, are all one seamless robe of witness. There is no glory without the suffering, no crown without the cross. Stephen's work in the church was admittedly short-lived. Appointed deacon in Acts 6 to assist the work of the apostles, he is dead by the end of Acts 7. Yet, as happens even in such brief periods of work, much more may be done that is realized. ...

I am about to go over for our annual Sunday School Christmas Pageant and watch the children tell the ancient, but timeless story of the birth of God's Son. For some it will simply be another 'cute moment,' and the deeper message will be lost on the gazing onlookers. But I am hoping that after all those practices of reciting the passages, that the children have internalized this story deep within their hearts. It's hard to get kids to memorize anything these days. Yet, as with the liturgy, 'repetition is the mother of all learning.' We do this pageant every other year, and the script was put together by me several years ago. It is virtually all quotations from the gospels. At any rate, this post was originally intended for a much simpler purpose: To wish any who have been frequenting my humble little blog a very blessed and joy-filled Christmas. May you be comforted by the knowledge that the one born this night is our Savior from sin and death, th...

Last Sunday in Bible class some members asked me why we don't hear much about Mary. Good question. Lutherans have historically been sensitive to Catholic excesses with regard to Mary. The list could include: her immaculate conception, her assumption into heaven, her role as coredemptrix , and her special status as intercessor to the Son (all of which do not have direct Biblical witness.) The omnipresence of Mary statues in countless front yards seems to reinforce in the non- Catholic mind the sense that Mary ranks a bit to high in the hierarchy of heaven for Protestant taste. However, with all that said, Lutherans (and Protestants/ Evangelicals, etc.) must admit that we have historically given Mary short-shrift. This Sunday in the Gospel of Luke, the first chapter, we will hear again as Elizabeth declares her "blessed among women." Mary herself, in the beloved hymn the Magnificat , will also prophesy that " throughout all generations - people will call be...

[Note: I had made it a goal to write at least one post per day. However, I was sick yesterday with some kind of intestinal -stomach bug. Thus, Wednesday was spent almost entirely on the coach...] Based on my experiences from premarital counseling as a pastor, the latest AP article in yesterday's paper was not a surprise. A disappointment, perhaps, but not a surprise. "New study finds nine in 10 had premarital sex encounters," was the title several pages from the front. I guess for the editor it wasn't really all that new either. In fact, if I found an honest-to-goodness couple who didn't fit this profile I'd probably fall off my chair. The study notes that "the high rates extend even to women born in the1940's, challenging the perceptions that people were more chaste in the past." However, given that those born in the 1940's were young women in the sexual revolution of the 1960s, I can't say that I'm all that surprised. No...

It's risky to write about something you haven't seen. Not that I don't want to see the latest movie The Nativity Story . I simply haven't had the chance yet. So, for anyone who reads this and has seen the movie, your insights and comments are most welcome. Rev. Jack Cascione has written a nice review entitled "Hollywood Preaches the Gospel in 'Nativity.'" Two items stand out in his comments - One, he notes "the clarity of the Gospel in this movie..." Specifically he points to the Wise Men who at one point say, point-blank: "This is God in the flesh." I am very pleased to hear that the Gospel does not get short shrift in a day when so many in Hollywood are probably paranoid about being to specific about the claims of the scriptures - paranoid of giving offense. Secondly, Pastor Cascione notes the realism of the film. He writes: "I loved the practicality and matter of fact approach of the story line. We are spared the syr...

I knew that those of more liberal persusions within the LCMS were becoming increasingly bold in their rhetoric, especially since the '04 synodical convenion. It's still interesting, however, to see what new direction they are willing to push without impunity. The latest directions to expect can be found in a recent DayStar Journal article by Robert Schmidt entitled "The Ecumenical Vision." Toward the end of the article Schmidt lays the cards on the table with this call: "Ecumenical involvement for the LCMS should not be just an afterthought but should figure prominently in a new agenda for the synod. Joining our sister church bodies around the world, congregations should submit resolutions to the next synodical convention to apply for at least associate membership in the Lutheran World Federation. " Historically the LCMS has resisted membership in the LWF (Lutheran World Federation) at any level. We have understood, however, that it is acceptable in the...

