When one looked at Lutheranism in the LCMS, one would find liturgy and doctrine from the time of Luther. Yes, weep. Then rejoice and give thanks to God that He has been merciful to such a faithless lot.
Interesting and telling how one of the interviewees for the article, Dr. Pelikan, later renounced Lutheranism for Holy Orthodoxy. Since this article, Pelikan's famous dictum of the "ELCA becoming Methodist and the LCMS becoming Baptist" can be set against the Lutheranism that was described in this particular article some 50+ years ago and found to be an accurate assessment of how things have turned out over that same time period.
A very well written and concise article, the introduction was particularly interesting, rather evocative of Lewis. Any idea who wrote it?
"The attempts, in committees, councils and assemblies, to hammer out agreement among Protestant groups may eventually (so the critics fear) submerge all sharp theology in a syrup of good will and compromise."
Why was it famous? Was this a much discussed TIME article back in 1958?
ReplyDeleteWhen one looked at Lutheranism in the LCMS, one would find liturgy and doctrine from the time of Luther. Yes, weep. Then rejoice and give thanks to God that He has been merciful to such a faithless lot.
ReplyDeleteFamous in the sense of being Lutherans time in the lime-light - largely squandered and tossed to the winds.
ReplyDeletePr Brown - amen! His faithfulness endures, despite our wretched propensity to mess up!
Interesting and telling how one of the interviewees for the article, Dr. Pelikan, later renounced Lutheranism for Holy Orthodoxy. Since this article, Pelikan's famous dictum of the "ELCA becoming Methodist and the LCMS becoming Baptist" can be set against the Lutheranism that was described in this particular article some 50+ years ago and found to be an accurate assessment of how things have turned out over that same time period.
ReplyDeleteWill, I did not know you could link up with the original story. I have the TIME copy with pix. Thanks, Larry
ReplyDeleteWeeping. Especially about the loss of doctrine, liturgy and integrity in much of Lutheranism today.
ReplyDeleteA very well written and concise article, the introduction was particularly interesting, rather evocative of Lewis. Any idea who wrote it?
ReplyDelete"The attempts, in committees, councils and assemblies, to hammer out agreement among Protestant groups may eventually (so the critics fear) submerge all sharp theology in a syrup of good will and compromise."
I'm not sure who the author was.
ReplyDelete