I. The Name!
The Papal Bull of 1521 which excommunicated Martin Luther applied the name "Lutheran" to Luther's adherents to note them as heretics and schismatics.
Following Luther's excommunication some of his followers began to call themselves Lutherans.
Dr. Martin Luther's response to this use of his name was;
"Please do not use my name; do not call yourselves Lutherans, but Christians. . . . The doctrine is not mine; I have not been crucified for anyone. . . . Why should I, a miserable bag of worms, give my meaningless name to Christ's children?"
II. Confessional Subscription.
A. IMPORTANCE OF CONFESSIONAL SUBSCRIPTION
1. Confession of God's will and God's Word
Ps. 119:46 - I will speak of thy testimonies before kings and not be put to shame.
1 Pet. 3:15 - Be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks.
Ps 9:1-2 - give praise and thanks to God 3D Confession of faith
2. Scripture requires tradition - this is to be understood correctly as scriptural tradition not the traditions of man.
2 Thess. 2:15 - stand firm, hold on to the teachings we passed on to you.
1 Tim. 6:20-21 - guard what has been entrusted to your care, turn away from false teachings and godless chatter.
3. Teaching (as commission of the church)
Confession is to be used as correction of false teaching
Titus 1:9 - holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.
All these testify to the need for a confessional stance. Subscription is required because it sets a norm for those teaching in the church. Anyone who wants to teach in the church and yet refuses to cooperate or subscribe to the Lutheran Confessions is dishonest and contentious and should be removed from that office.
B. OBLIGATIONS IN SUBSCRIPTION
1. You must recognize the confessions of the Lutheran church as a true exposition of the Word of God. - "a" true expositions means that there can be others as long as they agree with the Lutheran confessions.
2. They are a correct exhibition of the doctrine of the Lutheran Church.
3. Subscriptional Obligation extends to all doctrine of the Lutheran Church.
C. OBLIGATION DOES NOT INCLUDE
1. Selection and use of proof texts. - It does not apply to the text as a proof of the doctrine, however the doctrine must be subscribed to.
example: Tappert page 133 Art 4 para 188 - the use of 2 Tim 2:15 may apply to the doctrine it is used for however the doctrine is still true.
2. Philosophical arguments - ie. the discussion on substance and accidence in the Lord's Supper. We do not necessarily subscribe to these terms but to the doctrine of the real presence.
3. Historical and scientific assertions - example: SD VI, 2, 6. We are not obligated to the geocentric view of the sun moon and stars, but to the doctrine of the 3rd use of the law.
4. Rhetoric - We are not committed to the title of invincible emperor when Charles V is described or to the "pure and ever virgin" Mary. These are literary adornments. (Tappert p 24, 292)
5. Humanly established customs and ceremonies - In the matter of customs and ceremonies we exercise our Christian freedom. However we still must subscribe to their intent ie. worship, remembrance of God's word. etc.
6. Unintended Meaning - This means faulty translations example in forward to book of Concord vi Matt 19:11 the word precept is a bit strong and more properly would be translated saying. Or page 251 Jews should have been translated Judges. Page 224 Decalogue commands property ownership rather than allows it.
7. Footnotes - These are editorial and not a part of the original confessions.
D. CONDITIONAL SUBSCRIPTION
This is subscription only if certain conditions are met. This type of subscription has historically been rejected by Lutherans. EXAMPLES:
1. Subscription only to confessional doctrines directly presented but rejection of those presented indirectly.
2. The statement that the confessions are not historically correct and present one option of many for today.
3. The statement that this is a document of the 16th century not for today.
4. We can't use gospel reduction - even if it is only doctrines that apply to the Gospel.
FODT - Function of Doctrine and Theology - document that lists differences between Lutheran Bodies.
5. We are bound only as model of how gospel should be taught
6. We reject: Our subscription is only valid to those doctrines that have direct biblical base. This is because the confessions make the claim that these doctrines do have a biblical base.
7. We reject: All biblical matters not treated in the confessions are open questions.
The Book of Concord commits us to scripture as the source and norm - therefore we are bound by confession to scripture.
8. The Lutheran Confessions Speak;
9. The pure churches and schools have everywhere recognized these publicly and generally accepted documents as the sum and pattern of the doctrine which Dr. Luther of blessed memory clearly set forth in his writings on the basis of God's Word and conclusively established against the papacy and other sects. We also wish to be regarded as appealing to further extensive statements in his doctrinal and polemical writings, but in the necessary and Christian terms and manner in which he himself refers to them in the Preface to the Latin edition of his collected works.* Here he expressly (tr-855) asserts by way of distinction that the Word of God is and should remain the sole rule and norm of all doctrine, and that no human being's writings dare be put on a par with it, but that everything must be subjected to it.(ta-506) 10 This, of course, does not mean that other good, useful, and pure books, such as interpretations of the Holy Scriptures, refutations of errors, and expositions of doctrinal articles, should be rejected. If they are in accord with the aforementioned pattern of doctrine they are to be accepted and used as helpful expositions and explanations. Our intention was only to have a single, universally accepted, certain, and common form of doctrine which all our Evangelical churches subscribe and from which and according to which, because it is drawn from the Word of God, all other writings are to be approved and accepted, judged and regulated.
III. The Word of God.
"the Word of God is and should remain the sole rule and norm of all doctrine, and that no human being's writings dare be put on a par with it, but that everything must be subjected to it."
The Word of God is to be the only source for Christian Doctrine. The Word of God is inspired and without error and therefore is able to guide us in our understanding of God's will.