There is probably a difference of opinion as to whether John the Baptizer actually had doubts about Jesus as the Christ. In the Luke 7 pericope this morning (for those who follow the newest 3-year series out of CPH!), John sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he is the one to come or if they should look for another. Was he doing this for his followers only, or for himself as well? For myself I entertained the possibility that John had his own questions about what he was hearing about Jesus. Dr. Just's commentary on Luke was helpful here. He said that a "straightforward reading" of the text supported this interpretation. I concurred. But why should John have doubts? Remember that a part of John's preaching involved the coming judgment. All reports of Jesus to that point would not have noted any judgment. Certainly John must have wondered. Did he also wonder, if Isaiah predicted of the Messiah that the captives would be set free, why he was still in pris...

It's been a fairly well known reality that the Roman Catholic church has been in a massive sell-off of church edifices for the last several years. The shortage of priests has been one struggle. But it's also a matter of economics. In my own area I'm watching as the various parishes all coalesce into one mega cathedral, rural ethnic churches dropping by the wayside one by one. Associated Press Writer Dinesh Ramde in her article “Sales of idled churches grow, demand creativity,” comments about this phenomena and how it affects Catholic churchgoers who often balk at the ‘creative’ ways the churches are used by future buyers. However, aside from this Catholic reaction, I found one comment in her article of particular interest, especially as it relates to churches and numbers in our own circles. She quotes the Rev. Richard Liska, who is pastor of St. Stephan church in Milwaukee, built in 1847, which sits about a mile from the airport and faces an ‘adult lounge’ and a park...

I suppose it was the next logical step after a best-selling series of novels. And perhaps its indicative of the Evangelical need for continual relevance. So one should not be too surprised by the introduction of the latest real-time military strategy video game to hit the market: Left Behind: Eternal Forces (which retails, I read, for a cool $39.99!) The USA Today (12-14) featured an article about the cotroversy surrounding the game's introduction. ""It's faith-based killing that teaches God wants people dead if they don't see Chist as you do.' says the Rev. Tim Simpson, head of Christian Alliance for Progress, who played the game. 'Jesus would have turned the other cheek.'" (7A) Tim LaHaye, author of the series upon which this game is based, endorsed the game. His response to the opposition was: 'These groups don't attack other violent video games. Their real attack is on our theology." Well, I'm not sure what the Rev....

At the end of last month, Jason Kane of the Religious News Service reported on a study by the Barna Group that could be very insightful for the church. The article is appropriately titled: "Rick Who? Most Americans Don't Recognize Major Christian Leaders." Part of me is not surprised, given the narrow interest many Americans have in the broader world and the dominance entertainment has over the public's attention. However, this may be quite insightful for Christians who assume that they are really having a huge impact on the culture of our day. One would have thought that Tim LaHaye, author of the best selling fiction of all time (the "Left Behind" series), would have been better known. Or even Rick Warren, who Kane claims, sold more copies of his "Purpose Driven Life"than any other nonfictionwork except the Bible. But alas, the public at large, and it would seem even many in the so-called Christian community, are not aware of these accom...

Every pastor preaches to be heard, but what is the reception really like out there? Many of us, while we might express curiosity, are probably very reluctant to know for sure. The person in the pew, for the most part, will form his or her opinions, but will seldom express them - at least not to the preacher. Some, who do not like what they hear, will act on those opinions by becoming less active in church, claiming it to be a waste of time, since they "don't get anything out of the sermon." As pastors we are trained in the art of homiletics. We are taught principals of public speaking and communication, as well as the art of exegesis (the study and interpretation of the Word in the original). We realize that we are applying the Word to real people, so many of us, it is hoped, truly work to understand what our people need to hear. This is the bare essense of the task. Yet in the midst of this there are many other points that the man or woman in the pew also c...

