Mission Reboot

The correct response, then, to the collapse of the church culture is not to try to become better at doing church. This only feeds the problem and hastens the church’s decline through it disconnect fro the larger culture. The need is not for a methodological fix. The need is for a missional fix. The appropriate response to the emerging world is a rebooting of the mission, a radical obedience to an ancient command, a loss of self rather than self-preoccupation, concern about service and sacrifice rather than concern about style.  —Reggie McNeal, The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church, p. 18

Thank you (2nd Anniversary Recognition)

Thank you everyone who celebrated with me, Wendy, and the kids on our second anniversary together as pastor and people at Peace In Christ. The cakes were both delicious (yes, I had a slice of each!) and I sincerely appreciate the kind, encouraging words.

You really caught me by surprise! I had no idea anyone was planning anything, which is nice, because it means that things can happen without the pastor pushing them. And that is a good thing.

Since it has been two years since my installation, I spent some time today reviewing the rite of installation in the Lutheran Service Book Agenda.  I’m always interested in what jumps out at me from something I haven’t seen or read in a while. This can hold true for a particular Bible passage, that at a different time and place in life, the Spirit uses it to speak in a different way than the last time I encountered it, or perhaps even preached on it. It also holds true for these words that our district president, the Rev. Dr. Jon Diefenthaler, other pastors of the Southeastern District-LCMS, the members and guests, and I spoke in our sanctuary on June 22nd, 2008. With nearly every pew space occupied, the air conditioner on the fritz, and me sweating under the yoke of a new red stole gifted to me by my home congregation, I became your pastor.

Below is the rite of installation for your own reading and review. Feel free to post your own reflections using the “leave a comment” link.  And thank you for allowing me to minister to you these two years.

Installation of a Pastor

P: In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.

P: Beloved in the Lord, through the Church’s usual order, the Reverend [full name] has been called by the Lord of the Church to be pastor  of [name of place].

Stand

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

P: Let us pray.

O almighty God, by Your Son, our Savior, You have always given to Your Church on earth faithful shepherds to guide and feed Your flock. Therefore we pray, make all pastors diligent to preach Your holy Word and to administer Your means of grace, and grant Your people wisdom to follow in the way that leads to life eternal; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

Sit

P: Hear what Holy Scripture says concerning the institution of the Office of the Holy Ministry.

Assisting ministers read one or more selections of Holy Scripture from each of the following sections. They may conclude the reading by citing the biblical reference.

The Institution of the Office of the Holy Ministry

Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:18-20 NKJV)

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20:21-23 NKJV alt.)

The Responsibilities of the Office of the Holy Ministry

P: Hear what Holy Scripture says concerning the responsibilities of the Office of the Holy Ministry.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. (John 21:15-17)

[Jesus] said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:46-47 alt.)

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-25)

Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:14-16)

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. (1 Corinthians 4:1-2)

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God. (2 Corinthians 3:4-5)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:1-7)

[Our Lord] gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-12 NKJV)

Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28 NKJV)

Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Peter 5:2-4)

The Strength and Promise in the Office of the Holy Ministry

P: Hear what Holy Scripture says concerning the strength and promise God gives to those in the Office of the Holy Ministry.

[Jesus said:] “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. ”You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16)

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (2 Corinthians 10:17-18)

Continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17 NKJV)

The presiding minister addreses the pastor-elect:

P: Dear brother in Christ, the Lord grant that you receive and keep these words in your heart so that you may be strengthened and encouraged in your labors.

God gathers His Church by and around His Holy Gospel and thereby also grants it growth and increase according to His good pleasure. That this may be done, He has established the Office of the Holy Ministry into which you have been called by the Church and have been ordained and consecrated by prayer and the laying on of hands. It is fitting that you should again acknowledge the responsibilities of this holy office in which you are to serve as a [pastor / missionary / chaplain] of/at [this congregation / these congregations / country / institution.]

