OUR REDEEMER LUTHERAN QUESTIONS Brad Alles ∙ Milwaukee Lutheran HS ∙ (414) 461-6000 ∙ [email protected] ∙ bradalles.com 1. How do we know the Bible is accurate? It has been translated numerous times by sinful humans. • Reliability of Old Testament (Bibliographical test) 1. Septuagint (300 BC)--Greek OT 2. Dead Sea Scrolls (100 BC--1000 years older than next Hebrew text) - Isaiah 95% same as modern Hebrew OT; 5% is pen slips & spelling 3. Talmudists (100-500 AD)--copyists with strict rules 4. Massoretes (500-900 AD)--copyists with strict rules • Reliability of New Testament (Bibliographical test) 1. Compared to ancient literature (others accepted as trustworthy) - More copies - Closer to original - Fewer doubts Text Copies Time span from original Lines In doubt NT 24, 970* 250-300 20,000 40 Iliad 643 500 15,600 764 2. Various versions (rarity) 3. Early church fathers (200-300 AD) quoted all NT except 11 verses • Inerrancy--without error or contradiction (Internal evidence test) 1. Character of God--sinless 2. Scriptural evidence (Ps 119:160; Jn 10:35; 17:17)--true and perfect 3. Variations in manuscripts - Spelling or word changes - No doctrine changes or contradictions - 98.33% pure • Historical & archaeological confirmation (External evidence test) 2. How did they pick & eliminate books to be part of the Bible? How do we know it was done in the correct way? • Canon defined 1. Accepted list of books with authority • OT (Council of Jamnia in 90 AD only discussed canonicity; didn’t select) 1. Books added through time (Da 9:2) - Prophet seen as God's messenger, written down, words collected • Prophetic--man of God • Authoritative--speaking God's message • Dynamic--with life-changing power of God • Accepted-- which was used and read by people • Authentic--if doubted, thrown out 2. Jesus’ OT - Used different order of books (Lk 11:51) - Used 3 divisions of books--we use 5 (Lk 24:44) - Cannot be broken (Jn 10:35) - Truth (Jn 17:17) • NT (same as OT) 1. Apostolicity (authority of writer) 2. Division over books from 100-350 AD - Homologoumena (“agreed upon")--Gospels, Ac, 13 letters of Paul, 1 Pe, 1 Jn - Antilegomena (“spoken against")--He, Ja, 2 Pe, 2 & 3 Jn, Ju, Re 3. Is it possible that Adam's life span of 930 years (Ge 5:5) started after he had sinned and that Adam and Eve lived a long, long time before they sinned? Long enough to explain geological records? • Time starts at creation (Ge 1:5) • Adam & Eve are told to be fruitful & multiply (Ge 1:28) 1. Speculation—fall into sin is soon after creation • Geological column exists only in books 1. Started in 1800’s—millions of years old

4. How do we make sense of the differences on the age of the earth, and dinosaurs? • Ranges of age 1. 68 methods yield ages ranging from less than 10,000 years to 500 million years 2. None yield ages from 500 million to 4 billion years (the current accepted age) • Observation 1. Why believe radiometric dating when it fails to give accurate age from known date? 2. Fails observational/operational science, but assumption of millions of years goes on • Conjecture 1. Initial amount of element is known 2. Nothing was added or removed 3. Decay rate is constant • Killing faith 1. The age of the earth is the most misunderstood issue for people who have left church 2. Why take this unscientific & outdated book seriously on any theological or moral issue? • Name 1. Called “terrible lizards” by Sir Richard Owen in 1841 2. Called “dragons” previously • Origin--God’s creation on 6th day (Ge 1:24) • Size--lizards grow as long as they live 1. Atmosphere between water above earth (ice chunks?) & water of earth (Ge 1:6-8) 2. Greenhouse effect--warmer climate all over 3. Blocks x-rays & UV rays--longer life 4. Increased air pressure & oxygen--bigger & healthier life • Extinction? 1. Flood destroys most 2. Different climate kills some from Ark 3. Different climate changes survivors’ size from Ark • Biblical references 1. Tannin--great land or sea monster (Ps 74:13; 91:13; 148:7; Is 27:1; 51:9; Je 51:34) 2. Behemoth--large beast (Jb 40:15-24) 3. Leviathan--great water animal (Jb 41:1-34) • Historical references 1. Gilgamesh kills dragon--2000 B.C. 2. Alexander the Great finds huge reptiles in India--330 B.C. 3. Chinese dragon stories 4. St. George kills dragon--1300’s 5. Italian peasant kills dragon--1572 6. Carvings on stone of humans & dinosaurs 7. Fossilized footprints & tracks together 8. New Guinean, African sightings today... 