OUR BELIEFS

Trinity Lutheran Church

To our Guest:
These fourteen points below are short explanations regarding what we confess about God’s Word. Obviously, such explanations offer only a short cursory presentation of what we believe. Should you, the spiritual traveler, have more interest in what we believe you are welcome to contact our pastor or visit our Sunday morning service at 9:00 AM. New Member Classes are offered on a regular basis allowing a more in-depth presentation about these issues from Holy Scripture. Thank you for taking the time to read these materials, and may Christ Jesus bless you this day and always.

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Abortion:
There was never a time in his mother’s womb when Jesus was not a person. Therefore, the living but unborn are persons in the sight of God from the time of conception. (Ps. 139:13-16; Jer. 1:5; Jn. 1:5; Lk. 1:41-4)

Baptism:
As the first creation was in and through water it should not surprise us that the second creation is also in and through water. A child, or an adult is brought to the surface of the deep. That soul of the unregenerate, or unbelieving person, is dark, so much so that this soul is devoid of the true knowledge, righteousness and holiness of God. The Spirit of God hovers over the surface of the deep of that font, as the Spirit did at the first creation, and, as he did in the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism. Then, through the Pastor, the Word of God is spoken, “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the † Son and of the Holy Spirit” and life is created in the womb of Holy Baptism. And what is created in this womb, is not fish, squid, or porpoise. But what is created now is divine spiritual life to live with Christ even when time ceases. (Ez. 36:25-27; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3, 5; Eph. 5:22-27; 2 Pet. 2:18-21)

Close(d) Communion:
Close and closed communion mean, or should mean the same thing. Reception of the Lord’s Supper is always a personal matter, but it is never a private matter. When we commune we give a sermon before the world regarding what we believe (1 Cor. 11:16). Those who commune at the same altar declare that they are united to the doctrine which is taught at that altar (Acts 2:42).

Heaven is filled with people who were not Missouri Synod Lutherans and remember, we are never to judge the heart of an individual. A person may say they believe as Missouri Synod Lutherans while they are members of a different denomination, which, while Christian, teaches things which differ from what Missouri Synod proclaims about Christ. We are never to look at the faith of the heart. We judge what is visible.

What is visible is the doctrine of Christ that is preached at the altar and pulpit to which a person has joined himself to by virtue of church membership. We look at these for that is where a person’s faith is nourished and grown on a regular basis.

When we commune we are one with our Lord and we are one with our neighbor (1 Cor. 10:16-17). We are one with our Lord and each other when we receive and proclaim the same doctrine taught by the apostles—which is what Christ taught. Therefore we invite those who are nourished at altars and pulpits that proclaim the full council of God’s Word to commune at our altars (Acts 5:20; 20:20-21, 27; 27:22). Practically speaking, this means people who are members in good standing in LCMS churches.

This practice of Close Communion is born out of a heartfelt conviction on the basis of Scripture that is always best to be faithful to the Lord’s commands. We practice this in a sincere, loving desire to bring unity among Christians that is based upon the correct teaching of God’s Word. This practice of closed communion is also followed among Roman Catholics and the Eastern Churches as it was in the early church.

Communion:
Because of the almighty, powerful Words of Institution Jesus’ body is in, with, and under the consecrated bread, and his holy blood is in, with, and under the wine. In Holy Communion we participate in the actual body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Mt. 26:26-28, 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 1 Cor. 11:23-32; Heb. 10:29, cf. Ex. 24:8).

Contemporary Worship:
In many respects the hymnody and liturgy of the Lutheran Church is very contemporary. Many of our hymns, especially in the HymnalSupplement98, are written very recently in time. They are con temporare¸—with the time. That is to say, such hymns have been written in our time.

In another respect our hymns and liturgies are contemporary for Jesus is the God of the living and not the dead (Mt. 22:32). Jesus inhabits his Word and comes to us in the Word. Jesus is still among us as one who serves (Lk. 22:28). Jesus is with the time.

Contemporary Worship becomes problematic when the culture of the world and all that is associated with it invades the culture of the church. All these changes demonstrate a lack of confidence in the ability of God’s means of grace to achieve what he promises. Whether it be home-made liturgies or praise songs, there is always that attempt to out-do yesterday’s mountain-top high:

Creation Out of Nothing:
Those consistent with evolutionary thinking believe that death is natural and necessary for the improvement of life. Evolutionary thought does not believe that death came about as a result of Adam’s sin, and therefore we have no need of a Savior to rescue us from sin, death, and the devil. There is no more direct attack on the Christian faith than this type of thinking. Additionally, evolutionary thought teaches that all morals and ethics are constantly evolving—in a constant state of change—and our society is reaping the result of such ungodly thinking.

Scripture clearly teaches that the heavens and earth were created out of nothing solely by the spoken Word of God. This creation was in six twenty-four hour days and Adam and Eve were historical people.

The word for “day” used in Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31 is “yom.” It means a twenty-four hour day (Ps. 33:6; Is. 42:5; Heb. 11:3; 2 Pet. 3:5-7) as it is still used for the Jewish holy day, “Yom Kippur.”

