Why I Walked Away from Evangelicalism
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For me, the road from Lutheranism (WELS) to Evangelicalism (BTW, in Europe these are synonyms) and Fundamentalism involved a “bridge,” if you will — the media preaching of two Presbyterians, namely D. James Kennedy and Bruce Dunn. (Dunn was also a strong dispensationalist.)
I felt like I had taken the road “full circle” when I took theology in seminary from Dr. Myron Houghton — who has his Th.D. from Concordia Seminary (LC-MS). From that point, I have felt a much greater capacity to put the puzzle pieces back together to form the “map.”
I know that some Baptists think that Lutherans cannot possibly be saved or that all Lutherans form one big anarthrous blob of a denomination. Though I left the Lutheran church of my own accord, I will forever be grateful for what I learned there — particularly the hundreds of Bible passages I had to memorize word-for-word in my old-school Lutheran grade school.
Church Ministries Representative, serving in the Midwest, for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry
formerly known as Coach C
My Blog: http://dearreaderblog.com
Cor meum tibi offero Domine prompte et sincere. ~ John Calvin
A lack of any coherent confession is one of the problems with fundamentalism and the wider evangelicalism. Evangelicalism is really an offshoot of the more secular romanticism and transcendentalism where the only real common thread is “experience” and not doctrine.
formerly known as Coach C
When I think about it, though, I would not be comfortable attending long-term very many churches in the US. Probably less than 1%. How about you?
My Blog: http://dearreaderblog.com
Cor meum tibi offero Domine prompte et sincere. ~ John Calvin
Lack of Love—though I generally refused doggedly to believe that the Evangelicals in my circle were of the abusive sort, I could never quite deny the very pronounced lack of love among believers.I have been pondering lately Eph. 3—being filled to all the fulness of God (very intriguing statement), and how that is 1. in the context of the church, and 2. is largely associated with Christ’s love–—I think being filled with God will largely express itself through Christlike love.
Recently (past yr or 2), our church went through a time where several of the main movers were hostile and angry toward each other. It reminds me of these verses:
I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? (1Co 3:2-3)So the growth of that love and fulness of God is the cure for our strifes, jealousies, and immaturity. And we have to move into it as a church body (“to know with all the saints what is the height and depth …” Eph. 3).
God’s been taking me on this journey of learning to become a more connected part of our church, to stop being so introverted (I have more of the introverted gifts) and stop judging people and reach out to people. Like, some idea of what to do for someone will come to mind and at the same time God will remind me of “love” as expressing His fulness. Some interesting stories coming about … How will God transform us as we begin to more and more express His love? It’s what I want for our church.
Anyway, … it’s something I’ve been praying about lately and thinking about for a long time. Not sure if lack of love is systemic to evangelicalism b/c I have nothing to compare evangelicalism with … But I think it’s actually more a lack of grace and (hence) acceptance that leads to the lack of love. In our more rigid churches, “love” is shown, but only to acceptable people in “acceptable” ways, if that can be called love. But other churches are pretty gracious.
Fascinating article.
Unsettling to me was how, when I asked the Lutheran pastor from my youth, now a theologian and writer inside the LCMS, the question of salvation was answered. He and I were discussing hermeneutics. I was told that different people at different ages get saved differently, specifically, infants/children through baptism, adults by acceptance of Christ personally. Yet their official church statements do not similarly distinguish this difference. Thus, to him, baptism saves, but not all the time and not for everyone. I’ll have to dig up the old e-mail sometime.
Rock-solid guy, though, with a heart to serve the Lord, and continues to do so. Recently he stated to me what seems to be the new mantra of the LCMS: “many Lutherans are not Lutheran”, as he urges a movement back to more of their original traditions. From what I know, the LCMS seems to even stand apart from the rest of Lutheranism, especially morally. And I have no doubt this author found a group of really nice people in his LCMS church.
[ChrisS] I was told that different people at different ages get saved differently, specifically, infants/children through baptism, adults by acceptance of Christ personally….Thus, to him, baptism saves, but not all the time and not for everyone.Chris,
Rock-solid guy, though, with a heart to serve the Lord, and continues to do so.
