The Blog of Concord

Comment by mutti on April 2, 2008 at 8:49am

A "confessional Lutheran" accepts the teachings of the Book of Concord (the Lutheran Confessions) because they are faithful to the teachings of God's word. We are very particular about how our beliefs are taught, preached and practiced.

Comment by Rev. Geoff Sinibaldo on April 30, 2008 at 8:51pm

Being the third person to post a comment, I will respond to my predicessors...

I would define "confessional" in two ways.

1.) Our faith is confessed, proclaimed, preached. To be nerdy, I'll offer a book, or at least its title, "Theology is for Proclamation," by Gerhard Forde. Theology is not something that goes on in a back room somewhere, or never leaves the library or study - it is what we do as we proclaim God's Word, given as command and promise to people who hear it by the Spirit's aid. Lutherans are a "Confessing" Church.

2. We have "Confessions" documents that serve as a tool to do the work of my above point. So that things are not a freeforall, we have a consensus of what "we beleive, teach, and confess" in the Book of Concord (concord means aggreement). This collection of writtings serve as the standard summary of how we approach the richness of Scripture and the functions of the church. It also is very helpful, in articulating Lutheran theology with non-Lutheran Christians. I have had wonderful discussions with Roman Catholic, non-denominational, Evangelical and Cahrismatic friends about faith. The Book of Concord is a treasure and gift for the whole church.

To quote the April 2 posting by mutti below me, "we are very particular about how our beliefs are taught, preached and practiced." Indeed. Our dualsided Confessional nature both preserves and witnesses our faith.

Comment by mutti on May 23, 2008 at 8:05pm

Rev. Sinibaldo,
you are very thorough. Well put. I would amend my comment to say "we are very intentional and particular..." Wouldn't you agree?

Comment by dan lester on October 7, 2008 at 7:26am

according to this the German Book of Concord is the only one that can be teached at fort wayne seminary.
(see Release of the seminary condition # 2.

Comment by Charles Henrickson on December 29, 2008 at 6:51am

St. Louis Area (Bonne Terre) Book of Concord Reading Group: People from around the St. Louis area are invited to join the Book of Concord Reading Group at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Bonne Terre, Missouri. We will be meeting most often on Mondays, beginning January 5, 9:30-11:00 a.m. We will be using Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions (Second Edition), A Reader's Edition of the Book of Concord, and we will follow the Reading Guide printed therein. For our first session, on January 5, please prepare by reading the introductory pages, pp. i-xlvi. St. Matthew's is located at 340 Summit St, Bonne Terre, MO, 63628. The phone number is (573) 358-3105. E-mail Pastor Charles Henrickson at henricksonc@yahoo.com for more information.

[If you are in the greater St. Louis area, in Missouri or Illinois, and you do not have a Book of Concord Reading Group, please consider running the above announcement in your newsletter and/or bulletins. Thanks! CH]

A map to locate St. Matthew's

Comment by Craig Johansen on January 27, 2009 at 7:17am

What is the font size in the Concordia: Mini-Me Edition? Thx.

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