Question:

Why do you call the service at Trinity “Traditional”?

Answer:

Thanks for your question about “traditional” worship! I’ll start with a confession—I don’t prefer putting labels on our worship services, and find that the labels “traditional” and “contemporary” are, in the end, pretty vague. Thus, they carry various definitions—what one person considers “traditional” may be “contemporary,” and vice versa. On that foundation, I’ll briefly offer you my definition of “traditional” worship, as well as a statement about our Trnity Kimberly Way worship service found on our website.

The Christian church has been worshipping together for almost 2000 years! Through this history, the Church has consistently built its worship around the traditions it inherited from previous generations along with new innovations relevant to its current cultural context. That being said, there are a few “essentials” which, from my perspective, have tied Christian worship together. The first is the reading and explanation of God’s Word, and, right along side it, the regular celebration of the Sacraments: Baptism and Eucharist. Additionally, Christian congregations have generally been active participants in the worship service through singing, prayer, confession, and reconciliation. In worship, we encounter God and God’s gifts to us in a real and powerful way, we return to God our thanksgiving and praise, we teach each other and grow together in faith, and we share God’s love with those who may not know it. These are loose and simple boundaries; however, it is my opinion that this description best outlines the essentials of Christian Worship. It is on this foundation that we build our traditional services. Now, we certainly have inherited a rich liturgical tradition to which we make appropriate adaptations that reflect our cultural context. We also certainly have a wonderful facility in which to conduct our services, replete with a fine pipe organ and piano, excellent sound system, visual media, and dedicated servants who speak, sing, play, serve, and guide to enhance our worship experience. These resources—our liturgy and our facility—are just that, resources which point us to our Triune God, the source and focus of our worship. This is traditional worship—a dynamic encounter with God based on God’s Word and the celebration of the Sacraments, established through Church history and intimately involved in our own cultural and ministry context.

Our website says it this way:

These times of worship creatively draw on the lasting traditions and liturgies of historical Christian worship to guide our worship in a relevant, meaningful way for today. The services feature the reading and teaching of God’s Word and the celebration of the sacraments. We speak and sing together, accompanied by organ and often with brass ensemble, choirs and special music. These services have a more formal style, using such things as vestments and candles to help us recall the enduring, engaging mystery of God’s revelation of Truth and Love in Jesus Christ.

I would love to talk about this further, especially if I have not answered your question in the manner you were seeking. Please feel free to contact me anytime at jim.marriott@tlc4u.org.

Q: How can someone believe in Christianity so strongly when it can’t be proven?.

A: It’s a bit difficult to answer a question like this when I can’t ask some clarifying questions but I’ll take a shot at an answer.

First; can it be proven? I’d say yes it can. The Bible is the best-selling book ever printed and there are many proofs in the Bible. For thousands of years, people both pro and con Christianity have been studying it. It’s likely the most studied subject ever known to mankind. The best way to become familiar with and convinced of Christianity is to study the Bible. Read some of it every day and see what God does in your life.

Second, just look around you. The Bible says “the heavens declare the Glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). People have been arguing for centuries exactly how the world was created but nobody but God has the ability to create something out of absolutely nothing. Praise His name for His creation and enjoy it.

But, the very first step in believing isn’t taken by you. It’s taken by God. Ephesians 2:8-10 reads “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”. It starts with what God has already done for you. He sent His Son to live the perfect life on your behalf and take the punishment for every sin you have done or will ever do. Your choice is to accept it or reject it. If you accept it, it was really the Holy Spirit that God sent to pursue you. It’s all about Him and His love for you. What’s not to accept?

The bottom line is that there is lots of evidence that the tenants of Christianity are true, but it still comes down to whether you believe in what God has done for you or you want to reject it. Whether you believe in it or not, it’s still true.

I hope this helps you sort out what it means to believe in what God has done for you.

Q: “What will happen to me if I doubt the existence of God/Jesus?”.

A: There is very good news. You aren’t condemned for having doubts. If that were true, we’d all be in lots of trouble since it’s not unusual for Christians to have doubts in some areas of their belief. The Bible says: “a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench” Matt 12:20 (ESV). The Bible is saying that Jesus loves you so much that he is patient with you and wants to wait for your doubts to subside and you get to know Him as Lord and Savior of your life. And he promises to help you grow in that area.

So what do you do in the meantime – just sit and wait and hope? I don’t think so. If you want to get to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior and to be confident of His existence, take some time to get to know Him. Here are a couple of suggestions:

• Step 1 is to ask God for His help. Meet Him daily in prayer and ask Him to help your faith grow. He promises to answer that heartfelt prayer.
• Step 2 is getting to know God through His word, the Bible. Daily time in God’s word is the best way there is to get to know Him deeper. Start by setting aside a few minutes each day to read God’s word and see what it says to you.
• Step 3 is getting into Biblical community. (get in a small group where others can help you grow in your faith) God didn’t mean us to face these things alone. You need other believers to help.
• And last but very important, don’t forsake worship with other believers.

Question: When people die and then are quickly revived, they see a wonderful light. What is the light they see?

Answer: Well, I can’t really give you an answer for that from the Bible, since this is not referred to in any way. It is very popular in our contemporary culture to cite near death experiences relayed by individuals. Is this a brain synapse firing causing light receptors to flash or some heavenly experience? It’s hard to give solid evidence either way.

One thing I can say from scripture is that light is often part of a revelation of or from God, see John 1:4,5 and Luke 2:9. Revelation 1:12-16 describe a heavenly vision of Jesus with many bright light references. Jesus himself said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Q:Can salvation be lost?

You asked this question: Can a person who has come to faith in Christ and been baptized lose their salvation?

Answer: This question is a partner to another, “how can I be sure I’m saved?” It is possible for a believer to fall from faith and lose salvation, and it is possible for a believer to have complete assurance of eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. If this seems paradoxical to human reason, then (Lutherans say) this is only because the teaching of Scripture itself on this issue (as on many other issues) appears paradoxical to human reason.

When we fearfully wonder if we have done “enough” to claim our salvation we can lean on the good news of the gift God has given us free and clear by. Ephesians 2:8–9 (NLT) “ 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

Once we take our first steps that are made possible by that gift of faith, we hear God begin to direct our path. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) “ 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” He offers us his love, just the way we are, but loves us too much to leave us that way.

God’s Word warns us about paths that will lead us away from God whether or not we claim faith. Romans 6:1–2 (NLT) “Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” We should be very cautious about habits and associations that will eventually lead us to renounce God or grieve the Holy Spirit.

God’s Word also warns us about a faith that atrophies like a muscle that is never used. In Revelation 3:15–18 (NLT) Jesus says, 15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich.”

