Radical Grace/The Lutheran Difference

Just because someone can do a mashup of say, the Bee Gees and AC/DC, doesn't mean they should. That's true of Law and Gospel as well. One doesn't simply mash up law and Gospel. Also,    Pope delivers some new bull on capital punishment, Willow Creek implosion drama ripples across the evangelical stage, Prospering financially now firmly an Evangelical sacrament, and we're getting to the root of wha...

Continuing the talk on Discipleship, the old Samurai saying, "Cry in the Dojo; Laugh in the Battlefield" comes up. There's truth in that for us Christians, because the reason many of us fall on the Battlefield is because we don't train for the Battle. Also,  Americans don't attend church and Pew research asks why?, Jeff Sessions organizes task force for religious liberty concerns, Federal judge ru...

After the usual problems people have in defining "discipleship" have cropped up again, Pastor Gary felt that we needed to help clear up the fog that surrounds this topic. Also,    Franklin Graham's event going on despite LGBT backlash in England, Christian waiter fired after admitting to perpetrating a hoax, Zuckerberg in denial about Holocaust denials on Facebook, and we're telling you what it me...

In our pre-show discussions, Pastor Gary and I realized that the pattern of the "Church Growth" movement followed the pattern of another unique American institution, and it seems to explain an interesting aspect of what's happening to the Church these days. Also...   Obituary data reveals church attendance adds years to your life, Pronouns now a punishable offense for Minnesota students, Episcopal...

Doesn't it seem like the Church at large is circling the wagons these days? Pastor Gary has an alternative to sticking our heads in the ground, plus:   Episcopal Church weighs gender language for the Book of Common Prayer, Rescued soccer team has Hollywood salivating, Philippine President calling for the most awesome selfie ever, and we won't just circle the wagons today on Radical Grace Radio. Vi...

Do you feel like you're drowning in a spiritual swamp? If so, don't miss this episode. Also,   Free parking now only exists in Monopoly for tax-exempt employees, Kenyan priest suspended for rapping sermons in church, American news outlets judged for their accuracy and bias, and we're still draining swamps around here on Radical Grace Radio. Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/...

Pastor wanted to talk about life imitating art because he also wanted to talk about life imitating parables. Before listening to the show, can you guess what the oldest known parable is in the Bible? Also...   Blood moon coming and no one's trying to profit by it, United Methodist clergy go after Attorney General Sessions, Televangelist Jim Bakker wants to cure your venereal disease, and parables...

Another Listener email: This time Terri asks us about long term doctrinal detox, and also wanted to know what to do if there's no LCMS churches near her to attend. Also,  Supreme Court deciding if more marriage arguments are in order, Immigrant families divide Evangelical leaders from the president, Retired Cardinal kicked off the team by Coach Francis, and today's a special detox edition of Radic...

This week it's a listener who asked us about Assurance, since sometimes anxiety overwhelms us all.  As always, send us email at Lutherandifference@gmail.com Also...   Study links prosperity to church attendance, Georgia Baptist church kicked out of the SBC, Twitter CEO slammed for fast food indiscretion, and we're connecting dots and relieving anxiety today on Radical Grace Radio. Visit Matthew Pa...

Following up from where we left off on last week's topic, Pastor Gary decided to take another look at the Three Uses of the Law. There are people who are concerned about a "Radical Lutheran" view of Third Use of the law, and he though it was time to address those concerns. Also... Catholics in Congo respond to Ebola outbreak, Colorado wedding cake baker wins in Supreme Court, Patterson disputes al...

There's this "controversy" that goes around in Lutheran Circles about Third Use of the Law. Pastor Gary believes the whole debate is framed wrong from the start, so he's going to give his perspective on it. Also,   Jim Bakker gets a word of knowledge about presidential hitmen, Jesse Duplantis believes God for more mindless followers, Paige Patterson sees the light and it's showing him to the exit,...

In our second discussion about Pentecost, several things come up: the Outpouring, the preached word, Baptism, Fellowship, Liturgy, and creeds.  Also: Pope Francis comments on God's love for gay people, Historic Milwaukee church destroyed by roof-top fire, Paige Patterson forced to step down from seminary presidency, and Pentecost winds keep blowing around here on Radical Grace Radio. Visit Matthew...

