Necessary Roughness

A Lutheran You Should Know

Todd Wilken has been the host of the radio show Issues Etc., broadcast nationally on Sunday evenings and on St. Louis’ KFUO-AM weekday afternoons. Fortunately for us travelers, both shows are available for download or live streaming.

Wilken received his M.Div. from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and served as a parish pastor in Sugar Loaf, IL, for nine years. He became the host of Issues, Etc. in September, 2001. In addition to having guests discuss current events and church traditions, he also broadcasts sermons and critiques them with a three part diagnostic:

1. How often is Jesus mentioned? Will the preacher preach about Jesus, or does he preach about you, me, or something else? A sermon can’t be Christ-centered if there is no Christ.
2. If Jesus is mentioned, is He the subject of the verbs? Is Jesus the one doing the actions?
3. If he is the subject, what are those verbs? What is the preacher telling us that Jesus has done or will do? Does he die on the cross and rise from the dead, or does he merely give us good rules to live by?

He has had various and sundry contact with the Lutheran blogosphere, appearing mit Bier on the now-defunct Beggars All. Bloggers who have appeared on Issues include Deaconess Carder, Dr. Gene Veith, Chris Roseborough and “Madre” Ostapowich as well as Pastors Borghardt, Stiegemeyer, Petersen, Snyder, Weedon, Chryst, Cwirla, McCain, Schaff, and Lehmann, to name a few. If I missed you, speak up!

In addition to being an entertaining host who brings thinking Christianity to the air waves, Wilken has written articles for The Lutheran Witness and other publications, and he has edited two journals. Bible-Believing Liberals is probably his most read essay, but coming right off the Christmas Season God In a Box is a must read.

If you get a chance, give Wilken a listen, and if you’re able, perhaps direct some coin his way to continue the Issues, Etc. show. If you’re involved with the Issues, Etc. show, Pr. Wilken may be in need of a newer picture: this one is from 2001.

Genuine Draft

This Lutheran Carnival is different than the others, having nearly solely depended on my picking of the top posts in the Lutheran blogosphere rather than relying on poster submissions. The field was huge, starting with 27 good posts, so I had to cull the herd. These are indeed the best of the best.

Pr. Rick Stuckwisch read a book on music and the mind, which contained a study from Florida State University: it takes approximately 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at anything. “We don’t ever ‘master’ the Word of God, but ten thousand hours of hearing and speaking His Word may well contribute to its ‘mastery’ of us.”

Having chopped Stuckwisch’s post into a sound bite, I would be remiss if I didn’t include Pr. Don Engebretson’s post, Sound Bites. He warns that preachers who provide “easily digested portions of thought” may end up malnourishing their parishoners.

Dr. Gene Veith delivers the dilemna when one views the universalism in the Roman Catholic Church. “…if faith in virtually anything is enough or even optional for salvation, why do we need the church, why should anyone evangelize, and why did Jesus need to die?” In another quality post, Veith ponders the goal of using our good deeds to witness to atheists, when perhaps we should present ourselves to nonbelievers as on their level and sin-prone, but rescued and forgiven.

Writing for the Concordia Theological Seminary blog, Dark My Road addresses clinical depression from the perspective of both pastor and sufferer.

Christians can get seduced into either of two groups: pietists, who try to prove their salvation through the display of their good deeds, and antinomians, who discount the importance of their deeds because they don’t earn salvation. Pastor Christopher Hall navigates the strait between these extremes and exhorts us to Be the Best You Can Be, embracing the fullness of your vocation.

Also on the Seminary blog, Deaconess-to-be Adriane Dorr explains how Lutheran catechesis enabled her to understand both the Christian parents who seem to be doing everything right but still not having children, as well as those who believe babies are an environmental hazard. We are all sinners in need of a Savior.

The Fearsome Pirate guest-blogged on Internet Monk about the Lutheran perspective on deciding what books are considered Scripture. I found this quite informative myself.

Father Hollywood applies the Seventh Commandment to our monetary system in his post, Dishonest Scales. It is a good example of a secular issue informed by religion.

Furthermore: Submissions

American-living-in-Canada Kelly Klages submitted a blog post with photos of handmade greeting cards. Beautiful stuff. I really like the last picture.

Weekend Fisher takes a look at the Beatitudes as revelation of God’s character: the God who blesses. I like the change-up on the Sermon on the Mount from its normal usage as law.

Thanks!

Thank you for stopping by and checking out the links. There isn’t anyone signed up for the next Carnival in two weeks, but the Carnival always finds a home.