Due to a large influx of posts on the topic, we thought it would be good to have a dedicated single's thread. Whether you want to discuss ideas on how to meet new people or just need to rant, this thread is created for you!

I know this might be a controversial subject, but I hope that most of you can engage me in good faith. I've been looking into what denomination and church might be a good fit, and had some concerns that I was curious if anyone has written about before. Given the nature of the Reformation and Lutheranism being an attempt to root out impurities from the faith, I don't think this is an unfair subject to tackle.

I like a lot of what I've read about Lutheranism theologically, and how it is still traditional but avoids the idolatry that lingers in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.

However looking into the authors of the Book of Concord, and the symbolism behind Luther's seal of the Rosy Cross, it seems that it has deep ties to Rosicrucianism, an esoteric and occult order. Jakob Andreae, one of the two authors of the Book of Concord, is grandfather to Johannes Valentinus Andreae, who claimed to author the Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz, one of the founding works of Rosicrucianism.

A familial connection like this is one thing, but this combined with how Rosicrucianism also took up Luther's Rose Cross as its symbol, hence the name Fraternity of the Rose Cross, really cements the connection.

I have read the Lutheran explanation of the Rosy Cross, however this does not address the fact that the emblem conceals two pentagrams, one upright when connecting the petals, and one inverted when connecting the leaves. Before anyone says I am stretching this, a Lutheran church I was looking into has the upright Pentagram drawn on their stain glass illustration of the Rosy Cross. I'm aware that historically in the Middle Ages Christian writers would attempt to tie the upright pentagram to Christ's five wounds, but there is no positive symbology for the inverted pentagram, and its presence in the Luther's Rose is uncommented on.

The Rosy Cross is also viewed by occultists as symbolizing the generative act of sex, reducing Christ's cross to a phallus. As Manly P. hall writes: "The fundamental symbols of the Rosicrucians were the rose and the cross; the rose female and the cross male, both universal phallic [...] As generation is the key to material existence, it is natural that the Rosicrucians should adopt as its characteristic symbols those exemplifying the reproductive processes. As regeneration is the key to spiritual existence, they therefore founded their symbolism upon the rose and the cross, which typify the redemption of man through the union of his lower temporal nature with his higher eternal nature."

Has anyone ever written about or attempted to root out Rosicrucian elements or connections inside the Litheran church? Given the whole Reformation being an attempt to root out pagan elements from the faith, I think this is a fair question.

Can tradition be considered infallible?

I'm a new convert to Lutheran Christianity. A few days ago I read an online post by a vicar. I thought that was a CofE thing...didn't know the Lutheran Church had them too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVuSymGR_aM

Gospel According to Mark, 12:38–44 (ESV):

Beware of the Scribes

And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Offering

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Overview

Introduction: They devour widows’ houses

Point one: Thirteen trumpets

Point two: What did Jesus see?

Point three: What do you see?

Conclusion: A perfect offering

References

Gospel According to Mark, 12:34–37 (ESV):

And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Whose Son Is the Christ?

And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly.

Gospel According to Mark, 12:42 (ESV, Interlinear Bible):

And a poor widow came and put in two lepta, which make a kodrantes.

Book of Daniel, 3:19–25 (ESV):

Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

Second Book of Samuel, 6:12–15 (ESV, thanks to user Double-Discussion964):

And it was told King David, “The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. And when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

Gospel According to Mark, 5:25–34 (ESV):

And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Gospel According to Luke, 18:9–14 (ESV):

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Gospel According to Mark, 10:17–18 (ESV):

The Rich Young Man

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

Gospel According to Matthew, 27:50–54 (ESV):

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Every Lutheran church I see in NYC has a pride flag up or a female pastor. LCMS website shows only two in the whole city. Are there others or alternatives?

Lutheran here, I there has been a private discussion among some members of our bible study group on the orthodox concept of theosis.

I understand this is not a simple topic, and I look forward to bringing it up to a pastor, but until then what is the lutheran/biblical take on the topic?

I asked my "religious expert" ChatGPT model. You'll see my question then its response. I thought it made sense. It is a real question, and I am curious what y'all's thoughts are on it.

