Customer Reviews

What's Going on Among the Lutherans?: A Comparison of Beliefs (Impact series)

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Written in three sections, this book definitively explains 1) the differences between historic Lutheran doctrine and the "new thinking" doctrines; 2) the great strengths of Lutheran teachings; and 3) how the various Lutheran synods developed, and what each one teaches. I found this book to be clear, authoritative, and historically accurate. The authors do not subject the reader to their opinions, but rather they cite the original writings of the various theologians and church leaders to precisely articulate the various doctrines and errors espoused throughout church history.

It was truly a revelation to learn that all interpretations of Scripture vary based on the role "reason" plays in the process. Luther, Calvin, Armenius, Wesley, Zwingley, and the Roman Catholic Church are examined in detail as to their approach to Scripture and how the resulting doctrines and errors flow from each different approach.

This book should be read by anyone from any denomination that is searching for answers as to why their church teaches the way they do. It is a MUST READ for serious Lutherans.

This book is an excellent gathering of sources to study the problem of liberalism as it is expressing itself in the Lutheran Churches in America; but also reflects liberalism in Christianity at large. It documents the beginnings and progression of liberalism within the Lutheran church, and gives ample documentation of the frightening abandonment of historic Christian teaching by the liberals. The first portion of the book is the most eye opening, and enumerates the key doctrines that have been abandoned by liberals, from the incarnation, resurrection (really all miracles and the supernatural), to the Trinity, Atonement, the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture, and countless other points. The extensive treatment of historical criticism is well done, as well as discussions of the 'new morality'. This first section focuses mainly on the writings and statements of the theologians and church leaders of the various bodies that formed the ELCA. Throughout this section the conservative position is outlined at each point along with the liberal position.

The second portion gives a nice treatment of the strenghts of Lutheran theology, and shows the various 'non-liberal' dangers to Lutheran theology. These are the influence on the one hand of Roman Catholic interpretation of Scripture, and on the other, the Reformed interpretation. The pitfall of the former being the addition of tradition and ecclesiastical interpretation OVER the Scriptures and the pitfall of the latter being the use of reason majesterially (as a judge) over Scripture. It also discusses the problem of Pietism, which essentially first flowered in Lutheranism, and has now spread to many other denominations.

The last section is a very interesting historical account of the various Lutheran church bodies in America, and the myriads of mergers and splits and associations that took place leading up till today. It also shows how the theological positions of each church body led it into the unions or splits of its history. One of the lessons I think that can be learned from the history in this book is the tendency of moderates to continually slide to the left. Wherever compromise is allowed in matters of faith, it almost always ends in error. Toleration of error and doctrinal indifference open the door to greater and greater acceptance of false teaching, and abandonment of historic Christianity.

All of this should be a wake up call to Christians to stand firm in the faith and be on the watch for wolves in sheeps clothing, that would depart from the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us cling to Him and His Word; for He will preserve His church from all attacks within and without!

This is an excellent book for the Lutheran church in particular, but also Christianity as a whole since it addresses the problems and "modern" teachings in today's church. This book does a very good job highlighting the differences between the various Lutherans. The one weakness is that it does not show Scriptural support for either positions. Hence, I have developed a Scriptural handbook for use in the classroom or for further study.

This book was recommended by 2 Conservative pastors. A valuable tool in understanding the changes going on in Lutheran as well as all Christian churches. It clarifies the changes and guides right thinking. Invaluable for confused and conflicted laypersons.

I have really mostly only skimmed this book but I read the chapter on Reformed approach to scripture and I must object to the handling of that chapter. It's charachterization of Calvinism is way off. They mix Arminianism with Reformed tradition which is an inaccurate way to handle it. This book mistakenly reverses history in claiming that the five points of Arminianism is a response to the 5 points of Calvinism. The historical fact is that Calvinists came up with the five points of Calvinism in response to the five points of Arminiainism. Calvin never wrote any such five points. They are derivatives from his teaching. Arminianism is at best a heresy or apostasy from the Reformed theology and at worst a veiled throwback to Rome. I found that Calvin was rarely quoted and I intend to check the original context of those quotes. There were quotes from people like Billy Graham as being representative of Reformed tradition which is totally inaccurate.

