Letters
Rediscover empowering tradition Lutheran
Presiding bishop, Marty columns and article on pope draw heat, praise APRIL 2014
www.thelutheran.org $2.50 ® Faith traditions New life in ancient practices
Story Page 16
Study guide Page 22
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Living Easter gallery Hope as Easter people Rescuing food, souls
I did not expect it to end where it did. It was wonderful. It brought a tear to my eye, which rarely happens. I loved the reminder that God’s grace is suf- ficient. Thank you, Bishop, I needed that. The Rev. Marsha Adams Arnold, Pa.
I truly appreciated the cover story on tradition (April, page 16). For too long many congregations have been bombarded by worship wars. In a day where liturgical forms have been downplayed, it’s refreshing to know that many of our Lutheran congrega- tions are recovering their more-cath- olic roots. After all, Martin Luther was not intent on being “Protestant,” but more on being a liturgical and confessional movement of the one holy, catholic and apostolic church. Liturgy with the rituals listed can be a wonderful empowerment toward the mission of witness and justice to which Christ calls us. Stephen Bull Toledo, Ohio
Column hits home I rarely get to do more than glance through The Lutheran and not often when it first arrives. I decided to take the time to read Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton’s column in April (page 50). It started in such a way that
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www.thelutheran.org
Run away In her April column the presiding bishop mentions German theolo- gian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I am cur- rently reading my fourth book on Bonhoeffer, his Letters from Prison. If Bonhoeffer were alive today, I think he would question the ELCA and the direction taken by our beloved church during the past 20 years. In fact, he would flee in the opposite direction. Ober J. Anderson Ankeny, Iowa
Not a science book Peter W. Marty makes an excel- lent point in his “Science and faith” column (April, page 3). The 66 vol- umes contained within the Bible are intended to reflect the faith of the community that believes in the God of creation, not a science book in the modern empirical sense of the term. Marty’s column might be a good summary for explaining how Luther- ans understand the first article of the Apostles’ Creed. The Rev. David Coffin Deshler, Ohio
Accept Jesus I was dismayed to read Marty’s column in March (page 3), which appeared to embrace universal salva- tion. Christ did, indeed, die for every-
one. However, an individual must accept Christ as savior to receive the gift of eternal life. I was born into a Jewish family, circumstances over which I had no control. Although I love my heritage, I was not saved and assured of heaven until I accepted Jesus as the messiah 35 years ago. This is a scriptural fact, not an “exclu- sive club” mentality. Barbara Summers Rolla, Mo.
On target Marty’s columns are always outstand- ing, but the one in March was a huge breath of fresh air. He put a stamp of approval on what many of us want to believe, but Marty expressed it with such biblical validity. Audrey Bentz Lyle, Wash.
Wrong denomination Marty tells us in January (page 3) that God does not answer our prayers, and in March that Christians have no special place with God over any other religion. In between, Erik Heen tells us in “Predestination” (February, page 14) that all will be saved. These articles would be more appropriate in a Unitarian magazine. They do not seem Lutheran to me. Richard N. Bergesen West Chester, Pa.
Faith is a journey Columns like Marty’s give me hope for the future of the church and peo- ple of God. Faith, like all of life, is a journey that requires examination and growth in understanding or it shrivels and becomes mean-spirited. Man’s ego loves to believe he knows
The
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