a Lutheran’s Confessions

     A “synod” is a peculiar kind of organization—one that honors God’s Word as its final authority. The word “synod” is a Greek word meaning, “going the same way,” or “walking together.” Missouri Synod Lutherans walk together in doctrine and practice, not because anyone forces us to do so. Rather, we walk together voluntarily, being convinced of the truths we profess and submitting ourselves to the Word of God and to one another in love.

     Our synod’s first president, Dr. C.F.W. Walther, wrote: “Let us above all and in all matters be concerned about this, that the pure doctrine of our dear Evangelical Lutheran Church may become known more and more completely among us, that it may be in vogue in our congregations, and that it may be preserved from all adulteration and held fast as the most precious treasure.”

     Dr. Sam Nafzger has written, “When we do this, we in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod give honor to our Savior Jesus Christ, and we give winsome witness to His Gospel.”

     Dr. Laurence White, an LCMS pastor in Houston, noted at a pro-life rally that seventy years ago in Nazi Germany, an entire category of people were classified as non-human and unworthy of protection.
     In Germany in the 1930’s, the church, like Cain, seemed to ask, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
     Dr. White said that many in the church followed the “three monkey approach,” see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. But this approach does not work. Evil does not go away. It festers and grows. Once you allow abortion, you must also allow euthanasia, which is just abortion in reverse.
     In America alone, there are 3,250 abortions every day, one every thirty seconds. Dr. White noted that as children in Old Testament were sacrificed to the pagan god Molech, so American children are sacrificed today on the altar of convenience in the name of reproductive freedom.
     We are collectively guilty of the sin of murder. We have failed to be our brother’s keeper. We have failed to register our voices in protest against this holocaust. God forgive us of our complicity, and God give us the resolve to stand against the murder of the unborn by proclaiming the Gospel of Christ’s forgiveness to our dying world and by supporting abortion alternatives and candidates who pledge to protect life.

     When the great composer, Felix Mendelssohn, was asked why, having been born Jewish, he composed the great Reformation Symphony, he replied, “In those days (the days of the Reformation) men had convictions. Today, men have only opinions.”
     The Lutheran Church was born of conviction, not opinion. The Lutheran Church exists for one reason only: for the sake of the faithful proclamation of the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ in all of its articles.
This faithful proclamation of the truth of Jesus Christ, the only Savior, is what our dying world desperately needs.
     In our liturgy, in our hymnody and in our preaching and teaching, we are convinced that what we share with the world is the unadulterated truth of God’s Word and, if we are in error in any point, we invite our brothers and sisters in the faith to lovingly show us our error.
     Our teachings are a matter of public record and contained in the Book of Concord of 1580. These teachings have never been disproved or refuted, nor have they ever been withdrawn. They stand as a faithful testimony to the truth of God’s Word and of our witness to the world.

just like they cry at home…

…and they belong in both houses. Children belong in worship (Joel 2:16). Their presence is our Lord’s desire (Matthew 19:14).
     The next time you hear a baby cry in church, give thanks to God that the parents have their priorities straight and have the child in the Divine Service. The best way for a child to learn to be in worship is to be in worship, and just as you don’t always feel well, the child doesn’t either.
     We make allowances for those younger than us in other ways and in other places. That should be true in church. Kids will be kids, and with parental guidance, they will learn how to conduct themselves in God’s house. All things take time. I’m just glad they’re present to receive Christ’s gifts.
     If you missed something during the sermon because of noise, you can always listen to the sermons (and access other helpful material) at our website. That’s a good idea anyway.
     God bless you and your family in the reception of Christ’s gifts.