I’m already drawn…
I see your point and do agree. I think the point of the empty cross is just symbolization of Christianity but the crucifix shows exactly where our salvation comes from.
Dont the lcms say the pope(s) have been THE anti-christ?
I’m having some dissaitsafction within Catholicism myself at the present. I wish it were different.
I think most Lutherans wouldn’t be so hasty as to conflate the office with the man.
Huh…? I’m going through RCIA right now. What’s to be dissatisfied over?
many things at all levels but I’m sure that the church has gone through these things before. They have just never involved me before.Huh…? I’m going through RCIA right now. What’s to be dissatisfied over?
Um, I didn’t deny that the papacy is antichrist, that Lutherans believe it or even that I personally do.
I’m really beginning to have some question about that. It seems to me that the church always agrees that everything is a-ok but that surely isn’t the view from te outside. I personally know a man who was repeatedly molested and threatened about telling for about a 5 year period by his parish priest. After the sexual abuse allegations broke through to the proper folks involved (like some 8 years later), the priest (who had moved or was moved on to anoter parish) acted in a shrewed and condesending way toward this man and his family and claimed that he didn’t even know him very well (which was a straight up lie). It took monumental perseverance and effort on this guy’s part to try and get some justice out of this travesty with no help from the the church that he called his spiritual home his whole life.
Its the same as the objection to the sign of the cross.
Exactly. My father the rabid Fundamentalist (Got to love 'im though) openly admitted that he was against the sign of the Cross and sacramentals are because they’re too Catholic, and thus they are vile and “superstitious” in his view.
Which also makes no sense.
absolutely, because many Protestants have crucifixes, the sign of the cross and the sacrements and many things that many other Protestants would consider Catholic.
Thanks for your reply. The reason I ask is my dad’s family is from a long line of Lutherans - German Evangelische Kirche. My grandfather was an extremely intelligent pastor, he could converse in Greek, Latin, English and German. He came to the US in 1912, coming from the Eastern part of German, which is rich in Lutheran Tradition - Wurms, etc. As an adult, looking back, he reminds me of ML, intelligent, arrogant, yet full of faith. After Granfather died, 3 of his five children converted to Catholicism with all their children. My father never had a chance, but I believe he was ready after the break-up at Concordia Seminary in the 1970’s. He was very hurt by all the dissidence, He remained MO-Synod until his untimely death (murdered in our home) April 9, 1975. My dad was a role model of piety for me. He loved his church, but it wasn’t the same anymore for him. I loved listening to him sing German Lutheran hymns on Sunday mornings. He would say “Der Herr ist auferstanden” every Sunday morning. He wasn’t afraid to announce to all the world. My mother and us kids were Catholic, and NEVER did she try to convert him, rather encouraged him to attend his own church. We therefore never practiced a lot of Catholic traditions in our home, Rosary, Perpetual Help devotions. My mom didn’t want a rift in the home, to her credit. I kind of felt cheated in that respect.
