Category Archives: The Modern Church

Know Your Enemy: What is Critical Theory?

Posted on March 9, 2023 by Matt

I’ve been writing a lot about the tragedy unfolding in the LCMS lately: the false teachings included with Luther’s Large Catechism along with President Harrison’s response of blaming criticism on the “alt-right” all of whom he has declared worthy of excommunication. Since … Continue reading →

Posted in Feminism, Lutheranism, Natural Law, Politics, The Modern Church | 2 Comments

Excommunicating the Alt-Right

Posted on February 23, 2023 by Matt

In an age of squishiness from most church leaders, many rank-and-file Christians are eager for the day when their leaders take a clear an unequivocal stand on God’s Word. Nothing is more disappointing than when that day comes and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Lutheranism, Politics, The Modern Church, Theology | 22 Comments

The Last Confession?

Posted on February 7, 2023 by Matt

As a child, I never really “got” the Nicene Creed. It was basically just the Apostles Creed, but it took a million hundred hours longer to recite on Communion Sundays. And the second article was particularly egregious. How many different … Continue reading →

Posted in Lutheranism, Musings, The Modern Church, Theology, Tradition | 3 Comments

Them’s Fightin’ Words

Posted on January 2, 2023 by Matt

Say what you will about the brutality of dueling, at least it was a mechanism which reminded men that their words have value–that they can be worth fighting over. As we sit and lament cancel culture, it may be tempting … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Ethics, Musings, The Modern Church | 3 Comments

Silencing God

Posted on December 13, 2022 by Matt

Arguments from silence are generally recognized as being weak, proceeding as they do from a lack of evidence rather than an abundance. But the most pathetic form of this argument–the weakling among weaklings–is when you actually have to create the … Continue reading →

Posted in Apologetics, Chastity, Culture, Ethics, Feminism, Law, Lutheranism, The Modern Church, Theology | 7 Comments

Who Told You to be Offended?

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Matt

Back in the day, I spent about seven years living in one of America’s most comically liberal cities. It wasn’t Portland, but it was very much like Portland. It even had the same slogans about keeping the city weird and citizens … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Nationalism, Ethics, Feminism, Natural Law, Politics, The Modern Church, Vocation | 10 Comments

Spotting False Teachers 101

Posted on November 17, 2022 by Matt

If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving … Continue reading →

Posted in Lutheranism, Musings, Sanctification, The Modern Church, Theology, Tradition | Leave a comment

Only a Pharisee Would Object to Women Teaching?

Posted on November 3, 2022 by Matt

My recent blog post, “On Lutheran Women and the Writing of Books” found a considerably larger audience than usual. One of the things I appreciate most when that happens is that such posts also generate more pushback. I usually get … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Feminism, Law, Lutheranism, The Modern Church, Theology | 5 Comments

On Lutheran Women and the Writing of Books

Posted on October 18, 2022 by Matt

A Lesson from History In the mid-20th century, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod had a problem that came to be called “Gospel Reductionism.” Modernism had long been waging a fearsome war against Christianity. The academic style from the Enlightenment onward had … Continue reading →

Posted in Feminism, Lutheranism, The Modern Church, Theological Liberalism, Theology, Tradition, Vocation | 6 Comments

Christian Women and the Abandonment of Vocation

Posted on October 10, 2022 by Matt

Women studying at seminary… Women writing books of theological instruction… Women leading the liturgy and administering the Sacraments…  Feminism’s self-insertion into the pastoral office has not yet slackened if these ongoing debates in ‘conservative’ churches are any indication. Clearly, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Feminism, Law, The Modern Church, Vocation | 3 Comments