tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post3571739394189289755..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: Don't be too anything. . .Pastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-81293659505428979202019-03-27T09:12:29.579-05:002019-03-27T09:12:29.579-05:00It has reached the point that the worship service ...It has reached the point that the worship service has become a distraction to the person in the pew and is more like that of a performance. I thought the point of it all was to receive the gifts of God through the means of grace and respond with a sacrifice of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. But instead the attention is on the presiding praise band, the big projector screens and the hipster minister dressed in his de rigueur wardrobe, how hip and trendy it is, his relevant, practical, rubber-meets-the-road sermonettes exhorting his followers to do more and do better to bring the lost into the Kingdom of God, all the while using eisegesis to expound Scripture, and the list goes on and on.<br /><br />The LCMS is truly in a civil war of attrition. All one can do is vote with one’s feet and with one’s pocketbook. I pray God’s hand be upon the LCMS and guide her through this time when the liturgy of the Divine Service is being denigrated by those in the LCMS who don’t appreciate it and would efface it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-69396146020921831912019-03-26T09:24:43.586-05:002019-03-26T09:24:43.586-05:00"The Blogger would be well-served to recogniz..."The Blogger would be well-served to recognize that there are other choices, and with the rise of technology, a member could just as well find a live stream of a church, without ever leaving his living room and bathrobe."<br /><br />Such a man is despising the Sacrament, and we know what Luther said about such in the Large Catechism. It is absurd to base our praxis on a hypothetical member in any case.<br /><br />Your wise man probably would've had to keep his head down in the Temple as well. A lot of ostentatious showing off and colors and ceremony there too. Smells and bells, if you will. Probably kneeling and prostrations as well.<br /><br />Besides all this, I don't think "The Blogger" would have any issue with your preferred level of ceremony. The issue is with people who abandon the treasure of the Liturgy, or make up their own week by week.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-34985583639064834482019-03-25T15:23:43.199-05:002019-03-25T15:23:43.199-05:00Pastor Peters wrote:
"In some places, the bi...Pastor Peters wrote:<br /><br />"In some places, the bishop (district president is the LCMS nomenclature) is quick to discourage the pastor from the pursuit of more faithful Lutheran doctrine and practice -- especially if the overseer fears that it will create conflict."<br /><br /><br />Let me guess. The 20th century LCMS is too Waltherian and therefore too out of touch with the "young people." The 21st century LCMS is hip, cool, and "purpose-driven." The LCMS DPs have books by this man on their shelves:<br /><br />https://pastorrick.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-23884489774066031502019-03-25T13:01:48.574-05:002019-03-25T13:01:48.574-05:00A wise man told me recently that he comes to churc...A wise man told me recently that he comes to church to worship his Lord and Savior, not to watch a performance. When I asked how he can do that with all of the movement in the Chancel, he simply told me, "I keep my head down."<br />It has reached the point that the worship service has become a distraction to the person in the pew and is more like that of a performance. I thought the point of it all was to lend proper praise and adoration, but instead the attention is on the presiding minister and what color chasuble he's wearing, how ornate it is, does he chant off-key, why does he keep kneeling down behind the altar, when is the organist going to break into a hymn with his solo, and the list goes on and on.<br />The simplistic service with the wearing of the white alb and seasonal stole, the spoken liturgy, the Processional Cross instead of the Crucifix is preferred by many and the worship of God is directed to where it needs to be, and not distracted by the comings and goings in the Chancel. The Blogger would be well-served to recognize that there are other choices, and with the rise of technology, a member could just as well find a live stream of a church, without ever leaving his living room and bathrobe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-82369774498955058272019-03-25T12:43:46.593-05:002019-03-25T12:43:46.593-05:00To make a wise judgment about ceremonies and tradi...To make a wise judgment about ceremonies and traditions used in worship, we need to ascertain if the practice is being continued for our own benefit, or is it really centered around Christ. Do we add traditions simply for the sake of some exclusive tribal identity, or are we focused on sincerely and humbly worshipping the Lord? Some traditions get in the way of true worship, rather than enhancing it. As Christians, each generation within the synods and denominations must recognize that change is not always a bad thing, except in the area of Biblical truth. John Joseph Flanaganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06596324816480709495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-13896351628696730792019-03-25T11:47:47.383-05:002019-03-25T11:47:47.383-05:00The Blogger is beating a dead horse by blaming the...The Blogger is beating a dead horse by blaming the LCMS District<br />Presidenta for the liturgical freedom Christians have. The high<br />church clergy want all the smells and bells, chanting and chancel<br />prancing. The regular clergy want to worship the Lord with praise<br />and adoration and the latest 2006 synodical hymnal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-74825305240050454222019-03-25T07:15:36.945-05:002019-03-25T07:15:36.945-05:00"... the bishop (district president is the LC...<i>"... the bishop (district president is the LCMS nomenclature)"</i><br /><br />No! In the Missouri Synod these are completely different vocations. It's disturbing that a member of the CCM is unaware (or ignores) the difference.Carl Vehsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00348831096001668813noreply@blogger.com