A Few Random Reasons I am A Lutheran

I know, I was baptized in a Lutheran church when I was about a month old, and that does account for a large part of why I am Lutheran. But after exploring awhile among the Pentecostals, I returned to my Lutheran roots. Here are a few "short" reasons why:

1. When asked, "Are Lutherans Conservative or Liberal?", the correct answer is Yes. And No.

2. We love the liturgy, but the liturgy does not define us.

3. Two brilliant pieces of writing by Martin Luther: "The Small Catechism", and "The Freedom of a Christian (also called "On Christian Liberty.")

4. Paradox.

5. The "priesthood of all believers," properly interpreted.

6. All the little Lutheran churches, still dotting the prairie, not giving up. (of course, I humbly realize that in other areas in the country, it might be other little churches that are not giving up.)

7. Gerhard Forde, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Soren Kierkegaard, Albert Schweitzer, Johann Sebastian Bach.

8. I am not in charge of my salvation; God is.

9. "Putting the best construction" on your neighbor's words, activity and behavior. (This is what Luther says it means to not bear false witness against your neighbor.) (I don't notice that we do this much, but it's not a bad standard to reach for.)

More musings and story-telling to come.....

At the Risk of Sounding Redundant.....

In this prolonged, and many times dreary, negative election season, this brings a smile, and reminds me of the gift of our basic freedoms.



I first saw this over at Andrew Sullivan's blog.