Luthern Church

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It is taught among us that all government in the world and all established rule and laws were instituted and ordained by God for the sake of good order, and that Christians may without sin occupy civil offices or serve as princes and judges, render decisions and pass sentence according to imperial and other existing laws, punish evildoers with the sword, engage in just wars, serve as soldiers, buy and sell, take required oaths, possess property, be married, etc.
Condemned here are the Anabaptists who teach that none of the things indicated above is Christian.
Also condemned are those who teach that Christian perfection requires the forsaking of house and home, wife and child, and the renunciation of such activities as are mentioned above. Actually, true perfection consists alone of proper fear of God and real faith in God, for the Gospel does not teach an outward and temporal but an inward and eternal mode of existence and righteousness of the heart. The Gospel does not overthrow civil authority, the state, and marriage but requires that all these be kept as true orders of God and that everyone, each according to his own calling, manifest Christian love and genuine good works in his station of life. Accordingly Christians are obliged to be subject to civil authority and obey its commands and laws in all that can be done without sin. But when commands of the civil authority cannot be obeyed without sin, we must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29).
(Augsburg Confession Article XVI)

We shall now turn to the Gospel, which offers counsel and help against sin in more than one way, for God is surpassingly rich in his grace: First, through the spoken word, by which forgiveness of sin is preached to the whole world; second, through Baptism; third through the holy Sacrament of the Altar; forth, through the power of the keys [confession and absolution]; and finally, through the mutual conversation and consolation of the brethren (Smalcald Articles, IV).

The first four of these means of grace we rightly associate with the worship service and the pastor’s proclamation of the Gospel to us. The fifth, has more to do with our private and informal conversation. As we gather around the dinner table, as we gather with family and friends to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, as we visit the sick or grieving, as we send notes of encouragement to those who are down, we have the opportunity to share Christ and words of comfort and encouragement with one another.
In this way, a good friend is a precious treasure. Everything is less burdensome when you share that burden with someone else. Being alone has its place, but too much aloneness can lead us into discouragement and spiritual dangers.
The Bible says, “Woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:10).
For the glory of God and the strengthening of your spirit and that of your family and friends, fellowship often. Come early for Sunday school and sit down with someone and say, “How are you?” Come to some of the extra activities offered at church so that you can be a blessing to your friends in Christ. Stop by the neighbor’s house. Visit the one shut in. Be what you are, a means whereby God proclaims His sweet Gospel message.

Our county’s recent capital murder trial and the recommendation of the death penalty highlighted people’s strong and diverse opinions regarding the death penalty. Many people seem to be surprised that the Bible speaks clearly to this issue. Here are a few thoughts that may be helpful to you personally and to those with whom you discuss such matters.

1. God establishes governments. Presidents, legislators, judges, police officers, soldiers, and other public servants are gifts from God. God works through the civil realm to curb sin and evil and to maintain peace and security.
Romans 13 states: Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.

2. God gives authority to the state to judge and to punish those who do wrong. He even gives the civil realm the authority to put the wrongdoer to death. Rulers may not abuse this authority (for example, Hitler). They are called by God to punish justly, to use their authority properly. The Bible talks about the death penalty in many places.
Romans 13: If you do wrong, be afraid, for he (the ruler) does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
Genesis 9: Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God has God made man.
John 19: Pilate says, “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.”

3. The Bible does not insist that civil leaders must impose death for certain crimes, but does give them authority to do so. Capital punishment, if carried out in a just manner, is not a violation of the commandment, “You shall not murder.” A just execution is not “murder.”

4. Some people see a conflict between the Christian duty to speak of repentance and forgiveness and punishing someone who breaks the law. But that confuses the matter. The civil realm may exercise mercy. But that is not its job. The civil realm’s job is to carry out justice. The church’s job is to proclaim repentance and forgiveness.
Christians sometimes function in both realms. A jury may be made up of Christians. As Christians they want all people to repent and be saved. But as a jury, they are functioning in the civil realm and are asked to be judges. As agents of the state, they are obligated to “commend those who do right and punish those who do wrong” (Romans 13) according to the laws established by our rulers.

5. Those who would like to have our state abolish the death penalty may in good conscience pursue that goal with the legislature. But they misrepresent the Bible if they insist that capital punishment is morally wrong or is contrary to the commandments.

6. God uses the law proclaimed by pastors and the law enforced by the state to help people see their sin. Sometimes very severe punishments may prove to be a blessing to the guilty as their sentence may lead them to repent and to seek God’s forgiveness. More than likely, many people who have been executed for crimes will be in heaven. We think of the thief on the cross to whom Jesus offered this comforting promise: “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

THERE CAME TO HIM SOME SADDUCEES, THOSE WHO DENY THAT THERE IS A RESURRECTION, AND THEY ASK HIM A QUESTION, SAYING " TEACHER, MOSES WROTE FOR US THAT IF A MAN'S BROTHER DIES, HAVING A WIFE BUT NO CHILDREN, THE MAN MUST TAKE THE WIDOW AND RAISE UP OFFSPRING FOR HIS BROTHER. NOW THERE WERE....
READ ON TO LEARN MORE IN LUKE 20:27.