We tend our faith by being in contact with God through His Word and by taking steps along God’s path. Our faith grows in strength, building our assurance but also serving to strengthen others.

Answer:

When God sent Jesus as our savior, he had not disallowed everyone who had gone before that point in time. In Mark 12:26& 27 Jesus himself quotes Exodus 3:6 to emphasize the saving relationship between God and patriarchs. Jesus’ words to the thief on the cross, Luke 23:43 (ESV) 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” leads us to teach that there is no separation of time or delay in our coming into God’s presence after death. Our spirits, and this would include the Old Testament saints, are immediately brought into the joy of God’s presence, even while we all wait for the full resurrection at Jesus second coming.

God does not change from the Old Testament to the New Testament. In Jesus we have a more complete revelation of the depth of love God has for us from the very beginning.

First the principle: Forgive as you have been forgiven by God. God set the example of forgiveness through His son Jesus when He forgives our sins, even when we don’t deserve it. He took the action to reconcile us to Him even before we asked for forgiveness. What a loving/forgiving God!

So what does that mean for us? We should forgive the offence, even when someone doesn’t ask for forgiveness or recognize their fault. That may sound tough but here is something additional to think about. Forgiveness doesn’t necessarily mean that you must trust that person. Forgiveness is given, trust is earned. It may take a while for that person to earn back your trust based upon his/her actions to build back the trust that was lost in the incident behind your question.

Here may be some helpful steps to consider:

1. When the incident comes to your attention, pray about it asking God to guide your reaction and reconciling steps. He can help you determine if this incident is significant enough to confront the individual or is just a minor annoyance that you should ignore.

2. Forgive the person for the offence. Forgive as you have been forgiven by God.

3. Confront the person with the issue – in the same loving way that you would want someone to confront you if the shoe was on the other foot. If it’s a significant issue, meet with the person and talk about the offence. Perhaps they will see you cared enough to confront them and ask for forgiveness. Or perhaps you will see your part in the offence and there will be mutual forgiveness.

4. If they see their part of the offence and ask for forgiveness, GREAT. Confirm your willingness to forgive them. And begin reconciliation of the relationship. (again, this may take time)

5. If they don’t acknowledge their part in the offence, forgive them. You cannot control their acknowledgment of the offence, only your own response to the situation.

6. Now you can start working on building back the trust level in the relationship. The trust may come back soon or a long time or perhaps you will never be able trust them again. This part takes work, prayer and time.

I hope that this helps you and help move toward reconciliation and trust in the future.

Q:“Can you help me explain how God can be the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit?”

A: This is a great question! In fact, it is a question that caused about 400 years of controversy in the early church, and one that is still debated today. My goal in writing here will be to give you some tools for explaining this tricky doctrine.

First, I encourage you to accept our inability as humans to know or understand the totality of God. (Romans 11:33-36 hints at this). How’s that for a helpful start? Ha!

Second, I encourage you to search the Scriptures. The Bible does reveal aspects of God’s nature to us. In Genesis 1:26, the use of the pronouns “us” and “our” suggests a plurality to God. Yet, in Deuteronomy 6, we see that “God is one.”

Additionally, there are three significant manifestations of God that appear consistently throughout Scripture:

1. Father/Creator,

2. Son/Word(Logos); and some people suggest also the “Angel of the LORD”

3. Spirit; and some people also suggest “Wisdom”

You can find these throughout Scripture using any concordance, or by simply going to biblegateway.com and typing in those words.

So, we have one God, who refers to Godself in the plural (Genesis 1), and who is manifest in three distinct Biblical characters. In my opinion (an opinion informed and upheld by the majority of Christian tradition), the best way to interpret this is in the concept of the Trinity.

The concept of the Trinity basically states that God is one God in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three persons are (equally) God. Each person seems to have a distinguishable role in God’s work in the world, yet even these overlap in an interconnected way. (Father as Creator, Son as Jesus the Messiah, Spirit as the source and sustainer of faith.)

So, how can God be three persons and yet one God? Well, I think the best we can say is that this is what Scripture seems to indicate. It is certainly not an easy concept to rationalize. However, again, God’s being is beyond our comprehension; indeed, how disappointing would God be if we could understand God completely!!!

Another description of the Trinity comes in our 3 Colors of Ministry class. The Creator/Father is how we experience God’s wisdom in creation with all its systems and in our interpersonal social systems. The creator has all ability and authority. The Son is how we experience God’s commitment to save us from the disaster of our rebellion. Jesus shows us a proactive motivated presence of God’s love that serves in humility. The Holy Spirit is God’s enabling power to discern God’s wisdom and salvation and plug it into the real situations of our living and ministry.

Question: Does the church believe that a baby must be baptized to be saved? If it isn't and it dies, will the baby go to heaven or hell?

Answer: There is some basis for the hope that God has a method he has not revealed to us. Romans 11:33 “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” God is not bound by the means he supplies for our use. While He commands us to baptize all nations, God can save sinners without Baptism, as he did throughout the Old Testament. We see the Holy Spirit’s power to influence even unborn infants in a spiritual way in the story of John the Baptist leaping for joy in his mother’s womb when in the presence of the unborn Jesus. (Luke 1:15 and 39-45) We also have the all-encompassing Good News of 2 Corinthians 5:19, “God was in Christ reconciling the world (including the little children) unto Himself.”

Question: "If a person has a stroke, how can they be sure they are saved?"

Answer: Most importantly, we need to remember that the certainty of salvation for the believers rest on our gracious Lord and His grace.

Romans 5: 1-2 "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Titus 3:4-7 "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

If a person experiences a stroke, and is in an apparent comatose state, and then dies, Scripture clearly states that like any Christian "who falls asleep in Jesus", his soul goes to be with the Lord, even as his body is buried or cremated, awaiting the day of resurrection!

Faith and the assurance of our salvation doesn't depend on our ability to consciously speak and interact. While some Christians choose to believe that "last rites" or "last confession of faith" (both of which would require ability to speak and respond) are necessary for salvation and entrance into heaven, there is no Scriptural evidence to support that. The reassurance of God's grace and forgiveness in our lives is all we need.

Another thought because of personal experience. If that person who suffered a stroke and is in a coma like state is some one you would be able to visit, then I would encourage you to visit that person, read Scripture words of comfort and support (like Romans 5, Ephesians 2, and Titus 3 listed above) reminding them of God's sure and certain promises. Many folks who recover from comas tell us that while they couldn't speak or respond or even move, they could hear. This could be most supportive and comforting for a person in such state.

• Am I dressed in a way that communicates my love for God? One angle to consider on that is approval. Are you celebrating God’s approval of you as his loved child or do you need to seek another’s approval?
• Am I dressed in a way that communicates my care for other people? In this case that would be your boss, the company, and your coworkers? Notice it’s not about their care and respect for you, but your care and respect for them.

