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The Smalcald Articles- Preface
Sisters– if you’ve been here for some time you might have noticed that on the weekend I run the Book of Concord instead of our normal blog posts. Today we start a new section– the Smalcald Articles. If you’ve never read through the Book of Concord before, this is a great time to join us! If you have, it’s a great time to dip back in for a refresher. And with that said– here’s the Preface. 1] Since Pope Paul III convoked a Council last year, to assemble at Mantua about Whitsuntide, and afterwards transferred it from Mantua, so that it is not yet known where he will or can…
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Vocation
By Amanda Markel Christians, especially Lutheran Christians, understand the concept of vocation…that God has called each of us to unique tasks in life. This can be seen in the form of our careers, a task for which we are often paid, as well as other callings in life, such as relationships like wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, or volunteer positions like Sunday School teacher or after-school tutor. We can hold many different vocations at the same time, and our vocations can change throughout our lives. One thing should remain the same, however. Whatever our vocation is, we should do it joyfully, as though we are serving God Himself when we…
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Singleness
By Ellie Corrow Most children, especially girls, assume they will one day grow up, get married, and start a family. This is a dream that is not qualified with an “if” but a “when” and a goal that marks an unequivocal entrance into adulthood. Some people have no trouble achieving this, meeting the right person at the right time, and no one’s timeline suffers accommodation and adjustment. But, others don’t have this experience, instead they wait, and wait, vaguely wondering if they are running out of time, if there is someone out there for them. It’s a difficult place to be in, when life doesn’t work out as you expected.…
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On the Loss no one wants to discuss
Editor’s note. Because of the very sensitive nature of this post, comments will be watched carefully. Please remember your compassion before commenting. By Anonymous I am a mother but I have no child. I don’t tell people about my loss and I don’t know if I ever really will. When I think about my baby my feelings are deeply sorrowful and guilty. And ashamed. You see, I had an abortion. I am a mother with no child because my child is dead… and I bear the guilt for it. I’ve repented and been absolved. I’ve grown up more and gotten married. And yet I’ve never gotten over or moved…
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Celebrating the Church Year in June
By Marie McNary Celebrating the Church Year in June As we turn our calendar to a new month, we begin to anticipate all that Summer has to offer. I love beginning a new month because it always feels like a fresh start. Have you been wanting to celebrate the church year at home and just haven’t had the chance? June is a great month to begin! Maybe your kids are home from school for the summer – what a great time to get them involved in helping you plan how to celebrate in your home. Every home is different. There is no right or wrong way to remember these dates.…
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Gossip
By Holly Scheer For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. Proberbs 26:20 This last week has been a hard one in the news for the church. We’ve come uncomfortably up close with the knowledge that people sin– people sin in ways that hurt those around them and themselves. And with the sins and actions of others comes the opportunity to speak words that worsen the situation. There is a saying by Ouida that, “A cruel story runs on wheels, and every hand oils the wheels as they run.” How often have we seen the rapid spread of bad news, especially in…
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Article XXVIII (XIV): Of Ecclesiastical Power- The End
[As regards the slander and complaint of the adversaries at the end of the Confutation, namely, that this doctrine is causing disobedience and other scandals, this is unjustly imputed to our doctrine. For it is evident that by this doctrine the authority of magistrates is most highly praised. Moreover, it is well known that in those localities where this doctrine is preached, the magistrates have hitherto, by the grace of God, been treated with all respect by the subjects. But as to the want of unity and dissension in the Church, it is well known how these matters first happened, and who have caused the division, namely, the sellers of…
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Article XXVIII (XIV): Of Ecclesiastical Power
1] Here the adversaries cry out violently concerning the privileges and immunities of the ecclesiastical estate, and they add the peroration: All things are vain which are presented in the present article against the immunity of the churches and priests. 2] This is mere calumny; for in this article we have disputed concerning other things. Besides, we have frequently testified that we do not find fault with political ordinances, and the gifts and privileges granted by princes. 3] But would that the adversaries would hear, on the other hand, the complaints of the churches and of godly minds! The adversaries courageously guard their own dignities and wealth; meanwhile, they neglect…
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A Two Pronged Approach to Modesty
By Amanda Markel I’m going to admit to something that may not be popular in Christian circles…I no longer use the word “modesty” when talking to my daughters. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the idea of modesty…it even appears several times in the New Testament. But modesty is another one of those words that our modern culture has twisted to mean something other than what the Bible expresses, and like many other things in American Evangelicalism, I want to stay as far away from it as possible. First of all, there is a tendency when we emphasize modesty, for Christian women to act in a less than Christlike manner toward…
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The Elephant in the Pews
By Amanda Markel There’s an elephant in the living room in some of our churches and it’s time to stop ignoring it. That elephant is the former church workers in our midst. The “elephant in the corner” metaphor doesn’t apply to every former church worker. There is a group of retirees, especially pastors, that receive a place of honor in our congregations, such as the pastors emeriti. They who have served many successful, although often hard, years and are now retired, but willing to help out from time to time, are not the people I’m talking about. The former church workers that I’m talking about are often younger, although not…
