Contemporary Worship

Contemporary Worship practices corrode the theology of our Lutheran churches by focusing worship on the individual and his emotions rather than on objective work of God in the Means of Grace. Contemporary Worship relies upon catchy tunes and drum beats to entice and stir hearts, rather than upon the Holy Spirit working through the Word and the Sacraments as the Bible teaches. Most Contemporary Worship songs present a watered-down theology that emphasizes our praise and personal commitment to God, instead of teaching us to repent and believe in the saving work of Jesus Christ.

Priesthood of All Believers

According to the New Testament, all believers are considered spiritual priests who offer to God the sacrifices of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving (1 Pet. 2:5-10, Rom. 12:1). However, this “priesthood” must be distinguished from the Pastoral Office. All Christians are “priests,” but not all Christians are divinely-called Ministers of the Word; nor do all Christians possess “rights” to preach and teach and administer the Sacraments in the Church on account of their “priesthood.” God only gives this responsibility to those whom He has called into the Pastoral Office through His Church (1 Cor. 12:27-30, Eph. 4:11-12, Rom. 10:15).

Closed Communion

Closed Communion is necessary to prevent the unprepared from receiving the Sacrament to their harm. (1 Cor. 11:27-31). While all Christians have a responsibility to examine themselves before communing, Closed Communion is ultimately preserved by the Pastor, who admits or refuses Christians at the altar rail according to their public confession of faith through their church membership (1 Cor. 4:1-2). For more information on our practice of Closed Communion, see What to Expect.

Third Use of the Law

There is one Law of God. It has three uses: (1) to curb wickedness through threats and punishments (“Curb”), (2) to show men their sins and lead them to repentance (“Mirror”), and (3) to direct Christians in living godly lives (“Guide”). Thus the Law is not just for unbelievers, but for Christians too. The Law is used to restrain the desires of Christians’ sinful flesh, to show them their sin, and to guide them in doing the will of God. (Gal. 3:22, Rom. 7:22-23, Psalm 119:1, 1 Cor. 9:27, Rom. 6:12)

Higher Criticism

Applying higher criticism to the texts of Holy Scripture profanes God’s Name and disturbs Christian consciences (2 Pet. 1:20-21, Matt. 24:35, Deut. 4:2). At Apologia, we promote English Bibles which are translated from the Church’s received texts (textus receptus), especially those within the King James tradition (KJV, NKJV, etc.).

“Objective Justification”

We are justified by faith alone, that is, when we believe that our sins are forgiven for the sake of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and satisfied the payment for the sins of the world (Rom. 3:20-24, Gal. 3:22-24, Rom. 4:3-5 & 4:23-5:2). We do not use the terms “Objective Justification” and “Subjective Justification” because they are a novelty in the Christian Church and they sow confusion into the Bible’s teaching. While all people are redeemed by Christ and have their sins atoned for (Jn. 1:29), they are not considered justified or declared personally forgiven before God except through faith in Him (Lk. 18:14, Jn. 3:36, Jn. 8:24). Thus the object of our faith is not some declaration that the world is already righteous, but the objective reality that Jesus atoned for our sins and distributes God’s forgiveness and righteousness freely to us through the Means of Grace (2 Cor. 5:19-21). This faith is not a human work but a gift of God, created by the Holy Spirit through these Means (Eph. 2:8, Rom. 10:17).

Prayer

Christians may pray with other Christians of different denominations in good conscience, assuming that those praying believe in the Triune God of the Bible as confessed in the three Ecumenical Creeds.

Fellowship

Compromises in doctrine, for the sake of church fellowship, are dangerous to one’s faith and contrary to the Word of God. This includes membership in church bodies which allow truth and falsehood to live side-by-side without exercising doctrinal discipline (Matt. 7:15, Tit. 3:10, Rom. 16:17).