A great soundbite from back in October on Issues Etc by Pastor Weedon on the importance of the Nicene Creed to the laity.

We have set the date for our partnership meeting for February 13, 2010 in Santiago, Dominican Republic.  This meeting is a time for all the partners involved in supporting the LCMS Dominican Republic Lutheran Mission to come together, hear updates on the mission,  coordinate activities and plan for the future.  We particularly enjoy having the Dominican partners attend the meetings.  Hopefully, Vicar Joseph and Vicar Willy will be able to drive from Santo Domingo that day to visit with us and attend the meeting.  And I always look forward to meeting with Diamela Pascasio from the Lutheran Boarding School in Palmar Arriba and the Genesis School in Santiago.  Trudy Bekker of International Child Care is also a great partner in the Dominican and so maybe we will have a chance to visit with her as well.  It is possible that we will be able to celebrate the confirmation of another group of people on Sunday, February 14th. 

The American partners of the project that are invited to attend this meeting are representatives from St. Michael Lutheran Church (Fort Meyers, FL), LCMS South Wisconsin District, Bethesda Lutheran Communities, LCMS World Mission and LCMS World Relief and Human Care.  Once the meetings are finished, at the end of the day, the best part happens…Rev. Ries makes us all charrusco!

Here is a picture of a great plate of churrasco that Pastor Walter made us the last time we were there.  This picture does not do it justice.  For those who know me, they will know that since I don’t like meat and I eat churrasco, this stuff must be really good! 

Here is a short video of Danelle cleaning up in the kitchen after the wonderful churrasco! You can see the typical kitchen the missionaries have in their home.

ELCA Lutheran leaders announce that a new Lutheran church body will be formed for those leaving the ELCA.

From their website,

Leaders of Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Renewal) have voted to begin work on a proposal for a new Lutheran church body for those who choose to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, they announced Wednesday, Nov. 18.

The votes by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in August to allow pastors to be in committed same-sex relationships have created a biblical and theological crisis throughout the ELCA and have generated conflict in local congregations. Many congregations and individuals are considering the possibility of leaving the ELCA or have chosen to redirect giving away from the national church.

The full statement is here. There’s already a pretty extensive support list. You can view it here.

This is my opinion. What will keep this conservative ELCA wing from joining with the LCMS or WELS? You’re not going to believe it, it differing views on the roles of women.

My cubicle is situated in a unique location. It is right at the intersection of three hallways, as if I am the defacto hall monitor. Since I have my back to the opening, I have a rear view mirror mounted on the shelf above my monitor. That lets me see who comes in through the door, and to occasionally peek at those who are having an extended conversation out in the hallway. I overhear a lot of things.

Sometimes, there is flirting going on. We have one person who makes the rounds, flirting with the eligible, and not so eligible, men nearby. Then there are the sales dudes who just have to stand at the doorway to the rest of the plant talking on their cell phone. A lot of what I hear is funny. Most is boring. Today, I heard something that was troubling.

To guys who go to a local church were discussing trouble they were having with hymnals in a contemporary worship service. They were complaining about all of the fumbling around they have to do between the hymnal and the bulletin, and how it is so unfair to have to put up with a hymnal just to please a bunch of old people. Their parting comment was the most troubling to me, however, when one exclaimed to the other, “Well, just wait 20 years until they all die off, and then they can just do away with that service”.

I could have ignored comments about the hymnals being old and the songs being boring. What bothered me, I guess, was the calloused attitude toward older saints. It’s as if they were being held back somehow by the elderly, unable to worship in they way that wanted. I have heard this same attitude expressed in evangelical churches, so it’s not really anything I haven’t heard before. It was just the way they were joking about someone who belongs to the same congregation that they do and wanting them to be dead. Wanting me to be dead. You see, I too like the Lutheran Hymnal.

The two “gentlemen” in question attend the same church that I do. I have seen them there before, many times, and have even greeted them in church. So I find it a little disturbing to hear that kind of thing come out of their mouths. I know that I should not be surprised since we are all sinners, and I know that I am not any less guilty for some of the things that I have said the very same day. But I am still bothered by it.

Maybe it’s because I witnessed someone close die not to long ago. Or maybe it’s because they hit a pet peeve of mine. I have long been saddened by the mindset so often evident in contemporary worship circles that says that anything old is bad, and anything new is automatically good. Rarely do any of these people take the time to read and understand the old hymns. They are deemed to be worthless simply because they are old. Just like the people who like to sing them I guess.

I fear that appreciation for the liturgy has gone the same route. Most who are critical of it simply do not take the time to understand the “why” of it. The same is true for our hymns. Tradition, whatever the form, is bad. Upbeat and light is good, no matter how vacuous. I guess that is why Joel Osteen sells books.

So, my experience is that this attitude is not really confined to the evangelical church, but is part and parcel to the contemporary model of worship. Making fun of old people is bad form at the least, but wishing they were dead and gone so you don’t have to fumble around with a hymnal is just plain callous and stupid.

Luther is teaching me that all of life is a life of repentance. Tonight, as I repent of my own callousness, I will be thinking of those two brothers and praying that God would work in their heart, and mine, and the heart of the church, to help us all appreciate our older saints and what they contribute to our life together in Christ.

Peace,
Doug

Changes are coming the the LCMS.  Though our challenges will not meet the national media attention that the “Extremely unLutheran Church in America” received this summer, there is a lot in store for the LCMS at our Synod Convention next July in Houston, Texas. Up for consideration will be the proposals of the “Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure & Governance.” Their final report is now available here.