In the presence of this [congregation/assembly] and before our Lord God to whom you must give an account now and at the Last Day, I now ask you:

Do you acknowledge that the Lord has called you through His Church into the ministry of Word and Sacrament?

R: I do.

P: Do you believe and confess the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired Word of God and the only infallible rule of faith and practice?

R: Yes, I believe and confess the canonical Scriptures to be the inspired Word of God and the only infallible rule of faith and practice.

P: Do you believe and confess the three Ecumenical Creeds, namely the Apostles’, the Nicene, and the Athanasian Creeds, as faithful testimonies to the truth of the Holy Scriptures, and do you reject all the errors which they condemn?

R: Yes, I believe and confess the three Ecumenical Creeds because they are in accord with the Word of God. I also reject all the errors they condemn.

P: Do you confess the Unaltered Augsburg Confession to be a true exposition of Holy Scripture and a correct exhibition of the doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church? And do you confess that the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Small and Large Catechisms of Martin Luther, the Smalcald Articles, the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, and the Formula of Concord—as these are contained in the Book of Concord—are also in agreement with this one scriptural faith?

R: Yes, I make these Confessions my own because they are in accord with the Word of God.

P: Do you promise that you will perform the duties of your office in accordance with these Confessions, and that all your preaching and teaching and your administration of the Sacraments will be in conformity with Holy Scripture and with these Confessions?

R: Yes, I promise, with the help of God.

P: Will you faithfully instruct both young and old in the chief articles of Christian doctrine, will you forgive the sins of those who repent, and will you promise never to divulge the sins confessed to you? Will you minister faithfully to the sick and dying, and will you demonstrate to the Church a constant and ready ministry centered in the Gospel? Will you admonish and encourage the people to a lively confidence in Christ and in holy living?

R: Yes, I will, with the help of God.

P: Finally, will you honor and adorn the Office of the Holy Ministry with a holy life? Will you be diligent in the study of Holy Scripture and the Confessions? And will you be constant in prayer for those under your pastoral care?

R: I will, the Lord helping me through the power and grace of His Holy Spirit.

Installation of the Pastor of a Congregation

The presiding minister and the pastor-elect turn to face the congregation. The presiding minister says:

P: Beloved in the Lord, Holy Scripture says, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” Hebrews 13:17 NIV

P: You have heard the solemn promise of him called to be your pastor. Will you receive him, show him that love, honor, and obedience in the Lord that you owe to the shepherd and teacher placed over you by your Lord Jesus Christ, and will you support him by your gifts and pray for him always that in his labors he may retain a cheerful spirit and that his ministry among you may be abundantly blessed? If so, then answer: We will, with the help of God.

C: We will, with the help of God.

P: Will you honor and uphold your pastor as he serves Christ in all his God-pleasing responsibilities? Will you aid him as he cares for his family? Will you be diligent to “put the best construction on everything,” recognizing that “love covers a multitude of sins”? If so, then answer: We will, with the help of God.

C: We will, with the help of God.

P: The almighty and most merciful God strengthen and assist you always.

The presiding minister asks the pastor-elect:

P: Are you willing and ready to assume this public trust and responsibility?

R: I am.

P: [Full name of pastor-elect], I install you as (a) pastor of [name of congregation(s)], in the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.

P: Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in you that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.

C: Amen.

Stand

P: Let us pray.

Merciful God and Father, You have graciously promised that, through the preaching of the crucified Christ, those who believe in Him will be saved. By Your Holy Spirit grant grace to [name], whom You have given to be pastor of [this congregation / these congregations]. Grant him readiness and steadfastness in this ministry, patience, understanding, and great zeal. Support and strengthen him in Your service that by Your Word Your Church may be built and increased; through Your Son, our great High Priest, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C: Amen.

P: Almighty and most merciful God and Father, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You have established Your Church to be a temple and dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. We give thanks that You continue to provide shepherds to feed and serve Your flock in which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers. We humbly implore You ever to strengthen the labors of Your ministers, that through their ministry of Word and Sacrament Your people may increase in Your knowledge and service and grow up into Him who is the head, even Jesus Christ, to whom, with You and the Holy Spirit, be all glory now and forever.

