Jan 4 - What do Lutherans believe? Part 2

More and more people are asking me to tell them more about who Lutherans are and what Lutherans believe.

A few days ago, I wrote a long explanation to a friend, realizing that it would be good to share with all of you -- and hopefully lots of future new members.

Here's the second in a five-part glimpse of what Lutherans believe ...

So those who welcomed [Peter's] message

[that Pentecost day] were baptized,

and that day about three thousand persons were added. 

They devoted themselves to the

apostles' teaching and fellowship,

to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Acts 2:41-42

The second piece of Lutheranism that throws some non-Lutherans is the liturgy.

The liturgy, you need to know, is not a Lutheran peculiarity. It's been around since the early church, and is used (generally in an even more "high church" format) by Episcopaleans and Catholics and to varying degrees by some "high church" versions of Presbyterians and Methodists.

More importantly, the liturgy is primarily an intentional order of service. (Every church has a pattern. In most non-liturgical traditions, it's predominantly word-focused with: three songs, a prayer, and the sermon.) We opt for a more ancient order which includes four major parts:

        1

Gathering -- which included confession ("we take a bath before entering the presence of the king") and praise (usually songs of praise and thanksgiving).

        2

Word -- for us this is many things: 

• It is scripture reading.
• It is proclamation and interpretation (both to the kids and then to the adults).
• It is also our response to God and his Word (which is both our offerings and more songs of praise).

        3

Meal -- Many of us remember when churches used to do communion once a month or even once a quarter. In researching the early church, however, it's been found that the first Christians gathered almost daily, but Sunday always meant communion.

The original argument against the switch to weekly communion was, "It won't be special." The opposite has occurred. Those who communion weekly tend to hunger for this sacrament more and find that worship is complete without it.

I used to visit an old homebound man. Every time I'd call, I'd say, "John, do you want me to bring communion." He'd pause for a long moment -- for effect -- saying, "Let's see, have I sinned since last time you were here? ... ... ... Yep! Better bring the communion" -- i.e. better bring the bread of salvation and the cup of forgiveness.

We need Christ's presence, God's forgiveness, and the reuniting of community around the family table every week.

        4

Sending -- I know some churches that place these words over the back door: "The worship is over, now the service begins." Hopefully worship has filled us, but worship was never meant to be the end product; our worship is supposed to refill us and propel us forward as we head back out into a hurting world.

        Conclusion

There's one more wonderful and crucial piece to the liturgy that we'll reflect upon tomorrow, but go back for a second to the section on the Word.

• God speaks to us
• and then we respond to him (with our offerings and with our praise).

How is God calling you to respond more fully to him? on Sundays in worship? and right now, reflecting on worship?

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's pausing a moment

to praise