This Pastor’s KZfaq channel is one of the major reasons I just attended my first Lutheran service yesterday and I plan to continue.

I will be confirmed into the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, God-willing, on Pentecost (May 28)

As an LCMS pastor myself, I'm glad to have a guy like Bryan Wolfmueller in our ranks. He's well read and can teach as much to layman as he can to fellow pastors.

Pastor Wolfmueller is SUCH a blessing!

I really appreciated the gentle, humble nature of Pastor Wolfmueller and his desire to see people know Jesus more deeply.

From Pentecostal (graduated from an AG college), to Episcopalian, flirted with Eastern Orthodoxy, but now a Confessional Lutheran. Truly the approach to properly distinguishing Law and Gospel did it for me. Now reading the Scriptures I can finally say, "Now I get it!"

Recently became Lutheran. I'm having my doubts as any new convert should. But Pastor Wolfmueller and Pastor Jordan Cooper are keeping me well in line. I thank God for them both. From Pentecostal to Eastern Orthodox catechumen to finally Confessional Lutheran!

Love this! I’m in the process of becoming a member of the LCMS (Lutheran) church. Love their understanding of justification and the Sacraments! I went to a reformed seminary but am convinced of the straightforward understanding of Scripture.

Pastor Wulfmueler has got to be the single best person to give a basic introduction to Lutheranism! He is so good at distinguishing it from general American Evangelicalism.

I also went through a similar experience growing up in an Evangelical/pentecostal church. All I can say is amen to all the Pastor said, and it reminds me of how and why I became a Lutheran (LCMS).

Thankyou Rev wolfmueller for helping me to find one true faith. Happy reformation week everyone.

All the LCMS churches we’ve attended over the past two years have had ‘close’ communion rather than ‘closed’ communion, and I think that is a very insightful and wise move, as well as completely consistent with Scripture.

Hey Austin! Missed your live comment on my video yesterday, but you are doing great work brother! Your channel has become a great place for Christians from all backgrounds to gather and learn!

Thank you for interviewing this awesome Pastor, such a great gift to the Church. Godspeed and God's peace be with you.

I love how knowledgeable the pastor is. He knows those quotes and citations backwards and forward

Obviously as a catholic i dont agree with everything pastor said but still a great discussion thanks austin

Dont be deceived by his relaxed and unassuming manner of talking. Pastor Bryan is a good and articulate theologian! I like him 😊 Saw their dialogue with Lofton over his youtube channel and he is consistently cordial. 🙏

Lord guard us in this comment section, please, we can be so mean to one another, guard us from sin, please help us be more like you are and help us see others like you see us. Amen.

I love how often your posting ! Great content ! Very admirable , I’m 20 years old and you’re inspiring me to start a channel of my own very soon 🙏🏽

Hey Austin, I came to see this video after watching your discussion with Dr. Jordan B. Cooper. I’m a new sub, but I have been watching your content for a while now. I think that you’re doing a good job in the way you are reaching out to people from other denominations. Even though I’m a Roman Catholic from the Dominican Republic, I enjoy to listen to the differences and similarities that confessions of faith like Anglicans, Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, etc., have with Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, for it is really refreshing to have discussions and maintain a conversation because even Jesus had detractors, however, he showed compassion and love to everyone, no matter if they were sinners or if they were of different ethnicity. I truly think you’re are doing God’s Work by teaching us the differences that exist inside the Christian faith. I would like to see you discussing with Jews and Muslims too, if you ever have the opportunity, that would be very interesting to see a discussion of scripture and faith. I want to wrap this up by telling you, to keep up with the good work and for Our Lord to bless you!

Great interview Austin. Pastor Brian is Dynamic!

I’m currently taking the adult instruction class Pastor Wolfmueller made, interesting stuff.

Thanks for this interview! I’ve enjoyed Pastor Bryan’s videos as well.

Great Video Austin. I’m a Christian thanks to Calvary Chapel. I attend a LCMS church. I am so grateful to Calvary Chapel and trust me if you have a wayward love one ( none believer) you want a brother in the Calvary chapel to witness to him or her. They are the Marines of the church:).

