do you have any with the doctrine of your church?

Question

i attend a lutheran church. everything taught at the church is biblical, but i don't agree with the practice of confirmation. i think it's a bit redundant for a person to have to take classes in order to become worthy of taking Communion, when the Blood itself makes us worthy. what disagreement do you have with your church?

ah, crud... i just saw how i worded my question. it should be ''do you have any disagreements with the doctrine of your church?''

i consider myself non-sectarian/ non-denominational, but i go to the lutheran church because i like plainsong, among other things. i'm a bit of a ''church-hopper.'' it's pretty cool to find out what other churches empasize, and it can help you to grow, spiritually. paul wrote about ''moving from faith to faith.'' visiting other churches can help you to do that.

for the people who want to refer me to a non-denominational church- they should be called ''less-denominational'' instead. lol. i've been to a number of them, and i'm sad to say it, but i really don't feel that there is such a thing as a non-denominational church. they all have an established doctrine, whether they admit it or not. i've got nothing against them though.

Answer 1

You think that is bad. The catholic church bars all non-members from taking communion. Hardly Biblical.

Answer 2

I am part of the leadership team of a small independent church. When we are large enough to need an assistant pastor, that will probably be me. The pastor and I do disagree on certain issues, but for the most part these are not important issues because in either case they are applied correctly.

There is one issue that is going to have to come up soon, though, because it is becoming a need in our church. I believe in inner healing, and Pastor Dave does not.

Being a small independent church, it is going to be easy to cover this issue. In your case, you would be going against an entire denomination. I like my church for this reason. I agree with you about the confirmation thing.

Me? I am way to pentecostal for a Lutheran church.

Answer 3

Hi friend. You are free to your oown choices. For me I dont complain or i have no disagreement with the doctrine of the church. I beleive that the Lord manifest his will through the teaching office of the church and i beleive that he will never allow his Church to fall own doctrines that are not right. Will, there are so many churches and each beleive that what they teaches is right. Confusing but on my part, i only have to obey my superior and if it seems to me that there is something wrong i would simply dont follow and will explain myself. Preparation is realy important in the sacrament that is why classes are acceptable for me. It is right the blood that santify us is enough. However as St. Anselm said, fides quaerens intelectum (faith seeking understanding). Thank yoiu.

Answer 4

usafbrat is correct. Confirmation is a rite of passage. Kind of a Spiritual coming of age ceremony. It also is a public declaration of fellowship with your congregation.

We Lutherans tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Confessional Lutheran Churches practice "Close or Closed" Communion, admitting only those Christians who have been confirmed and are in fellowship with our particular Synod.

This is because the Bible tells us: "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body" 1 Cor. 11:28, 29, and "I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. Rom. 16:17.

With regards to Confirmation:
Question 330. from Luther's Small Catechism;

What is confirmation?

Confirmation is the rite by which a baptized person renews his baptismal vow, publicly confesses his faith, and is received into communicant membership by the congregation.

331. What should be the prayer of the congregation on the day of confirmation?

On the day of confirmation the congregation should pray for the catechumens that they may grow in grace, be steadfast in the profession of their faith, become fruitfull in every good work, and in the end receive the crown of life.

There is provision in the new Lutheran Service Book Agenda for allowing instructed children to receive "first communion" prior to confirmation. I understand that while not wide spread, some congregations in LCMS have been doing this for a number of years. I don't know of any in Lutheran Church Canada, there may be some.

One slight disagreement I have with our doctrine is that we could be a little more open regarding communing those who are not in fellowship, yet share the same basic beliefs in the Sacrament. I feel that if a person believes in the real presence, and the reception of forgiveness of sins (means of Grace) we could admit them. It happens sometimes.

I know of a Pastor who was in a relatively remote parish in Northern Ontario. There was no Eastern Orthodox Church in that town, but there was an Orthodox family living there. He was approached by the family, their Priest from their home town, and his Bishop to ask permission for the family to attend Divine service. They found our practice in keeping with Scripture, and the Pastor found that theirs was also. Regardless of other doctrinal differences the family attended the Lutheran Church, and was admitted to communion.

On an other occasion, I was admonished by a Catholic Priest, who knew I was Lutheran, for not receiving the Sacrament in his Church. I told him I wasn't allowed. He said "the Lord allows you to partake in the Lutheran Church, It's the same Lord in the Catholic Church."

I believe that this practice could be expanded somewhat to possibly include Roman Catholics, Orthodox, and conservative Anglicans. It would show Christian Love, and be a great outreach to those who are searching.

Be that as it may, there is still more right in our Church than there is wrong, so I must therefore accept and support the Churches doctrine, even though I question some of it from time to time.

I hope this helps.

Mark

Answer 5

Confirmation is not about being made worthy of taking communion. Our baptism and being made a child of God is what makes us worthy!
It's about being an adult in the eyes of the church and being old enough to understand what communion is all about. I've met 7 year olds who are taking communion... they really don't understand it... they just regurgitate what was in their catechism. But, at 13 or 14, you are ready to truly have an understanding of what is going on. And being able to take communion is just one of the things that go along with being confirmed. It's so much more!! The children at our church can receive a blessing, remembering their baptism and the grace bestowed upon them at that moment.
Perhaps you need to speak with your pastor and clarify your concerns.

Answer 6

None. I ask my guardian angel for help when it comes to some questions I have, and then put on the confidence that my questions will be answered, and lay the fault at the gates of my stubborn nature. "What IS communion?" I asked. I never got the whole transubstantiation thing.

Boy, did I ever get an answer. I can't even share it it was so powerful. I wept for a week. I don't think I can even explain it to anyone. It sounds almost insane.

Answer 7

You are right, the holy communion is for unworthy people like us. All we need to do is to partake in a worthy manner...discerning the lord's body!

Nah...i do not have any disagreement of the doctrine of Grace and Righteouesness in my church. I am too blessed!

Answer 8

I am lucky to say that I have no disagreements with my church. My former church on the other hand I have disagreements with. The main reason I left hte church was because they tried to say it is ok for women to be ordained and hold authority as a man in the church... the bible clearly says it's wrong in 2 Timothy.

Answer 9

I have many issues with the Church, yet none with Christ.

Why is the church Pastor-centric?

What of Body Ministry? Holy Spirit and gifts?

Why is conformity and performance issues more important than the Word?

The list goes on...But none of this negates the fact that wonderful fellowship can be found with Christians that look to Jesus Christ as the source, and not necessarily their local church.

Answer 10

As a believer in christ, I see alot of things that the church is doing thats not biblical. And there lies the problem. The church should go back to the bible and stop following people. unless that is done, there will always be doctrine problems.

Answer 11

I think it has to do a bit with learning.

Actually, in hind sight, I wish that they would have waited until I was an adult and REALLY TRULY understood everything.

But then again, maybe I always did.

I've seen five year olds who are capable of understanding the sacrament and 50 year olds who never will.