Comments on: Echo Live Saturday

By: Gordon

Gordon — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:43:38 +0000

John-If “lutheran” is a stumbling block to the unchurched (and yes, Luther didn’t want his followers to call themselves Lutherans, but they insisted on doing so to honor him and identify themselves as something other than ex-communicated Catholics)then we should do away with the LCMS in its entirety(including seminaries and funding of churches) and drop the word “Lutheran” from all churches in the Synod so as to not appear to be doing a “bait and switch” on those who come to a (shh)Lutheran church and find out too late, after they find they agree with its teachings, that it is not the non-denominational assembly of people that they thought it was.

If we are not proud of branding the organization we belong to with a name that describes it and we can defend why–then let’s call it quits and join the Saddleback or First Main or the “Bunch of Us Community” church if we wish to continue attending any church. Oh, I guess we could disband and those that want to meet at someone’s house in the Church of the Living Room could do so.

By: John

John — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:54:14 +0000

I don’t know Gordon. Isn’t the church’s primary purpose to be reaching out to the unchurched? And if the word “Lutheran” (which Luther would have hated) is a stumbling block to those people, shouldn’t we be more than willing to take it out?

After all, isn’t using “Lutheran” before “Church” our way of organizationally branding our congregation – and isn’t this what Brad Abare might be cautioning us against?

Just because their name doesn’t include the word ‘Lutheran’ doesn’t mean that they aren’t being an incredible ‘Lutheran’ witness in their communities! (The name doesn’t define the thing…)

By: Gordon

Gordon — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:18:30 +0000

I agree with Brad Abare to the degree that I am very disappointed with our Texas District that they have allowed (and funded) two churches that refuse to use the name “Lutheran” in their name because they are trying to “reach out ” to the unchurched who don’t trust organized religion. That is blasphemy in my sight and they should not be in communion with the LCMS, but rather with the “Community Church of Whatever You Believe”.