“For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined” (Titus 1:7-8).

Take a look at this list; it is not about doing this or that, but about the character of one who is a child of God.  Too many think Christianity is a get-out-of-hell religion.  It is about becoming a child of the Heavenly Father.  You have been called to see your character changed such that the latter part of this list does describe you.  Seek to be one who is above reproach in the eyes of “our Father.”

Lord, You know where I need to go to work.  You know my weaknesses.  Let us begin with those places where I know them too.  Help me to be on the path You know I need to be on.  Guide me into the life that is mine in You.  Help me to overcome the obstacles of this age in order to humbly walk in Your presence into eternity.  In You Lord is all hope and an eternal future.  Please lead me there.

Lord Jesus, You have paved the way with grace so that I may live in the hope of becoming a child of the Father.  I know there is much that needs to be done.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way You know I need to go.  Guide me today into those things which will change my character to be in conformity with all that is needed.  Remove from me the sin which is in me and replace it with godliness.  Amen.

“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you – if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination” (Titus 1:5-6).

Some have said they wanted the first century church — where getting good people to be the elders was difficult.  Too many were open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.  It doesn’t seem all that different today, only many do not seem to care about people’s behavior.  Dear Christian, you are to seek to put things in order that the Lord may find order around and in you.

Lord, You know there are those around me who are intentionally breaking Your law and then saying that all is well.   Help me, dear Lord, not to focus upon them, but to seek to put good order in and around me.  All things have always been in Your hands and in You will those things which are redeemed be redeemed.  Let me do my part so that I would not waste the time You give me here in debauchery.

Lord Jesus, You have dealt with every kind of wickedness from those who rebel against the truth.  I too have taken part in the rebellion.  Lead me, Lord, to go away from the chaos of this world and into the order You have created from the beginning.  Guide me into all truth and help me to live the truth into which You have led me.  In You I have hope.  Lead me in faith and hope so that I may be at peace.  Amen.

“To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior” (Titus 1:4).

We hold these things together in Christ.  We have not made these things up; but have been called into the one faith through one baptism into the One Lord who is in all and through all.  Do not be led astray by the constant noise of this world, but hear the Holy Spirit call you into the truth for all ages.  Be a true child of God, holding faith in common with the communion of saints and hope in Christ Jesus.

This world is filled with so many options.  That is how it seems, but really there are only two options for the obedience of faith.  Either trust in the Lord, or else continue in the rebellion and hope in anything else.  From the dust we have been formed and we are destined to return to dust.  Our hope is in the Lord who promised that because He lives, we too shall live.  Come then into the peace which only He can give.

Lord Jesus, You came so that we might have the abundant life which, in You, never ends.  Though we die, yet we shall live.  These are the promises You give through Your death on the cross and the following resurrection from the tomb.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in this eternal hope which You give that I might live my life in the way You have established.  Let me not follow the many paths that lead away from the Father, but stay on the true path through You to Him.  Amen.

April 2022

Dear Friends –

The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received, that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15: 3-4)

He also wrote to his young friend Timothy, “And what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.” (2 Timothy 2: 2)

The writer of the Gospel of John penned these words.  “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20: 31)

The witness of Scripture is clear and strong.  It does matter whether the message of the Bible is preserved, shared, heard, and believed. 

The most sacred and precious time of the year for those who love Jesus is Holy Week.  It is then that we hear and read once again of His triumphal entry, last supper, agony in the garden, betrayal, arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection.  The accounts of this one week form the major part of each of the four Gospels, and we are fortunate to have four Gospel accounts.  We know more about what Jesus did for our salvation because we have all four.

And yet what do we see going on now?  A movement to “cancel” the passion narrative in the Gospel of John and remove it from the lectionary readings for Holy Week.  The reason given is that the two chapters of John 18 and 19 are being accused of fostering antisemitism.

There is no doubt but that antisemitism is wrong, just as there is no doubt but that any form of racism is wrong.  Historically, according to the Gospels, it was the Jews who cried for Jesus to be crucified.  It was the Romans who carried out the crucifixion.  But it was my sins that nailed Jesus to the cross, just as much as anyone else’s.

This movement to “cancel” John is “gaining steam” within the U. S. Episcopal Church.  I am alarmed when I read comments also from ELCA pastors who would like to see the Gospel of John removed from the list of Scripture readings for Holy Week.

In my April letter from the director, which will be published in mid-April, I will tell more about this movement and how it is gaining ground within the ELCA.  Here we see just one more way in which the authority of the Scriptures first is questioned and then is rejected.  Anything difficult in the Bible is thrown out, rather than wrestled with and learned from.  Any time when the voice of the Bible is in conflict with the voice of our culture, the voice of our culture prevails.

If the passion readings in the Gospel of John are thrown out, what will it be next?  That is a question we continually ask regarding the ELCA.  What will it be next?  We already know of ELCA pastors who believe that the message of the cross is not that Jesus died for our sins.  Instead it is a challenge to join God in the work of dismantling oppressive, political power structures.  There are others who say that the main message and mission of the church is to support environmental causes and concerns.  What will it be next?  As everyone who has observed trends and events in the last decade knows only too well, it will not stop here.  The departure from and rejection of traditional, Biblical beliefs and values will only accelerate. 

What is at stake is the very heart of our faith – the message of the cross, the hope of the resurrection, the privilege and joy of knowing God as Father, Christ’s command to His church to fulfill the Great Commission, and God’s call to His people to holy living. 

We of Lutheran CORE have been working hard to show you how the orthodox Christian faith and Biblical moral values are first being compromised and then rejected by such things as the embrace of critical race theory by many Christian leaders, the choice of keynote speakers for national youth gatherings, the ELCA’s full embrace of the LGBTQ+ agenda and values, and the way in which many in the ELCA twist the message of the Bible in order to support that agenda.  Through our being one of the sponsors of the NEXUS Institute at Grand View University, our support system for orthodox seminarians, and our support group for younger persons, many of whom are planning on attending seminary, we are also working hard so that there will be Biblically faithful and Great Commission-minded pastors in the future.  Thank you for your interest in and support of these efforts and your generous gifts to our Pastoral Formation Fund. 

It is your ongoing prayers and gifts to Lutheran CORE that enable us to continue our work of being a Voice for Biblical Truth and a Network for Confessing Lutherans.  Thank you for your prayers for us.  Click here for a form that you can use to let us know how we can be praying for you. 

Giving thanks for the cross and the empty tomb,

Dennis D. Nelson

Executive Director of Lutheran CORE

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“[I]n hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior” (Titus 1:2-3)

We live in the hope of eternal life.  Perhaps the materialist does not hope for life after death, but most everyone else does, especially when they are older.  Be that as it may, You have been given hope through Christ who promises that if you join Him with your cross, He shall join you with His resurrection.  We are to share the truth of the offer of genuine hope which comes through Christ alone.

Lord, there are many things in this world which can and do get me off track.  Let me not get this one wrong.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth in order that I might be led in the hope You give through grace.  Like Job, I know that at the last I shall stand before You and say, “My Redeemer lives.”  In the certainty of the hope You give, guide me to live all the days of this life in You.

Lord Jesus, You are the hope for all who believe. Guide me, Lord, in the hope You give.  Let me not replace that hope with the futile thoughts of this world.  Lead me to know that You alone are the way, truth, and life.  Hold me to the rock of the salvation You have given through grace.  In You, Lord, do I hope and in You alone am I given the assurance that because You live, I too shall live.  Amen.