5. Did Enoch not die? (Ge 5:24) • Correct—he was “translated” into heaven (similar to 1 Co 15:51-52; 1 Th 4:17) 6. I have a hard time conceptualizing the room it would have taken to house 2 of each kind of all animals that were in the ark. Is it possible God created some animals after the flood and the Bible doesn't tell us this? • Ark’s size (Ge 6:15-16) 1. 450 ft. long x 75 ft. wide x 45 ft. high 2. Over 1.5 million cubic feet of space (522 boxcars) 3. Food & water @25% of volume • Animals saved for repopulating the Earth (Ge 6:20) 1. Not all animals at time of Flood 2. @17,600 kinds needed to make what we have today 2. @35,200 animals (take young for size & care & breeding) 7. When Christopher Columbus found the New World there were already people here. How does the Bible explain how they got here? • Animals & people over all continents? 1. Land bridges; earth divided later (Ge 10:25)

8. How can the witch of Endor summon up Samuel from death in 1 Samuel 28? • Saul disobeys God; a new king will take over (1 Sa 15) • After Samuel’s death, Saul seeks a witch to bring Samuel back for advice 1. A demon pretending to be Samuel (He 9:27) 2. Ghost of Samuel allowed back even though it violates God’s will (Dt 18:9-13) 3. Hoax—only the woman can see “Samuel” 9. Why didn't Jesus write his own book of the Bible? • Why Jesus came to the world 1. To save humanity (Lk 19:10) 2. To testify to the truth (Jn 18:37) • Apostles were charged with the writing (Mt 28:19-20; Jn 14:26) 10. Is there a connection with Moses and Elijah having bodies at the transfiguration in Matthew 17 and their unusual deaths (Deuteronomy 34:6; 2 Kings 2:11)? Why are the archangel Michael and the devil disputing over the body of Moses in Jude 9? • Moses & Elijah are talking with Jesus about His death (Lk 9:30-31) 1. They seem to represent the Law & Prophets—Jesus has kept the Law & fulfilled all prophecies and now is the time for redemption - Moses prophesied about the Prophet (Dt 18:18); received the Law on Mt Sinai (Ex 19-31) - Elijah was a great prophet, bringing repentance to Israel (1 Ki 18:16-46); his prophesied return was fulfilled in John the Baptist (Ml 4:5-6; Mt 11:11-14) • Dispute over Moses’ body is unclear; from Apocryphal book, The Assumption of Moses 1. Did God bury Moses’ body so Israel would not worship him as the Deliverer? (Jude 9) 2. Jude’s point is false teachers don’t respect any authority, even angels (his quote is an illustration) 11. Did Jesus really descend into hell? Wouldn't His holiness obliterate hell? • 1 Peter 3:18-19—Jesus preached to spirits in prison (unbelievers of Noah’s day) 1. Lutherans have understood the Bible to teach that Christ went to hell to declare His triumph as God’s Messiah over death and the power of the devil. The Lutheran confessional writing, the Formula of Concord, states in summary: “We simply believe that the entire person [Jesus Christ], God and man, descended into hell after the burial, conquered the devil, destroyed hell’s power, and took from the devil all his might” (Solid Declaration, Art. IX). 2. This is the opposite of Zc 3:1-4. Satan can no longer accuse in heaven (Re 12:10) since he was driven out at the crucifixion (Jn 12:31-32) 3. There is the eternal state of hell after Judgment Day where the devil, fallen angels, and unbelievers will be sent (Re 20:10, 13-15), totally shut out from God’s presence (2 Th 1:9-10) 12. After Jesus death he preached to angels in hell who sinned before the flood and led a train of prisoners out. Are these the angels who mated with women and produced the giants like Goliath? (1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:4) • Who were the spirits in prison? (1 Pe 3:19-20) 1. People who lived just before the Flood? 2. Fallen angels who mated with women? • Jesus preached to unbelievers of Noah’s day, showing His victory 1. Angels don’t marry (Mt 22:30) 2. Nephilim were well-known people when followers of God married unbelievers (Ge 6:4) - Giant people (Nu 13:33; Js 11:21-22; 1 Sa 17:4) 13. Who were the captives that Jesus set free from hell when He went there before his ascension? (Ephesians 4:7-10; 1 Peter 3: 19-20) • Captives were Christ’s enemies, Satan & fallen angels, like a Roman general with enemy in tow (Co 2:15) • 1 Peter 3:19-20 simply says He preached to spirits in prison 14. What did Jesus do for three days in “hell” before he went to heaven? • The Apostles Creed doesn’t say He was in hell for 3 days

