Letters
Luther myths a winner with many Lutheran
‘Light side,’ retirement wave, economic issues, photo draw comments JANUARY 2015
www.thelutheran.org $2.50 ® MYTHBUSTING 10 things you thought you knew about Martin Luther
Story Page 16
Study guide Page 22
were outstanding. They definitely got my new year off to a good start. I especially loved poor Katharina Luther among the herring. Carolyn B. Edwards Bandera, Texas
Cartoon didn’t work Disappointed and offended by the crass wise men cartoons in “Light side” (January, page 47). Really seemed inappropriate and certainly not funny. The Rev. Timothy Koenig Goshen, Ky.
26 Songs of the world 28 Rose in the desert 34 Digital age preaching
The January issue was a great way to start the new year. Yes, the new year offers renewal, change and oppor- tunity, and you have helped all of us to look forward. The layout was inviting and articles were stimulat- ing, especially Timothy Wengert’s “Lutheran mythbusting or ...” (page 16). Thanks for such an exciting way to begin 2015. George E. Keck Harleysville, Pa.
Prophet and rebel Martin Luther may not have thought of himself as a reformer for the rea- sons Wengert gives, but he did think of himself as a prophet and the heir to the rebel Jan Hus (1369-1415) (Luther’s Works 43:223, 34:104, 48:153). The Rev. Ronald F. Marshall Seattle
Kudos for herring The colorful and clever illustrations for “Lutheran mythbusting or …”
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www.thelutheran.org
Given ’em a hand In response to the “No news here” letter (January, page 49), I say we can and should give retiring clergy a grand slam departure. Just like we did with New York Yankees great Derek Jeter. We can also throw the ball to the younger generation com- ing in. There’s plenty of time for both. Earl Finkler Medford, Wis.
More information As a librarian I had to laugh at the quote, “People are not hungering for more information. They can find everything they need on the Inter- net” (January, page 34). Yes, there’s a lot of information available out there, and a lot of misinformation. Librar- ians are often called upon to separate the wheat from the chaff. As a for- mer teacher, I go to church expecting us all to be taught something new. I expect to be taught a piece of back- story or cultural history that will make those old words and strange practices make sense to us two or
three thousand years later, so I’m not just blindly following the dictates of an ancient religion by rote, but am able to get to the unchanging heart of the matter in a world that the origi- nal writers could not have imagined. I beg of you when you preach—more information! Keith E. Gatling Liverpool, N.Y.
Hands off There has been debate in The Lutheran about economic issues with a letter (January, page 48) quot- ing the Gospel verse, “He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise” (Luke 3:11). There is a distinction. When I reach into my pocket to give to the poor, that is sharing. When someone else reaches into my pocket to give to the poor, that is theft. Our Lord is not a thief, and neither should we be, nor should be the economic policies this magazine advocates. Taylor Swanson Tullahoma, Tenn.
Christmas matters When a tradition such as Advent has to be explained (December, page 18), it has lost its power. And Advent is one that has to be explained to our members, let alone the unchurched. To a culture that largely considers Christianity irrelevant, we declare ourselves proud to be so. To be mili- tantly anachronistic about a church season is to miss a huge opportu- nity to share with the culture what Christmas is all about: the advent (no pun intended) of our Savior into the world, calling us to meaning, hope
The
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