The purpose of any sort of church discipline is partly to protect those who are affected by his ministry, but also it can be a wake up call to benefit the person. Maybe not now, but sometimes the Spirit works on us gradually. This can happen in the long run, but only if he is treated with love by those who disagree with his views. But it took love to discipline him in the first place. It would have been much easier for LCMS to get applause from the secular media for pretending to be open minded, and “diverse”. (“Let’s send this to committee for further review…Let’s not act too hastily…We need to take a **pastoral ** approach on this…”)
Eventually the goats and sheep will find their respective pens. The more liberal the churches are, the more some will find comfort in strong foundations. Those that can’t stand the winds of change (sound like a Scorpion song) better seek strong shelter with a Rock for its foundation.Indeed. The more we try to retain our orthodoxy, the more we come to resemble our roots. Stop smirking now, my RC brothers and sistersWhatever would you do with a few million potential little Luthers fidgeting in your pews?
I found the following quotes trom the article particularly interesting.
Bolding mine.
I wonder where he finds support for this?In the Christian realm, I would say yes. For example, the truth of God’s message can’t abide with heresy, and as such we must protect against it in order to shepherd the flock.
I’ve never been able to comprehend the notion that a punishment such as this is done out of love.
Perhaps you have children: I’ve found that telling my children to stop complaining is initially stressful, but saves hours of suffering - especially when the other children start to emulate the first.
His condescending reference to the “tattooed priestesses” of the ELCA is to ELCA pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber, founder of House for All Sinners and Saints in Denver, CO. I think she’s a fantastic pastor and I’ve been very inspired by her recent book Patrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner and Saint (New York: Jericho Books, 2013). I also find it a little amusing that Wolf has put the word “sic” in parentheses after the word “Church” in the ELCA’s name, implying that it’s not a real church.
I think the “sic” was intended to call into question whether or not the ELCA is an Evangelical Lutheran Church. Few doubt it is a church.
Oh, like we don’t already have them? Like the Women’s Ordination Conference?Indeed. The more we try to retain our orthodoxy, the more we come to resemble our roots. Stop smirking now, my RC brothers and sisters
It might be helpful to understand the distinction between discipline and punishment? When your parents pulled two-year-old you away from the fire you so desperately wanted to touch, they did not stop loving you, no matter how much you kicked and screamed.
Above is my original quote, where I had bolded as per above. I don’t think he is referring to architectural or historical findings, but rather pseudoscience, such as changing morality. What was wrong yesterday is suddenly right today. Changing Truth.
There’s a difference when talking about children and adults. I’ve been with my partner for more than 17 years, but his father (a Missouri Synod pastor) pretends that I don’t exist. My partner’s LCMS relatives have said that I’m not welcome to attend their family reunions with my partner. Most of them don’t even know me and have never met me. I’ve only met his father once. If that’s love…
So Dr. Matthew Becker, an Associate Professor, is like a child who doesn’t know any better but people like Matthew Harrison are the adults who are only trying to discipline him?
Friend, don’t make this personal: This is not “Harrison vs. Becker.” This is Becker vs. the very core teachings of the LCMS - the church with which he claimed to be walking together. The Synod rightly defended its teaching from a man who refused to conform to orthodox Lutheranism. The Synod has the responsibility to renounce false teachers and discipline them until they repent. Harrison has done his expected duty.So Dr. Matthew Becker, an Associate Professor, is like a child who doesn’t know any better but people like Matthew Harrison are the adults who are only trying to discipline him?
Could you be more specific as to whose theology you are referring and what theology it is?
