Pastor Matthew Fenn, a former Jehovah's Witness and repentant Canadian, shares his remarkable journey from cultic beliefs to the Lutheran faith. In this episode, he discusses doctrinal contrasts, cultural shifts, and the profound impact of encountering the gospel of grace.

This episode of Lutheran Answers features Pastor Matthew Fenn, an AALC pastor and former Jehovah's Witness, sharing his story of theological transformation. Pastor Fenn discusses his upbringing within the Jehovah's Witness tradition, highlighting its unique doctrines such as denying the Trinity, rejecting the immortality of the soul, and advocating a works-based salvation. He explains how studying Scripture, particularly Philippians 3, led him to question Jehovah’s Witness teachings and ultimately embrace Lutheran theology.

Pastor Fenn also shares insights into the cultural differences between Canada and the U.S., reflecting on his move to Iowa and his experiences as a "repentant Canadian." The episode concludes with a discussion about law and gospel, the challenges of pastoral ministry, and the joys of living in grace-centered theology.

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Transcript

Remy: Foreign commences Pastor Matthew Finn. Welcome, sir, to Lutheran Answers.

Pr. Fenn: I'm on Lutheran Answers.

Remy: Oh, yes, unfortunately, you are. I know Jordan has probably warned you away from it.

Pr. Fenn: It's okay. We can, you know. Did I beat Jordan? He hasn't been on yet, has he?

Remy: No.

Pr. Fenn: Okay, good.

Remy: No, he won't return my calls or emails or anything.

Pr. Fenn: Thanks for having me. It's a pleasure to have to be on.

Remy: Yeah. So I posted a video with Gage Garlinghouse in which we talked about sacred hours.

The Lutheran Daily Office.

Pr. Fenn: Yes.

Remy: And immediately after that went up, your lawyers sent me a cease and desist, saying that unless I had you on to give you full credit for the book, I could not keep that episode up. So you are actually not Gage, you are the mastermind behind that book.

Pr. Fenn: I am the mastermind behind that book. That book exists because I was frustrated with all the other books that exist.

Remy: That's. I feel like the story behind most books, actually.

Pr. Fenn: In all fairness, though, I mean, the treasury of Daily Prayer is an excellent resource. The Brotherhood Prayer Book is also an excellent resource.

Oremus. Also very good resource. Those are the big three. But I have gripes with all of them.

Remy: Why is yours better?

Pr. Fenn: Because I made.

Remy: It works for me.

Pr. Fenn: No, ours is different. It's not intending to do the same thing. So the treasury of Daily Prayer gives you the lecture, the daily lecture that's in Lutheran service book that is not intended to be a lectionary for both matins and vespers every day. It's intending to give you an Old Testament lesson and a New Testament lesson, each of about 25 verses apiece to give you an overview. So it's not intending to try to cover the Old and New Testaments and the Psalms in. In a year....