The Scriptures teach us that a when a person dies,he immediately begins to experience eternityin one of two states: heaven or hell. The Christian experiences eternity as one filled with joy (heaven), although his body and soul are separated until his soul is reunited with a sinless, perfect, incorruptible body on the Last Day.
Does the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod believe in the existence of Satan?
ANSWER: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod certainly believes in the existence of Satan and of demonic beings, and individual LCMS pastors have participated from time to time in rites of exorcism.
What is the official stance of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod on the death penalty?
QUESTION: What is the official stance of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod on the death penalty? ANSWER: In 1967, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod stated its position that capital punishment is in accord with the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.
What is the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s position on the age of Earth?
ANSWER: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod does not have an official position on the precise age of the earth, since the Bible itself does not tell us how old the earth is. Nor is it the Synod’s position that everything in the Bible is to be understood literally.
What is the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s position on cremation?
ANSWER: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has no official position on cremation. Cremation is increasing in favor, in part because of space limitations in some cemeteries and because of health considerations.
Why do Lutherans baptize people?
Baptism should then soon follow conversion (cf. Acts 8:26-40) for the purpose of confirming and strengthening faith in accordance with God’s command and promise . Depending on the situation, therefore, Lutherans baptize people of all ages from infancy to adulthood.
What does the Bible say about baptism?
ANSWER: Lutherans believe that the Bible teaches that a person is saved by God’s grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone. The Bible tells us that such “faith comes by hearing” (Rom. 10:17). Jesus Himself commands Baptism and tells us that Baptism is water used together with the Word of God (Matt. 28:19-20).
What does Mark 16:16 mean?
Mark 16:16 implies that it is not the absence of Baptism that condemns a person but the absence of faith , and there are clearly other ways of coming to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit (reading or hearing the Word of God).
What does the Bible say about infants?
We believe this because the Bible says that infants can believe (Matt. 18:6) and that new birth (regeneration) happens in Baptism (John 3:5-7; Titus 3:5-6). The infant’s faith cannot yet, of course, be verbally expressed or articulated by the child, yet it is real and present all the same (see e.g., Acts 2:38-39; Luke 1:15; 2 Tim. 3:15).
Why should we seek to reach as many as possible with our own fearless witness?
Because of the horrible doom awaiting all those who do not believe in Jesus , we should seek to reach as many as possible with our own fearless witness and ardently support the missionary endeavors of our church on behalf of those whom we cannot reach with our own voice.
Does the LCMS accept baptisms?
ANSWER: The LCMS recognizes and accepts the validity of baptisms properly administered (i.e., using water in any quantity and/or mode, together with the Trinitarian invocation instituted by Christ, Matt. 28:19) in all Christian churches.
Where were the three thousand baptized?
Three thousand were baptized on Pentecost in Jerusalem, where no river exists and no mention is made of other large quantities of water that would or may have been used. In fact, the shortage of water supplies in general in many parts of the ancient world would have precluded Baptism by immersion.
What does the 5th commandment say about killing?
The reference cited is Rom. 13:4, which coincides with the fact that the 5th commandment does not forbid all "killing," but (as the Hebrew word used in Exodus 20 makes clear) sinful and unjustified killing, i.e., "murder.".
What was the Lutheran Church’s position on capital punishment?
ANSWER: In 1967, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod stated its position "that capital punishment is in accord with the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions." Resolution 2-38 of the New York convention of the Synod reads as follows:
Where did the Cursillo movement originate?
The Cursillo Movement itself originated in the Catholic Church in Spain in the 1940s and spread to the U.S. in the 1950s. Other denominations have developed their own counterparts based on the Cursillo model. The LCMS has not prepared a specific evaluation of The Walk to Emmaus from a Lutheran perspective.
Why is Martin Luther in high esteem?
ANSWER: While The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod holds Martin Luther in high esteem for his bold proclamation and clear articulation of the teachings of Scripture, it deeply regrets, deplores, and repudiates statements made by Luther which express a negative and hostile attitude toward the Jews.
What is the Missouri Synod’s Bylaw 3.9.5.4.1?
