Colleagues, This week’s ThTh posting brings the conclusion of a two-part essay by pastor Timothy Hoyer of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Lakewood, New York.In this very week the homosexuality issue is on the agenda of the ELCA’s national assembly in Orlando, Florida. Sadly, the public debate in our denomination (as well as all the others I’ve …
The Second Use of the Gospel in Lutheran Reformation Theology – Part I
Colleagues, This week’s ThTh posting, and next week’s as well, are a two-part essay by Timothy J. Hoyer, Pastor of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Lakewood, New York.Peace and Joy! Ed Schroeder THE SECOND USE OF THE GOSPEL – IN LUTHERAN REFORMATION THEOLOGY By Timothy J. Hoyer Witnesses testify that the man they knew as Jesus of …
God’s Kingdom, God’s Regime-change–some responses
[Preliminary note: The Manipur Mission Fleece, put out last month on the 7th anniversary of ThTh postings, subsequently augmented by our children’s note to you on the occasion of our 50th wedding anniversary, has gathered $18K of mission moisture. We are grateful.] Colleagues, Here are some responses to ThTh 369 & 370, the Book Review of CONSTANTS IN …
Caught in the Crosshairs: A Study of Psalm 2
Colleagues, Cleaning up the files I came across this long-lost treasure from 3 years ago. It’s Jerry Burce’s signature crossing of folks like us back in 2002-though in one place he’s updated a reference to 2005–with the diagnosis and prognosis of Psalm 2.Using texts from the Hebrew scriptures for Christian crossings takes extra work. You don’t see …
The Kingdom of God in Today’s Mission Theology – A Controversy. PART TWO
Colleagues, Here is the second half of the book-review-essay begun last week and posted as ThTh 369. The book that triggered these ruminations is: CONSTANTS IN CONTEXT: A THEOLOGY OF MISSION FOR TODAY, By Stephen B. Bevans and Roger P. Schroeder. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 2004. Pp.xxii, 488. Paperback $30. [Part I of the essay is available …
The Kingdom of God in Today’s Mission Theology – A Controversy. PART ONE
Colleagues, This is a book review–and then again it is not. It is a jeremiad about what passes for “the Kingdom of God” in much of today’s mission theology–and then again it is not. For besides Jeremiah for its plaintive parts, ThTh 369 draws on Isaiah for its positive pitch. That positive pitch is to refill the …
Implications of Luther’s Treatise on Good Works for Four Common ELCA Practices and Ideas
Colleagues, Today’s posting comes from Timothy J. Hoyer, ELCA pastor of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Lakewood, New York.Peace & Joy! Ed Schroeder FYI. #1. Re: recent book reviews posted on ThTh. I’ve learned that Barbara Rossing’s Rapture Exposed is out in paperback. Another one of you tells me: “Please draw attention to the article in Pro …
The Theology of Johannes von Hofmann
Colleagues, [Update: Only one new dew-drop on the Manipur fleece this week. Squeezed out it now totals 4K. Still a fair tad to go to get to 70.]This week’s posting, a book review by Mark Mattes on the theology of von Hofmann, is a bit more egg-heady than some postings in the past–and will be cherished by …
Book Review–THE RAPTURE EXPOSED
Colleagues, [Update: Last week’s fleece, put out for the Manipur Mission, after 7 years worth of ThTh postings, shows 12 drops of dew so far, totalling $3500. For the 12 of you “dew-ers” we are thankful. Only $66.5K more to go.]This week’s ThTh posting is a book review by the Rev. Dr. William G. Moorhead, Senior Pastor, …
365 Thursdays–7 Lean Years or 7 Fat Years? A Manipur Test Case
Colleagues, 365 Thursday Theology postings make exactly 7 years since it all began in 1998. One of you, noting that this anniversary was coming, and remembering Joseph’s era in Egypt, asked: “Ed, were they 7 fat years or 7 lean years?” I didn’t know how to answer.And then came this Aha! One way to find out is …