Considering Lutheranism - any converts here?

[FaithT]

I don’t get held up on issues like that, personally. God created it all and he created the first man (Adam) and first woman (Eve) and we are descended from them.

The things that have drawn me to Catholicism is really reading the fathers. While they aren’t infallible, like Scripture, there seems to be a commonality among them about justification (grace alone, us responding to that grace for good works), the sacraments and the number of them, and having a magisterium.

The 2 things that always hold me up are the papacy and the veneration of Mary, but those are things I’ve really begun to warm up to.

How old do you think the universe/world is? And how long do you think it took God to create it?

 

[TKA_TN]

How old do you think the universe/world is? And how long do you think it took God to create it?

I saw an interesting take on this once. Someone said that on the day God created Adam, he was both 1 day old and also 35 (just to use an example) years old. The same could be said of all the other parts of creation. God created trees that were 1 day old, but if he created fully-matured trees, they could’ve been hundreds of years old. Hope I’m getting that across clearly.

To answer your question, I tend to go on the literal interpretation of it, but take the view of God created some things fully-formed and mature.

 

[FaithT]

I saw an interesting take on this once. Someone said that on the day God created Adam, he was both 1 day old and also 35 (just to use an example) years old. The same could be said of all the other parts of creation. God created trees that were 1 day old, but if he created fully-matured trees, they could’ve been hundreds of years old. Hope I’m getting that across clearly.

To answer your question, I tend to go on the literal interpretation of it, but take the view of God created some things fully-formed and mature.

Ok there’s more for me to think about.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Another thing that kind of bothers me about the LCMS is how, after the Catholic priest transubstantiates the bread and wine it remains Jesus’s body and blood. In the LCMS it ceases to be His Body and Blood when Communion is over. I don’t understand that.

Actually, maybe not. The Bible is silent on this; therefore we treat the consecrated elements with great reverence. Most parishes either reserve it for use at the next Mass, or make sure all is consumed at the mass. While we do venerate the Body and Blood of Christ in the context of the Mass, such adoration outside that context has the potential to lead to idolitry.

 

[FaithT]

Actually, maybe not. The Bible is silent on this; therefore we treat the consecrated elements with great reverence. Most parishes either reserve it for use at the next Mass, or make sure all is consumed at the mass. While we do venerate the Body and Blood of Christ in the context of the Mass, such adoration outside that context has the potential to lead to idolitry.

What’s your opinion on the age of the earth and time it took to create the earth/universe?

 

[FaithT]

What’s your opinion on the age of the earth and time it took to create the earth/universe?

Also, I forget….are you LCMS?

 

[Halbhh]

I have recently left the Catholic church and looking for a home. I am drawn to a non-denominational setting and or baptist, but have not considered Lutheranism that much.

I have studied a lot of church history, and scripture as well, but some things are still not clear for me. I am not a believer in the "once saved always saved" which puts me outside most Baptist groups.

But I recently watched a local Lutheran service on line, and they did a general confession during service, and then the pastor said "I absolve you of your sins". He does not - God does - so it just felt too Catholic for me to be comfortable.

Any thoughts from any converts here, or anyone else really?

I am solidly conservative, and like good community - so those are things I am looking for.
Thank you!

We joined a Lutheran church about 12 years ago.

The wording we hear at that point is
"I declare to you the entire forgiveness of your sins".
So it's an announcement of what God has done.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

What’s your opinion on the age of the earth and time it took to create the earth/universe?

While some make a really big deal about it, I personally don't. I do know that God created the Earth, and all that is in it, and everything else. My Pastor made a great point; if we measure in "days" that means the rising and setting of the Sun; yet there was no light until the 4th day. Something to consider.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Also, I forget….are you LCMS?

Yes, until Lutheran Church Canada was formed in full fellowship with the LCMS.

 

[ViaCrucis]

I have to be honest, the thing I struggle with the most in Lutheranism is Baptismal Regeneration. It seems like it's the idea that baptism alone saves, without faith. I guess it ends up in the infant baptism discussion.

Any thoughts?

It's impossible to separate faith from baptism. If one thinks that simply because they were baptized and that they don't need faith now then they have, pretty emphatically, denied their baptism. Baptism is God's instrument of faith--Means of Grace. It is faith that receives what Baptism accomplishes--because Baptism is not merely water, but water and the word of God (Ephesians 5:26)--and the word creates and gives faith (Romans 10:17).

Baptismal Regeneration does not mean that getting wet gives one a magic ticket to heaven. Baptismal Regeneration means that here, in Word and Sacrament, God does what God has said He would do: Therefore we are born again of water and the Spirit (John 3:5, Titus 3:5), we have been crucified, dead, buried, and raised together with Christ (Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12), we have been clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27).

I'd highly recommend what Luther's Large Catechism has to say on the matter, as he keeps things clear, biblical, and Christ-centered.

Holy Baptism

-CryptoLutheran

 

[LizaMarie]

While some make a really big deal about it, I personally don't. I do know that God created the Earth, and all that is in it, and everything else. My Pastor made a great point; if we measure in "days" that means the rising and setting of the Sun; yet there was no light until the 4th day. Something to consider.

This is almost exactly how I look at it.

 

[Till Schilling]

I see a lot of things I like in Lutheranism. It's in line with both Scripture and early church history about as good as I can find.

Guess that settles the question

 

[FaithT]

While some make a really big deal about it, I personally don't. I do know that God created the Earth, and all that is in it, and everything else. My Pastor made a great point; if we measure in "days" that means the rising and setting of the Sun; yet there was no light until the 4th day. Something to consider.

I read somewhere that there was light from God.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I read somewhere that there was light from God.

Not in the Bible. If you did, it was pure speculation.

 

[Tigger45]

I read somewhere that there was light from God.

It’s fair to say that God is ‘uncreated’ light but that he didn’t ’create’ light until the fourth day of creation.

1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

 

[FaithT]

Not in the Bible. If you did, it was pure speculation.

1 John 1:5

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

It’s fair to say that God is ‘uncreated’ light but that he didn’t ’create’ light until the fourth day of creation.

1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:5

Light or not, with out the rising and setting of the sun, the term "day" is wide open to interpretation. The Epistle you quote is not in the context of the Creation account; rather it is in regard to the "light" of faith, in context to those to whom John wrote his letter:

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.​

There is nothing in Genesis to tell us there was light of any kind in this world, and certainly no rising and setting of the sun, until it was created.

 

[FaithT]

Light or not, with out the rising and setting of the sun, the term "day" is wide open to interpretation. The Epistle you quote is not in the context of the Creation account; rather it is in regard to the "light" of faith, in context to those to whom John wrote his letter:

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.​

There is nothing in Genesis to tell us there was light of any kind in this world, and certainly no rising and setting of the sun, until it was created.

So how did the plants grow?

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

So how did the plants grow?

Even if there was uninterrupted illumination, how would you measure a day? With the creation of the sun and the moon; what happened to that eternal light of God? Should it not continue to shine forth?

BTW, can God not grow plants where He wishes, when he wishes; without light, rain, Triple-mix fertilizer etc....? is he not Omnipotent? Accept Genesis as wrote on faith.

Sola Fide; novel idea eh?

This is a foolish discussion.

 

[FaithT]

Even if there was uninterrupted illumination, how would you measure a day? With the creation of the sun and the moon; what happened to that eternal light of God? Should it not continue to shine forth?

BTW, can God not grow plants where He wishes, when he wishes; without light, rain, Triple-mix fertilizer etc....? is he not Omnipotent? Accept Genesis as wrote on faith.

Sola Fide; novel idea eh?

This is a foolish discussion.

Well, thanks a lot.