Looking forward to this. Was wanting to check out the Lutheran faith next. Studying our collective church history (and all of it, whether Orthodox or Catholic applies to every Christian. My dad was Lutheran, mother was Catholic, and both became born again and non-denominational when I was young. I know nothing of Lutheranism yet (except a tad about Martin Luther), but I'm loving studying my rich Catholic heritage. And that's the story behind my very Catholic looking username. Oh btw, "Tortured for Christ" is on Prime lately. A wonderful and brave Lutheran pastor that somehow survived the Gulags and torture catacombs of the USSR. Hard to get through, I'll warn you right now. I read the book years ago, and really Really didn't want to see a movie/documentary version, but it was informative. It goes to show you, the denomination matters so little. If you truly have the Holy Spirit, He can get you through anything. There's an unforgettable line that illustrates this. When his wife ended up in the work camps, she mentioned how on Saturdays, the Seventh Day Adventists took a beating every time. For all that too many Christians choose to marginalize them, they will die for that Saturday Sabbath, and have done.

Thank you so much for doing these video interviews, Austin! I have enjoyed listening to so many of them, especially the ones on Orthodox and Catholic faith traditions, and will continue to listen. Denominationally, I belong to an evangelical Lutheran church on the conservative side (in Scandinavia), so this is pretty close to me, although I am not half as high-church. Lately, I have been wondering about how psychology and personality plays into our choices when it comes to what appeals to us denominationally/theologically. It would be really interesting if you would adress that in the future.

This one is another little treasure .. thanks for sharing it. O Mary conceived without sin : Pray for us who have recourse to thee. God bless. ;o)

I am really enjoying your interviews with other denominations, Austin. As a former Confessional LCMS Lutheran, I still greatly appreciate Pr. Wolfmueller's clear and amiable approach to sharing the Christian faith. He was an excellent choice to share an historic Lutheran perspective on things. Pr. Jordan Cooper (Just and Sinner) would be another excellent choice too. As a former Lutheran, I pray that you Austin, and everyone who happens upon this video, will earnestly seek out the truth of the Reformation, though. I agree with Pr. Wolfeuller that the doctrine of justification and the idea of sola fide was the primary theological cause for dividing the western church. Unfortunately, as many very learned and well-meaning Lutherans often do, Pr. Wolfmeuller doesn't understand the Catholic position on justification and therefore doesn't realize that it was the original Lutherans that were in error. Pr. Wolfmeuller says he was convinced of the Gospel that "conversion is a monergistic act and that God alone gives us the gift of faith and salvation". However, he then implies that Catholicism teaches something different. This, unfortunately, shows he doesn't understand the Catholic view of justification. Justification is a gift of God (CCC 153, 1996, 2010). Faith is the root of justification (Council of Trent Session VI. CHAPTER VIII.). The Catholic Church emphatically teaches that no one merits initial justification from God. It is a free gift given based solely on God calling us to Him and gifting us with faith as seen here in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). *CCC 2010 Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification, at the beginning of conversion.* For anyone interested, here is a link to my blog series exploring the theological reasons why I left Lutheranism for Catholicism. I especially recommend the 3 parts specifically on sola fide for anyone interested in learning more about the dispute over justification. www.follyofthecross.com/category/catholicism/fullness-of-the-truth/ *To cut to the chase, Lutherans got it wrong when they taught justification is Christ's very own righteousness imputed to us.* This lead to many of their other errors saying that we are saved by faith *alone* in Christ. Protestant theolgian Alister McGrath even concluded the idea of imputation was a brand new theological idea with the Reformers in his gigantic study on the history of the doctrine of justification: "A fundamental discontinuity was introduced into the western theological tradition where none had ever existed, or ever been contemplated, before. The Reformation understanding of the nature of justification [as imputation] must therefore be regarded as a genuine theological novum." Alister McGrath - Iustitia Dei: A History of the Christian Doctrine of Justification. Vol. I. Pg. 186 Learning what the Catholic Church actually teaches about justification is what lead me to now believe that Luther got it wrong and the Catholic Church has always been right. Sadly, so many people have no idea what the Catholic Church actually teaches and so they reject Catholicism based on objections to things the Church doesn't even teach. *“There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.”* - Blessed Bishop Fulton J. Sheen Please, keep seeking after truth, Austin! I will continue to pray with you for the unity of the Church. John 17:21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 10:16 - there will be one fold and one shepherd. Epeshians 4:3-6 - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father Romans 16:17 - I urge that there be no divisions among you