C: Amen

The service continues with the PRAYER OF THE CHURCH, led by the newly installed.

The newly installed presides at the Service of the Sacrament.

Welcome vs Feeling at Home

Here is a link to an insightful post, Welcome vs. Feeling at Home, by Pastor Peters on his blog, Pastoral Meanderings.

He contrasts the experience of feeling welcome to feeling at home; the former should be offered to everyone who comes through a church’s door, while the latter takes time and learning.  If the excerpt below catches your interest, go on over to Pastor Peter’s blog to read the rest. Enjoy!

There are some who believe that in order for us to be welcoming, new folks must feel perfectly at home in Church.  There are those who would say that if someone off the street — who had never been in a Lutheran service before — walks in on Sunday morning, they should be as “at home” in the service as the folks who have been there for a long time.  Advocates of this run the gamut from those who practice extreme non-liturgical (contemporary) worship and those who do use the liturgy.  I do not believe welcome and feeling at home are the same.  In fact, I believe it is largely impossible to structure what you do on Sunday morning so that the stranger off the street feels entirely at home.  More than this, I think that if we do structure what happens during worship on Sunday morning so that the unchurched stranger feels at home, what you are doing will make it so that God is not at home in His own house.

And finally, if you have a comment, please share it on Pastor Peter’s blog, rather than on Edge of Discovery.  Thanks!

Operation Barnabas (LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces)The

At yesterday’s voters’ assembly, I shared with the congregation a brief overview and summary of the reserve military chaplaincy, and why I am asking the members of Peace In Christ to support extending our shared ministry to include the servicemen and women I would reach as an Air Force Reserve chaplain.

In summary:

• The ministry of a LCMS chaplain is distinctly Christian and Lutheran. Military chaplains are expected to minister according to the teachings of their denomination or faith group. For example, Baptist chaplains don’t baptize infants; Lutheran chaplains don’t commune those who deny the true presence; Jewish chaplains don’t preach about Jesus. While not all denominations are willing to set specific standards and expectations regarding theology, doctrine and practice, the LCMS has no such challenges. Chaplains endorsed by the LCMS minister distinctly as Lutheran pastors who just happen to be in-uniform. Accordingly, LCMS chaplains are among the most highly respected among all Christian denominations for our thorough education, high standards, and doctrinal certitude.
• The ministry of a pastor who is also a reserve military chaplain is an extension of the local congregation’s ministry. This is not subtraction; it’s addition. Applying the Christian principles of stewardship, mission, and extending the kingdom of God, the pastor-in-uniform extends the size and scope of the congregation’s mission to people that the congregation could not otherwise reach.
• Reserve military chaplaincy does not necessarily require regular Sunday absences. As an Air Force Reserve chaplain, I would be seeking attachment to an active duty base chapel. The base chaplain and I would work out a schedule that would be beneficial to the ministry on-base, that would also not interfere with the ongoing ministry at Peace In Christ. Time in-uniform and away from Peace In Christ would be equivalent to the “one weekend a month, two weeks in the summer” schedule of the Reserve and National Guard, though these days could be arranged as a Monday to Wednesday every month, or a Monday to Friday every other month. There is a great deal of flexibility in scheduling these days.
• In order to proceed with reappointment as a chaplain in the Air Force Reserve, Peace In Christ and I will need a signed agreement, specifying what will happen in the unlikely event of my deployment or being called into active duty. The agreement could specify a time frame for my call to Peace In Christ to remain in effect, a time at which the congregation would have the right to initiate a call process, and salary from the church for any duration of active duty. These details are all negotiable, and warrant further discussion.

