1. Why is it that when one quotes one of our sainted church
"fathers" (like Luther) to show that he also would support the current
existence and operation of a spiritual gift like healing, many in Synod
will refuse to accept its authenticity and challenge? They say,"That's
not what Luther meant to say. . . you're quoting him out of context." Why
is it that we have such a hard time accepting what is actually written?
(See "Luther and Healing" in this issue.) Who is responsible for
supplying the officially sanctioned hermeneutic of how such writings (even
the Lutheran Confessions) are to be interpreted?
2. Why is it that when a "religious experience" is shared in our circles there is a frequent retort, "Now be careful lest you base your faith on experience," or "That's ‘Schwaermerei’!" Of course there is no other basis for salvation and its assurance than the objective Gospel through the merits of Jesus' death and resurrection. Justification by grace through faith is the only foundation and source of our relationship with God. But Scripture and the Confessions insist also on a resulting life of faith and obedience that brings glory to Christ and is a living testimony to the lost that, "It's no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." I wonder why this is resisted by so many in our Synod?
3. Why is it that we are getting some graduates from our seminaries who seem to exhibit a drive to correct and "straighten out" their fellow pastors as their "know it all" attitude sounds forth? What drives these brothers, who are hardly "dry behind the ears," to treat their fellow pastors as if they are a bunch of dummies? Why is it that for the sake of "truth" (as they see it) certain practices are being forced without love? And the poor congregations who receive this type of pastor . . . they are often torn up over such loveless tactics! Now I'm not for "anything goes," but this kind of attitude and activity "has to go" if our Synod is to reverse its downward slide.
Well, enough for now. I'm sure that the above words have made some mad and others glad. But after getting over your initial reaction, ask the Holy Spirit if he might be saying something to all of us as Synod (walking together).
More next time . . .