What I like from Luther's view than differs from modern protestantism is their practice of Crucifixes, Sacred Images, Real Presence. view of Mary & Sign of the Cross

I do enjoy listening to the perspectives of the different faith traditions. Whether it is Lutheran, Anglican, or Orthodox, the question inevitably comes back to their relationship with the Catholic Church. It is interesting to note that whenever the Catholic Church exercised authority, splits and schisms emerged.

Let me preface my remarks by saying that I think Pastor Bryan is a great guy, I really like some of his videos, and I'm glad that he's preaching the good news of Christianity here on KZfaq. However, I had a few issues with his comments on the Catholic Church that I'd like to get out there. Sorry for the long rant, but some of these can't go unanswered. 21:49 "The Council of Trent will say things like, if anybody is confident of their salvation, let them be anathema." This is not at all what Trent says, and I don't know how Pastor Bryan arrived at this conclusion. He's referring to canon XVI of the sixth session, which actually says: "If any one saith, that he will for certain, of an absolute and infallible certainty, have that great gift of perseverance unto the end, -unless he have learned this by special revelation; let him be anathema." Trent does not at all exclude trust and confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ and the efficacy of His sacrifice, but instead opposes a view which says that we can know with absolute certainty that we will be numbered among the elect. We can argue about how right that was, but what it is clearly not saying is that we can't have confidence of salvation. Pastor Bryan also seems to misunderstand the doctrine of purgatory, saying that purgatory implies that we are our own saviours rather than the Lord Jesus. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that "All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven." (CCC 1031) In other words, our salvation is a separate issue to purgatory; if we are in purgatory, we have already been saved by the Lord Jesus. Purgatory purifies us of any remaining attachment to sin- for nothing unclean enters heaven- but it is certainly not where we save ourselves or others, because we cannot save ourselves or others. 33:06 Again, on the principle of "ex opere operato", Pastor Bryan misconstrues the Catholic teaching. Ex opere operato is not about the fruits of the sacraments, but about their validity. It's a doctrine against the Donatists, who believed that if the minister of a sacrament was a sinner, the sacrament was invalid. Contrary to this, ex opere operato means that the sacrament is valid independently of the spiritual disposition of the minister or the recipient, and depends instead on the sacrament itself and Christ who effects it. So even if a non-believer received the Eucharist, they would indeed be receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. However, since they are not properly disposed, in no way do they receive the grace of the sacrament or any of its fruits, which Pastor Bryan seems to claim is the case in Catholic teaching. A person does indeed need to have faith in the Christ and His real presence, and to be free of all mortal sins, to benefit from this sacrament; otherwise they are only "eating and drinking judgement upon themselves". 33:57 Pastor Bryan was very correct to say that he would get some grief for this claim. It's certainly true that some of the sacraments of the Catholic Church require a priest to act in the person of Christ in order for them to be valid, but this is not true of all seven as he claims. Anyone can be the minster of the sacrament of Baptism, and the couple themselves are the ministers of the sacrament of Marriage. Then he says that all of the sacraments come from the pope, but actually none of the sacraments need a pope to be valid- of the remaining seven, Holy Orders and Confirmation require a bishop, and the Eucharist, Confession, and the Anointing of the Sick require a priest. It's traditional for the pope (who is also a bishop) to confirm the appointment of new bishops, but he's not essential to ordination. The Pastor then goes on to claim St. Augustine as being for his position on the irrelevancy of priestly ordination, claiming that the sacraments depend only on the words of Christ and not on the priest having valid Orders. St. Augustine did affirm that Christ was the minister in each of the sacraments. But St. Augustine certainly believed in the importance of valid ordination and apostolic succession, as shown by the entire Donatist controversy, which was about not only the validity of Baptism, but also Holy Orders.

