Confessional Lutheranism

[SPALATIN]

I would like to know why out of several dozen denominations of Protestant Christian churches you have chosen Lutheranism as your way to worship. I realize that this forum is a very social forum and there are many threads here that show the light small talk and at times our sense of humor, but we need some meatier topics here to give our small corner of CF some weight.


So are you a Lutheran in name only? or is there a deeper reason you have chosen this doctrinal viewpoint over other's in the throes of American Evangelicalism. Is it important to you to go to a church and confess your sins every week. Do you truly understand the importance of the Sacraments, Creeds and Confessions? Why are you Lutheran?

:preach:

[PurpleBunny]

I voted Lutheran since birth, since I was raised Lutheran after being baptized at the age of 10 months (a few days after my mom was baptized).

I couldn't attend a non-Lutheran church. They seem... foreign to me, and I feel uncomfortable whenever I go for whatever reason (family members' baptisms, etc.). I think the reason for the foreign-ness is the fact that Lutherans are generally well-educated in doctrine if they've gone thru basic confirmation and have decent memory retention. As well, I was able to take some classes on Lutheran doctrine and theology when I was at university. (I took this course: http://www.concordia.ab.ca/academic/courses.php?courseNumber=REL+376&style=blank&term=1-JAN-2005)

So I guess I would say that it's a combination of being raised Lutheran and then educating myself as to what that means.

[RedneckAnglican]

I could almost go with 2 of those choices...I pick that I choose to be confessional Lutheran...I was born in the Lutheran tradition I left the Church when I was 21 or so...I left because I was angry with the pastor...I went to the Methodist, Presbytarian, Southern Baptist, and Episcopal Churches...I came back to the Lutheran Church (same Church, same Pastor)the more I checked into the Church...downloaded A LOT of Luther's Works...stayed on this forum...and talked with Pastor and now...on the 22nd I going before the Church and reaffirm my Baptismal Vows...I'm very much looking forward to it...

[Protoevangel]

Confessional by choice.


...but was it my choice? ;)

[SPALATIN]

Dan,

Since I know what of you speak I would say it is the choice of the Holy Spirit to put you there. What has convinced you that Lutheranism is correct?

[KagomeShuko]

I could say born and raised Lutheran, because in reality, I never truly stopped going to the Lutheran church, but I did search and go to some different churches and read different doctrines and then came back to Lutheranism.

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[AngelusSax]

I was born a Lutheran, and I am confident I will die a Lutheran. I could never be a member of a church which says Baptism and Communion are only signs and rememberances. And I don't ascribe to the decision theology of the more.... "pop" Christians.... AKA the American Evangelicals (like John Hagee and such).

[Protoevangel]

Dan,

Since I know what of you speak I would say it is the choice of the Holy Spirit to put you there. What has convinced you that Lutheranism is correct?Even though I began my journey as a Christian in a Lutheran church, I really didn't consider myself a Lutheran. I was into authors like McDowell, Coleson, etc. One day, while searching on the net, I ran across Luther's large catechism. I printed it out and began reading it. That's when I realized I really was Lutheran after all. Since then I have read most of the rest of the BoC (I still have the SDFC left to read), which has done nothing but further reinforce to me that this is who I am and where I belong.

[SPALATIN]

Even though I began my journey as a Christian in a Lutheran church, I really didn't consider myself a Lutheran. I was into authors like McDowell, Coleson, etc. One day, while searching on the net, I ran across Luther's large catechism. I printed it out and began reading it. That's when I realized I really was Lutheran after all. Since then I have read most of the rest of the BoC (I still have the SDFC left to read), which has done nothing but further reinforce to me that this is who I am and where I belong.

Has it also influenced what you see as far as synodical ties in your study of the confessions?

[Jim47]

I was Baptized in a WELS Lutheran church at the afe of 8 and have been a member ever since. I wouldn't think of attending a different church.

[Music4Hym777]

Confessional Lutheran by Choice!!! I agree with the Lutheran church and all its standings, the way that we are about the sacraments are what carry me through the week!

[Qoheleth]

It is the continuation of the church catholic in the west.

Q

[Zoomer]

I voted Lutheran since birth. I was around 4 when I was baptized, brought up in Lutheran schools, have been a Lutheran as long as I can remember. I have studied other denominations and haven't found another that is as Biblical as Lutheranism.

[filosofer]

Well, technically no one is "born Lutheran". Yes, I was baptized when 6 months old (about two years after the Acts 2 incident ;) ). As a church home I have been within LCMS, but grew up in a non-Christian home. My grandmothers made sure we got to church. My parents made sure we got to confirmation classes and Walther League.

