Examining bioethics, morality, and culture from a distinctively orthodox Lutheran perspective. Site dedicated to the Holy Family.
Posted in Uncategorized on Dec 11th, 2009
I call out the Rev. Mark Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, for false teaching. A respected colleague in the ELCA made me aware of the latest evidence of this fact by pointing me to Bishop Hanson’s December 6 videotaped, virtual “Town Hall” meeting, which you may view here. Another colleague [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 17th, 2009
This one-session “Changing Currents” Bible study was written by yours truly and the Rev. Todd Wilken of Issues, Etc. You can access the free study here; just click where indicated to receive your free PDF from Concordia Publishing House. While you’re at it, may I also suggest the “What’s Civil about Civil Unions?” study?
Posted in sex on Apr 5th, 2009
As this April 4 The New York Times article shows, advocates for same-sex marriage, such as Lambda Legal, are making headway in New England.
Ironically, you can thank the Puritans, advocates of individualism and intellectualism, for some of the success.
Posted in sex on Mar 20th, 2009
There it is, my friends: I’ve let the cat out of the bag.
The problem with current discourse in Lutheran circles regarding sexuality is, well, the word sexuality. You can’t find sexuality in the Bible (oh, sure, there are male and female, marriage, sex, more sex, approved sex, prohibited sex, and so on), but not sexuality. [...]
Posted in ESCR on Mar 10th, 2009
For a limited time, Concordia Publishing House is offering a free, downloadable, 1-2 session Bible study on embryonic stem cell research (ESCR). The study was written by the Rev. Dr. Robert W. Weise, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and myself a few years ago. From the study:
While ESCR offers many promises to those suffering from a [...]
Posted in sex on Mar 7th, 2009
Carl E. Braaten, professor emeritus of the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago and co-founder of the Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology, offers a thoughtful critique of the proposed ELCA Sexuality Social Statement and Recommendations. Braaten’s careful observation below should be read, memorized, and applied to any social or theological statement produced by any [...]
Posted in sex on Mar 7th, 2009
Robert Benne, professor emeritus at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, and the Director of the Center for Religion and Society, weighs in on the ELCA’s Sexuality Social Statement and Recommendations. Benne suggests that
the statement avoids making normative judgments about homosexual conduct by neglecting the testimony of the Bible and the Christian moral tradition on that [...]
The Reverend Robert C. Baker, B.B.A, M.Div., is an ordained pastor in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, and serves the Church as an editor at the denomination's publishing house. He is currently pursuing an M.S. degree in Health Care Ethics at Creighton University. He is the author of What Happened To Merry Christmas? and How Do You Start a Fire with Water? and has authored or edited numerous Bible studies and books.