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From the Pastor
Column by Paul Coen, Senior Pastor
Recently I taught a class called Adult Confirmation Part 2. I really enjoyed teaching the course, in fact I think I enjoyed it as much as my faithful students. Why did I like teaching this class so much? Because if highlights the Lutheran understanding of what it means to follow Christ. I love being a Lutheran!
Here are some of the reasons why I love being a Lutheran:
1. The Lutheran view of God's Word is both Law and Gospel. In a world that prefers us to be either Law or Gospel, Lutherans see the Word of God as both Law and Gospel. This can make a huge difference in how we teach, preach and live out our trusts in God's Word. This perspective on God's Word applies for both the Old and New Testament.
2. The Theology of the Cross. In other words you can't have Easter without Good Friday. The cross is both the visible and invisible sign of God's Love for us in Christ. The cross of Christ is a sign to all those who believe that Jesus died for us to forgive our sins. To those who don't believe that Jesus died for their sins, the cross is still the sign of their forgiveness whether they know it or not. The cross is the fulcrum point that sets the balance between the incarnation and the resurrection, in between is Jesus' life and death.
3. The Lutheran Doctrine of Grace is one of the most amazing and positive understanding of God's unconditional and undeserved love for us. It is God's love manifested and made real in Jesus, not our own efforts, that bring us into eternal life. Believe me grace is not cheap, but it is free. Read John 3:16-17.
4. How Lutherans read scripture (The Word of God) is both freeing and empowering. God's Word is true, but not always taken literally. The Word of God is interpreted by both the writer of the text and the reader of that passage. The Word of God is a living Word, which is read, proclaimed and lived. Christ is the Word of God made flesh and the Spirit of Christ dwells within us.
Sometimes theology and doctrine can be dry and boring, but trust me on this, Christians of the Lutheran Tradition have a unique gift of understanding of God's love for us in Jesus Christ and the Spirit which gives us the faith to trust in that love. I hope all of us take the time to study a little more about what this gift can mean for our relationship with God and others. By the way if anything I have written here surprises you about our Lutheran Heritage, I would love to have you come to class or come in and talk about it.