Above is the new ad that Concordia Seminary, St. Louis is placing in magazines now. I've seen it in several publications. Young, buff, millennial guy. Got it. That's fine. Cool little pictures in the margins - he reads his Bible. Check. Even categorizes what he reads by the pictures! Pastor material!
BUT . . .
Here's my question: Look at the Scriptures in the background (click on the picture to enlarge it). Look at all the passages that are underlined. What do they all have in common? All are Law. None of the Gospel passages (of which there are plenty) are underlined. Why not? It seems like a small thing, but small things are significant. We are training pastors to proclaim the Gospel. Yes, we need the Law, we're not antinomians. But all Law and no Gospel? Really?
Well, maybe the ad is trying to convey this fact: Like all of us, this young, buff, seminarian is drawn to the Law, but the Seminary is going to teach Him how to proclaim the Gospel and so in the future, it will be the Gospel passages that will be underlined! Not us, but Christ! But, it says he's a vicar already . . . so . . . uh . . .
2 comments:
Perhaps they should also be honest and state that far too many congregations are allowed to remove pastors from their call for un Biblical reasons
That this happens is true. We live in a fallen and sinful world. As I once read in a book: Your congregation is full of sinners - how come you don't expect them to act like it! In the case of unbiblical removal or the attempt to, our pastors need the support of their fellow pastors, circuit visitors, district presidents, and synodical higher-ups. This is sadly too lacking at times.
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