As we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation today, some have wondered if it is time for another Reformation. In typical Lutheran fashion I would answer that question, “Yes and No.” No, in the sense that what Martin Luther taught starting 500 years ago is still true and is still being taught in many…
Lutherans, and others who follow the teachings brought to light during the Reformation, will mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation on Tuesday, October 31, 2017. As they do so they face a future that is uncertain. And, strangely enough, they are just fine with that. Luther and his supporters faced death threats throughout their…
A major feature of the fifth century of Lutheranism is what Harold Lindsell calls the “Battle for the Bible.” The battle for the Bible has affected all denominations, not just Lutherans. As the Bible was subjected to more and more scientific analysis, people started to question some of its accuracy and reliability. Key elements of…
As I pointed out last month, the third century of Lutheranism saw the rise of a new philosophical and theological movement, Rationalism. According to Rationalism, reason, logic and science were the supreme sources of truth and capable of solving all of man’s problems, leaving old-fashioned religious faith as a relic of the past. For much…
The second 100 years of Lutheranism began with what caused many people to immigrate from Europe to America. For many centuries the princes, kings and emperors of Europe engaged in an endless succession of wars. Many of these wars started over petty grievances or insults or due to attempts by these monarchs to enlarge their…
Armenia, a former Soviet republic located between Europe and Asia, embraced Christianity enthusiastically about 1600 years ago. It became the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as its official religion. There was just one problem. The Armenian language was only a spoken language; it had no written form. So a man by the…
Is Lutheranism still relevant to today? Is there any point in celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation? Dr. Erik H. Herrmann, professor of history at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, maintains that Lutheranism is relevant to today because of why it was started. It was started when Martin Luther realized that the church of his…
Mirror Neurons 