Below is a video about Operation Barnabas, an effort by the LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces to mobilize congregations in service to our nation’s sons and daughters in uniform. And while there are numerous opportunities for the members of Peace In Christ to serve our military, for what it’s worth I can think of no better way than to offer them the service of a pastor, a few days every month.

Luther on the Law (Galatians 3:23)

I found this during my sermon study this week, reading Luther on Galatians 3:23

In this way the Law is like a stimulus that drives the hungry toward Christ, in order that He may fill them with His benefits. Therefore the proper function of the Law is to make us guilty, to humble us, to kill us, to lead us down to hell, and to take everything away from us, but all with the purpose that we may be justified, exalted, made alive, lifted up to heaven, and endowed with all things. Therefore it does not merely kill, but it kills for the sake of life. -LW, American Edition, Vol. 26, page 345

Spring Voters’ Meeting (6/20/10)

Tomorrow is Peace In Christ’s regular spring voters’ meeting.  The meeting will follow the Father’s Day Coffee, in the fellowship hall.  See you there!

Book of Concord FAQ

See below for a collection of frequently asked questions about the Lutheran Book of Concord, by Paul McCain from cyberbrethren.com.  Good stuff!

Title Page from 1580 Book of Concord

Soon, we will have the opportunity to celebrate the anniversary of the publication of Book of Concord on June 25, 1580, exactly 50 years after the presentation of the Augsburg Confession on June 25, 1530. Here is a resource that many people have found helpful, and I thought it might be a good idea to post this now, in case you want to share it with folks to honor the anniversary date.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Book of Concord

A poll was taken of over 2,000 Lutheran pastors, asking them to list the questions they most frequently are asked about the Lutheran Confessions as contained in the Book of Concord. The following are the questions pastors reported most commonly being asked.

What is the Book of Concord?
The Book of Concord is a book published in 1580 that contains the Lutheran Confessions.

What are the Lutheran Confessions?
The Lutheran Confessions are ten statements of faith that Lutherans use as official explanations and summaries of what they believe, teach, and confess. They remain to this day the definitive standard of what Lutheranism is.

What does Concord mean?
Concord means “harmony.” The word is derived from two Latin words and is translated literally as “with one heart.” 

What does confession mean?
When used in this context, confession means “to say what you believe.” The Lutheran Confessions are statements of faith that Lutherans use to say to the world, “This is what we believe, teach and confess. ” 

What is in the Book of Concord?
The Book of Concord contains the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed, the Augsburg Confession, the Apology [Defense] of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, the Small Catechism, the Large Catechism, and the Formula of Concord. 

What are the Ecumenical Creeds?
Creed is from the Latin word credere, which means “to believe.” The three creeds in the Book of Concord are the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed. They are described as “ecumenical,” meaning “universal,” because they are accepted by the majority of Christians worldwide as correct expressions of what God’s Word teaches. 

What is the Augsburg Confession and Apology of the Augsburg Confession?
In the year 1530, the Lutherans were required to present their confession of faith before the Holy Roman Emperor in Augsburg, Germany. The Augsburg Confession was publicly presented on June 25, 1530. The Apology of the Augsburg Confession was written to defend the Augsburg Confession. Apology means “defense” when used in this way. 

What are the Small and Large Catechisms?
Martin Luther wrote two handbooks in 1529 to help families and pastors teach the basics of the Christian faith. The Small Catechism and the Large Catechism are organized around six topics: the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, Holy Baptism, Confession, and the Sacrament of the Altar. The catechisms were so universally accepted that they were included as part of the Book of Concord in 1580. 

What are the Smalcald Articles and the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope?
Martin Luther wrote a set of doctrinal articles in 1537 for an alliance of Lutheran princes and territories, known as the Smalcaldic League. Luther’s articles were widely respected and were eventually included in the Book of Concord. At the same meeting that considered Luther’s articles, Philip Melanchthon was asked to expand on the subject of the Roman papacy and did so in his treatise, which was also later included in the Book of Concord. 

