The End Times: A Study of Eschatology and Millennialism. For a helpful summary of the LCMS position on predestination, see the section on Of the Election of Grace in the Synod's Brief Statement (adopted in 1932). Hi Leizel, yes you can still assign that role to her. The first additional names are usually the mother's family surname(s) and the father's family surname(s). QUESTION: Recently many people have been reading the Left Behind series of books by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. Hi! 2:10; 14:13)" (Edward Koehler, A Summary of Christian Doctrine, St. Louis: Concordia, 1939). ANSWER: Lutherans believe that faith is created and strengthened not by looking inside of one's self (to one's own faith and/or doubts) but by looking outside of one's self (to God's Word and promises in Christ). The faith of which Paul speaks, of course, is a living faith in Jesus Christ that produces, by God's Spirit, the good works that God wills be done in the Christian's life. Hi Nigel, yes it is. But in the face of emotional ups and downs, moral failings, intellectual doubts, and confusion over doctrine, how can one know if one truly has faith in Christ? i’ve been ruminating over having our groomsmen and bridesmaids be secondary sponsors as well. 53:1-3). Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!" QUESTION: Does The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod believe in the rapture? It is impossible, therefore, for a confessing Christian to fall into this state unknowingly or unwillingly, and any confessing Christian who is sincerely concerned about the possibility of having committed this "sin" clearly has not committed it, because one of the necessary signs of being in this state of non-repentance and unbelief is having no real concern or remorse about being in this condition. d. Be very lenient with the teenager so that he can figure out who he is as a person. Or is He glad when an agnostic performs an act of Christ-like mercy? There is no strict rule when it comes to your flower girls. 1:9); "Turn Thou me, and I shall be turned" (Jer. Hi Joy, anyone from your entourage can handle the rings. Though such people have not heard the Gospel, they are without excuse (Rom. Is this true? Hi! Why doesn't our church follow the way Jesus was baptized by John? 5:1-12!). 8; Heb. If I consume even trace amounts of the aforementioned substances I become extremely ill. What is the stance of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod on using wheat and gluten-free Communion wafers as an option for a person in my position? 2:1-3, 3:12-19, 6:4-8, etc.). Hi! If God already predetermined who was saved, what is the point of witnessing? I am having trouble with this. Maybe it will be better if you assign them other roles as part of your entourage? Is God indifferent to them? To preserve the solemnity of the ceremony, some Churches prefer children who are old enough to walk down the aisle without guidance, but there is no strict rule about this. Worldly sorrow is the kind of sorrow Judas Iscariot had, which caused him to commit suicide. Luther goes to the heart of the foundational theological questions at issue over against errant understandings of Baptism present among those involved in the Anabaptist movement of his time. Could you explain this more fully to me? Judgment will be rendered according to one's deeds in the sense that the good works of the believer give evidence that he has faith. 12:13). Return to Heaven and Hell FAQS  |  Return to main menu. Could you please share the history of close[d] Communion? QUESTION: The Apostles' Creed and the Athanasian Creed contain the statement that Christ "... descended into hell." There is no indication that God has limited this blessed means of grace to individuals on the basis of age or levels of maturity. Included in this report is a discussion of current views of "the rapture" and helpful charts summarizing them. 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God — not because of works ...", By its very definition "grace" means that human works do not contribute in any way to a person's salvation or justification, as St. Paul says in Rom. There is not a single passage in Scripture which instructs us not to baptize for reasons of age, race, or gender. On the basis of the Scriptures we teach that the spoken Word of the Gospel (Rom. Any decision in this area is to be marked by Christian liberty and charity.”. Besides giving support to the groom, the groomsmen typically also help the groom with whatever last minute errands he needs to run. If you have close friends who are too busy to be either a bridesmaid or groomsman, then you can entrust them the role of secondary sponsor. When the Scriptures speak of the three persons of the Trinity as God (the Father is God; the Son is God; the Spirit is God) they mean that each of the persons, though distinct, are of one divine essence: they are God. Hi Ruby, no problem about this. In heaven it will not be like in the beginning of our human history. Are there scriptural references to support these points? Is it okay to have two bestman and two bridesmaids? QUESTION: Listening to a sermon on Sunday, the pastor was telling us we should lead good lives and try not to sin. 14:23) and in the spiritual sense displease God (Ps. Im planning to have my brothers whose 22-30yrs of age to be my bearers and my bestfriends as flower girls.. Would it be ok? Is this still possible? And have few questions below.. I’ve seen an entourage with a Matron and Maid of Honor, but not 2 Maids of Honor. In some cases the term "baptize" is synonymous with “wash” (Titus 3:5-6; see also Heb. The observance of Christmas around the world varies by country. Much like the groomsmen, the bridesmaids are your central support system while you plan your wedding. At the same time, they will experience the unending joy of being with God in the new heavens and new earth (e.g., Rev. If a Christian is already saved, should he/she do good works? ANSWER: To begin, care should be taken that inordinate amounts of bread and wine are not consecrated at each service, but rather just what is needed for that service. We witness, therefore, because God commands us to make known His saving will to others and because we are in fact part of God's elective plan being carried out in history (Eph. None of the passages listed above, nor any passage in Scripture, describes Baptism as “our work” or as “our public confession of faith.”