r/LCMS

Anyone else getting bad vibes from the "Department of War" misquoting Scripture for a message of war in the name of the Prince of Peace? A Psalm claiming to be a chosen people without its rejection of military might? The prophet Isaiah without the repentance immediately preceding it?

Or, perhaps more interestingly, without the context of the lectionary reading last week:

“...the LORD of hosts... expected justice but saw bloodshed; righteousness but heard a cry!” Isaiah 5:7

I know, people hate politics, but isn't this deeper? Isn't this dangerous, harmful theology targeting our flock? Something that will deeply harm souls? We have multiple military families in our congregation, alongside everyone else we say we want to protect from wicked ideologies. To say nothing of what the Two Kingdoms doctrine says about our required response as the conscience of the left hand kingdom.

I know I'm not alone feeling this way, but sometimes it feels like I'm in the minority when this perspective really shouldn't be. I feel like the plain reading of these Scripture passages is self evident, am I missing something? Is there a better Confessional context or argument to rebuke this idea? Or is this simple a case where, a Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote: "Here we must come to terms with the fact that in most cases a genuine internal liberation becomes possible only when external liberation has preceded it"?

Full disclosure: I haven't attended an LCMS church in almost 15 years. I haven't attended any church in that length of time. I've found and have been going to an LCMS church again for the past year or so. I've talked with the pastor about possibly joining the church. He mentioned that I would need to do a profession of faith class that is 9 weeks in length.

Am I nuts for thinking 9 weeks is way too long? Baptized and confirmed LCMS. I understand 15 years is a long time but.....wow.

I emailed my previous church and asked them what their process is and they said they'd just have me in for a 15-20 minute meeting and sign a form stating my profession of faith. I'd just go back there but I'm no longer in the area.

My mom has been declining for a while but last week she stopped accepting food and water. After 48 hours we took her to ER and she’s been in the hospital since. She’s on hydration and food by tube (nose to stomach) but hasn’t improved at all. She also sleeps most of the time.

She never wanted to make any kind of decision and has left it to my brother and I. I know she hated hospice since my dad had been on it. So we’ve been saying no to that. But at what point is treatment just useless? I don’t want to lose her, but I also don’t want her to suffer. She has indicated to her Pastor in the past that she’s ready to be with the Lord.

I want to make the right decision but don’t know what to do. 💔

Thank you