What is the Church of the Lutheran Brethren?
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- Опубліковано 9 лип 2024
- The Church of the Lutheran Brethren is a small Pietist Lutheran denomination. In this video we’ll discuss what they believe.
00:00 Lutheran Pietism
01:21 History of the CLBA
02:08 Confessions
02:19 Core Beliefs
02:31 Sacraments
02:41 Baptism
04:02 Confirmation & Confessing Membership
04:35 Communion
04:57 Scripture & Creation
05:23 Sin & Salvation
07:21 Unlimited Atonement & Apostasy
07:37 Sanctification
07:51 Charismatism & Spiritual Gifts
08:03 End Times / Eschatology
08:25 Marriage & Sexuality
09:21 Life Issues
10:18 Worship Style & Alcohol
10:37 Tithing
10:53 Church Government
11:35 Statistics
As a LCMS pastor, I didn't know much about this synod/denomination. Thank you for explaining everything so clearly and precisely.
This Church Historian really know how to give a quick synopsis.
Wow, my first time watching your channel was on the day you posted this video. My wife grew up in the CLB church in Taiwan, in the same city as China Lutheran Seminary. My friends are CLB missionaries from Taiwan, serving in Chad. I've been attending the church without knowing much about the denomination, so this is helpful. Thanks for creating this video!
Glad you found the channel! That's a neat coincidence. I'm happy to hear that the video is helpful.
The lutheran church where I am a pastor is very similar to the LB, we came out of the Haugean revival in Norway and have historically never confessed the Book of Concord; we only confess the Augsburg Confession and the Small Catechism (The churches of Denmark and Norway never accepted the German Book of Concord because it would cause more divisiveness in our state churches). The focus on personal piety and revival while not abandoning the historic church structure and liturgy allows us to be a bridge between Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox and our more free-church evangelical brothers and sisters. I see that as a great gift to the greater Christian church.
Longtime subscriber here! We used to be CLB - I actually recognize the girl singing in this photo from our old church in Minot, ND! Small world!
I think a video on Lutheran micro-denominations like ELDoNA, COELC, LCR, and OLCC would be interesting. I’d love to know why they separated from larger denominations, who they are and aren’t in fellowship with, and things like that.
The ELDoNA doesn’t fellowship with any denominations. There’s a channel called Ask the Pastor that discusses the differences between ELDoNA and other Lutherans. I don’t know much about the other small denominations you listed.
@@doraashby Technically they have one oversees congregation that isn't part of them but is in fellowship with them.
@@doraashby How could they be? They're so strict on doctrinal particulars that virtually all Lutherans in America are regarded as apostates by their standard. I've often compared them to the SSPX/Sede Vacantists of the Lutheran world.
@@RepublicofE
I think I remember hearing something about that, but I forgot.
Grew up in the LB and was well formed in my faith and personal relationship with Jesus (I am now Catholic). Praise God for how He moved among so many Norwegian immigrants to North America, incredible Great Commission hearts!
I grew up around MANY LB churches (the acronym “CLB” is never really used-just LB) and there is a large difference between the theology taught in their seminary and the theology taught in their churches. The churches feel very baptist. I attended an LB high school and never learned about traditional Lutheran concepts like predestination, real presence, and baptism being efficacious unto salvation. Instead, they focused heavily on young earth creationism, and “sinner’s prayer” evangelism (rife with decision language).
Given what I know about Lutheranism (grew up LCMS), pietism, and Baptist theology, that is unfortunately not very surprising to me. One thing I've learned in the last year or so was that the first couple generations of Christians/church fathers did not have agreement on the mode of creation (e.g., young-earth 6-day versus another mode); and old-earth creationism was not viewed as a threat to the theology of the gospel until very recently.
That's exactly what it sounds like
I really had the exact opposite experience. In the church I went to, confirmation strictly followed Luther's small catechism and were very explicit explaining Lutheran beliefs there as well as in church services. (Of which I was already familiar because of a previous time where I went to a LCMS church).
Hillcrest?
I have been blessed to attend both LCMS and CLBA churches. I feel like they are two sides of the same coin. The CLBA highly encourages apologetics and personal connection to Christ. While the LCMS has built wonderful structure around the worship of God. Both denominations are in my opinion the Biblically strongest ones on this earth.
