In 1897, the pastor H.C. Schwan (who would become the third president of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) wrote about his experiences as preacher at an old preaching station, which would eventually be incorporated as a congregation. When the other pastors asked him to show them that congregation’s constitution, he said that he didn’t have a copy with him, but that he could recite it to them. He said: “Here is its heading: ‘Constitution and organization of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church at X.’ No. 1: In our congregation, God’s Word and Luther’s teaching shall rule as regards all spiritual matters. No. 2: In all other matters, we shall be ruled by love. Period” (At Home in the House of My Fathers. Edited by Matthew C. Harrison. [Lutheran Legacy, 2009], 565).

Bible Study Summary, 10/4/15

[We are using Pr. M att Richard‘s helpful study, “How Do We View Christianity?” which sums up two ways of looking at the various aspects of human beings, sin, free will, salvation, and more.]

Two weeks ago, we talked about the Sacraments, particularly the Lord’s Supper, and our communion practice. So this week, we read through the description of our communion practice on Faith’s website. You can read it here.

We are going to pick up p. 9 of the study guide this coming Sunday. Join us!

What We Have Heard

Continue reading →

Bible Study Summary, 9/20/15

[We are using Pr. M att Richard‘s helpful study, “How Do We View Christianity?” which sums up two ways of looking at the various aspects of human beings, sin, free will, salvation, and more.]

We continued our discussion on the Sacraments, on p. 8 of the study guide.

Our discussion revolved around the Lutheran (and formerly universal) practice of “closed Communion.” Some issues were raised about how our practice comes across: as though we are judging people, or considering them lesser Christians, or acting as if we could know someone’s heart.

We used an illustration from this book to ask the question: who, actually, is claiming to know another person’s heart? The pastor who speaks about fellowship in terms of where a person communes (and, hence, makes a public confession, even if the person does not understand the nature of that confession)? Or the person who claims that someone else is a “sincere Christian”?

I also made the point that the decision about who communes should not be made by the pastor. Then, the Church becomes fragmented according to each pastor’s practice, even in differing practice from pastor to pastor within a single congregation. Rather, outward, altar fellowship is the only firm basis for who communes where. Since neither the pastor–nor anyone else–can see a person’s heart, the decision is actually being made by the individual, based on where he or she communes currently.

We discussed a number of other questions of practice, but they are best discussed in person, within our congregation! So please come in two weeks (Pr. Winterstein will be gone at the LWML retreat this week), when we take up the discussion again.

The Way of Glory

Continue reading →

Help My Unbelief

Continue reading →

Bible Study Summary, 9/13/15

[We are using Pr. Matt Richard‘s helpful study, “How Do We View Christianity?” which sums up two ways of looking at the various aspects of human beings, sin, free will, salvation, and more.]

Today we discussed the Sacraments, starting on p. 8 of the study guide. We looked at Matthew 26:27-28; 1 Peter 3:20-22; and Acts 2:38-39, as well as Titus 3.

The question running through the different positions on the Sacraments is: which direction does the activity go between God and us? If we think of God above and us below, are the Sacraments my action up toward God, or are they God’s action in Christ down toward us? Are they my obedience and commitment toward God (the things I do in response to the salvation God has given me)? Or are they God’s saving action in Christ given to me in concrete ways? Are they powerless signs of something that happens apart from the Sacraments within me? Or are they powerful signs of Christ’s saving presence that come to me from outside myself?

The difference between these two positions is everything. If they are signs of my obedience and commitment, what if my obedience and commitment seems to flag and wane? Then the only place for me to turn is to an increased effort on my part to demonstrate my commitment and obedience. There is no Gospel that way; only despair. On the other hand, if the Sacraments are God’s action toward and for me, flowing from and based in Christ’s death and resurrection, then it is exactly to the promises contained in the Sacraments that I should turn. There I can know that I have a gracious God, because He has said it, and He continues to distribute His mercy–unlimited and eternal.

We talked briefly about how these questions highlight the fundamental differences between traditions in the Christian Church. This is not for the purpose of tearing down others, but of being honest about where those differences lie. If we can’t agree on where the disagreement is, we’re never going to agree on the substance of what is at stake.

Our discussion will continue next Sunday on whether unity is achieved or whether it is demonstrated by sharing the Lord’s Supper. We had great participation today, with numerous questions and comments, and we hope you will join us next week to share your contribution as we study God’s Word together.

Bible Study Summary, 9/6/15

[We are using Pr. Matt Richard‘s helpful study, “How Do We View Christianity?” which sums up two ways of looking at the various aspects of human beings, sin, free will, salvation, and more.]

Our discussion on Sunday revolved around where Justification (being right with God) is located (p. 7 in the study guide): is it something that happens individually, within each person? Is the primary meaning of justification my internal transformation: that justification is something that happens within my heart? Or is it something that happens outside me, in Christ, because of His death and resurrection? We might be tempted to go with the first option, since that seems to make it more personal. But our discussion of the location of our assurance of salvation made it clear that if justification happens inside us, then we are going to look for the assurance of our justification also within ourselves. But to look within for assurance is always uncertain and changing, since our emotions, circumstances, and experiences are always changing. In the midst of a changing world and changing circumstances, we needs a certain word and an unchanging promise–which can only be found outside us in Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. “On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”

Continue reading →