I have a meeting with my pastor this Friday to discuss the Jack Cascione article from CW I left in his box. Some points we will touch on are as follows:
1) If we worship like a methabaptisicostalnondenom we will soon turn into one.
2) Pless made a point in one of his articles about unity in the regional church.
3) Why do I go to church? Is it for the programs? Because my daughter is in Jr. Youth? I go to church to receive the Word and Sacrament! If I didn't go for that I wouldn't go there.
Liturgy means God's work for man.
When I sing Simeon's song, I'm singing the same song he sang while he held our Savior in his arms. I'm there with him!
"Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy word,
For mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation:
Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people,
A Light to lighten the Gentiles
And the Glory of Thy people Israel."
Or how about Mary's song? "My soul doth magnify the Lord..."
How could we improve on that??? These are His words!!! I would hope that ALL of our LCMS pastors would know they can't improve the Bible.
You want to talk about emotion??? I'm tearing up now just thinking about it! I know that's not what it's about, but when you think of what God has done for us cesspool inhabitants it's got to touch your very soul! Because that's where it's at! It's your soul!
One asks what it is we clamor for? We clamor for ourselves. Our evil flesh thinks of itself and whatever makes it feel good. That's why we can't trust our feelings, because they'll make us go farther from God. We desire to have our ears tickled, because it feels good. Today's society is filled with "feel good stuff," which is why Moms don't stay home with their kids anymore. We need more "stuff" so we can feel good. Why else there are so many divorces, bankruptcies, suicides, live-in couples, etc..? I could go on, but you know what I mean.
I go to church to get the Word and Sacraments. If we change the way we worship to make us feel good, then these Gifts change. They are no longer what They are now.
pax, Ken Soyk
laity, Holy Cross, Wichita, KS