Impressed

[daveleau]

I visited a Lutheran church down the street from my Baptist church today. I was very impressed. No matter how much of an open mind I wanted to have in the worship, I felt issues emmanating within myself that were unhappy with the differences (liturgy, priests, strong sovereignty ideas), but I finally got over them and greatly enjoyed the fellowship and worship. I thought it was kind of strange that we sang some Baptist hymns (kinda like they knew I was coming) like Blessed Assurance. It was a great service, and I do thinkg I will be back despite basic doctrinal differences. (Shoot, I have basic doctrinal differences with my Baptist church...)

God bless you all,
Dave

 

[ctay]

LCMS doesn't have priests. They are just pastors. Glad you enjoyed it....

 

[daveleau]

Ah, sorry. They wore the white collar and I was told they were not called priests. My apologies.


Was the above an LCMS church?

 

[ctay]

I found one spot on the webpage that said something about the LCMS. If you go again, talk to the pastor, most of them are willing to talk, ask him some questions.
My husband called the Lutheran church catholiclite today. I just rolled my eyes at him and laughed... He grew up in a Baptist church.

 

[daveleau]

It was different, but I attended an Episcopalian church (conservative diocese) for a several months, which was similar to this (not theologically, per se, but in liturgy.)

I became friends with the pastor in waiting (pastor recruited out of seminary to replace their 70 year old pastor when he retires soon) and he has been very accessible. Really cool guy and genuine. I'll ask him. Thanks.

 

[LilLamb219]

That's great that you could see some strong points within the service. Lutherans look at the service as God giving us His gifts and in return we give thanks and praise. God's Word is prevalent throughout the service which is something we could all use

 

[ILoveYeshua]

lutheran missouri synod churches are pretty good at what they do. i've liked them.

 

[daveleau]

Yes, it did focus on Scripture throughout. I like churches where communion is given each service.

 

[ctay]

We have communion every Sunday. Some have it 2 times a month...One thing I like about the Lutheran churchs too is that the pastors seem to stay a long time.

 

[Jim47]

Glad you enjoyed it Dave. Let us know if you need help with anything at all.


If you haven't already seen it, I would recommend seeing the Luther Movie or better yet reading one of the books on him. NorthWest Publishing House has one that is well written and very easy to read. The movie is great too.

 

[daveleau]

I have a compilation of his basic theological writings that I picked up. And, I saw the movie when it was in the theater. I was glad it came to my town, because I think it only showed in select theaters. Thanks!

 

[SPALATIN]

I visited a Lutheran church down the street from my Baptist church today. I was very impressed.

. I thought it was kind of strange that we sang some Baptist hymns (kinda like they knew I was coming) like Blessed Assurance. It was a great service, and I do thinkg I will be back despite basic doctrinal differences. (Shoot, I have basic doctrinal differences with my Baptist church...)

God bless you all,
Dave

Just goes to show you that not all Lutheran church's are perfect.

Glad you enjoyed the service.

 

[LutherNut]

Was the above an LCMS church?

Yes, it is LCMS. The LCMS cross logo is a the top left of the page.

I like churches where communion is given each service.

This may sound strange to you, but I hope that they did not give communion to you as a visitor from a Baptist congregation. The LCMS practices close communion. This is not an exsclusionary practice like our ELCA brethren like to believe. Rather, it holds very strictly to the Biblical teachings in 1 Corinthians 10 and 11, and in particular 1 Cor 11:27-29. The Missouri Synod wants everyone who receives the very Body and Blood of Jesus to receive the benefits that He offers us in the Sacrament. Those who receive without fully understanding what the Sacrament is, or those who hold a differing confession and thereby reject what the Sacrament truly is, are not only not receiving the benefits that our Lord offers in the Sacrament (forgiveness of sins), but are in fact committing a sin by receiving it (1 Corinthians 11:27).

For more detailed information on the Biblical practice of Close Communion, I would encourage you to look up the LCMS Web Site FAQ page concerning The Lord's Supper.

Blessings,
Jay

 

[KEPLER]

Ah, sorry. They wore the white collar and I was told they were not called priests. My apologies.


Was the above an LCMS church?

Yes, it is an LCMS Church. Glad you enjoyed it.

As for "Blessed Assurance"...I will quote a Lutheran pastor: "My personal view of hell is a Fanny Crosby hymnfest."



Kepler

 

[night2day]

...I thought it was kind of strange that we sang some Baptist hymns (kinda like they knew I was coming) like Blessed Assurance.../QUOTE]

As far as hymns go, there are a number of hymns in TLH (The Lutheran Hymnal, what some of us refer to as the "Red Hymnal) not written by Lutherans for example. But are indeed Scriptural.

An example would be Hymn #473 The Church's One Foundation

Text: Eph. 2:20
Author: Samuel J. Stone, 1866, cento
Composer: Samuel S. Wesley, 1864
Tune: "Aurelia"

 

[ILoveYeshua]

I prefer to have communion every week, seems nice and consistent.

 

[KEPLER]

I prefer to have communion every week, seems nice and consistent.

Me, too. I grew up in a Pentecostal Church (AoG), where communion was practiced maybe once a month (at most). The usual line is, "I want it to be special."

Not me. I want it to be so normal, so common, so regular that when I don't take it, my soul hurts.

Kepler

 

[ILoveYeshua]

<- lol

 

[rockytrails]

a pk story about our dad being a lutheran who was a priest.

our dad use to wear a clarex

the neighbors where we moved . were mostly
italian catholics

so my older brother and i were sorta use to hearing our dad called priest.

I thought that was kinda cool for me .but i could tell it was getting to my older brother

when i heard him reply to another catholic kid who exclaimed !

Your dads a Priest !!.

my brother replied rather sarcasticly

yea and my Moms a


nun!

 

[Orion567]

I was raised Southern Baptist and had never considered Lutheran Church as a possible option. Later in my adult life I went to a great LCMS church, which I think has one of the best pastors I have ever been under. I found it to be different, but after I took my first Adult Information Class was totally sold and have been in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod for 11 years. I am glad you had a great experience.