Q: During a recent sermon, Scott Thomas preached about the new earth when Jesus comes again. Scott said that our spirits will come back down and re-inhabit our bodies, made perfect. What if we were cremated, there is no body to be made perfect, or even for those poor victims who might have been mutilated.

A: Thanks for asking your question. This question centers on the point of a physical resurrection. Scott’s teaching comes from 1 Corinthians 15:42-44. The resurrected body is something completely new. We have no fears about living with amputations, injuries or other evidences of the brokenness of nature that we endure in this life. When we are resurrected in the new creation all that brokenness will be restored. People often speak of cremation as some huge hurdle for resurrection to overcome. The normal decomposition of a body doesn’t leave much for resurrection to work with either if resurrection is taking pieces and resuscitating them. Resurrection is a whole new creation.

1 Corinthians 15:42-22 (ESV) So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

Question:

Answer:

The Apostle’s Creed is one of the ecumenical creeds. Its use predates any denominational division in the church, so you will not find any added phrases when you cross denominational lines. You may find slight shifts in the English translation from the original Latin. When I was young we would say “He will come to judge the quick and the dead.” We now use a translation that says “the living and the dead”.

Your question is on the phrase “He descended into hell.” It sounds strange to our ears if we group it with preceding phrase of the creed “was crucified died, and was buried. He descended into hell.” Then it sounds like Jesus not only suffered on the cross for our sins, but also suffered in hell.

But if we look where the phrase comes from in 1 Peter 3:19 “he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison.” We connect it as the first of several statements about Jesus’ power and authority. “He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the God the Father Almighty.” We see that it is a victory speech we are talking about. Christ proclaims his victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil on our behalf. With that series of phrases we make the statement, “I believe His power surpasses all.”

Question: As we studied Psalm 139, my children asked me about Siamese twins and other birth defects. I have to admit, I was really stumped. They want to know if God knit those people together in their mother's womb, then did God intend for them to be like they are? Is this verse a general statement of God that people have made too specific? Are those "defects" evidence of sin in the world? Or does God truly create each child in the womb just as they are and have a different view of perfection than we do?

Answer:

While this is starting to cross into the "big unanswered question" of theology (Why does evil exist?) I would say this. God does indeed knit each of us together to be exactly the person he wants us to be - within the limits he has placed on himself about how he is going to interact with this fallen creation until Jesus comes again. That means a few things:

1. While he is perfect and would want to create each of us in his perfect image, because of the fall into sin we are created in the image of sinful human parents.

2. We will all be born with gifts and blessings from God, and with certain failings, sinful tendencies, and even defects from who we would have been without sin in the world.

3. When we are in heaven we will be "recreated" to be the perfect person we would have been apart from sin!

But - as to why God lets certain imperfections happen in specific people's lives, and as to why some seem (key word is "seem" - who is to say what is ultimately better or worse?) to be more severe defects than others - that is unknowable and I trust that God will sort that all out.

Q: One of the Ten commandments mentions honoring thy mother and father. How can I do that when they were emotionally and physically abusive to me when I was growing up? What does the bible say about this?

A: Let me start by saying my heart breaks at the hurt you have had to deal with. When we are in a situation that should only be nurturing and safe but receive injury instead, all heaven cries over the broken world we live in. Some of us experience that in broad generic ways. Others deal with it even in the intimate environment of our family.

One thing to understand about the “Honor your father and mother” directive in the commandments is that it is being spoken to a culture that has large extended multigenerational families living together in the same tent. We speak that phrase commandingly to 8 year olds. It takes on a whole other dynamic when it’s spoken to adults wanting their own way while still governed by the previous generation, and even more so when survival may make it expedient to jettison the old and infirm who are no longer contributing to the family’s resources. (1 Tim 5:4)

Honoring indicates respect, sometimes because of who they are, sometimes because of who they were. (Proverbs 23:22) It also assumes that there is a relationship that comes from a mutuality of respect. When sin and dysfunction come into the mix, respect fades. You can find a very complex example of this in the story of David’s family in 2 Samuel 13 – 18.

God does not endorse abuse of children when calling them to respect their parents. It’s especially tragic when parents fail to nurture their children because the child grows with a warped understanding of their identity. This is where the Good News from God brings healing. God does not abandon us to bad parenting. (Psalm 27:10) We find that we have a solid identity that goes way beyond our parents. God, by his love, makes us his children. (1John 3:1-3) Once we’re solid in this identity, honoring parents is no longer about who they are, or were. It’s more about who we are and want to be through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Your parents have put a huge rupture in your relationship. Is it a permanent rupture, or is it something you would like to repair based on the love God has given you and the healing you have experienced? You may need more time to heal, or you may discover bringing God’s grace into that disrupted relationship by giving some small form of respect may be the catalyst for your own healing.

Q: “If a fellow Christian commits a sin and asks for forgiveness are we obligated to forgive even though we are too angry to do so?”

A: God is the one who forgives sins and makes us His forgiven children. Psalm 103: 1-13 is a powerful declaration of God’s forgiving love in our lives.

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him

In the Lord’s prayer, Matthew 6:12-14, our Lord teaches His disciples to pray. A part of that prayer calls on us as His children to forgive as we have been forgiven.

“ and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. “

St.Paul in writing to the Christians at Corinth addresses a situation in which one of the members of the church had severely offended other members. They had apparently not been able to resolve the issue and for that reason had apparently also not dealt with the person in a forgiving way. Paul indicates that amounts to punishment “by the majority”. And asks the members of the church to “turn and forgive him, or he (the one who offended them all) may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.” II Corinthians 2:5-8.

5 Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.

I don’t know the situation to which you are referring, or exactly in what manner the person has sinned against you, but if that person has sought your forgiveness and you are holding back forgiveness, there could be the possibility that your reluctance to forgive might truly “overwhelm the person.”

It surely is the Lord’s will that you do forgive that person. The issue for you might now be, what keeps you from forgiving that person? What makes it hard for you to let go of the anger you expressed? Is it that you feel the person was insincere in asking your forgiveness? Is it possible this has happened before, perhaps more than once and the person’s request for forgiveness was not followed up by appropriate action on his/her part?

In a sense you have a concern with that person. For what ever reason, you have something against that person. I think you could possibly consider addressing that concern to him/her. Matthew 18 gives our Lord’s great guidelines for confronting those who have sinned against us.

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed.

Ask the Lord to guide you as you search your heart, come to him in prayer for guidance and then decide which course of action would truly lead to a God-pleasing resolution of this issue.

Q: If God has a plan for us, why do we pray for something/anything we may need or want to happen?

A: Great question since on the surface it seems that God’s sovereign will for us would overrule any prayer request. Here are three points that I think will help answer this question.

