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Luther’s famous statement at the Diet of Worms, “Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God” sparked a reformation of the church, but it also sent shock waves through medieval Europe and laid the groundwork for religious freedom as we know it today. Now, more than 500 years on, members of the Lutheran church continue to advocate for religious freedom and are responsible for some recent U.S. Supreme Court wins, including the Hosana Tabor case (upholding the right of ministries to hire and fire ministerial employees based on their deeply held religious beliefs) and the Trinity Church case (holding that government cannot exclude a faith-based ministry from a generally available government program).
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Gregory Seltz from the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty about (1) the Lutheran Church’s (Missouri Synod) thoughtful and time-tested approach to public theology and religious freedom and (2) how he and the LCRL are working to encourage, educate, and advocate.
Key Takeaways:
- His call into ministry in the public square.
- The fascinating story about Walter Meyer, the Lutheran Hour, and an early struggle to keep religious programming on the airwaves.
- The basics of two kingdom theology, as further explained in this helpful resource.
- The proper relationship between church and state and the application of Biblical principles in public life.
- The very concerning case of Bishop Juhana Pohjola, a Finnish pastor facing criminal prosecution for preaching Biblical principles.
- Thoughts on the future of the American republic and how Christians can impact that future.