This is a silly argument that requires you and the reader to delve into the mind of God, which is a very dangerous place to go. If God is against [abortion, homosexual behavior, Hitler, Marx, Hinduism, ..., sin, pick your favorite answer] , why doesn’t he simply put an end to it? You should try to come up with better and more useful arguments than that.

BTW, the answer to you question is found in Romans 1, and if winning means having the greatest numbers, then you should be some kind of non-Christian because their numbers overwhelm those whose names are written in the Book of Life.

“You know that Paul often connects these two, as Peter does as well, first, that Christ died for us and redeemed us by his blood in order to cleanse for himself a holy people (cf. Tit. 2:14; 1 Peter 1:19). In this way, however, Christ is presented us as a gift or sacrament. In the second place, Paul and Peter present us Christ as example, so that we would be imitators of good works. He redeemed us from all impiety and death, so that we then preach and glorify him by imitating good works. Thus Peter says (1 Peter 2: 21): “Christ suffered for you that you should follow in his steps.” But also Augustine mentions these two, sacrament and example.”

Blessed Pentecost to you all.

Thank you for posting this comment; we appreciate knowing this. It’s sometimes frustrating since they don’t get many comments.

“Not Jesus” is emphatically not the emphasis I was taught. Without Jesus I wouldn’t even be interested in cooperating with God, but would instead be appalled at the very idea, so all glory goes to God.

I’m reminded of a “hymn” Dr. Scaer would occasionally sing:

“Chief of Sinners, though I used to be…”

All the glory goes to Christ my friend!

Diane,

Thank you. I will forever be in need of catechesis. I do love those prayers. I humbly suggest that if you are never hearing your pastors address the reality of Christian growth, you need to talk with them.

To both of you. From one of my recent posts:

Believers who are more mature in Christ – who have a higher level of sanctification – will be very humble(d) persons who know their sin. They know they grow not because they do not fall, but because Christ gives his hand to pick them up again. Their sin bothers them greatly, and they know they could take a terrible fall, a la Chutes and Ladders, or even lose their faith altogether (i.e. justification) through faith-destroying and doubt-inducing sin (hearing Paul’s “do not be deceived” regarding doing evil deeds). Rest assured, “keeping track” of any good they do is an attitude they flee and repent of, and when Paul encourages believers to take pride in their own deeds in Galatians, he speaks to the simple of course. Finally, they are eager not to point to their own progress (even as Paul urges Timothy to make sure others see his progress), but that of those great saints around them whose lives they are most thankful for

From that same post:

How to view the Christian’s sanctification? First, though we are new creatures in Christ – with “new desires, attitudes, and dispositions to align [our lives] with God’s design” (K&A rightly point this out on p. 126), we are not yet completely mature. Second, the believer’s new nature, not Jesus, is the new man who cooperates with God. Therefore, God judges some of us to be more in line with his designs, desires, thoughts, words, and deeds (even as each are conformed in distinctive ways) and rewards these as such. Although this teaching is not popular… everyone thinks some people are better than others. For example, when it comes to choosing a roommate – or spouse! – we generally will seek someone who we think is a better person overall, our standards being more or less in accordance with God’s. This is not done according to quantitative criteria, but qualitative criteria – we “measure” the whole person. And there is nothing wrong with this, even as we also assert that everyone, without exception, is loved by God who desires the salvation of all. And, as many a parent of multiple children knows (and hopefully many a child), to say this is not to say that one is loved more than another.

+Nathan

FYI: The troop shepherd is LCMS (from my own church) and the pastor is United Methodist. Thanks for the prayers.

AHG may be a little better than Girl Scouts, but I’m afraid I can no longer rest assured that what my daughter is being exposed to is going to always be Christ-centered & Gospel-friendly.

If your daughter is in AHG or considering joining, things may look good, but keep a watchful eye!

Lutheran Pioneers is a WELS/ELS organization. There is an equivalent organization in LCMS called Lutheran Rangers, which started from a Lutheran Pioneer train in a LCMS congregation prior to the Synodical Conference break-up.

For girls, WELS/ELS has Lutheran Girl Pioneers. I don’t know of an equivalent LCMS organization for girls.