While I was involved in home Bible studies (non-denominational by nature) through a military chapel many decades ago, I learned more about what it meant to be Christian and Lutheran by confession. I left the navy to attend Seminary. So I guess, I am Christian by faith and Lutheran by confession - by sanctified choice. ;)

[GlowingFirefly]

Hmm.. I picked Lutheran since birth.

I was baptized in my ELCA church, but my mom stopped taking me when I was three. I ended up going back to my ELCA church at age 15. I have a different Pastor now than when I was baptised, but that's okay cause I love my current Pastor. :)

I haven't really known any other denominations. I have been visiting other churches and learned about other denominations before, but I think I like Lutheranism the best out of them all. :)

[revjpw]

I would like to know why out of several dozen denominations of Protestant Christian churches you have chosen Lutheranism as your way to worship.

I don't consider Confessional Lutheransim as "protestant." I reserve that term for denominations that are Reformed in their theology, such as decision theologies, believers baptism, symbolic communion, female clergy, etc. Confessional Lutheransim is the true Church catholic. There are three basic denominations of Christianity: Romanist/Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and Lutheran.



...oh, and I was born and raised Roman Catholic, but I'm all better now. :thumbsup:

[RedneckAnglican]

I don't consider Confessional Lutheransim as "protestant." I reserve that term for denominations that are Reformed in their theology, such as decision theologies, believers baptism, symbolic communion, female clergy, etc. Confessional Lutheransim is the true Church catholic. There are three basic denominations of Christianity: Romanist/Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and Lutheran.



...oh, and I was born and raised Roman Catholic, but I'm all better now. :thumbsup:

recovering Catholic?...

[revjpw]

recovering Catholic?...

No, fully recovered.

[AngelusSax]

A fully recovered Catholic.... lol. That's a good one.:clap:

[ByzantineDixie]

It is the continuation of the church catholic in the west.

Q

Ya...what he said. -----R

[guitarplayer_101]

I chose confessional lutheran by choice. I was born lutheran and have always attended a LCMS church and I do it because I want too. When I was 15, which was only two years ago I started looking at differnt churches and faiths. I'd read luther and the bible(several times through) and I wondered if we really had it right. I looked at all sorts of churches from Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Foursquare, Baptist, LDS(Mormon), and many others. I also attened services at a good number of these churches(Mostly with my Catholic, Baptist, and LDS friends from school) But I realized in all of this searching that I agreed with my church more than any of these others, and now I can say that I'm lutheran by choice rather than birth. But DanHead summed it up pretty well with this quote,

Confessional by choice.


...but was it my choice? ;)


B.J.:wave:

[theologia crucis]

I would like to know why out of several dozen denominations of Protestant Christian churches you have chosen Lutheranism as your way to worship. I realize that this forum is a very social forum and there are many threads here that show the light small talk and at times our sense of humor, but we need some meatier topics here to give our small corner of CF some weight.

So are you a Lutheran in name only? or is there a deeper reason you have chosen this doctrinal viewpoint over other's in the throes of American Evangelicalism. Is it important to you to go to a church and confess your sins every week. Do you truly understand the importance of the Sacraments, Creeds and Confessions? Why are you Lutheran?

:preach:

Being born and raised in a Lutheran family had some weight on it, but not much. I was born and raised in a Longhorn family, too, but I overcame that by the help of the Aggie spirit! ;) Anyway...

I remember as a kid during corporate confession and absolution remembering my sins and how horrible I was, and how I had no hope of ever being able to earn my way to heaven. The Scriptures accurately presented this truth to me.

In communion class, we studied the various understandings of the Lord's Supper, and the Lutheran position is the only one that followed the simple reading of Scripture.

In college, I basically quit attending church, going maybe 5 times in 5 1/2 years in school. However, I roomed with several Christian men in school, and every once in a while, we'd talk about God. I was pathetic and poorly catechized.

Even after graduation, I rarely went to church, even though I was living at home until I could get enough money to buy a house (which I sold today!), and my parents went regularly.

I am shy, and didn't have great luck in meeting chicks, but I did always think in the back of my mind if I was going to get married, it was going to be a Lutheran girl.

I eventually met Ms. Right, but she was a Missouri Synod one, and I thought those were the snake throwers in Lutheranism.

She eventually persuaded me to go to her church, and I liked it. I asked her to marry me, and she said yes! However, since I was not active at my church, I was going to join her church! I balked at first. But at the first Sunday service I went to her church, the interim pastor preached a sermon and mentioned my Fightin' Texas Aggies positively (our church has nasty, burnt orange carpetting!) in a Christian way, and thought that this place might not be too bad.

