I dont know who this ‘pastor’ is,
He’s quite well-known, being a convert from Evangelicalism and the author of “
Broken: 7 Rules Every Christian Should Break”. It’s a good book for his intended audience: young males who are new or less-than-firm in the faith.
I couldnt listen to his spiel (heard it before, ad nausem, from too many others my entire life).
Maybe you were hearing something you expected to hear, instead of what was being said.
I can answer the question about their recent seminarians. Lutherans will take anyone, from any background or education and ‘train’ them to be pastors. I have known some wonderful shepherd’s in the LCMS flock, they would make wonderful priests/deacons in the Catholic Church. But young seminarians are being indoctrinated with Calvinistic doctrine, not Luther’s.
This is uncalled for, untrue and unfair. LCMS Lutherans teach only Lutheran doctrine at two of the finest seminaries in the world, Concordia St. Louis and Concordia Ft. Wayne. They don’t take “just anyone.” Prospective students must have the approval of their pastor, the district president (bishop), pass several background checks, be proficient in Hebrew and Greek, have some experience with German and Latin, and have a bachelor’s degree (though this last one is not mandatory if they are older men with significant professional experience). Hardly “anyone from any background or education.”
The training (which did not need scare quotes) is real, immersive and challenging. Until a few years ago, they even shared Pastoral Care courses (hospital bedside manner, etc.) with Catholics, among others. Not all who make it to seminary become certified for ministry and ordained.
Interesting youtube title, Are Catholics Catholic? I have asked that question myself. I live in an area of old school Lutherans and Catholics who have intermarried. There is now a young LCMS pastor in town and he is very polemic also. Older Lutherans are set in their ways, but the younger, 40 and under group, have left to church their kids elsewhere, Baptist, non-denomination, Church of Christ, and yes, Catholic. So the question in the youtube title should really be, Are Lutherans Catholic? In their old red hymnal and the one replaced about 10 years ago, the creed read, One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. The newest hymnal changed that to, One Holy Christian and Apostolic Church.
Again, you’re terribly misinformed. The old red hymnal to which you refer, The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH 1941), used “Christian” almost exclusively. Why? Because the Lutherans who translated that hymnbook were German;
there was no German word for the English “catholic.” The new hymnal, Lutheran Service Book (LSB 2006), uses “Christian” for the Apostles and Nicene Creeds, and in a good way of teaching, includes an asterisk with the footnote saying “The ancient text reads ‘catholic,’ meaning universal.” The Athanasian Creed keeps the “catholic,” as it is the most concise Creed and is the most rarely read - so when it is read, it is properly explained. Surely you understand the difficulty in teaching non-religious folks the difference, in English, between Catholic and catholic? Bottom line: these are quirks of the English language, not proof of some terrible anti-Catholic conspiracy, as some would make it out to be.
I do hope, for the sake of unity (?) the Catholic Church would not do THAT.
I am a card carrying Old School Catholic, with sympathies towards my Old School Lutherans (the ones who genuflect, cross themselves and pray the rosary), yes, they do that.
Then you’re my kind of Catholic. And I’m your kind of Lutheran. As difficult as it may be to believe, so is Pastor Fisk. He’s just speaking to a very specific crowd. We do have differences in belief, however slight, and kudos to him for not ignoring that. His message, however, is geared toward those young Lutheran males who may be questioning their faith. I personally don’t care for the bombastic tone or flashy presentation, but it serves a good purpose in reaching those who otherwise may be disillusioned with the faith and could fall away entirely.
