Monday, June 11, 2012

Church and Continuity Conference Review: In Bondage to Expectations – by Rev. Luke Boehringer

Saturday's second presentation was given by Rev. Luke Boehringer and was entitled, “In Bondage to Expectations: Why Results Pull Us Away from the Cross.” Rev. Boehringer focused heavily on the fatal flaws of the Church Growth Movement. He demonstrated how the Church Growth philosophy and methods are diametrically opposed to the Lutheran emphases of the bound will, the theology of the cross and the doctrine of vocation.


Conference of Intrepid Lutherans: Church and Continuity ~ June 1-2, 2012
Bethlehem Lutheran Church ~ Oshkosh, WI
In Bondage to Expectations
Why Results Pull Us Away from the Cross
by Rev. Luke Boehringer.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

No one has commented yet, soooo... here goes.

I found Rev. Boehringer's paper and presentation very well done from a Scriptural point of view. Starting with the doxology was also very much appreciated after dinner. In particular I found the doctrine of vocation to be a very valuable part of the paper / presentation.

Thank you Pastor!

Anonymous said...

If I may ask this... so where do people who are involved with Intrepid go from here?

Do you stand on conviction and princible and risk not being in complete unity John 17:23, Psalm 133:1,Romans 15:5

Do you find a way to be something like a seperate cell within the WELS to remain in fellowship?

Do you break fellowship because of conviction and princible with WELS and unite yourself with those who are in fellowship with the WELS anyway?

Is there really an indication that points of differnces can be resolved in such a manner that one or the other will concede without compromising?

My sense is that those who participated truly feel sincere \ motivated \ concerned and have a put a lot of time, effort and resourses into their endevors. But the other thing I sense is that there is no end game resolution being offered that if I were wanting to bring this to in an scriptural way like the way Paul and the Gentile believers and Petere with the Jewish Christians at Jerusalem.

For me... peace of mind, peace of soul and peace among brothers is better pleasing than the church of discontent.

Jon Rehborg

Rev. Paul A. Rydecki said...

Those are some good questions.

Do you stand on conviction and princible and risk not being in complete unity

We absolutely stand on conviction and principle. A unity based on anything less is a farse. And there is no risk of not being in complete unity, because such complete unity already does not exist in the WELS, ELS or LCMS.

Do you find a way to be something like a seperate cell within the WELS to remain in fellowship?

I would hope not. This is already being done widely in the LCMS. It doesn't seem entirely honest. At best, it's a temporary solution.

Is there really an indication that points of differnces can be resolved in such a manner that one or the other will concede without compromising?

I don't know. "We believe. Therefore, we speak." We don't speak because it looks like speaking might accomplish something. We speak because we believe something. The Word of God is powerful, and the Spirit is the one who creates unity.

...I sense is that there is no end game resolution being offered...

That is true. We haven't tried to cast a vision for where we think this should go, or how it will ultimately be resolved. We honestly don't know at this time.

For me... peace of mind, peace of soul and peace among brothers is better pleasing than the church of discontent.

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give to you." Peace of mind and peace of soul do not depend on the absence of conflict around us. We live under the cross, and we expect at all times to find in the Church Militant the true doctrine being taught as well as false doctrine being introduced as well as wolves constantly preying on the sheep. But we do not lose heart because of this. On the contrary, we cling to Christ and His Word all the more and there we find peace.

where do people who are involved with Intrepid go from here?

Again, I don't know. For the moment, we keep confessing, keep hoping, keep trusting.

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