Can Faithful Lutherans Disagree? | Adiaphora, Doctrine; Where Should the Lines Be Drawn?

What happens when faithful Christians disagree—and refuse to caricature one another?

In this episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Pastor David Bukes for an honest, brotherly conversation about some of the most sensitive and debated issues in the Lutheran Church—without turning it into a fight.

This is not a debate episode.
It’s a listening episode.

Together, they explore:
- Where disagreement is genuinely adiaphora—and where it isn’t
- How “liturgical pietism” and “it’s just contextual” can both miss the mark
- Why drawing lines too tightly or too loosely can damage unity
- The pastoral tension between hospitality and faithfulness, especially around the Lord’s Supper
- What faithful disagreement actually looks like when everyone shares the same confession
- Rather than trying to “win,” this conversation models something increasingly rare: theological conviction held with humility, charity, and love for the Church.

If you’ve ever felt skeptical of church conversations that seem polarized, dismissive, or reactionary—this episode is for you.

If you care about unity without compromise—this episode is for you.

If you believe the Church is strengthened by honest dialogue rooted in Christ—this episode is for you!

Our hope is not that you leave with every question answered, but that you leave encouraged to wrestle together, grounded in the gospel, for the sake of Christ’s Church.

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