Why Questions Answered

WHY CHURCH?

Christ established His church for God's mission.

The church is not meant to be an institution, but a movement or way of life defined by Jesus' ways and teaching that show us how to live as part of God's coming kingdom.  This life of faith is a counter-cultural, often a counter-intuitive way to live (love your enemies; turn the other cheek, the first shall be last). Because it is not easy to live this way as "lone ranger" individuals, Jesus established a community of believers who live and work together. They support and care for one another as they seek to live this life of faith.

WHY LUTHERAN?

God loves us; therefore, we love and serve God.

We are BECAUSE-THEREFORE believers; not IF-THEN believers.

Because God first loves us and through Christ frees us, therefore we freely choose to love and serve our neighbor as a response to God's love.

Gathered by God's grace for the sake of the world, we commit to regularly live among God's faithful people, hear God's word and share Christ's supper;
Sent by God's grace and called by Jesus for the sake of the world, we commit to proclaiming the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people following the example of our Lord Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the world.

WHY US?

God gathers us for worship and sends us into the world to serve others.

"Christ has no body but yours.
No hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes with which he looks with compassion on this world.
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good.
Yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world"

~Teresa of Avila (attributed)

We are missional disciples – diverse individuals who find our unity in Christ who is the head of the church. Jesus established his church as his body in the world. We exist not for ourselves, but for the sake of the wellbeing of God's world. God has a mission: to make known the Good News of Jesus Christ that God's love is for ALL people. God's mission has a church to do this.

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