"The Book of Concord should be in every Lutheran home. If a person isn't familiar with this book, he'll think, 'That old book is just for pastors. I don't have to preach. After working all day, I can't sit down and study in the evening. If I read my morning and evening devotions, that's enough.' No, that is not enough! The Lord doesn't want us to remain children, blown to and fro by every wind of doctrine; instead of that, He wants us to grow in knowledge so that we can teach others." - Dr. C.F.W. Walther
My family in Christ,
The above quote is one I have shared before, and happily do so again. We find ourselves in an increasingly pagan world – animosity toward Christianity is growing and I imagine you join me in wondering at a world that seems to be growing more and more insane, calling that which is evil good and reveling in its shame and violence. It is a world of darkness that would threaten to swallow us in despair, falsehood and evil, except by God’s grace we have been given the Light of His Word that floods us with life and hope in Christ and equips us to reflect that life and hope to those around us trapped in that darkness.
The Lutheran Church has historically been about teaching and proclaiming the Faith taught by the Apostles and rediscovered by the Reformers. We are about defending that Truth and speaking the Truth of God’s Word in its entirety and purity in love. But to do so, you need to know that Word of God! As we begin another year of instruction for our catechumens I cannot stress enough the need for all of us to not only be faithful in our attendance in the Divine Service (not only being there physically but especially focusing on that Word while there!) and Sunday School (I especially would encourage all of our members to come to Sunday School to be instructed further in the Word of God as I have noticed not as many come as can), but also to study that Word at home.
And one of the tools that we have been given as Lutherans to aid in this study of God’s Word is the Confessions – The Book of Concord (of which the Small Catechism is one part). As Dr. Walther put it, the Book of Concord is not “just for pastors”, it is for all who want to grow in the Faith and be better equipped to fight against the false teachings of the world and the efforts of the devil to twist the Word of God to try and remove the comfort God would have you enjoy as His child.
If you don’t have one, get one (Concordia Publishing House sells them). Or if your situation does not allow this, we have a link on our web site (stjohnsfarley.com) that you can click and it will take you to an online version. In addition, break out your catechism (again, it is only one of the documents in the Book of Concord) if you haven’t already and read it daily! It is a fantastic tool to help you grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, helping defend yourself against satan’s attacks as well as wonderfully equip you to share the good news of Christ with those around you.
Satan is always working to twist or remove the Word of God. He twisted it and denied at the beginning, and will continue to do so through his false teachers until the Last Day of history. You are to defend yourself against such attacks, and as Lutherans you have been given a wonderful shield and weapon in the Book of Concord. I agree with Dr. Walther: "The Book of Concord should be in every Lutheran home…The Lord doesn't want us to remain children, blown to and fro by every wind of doctrine; instead of that, He wants us to grow in knowledge so that we can teach others."
Pastor Reiser
