FAQ

Don't you want to go to church?
   Deep down, many people feel they need church, but they can't quite convince themselves to go. Some say, "I had religion crammed down my throat as a child." Yet church can be a blessing for both adults and children.
   Others say, "Life is a rat race. I need a day off. I don't need the hassle of getting up on Sunday, getting dressed, and rushing off to church." Yet the Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed at church offers rest and refreshment. It grants the serenity and joy people long for.
   Still others say, "I don't have the time." The truth is, none of us has the time for everything we want to do. We must order our priorities.

What is most important in life?
   God is. It's His world. He made it, and He's the boss.
   Our first parents, Adam and Eve, spoiled God's world, and we've had problems ever since. For many centuries people have hoped that the world would get better. In many respects, it has not. Some say it's getting worse. The problem with the world is the human condition we call sin: we all tend to be proud and selfish. Try as we might to do good, our thoughts, emotions, and actions are tainted by the sin of our first parents so that nothing we do comes out perfectly. We fail to please our perfect God.
   But God has provided a way out of our predicament. Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross; He paid the penalty for our sin. God pardons our daily mistakes, whether large or small, when we acknowledge them and trust in His forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

But why go to church?
Just knowing what is most important is not enough; you must act on it. You must believe in Jesus Christ and live your life by faith in Him. Attending church is the most important way to exercise your faith. Church reinforces your faith, and you attendance reinforces the faith of others.
At a church service, we worship the God who made us, who redeemed us through Jesus Christ, and who preserves us and the whole world. We receive assurance that we need not fear death, for we will be with God eternally (Romans 4:5). Jesus has paid for our sins and set us right with God. Church comforts us so that we are not upset or overcome by daily problems. It sustains and supports us through life.

Who needs church?
We all do. Those who do not know God through our Savior Jesus Christ certainly need to learn of Him at church. Believing Christians need to worship God together to strengthen and encourage one another. Church fortifies us for the problems and challenges we face throughout the week.
Why not worship God with fellow Christians in a joyful church service this Sunday morning? Try it. See what a wonderful blessing you have been missing!

Is it necessary for me to go to church?
Frequently good people, respected for their honest, upright life, do not join a church. Some church members rarely attend church. They say they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior from sin. We are happy to hear it. Yet, we are puzzled and cannot understand why they do not worship Jesus on Sundays.

You say you are a Christian by faith in Christ. Then it is right and proper for other people to follow your example. Suppose that all people would stay away from church. What would happen? Within several years all churches would go out of existence. No congregation would build a house of worship if it would remain empty. No pastor would accept a charge to such a church. Do you feel right about it that your example would cause the closing of all churches?

Perhaps you say you can read your Bible and listen to sermons on radio and TV. If all people would do the same, then in a few years there would be no more good Gospel sermons over radio or TV. Why? Because preachers have to be trained and educated in Christian colleges and seminaries. These schools are built and supported by the Christians who go to church. They combine their resources and do mission work in all the world. The Lord Jesus gave His last great command also to you: "Preach the Gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15 If you hold yourself aloof from the church, you are obliged to do this great work by yourself -- build seminaries, train men and women to be preachers, and do mission work in all the world. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus taught you to pray: "Thy kingdom come," which means "Let Thy church grow and prosper." Could you honestly say to God: "O yes, Lord, I want your kingdom to come, but do not count on me to do any of the work."

Also, how would you receive Baptism and the Lord's Supper? Jesus gave a clear command regarding these: "Repent, and be baptized, for the remission of sins." Acts 2:38 With respect to Holy Communion He said: "Do this in remembrance of me." 1 Corinthians 11:24-25 Could you really call yourself a Christian if you continued to disobey His clear command, month after month, year after year? As soon as a person really accepts Christ as his Savior he will also endeavor to obey Him as his Lord. As soon as Saul was converted he asked: "Lord, what will you have me to do?" Acts 9:6 In order to have Baptism and the Lord's Supper, a Christian needs to join a church and also attend its services. You cannot be baptized or be given the Lord's Supper by radio or TV>
Again, is the radio and your private reading sufficient? The Bible says we should not neglect the assembling of ourselves together. We need Christian fellowship. We are to speak the Word of the Gospel to one another. This stimulates Christians to love one another and promotes good works. You cannot do this alone. Hebrews 10:24-25 teaches us this truth.

