One of the nicest perks about working for the county is having 14 paid holidays per year, and today is one of them. If I were truly patriotic (or still home schooling,) I would use the next 24 hours to study Christopher Columbus and his contribution to the founding of our nation, the Native Americans he helped to eradicate, or the era of exploration in general. Instead, I will probably end up cleaning house (it truly needs it,) geting laundry done (with a rented dryer since mine bit the dust two days ago and cannot be fixed until whenever,) and enjoying a day at home with my kiddos. I still have to teach class at the Y tonight, but until them I am going to be in full-Mom mode. Care to join me?
I think I will also take this opportunity to describe my adventures in Lutheran-land!
Let me first preface this part of the post by saying my spiritual life is very important to me. My personal beliefs are the very core of who I am and they shape and color every area of my life. I was 'raised' (ha!) in a conservative Baptist church where Bible-banging, finger-pointing, and denominational back biting were part of every service. Legalism was preached as gospel truth, yet the love, mercy, and power of Christ were glaringly absent. And let's just say their position on women was archaic (my mother had a field day with THAT!) I was born again and baptised, and inside of me I knew there had to be more to my Christianity than a bunch of man-made rules and fake meekness (my Spirit knew the Truth!) but I certainly did not find it there.
Unfortunately, this church also believed they held the patent on salvation. All other churches/denominations had it wrong: the only way to heaven was the Baptist way (Conservative Baptist, not American Baptist, Freewill Baptist, Southern Baptist....) Interdenominational mingling or activities or alliances were strongly discouraged.
Needless to say, as an adult, I found this to be False Doctrine. About seven years ago I met a group of dynamic Christian women- bold, passionate Charismatic Sistas!- and my life has never been the same. My church- New Life- has been my very life blood ever since, and I have grown by leaps and bounds. Such liberty! Such joy! Such power! I am no spiritual giant, but I can definitely say I can see a difference.
Enter Steve. Steve was raised- literally- in the Lutheran church. And this 'raising' was not merely church on Sundays, either- he was an accolite (sp) in choir, confirmed (three years of catechism!) baptised, and basically steeped in the church. His parents' faith is a wondrous thing- strong and pure- and they made sure their children knew who they were as Lutherans just as surely as they knew who they were as their offspring. (I admire this- shared faith is powerful, and I could tell upon our first serious conversation that he was raised right- the man he is in his inner-most core is the man they raised him to be, the mna God designed him to be.)
Steve's spiritual journey has been a long process. He backed away from God for many years, but came back to Him with a passion out of adversity and desperation. And Jesus not only met him half-way, I believe He pursued Steve, grabbed him, and and now has him in a choke hold. His devotion to and love for his church have been at the center of his personal/spiritual 180.
So- I have decided to give Lutheranism a try. I have heard they are just lazy Catholics- thanks, Kara- and, being very Protestant, I was a little worried about that. However, since my own Spiritual awakening, I have found tremendous, profound faith in both my Lutheran and Catholic sisters- the same Spirit!- so off I go...
My take on the Lutheran church (so far): beautiful service, beautiful in its tradition and history. Not oppressive, but definitely a far cry from my holy-rolling, contemporary Charismatic service. The creeds are Biblically sound, the doctrine as well, and to watch Steve at church- to watch the reverence and peace that floods him- is amazing. I will not be unequally yoked ever again, and I spiritual unity is at the top of my priority list.
So. How does one become a Lutheran? Three years of catechism is out of the question!
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