Uncle Marty's Converted Christians

[Tangible]

I was baptized at the age of seven after having heard the gospel preached at my family's small-town Baptist Church. I knew I was a sinner and the preacher said that sinners would go to hell - and I sure didn't want to go to hell! As I grew older I was deeply troubled at times because I still saw a lot of sin in my life, and wondered if I was really saved. I rededicated my life quite a few times, especially as a teenager, but also as young adult. I tried different Evangelical churches from Charismatic to Willow Creek to Independent Fundamentalist but never found that peaceful, certain knowledge of my salvation that I longed for.

Recently my wife and I visited an LC-MS Lutheran church and we were blown away by the reverence of the worship and the deep and biblical preaching. I finally learned that my salvation doesn't depend on me or my decisions or choices at all but in God's faithfulness and Christ's sacrifice for me. Since then I've experienced a personal spiritual revival like I've never known before. I can't wait to pray or to spend time in God's Word - not out of a sense of duty or trying to earn God's blessing but simply out of joy and thankfulness. I'm discovering all the rich history of the church that I was never taught as an Evangelical. I'm discovering the theological richness and depth of liturgical worship and the joy of participating in the historical church year. I'm so glad that God has lead us to the church home where we truly belong.

How about you all? Any other adult converts to Lutheranism here? What's your story?

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Welcome CD,

Nope, I'm a Life Long Lutheran. I love your post! That's the reason I will always be Lutheran.

God Bless,

Mark

 

[QuiltAngel]

I grew up Presbyterian. Was baptized and confirmed Presby. My grandparents were Lutheran and I was always impressed with the worship there too. I also believed they had communion right. What was with this symbol bit? After high school, my parents and I became Lutheran in the old LCA (now a part of the ELCA). Not real sure about my parents reasons other than they thought the Presbyterian church was becoming too political as in secular politics. I decided to make the move with them as I felt Lutherans were more right on than Presbyterians. A couple of years later, I met my husband to be and learned much more about Lutheranism. He was LCMS and after we married, I became a member of the LCMS and he attended Seminary. Really learned a lot about Lutherans and the LCMS during those years.

The older I get and the more I learn, the more I appreciate, understand and believe that we Lutherans have our doctrine right. I appreciate our Law/Gospel distinctions and if a sermon does not have both, I feel unfed. I believe that when Christ said that "this is my body" and "this is my blood," "for the forgiveness of sins" that is what he meant. That God did it all, I don't have to do anything but believe this. I don't have to wonder if I am one of the "elect."

Most definitely, read Luther's Small Catechism with Explanations and then go from there. It is a great summary of our faith.

 

[LutheranChick]

I was baptized at the age of seven after having heard the gospel preached at my family's small-town Baptist Church. I knew I was a sinner and the preacher said that sinners would go to hell - and I sure didn't want to go to hell! As I grew older I was deeply troubled at times because I still saw a lot of sin in my life, and wondered if I was really saved. I rededicated my life quite a few times, especially as a teenager, but also as young adult. I tried different Evangelical churches from Charismatic to Willow Creek to Independent Fundamentalist but never found that peaceful, certain knowledge of my salvation that I longed for.

Recently my wife and I visited an LC-MS Lutheran church and we were blown away by the reverence of the worship and the deep and biblical preaching. I finally learned that my salvation doesn't depend on me or my decisions or choices at all but in God's faithfulness and Christ's sacrifice for me. Since then I've experienced a personal spiritual revival like I've never known before. I can't wait to pray or to spend time in God's Word - not out of a sense of duty or trying to earn God's blessing but simply out of joy and thankfulness. I'm discovering all the rich history of the church that I was never taught as an Evangelical. I'm discovering the theological richness and depth of liturgical worship and the joy of participating in the historical church year. I'm so glad that God has lead us to the church home where we truly belong.

How about you all? Any other adult converts to Lutheranism here? What's your story?

Welcome to TCL! You have a wonderful story. I'm a life-long Lutheran, but my DH was Baptist as a child. I say 'was' because as he grew up he stayed away from the church- having been turned off by the 'fire and brimstone' - (if you aren't good you're going to hell). He figured if that was all he was going to hear in church he wanted no part of it. Still, he continued to read the Bible.