I'm glad to see shows like this. There is so much ignorance all around. Further as a lifelong Lutheran of the Missouri synod, the feedback I'm seeing on these videos is that evangelicals and Baptist and fundamentalist view us as non-Christian, and are not well informed, and or speaking very broad terms with incorrect information about our doctrine and how it works. I would sincerely believe some of their minds can be changed with a thorough education on the matter. A good place to start is the book well known by Missouri synod founder CFW Walter law and gospel.

Man Austin, you always post some great questions

You should do the episcopal/Anglican church next that would be so interesting. There is so much diversity in beliefs among the members of the Anglican communion.

Keep up these ecumenical discussions. You are a breath of fresh air on KZfaq. 10 minute bible guy also did some great stuff. Actually his multi-part video with Pastor William Weedon was a great video on Lutherans (if I say so myself as a former Lutheran who still has many warm feelings for the Lutheran Church, but am gratefully Catholic).

I appreciate the dialogue. I love how you ask questions and do not correct or try to change his mind you just listen. I could, as I am sure others did, go through a litany of the things he misconstrued or got wrong. I do not agree with him basically everytime he says "Catholics believe" I do not know if this gentleman has a preconceived bias, the priest he talked to was not well formed, or he is just ignorant of church teaching. Fulton Sheene O.P.N🙏 would have a lot to say to him. I wonder why he needed Sola Fide in his church? Either way I hope he will eventually take a honest open view with out any preconceived ideas about this and look for truth. As I continue to pray for you as well, Austin. Another great interview. Thanks!

You are a very respectful young man, about religion. keep doing what you're doing

Hey, have you given any thought between hosting an exchange of ideas between differing Churches on your channel? Would be great for Catholic priests, Lutheran priests, and Orthodox priest have a talk with each other with you moderating the whole thing. Would take a lot of work but it would be paramount for us as Christians getting to learn about each other. As you can see from these comments having counter arguments to Pr. Bryan, there is much need for clarification on both sides and that would help all of us come to the truth.

Austin,please refer him the the video of Dr Brant Pitre,Jesus and the Jewish roots of the Eucharist

I'm so glad he makes it real to the lay person. You tube theologians, love it

Hello sir! My name is Logan and I'm sure this question will seem backwards from what you're used to seeing. I am a committed Eastern Orthodox Christian and I love the fact that you have recently spent a lot of time diving deep into Orthodoxy and Catholicism. I think your "a Protestant " videos about these two great Christian traditions have been helpful to many people. However, I've noticed that you don't have a lot of videos about liturgical protestant churches. I think visiting and offering your thoughts on what you experienced at an traditional Anglican and Confessional Lutheran church would be just as beneficial for people as your Catholic and Orthodox videos. Would you ever be interested in doing something along those lines? Thanks for all that you do and may God bless your work!

Reading a book that goes into depth on what led up to the reformation and how politics gets intertwined and how normal ppl views it decade by decade. I have a new measure of respect for Luther that he did not intend on creating the great split but actually wanted to work within the Church framework. The history of it all is really interesting, however I still don't agree or understand how it all leads to the protestant position.. it makes no sense and do not follow, however bad a certain pope was at the time or because the topic of indulgence. I really want to understand the leap/jump, so I will finish my book and def watch this and hope it gives me insight!

Very strange (?) Weird (?) Neat (?) Cool (?). I first discovered you from fellow Orthodox friends on Facebook. I used to be Lutheran and attended St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Austin where Pr. Wolfmueller is now the pastor. I still love that church and visited last year during Advent and met him. Very nice and knowledgeable. If there had been more Confessional Lutheran pastors (and laity), it might have taken me bit longer to become Orthodox. On a side note, you might be interested in a new book: "Thinking Orthodox" by Eugenia Scarves Constantinou. She taught New Testament at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and I think she has a KZfaq Channel too. You might want to interview her too.

I am catholic and I live overseas. I would like to know if evangelicals have tried to convert Lutherans to evangelicalism. If someone has experienced that.

As a former Lutheran I should find this interesting.

Looking forward to this!

