Flame and the Lutheran Distinction

@kelsiklembara chats with acclaimed hip hop and rap artist, Flame, about why he has found a home in the doctrines and beliefs of Lutheranism. What is it about the solas, the sacraments, and other distinctly Lutheran beliefs that is both biblical and comforting for Christians today? And how can Lutherans do a better job at sharing these with those from other traditions?

Show Notes:

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[grettirasmundarson]

My brother, Flame, you are a blessing and a credit to Confessional Lutheranism. Thank you for your witness and work, putting the scriptural teaching into a new form of expression with your music.

[ane-elise.jc.]

I've been listening to Flame since my teens, but never thought I could learn and grasp so much theology from him 😮 That's absolutely awesome!

[dnhoop]

Thank you for posting this. I am on a similar journey from Southern Baptist to Lutheranism.

[uncleloof]

Its good to hear a newer Lutheran, a convert, if you will, talk about the Lutheran faith. Born and raised in an LCMS home (my father was an LCMS pastor) I take the faith for granted, almost. Thank you Flame for speaking and confessing Lutheranism.

[joshuaneace]

I grew up Baptist, spent some time in Presbyterian/Reformed and have spent time church and synagogue hopping and I was in the Lutheran Church before COVID and am coming back to Lutheranism.

[robertb]

This was a terrific conversation; great theology, on point, and conveyed in such a gentle manner. Thank you.

[tickmann]

I had the same emotional fear that the guest describes when I discovered Lutheran theology. I was raised Seventh Day Adventist then found the Calvary Chapel theology in my teens. I have been a confessional Lutheran for the last 26 years. God in His grace and mercy, brought my life in Christ to rest. He took me off the spiritual tread mill and gave me peace in Christ. My Baptist friends think I've gone astray..They abhor the Sacraments especially infant baptism. I recently read a good book on the distinctions.. Has American Christianity Failed by Bryan Wolfmueller.

[pamwehking]

Love his down-to-earth back and forth conversation. As one who grew up in LCMS I still grew a deeper understanding… I still struggle, looking for an answer as to why I lost my son. We all suffer losses… Condolences to FLAME, a young man I was introduced to and come to admire at 1517 2022. God’s blessings…

[IanErickson-zg]

I am an Orthodox Christian background. However, been studying Lutheranism specifically. I am very grateful how much similarity there is between the two.

[LawrenceAlgu]

❤Is sprinkling found in the bible as water baptism ?

[godovermoney]

I have noticed in the past couple of years Flame does not wear his wedding ring anymore. Is he still married? Does anyone know?

[Carina_Rose]

That was an interesting thought on infant baptism, on why some people dismiss it. Makes sense that people would try to hold back some of salvation as their work (sure God provided the faith, but I have the intellectual prowess to receive it) even if they’d never admit to thinking of it as their work.

[IanErickson-zg]

17:48 It is this type of thinking that causes Calvinism to appeal to or even cause a person's narcissism.

[shostycellist]

For me, coming from Calvinism, I was very taken with the Biblical idea of "objective" justification or "general" justification and its relation to baptism. God has justified all (Rom. 5) and this proclamation comes to me as an individual in baptism. Baptism is a visible, non-verbal absolution, or declaration "you are forgiven" and have been forgiven all along (therefore you cannot add to it), and I give you this visible absolution (visible word, visible promise) for you to rest in.

[RaimoSurvo]

Lutheranism at Holy Spirit can leave christian and then come back. And at the same time affirms kind of prodigal son paradigm where father is still the father of his son even if he leave. Well, of the Spirit which testifies that Father is our Abba can leave, how Father can still be father to the fellow who was trusting his baptism but know has rejected it. How the elect can reject the baptism where they where regenerated and then fall to hell. Are they elect? I don't understand how the momergism works If those whom the father gave to Christ can reject and go to hell. Also about the assurance. How you can be assured of your eternal salvation if your rejection power can overcome God's purpose?

[isaiahceasarbie]

Hello. I’m a member of the church of Christ. We do believe baptism is a work of God, rather than a work of man. Therefore, it is not opposed to justification by faith, but is the very expression of it. In Titus 3:5, for example, Paul places the “washing of regeneration” into the category of “mercy” in contradistinction to “deeds which we did in righteousness.” Thus, our disagreement with Luther is not so much with the purpose or nature of baptism, but with the mode that baptism is supposed to be administered. Luther defended infant baptism; we believe and practice the immersion of believers. People find this strange because those who practice immersion are typically Zwinglian in their understanding of baptism, while those with a sacramental persuasion are typically those who also believe in the propriety of infant baptism. But this stereotype and division is wrong, as the existence of baptistic sacramentalists like the churches of Christ show.

[solosaloon]

Ugh. Adolf Hitler was baptized as an infant. I’m so confused!