a Lutheran’s Confessions

This communication advice is commonly given to public speakers and presenters.  We sometimes learn more by seeing than by hearing.  

Certainly God reveals Himself in the Scriptures by telling, but perhaps more by showing than by telling. 

The Scriptures are Trinitarian to the core, but you must understand that the revelation of God as Three-in-One is accomplished not just in words but in deeds, because in the Scriptures God seems to reveal Himself more in deeds than in words.  God prefers to show more than tell.  Through the incarnation of the Son and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Father has made known His love for sinners like us.  The revelation of the Trinity is the inevitable result of God’s gift of redemption through Jesus Christ. 

I like the way the late Dr. Eric Mascall puts it: 

“The Trinity is not primarily a doctrine anymore than the Incarnation is primarily a doctrine.  There is a doctrine about the Trinity, as there are doctrines about many other facts of existence, but, if Christianity is true, the Trinity is not a doctrine; the Trinity is God….  It is the secret of God’s most intimate life and being, into which, in His infinite love and generosity, He has admitted us; and it is therefore to be accepted with amazed and exultant gratitude.”    

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“Catechism” is from the Greek word “kata-echo,” meaning to repeat back or to echo what one has been taught. As children, we learn to speak by repeating what our parents say. The same is true with the Christian faith. Catechumens or confirmands are those who learn to echo what God says in His Word regarding our sin, our Savior from sin, and God’s unconditional love for all humanity at the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no greater subject in the world, no more important subject that our children will ever be privileged to learn than this precious Word of God.

Traditionally, congregations celebrate the rite of confirmation on Pentecost     Sunday, symbolizing the fulfillment of  promises made at the child’s baptism:

“Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:19-20)

Some congregations, however, confirm on Palm Sunday. Still others confirm on any Sunday that is convenient. There is no command from God regarding this. Any Sunday will do, one reason Grace Lutheran confirms on Pentecost rather than Palm Sunday is to give students more time to learn their catechisms.

Our Lord has said, “If you abide in My Word, you are truly My  disciples.” (John. 8:31) Confirmation is not an end but one more step along the continuing path of remaining in Christ’s Word and echoing back what He has given us to say.

It’s lonely being Lutheran. The Roman Catholics lump us with the Protestants, the Protestants lump us with the Roman Catholics, while the press and pollsters largely ignore us.

Five hundred years ago, our opponents first called us Lutherans. We have always called ourselves “Evangelical,” meaning “of the Gospel” or “centered in the Gospel,” but that term has been hijacked by the religious conservatives in our country who emphasize the Law (what we do) much more than the Gospel (what Christ has done for us).

To confess means to acknowledge what is true, and the Lutheran Church exists for one reason—to confess the truth about Jesus Christ to a dying world.

We confess or acknowledge to all who will listen that God forgives our sins and declares us righteous not by our works, merits, prayers or commitments to Christ, but by the works, merits, prayers and commitments of Christ on our behalf.

Confessing this truth is not for the timid, nor is it for those who crave popularity, but if you wish to be found faithful above all else, join us.