1. God through His Son tells us to pray and to be persistent:

¹ And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. ² He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. ³ And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ⁴ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” ⁶ And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. ⁷ And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? ⁸ I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Luke 18:1-8 (ESV)

⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7 (ESV)

2. God promises to answer our prayers (but not always with the answers we want).

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matt 7:7-8 (ESV)

¹³ Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.^[2] James 5:13-16 (ESV)

3. The mystery of “changing the mind of God”. For this complex answer, let’s refer to the FAQ section of the LCMS website and see what they have to say.

Q. Can we change God's mind through prayer or are all of our actions and days of our lives predetermined? If we pray that God's will be done, where does the power of prayer come in?

A. The question you raise touches on one of the great mysteries of prayer as it relates to the nature of God, and there is no simple "answer" to this question that is comprehensible to human reason. On the one hand, Scripture does not teach "predeterminism," i.e., that every single thing that happens in our lives has been "predetermined" by God from eternity; in that case (as you suggest) petitionary prayer would really be a meaningless activity. On the other hand, we know from Scripture that God is omniscient, also as regards His foreknowledge--He knows from eternity everything that will happen, but that does not necessarily means that He causes it to happen.

There are certainly examples in Scripture of God "changing his mind" (e.g., Ex. 32:14) as a result of prayer or intercession--which results in the rather mind-boggling conclusion that God was completely serious about His original plan or intention (in the case of Exodus 32, to destroy the sinful Israelites), but that He also knew in advance (by virtue of His foreknowledge) that He would change his mind as a result of prayer. Since we will never (on this side of heaven) fully comprehend mysteries such as these, the best course of action is simply to trust God's promises about the power and value of prayer in Christ's name and heed Scripture's many admonitions to pray faithfully and frequently. God has promised to hear our prayer and to answer prayer, according to His good and gracious will. God always know what is best for us.

Q: If I attend church regularly and serve, am I wrong to not be in a small group? What’s the difference?

A: First, thank you for attending church regularly and for serving your congregation. Those activities are more than valid reflections of life in the body of Christ. You certainly are not “wrong” for not being a part of a small group. We simply believe small groups contain the catalytic elements for life transformation—the presence of God’s Word, the word of God spoken through his people to one another, and the Holy Spirit in the midst of this all. To give you a little glimpse, our small groups, consisting of 3 – 20 people, connect regularly (many weekly) on their journey to grow closer to God. Spiritual and relationship growth take place as the group reads, prays and discusses the application of God’s word in their lives. True story—a person very recently joined a men’s small group. He has been attending services regularly for 6 years, but has never opened up or owned a Bible. He would not have known where to find the book of Genesis. Not negating anything he experienced from worship services and sermons he heard, but this gentleman was never personally challenged, face-to-face across a table from another believer, to dive into God’s Word. Upon his second small group meeting, he was given a Bible as a free gift and is taking spiritual steps towards growing in his relationship with Christ unlike he has ever experienced in his Christian life. This is just one example but a powerful one depicting how God uses small groups of believers to disciple, support, and encourage one another.

Q: Do we need to be baptized again if we were baptized as an infant?”

A: Baptism received in the name of the Holy Trinity is always a Baptism, no matter what. Some protestant churches have roots in the "Anabaptist" tradition; the word "Anabaptism" means, "Baptized again." At the time of the Reformation in the 16th century there arose groups that were collectively known as "enthusiasts" or "radical reformers" and eventually known as the "Anabaptists." One of the hallmarks of their theology was the view that infant Baptism is of no effect and believers must all be baptized again.

The Lutheran church, on the basis of Scripture, believes, teaches and confesses that Baptism is that one-time wonderful act of God in our lives by which He incorporates us into the life and death of Jesus Christ. It has life-long and ongoing blessings, but is performed only once on a person. Our Lord said, "Go and baptize," not "Go and baptize the same person numerous times." And although it is administered only once, Baptism is to be used by Christians throughout their whole life. Nowhere do the Apostles call on Christians to repeat Baptisms; however, they frequently recall to their minds the Baptism once received (1 Cor.1:13; 6:11; 12:13; Rom. 6:3ff; Eph. 4:5; Col. 2:12; Titus 3:5-6; 1 Pet. 3:21).

Q: How do you respond to someone who says “all gods are the same"?

A: Great question, and one that I have heard a lot. When studying the world religions, one of the things that becomes immediately apparent is just how incredibly different these religions are, right down to how they think about God. Usually people who say "all gods are the same" have never really spent any time studying the worlds religions. If they had, they would see just how faulty this idea is.

Let me give you a brief example. Christianity says that God is a personal being. Buddhism says that there is no god at all and that the "divine" is simply an impersonal, transcendent reality. So which is it? Is there a personal God or is the divine simply some impersonal transcendent reality? It is easy to see how absolutely incompatible these two fundamental ideas are.

However, let's bring it a little closer to home. What if we were to take two monotheistic religions, like Christianity and Islam? Again, we would see that their understandings about God are strikingly different. Christianity says that God entered the world as Jesus Christ to die for our sins. Islam says that this is impossible; that God would could never die for our sins, much less become human. Muslims claim that this would be contrary to his nature. So which is it? A God who loves the world and enters into to it to die for us? Or a God who is totally transcendent, judging us from afar?

Again, who God is, what He is like, and how He relates to us are fundamentally different from one religion to the next. People who claim that all religions are the same often have the best intentions by trying to say that no religion is better than any of the others. However, they then end up making a blanket statement about the world’s religions that totally ignores the major differences between them. So, to the person who says "all gods are the same", I would encourage him or her to take a second look at those religions and really try to understand what they believe. To do any less is to insult the beliefs of religious people everywhere by simply writing off their teachings with an overly simplistic answer.

Q: Many large churches baptize adults by immersion. Is this different than an infant baptism?

A: On the basis of the evidence provided in the New Testament, it is not possible to prove that the term "baptize" always refers to immersion, nor that the Baptisms mentioned were all done by immersion--implying (in the view of some) that only Baptisms done by immersion can be considered valid. In fact, taken as a whole the evidence suggests otherwise. In some cases the term "baptize" is synonymous with "wash" (Tit. 3:5-6; see also Heb. 9:19; Eph. 5:26, Acts 22:16, and Mark 7:1-4—a passage in which some earlier translators considered the term "baptize" to include the washing of "dining couches"), and it is highly likely that Baptisms were performed in the early church by methods other than immersion. 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. As the Supplementary Volume of The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible correctly notes, "It is unlikely that in Jerusalem, Samaria, Damascus, Philippi, Corinth, Rome, or Asia Minor enough water was always available for a full bath" (87).

