Dilemma

[oneno]

Hello, My family and I got fed up with te elca in the spring after ten years of ups and downs and political turmoil. Our son went to a WELS School for his middle years and we really liked the congregation, but think it may be to conservative, We understand closed communion but don't necesarily agree with it, but we don't agree with not being able to pray with whom we want. Our son is going to a Christian school that parents and ex-teachers created after one Christian School closed. They have chapel services every morning and we all pray openly before meetings and functions etc.The problem: by the WELS beleifs it states that they can only pray with those who are WELS and doesn't allow prayer outside of their community. Am i wrong in my interpretation? Does LCMS allow sharing of prayer with others?

[SPALATIN]

Hello, My family and I got fed up with te elca in the spring after ten years of ups and downs and political turmoil. Our son went to a WELS School for his middle years and we really liked the congregation, but think it may be to conservative, We understand closed communion but don't necesarily agree with it, but we don't agree with not being able to pray with whom we want. Our son is going to a Christian school that parents and ex-teachers created after one Christian School closed. They have chapel services every morning and we all pray openly before meetings and functions etc.The problem: by the WELS beleifs it states that they can only pray with those who are WELS and doesn't allow prayer outside of their community. Am i wrong in my interpretation? Does LCMS allow sharing of prayer with others?

TO my knowledge you can pray with those who are recognized Christian denominations, but not with pagans. Pastors are not supposed to take part in interdenominational prayer services as that would be considered unionism. WELS just takes that practice to their own homes as well as their church service.

[LilLamb219]

As a member of a LCMS church, I don't think I could go to a different denom's worship service and feel comfortable praying with them since I don't agree with a lot of what they believe. It would show that I'm agreeing by praying with them. But, I wouldn't mind praying with my family and friends of whom I trust to just stick with the basic prayer and not insert any false theology.

[LutherNut]

As for closed communion, it is both a very Biblical and loving practice. Perhaps an ordained member can explain it better.


As for prayer, the LCMS does not have a real problem with prayer with other Christians as long as it does not espouse heterodox beliefs or practices. I personally have no problem with praying with someone to the one true Triune God, with some considerations in place.

Where the difference lies with the LCMS and WELS (from what I understand) is that the WELS holds very firmly to the notion that prayer constitutes a form of worship which can only be practiced within the confines of altar/pulpit fellowship. The Missouri Synod also holds that prayer is a form of worship but they do not hold to the strict fellowship requirements that the Wisconsin Synod does. While the WELS practice does eliminate a whole series of problems, it also creates some as well.


Jay

[ByzantineDixie]

You are not wrong in your interpretation regarding WELS...closed prayer fellowship is their practice.

To my knowledge, open prayer with other Christians has never been prohibited in the LCMS. I recall reading something from/about Walther on this.

With regard to the LCMS, you should be able to find a congregation that will offer open communion if that is your preference. Even though the LCMS says it practices close(d) communion on the books, in practice about half of the congregations do not abide in this...now the level of adherence can vary as to which part of the country one would be in. Where l live that number is closer to 99%.

But realize what it means if you do find a congregation that offers just what you are looking for...open communion. It means that congregation is willfully choosing to violate the synodical agreements. It further means....if you are leaving the ELCA because of "ups and downs and political turmoil" then the LCMS can offer you no safe haven from that.

[LutherNut]

But realize what it means if you do find a congregation that offers just what you are looking for...open communion. It means that congregation is willfully choosing to violate the synodical agreements.



It also means that they are violating the Scriptural teaching of the Lord's Supper as well.


Jay

[oneno]

The ELCA church we left didn't agree with the way the ELCA is going and therefore are really a renegade type church. I understand and can accept the close communion just don't really understand the open prayer limitations.

[Jim47]

The WELS stance on joint prayer has indeed drawn much criticism, some even from within WELS members. I think this comes from a lack of understanding and perhaps a lack of subjecting ourselves to God's way.

As an example, did God tell the Children of Israel to go out and conform themselves to the nations around them? No! He said you are to be seperate from them. Its not that we don't want fellowship with others. We just believe that fellowship is not as important as being true to God's teaching. We gladly welcome all that come through our doors or that believe as we do.

Here is a link that may better explain it than I can.

http://www.lutherannews.info/lcmscrisis.htm

.And another

http://www.lutherannews.info/elcacrisis.htm

[oneno]

So as a WELS member you can pray with others as long as it doesn't include doctrinal references or they aren't a pagan?

[Jim47]

So as a WELS member you can pray with others as long as it doesn't include doctrinal references or they aren't a pagan?

No, we can not. I'm sorry if I implied that or didn't make it clear.

By the way, those links are not WELS sponcered.

[Protoevangel]

It also means that they are violating the Scriptural teaching of the Lord's Supper as well.


Jay
Hi LutherNut,

I do respect the reasoning behind close(d) communion and in this age of rampant heresy and apostasy, I really see it's benefit. But I was wondering if you would be willing to explain how any form of open communion is automatically a violation of Holy Scripture.

[oneno]

I'll be meeting with the pastor this Saturday. My wife and I will have plenty of questions. We are very positive about this. I'll post the outcome.

[ILoveYeshua]

Hello, My family and I got fed up with te elca in the spring after ten years of ups and downs and political turmoil. Our son went to a WELS School for his middle years and we really liked the congregation, but think it may be to conservative, We understand closed communion but don't necesarily agree with it, but we don't agree with not being able to pray with whom we want. Our son is going to a Christian school that parents and ex-teachers created after one Christian School closed. They have chapel services every morning and we all pray openly before meetings and functions etc.The problem: by the WELS beleifs it states that they can only pray with those who are WELS and doesn't allow prayer outside of their community. Am i wrong in my interpretation? Does LCMS allow sharing of prayer with others?


when you pray, you shall enter into your closet and shut your door.

that pretty much settles that!