Slice of Laodicea

Nearly 500 years after Dr. Martin Luther nailed up the 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church, followers who are known by his name are about to observe Reformation Day. Today I received a Reformation themed catalog from Concordia Publishing House that demonstrates with great clarity just why another Reformation is needed. I believe Luther would be lose his lunch, to put it bluntly, if he could see what his followers are doing in his name. Not only are they engaging in these things but they are doing so at a time of growing spiritual darkness when the light of the Gospel is desperately needed. So what is Concordia Publishing House doing? I’m not talking about the apostate ELCA with its she-male pastors and their lesbian “partners”. This is Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Missouri, and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, once the home to powerful preachers like Walter A. Maier and Oswald Hoffman. Concordia is selling the following in their full color catalog, and this is far from an exhaustive list.

Martin Luther bobbleheads
Luther’s Rose golf balls
Luther’s Rose necklaces (guaranteed to turn your neck green in one week or less…)
Luther’s Rose locket
Luther’s Rose pin
“Old Lutheran” sweatshirts
Here I Stand socks featuring Luther’s Rose
Luther’s Rose key chains
Luther’s Rose duffel bags
Luther’s Rose ties
Luther’s Rose (this is a quote) trinket boxes
Luther’s Rose baseball caps
Luther’s Rose coffee mugs
Luther’s Rose mobile
Martin Luther busts, bronze or white bisque

The remainder of the catalog is filled with bracelets, contemporary cross jewelry, crucifix necklaces in sterling silver or gold, cross-shaped wristwatches and bracelets featuring the fruits of the spirit. There’s the “Lord is my Light” candle stand, picture frames with religious slogans, wood carvings, pens and a stainless steal travel mug. There are angel figurines, cross candle holders, praying hand bookends and even a “Crown of Thorns” pendant you can wear. There’s a “disciple watch” you can wear and an NFL Football Bible cover. Best of all, there’s a “Fruit of the Spirit” manicure set. Teen girls will really go for the “Clever Sweatshirt journals” made to look like fur lined sweatshirts. Girls are encouraged to “write special thoughts” in these cute spiritual journals and the publisher assures us that “Scripture appears every few pages for contemplation.”

In all my years of collecting catalogs from Christian publishers, this one takes the cake. I have never seen more trashy religious paraphernalia in all my life. Concordia long ago ceased to be known for its deep theological works. Nobody appears to be able to read anymore. That’s why they are selling candle holders and manicure sets. Ask your average layperson about “Bondage of the Will” and they’ll think you’re into porn flicks. The meaty, mighty legacy of Dr. Martin Luther has been traded for Jesus junk jewelry and plastic bobbleheads. Luther’s great statement of faith before the Diet of Worms in Germany, “Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, God help me, Amen” is now a cute slogan for a pair of socks. God help us.

Ironically, at a time when some publishers claiming to be heirs of the Reformation are selling Fruit of the Spirit manicure sets, other publishers have not squandered the Reformation legacy. I just interviewed Steve Renkema from Reformation Heritage Books. This little publishing group is putting out spiritual meat, republishing the grand books of the past and introducing them to a new generation that is desperately in need of spiritual substance. The winds of postmodernism are blowing down institutions that have stood for centuries. Entire denominations have fallen after rejecting the authority of Scripture. I am broken hearted at the shameful hawking of junk that is being done in Jesus name by Concordia Publishing House. The leadership needs to repent and believe the Gospel. When they do, they will not try to make money by selling religious trinkets, just like the medieval Roman Catholic church. God give us another Luther in this hour.