What We Believe
As a member of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), Zion Lutheran Church holds to the teachings of the Holy Scriptures (the Bible) and confesses the faith revealed in it. The Book of Concord, and the Small Catechism contained in it, offer an excellent summary of the Bible's teaching. The following is a brief description of the Good News presented in the Scriptures:
There is only one true God. In the Scriptures, this one true God has revealed Himself to be one God in three persons–the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This mystery has been confessed throughout the history of Christianity, especially in the three ecumenical creeds.
This same God is the creator and preserver of all that exists. He created all in perfection, but since the Fall of Adam into sin, all people are born in bondage to sin, death, and the devil and are, from conception, spiritually dead and unable to save themselves or become right with God by their own will or effort. Thus, God promised a Savior.
Jesus Christ, true God (the second person of the Trinity) and true man (born of the Virgin Mary), is the fulfillment of that promise. He lived a perfect and righteous life for us, suffered and died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead on the third day declaring victory over sin, death, and the devil for us.
Because we can not come to God or trust in His promises from our own reason or strength, the Holy Spirit calls us through the Word of God to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ; the same Holy Spirit freely delivers to us the forgiveness, life, and salvation, which Christ won for us, through the preaching of that Word, the receiving of Baptism, the pronouncement of absolution, and the eating and drinking of Christ’s true body and blood in Lord’s Supper; and the same Holy Spirit, by that same Word, preserves all Christians in the faith and works in them acts of love for the neighbor until death comes or Christ returns in glory.
On the last day Christ will come again to raise all who have died and to judge both the living and the dead. He will give eternal life to all who believe in Him and trust in His promise of salvation.
For more information on specific topics, the following links express the teachings of our church body as derived from the Scriptures:
Note: You may click on the logos or buttons below to access the sites.
There is only one true God. In the Scriptures, this one true God has revealed Himself to be one God in three persons–the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This mystery has been confessed throughout the history of Christianity, especially in the three ecumenical creeds.
This same God is the creator and preserver of all that exists. He created all in perfection, but since the Fall of Adam into sin, all people are born in bondage to sin, death, and the devil and are, from conception, spiritually dead and unable to save themselves or become right with God by their own will or effort. Thus, God promised a Savior.
Jesus Christ, true God (the second person of the Trinity) and true man (born of the Virgin Mary), is the fulfillment of that promise. He lived a perfect and righteous life for us, suffered and died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead on the third day declaring victory over sin, death, and the devil for us.
Because we can not come to God or trust in His promises from our own reason or strength, the Holy Spirit calls us through the Word of God to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ; the same Holy Spirit freely delivers to us the forgiveness, life, and salvation, which Christ won for us, through the preaching of that Word, the receiving of Baptism, the pronouncement of absolution, and the eating and drinking of Christ’s true body and blood in Lord’s Supper; and the same Holy Spirit, by that same Word, preserves all Christians in the faith and works in them acts of love for the neighbor until death comes or Christ returns in glory.
On the last day Christ will come again to raise all who have died and to judge both the living and the dead. He will give eternal life to all who believe in Him and trust in His promise of salvation.
For more information on specific topics, the following links express the teachings of our church body as derived from the Scriptures:
Note: You may click on the logos or buttons below to access the sites.
BELIEF and PRACTICE
With the universal Christian Church, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God: the Father, creator of all that exists; Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan; and the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments. The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.
Being “Lutheran”
Our congregations accept and preach the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone.
With the universal Christian Church, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod teaches and responds to the love of the Triune God: the Father, creator of all that exists; Jesus Christ, the Son, who became human to suffer and die for the sins of all human beings and to rise to life again in the ultimate victory over death and Satan; and the Holy Spirit, who creates faith through God's Word and Sacraments. The three persons of the Trinity are coequal and coeternal, one God.
Being “Lutheran”
Our congregations accept and preach the Bible-based teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the reformation of the Christian Church in the 16th century. The teaching of Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three phrases: Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone.
The Book of Concord contains documents which Christians from the fourth to the 16th century A.D. explained what they believed and taught on the basis of the Holy Scriptures. It includes, first, the three creeds which originated in the ancient church, the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. It contains, secondly, the Reformation writings known as the Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, Luther's Small and Large Catechisms, and the Formula of Concord.
The Catechisms and the Smalcald Articles came from the pen of Martin Luther; the Augsburg Confession, its Apology, and the Treatise were written by Luther's co-worker, the scholarly Phillip Melanchthon; the Formula of Concord was given its final form chiefly by Jacob Andreae, Martin Chemnitz, and Nickolaus Selnecker.
The Catechisms and the Smalcald Articles came from the pen of Martin Luther; the Augsburg Confession, its Apology, and the Treatise were written by Luther's co-worker, the scholarly Phillip Melanchthon; the Formula of Concord was given its final form chiefly by Jacob Andreae, Martin Chemnitz, and Nickolaus Selnecker.