What is the Formula of Concord?
After Luther’s death in 1546, various controversies arose in the Lutheran Church in Germany. After much debate and struggle, the Formula of Concord was adopted in 1577 by over eight thousand princes, political rulers, theologians, and pastors, effectively ending the controversy. 

Who wrote the Book of Concord?
The ancient creeds in the Book of Concord were prepared by early church pastors and theologians. Philip Melanchthon, a layman, was a professor of Greek and theology at the University of Wittenberg. He was chiefly responsible for writing the Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, and the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope. Martin Luther wrote the Small and Large Catechisms and the Smalcald Articles. A group of Lutheran theologians prepared the Formula of Concord. They were Jacob Andreae, Martin Chemnitz, Nicholas Selnecker, David Chytraeus, Andrew Musculus, and Christopher Koerner. 

Since we have the Bible, why do we have the Book of Concord?
The Lutheran Confessions are a summary and explanation of the Bible. They are not placed over the Bible. They do not take the place of the Bible. The Book of Concord is how Lutherans are able to say, together, as a church, “This is what we believe. This is what we teach. This is what we confess.” The reason we have the Book of Concord is because of how highly we value correct teaching and preaching of God’s Word. 

A friend of mine says it is wrong to use creeds or confessions. How do I respond?
The Bible itself not only contains numerous confessions and statements of faith by believers, but it also urges us to confess the faith. If a confession is completely in accord with Scripture, we can hardly claim that the content of the confession is merely “man-made” (1 Corinthians 12:1-3). 

Are the Lutheran Confessions just for pastors and theologians?
No. They are for all people: pastors, theologians, and laypersons alike. They are important statements of faith. They are not necessarily easy to understand, but they are so important that everyone who is a Lutheran should be aware of what the Book of Concord is and should have a copy of the Lutheran Confessions. There is an edition of the Book of Concord prepared specifically for laypeople to read, filled with notes, annotations, illustrations, and many other useful materials to aid reading and understanding. It is titled Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions: A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord and is available from Concordia Publishing House. You may order a copy at http://cph.org/concordia or by calling 800-325-3040. 

What documents should a layperson read first in the Book of Concord?
The Small Catechism is called “The Layman’s Bible” by the Formula of Concord because it does such a good job of summarizing the most important teachings of the Bible. The Large Catechism would be the next document to read carefully. The Augsburg Confession is the primary Lutheran Confession and should be read by every layperson. The Smalcald Articles are lively, bold, and powerful and capture readers’ interest. The time and attention needed to read the longer documents in the Book of Concord are well worth the effort since they are filled with such powerfully comforting and instructive biblical truth. 

What is a confessional Lutheran?
A confessional Lutheran is a person who uses the documents contained in the Book of Concord to declare his faith to the world. The contents of the Book of Concord are cherished by such a person precisely because they are powerful means by which the correct teachings of Holy Scripture can be taught and shared with other people. The spirit of confessional Lutheranism is reflected well in the last words written in the Book of Concord: “In the sight of God and of all Christendom, we want to testify to those now living and those who will come after us. This declaration presented here about all the controverted articles mentioned and explained above-and no other-is our faith, doctrine, and confession. By God’s grace, with intrepid hearts, we are willing to appear before the judgment seat of Christ with this Confession and give an account of it (1 Peter 4:5). We will not speak or write anything contrary to this Confession, either publicly or privately. By the strength of God’s grace we intend to abide by it.” (FC SD XII 40). 

What is an “unconditional subscription” to the Confessions?
Confessional Lutheran pastors are required to “subscribe,” that is, to pledge their agreement unconditionally with the Lutheran Confessions precisely because they are a pure exposition of the Word of God. This is the way our pastors, and all laypeople who confess belief in the Small Catechism, are able with great joy and without reservation or qualification to say what it is that they believe to be the truth of God’s Word. 

