Embedded

It is amazing how much scripture is embedded into common parlance. Case in point: Geraldo used the term "writing on the wall" last night. If you're not familiar with the story, it comes from Daniel 5 when God writes a warning on the wall to the king.
There are many more examples, especially from Proverbs. As an aside, "Spare the rod and spoil the child" is not an imperative, but rather an ellipsis. The elliptical words inserted would read thus: [if you] spare the rod and [then you will] spoil the child. Discipline debates notwithstanding, the phrase is well-known and well-used.
What if, just hypothetically thinking aloud, someone insisted that those who support freedom from religion be disallowed to use any scriptural idioms and phrases? It's just a thought.

Free Thinking

Since when has having a conservative perspective been considered closed-minded? I've heard it said to me, I've heard other people say they've been told it. It happened when I was in high-school and took the modest stance in a mock-debate on women being allowed to go topless as men can. (If only I had enough sense and rhetorical ability back then. . .)
Now it's even happening in the church. Liturgy is for stodgy old fogies who are backward thinking. Confessions and Christological preaching is for maintenance-only ministry. Pastors and wanna-be pastors and laymen and laywomen who hold to such are exclusivists. And I dare you to find a faculty of conservative teachers, Lutheran or otherwise. Few exist.
Maybe the problem is that we have considered the possibilities with an open mind and come to the conclusion that a liberal bent is not the way to go. We are asked in society to be free-thinkers and conclude that the values held by pro-choice, anti-family, anti-religion, large socialist government folks are correct. We are asked in church to think for ourselves and conclude that the social gospel with 7-11 music (7 words sung 11 times with a key change between the 10th and 11th time) and empty of Christ is proper worship and will make people flock to church. It is not unlike the commerical where the folks are staring at cars with a blank look and saying, "I have been told to desire a car. . ." Sorry. I will not fall for the identical-mindedness under the guise of free thought.