Category Archives: Lutheranism

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

Does Context Avert the Large Cataclysm?

Posted on January 27, 2023 by Matt

Of all of the Lutheran Confessions, Luther’s Large Catechism is my favorite. Yes, the Augsburg Confession has more historical and theological significance, but as a layperson, the two catechisms were written specifically for the formation of my faith and as … Continue reading →

Posted in Chastity, Ethics, Law, Lutheranism, Theology | 4 Comments

Subverting Luther’s Large Catechism

Posted on January 24, 2023 by Matt

Christians living today are fortunate to have received such a treasury of theology from our ancestors in the faith. They may have departed this Earth to be with Christ centuries or even millennia ago, but they still have the opportunity … Continue reading →

Posted in Lutheranism, Theology | 7 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

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

What We Have In Common

Posted on September 20, 2022 by Matt

As diversity continues its work of assassinating American common ground, it’s no surprise that American churches are struggling with the issue of race & nation as it pertains to their faith. Christianity is, of course, a universal religion rather than … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Nationalism, Ethics, Lutheranism, Politics, Two Kingdoms, Vocation | 4 Comments

Defeating Ourselves Through Cowardice

Posted on September 1, 2022 by Matt

It seems the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod dropped a new doctrinal statement on male and female roles recently. While I’m LCMS rather than WELS, I was naturally curious about what a Lutheran denomination with a conservative reputation had to say about … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Feminism, Lutheranism, The Modern Church, Theology | 6 Comments