It should be noted that very early in Christian history methods other than immersion were used and allowed. The Didache requires the administrant of Baptism to "pour water three times on the head" (7:3). No mention is made of immersion. Early Christian art depicts Baptisms of persons standing in shallow pools with water poured on the head (see David Scaer, Baptism, 96-101).

Lutherans have therefore held that the manner of Baptism (that is, immersion, pouring, sprinkling, etc.) does not determine whether a Baptism is valid, any more than the manner of distributing the Lord's Supper (common cup, individual glasses) affects the validity of this Sacrament. Only the Word of God and the "element" (water), according to divine institution, makes a Baptism valid.

Q: What do you mean by the “gift of tongues” and do we still recognize this gift?

A: We saw in 1 Cor. 12 Paul’s earnest desire that the Corinthian congregation mature and that maturity is the use of gifts governed by love (chapter 13). This quality of love, the true evidence of the Spirit, will bring the best benefit to the congregation and to their mission. In chapter 14 Paul returns to the gift of tongues because of the way it is affecting their worship together.

He starts by again urging them towards love (14:1) and then points their attention to prophecy as something that will benefit their worship together. He puts some guiding restrictions on the use of tongues (14:13-19) to keep the congregation’s worship focus on the gifts that function for the best benefit in a corporate setting, both for the congregation and for their mission.

Neither one of these words, tongues or prophesy, are very often used in our Lutheran atmosphere, so you may ask, “What’s going on?!?” In our Three Colors of Ministry class we define the gift of tongues as the use of a language you have never learned (Acts 2), either in personal prayer or for a public message. We define the gift of prophecy as serving as the vehicle for a divine message regarding a concrete situation.

The gift of tongues serves as a powerful connection to God for the individual in worship. Paul says in Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” It is a great energy boost for the individual’s faith and often for the faith of those who witness it. We glimpse in it God’s nature to completely bowl over resistance with the power of his presence. Paul’s point in 1 Cor. 14:6-12, however, is that without interpretation, the full maturing benefit of understanding is lost on the congregation. It is our understanding that tongues can be beneficial for the individual to practice in personal or small group settings, but is not our practice to include it in corporate worship.

We don’t often use Paul’s word prophecy, but if you think of the definition, you’ve probably seen it in action very often. When the Word of God is unpacked with great meaning, interpreting the signs of the times in its light, giving warning and guidance, that is prophecy. It may remind you of what you have heard in some sermon lately. You can see why this gift that brings understanding was something Paul felt would bring great benefit to the Corinthian congregation as they tried to figure out how to live as Christians in a pagan city.

So, why does the practice of tongues seem to come and go, as if a fashion statement of a particular congregation or even a particular era of the church? Some point to 13:10 where Paul talks about tongues passing away when the more perfect comes. As the knowledge base and quality of preaching the message of the Gospel increases, the need for the power jolt of tongues is no longer needed and so it has passed away. The era of tongues is over. Others interpret the more perfect as a longing look into heaven, where all gifts will be overshadowed by God’s presence. Love, the one thing that governs all gifts, will be all that remains. That’s the crux of the debate Christians continue to carry on about the gift of tongues.

Q: Is it a sin to pray to saints and the Virgin Mary?

A: I think that this is a great question and one that I hear a lot, especially from Christians who are Catholic or come from a Catholic background. It is also one that I personally resonate with as half my family is Catholic and the other half Protestant, so I've had to do a lot of thinking on this one:)

I think the only way that I can answer this is by pointing back to Scripture and trying to highlight the purpose and focus of prayer.

Jesus sets out the purpose of prayer when he taught his disciples how to pray in the gospels. He says:

"When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you...Pray then like this, 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name...'" (Matthew 6:6 & 9).

What we see here is that the purpose of prayer is to draw us into deeper relationship with God our Father. Prayer is a relational act between the Christian and his or her heavenly Father. Whether we ask for God's help or provision, or simply speak to Him and seek His will for our lives, prayer is meant to be between us and God. Our prayers are not for anyone else, whether earthly or heavenly.

The way that we have access to the Father is through Jesus Christ, the only mediator between us and God. The writer of the book of Hebrews explains it in this way:

"Therefore [Christ] is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, sicne a death has occured that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant...Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water" (Hebrews 9:15 & 10:19-22).

So the focus of our prayers is always Jesus. He is the one who mediates on our behalf before God the Father. There is no other mediator but him. This is why Jesus tells his disciples, "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it" (John 14:13-14).

So, to get back to your question about praying to saints and Mary, I think that doing so misses the point of prayer. If prayer is meant to draw us into deeper fellowship with God and is directed through Jesus Christ, then praying to the saints and Mary becomes simply a distraction, another separation between us and deep union with God. Furthermore, there is nothing in the Bible that tells us we need to pray to the saints for intercession. We see that we can pray directly to our Father God because of Jesus Christ. He hears and understands our prayers and meets us in those moments.

Now, about whether or not it is a sin: It only becomes a sin if we believe that the saints or Mary have the power to meet our needs and that we need to go to them to have our prayers heard. To do so would elevate them to a place that is only reserved for Jesus Christ and ignores the clear teaching of Scripture.

Q: If anyone of us were to “enter” this world of ours, and have no knowledge of the existing religions, which “religion” would we choose? Reasons for choosing?

A: In all honesty I think you have asked a question that I cannot answer:) There is no way that I can know how another person will respond in a hypothetical scenario nor can I know the reasons for their response.

However, I think I know where you are coming from. I've heard a similar question many times before and that is:

What happens to people who are raised without knowing Jesus? Is it fair for God to judge them for accepting whatever they were brought up to believe?

Would it be accurate to re-phrase your question in this way? If not, please let me know and I can try and give a more accurate response.

If your question is along these same lines, I'll do my best to answer.

One of the things that the Bible tells us is that, whether we realize it or not, we are all searching for a deeper connection with God. The apostle Paul highlights this when he spoke to a group of philosophers in Athens:

"And [God] made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us" (Acts 17:26-27).

One of the things that I think this tells us is that, as humans, we have an inherent desire to look for something outside of ourselves to which we relate and in which we find meaning. I think that this actually explains the presence of so many worldviews and philosophies, both the religious or secular.

However, Paul also notes our tendency for self-deception. When writing to the church in Rome, he said:

"For what can be known about God is plain to [humanity], because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles" (Romans 1:19-23).

While Paul is specifically talking about the religions of Greek and Roman paganism, I think this passage highlights some important things. Specifically it notes how we, as humans, tend to end up worshiping things other than God. We end up buying into systems of belief that reflect more about our desires than they do about God. Furthermore, this leads us to become blinded to spiritual truth when we encounter it.

So, on the one hand, I think the worlds religions and philosophies highlight an honest attempt by humanity to find God, but are also limited by our own tendency to accept beliefs that simply meet our desires or needs rather than seeking after spiritual truth. This is both the promise and the limitation of the world religions.