“Without the doctrine of justification there can only be ignorance of God. Those who refuse to be justified by Christ are idolaters. They remain under the Law, sin, death, and the power of the devil. Everything they do is wrong.” – Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians

Last Sunday’s sermon topic was “It is Finished”, which are just about my three most favorite words in the Scriptures. Funny thing is, I seem to remember sermons longer now that I am in a Lutheran church. Evangelical sermons tend to be task oriented. You usually wind up with a list of things to do in order to be a better person. In the case of most Lutheran sermons I have heard, the Law / Gospel paradigm seems to keep them on message, and therefore has a more lasting impact on me. That’s my observation, your mileage may vary.

Another funny thing that happened was that I met up with a couple of old friends who are members of our new church. We attended the same church many years ago, and now find ourselves in Lutheranism. In fact, three of the people I started my awakened period with, who were once evangelical, are now Lutheran. I am calling the time when I became “born again” and had the experience my period of awakening. Still struggling a bit with where that time fits into the whole faith journey, but I am working on it.

I don’t remember much about our membership class other than the brief discussion I had with one of the Pastors about re-baptism afterward. I probably don’t remember much because all of the material so far has been very familiar to me. The question about re-baptism came up for me because I have been baptized twice. Once at age 6, and once at age 27. The most interesting thing he told me was about his experience working in a Baptist area where you were not considered a real Christian until you had been baptized three times. I never heard of that one before. So far, it looks like the first one was the good one and the second one was simply unnecessary.

As you can see from the quote above, I am still working through Luther’s commentary on Galatians and loving every minute of it. I am taking it slowly, savoring it like a nice t-bone steak. That book is really a great resource to understand the issue of justification by Christ alone, and why it is still important in our day. Countless churches have abandoned this critical doctrine, and most lay people don’t even know it. They are being led by people who actually believe in the merits of good works, and the ability of man to coöperate in his own salvation. Sad, but true. Go read Luther, and get your head screwed on straight. That’s my tip for today.

Looking forward to Church on Sunday, and so is my wife. We talked about that recently, and how good it feels to actually want to go to church again. What a blessing!

Peace, in Christ,
Doug

This is my new blog for my new book.  This will be a place to view excerpts from the book and to hear about how it is coming along!

I am about halfway done with the book.  The book is geared toward men and assisting them in making sense of God’s expectations for them.  The world is swirling with expectations for men.  Feminization has  threatened the church and threatens the roles men have as Christian husbands, fathers, friends, and servants of Jesus.  Men need clarity fast!

There are still things worth fighting for and I hope this book will lead men to reclaim their God-given purpose in the present and give all men confidence working toward the future.

Ideas for titles?

• Echoes from the Future
• More than a Memory
• Fading from the Future…Unless

Let me know what you think!

Sample from the opening to Chapter 1

His name was Ryan.  It was a beautiful spring day in Dallas, Texas.  A gentle breeze was making its way across that Lutheran school playground.  The game was kick-ball.  I was in fourth grade.  Ryan, well, he was in sixth grade.  I don’t remember all the details, but I never liked Ryan much and to be honest, I don’t know if he ever liked me, or for that matter, if he ever knew who I was.  This will be continued in a moment.

 Playgrounds

 Playgrounds are interesting places in a boy’s life.  This is the place, no matter the sport, where legends are made and bones are broken.  This is the place where a boy learns he will either sink or swim.  Actually, you don’t really learn to swim without first having experienced what it feels like to sink.  The brutality of young boys toward one another is a worldly phenomenon, I do believe.  Young boys learn about the survival of the fittest long before ever hearing of a fellow named Darwin.  All this being said, I firmly believe playgrounds are like front porches, the minute you take them away people change.

A small slice of Chapter 1 – Let me know your thoughts!

RELEASE DATE: July 2010

Please visit our friends at CPH.

Our church hosted a great event this weekend: Ongoing Ambassadors For Christ. If you’ve never worked with this evangelism group before, you’ve gotta try it. www.oafc.org This organization is all about helping youth and adults learn how to speak about their faith in ways that fit their personalities – either by song, puppets, drama, Bible Studies, personal testimonies, and neighborhood canvassing. There’s nothing like watching people grow in their faith towards God and fervant love towards one another in fellowship.

Today I am flying solo again, so I will be attending church and class without my wife. Last week’s class was canceled because the Pastor was ill, so we will be picking up where we left off the week before.

I have been using various resources during my personal devotional time from CPH, so I thought I would take a moment to mention them.

The Lutheran Book of Prayer has been very helpful, read at morning & evening. Some people have a negative image about written prayers. I used to, until I started to read them and pray them myself. A lot of what we read in the Psalms are prayers, and when we read or pray a written prayer, it’s really no different that saying “Amen” to the Pastor after he prays during the service. If you don’t use a resources like The Lutheran Book of Prayer, you are missing out on something that could be a huge blessing in your spiritual life.

Luther’s Small Catechism is another book that is very useful. It is too bad that all Christians don’t engage in some form of training using a Catechism. I think they would be better prepared to share their faith if they did. It is really nice to have basic Christian doctrine in such an easily accessible format.

To Live with Christ is the devotional book I am using along with my copy of Scripture. Bo Giertz’ devotional is probably one of the best I have seen, and helps me to keep the focus on Christ to start my day. If you get the opportunity, order a copy from the Concordia website at www.cph.org

Lastly, I am looking forward to communion today. Although I would prefer that my wife was home with me and we were going together, I am still thankful that we have the opportunity to partake in this fellowship more frequently than we did as evangelicals. That I have been led to a new understanding of what communion means, the more fully developed view that Lutheranism holds of the Lord’s Supper, and that I can share it in a church body that is faithful to God’s Word is something to be thankful for.

I appreciate Lutheran doctrine, especially when it comes to Communion. I didn’t think I would ever be there, but here I am. And while I do not know what will transpire during the worship service today, I do know that Christ will be at the center, where He belongs. Blessings to you and your family on this Lord’s Day.

