"LMA News"
The Word of God at Work
A Publication of the
Lutheran Mission Alliance
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A group of theologically sound, liturgically minded, orthodox Lutherans who want to join together to spread real, Lutheranism using Biblical methods: The preached and taught Gospel of Christ and the Sacraments |
Catechism Review The Second Commandment
God’s Name|
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain. What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie or deceive by His name, but call on it in every trouble, pray, praise and give thanks. |
Have you ever taken the Lord's name in vain? Most of you during your teenage years, were rebellious. You let the world know you are grown up by using the names of God in careless and casual ways. You thought it sounded grown up to others, but did you ever stop and think how this careless use of His names sounds to God?
God's name is a precious gift given to us to be a blessing. In the Old Testament God placed His name at the temple, and on His people. In Numbers Six God commands Moses to instruct Aaron to bless the people with the name of God. Three times Aaron is to say, "The Lord bless you . . ." The final verse of chapter six states, "Thus he shall put My name on My people and I will bless them."
The Aaronic benediction finds its ultimate fulfillment in New Testament Baptism. God comes to an individual sinner and puts His name on the person, giving the person life and salvation. Matthew 28:19 reads; ". . . baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." The name is set in place with water and Word, God comes and dwells to bless. Now you bear His name. You are adopted by Him. Now, you are the Temple of God because you have been given the Name of the Triune God.
The name of God is a precious gift given by God to His people. But do you cherish the gift or take it for granted? What did God think of your careless use of His name in the past. Was it sin? The answer is Yes! It is forgiven? Again, Yes, because Jesus suffered and died for all sin, including that one.
To speak the name of God is to proclaim Him. The way you use His name tells what you believe about Him and His gift to you. So no one should "lie of deceive by God’s name." What you, and especially pastors, Sunday School teachers and parents teach about God should be exactly in line with God’s own teaching in His Bible. It is sad that many who call themselves Lutheran teach only general Christianity or something less than what we learn in the Catechism and Confessions. Instruction in doctrine for youth is only fun and games. For adults it is 6 to 8 hours on a Saturday. Can a Mormon, Baptist or Roman Catholic really become a convinced and sincere Lutheran after such a brief time? True doctrine, true teaching and a true belief in your mind and heart is as important to God as using His name properly in prayers and worship.
The next time you hear your lips or the lips of others speak His name stop and ask yourself, "What am I saying about God and myself?" May your words only be to His glory.
(Please feel free to use any of the articles in this newsletter in your congregation. You may freely reprint them as you see fit. They will also be posted on the web page.)
The Purpose of "LMA News"
In this second issue of "LMA News" you will recognize some changes. We are doing this to make the mailing of the "LMA News" easier and cheaper. The more money we don’t have to spend on postage, the more we have to devote to missions and other confessional, educational activities.
That brings us to the purposes of "LMA News." We struggle with the way to get the news about the kind of missions we are supporting and seeking to open. The main-line Lutheran denominations are opening missions with big buildings, rock and roll or country music, entertaining pastors and topics and very little of the traditional Lutheran religious flavor to them. They are more like the non-denominational churches that are on every corner. People join them with very little instruction in the condemning Law and the Who, how and at what cost of the gracious, saving Gospel of Christ. They are not aware of the Cross, but only glory.
We believe that many people, pastors and congregations would rather have more conservative, traditional and confessional churches around that their children and grandchildren could go to when they go off to college or to work in another city. The mission planners of the denominations are not interested in such missions. They want the ones that grow by leaps and bounds because of the food court, bands, enjoyable programs promoted by the Wooky from Star Wars and short emotional "sermons" about practical matters such as "Avoiding Christmas Stress."
LMA also wants to sponsor and support youth activities like the old Walther League and like Higher Things is doing. Worship and Early Childhood workshops are in the works. A goodly part of our proposed 2008 budget is set aside as seed money for several of these.
"LMA News" is obviously very basic. Its catechism review is simple but to the point. Its worship explanation is useful for every Lutheran. We hope that "The Remnant" will once again be published to provide a more in depth theological perspective on developments in the church.