15. I have a friend who reads the O.T. and sees a God that killed (flood, Egyptians, etc.) and required many things of His people. How can I best direct and share Scripture with him that might show/direct him to our loving God? • Both OT & NT show God’s justice and mercy (law & gospel) 1. Noah is spared in the Flood; Lot is spared at Sodom (Ge 6-9; 18-19; 2 Pe 2:4-9) • The cross of Christ shows God’s justice and mercy (law & gospel) 16. As a Lutheran, how do I defend infant Baptism from the Bible when there are no examples in the Word? • Baptism 1. 3 parts to man (1 Th 5:23) - Body (soma)—physical aspect - Soul (psuche)—mind, will, emotions - Spirit (pneuma)—relationship with God (Christians only) 2. Man is dead spiritually (Ep 2:1, 4-5) 3. Holy Spirit makes us alive spiritually—born again (Jn 3:3-8) 4. Great Commission has one command—make disciples (Mt 28:18-20) - By going - By baptizing - By teaching 5. No age restriction for receiving Spirit & forgiveness (Ac 2:38-39) • Examples—“households” (Ac 16:15; 33; 18:8) 1. Like circumcision—full participation in God’s covenant at 8 days (Ge 17:9-12) • Is this God doing something for us or us doing something for God? 17. If people can have faith without being Baptized (i.e. the thief on the cross), why do we place such a high priority on Baptism when it doesn't seem necessary? • Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20) 1. Make disciples - By going - By baptizing - By teaching • We’re spiritually dead (Ep 2:4-5) • Only the Spirit can bring spiritual life (Jn 3:5-6) • The Disciples lived the Great Commission—and so do we! (Ac 2:38-39) 18. For how long does "baptism now saves you" - until the point you can consciously (free will) decide for Christ? • It saves immediately and as long as the Holy Spirit is indwelling (Ac 2:38-39) 19. Why do Lutherans believe in "real presence" in Communion? • 4 things are mentioned in 1 Co 10:16; 1 Co 11:23-32 1. Supernaturally receiving body and blood “in, with, and under” the bread & wine 20. What happens to saved Christians between time of death and Jesus' return and our resurrection? Do our souls go to heaven? Will we recognize other deceased family members & friends? • Death--separation of soul from body (Ec 12:7) 1. Body in grave (Ge 3:19) 2. Soul - Of believers with God (Mt 22:32; Lk 23:43; Ac 7:59; 2 Co 5:8; Ph 1:23; Re 6:9-11) - Of unbelievers without God (1 Pe 3:18-20; Re 20:13-15 in Hades?) 3. No reincarnation (He 9:27) • Resurrection--rejoining of soul with body on last day (Jn 6:40) 1. Christ’s return (Mt 24:30-31) - With souls of dead believers (1 Th 4:14) 2. Dead believers’ bodies change/rise first (1 Th 4:16) 3. Living believers’ bodies changed instantaneously (1 Co 15:51-52; 1 Th 4:17) 4. Dead unbelievers’ bodies rise also (Jn 5:28-29; Ac 24:14-15) • Recognizing our lost loved ones? Yes--Mt 17:4

21. Work is not a bad thing. In Eden, Adam was to tend the garden. But if everything is perfect, what needs tending and what will we be doing in heaven? Working on something? • Perfection is a sinless condition; sin is breaking God’s law (1 Jn 3:4) • Harvesting fruit, pruning branches isn’t sin or show of imperfection • On earth, we do all things to God’s glory (1 Co 10:31; Co 3:17) • Will the new heaven and earth (2 Pe 3:13) offer more opportunities to do the same? 22. Are the near death experiences written in books possible examples of what heaven is like? • Experiences shouldn’t contradict Scripture (1 Th 5:21-22) • Consider this as well 1. Paul wasn’t permitted to tell his experience (2 Co 12:2-4) 2. Jesus said the Bible is sufficient (Lk 16:27-31) 23. Suicide: My concern is for the souls of the people