Occasionally I hear of pastors suffering from depression, and my heart goes out to them. Anyone who has served any time in the pastoral ministry knows the unique stress it brings and the vulnerability to mental strain and burnout. I commend the pastor who has even begun a blog devoted to his experiences with depression and mental disability. You can check it out here . Both of my parents suffered from depression before they died. My father, who was a 23 year vet of the Army probably had Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, but they weren't that far along in this area when he retired in '63. My mother suffered from anxiety and panic attacks and depression to the end of her life, and it was the anti-anxiety meds that finally tipped the balance of her health and sent her spiriling into dementia. A look at their lives certainly reveals why they suffered as they did. The stress of combat, alcoholism, the pain of loss, the list goes on. Pastors are not immune to the pressures o...

Recently at the meeting of the COP (Council of Presidents), a new "alternate-route" to the pastoral ministry was again suggested. Details were sketchy, but I'll admit I already have my concerns. You can read the LCMS News Release article here . Later in the same article they also reported on the number of vacancies in Synod: "District presidents reported a total of 814 pastoral vacancies in LCMS congregations. Of those, 371 are in congregations that are not calling men to fill those vacancies, and 443 are in congregations that are calling. The category breakdown for the calling congregations is for 328 sole pastors, 54 senior pastors, and 61 associate or assistant pastors." We have a problem in the LCMS regarding the ministry, which is no mystery to any who have been around a while. Recently I talked with someone in the DELTO program and discovered that there were no requirements for Greek at all. None! I know the Baptists and others don't require ...

I am writing two posts today, aware that I may not get to the computer much tomorrow. There is a brief antlerless season for the next few days, and since I did not fill my tag, I'm thinking of giving it one more shot..... At any rate, I ran across a nice post in Weedon's Blog entitled "Weedon's Miscellaneous Thoughts for New Pastors." I think that it offers much good thought for seasoned pastors as well. His insights betray a pastor with experience. I appreciate his true love and sensitivity to the parish and the sheep under the shepherd's care. All pastors would do well in reading his list. I will be the first to confess that I am not doing all that is on his list. It's not that I disagree. It's simply more a matter of sinful human flesh. His reading list of Luther's House Postils, Chemnitz, Walther, the Book of Concord and the Father is a good summary. I have these in my library, but, again, confess that my reading of them is ina...

Myth #4 from Eckhardt's article is printed below, so I won't repeat it again here. Anyway, I want to expand on his idea with a related myth of my own, namely, "the notion that the work of missions means increasing the number of people in church." I have heard this notion over the course of my ministry, and it oftentimes comes out during times of financial strain. "If only we had more people coming to church, then we would have more money." The related collorary involves getting inactives back in church, which perpetuates the idea that some people in the church will attend and give and be active if only we remind them to come from time to time. (I guess their inactivity couldn't possibly be linked to a lack of faith since they avoid God's very Word and Supper?) Now aside from the poor theology of these notions, let's take note first of all of the horrible manipulation and self-serving aspect of these ideas. Think about it - We want you to...

In the most recent issue of Gottesdienst magazine, Dr. Burnell F. Eckardt, Jr. continues an article he began in the previous issue regarding pastors and parishes in troubling situations. Apparently he received more letters in response to this than of any other he had written, leading him to believe that this situation may be more widespread and pandemic than first realized by many. I share with you here the "myths" he debunks, and welcome your response. The website for Gottesdienst is here. Five Myths: 1.) The first myth is the assertion that the pastor in a troubled parish is a pure oddity, a singularly awful example of a Christian leader, and that's why our church is in such trouble. 2.) The second myth is the assertion that if you had only done things a little more slowly or carefully, you wouldn't have had all this trouble. 3.) Th third myth is the idea that if you can't get through to many of the people here, maybe it's time you moved on. 4.) The...