We would like to bring together congregations of like mind regarding worship, confessional doctrine, missions, lay leadership and in concord plant new missions and support one another in our difficult stand against the worldly invasion of Christ’s church. That is why we want to share as much information and encouragement through the "LMA News." To be frank, we hope that your desire for our old Lutheran ways will lead you to become a member and encourage your congregation to become a member of Lutheran Mission Alliance.
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Lutheran Mission Alliance Announcements LMA will meet in Delegate Assembly on Friday evening and Saturday morning on November 9-10 at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX. The Executive Board of Chairman-Pro tem Rev. Toby Byrd, Vice Chairman-Pro tem Rev. Andrew Simcak and Secretary Rev. A. J. Loeschman are preparing an agenda with a variety of items that conservative Lutherans need to hear, discuss and decide on. The voting delegates, one pastor and one layman from each member congregation, will adopt the first budget of LMA for 2008. It will be a challenge because it appears that LMA may adopt a mission other than Our Redeemer in Palacios. A new mission will be started in Montgomery, TX before the end of the year, and the committee has asked LMA to support it. Just how much LMA will be able to do will be a topic of discussion and a measure of faith in our congregations. LMA believes that congregational membership is a key to achieving its goal of opening and supporting traditional, liturgical and faithful congregations that look, sound and act like Lutherans.
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Dignified and Reverent Worship of
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
In the first issue of LMA News we reviewed some of the basic terms of liturgical worship and some of the preparations that precede your opening the door to the nave, getting your bulletin and going to your customary pew. In this issue we begin to look at some common parts of the service with the goal to review how your participation in them can glorify the Triune God, benefit your fellow worshiper and be more helpful to your personal faith in Christ.
While there are a number of good hymnals from various orthodox Lutheran denominations that offer various Divine Services, we will review the "Common Service" (TLH) or Divine Service Setting Three (LSB). Lutheran Service Book gives the Bible references to all the parts of the liturgy and reminds us that our worship is not manmade, but comes from God.
After the first hymn, you immediately call on the name of the Triune God at THE INVOCATION in order to mark this service, or liturgy, as one performed in His name and for His benefit. It also reminds you of the name given to you at your baptism. Some Lutherans make the sign of the cross on their foreheads or on their heart at this time as a reminder of the benefits that have come to them through the cross of Christ and their baptism. The congregation responds by singing or saying: "Amen." The catechism tells us this is a way of saying "Yes, indeed," a way of indicating that you also believe in the true God and are here to worship Him.
Then, you notice, you begin the Preparatory Service, in which you prepare yourselves for the Gospel truths which Christ makes known to you through His Word. You don't just proudly wander into God's presence as if you had a perfect right to be there, for your personal sins have locked the door and blocked the way to God. CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION - So you first want to confess your unworthiness and sins and receive the forgiveness that makes a meeting with the Almighty God possible. The Pastor, facing you to indicate that he is speaking to you from God, invites you to turn to the Lord in confession and to put your trust in the merits of Jesus Christ. In the conversation that follows, the Invitation to confess your belief in Christ as the source of forgiveness is reaffirmed. Then on behalf of the congregation (facing the altar to indicate that he is speaking for you and himself), the Pastor confesses sins of thought, word and deed. Then Pastor and people together ask mercy and forgiveness of their sins, and for the Holy Spirit to lead them into new and true obedience.
