The Importance of Church History, and How To Learn It

From The Lutheran Witness
Cover image: Photograph of the painting “The Vineyard of the Lord: epitaph for Paul Eber” by Lucas Cranach “the Younger,” on Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, at the Town and Parish Church of St. Mary’s in Wittenberg, Germany. LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford

It takes a lot of humility to admit that you can’t figure anything out on your own in this quickly shifting world of hyper-individualized everything. It can feel like every aspect of our lives has become more balkanized, fragmented, ensconced in increasingly tiny niches. The web tracking on your browser shows you super-specific advertisements tailored to your search history. Streaming services and self-publishing content creators available across your smart devices let you bypass the limited cable offerings of yore, enabling you to select exactly who and what and where and when you will watch or listen, you and you alone, walled off in your room with headphones in your ears while everyone else in the house does the exact same thing in self-induced isolation.

Living like this is exhausting. And as hard as it is to make polite conversation when nobody listens to the same music or reads the same books anymore, it’s even more frightening to imagine taking this approach to the parts of our life that matter eternally: our faith, how we read the Bible, where we go to church and what we do while we’re there.

This is why it’s so vital to take part in a confession, a “saying together” of what other people around us and before us and after us have believed, do believe and will believe about Jesus and what He has done for us. This is why it’s so important to be a part of a church that walks together through history, a church with a past that it understands so that it can engage with the present and prepare for the future.

The Lutheran Confessions didn’t fall out as shining gold tablets from a magic hat in 1580. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod didn’t spring fully formed from the head of C.F.W. Walther in 1847. The Lutheran Service Book did not appear to someone in a dream in 2006. Part of our confession as Christians is that the Bible is a historical document in addition to a spiritual one, a record of real people in real places doing real things that really happened. God works through history, history like creating Adam and Eve, like the virgin birth, like the crucifixion and resurrection. Not only that, but God continues to work through history to pass down the faith through the work and writing of faithful Christians, a legacy that continues to inform and edify us today.

We walk together when we walk in our church history. Knowing the story of those who came before us in the faith helps us from inventing cool-sounding but actually crazy interpretations of Scripture or innovative but unhelpful worship practices. When we know our history, we can understand why we have the traditions, customs and rules that we do — lines that exist for a reason, and that should only be crossed with great caution and prayer. Our history as Lutherans shows us that sometimes the practices and teachings handed down to us can become twisted and strange, like a common phrase distorted to nonsense through a game of telephone. But, by studying church history, we also learn that the answer to a stagnated, begrimed inheritance of doctrine or practice is never to throw it all out and start new, informed only by our small self and microscopic immediate context. Instead, it’s to carefully wash away the accrued distractions and falsehoods through careful study of Scripture and how it has been taught by those older and wiser than us. It’s to do what Martin Luther did: To return ad fontes, to the source, to the Word of God and the wisdom of those less removed in time and space from the days of the apostles.

Knowing your church history is very important, but actually learning it can be tricky. Thankfully, there are many helpful and free resources available today to guide you on your walk through church history:

• Concordia Historical Institute: Concordia Historical Institute (CHI) is the official department of archives and history for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. This means that they hold onto all of the important documentation that tells the story of our church body. While archives are generally very academic organizations, primarily for trained historians, CHI does a lot of outreach programs and offers many resources to help you rediscover your Lutheran history. Many of their exhibits are online, and they offer many free and paid publications that can help anyone at any level of historical background learn about LCMS history.

• The LCMS: The LCMS has produced multiple resources for diving into Lutheran history. The Reformation 500 website from 2017 is still online and is a perennial source of Reformation knowledge, as is the LCMS 175th anniversary page . The LCMS has also put out multiple documentary movies that you can watch online for free, like The First Rosa, which details the life of the black Lutheran educator and church planter Rosa Young, or Martin Luther: The Idea that Changed the World, which was produced in 2017 and shown on PBS.

