September 2024 Newsletter

September 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I believe most people understand what is a rhetorical question. It is a question that really does not ask for nor need an answer. Here in Texas we may joke that a Texan answers a question with a question (a rhetorical question) such as, “Is the sky blue?” Answer, “Is the pope Catholic?” or “Does a wild bear live in the woods?” Such is the way with rhetoric and rhetorical questions.
 

But what about rhetoric or rhetorical questions in other areas of life and even Lutheranism? As we understand that our doctrine (what we believe, teach and confess) should determine and be seen in our practice (how and what we do) then I believe that there are truly Lutheran ways to practice Lutheranism. When we think of preaching, teaching, evangelism, Divine Service and even our church building I believe there are Lutheran ways these are to be accomplished, that is our doctrine should inform and instruct and be seen in each of these areas.
    Lutheran doctrine is seen in Lutheran preaching with a proper distinction between Law and Gospel and an emphasis on the Gospel. Lutheran Education and teaching is seen in Christ and the Bible as the foundation. Lutheran Evangelism is seen in always being ready to give an answer for the hope we have.
 

Lutheran Divine Service is seen in that we do not come to worship because the very definition of worship is that God is the audience and we are the actors and we are coming to do something for God, as if God needs anything from us. Rather Lutheran Divine Service is just that, a Divine, Godly Service. It is first and foremost God coming to us to give us the gifts He has to give and to give them through His means of grace which permeate the Divine Service.
 

So, what makes a church building a Lutheran Church building? If you were blindfolded and led into a Walmart, Target, HEB, Kroger, etc., you would more than likely immediately know which store you were in. If you were blindfolded and led into a baseball field, a football field, a movie theater, a convention center, etc., you would more than likely immediately know where you were. But what about walking into a church building? Would you know if it were a church building or even which denomination you might be in? If you walked in and did not see a cross or a pulpit or Baptismal font, if you saw an enclosed drum set, musical instruments on a stage, if you saw screens on the wall, would you recognize the building as a church building or a place to be entertained, like an arena or music hall?
 

The point is, what does the rhetoric of the building say about what is going on in the building? As you walk into St. Matthew Lutheran Church of Westfield, there should be no mistake that you have entered a building in which the Divine Service points you to Jesus. The cross is prominent. The Baptismal font is to the left, the altar in the center, and the pulpit to the right. The communion rail separates the sanctuary (the nave) from the chancel area. There are no musical instruments in the chancel and there are no screens on the wall to make you think you are being entertained or to draw your attention away from the focal point of the cross of Christ and the means of grace.

God’s richest blessings.
In His Service,

Pastor Bogs
1 Cor. 15:3-5