Why is an unconditional subscription to the Lutheran Confessions so important?
Authentically Lutheran churches insist on a subscription to the Confessions because they agree with the Bible, not merely in so far as they agree with Scripture. Otherwise, there would be no objective way to make sure that there is faithful teaching and preaching of God’s Word. Everything would depend on each pastor’s private opinions, subjective interpretations, and personal feelings, rather than on objective truth as set forth in the Lutheran Confessions. 

Do all Lutheran churches have the same view of the Book of Concord?
No. Many Lutheran churches in the world today have been thoroughly influenced by the liberal theology that has taken over most so-called “mainline” Protestant denominations in North America and the large Protestant state churches in Europe, Scandinavia, and elsewhere. The foundation of much of modern theology is the view that the words of the Bible are not actually God’s words but merely human opinions and reflections of the personal feelings of those who wrote the words. Consequently, confessions that claim to be true explanations of God’s Word are now regarded more as historically conditioned human opinions, rather than as objective statements of truth. This would explain why some Lutheran churches enter into fellowship arrangements with non-Lutheran churches teaching things in direct conflict with the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. 

Do other churches have confessions like the Lutheran Church?
Yes, they do. Most other churches have confessions scattered throughout various books. The Book of Concord is unique among all churches in the world, since it gathers together the Lutheran Church’s most normative expressions of the Christian faith into a single book that has been used for nearly five hundred years as a fixed point of reference for the Lutheran Church. Other churches have various catechisms and confessions they can point to, but few have as complete a collection of confessions that has received as much widespread use and support, for so long a time, as the Lutheran Confessions contained in the Book of Concord of 1580. 

Summing things up…
To be a Lutheran is to be one who honors the Word of God. That Word makes it clear that it is God’s desire for His Church to be in agreement about doctrine and to be of one mind, living at peace with one another (1 Corinthians 1:10; 2 Corinthians 13:11). It is for that reason that we so treasure the precious confession of Christian truth that we have in the Book of Concord. For confessional Lutherans, there is no other collection of documents, statements, or books that so clearly, accurately, and comfortingly presents the truths of God’s Word and reveals the biblical Gospel as does our Book of Concord. Hand in hand with our commitment to pure teaching and confession of the faith is, and always must be, an equally strong commitment to reaching out boldly with the Gospel and speaking God’s truth to the world. That is what confession of the faith is all about, in the final analysis. Indeed, “Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, ‘I believed, and so I spoke,’ we also believe, and so we also speak” (2 Corinthians 4:13). This is what it means to be, and to remain, a genuine confessional Lutheran.

by
Rev. Paul T. McCain

Copyright (c) 2008. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to copy and use this FAQ for non-commercial purpose with the provision that the content of the FAQ not be changed and that it be reproduced in its entirety, with this copyright notice.

100,000 Loaves of Bread in Four Days!

Lutheran Mission Society - Caravan of Compassion

Exciting news! The Lutheran Mission Society’s “Caravan of Compassion” will distribute 100,000 loaves of bread at locations in the Central Maryland area in July. The free bread will be distributed on four consecutive Thursdays beginning July 1st. Various types of breads (rye, wheat, rolls, French bread, etc) will be loaded from a frozen foods warehouse on Wednesday afternoons, and we will hit the road on Thursday mornings in a caravan consisting of a tractor-trailor, International box truck and an extended van (all of the Mission Society’s vehicles!)

The caravan will make four one-hour stops each Thursday at participating churches and LMS Compassion Centers. At each location, over 5,000 loaves of bread will be distributed on a first come / first served basis—four loaves per recipient—by church volunteers and LMS staff. (Please see schedule and locations below.)

You can help by spreading the word through your network of contacts (other local churches, community organizations, agencies, etc). Please download and print or email the promotional materials that can be found to the right.  We need you to help make this outreach a success!