I feel that the response to the book of James from Lutheranism is not particularly strong as James says, "you see that a man is justified by works" before saying "and not by faith alone". With that first section I don't think the response of faith worked out in love and charity works out... That being said, the works that James are speaking of are works of love. Now the Catholic church actually teaches that the works that justify us are not ours but Christ's through us. Without grace, and obedience to Christ, no works we perform have any merit whatsoever. In conversations with protestants I generally describe the Catholic position by faith+obedience because of the connotations attributed to the word "works". Thanks for another great video Austin!

Loved this. Have you reached out to any orthodox Methodists? Dr David Watson, Rev Keith Boyette?

A better, more descriptive name for Lutheranism is Evangelical Catholicism.

Have you watched the film The Overnighters? Mad respect for a lot of Lutherans...

Austin are you from Canada as well? Noticed the roots shirt!

In the Live chat, when I was concerned that monergism was a heresy in the early Church...I meant to say monothelitism, a related heresy specifically about the Person of Christ.

This will be a good video. I’m curious about the Lutheran view of Mary since Martin Luther held a very strong Marian devotion. I asked a Lutheran pastor about it and he said that Luther was a bad Lutheran in that regard, which seemed counterintuitive.

Stratospheric. Thanks for this wonderful dialogue.

It concerns me that the original mainstream Protestant churches have declined in numbers and influence as this points to further removal of Christianity from its original structure. I am worried that over a passage of time the Christian faith will gradually fly away from its original ideals.

I love watching your videos, but there is one that I think you have missed. Have you tried visiting an Ecumenical Catholic Church? And talking to the pastor? (I think that is what I would be if one were available in my area, but as it is I would have to travel several hours.)

Very late in commenting, long videos are difficult with young children, but I REALLY appreciate his acknowledging the nasty things that Luther said about the Catholics. I grew up Catholic in the Bible Belt and even as a child I had my faith attacked by mostly Evangelicals, including hearing celebrations after the death of Pope John Paul II died because it was the "death of the antichrist". In college when we where then assigned to read side by side Luther, Calvin, and St Francis de Sales "The Catholic Controversy" I had an extremely hard time separating out and distancing Luther's theological arguments from the general vitriol against the Catholic church. I found St Francis de Sales, and your approach so much more refreshing to approach the theological debate as terribly important but done with great charity.

I am EECMY Lutheran and i want know more about the Lutheran rosary ?

I have a question for Pastor Wolfmuller. You present a convincing case for Lutheranism, and as a Catholic, my issue is somewhat similar to yours. You have an issue with trusting in the teaching authority of the Magisterium based on the Papal office. I have an issue trusting in the authenticity of the accuracy of Luther's teaching based on just him. He makes reference to the fathers, but it is a far stretch for me to trust in the wisdom of one man's reading of the fathers above the series of councils, saints, other fathers of the church up to the Reformation. Brilliant as he was, he is one Augustine versus the whole series of others. It requires me to believe that after the Apostolic Fathers, or up to which ever period of Fathers you ascribe to, that the church erred and allowed error to creep in. Here I refer to error not the corruption of practices. Overt dependence on saints, devotions, etc. I find that hard to believe. I thank you for the wonderful sharing and this deeper understanding of Lutheranism, though I am curious too if your views are similar to the European and other Lutheran synods across the world. To what extent can I take your portrayal of Lutheranism to be how all Lutherans see their own position. I noted in the comments a particular disagreement on the perpetual virginity of our Blessed Mother.

Question : Luther was a priest. But Lutheranism does believe in priesthood. So..., Luther did not believe in the sacrament that he himself received??? Please correct me if the former statements are wrong.

Pastor Bryan is indeed a good man. But anytime I listen to him or other Lutherans pastors about theology I cannot get my head around. Everything is so confusing and not sure where they stand for nowadays. I have huge respect for them, but it's almost impossible to understand how a person be saved in their tradition... All good anyway. Thanks for sharing this video.

