Friday
Business as usual. Listened to more Wizard today. Went to TGI Friday’s for a bit of post-postal dinner. Since I missed the Sisko Show, I watched the Janeway and the Barbie-Borg Show. It was yet another that I had not seen previously. The episode, Random Thoughts, had an interesting premise: The crew was on a planet of telepaths and B’Elanna was arrested for “aggravated violent thought resulting in grave bodily injury.” (Translation: B’Elanna had a thought of hitting someone whom she mistakenly thought had accosted her. Another telepath picked up on this thought, on an instinctive level, and lashed out against someone.) Can Person-A (or their thoughts) be held accountable for the actions of Person-B? And does this concept seem vaguely reminiscent of the prosecutors’ arguments of the “Manson Family” murders? Maybe it just seems that way to me.

NPR/PRI
Today’s interesting items:

  • Talk of the Nation – Science Friday
    • Science News Round Up:
      Scientists who created a synthetic form of the polio virus;
      Researchers who conducted a study that measured the relieving of pain associated with osteo-arthritis through arthroscopic surgery vs. a “fake surgery” and the placebo effect.

    • Interview with physicist Janna Levin, author of How the Universe Got Its Spots.
  • All Things Considered
    • Polio Folo – Scientists report that they have synthesized a polio virus in the laboratory, using only basic chemicals and a published road map of its genetic information. Robert talks with NPR’s Joe Palca about new research that has given those charged with fighting bioterrorism one more thing to worry about.¹
    • Lutheran Flap – A minister with the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod is appealing his suspension, which was based on his participation in an interfaith service marking the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Church leaders say church doctrine forbids worshipping with other groups. Jason DeRose reports that some members of the Synod disagree and that other churches have had similar internal disputes over worshipping with other faiths.²

Tonight’s Tirade

minister
Main Entry: 2 minister
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -tered; min·is·ter·ing
Date: 14th century
1 : to function as a minister of religion
2 : to give aid or service “minister to the sick”

As noted above, David Benke, a Lutheran minister, has been suspended for having participated in a post-September 11th interfaith service in New York. As also noted, LCMS doctrine forbids worshipping with non-Lutherans; I believe that this (Section 30) seems to be the part of the doctrine that cover that issue.

The Lutheran Church, as a whole, has its origins in 16th Century Europe.

The ELCA, along with other Lutheran churches, can trace its roots directly to the Protestant Reformation that took place in Europe in the 16th century. Martin Luther, a German monk, became aware of differences between the Bible and church practices of the day. His writings, lectures and sermons inspired others to protest church practices and call for reform.³

More of the history of the Lutheran Church can be found here. Other congregations of the Lutheran Church include: the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

I may be remembering my history incorrectly, but wasn’t religious intolerance at least part of the reason that the Lutherans, along with others, left Europe? If that is so, then what’s wrong with this current picture? There seems to be a modicum of disparity there. Many denominations of Judeo-Christian faiths see themselves as “the one, true faith,” but most of the divisions between them are relatively minor. I recall hearing a story last year about a gathering of high-ranking members of the Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim faiths where they were able to come together and agree on “common ground” issues and then “agree to disagree” where their beliefs proved too divergent.

Something about this suspension, and by extension – the doctrine, confuses me. It seems… counterproductive… to the spreading of the Gospel. Moreover, it seems that Mr. Benke was participating in what he felt was the best way to reach thousands of people at once. If, through this service, he was also able to minister to these people, that would be an added benefit – to them and possibly to the Church. It should be noted that not all members of the LCMS congregation thought that Mr. Benke’s decision was “wrong;” he apparently had a number of supporters, as well.

I am not condemning the actions of the Synod. I am sure that there are some who would look askance at the Baptist Church and scratch their heads at some of our practices. To chastise a minister for doing his job seems a gross overreaction. But, that is my opinion. I am not privy to the nuances of the LCMS and leave the final analysis in the members of their ecclesiastic councils.

But I’m still a little confused…

Links to the three Lutheran congregations referenced above:
Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
Introduction to the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod news

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
How the ELCA differs from the LCMS

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
History of the WELS
What are the differences between WELS and other Lutheran Churches?

And, having said that, it is time to call it a night.

Peace.

¹, ² – All Things Considered website
³ – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America website