While most churches of a Reformed (usually Arminian) background, as well as a growing number of “Lutheran” churches, seek to make their services entertaining and emotionally moving – probably connected to their emphasis on free will and personal decision – Lutheran worship is replete with the Means of Grace and centered around Christ and His redeeming work.

We begin with confession and absolution (John 20:21-23; James 5:16); worship with psalms and hymns which tell of God’s grace and mercy in Christ Jesus (Colossians 3:16); read the Holy Scriptures which are able to make us “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” and are “given by inspiration of God, and … profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:14-17); hear the Word of God preached and applied to us in accord with the Apostle Paul’s directive to Timothy and Christ’s great commission to “Preach the Word” and teach all things Christ has commanded (2 Tim. 4:1ff.; Matt. 28:18-20); are reminded of our baptism (Titus 3:4-7); and receive the body and blood of Christ given and shed for us for the remission of sins (1 Cor. 11:23ff.).

Lutheran worship is centered around Christ and His Word and Sacraments, the means by which God comes to us sinners and creates and sustains faith in Christ Jesus in our hearts.

Lutheran worship may not always be entertaining or even emotionally moving, but it ministers to the greatest needs of our hearts and souls and makes it possible for us to respond to God’s grace and mercy in Christ Jesus!

Many church organizations and church bodies are ruled by political might when they should be ruled and governed solely by the Word of God.

It happens in local congregations and it happens in national and international church bodies. Decisions regarding doctrine, worship and mission work are determined by the group in power, whether that be a simple majority, a group of pastors or elders or a group of delegates. And whichever group has the political power wins and its favored doctrine and practice are forced upon the rest of the congregation or church body — that is, until another group gains the political might to change things.

In so many ways, congregations and church bodies are using political systems to rule and govern rather than letting God rule and govern by means of His Word, the Bible. They forget that the church is a theocracy with Christ as its head, while our civil governments are not.

While both the church and the state are ordained by God, there is a big difference in their purpose and function. The church was instituted for the eternal salvation of men. The state is for the maintenance of external righteousness and order among men in this world. The church preaches and proclaims the Word of God to bring men to faith and change hearts. The state enacts and enforces laws to curb and control men’s outward actions.

When Jesus asked the disciples who they believed Him to be, Peter replied: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16); and Jesus said that, upon this truth which the Father had revealed to Peter, Jesus would “build His church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (v. 17-18). Jesus also said: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).

On the other hand, the Scriptures say of civil government: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Romans 13:1-4); and, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well” (1 Peter 2:13-14).

While the state — civil government — bears the sword to maintain order, punish evildoers and wage just wars, the church is ruled by and proclaims the Word of God.

The Bible says: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16); and, “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:14-17).

In order that men might be saved, the church has been commanded to preach the Word of God and proclaim Jesus Christ crucified as the Savior of mankind. Jesus commanded His disciples to “go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16; cf. Romans 1:16-17; 10:15,17).

To maintain civil order and righteousness in this world, civil governments have been given power and responsibility to enact just laws, punish evildoers (including the use of the death penalty), and to wage just wars (1 Peter 2:13-14; Psalm 82:1-4; Genesis 9:6; Romans 13:3-4).

As Christians, we recognize from the Holy Scriptures that no one can be brought to believe the Bible’s teaching, be brought to faith in Christ Jesus or be made a member of God’s heavenly kingdom through the powers of civil government (cf. John 3:3-6; 18:11,36; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; Ephesians 6:10-18). Nor should the church expect civil governments to require faith or demand submission to church rites and worship.

On the other hand, neither does God give to civil governments the authority to dictate to the church what it may or may not teach or how it should conduct its worship and ministry in this world. And, when civil governments depart from their God-given duties and forbid what God commands or command what God forbids, Christians must obey God rather than men even if they must suffer the earthly consequences (Acts 4:19-20; 5:29; Luke 12:4-5; Daniel 3 and 6).

