This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Editor


Make sense of your dollars


and cents.


Attend a free financial education workshop. Learn more at Thrivent.com/ findaworkshop.


See our full-page ad in this issue.


By Daniel J. Lehmann


Eyes wide open, yet blindsided


Can’t anticipate all viewpoints S


ometimes you just don’t see it coming. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have, you just didn’t because your take on the world is,


well, your take. Others see things differently. Despite trying to be aware of others’ sensitivities,


some things still catch you by surprise. Most articles published in The Lutheran stir no reaction at all from readers, while others prompt a lively, healthy exchange of viewpoints. As most readers know, I try to explain in this space the rationale for publishing (or not publish- ing) some articles that I believe may draw criticism. Recently three articles received unanticipated sharp rebukes. The first two involved the eucharist. “Applesauce communion” (February, page 38) con- cerned making the wafer soft for an elderly woman who has difficulty swal- lowing. Some took offense at adding anything to the host (Letters, page 48). And a story on how some churches mark the birthday of Dr. Seuss creator Theodor Seuss Geisel with a Seuss-themed liturgy (January, page 39) encoun- tered several objections (Letters), with one novel and cutting condemnation. The writer, mimicking Geisel’s style, concluded: “Their ‘Seusscharist’ is not true mass. So I’ll just say, ‘No thanks, I pass.’ I can’t believe this made the press. It proves ‘this church’ is such a mess. Is it any wonder, then, why no one reads The Lutheran?” (Editor’s note: the magazine, as a rule, doesn’t publish poetry.) The winner, however, for most complaints was “Finding a common word:


Virginia dialogue pairs Lutherans and Muslims” (January, page 16). The offending line was a quote from a Muslim who opined that Christians and Muslims “share more than 95 percent of their religion.” The typical and judicious responses—there were a few deeply disturbing


anti-Muslim diatribes—echoed this one: “Really? The divinity of Christ, his death and resurrection account for only 5 percent of Christianity? The person quoted is entitled to his opinion. However, such a factually erroneous opinion should not go without challenge in a Christian magazine.” Point taken. Most of the magazine staff spent part of their careers in secular


For important disclosure information, please visit Thrivent.com/disclosures.


Appleton, Wisconsin • Minneapolis, Minnesota Thrivent.com


800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) 26208TLB R12-11 201105436 4 The Lutheran • www.thelutheran.org


media. Quotes, such as the one at issue, are used in those publications with the understanding that readers will or should know they are that person’s opinion. The question for The Lutheran is when do we, should we, shift gears from journalism to apologetics? What will be the magazine’s next perceived (by some) misstep? We took a bit of a chance in using Carthage College’s athletic dance team to illustrate the cover story on liturgy. The tone of the main piece rang clear (at least to this editor) of raising a cheer for the ancient worship form. The photos are fun, and the students from Carthage enjoyed doing it. I hope readers react in the same way. M


The question for The Lutheran is when do we, should we, shift gears from journalism to apologetics?


MICHAEL D. WATSON


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52