Northwoods Seelsorger

Did Paul really mean what the 16th century reformers say he meant when he spoke of being "justified by faith"? Or was it something very different? Theologians of the biblical view called "the new perspective" argue that Paul's statement reflects something very different than what Reformation churches have long taught. Simon Bathercole, in "What Did Paul Really Mean?" ( Christianity Today, August 2007), reports on the essential argument in this trend within Pauline scholarship that attempts to reinterpret what Paul meant when he wrote about justification. "The difference between old and new perspectives," writes Bathercole, "can be summed up briefly. In the old perspective, works of the law are human acts of righteousness performed in order to gain credit before God. In the new perspective, works of the law are elements of Jewish law that accentuate Jewish privilege and mark out Israel from other nations." The "new perspe...

Over the years I have enjoyed conservative political talk radio. I think I discovered Rush Limbaugh while driving long commutes to area hospitals back in the early 90's in Michigan. Sean Hannity was my next discovery a half dozen or more years ago. It was refreshing to hear intelligent counterpoint to the singular point of view given by the major newscasters. Conservative talk shows are still largely limited to radio. If you are lucky and can get FOX, you can pick some of it up on TV or Cable. But the big three - ABC, NBC, and CBS - still dominate the regular air waves. I wouldn't imagine that they would feel threatened. Their influence remains widespread. But alas! there are rumbles within the ranks on Capital Hill that the Fairness Doctrine might be resurrected to counter the conservative talk radio success. The Fairness Doctrine was originally part of a 1949 FCC regulation that required broadcasters to "afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of ...

According to Life Decisions International, a Washington D.C. -based pro-life organization, there was a 3.9 percent increase in the number of abortions performed by Planned Parenthood between 2004 and 2005. They have also admitted to to having sold 1,245, 506 "emergency" birth control kits in '05, an almost 26.6 percent increase over the previous year. These kits are are mainly sold over the phone and via Internet orders, but without the requirement of an actual physical examination of the woman. The kits can precipitate an abortion. Also, Planned Parenthood receives $270 in government funds each year. All this in light of a recent CNN poll from May that demonstrated that up to 50% of Americans describe themselves as "pro-life," and only 45 as "pro-choice." We are obviously a nation divided on the question of life, but where the powers-that-be continue to both protect and propagate a practice that is clearly not in the best interest of the peopl...

As pastors we often hear the familiar apologetic statement, "I'm sorry to bother you pastor. I know how busy you are...." Such statements flatter our fragile egos. For busy means important. Busy implies great accomplishments. Busy shows sacrifice. Right? Not so, according to Eugene Peterson. In his recent book The Contemplative Pastor , Peterson writes that "the word busy is the symptom not of commitment but of betrayal. It is not devotion, but defection. The adjective busy set as modifier to pastor should sound to our ears like adulterous to characterize a wife or embezzling to describe a banker." Such words sound strong and almost insensitive. Yet he is wright, and the truth often hurts. Busy is a word we hide behind to cover up other weaknesses and shortcomings. Peterson identifies two reasons why pastors become busy : 1.) They are vain, and 2.) They are lazy. The first reason plays to our sense of importance. A busy doctor with a crowd...

Part of me hesitates to comment on this latest convention. For one thing I wasn't there, although the actions of the assembly are public knowledge. Another reason is that I find myself at cross-purposes with some of the directions of my church body, and I'm not sure how to express my reservations in an edifying manner. So, is that diplomatic, or not? After reading some of the observations of others and talking with one of our local delegates, here are some of my own thoughts: 1.) Control of the national leadership of Synod seems to be pretty much in the hands of one political group . However, looking at the voting results for the incumbent president with less than 53%, it is obvious that the synod is anything but unified around this leadership. 2.) Along with this control there is another related development as regards the involvement and decision making of the laity of Synod. In 2004 the dispute resolution policy was significantly changed, eliminating the possibi...

The Church of the Nazarene is in a kind of theological crisis. For all these years the doctrine of "entire sanctification" marked them theologically as clear descendants of John Wesley. However, as the Methodist-inspired denomination prepares to celebrate its centennial, there are brewing questions as to what this teaching implies - and whether it should be dropped or modified as they go into the future. Founded in 1908 by former Methodist minister Phineas Bresee, the Church of the Nazarene embraced entire sanctification (ES) from its beginning as an "act of God, subsequent to regeneration, by which believers are made free from original sin, or depravity, and brought into a state of entire devotement [sic] to God, and the holy obedience of love made perfect." From the perspective of this Lutheran the doctrine of ES is confusing and troubling at the same time. It's clearly a Law-Gospel muddle. For starters ES easily leads to a legalism that crowds out t...

The past two weeks have taken me from a wet and cramped tent in a Northwoods Boy Scout camp to a spartan 50's dorm room at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, with a brief interlude at home between these events to weed the garden, mow the lawn, pack my bags, write and preach a sermon, lead worship, attend a voter's meeting (where we agreed to adopt the Lutheran Service Book - hurray!), and then race to the airport in Green Bay. Thoroughly exhausting, but well worth it. The Writing for the Church Workshop that I attended this week in St. Louis exceeded my expectations. The CPH editors who led the session this week (Rev. Ed Engelbrecht and Dr. Rodney Rathmann) provided a first-rate experience for this budding writer. After many years of countless conventions and conferences that tried my patience and wore out my endurance through tedium, this week was a refreshing relief. Engaged from beginning to end, I can't think of a moment when the workshop did not feel productive....

As I write this I am sitting at Tesomas Boy Scout Camp (Rhinelander, WI) where my son is spending the week. I agreed to serve as scoutmaster for the week, so I am quite busy. It's like being a dad to 19 junior high through senior high kids: camp counselor, troop administrator, troubleshooter, surrogate dad, etc... When I get back on Saturday I will have just enough time to prepare for the weekend, and then then I'm off again. This time it will be Concordia Seminary in St. Louis for the Church Writer's Workshop. I will be at the workshop until the Saturday following this one. I enjoy writing this blog, so count on me being back and writing soon again. But first I have to catch up with myself :) Blessings to all who stop here along the way and read! Don Engebretson, dad, pastor, temporarily insane scoutmaster hoping I won't get 'tapped out' this evening at the OA ceremony....

For some time now it has been standard operating procedure for any organization or business to have a "mission statement." The idea behind it is that it creates a focus around which the group organizes its work and activity. Churches, naturally, got in on the idea as well, and began crafting mission statements in a rainbow of colors. I never entirely understood this, though. Businesses and organizations vary widely in their purpose (profit vs. non-profit, etc). The church, however, has only one mission. The different incarnations of the church, be they large mega churches numbering in the thousands, or tiny rural parishes barely hanging on, all exist for one reason. They are all called by their Lord to "make disciples of all nations" by means of baptizing and proclaiming the Gospel (Matt. 28:19). As the national convention of the LCMS looms just ahead this month, I am reminded of the tension that exists when we talk about mission in the church. ...

In the beginning children were integral to the meaning of marriage. God told the first man and woman to "be fruitful and multiply." Of course it has always helped to have a relationship that was supportive and caring and emotionally fulfilling. But that wasn't the primary purpose way back then. Times have changed over the centuries and millenia , though. According to David Crary of the Associated Press, "the percentage of Americans who consider children 'very important' to a successful marriage has dropped sharply since 1990, and more now cite the sharing of household chores as pivotal, according to a sweeping survey." How far have children fallen in importance to a 'successful' (I really don't like that word!) marriage? In the Pew Research Center survey on marriage and parenting they have plummeted to 8 out of 9. They are behind other criteria such as "adequate income" and "happy sexual relationship." And the ...