Then the church finally got its vacancy filled, and I went to new member classes, though I didn't think I really needed to go.

However, he's the best teacher I've ever had, and finally, the Holy Spirit worked through him and brought me to a full understanding of what happened with the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior. I saw the light! Everything now made absolutely perfect since. Sin, suffering, savior, sacraments, etc.!!!

So, I bought the Book of Concord, compared it to Scriptures, and found incredible agreement! And then I compared other confessions to Scriptures, and found many errors, and became more and more convinced of the correctness of Lutheran doctrine.

And that's why I feebly consider myself a confessional Lutheran, a Christian that lives solely by the grace of God through His Son Jesus Christ. I pray He preserves me to the end in this state! Actually, I know He will sustain me until life everlasting through His Word and Sacrament...

[revjpw]

A fully recovered Catholic.... lol. That's a good one.:clap:

Ya'betcha! ;)

[Phoebe]

I would like to know why out of several dozen denominations of Protestant Christian churches you have chosen Lutheranism as your way to worship. I realize that this forum is a very social forum and there are many threads here that show the light small talk and at times our sense of humor, but we need some meatier topics here to give our small corner of CF some weight.


So are you a Lutheran in name only? or is there a deeper reason you have chosen this doctrinal viewpoint over other's in the throes of American Evangelicalism. Is it important to you to go to a church and confess your sins every week. Do you truly understand the importance of the Sacraments, Creeds and Confessions? Why are you Lutheran?

:preach:


You forgot to include the potlucks as a reason to be Lutheran. :P


I was raised Lutheran. I have visited other denominations, but Lutheranism still fits. I felt led by the Holy Spirit to be here. I don't agree with two or three practices of the ELCA, but the LCMS doesn't have much to offer in this town. After the kids get to San Antonio, I'm going to start looking again. (If the Holy Spirit leads me in that direction)

[AngelusSax]

You forgot to include the potlucks as a reason to be Lutheran. :P

Also coffee and donuts. And the amazingly spectacular minor-keyed music. :)

[catzinjammies]

When the Holy Spirit pushed me through the door of the Lutheran church 11 years ago I knew within 15 minutes that I was where I needed to be. I am convinced that the doctrine is the most sound and scriptural in existence. I love the Liturgy, the music (yep, those beautiful minor keyed hymns), that most Lutherans can tell you what they believe and why, the whole package, including the potlucks!!! :)

CIJ

[Protoevangel]

Has it also influenced what you see as far as synodical ties in your study of the confessions?Sorry it took me so long to reply. The last half of this week was absolutely crazy!

Anyway, to answer your question...

Yes it has, but not how you might imagine. One thing reading the confessions and other writings of Luther has taught me is to be very conscious of the division between the Law and the Gospel. For now, the ELCA does still preach the Gospel (in the Liturgy). We still have the Sacraments, and they are rightly administered. Our shelter is crumbling, but the foundation, Christ, is still there. But how long can one live on a slowly crumbling foundation with no shelter, is the question I am presented with. As I and other confessional Lutherans are trying to reinforce the foundation and rebuild our home, others continue to tear it down. Even others are trying to build with non-standard blueprints (neo-evangelicals).

Your mileage may vary.

[alabaster jar]

I was raised LCMS Lutheran. I have visited the ELCA churches in the past. I am used to the style of a typical Lutheran service; I like the sermons. I also watch some religious shows on t.v. and they seem okay. Some of the big churches would be neat to visit. There are some things I like about Catholicism too, and some things I don't. This summer our church is going to offer a Thursday evening service outside, a Sat. late service in addition to the regular Sunday service and I look forward to the new summer services. The Sat. service is going to be with a guitar. The only thing that doesn't really make me Lutheran I guess is my less literal view of creation than I think my synod has. And I don't know about women and ordination; I've listend to Joyce Meyers and I didn't turn into a pillar of salt.

Growing up I recall one lady that used to go to the Lutheran church that my family attended and she dropped out and went to a charismatic church, feeling that Lutherans didn't have any 'Spirit.' And just a couple sermons ago, we had a Pastor who asked us to scratch our chins in church and made the dry comment that 'I know you are all Lutherans and just want to sit, but. . .' and the congregation laughed.

