04 June 2005
Who You Calling Quia?
It better be me!
Any true Lutheran, whether he knows the term or not, is quia. No, not a sexual deviant, nor one possessed of an off-kilter personality.
Quia is the Latin word for "because." In theological lingo, it refers to the way in which we understand the Lutheran Confessions (Symbols) gathered in the Book of Concord (or Concordia). In other words, we believe these Ecumenical Creeds and Lutheran doctrinal statements because they fully agree with Holy Scripture. One who is quia may rightly be called a "Confessional Lutheran" because he without reservation believes that the Confessions are true.
"Queer" theology comes from the folks who take a quatenus approach: The word is Latin for "insofar as." Quatenus subscribers believe and follow the Lutheran Confessions only insofar as they consider the Confessions to agree with Scripture. Quatenus folk have a deviant, sub-Lutheran theology. They pick and choose what to believe and what to ignore, supposing themselves to be, if not brighter, at least more enlightened than Luther, Melanchthon, Chemnitz, et al. Indeed, in these grey and latter days, many don't even use Scripture as a norm: They believe and follow Scripture and Confessions only when these agree with human reason, common sense, sinful desire, or the spirit of the times.
Thus: Be straight, be quia. Cuz if you know squat, you won't do quatenus.
¶ 13:20 | 
Any true Lutheran, whether he knows the term or not, is quia. No, not a sexual deviant, nor one possessed of an off-kilter personality.
Quia is the Latin word for "because." In theological lingo, it refers to the way in which we understand the Lutheran Confessions (Symbols) gathered in the Book of Concord (or Concordia). In other words, we believe these Ecumenical Creeds and Lutheran doctrinal statements because they fully agree with Holy Scripture. One who is quia may rightly be called a "Confessional Lutheran" because he without reservation believes that the Confessions are true.
"Queer" theology comes from the folks who take a quatenus approach: The word is Latin for "insofar as." Quatenus subscribers believe and follow the Lutheran Confessions only insofar as they consider the Confessions to agree with Scripture. Quatenus folk have a deviant, sub-Lutheran theology. They pick and choose what to believe and what to ignore, supposing themselves to be, if not brighter, at least more enlightened than Luther, Melanchthon, Chemnitz, et al. Indeed, in these grey and latter days, many don't even use Scripture as a norm: They believe and follow Scripture and Confessions only when these agree with human reason, common sense, sinful desire, or the spirit of the times.
Thus: Be straight, be quia. Cuz if you know squat, you won't do quat