First time I've been early enough for a premier ahahaha

Well, I think the interpretation of the effect of the Lord’s Supper is still very different from the Catholic teachings. Let alone the preserving substance of bread and wine within the substantive Body and Blood of the Lord. The Catholic Church says it is no longer bread and wine in substance, but only in the accidental forms of appearance. That’s why, to make a dogmatic concise Latin term or expression (a dogma is a formal proclamation made to reduce the theological complexity of a revealed truth or set of truths) we don’t say they are “transformed”, since the accidental form does not change through the Mystery, but they are “transubstantiated”, since the change is in the substantive reality, not in the formal appearance. The Eastern Orthodox in general agree with it but do not appreciate the fact of it being made dogmatic by Catholics, so as to emphasize the mystical dimension of it. I refer to the “forgiving of sins” effect in the particular. The Words of Institution do not remove sins “per se”. Let me explain the Catholic Church’s 2000 years old teachings here. The Eucharist is the sacrament of the all-delivering love of Lord and, since it is the fullness of Christ’s presence in total communion with the People of God, it enforces the New Covenant reality of a definitive and perennial loving relationship between God and his elects. The purpose of Eucharist is not to remove sins, but to give the Pilgrim (or Militant) Church a foretaste of the Great Banquet in the Heavenly Jerusalem (Triumphant Church) and give the spiritual nourishment to the faithful in order to confer the sanctifying grace needed to perfect our faith and our capacity to love God and our neighbors. I know our protestant brothers abandoned the “sacramentality value” (varying degrees here, of course) and basically dropped the sanctification to pretty much a figure of language since Luther hamartiology hiperfocused on salvation and hipofocused on saintity ( _“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”_ , Matthew 5, 48; or _”You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy”_ , Leviticus 20, 26), even though some denominations still have a some sacraments, like the Lutherans themselves. Actually, if anyone with mortal sin eats the body and blood of the Lord, that not only means an unfruitful disposition to receive the Most Blessed Sacrament, but a grave sacrilege: _“So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord”_ (1 Corinthians 11, 27). This can only be explained by the real and substantive presence in those strict physical elements of the Sacred Body of Christ despite the preserved accidents, because no one can be condemned of vilipending boiled wheat or fermented grape juice on faith or say it was referring to that “part” of the sacrament and not the other. Not only this, but a serious consciousness in faith is demanded: _“Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without DISCERNING the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves”_ (1 Corinthians 11, 28-29). So faith is fundamentally in need here to recognize it. With that we agree with him: it is not a theatrical or symbolic act (Zwingli) or a spiritual anti-material presence (Calvin), connected to the depreciation he had on the material order, even though it is really the spiritual consecration from priests acting “in persona Christi” that changes the material substance to make Jesus’ words true, for the sacrament causes what it signifies. But it is the sacrament of reconciliation/ penitence/ confession that absolves from the mortal sins, not the sacrament of the Eucharist. Besides, in the Holy Mass the venial sins are forgiven in the formal prayers subsequent to the Penitential Act, in the beginning of it. Greetings from Brazil.

Just about every book in the new testament was a fight about doctrine ☺ YES! Thank you! 1:04

A couple points from a wavering Catholic (with some measure of philosophical/theological training): (1) The Catholic Church also proclaims that the reception of Communion forgives us our sins. Mortal sins, however, make us unworthy to participate in that fellowship with other believers and to participate sacramentally in the Communion. However, the Scriptural witness is not a mere "forgiveness" but that, without receiving Communion, one does not have "life within you." (2) Ex opere operato actually means the opposite of what he explained. It means that, while one will ultimately participate in the sacrifice by receiving the sacrament with less understanding or diminished devotion, one will not receive the full benefit of sacramental grace in all of its strength and vitality. (3) Properly speaking, the ministerial priesthood is not necessary for baptism or marriage, per se in Roman Catholicism. So, his notion there is inaccurate. Likewise, because Catholics distinguish between liceity (lawfulness) and validity, they also do not rely on the Pope for the validity and potency of their sacraments. Contrast that with the Eastern Orthodox view, which views that those not united to the Church lack grace and therefore cannot convey the effect or power of the sacraments to others, thus rather conflating liceity and validity. (4) The approach on the normative function of the Scriptures presents an interesting problem. If the Scripture is the only authority that regulates correct belief (sola scriptura), then what authority corrected the Church before the Scriptures were compiled and agreed upon? And considering that the Church up until Luther did not accept this sole normative function of the Scriptures, how could one accept as "useful" the forms that were specifically created in the context of such beliefs. Rather, we see in Luther an utter distaste for any kind of sacrificial concept of the Mass (or oblation), even though the liturgy developed and took shape in the context of believing that the Divine Liturgy was a sacrifice. (5) It strikes me that Luther's view of James and his preference for the "theological treatises" (that are actually pastoral treatises, but whatever) of Romans and Ephesians demonstrates how influenced he was by the Western scholarly theological tradition. However, it is problematic because it suggests that the testimony, as is found in James, of the Christian life is somehow distinct from our conception of God. James's letter is profoundly theological, precisely because, in showing what the Christian life looks life, he is showing us what God is like and how he saves us (as if those concepts could be separated).

