tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post4017158282991395214..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: Is being moderate the same as being lukewarm?Pastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-43829665792838681522016-10-01T06:50:26.657-05:002016-10-01T06:50:26.657-05:00Moderation? Excuse me while I choke on white bread...Moderation? Excuse me while I choke on white bread ;-).Ted Badjehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03220879004715648795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-66765934144508626822016-09-30T17:37:15.503-05:002016-09-30T17:37:15.503-05:00@Pr P: I've got 4 kids like yours, but they w...@Pr P: I've got 4 kids like yours, but they were also,taught to discern between God's requirements and adiaphora; zeal formthe former, moderation for the latter.Kirk Skeptichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06142889734004402296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-24742985878750178182016-09-30T12:03:53.054-05:002016-09-30T12:03:53.054-05:00One parting comment: I do not think we need to lin...One parting comment: I do not think we need to link moderation to being lukewarm. I think we cannot use either term broadly. One can be committed and zealous for the Lord, holding principles and unwavering convictions, and still exercise wisdom and moderation in one's actions. For example, interpretations of scripture requires thoughtfulness and insight, discernment, and the ability to consider the practical application of Christian teachings to living. We need to prayerfully consider the language of scripture in context, and the spirit and intent of the verse, to whom it is addressed, and who is stating the verse. In the political realm, extremism can seem patriotic at first glance, but when we specify the actions proposed or conducted, we may lift up the veneer and find grevious forms of evil attached. As a Christian and a Lutheran, I will seek to the best of my ability to follow the right course, and avoid falling into an extremist category which God did not intend we embrace.John Joseph Flanaganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06596324816480709495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-5154468504616340872016-09-30T10:09:16.537-05:002016-09-30T10:09:16.537-05:00I'd like to meet your kids Larry. And my wife ...I'd like to meet your kids Larry. And my wife and I are trying to raise kids like the ones you have. Jeremy Loeschnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-31060286039000803742016-09-30T09:26:39.028-05:002016-09-30T09:26:39.028-05:00Zeal for thy house has consumed me O Lord...
That...Zeal for thy house has consumed me O Lord...<br /><br />That wasn't viewed as being a bad thing.David Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11966977894876326659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-81688827382074987042016-09-30T09:09:17.943-05:002016-09-30T09:09:17.943-05:00“Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moder...<i><b>“Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.”</b></i><br /><br />I heard those words back in 1964, when the fifth-column leftist media, including "Uncle Walter" had already perverted themselves into giving aid and comfort to the enemy. If you know people, including Lutherans, who voted that year ask them whether they betrayed our country by how they voted in the presidential election.Carl Vehsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00348831096001668813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-73814921041708914462016-09-30T08:06:42.552-05:002016-09-30T08:06:42.552-05:00I must confess that I am one of the moderates of w...I must confess that I am one of the moderates of which this article addresses. It is my counterpoint and psychological temperment to see much rashness and potential evil in extremism, and yes....even...maybe especially....in religion. When I visited Salem, Massachusetts, over the past summer, my wife and I enjoyed walking around the city, observing the wonderful architecture of the stately old homes, the harbor, and the ancient winding streets where Nathaniel Hawthorne once walked. His associations with other literary icons like Herman Melville and others make this city very historic and it has been well preserved. On the thoughtful side, one can also see the results of extremism in Salem's religious heritage. For within the quiet alleys we find little monuments to the victims of specifically Christian extremism, plaques with the names of people wrongly accused and hanged as witches by religious courts presided over by men who indeed believed they were following the will of God and the words of the Bible by purging their community of sinners. In many cases, one accused of being a witch could have avoided death by confessing guilt. The ones who were actually hanged were mostly those who were righteous Christians wrongly accused, but having the courage to endure public hostility, cruel torture, and weeks and months of near starvation and illness in damp and unlit dungeons into which they were placed awaiting death. Afterwards, their property was taken and their reputations stripped from them. Moderation. Moderation. Wisdom guides us, extremism destroys us.John Joseph Flanaganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06596324816480709495noreply@blogger.com