What is the Augsburg Confession and why does it matter?

Sunday, September 29, 2024

We recently had a three-week Bible study about how God's Word helps us to make sense of and approach suffering. In the Lutheran Christian tradition, the cross of Christ is crucial as we grapple with suffering and evil in our lives and in this world. At the cross, Jesus Christ endured ultimate suffering, not only on a physical level but spiritually as well. Christ suffered the punishment for our sins and was (temporarily) forsaken by God the Father. He underwent all this for us so that we can be spared from God’s righteous wrath in hell and, instead, be united with our Lord forever!

The preaching and teaching of this Gospel of Christ was what set apart the early Lutheran reformers during the 1520s and thereafter. Martin Luther and his fellow reformers (in both the church and the state), were willing to lay down their lives, if necessary, rather than giving up or compromising the precious Gospel message, that our sins are fully forgiven, by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.

In 1517, Luther sparked what became known as the “Reformation” with the publication of his Ninety-Five Theses. His theses were primarily written against the sale of indulgences to fund the Vatican. What began with one man speaking out quickly became a society-shaking movement throughout Europe, and the world has never been the same!

Thirteen years later, representatives of the Lutheran Reformation were summoned to an imperial meeting (called a “Diet” at that time) in the southern German city of Augsburg. There, the Lutherans (known first as “Evangelicals” or “Protestants”) would have the opportunity to discuss their faith and reforms before Charles V., the “Holy Roman Emperor” who ruled over much of central Europe. Martin Luther himself was unable to travel to Augsburg because he was branded an outlaw in the Empire some years before. 

The lead representative of the Lutherans at Augsburg was Luther’s closest colleague, Philip Melanchthon. After arriving in the city and hearing many of the false attacks that were circulating against the Lutherans, Melanchthon quickly composed an updated confession of faith to read before Charles on June 25, 1530. Melanchthon’s tone in this confession was very respectful and conciliatory, while still firmly stating the Lutheran position on salvation, Holy Communion, the role of good works in our Christian lives, and other critical teachings. This document, known as the Augsburg Confession (AC), deliberately sought to show that the early Lutherans stood firmly in the “catholic” (universal) Christian faith, extending back to the early Church, while also distinguishing some Lutheran beliefs and practices from those of other reforming groups (the forebears of modern-day Baptist, Calvinist, and Reformed churches). 

The AC is the foundational statement of what it means to believe and practice the Lutheran Christian faith. Since 1530, when the AC was delivered before the Emperor, Lutherans have continued to subscribe to its doctrine. Additionally, Lutheran pastors and other professional church workers in The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod vow to confess the Christian faith as expressed in the AC (together with the other writings in the Lutheran Confessions) because they are a true exhibition of Scripture. (I took that vow on July 22, 2012 at my ordination.)

Unfortunately, many Lutherans today are unfamiliar with the AC and its simple summary of the Christian faith. That’s why I’d like to invite you to our new Sunday Bible study at 9:00am each week in the church sanctuary. Participants will receive a copy of the Reader’s Edition of the Augsburg Confession which includes helpful notes to explain and introduce the articles of faith. Together, we’ll be looking at most of the AC, while also discussing its continued significance for our life of faith in Christ and as members of His Body, the Church. Come and learn why many early Lutherans were willing to suffer and die, rather than giving up the Good News of Jesus Christ!

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Kory Janneke

Pastor Kory's Page for Sun, August 25, 2024

I recently wrote about some recommendations for Bibles and other Christian books for your growth in Christ. This time, I’d like to share some online, radio, and podcast resources for you to explore. Links are included for you. I hope that you will check out some of these resources – and please also let me know if there are other apps, websites, podcasts, and the like which you’ve found helpful!

Facebook and Instagram – Let's start close to home: St. Matthew has both a Facebook page and Instagram profile. Please follow us on social media and engage with our posts. Liking, commenting, and sharing helps St. Matthew’s content to reach more people!

LCMS – Visit our Synod’s website at lcms.org to explore a wide variety of information about doctrine, synodical programs and missions and much more. The LCMS also has an app for your smartphone.

Lutheran Hour Ministries – The “Connected by LHM” app includes excellent, free daily devotions and weekly sermons from the Speakers of the Lutheran Hour. You can also sign up at lhm.org to receive their devotions in by email.

Bible Hub – This is both a website and a smartphone app and includes many easy-to-use Bible study tools. You can compare different Bible translations and listen to free audio Bibles. (I’ve recently begun using their audio Bibles to accompany my daily devotions.)

YouTube – This platform is of course filled with both much edifying content and much questionable content. However, there are plenty of reliable Lutheran videos. You might look up Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller (an LCMS pastor from Austin, TX) and explore his many videos. Dr. Jordan B. Cooper is another well-known Lutheran on YouTube. He is the President of the American Lutheran Theological Seminary. While intended more for youth and families, Higher Things, Inc. includes Lutheran content which Lutherans of any age could benefit from.