So, what about those who are raised in an environment where Christianity is not taught? Well, I am not entirely sure. I would say, based on what we have seen in Scripture, that anyone who simply accepts a worldview that they are handed without exploring it to see if in fact it is true are setting themselves up for disappointment when they meet God. This goes for Christians as well. The excuse of "Well, that is what I was given" won't cut it. As best as we are able, we are responsible for whether or not we seek out God. That is a choice that we are accountable for.

Now, that being said, if someone truly is not able to find the truth about Christ because of the lack of Bibles, living in an environment where Christianity is not present, or because they die before finding Christ, I think God will take these factors into account. The Bible tells us that God is just and will not punish a person unfairly. The question will be whether they were truly seeking Him or not. This is why I am glad that God makes the final call and not me, because only He knows the condition of a person's heart. I believe that those who were truly seeking to know God and have a relationship with Him will be looked upon with mercy.

However, the final thing that we have to take into consideration is what ultimately can save us. In the end, we are all dependent upon the grace and mercy of Christ, for the Bible also says:

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

A person, whether Christian or not, will not be saved because of how "good" he or she was, because the ultimate standard is the glory of God; a standard that no human being can ever live up to if left to his or her own devices. Furthermore, the Bible tells us that all those who die not knowing Christ will be "judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done" (Revelation 20:13). We are only guaranteed salvation by having a relationship with Jesus Christ: acknowledging him as our Lord and Savior and living out that relationships in obedience to him.

This is why it is so important for Christians to be a part of spreading the Gospel message. It gives everyone a chance to know Jesus Christ and to have an eternal future which is secure in his grace. Without this, we are left to our own with no guarantees of our eternity.

So, what happens to those who follow other religions? I'm not sure. That is for God to decide when he judges them. The only guarantees come through a living and vibrant relationship with Christ.

Q: What is the Biblical reason Lutherans baptize infants?

A: Lutherans baptize infants because of what the Bible teaches regarding:

1.) God's command to baptize (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). There is not a single passage in Scripture which instructs us not to baptize for reasons of age, race, or gender. On the contrary, the divine commands to baptize in Scripture are all universal in nature. On the basis of these commands, the Christian church has baptized infants from the earliest days of its history. Since those baptized are also to be instructed in the Christian faith, (Matt. 28:20), the church baptizes infants only where there is the assurance that parents or spiritual guardians will nurture the faith of the one baptized through continued teaching of God's Word.

2.) Our need for Baptism (Psalm 51; 5; John 3:5-7; Acts 2:38; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:3-4). According to the Bible, all people--including infants--are sinful and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). King David confesses, "I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Ps. 51:5). Like adults, infants die--sure proof that they too are under the curse of sin and death. According to the Bible, Baptism (somewhat like Old Testament circumcision, administered to 8-day-old-babies--see Col. 2:11-12) is God's gracious way of washing away our sins--even the sins of infants--without any help or cooperation on our part. It is a wonderful gift of a loving and gracious God.

3.) God's promises and power (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21; John 3:5-7; Titus 3:5-6; Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:1-4; Colossians 2;11-12; Ephesians 5:25-26; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Those churches which deny Baptism to infants usually do so because they have a wrong understanding of Baptism. They see Baptism as something we do (e.g., a public profession of faith, etc.) rather than seeing it as something that God does for us and in us. None of the passages listed above, nor any passage in Scripture, describes Baptism as "our work" or as "our public confession of faith." Instead, these passages describe Baptism as a gracious and powerful work of God through which He miraculously (though through very "ordinary" means) washes away our sins by applying to us the benefits of Christ's death and resurrection (Acts 2:38:39; Acts 22:16), gives us a new birth in which we "cooperate" just as little as we did in our first birth (John 3:5-7), clothes us in Christ's righteousness (Gal. 3:26-27), gives us the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5-6), saves us (1 Peter 3:21), buries us and raises us up with Christ as new creatures (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:11-12), makes us holy in God's sight (Eph. 5: 25-26) and incorporates us into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). All of this, according to the Bible, happens in Baptism, and all of it is God's doing, not ours. The promises and power of Baptism are extended to all in Scripture--including infants-and are available to all. Parents and sponsors then have the privilege and responsibility of nurturing the baptized child in God's love and in His Word so that he or she may know and continue to enjoy the wonderful blessings of Baptism throughout his or her life.

Q: Who wrote the Apostle’s Creed?

A: The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod has a wonderful website with a great FAQ section. The Apostle’s Creed didn’t have a single author but it was a compilation of what the church believed that was set in writing by the early church. By 150 A.D it was in use at Christian centers all along the Mediterranean Sea, such as Jerusalem, Alexandria (North Africa), Rome, and even Spain, especially in conjunction with Baptism. As the water was applied, the question would be asked: "Do you believe in God the Father? God the Son? etc." Very quickly the answer developed into what we now call the Apostles' Creed. It is often called the baptismal creed. In addition to its primary use at all baptisms, it is also very appropriate for use in daily devotions.

Q: Did anyone actually see Jesus go when he ascended into heaven?

A: Two Scripture references indicate that a number of the Disciples were with \him, when he was taken up to heaven.

Mark 16:14-20

14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.
20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Apparently the eleven Disciples witnessed the Ascension.

Also it is recorded in Luke 24- Luke records the ascension after the appearance of Jesus to Thomas. It begins in verse 36 and goes to the end of the chapter.

36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.
38 He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?
39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.
41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?"
42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,
43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.
52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

Q: I have heard people say that if you believe enough and pray enough that all your problems will be solved. I pray at least once a day and I don’t think I could believe anymore. But why are my life problems not getting any better? Do I need to pray more or something?

A: I appreciate the honesty of your questions. The question of "having enough faith" is a human question. God never asks 'how much faith is needed." Romans 5:1 and following says,

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of

the glory of God."

You may remember the story of the thief on the cross when our Lord was crucified. His confession of faith was simply "Lord remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus reply was also simple and straightforward, "Today you will be with me in paradise."

God surely wants us to grow in faith, "Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord." (2 Peter 3:l8) but the presence of faith is what brings us God's forgiveness and the blessings of His love, not any supposed quantity of faith.

It is the same with prayer. While God invites us to pray, and encourages us to pray often, the quantity of prayer is never the issue. In speaking to people of His day who made a show of prayer in public to impress people. , Jesus made it clear that quantity of prayer is not the issue. Matthew 6:7-8 "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

Hear our Lord assurance there also that He does know your needs.

One other point I think is important. You express frustration that your life problems are not getting any better. In I Cor 10:13 God, speaking through St. Paul make a wonderful promise, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

I think those words are powerfully supportive of all of us who live with the pressure of real life in our world of today.