Peace, In Christ,
Doug

This past Sunday I was flying solo. With my wife out-of-town, I find it difficult sometimes to want to be in church. It’s not that I don’t want to go, but I am lazy and can think of a hundred reasons not to get up and get going on time without her here. This Sunday, I made the effort and I am glad I did.

The service celebrated the Reformation. Our Pastor preached a very good Law / Gospel sermon, the music was appropriate, and the order of service had a good, liturgical feel to it. At least as much as they can muster in the “blended worship”.

As I sat there taking it all in, I thought about the criticisms leveled against Lutheran churches that have bought into the church growth culture, with their theater style seating, praise music, and big screens. And here I was, sitting in a theater style sanctuary, listening to and singing with the praise music as it was projected on the big screens. I thought about the small groups, the welcome center, and all of the other trappings that are similar to a large evangelical church. I was watching for the miscues, the creeping error, and the hidden pop-culture agenda to reveal itself.

It never happened. Instead, there was a lot of scripture, confession and absolution, the common faith proclaimed in the Apostles Creed, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ given for me. Christ was there, in all of His fullness. Not just as a spectator, but as prime participant. Not merely as a reference or a punch line, but as Saviour and Lord. He was not absent in the singing, but the focus of worship. He was the center of everything that went on in the context of our worship, and it was quite refreshing.

Put an evangelical church in the same setting and there is no telling what you would get. Probably a sermon series on the Song of Solomon, telling us how to have “Story Book Sex”, as one church I ran across online is doing. (I wonder, whose story, and who’s book are they talking about?) Or we might get 12 steps to get out of debt and stay out using Principles from Proverbs. Or maybe part 37 in a 52 week series on the geo-political implications of the Book of Daniel and The Revelation with respect to the current turmoil in the Middle East.

So I came to the conclusion that it’s not really about the style, the building, or the way in which we gather necessarily. Sunday’s lesson was that Christ can be the center of attention in a mega-church style setting IF the theology is there to put Him there. Without the proper theology, which Lutheranism has by the way, all of the style points are lost. It doesn’t matter if the service is liturgical, the church is old, the pews are straight, and the organ is beautiful and loud if the theology behind the worship (and the reason to gather) is bankrupt.

Today I am thankful that I rediscovered Lutheranism, with its robust theology, Christ centered and cross focused, and that it is alive and well here in the US. When you are without a church home, it is easy to become discouraged and think that you will never again find faith on the earth. And then you make a connection with a theology that is so old, it is new again. That filling of the bosom, that feeling of finding the true faith, once delivered to and for the saints, finds its voice in the worship that is Lutheran.

I extend a call those of you who are disaffected evangelicals to be brave enough to make contact with the theology of the Reformation, and find your way into a confessional Lutheran church this coming Sunday. Experience for yourself what true worship is like.

In Him,
Doug

I have read all kinds of advice about finding a church. There is a lot of it that centers around the programs that the church offers, the facilities, and the style of worship. Are those things important? Sure. Who want’s to belong to a church that they hate, right? It’s understandable that we would look at those thing, to make an evaluation about the over all feeling of friendliness, how welcoming the people are, and how much you are getting out of the sermons. But consider, for a moment, the following:

There are many criticisms that can be leveled at the Christian church today, within all denominations and all areas. She has often been unfaithful to the message entrusted to her. Sometimes she has been faithful, but has imprisoned the pure gospel in forms of expressions that once were fresh and vital, but have become obscure and difficult to understand. It is entirely correct, if one demands to have the gospel sound and pure, warm and evangelical, that formalism and smug complacency be challenged. But one must not demand that the Christian faith shall become anything else than a fellowship with the risen Christ in Word and sacrament. That faith is what it is, since the resurrected Lord remains the same to all eternity. – Bo Giertz, 1953

We get to the heart of the matter when we turn the focus back on to Christ and the Gospel. This is where I think we get off track in the church. Even for those who are not looking for a church home. No one, it seems, is willing to question why they are gathered, or what they are doing when they gather, with respect to Christ and the Gospel. We live within a famine of the Gospel, comfortable and complacent. Our focus is turned inward, on the self and what we can get out of the religious experience. But like a famine, we are not getting the food that we need. Instead, it is a diet of spiritual junk food.

It may be that famine of the Gospel that drove you out of your comfort zone in the first place. Perhaps you did not know why you were dissatisfied. You just were. And when you tried to explain it to people, they just looked at you like you were crazy. Once you get out on your own, the feelings of craziness don’t leave. They intensify.

So here is the advice for this week. Set aside all of your preferences for a while. Focus on Christ and the Gospel.

When you have something that needs to be done, quite often you have to push all of the distractions out of the way and focus on one or two things that are important in order to make any headway. The same is true in your search for a new church. The facilities and programs a particular church has to offer may all be things that obscure the Gospel. The music may obscure Christ. People may be really friendly, but their theology may be completely bankrupt of Christ and the Gospel.

That is why I went back to the Lutheran Church. I traveled back to the Reformation and discovered the theology that put Christ at the center. When I got the focus off of myself and my needs, and back onto Christ and the Gospel, the distractions about people and programs melted away. They became less important. Christ increased in importance, and I decreased.

That is not to say that the other things are not necessary. It’s just that they are not as important. They do not have the same level of emphasis. Lutheranism is a real, viable option for evangelicals who are seeking that missing “something” in their church home. And Lutherans have a unique opportunity to reach out to disaffected evangelicals by bringing them Christ and the Gospel in a way that will be new and true. Lutherans should be ready with an answer for the reason for the hope that is within them. They should be willing to welcome those refugees who have had enough of manufactured happiness, enough of politics mixed with faith, and enough of the famine of the Gospel.

