Comments on: Unibapticostamentalist Lutherans http://thealbinopeacock.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/unibapticostamentalist-lutherans/ CAUTION: CONFESSIONAL LUTHERAN CROSSING Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:27:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: The Rebellious Pastor's Wife http://thealbinopeacock.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/unibapticostamentalist-lutherans/#comment-10 The Rebellious Pastor's Wife Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:20:17 +0000 http://thealbinopeacock.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/unibapticostamentalist-lutherans/#comment-10 I was raised Lutheran but ran out the door after my confirmation (almost literally). The church that I had been in had no desire to answer the questions that I had. So when I was drawn back, I ended up going elsewhere, anywhere but the Lutheran Church. I went non-denominational, because it reminded me of the Lutheran camp I worked at, and there, I learned to read the Bible again. Then I went to college, and the closest thing was Baptist. I was toying with rebaptism, but couldn't quite bring myself to acknowledge that my infant baptism wasn't real. I could not bring myself to take communion there, because I still believed in the Real Presence (oddly enough, the pastor didn't want me taking communion there, because I wasn't baptized...closed communion because of symbols...well, good for him). He wasn't fire and brimstone, but he had an altar call every week, and every week I wondered if I should, but never did. I started dating my husband, who was headed to seminary, and realized that I needed to really look at whether or not I could handle being Lutheran, and so I went to the Lutheran church and met a really great pastor who loved to answer the kind of questions that I thought the Lutheran church didn't answer. And I realized I was home. I still struggled with the liturgy for a long time, but now it as familiar and warm to me as a cozy sweater. I wouldn't want to be without it. Having never been truly educated in our tradition, so being able to throw it aside, I agree with you. We have a rich treasure that our theology is completely tied into. We should rejoice in it. I was raised Lutheran but ran out the door after my confirmation (almost literally). The church that I had been in had no desire to answer the questions that I had. So when I was drawn back, I ended up going elsewhere, anywhere but the Lutheran Church. I went non-denominational, because it reminded me of the Lutheran camp I worked at, and there, I learned to read the Bible again. Then I went to college, and the closest thing was Baptist. I was toying with rebaptism, but couldn’t quite bring myself to acknowledge that my infant baptism wasn’t real. I could not bring myself to take communion there, because I still believed in the Real Presence (oddly enough, the pastor didn’t want me taking communion there, because I wasn’t baptized…closed communion because of symbols…well, good for him). He wasn’t fire and brimstone, but he had an altar call every week, and every week I wondered if I should, but never did.

I started dating my husband, who was headed to seminary, and realized that I needed to really look at whether or not I could handle being Lutheran, and so I went to the Lutheran church and met a really great pastor who loved to answer the kind of questions that I thought the Lutheran church didn’t answer. And I realized I was home. I still struggled with the liturgy for a long time, but now it as familiar and warm to me as a cozy sweater. I wouldn’t want to be without it.

Having never been truly educated in our tradition, so being able to throw it aside, I agree with you. We have a rich treasure that our theology is completely tied into. We should rejoice in it.

