A Grief Observed- On Being a Priest in a Dying Church

[via] The Confessing Reader (and other sources) ^ | 2004 | Folke T. Olofsson

[Charles Henrickson]

The abridged version of Olofsson's essay appeared in the November issue of Touchstone magazine, but I don't think that article is available online.

Besides, I found it fascinating to read the whole thing. I can empathize with so much of what Olofsson says.

[sionnsar]

You are correct. It was a feature for the November 2004 issue, but is not available online.

[sionnsar]

Besides, I found it fascinating to read the whole thing. I can empathize with so much of what Olofsson says.

Me too. I saw the earlier stages of this in ECUSA in the early 1980s, which is part of the reason I left ECUSA a few years later. It was only a year or two ago when, courtesy of the Traditional Anglican ping list founder ahadams2, I took a look at what had been going on back there since, and was shocked.

[Redleg Duke]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that my home church, ALC, was originally Norwegian. My Mom took us there from the Wisconsin Lutheran Synod, which was most definately German.

I miss the gentle love of the ALC and I object to the liberal relativism that permeates the ELCA. If the ELCA continues down the pathway to perdition, it will do so without us.

"For Me and My House, We will serve the Lord!"

[hinckley buzzard]

It is sad. The Lutheran churches once were gold in the crown of the King, but having succumbed to secular temptations they have reduced themselves to dross.

[hinckley buzzard]

You are probably right, but western Europe is going to go through a very long dark age before that happens. Hopefully America can avoid the abyss into which the western euros are rushing headlong.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Ping to a sad, cautionary tale all too common these days.

...They predicted that in the long run there would not only be ordained women, but this reform would lead to a different view of the Word of God and hence God´s revelation...Now, they said, man was in command of the Bible, free to interpret it the way he, she or the spirit of the times wanted, and as a consequence of this, there would be a new understanding of the priesthood to begin with. They predicted that insolubility of marriage would wane with a new understanding of marriage and what it meant to be a man and a women, there would be a new way of looking at the Creation and the order given in it, a new way of understanding human sexuality, that same-sex relationships in the end would be accepted, and there would even be blessings of same-sex relationships, marriages, and as the crowning event: the understanding of God the Father would be replaced by God the Mother. It sounded like some dystopic theological science fiction.

Reminiscent of Gary North's excellent book, "Crossed Fingers: How the Liberals Captured the Presbyterian Church."

However, the Word abides forever and all whom Christ came to gather will be led safely home.

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." -- John 16:33.

[CARepubGal]

Machen's book "Christianity and Liberalism" was an early warning cry. Too bad it went mostly unheeded by the denomination.

[ALWAYSWELDING]

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be make salty again? It is no longer food for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men." (mt. 5:13)

[sionnsar]

You reminded me of an old post here:

When Homosexuals Take Over A Church

[Dr. Eckleburg]

The way of the world. Sadly. For now, anyway.

I remember liking your homepage. Anyone who begins theirs with bagpipes has got to be thinking clearly...and lyrically. 8~)

[sionnsar]

I remember liking your homepage. Anyone who begins theirs with bagpipes has got to be thinking clearly...and lyrically. 8~)

Lyrically, I will accept. But "clearly"? The Spanish word for bagpiper, "gaitero", also connotes "a wild and crazy person." My experience of the breed (self excluded, of course, because I am also an engineer *\;-) confirms the correctness of their definition.

(Sadly, my Swedish piper friend's piping days are long since past.)

[RebelBanker]

Pastor Charles,

Thank you for pinging me on this. I forwarded a link to the article to my pastor and am awaiting his response to it. I mentioned it to him this morning after services (he had not looked at his emails yet) and he seemed familiar with the Church of Sweden's history.

Deo Vindice!
RB

[Uri’el-2012]

Staying until further notice and praying. For what? For the resuscitation of a dying church? That is too little. For a miracle? Even the resurrection of a dead church? “Lazarus, come forth!”

 

2004 © Folke T. Olofsson

1 posted on 02/16/2005 5:52:16 PM MST by sionnsar

 

Sad, very sad. 

 

Those folks are lost sheep and are in need of the Shepherd: Y’shua

 

It points out that our relationship is to be with the everlasting all-loving G-d,

who offered his Son as sacrifice for our sins and not with any of man’s organizations.

 

I think Folke confuses the meaning of the word church:

Ekklesia:  a group of “called out ones” in this case for G-d.

As opposed to a group of people who are called out for Man who call themselves a church.

 

 

 

NAsbU Mark 12:32 The scribe said to Him, "Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that HE IS ONE, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BESIDES HIM; 33 AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE ONE'S NEIGHBOR AS HIMSELF, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

 

In His Forever Grip

chuck