Hi! I was baptized ELCA Church which has background to Norwegian-American Lutheran in Minesota. CLBA is a one of where Norwegian-American Lutheran Church in the U.S. it has roots of Norwegian Pietism in other words Haugean Movement. Almost these churches many located on Minnesota.
Wow great detailed report. Would love to see you in evaluation of church service styles between different churches
I was raised in the CFM Pentecostal cult. (Not say Pentecostals are a cult, the specific group im talking about, is one), Then identified as a non denominational christian for like ever. Im now formally baptized ELCA Lutheran. And ive always enjoyed your videos.
Have friends at the congregation in Platte, SD Bethel Lutheran Brethren. Have had a opportunity to worship with them.
I actually grew up in the CLBA. And the pastor who administered infant baptism actually retired in Platte.
Sounds like classic Lutheran theology but not the traditional services. Most Lutherans kept much of the Western Mass except those elements that were deemed contrary to the Bible. However, keeping church traditional services were not a requirement unlike other denominations,
I just wanted to say that UA-cam recently recommended one of your videos to me, which I really enjoyed. I then watched a few more over the next day or so. While few probably fully understand the UA-cam algorithm, it did a great job pointing me to your channel. I really love the work you obviously put into your videos as well as your presentation style. Keep up the great work and I'll keep watching!
That's great, thanks for letting me know. glad you found the channel.
I'd be really interested in a video about the Christians Restorationists. I appreciate how you strive to be non biased when talking about different religions.
As a non denominational church which worships in the Anglo-Catholic and evangelical Lutheran tradition, we find this interesting.
LCMS Pastor, Will Weedon, has done some writing on the proper use of piety.
Was it pietism or piety?
@MattWhitman got to meet him on his channel
@@johannkarsten ,Good point
Could you make a video on the Pentecostal Holiness church? I looked to see if you had a video on them and didn’t find one.
Strenge, in Germany being pietist is not viewed as a problem to being a Lutheran. Interesting to see how religion develops different in other places.
Depends. In the confessional churches like the SELK it is definitely seen as a problem. In some Lutheran Landeskirchen its accepted or promoted though.
@@lutherserbe6435 Pietism has different connotations in different countries. There are Haugean Pietists in Denmark which are anti-clerical/establishment, there are high church Pietists in Sweden (like Bishop Bo Giertz) who are more a renewal-monastic movement within the established hierarchical body.. and then in Germany, it ranges between the two.
In American Confessionalism it has lost virtually all meaning and simply denotes "legalism", "mysticism" or any other boogeyman we don't like.
A denomination like this falls under the realm of conservative but not confessional.
These days confessional Lutheranism (the type espoused by denominations like the LCMS and the WELS) is rare in Germany and indeed all of Europe.
After the death of Martin Luther, Calvinism started to infiltrate a lot of Lutheran churches, especially after Philip Melanchthon became a semi-Calvinist. This resulted in at least three different camps existing within Lutheranism: the crypto-Calvinists or Philipists, the Gnesio-Lutherans who overcorrected in some ways in response to the Philipists, and the confessional or orthodox Lutherans who created the Formula of Concord to answer the disputes according to the original theology of the Augsburg Confession.
A large percentage of Lutheran churches, including all of the Scandinavian state churches, rejected the Formula of Concord. Later on the broad movement of Pietism and different sub-movements within it would come to influence Lutheranism everywhere, especially in Scandinavia.
To my knowledge actual confessional Lutheranism (subscription to the whole Book of Concord) was restricted to Saxony, Bavaria, and some other southern German states by the 19th century. Then German princes and monarchs tried to force Lutherans and Calvinists to merge into one state church. This prompted the confessional Lutherans in lower Germany to flee to the United States to form their own churches.
What we know as confessional Lutheranism today is actually the product of a revival of the confessions in American Lutheranism. The new German immigrant Lutherans encouraged the old Lutheran immigrant churches they encountered to become confessional (prior to the 19th century there were no Lutheran churches in America that subscribed to the whole Book of Concord.)
Thus America became the new center of confessional Lutheranism for a time. In Europe even most of the conservative Lutheran churches are not confessional and thus not truly orthodox in the eyes of confessional Lutherans.
@@RepublicofE Johann Arndt (father of Pietism) was the pastor of Johann Gerhard (Archtheologian of Lutheran Orthodoxy); both of which were influenced by Melancthon as much as Luther...