He was very anti-church when we first started dating, but I finally convinced him to join me at a service. His first impression - actually of the church building itself, a peaceful beautiful little church in the quiet countryside, was what made him want to learn more about this faith. The fact that he didn't hear any fire and brimstone from the pulpit probably didn't hurt either, though.

He continued to come to church with me and eventually took instruction, was baptized and became a member. (Ironic isn't it- a Baptist who was never baptized). His 2 girls were also baptized in our church.

 

[TheCosmicGospel]

Most visitors have a difficult time understanding the purpose of standing/sitting/standing. Liturgy is not visitor friendly. Glad you overcame the hurdles to discover the great riches. Glad you heard a good sermon. I visit a lot of churches and find most sermons ill conceived and ill delivered.

After the desert, one finds a glass of water most refreshing.

 

[Tangible]

Most visitors have a difficult time understanding the purpose of standing/sitting/standing. Liturgy is not visitor friendly. Glad you overcame the hurdles to discover the great riches.

In our former churches, we usually stood for every song but never for reading the gospel. It still feels a bit weird to sit and sing, but I love standing for the Word. Liturgy may not be visitor-friendly, but we both loved it from the start - even if we did get lost in the service book a few times.

Glad you heard a good sermon. I visit a lot of churches and find most sermons ill conceived and ill delivered.

Our senior pastor is a well-seasoned veteran. He just turned 75 and we will celebrate his 50th year in the ministry soon. He is spry and active with a rapier wit and a warm and open heart. Truly a man greatly used by God.

After the desert, one finds a glass of water most refreshing.

I didn't realize how thirsty I really was until I got my first sip.

 

[Archaenfel]

I was raised LCMS, but for a long time I never really appreciated it. As an independent adult I fell away - not losing my faith, but not seeking it as a lively part of my life.

I married a Nazarine wife who was far more devout. She wanted church every week, but she didn't have a congregation here. We eventually settled on a small Evangelical Free congregation, but it wasn't long before they had problems. Being small, they had no money for a church. They met in school auditoriums, then in a small former chapel, then in the gymnasium of a local non-denominational church. All the while the message left salvation / Law & Gospel preaching and moved into Cat / Dog theology, eventually mutating into "You're Just A Nothing Tool for The Divine One".

Funny how the congregation kept shrinking.

Seeing the shift in teaching and the dying congregation, we left and joined the Presbytarian church. That was ok for a while and they had a nice place for our son, but when the sermon sources shifted from the Bible to such sound theology as "Pay It Forward", "Remember The Titans", "The Fiddler on the Roof", and "Cars" ... it was time to move on.

So what was left? For my wife it was deep searching that ultimately led her to the Greek Orthodox church. While I considered their theology reasonable, I simply couldn't abide the icons. Meanwhile, LCMS churches surrounded the area.

So: I returned to what I left, and found myself more appreciative of what I had.

 

[LilLamb219]

Welcome, CantateDomino! You sound like a true Lutheran! It's wonderful that God has put the focus on Him!

 

[Lupinus]

I was born and baptized a Roman Catholic while still very young. But like many families we were "Catholic" but we didn't darken the doors of a church except for special occasions. Other events involving my family and the death of my Great Grandfather when I was about 10 years old led us even further from the RCC.

Then in my early teen years I fell into paganism. This was actually the longest period I had been what one could call religious as I spent nearly a decade as a pagan. I went through several religions in that time causing many searches for what felt right. Finally towards the end I had jsut wrapped up looking into astru (norse) beliefs. All the while ignoring Christianity.

Finally I decided to answer the call in the back of my mind and look into Christianity once more. And after researching several denominations decided to check out a Lutheran church. Been there ever since.

 

[WildStrawberry]

I didn't realize how thirsty I really was until I got my first sip.

I can't tell you how this simple sentence welled up a flood of emotion in my heart!

How easy is it for those of us who have never been "through the desert" to forget how wonderful that first sip really is.

Welcome to the forums CantateDomino! (may I call you CD?) Can't wait to hear more from you!

Kae

 

[LutheranChick]

Reading these stories I realize I take my life-long Lutheran faith WAY too much for granted.