This Side of the Pulpit » Entries tagged with "conversion"
A Conversion
My friends Ben and Emily Harju and their children were chrismated into the Orthodox Faith Saturday. Congratulations and many years to you. You can read about it on Ben’s blog here. Incidentally, a few of the regular readers here were also involved in the chrismation, as pictured at his site. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Friendships and Religion
I suppose there is a reason for the old saying that one shouldn’t talk politics or religion at the dinner table. It’s too easy for friends to begin to fight. Just plain avoiding it is one way of friendship. Sometimes that might be the only way to keep certain friendships. Certainly we do not keep them by baiting them, that is by saying things that are offensive or demeaning to them. Certainly we do not keep friendships when we expect our friends to just shut up and ignore it when we insist that we are right and they are wrong. Certainly it is hard to keep friendships when you offer them the door whenever they open their mouth to address such offensive things. And if you say, “This is my house and you can … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
incarnatus est: Half of U.S. adults have switched religions
incarnatus est: Half of U.S. adults have switched religions. I think those of us who are active in church have seen this very thing. I was looking at Redeemer’s 50th Anniversary Booklet yesterday. It listed all those who had been baptized by year. I was alarmed at how many names I didn’t know, though every once in a while I spotted a familiar family name. I wonder how many of those who change denominations or loose their faith altogether do so after moving or other major life changes. Experience tells me that it is many. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Conversionism Again
The second issue with conversion: so many who leave seem to be saying, “The LCMS is not Lutheran enough…so I’m becoming Orthodox (or Catholic).” The modus operandi of many of those who leave is unflagging criticism of the LCMS followed by unflagging praise for their new communion. It doesn’t make much sense. But there is something else going on here: crisis. Something overturns the apple cart and it gets these pastors thinking. Something forces these pastors to wonder if the struggle is not lost, if the LCMS is something other than it says it is. Often the sacramental and worship life or practice in the LCMS serves as the tipping point. They realize that the LCMS does not do what it says Lutheranism says it does. This brings them to question … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Another Enters Orthodoxy
Pr. Ben Harju has resigned the clergy roster and will be received as a catechumen in the Orthodox Church tomorrow. Old news by internet standards–Ben announced it yesterday. But the vitriol, angst, incredulity, accusations and so forth has already begun. I’ve blogged about some others who have left the LCMS before. See these posts. What I’ve said before hold true here as well. God bless him for the courage to follow his convictions…and not try to make the LCMS into something it’s not. There are a couple of issues I’d like to explore. The first is, Why East? Why are so many leaving the LCMS and entering the Orthodox Church? I can name a dozen or more who have in the last four or five years. Maybe more. Granted, in a denomination of … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Not Beyond Redemption
Basic Instinct. Showgirls. Writer Joe Eszterhas made a fortune on these scripts and others like them. He used to cut a large swath in Hollywood. A lurid, indulgent and dissipated swath. But he has been completed another kind of manuscript recently–a book published by St. Martin’s Press: Crossbearer: A Memoir of Faith. Get Religion posted a story published in the Toronto Blade about Eszterhas’ conversion to Christianity. It’s a remarkable story, filled with God’s working in his life to overcome his addiction to alcohol and tobacco, healing throat cancer and, even more miraculously, healing the heart of a man. Eszterhas also praises the miracle of Holy Communion saying, The Eucharist and the presence of the body and blood of Christ is, in my mind, an overwhelming … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Why Do They Not Swim the Mississippi?
Why is it that we hear few accounts of Lutheran pastors going Baptist or Pentecostal or Presbyterian? I know they do. I’ve heard accounts…but one must listen closely and dig a bit to find them. I don’t think that many Lutheran pastors covert to become Methodists or Presbyterian or Pentecostals because they don’t have to. They can “convert” by using Bible studies, worship styles and everything and do it right in front of everybody and few will notice or care. In fact, this has already happened on a large scale when one considers how many non-Lutheran Bible studies, VBS programs, worship resources, and evangelism programs are used everywhere in the Synod. A Lutheran can be as Methodist or Pentecostal as they wish and the only thing … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Fascinating Discussion
Take a few minutes to read the comments on “Another Pastor Leaves” below. I appreciate the comment authors’ candor, gentleness and insights. I’ve learned a few things too. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Another Pastor Leaves
Dan Woodring announces his conversion to Roman Catholicism on his blog. Dan was active in Higher Things, a confessional Youth Organization, and somewhat prominent in the Confessional scene within the LCMS. The story of his conversion is interesting and troublesome. He writes several times of dreading going to another congregation to work to make them Lutheran. That sentiment definitely strikes a chord with me. I think every Lutheran pastor feels this way at times, and we shouldn’t have to. Every congregation has in theory agreed to make the Book of Concord their confessional identity and standard. In theory, one should be able to go to a congregation, show them what the Confessions say and be done with it. Obviously, it’s not that easy. People and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
…Not that Converting Is Bad
A few posts down there is a quote regarding how often Americans change religion, and an implication that this is negative. It certainly can be. Especially when you see serial religionists, those who are continually dissatisfied. As Dixie suggested, perhaps Burger King is influencing their behavior too much. But in general, I have always praised converting on this blog. When your beliefs and practices have changed, converting is simply the only honest option. Too many in my denomination have changed their belief and practice and have not left, with the result that the body itself is changing to match them. I have always praised my friends Fr. John Fenton and Fr. Gregory Hogg (and others known and unknown) who have shown integrity by following their … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
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