I love this piece. A few points I would like to make, 1.Christ is King ruling in His Kingdom of grace, and power and glory. The state is under His Kingdom of power that Christ rules with a rod of iron (Ps. 2). This is of course the Kingdom of the left in the two Kingdoms distinction. 2. The political left in the west is anti-Christ. As you point out they have placed LGBTQ+ issues and abortion at the center of their political program. Gay race communism is incompatible with Christian faith. The only faithful choice for a Christian is either voting for the right wing party in the USA the Republican party or not voting at all. A vote for baby killing gay race communists is rebellion against Christ. There might be local elections where a prolife anti LGBTQ candidate is running as a Democrat but that is the exception that proves the rule.
3. Meditation, meditation, meditation. The Confessions repeatedly exhort us to meditate on the Scriptures, the Catechism and good doctrine. Yet mention this in our circles and people instantly think your a new ager or an occultism. 4. As far as the simul goes both the total total and the partial partial are true in their own sphere. Total total is the truth of justification and partial partial is the truth of sanctification. There are plenty of places in Luther where in talking about mortification that Luther uses partial partial language. 5. Yes you are right that growth in humility is central to spiritual growth. 6. Spiritual growth is real yet cannot be measured. It is qualitative and not quantitative. 7. One little historical quibble. I don't think Saxony was under Prussia at that time history. While all Lutherans look on the Prussian union with horror I think that Saxony was afflicted with Rationalism and it's own version of perhaps of that union. I don't want that slight quibble to overshadow my agreement with what you are saying as a whole .
One other point. I love your wholesome openness to spiritual experience. Too often in our circles spiritual experience is viewed with hostile. Often the question is asked rather the experience is immediate or mediate. How would the experiencer know? A better question would be does it flow from a life centered on faith in Christ nurtured by the means of grace or not.
Since February 15, 2026, Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau is the Senior Administrative Pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Bowling Green, KY.
I love this piece. A few points I would like to make, 1.Christ is King ruling in His Kingdom of grace, and power and glory. The state is under His Kingdom of power that Christ rules with a rod of iron (Ps. 2). This is of course the Kingdom of the left in the two Kingdoms distinction. 2. The political left in the west is anti-Christ. As you point out they have placed LGBTQ+ issues and abortion at the center of their political program. Gay race communism is incompatible with Christian faith. The only faithful choice for a Christian is either voting for the right wing party in the USA the Republican party or not voting at all. A vote for baby killing gay race communists is rebellion against Christ. There might be local elections where a prolife anti LGBTQ candidate is running as a Democrat but that is the exception that proves the rule.
3. Meditation, meditation, meditation. The Confessions repeatedly exhort us to meditate on the Scriptures, the Catechism and good doctrine. Yet mention this in our circles and people instantly think your a new ager or an occultism. 4. As far as the simul goes both the total total and the partial partial are true in their own sphere. Total total is the truth of justification and partial partial is the truth of sanctification. There are plenty of places in Luther where in talking about mortification that Luther uses partial partial language. 5. Yes you are right that growth in humility is central to spiritual growth. 6. Spiritual growth is real yet cannot be measured. It is qualitative and not quantitative. 7. One little historical quibble. I don't think Saxony was under Prussia at that time history. While all Lutherans look on the Prussian union with horror I think that Saxony was afflicted with Rationalism and it's own version of perhaps of that union. I don't want that slight quibble to overshadow my agreement with what you are saying as a whole .
One other point. I love your wholesome openness to spiritual experience. Too often in our circles spiritual experience is viewed with hostile. Often the question is asked rather the experience is immediate or mediate. How would the experiencer know? A better question would be does it flow from a life centered on faith in Christ nurtured by the means of grace or not.
Excellent reminder. My essential role as a Pastor is as Seelsorger…..bringing the comfort of the Word and Sacraments….everything else is fluff.