From time to time I quibble with Lutherans over the law / Gospel paradigm and the third use of the law. You see, if you're Reformed, according to some Lutherans, you're clueless about such issues, and all you're interested in is law, law, law. Because you're Reformed, you don't even understand the gospel: you've missed the gospel in the sacraments, you worship predestination as the gospel, and you love the fact that Christ is sending people to Hell and didn't die for them. The Reformed are so clueless they probably read "Sinners in the Hands of Angry God" to their children as a bedtime story. In fact, some Lutherans have gone so far as to emphatically suggest the Reformed view of things is far more dangerous than Roman Catholicism.
Phooey.
Anyway, now that that three second rant is finished, Lutheran minister Rev. McCain has an interesting post called, Aversion to Sanctification: A Phobic Reaction. Worth a look.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
3 comments:
James, great post. Sorry to say that those are quite common misconceptions and caricatures among Lutherans about the Reformed. Sometimes when I talk well about the Reformed, I do get brushed aside by fellow Lutherans. They think only Lutherans have all goodies. But you have definitely helped me to see the better sides of the Reformed. Thanks.
Martin, I'd be curious as to what you think of Rev. McCain's post. I realize you're not in the USA- do Lutherans where you are demonstrate any of the things Rev. McCain mentions?
Hi James,
Rev McCain does have a point in what he wrote. Over here where I am in Asia, American influence is very strong among the young. As such similar problems exist. Yesterday I attended the meeting of the National Council of Churches here as a Lutheran rep. The issue of young children becoming more sexually active before marriage was highlighted. The government is also concerned and looking into this matter.
But I also observed a polarisation of views among Lutherans and Reformed on the third use of the Law in America. It will be interesting to see how it will develop further.
Post a Comment