I have never been able to reconcile these two perspectives. Can you help me understand? It has always appeared to me that the basic Lutheran position held to some form of baptismal regeneration as you have stated here. If so, how can we see its leaders as anything but false teachers preaching a false gospel? I know many people who take the position of your second statement, that the Missouri Synod is still solidly evangelical. I just cannot understand how point A and point B can coincide. Thanks.
Why is it that my voice always seems to be loudest when I am saying the dumbest things?
And I still keep a copy of my Luther’s Small Catechism handy to affirm what they say they believe, and how it does not wash with Scripture.
Dick Dayton
Remember, according to Lutheran doctrine, people can lose their salvation, by not persevering in faith. So, in the end, it is the presence of faith in Christ at the time of death that ultimately determines a person’s destiny.
The issue at hand is where faith begins. According to Lutherans, God monergistically imparts faith to an infant through baptism. So, as the child grows, it’s not so much that he begins believing, but that he keeps the faith delivered to him in his baptism. So, Lutheran theology, insofar as it deals with those who grew up in the church, resists decisionism and crisis conversion experiences.
Reformed theology believes something similar, but doesn’t tie the point of regeneration to the time of baptism.
[WCF 28.6] The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God’s own will, in his appointed time.
My Blog: http://dearreaderblog.com
Cor meum tibi offero Domine prompte et sincere. ~ John Calvin
He keeps making references to the Church teaching his 10 year old son the gospel, this should be his job, not the church’s. (he had 10 yrs of Bible training)
I could not help be feel a critical spirit through the whole article. I agree with all the problems he found in those churches. My advice… Spend enough time in one Church, loving the members and demonstrating a faithfulness to the Word, so that correction can gradually be brought. We can not run from our problems… till we compromise doctrine (Lutheranism).
The Bride of Christ is a beautiful Bride, she’s not some hideous thing like you are describing. She maybe ignorant in some areas, and have much room to grow, but don’t tell me she has retreated within the confines of the liturgy of a (for the most part liberal) denomination. With his knowledge of the Word of God he should have been an asset to one of these church’s.
This same mind set is why preachers hop from church to church looking for the “right one.” I married the “right one” 15 years ago, she was and is perfect for me. We have changed much over the years, we were very ignorant and inconsiderate at times. Had many disappointments, even arguments. But I haven’t given up on her yet, and my wife is still loving me too. If we would love the Church we would be able to over look some of her flaws, we would see her true beauty. Then through the process of time those flaws will work themselves out. (in both parties, that is)
I have had people come in the church with a “grocery list of items to check off” before they are willing to come back. We are not perfect, nor are the people that come here. But there are two parties in a relationship. They must cooperate to make it work.
[Charlie] From the outset, let’s just acknowledge that any talk about justification by faith has to center around Luther. It makes no sense, historically speaking, to set Lutheran doctrine and justification by faith in opposition.Charlie has summed this up well. I will just try to make the subject even more clear for those who have absolutely no grounding in Lutheran theology.
Remember, according to Lutheran doctrine, people can lose their salvation, by not persevering in faith. So, in the end, it is the presence of faith in Christ at the time of death that ultimately determines a person’s destiny.
No confessional Lutheran believes in salvation by works — including baptism. The Lutheran teaching is that faith is received THROUGH the sacrament of baptism. While I do not believe this, if you understand it correctly it makes it much easier to understand how a real Lutheran can truly be saved if they are trusting in Christ.
As Dr. Houghton says, the issue for a Lutheran is — have you received the gift (the gospel) or are you trusting in the wrapping on the gift (your baptism)?
[Before we get puffed up, let’s remember that Baptists can just as easily face the same types of issues around things like praying the sinner’s prayer, walking an aisle, etc.]
Confessional Lutherans are so strong on grace and faith alone, in fact, that they can over-correct and almost rule out the possibility of someone hearing the gospel and trusting in Christ — fearing that such a crisis decision could become a human work.
FWIW, most Baptists are about as good at explaining the Lutheran view of baptism and soteriology as Lutherans would be at drawing a chart of the 70th week of Daniel. ;)
Church Ministries Representative, serving in the Midwest, for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry
[Paul J. Scharf][Charlie] As Dr. Houghton says, the issue for a Lutheran is — have you received the gift (the gospel) or are you trusting in the wrapping on the gift (your baptism)?Yes, that was me before accepting the gift. I was never taught the difference or distinction.
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