Thank you for this article. I apologize if I run a long winded comment. For me only been in the lutheran worship for four years. I'm enjoying the divine service, and never wanting to go to another service. I've learned alot and have been grateful for it. But the atmosphere for the debate of "real" lutheran verse "fake" Lutheran is exhausting. The constant bickering (usually one-sided) and by the ones calling out the 1517 crew, is what's driving folks away from LCMS. I personally only came to the lutheran circle for the weekly Lord’s Supper and received a cup running over of blessings. My best solution is to just pray. That all of us repent and forget the stupid categories. The repent thief on the cross wasn't worried about his progress bar in sanctification, he was already and not yet 100%sanctified. Christ doesn't work in half-truths, He works fully for the salvation of His lost children. That truth told to me every divine service is why I'm Lutheran; other titles be damned.