• Concordia Publishing House: Concordia Publishing House has a plethora of historical resources, from academic monographs on specific historical topics to children’s history curriculum to pamphlets you can make available at your church. If you are participating in the 2025 Formula of Concord reading plan, be sure to grab a copy of the Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord  — the included historical introductions and other resources are monumentally helpful in piecing together the story of how this document came into being.

• The Lutheran Witness! The Lutheran Witness is also a phenomenal resource for learning your church’s history. The recently concluded church history series is a great way to get a bird’s eye view of 2,000 years of church history, and this year’s February issue marking the 50th anniversary of the Walkout zooms in on the events that helped define the LCMS stance on modernist theology and biblical criticism.

Church history tells us that we are not alone. We are freed from the dual tyrants of hubris at thinking we can figure everything out on our own and of despair at not being able to. At a time when many feel discouraged at trending immorality, societal discord, and the quotidian struggles of congregational life, linking arms through the study of old books by dead-and-now-with-Jesus Christians can bring great encouragement. We walk together with a whole host of saints and angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, arrayed in white, who have and do and will continue to cry out for God’s mercy on you and on all people.

By Molly Lackey

November 15, 2024 / Articles / By Molly Lackey / 1 Comment / Church History, History, Lutheranism

VIDEO: Sunday January 19, 2025 - Complete Service

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AUDIO: Announcements, Readings & Sermon for Sunday January 19, 2025

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Old Testament Reading -- Isaiah 62:1–5 
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
and her salvation as a burning torch.
The nations shall see your righteousness,
and all the kings your glory,
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
For as a young man marries a young woman,
so shall your sons marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God rejoice over you. 

Epistle Reading -- 1 Corinthians 12:1–11 
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. 

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 

The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the second chapter
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. 

Youth Group Bake Sale: Sunday January 26, 2025

Bake Sale to benefit the 2025 Youth Gathering Trip
Support our youth and satisfy your sweet tooth on Sunday January 26, 2025 between services in the Fellowship Hall

Ten Truths about the Sanctity of Life

Ten Truths about the Sanctity of Life
Meeting deceitfulness with certainty instead of hostility

by Pastor Michael Salemink, Executive Director - LifeDate, Winter 2024

Death thrives on lies. It feeds on them, rises or falls on falsehoods, and needs them to survive. Ever since the devil’s first, “Did God really say?” sin has loved misinformation. Our Lord Himself exposes what friendly bedfellows death and deception make: “[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning … for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). The wicked world and our own sinful flesh love dishonesty almost as much, especially when they work as weapons against the commands and promises of God.

Like rust, though, lies don’t exist independently. They only come about as corruptions or parasites of realities. Every forgery derives its force from correspondence to the genuine article. The Heavenly Father turns even lies into invitations for speaking facts. So here are ten of the most common opportunities to meet deceitfulness with certainty instead of hostility:

“The Bible doesn’t say anything about abortion.” Most English translations may not include the technical term. But whole Scriptures concern how God creates, redeems, and calls every human being to be His own precious treasure from fertilization to forever. And Exodus 21:22-23 prescribes capital punishment for even inadvertent taking of unborn life.

“Abortion is a woman’s choice (and physician-assisted suicide is a matter of personal autonomy).” Pregnancy involves at least two human bodies and responsibilities (father’s and child’s) in addition to the mother’s. Physician-assisted suicide also requires at least the physician (not to mention the other loved ones and neighbors affected). Every one of these lives belongs to the Almighty Maker—and He knows best how to care for them.

“Without abortions, women will die from pregnancies.” Resolving pregnancy complications may require removing the baby, but it never demands intentionally killing the little one (even if we cannot intervene to avoid this dying). Premature delivery does not constitute abortion. Miscarriage (or even evacuation of miscarried remains) isn’t the same thing either. And women do perish every year from “legal and professional” induced abortion procedures.

