02 Dec 2006
Unrequited love, the Lutheran pecking order, etc.
Speaking of Lutherans, I have always sensed that they don’t requite Reformed love for them. Presbyterians often quote Luther. But to a Lutheran, I think Presbyterians are fallen Lutherans. But we don’t annoy them as much as Reformed Baptists (particularly the ones who blog). And Presbyterians and Baptists combined don’t annoy them as much as the Eastern Orthodox. I’m not sure where the Charismatics, Methodists, and Anglicans fit.
December 2nd, 2006 at 7:23 am
Hi Jack, I’ve never heard any of my Lutheran colleagues refer to Presbyterians, or any Calvinists for that matter, as being “fallen Lutherans.” On an “annoy scale” I’m not so sure it is necessarily the theology of Reformed Baptizts that annoy Lutherans, well, some of us Lutherans, ok, me, so much as the personalities involved, and that is no doubt a mutual feelings at times. I’ve actually kissed and made up with James White and we now have what I would call a “mutual respect” even while we are still very much in disagreement with each other over the traditional things, TULIP related, of course.
I actually remain quite annoyed by the Reformed on a good many points, but my “annoyment” ebbs and floes. Recently I’ve been more annoyed by Eastern Orthdoxy just because a few of our pastors have converted to it. Not many convert to Reformed theology, thankfully.
I can get quite annoyed with Charismatics, Methodists, Anglicans, etc.
A good orthodox Lutheran is permanently annoyed by false doctrine, wherever and whenever it rears its ugly head.
PTM
December 2nd, 2006 at 8:07 am
Just to clarify….my “annoyment” is toward the doctrine and theology of Calvinism, not toward persons, per se. For instance, you seem like a very nice chap!
December 2nd, 2006 at 2:04 pm
Rev. McCain, I recall someone (not you) discussing “fallen Lutheran” once.
Glad to hear you’ve mended fences w/Mr. White. Many Reformed bloggers are a bit too combative (or too something) for my own tastes. I much prefer the old Princeton guys, though I’ve learned much from the Bayly’s, Riddleblog, Pastor Gleason, and others.
The whole link between Lutheranism and Eastern Orthodoxy strikes me as odd because the gulf is so wide. Conversions to Orthodoxy don’t seem much of a problem in conservative Presbyterian circles (the OPC, parts of the PCA, etc) where you often come across strong liturgies (usually minus smells and bells due to the regulative principle). One might attribute it to the Lutheran view of the bodily presence, but I believe Anglicans have had a similar problem with conversions to EO and their theology of the Lord’s Supper is very similar (at least in the 39 Articles) to that of Presbyterians.