I have no concerns for the Church. Scripture tells us that the Church is the body of Christ. The world tried to kill the body of Christ once and failed, and Scripture is clear - Christ (the Church) is forever.

Congregations, however, come and go.

My concerns for congregations are based on some observations that have been piling up - and it's time to list them for the members and friends of Bethany. I believe we have good reason to be concerned for the future of congregations because there are three heresies (false teachings) being touted as truths in our society and culture - and many are starting to believe these lies as being the truth. Our Lord tells us that the truth sets us free. Distortions of the truth, however, enslave us.
FALSE TEACHING # 1 - You can be a Christian without being a part of the Church. Many years ago Pr. Mark Johns said this notion was "the great American heresy." He was right. Since the Church is THE body of Christ in the world, and the Church is where the Gospel is preached and the Sacraments are rightly administered, if you aren't connected with the Church you aren't a Christian.
TRUTHFUL TEACHING # 1 - When you are a part of a community of faith where the Gospel is preached and the Sacraments are rightly administered, you are a part of the Body of Christ, the Church. And as Christ lives forever, so shall you.

FALSE TEACHING # 2 - You can believe what you want and there are no adverse consequences. The Constitution of the United States holds this to be a truth - but the Holy Bible does not. The Old Testament doesn't teach this, nor does the New. It's not a teaching of any major religion (Christianity, Judaism, or Islam). This false teaching is a teaching given to the world by humans who wanted their government to stay out of the business of faith. It's a nice teaching as far as it goes, but God would have us believe otherwise. God would have us believe that for those who don't believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world, there are deadly and eternal implications.
TRUTHFUL TEACHING # 2 - Because God would be in a relationship of love with us, we have been given freedom to believe as we will. But also because God loves us, God tells us What the truth is, and Who the Truth is. When we believe otherwise, we do so at our peril. But thanks be to God for bringing the Truth to us, hoping that we'll listen, and believe, and obey.

FALSE TEACHING # 3 - Your salvation and your faith depend on choices you make.
TRUTHFUL TEACHING # 3 - The truth is that our salvation and faith depend on choices God makes. God brought us faith and salvation when God chose to baptize us. That's the truth. Any other teaching is false teaching. Living in the promises God made to us in our baptism, we find joy even in our times of suffering; and serenity knowing that we are loved so very much.
Indeed, there are temptations - profound temptations - to believe the lies of our society and culture; the false teachings of sects and cults. We are not saints, and to one degree or another any one of us may have subscribed to these or other false teachings along life's way. And insofar as the members of our congregations subscribe to these heresies, all our congregations are at peril.

The point is, that in the Church we are willing to grow in our relationship with the Truth of God. In the Church (and in this congregation) we celebrate spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.

I hope this helps you, as you have helped me on the journey of life.

- Pr. Jim Klosterboer