A great start
The January issue was a great way to start the new year. Yes, the new year offers renewal, change and opportunity, and you have helped all of us to look forward. The layout was inviting and articles were stimulating, especially Timothy Wengert’s “Lutheran mythbusting or …” (page 16). Thanks for such an exciting way to begin 2015.
George E. Keck
Harleysville, Pa.
Prophet and rebel
Martin Luther may not have thought of himself as a reformer for the reasons Wengert gives, but he did think of himself as a prophet and the heir to the rebel Jan Hus (1369-1415) (Luther’s Works 43:223, 34:104, 48:153).
The Rev. Ronald F. Marshall
Seattle
Kudos for herring
The colorful and clever illustrations for “Lutheran mythbusting or …” were outstanding. They definitely got my new year off to a good start. I especially loved poor Katharina Luther among the herring.
Carolyn B. Edwards
Bandera, Texas
Cartoon didn’t work
Disappointed and offended by the crass wise men cartoons in “Light side” (January, page 47). Really seemed inappropriate and certainly not funny.
The Rev. Timothy Koenig
Goshen, Ky.
Given ’em a hand
In response to the “No news here” letter (January, page 49), I say we can and should give retiring clergy a grand slam departure. Just like we did with New York Yankees great Derek Jeter. We can also throw the ball to the younger generation coming in. There’s plenty of time for both.
Earl Finkler
Medford, Wis.
More information
As a librarian I had to laugh at the quote, “People are not hungering for more information. They can find everything they need on the Internet” (January, page 34). Yes, there’s a lot of information available out there, and a lot of misinformation. Librarians are often called upon to separate the wheat from the chaff. As a former teacher, I go to church expecting us all to be taught something new. I expect to be taught a piece of backstory or cultural history that will make those old words and strange practices make sense to us two or three thousand years later, so I’m not just blindly following the dictates of an ancient religion by rote, but am able to get to the unchanging heart of the matter in a world that the original writers could not have imagined. I beg of you when you preach — more information!
Keith E. Gatling
Liverpool, N.Y.
Hands off
There has been debate in The Lutheran about economic issues with a letter (January, page 48) quoting the Gospel verse, “He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise” (Luke 3:11). There is a distinction. When I reach into my pocket to give to the poor, that is sharing. When someone else reaches into my pocket to give to the poor, that is theft. Our Lord is not a thief, and neither should we be, nor should be the economic policies this magazine advocates.
Taylor Swanson
Tullahoma, Tenn.
Christmas matters
When a tradition such as Advent has to be explained (December, page 18), it has lost its power. And Advent is one that has to be explained to our members, let alone the unchurched. To a culture that largely considers Christianity irrelevant, we declare ourselves proud to be so. To be militantly anachronistic about a church season is to miss a huge opportunity to share with the culture what Christmas is all about: the advent (no pun intended) of our Savior into the world, calling us to meaning, hope and new life — a life with which no amount of consumerism or materialism can compete. We can invite people to join with us in serving others instead of engaging in the crazy and defeating effort to get “the perfect gift.” It’s about the celebration of Christmas, not Advent.
Christopher P. Nelson
Minneapolis
Offended by photo
That The Lutheran would publish a photo from a “Handsupwalkout” protest is offensive (January, page 10). The facts of the case show the deceased was the aggressor. As for “living out … the gospel,” just where does it say to support thieves and thugs? Love and forgive, yes, but I see no love for innocent police officers in these protests, only hate.
Tom Fenner
Piqua, Ohio
Done with scoring
The “Who gets saved?” author (December, page 49) states that all who do not tune their lives purely are going the way of the goats. That’s the picture we’ve been painting of God for centuries. I asked a Bible study once what the primary objection is to the New Testament revelation that there is no hell. A woman replied: no payback. Oh, how we love to believe that God is keeping score. The author refers to muffling the sounds of eternal punishment. That’s exactly what the empty tomb did.
The Rev. D. Randall Faro
Chehalis, Wash.
No fan of ‘Chef’
I’m disappointed and appalled that The Lutheran would allow the movie Chef to be recommended as “best this month” (December, page 44). It’s rated R for language and suggestive behavior. The father and son reconnect but not in a kind way that indicates any Christian values.
Lucia Schroeder
Glyndon, Minn.
Looming disaster
Peter W. Marty’s column on “Permanently poor” (December, page 3) was excellent in every way. Scripture speaks many, many times about poverty. In addition, however, too many are almost poor — more or less living paycheck to paycheck yet working very hard. Some 50 percent of Americans are one paycheck away from disaster. Karl Marx was right. I know, I’ve been there.
Eugene H. Meyer
Roanoke, Va.
