Ask the Pastor

Information

A place to ask questions about the Lutheran Faith that are answered by orthodox Lutheran Pastors. Join this group and add a discussion with your question. Be sure to title the discussion clearly and include details of your question in the body.

Members: 141
Latest Activity: May 17

Procedures for this Group

If you have a question that you would appreciate answered by an orthodox Lutheran Pastor, Start a Discussion in this group. Make the Discussion Title clearly identify your question, so people coming after you can easily find the question looking through the title. Clarify the question in the body of the discussion posting.

The intention of this group is for pastors to answer the questions submitted here; please do not reply here if you are not a pastor unless you have something else that needs to be clarified that hasn't already been asked. Perhaps you can send a message to the pastor answering the question asking for further clarification rather than asking for it in this group; he can then post a clarification on the discussions in this group.

Pastors: If you want to help out in this group, click here and follow the instructions. If you disagree with an answer given by another, try to resolve those disagreements in a well-reasoned, Christ-like way lest the faith of some (laymen) be harmed by pastoral disagreements which might accidentally escalate to more than disagreements. This also could be done using the private messaging found on the Trail.

Discussion Forum

Closed canon 2 Replies

Hello,What are the arguments supporting that we have a closed canon? (i.e. that we don't receive more revelation today). Where do we go in the Bible to find answers to this question?I know some…Continue

Started by Thomas M. Last reply by Suzee May 17.

Scripture Verse assistance 14 Replies

Good day Pastors,and many blessings to you. I have been in an honest attempt to try and help "plant a little seed" so to speak concerning the true message of The Gospel. I know some friends/relatives…Continue

Started by john mac. Last reply by john mac Apr 24.

Enoch and Original Sin 6 Replies

I'm new and young and don't know exactly how this works, but I have a question that was brought up this last week at my Lutheran high school. I was talking to one of my teachers and he brought up…Continue

Started by Isaiah Albert Armbrecht. Last reply by Suzee Apr 23.

Lord's Prayer - Trespasses v.s. Debts 3 Replies

This was passed on to me by private message from a member of the WT:My question is, in the Lord's prayer, why do we use the term "trespasses" instead of "debts" as used in the Gospel of Matthew? This…Continue

Tags: Prayer, Lord's

Started by Norm Fisher. Last reply by Dave Gosse Mar 10.

2 Timothy 3:16 and the Law 1 Reply

I am about to have a discussion with a Pastor over the issue of the proper distinction between the Law and the Gospel in preaching. He is a Calvinistic Baptist Pastor. I would say that much of the…Continue

Started by Matthew Fenn. Last reply by Thomas M Feb 2.

ELCA Dissent & Authority of Scripture 5 Replies

I am looking for help in trying to understand the logic behind the ELCA dissenters with respect to the 2009 ELCA Convention's homosexuality resolutions. I have noticed that Word Alone, Lutheran…Continue

Started by Jonathan Caspersen. Last reply by john mac Dec 6, 2011.

Through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles 2 Replies

Romans 11:11: "So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous."What does it mean…Continue

Started by Thomas M. Last reply by Thomas M Nov 16, 2011.

Does Jesus talk more about money than heaven? 2 Replies

Recently at a local LCMS church, a pastor cited in his sermon a statistic that our Lord spoke more on the subject of money than of heaven. The sermon then continued in an outline about what the Lord…Continue

Tags: heaven, money

Started by Anthony W Hamann. Last reply by Suzee Nov 7, 2011.

Communion frequency 8 Replies

Good day Pastors-and blessings.I have a question concerning communion frequency. I know some churches do Lords Supper weekly. Some (even Lutheran Churches) do it 2 or 3 times a month. Some different…Continue

Started by john mac. Last reply by Suzee Nov 5, 2011.

When Is It A Bad Time To Call Your Pastor?

http://martynballestero.com/2011/01/15/when-is-it-a-bad-time-to-call-your-pastor/ The Ballestero…Continue

Tags: calls, Privacy, Respect, Phone, Pastors

Started by Suzee Oct 24, 2011.

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Comment Wall

Comment by Norm Fisher on March 25, 2010 at 3:25pm: To reply to questions or read the answers, click on the discussion forums above.

It's intended that there be one question per forum, making it easier to locate questions and answers.

Comment by Darth Swede on April 6, 2010 at 3:53pm: Ummm... Why isn't Pr. Walt Snyder, the _true_ originator of "Ask the Pastor" not a part of this group?

Comment by Suzee on April 6, 2010 at 5:16pm: http://xrysostom.blogspot.com/
Thanks for pointing, Darth. Another good blog to read.
I quite liked the Sons of Korah explanation, within the blog, and added to my psalm studies.

Comment by Rev. Alan J. Wollenburg on April 15, 2010 at 7:43pm: It happens, I think, because, in all candor, we are quite inconsistent. That in itself is quite understandable for there is not a man, woman, or child in this frail and fallen world who is not inconsistent. What is frustrating and a bit frightening is when we become content and comfortable with our inconsistencies.

Many of the older pastors were criticized by members of their congregations for so strongly emphasizing early baptism of children. For whatever it is worth, many of us pastors still try to strongly urge quick baptism of children -- but we have to try to not seem legalistic or overly demanding. And then there are many laypeople who give baptism a kind of lipservice but are lulled into complacency because of the incredible medical advancements of our day and age.

If we were true to Scripture, we would do as you suggest and would urge parents to see to their children's baptism sooner rather than later. Thanks for being a voice for conscience.

Comment by Don on April 16, 2010 at 3:06pm: I hear ya, lutheranlady.Go to the "new confession" thread and see where some wish to try to "explain" (away) the necessity of baptism.

My nephew has a three-month old daughter who is yet to be baptized. they keep talking about it, but never get around to it. My sister is concerned, but get this. Her view, as told to my mom, is that there's no immediate concern for little McKenna, but that her son (my nephew) and his wife may have some answering to do. What has happened? Is it a denial of original sin, a view that a loving God would not send little children to hell, so there's nothing to worry about except some conceern over the faithfulness of the parents?

What makes father, mother, and grandmother think that little McKenna is not lost without baptism? All raised LC-MS, but now have become so audacious. The idea that the answer to "What happens to babies who die before baptism?" is "Scripture is not clear" is now seen as legalistic?! Lord, have mercy!

Pastor Don Kirchner

Comment by Rev. Alan J. Wollenburg on April 16, 2010 at 5:45pm: Dear Lutheranlady: Yes, you are quite right. It must ever be our prayer that we pastors will not succumb to a 'dumbed down' theology which is, as you are truly pointing out, no theology at all. This is part of what the apostle meant, i believe, when the Holy spirit inspired him to write about "jars of clay" (2 Cor. 4:7ff.). For your part as a layman, please support and encourage your pastor and other faithful pastors to BE faithful pastors who faithfully represent the Lord and His Word so that they may truly be faithful servants of the sheep given to their care. Your "humble opinion and observation" is duly noted -- Pastor Kirchner and I and others really DO have stout hearts and seek to lead "instead of capitulate" -- but please try to understand how difficult that can be especially for some pastors who have ecclesiastical supervisors who do NOT encourage them to be stouthearted leaders. :( peace!

Comment by Claudia on April 21, 2010 at 11:38am: I responded to a quote someone from my church posted on Facebook.

Any thoughts on this quote that comes from Rick Holland Executive Pastor | Staff Elder at the Non-denominational church listed below that is of John MacArthur.
"The Bible does not yield its treasures to lazy people." - Rick Holland
http://www.gracechurch.org/about/leadership