The ACELC exists "to give a united voice against errors that are officially adopted in convention, tolerated, and/or promoted in the LCMS.”

“Come Lord Jesus”

Happy New Year and Advent greetings from the Association of Confessing Evangelical Lutheran Congregations (ACELC). While the world celebrates the New Year on January 1, the Church began her “Year” recently with the season of Advent. The beginning of a new Church Year, like its end, reminds all Christians that we stand that much closer to the day when Christ will return in glory to receive His bride into the eternal home which the Bridegroom has prepared for the one He loves. At the same time, the bride readies herself during this season to rejoice anew on the anniversary of Her Savior's birth. Such is the tension of the Christian life, for the Church lives in what is described as “the time between the times.” You are ever ready to go home to glory, yet equally ready to invest yourselves in the God-given tasks of today. You prepare your earthly homes and families for yet another Christmas even as you look forward to your final rest in your heavenly home with “angels, archangels and all the company of heaven.”
 
Even though Advent is often viewed primarily as a time to get ready for Christmas, historically, Advent is much more focused on the Lord’s appearance in glory to judge the living and the dead. The Biblical texts of the season, and many of the hymns of Advent, with their call to repentance, speak of the Lord’s appearing in glory. With the theme of Advent being one of preparation for our Lord’s return, I am mindful of an answer which Martin Luther provided to the question, “How do we prepare for death?” His answer could just as easily be to the question, “How do we prepare for the Lord’s return?”
 
In the past much has been written, and with a show of great learning at that, about the manner in which we should prepare for death and await the last day. But it has only made timid consciences much more depressed, for the writers have not been able to refer men to the consolation of the great wealth of grace and salvation in Christ but have merely directed people to their own works and pious lives as a support against death and the judgment of God.
 
Instead of such misdirection we now see the precious grace of God at work. Whoever has the Word of the Gospel goes forth to discharge the duties of whatever office or position he may hold. He consoles himself with the fact that through Baptism he is incorporated in Christ. He receives absolution and for the strengthening of his faith partakes of the Lord's Supper, committing his soul to Christ. Why should such a person fear death? Regardless of when it comes, whether by pestilence or accident, whether it finds him awake or asleep, he is in Christ and is, therefore, always ready and well prepared for death.  Plass, E. (1959) What Luther Says, St. Louis, Concordia Publishing House
 
Luther’s reply points individuals away from themselves, from their own works, and from their own righteousness and points them instead to the righteousness of Christ. This righteousness of Christ is the Christian’s because of the Word they have heard, because of their Baptism into Christ, because of Absolution, and because they have been fed by the very body and blood of Jesus.
 
In the days between His entrance to Jerusalem amidst the cries, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” and when He gathered quietly with His disciples for the Passover, Jesus taught in the Temple. Matthew especially, from the middle of Chapter 21 until the end of Chapter 25, provides Jesus’ teaching about the end times and His appearance in glory to judge the living and the dead. One of the questions Jesus poses to His disciples is this, “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.” (Matthew 24:45-46)
 
 Jesus’ question points the Church to what the people of God should be “doing” as she awaits the great and glorious day of her Lord. He describes the Church as a household over which he has placed His servants. Those servants are the pastors of His Church and the household is the people whom the Holy Spirit has called, gathered, enlightened, and sanctified as Christ’s own. Faithful pastors give the household the food which God provides so that all in the household are strong and ready to meet their master when He comes.
 
The Advent Season reminds us of the need for faithful pastors. These faithful pastors serve God by preparing His people for the coming of the Lord. Even before the Saxon Lutherans in Perry County became a part of the founding of the Synod, preparation of faithful pastors was a priority. They founded a Seminary in 1839. Eventually Seminaries would exist in St. Louis, Ft. Wayne, and Springfield, a testimony to the Synod’s commitment to preparation of faithful pastors.
 
Even as Advent is a time to look forward, may this little Advent greeting be a time to look forward to the ACELC’s upcoming 2025 Conference. We will gather at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Carlisle, Iowa, on July 15-16 under the theme, “A Noble Task: Pastoral Formation in the LCMS.” We have a great line-up of speakers already committed to talk about a very critical issue in the Synod – training and preparation for the Pastoral Office. More conference details will be available in January.
 
The ACELC wishes all of you a blessed New Year and a joyous Christmas celebration.
 
Pastor Michael Knox
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
Cedar Falls, Iowa