Some of the anger I saw from pro-lifers responding to my tweets was essentially, "how dare you insinuate that pro-life people would abort a child with Down Syndrome!"
Guys, I've been in the care of souls business for 18 years now. And when you're in the care of souls business, something you see often is people who have been lifelong, devout Christians completely bail on the faith the SECOND holding to it requires them to suffer.
People who have spent decades faithfully coming to worship will leave forever the second their kids come out to them and tell them they have to choose between holding to the Bible and having a relationship with their kids. People who have always upheld what the church teaches about cohabitation immediately reject it the second their kids start shacking up.
People who lament the evils of divorce will get divorced the second they think they can come out of the situation better off, and they will give you every rationalization for why the words of Jesus don't apply to them. Ask your pastors about this. Dudes will leave their congregations, go to another down the street to another congregation with their mistress on their arm and act like nothing happened, utterly convinced that God supports them in doing so.
People who have thanked you for preaching against the idolatrous nature of youth sports that keeps kids out of church on Sundays will immediately embrace the idol when their kids have the opportunity to join a travel team. And so on.
And yes, when people who have boldly and faithfully stood against the evils of abortion find themselves carrying an unwanted child? They will often employ the very same vile rationalizations that they have condemned fifty trillion times before.
Do people who identify as pro-life have fewer abortion than pro-choicers? Of course. But with love and respect, you are absolutely clueless if you think that a notable percentage of women having abortion weren't pro-life identifying ladies until the moment their desire for abortion overpowered their faith and convinctions.
And, more to the point, if you are offended by this assertion because you know would never in a million billion years ever do this, you are clueless to the power of the sinful nature that lurks within you. If you think you would stand where they fell because you are more pious, more devout, more devoted, etc...well, pride comes before destruction.
On this, the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord, it is my great pleasure to announce that I have accepted the call to serve as Pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ferndale, CA. May the Lord of the Harvest prepare the way before us, bless the work of our hands, and prosper the Gospel proclamation! To Him be all glory, honor, and praise, now and forevermore. Amen.
"If you are poor and miserable, then go to Confession and make use of its healing medicine. He who feels his misery and need will no doubt develop such a longing for it that he will run toward it with joy."
-Luther, "An Exhortation to Confession," 26
@PastorBenMeyer@LaLaLisaCooper When I worked security at the fort, I escorted a small group on a tour of the campus that included a Sem president from back in the day. It was very interesting hearing what things like that used to be required, like “you could be asked to leave if you didn’t” required😬
@IFFFMEISTER Does it matter if for many Protestants the issue of what baptism does/who it is for is determined by other theological positions rather than baptism itself being the primary issue?
Most assuredly, you never will attain sinless perfection here on earth; if such were the case you would have no further need for faith and Christ. At the same time, it is not designed that you should continue as you were before obtaining remission of sins through faith.
Why, then, should you complain of your suffering or refuse to suffer what your sins really deserve? Indeed, you deserve more than you receive—even eternal suffering. But God forgives you and remits the eternal punishment for the sake of Christ the Lord,
@pastormark29@serenitynow It’s actually a nice product. Compact, leather bound (if I’m thinking of the right one), a convenient pairing of two of our primary confessional documents. If the pocket sized BoC seems too much for a Confirmation gift, this makes for a good alternative.
@WmWeedon Quite, indeed. I don’t know if it will come up, but the connection between the “quiet time” method of private devotion and front loading the service with singing is worth diving into, IMO.
After over half a century as a congregation in Fremont and almost two decades as an LCMS congregation, we are sad to announce that the ministry of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church is coming to an end. We are inexpressibly grateful for all that Our Lord has done for us and our community over the many years, and we pray that His blessing would continue to be upon the city of Fremont that many more would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Our final services schedule is as follows:
Sunday, April 12th:
Bible Study - 9 AM
Divine Service - 10 AM
Sunday April 19th:
Bible Study - 9 AM
Matins - 10 AM
Final Divine Service - 3 PM
"Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip [us] with everything good that [we] may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."
Guys, THIS is the pamphlet our Lutheran brother and sister in Finland are being persecuted for sharing. I say, we should make sure that it is shared everywhere! https://t.co/1tpawJj7Rh
@serenitynow@RogueCenturion I wish I could say that’s surprising but having seen the reaction of one congregation that left the LCMS, I’d wager they didn’t even know they were Lutheran much less what being Lutheran means 🫤
"[The] power and operation of Baptism... is nothing else than putting to death the old Adam, and after that the resurrection of the new man, both of which must take place in us all our lives, so that a truly Christian life is nothing else than a daily baptism, once begun and ever to be continued. For this must be practised without ceasing, that we ever keep purging away whatever is of the old Adam, and that that which belongs to the new man come forth. But what is the old man? It is that which is born in us from Adam, angry, hateful, envious, unchaste, stingy, lazy, haughty, yea, unbelieving, infected with all vices, and having by nature nothing good in it. Now, when we are come into the kingdom of Christ, these things must daily decrease, that the longer we live we become more gentle, more patient, more meek, and ever withdraw more and more from unbelief, avarice, hatred, envy, haughtiness... This is the true use of Baptism among Christians, as signified by baptizing with water. Where this, therefore, is not practised, but the old man is left unbridled, so as to continually become stronger, that is not using Baptism, but striving against Baptism… Therefore the old man goes unrestrained in his nature if he is not checked and suppressed by the power of Baptism. On the other hand, where men have become Christians, he daily decreases until he finally perishes... And here you see that Baptism, both in its power and signification, comprehends also the third Sacrament, which has been called repentance, as it is really nothing else than Baptism. For what else is repentance but an earnest attack upon the old man [that his lusts be restrained] and entering upon a new life? Therefore, if you live in repentance, you walk in Baptism, which not only signifies such a new life, but also produces, begins, and exercises it. For therein are given grace, the Spirit, and power to suppress the old man, so that the new man may come forth and become strong." - Luther's Large Catechism