How do I know there's a God? Yeah, I couldn't fit that all into a comment. The fulfilled prophecies in the Bible are my favorite evidence, but there's all the evidence in creation, the existence of the universe at all, the fact that we can actually ask that question in the first place and ponder its significance, lots of other things.
You seem to think that church is all about morality. We're about love: received and transmitted.
I'm the "Love God with all that you are because He loved you with all that He had" and the "Love others, even trolls and others who are difficult to love, as yourself, making personal sacrifices for them, knowing they won't return in kind, because Jesus loved us when we were pretty much impossible to love" kind of Lutheran. But more than that, I'm the, "When you fail at both of these, and you have and will again, remember that God forgives you, and today is a fresh start" kind of Lutheran. You?
If you want to join, you have pledge drives. "Uncomfortable"? Are you the "Don't let women preach or get abortions!" kind of Lutheran uncomfortable or the "The church should become NPR at prayer!" Lutheran uncomfortable? Or are you "Don't let your kids become Scouts-their merit badges lead to works righteousness and the Pope is the Antichrist!" Lutheran uncomfortable?
Charging them? We have an offering, but it's totally voluntary. And while my sermons will make people uncomfortable, I like to think they're not painful!
Are these two people pretty much the only two people of color in Lutheranism in North America? From pictures you'd certainly think so. About as vibrantly diverse as cream cheese.
@NixonisLord Heh, yeah, that's something Lutherans certainly need to work on. Our congregation is a bit more diverse than most. (We have Chive and Blueberry!) Why do you think it is that way? We're from a mostly German & Scandinavian background historically, but other denominations look much more diverse.
How do I know there's a God? Yeah, I couldn't fit that all into a comment. The fulfilled prophecies in the Bible are my favorite evidence, but there's all the evidence in creation, the existence of the universe at all, the fact that we can actually ask that question in the first place and ponder its significance, lots of other things.
You seem to think that church is all about morality. We're about love: received and transmitted.
doulos12 5 months ago
I'm the "Love God with all that you are because He loved you with all that He had" and the "Love others, even trolls and others who are difficult to love, as yourself, making personal sacrifices for them, knowing they won't return in kind, because Jesus loved us when we were pretty much impossible to love" kind of Lutheran. But more than that, I'm the, "When you fail at both of these, and you have and will again, remember that God forgives you, and today is a fresh start" kind of Lutheran. You?
doulos12 6 months ago
@doulos12 How do you know that there is a god in the first place? If you're no better than any of the rest of us, why bother with church?
NixonisLord 5 months ago
If you want to join, you have pledge drives. "Uncomfortable"? Are you the "Don't let women preach or get abortions!" kind of Lutheran uncomfortable or the "The church should become NPR at prayer!" Lutheran uncomfortable? Or are you "Don't let your kids become Scouts-their merit badges lead to works righteousness and the Pope is the Antichrist!" Lutheran uncomfortable?
NixonisLord 6 months ago
Charging them? We have an offering, but it's totally voluntary. And while my sermons will make people uncomfortable, I like to think they're not painful!
doulos12 6 months ago
Maybe people of color are wary of white people inflicting pain on them in the form of hymns and sermons and charging them for this on top of it?
NixonisLord 6 months ago
Are these two people pretty much the only two people of color in Lutheranism in North America? From pictures you'd certainly think so. About as vibrantly diverse as cream cheese.
NixonisLord 6 months ago
@NixonisLord Heh, yeah, that's something Lutherans certainly need to work on. Our congregation is a bit more diverse than most. (We have Chive and Blueberry!) Why do you think it is that way? We're from a mostly German & Scandinavian background historically, but other denominations look much more diverse.
doulos12 6 months ago
A lot of Christian denominations say Grace Alone BUT. It is either Grace Alone or Works Righteousness it cannot be both.
john91722 9 months ago