tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post8504613440119841311..comments2023-07-06T06:04:07.849-07:00Comments on Sister, Daughter, Mother, Wife: The Secret to Church GrowthAnna Mussmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11631139113615066986noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-74989125917128535882014-03-31T08:09:20.668-07:002014-03-31T08:09:20.668-07:00I believe he means that the very famous Martin Lut...I believe he means that the very famous Martin Luther King, Jr, who carried the name "Luther," was Baptist.<br />~Ruth Meyer~Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-46840695070514048462014-03-30T19:13:31.520-07:002014-03-30T19:13:31.520-07:00Maybe I`m reading that sentence wrong, please forg...Maybe I`m reading that sentence wrong, please forgive me if I am.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05018823211491509492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-48505575268324785352014-03-30T19:10:47.243-07:002014-03-30T19:10:47.243-07:00Martin Luther was a Baptist preacher???Martin Luther was a Baptist preacher???Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05018823211491509492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-46319306320406449302014-03-29T19:16:22.060-07:002014-03-29T19:16:22.060-07:00It is true that many Lutheran churches are not ver...It is true that many Lutheran churches are not very multicultural. Does that mean the LCMS will die within the century, as you predict? I fervently hope and pray not. No one denomination is assured it will last until the end of time, but God does assure us that He will keep the Church on earth in His care. All true Christians are part of that church no matter what the demographics of any particular congregation happen to be. You touch on an excellent point, and one I made in my follow-up post to this one on my own blog. "The Secret to Church Growth" is intended to encourage parents to bring their children up to know their Savior. My follow-up to that is "Church Growth 102" (http://truthnotes.net/2014/02/24/church-growth-102/), and emphasizes the point that we can't stop with teaching our kids the faith. All Christians are called to make disciples of all nations, and thus need to invite others to church and witness to others wherever they can. Believe it or not, I invited a couple not in my cultural heritage to church just two days ago. I'm not saying this to brag in any way, but to illustrate that there are Lutherans out here who do reach out beyond our own ethnicity. You made this point: "I have seen a church close because the area demographics changed, and the church could not absorb the new neighbors." That is sad, I admit. But was the church unable or unwilling to absorb its new neighbors, or were the new neighbors unwilling or uncomfortable attending the church? It can go both ways, and probably a bit of both if we're honest. The bottom line to me is that all Christians are called to reach out to those whom the Lord places in their paths, and as parents, that duty must start with our very own children.Ruth Meyernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-59918194441184189962014-03-29T08:14:33.470-07:002014-03-29T08:14:33.470-07:00Hi Delwyn, thanks for taking the time to comment. ...Hi Delwyn, thanks for taking the time to comment. You are right that the church's role is to preach the Gospel to all nations as Christ commanded. Yet "all nations" includes our own children, all of whom who need the gift of faith. In addition, it is also the church's role to nurture the faith of those who are already Christian. Both are essential. Spending time in discussion of the one does not undermine the other. <br /><br />I cannot speak for Ruth, but my local LCMS church (despite its rather small size) is constantly reaching out to help the community through its homeless ministry, student ministry, apologetics, and evangelism. These ministries are all wonderful ways to serve our neighbors of every cultural background and hopefully to invite them to join us in church. However, the future and validity of our congregation does not rest on them. The thing that makes us a church is the fact that in our service we gather to receive the gifts of the Sacrament and to hear the pure teaching of Christ's Word. Through God's grace, I hope that my children's faith will be strengthened and maintained through this, just as I hope that more of my neighbors from the community will also share that gift. <br /><br />The thing is, God's Word is living and breathing, and sharper than a two-edged sword. Anyone who tries to live in accordance with it is going to experience a difficult life. Being raised in the church while hearing that Word isn't really "a peaceful, tranquil, secluded life experience." It is a blessed one, but not very tranquil. :-)Anna Mussmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11631139113615066986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9196316261585940971.post-8583398552664087882014-03-29T07:08:49.942-07:002014-03-29T07:08:49.942-07:00Ruth, where did you grow up? How diverse was the p...Ruth, where did you grow up? How diverse was the population? Did anyone in your family make any effort to reach others who did not reflect your cultural heritage?<br />You see, what strikes me the most about Lutheran doctrine is the fact that it is largely unknown outside of Lutheran culture. That is no one's fault but the current and previous generations of Lutherans, which includes, well, you and your family.<br />As an African American, I am struck by the fact that, even the most famously quoted person to carry the name, Luther, was a BAPTIST preacher. Both he and his father, whatever they thought about the person after whom they took names, did not think enough of the doctrine he proclaimed to embrace it. Why is that? <br />When you look at the demographics of the typical Lutheran (LCMS) congregation, it is amazingly, and sadly, homogenous. I have seen a church close because the area demographics changed, and the church could not absorb the new neighbors. Why is that?<br />It's good that you all had such a peaceful, tranquil, secluded life experience, one which many of your demographic would envy. Given that many of the LCMS believers whom I have met over the last five years are 3rd and even 4th generation Lutherans, it would appear that they were raised similarly, but I only personally know of one multi-generational Lutheran who looks more like "Luther King" than "Luther." I hope that changes with this generation, or the LCMS will die within this century - not Lutheranism itself, thanks to the remarkable growth in Africa - but the LCMS expression of it, because this country is getting browner by the generation, and the LCMS is not keeping up with that trend. elderdxchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18071222328972267419noreply@blogger.com