. hi, how about in maid of honor?my sister is already married is that okay to be my maid of honor? From the beginning of New Testament Christianity at Pentecost to our time, unbroken and uninterrupted, the Church has baptized babies. The groom of course! I’m an excited groom-to-be but most of my closest friends are female – is it going to be a challenge to have them on ‘my side’ of the entourage? This comes to us by grace, imputed to us through faith, faith being a gift of God (Eph. Although we do not claim to understand how this happens or how it is possible, we believe (because of what the Bible says about Baptism) that when an infant is baptized God creates faith in the heart of that infant. But consider this. do they just sign the paper as a witnesses to make the marriage legal? Maintain an ongoing dialogue about important issues and upcoming challenges. ", As you no doubt are aware, the central and consistent teaching of Paul that we are justified by grace alone through faith alone on account of Christ is nowhere more beautifully summarized than in Eph. 9:6; Matt. Hi, is it okay if my secondary sponsors are both women? QUESTION: One of your FAQ answers states that it is possible for one to lose his salvation. ANSWER: What Scripture teaches concerning the death of the Christian is summarized as follows by Lutheran theologian Edward Koehler in his book, A Summary of Christian Doctrine: In the moment of death the souls of the believers enter the joy of heaven. Well shut my mouth, aren’t the the cutest little thing. Reuters.com brings you the latest news from around the world, covering breaking news in markets, business, politics, entertainment, technology, video and pictures. But does that potentially put me in harm's way? QUESTION: Wouldn't it be possible to contract a virus via an infected person who has drunk of the Communion cup prior to you? Do the sponsors have to walk down the aisle as well? ANSWER: The LCMS believes Scripture teaches the Lord's Supper is a precious gift of God in which Christ gives us His true body and blood (in a miraculous way), together with the bread and wine, for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith. She said that there are very few "ancient" prayers addressed to Jesus Christ and none to the Holy Spirit. We must always turn to God in His Word and prayer for answers, never away from Him. Argentina: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina, Belgium: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Belgium, Brazil: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil, Chile: Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile, Denmark: Evangelical Lutheran Free Church in Denmark, England: The Evangelical Lutheran Church of England, Finland: Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, France: Evangelical Lutheran Church - Synod of France, Germany: Independent Evangelical - Lutheran Church, Ghana: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana, Haiti: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti, Hong Kong: The Lutheran Church - Hong Kong Synod, Kenya: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya, Latvia: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, Liberia: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Liberia, Lithuania: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, Papua New Guinea: Gutnius Lutheran Church, Paraguay: The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Paraguay, Philippines: The Lutheran Church in the Philippines, Portugal: Portuguese Evangelical Lutheran Church, Russia: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia, Siberia: Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church, South Africa: Confessional Lutheran Church of South Africa, South Africa: Free Evangelical - Lutheran Synod in South Africa, South Africa: Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, USA: The American Association of Lutheran Churches, Early Childhood Centers & Elementary Schools, PALS: Post-Seminary Applied Learning & Support, Commission on Theology and Church Relations. Lutherans have therefore held that the manner of Baptism (that is, immersion, pouring, sprinkling, etc.) However, in your Theses on Justification (1983) on this website it says plainly that believers have eternal assurance (paragraph 58). We don't know what God's plans are. 3:26-27; Rom. Happy planning! As you also no doubt are fully aware, we teach that it is not the lack of Baptism that necessarily condemns, but it is the despising of this precious gift that endangers faith, for God Himself has instituted it and attached His promises to it. Additional Scripture passages which may be helpful as you study and discuss this issue are: John 1:12-13; 15:16-19; Rom. Pastors and congregations of the Synod (regardless of the size or circumstances of the latter) are expected to honor and uphold the official position and practice of the Synod on "close[d] Communion," which includes the possibility and even necessity of communing non-LCMS individuals in special situations of pastoral care. There is no more death in heaven, the result of sin. If we want to keep on sinning, we need to ask ourselves if we have really repented. 