I am thankful that I found the answers to the questions I was asking in Lutheranism. I found fellowship with the Risen Christ in Word & sacrament. I found Pastors who were able to articulate forgiveness and what it really means, to deliver the Word of God through the preaching of both law and Gospel, and to bring an end to the famine that I experienced in modern evangelicalism. I am thankful that I found Christ in the Lutheran Church.

Peace, in Him,
Doug

“The Stone of Help” – 1 Samuel 7:12

Then Samuel ‘took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen’ and called its name Ebenezer, for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.” 
1 Samuel 7:12 LSB 

We invite you to join with us . . .

• In closer fellowship with Christ
• In our fellowship of Worship, Sacrament, Love, Service
• In bringing your children to Christ in Baptism
• In keeping your children with Christ in Worship and Sunday School
• In training for larger opportunities to serve our Lord and our community
• In strengthening your family ties with the bond of Christ’s Love
• In building a stronger community
• In growing in the life of Prayer

We train to serve our community
Charged with the power of the Gospel, the power of God’s love, we aim to serve our community in many different ways.

Serving children is our specialty
We believe in a thorough Christian training for our children.  In addition to our Sunday School, one of our ministries is River Roads Lutheran School (Pre-K through 8th Grade) located next to the church.

Sadly, much of American Christianity is infatuated with the notion that, once I become a Christian, then God will order everything in my life such that I will be showered with material blessings galore–health, wealth, and prosperity of all kinds–even a hundredfold byond that which I give to the Lord.  The litany of charlatans posing as ‘pastors’ who proclaim such business is long and distinguished.  C.F.W. Walther, one of the founding fathers of American Lutheranism disagrees.  First he takes us to the words of Scripture…

So be careful how you live.  Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. (Eph 5.15-16, NLT)

Then Walther goes on to explain that this notion couldn’t be more untrue.

With the words in [Ephesians 5], Saint Paul warns all Christians that, in this life, they should never count on good, peaceful, and comfortable days, either for themselves or for their faith.  Instead, they should expect to exerience evil, dangerous, and woeful days.  Where Christ is, there is also the cross.  Therefore, as soon as a person has turned to Christ, he cannot think everything will go well with him as a child of God’s grace.  Rather, he must expect that the cross will now be his inseperable companion until his death. (God Grant It, 813)

His words are a far cry from those you’ll hear on any given Sunday around the country in some of America’s largest congregations and on TV; however, the words of Walther reflect the cruciform nature of the Christian life.  “Where Christ is, there is also the cross.”  Let these words of warning be also words of encouragement, for where the cross is, there is also the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.  Thanks be to God!

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
(1Co 10:16)

Sunday we reached a milestone in our journey of faith. That was the day that my wife and I knelt beside each other on the communion rail, and shared in the fellowship of communion, not only as husband and wife, but as brother & sister in Christ. It was a day that I have anticipated for a very long time, and a moment that I shall never forget. The joy of sharing the cup of Christ together, that being of one mind, is one of the greatest joys I have ever known. I can’t remember a time in worship that was so wonderful, and filled with such emotion. It was truly a blessing.

Mulling it over

One thought was on my mind during the previous week after finding out that she was ready to partake in the Lord’s Supper. That was how she came to this point simply by reflecting on God’s Word. I just gave her the passages to read and got out of the way. She has been reading the catechism too, but said that it was the Word that convicted her, and convinced her that Jesus should just be taken at His word. Refreshing. No arm twisting, no coercion, and no nagging was required. Just the simple scriptures and time to let God be God and do His work.

The Two Cups

Another thought that has been percolating in my mind has been centered around the exchange that took place because of Christ. I have been reading “Pierced for Our Transgressions”, by Jeffery, Ovey, and Sach in the mornings. In it, they talk about the cup of God’s wrath and how Jesus took that cup by His death on the cross in our place. It occurred to me that there might be an exchange pictured in the Lord’s Supper, where Jesus gives us the cup of blessing in exchange for His drinking, as it where, the cup of God’s wrath. That cup of Christ’ blood is truly a cup of blessing. Not only does He offer us life and salvation, but a tangible blessing as we are gathered together with His people in true unity.

And the unity that I experience with my patient wife through the Lord’s Supper serves to strengthen the bond that we already have, to build up our common faith, and to draw us closer together through the blood of Christ. How much more satisfying is the bond between a man & woman when it is rooted and grounded in a faith that is shared.

Blessings. Life & salvation. Reassurance. Strengthening faith. Confirming faith. Unity. All of these blessings come to us through Christ’ body & blood in the Supper. This was not the individualistic memorial that was so often demonstrated in evangelical styled communion. No, this was a family coming to a common table to eat and drink, to be fed by Christ, to be of one mind.

The Cup of wrath exchanged for the cup of Christ. Its as if Christ is saying, “Here. Take my cup, the New Covenant of My blood, given and shed for you. I have already taken the cup of God’s wrath. I have paid what you owe. You are forgiven.” Kneeling beside each other in a beautiful moment of unity. Lutheran style communion demonstrates a unity of the best kind. This wasn’t like the evangelical church, where we were unified because we were against something. We were not together because we were of the same political mind. We were not gathered around a cause or a battle against some kind of social evil.

Evangelical communion, in that sense, is individualism of the worst kind. And when you gather as the church around those ideals, you lose the blessing of being united in Christ by Christ in the Supper. Taking the Lord’s Supper under those circumstances is more like being audited by God. Time to check in, see who has been naughty or nice. It’s as if everyone is in their own little world, struggling, but afraid to admit it. Did you examine yourself? Are you really, really sure?

Real Freedom

There is freedom in Lutheranism that allows me to admit that I struggle with sin, to have a way to confess it openly, and to receive the forgiveness that I so desperately need. To receive Christ in the Supper while kneeling next to other sinners like me points us all outside of ourselves. He is not telling us to do more, try harder, or be better in that moment. Rather, it is pure Gospel being delivered to us, for us. For me. And now I have someone whom I love very deeply to share it with.