Radio – The LCMS operates the oldest continuously operating Christian radio station in the world: KFUO. (Ruth Reese worked for KFUO many years ago.) You can listen to KFUO at kfuo.org or on their app. A separate radio ministry, Lutheran Public Radio, has several popular programs, including Issues Etc., an interview-based program on theology and current events, and The Word of the Lord Endures Forever, a daily 15-minute Bible study). LPR also plays 24-7 sacred music. Check out LPR on their app or at lutheranpublicradio.org.

Podcasts – Both KFUO and Lutheran Public Radio’s programing are available on podcast providers. Additionally, you might listen to some of the many podcasts produced by 1517. While 1517 is not exclusively a ministry of the LCMS, many of its content producers are LCMS members. In addition to podcasts, 1517.org includes free academy courses, articles, and more. Another podcast, produced by Concordia Seminary St. Louis, features seminary staff and faculty discussing a wide range of issues. It’s called “Tangible: Theology Learned and Lived.”

Bonus Podcast – I also enjoy listening to “Core Christianity”, a Q&A program with Presbyterian Pastor, Adriel Sanchez. While I can’t endorse all his theological positions, I think that Pastor Sanchez does a great job of answering Bible questions on the fly.

Bonus Website – yaag.org, which stands for “Year At A Glance”, includes a full list of all weekly Scripture readings for our services. It also includes links to read the Scripture lessons online.

I hope that you might find something beneficial on this list. Need help locating or downloading any of these resources? Just let me know. God bless your reading, watching, and listening!

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Kory Janneke

Pastor Kory's Page - Sun, August 18, 2024

Many people in our tech-focused culture scarcely read books anymore. It’s a shame, especially because it’s through the “Good Book” of Holy Scripture that we read of God’s revelation to us, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and our Lord’s will for our lives.

In addition to the Bible, reading Christian books is one of the ways that we can “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). We do, however, need to be discerning with what we read. Some Christian literature can promote false or confusing teachings. With all things, we need to heed John’s guidance and “test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1).

For this Pastor’s Page article, I’m simply recommending some Christian books. All of these come from our Synod’s own publisher, Concordia Publishing House (CPH). While there are a variety of authors and perspectives represented among CPH’s resources, everything they publish is doctrinally reviewed for faithfulness to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. Soon, I’ll write a “part two” of recommended resources (with a digital focus), but for now, here’s my list of Bibles and books:

The Lutheran Study Bible – Filled with study notes written by Lutheran theologians, the Lutheran Study Bible is a great Bible choice for Lutheran households. It’s available in several sizes and as a phone app.

Today’s Light Bible – This is available as both a devotional Bible and as a quarterly devotional reading guide for use with your own Bible. It’s my favorite devotional resource.

Lutheran Service Book (LSB) – We use the LSB hymnal as the basis of our services at St. Matthew. It also makes a great in-home resource for learning the music and prayers of the Church.

Luther’s Small Catechism (2017 Edition) – Martin Luther wrote his Small Catechism in 1529. Nearly 500 years later, it continues to be the standard summary of the Lutheran Christian faith. The Catechism is available in several formats and as a phone app.

Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions – In addition to the Small Catechism, Lutherans also adhere to several other confessional writings from the 16th century. Concordia includes the Augsburg Confession, Luther’s Large Catechism, the Formula of Concord and more. (We will be starting a new Sunday Bible study this fall on the Augsburg Confession. Participants will receive a copy at church.)

The Lutheran Difference: An Explanation & Comparison of Christian Beliefs – This is an in-depth comparison of Lutheran teaching with what other Christian denominations believe and teach.

Luther: Biography of a Reformer – This is an easy-to-read biography of Martin Luther by Frederick Nohl. If you’ve never read a basic summary of Luther’s life and times, I’d recommend this book as a place to start.

The Spirituality of the Cross: The Way of the First Evangelicals – This book, by Gene Edward Veith Jr., describes his journey into the Lutheran tradition and what sets Lutheranism apart from other beliefs. I highly recommend this – and Veith’s many other books.

Grace Upon Grace: Spirituality for Today – This book, by Australian Lutheran writer, John Kleinig, reflects on how we are recipients of God’s amazing grace. Kleinig writes in a biblically-rich, devotional style. (I like to read this book a few pages at a time.)

Books on Revelation – Let’s end this list on the topic of the Bible’s last book! Christians regularly have questions about Revelation. Two books I recommend are The Revelation to John: A Commentary by Martin H. Franzmann and Concordia Popular Commentary: Revelation by Louis A. Brighton. Either of these books would help you to navigate through the challenging passages in the book of Revelation.

Please let me know if you have questions about these or other resources or if I can help you order something. Visit cph.org or Amazon to find any of these books. Most are also available on Amazon Kindle. Used copies are readily available online as well. God bless your reading and reflecting on your faith in Christ, and please let me know what Christian books are a blessing to you!

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Kory Janneke