who jumped out of the twin towers on September 11th instead of being burned alive. Are they eternally condemned? • Biblical view--silent on heaven or hell; clear on salvation by faith 1. Suicides - Saul (1 Sa 31:1-5) - Judas (Mt 27:1-10; Ac 1:18-19) 2. Depression - Moses (Nu 11:10-15) - Elijah (1 Ki 19:1-8) 3. A desire to be with God, but work to do yet - Paul (Ph 1:21-26) 4. Hope in the Lord (Is 40:29-31) 24. Is it correct that sin does not prevent us from salvation, only lack of faith? Example - a sin just prior to death does not prevent salvation. • Correct—faith saves; lack of faith damns (Jn 3:16-18) 1. No one list all of their sins since we are unaware of some, but we rely on God’s mercy (Ps 19:12-14) 25. Does the Bible still expect tithing in the New Testament, or was that before Jesus? • Each one decides; God loves a cheerful giver (2 Co 9:6-8) 1. 10% is a good start 2. Your bank statement reveals your heart & priority 26. What does the Bible say about the "once saved, always saved" doctrine some Christians teach? • Faith can be lost 1. Book of Hebrews; 1 Ti 1:18-19; 4:1; 5:15; 6:10; 6:21; 2 Pe 1:10-11; 2:17 2. Parable of the Sower—Mt 13:18-23 27. If you can lose your faith or give up the faith, and return to Christ, wouldn't you need to be rebaptized? • No—“Even though some one should fall from Baptism and sin…we need not again be sprinkled with water.” (Large Catechism, Infant Baptism) 28. Why does the LCMS rely on the NIV? It seems we should rely on KJV version as our inspired word of God. • There are no originals of the Bible books, written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek 1. English translations from the oldest manuscripts are used 2. Making the text readable in English is the key • NIV was used widely; now ESV

29. Why are there different synods in the Lutheran Church? (Please give history and reason) • In 1961, LCMS and Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod split. From the LCMS perspective, the three main theological differences between the LCMS and the WELS are the following: 1. The biblical understanding of fellowship. The WELS holds to what is called the "unit concept" of fellowship, which places virtually all joint expressions of the Christian faith on the same level. In an official statement made in 1960 the WELS states, "Church fellowship should therefore be treated as a unit concept, covering every joint expression, manifestation, and demonstration of a common faith" (Doctrinal Statements of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, 1970, pp. 51-52). The LCMS, however, has historically not understood or practiced church fellowship in this way. Our Synod, for example, has made a distinction between altar and pulpit fellowship (for which full doctrinal agreement is required) and other manifestations of Christian fellowship, such as prayer fellowship (which do not necessarily require full doctrinal agreement). Disagreements on this issue led the Wisconsin Synod to break fellowship with the LCMS in 1961. 2. The doctrine of the ministry. With respect to the doctrine of the ministry, since the days of C.F.W. Walther our Synod has held that the office of the public ministry (the pastoral office) according to Scripture is the one divinely established office in the church, while the church possesses the freedom to create other offices, by human institution, from time to time to assist in the carrying out of the functions of the pastoral ministry. The WELS' Theses on Church and Ministry, however, expressly deny that the pastoral ministry is specifically instituted by the Lord in contrast to other forms of public ministry (see Doctrinal Statements, pp. 9-11; cf. the Commission on Theology and Church Relations' 1981 report on The Ministry: Office, Procedures, and Nomenclature. 