So if you are Lutheran, take the time to thank God that you have a way to share in the fellowship of the body & blood of Christ that is not individualistic or minimalistic. The next time you have the opportunity to partake of the blessings of Christ, thank Him for being able to rub shoulders with fellow sinners like you who need a Saviour. And be thankful that you have the opportunity to partake as often as you do, that it has not become law, but remains, now and forever, Gospel.

In Christ,
Doug

There are many reasons today for someone to become a ‘church shopper’. It could be that you have left your church for some doctrinal reason. Or it could be that you have been forced to leave because you spoke up about some error, or the direction your church was being taken by its leaders. Or perhaps, you have become frustrated with the Christ-less Christianity practiced in your church.

All of these are valid reasons for wanting to find a new church home. Some other reasons like personality conflicts, music preferences, political fights and the like, are not so good reasons. People who leave a church because their opinion was ignored when it came time to change the color of the carpeting clearly have no idea what being part of a church is supposed to be all about. If that describes you, then you probably need to grow up in your faith and learn that Christianity does not revolve around you.

But to those who are searching because of doctrine or errors in your current church, it is important now more than ever that your faith is grounded in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

I often liken the search for a new church home to a venture into the wild. I say this because the wild is not where we normally live. Instead, we leave our home, travel to places that are both familiar and strange, experience new things and people, and eventually settle into our destination. That is, I think, how it is supposed to work. We are not called to venture into the wild and stay there alone. Jesus went into the desert to pray, but He also came back to be with His disciples and continue the mission.

Likewise, we should go into the wilderness with the mindset that we are there to get ourselves re-centered on Christ. For a time, we let the hurts of the past go. We leave the shattered dreams of a church unspoiled on the forest floor. We empty ourselves of ourselves. We seek Christ, and find Him waiting there for us. We lay aside the weight of sin that so easily ensnares us. We confess our sins, we remember our Saviour, and we regain our strength. And then, we go back. 

We need to get back into a church, to rub shoulders with our fellow pilgrims, to bear one another’s burdens, to pray and worship together, and to do all of the “one-anothering” that God has prepared for us to do. That is where we belong, in fellowship with other believers and in communion with Christ.

So before you leave your church, bear in mind that there should be some time of preparation for you and your family. Take it from someone who has been there, who has been alone in the wilderness, and is now very close to finding that new church home. Take the time to get ready before you leave.

What to Pack 

Biblical literacy will be critical for you to take along on your journey. Like a compass, the Scriptures will be your guide, leading you to a church that not only says it is biblical, but actually is biblical. By knowing your Bible, you will be able to exercise discernment and compare what you hear with the Word of God.

It is important that you are not drawn in by a church’s youth program, by their music, or by their facilities. On this journey you are looking for Christ and Him crucified for you, and the church that offers that message to you on a regular basis will be the church that is best for your soul. Law & Gospel is the message that is biblical, and by being biblically literate you will be able to recognise it when you hear it, and more importantly, when you don’t.

Discernment is another necessary skill for you to possess. You must understand the times in which we live, since the popular culture has invaded the church and there are many church leaders who simply don’t have a problem with that. How much of a problem you will have with it is up to you. Just be aware that it is not likely that you will find any church, no matter how faithful they appear, that has not been influenced in some way by the church growth movement.

A travel guide will be of great assistance to you on your journey. There have been others who have gone down the road you are about to travel. A good sense of church history, knowledge of the historical confessions of the church, and knowing where your own theological history fits into the big picture will help you avoid errors common in the so-called “emergent church”.

The creeds and confessions of the Reformation are most valuable, and can act as that guide-book to help you avoid the pitfalls of pop-evangelicalism and the emergent church movement. Having detached themselves from the historic church, they claim special knowledge on how to ‘do church right’. While they can be attractive alternatives to explore, the theology that lies behind what they practice is a deadly poison.

These errors have been around for a long time, so take advantage of the people who have gone before and study to see how they responded to the very same heresies. The errors that are so common in our day are the reasons that the confessions and creeds were put together in the first place. Now is not the time to abandon them, but rather, it is the time to embrace them and let their expression of the faith delivered once for all to the saints be your guide.

How long to travel?

Your time in the wilderness, detached from your church home, depends on a lot of factors. You will not find perfect churches, but rather congregations of sinners. Don’t let perfection be the enemy of the faithful. Look instead for the church that presents Jesus Christ in His fullness, through Word and Sacrament, for you.

If you look for the prefect fit, I can guaranty that your journey will be long and painful. Knowing what you believe, and why, will help to shorten the trip. Having the mindset that this time in the wilderness is a journey and not a destination will most certainly help.

But the most important thing that I have found is to keep Christ front and center in your thinking. Keep looking and listening for Christ. When you see and hear Him, you will know that your journey is almost over.

A Final Word

Leaving a church is not easy. Neither is finding a new one to call home. I know that there are some who will ask, “Why bother at all?” You may be sick of the church, sick of the politics, sick of the worldliness, and sick of the people. I can relate.

The ‘why bother’ question is best answered by reminding ourselves that God did not call us to live this Christian life outside of a community, by ourselves, and alone. The New Testament, from The Acts of the Apostles to Revelation, like it or not, is the story of the church. It is the retelling of the first believers, what the believed, and how they functioned.

And it is the story of Jesus’ church, not ours. He promised to build it and to care for it. As children of God, those of us who have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ and are thus members of His body, which is the church.

If you have a problem with that, then this message isn’t for you. What we are really talking about is sin and repentance, grace and forgiveness, Christ and His church.

Humility is called for here. If you find yourself alone in the wilderness, you need to recognise your need and get back to Christ. Church avoidance is not the answer. Neither is continual church shopping.

