Larry Devich
Saturday, September 18, 2004
I'm becoming a member of Messiah Lutheran Church
I will be officially joining Messiah Lutheran Church in 8 days. This will be the first time I've actually joined a church or religious organization since I became a member of the Baha'i Faith nearly twenty years ago. It will be the first time I've identified with and officially become a member of a Christian fellowship since I was a member of Evergreen Christian Center in 1973-1978!
I have wandered far over the years in my search for "Truth". Along with Pontius Pilate I said, "What is truth?" I really didn't know. Yet the Truth was standing there before Pilate, and the Truth was there in my own life. The Truth is not a system of philosophy or theology. It is not a method of mediation or prayer. It is a person, Jesus Christ. All of my life Jesus has been calling to me, standing at the door and knocking. Over and over he came to me and urged me to return to him. As an infant I was baptized, as a young boy I had what can only be called a mystical experience of the love of God, as a teen I made a solemn vow to follow Jesus as my Lord.
Then I wandered off into the wilderness and became lost.
Now I have come home at last. I don't mean that home is a church, it's not, home is Jesus himself. But at the same time I've been searching for a place of fellowship where the Truth is preached. Where they preach Jesus Christ and him crucified. Where the authentic traditions of the historic universal (catholic) church are honored and salvation by grace through faith is taught without compromise. Of course I am convinced that the Lutheran church, especially the Missouri Synod Lutheran church, is the best place to find that.
One very important thing that is found in the Lutheran church that is lacking in almost every other Protestant denomination is the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. In the Lutheran church there is the real presence, and the real gospel both.
Why on earth did I ever leave?!
It is very good to be home :-)
Praise the Lord!
¶ 9/18/2004 07:51:00 AM 0 Comments
I have wandered far over the years in my search for "Truth". Along with Pontius Pilate I said, "What is truth?" I really didn't know. Yet the Truth was standing there before Pilate, and the Truth was there in my own life. The Truth is not a system of philosophy or theology. It is not a method of mediation or prayer. It is a person, Jesus Christ. All of my life Jesus has been calling to me, standing at the door and knocking. Over and over he came to me and urged me to return to him. As an infant I was baptized, as a young boy I had what can only be called a mystical experience of the love of God, as a teen I made a solemn vow to follow Jesus as my Lord.
Then I wandered off into the wilderness and became lost.
Now I have come home at last. I don't mean that home is a church, it's not, home is Jesus himself. But at the same time I've been searching for a place of fellowship where the Truth is preached. Where they preach Jesus Christ and him crucified. Where the authentic traditions of the historic universal (catholic) church are honored and salvation by grace through faith is taught without compromise. Of course I am convinced that the Lutheran church, especially the Missouri Synod Lutheran church, is the best place to find that.
One very important thing that is found in the Lutheran church that is lacking in almost every other Protestant denomination is the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. In the Lutheran church there is the real presence, and the real gospel both.
Why on earth did I ever leave?!
It is very good to be home :-)
Praise the Lord!
¶ 9/18/2004 07:51:00 AM 0 Comments