Q: As a Christian parent of a child who was raised in this church and attended a Lutheran school, how do I effectively address the situation of living with a potential spouse without the benefit of marriage?

A: Our recent series Let’s Talk About Sex dealt with our culture’s contrast to the principles for marriage outlined in 1 Corinthians 7. The basic assumption in all that Paul says is that the life of the unmarried is a celibate life. Even if that is what your child heard in their forming years, and what you reinforced while sharing your own life and faith story, we have to acknowledge the sheer volume of influence and input our culture has in the attitudes of our children, and the fact that they must finally take their own steps. Our parent hearts understand the plea of Proverbs 6:20-21 and 10:1.

You ask about effectively addressing the situation. Recognize that this could be a long process. The quality of your communication will be key, especially in how you can communicate your value for the relationship you have with your adult child. We follow God’s example. He speaks clearly about what path brings the best promise of life for his children and he opens his heart of love even when his child strays.

• 1 Cor. 7:2 Paul describes marriage as the environment that gives safety and full expression to our sexual life. Entering a sexual relationship without the safe binding of marriage can bring uncertainty, disappointment and hurt in the long term.

• Psalm 103 tells about the vastness of God’s love and mercy. Rest confidently in the knowledge that God will not walk away from the situation. Rely on his patience and his love while you hold on to your relationship with your adult child.

Also, consider this – how do you apply the wisdom of God’s Word to your life? Do you take the Bible as advice, words for consideration, or do you give it full authority with the power to curb your own inclinations? This will be an underlying issue in many of life’s choices.

Many people in our culture consider Jesus as a good and wise teacher, but do not give him any authority to rule their lives. Similarly, they consider the Bible to be a good book among many good books, not The Book given by God to govern our lives. When your spoken words fail, let your behavior and choices model the power of God’s Word in your life. 2 Timothy 3:16

Q: Why do Bad Things happen to good people?

A: Bad things happened to people in this world "good and bad" because sin is in the world.

In Matthew 15:19 we read....

".. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:"

As you know, so much of the tragedy is caused by 'man's inhumanity to man', clearly brought about by sin.

God doesn't desire "bad things" for us, but rather wants us to live as His people, secure in His forgiveness, trusting in His love for our life on this earth and for life with Him in Heaven.

His will for us in rather clear in I timothy 2:

He was writing to a young pastor, Timothy telling him how important it was to express God's will for mankind in the congregation's worship life.

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"

This is God's will for us, and for all.

He also wants us to know His care and support for us in the midst of difficulty and "bad things" that do happen in life. In Romans Chapter 8, St. Paul speaks to those issues.

28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?
33 Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.

35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Q: Religion makes a virtue out of not thinking. Why is this, in the 21st century, a good thing?

A: I would challenge the basic assumption of this question. I do not believe religion makes a virtue of not thinking. In fact, there are many places in scripture where we are encouraged to use our minds. Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Reading and studying God's word is a life-long learning process. It challenges us to think and not blindly follow a list of rules. It stretches our understanding of the universe and of ourselves.

There have been many very intelligent people of faith. Read something by C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity) or by modern author Timothy Keller (The Reason for God) and you will find people who know Christianity is not about checking your brain at the door. And by the way - Trinity will be doing a series in 2011 entitled "Can Smart People Believe in God?" We have some very intelligent people right here at Trinity that work at places like Argonne and Fermi who will have some fascinating things to say about thinking and faith.

Q: “God appeared and spoke to His people in early times. Why do you think he doesn’t do so today when reassurance of His presence would be such a support to mankind?”

A: The question you ask reminds me of the story of The Rich Man and Lazarus from the Bible (Luke 16:19-31). When I look at verses 28-3, Jesus seems to be saying that the Father has given us everything we need to come to know Him. We have “Moses and prophets” which to them was their Bible - the revealed word of God. Jesus says that even if someone should rise from the dead (and Jesus has done that) some people wouldn’t believe. The bottom line is that God has given us His creation as a witness, His revealed Word (the Bible), sent His son to redeem us and His Holy Spirit to comfort us until He returns. God seems to be saying that He has provided all we need to accept Him and live according to His will. If we needed more, I trust that He would have provided more.

A. In terms of the official position of our two church bodies as reflected in formally adopted statements of belief and practice the three main areas of difference between the LCMS and the ELCA are the following:

1. The doctrine and authority of Scripture. The LCMS believes that the Bible is without error in all that it says. The ELCA avoids making such statements, holding that Scripture is not necessarily always accurate on such matters as history and science. Differences between the LCMS and the ELCA on the authority of Scripture also help to explain why the ELCA ordains women to the pastoral office, while the LCMS does not (based on 1 Cor 14:33-36 and 1Tim 2:11-14). Similarly, on the basis of what Scripture clearly teaches (Rom 1:18-28; 1 Cor 6:9), the LCMS position on homosexual behavior is unequivocal: homosexual behavior is contrary to God's will, while the ELCA has declared that it lacks a consensus regarding what Scripture teaches about homosexual activity. Consequently, those who disagree with one another in the ELCA have been called to respect the ‘bound conscience’ of the others. The ELCA has also determined to allow the ordination of practicing homosexuals as long as they are in a life-long, committed relationship.

2. The commitment to Lutheran confessional writings. The ELCA, while affirming its commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as witnessed to in the Lutheran confessions, also tends to emphasize the historical character of these writings and to maintain the possibility of dissent to confessional positions that do not deal directly with the Gospel itself understood in a narrow sense. All LCMS pastors are required to affirm that the Lutheran confessions are a correct explanation of the teachings of Scripture.

3. The level of agreement necessary to join together in one church body. While the LCMS believes that the Bible requires agreement in all that the Bible teaches, the ELCA holds that disagreement in some matters of doctrine, such as the mode of Christ's presence in Holy Communion, do not prohibit church fellowship.

Q: The Bible says God threw the Devil/ Fallen Angel out of Heaven, where did God throw him to?

A: The passage you’re referring to is Revelation 12:7-12. It says they were thrown down to earth and it is described as a defeat. Satan is no longer able to stand before God accusing us “day and night” vs.10. But there is also a warning; heaven is rejoicing to be rid of him, but woe to earth “for the Devil has come down to you in great fury, for he knows he has but a short time.” The point is that we have a sure relationship with God that no one can alter – he has been defeated and is subject to the authority of God, but here on earth we are constantly dealing with the lies and deceit of the Devil. He does know how to cause trouble – be ware. It’s a call to be constantly in touch with armor of God, especially the sword of the Spirit – the Word of God. Ephesians 6:10-20

Q: Is it a sin to pray the Lord takes an ailing elderly parent home?

