Re: Problems with the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church.
My wife is born and bred LCMS. And since she takes care of her invalid mother, who is a founding member of the congregation, that's where they go. I go with them on occasion to be one in Christ. The church itself is a big money loser, and sitting on valuable real estate the Synod would love to sell. It wasn't always LCMS, they had to sign away the building to become so, but some wise individual insisted on a clause allowing the existing congregation to use the building for as long as they wanted. Most of the existing congregation is old and poor, and even with the school the place is a money pit for the Synod. They started to evict them several years ago, but my wife dug into the old files and found the original contract, and I found in that the clause giving them use of the building.
My mother in law symbolizes everything that's wrong with the LCMS. Here's a woman who has literally spent every single day of her life in service to her church, and yet she is so deathly afraid of dying. Frightfully scared to non-death of it. And that is because even though her entire life she's believed in what the church tells her about God, she's never been shown one single shred of it being true or having any power. Just the opposite, she's been told repeatedly that such things are not for her. And so she believes, but doesn't know, and she will suffer as long and as hard as humanly possible in total fear of taking the step to meet the God she has strived to meet all her life. It's insanity if you ask me. A church imposed insanity.
The LCMS depowers otherwise good and faithful servants of the Lord. It doesn't affect their salvation (maybe), but it does affect their ability to produce faith, good works, and fruit according to the Spirit. Cessationalism is a lie of the devil, intended to thwart those very things. And it angers me to see otherwise good saints caught up in the lie. I pray that you be freed of it.
Matthew 13:58 And He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
A church should teach faith, not exclusion.
I basically lived grew up in a lutheran church and i can vouch for what you say. They hold on to Lutheranism and not to Christ. Claiming we are LUTHERANS, therefore are not of Christ. Why not replace the liturgy with awesome Praise and Worship, just like what David did? God moves mightly in that
And their leaders just like the pharisees, i can not denie that some of the gospel they preach has truth in it, but NOT all, and a little poison in a drink? will you drink it? I wont.!!.
Mat 23:2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
Mat 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they
bid you observe, that
observe and do; but
do not ye after their works: for they say,
and do not.
The Lord saying that we can learn something from them. not everything, we should be able to rightly divide the word of TRUTH, get the junk out, accept the Bread that was sent from heaven.
Mat 23:4 For they
bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but
they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Telling people do this, and do that, while they themselves fail to do them. Even if they tried to carry peoples burdens, they cant!!. Thats' the Lords job, and if they do not believe that GOD can use them in mighty ways through His Holy Spirit, how could they?
Mat 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
Mat 23:6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
Mat 23:7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
If they are not serving GOD in SPIRIT, then they are serving him in the flesh, and that is? obviously acknowledged by MAN and not GOD.
How can they escape the Judgement of GOD? Having built foundations that many hold on to blindly, and many die in that sin.
Mat 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
How can they enter into the Kingdom of Heaven when they have denied the works of the Holy Spirit? And How can the Holy Spirit work in them when they want to remain behind the veil.....
I hope they come to the knowledge of truth..
Hillsong To know your name
The
precious blood of Jesus Christ redeems
Forgiven I'm alive, restored set free
Your
Majesty resides inside of me
Forever I believe, forever I believe
Arrested by Your truth and righteousness
Your
grace has overwhelmed my brokenness
Convicted by Your spirit, led by Your word
Your
love will never fail, Your love will never fail
To know You gave the world
Your only son for us
To know Your name
To live within the Saviors love
And He took my place
Knowing He'd be crucified
And You loved, You loved
For people undeserving