This page is designed to explain what goes on during the Divine Service.
if you have any further questions I can be reached at 541-298-8385, or rlawson0651@gmail.com
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Rev. Rob Lawson, Pastor
WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?
Everything that happens in a Lutheran Church is supposed to be rooted in salvation distributed. The fact that Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world (salvation won), would not be a benefit to us if we never heard about it. So, Lutherans “worship” God not by constantly repeating words like, “Glory” or “Praise,” but by receiving God’s gifts. In many places, God tells us to be quiet and listen (e.g. Habakuk 2:20). St. Paul wrote: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). For this reason, even the hymns we sing are to proclaim salvation in Christ, and not simply express our emotions which often lie to us (consider the example of the Psalms).
LUTHERANS ARE SACRAMENTAL
We believe the Scriptures when they tell us that certain things God connected with His promises actually convey what God says. When Jesus says the consecrated bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper are Jesus’ body and blood given for our forgiveness, we do what he said. We also believe what we read in 1 Peter 3:21, that Baptism saves us (cf. John 3), and that forgiveness spoken through Christ’s called ministers is the forgiveness of Christ (cf. John 20:21-23).
WHAT DID JESUS DO?
What we strive to do is obey Him. We cannot die on a cross to win salvation, but we do those things that He says bring salvation to us. When Jesus said “Do this…” we do it. We proclaim what Christ did—lived a perfect life in our place, died on a cross to save us, and rose again on account of our justification. In regard to living a good life, Christianity is no mystery in the sense that we don’t know what God wants from or for us. He has told us all we need for salvation, and what is right and wrong. For this, we thank and praise Him.