Female Ordination

There's a group on Facebook (and they have their own website) called Ordain Women Now (in the LCMS). I posted on their wall because it infuriates me.

There is no such thing as a female pastor. "Call" it what you will, it is a figment of the imagination. There is most definitely no such thing as a "female LCMS pastor" or an LCMS group that wants female ordination. There are people within the denomination (this OWN group). That's not the LCMS (i.e. speaking on behalf of) and I pray it will never be. Because, as many others said, I would not be an LCMS member. I would be a WELS member, as would probably much of the synod as well. So in reality, you would be better off making your own synod because LCMS would be rather empty, I'm sure. There is nothing wrong with NOT being a pastor. Everyone and every gender has their God-given roles.

So you wonder why I might have allowed myself to create an ELCA website with a "female pastor"? I figured at least people would get exposure to the gospel. Trust me, I was very back-and-forth on it. But I figured some exposure for people was better than no exposure, and hopefully the conviction of the Holy Spirit would lead them towards a non ELCA congregation.

"Soul-Winning"

Predominantly a new concept, I’m sure you’ve heard of churches where there are altar calls and praise reports about how someone led someone else to Christ. Even so much as people call it “soul-winning” (even the LCMS - but the Lutheran definition is completely different). It’s completely un-Biblical if you think you play any part in a conversion experience.

Why?

• The Holy Spirit works through the presentation of the gospel.
• Faith is a result of the Holy Spirit’s work.
• Salvation is solely a work of the Holy Spirit by grace through faith, not by us.
• Anything we do for Christ is a result of the Holy Spirit (we are an instrument of God).

As Paul says, we plant the seed and can water it but God gives the growth. The planters and waterers are nothing. Of course, when all you are worried about is “soul-winning”, there often isn’t even water.
When you receive a gift, how often do you keep the wrapping paper?

"Getting Saved"

The phrase "I got saved" annoys me to no end and just about as much as people who talk about "accepting Christ".

That would be fine and dandy, but you can’t accept Christ, nor can you actively participate in your own salvation. If you could solely play a part in your conversion experience it would be a work. You can’t even believe in Christ on your own. That’s all the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works through the presentation of the gospel in our hearts. The Holy Spirit imparts faith. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to believe. Salvation is grace through faith by the power of the Triune God.