You should host a friendly debate between Pr. Bryan Wolfmueller and a Catholic apologist

You should have a conversation with reformed presbyterians!

Very edifying. Thank you.

The main problem with the Misery Synod is that it's based in Missouri.

Should we negate Gods ability to immediately do anything

A couple questions and I’m humbly asking which isn’t easy to show in writing. So, if the mid evil church was what Luther was standing against and that’s gone according to the pastor, why bother staying outside protesting any longer? Are there still demands that haven’t been met? Is it the idea of a Pope and not wanting his authority? Why is sola scriptura held so highly when it can’t be found in the Bible? Does the Lutheran church have Eucharistic miracles? Now this is the mom of sons wondering out loud, I can’t help but wonder if Pr Bryan making the choice of denomination, vocation and marriage all at the same was a wise thing to do? I wonder if being Catholic was given a fare opportunity? God bless you both🙏🏻

So very fascinating! I had a difficult decision to leave my lutheran church in order to convert to the catholic church. That was mainly because the catholic church has more and more attracted me, not because I wanted to leave. But - the lutheran church here in Germany has in big areas ceased to be lutheran in the way I thought it should be and as pastor Wolfmueller described it. Whereas the catholic church (at least here) seems to have learned from the reformation and integrated it's best parts, has become more evangelical in the literal sense. Luther would be catholic today I think, being glad about the changes...

Austin, you are a very special young man. I hope you have a good job but maybe you can make a living doing this. God bless.

Don’t forget about the Anglicans (in the US we are the ACNA). The English Reformation paralleled the Continental Reformation and is the worlds 3rd largest Christian tradition with all of the Protestant theology with the fullness of the ancient liturgy.

Here is how LCMS differ from most Christians...they teach that their pastors speak for Jesus on earth and it is through the pastors that you are saved by God's grace. Their clergy hold the keys to heaven and are the way you are saved .

"We are all on our way and the Lord is using our conversations to bless us"... Meanwhile, 500 years after the reformation have bred thousands of different denominations all teaching different versions of the Truth... He who does not gather with me, scatters. - Lk 11:23

Wow! Where is the simplicity?

Is the Sons of God overcome the world then

Its "poured out for *many*..." Like he said, words matter.

Looking forward to this talk ! I would also be interested in a talk regards Anabaptists . The Bruderhof and hutterite communities are very interesting.

The national Swedish church is Lutheran. They are more than a bit liberal and shrinking fast.

MARTIN LUTHER ON THE VALUE OF SACRED SCRIPTURE “To my mind it (the book of the Apocalypse) bears upon it no marks of an apostolic or prophetic character… Everyone may form his own judgment of this book; as for myself, I feel an aversion to it, and to me this is sufficient reason for rejecting it.” (ref. ammtliche Werke, 63, pp. 169-170, ‘The Facts About Luther,’ O’Hare, TAN Books, 1987, p. 203). “The history of Jonah is so monstrous that it is absolutely incredible.” (ref. The Facts About Luther, O’Hare, TAN Books, 1987, p. 202). “…the epistle of St. James is an epistle full of straw, because it contains nothing evangelical.” (ref. ‘Preface to the New Testament,’ ed. Dillenberger, p. 19. - Cf. Also Jean Janssen, L’Allemagne et la Reforme. (Trans. E. Paris, Plon, 1887-1911). Vol II, Pg. 218).

