Posts Tagged ‘Doctrine’

12 results.
Jan27

The Line of Christian Fellowship

Posted In: WE Got Answers
I would be interested in what line you draw for the doctrine of church
fellowship.  Since becoming an orthodox Lutheran, I have seen two
opinions among them as to this matter.  There are those who require
total agreement on all doctrines, which seems to correctly reflect
what I have read in Walther and Pieper.  Others, like many today in
the LCMS, seem to tolerate some differences for the sake of “holding
the fort”.  How do think Romans 16:17,18 speaks to this?
Dear S,

The best place to find answer your question would be to read over the “Rite of Confirmation” found in the hymnal (Lutheran Service Book page 272). Presumably, every communicant member of your congregation will have made a profession of faith according to this rite or one like it.  It is hard to respond to concerns of “tolerating differences” without knowing specifically what “differences” are being spoken of.  Some Lutherans may struggle with certain teachings, however they still have submitted themselves to the teachings of the Book of Concord even as they seek to grow in their understanding of certain teachings.  This could be issues on women’s roles in the church, or where to “draw the line” on open/closed communion practices, etc . . .  Other doctrines, such as the natures of Christ, His death and bodily resurrection, etc . . . are more critical and any tolerance of “differences” would need to be very narrow at best.  Romans 16:17-18 is directly applicable to this issue.  Anyone teaching that deviates from the doctrine given us by Christ is dangerous.  This is why it is important that folks be properly instructed in the faith and that they not profess a faith to which they do not truly hold.  Pastors are going to vary on these things at times, and certainly every pastor is capable of erring concerning who is received into communicant membership and who is not.  But overall, every communicant member ought to have been properly instructed in the faith given through the Holy Scriptures as taught in the Lutheran Confessions (via Small Catechism), and be able to (in good conscience) profess the faith as laid out in the rite of confirmation.

Rev. Jeffrey Ries
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Tacoma, WA

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Nov05

Personally – “It’s Not A Religion It’s A Religion So There” – Relationship

Posted In: WE Got Answers
As I have come out of a Reformed background and am now an orthodox
Lutheran, I have come to be very suspicious of the Reformed emphasis
on “a personal relationship” with Christ. It often seems that it
doesn’t matter what a person believes about “doctrine”, so long as he
has this “personal relationship”. Could you comment on the danger of
believing in Jesus as an invisible friend, as opposed to believing in
the objective truth?
http://www.worldvieweverlasting.com/2012/10/05/its-not-a-religion-its-a-religion-so-there/
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Aug21

Special! Jesus Quote Isaiah

Posted In: vlog

Worldview Everlasting returns at long last with Greek Tuesday and a look at Mark 7:1-7
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Jun12

Cause Seeds and Lamps Help Dense People Think

Posted In: vlog

Worldview Everlasting Greek Tuesday takes on Mark 4 and then some.
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Apr30

Tradition Does Not Sacred Doctrine Make

Posted In: WE Got Answers
So I’ve been talking a lot to Catholics recently. They approve and base doctrines on the basis of “the church’s tradition” as well as scripture. The most compelling argument I’ve heard from them is that before the gospels and letters were written down, the teachings of the church were transmitted orally, and that the adherence to church tradition is simply a continuation of this oral tradition. How do Lutherans respond to this argument, and to the idea of the oral tradition in general?
E,

There is some truth to this, even Scripture speaks about the testimony of
the Apostles preceding what was written in Scripture (for example 1
Corinthians 11:2, 23). However the Tradition of the Church also demands
that it be judged and normed by the Testimony of Scripture (I’ll use some
of the same citations that I’ve used in previous WE Answers):
“We are not entitled to such license, I mean that of affirming what we
please; we make the Holy Scriptures the rule and the measure of every
tenet; we necessarily fix our eyes upon that, and approve that alone which
may be made to harmonize with the intention of those writings.” St. Gregory
of Nyssa (On the Soul and the Resurrection NPNF II, V:439)

Nevertheless, sacred doctrine makes use of these authorities as extrinsic
and probable arguments; but properly uses the authority of the canonical
Scriptures as an incontrovertible proof, and the authority of the doctors
of the Church as one that may properly be used, yet merely as probable. For
our faith rests upon the revelation made to the apostles and prophets who
wrote the canonical books, and not on the revelations (if any such there
are) made to other doctors. Hence Augustine says (Epis. ad Hieron. xix, 1):
“Only those books of Scripture which are called canonical have I learned to
hold in such honor as to believe their authors have not erred in any way in
writing them. But other authors I so read as not to deem everything in
their works to be true, merely on account of their having so thought and
written, whatever may have been their holiness and learning.”–Summa
Theologia, Part 1, Question 1, Article 8

“Let the inspired Scriptures then be our umpire, and the vote of truth will
be given to those whose dogmas are found to agree with the Divine words.”
St. Gregory of Nyssa (On the Holy Trinity, NPNF, p. 327).

“What is the mark of a faithful soul? To be in these dispositions of full
acceptance on the authority of the words of Scripture, not venturing to
reject anything nor making additions. For, if ‘all that is not of faith is
sin’ as the Apostle says, and ‘faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the
Word of God,’ everything outside Holy Scripture, not being of faith, is
sin.” Basil the Great (The Morals, p. 204, vol 9 TFOTC).

The Church has always understood that Scripture has a unique and
authoritative role. Even as Lutherans, we do not discount the voice of the
Church throughout its history. We, however demand that anything that has
been said in the history of the Church be judged by Scripture. That which
is in accord with Scripture, we joyfully accept, that which is in
contradiction, we reject. The Holy Spirit cannot contradict Himself.

Matthew Lorfeld, Pastor
Messiah Lutheran Church
La Crescent, MN

http://www.messiahlacrescent.org

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