ARTICLES

The LCMS (Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod) is widely recognized as theologically and socially conservative, but institutionally it insists on being non-partisan. The pattern of language it uses to assert this has some consistent features worth unpacking. 1. Framing around Scripture, not Politics The LCMS emphasizes that its positions flow from the inerrancy of Scripture and confessional fidelity, not from any political agenda. When the Synod speaks on moral or social issues, it carefully couches its reasoning in biblical interpretation and confessional documents (e.g., the Book of Concord), avoiding references to party…

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) deliberately distinguishes itself from “decisional theology” churches (such as many Baptist, Pentecostal, and evangelical traditions). The key difference comes down to how salvation is received and the role of human will in conversion. 1. LCMS Position: Monergism (God Alone Works Salvation) The LCMS is in the category of monergistic churches (“mono” = one, “ergon” = work). This means God alone works faith in the sinner’s heart through the means of grace (Word and Sacraments). LCMS teaches that people are by nature spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1).…

Criticism is often reciprocal, especially when institutions of substantial influence and power evaluate each other’s moral, ethical, and societal practices. Just as Martin Luther historically criticized the Catholic Church for its practice of indulgences, modern critics have targeted the Catholic Church for its extensive wealth and perceived worldly power. In a similar fashion, the Catholic Church itself critiques the United States on moral and ethical grounds, while the conservative Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) demonstrates an implicit support for American conservative governmental principles and traditions. This article examines these dynamic interactions…

Martin Luther’s act of nailing his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg in 1517 remains a potent historical image symbolizing resistance against institutional corruption and theological malpractice. Central among Luther’s criticisms was the Catholic Church’s sale of indulgences—documents promising remission of sin and reduced time in purgatory. Over 500 years later, similar critiques arise, examining the Catholic Church’s vast wealth, properties, and influence over personal and spiritual lives. This essay examines parallels and contrasts between Luther’s historical criticisms and contemporary critiques of the Catholic Church, exploring how conservative…

Leonardo Boff and Clodovis Boff, two Brazilian brothers and Catholic priests, were among the leading voices in Liberation Theology—a movement that emerged in Latin America during the 1960s–1980s. Both initially worked closely together, advocating for the poor and critiquing structures of oppression within political and ecclesial systems. However, over time, they experienced a philosophical and theological divergence, particularly in how they balanced faith, theology, and Marxist social analysis. Here’s a breakdown of their philosophical parting of ways: 1. Common Ground in Liberation Theology (Early Years) In their early collaboration: Both…