]]> By: the peacock http://thealbinopeacock.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/unibapticostamentalist-lutherans/#comment-7 the peacock Sun, 03 Jun 2007 00:25:38 +0000 http://thealbinopeacock.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/unibapticostamentalist-lutherans/#comment-7 Comments gpiper said ... Very nice post. It’s the kind of viewpoint/reminder that “cradle” Lutherans (like me) need to be reminded of on a regular basis. Boredom and/or desire for “new & exciting” is no excuse for exchanging our theological birthright for a bowl of barely warmed over theological pottage. Thank you for writing it! May 24, 6:24 PM — ******* Liz said ... I am right with you! I grew up in the EFCA, and I wouldn’t go back for the world. I love the question: Whose salvation is it anyway? May 25, 12:14 AM — ******* the peacock said ... | Liz ~ that was one thing I forgot to say! During our pre-seminary interview they also asked me if I’d ever go back to Baptist. You probably know what my answer was too. Nope nope nope. thanks for your post! May 25, 1:34 AM — ******* the peacock said ... | gpiper ~ you’re welcome! May 25, 8:52 PM — ******* Theresa said ... I am enjoying getting to know your writings! May 26, 3:29 AM — ******* Maxfield said ... I hear you and share some things with you! My grandfather was a non-stipend Free Will Baptist minister in rural Missouri. I really loved the guy but he was scary with his religion and probably was one of the l reasons I was not baptised until age 37 in a wonderful LCMS in Des Moines Iowa. I remember my sunday school teacher telling me (at around 7 years of age) that it was harder for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone to go to Heaven. I knew what the alternative to Heaven was, of course, and I was terrified. I also remember thinking that it was no use to go to church because everyone was doomed. I never learned the Good News of that story about the camel until some years later. In college, I learned about the Reformation, Martin Luther, and the Lutheran Church and it’s dogma. It would take me a few years to understand that the Holy Spirit really did want me in Heaven and that I was invited to join the Kingdom of God. I still remember the first time I attended a Lutheran Church and heard the sermon delivered rationally, intellegently, and without the hand waving, finger pointing, judgemental monologue I once heard in the other church. I enrolled in an adult confirmation class and was baptised, along with my 13 year old son and my 1 year old daughter. I learned what was meant by the Gospel and the Law. In short, I became a child of God in the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod and I sincerely hope that it remains the Liturgical, Sacramental, Confessional church which has helped so many find God. May 30, 6:39 PM — [ Edit | Delete | Unapprove | Approve | Spam the peacock said ... Thank you, Max! Always good to meet another convert! Comments

gpiper said …

Very nice post. It’s the kind of viewpoint/reminder that “cradle” Lutherans (like me) need to be reminded of on a regular basis. Boredom and/or desire for “new & exciting” is no excuse for exchanging our theological birthright for a bowl of barely warmed over theological pottage.

Thank you for writing it!

May 24, 6:24 PM —

*******

Liz said …

I am right with you! I grew up in the EFCA, and I wouldn’t go back for the world. I love the question: Whose salvation is it anyway?

May 25, 12:14 AM —

*******

the peacock said … |

Liz ~ that was one thing I forgot to say! During our pre-seminary interview they also asked me if I’d ever go back to Baptist. You probably know what my answer was too. Nope nope nope. thanks for your post!

May 25, 1:34 AM —

*******

the peacock said … |

gpiper ~ you’re welcome!

May 25, 8:52 PM —

*******
Theresa said …

I am enjoying getting to know your writings!

May 26, 3:29 AM —

*******

Maxfield said …

I hear you and share some things with you! My grandfather was a non-stipend Free Will Baptist minister in rural Missouri. I really loved the guy but he was scary with his religion and probably was one of the l reasons I was not baptised until age 37 in a wonderful LCMS in Des Moines Iowa. I remember my sunday school teacher telling me (at around 7 years of age) that it was harder for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone to go to Heaven. I knew what the alternative to Heaven was, of course, and I was terrified. I also remember thinking that it was no use to go to church because everyone was doomed. I never learned the Good News of that story about the camel until some years later. In college, I learned about the Reformation, Martin Luther, and the Lutheran Church and it’s dogma. It would take me a few years to understand that the Holy Spirit really did want me in Heaven and that I was invited to join the Kingdom of God. I still remember the first time I attended a Lutheran Church and heard the sermon delivered rationally, intellegently, and without the hand waving, finger pointing, judgemental monologue I once heard in the other church. I enrolled in an adult confirmation class and was baptised, along with my 13 year old son and my 1 year old daughter. I learned what was meant by the Gospel and the Law. In short, I became a child of God in the Lutheran Church-
Missouri Synod and I sincerely hope that it remains the Liturgical, Sacramental, Confessional church which has helped so many find God.

May 30, 6:39 PM — [ Edit | Delete | Unapprove | Approve | Spam

the peacock said …

Thank you, Max! Always good to meet another convert!

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