The Lord God made all that is—in six twenty-four hour days—by his spoken Word. When the trumpet sounds on the last day Christ will make a new heaven and a new earth and raise me and all the dead solely by the Word of his command.

The Lord made Adam from the clay of the earth by the power of his Word and breathed the breath of life into him (Gen. 2:7). By his Word of promise added to that water Jesus re-creates you and me in the waters of Holy Baptism and the life-giving Spirit of God is breathed into us. As the first Adam was a historical person made by God’s Word so too the second Adam, Christ Jesus, “was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man” solely by the work of God.

Evolutionists use time and chance to explain everything. But, if God used “time and chance” to create then what power does his Word have to create life in me and raise me and all the dead on the last day?

Homosexuality:
“‘Haven’t you read,’ [Jesus] replied, ‘at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’” (Mt. 19:4-5). The marriage of a man and a woman is an honorable estate “… by which God gives us a picture of the very communion of Christ and his bride, the Church.” [Lutheran Worship Agenda, prepared by the Commission on Worship of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1984), 120.] (Rom. 1:24, 26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10)

Inerrancy—God’s Word is without Error:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,…” (2 Tim. 3:16). [Mk. 8:38; Jn. 10:35; 2 Pet. 1:21] All Scripture is without error. We know this because of Scripture’s author, Jesus Christ. His love for us is so great that he will not mislead us when he speaks to us in his Word. As we confess in the Nicene Creed, “I believe in the Holy Spirit, … who spoke through the prophets.”

Justification—Where Christ forgives us:
Justification is the good news that God did not abandon humanity when Adam and Eve fell into sin. God sent his Son, born of his mother Mary, to live a perfect life amongst us. Then, he went to the cross in our place and received our punishment for our sins and on the third day rose from the grave (2 Cor. 5:21). [Rom. 3:22-24; Rom. 4:25; Acts 10:43; Acts 16:30-31, 34; Rev. 1:5-6]

On the cross Jesus cried, “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30). While alive on the cross, in our place suffering the punishment for our sins Jesus, finished or won for the world the forgiveness of sins (Is. 52:13, 53:5, Jn. 12:31-32). The words that proclaim one forgiven for Christ’s sake also create the faith that enables us to trust this proclamation. Simply by believing one has what the Word offers; the forgiveness of sins.

Sin, Original—Our Need for a Savior:
We are all conceived in sin, prior to any active sins committed. King David who slept with Bathsheba committed; adultery, murder, and then he lied or tried to hide his sin. When the Prophet Nathan confronted him regarding his sin, notice what King David said: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Ps. 51:5). [Job 14:1-4, 25:4, Rom. 5:12].

When St. Paul says that “…the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked,…” (Rom. 4:5) he is talking about me, about you, about the world.

Unionism:
Unionism is the pretense or show of unity where there is no unity in doctrinal belief. To admit to our altar, or to have a pastor in one of our pulpits who does not believe, teach, and confess as we believe is a unity which is not true. As the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are perfectly united in purpose and in doctrine, so we also are to be perfectly united in purpose and doctrine with those who come to our altars and preach in our pulpits.

Remember, we are never to judge the heart of an individual. We look at the altars and pulpits to which a person has joined himself to by virtue of church membership for that is where a person is spiritually nourished.

One of the early professors at our seminary has written:

Women Clergy:
“Now the overseer [pastor] must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate...” (1 Tim. 3:2). [Mk. 3:14-19; 2 Tim. 2:2; Tit. 1:6]

Word of God—It Is Always Effective:
The Word of God is more than information about God. The Word of God is always effective for it is the very means whereby God gives himself to us! Hearing the Word spoken, preached, sung, or read is the most exciting, contemporary, effective time we spend here on earth because God comes to us in his Word! How do we know this? It is because God tells us in his Word, that his Word is always powerful and effective.

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Is. 55:10-11). [Jn. 6:63, 15:3; Rom. 1:16, 4:17; 1 Cor. 4:15; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 4:12; 1 Pet. 1:23]

Worship—The Divine Service:
In the divine service the Divine, Jesus, serves us with the gifts of heaven, forgiveness, life, and salvation. The rhythm of our worship is from God to us, and then from us back to him. Music edifies and serves this thankfulness and praise, when the Gospel is proclaimed through words put to music. “Faith is that worship which receives God’s offered blessings; the righteousness of the law is that worship which offers God our own merits. It is by faith that God wants to be worshiped, namely that we receive from him what he promises and offers.” [Apology, IV, in The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, trans. and ed. Theodore Tappert (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1959), 114:49.]

The historic liturgy is a wonderful gift. This is demonstrated by the fact that due to its richness and proclamation of the Gospel it has survived and served us well through two-thousand years of church history. In the divine service Christ comes to us in the spoken and visible Word. When Christ’s gifts are given Jesus is in our midst serving us and as such, we are experiencing a foretaste of heaven.