Thursday, September 24, 2009

Open Bible Evangelical Lutheran Church



The Open Bible Evangelical Lutheran Church is under construction in The Villages between the Spanish Springs and Lake Sumter Landing downtowns.

It is part of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, a small, ultra-conservative Lutheran body that believes the Bible is the inerrant word of God and must be taken literally in all respects.

I find the architecture rather interesting and could not help but think if it was painted white it would resemble Casper the ghost.

14 comments:

Leif Hagen said...

A heavenly photo of a modern, beautiful church! Are you sure they are Wisconsin Synod and not ELCA?? Maybe they're Florida Synod, non?

Kcalpesh said...

I'm getting spiritually inclined with every church I see via various blogs! The structure looks really modern. Nice colors too! Thanks for sharing!

- Pixellicious Photos

VP said...

I think they realized that just in time to change the color! They may think conservative but have built a quite modern church.

Cezar and Léia said...

As you know, I'm always fascinated by church's architecture, this one is really different, modern and beautiful!
Léia :)

Lowell said...

@ Safe Leif...ah, you maybe should read the sign in the first photo...WELS? Or, perhaps Allison could read it to you. Heh. Heh.

Anonymous said...

As a member of the Wisconsin Synod, I can assure you that we don't believe we must take the Bible literally in all respects. Take, for instance, when Jesus says if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off. Last time I was in church, I didn't notice an overwhelming number of amputees.

Lowell said...

@ Anonymous - Mea culpa. I thought as I wrote that it was a bit strong. Nevertheless, is it not true that the WELS holds the Christian Bible to be the inspired and inerrant word of God?

Funny comment! No amputees, heh? I guess Jesus spoke analogically and metaphorically, also. But what, for example do you do with this one:

"Think not that I have come to abolish the law, or the prophets: I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them." (Matt. 5:17)

Or, this one:

"Do not think that I have come to send peace on earth: I have not come to send peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's foes will be those of his own household..." (Matt. 10:34ff)

Just wondering.

cieldequimper said...

Lol Jacob, Casper, really! It looks modern Spanish to me which is weird for Lutherans...

Anonymous said...

Jacob,
Yes, we do hold the Bible to be the inspired and inerrant word of God. Where the meaning is literal, we take it literally. Where it is alagorical or metaphorical, we take it that way.
Christ, through his perfect life, fulfilled the law in a way we sinful humans never could, thus eliminating the power of the law to condemn us.
What do we make of the angels singing "Peace on Earth" when Jesus was born, but Jesus himself saying he came not to send peace, but a sword? The peace the angels spoke of was that between God and humanity. Since because of Jesus perfect life and death our sins no longer condemn us, we have peace with God. That message is utter foolishness to unbelievers, so there will always be division between them and believers - even between members of the same household.

Unknown said...

Very cool architecture for a curch! I really like it!

Anonymous said...

Thanks to the Jacob and Lois Anne for posting pictures of our new church building and to all for their interesting comments. If you think the outside of the building is interesting, wait till you see the inside. We are planning a series of Open Houses for the public November 9-12. We are hoping the first service will be held at 9:30 a.m. on October 25. Check out our web site for more information about Open Bible Lutheran Church: www.openbiblelutheranchurch.com.

Lowell said...

@ Anonymous. Thank you for your comment. I just wish you had been willing to use your name. It seems a wee bit incongruous to promote your church and not use your name.

But it is beautiful.

R Dale said...

Pardon me for posting as Anonymous. I didn't understand how to enter my name until my son helped me.

Lowell said...

@ R Dale - Thanks. Makes sense. Sometimes it can be very confusing. Nice to know you!