What is the Reformation message about justification by faith? To answer this question, I’m going to focus on Martin Luther, the primary instigator of the Protestant Reformation. Luther was, first and foremost, a Biblical scholar and not a systematic theologian. He tried to understand the text, as written, even if it didn’t always harmonize precisely…

There are some folks who only go to church at Christmas and Easter, and for weddings and funerals. What should pastors say to them at those times? Scold them and remind them of the rules? Or should we preach to them the gospel, and invite them to walk more closely with Christ? I’ll choose the…

Prayer from the Lutheran Book of Worship: Stir up your power, O Lord, and come. Take away the hindrance of our sins and make us ready for the celebration of your birth, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now…

I’ve swiped the title from an author who isn’t orthodox. But I’m using it to describe a man who was both orthodox and generous–my late friend, George Vandeman. He was the founder and the host, for many years, of the pioneering telecast, “It Is Written.” He was firm in his convictions, but patient and generous…

What’s to be said? Except that C. S. Lewis is a better storyteller than the folks at Walden. They can’t just trust a classic–they need to add unnecessary people and plot devices and take out details that are important to Lewis. In this movie, they can’t have a simple quest–it needs to be turned into…

See Paul McCain’s post, Avoid Gender Neutrality Like the Plague–about translation issues in the Bible and the Book of Concord, and ideologically based decisions to translate “men” as “people.” This past Sabbath, I was preaching a “men’s ministry” sermon (focusing on Joseph’s example), and wanted to close with a traditional hymn, “Rise Up, O Men…

Rick Santorum, described as a likely presidential candidate, is giving stump speeches in which he rejects the separation of church and state–especially Kennedy’s legacy. He claims the idea is not part of American heritage, that Jefferson’s use of the phrase meant only to protect the church from the state. He wants the church to be…

Don’t take for granted our freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. Some other countries don’t have them–some other “democracies” don’t have them. Even Canada doesn’t have them.

Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island, has written a Christmas letter to inactive Catholics. According to him, I am one–and so are you, if you were ever Catholic. He doesn’t acknowledge the existence of “former Catholics.” I decided against “fallen-away Catholic” for it suggests someone falling off a fence or out of a…

Prayer from the Lutheran Book of Worship: Lord, hear our prayers and come to us, bringing light into the darkness of our hearts; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Readings: Isaiah 35:1-10 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall…

From John Osborne’s play, Luther: A man without Christ becomes his own shell. We are content with shells. Some shells are whole men and some are small trinkets. And, what are the trinkets? To day is the eve of All Saints, and the holy relics will be on show to you all; to the hungry…

It’s that time of year when Mexicans, pious Catholic or not, demonstrate their devotion to “Our Lady of Guadalupe.” The myth is that Mary appeared to an Indian, Juan Diego, and as proof, imprinted her image on his cloak. History and science have demonstrated that it’s a fraud. Even the caretaker of the shrine in…

There’s weeping and gnashing of teeth in some corners of the globe at news that the “Glastonbury Thorn” was chopped down. The credulous believe that it was planted by Joseph of Arimathea (so to believe that you have to believe all the nonsense about Joseph of Arimathea going to England with the Holy Grail). And…

The Roman Catholic bishop of Green Bay, WI, David Ricken, has approved some alleged Marian apparitions that occurred back in 1859. He said, “I declare with moral certainty and in accord with the norms of the Church that the events, apparitions and locutions given to Adele Brise in October of 1859 do exhibit the substance…

Anglicans, Lutherans, and all non-Romans–please enjoy using the beautiful blue vestments and paraments associated with Advent. These things are matters of human tradition, and all about freedom in your traditions, not law as it is for some others.

Opening Prayer from the Lutheran Book of Worship: Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way for your only Son. By his coming give us strength in our conflicts and shed light on our path through the darkness of this world; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with…