Since it is Pentecost, it seems fitting to Pastor Gary and myself to talk about Pentecost. And now, we're not drunk. It was only 9 in the Morning! Also... Andy Stanley coming unhitched and the internet's coming unglued, Evangelism in decline, according to a new, Barna study, Jerusalem embassy works Franklin Graham into a frothy sweat, and Pentecost gives us plenty to talk about. Visit Matthew Panc...

How does the Lutheran Perspective of Assurance differ from that of Evangelicalism, or even from that of the Reformed?  Also:  Southern Baptist women protest seminary president remarks, ABC's Last Man Standing may yet be the last show standing, Online videos claim Sutherland Springs shooting nothing but a hoax, and we're telling you why assurance matters today on Radical Grace Radio Visit Matthew P...

Do people still wonder and worry about the assurance of salvation? Pastor wonder, but I'm certain that the old Adam is hardwired to worry about Salvation.  Also...   Survey results in, and Americans give surprising answers about God, Same-sex marriage supported by religious Americans, by a wide margin, Anti-semetic weather control conspiracy theory continues gaining momentum, and we offering radic...

The Lutheran Church --Missouri Synod manages to break into the news this week, Bill Hybels, as much as he tries, can't break out of the news, CBS' idea of Living Biblically just can't get a break, and that's probably a good thing, but we break bad news when we have to here at Radical Grace Radio. Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matthew.pancake Visit Pastor Gary Held's Face...

Jesus Fandom. That idea has come up a few times in different Christian Circles, Meaning that there are people out there that treat the faith like it's a fan club to join rather than a faith to follow. But I think Pastor has correctly identified how people who complain about "Jesus Fans" are themselves guilty of being fans of Jesus rather than "true followers" of Jesus. Also... Larycia Hawkins reme...

Our Lord and Savior had many Scandalous friendships. Women hung around with him. Tax collectors did to. Actually, pretty much everyone who followed Jesus was painted with the term "sinner" no matter what. We examine this, and we see how the News rolls with... Snoop Dogg under fire for releasing gospel music album, church discipline not so much a thing anymore for American pastors, journalistic int...

Pastor wants to remind everyone that, Like Christmastide, Easter is not over yet. As a such, we have to unfold the Gospel continually, and talk about how Facebook hates Crucifixion violence. McChurch found people will pay for nuggets with Apple Pay, Stun Guns found useful for increasing church attendance, Italian atheist found unable to comprehend conversational language, and we've found Easter dr...

How has the Resurrection of Jesus Christ been depicted in Ancient Art? Pastor Gary takes us on a bit of journey to find out, also...   Jerusalem unrest draws unwelcome attention, Vandals blamed for local cemetery desecration, Suicide victim discovered near remote Potter's field, and we're congratulating ourselves for having real news for once on Radical Grace Radio Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook...

Why would Jesus, our Lord and Savior, Curse an innocent fig tree? What did it ever do to him? Was he Just having a bad day? Or was there something more going on? Also...   Brawl erupts during Tennessee church revival service, Guam Archbishop forced out by Pope Francis, D.C. Councilman explains climate change in the most anti-semitic way possible, and we learn Jesus has something to curse about tod...

We decided to take up a continuation of a previous episode titled "the Agenda of Grace", because it never hearts to rehearse the Gospel again, and it's always a blessing when you find something else in there you hadn't seen before. Also...   Vice President Pence turns the other cheek, Alliance Defending Freedom defends non-profit coffee, Meghan Markle receives a baptism with a little extra secret...

In this Episode we address an age old problem: Who can a Christian know if they are operating in God's will? How would a Christian even know what God's will is for their lives? Also...   Facebook says "just kidding" after warning folks who were just kidding, Maryland church gives away free cars to lucky worshipers, Malicious kooks arrested for interrupting Sutherland Springs church service, and we...

In this episode we discuss how the Gospel can bless people regardless of their perceived problems, as well as...  Myanmar's Government tries to hide it's sins, Benny Hinn apparently repents of his sins, Catholic Nuns and Priests protest President Trump's sins, and sins are only the beginning of our troubles today on Radical Grace Radio Visit Matthew Pancake's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/matth...

In this Episode we look at various ages of the Church and the Grace that befell them by the Spirit's will. Also,   Religious Americans ambivalent about evolution controversy, Twitter brings out the twits in wake of Parkland shooting, Iceland plans to ban circumcision, and Jews and Muslims are offended, and there's more about spiritual seasons today on Radical Grace Radio Visit Matthew Pancake's Fa...