Thursday, July 1st

• 8:00 am –   9:00 am     St Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church
  339 S. Pulaski Street, Baltimore, MD 21223

• 10:00 am – 11:00 am     Emmanuel Lutheran Church
  929 Ingleside Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228

• 12:00 pm –   1:00 pm     The Lutheran Church of St. Andrew
  15300 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20905

• 2:00 pm –   3:00 pm     Holy Cross Lutheran Church
  6905 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770

Thursday, July 8th

• 8:00 am –   9:00 am     St Paul Lutheran Church
  31 Roscoe Rowe Blvd., Annapolis, MD 21401

• 10:00 am – 11:00 am     St Martin’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
  1120 Spa Road., Annapolis, MD 21403

• 12:00 pm –   1:00 pm     Immanuel Lutheran Church
  7215 Ocean Gateway (Rt. 50), Easton, MD 21601

• 2:00 pm –   3:00 pm     LMS Cambridge Compassion Center
  415 Race Street, Cambridge, MD 21613

Thursday, July 15th

• 8:00 am –   9:00 am     Resurrection Lutheran Church / LMS Offices
  601 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, MD 21225

• 10:00 am – 11:00 am     Immanuel Lutheran Church / LMS Compassion Center
  5701 Loch Raven Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21239

• 12:00 pm –   1:00 pm     Calvary Lutheran Church
  2625 E. Northern Pkwy, Baltimore, MD 21214

• 2:00 pm –   3:00 pm     LMS Havre de Grace Compassion Center
  531 Legion Drive, Havre de Grace, MD 21078

Thursday, July 22nd

• 8:00 am –   9:00 am     Amazing Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
  2424 McElderry Street, Baltimore, MD 21205

• 10:00 am – 11:00 am     Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church
  4815 Hamilton Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21206

• 12:00 pm –   1:00 pm     St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
  7834 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224

• 438 Eastern Blvd, Essex, MD 21221

Welcome to the SED

With calls and assignments from our various Concordia colleges and seminaries, the Southeastern District is receiving 5 vicars, 7 pastor candidates (including one for our neighboring Hagerstown), 1 director of Christian education and 1 DCE intern, and one deaconess. The following is reposted from the Southeastern District-LCMS website, se.lcms.org:

Welcome to our new Candidates, Deaconesses, DCEs, Interns, Vicars, and Teachers
We are glad to welcome many well-prepared new church workers into our midst.  It is an exciting moment for the worker as they learn where they will be serving and for our congregations who have engaged in a prayerful process as they seek God’s will in providing leaders for ministry.

At this time we have information that the following people have been assigned to congregations and ministries within the Southeastern District:

Vicars:
George Ruwisch, Martini Lutheran Church, Baltimore, MD
Robert Kieselowsky, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Alexandria, VA
Benjamin L. Loos Redeemer, Fredericksburg VA
James B Prothro Good Shpeherd, Roaonke VA
Thomas R. Roma, Concordia, Conover NC

Pastoral Candidates:
Robert H Dovenmuehle, Holy Trinity, Statesville NC
James A. Driskell, First St, John, York PA
Emil Y. Gretarsson, Concorida, Hagerstown MD
Brian Martin, St. John’s, Farmville VA
Kyle D. Mietzner, Grace, Greensboro NC
Blaise C. Sedney, St. Matthew, Bel Air MD
Danny Xiong, Ascension Hmong, Charlotte NC

DCE Interns:
Dan Huth to Eternal Shepherd, Seneca SC

DCE:
Rebekah Beal to Fountain of Life, Kernersville NC

Deaconess:
Anna Doeren to Lutheran Mission Society, Baltimore MD

A Poke at Traditional Worship

With all the challenges I’ve been sending at contemporary Christian music and worship this past week, I think it’s only fair that I include the occasional poke at traditional worship and its caricatures. The video below is known as “Mr. Bean Goes to Church,” and it’s a hoot. It takes place in Great Britain, though the culture inside the church and worship service should seem fairly familiar. After watching the video, take a moment to read my closing comments, and leave one of your own!

They say that humor always has at least a grain of truth. So, what was funny in this video, and what rang true about it for you? Leave a comment below.