A: The presence of serious illness in the life of a loved one is always painful and difficult. I have laid to rest both of my parents, and my mother-in-law and father-in-law. Three of them were called to heaven with long, lingering illness. I can fully understand your concern for praying that the Lord would take them to be with Him as soon as possible and avoid the suffering that is so much a burden to them, and to those of us who love them.

I think the important word from God for your thoughts and consideration are the words our Lord prayed on Maundy Thursday in the Garden of Gethsemane. In Matthew 26:39-44.

39 "Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter.
41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.
44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing."

Faced with His own suffering and death, our Lord pleaded with His Father to find another way if possible. He did it not just once, or twice but actually three times. But each time He prayed for relief, He added that word of faith and trust in His Father's will- 'not my will but yours be done."

My encouragement to you is to pray earnestly that the Lord deliver your ailing parent from the pain and struggle of that lingering illness, but to finish each prayer with those same words of trust in Him, "Never the less, not my will but yours be done."

I also want to share words that have been most comforting to me in these situations as well. From Romans 8: 35-39

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

These words speak profoundly of our Heavenly Father's love and care for you and for your ailing parent. Nothing can ever separate you or your parent from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. He loves you and wants to strengthen and support you in these most difficult moments. He assures you of His love for your parent. He assures you both that by faith in Christ, heaven awaits you both, in His good time.

Q: How do you get child like faith as an adult? I used to believe without doubt. I have a lot of doubt and would like that assurance back!

A: Moving from childhood where life is generally a bit more simple to adulthood with all of its complications, pressures and challenges surely creates a challenge also to faith.

Faith is a gift from God, given in baptism and nurtured by use of the Word and Sacraments. Romans 10:17 states:

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is

heard through the word of Christ."

You have faith because of the Word of God you have heard and believed. That faith will continue to grow as you continue to hear the Word in worship or in private reading and devotion.

Here are some of the promises God makes to you in His word.

Hebrews 13:5-8

5 God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

The Lord is your helper, and He will help you deal with doubts that trouble you. He will help you through His word. He will help you through worship and involvement in the life of our congregation.

Jesus also speaks a word of wonderful promise as He spoke to all of us as His disciples sending us as believers on His mission as His people the church. Hear especially the end of verse 20. That's His promise to you, to be with you always, in the midst of any doubts, to support you in spite of those doubts and to help you deal with those doubts.

Matthew 28:18-20

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

I think the Words of Romans 8:35-39 are most powerful in reminding us of God's promises to support us , no matter with what struggle difficulty or doubt we may be dealing.

35 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Q: How long do we have to suffer before things get better?

A: Suffering can take so many different forms in our life. Surely one of the cause of suffering is when an important person is no longer a part of your life.

I of course don't know the circumstances that brought that about, taking that person out of your life, but I know God doesn't bring pain or loss into our lives. He wants to help us deal with it.

Rather God wants to assure you of His love for you to support you in the midst of this loss. One Scripture text that comes to my mind is I Corinthians 10:13..

"God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the

testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it,"

That is a sure promise from our gracious God. It may be hard to understand or accept at a given moment, but God is faithful.

In the book of Romans, St. Paul speaks to the issue of facing loss, difficulty, problems and trials.

Romans 8:28-39

28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?
33 Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.
35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Trinity offers small group opportunities that would offer a place to form supportive relationships with friends of faith. Contact Craig Mattes for help hooking up with a small group.

Q: What happens if you’re a good person and do good things but don’t quite believe in God?

A: You obviously care about the quality of your life. You describe yourself as a good person doing good things. Yet you indicate that something makes it hard for you to believe in God. Be patient with yourself. Your concern for living a good life, i.e. a responsible, law-abiding, caring life surely indicates great respect for life as a gift and for living that life in a responsible way.

If you sincerely desire to receive the gift of faith, then ask God to open your heart to the Word of God. I pray that you would continue to attend church with us at Trinity. The Word of God is taught there every week.

You also need to know it is God's heart felt desire that you do believe in him. In I Timothy 2: 1-8 St. Paul is writing to a young pastor Timothy, about the importance of worship in the life of the congregation. I think these words can speak to you as well.

NIV 1 Timothy 2:1

1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--
2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men-- the testimony given in its proper time.
7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle-- I am telling the truth, I am not lying-- and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles

Most importantly you need to know God loves you and wants you to know His love and forgiveness for your life.

Q: Does God answer every prayer?

A: Yes,God does answer every prayer. The issue for us as human beings is that the answer may not be the answer we expect, or desire. Answering our prayer is not the same as granting our request. Sometimes the answer could well be "no."

The best example of prayer is our Lord's own prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, right before he was arrested, tried and crucified.

Our Lord prayed urgently that if it be possible He wouldn't have to go through the suffering that was just ahead.

Matt 26:39 - Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

It is that model of prayer our Lord gave us that enables us to come to him with all our concern, adding that wonderful statement of faith and trust, "yet not as I will, but as you will."

Q: Do Muslims worship the same God as Christians? Do they worship the only true God, but reject Jesus, or do they worship a false god?

A: That is a great question and one that I get a lot, especially as a Christian who has spent some time studying Islam. I would say that the answer is "Yes" and "No". What I mean is that there are certain things about God that Islam gets right and certain things that it gets wrong.

For example, two of the most prominent names for God in the Qur'an are "The Merciful and The Compassionate". Now, Christians also believe that God is merciful and compassionate. So, in this respect we agree and Islam is saying something right about God and His nature. So, where there is overlap between Islam and Christianity, then I would say that they are acknowledging the truth about God.

However, there are also many differences between Islam and Christianity. The most fundamental, and probably most important, comes down to the nature of Jesus. Muslims acknowledge Jesus as a prophet, but do not believe that he was God or that he died for our sins. Christians believe that Jesus Christ was and is God, that he died for ours sins so that we might enter into a new relationship with God and live eternally with Him when He comes in glory. Furthermore, Christians believe that accepting Christ and your Lord and Savior is necessary for salvation. Muslims believe that this is unnecessary and that we are saved based on whether or not we live in obedience to the Qur'an.

On this point, we would say the Muslims have missed the truth about God and are not worshiping Him in spirit and truth.

Now, I've had people ask me whether or not a person who is worshiping Allah in a Muslim country that is closed to the Gospel is truly worshiping God or not? In all honesty, I do not know. I think that only God can determine whether they are or not because only He knows the condition of their heart and whether or not, if they heard the Gospel, they would take the next step and become a follower of Jesus.

However, for the Muslim who has access to the Gospel and rejects it, whether outright or by refusing to examine it, I would say that they are willfully rejecting God, regardless of whatever overlap there might be between the teachings of Islam and Christianity. The point is whether or not we are in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ or not, for Jesus tells us, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).