The Augsburg Confession
What is the Augsburg Confession? It is a strange thing, but many people who have been Lutherans for years have asked this question. There are other Lutherans who have never even heard of this Confession called Augsburg. Yet, it is without a doubt the most important and significant Lutheran document ever written. Acceptance of the Augsburg Confession determines whether a person or congregation is Lutheran or not.
Its Significance
The Augsburg Confession is a comparatively short document (some forty pages in printed form) which briefly states what the Lutheran Church believes. Many tracts, some good and some bad, have been written concerning "What Is the Lutheran Church?" Yet, if one really wants to know what the Lutheran Church stands for, one must go first to the Augsburg Confession.
The Augsburg Confession is the basic statement of faith for those Christians who call themselves Lutheran. There are other official statements of faith in the Lutheran Church, such as, Luther’s two Catechisms, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Formula of Concord, and the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope. The Augsburg Confession, however, is the measuring stick for all other Lutheran writings. What agrees with the Augsburg Confession is Lutheran; what disagrees is not.
Every Lutheran body and every Lutheran congregation agrees to subscribe to the Augsburg Confession and to teach according to it. By definition, a church which teaches according to the Augsburg Confession is Lutheran; a church which teaches contrary to it is not.
Its Origin
During the early years of the Reformation there were many attempts to preserve the unity of the Church and to resolve the differences that had arisen. One person in particular, Emperor Charles V, was most anxious to keep the Church in the Holy Roman Empire united. In the year 1530 Charles called a meeting of the important leaders of the Empire in the city of Augsburg, Germany. He wanted to see if these leaders could solve the problems that threatened to tear the Church apart. He asked all religious parties to submit documents defending their positions. The man whom the Lutherans chose was Philip Melanchthon, Luther’s right-hand man at the University of Wittenberg. The document which he wrote for this meeting has been known ever since as the Augsburg Confession. It was read before the Emperor on June 25, 1530.
Unfortunately, the Emperor’s plan did not work. The differences in the Church were not resolved. Yet, to this day, the Augsburg Confession has remained the chief statement of faith for all Lutherans.
Its Purpose: Church Unity
The Augsburg Confession presents to the world what Lutherans believe. They hoped that their Confession would prove to all concerned that Lutherans were not heretics and separatists, as some said, but rather that Lutherans believed what the Church had always taught. In one of its summaries, the Augsburg Confession states: "There is nothing here that departs from the Scriptures or the catholic church." It was hoped that the Augsburg Confession would help to heal the wound that had torn the Body of Christ at the time of the Reformation. It may be that by God’s grace – even after 400 years – the Augsburg Confession may still help to do this. For this Confession expresses the faith not only of Lutherans but of many other Christians throughout the world.
Luther’s Small Catechism
The catechism is an essential part of any Christian’s library. Brief, clear summaries of God’s Word allow individuals and families alike to use the Small Catechism as a powerful tool and prayer book. Though the catechism was written by Martin Luther in 1529, its question and answer format provides Christians with a timeless guide book that is easy to use and applicable to all the various callings we have in life.
The Small Catechism explores the Six Chief Parts of Christian Doctrine: the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, Confession, and the Sacrament of the Altar. It also includes daily prayers, a table of duties for Christians, and a guide for Christians to use as they prepare to receive Holy Communion.
This is sometimes referred to as the Enchiridion.
An explanation section has regularly accompanied editions of Luther’s Small Catechism since the early days of Lutheranism. It is designed to help individuals understand and apply the catechism to their lives. Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation is available for purchase from Concordia Publishing House in several different forms.
The catechism is an essential part of any Christian’s library. Brief, clear summaries of God’s Word allow individuals and families alike to use the Small Catechism as a powerful tool and prayer book. Though the catechism was written by Martin Luther in 1529, its question and answer format provides Christians with a timeless guide book that is easy to use and applicable to all the various callings we have in life.
The Small Catechism explores the Six Chief Parts of Christian Doctrine: the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, Confession, and the Sacrament of the Altar. It also includes daily prayers, a table of duties for Christians, and a guide for Christians to use as they prepare to receive Holy Communion.
This is sometimes referred to as the Enchiridion.
An explanation section has regularly accompanied editions of Luther’s Small Catechism since the early days of Lutheranism. It is designed to help individuals understand and apply the catechism to their lives. Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation is available for purchase from Concordia Publishing House in several different forms.
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Martin Luther, (born Nov. 10, 1483, Eisleben, Saxony [Germany]—died Feb. 18, 1546, Eisleben), German theologian and religious reformer who was the catalyst of the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. Through his words and actions, Luther precipitated a movement that reformulated certain basic tenets of Christian belief and resulted in the division of Western Christendom between Roman Catholicism and the new Protestant traditions. He is one of the most influential figures in the history of Christianity.
