Need help

[wondering1]

Hi Everyone,
I haven't been on this board before - I'm new to Christian Forums. I was brought up in an Evangelical Church and remained evangelical all my life. In recent years I've grown to question many of the beliefs I grew up with and I've also seen changes in evangelical circles that concern me.

I've been studying Catholicism for about 4 years and have seriously considered becoming Catholic. Unfortunately, I don't agree with the Catholic Church on everything and it seems that Catholics are expected to agree with everything the Church teaches. So, I'm trying to figure out what type of Church I belong in. Many of my relatives have been, and are Lutheran, but I know little about the different synods, etc.

I believe strongly in the Real Presence in the Eucharist, and I really want to be part of a church that has communion each Sunday. I also love the liturgy and hymns. I've really had enough of Christian rock music on Sunday morning.

Are there any Lutheran churches that I may fit into based on this? Also, are Lutherans required to "believe everything" their churches teach as well? As evangelicals we were required to believe certain basic things, but were never expected to agree on everything.

Thank you for your help! I really want to find a new church home.

 

[DaRev]

Hi Everyone,
I haven't been on this board before - I'm new to Christian Forums.

Welcome.

I was brought up in an Evangelical Church and remained evangelical all my life. In recent years I've grown to question many of the beliefs I grew up with and I've also seen changes in evangelical circles that concern me.

I've been studying Catholicism for about 4 years and have seriously considered becoming Catholic. Unfortunately, I don't agree with the Catholic Church on everything and it seems that Catholics are expected to agree with everything the Church teaches. So, I'm trying to figure out what type of Church I belong in. Many of my relatives have been, and are Lutheran, but I know little about the different synods, etc.

The word "Lutheran" has sadly become a very broad term anymore. The different Lutheran church bodies (synods) have some vastly different beliefs and practices. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has basically abandoned the historic Christian faith by adopting various unbiblical teachings and practices, such as women's ordination, open communion and full fellowship with Reformed church bodies that reject the Real Presence of the Lord's Supper, the embracing of the sin of homosexual activity, among others.
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) adhere much more with the Biblical truths and the Lutheran Confessions. Although the two have different definitions of fellowship, they do agree on the basic tenets of the Christian faith.

I believe strongly in the Real Presence in the Eucharist, and I really want to be part of a church that has communion each Sunday.

Not every Lutheran Church celebrates the Lord's Supper every Sunday, but many of them do and more and more are returning to that Confessional practice.

I also love the liturgy and hymns. I've really had enough of Christian rock music on Sunday morning.

There are a number of Lutheran churches that have contemporary worship services, but a vast majority follow the traditional liturgy either exclusively or in addition to a contemporary service.

Are there any Lutheran churches that I may fit into based on this? Also, are Lutherans required to "believe everything" their churches teach as well? As evangelicals we were required to believe certain basic things, but were never expected to agree on everything.

Thank you for your help! I really want to find a new church home.

As far as "believing everything", it would depend on what specific teaching(s) you have difficulty with. You'll find in Lutheran churches that not everyone agrees 100% on every little thing, but there are a number of things that agreement must held. If there are certain biblical truths that one has doubts about, it could be an indication that there are other more important issues that they have doubts about as well. If you could be a bit more specific, it would help us answer your questions.

 

[seajoy]

Rev gave you some great answers. I'm WELS, and am happy with how we adhere to Biblical teachings. I used to be LCMS.....the two are very close in many ways and not so close in others....but we do both teach the inerrancy of Scripture.....and that Christ is the only way to salvation. We look to follow God's word and not the ways of the world.

There are many problems in the ELCA (as DaRev mentioned above) - I would not steer you towards them at all.

 

[seajoy]

Oh, and welcome!!!!

 

[Tangible]

I posted on your thread in the main forum, but I just wanted to add that I'm also a formerly lifelong Baptist-Evangelical. My wife and I have only been members of an LCMS church for 8 months or so - and we're very excited about all the wonderful expressions of faith we found in Lutheran doctrine and practice that we have been missing out on our whole lives.

 

[Studeclunker]

Welcome Wondering1. Churches Lutheran possess a very wide spectrum of beliefs. As has been mentioned here, stay away from the ELCA. That particular denomination will be harmful to your salvation.

LCMS is an excellent Synod for liturgical, confessional worship, however, the denomination suffers from extreme inconsistancy. One congregation will be rock-ribbed conservatives and the next will be loosey-goosey Liberals (with a capital L). This is the main reason WELS is no longer in fellowship with them.

Speaking of WELS, they are somewhat more plain and much more consistant in their adherrence to the Synodical guidelines. Congregations do vary, then again that's normal, as congregations are like individuals. You won't find rock bands, contempo services, or Calvary Chapel type services either. Women are not allowed to hold elected office nor leadership positions (such as pastoral).

I find it interesting that you describe your background as Evangelical. In Europe if one says they're an Evengelical, everyone assumes they're Lutheran (LOL)! For some reason, that term has been... borrowed from the Lutherans here. To quote Gene Edward Veith Jr:

Today the term "evangelical" is used to refer to a wide variety of more-or-less conservative Protestants. For all of their differences, Baptists, Charismatics, Calvinists, Wesleyans, and the various non-denominational "para-church ministries" do stress salvation through Christ and emphasize "evangelism," so the term is apt. But originally, the word "evangelical" meant "lutheran."

--from the introduction of The Spirituality Of The Cross.
A book I (and my current Pastor) strongly recommend

 

[wildboar]

When I travel I often consult this website: Evangelical-Lutheran Liturgical Congregations It's a listing of Lutheran churches that have the historic liturgy at every service and it also tells the frequency of communion. Most are LCMS but there are some WELS and others on there as well. If there is a confessional Lutheran church near you, you might want to ask if you can attend the catechism/adult instruction classes.

 

[filosofer]

When I travel I often consult this website: Evangelical-Lutheran Liturgical Congregations It's a listing of Lutheran churches that have the historic liturgy at every service and it also tells the frequency of communion. Most are LCMS but there are some WELS and others on there as well. If there is a confessional Lutheran church near you, you might want to ask if you can attend the catechism/adult instruction classes.

And just a reminder: there are many Lutheran churches that are solidly Lutheran in liturgy, but are not listed on the web site.

 

[joyfulthanks]

Hi wondering1, and welcome to our subforum!

I posted my answer to your questions on your post in the main Lutheran forum. Please feel free to ask more questions as you have them. We're here to help.