As a result of this distinction between the church and the state, Christians should never substitute for the ongoing preaching of God’s Word the enactment and enforcement of laws which can only regulate one’s outward conduct. And churches should never feel they have carried out their mission if only their political and moral views are accepted by civil governments and imposed upon the people.

In fact, since the church is ruled by the Word of God, it is never a satisfactory situation when only a majority of those associated with the church holds to the Biblical truth. The Bible urges the preaching of God’s Word as God’s Word until all, by the grace of God, come to know and believe the truth.

The Bible tells us: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). And the Bible tells us that this is accomplished through ongoing and faithful preaching and teaching of God’s Word — not forcing people to believe (or compromising the truth) but allowing the Holy Spirit to work to create and strengthen faith in the heart which accepts all that God’s Word teaches (cf. 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 4:1ff.; Titus 1:9; Psalm 19:8; 119:105; Isaiah 55:10-11; John 6:44, 63; Romans 10:17; Ephesians 4:10-16).

My point in all this is simply to say that churches and church bodies err and come short when they seek to rule over their members (or over an earthly kingdom or nation) through the use of politics and political maneuvering and majority decisions. Such political rule can only affect outward actions. Rather, churches should faithfully preach God’s Word that God’s Spirit might change people’s hearts — bringing them to see their sinfulness and trust in their Savior and, as a fruit of that faith, to live for their God and Savior in accord with his Word.

There are questions which challenge faith but God’s Word has answers. Following are a few common questions people ask which challenge faith along with Biblical answers.

If there is a good and loving God, how could He allow so much evil in the world?

That is a question often asked by Christian and non-Christian alike, especially at times when loved ones die or terrible evils and tragedies occur.

Is there an answer? While the wisdom and workings of God are often hidden from our eyes, He has revealed to us in the Scriptures what we need to know.

First of all, God did not create evil and suffering and death. God gave life, both physical and spiritual, when He created man in His image and breathed into man the breath of life (cf. Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7); and, at the close of the sixth day, when God looked upon all that He had created and made, “it was very good” (Genesis 1:31).

Evil, suffering and death entered into God’s creation when Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, doubted God’s words, failed to trust Him and disobeyed His command (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-24). And this evil was evidenced in their hiding from God, the murder of Abel, the wickedness and unbelief at the time of the Genesis Flood and in the evil and suffering which has continued down through the centuries — including the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, God’s own dear Son in human flesh.

How could a good and all-knowing God create a world in which He knew man would turn away and bring about such evil and suffering?

The answer lies in His wisdom and love and grace. Yes, He knew man would sin and He knew His creation would be ravaged by sin and evil, but He created man with a free will and with a knowledge of God and His ways. He created man with the eternal and gracious purpose to redeem us and give to us the everlasting joys of heaven in perfect fellowship with Him.

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 2:4-7 that “God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

If God is good and all-powerful, why would He not immediately put an end to the evil and suffering in this world?

To answer that question, we need to remember what putting an end to all evil would mean. It would not only mean the immediate judgment and eternal damnation of men like Adolph Hitler and Joseph Stalin, it would mean the immediate judgment and damnation of each and every one of us, for, as the Bible says in Romans 3:10-12, “There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Yes, God could immediately remove all evil from this world, but that would mean the eternal ruin of us all!

God will put an end to evil in this world. He has promised to do so. But the Bible also tells us “the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

So, God tolerates the evil in this world to give us and all mankind opportunity to hear the truth of His Word, repent of our rebellious and sinful ways and place our faith in Christ Jesus. This evil world goes on because God does not desire us to perish forever in the fires of hell. He longs for us to turn to Jesus for pardon and forgiveness and for life eternal in a new and perfect world He will create. But, in God’s time, this world will be judged and the evil and wickedness will be removed (2 Peter 3:10ff.).

And, finally, why would a good and gracious God allow His own people to suffer?

Though we may not fully see and understand God’s workings in this life, we are assured by Scripture “that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 3:28).