John 5:39 "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;
Romans 3:2 Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; {17}so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
1 Peter 1:25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER." And this is the word which was preached to you.
2 Peter 1:21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
IV. The foundational Teachings of Scripture.
A. Sola Scriptura - Scripture and Scripture alone is the source of all doctrine and teaching of faith and life.
It is the Word of God which teaches us all God has done for us in Christ Jesus.
God has spoken to man. First in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Secondly, God has spoken to man in the words of Scripture.
See Section III.
It is the Word of God which reveals to us the two great truths of Sola Gratia and Sola Fide.
B. Sola Gratia - God's Grace alone has saved us from eternal hell.
Ephesians 2:5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Romans 3:24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; {9}not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
C. Sola Fide - It is through faith alone in Jesus that we are saved and not by anything we do.
Mark 16:16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
Luke 7:50 And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
John 3:14-16 "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; {15}so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. {16}"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Romans 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
The two key issues of Confessional Subscription and
The Word of God along with the Foundational Teachings of Scripture
are the basis of what it means to be the Evangelical Lutheran
Church.
The question for us today is, "Where does the Lutheran
Church of today stand on these foundational issues?
The sad reality is that many "Lutheran" denominations
have forsaken our Confessional and Scriptural heritage and have
become accepting, and in some cases promoters of teachings and
practices which are contrary to the Word of God.
Examples:
Problems in the Missouri Synod:
A battle was fought in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in the 1960's and early '70's. At issue was our understanding of the Word of God. The conflict was resolved in 1974 with the "walkout" at the St. Louis Seminary. The liberal members of the faculty and over 400 students walked off campus in protest for the removal of Dr. Tiegen (Seminary President) who was charged with false doctrine. Those who remained on campus and stood for the Word of God as inspired and inherent numbered only 5 professors and 75 students.
Since the "walkout" many liberals left the Missouri Synod but many remain and continue to stir up problems from time to time.
There are a large number of Missouri Synod members who choose to reject what the Bible says with regard to the Church and Church order and the persist in promoting Women's Ordination in the Church.
We have a number of pastors and laity who have bought into the liberal views on Homosexuality and immorality.
Much influence and pressure is placed on Missouri Synod members and clergy from family and friends in Lutheran Churches who are accepting of these type of things.
In spite of these influences the Missouri Synod has remained faithful as a church body to the confessional and Scriptural principles upon which we were established. It is incumbent upon every Lutheran Christian in the Missouri Synod to guard these great truths lest we loose them as so many have already done.
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA)
The ELCA came into being in 1988 with the merger of the Lutheran
Church in America (LCA), the American Lutheran Church (ALC),
& Associations of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (AELC). While
each of these church bodies had doctrinal differences it was
decided that the differences were for the most part irrelevant
for the merger. The result has been a church body where a climate
of tolerance has been promoted. While this sounds good on the
surface, the result has been disastrous.
Examples:
Teaching on Scripture; Inspiration is viewed as nothing more then what a poet might have. Therefore the teachings of the Bible are merely the words of men written for their time in history.
When the validity of Scripture is questioned then the door is open for every teaching of Scripture to be questioned as well.
Creationism is denied and evolution is accepted as the means by which the world came into being. (Theistic Evolution 3D God guided the evolutionary process)
Adam and Eve were not real individuals but symbols for humanity.
Moses is not the author of the first five books of the Bible. Many different writers has a part.
Since life in the real world teaches us there are no such things as miracles then they did not happen in the Old or New Testaments. The writers used these stories to add credence to what they had to say.
We can in no way be sure any of the recorded words of Jesus were actually spoken by Him.
A virgin birth would be a miracle. Since it can't happen it stands to reason that Jesus had an earthly father, we just don't know who he was. (Mary was an immoral person)
The teaching of Jesus as God in human flesh is a development of the early church and is not taught in Scripture.
There are may questions as to the validity of God as Trinity.
The bodily resurrection of Jesus is doubtful. Resurrection must be understood in a spiritual since not in a physical since. Jesus' body is buried somewhere in Palestine.
There is no clear understanding of what happens after death or even if our soul is immortal.
God is love and all who are sincere are welcomed by Him, even sincere followers of non-Christian religions.
Morality is a relative term. Any legalistic application of the morals and values of one person upon another is therefore wrong.
This issue was clearly evidenced by the "Study Document on Human Sexuality" which was published in 1994.
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)
Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS)
Church of the Lutheran Confessions
These church bodies are considerably smaller then the Missouri
Synod. While these are conservative in nature they tend to err
on the side of legalism.
For Example:
In the WELS it is taught that Christians can only pray with those who are in full doctrinal agreement with them. Therefore, a WELS member cannot pray with any other Lutheran or any other Christian, (Baptism, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc).
Generally speaking we are in doctrinal agreement with these church bodies but they refuse to be in Church fellowship with us because they believe we are too lax on disciplining pastors who err. For them, everything must be the same. There can be no differences at all.
These church bodies see women voters as a sin and therefore believe Missouri to be in doctrinal error.
Missouri, however has stood strong against the onslaught of the Church Growth Movement while these church bodies have bought into the movement along with its error.
WELS has a totally opposite understanding of what the church is then Missouri does. For Missouri the Synod is seen as a man made organization to enable church banding together to accomplishment more then they could individually.
Such as: missions, Seminaries, church order, youth organizations, etc.
WELS views the congregation as an individual member of the Church and the Synod itself is the Church.
Conclusion:
It is incumbent upon every Christian and every Christian Church to hold to the Word of God as the only source of doctrine and teaching.
Adherence to the Lutheran Confessions enables a correct understanding of the doctrines contained in Scripture.
We are to speak boldly where the Scriptures speak and use God given discernment where the Scriptures are silent.
Unity is always a goal but doctrinal purity must be maintained even if that means unity is not possible.