tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073787325275759292.post1701966359762233808..comments2014-05-07T12:09:09.811-04:00Comments on White Funeral Blog: More Born-Again Stereotypes – Bores and Nut JobsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073787325275759292.post-38860446123875180872014-04-17T18:56:44.781-04:002014-04-17T18:56:44.781-04:00Hi Gary, thanks for your comment and I apologize f...Hi Gary, thanks for your comment and I apologize for the crazy delay in response. As you've prob seen by my recent posts, I've been bad about a lot of things and blogging is one of them. I definitely don't believe a "process" or "turning point" is necessary to salvation. I was saved long before I knew it. But my awakening was so visceral that I can't ignore it. Similarly I don't believe baptism is necessary for salvation but, like you, that it is a public, spiritual marking. I feel it's sort of like marriage - a ceremony whereby we publicly commit our love and devotion. Being baptized was one of the most important things I've ever done although I know that the act of doing it had no bearing on my actual salvation. God bless! - LaurenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073787325275759292.post-84085024788824596422013-07-29T18:18:22.737-04:002013-07-29T18:18:22.737-04:00Do you think that it is important to have a specif...Do you think that it is important to have a specific event that you can point to and say: "THEN, is when God saved me!"?<br /><br />We Lutherans do NOT believe that baptism is mandatory for salvation. All the saints in the OT, the thief on the cross, and many martyrs have died without baptism. We believe they are saved and in heaven. It is not the lack of baptism that damns someone to hell...it is the lack of faith/belief that damns one to hell, as Christ states in Mark 16:16.<br /><br />Many evangelicals think that Lutherans believe that salvation must come through Baptism. This is flat-out wrong! Baptism is one of several possible "when"s of salvation. It is always the Word of God that saves. (Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God). A sinner can be saved sitting in church listening to a sermon; listening to a Gospel program on the radio; or reading a Gospel tract. Baptism is NOT mandatory for salvation.<br /><br />However, Baptism is God's mark upon us that he truly has saved us. We belong to him. Unless someone intentionally fakes believing, fakes repenting, and fakes a genuine desire to receive Christ's "mark" in baptism, the person being Baptized DOES receive Christ's mark stating: YOU, child, now belong to me.<br /><br />In the evangelical conversion, you have two viewpoints, Arminian and Calvinist. The Arminian believes that he is saved when HE makes a decision to have faith and believe/repent. The problem is that when HIS faith is ebbing low, he begins to question the sincerity of his "decision": "Did I really do 'it' right?" Why this worry? He worries because his salvation was partly dependent upon HIM; upon HIS "decision".<br /><br />The Calvinist, on the other hand, believes that he is either born the Elect or he isn't. There doesn't need to be any specific time of conversion, as long as at some point in his life, the Calvinist declares to the world his faith and belief---he IS one of the Elect. However, ask many Calvinists when they were saved and they will give you a blank stare and then answer, "Well...my salvation was a 'process'!"<br /><br />Are there any examples in the Bible of ANYONE being saved by a process??<br /><br />Receive the mark of Christ, brothers and sisters. In Holy Baptism, God's marks you as his: “Property of the King of Kings, Almighty Lord of Heaven and Earth".<br /><br />Gary<br />Luther, Baptists, and Evangelicals<br /><br />http://www.lutherwasnotbornagain.com/2013/07/how-many-steps-did-you-complete-to.html<br /><br /><br />Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02519721717265344702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073787325275759292.post-89731028752961572442012-02-25T21:15:25.432-05:002012-02-25T21:15:25.432-05:00PSS: Oh yeah, I love the name of your blog.
EricPSS: Oh yeah, I love the name of your blog.<br /><br />EricAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3073787325275759292.post-81663799648666068012012-02-25T21:14:04.952-05:002012-02-25T21:14:04.952-05:00Lauren,
"Would I have to trade all that in f...Lauren,<br /><br />"Would I have to trade all that in for Saturday nights at home reading the Bible?"<br /><br />Funny but in my case almost true. God has called us to be His hands, feet and mouth. Each of us has our own calling where God leads us to touch the lives of those that don't know Him.<br /><br />Keep on loving those in your neighborhood. Although they might not acknowledge you when you're with them, they will notice you're love for them and some of them will be changed.<br /><br />Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, Feb 25th talks about this question. Are you willing to be broken bread and poured out wine for Him. I think the answer is "yes" in your case. Trust Him to cause the changes in the hearts of those in your neighborhood and try to be thankful for the opportunity He's given.<br /><br />Best Regards,<br />Eric<br /><br />PS: We don't have to be weird, just loving and respectful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com