LOGIA

The following is a response to Jack Kilcrease's article:

Evangelical and Catholic?: The ‘Conservative' Reformation's Scriptural Principle and the Catholicity of the Gospel

Response by Paul R. Hinlicky, Tise Professor of Lutheran Studies, Roanoke College, Salem VA  

I should be flattered by the extravagant attention Dr. Kilcrease has paid to my article from 1999.[1] It is in any case interesting for me to be criticized from the theological Right-an uncommon experience for me in the ELCA. Thanks to the editor's gracious invitation to respond, I have a precious opportunity to offer amplifications and clarifications on my theological project to friends in Lutheranism outside my own troubled denomination.

Jack Kilcrease is an instructor in theology at Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI. He recently successfully defended his doctoral dissertation at Marquette entitled "The Self-Donation of God: Gerhard Forde and the Question of Atonement in the Lutheran Tradition."

 As a Lutheran Christian one is bound to find popular Christianity in the United States to be a grave disappointment. The theological shallowness of the televangelists and prosperity mongers is unbearable. One is equally horrified by the mainline Protestant churches with their massive bureaucracies devoted to promoting whatever has become the new secular, political soupe du jour. In both cases, one finds a mixture of works righteousness, synergism, and enthusiasm.

Lutheran Spirituality and Preaching: The Preaching of Law and Gospel as an Act of True Spirituality, Rev. Dr. Edward O. Grimenstein, Chaplain (Captain) 3^rd Battalion, 1^st Special Warfare Training Group, U.S. Army, Ft. Bragg NC.

Many Lutherans often see the two topics of spirituality and preaching as oil and water - they don't seem to mix.  Not only do denominations outside of Lutheranism often regard Lutheran preaching as a-spiritual, but even Lutherans themselves may confess their preaching is not very "spiritual."  Lutherans may not feel like they have much to bring to the table when conversing about spirituality and preaching with say a Baptist or Pentecostal preacher.  After all, Lutherans usually don't shout at the top of their voices from the pulpit, nor do they often preach an extra 45 minutes because "the Spirit has just laid something on my heart."  So, Lutherans often shy away from discussing spirituality and preaching.  They abandon this topic to those who, at least in their own eyes, seem to bring more to the table.  But Lutherans couldn't be more mistaken in abandoning the topics of spirituality and preaching.  Not only do Lutherans have much to bring to the discussion of spirituality and preaching, I propose that the Lutherans' espousal of preaching law and gospel is in its very essence true spirituality.

by Rev. Brent W. Kuhlman, S.T.M. of Trinity Lutheran Church, Murdock, Nebraska

The way of salvation for Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas and most theologians and practitioners of Christianity in these very modern/post-modern times is the progression from vice to virtue, from sin to sanctification.[1]  Martin Luther (November 10, 1483-February 18, 1546) grew up in this theological milieu.  Accordingly, he learned that salvation depended on doing one's best with the help of God's grace (facere quod in se est) received through the sacraments of the church.  Divine grace was the high octane additive (or the performance enhancing drug) that powered the virtues of faith, hope, and love as the Christian pilgrimmed on or laddered up to the encounter or union with God in beatific vision.  Faith was necessary but never sufficient nor alone (sola) on this continuum.  Something in addition to faith was needed for sanative salvation.  Faith had to be formed by love otherwise it was worthless.  "The movement of faith is only perfect if it is informed by charity; therefore in the justification of the unrighteous, there is also a movement of charity together with the movement of faith."[2]