ANSWER: Bylaw 3.9.5.4.1 of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Handbook summarizes the rationale for the Synod’s longstanding position on the lodges: "Pastors and congregations must avoid membership or participation in any organization that in its objectives, ceremonies, or practices is inimical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ or the faith and life of the Christian church."
What does it mean to oppose the observance of Halloween?
Those who oppose the observance of Halloween by Christians argue that its origins are pagan and that emphasis on the Occult in our society finds expression in various kinds of Halloween symbols, parties and activities.
Does the Lutheran Church need permission to use the FAQs?
Usage: Congregational use of FAQs does not require permission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. However, each reproduction should credit the LCMS as the source and include a link or URL to this page.
What do Christians believe about the resurrection?
Christians (and Jews) believe in a resurrection of the body, that our body is a gift from the Lord and part of his good creation. Jesus taught that when He would come again, our bodies would be raised up to eternal life. Jesus demonstrated this in His own resurrection, when He showed His disciples that He was not a ghost, but had flesh and bones that they could touch and feel. Likewise, our bodies are now a temple of the Holy Spirit, and will be raised up on the last day. The Christian hope is not merely that our souls go to heaven when we die, but that our bodies will be raised to life on the last day. Christians consequently value the human body more than any other religion or philosophy.
Why do Christians choose cremation?
Some choose it for financial reasons, some for practical reasons, and some because it is more socially acceptable. Cremation was not historically an option for Christians, so there are not a lot of longstanding Christian customs or traditions with regards to cremation. What should Christians consider when it comes to cremation of a Christian? Our actions and customs around death and burial say something about our belief in what comes next. Christians have a lot to profess when it comes to life after death in light of Jesus’ resurrection. The following hopes to serve as a guide to help Christians make godly decisions about how we treat the deceased human body.
What is the memorial garden at Our Savior Lutheran Church?
Postscript: The four guidelines for Christian cremation practices were the reason for creating the Memorial Garden at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Lansing, Michigan. After observing cases where one or more of these guidelines were not followed, the church created a means to direct the faithful to faithful practices of Christian burial that are more consistent with our past practice and common confession of faith. For information on the memorial garden, go to www.oursaviorlansing.org/memorialgarden.
What to do with ashes from cremation?
People do all sorts of things with the ashes from cremation, and more creative uses are being discovered every day. Some are placed in an urn and put on a shelf in a home. Some are pressed into diamonds and worn as jewelry. Others are scattered in a field or body of water, or placed in coral reefs. The possibilities are endless.
Where should ashes be buried?
The ashes should be kept together (not separated or scattered) and buried in the ground or placed in a columbarium or memorial garden.
Is cremation considered a human body?
It should be noted that in the cremation mechanism, not all the remains can be thoroughly extracted, so some of the ashes remain in the machine, and some ashes from previous cremations may be mixed in with others. The ashes are then given to the family for their use. Legally, the ashes are no longer considered a human body, as the body has been thoroughly destroyed.
Does the Bible say cremation is forbidden?
There is nothing in the Bible that forbids cremation. The church cannot make any new laws or commands that would burden people’s consciences. The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod has no official position on the matter. However, as Christians, we seek best practices that are informed by our faith and that give witness of our faith to the world.
Why do we cry in the pews?
3:15): the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, delivered to His people in Word and Sacrament for the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. The people in the pews do not cry simply because they miss their loved ones. They cry also for joy that they will see them again, that they are already united to them in Christ and that what He has done for them He will do also for those who now grieve for them.
What hymns do we sing on that day always get to people?
The hymns we sing on that day always get to people. Who could not be moved by the soaring music and profound texts of “For All the Saints” ( Lutheran Service Book 677), “Behold a Host” ( LSB 676) and “Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heart” ( LSB 708)?
Is All Saints Day a day to remember martyrs?
All Saints Day has become an increasingly popular observance in the Missouri Synod. In our circles it is not a day to remember martyrs and heroes of the faith, since they already have their special days. Rather, it is a day to remember instead all of those who have passed on with the sign of faith whose lives and deaths were mostly ordinary, but who are nonetheless important to us. In my congregation, people bring Kleenex. They expect to cry. Their expectations seem always to be met.