That passage can't...
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That passage can't help but make me think: I follow Luther! I follow Peter! I follow Calvin! And on and on! If God wants us to be of one mind and agree with one another to prevent divisions, then why does he send us to seminary where they concentrate on all the "differences"? It took me a few years in the parish to discover that even the people in my pews had different opinions! Some were more strict about drinking, like my mother! Some were more strict about smoking or playing cards. Our pastor's wife lowered the curtains in her home when she had some women over to play cards! One church council argued that the church doors could not be painted red because that was too Episcopalian, or the pastor could not lift his hands in prayer because that was too Pentecostal! There isn't room to mention all the miniscule differences -- just among Lutherans!
In seminary we had those who followed Barth and those who followed Brunner or those who followed a number of other theologians, some of whom were more liberal and others more conservative! We even had a difference over which of our seminary profs we endorsed.
Doesn't it seem as though humans like arguments? We sort of expect them in our legislature, but should Christians dwell in unity? As I often say, on the mission field, if there is a denominational name over the door it probably means that they get most of their financial support from that group. When I got back home and asked for support for one of the churches over there, someone asked me, "but is it really Lutheran?"
It sounds from this passage that Christ didn't come to create arguments. Let there be arguments between different religions, but not within the church of Christ. Now pastors have a real job! How can we preach this message without giving the impression that we are not supporting our church body?
We all baptize our children in the name of the Trinity. Christ is not divided! We did not name a denomination when we baptized children in Nepal! Yes, there are differences in our communion rites, but I was invited to participate with Baptists, Presbyterians, and even into a Roman Catholic monastery where I participated in the service. I was even invited to assist in the communion in a Missouri Synod church in Hawaii!
Atheists may think that our message is foolishness, but they are perishing and we need to wake them up -- especially if they are members of our family! Our faith is the power of God, and it is his power that will win others to him!
Now what do we do when we go out into the real world? I hope we follow Christ and not just our own wisdom!
In seminary we had those who followed Barth and those who followed Brunner or those who followed a number of other theologians, some of whom were more liberal and others more conservative! We even had a difference over which of our seminary profs we endorsed.
Doesn't it seem as though humans like arguments? We sort of expect them in our legislature, but should Christians dwell in unity? As I often say, on the mission field, if there is a denominational name over the door it probably means that they get most of their financial support from that group. When I got back home and asked for support for one of the churches over there, someone asked me, "but is it really Lutheran?"
It sounds from this passage that Christ didn't come to create arguments. Let there be arguments between different religions, but not within the church of Christ. Now pastors have a real job! How can we preach this message without giving the impression that we are not supporting our church body?
We all baptize our children in the name of the Trinity. Christ is not divided! We did not name a denomination when we baptized children in Nepal! Yes, there are differences in our communion rites, but I was invited to participate with Baptists, Presbyterians, and even into a Roman Catholic monastery where I participated in the service. I was even invited to assist in the communion in a Missouri Synod church in Hawaii!
Atheists may think that our message is foolishness, but they are perishing and we need to wake them up -- especially if they are members of our family! Our faith is the power of God, and it is his power that will win others to him!
Now what do we do when we go out into the real world? I hope we follow Christ and not just our own wisdom!
