About Homebrewed Theology

This is a blog about my ongoing personal studies of theology and the Church's doctrine as a Confessional Lutheran laymen. In using the term Homebrewed, I mean that I am an amateur, or an "armchair theologian" and not getting formal education in the subject. The other reason for the title, is simply because I homebrew beer (imagine that, a Lutheran who likes beer!).

I have a few primary motivations for keeping this blog.  The first is as a way to document what I am thinking and learning about, so that I will have consolidated notes for myself (i.e. this blog will act as my digital "common places").  In doing this I am attempting to "[speak] the truth in love and grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ" (Ephesians 4:15). The second is as a way to crowd source/peer review my work to make sure I am remaining in the truth. I don't pretend to know everything and am hoping that by keeping this blog there will be people out there who will "reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching" (2 Timothy 4:2), if I go astray anywhere. Lastly, I hope that someone may learn something that they didn't already know, through the Grace of God,  by reading what I have written, because "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching" (2 Timothy 3:16).

From www.oldlutheran.com

Now, just for fun, here are some beer-related quotes from Martin Luther:

“Beer is made by men, wine by God”

“[W]hat good wine and beer I have at home, and also [what] a pretty lady”

“[B]esides, the Word is the principal part of baptism. If in an emergency there’s no water at hand, it doesn't matter whether water or beer is used.”

“Whoever drinks beer, he is quick to sleep; whoever sleeps long, does not sin; whoever does not sin, enters Heaven! Thus, let us drink beer!” 

“God does not forbid you to drink, as do the Turks; he permits you to drink wine and beer: he does not make a law of it. But do not make a pig of yourself; remain a human being. If you are a human being, then keep your human self-control. Even though we do not have a command of God, we should nevertheless be ashamed that we are thus spit upon by other peoples. If you want to be a Christian, do not argue in this way: Nobody reproaches me, therefore God does not reproach me. So it has been from the time of Noah. And so it was with the Sodomites, who wanted to rape the angels; they were all so drunk they could not find the door. Sodom and Gomorrah perished because of a flood of drunkenness; this vice was punished. God does not tolerate such confusion and inordinate use of his creatures [i.e., food and drink].”