Why am I a Lutheran? Yes, I’m a Lutheran by birth, or maybe “new” birth, Holy Baptism that is. But is that why I am a Lutheran today? Not quite, maybe partially. I suppose it’s the beginning of the story. I’ve been here at Zion for almost two years now, but I’ve probably never told you much about my church background. On this month when we celebrate that great event of the Reformation, permit me to introduce myself to you a bit more and let you know why I am a Lutheran.

Yes, Baptism is the beginning of the story. I was baptized on October 20, 1974. Our family of six attended church pretty much weekly. We attended the same church until I was in sixth grade. More on that later. My siblings and I all went to the Lutheran school where we attended church. I remember when I was a kid how great it was when we could skip church for a weekend. Yes! I just said that (or wrote it, actually). See, I am pretty normal after all.

Ok, back on topic. It was in sixth grade that things happened that put me on the course that I am on today, namely, a pastor in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. My grades were slipping in school, probably for a number of factors. A friend of our family taught at another Lutheran school, the rival school of the one I had attended. Mom and Dad actually asked my opinion if I wanted to give it a try or not. I agreed. It wasn’t easy. I ended up playing basketball and soccer against former classmates, teachers and coaches. Wow! That was hard! But soon after the change, my grades shot up, I actually enjoyed school, and I made new friends.

Just when things became normal, a small dilemma arose. Confirmation! I was attending one church with family at one place and going to school at a different Lutheran school. Should I go to instruction at my church or at my school? Well, since catechism was part of the curriculum at my school, it was decided that I should be confirmed at the church where I was attending day school. Best decision ever! It impacted my entire future, literally! The pastor of the church where I attended became my mentor, my true spiritual father. We clicked, so much so that I wanted to be him. God used him, his teaching, his preaching, and his pastoral care to put me on the road to where I am today. And God used the congregation too. I’m grateful for the incredible encouragement and support I received from them for the future.

My parents felt strongly that I should be in church where I was being confirmed, so even though they were members elsewhere, they brought me to the other church. Sometimes we’d attend both. Yes, two church services! Unheard of, right? But it was then that we really began paying attention to the differences in what we heard. The church at which I had grown up used the hymnal, but they were on the verge of moving beyond it to other things. I think there would always be a hymnal-based service there, “but that was for the old people,” so they said. Not so at my new church. Worship was worship. We sang the hymns of our fathers in the faith. How we worshiped was a reflection of what we believe. The church wasn’t just trying to fill pews. It was at this point that my ears really perked up.

I was learning so much about the Christian faith in Catechism class. I knew the Bible stories. I went to Sunday school. At home as a child my folks read the Arch books to me, the ones that tell the Bible stories of the Old and New Testament. And as I learned and absorbed more of what we believe, teach and confess, I began to really notice a difference in preaching between my old church and my new church. What I could remember most from the sermons at my old church were the pastor’s personal stories about fishing. What stuck with me from the sermons at my new church was the power of the Word of God and hearing more about Jesus and His forgiveness than about fishing. My parents noticed it too, and before too long, it was time for them to leave their old church for a place where they would truly be fed with the Gospel of Christ, despite leaving life-long friendships for new ones.

One of the coolest things about going through confirmation at my new church was getting to know my pastor, something that doesn’t happen at every church. He saw something in me that caught his eye and he took the time with me personally to bring it out. He told me that I would be a pastor. For a couple years I thought he was nuts. But the Lord worked through His encouragement and the encouragement of family, especially my grandpa. And here I am. I’ll never forget pastor’s encouragement, his faithful Christ-centered teaching, and how he took me under his wing and inspired me to faithfulness. Today he and I don’t see eye to eye on everything. That’s ok. God doesn’t send us out to be carbon copies of one another. He’s a faithful pastor who preaches Christ and gives Christ to His people. And I’ll always love him and thank God for him! And he still gives Christ to my parents today. Thanks be to God!

Why do I tell you all of this? It’s my story. I’m not Lutheran merely by birth. Through parents, pastor and congregation, and of course, the Lord working through them and through His Holy Word, I am what I am. I went on to Lutheran high school where I had teachers who inspired me to serve. From there I went to Lutheran college and seminary. Yes, I was born into this Lutheran faith, but it’s never just that. Through the study of God’s Word, receiving His sacraments, through repentance and faith, I am who I am. Brothers and sisters, we should never be Lutherans merely by birth or by heritage. More than anything, I am a die-hard Lutheran because of the free grace of God in Christ Jesus that has sustained me from the font of Holy Baptism even unto this day. I am Lutheran by conviction and confession, with Christ at the heart. I’m a Lutheran because of what we believe, teach and confess. I pray that it’s the same for you and for your children. This is the chief task our Lord has given us to do for our children. Think of what God has given us here at Zion Lutheran Church and School. And think about what He can do through you, through me, and through all of us as we faithfully hand down the faith once delivered to the saints. A blessed Reformation celebration to you all!!!