12/05/2025
An excellent letter from President Harrison on the importance and value of tradition. How did we get where we are ? Why do we believe what we believe? As we enter this festive season, I encourage you to reflect on these questions while celebrating your Christmas traditions.
The Lutheran Reformation was a conservative reformation. Longstanding church customs and traditions that served good ends were purified from abuses and retained. Thus the LCMS strongly urges all its congregations to retain the order of the Divine Service, as well as confession and absolution, psalms, lessons, clear Gospel preaching, the creeds, the Lord’s Prayer, the order of the Lord’s Supper and especially the Lord’s own words, reverent reception, Aaronic blessing. We are not the church of what’s happening now. We are the catholic church of all ages gone right. I often note that, no matter where I travel in the world, I find all these elements in a Lutheran service. No matter the language, I’m never lost in a Lutheran service. That’s certainly the way it should be among us.
Read President Harrison's letter in this month's issue of The Lutheran Witness — link in comments.