The Bible says that the Word of God "is able to save your soul." James 1:21 How? Because by the preaching of the Gospel the Holy Spirit moves you to believe in Christ as your Savior. In Romans 10:17 we read: "Faith comes by hearing . . . the Word of God."
The Bible says that a secret faith is not the right kind of faith. We must confess Jesus Christ openly. Matthew 10:32 and Romans 10:9

     There is one more important question. Luke10:16 says: "He that hears you, hears Me." Suppose Jesus were back on earth and you knew He would preach in a certain church. Would you go? He tells you He is still preaching today through his ministers who preach from the Bible. Read the rest of verse 16: "He that despises you, despises Me."
   When Saturday comes, I believe you will want to make plans for Sunday. Ask yourself this question: "Can I afford to ignore or despise Jesus Christ, the only Savior? He loved me so much, that He paid the full penalty of my guilt by bleeding and dying on Calvary's cross."
   May God help you to answer the above questions. You will want to be in church next Sunday. Jesus said: "BLESSED ARE THEY THAT HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, AND KEEP IT." Luke 11:28

How can I tell which church to join?
   Many people are confused by the great variety of churches. Some people are even provoked by the fact that there are different denominations. They use this as an excuse for not affiliating with any.
   As long as we have freedom of religion we shall not have a united church. People differ; so do their opinions. Only when all of us yield our opinions to the Christ of the Bible will we have one church. Until that day we thank God for the freedom to choose the denomination which teaches and practices what we believe. But how can we know which one to choose?
Only two religions
   It may help you to know that there are really only two religions in the world. One teaches that we must save ourselves by our own good characters and works. The other, that God saves us by an act of mercy in Christ, who as our substitute, suffered and died for our sins. That should make your choice easier. Choose a church which teaches you to trust in Jesus for salvation. You can't save yourself any more than you can lift yourself by your own bootstraps. The Bible says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us . . . through Jesus Christ, our Savior." (Titus 3:5,6)
Look for the Gospel
   In choosing a church you ought to notice whether or not the Bible, and particularly the Gospel, the good news of salvation in Christ, is prominent in the preaching, in Bible class, in the Sunday school lessons, and in the church's program. You will have to take the time to find out and compare the church's teaching with Bible truth.
To be specific
   Here are a few important questions which you should ask before joining a church:
1.    Does this church believe that the whole Bible is God's revelation to man? "All scripture is given by inspiration of God." 2 Timothy 3:16
2.    Does this church believe in the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? "Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19
3.    Does this church believe that Jesus Christ is the only son of God and the only Savior of the world? "The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world." 1 John 4:14
4.    Does this church believe that Christ died for the sins of the whole world? "Christ died for our sins." 1 Corinthians 15:3   ". . . for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:2
5.    Does this church believe that man is saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ's atonement? "By grace you have been saved through faith." Ephesians 2:8
6.    Does this church believe that Baptism washes away all sins? "Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins." Acts 22:16
7.    Does this church believe the words of Christ spoken when He instituted the Lord's Supper? "This is my body. . . This is my blood, which is shed for the remission of your sins." Matthew 26:26-28
A few don'ts
1.    Don't select a church merely because it happens to be the nearest one or because it has the most imposing buildings.
2.    Don't suppose that all churches are alike, that all are equally good and lead to the same place. Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing." Matthew 7:15
3.    Don't neglect the truth of God, the eternal truth by which you will be judged, the truth by which your children are to be guided through life and death.
Our invitation
   The Lutheran Church does not claim to be the only saving church but it does endeavor to preserve and to pass on the truth as it is found in the Bible. It teaches, not the opinions of men, but the revelation of God. It does not destroy the truth of God by believing only what seems reasonable.
   Our church invites you to worship and to work with us in serving God and man. Our pastor will be glad to discuss your problems and needs with you. "Come with us, and we will do you good." Numbers 10:29