The narrative that early pietism or even scholastic orthodoxy were radical departures from the Lutheranism of the confessions is a libel that needs to die a swift death.
Even C.F.W. Walther was as much a Pietist as an Orthodox Lutheran (they weren't seen as incompatible options) and admitted it himself -- high view of the laity, emphasis on foreign missions, bible study, progressive sanctification ('Law and Gospel' not withstanding, Walther's sermons would've been regarded as legalistic and moralistic by modern LCMS standards), etc.
You’re the man! 👊🏼
Grew up LB. Wonderful people and it’s where i learned the faith. But to me the sacraments in practice felt like these odd “add-ons” and the meat was personal conversion and piety. I saw and see most LB young people when they move away without an LB option go to non denom or baptist or big Eva without a care about losing the sacraments (and would be quick to describe LCMS as ritual without true heart). I always had some sense that losing sacraments to be symbols was to give up something precious. That sense led me to be fully LCMS and joyfully so. My LB friends still think LCMS is stiff ritual without heart….
Can you do a video on LCMC vs NALC, two socially conservative Lutheran bodies that ordain women?
Agreed. I belong to a LCMC church. My wife and I left an ECLA church 7 years ago. Really like LCMC.
@@timtenn7671I was the LCMC church by me was a bit more traditional and liturgical.
Aren't the Pietists the people who were preaching sermons about growing tomatoes and stuff, or was that just something the German government was making the churches do around the same time as Pietism was getting popular?
I feel like you could have spent more time saying what pietism is. Even looking it up didn't help clarify, as the descriptions are vague. I suspect it might be useful to contrast it with its opposite.
As a Episcopalian I love it to
Neverending content
I was at a CLB church one time for a wedding.
Hello, I like your videos, can you talk about the "church of god ministry of Jesus international "
Do you know anything about the group, (I don't know what they call themselves) Yahway, I listen to short wave and they are always on there. Every reference to God is always Yahway even when reading from the bible, Yahway is always used. If you happen to have a short wave you can find them on several frequences such as 9.330 MHZ Love listening to you... I'm Independant. Baptist....
Are they adding decision theology to Lutheran religious beliefs?
Hey! I grew up in Fergus Falls, where the headquarters of the LB are. They officially do not, however they preach and act very much like they do
Hello. I'm Lucas. I have attended County Line Church of the Brethren in Harrod,Ohio for 32 years. At district conference they told us that the Brethren denomination will except and let gays hold church offices we are withdrawing. Has any one else seen or heard about other church doing the some. God bless
To avoid confusion, I will mention that Church of the Brethren is completely unrelated to the denomination covered in this video. What you say is correct, which is why the new Covenant Brethren Church denomination recently was formed. I talked about that in this video: ua-cam.com/video/M2GzztFPlPU/v-deo.html
I always found the Pietist movement quite fascinating
My college church.
Very interesting. Sounds like they are basically low church or non-liturgical Lutherans.
Joshua, another great video as always. But I've got to ask about something that I notice in every video. How can you breath with the top button closed on your shirt? I'm wondering, is this a ministerial requirement or just a personal thing? I could see if you wore a necktie, but in this context, relax. I didn't think we Baptists were that formal?
A proper fitting collar (they're out there) doesn't constrict. Too many of us try to fit into the callar instead of the other way around.
Interesting, I never heard of them
Watching this video reminded me of how abhorrent the concept of sin truly is.
ISO not ISI
I'm in a FLCA CHURCH this is what we believe.
Pietism is to Lutheranism what Puritanism is to Anglicanism.
It is a renewal movement that led to one of two options: churchly renewal, or radical renewal. In the same way that Puritans were both Anglican bishops on the one hand AND essentially English dissenter quasi-Presbyterians -- so with Pietism in Lutheranism.
Dangerous if unmoored from the tradition, beneficial if seen as a helpful corrective to potential pitfalls within establishment churches (offering complimentary accents). If you don't learn to distinguish the two or use the terms solely as pejoratives, you're losing out on an entire century of each church's history.
Another common misconception is the idea that "Pietist" = low church (anti-liturgical/sacramental). This true of certain groups that developed from Pietism, but is not a feature of the movement as a whole: which is much more defined by a mystical spirituality and moral transformation rooted within it. These are characteristics of Medieval Catholic piety and thus are neither exclusively "high church" or "low church."
