I Confess
Daniel M. Head
Preamble
As I desire nothing more or less than to be a follower of Jesus Christ, and I believe that the Confessional Doctrines of the Evangelical Lutheran Church to be the truest reflection of Christian Truth, let the following be my public confession.
Holy Scripture
Holy Scripture is the inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God; the only norm and source for faith and teaching. All that is taught therein is necessary to a true understanding of doctrine and saving faith. Holy Scripture is to be interpreted literally; as per the literature (prose as prose, poetry as poetry, apocalyptic as apocalyptic). To either take allegorically what is written as literal (ex. Genesis/Creation story), or to take literally what is written as allegory (The thousand years of the millennium), is to do violence to Holy Scripture, and cannot be condoned.
Holy Baptism
Through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, we are regenerated through the water by Gods Word and reborn as children of God through the Saving Faith given by the Holy Ghost. Children are to be baptized are thereby received into God's grace. The teaching that Baptism is less than the Salvific Grace of God in the water andthe Word, and the teaching that children are not to be Baptized are false and reprehensible.
The Lord's Supper
The true Body and Blood of Christ is present, in, with, and under the bread and wine. Therein we are assured of the forgiveness of sin. The reception of Holy Communion is an act of fellowship with the Triune God, wherein we gather with other believers who are one in faith and doctrine. Only those who are one in faith and accept the doctrine of faith as set forth in the Holy Scriptures and the Confessions should commune together (close communion). The practice of open communion is a recent innovation that has no place in the life of the Church, and endangers those who would partake without recognizing the body.
Private Confession
As stated in the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, and elucidated in the small catechism, private confession should be retained, and should not be neglected, but greatly and highly esteemed in the church.
Sanctity of Life
Scripture clearly and consistently upholds the sanctity of human life. The taking of human life beyond that which is authorized by God is always an act of evil. All human life has intrinsic value, and God requires us to protect the helpless. Because abortion results in the death of a helpless person, it is never justified except in those rare and tragic circumstances when the continuation of the pregnancy would clearly threaten the life of the mother. Any other attempt to end the life of another person (or of self) is equally evil, such as suicide, euthanasia, or the negligence of primary needs (food, water, basic medical care).
Creeds & Confessions
As an evangelical catholic, orthodox/confessional Lutheran, I fully subscribe to the Lutheran Confessions contained in the Book of Concord, because they are a faithful and accurate summary of biblical doctrine. These symbols are not a rule of faith beyond or supplementary to Scripture, but a summary of the doctrines of the church catholic.
Marks of the Church
The true Church exists where the Holy Gospel is taught and preached in its truth and purity, and where the Holy Sacraments are rightly administered. Where the Sacraments are not, there the church is not. Where the Word of God is corrupted, the church is absent.
The Liturgy
The Liturgy (Divine Service, Mass) should be retained. In its truest sense, the Liturgy is as old as the Church Herself. Indeed, in the words of the Augsburg Confession, the Mass is retained among us, and celebrated with the highest reverence.
Knowledge of the Truth
It is possible to both know and to profess the truth of God's Word, and this is exactly what God requires us to do. Taking a confessional stand on the Word in matters of doctrine, after diligent study of Scriptures, is an act not of human pride but of humble submission to God.
Human Sexuality and Marriage
The Divine institution of marriage is described in the Bible as between a man and a woman. The only sexual relationships that are consistent with Scripture occur lovingly within this Holy bond. Anything that falls outside of this order is sinful.
Next:
Roles of men and women in the Church
Reference: 1 Corinthians 11:3, 1 Corinthians 24:34 Eph. 5:22- 23, 1 Timothy 2:11-14, 1 Peter 3:1-7 &&& Gal 3:28 &&& 1 Corinthians 15:28 &&& Romans 16:1, 3, 6, et al.
Notes:
1 Corinthians 15:28: The Son is subject to the Father - this is not a state of inferiority.
Wife submitting to husband, same - Not inferiority.
Same also in church order, harmony in the Word to edify church.
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No longer may I, in good conscience, commune with any church that teaches contrary to the above doctrines, for by doing so I would put the lie to my own confession of the truth, and doing those who stand in error a disservice by allowing them to believe that their error is not important enough for me to sadly exclude myself from this part of their lives. Let this be my confession in life, and God willing, may I one day stand before the Throne of the Lamb and confess the same. May this, my confession, be found pleasing to my God. Amen!