"Question. I want to focus on its answer coming from a conservative, confessional Lutheran perspective, though. I read Hebrews 9:24-28 this morning. It talks of Christ not suffering repeatedly. So it made me wonder if we partake of Christ's risen body and blood in the Lord's Supper, or if we take His sacrificed body and blood. If it is His risen body and blood, then this makes sense that He is not sacrificed repeatedly or He is not "re-presented" in the Lord's Supper. But then what about where St. John sees the "Lamb as though it was slained before the foundation of the world." Is this vision just a vision and not a heavenly, literal reality that one can objectively see the Lamb as though it is slained?"

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPTMemory updated

From a conservative, confessional Lutheran perspective, the teaching on the Lord's Supper emphasizes that believers partake in the real presence of Christ’s body and blood, which is indeed a mystery tied to Christ’s one-time sacrifice. Lutherans believe this presence is not a re-sacrifice or a literal repetition of Christ’s crucifixion, as Hebrews 9:24-28 asserts that Christ’s sacrificial death was a single, sufficient event. Instead, the Supper offers the same once-for-all sacrificed body and blood of Christ for believers in a mysterious, sacramental way that goes beyond re-enacting the sacrifice.

On the Risen Body and Blood in the Supper:

Lutheran teaching asserts that in Holy Communion, we receive the body and blood of Christ that is now glorified and risen—the same body that was sacrificed but is no longer suffering. In this way, believers participate in Christ’s victory over sin, death, and the devil through His body and blood. Thus, there’s a sense of unity between Christ’s sacrificial work on the cross and His current, living presence, but not in a way that re-offers Him in a sacrificial manner.

On the Vision in Revelation:

Regarding the vision in Revelation of the "Lamb as though it had been slain" (Revelation 5:6), Lutherans generally interpret this as symbolic, presenting Christ’s completed work in terms that underscore His eternal priestly role and the timeless efficacy of His sacrifice. Rather than indicating a literal, ongoing state of sacrificial suffering, the vision emphasizes that Christ’s atoning work remains fully effective and sufficient throughout time and eternity. This vision speaks more to Christ's victorious sacrifice's eternal significance rather than indicating a continual, visible state of suffering in heaven.

In summary, for conservative Lutherans, Christ’s body and blood in the Supper remain the same sacrificed and risen body without implying a repeated or ongoing sacrifice. The focus is on receiving the benefits of His completed work, communicated through the sacrament as a real, life-giving mystery.

4o

Are images of God the Father and the Holy Spirit 1st commandment violations? The main argument for images of Jesus Christ being acceptable, is that because Jesus took on Human form, and became incarnate and visible, we may visually depict Him. Based on Deuteronomy 4 this seems to be true, but wouldn't that mean that the Father and Holy Spirit, without form, should not be depicted visually?

Have you seen the new mascot Rome came up with called Luce? What are your thoughts? Do you wish the LCMS had a mascot? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luce_(mascot)

Hi so I'm looking to get married in the next year to a year and a half. Does anyone know any grand/pretty churches in NYC or lower Hudson valley area. The best looking churches I've been seeing are from either the Anglican Tradition or Reformed. Id prefer to get married in a Lutheran church. I’d love to hear Churches you guys know of that are beautiful near me.

Edit: Churches in CT, NY,NJ areas are applicaple. Anywhere from 1.5-2 hours from the city is fine

I see collects in several different publications by cph. Do they publish a standalone of all the collects? Is what's in the hymnal a complete list?

CPH is coming out with a new book translated by Matthew Carver: “A History of the Dissolution of Ancient Liturgical Forms in the Lutheran Church of Germany.” I’m curious to read through it to discover how and why the Lutheran Church went from a liturgy very similar to Rome in the 1500’s to a much lower liturgy.

All I ask is nothing overly scholarly or to difficult to read as this is a gift for my mother. Thank you!

Hey everyone,

I’m struggling and could really use some guidance. I have a sister with narcissistic personality disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and borderline personality disorder. As you might imagine, her emotional ups and downs are incredibly hard to deal with. I’m also dealing with my own mental health challenges (anxiety and depression), so her behavior often feels completely overwhelming and debilitating for me.