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The Lord's Supper and Closed Communion
In the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, we practice Closed Communion. Closed Communion is the Scriptural and historic Christian practice of communing only those who confess the corporeal presence of Christ in the sacrament of the altar, and who are joined to an altar which is in confessional Church fellowship with our own.
This is not a new or novel innovation of the Missouri Synod. From the first century through the Ninth century, this was the universal practice of all of Christendom. We Missouri Synod Lutherans do not wish to bar fellow saints from the blessings of the Lord's Supper or be separatistic, or set ourselves up as judges of men's hearts. But since we cannot search men's hearts, we must follow the practice of our Saviour who did not invite all of His followers in Jerusalem to His Supper, but only the twelve men He had instructed in doctrine. Therefore, except in cases of emergency and Pastoral care, we invite only those in synods in fellowship with us to join us at the Lord's Supper.
The practice of Closed Communion is prompted by love and is born of the heartfelt conviction, on the basis of Scripture alone, that we must follow Christ’s command. This means refusing the Lord’s Supper to those whose belief is not known to us. It is not showing love to allow a person to do something harmful, even though he may think it is for his own good. It also means if they are members of a Christian body which departs from the full truth of the Scripture in some of its doctrines, that we must not minimize the evil of this false teaching by opening our fellowship to any and all Christians who err in the faith.
By following this practice whereby only those individuals who are members of the Synod or of a church body with which the Synod is in altar and pulpit fellowship are ordinarily communed, pastors and congregations preserve the integrity of their witness to the Gospel of Christ as it is revealed in the Scriptures and confessed in the Lutheran confessional writings. Paul wrote in Romans 16: “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned and avoid them.” Therefore pastors and communicants each have responsibility in seeing to it that individuals commune with benefit and with integrity within the confession of the church.
In the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, we practice Closed Communion. Closed Communion is the Scriptural and historic Christian practice of communing only those who confess the corporeal presence of Christ in the sacrament of the altar, and who are joined to an altar which is in confessional Church fellowship with our own.
This is not a new or novel innovation of the Missouri Synod. From the first century through the Ninth century, this was the universal practice of all of Christendom. We Missouri Synod Lutherans do not wish to bar fellow saints from the blessings of the Lord's Supper or be separatistic, or set ourselves up as judges of men's hearts. But since we cannot search men's hearts, we must follow the practice of our Saviour who did not invite all of His followers in Jerusalem to His Supper, but only the twelve men He had instructed in doctrine. Therefore, except in cases of emergency and Pastoral care, we invite only those in synods in fellowship with us to join us at the Lord's Supper.
The practice of Closed Communion is prompted by love and is born of the heartfelt conviction, on the basis of Scripture alone, that we must follow Christ’s command. This means refusing the Lord’s Supper to those whose belief is not known to us. It is not showing love to allow a person to do something harmful, even though he may think it is for his own good. It also means if they are members of a Christian body which departs from the full truth of the Scripture in some of its doctrines, that we must not minimize the evil of this false teaching by opening our fellowship to any and all Christians who err in the faith.
By following this practice whereby only those individuals who are members of the Synod or of a church body with which the Synod is in altar and pulpit fellowship are ordinarily communed, pastors and congregations preserve the integrity of their witness to the Gospel of Christ as it is revealed in the Scriptures and confessed in the Lutheran confessional writings. Paul wrote in Romans 16: “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned and avoid them.” Therefore pastors and communicants each have responsibility in seeing to it that individuals commune with benefit and with integrity within the confession of the church.
Other Resources...
ALIS (Altamont Lutheran Interparish School) is owned and supported by the four LCMS congregations in the Altamont area that make up the Association, namely Bethlehem, Immanuel, St. Paul (Blue Point), and Zion. The school is operated through a Board of Directors elected by the Association’s congregations.
ALIS provides a top quality education with a special emphasis on Christian education. All teachers are state certified and on the commissioned roster of the LCMS. Parents are encouraged and assisted in "training up" their children in the Christian life through frequent teacher contact and parent conferences. Many graduates are recognized for their outstanding achievements during high school, both in academics and extracurricular activities.
Spiritual training includes not only religion classes in all grades, but also emphasis in applying the Christian perspective in all subject areas and extracurricular activities. Devotions and prayer times are a normal part of the daily routine. Chapel services are held weekly. Lutheran Confirmation instruction is given in grades 7 & 8.
ALIS provides a top quality education with a special emphasis on Christian education. All teachers are state certified and on the commissioned roster of the LCMS. Parents are encouraged and assisted in "training up" their children in the Christian life through frequent teacher contact and parent conferences. Many graduates are recognized for their outstanding achievements during high school, both in academics and extracurricular activities.
Spiritual training includes not only religion classes in all grades, but also emphasis in applying the Christian perspective in all subject areas and extracurricular activities. Devotions and prayer times are a normal part of the daily routine. Chapel services are held weekly. Lutheran Confirmation instruction is given in grades 7 & 8.
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