We may not understand why God allows trouble and suffering to come. We may be grasping for an explanation when sickness comes, a loved one dies or a tragedy occurs. Yet, as believers, we know and believe that God is our loving heavenly Father and has our eternal good and the good of all God’s elect children in mind. We commit the keeping of our souls “to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:19).

Remember, we so often see things only from the perspective of here and now in this life. God looks upon the things of here and now in this life with the perspective of what’s best for our eternal future.

And, yes, in this life we will suffer — Jesus, the sinless and holy Son of God, suffered more than all — but “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). We know and believe that “our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:8-10 (Read Genesis 12)

James wrote (James 2:18): “Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” And most certainly, we see Abraham’s faith by his works.

It is as we read in Genesis 12:1-3, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

And how did Abram respond? Genesis 12:4-5 says: “So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.”

After going as far as Haran and staying there until his father died (Acts 7:2ff.), Abram heeded God’s command and promise and traveled to the land of Canaan, where he lived as a stranger – never possessing more than a field and cave for a burial place – but trusted God’s promise that his descendants would possess the land and that God would fulfill His promises to make of him a great nation and through his Seed to bless all the nations of the world (cf. Genesis 12:1-3; 13:14ff.; 15:5-6; 17:3-8; 22:15-18).

It was by faith that Abraham moved to this new, foreign land and dwelt there – because he believed God’s promises and trusted that God would fulfill all His words and promises and send One who would redeem him and all mankind from sin and its punishment. As we read, Abraham “believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).

Do you have faith like Abraham? You say you have faith in God and His promises, but what has that faith moved you to do? You say you believe that Christ Jesus died for all your sins and rose again; does that faith move you to live in the confidence that God is merciful and forgives you all your sins through faith in Jesus’ name? Cf. Romans 1:16-17; 5:1-2. You say you believe that Jesus will come again and raise up all who died to give to all who trust in Him eternal life in heaven, but do you fear death? Cf. 1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13ff.

You say you believe that God will provide for all your needs. Do you fret and worry? Cf. Matthew 6:25ff. You say you believe that God will care for you and bless you if you trust Him and give generously and sacrificially to the work of His kingdom, but do you give as He has blessed you? Cf. Proverbs 3:9-10.

You say you believe God’s commandments and the teaching of His Word are good and right, but do you trust God’s Word enough to shun sin and resist evil and false doctrine to walk in His ways? Cf. Proverbs 3:5-8; 8:13.

Perhaps God has called you to enter into His service as a pastor, teacher or missionary. Perhaps He has called you to leave your family and homeland and travel to some faraway place to serve Him and bear witness to Christ Jesus? Do you follow His leading, trusting that He will care for you and provide for all your needs?

Indeed, the list could go on. Abraham had faith in the LORD God and His promises, but that faith also moved Abraham to act. He left his homeland and his people and sojourned in a foreign land, trusting that God had a better plan and that God would fulfill His promises. As the writer to the Hebrews states, Abraham “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

And so, the question follows: “What about you and me?” We trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His blood shed for us upon the cross for our salvation. We look forward to our eternal home in heaven which is given us for Jesus’ sake. Do we live out our faith? Do we live for the kingdom of God? Or, do we live for this world and the pleasures of this world? Are we living in accord with our professed faith? Are we looking “for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God”? Cf. 1 John 2:15ff.; James 4:4.

Once again, the Bible tells us: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves” (2 Corinthians 13:5). And when we do, we see our sinfulness, our failings to live and walk by faith. We see our need to repent and look to Jesus and His cross for forgiveness, and then also for the help and strength to amend our ways and walk by faith.

And, in Jesus there is forgiveness, and in Jesus there is life. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “Jesus Christ the righteous … is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1,2). And God tells us: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye” (Psalm 32:8; cf. Psalm 32:1ff.).

O dearest Jesus, forgive us for our failures to truly trust You and live our lives in that faith. Have mercy upon us for the sake of your shed blood. Cleanse us from our sin and move us to live by faith, trusting in You alone for forgiveness and life, and living our lives here in this world in faith, looking “for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Amen.

Centered paragraph.