by Rev. Mark Lovett We confess that there are two realms, the church and the state. They shouldn’t be mixedthe church is governed by the Word of God, the state by natural law and reason, the Constitution,” said LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison recently before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. “We
Thank you for the strong affirmation of the importance of residential education in the cause of ministerial formation, which remains at the heart of both our seminaries and which we will abandon to our peril (February). But it should also be noted that such high value does come with a significant cost, and that this
This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. by Rev. Joshua Hayes The Scriptures model for us a certain kind of prayer called a Prayer of Thanksgiving. Myriad examples can be found throughout God’s Word (Luke 10:21; John 11:4142; Eph. 1:314; Phil. 4:46). A Prayer of
by Jeni Miller Lutherans make quite a fuss about Law and Gospel. And for good reason, since distinguishing Law and Gospel is the crux of how we read Scripture and relate to one another as Christians. Attorney Ann Stillman may be well-versed in law, but she still packs plenty of Gospel punch in her everyday
by James R. Gimbel Grandma Timm died April 13, 1987. It was a shock, but then death somehow always is. Yet, in another way, it came as no surprise, for she had suffered for a long time, and there had been many close calls before. Her frail body had gone through a lot. I shall
by Rev. Matthew Wietfeldt A recent study by the National Center of Health Statistics shows that the number of unmarried, cohabiting couples having children has quadrupled since the 1970s. Should this surprise the Christian? Absolutely not. Why? Sin. Sin destroys everything and everyone that it touches, including marriage and the family. However, our Lord loves
In the April The Lutheran Witness, we spotlight that religious freedom and what it means for the life of a Christian.
We have no problem receiving things like food and shelter as gifts from God, so why do we shy away from His gifts of life and salvation.
by Rev. Philip B. Wolf For many, it is the latest fascination. For those washed shameless in Gods Sacrament of Baptism, it is the latest divine dinner bell calling from Camp Calvary to us, the satisfied, to serve those yet unsatisfied with the permanent solution to their hunger for life and love. For everyone, its
Learn how Christ focuses us on all things holy rather than things earthly.
by Rev. Dr. Dale Sattgast Tend the flock of God that is in your charge (1 Peter 5:2a). Recently, every congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod was supposed to return its annual statistical report. Most often, the pastor takes the responsibility for making certain that specific information is gathered and the report is sent. The
After raising $66.6 million, the Synod’s appeal to support witness work around the world is ending.