Scriptural Support of Traditional Lutheran Positions

As in many other predominantly Lutheran communities, the events of the neighboring church also affected the people in my care. Whether through marriage or relationships, the members of my congregation were affected by these events and wanted to know why these things were happening and what the differences were between the ELS and the ELCA. Thus the decision was made to proceed with a series of Bible studies with the Leppien/Smith book, What's Going on Among the Lutherans?, as a textbook of sorts.

The study series was advertized in the local paper and response to it was soon forthcoming. It seems that many in the neighboring church were themselves reading and studying the book. So it came as no surprise that there were members outside of our congregation present for the first session.

The first session was indeed scary to approach. How should I, as the vicar, proceed? Should we go right into the book, or have a general discussion to see where everyone stood? After speaking at lenghth with Mark DeGarmeaux, my supervising pastor, it was decided to have the general discussion and then go through the points as they were enumerated in chapter two. It was this latter action that prompted this series.

As we looked at the various points and commented on them, it soon became clear that people were not exactly sure why we in the WELS/ELS fellowship hold to the positions that we do. Questions arose as to why we believe the first five books of the Bible were written by Moses, why we believe in the Trinity, why we accept the Bible as the inspired and inerrant Word of God. Thus, rather than let the series become an "us versus them" chest-beating session (which is all too easy a temptation), the focus on the studies were to view from Scripture these points which are addressed in the Leppien/Smith book.

You may find that some chapters are lengthy or that discussion will prevent you from thoroughly looking at all of the passages presented in each chapter. This should not deter you from studying at least some of them and encouraging your members/class to study the rest during the coming week. Discussion can always follow home readings. You may even decide to break up certain chapters if you wish to examine all of the evidence in the classroom.

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