I've heard of some churches doing things like washing each other's feet and I just don't know if I could see that happening in a Lutheran church? and someone brought up tent revivals and Lutherans don't really do that. I think every church is different and seems to stress different things. I don't think my church is necessarily better, but I do think it trys to be biblical without falling into legalism and that's why I guess I stay with Lutheranism.

[VeryTiredGirl]

I would like to know why out of several dozen denominations of Protestant Christian churches you have chosen Lutheranism as your way to worship. I realize that this forum is a very social forum and there are many threads here that show the light small talk and at times our sense of humor, but we need some meatier topics here to give our small corner of CF some weight.


So are you a Lutheran in name only? or is there a deeper reason you have chosen this doctrinal viewpoint over other's in the throes of American Evangelicalism. Is it important to you to go to a church and confess your sins every week. Do you truly understand the importance of the Sacraments, Creeds and Confessions? Why are you Lutheran?

:preach:

I was baptized Lutheran, but not taken to church. Went through Confirmation, and then wasn't encouraged to go to worship or anything afterward. Spent time with Pentecostal friends in high school, and considered converting to their church. Also briefly considered becoming a Jehovah's Witness.

When I was 19 I wound up in hopsital for five weeks, and it was a sort of 'wake up call'. I went back to the congregation I was confirmed in and then a few years later transferred to my current congregation.

I'm not fluent in the Confessions, like the Augsburg and the like, but I have a basic idea, and having researched the beliefs of the Lutheran church and comparing them to other denoms and belief systems, I feel I've found 'the one', the church whose doctrine and beliefs are closest to Scripture.

I know that no church body on Earth will be perfect, and there may be problems here and there. Still....I feel I've found the place that is the closest to my understanding of Scripture.

I also volunteer in a seminary, which gives me a chance to learn even more.

[SPALATIN]

I was baptized Lutheran, but not taken to church. Went through Confirmation, and then wasn't encouraged to go to worship or anything afterward. Spent time with Pentecostal friends in high school, and considered converting to their church. Also briefly considered becoming a Jehovah's Witness.

When I was 19 I wound up in hopsital for five weeks, and it was a sort of 'wake up call'. I went back to the congregation I was confirmed in and then a few years later transferred to my current congregation.

I'm not fluent in the Confessions, like the Augsburg and the like, but I have a basic idea, and having researched the beliefs of the Lutheran church and comparing them to other denoms and belief systems, I feel I've found 'the one', the church whose doctrine and beliefs are closest to Scripture.

I know that no church body on Earth will be perfect, and there may be problems here and there. Still....I feel I've found the place that is the closest to my understanding of Scripture.

I also volunteer in a seminary, which gives me a chance to learn even more.

VTG,

I encourage you to get a copy of the Book of Concord and read it from cover to cover. Then you will know more of why you feel Lutheranism is the right place for you.

Scott

[filosofer]

VTG,

I encourage you to get a copy of the Book of Concord and read it from cover to cover. Then you will know more of why you feel Lutheranism is the right place for you.

Scott

I encourage you to read the Scriptures so that you know more and more why Lutherans believe, teach, and confess the way we do. :)

[VeryTiredGirl]

VTG,

I encourage you to get a copy of the Book of Concord and read it from cover to cover. Then you will know more of why you feel Lutheranism is the right place for you.

Scott

I actually own one, and did read it back when I first bought it. I've tried reading it again in the last couple years, but I've been sick, and found it difficult to understand and retain what I've read.

I have spent a good bit of time with the Small Catechism I used during confirmation in the last few weeks/months.

I may try to dust off my BOC and start with the stuff I 'know', like the Small and Large Catechisms, and if I do well with those, move back into the other Confessions.

[VeryTiredGirl]

I encourage you to read the Scriptures so that you know more and more why Lutherans believe, teach, and confess the way we do. :)

I've been away from reading my Bible, partly out of laziness, and partly because I went through a phase where I either couldn't focus on reading (I'd read a sentance four times and have no clue what I'd read), or else couldn't remember anything I'd read. I should maybe give it another try, starting with books of the Bible I'm more familiar with and moving on from there.

I just fear that I'll have trouble reading/remembering again, and I'll feel like a failure.:sigh:

[SPALATIN]

I encourage you to read the Scriptures so that you know more and more why Lutherans believe, teach, and confess the way we do. :)

Actually a cross reference between the two would be preferred. I didn't mean that we should leave out the scriptures when reading the BOC. Scriptures are what the faith is about. The Confessions are only the exposition of scriptures.

In reading the confessions I find it easier to do it by topic than to read it cover to cover. So you might want to start with Baptism and read everything on Baptism comparing it to what scripture says about it.