Our Grip On God's Word
GRIPPING ALL OF GOD’S WORD
While the presence of Lutheran Churches in Oconomowoc was fairly well established and rooted by the early 1970’s by the larger Lutheran Synods of America, there was no church in the area from the Lutheran Church in America (LCA). Through the vision of the Mission Board of the Lutheran Church in America, land was purchased in 1975 at Lord of Life’s present location on the northeast corner of Cty. Roads P & Z.
Thus, a small Lutheran Church on the northeast side of Oconomowoc was poised to strengthen it’s grip on the truth of God’s Word and the certainty of salvation and share it with the surrounding community. Because of Lord of Life’s grip on the truth of God’s Word, the congregation united around these foundational beliefs of Holy Scripture on which confessional Lutherans stand: “By Grace Alone, By Faith Alone, By Scripture Alone”.
RELAX YOUR GRIP!
Not long after Lord of Life’s 10th anniversary on April 5, 1987, this congregation joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 1988. The ELCA merged the American Lutheran Church (ALC), the Association of Evangelical Churches (AELC) and the Lutheran Church in America (LCA). As a “consequence” of this merger, Lord of Life became a sister congregation to several other ELCA churches in the Oconomowoc area, whereas, previously, Lord of Life had been the only LCA congregation in the area.
Over the next couple of years, Lord of Life realized that one of the messages of this merger of several other synods was to RELAX YOUR GRIP on God’s Word. It soon became clear that this merger had moved toward a “pick and choose what you like” rendering of the Bible, which led to changes in Christology, moral values and lifestyle options – all of which became public declarations. This tip of the iceberg alerted the members of Lord of Life that this church body had clearly departed from their beloved grip on the truth of God’s Word. Eventually, what was beneath the tip of that iceberg revealed that the ELCA had been walking away from the authority and truth of Scriptures for quite some time. Beginning with the clergy, too many deny the reality of anything miraculous in the Bible – Creation, the Flood, Jonah, Jesus’ miracles – even Jesus’ virgin birth and resurrection. We’re no longer talking about “minor” points of doctrine. Paul writes, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (I Cor. 15:14).
RELAX OUR GRIP? NO WAY!
A relaxed grip on the truth of God’s Word always leads to no grip on the certainty of salvation. If no one can agree on what sin really is, why would anyone look to the need for a Savior from sin and the forgiveness of sins? Lord of Life Lutheran would not stand for this evil temptation to relax the grip on the truth of God’s Word and the certainty of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
The only way to maintain that grip on the truth of God’s Word was to study God’s Word again and let God speak for himself. This made it clear that we needed to begin and finish the difficult and gut-wrenching process of withdrawing from the ELCA in order to become an independent Lutheran congregation. God’s Word convinced us to return to that former grip on God’s Word. This united us, strengthened us and made us healthy on the outside so that we can share this grip on the truth of God’s Word with those around us on the outside.
As an independent Lutheran congregation, Lord of Life is free from those who tell us to dismiss parts of the Bible as myth, fairy tale or tall tale with hidden meanings. Lord of Life is free from a man-made system of theology which suits a human agenda that teaches people to hope they are justified by love instead of the fact they are justified by grace through faith as God clearly declares in his Word.
CHECKED YOUR GRIP LATELY?
If you want what we have, gripping God’s Word for every day life and the certainty of eternal life in heaven, if you’re tired of being told to relax your grip on God’s Word, if you’re looking for a renewed grip on the truth of God’s Word and the certainty of salvation, you’re always welcome here. You won’t be just a number; instead you’ll be a significant member of God’s family. You won’t be told you can believe whatever you want to believe; instead you’ll join others who aren’t afraid to take a stand with God and his Word. You won’t be told God loves you because you love God; instead you’ll be assured that God loves you regardless of your love for him. God proved his undeserved love by sending his Son, Jesus Christ to be your Savior. He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for the sins of the whole world, yours, too, just as he did for every one of us. How can we be so sure? “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so!” That’s why you can be sure, too!
Yes, there are other Lutheran churches who are not independent and who do grip all of God’s Word as we do. Thank God for that. At this time, Lord of Life is still in the process of searching for those churches who share the same conviction on all of the teachings of God’s Word. When we find them, we’d love to join together to share this Good News with each other and all creation. Christians around the world don’t see taking a strong stand on every word of the Bible as God gives it to the world as being naïve, old-fashioned, narrow-minded or judgmental. Although we may be considered that way by some, we can’t be called illogical for pointing out that rejecting only one teaching of the Bible will eventually lead to rejecting all of it. Therefore, out of love for God, for his Word and for the salvation of souls, we see our strong stand as nothing but necessary, positive and blessed by God.
