Lutheranism in the local paper

Well, my local paper, at least. I was interviewed by a reporter for the Washington Examiner for their “Credo” section. Each Sunday, a different local is interviewed and asked about their faith and life. If you’re interested, here’s my interview.

And here are the two first questions:

Do you consider yourself to be of a specific faith?

Yes, I’m a confessional Lutheran and a member of a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregation. We’re known for emphasizing the sacraments, having Christendom’s best hymns and congregations that love to sing them, clear preaching of God’s Word, and not being as influenced by the changing tides of pop culture. I most appreciate that we are upfront about the fact that everyone is a sinner in need of forgiveness. While the culture may downplay sin, we know it’s real and that God’s grace and forgiveness is the only remedy. Through the sacraments we receive this forgiveness and a strengthening of our faith.

Did anyone or any event especially influence your faith?

The most important event in my life was when my parents brought me to the baptismal font. I was three weeks old. Lutherans believe that baptism works forgiveness of sins and gives eternal salvation to those who believe God’s word. We believe that our baptism should be remembered every day and that we should daily repent of our sins, dying to our old life, and daily rise to walk in new righteousness. Our daily prayers and liturgy are built around this central event in each of our lives.

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