Glad LCMS is around!

Ioustinos · Jul 7, 2007

Hi folks,

I visited a LCMS church for the first time last Sunday and boy was I shocked at what took place!

It was the first of July, only three days from the US Independence Day. Growing up in a baptist church and attending a baptist university I was used to the hymn of the day being "God Bless America" and the sermon being on America as God's country, but that was not so at the LCMS church I attended.

The hymns were Christ focused, the liturgy reminded me of my sins and God's saving grace, Scriptures were read from the Old Testament, New Testament, and the Gospels, the sermon was about Jesus (who would have thought) and finally we gathered at the Lord's table to meet with Christ.

I found great satisfaction in going to a church service where Christ was the center of attention. I look forward to going back to that congregation but the only obstacle I am going to have is to get my fiance, who comes from a baptist background, to go with me.

Please keep me in your prayers.

Blessings,

Justin

filosofer · Jul 7, 2007

[FONT= "Book Antiqua"]
Howdy, Justin. Glad you attended and found the service Christ-centered (even more, God initiated. That has always been a strong point for Lutheran worship and Bible study. When liturgy is done well, it highlights this central truth: justification by grace through faith alone in Christ alone.

Indeed prayers are with you in your journey of faith.

In Christ's love,
filo
[/font]

C.F.W. Walther · Jul 7, 2007

It's amazing how the younger generation has come full circle. God's word will do that. Welcome.

Ioustinos · Jul 8, 2007

At the beginning of the service I was blessed with God's grace. The reason being was before the service I saw those who were to partake in the service through Scripture reading, the lighting of the candles, etc dressed in everyday clothing. But when the service began they were all wearing robes and looked "holy".

As I sat there and witnessed that I was thankful in my heart for it reflected the reality of our relationship with the Lord Jesus. Here were common people, nothing special about them but once they were clothed with the robes of the service they looked prestigious and authoritative. The same can be said of all who believe. We come to the Lord as sinners, common and unworthy of service to Him and yet in Christ we are able to come before the Father dressed in robes of righteousness and worthy to be a servant in the Kingdom of God.

It is funny how the most subtle things can make such great impacts.

Blessings,

Justin

DaRev · Jul 8, 2007

JustinWilliams said:
At the beginning of the service I was blessed with God's grace. The reason being was before the service I saw those who were to partake in the service through Scripture reading, the lighting of the candles, etc dressed in everyday clothing. But when the service began they were all wearing robes and looked "holy".

As I sat there and witnessed that I was thankful in my heart for it reflected the reality of our relationship with the Lord Jesus. Here were common people, nothing special about them but once they were clothed with the robes of the service they looked prestigious and authoritative. The same can be said of all who believe. We come to the Lord as sinners, common and unworthy of service to Him and yet in Christ we are able to come before the Father dressed in robes of righteousness and worthy to be a servant in the Kingdom of God.

It is funny how the most subtle things can make such great impacts.

Blessings,

Justin

This is awesome, that someone from outside Lutheranism is so moved by the reverence of the liturgical practice. I wish more of our own folks could be so appreciative of it.

porterross · Jul 8, 2007

I'm more than a little grateful for the LCMS myself.

LilLamb219 · Jul 8, 2007

I'm glad you came and posted here, Justin! And I'm very glad that you saw that the church you visited was Christ-centered! If it wasn't, we'd be bugging you to tell us which one so we can try to find a way to change that!!!

Hope you attend the service again sometime!

Studeclunker · Jul 8, 2007

Welcome Timothy. Many of the things going on during the service are as C. S. Lewis used to say, "Shadows of the greater things to come..." Which is a paraphrase of a Psalm, I believe.

Many of the accoutrements in the front are images presented in a form we can understand. There was a day when people arrived to service in their 'Sunday Best'. The reasons for the robes was to cover this finery and bring our focus back to where it belonged. The candles represent the presence of the Holy Spirit (did you notice the one in the red holder hanging from the ceiling?), etc... I am glad that you got so much out of the service. It's a pleasure that you were so open to the concept.

There are however, sharp differences between the Lutheran and Baptist theologies, doxologies, and all the rest of the 'ologies. One of these is Communion. You seem to have attended a service when the host and wine were distributed. Be aware, in a Lutheran Service, these are recognized as the true body and blood of Christ in and under the wine and bread. Paul explains some of this in I Corintians. Lutherans focused on. "This is my body, shed for you... This is my blood, poured out for the forgiveness of sins..." The Baptists, on the other hand focused on, "Do this in rememberance of me." As such the Baptists approach communion as a memorial. On the other hand, Lutherans recognize that the Lord is present in the elements (bread and wine) of communion. We also believe that if you don't share the same beliefs, there is a risk of judgement on you by partaking from our altar. Be careful.

