Yes, that's true. Now if he had said Dr.Smith at Luther Seminary (just giving an example) denies the deity of Christ that would be easier to believe. As it is we just have this generalization that doesn't really even make sense and is insulting to Lutherans
... and also had NOTHING to do with the discussion whatsoever.
I'm not saying it's the case here, but in debate, there is a tactic called "the shell game." When one feels... well... out of cards to play or trapped or "caught" - change the subject, change it in a way that will likely cause the other side to be unable to leave that alone and thus work to get the 'heat' off your side.
Our good friend here has a very bold position - and personally, I LIKE when people have a stance (even if it's "we can't know for sure"). I LIKE it when people think truth matters. But PERSONALLY, I find his expressions of his view very new and unique - perhaps because it comes from a strong monergist (like me). We all know that for the past 500 years, the Sacraments of Baptism and Communion have been -
SADLY - dividing points. There's just not much history here (no Ecumenical Councils for example) because the debate is relatively new, the "stripping" only goes back to Zwingly and the Anabaptists, both in the 16th Century, and the new Catholic spin to Trent also in the 16th Century. I 'side' with just accepting what the words say..... and how all Christians affirmed them until these new 16th Century inventions, but I admit the EFFECTUALNESS of them is not abundantly obvious, but I think is much stronger than the new denials. It's a fairly common discussion and I think an important one, but some seem to have personal difficulties discussing it or even reading other thoughts.
Some will say, "NONE Of this ever accomplishes anything!" Well, my 15 years + on sites like this might make me say AMEN. BUT I believe God can work.... I KNOW people can learn and grow and discover some of what they were taught or assumed, well.... is questionable. I KNOW that because it's happened to me. So much so that it caused me to leave a church I LOVED and the denomination of my family and many of my friends.... and still to this day, at times causes me to re-think things. It takes some humility ("I just COULD be wrong.... God may know more than I do.... I may be seeing this wrong....") but then ALL learning and growth does. If nothing else, ecumenical discussions help ME think and grow... but I HOPE it does others, too. It's why I never go to Lutheran websites (nothing gets challenged there, nothing different gets promoted there).
Sometimes people get frustrated... and act/speak/write out of character. I see it as a good sign; maybe something is dawning (and it's troubling because it's not what WAS thought/believed)? Few like to admit (even to themselves) "I didn't have this quite right." But learning and growing are good things....
Sorry.
- Josiah