Looking for Christ and Him crucified, delivered to you and for you on a continual basis, is where you will find peace and rest for your soul. May you have a blessed Lord’s day, in the church of His choice.

Peace,
Doug

By now its been covered pretty well in the media that the Vatican has decided to allow disenfranchised Anglicans from all over the Anglican Communion to move into worldwide full communion with the Roman Catholic church.  This will make it very easy for those frustrated with the Anglican church to convert and retain distinctive elements of the Anglican church such as their liturgy and even some of their church structure like their own priests and bishops.  Apparently even married priests will be allowed to continue shepherding their parishes if the congregation as a whole switches over to Rome.  The Vatican says this is in response to continued requests and pleading from Anglican refugees to be allowed into communion with the Catholic Church.  At any rate it appears this is a smart move for the Papacy, to welcome into fellowship conservative Anglicans from all over the world from a church body caught at a crossroads.

I could be wrong, but I don’t believe this new agreement allows Anglicans to retain their own theology and doctrine, especially that which differs from Roman Catholic teaching.  However, Anglican theology and doctrine was never really nailed down to begin with since their split from Rome during the Reformation and Henry VIII’s rule.  So an Anglican identity is a difficult to define to begin with, and thus makes a swim across the Tiber easier if the interested individual(s) parties don’t have a great deal of deeply rooted doctrine and theology to cling to from their old tradition.  They do have the 39 Articles of Religion, but other than that they lack confessional documents outlining the Anglican faith.

I don’t have a dog in this fight, but the question has been asked around the Lutheran blogosphere, “Are we next?”  It isn’t that far fetched a possibility, with the current turmoil in the ELCA especially, and other Lutheran church bodies at a crossroads of their own, the Vatican could make a similar offer to disgruntled Lutherans.  The Vatican and the Lutheran World Federation did try to come up with that Joint Declaration on Justification.  Lutheran clergy and laity have gone to Rome and have gone East.  Unlike the Anglicans though, Lutherans have a set confessions set down in the Book of Concord, saying, “This is the Christian faith laid down in Scripture.”  Seeing that Reformation Day is right around the corner on Halloween, it’s certainly timely to consider such things and ask why one is a Lutheran, or an Anglican or other Protestant for that matter.  The doctrine of Justification, hinging on God granted faith alone through Christ’s work on the cross alone, is still the great dividing line between the confessional Lutheran churches and the Catholic churches.  Though the Roman Catholic church does teach that a sinner is justified by faith they disagree with that pesky word “alone.”  Like it or not that difference is there, it still remains after almost 500 years.  Until that is resolved, until the Pope says the Augsburg Confession, is alright by him, I am sorry my Catholic brothers and sisters, I’m staying on the Wittenberg Trail.

“There are three ways in which the Law may be abused. First, by the self righteous hypocrites who fancy that they can be justified by the Law. Secondly, by those who claim that Christian liberty exempts a Christian from the observance of the Law. “These”, says Peter, “use their liberty for a cloak of maliciousness,” and bring the name and the Gospel of Christ into ill repute. Thirdly, the Law is abused by those who do not understand that the Law is meant to drive us to Christ. When the Law is properly used its value cannot be too highly appraised. It will take me to Christ every time.” – Commentary on Galatians – Martin Luther

I see several people in my mind’s eye when I read this. First, I see myself, as I have been guilty of abusing the Law in all three ways. I see my old ‘evangelicalism’ as I sought to be justified by keeping the Law. I see my old ‘antinomianism’ as I lived a Lawless life. And I see the old man railing against God, before I knew that they purpose of the Law was to be that tutor, driving me to Christ.

An encounter with an evangelical friend yesterday lead me to understand, once again, that it is not just Lutherans who take the Lord’s name in vain, who live as practical atheists, who curse and swear, who live as the world lives.

I see the cult of radical obedience in those who seek to be justified by the Law. If we open our eyes we will see this abuse of the Law in every walk of life. It is because we are sinners in need of a Saviour that we see the abuse of God’s Law as described by Luther, and that need does not diminish when we become awakened to Christ. In fact, the need is in higher relief, in stark contrast, and more prominent and pronounced now that we know the truth about Christ and about ourselves.

Thanks be to God that along side of the Law, there is His Gospel, the message of forgiveness won for me at the cross and the empty tomb by Jesus Christ.

May the Law be a tutor to drive me to Christ on this day and every day. Peace in Jesus,
Doug

I’m gonna take some time here to plug the best Christian radio station in existence right now, running on the web.  It’s a tremendous resource for the thinking Christian and anyone else that wants to connect with the historic Church.  That would be Chris Rosebrough’s Pirate Christian Radio internet radio station.

Now PCR is primarily dominated by confessional LCMS Lutherans but more programs keep getting added to the lineup, like Michael Spencer, the famed Internet Monk as he journeys on to the American evangelical wilderness and Two Words, a program done by conservative Anglicans/Episcopalians.  The centerpiece program, Issues Etc., is quite possibly the best Christian talk radio program in existence.  Theology, history, and doctrine all from a traditional Lutheran point of view.

This isn’t the same sort Christian radio that you’ll find panning through the lower reaches of your FM dial in your car.  This is weighty, theologically heavy, doctrinally meaty, Biblically anchored programming that hits on a range of issues with a variety of guests.   You won’t hear praise music, but you’ll probably hear some hymns from time to time, especially if you listen to Time Out.

For all intents and purposes I used to be evangelically minded on certain topics and issues and this radio station reintroduced and reconnected me with historic Biblical Christianity.   I owe quite a bit to this internet radio station.  It was programs like the The God Whisperers, Table Talk Radio, and Radical Grace that showed me what being a Christian was and brought me to my knees in repentance of the modern evangelicalism I had swallowed.  The beautiful, freeing simplicity Gospel that told me that I don’t have to do battle on every hill in the culture war, that many of these issues are confusing, as Luther called it, the Two Kingdoms.

