The Bible says much about crosses: Christ's cross and the crosses that we bear. And the two are connected. Our sufferings, said Luther, "are the sufferings of Christ." And yet most Christian discussions of the problem of suffering leave Christ out of the conversation, as if God had not become incarnate.
The Swedish Lutheran bishop and novelist Bo Giertz cites three things that help us to have faith in the work of Christ for our salvation: the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and our personal failure.
John Ehrett, seeing the problems with the dominant political theologies, sees a way forward in the thought of the martyred Lutheran theologian from Ethiopia, Gudina Tumsa.
The number of COVID-19 infections has been dropping rapidly, and the vaccines are working far better than anyone expected. Though some observers are predicting another surge, due to the new variants, another expert says that the disease might be defeated by April. So in a few weeks, we should be able to see who is right.
Pro-lifers often concentrate on the supply side of abortion, trying to make the procedure less available. They have more success in addressing the demand side, persuading women not to get abortions. An activist argues that even in the hostile Biden administration, pro-lifers can successfully pursue this tactic.
A business corporation has a hierarchical leadership that exercises authority and applies policy. Thus, it is a kind of government. Why shouldn't it BE the government? Nevada is considering a proposal from a tech company that would allow businesses to exercise civil jurisdiction, including law enforcement and the right to levy taxes. Why this is a very bad idea.
A minister calls for his fellow evangelicals to recover the disciplines of Lent and the practice of confession, which we Lutherans have but also often neglect.
An Australian law against "conversion therapy"--defined as practices that attempt to change same-sex attraction and gender identity--includes the prohibition of prayer.
Congress is considering proposals to pay a monthly subsidy to families for each child. This would be pro-family and pro-life, while also being problematic.
God created the universe "ex nihilo," from nothing. The "new creation" of salvation is also "ex nihilo." So says the new Lutheran book of systematic theology.
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