Talk to me about LCMS

[DaRev]

Hi! And thanks for answering me...

I do not yet have a full grasp on what "confessional" Lutheran means. (I may have to read those links a little better). I guess that is somewhat of a misnomer to say Confessional... The first thing that comes to mind is Confessing to a Priest. Which is not really something I would prefer to do.

The word "Confessional" in the context of "Confessional Lutheran" means "a formal statement of religious beliefs". This means that we as Confessional Lutherans hold to a formal statement of beliefs that are derived solely from the Bible. These statements, known as the Lutheran Confessions, are contained in the "Book of Concord of 1580". The 10 documents conatined in this book are thoroughly Scriptural and help us to understand what the Bible teaches on a number of topics.

Not all who call themsleves "Lutheran" are Confessional. The ELCA does not hold to the Lutheran Confessions as being thoroughly Scriptural and thus have some very different interpretations of Biblical doctrines.

 

[vle045]

I think I am starting to get it... Thank you.

I have some other general questions and it comes from my Catholic frustrations...

Does the Lutheran Church have a sort of list of life "RULES" that you MUST follow to the letter or you are sure to go to hell? Seriously. I have had a few conversations with Catholics that seemed to end with, well the Church says that you can't do that and if you knowingly disobey the Church, you will go to hell.

It makes me want to slap my forehead and shout "DOH!"

And this is not even about MAJOR topics... at least not from where I am sitting. And they aren't referring to anything in the Bible... they are referring to the Catechism Book or various Pope writings. It drives me nuts sometimes.

Then they place the fear in you that if you follow ANY other Church teaching... including other Christian Churches, then you are a heretic and will go straight to hell.

And the whole thing is just causing me more frustration and confusion.

 

[DaRev]

The only sin that sends anyone to hell is unbelief. Mark 16:16, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. Whoever does not believe will be condenmed."

The Lutheran Church holds to "sola Scriptura" which means "Scripture alone." We teach that the Bible is the inspired word of God, without error, and is the sole source and norm of all teaching and practice in the Church. The Lutheran Confessions (the Book of Concord) helps us to know what the Scriptures teach.

The good works that we do, following what the Bible teaches, keeping the Commandments, etc., are all fruits of faith. We do them, not to be saved, but because we are saved.

 

[Aibrean]

By the way Vle...when I went to Dayton Christian (growing up until high school) I rode the bus with several people that went to Alter (and thus St. Charles). Though I don't know who goes there now (other than Jennifer Keys and perhaps Tina Pernik my high school French teacher).

As to what DaRev said...that's pretty much it We don't do works to be saved, it is a result of our faith. I think that is what is hindering a lot of other people in other denominations...they get so shrouded with legalism and do's and don'ts that they loose their foundations and what the Bible really teaches.

When you say right down the road, I think you mean OUR church (Emmanuel Lutheran) because that's the only LCMS in Kettering (which is about 4 miles away from St. Charles) and there is one in Oakwood and the next closest is I think Fairborn. Our church offers 2 services. We aren't high church...but kind of in the middle. We have an 8:15 service which follows a liturgy and has hymns and then a 11:00 service which is more contemporary but also is reverent.

You can find more details about our church here: www.emmanuellc.org

And Pastor Phil is awesome so feel free to email him from the site if you have questions

Feel free to give me or Kim a buzz via PM or email

 

[rockytrails]

YOU can learn about confessional lutheranism here
this site does contain many many items from confessional lcms sources along with other confessional lutheran sources.

http://www.angelfire.com/ny4/djw/lutherantheology.html#lc

 

[vle045]

By the way Vle...when I went to Dayton Christian (growing up until high school) I rode the bus with several people that went to Alter (and thus St. Charles). Though I don't know who goes there now (other than Jennifer Keys and perhaps Tina Pernik my high school French teacher).

As to what DaRev said...that's pretty much it We don't do works to be saved, it is a result of our faith. I think that is what is hindering a lot of other people in other denominations...they get so shrouded with legalism and do's and don'ts that they loose their foundations and what the Bible really teaches.

