We care about what the Vatican “thinks, says, and proclaims” because much of it, but certainly not all, is what we “teach, preach, and confess”. That is why we are part of the “one holy, Christian and Apostolic Church”, along with others.

I am absolutley convinced that we Lutherans, on so many topics of dogma and doctrine, have much more agreement with Rome than we have with so much of contemporary American, so-called Protestantism, which has cast off many of the truths contained in scripture and the creeds, and regards them today as “unscientific” and “unenlightened”. For much of today’s American Protestantism, there is no such thing as “false doctrine”. “Heresy” is to them a “dirty word”. Orthodoxy is regarded as abhorrent to reason. Because of theological ignorance, many American “Protestants” would have today’s Church read “He descended into hell.” right out of the Apostles’ Creed, (if they’d even recite it.)

Don’t always be too harsh on Rome; rather, only when and as they need it.

Part of the cause of the very real problem Josh mentions is a corrupted understanding among laymen of the Rite of Confirmation. A Confirmation Certifcate is viewed as being in the nature of a diploma, signifying the end of formal instruction in the faith. In short, the confirmand has “graduated”.

I believe Luther and the early Lutheran Fathers didn’t even observe the Rite of Confirmation, in part because of the Roman abuse of having made it a sacrament. Rather, emphasis was placed on instruction in The Small Catechism leading to the day of the “Pruefung” (the Examination) followed by first communion.

The Large Catechism, I believe, was intended for pastors and the continuing theological education of adults. I love The Large Catechism. I believe it should be a staple of adult forums in church schools, (rather than book reviews on topics of whatever the current winds are blowing.)

The great 20th century (Reformed) Swiss theologian, Karl Barth, throughout his professional career and until his death, never referred to himself with titles such as “Reverend”, “Doctor”, or “Professor”. Rather, at the end of his written works, he signed his name, followed by “Stud. theol.” (student of theology). Considered by others to be among the “greats”, he always thought of himself as but a student.

We laymen in the church should see ourselves as students, always in need of further catechisis, rather than as “graduates”.

http://www.lutheransonline.com/servlet/lo_ProcServ/dbpage=page&mode=display&gid=20080194170663455501111555

As an illustration from the site, transit time from Rome to Jerusalem on a slower sailing boat would be 24 days with passenger fare of 669 denarii, which would be about 22 months of a soldier’s salary.

Just looked up the airfare today, which would be $427 round trip with 3.5 hours in the air.

Ahh. Um. If I happen to stumble into one of those time portals, do you think my internet connection will still work?

Certainly a sin for any Christian.

However, joyfully, this will be a true pruning of the church to strengthen and lead to the “narrow gate”. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Now, I was born into the confessional Lutheranism as a third generation LCMS member. And what struck me that night is that I spent two hours pouring into a text that was largely *new* to me. I’d never seen the Large Catechism before, only heard of it; I’d never seen OR heard (maybe only vaguely) of the Apology, the Smalcald Articles, et al.

This isn’t meant to call out the pastors that I have had in my life in any way; the ones that I can remember were all excellent teachers and defenders of the faith, and several are very close friends. But there is a real problem when a third generation Lutheran doesn’t know (or has even heard of in some cases) of the very Confessions that conceived the confessional Lutheran church body.

The first thing I did was get 10 copies for our small congregation here in Maine, and going forward we have started the tradition of giving a copy of the “Reader’s Edition” to any person/family that becomes a member of our church–whether they are waking up from their spiritual slumber, are new Lutherans, or transfers from an LCMS body. This is a book that *must* be in every household.