Often there is a class for 'new believers', run by the pastor, which explains all these differences to you. If you wish to continue attending, I strongly recommend it. If only for your own benefit. It's easier to interest someone else in something when you know what you're talking about.

May our Lord bless both you and your lady, bringing both of you to a deeper understanding of his truths.

HimAll4 · Jul 8, 2007

I don't remember being taught in Catechism class that the communion wafer WAS Christ's body and the wine WAS his blood.
Did I miss something?
I went to a Catholic church fairly frequently with a friend, and that was taught there, but I don't remember it being in the Lutheran church.

DaSeminarian · Jul 8, 2007

JustinWilliams said:
Hi folks,

the only obstacle I am going to have is to get my fiance, who comes from a baptist background, to go with me.

Please keep me in your prayers.

Blessings,

Justin

Justin,

I understand. Try the approach of excitement at all you discovered. The things that excited you the most are the things you can relate to her. Build her up realistically though.

If there are ever any questions you have please feel free to ask. I am attending Seminary and DaRev is an ordained minister.

God bless
Scott

LilLamb219 · Jul 8, 2007

HimAll4 said:
I don't remember being taught in Catechism class that the communion wafer WAS Christ's body and the wine WAS his blood.
Did I miss something?
I went to a Catholic church fairly frequently with a friend, and that was taught there, but I don't remember it being in the Lutheran church.

This is from Luther's Small Catechism:

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]What is the Sacrament of the Altar?[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, for us Christians to eat and to drink, instituted by Christ Himself.[/FONT]

WildStrawberry · Jul 8, 2007

Hi Justin Welcome to the forum!

What a wonderful testimony you've presented about the Grace of our Lord. Brought tears to my eyes!

Kae

Ioustinos · Jul 8, 2007

Studeclunker said:
Welcome Timothy. Many of the things going on during the service are as C. S. Lewis used to say, "Shadows of the greater things to come..." Which is a paraphrase of a Psalm, I believe.

Many of the accoutrements in the front are images presented in a form we can understand. There was a day when people arrived to service in their 'Sunday Best'. The reasons for the robes was to cover this finery and bring our focus back to where it belonged. The candles represent the presence of the Holy Spirit (did you notice the one in the red holder hanging from the ceiling?), etc... I am glad that you got so much out of the service. It's a pleasure that you were so open to the concept.

There are however, sharp differences between the Lutheran and Baptist theologies, doxologies, and all the rest of the 'ologies. One of these is Communion. You seem to have attended a service when the host and wine were distributed. Be aware, in a Lutheran Service, these are recognized as the true body and blood of Christ in and under the wine and bread. Paul explains some of this in I Corintians. Lutherans focused on. "This is my body, shed for you... This is my blood, poured out for the forgiveness of sins..." The Baptists, on the other hand focused on, "Do this in rememberance of me." As such the Baptists approach communion as a memorial. On the other hand, Lutherans recognize that the Lord is present in the elements (bread and wine) of communion. We also believe that if you don't share the same beliefs, there is a risk of judgement on you by partaking from our altar. Be careful.

Often there is a class for 'new believers', run by the pastor, which explains all these differences to you. If you wish to continue attending, I strongly recommend it. If only for your own benefit. It's easier to interest someone else in something when you know what you're talking about.

May our Lord bless both you and your lady, bringing both of you to a deeper understanding of his truths.

Hi,

I did not participate in the Lord's supper but merely observed out of respect for the local congregation and the beliefs of the LCMS. At the same time, it was a blessing to see God's children coming to receive his grace through his Son Jesus Christ as they met him at the rail.

I have slowly moved from a baptist view of the sacrements to a more Reformed or Presbyterian view of the sacrements. Still learning and studying.

Blessings,

Justin

LutheranHawkeye · Jul 8, 2007

Welcome to the Divine Service! Fell in love with it after learning about it in confirmation. Now I can't get enough of it, when there is communion that is.

HimAll4 · Jul 8, 2007

This is from Luther's Small Catechism:

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]What is the Sacrament of the Altar?[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, for us Christians to eat and to drink, instituted by Christ Himself.[/FONT]

Thank you so much, LilLamb. It was many years ago when I went through Catechism, and am going to go back through and study it all again!

Glad LCMS is around!

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