He made a mistake, we have 7 sacraments, baptism anyone can do it and marriage is confected by the spouses

MARTIN LUTHER ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FREE-WILL “…with regard to God, and in all that bears on salvation or damnation, (man) has no ‘free-will’, but is a captive, prisoner and bondslave, either to the will of God, or to the will of Satan.” (ref. From the essay, ‘Bondage of the Will,’ ‘Martin Luther: Selections From His Writings, ed. by Dillenberger, Anchor Books, 1962 p. 190). “Man is like a horse. Does God leap into the saddle? The horse is obedient and accommodates itself to every movement of the rider and goes whither he wills it. Does God throw down the reins? Then Satan leaps upon the back of the animal, which bends, goes and submits to the spurs and caprices of its new rider… Therefore, necessity, not free will, is the controlling principle of our conduct. God is the author of what is evil as well as of what is good, and, as He bestows happiness on those who merit it not, so also does He damn others who deserve not their fate.” (ref. ‘De Servo Arbitrio’, 7, 113 seq., quoted by O’Hare, in ‘The Facts About Luther, TAN Books, 1987, pp. 266-267). “His (Judas) will was the work of God; God by His almighty power moved his will as He does all that is in this world.” (ref. De servo Arbitrio, against man’s free will). MARTIN LUTHER ON CHRISTIAN LIVING “Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides… No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day.” (ref. ‘Let Your Sins Be Strong, from ‘The Wittenberg Project;’ ‘The Wartburg Segment’, translated by Erika Flores, from Dr. Martin Luther’s Saemmtliche Schriften, Letter No. 99, 1 Aug. 1521. - Cf. Also Denifle’s Luther et Lutheranisme, Etude Faite d’apres les sources. Translation by J. Paquier (Paris, A. Picard, 1912-13), VOl. II, pg. 404)) “Do not ask anything of your conscience; and if it speaks, do not listen to it; if it insists, stifle it, amuse yourself; if necessary, commit some good big sin, in order to drive it away. Conscience is the voice of Satan, and it is necessary always to do just the contrary of what Satan wishes.” (ref. J. Dollinger, La Reforme et les resultants qu’elle a produits. (Trans. E. Perrot, Paris, Gaume, 1848-49), Vol III, pg. 248).

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Dear Mygoalwogel: It is The Roman Catholic Church that has been a good demonstration of doctrinal unity (No tampering with what is Scriptural or Un-Scriptural).

This host the one w/ glasses has such a smart timid sweet spirit.

With my eyes closed, he sounds very much like Fr Robert Barron. 😊

Coming from a Catholic background (but not currently Catholic), I have more respect for the more liturgical traditions of Protestantism like the Lutherans and Anglicans than I do for the American Evangelicals and such. From where I'm standing, it seems that Evangelicals have a problem with throwing away good Biblical practices and doctrines simply because of their association with Catholics. So they don't have a high view of the sacraments, and they distrust church history and classical apologetics/theology and they don't have doctrinal confessions and they know nothing about the Saints and Early Church Fathers. These things are good, but they're also something that Catholics engage in. Not just Catholics obviously, but Catholics do have these things. To me, doing away with them just because Catholics do them and we're trying to move away from that is silly. It's throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Instead of throwing away everything and starting over from scratch like they did, we should look at how the Church has always done things and the traditions handed down through the ages, then test them against Holy Scripture and prune the things that don't work while keeping the things that do, like the Lutherans, Anglicans, and, to some extent, the Reformed. We shouldn't be dogmatic about tradition like the Catholics and Orthodox as that's idolatry and leads to abuse. The classical Protestant middle position, I think, is best. As the saying goes, the solution to one extreme is very rarely the opposite extreme.

New Testament apocrypha? So we are ignoring the councils that established the Canon. So the claim that Lutherans were not saying something new is defeated here.

39:00

The foundation ? The corner stone is Who ?

Those that live by faith should a priest speak in tongues or do cytacism? Should the Pentecostal speak in words of wisdom/tongues and the catholic do Hail Marys

To learned and above mosts heads so how much value is words that convey nothing to others that want to learn

I became Lutheran

The Canon of scripture was declared centuries before Trent. I wish Austin would have challenged him on this

How old are you??

I beg to disagree, If every Christian is a theologian, well, we could have more david koresh and jim jones.

Do men make men men or God make a man a priest

Really sweet timid loving spirit this guy and smart