When you say right down the road, I think you mean OUR church (Emmanuel Lutheran) because that's the only LCMS in Kettering (which is about 4 miles away from St. Charles) and there is one in Oakwood and the next closest is I think Fairborn. Our church offers 2 services. We aren't high church...but kind of in the middle. We have an 8:15 service which follows a liturgy and has hymns and then a 11:00 service which is more contemporary but also is reverent.

You can find more details about our church here: www.emmanuellc.org

And Pastor Phil is awesome so feel free to email him from the site if you have questions

Feel free to give me or Kim a buzz via PM or email

Thank you. Now I KNOW where Kettering is... it is not as close as I thought. I am closer to Cleveland. I am from Pennsylvania, so my OH geography is pretty bad. I asked for a GPS for Christmas so I won't get lost as often. LOL.

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

OBVIOUSLY, I agree with the LCMS because I joined a church affiliated with it...

To better understand Lutheranism, check out this forum of this website (LOTS of good threads in all these pages - don't forget all the back pages), the www.lcms.org and www.wels.org sites (they differ in some policy issues but their theology is essentially the same), there's a good book I recommend to all. It's called "The Spirituality of the Cross by Gene Edward Veith, Jr. (Concordia Publishing House). It's a short book written by a layperson, and was helpful to me as I investigated Lutheranism.


BUT, I'd want to stress, that congregation vary quite a bit within denominations. The "unity of doctrine" in the LCMS is very strong (MUCH stronger than in most Protestant denominations) but everything else can vary. Visit this congregation. Make an appointment and talk with the pastor (Lutheran pastors are very well trained in theology and they are all pretty much theology junkies who LOVE IT when a layperson will discuss it with them, LOL). I probably worshiped in 5-6 LCMS congregations and quickly concluded I'd never join there - until I found the small one I go to now. Again, probably no official theological differences, but lots of other differences.



Blessings on your journey!!!!


Pax


- Josiah


PS I come out of a liberal Protestant "roots" and spent some 5 years in Catholicism - not too different than the situation you are in?





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[vle045]

OBVIOUSLY, I agree with the LCMS because I joined a church affiliated with it...

To better understand Lutheranism, check out this forum of this website (LOTS of good threads in all these pages - don't forget all the back pages), the www.lcms.org and www.wels.org sites (they differ in some policy issues but their theology is essentially the same), there's a good book I recommend to all. It's called "The Spirituality of the Cross by Gene Edward Veith, Jr. (Concordia Publishing House). It's a short book written by a layperson, and was helpful to me as I investigated Lutheranism.


BUT, I'd want to stress, that congregation vary quite a bit within denominations. The "unity of doctrine" in the LCMS is very strong (MUCH stronger than in most Protestant denominations) but everything else can vary. Visit this congregation. Make an appointment and talk with the pastor (Lutheran pastors are very well trained in theology and they are all pretty much theology junkies who LOVE IT when a layperson will discuss it with them, LOL). I probably worshiped in 5-6 LCMS congregations and quickly concluded I'd never join there - until I found the small one I go to now. Again, probably no official theological differences, but lots of other differences.



Blessings on your journey!!!!


Pax


- Josiah


PS I come out of a liberal Protestant "roots" and spent some 5 years in Catholicism - not too different than the situation you are in?





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Thanks for your input. I'll check out the sites.

I have noticed something lately.... (among Catholics)... there is a lot of discussion on what the Church teaches and that if you don't follow EVERYTHING then you are committing a grave sin and will basically burn in hell for an eternity. I don't recall that from any of the Protestant Churches i have attended.

Has anyone else noticed this? I mean, in their own church?

It's really a huge turn off.

 

[DaRev]

Thanks for your input. I'll check out the sites.

I have noticed something lately.... (among Catholics)... there is a lot of discussion on what the Church teaches and that if you don't follow EVERYTHING then you are committing a grave sin and will basically burn in hell for an eternity. I don't recall that from any of the Protestant Churches i have attended.

Has anyone else noticed this? I mean, in their own church?

It's really a huge turn off.

That is Roman Catholicism.

 

[vle045]

I am seriously noticing that lately. I will probably check out my local LCMS after the holidays.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I'm sure there are some (many) things that members and Clergy alike have problems with. I have one or two myself, but for the sake of unity and peace I accept the Chruch's and the Pastor's authority.