3. The role of women in the church. While both the LCMS and the WELS strongly oppose the ordination of women to the pastoral office on Scriptural grounds, the LCMS has concluded that the Scriptures do not forbid woman suffrage in the church. The WELS opposes woman suffrage in the church as contrary to Scripture. • In 1975, the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (AELC) withdrew from the LCMS. In 1988, the AELC joined with the American Lutheran Church (ALC) and the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) to form the ELCA, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In terms of the official position of our two church bodies as reflected in formally adopted statements of belief and practice, the three main areas of difference between the LCMS and the ELCA are the following: 1. The doctrine and authority of Scripture. The LCMS believes that the Bible is without error in all that it says. The ELCA avoids making such statements, holding that Scripture is not necessarily always accurate on such matters as history and science. Differences between the LCMS and the ELCA on the authority of Scripture also help to explain why the ELCA ordains women to the pastoral office, while the LCMS does not (based on 1 Cor. 14:33-36 and 1 Tim. 2:11-14). Similarly, on the basis of what Scripture clearly teaches (Rom. 1:18-28; 1 Cor. 6:9), the LCMS position on homosexual behavior is unequivocal: homosexual behavior is contrary to God's will, while the ELCA has declared that it lacks a consensus regarding what Scripture teaches about homosexual activity. Consequently, those who disagree with one another in the ELCA have been called to respect the ‘bound conscience’ of the others. The ELCA has also determined to allow the ordination of practicing homosexuals as long as they are in a life-long, committed relationship. 2. The commitment to Lutheran confessional writings. The ELCA, while affirming its commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as witnessed to in the Lutheran Confessions, also tends to emphasize the historical character of these writings and to maintain the possibility of dissent to confessional positions that do not deal directly with the Gospel itself understood in a narrow sense. All LCMS pastors are required to affirm that the Lutheran Confessions are a correct explanation of the teachings of Scripture. 3. The level of agreement necessary to join together in one church body. While the LCMS believes the Bible requires agreement in all that the Bible teaches, the ELCA holds that disagreement in some matters of doctrine, such as the mode of Christ's presence in Holy Communion, do not prohibit church fellowship.

30. If God is all loving why does He allow tragic things to happen to good people, especially innocent children? • Theodicy—issue of God’s justice & evil 1. “If God exists, why is there evil?” - If God doesn’t exist, why is there good? 2. “Why do bad things happen to good people?” - Who is good? (Or, define “good”) • Suffering occurs, but Jesus overcame (Jn 16:33) • Suffering occurs in nature (disease, disaster) 1. Man’s fall caused it (Ge 3:17-19; Ro 8:18-22) 2. God’s new heaven and earth eliminates it (Is 65:17; 2 Pe 3:13; Re 21:1) • Suffering occurs from sinful nature (sinful choices) 1. God will not remove free will (Re 22:11) 2. God does not always punish your sins here on earth (Job; Lk 13:1-5; Jn 9:1-5) • Ask right questions (Ja 1:5) 1. “Did I cause this (consequence of sin)?” (1 Pe 2:19-20; 4:15) - If “yes”, accept consequences (Ac 25:10-11; Ga 6:7-8) - If “no”, understand crossroads of faith • Anger at God--“The Sovereign God should have stopped it” (Stages of grieving--Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance) • Humility before God 2. “Does God owe me anything?” - Yes--damnation (Ro 3:23; 6:23a) - No--but in mercy forgives through Jesus’ death (Jb 41:11; Ro 6:23b) 3. “Would You please remove this?” (Ph 4:6) - If “yes”, praise God (Ps 103:1-5) - If “no”, understand there is reason (2 Co 12:7-10) 4. “For what reason are You allowing this?” (Ge 50:20; Ro 8:28) - God is allowing this to strengthen & mature faith (Ja 1:3-4; Ro 5:3b-5) - What Christ-like characteristic is God trying to develop in me? (Ga 5:22-23; He 12:7-11) • Thank God for tests/trials & suffering (Ja 1:2; Ro 5:3a) 1. Greater result than individual growth (2 Co 1:3-5) • Remember 1. My goal is easy life (Mt 16:26; Lk 8:13) 2. God’s goal is eternal life (1 Ti 2:4; 2 Pe 3:9) 3. On earth we need to persevere with God (Ro 15:4) 4. In heaven we’ll understand fully (1 Co 13:12)