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The Ablaze Movement...

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filosofer

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Howdy. I had been LCMS for 56+ years (pastor and layman), so have some familiarity with the LCMS and its history. And I still have very close contact with the LCMS at the local level.

Beginning in the late 1940's it became popular to have a 1-2 year program. Throughout the years you will find references to them, such Each One Reach One, etc. Ablaze is at the end of a long progression of such program-itis. The goal to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ, which is commendable and out to be encouraged and supported. However, there are some fundamental problems even in the presentation of some Biblical texts. The whole idea of "scorecard", which while consistent with 21st century American consumerism, does not reflect the Biblical approach to witnessing/evangelism.

 
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Studeclunker

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I'm currently attending a chruch that's deeply involved in Ablaze. The pentacostal texture of this programme just rubs me the wrong way. I detest it! If I wanted to go to a pentecostal church I'd go to Bethany, the mega-church on the other side of town, with the rest of the lemmings!
 
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Studeclunker

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I'm warnin' youse, Alice! I'm warnin' youse! Someday... POW! Right in da kissah!

This church growth programme, ablaze, is identical to the one that was being pushed at the beginning of the ELCA. Now, here it is again in the LCMS. The excesses in Michigan aren't just dismaying, they're alarming! In my own congregation, they don't use the hymnals... ever. The newer members glare and stare at me when I cross myself, as if I'm a mis-placed Roman Catholic. They do the same when I acknowledge the presence at the Altar. These are things I've done since I was a child. Well, when attending a Lutheran church, that is. It's so disorienting to go into a congregation like this after attending more traditional congregations previously.

So here I am again. Do I jump ship again, or stand and fight?
 
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C

ctay

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Its been a long time since the few LCMS churches around me used hymnals, 2 of the started back when the new ones came out, the 2 others didn't. I know what you mean about traditional, that's what I had been used to also.
 
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QuiltAngel

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The whole idea of encouraging all to tell those in their lives about the Gospel is wonderful. What many object to is the numbers and numbers reporting thing. Kind of turns telling others into a work that we must do. About the same time, there have also been more and more of our Lutheran churches turning away from the traditional service to the more contemporary, hard to recognize it as Lutheran service so they can be more "relevant." This is also at a time when the young adults are turning to the more traditional worship service.
 
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