I urge you to have a listen, and if you like what you hear consider donating because Issues Etc. is, and PCR itself soon, will be funded by the listeners be as well.

This weeks membership class was centered around who Jesus is and what makes Him special. The group was split up into two smaller groups, and we were led through a bible study, looking up and reading verses and answering questions. That is one major difference between this Lutheran church and other churches we have attended in our search. They are very bible oriented here. That is a good thing.

After the bible study, the pastor gave a presentation on sin, salvation, Jesus, and the resurrection. It was pretty good, albeit a little on the evangelical side. He brought up decision theology as one of the differences between Lutheranism and other brands of Christianity, which surprised me a little. Actually, I was more surprised that he used a word like “theology”, since everything these days seems to get dumbed down. I was glad he did, and see him as being more theology minded that my first impression led me to believe.

Judy, my patient wife, said that she really enjoyed the class. I was happy to hear that. She has been making progress on her own using Luther’s Small Catechism and has been studying the section on The Lord’s Supper. We had an interesting discussion on that topic the other day, and I can see her reasoning through the Scriptures. This class on Sunday assigns homework (gasp) using the Catechism as well. It is a great tool that I have integrated into my own devotional time, along with the Lutheran Book of Prayer. Lutherans have a lot of great resources that evangelicals lack, and they help to bring a certain continuity to learning doctrine and help in studying the Word of God. Anyone who thinks that Lutheranism is not biblical is simply misinformed.

All in all, it was a good day today. I hope your Lord’s day was a blessing to you as well.

Peace, in Christ,
Doug

We are officially past the half way point.  We’ve been informed that evidently we’ve been going at around 35 mph up until this point. Now, we are going to speed up to 75 mph and maintain it until the end. Dr. Gibbs was at a Pastor Conference. So we had Dr. Lewis instructing us for the day. I think many of us had forgotten how different instructors potentially can be in regards to how they approach their classes. This may have come at the right time to prepare us for post Greek. Post Fundamental Greek Grammar means Fundamental Hebrew is next up along with Greek Readings.  Dr. Gibbs wasn’t kidding as things really did speed up this week.  Funny thing is the material presented this week didn’t faze me, but actually solidified most of the material leading up to this point. So, this was a good week for me learning and putting all the pieces together. While my test aren’t exactly demonstrating that which is really bringing me down, I actually get the how to read and parse.

I officially attended my first Student Association meeting on Wednesday. Funny, how I’m up every morning early to review before class, but my body knows class isn’t until noon on Wednesdays. So, scheduling a Student Association meeting for 7:30 on a sleep in day makes for an unhappy body. Needless to say I learned a lot from the meeting and how things work from that side of campus.  I look forward to helping out and given feedback that represents our first years feelings. BTW, Dr. Meyer has somehow figured out how to be hilarious and scary at the same time. I don’t think anyone notices it, but the students.

Oktoberfest was last night and even though it was cold outside, there was a huge turnout.  We even had some folks dressing the part of Oktoberfest. Oddly, enough I didn’t know any of the songs. Then again what do you expect from a guy who grew up in the city who is like 1/8 German. LOL  Quite the experience and like all things here at seminary, I’m better person for experiencing it.  Afterwards, we had some of my classmates over with their wives. Which brings to mind a few things…

We don’t know how to talk about anything, but Greek, the future of the church, doctrine, and theology.  Our wives get annoyed with us when we do the aforementioned in their presence. We can speak quite loudly during these discussions even when we are agreeing with each other. Finally, that our wives are truly patient, loving, understanding, and beautiful women.  Thank goodness we married them before they knew what they knew better. LOL

Almost forgot, I finally met Rev. Poulson in person yesterday and we talked for a bit.  Nice putting a face with emails. He also told me when he was going through his formation he had to take Greek and Hebrew at the same time. I believe he attended the seminary in St. Catherines. That in revelation may cause me to never complain about Greek again. Literally.

As usually here is the material covered this week in Greek:

Chapter 20: Focus upon Connection/”Present” Tense Participles

Chapter 21: Focus on the Action/”Aorist” Active and Middle Participles

Chapter 22: Genitive Absolute, and Focus on the Action/”Aorist” Passive Participles

Chapter 23: Miscellanea 2

Sometimes when times get tough. We look back on something that was said to us or we experienced. For myself and my family it could be any number of things.  The afternoon after our last service at CTGS before departing for Saint Louis, MO., I recieved a wall message from a fellow elder and at the time Vice Chairman of the congreation. It brought myself and Linda to tears as we drove to Bloomington, IN to drop the kids off so we could focus on finishing packing.

Since this is my blog and at times I need to refer back to wise friends. This isn’t to boast, but to encourage one another. This time it was me needing the encouragement. At times our logic allows doubt to creep in and with that doubt the Devil takes hold.  Once the Devil has a foot in the door let the spiritual warfare begin. What am I saying, the Devil has never needed us to open the door to tempt and use our doubt against us.  Nevertheless, first turn to the bible and prayer. Also along those lines it doesn’t hurt to hear kind words from friends and family. To the Kreis family know that you continue to be on our minds and hearts.  Your words still hit home as much today as the day I read them the first time.

“The Potluck

Us being Lutheran and all, we are all very familiar with the church potluck dinner.  You know how everybody brings something different and there is always plenty to go around.  Well, some folks don’t really put much much effort into it and just pick up something on the way and throw it on the long table of food.  Others bring the same tried and true dish everytime.  Then there are the people who stand out.  They bring something unique and special with each opportunity, and everybody that gets a taste of it wants the recipe.  As people we all fall into those categories as well.  You and your family are definitely that special dish.  You bring something to the table that everybody wants to have for themselves.  You have added so much to so many lives, more than you will ever know I am sure.  Fortunately, you are so willing to share your recipes.  I feel that me and my family are better for knowing you and yours.  You will be missed brother.
God Bless,
The Kreis Family”

I thought the writing for yesterday in that great resource, The Treasury of Daily Prayer, was a great complement with my entries on private confession.

