Posted on 06/21/2011 3:51:29 PM PDT by NoGrayZone
Okay, here's the deal in a long story short. I was raised Lutheran, moved out to Long Island and continued to be raised in St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
Aunt Jeannie (my name sake) has been a member since. I decided years ago I wanted back, so I went.
I did not feel Him there, thought it was me. I kept looking around the congregation, thinking it was me. After a while, I realized it wasn't (a couple of things happened after that confirmed it wasn't me).
Anywho, the icing on the cake was my Aunt Jeannie stopped going as well. After almost 30 years she felt the change as well. I looked up our church and saw they were apart of the "accept homosexuals as Pastors" crowd. That was 1 of the things that confirmed it was not me.
But my Aunt Jeannie leaving was the icing on the cake.
Here's our delima. Both of us are July babies. She is the 2nd, I am the 18th. We decided on 7/17 we would find a church to attend (we both want one to belong to and believe in), then go have brunch to discuss.
She is much more open minded than I am, but I promised her I would be open minded, if just for an hour, on that day.
I said to her, during our conversation "how do we know if the "Pastor" is a homo or not. She believes He is with us no matter where we are. I agree....to a point. I don't believe a homosexual can be one of His Shepard's leading His herd if that is so.
There have been so many "demoninations" coming out for homosexual "Shepard's" I have NO idea where to begin.
I have called a few churches and left messages for the Pastor to call back so I can interview Him (no lady Pastors for me).
Any advise to where we can look? Anyone know anything about Presbyterians?
That bishop was later found to have having an affair with one of the wives of the congregation, and he was put in a boat and sent to Illinois (rather than hanged as the husband and his wife wanted!). That is the reason for the unique ecclesial structure of the LCMS. It is also the reason there are no more bishops but “presidents”.
My church here has a nice crucifix, though they are not common in newer congregations. That looks like a beautiful church!
Hi, NGZ. This church you mention sounds like it does *not* teach the biblical doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ's Body and Blood in the Sacrament. To me, that would be an absolute dealbreaker. I could not in good conscience go to that church, even though it may be good in other respects.
You yourself said, in your post 71, "if I'm going up there, I'm getting Christ's body." And you were right, for that is what Christ himself says we are receiving: "This is my body, given for you. This is my blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins."
And in post 217, you said that you truly believe that Jesus Christ's body is present in the Eucharist: "I do, I always have. Whenever the pastor would say 'take and eat, this is my body, given to you, do this in remembrance of me' I ALWAYS took it literally! Same with the wine." Again, you were right, NGZ, in the way you took it.
And in post 230 you say: "If Jesus says the only way to the Father is through Him, I take it literally, as I do the body and blood of Christ." Right again!
So if I were you, I would not even consider a church that disagrees with what Jesus himself says he is giving us.
But that does not mean you would need to go to a Roman Catholic church or to a liberal ELCA "Lutheran" (in name only) church. You could go to a conservative, confessional Lutheran church that teaches rightly about the Lord's Supper, that believes the Bible, and that does not have women pastors or approve of homosexuality. There are such churches even on Long Island.
I suggested Trinity Lutheran Church in New Hyde Park. Based on what I see on their website (which I just linked again), if I were looking for a church on Long Island, that is *exactly* the kind of church I would want. I would seriously check them out. If that one is too far (how many minutes from your home?), I could see if there's another good one closer to your home.
As far as how to understand the Lord's Supper, go with the Lord's words. Now I don't know how well you were catechized (instructed) in the faith, but I would recommend reading Luther's Small Catechism to give you a good grounding in the basics of the Christian faith. It's very good, a very helpful summary of biblical teaching. If you have questions about any of it, or anything else for that matter, I'd be happy to talk about it with you.
Here is the part on the Lord's Supper, the Sacrament of the Altar:
Sacrament of the Altar
As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household
What is the Sacrament of the Altar?
It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.
Where is this written?
The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?
These words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.
How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?
Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: “forgiveness of sins.”
Who receives this sacrament worthily?
Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words “for you” require all hearts to believe.
Every time I receive the true Body and Blood of Christ, I come away renewed, revived, refreshed, restored, reborn.
Wonderful post, pastor. This is why I remain in the LCMS church. It continues to preach the Gospel. Every church body has its issues. But what is important is how truthful they remain to God’s Church on earth in their beliefs and practices, when confronting these issues. I’m very happy to be a member of LCMS.
**Do you still hold to the Lutheran belief of the True Presence in the Eucharist?**
??
Lutherans believe in “con”substantiation. Not transubstantiation. There’s a big difference, although many do not detect it.
I looked at that church! It is about 45-50 minutes from me, on a good day.
I would love your help in finding something closer, thank you! I’m in Huntington, NY.
Of course I would be willing to travel some for the right church.
There are some LCMS churches closer. But I don't think you will find any better!
Can you give me a more precise idea of where exactly you are located in Suffolk County--zip code, town, intersection, etc. (by freepmail, if you prefer)?
| John 6 |
|
| 51 | I am the living |
| So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; |
| 54 | he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. |
| 55 | For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. |
| 56 | He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. |
|
|
We were posting at the same time. Now I've caught that, and I'm looking up churches on the lcms.org church locator.
one = only one
holy = established by Christ
catholic = universal
apostolic = on the apostles and from the apostles
Lol, thanks. =)
ZIP code? 11743, 11731, 11740?
**I really had no idea my church wasn’t on the same page I was, until I grew up and went back. He was NOT there!**
This is so sad.
I know you don’t want to head for Catholic, but the Catholic Church has NOT changed in this way. Yes, there were priests who sinned, but the entire Church didn’t sin or change!!!!!
And aren’t we all sinners at times in our lives?
11743
PC-USA (no that is not a snide joke) is the mainline Presbyterian denomination and they have fully jumped into the gay/lesbian marriage thing. Unless you want to get into the middle of a big fight and fight a rear guaed action against the national office, you'd best look somewhere else. The LGBT and allies now control the denomination and are trying to force all congregations to kneel before their demands--and they are succeeding.
Presbyterianism chamapioned "Sola Scriptura" in their formative years, but now the ruling church officials believe THEIR OPINIONS are the Scripture, Bible be damned.. A lot of the more independent community churches are much more conservative, though most of them don't follow a "high church" liturgical format.
Yes, we all are. The Priests sinning bugged me, as it should do all of us, it’s the cover up the higher ups did.
Moving them from one Parish to another. I can’t seem to wrapy my head around that one.
This sounds stupid, but I don’t like the way people bow and kiss the Popes ring. Something about that bugs me.
Ew, I don’t want that.
Some of that post didn't come through....sorry.
Good advice. And what does Jesus say?
| John 6 |
|
| 51 | I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh." |
| 52 | The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" |
| 53 | So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; |
| 54 |
he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. |
And they had their heads cut off because of that. Makes me wonder if I would have the faith to denounce the king and really put God first -- knowing that I would have my head cut off too. God is first in their lives too. Does that make sense?
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