Following that, the Pastor turns away from the altar and faces the congregation to speak the words of absolution, the assurance of God's forgiveness in Christ. Again you say "Amen" and say that you truly believe that God has, through Jesus' pastor, given you forgiveness and that you accept it though faith in Christ your Savior
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What Do You Mean? Maybe we better explain our terms: "theologically sound, liturgically minded, orthodox." And let’s throw in "traditional," to boot. Lutheran Mission Alliance is composed of congregations who are Biblically bound. We are "Confessional" Lutherans who take the official statements of the old Lutherans who wrote the Book of Concord very seriously and as the correct understanding of Scripture. We seek to "conserve" these truths and the church practices based on them. This is basically the same as saying "orthodox." That means we "teach rightly" the Word and Sacraments. We are "liturgically minded" and value the worship forms of our grandfather’s church - or even our great, great grandfather’s church. That does not mean that we oppose all worship changes. The spirit of Lutheran worship is "reverent and dignified." It is God-related and not man-centered, as so much of today’s contemporary and entertainment based worship is. The Scripture and a Law/Gospel sermon applying the Word to your lives is still highly valued, as is a well trained and properly called Pastor in each congregation. "Traditional" means that we examine our past very seriously before we make changes. And we never make changes to our doctrine. We use Luther’s Small Catechism to teach that doctrine, as our articles on it show. We are not opposed to any change. We know that the language and forms we use must communicate "the faith of our fathers" to younger generations of people if the Word is to spread and continue. LMA congregations use the old methods of sharing the Word to bring people to Christ. It may be "slower" and may not "bring in the crowds" the way entertainment evangelism does, but it allows the Spirit to make people Christians who are prepared to face the pressures and temptations of the world with more faith and strength. |
LMA Progress
Still in its infancy, Lutheran Mission Alliance has made considerable progress in a number of its goals. Of course, the adoption of Our Redeemer Lutheran in Palacios, Texas, and participating in the discussion about the Montgomery, Texas, Mission are highlights.
Discussion began a number of months ago to secure tax exempt status for your contributions. Since they are now funneled through Concord (Texas Balance, Inc.) they are currently exempt. However, LMA would possibly like to be independent of Concord (TBI) because it is also a political agency. LMA is not political and endorses no candidates for church office, though we are properly concerned for the doctrine of the church. Discussions continue.
Bylaws are a particularly distasteful word to many, but they are necessary to maintain order and assure progress in any organization. Our principles of operation are very simple now. Each congregation gets two votes, pastoral and lay delegate, in the Delegate Assembly. Individual members may speak and serve on committees, but have no vote in the Assembly. We have three executive officers, Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary. We share Concord’s Treasurer. There are six committees with Chairmen and members to carry out the duties. A committee is working on how we want to structure ourselves.
Our Officers and Committee Chairmen are not paid bureaucrats. They spend many hours in work for the Savior’s Mission Work. Every penny that comes in from your contributions goes toward the varied work of LMA. We are just now working on a first budget for 2008. We anticipate at least $12,000 of support for two missions and several programs. We hope that your contributions will cover the cost of the "LMA News" and that congregations will fund the other work. A full report of income and expenses will be given to the Delegate Assembly whenever it meets.
At present LMA meets twice a year in a location convenient for out of state attendees. We have the Communication Committee considering ways that our distant members can participate in the meetings of the Alliance. One decision we did make was, that since we are in the 21st Century, we should try to use the current technology to preserve and extend the traditional faith of our fathers. Email saves mission dollars over phone calls and letter writing. It is faster, too, as you know.
Pure doctrine, dignified and reverent worship and churches that look, sound, act and feel like Lutheran churches is our goal. If the main-line churches won’t start them, we will have to.
As a reader of the online version of LMA News, you may want to send in your suggestions by copying and mailing the following to Lutheran Mission Alliance, P.O. Box 192, Keller, TX 76244 or email to the editor. You may wish to include a gift for the work of the LMA as well. There are no overhead costs in LMA except for small expenses of maintaining the Web Page and mailing the LMA News. The rest goes to support the missions.
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Suggestion Box Send me the "LMA News" by email: edress ________________________@______________________ Add this person to the mailing list: Name ___________________________________________________ Address _________________________________ City ____________________, ____, ____________ I would like to see a traditional mission church in __________________________________, _________ The following live in the Montgomery, TX area, or live or visit in Palacios, TX (Please circle location) Name ___________________________________ Address ___________________________________ City ______________________________________ Zip Code _________________________________
My Name _________________________________ Address___________________________________ City ______________________________________ Zip Code__________________________________
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