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Domestic Violence and Marriage
By Sandra Ostapowich “Everyone around me thinks my husband is a really good guy. He’s active in church and everyone likes him. I don’t think anyone would believe me if I told them that he isn’t charming and nice at home, and that when he’s really angry at me he hits me. How can I honor my marriage and my husband when it’s so far from the picture painted in church? Where can I go for help when it seems like everyone would be on his side?” I believe you. And I understand the seemingly impossible position you’re in. There isn’t much information to go by in this brief note,…
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A Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope
Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald – 1537 1] The Roman Pontiff claims for himself [in the first place] that by divine right he is [supreme] above all bishops and pastors [in all Christendom]. 2] Secondly, he adds also that by divine right he has both swords, i.e., the authority also of bestowing kingdoms [enthroning and deposing kings, regulating secular dominions etc.]. 3] And thirdly, he says that to believe this is necessary for salvation. And for these reasons the Roman bishop calls himself [and boasts that he is] the vicar of Christ on earth. 4] These three articles we hold to be false, godless, tyrannical, and [quite]…
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Part III, Article XV. Of Human Traditions.
1] The declaration of the Papists that human traditions serve for the remission of sins, or merit salvation, is [altogether] unchristian and condemned, as Christ says Matt. 15:9: In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 2] Again, Titus 1:14: That turn from the truth. Again, when they declare that it is a mortal sin if one breaks these ordinances [does not keep these statutes], this, too, is not right. 3] These are the articles on which I must stand, and, God willing, shall stand even to my death; and I do not know how to change or to yield anything in them. If any…
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Review of Our Faith by Ruth Meyer
By Bethany Kilcrease and Tabitha Moldenhauer I love books. And now that I have a daughter, I have an excuse to purchase books from a whole new genre: children’s books. CPH is currently reaping the benefits of my newest interest. One of the books I recently purchased is Ruth Meyer’s Our Faith from A to Z. This book teaches children the Christian faith by going through the alphabet and explaining an aspect of Lutheranism for each letter. For example, A is for Apostles’ Creed, B is for Baptism, C is for Catechism, D is for Doctrine, etc. Each letter has a short didactic poem like “A is for Apostles’ Creed,…
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Heresy: What does this mean? (Part 2)
By Sarah Arnold There are a number of categories for heresies. Major heresies are those which change the essence of Christian doctrine substantially enough to effect salvation; minor heresies are deviations from understood Christian doctrine without necessarily corrupting the faith enough to effect salvation on their own (although they are still mostly false teaching—some heresies listed here have been condemned by the Roman Catholic Church, but are not considered heretical outside of the RCC, like Heliocentrism). For the purposes of my own research and subsequent posts, I’ve categorized heresies in the following manner. Major: Antitrinitarian (heresies that deny the Trinity in form or substance) Arian (heresies that deny the divinity…
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What To Expect When You’re Not Expecting
By Holly Scheer Dear Sisters, I found out that a friend is having another baby. I’m not right now. Pray for my jealousy? –a baby loving Lutheran mama Dear mama, It’s really hard when we find ourselves in the position of being the sister who isn’t expecting when it seems like everyone else around us is. Babies really are amazing, aren’t they? There are many reasons why we might find ourselves not expecting a baby, and none of them are really less painful. I’m so sorry that right now you are praying and hoping for a baby and that right now you’re having to wait. Praise be to…
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Why Anne Doesn’t Say Prayers
Why Anne doesn’t say prayers, why Marilla says she should, and why we ought to (or ought not to) pray Part III in a series By Mary Abrahamson When Marilla took Anne up to bed that night she said stiffly: “Now, Anne, I noticed last night that you threw your clothes all about the floor when you took them off. That is a very untidy habit, and I can’t allow it at all. As soon as you take off any article of clothing fold it neatly and place it on the chair. I haven’t any use at all for little girls who aren’t neat.” … “Say your prayers now and…
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Worship and Eternity
By Elisabeth Urtel He handed each student a Lutheran Service Book, and instructed us to open it to a random page. “Try to find a hymn that doesn’t end up in heaven.” Each of us in the church music class tried, but every example we landed on mentioned eternal life in some way. Finally, a student thought she had found one, but as a class we located a heavenward reference in a middle verse. My professor then used this to explain one mark of a strong Lutheran hymn: it recognizes that the singers are not only the Church Militant, but also the future Church Triumphant. Go find your hymnal, and try…
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Part III, Article XV. Of Human Traditions
1] The declaration of the Papists that human traditions serve for the remission of sins, or merit salvation, is [altogether] unchristian and condemned, as Christ says Matt. 15:9: In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 2] Again, Titus 1:14: That turn from the truth. Again, when they declare that it is a mortal sin if one breaks these ordinances [does not keep these statutes], this, too, is not right. 3] These are the articles on which I must stand, and, God willing, shall stand even to my death; and I do not know how to change or to yield anything in them. If any…
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Part III, Article XIV. Of Monastic Vows
1] As monastic vows directly conflict with the first chief article, they must be absolutely abolished. For it is of them that Christ says, Matt. 24:5,23ff : I am Christ, etc. 2] For he who makes a vow to live as a monk believes that he will enter upon a mode of life holier than ordinary Christians lead, and wishes to earn heaven by his own works not only for himself, but also for others; this is to deny Christ. 3] And they boast from their St. Thomas that a monastic vow is equal to Baptism. This is blasphemy [against God]. Source.
