Thulcandrian

If the validity of Baptism depends on the quality of our faith, then we would all be in great trouble. As Christians we know our faith is not a constant "truth" like a mathematical formula. Two plus two will always equal four. But faith does not work that way. It often wavers, trembles, and doubts. Luther understood this himself. He even likened the fragility of faith to "butter in the sunshine." He often said that the devil is especially busy tempting people of faith because he knows such folk threaten his power as God's chief opponent on earth. So they are special targets of his attacks. As a consequence, faith needs an anchor, or something to which it can cling when it is under assault. And that anchor is Baptism, the most precious "jewel in body and soul." ~Mark D. Tranvik, "Infant Baptism and Saving Faith" in Luther's Large Catechism with Annotations and Contemporary Applications, 624.

obsessed with women mystics who felt drawn to the wounds of God and slept in the heart of Christ…..bataille said “no greater desire exists than a wounded person’s need for another wound”, but the greatest desire is that of a wounded person’s need for a wounded God

It may be true that the law cannot change the heart, but it can restrain the heartless. It may be true that the law can't make a man love me, but it can restrain him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important also. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

I love all my Christian brothers and sisters equally! The Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Evangelicals, nondenominationals, *checks smudged writing on my hand* the Jebediah Wintercoats... *squints* the Moomins....