William M. Cwirla

Why Are Evangelicals Becoming Eastern Orthodox?

The Law & the Gospel in the Liturgy

The Two-Fold Word “The Word of God is living and active” (Heb 4:12), the “Spirit-ed,” exhalation out of the mouth of God, who breaths out his life-giving breath into lifeless clay and makes man a living being. Through the Word all things were created, and by the same Word all creation is sustained and preserved. […]

Divine Double-Talk and the Parable of the Good Samaritan

“The Lord kills, and He makes alive; He brings down to Sheol, and He raises up again” (1 Sam. 2:6). “I form light and create darkness, I make wealth and create woe, I am the Lord who does all these things” (Isa. 45:7). Sin and grace; death and life. Even the novice reader of the […]

Suffering, Death, and the Hidden God

Truly, you are a God who hides yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior” (Isa. 45:15). Where is God? Why didn’t he do something? Why do bad things happen to good people? These are the questions asked in the midst of suffering and death. For Lutherans, there are only two theological frameworks from which to […]

Why Are Evangelicals Becoming Eastern Orthodox?