This book also states that Calvin denied real presence which is not totally accurate. That is the Baptist position and I believe the postition of Zwingli but Calvin taught that the body and blood were present in the bread and wine though spiritually rather than physically. I know this because I was raised in a church that regretably denied real presence and was confused when I bagan to study the Calvinist position.That said, this chapter does a fine job critiquing Arminianism and Pietism and the off shooting "holiness" movements and exposing them for what they are, and there are some legitamite criticisms of Calvinism as well. It was disappointing to see the sloppy mixing of Calvinism and Arminianism, as they are near polar oppisites. Calvin himself considered himself a devotee of Luther and there is actually much more overlap between Calvinism and Lutheranism than Calvinism and Arminianism. You would be hard pressed to find confessional Reformed churches that would admit Arminians into full communion. I also noticed that there were no references to Confessional Reformed Churches such as the OPC. All the references seem to come from mainline and/or television preachers.

I look forward to reading the rest of this book which from what I have skimmed seems pretty good.

"A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump"

This is required reading for all Lutherans, or any professed Christian. The book provides a comparison between the conservative Lutheran position and the moderate or liberal Lutheran position. There is a "new thinking", a divide, an apostasy that is taking place in the church. Christians have a duty to distinguish between the orthodox and the heterodox.

The authors point out that the book "is a reflection of the struggle of the layperson to understand, and of the pastor-theologian to explain, the great theological changes taking place in most of Christendom". The authors started this book because there were no others to be found that were intended for The layperson. The preface gives us a good outline of the book:

"The book is divided into three sections, with each chapter building upon those that precede it. Section I compares the historic Lutheran faith with the new thinking, identifies and explains the nature of the controversy, and thoroughly documents both positions. Section II points out the great strengths of historic Lutheranism and explains the fundamental differences between Roman Catholics, Lutherans, and other protestants. This comparison illustrates how the great strengths of Lutheranism distinguish it from all other denominations. Section III describes American Lutheranism's drift into the new thinking through doctrinal compromise and indifference and explains the error of today's ecumenical movement."

Over time disunity and division are growing; universalism is slowly aligning to form "a new world church". The authors defend themselves by quoting from the "new teaching" by theologians and pastors of the incorporated Lutheran churches. They touch upon other faiths and religions and also the course history has taken protestantism. The division starts when we make the mistake of using reason to explain the bible. "Truthful separation is far better than dishonest union."

A great percentage of us (the laity) are ignorant to doctrines and teachings. We love one another by showing them how they stray from scripture and the truth; liberalism shows no love. The church should be willing to permit itself to be judged according to scripture.

"a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough"-------Gal. 5:9

Wish you well
Scott

This book was written by a former LCA pastor and ALC lay person who had eye-opening experiences on the way the ELCA has departed from the historic Christian faith. It was written primarily for Lutherans, but has a lot of good material for Christian believers in general. Although the events and documentation are at least 20 years old, the same trend is still very much in evidence. If the authors were writing such a book today, they would merely have to plug in new documentation along the same lines and extend the same departures from the faith a little farther (eg the recent ELCA vote to ordain homosexual pastors). This book sets forth the strengths of genuine Lutheranism in contrast to other groups. It also has a useful section on history, including the background of the confessional groups, as well as the mergers and compromises along the way that resulted in what is now the ELCA. The only prominent error in this book is its emphasis on the immortality of the soul (which arose in the LCMS as a reaction to the Seminex liberals) and the corresponding lack of emphasis on the resurrection of the body and the Second Coming(clearly taught in the Bible and frequently emphasized in Lutheran hymns). All and all, a very good book on the true faith in contrast to the liberal departures from that.

Does a good job of showing the problems, i.e. not trusting in God's Word alone, grace alone, faith alone, but something else needs to be added: marketing, psychology, historical critical expertise, etc.

Shows not only the demise of discernment in ELCA, but also that it's crept in the my own LCMS as well as in WELS as by brethren there sadly inform.

Gives some history to the controversies, and gives a nice appendix for the lay person, a series of doctrinal questions to ask one's pastor. Look out when you ask some!

I refer my members to this to see what's been going on in Lutheranism, even though a little outdated, valuable read and library keeper.

C.S. Lewis once commented that laypeople in the Church of England were once afraid to admit to their priest how little of the Bible they believed, whereas in his time they were afraid to admit to the priest how much of the Bible they believed! His point was that the ranks of clerics in his denomination had become filled with unbelieving, apostate clergy without belief or foundation in the Bible.

Leppien and Smith's work makes the same warning. Smith, a pastor who left the largest Lutheran denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, for the much smaller, Bible-believing Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) presents a wealth of information to inform Lutheran laypeople about what is going on among the ranks of the ELCA clergy and academia. This information should concern and galvanize anyone interested in defending biblical inerrancy and Christianity against humanism and cultic or postmodern "interpretations" of the Bible. The hostility of the ELCA leadership towards Christians is amply documented. There may still be Christians in ELCA, but they have an uphill battle if they are to regain control of their denomination.