From Seminary to Starbucks—and Beyond
Living with the Gospel in church is often comfortable. Living with the Gospel beyond the church doors is often less so.
FOCA, taxes, abortion, and Caesar’s due
Inauguration Day found me eating breakfast at a restaurant in Fort Wayne, Ind. My waitress was pretty upset about a congressional bill called the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), written in 2007. This bill was on her mind, and protest was coming out of her mouth, because our soon-to-be-inaugurated president had previously pledged to throw …
Helping church workers
Rev. Glen Thomas’ letter in the February Lutheran Witness reminds us of an important issue, namely, decent pay scales for our workers. However, there’s another side of this matter that was left out. There seems to be an unwritten rule that pastoral candidates must be married before they start their vicarage year. Think about it. …
Creating a vacuum
In the letters section of the February Lutheran Witness, Mr. Cliff Pyle suggested that Dr. Loy was responsible for creating confusion and animosity, as well as a “theological vacuum” in his “Christmas Wars” article. Apparently, the offending words were those concerning Christ still being here and fighting these wars for us. I would suggest that …
Worth reading
Thank you for publishing “In Bethlehem: Hope Behind the Wall.” I wish more Americans would read this story. Phyllis MackaouiArroyo Grande, Calif. Read More Letters to the Editor Send letters to “Letters,” c/o The Lutheran Witness, 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7295; or send them via e-mail to Lutheran.Witness@LCMS.org.
Hot-button issues
Two articles in February pushed my political “hot buttons”: “In Bethlehem: Hope Behind the Wall” and “Dueling Messiahs.” Each presents only part of a hot political issue. Far worse, each misses an opportunity to share the Gospel. In discussing the Wall, Rev. Mahsman criticizes Israel without discussing Israel’s viewpoint. Of course, my reply leads us …
Understanding Islamic eschatology
Thank you, Dr. Furnish, for your February story, “Dueling Messiahs,” explaining the Islamic belief of Mahdism, and for showing how this belief influences politics in the Middle East. You have shown how important it is for Christians to understand the beliefs of Islam so that we can (1) be on guard against a foolish naiveté …
The Mystery of the Missing Body
by Dr. Paul L. Maier Easter is the ultimate test of faith. The one great watershed that ultimately divides believers from unbelievers is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As St. Paul put it so categorically in 1 Cor. 15:14: “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is …
Underlying questions
The Q&A column in the February Lutheran Witness, “Whom May I Commune,” was most distressing. There are some underlying questions that were not addressed: First, where were our LCMS clergy, and what were they doing, or not doing? Second, what are our pastors teaching the members about close(d) Communion that even causes such questions to …
Good news
With regard to Mr. Pyle’s concerns about Christ’s presence among us (“Letters,” February)—I have Good News: Christ is most certainly and personally among us today! When Christ ascended into heaven, He didn’t remove His presence on earth— He transformed it. Nor did He stop having a body when He sat down at the right hand …
Well timed
Both “Dueling Messiahs” by Dr. Timothy Furnish and February’s Searching Scripture, “We Have Seen His Majesty,” by Pastor Watt were excellent articles. Their appearance in the same issue couldn’t have been better timed. Pastor Watt’s article is a great guide to Scripture and the majesty of the true Messiah, Jesus Christ. Bill Schott Mission, Kan. …
Whose ‘crème de la crème’?
Awww, for cryin’ out loud—four little pages written by Dr. Paul Maier about ULBRA! I know he could say a lot more—I’ve heard him speak! Seriously, I thoroughly enjoyed the article, very heart-warming and edifying, and it shows what can happen when our hearts really turn toward Lutheran education: Forget closing one school that happens …