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bean · 09-04-2011, 09:07 PM

Growing up Lutheran, I find many things very different between an ELCA church and a conservative evangelical church--here are some, comment where you would like.

1. Length of service...Lutheran-about 50 minutes. Conservative church-1:30. Why is that? Sermons from the Lutheran pastor tended to be 15 minutes. A conservative/"Bible teaching" pastor will talk until noon. If they get the floor at 11, they will preach for 55 minutes.

2. Vocal expression. It seems to me that a conservative "Bible teaching" pastor wants to hear from the crowd. We had one that I would definitely call old school...when the quiet Scandinavians sat and listened, he almost waited until heard "Amen!" from someone. Lutherans-pretty quiet and reflective.

3. The altar call. Not present in a Lutheran service. Very much a part of a Conservative Bible church.

4. The sermon itself-seems like most of them I heard in the Lutheran church dealt with helping others, giving of yourself, making the world better, dealing with adversity. The common theme in the three part sermon in a conservative church is their idea about salvation.

arla · 09-04-2011, 09:51 PM

hmm, I am wondering about your term 'conservative' because the church I went to I guess I would have considered it 'conservative' but maybe my definition is different than what you mean. My church was more like what you describe of the Scandinavian type, quiet, no 'Amen-ing' and certainly nobody would go up to the front except for Communion, Baptism and choir.

Donb123, I think you misunderstand the Lutheran service and it's purposes. Yes, it was about the word of God but the style of preaching was not like that of televangelists, more quiet and less for appearances? More about what you yourself were doing and your relationship with God than what everybody else was doing and were they are at in their faith and how you should preach at them to save your own butt from God's wrath. That definitely is not what Lutheran's are about, maybe the Evangelicals are more like that. Sermons could be uplifting or fire and brimstone but hopefully you left knowing God loved you and felt joyful when leaving. We certainly used our Bibles if we chose to during the service. Could follow along with the minister and he would often recommend further reading.

Lutheran's are more like- 'Preach the Gospel and if necessary use words' or maybe 'True Christianity reveals itself in quiet acts of mercy and goodness that no one sees or applauds but God.

When we were young we would sometimes wonder what it would be like to go to one of 'those' Baptist churches where everybody gets up and is nearly dancing and amen-ing and saying hallelujah! wow, wouldn't that be wild? haha, of course the only thing we knew that by was tv so .... we were kids.

Ever listen to Garrison Keller and his Lake Wobegone series? his jokes about the 'dark Lutheran's' in MN? pretty funny sometimes.

bean · 09-05-2011, 07:02 AM

We have a real mix in our congregation. We have some quiet, stoic, reserved (probably Scandinavians like me!) people who sit back. We sing if we don't draw attention to ourselves.

We also have people who lead praise and worship time who make a point of trying to get people to lift their hands in praise. They have a hard time figuring out why people don't lift their hands. What's wrong with them? Again, it's all appearance and show.

(09-04-2011 09:51 PM)arla Wrote: hmm, I am wondering about your term 'conservative' because the church I went to I guess I would have considered it 'conservative' but maybe my definition is different than what you mean. My church was more like what you describe of the Scandinavian type, quiet, no 'Amen-ing' and certainly nobody would go up to the front except for Communion, Baptism and choir.

Donb123, I think you misunderstand the Lutheran service and it's purposes. Yes, it was about the word of God but the style of preaching was not like that of televangelists, more quiet and less for appearances? More about what you yourself were doing and your relationship with God than what everybody else was doing and were they are at in their faith and how you should preach at them to save your own butt from God's wrath. That definitely is not what Lutheran's are about, maybe the Evangelicals are more like that. Sermons could be uplifting or fire and brimstone but hopefully you left knowing God loved you and felt joyful when leaving. We certainly used our Bibles if we chose to during the service. Could follow along with the minister and he would often recommend further reading.

Lutheran's are more like- 'Preach the Gospel and if necessary use words' or maybe 'True Christianity reveals itself in quiet acts of mercy and goodness that no one sees or applauds but God.

When we were young we would sometimes wonder what it would be like to go to one of 'those' Baptist churches where everybody gets up and is nearly dancing and amen-ing and saying hallelujah! wow, wouldn't that be wild? haha, of course the only thing we knew that by was tv so .... we were kids.

Ever listen to Garrison Keller and his Lake Wobegone series? his jokes about the 'dark Lutheran's' in MN? pretty funny sometimes.

**pastor's wife** · 09-05-2011, 07:25 AM

(09-05-2011 07:02 AM)bean Wrote: We also have people who lead praise and worship time who make a point of trying to get people to lift their hands in praise. They have a hard time figuring out why people don't lift their hands. What's wrong with them? Again, it's all appearance and show.

I've always thought that I was the quiet, reserved type, especially whether you add in some Yankee reticence and some well-taught "we don't want to look like Pentecostals" stipulations throughout the years. But as we've sung more passionate praise choruses, I feel so filled with joy and love that it's hard to just stand still like a statue only moving my mouth. I want to praise God with the dance like it says in Psalm 150, only I'm still way to shy. And I wouldn't want to be judged by someone looking on. But someday, maybe not until heaven, I am going to exuberantly, without inhibition, express my gratitude to God for His grace!

bean · 09-05-2011, 09:38 AM

Pastor's wife, you make a great point. Just as I don't want to be judged by standing reverently as I know how, neither should I judge you or anyone else for praising God the way you want to!! So be fired up and Praise Him!!!

We're all different. That has been the biggest lesson of my life the past 5 years...We're all created and made wonderfully different...God has room for ALL of us as we praise Him!!

**Presbygirl** · 09-05-2011, 09:46 AM

(09-05-2011 09:38 AM)bean Wrote: Pastor's wife, you make a great point. Just as I don't want to be judged by standing reverently as I know how, neither should I judge you or anyone else for praising God the way you want to!! So be fired up and Praise Him!!!

We're all different. That has been the biggest lesson of my life the past 5 years...We're all created and made wonderfully different...God has room for ALL of us as we praise Him!!

This^^ has been one of my favorite personal opportunities for stretching and growing. We ARE all different and it is wonderful to worship and praise Him in unique ways.

bean · 09-05-2011, 10:34 AM

Thanks Presbygirl!!!

oneflewoutofthecuckcoosnest · 09-05-2011, 10:34 AM

I have a real problem with the typical read a few verses and preach for an hour approach. Why do I want to hear 30 seconds of scripture and 60 minutes of some blow-hard? This is where lectionary based churhes have a strength - you hear lots of scripture read. 15-20 minutes is plenty of time for a sermon for anyone who can preach well.