Like the apostle Paul I myself have reason for confidence in
the flesh. Born to Lutheran educators, baptized in my first month, memorized
the liturgy before I could read, confirmed by my thirteenth year, graduate of a
Lutheran grade school, high school, college, and seminary and served as a Lutheran
grade school teacher, youth director and pastor. I know we’re saved by grace
but surely a Lutheran pedigree like that counts for something? Of course it
does and in many ways it is the reason I am able to press on to take hold of
the Christ who took hold of me through the water of baptism and the faith of
parents and teachers. Paul considers confidence in the flesh as loss but clearly
values the heritage it represents as well as the brothers and sisters according
to the flesh for whom he would sacrifice his salvation. (Romans 9:3) So while
we place no confidence in our religious pedigree we are grateful for the
formation that does not happen without the family of faith.
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