Impressed

The LCMS has impressed me recently, in two ways.

First: last Sunday was the first Sunday after Independence Day (4th of July). As expected, there was some mention of America and the freedom we have therein. But our pastor started off with some pretty clear-cut words. His words were essentially, "We are blessed to be in America, although the nation has declined morally and deviated from the Constitution."

Wow. That's bold to say in this day and age. I agree on both accounts, of course, but a pastor saying that requires some real gall. It's all too easy to lose congregants for speaking truth. I value and admire any pastor who would be willing to speak an inconvenient truth such as that.

Second: I am pleased as to how thoroughly scriptural Lutheran theology is. I've seen how other denominations have needed to input their own understandings or interpretations to get their particular beliefs. Then I read instructional material given by a Lutheran church and, my goodness, the stuff is referenced and cross-referenced every which way. They also have the backing of history, a second way of validating their beliefs. All told, I can feel confident that what I'm being taught is indeed sound doctrine.