“Chemical abortion is perfectly safe (but Abortion Pill Reversal isn’t).” Even the FDA acknowledges that abortion pills inflict injuries and casualties necessitating emergency intervention in at least six percent of cases (y4life.org/ wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Health-Risks-of-Abortion-Fall-2023-Updates.pdf). Hemorrhaging, septic infections, follow -up surgery, infertility, and cancers can result (along with psychological trauma). An antidote exists (abortionpillreversal. com) that has worked 64- 68% of the time to save over 4,500 lives and has harmed zero mothers (www.heartbeatinternational.org/apr-101). 

“Untreatable agony makes physician-assisted suicide necessary.” Palliative care (pain management) provides at least a measure of relief in the vast majority of circumstances. So most individuals seeking physician-assisted suicide do not even identify physical discomfort as a primary motivation. Suicidal ideation represents an appeal for community, not for execution. And the Incarnation of Our Lord guarantees a redemptive purpose to even our worst sufferings. 

“Sexual assault and adverse diagnoses require abortion access.” Further violence does not reverse or relieve from rape trauma. Victims who abort report compounded grief, while those who carry report finding meaning and healing in it. Discriminating who gets to live based on origin or ability endangers the whole of humankind. And most individuals with disabilities love their lives, as do their families, despite the distinct challenges. 

“Abortion eases social crises like abuse, inequality, poverty.” Murdering before birth exacerbates these problems by inflicting them (abusing, disadvantaging, depriving) on those who can do the least with or about them. Putting to death anyone who suffers seems like a lousy strategy for healthy society. On the other hand, the more heads and hands we raise up to address difficulties, the better our chances of success. 

“Abortion opponents don’t care about babies after birth (and they’re generally unkind).” The proliferation of pregnancy resource centers demonstrates the p r o f o u n d c o m p a s s i o n and commitment of these sensitive and generous communities. For Life Christians participate more in adoption and fostering than any other demographic. 

“Pregnancy resource centers mislead vulnerable women.” It is true that PRCs do not facilitate abortions. It’s also true that they prefer birth and do so with explicit Christian convictions. However, they support persons regardless of decisions, materially and emotionally, with patience but without pressure, providing resources and relationships. And almost all of the funding comes from private charity rather than diverting public monies. 

“Christians think abortion amounts to an unforgivable sin.” God loves everyone who permits, promotes, or participates in abortion just as much as all the lives lost to it. Jesus came and died to make up for this sin and make us free from its guilt. Anyone who desires His forgiveness already has it along with His favor. Only believing such forgiveness unnecessary excludes from it . 

Bulletin: Sunday January 19, 2025

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THIS WEEK AT ZION

Saturday January 18
10:00 a.m. - SPECIAL Prayer Breakfast with the Still Remembered Project (Details)

Sunday January 19
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
6:00 p.m. - Youth Group Bowling Night
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)

Monday January 20
6:00 p.m. - Confirmation
6:00 p.m. - Grace Bell Choir Practice
7:00 p.m. - Confirmation
7:00 p.m. - Board of Education Meeting

Tuesday January 21
6:15 p.m. - Faith Bell Choir Practice
7:15 p.m. - Adult Choir Practice

Wednesday January 22
Pastor away at a Conference
2:00 p.m. - Mid-Week Worship Service with Pastor Mike Kettner
2:30 p.m. - 30 min. Bible Study
(Service streamed on our YouTube channel)

Thursday January 23
Pastor away at a Conference
No Events Scheduled

Friday January 24
No Events Scheduled

Saturday January 25
No Events Scheduled

Sunday January 26
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)

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CLICK THE UPCOMING EVENTS GRAPHIC to go directly to our UPCOMING EVENTS page

Sunday School Class for Babies and Toddlers

This Sunday, we will start a Sunday School class for babies and toddlers under the age of three (there is no minimum age). A parent is encouraged to attend the class with their child.  We will meet at 9:15 in Classroom 207 in the Preschool wing.