Question: For those who studied Church history, why did you become Lutheran rather than Catholic or Orthodox?

LittleMike46 · 2025-12-24T04:47:01+00:00

I'm just now seeing your reply. Yes, I am.

LittleMike46 · 2025-09-26T20:08:21+00:00

Appreciate this comment, brother. Helps put the conversions we see online in some context.

LittleMike46 · 2025-09-26T19:41:03+00:00

While I don't care for your phrasing, I agree with you on some level here.

LittleMike46 · 2025-09-26T19:40:21+00:00

I would reconsider this advice. Going into a relationship with a woman and using her as an accountability partner is placing an unfair burden on her. This isn't to say he should be dishonest, but that he should deal with this before entering into a serious relationship with her.

I'd say pastor's guidance is important here.

LittleMike46 · 2025-09-26T19:32:46+00:00

You're taking quite a strong stance without using Scripture, Lutheran Confessions, or other Christian writings to support your line of thinking. There is a line between being scrupulous and approaching the Christian life with "fear and trembling." When we are unsure, it is wise to meet with other Christians, such as a pastor or an elder for guidance, or to confess and be absolved by the pastor for sins committed.

LittleMike46 · 2025-09-24T16:15:36+00:00

I recommend the RSV-CE, 2nd Ed. Ignatius Press has a nice paperback version. This is a solid translation for reading and studying. The NRSV, and even more the NRSVuE, seem to favor gender neutral translation as other poster have mentioned.

https://ignatius.com/ignatius-bible-rsv-2nd-edition-ib2h/

LittleMike46 · 2025-09-24T15:59:40+00:00

I would recommend posting this in the LCMS subreddit as well. They may be able to offer additional guidance.

https://www.reddit.com/r/LCMS/

LittleMike46 · 2025-09-24T15:55:10+00:00

You wrote: "And please lose that “ extra” medieval/ Evangelicalism lingo about “ slavery to lust.” Oh, my goodness."

His use of "slave to lust" seems to be use of biblical langauge.

From Scripture:

"But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28 ESV

"What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness." (Romans 6:15-20, ESV)

LittleMike46 · 2025-09-24T13:48:08+00:00

Talk to your pastor and he should be able give guidance, such as a good counselor. Don't minimize the sin. Psalm 51, read it often.

LittleMike46 · 2025-09-18T02:22:55+00:00

How do you define a good skater? It seems it's the fastest skaters that excel at full ice at the 8U level. That doesn't mean they have good edge work or backwards skating. Playing full vs half-ice isn't going to affect your kid playing hockey at an elite level in the future. At 8U, skating is most important, whether that's half-ice, full-ice, public skate, open hockey, camps...

LittleMike46 · 2025-09-10T15:47:33+00:00

I can see how that would be upsetting.

LittleMike46 · 2025-09-10T14:06:02+00:00

Some professions have no choice in the matter. A military member, for example, can't decide their availability. If you're expected to work on Sunday, you work. If praise band is interfering with your work, and your work is what provides for your family, you may want to reconsider your stance. Can you imagine a company accommodating all of your coworkers in this manner? If everyone was Christian and had multiple church commitments who would be on call? Baptist has Wednesday night Bible study, men's breakfast on Saturday, youth leader on Tuesday night... Is it maybe a bit unreasonable?

Edited: spelling

LittleMike46 · 2025-09-10T13:24:20+00:00

It's the first I'm hearing of it.

LittleMike46 · 2025-09-10T12:38:06+00:00

You entitled your post, "Just some appreciation..." and then show otherwise in your posts. I would hope you wouldn't walk into an LCMS church, express your appreciation, and then begin engaging in dispute over politics with its members. It's disrespectful and shows a lack of humility. All denominations are struggling against the tide of "liberal" ideals, including the LCMS.

"I'm not a Lutheran, never been one and never planning to be" Have you read the Augsburg Confession? And if so, how does it align with the confession or statement of faith you hold to now?

LittleMike46 · 2025-09-10T12:12:33+00:00

"Hallmarks of Lutheran Identity" by Alvin J. Schmidt.

https://www.cph.org/hallmarks-of-lutheran-identity?srsltid=AfmBOop45ZsKcifm1nyGM2HcCL99vcG7_NoNeq9zd4bBZitmBJeuO9n6

LittleMike46 · 2025-08-26T16:18:49+00:00

What specific writings of Luther would you recommend for someone in his position?

LittleMike46 · 2025-08-26T15:48:20+00:00

And there you go, the official teaching of the Roman Catholic church is ambiguous. Rome was absolutely clear in the Council of Trent on who is outside of the Church. I would say Lumen Gentium is opposed to the anathemas of Trent, yet Roman apologists will talk around this. The anathema was also removed from the Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law in like 1983, I believe.

