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Church Attendance/Communion

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Question:

Hello, my name is Ian. I live in the Netherlands I was wondering how you would advice me on church attendance. I come from a reformed background, but recently I listened to the lecture series on the first epistle of John by pastor Jeremy Rhode. Since then I started to rethink limited atonement etc. The more I study Lutheran theology, the more I wish I could attend a Lutheran Church. The problem is, in the Netherlands, there are only a few lutheran churches, most of them have female pastors and they are very liberal. We have a lot of reformed churches. How would you advice me, is it best to attend a reformed church? Also, how about communion, is it wise to have communion in a reformed church? And at what frequency does communion have to take place? I hope that I formed my question clearly.

Answer:

Ian, greetings in Christ,

We are glad that you found us on the web and we pray that what we post there will be a blessing to all as we placard Christ Jesus and Him crucified and risen for the redemption of the world.

Answers to your questions are very difficult. We wish you could find a confessional, right teaching (orthodox) Lutheran church within a reasonable distance from where you live. Alas, it sounds like the ones you have found are completely out of order. Even in the United States, and specifically here where we live, we have members who drive 80 kilometers to worship with us each Sunday. Not having inside knowledge on the Lutheran church in Europe, I can only direct you to the Lutheran church we are in Altar-Pulpit fellowship with in Germany - SELK. Their web address is http://www.selk.de. We are also in Altar-Pulpit fellowship with the Lutheran Church in England - ELCE. Their web address ishttp://www.lutheran.co.uk. You have no doubt already seen their websites, however, I would encourage you to email them and ask for their advice when it comes to places to worship. Perhaps if there is a congregation worshipping within a reasonable distance, you could at least make the trek every month or two. (Certainly talk with the Pastor about your predicament if that is the case.)

I would find it rather difficult to attend a church that is at variance with sound Biblical teaching and I would certainly not receive communion at those churches as they are not confessing the same thing. The Lord's Supper not only reflects a unity we have with Christ, it speaks of a unity that those communing have, as well; unity not only in Christian fellowship but also unity in doctrine. Receiving the Lord's Supper once a year would be much more preferable than receiving the "so-called Lord's Supper" in a Reformed or Roman Catholic parish every Sunday.

In regards to frequency of receiving the Lord's Supper, our Lord did not stipulate a specific number (That would turn pure Gospel into Law.) Our Lord simply says, Do this often . . . and St. Paul says that as often as we receive the Lord's Supper we proclaim Christ's death until He re-appears in glory. Taking the gifts given in the Lord's Supper into consideration, (communion with Christ and forgiveness of sins offered and received,) we simply leave the "frequency" of receiving the Lord's Supper to a Christian's God-granted good discretion.

May our Lord grant you wisdom and opportunity to gather together with like-minded Christians in the Divine Service of our Lord on a regular basis.

Yours in Christ
Pastor Ronald Hodel

 

 


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