October, 2018
Greetings My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Just a year ago we celebrated 500 years of the Lutheran Reformation. As we approach October 31st again this year. So this year, we ought to ask, why am I Lutheran? Why are you Lutheran? The answer that we have to give here in the states is far different than the answer that they gave in Europe.
Here in the United States of America we are richly blessed, for our founding fathers saw the heartache that came in Europe when the Church and state were bound together. If you were Catholic it was because you had a Catholic Ruler. If you were Lutheran, it was because you had a Lutheran ruler. If you were Anglican, Presbyterian, etc. it was because of your ruler. So when the United States was founded, the founders wanted to ensure that we did not return to a government prescribed denomination, and they promised that the Government would not establish a religion or prohibit the free exercise thereof. Which meant that you were not going to be a Christian just by being born in the right country or state. In America, to be a Christian meant you were a Christian by deeply held beliefs and convictions.
This meant too that as a Christian were free to start questioning and wondering, if your church was right. Is there really a God? Why do you believe the Bible is God’s word? There were many questions that started to flow through the minds of people as they wrestled with these issues.
Now many were not prepared for this. They just assumed well people believe the Bible because its the Bible! Now each Christian has to be able to answer these questions for themselves, if they are to remain Christian. This is in part why Bible Study became an important part of American Christian life. People wanted answers to their questions.
Now this was not the first time the Church had faced these questions. As you go back through History you find another time in which people were asking all sorts of questions. It was the time of the Reformation. Those questions that are asked by each and every Generation had to be answered. So Luther wrote the Catechisms, Small and Large, to explain the basics of the faith.
For it is only by studying the Word, and learning what the Scriptures teach that we can stand firm, and thankfully the Word of God is not a hard or difficult book for us to unpack. But it does take some time, so I would urge you, attend a Bible Study, pick up your Small Catechism, and open your Bible daily that you may review and learn these things which God has spoken.
Your Brother in Christ, Pastor Smith