While the presence of Lutheran Churches in Oconomowoc was fairly well established and rooted by the early 1970’s by the larger Lutheran Synods of America, there was no church in the area from the Lutheran Church in America (LCA). Through the vision of the Mission Board of the Lutheran Church in America, land was purchased in 1975 at Lord of Life’s present location on the northeast corner of Cty. Roads P & Z.
Thus, a small Lutheran Church on the northeast side of Oconomowoc was poised to strengthen it’s grip on the truth of God’s Word and the certainty of salvation and share it with the surrounding community. Because of Lord of Life’s grip on the truth of God’s Word, the congregation united around these foundational beliefs of Holy Scripture on which confessional Lutherans stand: “By Grace Alone, By Faith Alone, By Scripture Alone”.
RELAX YOUR GRIP!
Not long after Lord of Life’s 10th anniversary on April 5, 1987, this congregation joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 1988. The ELCA merged the American Lutheran Church (ALC), the Association of Evangelical Churches (AELC) and the Lutheran Church in America (LCA). As a “consequence” of this merger, Lord of Life became a sister congregation to several other ELCA churches in the Oconomowoc area, whereas, previously, Lord of Life had been the only LCA congregation in the area.
Over the next couple of years, Lord of Life realized that one of the messages of this merger of several other synods was to RELAX YOUR GRIP on God’s Word. It soon became clear that this merger had moved toward a “pick and choose what you like” rendering of the Bible, which led to changes in Christology, moral values and lifestyle options – all of which became public declarations. This tip of the iceberg alerted the members of Lord of Life that this church body had clearly departed from their beloved grip on the truth of God’s Word. Eventually, what was beneath the tip of that iceberg revealed that the ELCA had been walking away from the authority and truth of Scriptures for quite some time. Beginning with the clergy, too many deny the reality of anything miraculous in the Bible – Creation, the Flood, Jonah, Jesus’ miracles – even Jesus’ virgin birth and resurrection. We’re no longer talking about “minor” points of doctrine. Paul writes, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (I Cor. 15:14).
RELAX OUR GRIP? NO WAY!
A relaxed grip on the truth of God’s Word always leads to no grip on the certainty of salvation. If no one can agree on what sin really is, why would anyone look to the need for a Savior from sin and the forgiveness of sins? Lord of Life Lutheran would not stand for this evil temptation to relax the grip on the truth of God’s Word and the certainty of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
The only way to maintain that grip on the truth of God’s Word was to study God’s Word again and let God speak for himself. This made it clear that we needed to begin and finish the difficult and gut-wrenching process of withdrawing from the ELCA in order to become an independent Lutheran congregation. God’s Word convinced us to return to that former grip on God’s Word. This united us, strengthened us and made us healthy on the outside so that we can share this grip on the truth of God’s Word with those around us on the outside.
As an independent Lutheran congregation, Lord of Life is free from those who tell us to dismiss parts of the Bible as myth, fairy tale or tall tale with hidden meanings. Lord of Life is free from a man-made system of theology which suits a human agenda that teaches people to hope they are justified by love instead of the fact they are justified by grace through faith as God clearly declares in his Word.
CHECKED YOUR GRIP LATELY?
If you want what we have, gripping God’s Word for every day life and the certainty of eternal life in heaven, if you’re tired of being told to relax your grip on God’s Word, if you’re looking for a renewed grip on the truth of God’s Word and the certainty of salvation, you’re always welcome here. You won’t be just a number; instead you’ll be a significant member of God’s family. You won’t be told you can believe whatever you want to believe; instead you’ll join others who aren’t afraid to take a stand with God and his Word. You won’t be told God loves you because you love God; instead you’ll be assured that God loves you regardless of your love for him. God proved his undeserved love by sending his Son, Jesus Christ to be your Savior. He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for the sins of the whole world, yours, too, just as he did for every one of us. How can we be so sure? “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so!” That’s why you can be sure, too!
Yes, there are other Lutheran churches who are not independent and who do grip all of God’s Word as we do. Thank God for that. At this time, Lord of Life is still in the process of searching for those churches who share the same conviction on all of the teachings of God’s Word. When we find them, we’d love to join together to share this Good News with each other and all creation. Christians around the world don’t see taking a strong stand on every word of the Bible as God gives it to the world as being naïve, old-fashioned, narrow-minded or judgmental. Although we may be considered that way by some, we can’t be called illogical for pointing out that rejecting only one teaching of the Bible will eventually lead to rejecting all of it. Therefore, out of love for God, for his Word and for the salvation of souls, we see our strong stand as nothing but necessary, positive and blessed by God.