28:18-20), or it will die. To those who are truly repentant and recognize their need for God's grace and forgiveness, such passages are powerful reminders of the true security that is ours through sincere and humble faith in Christ alone for our salvation. QUESTION: I had been a Missouri Synod Lutheran for many years but never really understood a statement in the Apostles' Creed where it says that Jesus descended into hell. Polycarp (69-155 AD), a disciple of the Apostle John, was baptized as an infant. 5:26, Acts 22:16; and Mark 7:1-4 — a passage in which some earlier translators considered the term “baptize” to include the washing of “dining couches”), and it is highly likely that Baptisms were performed in the early church by methods other than immersion. There is no need to be shy — pastors encounter these kinds of questions all the time. From the dress fitting and bridal shower, to helping the bride with her train or makeup on her big day, you’ll want to make sure to entrust the role of maid or matron of honor to someone you can trust, someone who can handle the multiple responsibilities you’ll be giving her, and of course, someone you will definitely want to share your wedding planning journey with. Register now online for the discount price!! It is important to emphasize that God has given to Christian congregations the responsibility of administering the Lord's Supper properly and to exercise spiritual care toward all those who desire to commune. It should be noted that very early in Christian history methods other than immersion were used and allowed. Happy planning! Thanks! You may also want to read the following FAQ, "Asleep Until the End of the World.". The theological rationale for the historic practice of close[d] Communion is presented in two CTCR reports: Theology and Practice of the Lord's Supper (1983) and Admission to the Lord's Supper: Basics of Biblical and Confessional Teaching (1999). This reverence has been expressed by Lutherans in various ways. Since this practice was unknown in the New Testament or even the early Catholic church, it is speculative. Or as Luther again put it once, as an apple tree makes fruit and the fruit does not make an apple tree, so works do not make a Christian, but a Christian does good works. I was just wondering because of the obvious stark contrast to James 2:14-26. ", Augustine (354-430 AD) wrote in De Genesi Ad Literam, 10:39 declared, “The custom of our mother Church in baptizing infants must not be counted needless, nor believed to be other than a tradition of the Apostles.”, Augustine further states: “... the whole Church which hastens to baptize infants, because it unhesitatingly believes that otherwise they cannot possibly be vivified in Christ.”, In 517 AD, 10 rules of discipline were framed for the Church in Spain. Faith can also be created in a person's heart by the power of the Holy Spirit working through God's (written or spoken) Word. 25:8; 49:10; 1 Cor. Hi! Would you explain "predestined" in Romans 8 and Ephesians 1? Happy planning! 15). Please discuss this with your pastor, who would be happy to discuss this issue with you and to answer any other questions you have about membership. Hi! In the Sacrament, our Confessions further teach the same Jesus who died is present in the Sacrament, although not in exactly the same way he was corporeally present when he walked bodily on earth. 5:25-26; 1 Cor. There is not rule about this. Thanks! Is it okay to assign a 12 year old girl as a flower girl? Do you have any idea if girls serve as the ring/coin/bible bearers too? Hi Eunice, yes there’s no problem about this. The LCMS does not believe that Scripture teaches a predestination to damnation; God desires all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. My question then is, what do you see wrong with my reasoning? While these are fiction books, they discuss the "end times" within a biblical context. His answer follows: Christ, the Savior of the world, answered the first question in this way: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). Are we judged immediately, and is our soul sent to heaven or hell or what? We really want an intimate wedding if possible only our immediate families but good thing that I saw in your blog that we need principal sponsors to be present. Hi Jane, while there is no age limit required for secondary sponsors, it would be better if you assign adults for this role since they will be required to put the veil, cord, and light the candle for you. We know that He works all things for our good. You can assign them to any role. I am getting married here in Canada. The Maid of Honor, Best Man, Bridesmaids, and Groomsmen are not a part of the principal sponsors or secondary sponsors. He would also be able to share more specific information about the form of the baptismal service used in his congregation and the precise wording of the vows that sponsors or godparents are asked to take. Assuming, therefore, that you have already received a proper Christian Baptism, there would be no need for you or your wife to be re-baptized, although completion of some form of instruction classes” or “membership classes” is normally required of non-Lutherans who wish to become communicant members of LCMS congregations.