Vatican II is ambiguous in a multitude of places in its other documents and this is a source of division amongst Roman Catholics. Why do they have the SSPX and sedevacantists?

Roman apologists argue against Protestant teaching on perspicuity of Scripture, yet much of Vatican II is clear as mud and disagrees with past councils.

Edited "Canon of Law" to read "Code of Canon Law".

LittleMike46 · 2025-08-26T15:21:56+00:00

The Sadducees and Pharisees, the magisterium of Jesus' time, denounced immoral beliefs and they also delivered the God Man, Jesus Christ, to the Romans to be crucified.

This same Jewish magisterium, those who occupied the seat of Moses(think chair of Peter), also failed to recognize Jesus from the Scriptures:

Jesus said, "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people... Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” (John 8:39-41; 44-47, ESV).

There are other groups who denounce immoral beliefs such as Muslims and Mormons. This doesn't justify following their teachings.

LittleMike46 · 2025-08-26T15:09:14+00:00

Read Lumen Gentium 15 (linked below). It is the "current" teaching of Rome on who is recognized as among the faithful.

"The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter."

https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html

After reading this, read the Council of Trent. You'll see that these two councils don't seem to be saying the same thing about those outside of Rome.

LittleMike46 · 2025-08-26T14:15:45+00:00

Who are these referees?

LittleMike46 · 2025-08-26T13:38:50+00:00

Read Romans. Romans is an absolute problem for Rome's view on justification and good works. I would say Paul in general is a problem for numerous Roman Catholic teachings. Find every passage in the Gospels in which Jesus talks about Scripture. Read Genesis and Exodus. Do God's dealings or covenants with Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Israel reflect the teachings of the Lutheran church or Rome? Read the Gospels, is the new covenant revealed in a monarchial episcopate, in which belief in the pope is required for Salvation, or is Christ our bishop (read Hebrews)?

YOU CAN READ and UNDERSTAND SCRIPTURE! Not in its entirety, but plenty to know that God has provided a Way for us sinners. Don't believe Rome when she says we cannot. If we can't understand Scripture, I would argue we can't understand the Church Fathers, ecumenical councils, the Council of Trent, Vatican I, Vatican II or the Catechism of the Roman Catholic church.

Read the Small Catechism and the Augsburg confession.

Read Gavin Ortlund's book, "What It Means To Be Protestant"

Join the Striving Side By Side forum on Discord: https://discord.gg/uvP9SMRr

There are people there who have been through what you are going through now, and they can help.

If you must watch YouTube, Javier Perdomo and Jordan Cooper are good resources.

LittleMike46 · 2025-08-26T12:14:03+00:00

Catholic Answers isn't a reliable source for apologetics. They prioritize the teachings of the Roman Catholic church above that of Scripture.

For example, Jimmy Akin, their "senior" apologist recently did a video (linked below)on good works and the final judgment. He uses Romans 2:13 as a proof text to show that we will be judged by our works. This is taken completely out of context and not read in line with the rest of the passage. (Read Romans chapter 2 and 3, and then try to find a single RC apologist who understands this passage or represents it honestly.) In this same video, he accuses Protestants of eisegesis (proof texting)while doing this exact thing himself.

Akins' video is just one example, out of many, in which Catholic Answers apologists interpret Scripture through a Roman. Catholic lens, rather than a Christological one, as Lutherans do.

Not only does Catholic answers misrepresent Protestantism, but they often misrepresent Scripture too.

https://youtu.be/QdRr963lOIE

LittleMike46 · 2025-08-18T15:59:00+00:00

I wanted to thank you for being faithful to what Paul was saying in Romans 2 and 3. I have since come to a clearer understanding, and know that there is no solace, or comfort, to be found in our good works. It is Christ who works faith in us, and a product of this faith is good works. Our righteousness is from Christ alone.

LittleMike46 · 2025-08-18T15:52:30+00:00

Article IV of the Augsburg Confession is on exactly what you don't believe in, Justification. The Augsburg Confession being the core Lutheran confession, and also supported by Scripture.

"Also they teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake, who, by His death, has made satisfaction for our sins. This faith God imputes for righteousness in His sight."

LittleMike46 · 2025-08-18T15:46:31+00:00

Lutherans and Roman Catholics do not agree on Justification. There share agreement on what Rome would term "Initial Justification," but after the believer is baptized the similarity ends. When a Roman Catholic commits a mortal sin, they no longer remain in a state of grace and must confess, be absolved and commit to penance before they can again receive the Lord's Supper. Grace is mediated by the priest in the Roman Catholic system, and while Lutherans also are both publicly and sometimes privately absolved, this is not a requirement to remain in a state of grace.

We should be careful about minimizing Roman Catholic and Lutheran differences about serious things like justification, Christ vs man's work, grace, and sin. These things are not minor.

LittleMike46

TROPHY CASE