In yesterday's local paper my eye caught an op-ed piece by Kathryn Jean Lopez. It was entitled "For Christ's sake - literally," which you can read at townhall.com . The article begins with a straight-forward confession of her faith, as one who celebrates "the birth of Jesus Crhist, the son of God, my Savior." But then she adds shortly thereafter: "And I sure as heck don't want to have a political debate over it," meaning her desire to actually celebrate this holiday for what it is. What she is referring to, which some of you are no doubt familiar with, is the annual war on Christmas. John Gibson of the Fox News Channel even wrote a book entitled: "War on Christmas: How the Liberal Plot to Ban the Sacred Christian Holiday Is Worse Than You Thought." I am fortunate, I suppose, because I live in a rather small town here in northern Wisconsin. This past Sunday evening I attended a community choir and band Christmas concert and t...

By now many in cyberspace, especially confessional Lutheran cyberspace, have heard about the departure of John Fenton from the LCMS to Eastern Orthodoxy. Last night I listened to the interview where he chronicles his journey to Orthodoxy. He also has provided a written account on his blog Conversi ad Dominum . I have also read many reactions on several blogs, and have found many useful insights. Thus, I'm not sure that there is much for me to offer here that has probably not already been said, and that, in a better way than I could, if I tried. I knew John by reputation, not personally. He was a couple of years behind me at Ft. Wayne. Over the last few years others too have left the LCMS for Orthodoxy and I can well suspect that my beloved alma matter has beem implicated on more than one occasion. However, being a Ft. Wayne grad and having even studied some patristics under no less than Dr. Weinrich himself, I can't say that I ever felt even a slight tempation fr...

For almost two years now I have been part of a study group that is working its way through the various writings of Hermann Sasse. I have long enjoyed his works, and credit him with saving me theologically at a critical point early in my ministry. Currently we are in the book The Lonely Way: Selected Essays and Letters, Vol. I , 1927-1939 (CPH, 2001) . In his essay from 1938 "The Church at the Turn of the Year," it seems that Sasse has some particularly comforting and encouraging words as we begin a new church year and anticipate a new secular year as well: "The church has a relationship to time quite different from that of the world. The world hastens toward its end. It has some inkling of this but yet will not admit it. The world sees death ahead as an inescapable fate and seeks to overcome it, though it well knows that it is the world that shall be overcome. The anguish of death and longing for 'deeper, deeper eternity' speak alike from the great works...

With the old One Year Series it would have been customary to hear the account of Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem as the first Gospel pericope of Advent. Since the 3 Year Series became standard fare when I became a pastor 19 years ago, I honestly can't recall preaching on this account at any time in my ministry - until today. Curious as to how others may have handled such a text normally reserved for Palm Sunday, I searched the internet for ideas. Much to my surprise the homeletical treatment of this text for Advent was a desert. The Luke 19 reading is listed as an alternate, and predictably the first text from Luke 21 is usually used. Quite honestly, I would not have used the second text had not our pre-printed CPH bulletins chosen it for me (the lectionary within a lectionary??). Interestingly, the One-Year series in LW uses the Luke 19 pericope rather than the older Gospel from Matthew 21, which is from TLH. At any rate I found Jesus' entry into Jerusa...

Keith Ellison will become the first Muslim member of the US Congress in January. I am surprised that he is the first. There is nothing shocking here. We have certainly had Muslims in government for some time now. However, his plans for the oath ceremony seems to have riled a few conservatives. He wants to use a Quran (Koran) instead of a Bible as part of his taking of the oath of office. Considering his faith, this is no surprise. However, conservatives are up in arms over this. Dennis Prager on his site Townhall .com went so far as to say that his use of the Quran "undermines American civilization." Come again? I'm sorry, but I think that is a bit of an over- reaction. For one thing, the use of the Bible has, according to the AP article I read today, is part of a "photo-op ceremony," not the actual swearing in, which takes place on the House Floor with the whole congress assembled. Secondly, while I am a firm supporter of seeing faith in the p...