I keep asking myself why God would put me in this situation with her. It’s hard to understand the purpose behind it all, and sometimes I feel like I’m reaching the end of my rope. I’ve thought about moving out, but with how high rent is, I’m kind of stuck living with her at my parents’ house for the time being.

I don’t want to give up on my faith or fall into resentment, but some days it feels like too much to bear. Can anyone offer some advice or suggest Bible verses that might help? I really need some strength and perspective to get through this.

Thank you in advance for any support or words of wisdom.

I am reading it and really feeling blessed we have the Large Catechism but our vicar keeps telling me i should stick with the small as a Father. I refer to both though, i listen to the small every day while working out and i read the large during my child's confirmation class, i repair to another room for my own study. In the introduction to the Large it even says it's for everybody! Ha, I'm just venting. I pray not to be resistant with my brother in person.

What are the best resources regarding these topics?

I am particularly interested in solid confessional writings on the gift of preservation that believers enjoy in Christ.

I’m looking for Lutheran books/articles that address in detail, assurance, preservation in the Christian faith (since it is God that keeps us and not our degree of faith and affection that keeps us), and balancing this with the scriptural doctrine of apostasy (albeit rare-but real)

Blessed Family in Christ, Have a wonderful Lord’s Day!

I found faith about a year ago and have slowly become more and more hateful since then. I started out the year seeing the best in people and being very very tolerant but now I’m incredibly sexist/misogynistic and homophobic. I am a bisexual woman for reference. It is not out of ignorance. I hate almost everyone, myself included, and it only seems to be getting worse the deeper into faith I get even though I know we’re supposed to love our neighbors. Anyone else experience this?

Did Saint Augustine defend the existence of Purgatory?

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo1Cp5KT04w

Revelation to John, 7:9–17 (ESV):

A Great Multitude from Every Nation

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Outline

Introduction: Fortune telling

Point one: What will heaven be like?

Point two: Who will be there?

Point three: So how will you feel?

References

Book of Isaiah, 46:8–10 (ESV):

“Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

Revelation to John, 7:12 (ESV, Interlinear Bible):

saying, “Amen! Blessing (eulogia) and glory (doxa) and wisdom (sophia) and thanksgiving (eucharistia) and honor (time) and power (dynamis) and might (ischys) be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Revelation to John, 7:14 (ESV, Interlinear Bible):

I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation (thlipseos). They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Gospel according to John, 16:33 (ESV, Interlinear Bible):

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation (thlipsin). But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Acts of the Apostles, 7:9–10 (ESV, Interlinear Bible)

“And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him and rescued him out of all his afflictions (thlipseon) and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household.

Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians, 8:13 (ESV, Interlinear Bible)

For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened (thlipsis), but that as a matter of fairness

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice. In high school, I had a teacher with whom I really didn't connect. I think it mainly came down to our different personalities; we just didn't mesh well. I feel bad about how things unfolded between us, especially since my teacher passed away unexpectedly from brain cancer almost three or four years ago. Looking back, I realize I was very different then and wasn't mature enough to appreciate our platonic relationship. Even in death, this teacher has taught me valuable life lessons. I regret not being as nice as I could have been. We were on opposing college sporting teams and often joked about which team was better, but I wish I would have been more accepting and grateful that we shared the same state and faith. I can't help but wonder how things might have been different if I had approached our interactions in a different way. I know I was in a different place in my life back then, but I still find myself reflecting on it. Any advice on how to cope with these feelings or how to move forward would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

In order to streamline posts that users are submitting when they are in search of answers, I have created a monthly 'Ask A Pastor' thread! Feel free to post any general questions you have about the Lutheran (LCMS) faith, questions about specific wording of LCMS text, or anything else along those lines.

Pastors, Vicars, Seminarians, Lay People: If you see a question that you can help answer, please jump in try your best to help out! It is my goal to help use this to foster a healthy online community where anyone can come to learn and grow in their walk with Christ. Also, stop by the sidebar and add your user flair if you have not done so already. This will help newcomers distinguish who they are receiving answers from.

