Yes, I too am very disappointed with the liberal trend that is advancing. It seems there are many attacks on God's Word as His will revealed for us. Whether it is the emotional, subjective preference to being "Spirit led" (i.e, "The Spirit told me sin-X was OK, and I don't have to obey the Bible.") or the materialistic, casual dismissal of the Bible's inspiration or textual integrity ("Everyone knows you can't trust the Bible. So, many translations, copies, interjections..."), the result is the same.
"Every man did what was right in his own eyes."
I greatly respect the Lutherans emphasis on the Holy Writ. ... Personally, I firmly believe that unity, in addition to moral purity, benevolence, and evangelism, is a significant task laid on the church and its saints (
John 17:20-21). So, may I pause to ask you this question? What do you think about this verse?
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ."
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. (I Corinthians 1:10-15)
This verse seems to condemn us dividing into sects, especially those that wear a man's name. For me, this is a primary reason I am not a member of the Lutheran church, or any other denomination. (Please forgive me, if you do not consider the Lutheran church to be a denomination. I don't mean to offend.) I know you have great respect for the Bible, so I wanted to hear your thoughts on this.
I ask only because I too wear the name of Christ, and I seek His glory in all things, as I believe you want to do too.
May God help us to have a sincere love of the truth,
m273p15c