tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687519078951394066.post6259517094213932520..comments2013-12-09T15:35:33.867-08:00Comments on Possessing the Sacred Cross: OppositionPr. Ian Wolfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01881301780917137208noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687519078951394066.post-46223750577450273712009-10-19T06:39:20.318-07:002009-10-19T06:39:20.318-07:00Michael,
I think you are spot on. This has been...Michael, <br /><br />I think you are spot on. This has been my argument as well. I actually have an article being published this Wednesday at Lutheran Forum Online entitled, "Broken Keys." How can one half of the church bind a sin and the other half ordain a person committing the same acts and there still be unity within the church or among the roster? The bound conscience doctrine of the social statement holds these together as perfectly valid, equal, and correct interpretations of scripture. As you say the problem created by the social statement and the ministry policy recommendations is that the office of the keys is broken.Pr. Ian Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01881301780917137208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687519078951394066.post-18952407124737618292009-10-16T15:07:10.602-07:002009-10-16T15:07:10.602-07:00Another line of argument is to set up any text in ...Another line of argument is to set up any text in the Bible that seems opposed to whatever stance alongside another text that is obviously irrelevant - the implication is always that both texts are outdated and irrelevant. Recently the president of Gettysburg attacked the idea that there is any presumed creational order by quoting a bizarre passage in the OT that said a man wearing his hair long was against nature. This is rather infantile logic, but I guess it's what goes for serious theological reflection in our seminaries (and I say this as a semi-seminarian).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687519078951394066.post-24423751976578963072009-10-15T20:41:42.344-07:002009-10-15T20:41:42.344-07:00I think the fundamental problem is that the founda...I think the fundamental problem is that the foundational mission of the Church (note capital 'C') is broken. While sexual ethics is important enough to constitute a dividing issue, the real problem lies in the brokeness of the Office of the Keys through which God's grace is administered to the repentant.<br /><br />How in the world is a pastor to forgive (in the name of our LORD) a man repenting of sin "xyz" in the morning and then be called to bless the act of 'xyz' later than evening?<br /><br />Repentance is prior to the Gospel, but if the Church is unable or unwilling to confess, teach, and preach the Law, how is one to repent?Michael Petersonhttp://themoralchristian.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com