“False doctrine of the Reformed and other sects: That a preacher does not have power to forgive sins in the place of God but should only proclaim the forgiveness of sins in general.  Against this the Lutheran Church teaches according to God’s Word (John 20:32; 2 Corinthians 2:10; 2 Samuel 12:13; Matthew 3:6; 18:17-20): The preacher can and should, at Christ’s command and in Christ’s place, forgive the sins of him who desires this forgiveness, and the Christian should consider that “his sins are thereby forgiven before God in heaven.”  For the Absolution is “not the voice of the man who is present, but the Word of God who here forgives the sin.”  It is chiefly for the sake of this comforting Absolution that we Lutherans retain private confession, in exchange for which Luther would not accept a thousand worlds. ” – Francis Pieper

This past Sunday was the 4th membership class at our church. The last two weeks we have split up into 2 groups for a short bible study on the person and work of Jesus Christ, and then combined again for the lesson led by the senior Pastor. Our topic was the nature of God.

We talked about the Trinity, a word not found in Scripture. I didn’t really care for the illustration used to convey the concept, that of the three forms of water. I have always felt that this was misleading, and could cause some to think that God simply appears in three different forms, like the ancient heresy modalism which I believe is represented in the novel, “The Shack”. For a good book on the subject, see “The Forgotten Trinity” by Dr. James White.

Once we got past that, there was a presentation on the various roles that each person of the Godhead plays. The Pastor spent quite a bit of time on creation vs. evolution, which I appreciated. The class is going well, and there are plenty of opportunities to participate if you want to. The Pastor also talked about decision theology, and gave my wife a handout that he had prepared on the subject. She is working her way through the doctrine of Baptism, and said that she gets to the place where it all makes sense, and then it kind of “blows up” on her. I can relate.

The worship service was interesting this week too. It was the dreaded ‘Pledge Sunday’, where the congregation actually pledges what they will give and how they will get involved in the coming year. I have been to a lot of these ‘beg-a-thons’ in my days in the evangelical church, but there was none of that going on here. The request was made, the materials were passed out, and people responded. I thought the whole thing was handled pretty well.

In this church, the offering baskets are not passed out during the services either. There is a box at the entrance to the sanctuary for you to drop your offering in. Then the offerings are brought to the front during the service, and prayed over. I kind of like it that way.

One other thing that was great; the music. The selection played during communion was just fantastic. It is so refreshing to sing about Christ and what He has done for me, rather than to sing about what I will do for Him. I find evangelical worship to be empty in this regard. The difference in this church, while sharing some of the same style points, is in the content of the music. Christ is there, He didn’t get the day off.

Well, that is it for this week. On to class #5. Have a blessed week!

Peace,
Doug

“There was a time when in foolish, good intention, it was considered the proper thing to correct Christian faith according to the world view that was then in vogue. Since that world view was dominated by unchangeable laws, and since the laws of nature were considered to be known, then faith was supposed to fitted into the great, revolving machinery of the world. The Saviour thus could not possibly have been born of a virgin, the grave could not have been empty, plus many other things. Such faith looked a bit reasonable to the people of that day. But strangely enough, it was entirely powerless. It won no converts.

People who had inherited their Christianity and wanted to keep it, retired within this new bastion of faith. But they took no doubters with them. The faith which was on the offensive and converted people, was the ancient faith with the ancient language of sin and grace, the cross and the Resurrection. And the Christianity which proved that it could stand fast when the storms really came and the totalitarian state showed its satanic face, that was a faith which was solidly grounded in the Word of God and would not yield an inch from what God had spoken.

Germany is a real lesson to us. Those Christians who were counted as modern, up-to-date and undogmatic, were usually those who were swept away in the brackish waters. Those who recently had been liberal Christians became Deutsche Christen. Those who remained steadfast were the despised conservatives and old-fashioned Christians who had never departed from the confession, and still remained loyal to the ancient hated confessions, those which have been despised by the world and yet have overcome the world.” Bo Giertz – The Message to The Church in a Time of Crisis. © 1953 by Augustana Book Concern

The emergent church wants to take us down the same road that the liberal Christians walked in the last century. I believe that the evidence shows an evangelical church in decline, and the emerging church is simply the natural outcome of a church that has abandoned the Word of God, and the historic confessions of the true faith. What will it take for the people in the pews to wake up?

Those of us who have left the evangelical church need to find our way to the historic faith of the churches of the Reformation. For it is in these churches where the Gospel is still preached, taught, and preserved. I am not emergent for the simple reason that I refuse to abandon the Gospel. I have found the Gospel presented more often and most clearly in the Lutheran church.

A life that is centered on Christ needs Christ delivered on a regular basis. The Christ-less Christianity of the emerging church will never answer the question of the doubters and skeptics, because it does not position a man or woman face to face with the risen Christ. It’s theology is bankrupt of the faith that overcomes the world. That faith is the true faith delivered by God Himself through His Word, the waters of Baptism, and through the Body & Blood of Christ. No church that abandons the sufficiency of Scripture, that doubts the truth of God’s Word, and that questions the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ can overcome anything.

If you are drifting spiritually, you will not find the peace which passes all understanding in anyone other than Christ. And that faith in Christ is birthed, renewed, and refreshed in the creeds, confessions, and practices of Lutheranism. Do yourself a favor. Find a good, confessional Lutheran Church and begin the process of renewing your mind through the clear teaching of the Word, the preaching of law & Gospel, and participation in the sacraments. You will be glad you did.

Peace, In Christ,
Doug