Disclaimer: The LCMS Offices have a pretty strict Doctrinal Review process that we do not participate in as we are not an official outlet for the Synod. It is always recommended that you talk to your Pastor (or find a local LCMS Pastor if you do not have a church home) if you have questions about your faith or the beliefs of the LCMS.

Before I ask these questions, know that I come from a baptist/non-denominational upbringing, and attended a Christian Church (Restorationist) for 2 years prior to visiting a Lutheran church.

I have some non-critical questions in some traditions that are very new to me. They have to do with the sign of the cross, bowing, and the invocation of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. What are the roles of these three practices?

I know the sign of cross is to remember your baptism and profess faith in Christ, but is there more to it than that? Is there anytime you would do it outside of it being called out in Divine Service?

I notice everyone bows before the altar, particular before going on the same level as it, and before and after communing at the altar rail. I’m slightly skeptical of this just because of the scriptural warnings, particular those of bowing before angels. I know the altar represents Christ presence, what is the defense of bowing before it?

Lastly, saying the name of all three persons of the trinity. When and why do you say it? I’m so used to just saying in Jesus name at the end of prayers so it’s new to me. Should we say it at the beginning of all our prayers in addition to ending with “in Jesus name”?

These are all curiosity questions and in no way am I wanting to make laws out of things not commanded by God. I’m just wanting to better understand as someone at the verge of joining. Thanks!

The Lutheran church closest to me is affiliated with the Federation, I discovered that there are many problems there besides female ordination, the main one being Freemasonry, what do you think about this organization?

Whenever I ask LCMS Lutherans what distinguishes them from conservative Anglicans, one of the most common answers is that the former practice closed communion and the latter, open communion.

I am an LCMS Lutheran, and I would like to offer a few observations. First, it is not true that all conservative Anglicans practice open communion. In fact, those with whom I have discussed locally and online all say that they have requirements for communion. They all require that communicants be baptized and confess the Ecumenical Creeds. Some also require that communicants confess the seven Ecumenical Councils. This is not open communion because they do not let anyone come to the rail. (I am sure there are conservative Anglicans who practice open communion, but there are also LCMS parishes that do likewise in practice.) LCMS parishes (in theory, and many in practice) are certainly more closed in that they require communicants be confirmed in the LCMS church, presumably meaning that they have been instructed in and confess the Small Catechism (and perhaps the Augsburg Confession also?).

Now, LCMS Lutherans will defend their position by saying that the Lord's Supper is a confession of faith, so they must ensure that those who partake of the sacrament have the same confession. My main question: To what extent must the communicants agree, and how can we establish that threshold with certainty by Scripture and history? Certainly we cannot say in every theological question, for I doubt such consensus is found in any LCMS church. Some may say, "They must agree on everything that is not adiaphora," which seems to be a defensible answer. On the other hand, on the basis of Scripture, why should disagreements on non-fundamental articles of faith (many of which the BoC defines for Lutherans) prevent us from partaking of Christ's body and blood at the same railing and force us to partake of the same body and blood at different railings? And on what basis can we say that baptism and confessing the ecumenical creeds are not enough for partaking at the same altar together?

My pastor has scheduled the adult confirmation for a Sunday in December. All the adults in the new member / Lutheran doctrine class will be confirmed that day.

What do ladies typically wear for adult confirmation? If I need to buy a white dress, I want to start shopping now.

I have never observed a confirmation before. I looked on the church’s you tube channel, but I could not find any video of a past confirmation, either.

Hello all! Rookie pastor here. This weekend, I have the amazing blessing of welcoming two young adults into God's family through the waters of baptism (God is good!). I am searching for a bible to give the two. We would like it to be something along the lines of a study bible (something with some added commentary/thoughts to guide reading). I love my Lutheran Study Bible, but it would be way too deep and exhausting for these two individuals, as they are brand new to the faith and have little theological understanding beyond the basics. Do you have a bible that fits this bill that you love? Any thoughts would be helpful. God bless!

Did any church father advocate the invocation of saints?

We talk a lot about women not teaching men. At our church we have women DCE, a woman principal at our school and mostly women teacher Sunday school. We don’t have female elders of the church and other ‘traditional’. Although we do have women readers and starting in 6th grade girls and boys can be acolytes.

At what age should women stop teaching men?