St. Matthew Lutheran Church Newsletter, June 2023

 As I mentioned in Bible Class and in the Divine Service, it was a great interest and encouragement at the District Theological Convocation listening to the stories of people who have come out of other church traditions talk about the joy of hearing the Gospel in the Lutheran Church. What joy we have as Lutherans (Missouri Synod) to have the fullness of the Gospel! Many other traditions proclaim salvation by grace through faith in Jesus and yet then drive their members back to the Law with all the rules and regulations, imposing the necessity of “making a decision for Jesus,” “being obedient to God’s Word,” “dedicating and living their life” for Jesus. Perhaps as lifelong Lutherans we take for granted the joy we have in the Gospel that Jesus chose us, accepted us, lived for us, was obedient for us, so much so that we sit on our grace. We fail to revel in our privilege to come and hear that our sins are forgiven and to hear the blessings of the good news of salvation by not making regular (as often as offered) and diligent (continually being in the Word) use of these opportunities.

My hope and prayer for many of those who have come out of the other traditions into the Lutheran Church is that they will continue to move even more in the teachings of the Lutherans Church, including and especially in our practice of Divine Service. Hopefully and prayerfully they will move to even more appreciate our church building and our Divine Service and how both our facility and service also reflect our faith, that is that what we believe, our doctrine, determines how we practice, how our building is structured to point to the Means of Grace, and how our Divine Service teaches our confession.

So, why is there a difference between we Lutherans and these other traditions? Several reasons and probably the main reason is the fact that many other traditions elevate human reason (failed, sin tainted human reason) over God’s Word, such that when there is something difficult in God’s Word that does not make “reasonable” sense, they will elevate their own reasoning over God’s Word instead of simply letting God’s Word be God’s word.

Perhaps we might understand the difference between Lutherans and other traditions by understanding where we agree and where we do not agree, at least as far as God’s Word. We certainly agree with our Evangelical (Reformed, Anabaptist, Calvinist, etc.) friends on the issues of: Inspiration, Inerrancy, and Infallibility, that is that the Bible is inspired by God, does not contain errors, and does not fail. But, as Lutherans we go on to confess the: Sufficiency, Clarity, Efficacy, and Power of the Bible, that is we believe we do not need human reason to understand God’s Word because it is sufficient in itself in Law and Gospel, and it is clear in its teachings. We believe the Word of God has power and is effective such that it does and gives what it says it does and gives. Thus, when we hear the Word of Holy Absolution, we believe that our sins are forgiven. When we hear God’s name put on us with water put on us in Holy Baptism, we believe we are saved, given faith, forgiveness and life. When we hear God’s “given and shed for you” in the Holy Supper, we believe we are given Jesus’ body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. Indeed, it is the very Word of God which is the power to do such things and give such gifts. And for that we rejoice and say, “Thanks be to God1”