The difference is there is a much more solid standard for what historic Lutheran orthodoxy is, compared to Anglicanism, thus I don't think your comparison is fair.
@@RepublicofE The 39 Articles/Anglican Formularies vs the Augsburg/Book of Concord.
I fail to see the difference. Both movements were grounded in the confessional tradition of the respective church (Johann Arndt upheld the Formula for example), but applied it in the personal life of piety with renewed intensity: 'True Christianity', simultaneously orthodox and pietistic.
The Puritans did the same with their Anglican foundation. It was only later that more radical members from within the movement sought to break away and form non-confessional manifestations of the renewal.
As an anthropologist (And devout christian) I'm always surprised at these denomination's views on human sexuality. "No where in the bible is someone's biological sex different than their gender" at least acknowledges that these are two different things and that the latter is socially constructed -- even if its an accident
Aww man, these guys get their own vid, but the ELS just gets lumped in with the WELS (again…).
3:21 "Need to be brought again ... through *THE LAW* and Gospel." That doesn't sound very "faith alone"...
Read James 2.
Gospel is not all that good without the law.
When is a church "cultic"?
A lot of Lutheran drink way too much for me
With all due respect, pietists aren't Lutherans.
I am a pietist Lutheran.
Please learn history.
@@angelbonilla2255 And I'm a Lutheran. Period.
@@jeanlannes5930 . So You are an anti- pietist Lutheran. OK.
@@angelbonilla2255 in other words, he is Lutheran.
@@thelutheranknights1404And so is Angel.
They are a disappointing group.
Only because they don’t attempt to be confessional as much as they should. My CLB pastor studies the Book of Concord in depth and agrees with various Orthodox Lutheran theologians in terms of doctrine.
There are good and bad things in religion of any kind because even if one assumes God is perfect people are not, and everything can be twisted or misinterpreted sometimes accidentally sometimes on purpose. organized religion has many flaws although belief that there is more to life than we can measure with just our basic five senses is usually (but not always) a good thing. atheism in itself is not a sin but it shows lack of imagination. The idea that only one very narrow path leads to God and belief that only ones own path is the one to God also usually shows lack of imagination. Of course there is certain lines that should never be crossed the idea that one should not kill anyone is fundamental and includes everyone. Church and state should always be kept separate although that of course should not prevent follower of any religion to seek an office. For a man to say that God made him a ruler and when he makes policy it is because his word is what God says is correct is a sin if one believes that there is a God and usually very immoral act regardless if one believes in God or not.
Lutheranism without the Christianity?
Wait what? That doesn't sound like what he is describing here.
Not at all. Just a different form of liturgy.
denying person medication that can save person's life is a sin, they are right about that. of course sometimes it is impossible to deliver the medication then it is not a sin but a tragedy and should be treated as such. committing suicide is a tragedy but in of itself is not a sin. someone who would rather end his life than live in the pain in which he is living in has suffered enough. although if he committed other immoral acts this person is still guilty of them and needs to atone for them.That said coercing someone to committing suicide is a sin almost as high as actually killing someone. mercy killing is a sin as well. (under most circumstances) All people have same rights to medicine as others regardless of their race religion or gender.
This is typical fractional Western Christianity stuff. Keep dividing constantly over the most obscure minutiae.
Jesus is not in the line of David, his father was God himself, not any descendant of David. when we talk about lineage, we'll talk about the father's bloodline, not the mother's blood. the Bible even states this, The Son of God. JESUS'S lineages is of God himself, not any human being, because if you say that he has lineage that comes from David, that means God was born of the lineage of David.
Matthew Chapter 1
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
Romans 1:3
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
I know I'm going to be very unpopular here or simply ignored but half of this stuff I find distasteful at best. the whole idea that a baby is a sinner and belongs in hell if he or she is not baptized is absurd if God was merciful. Same sex marriage is none of my business so I'm simply going not to have stance on it. But bible never teaches anything against or for homosexuality it barely if at all mentions it. also the idea that we have no spiritual strength, no spiritual resources, and nothing to contribute to our salvation no one really takes this seriously in a normal society (I use word normal loosely because word normal itself has no meaning and what is considered normal to one is not normal to other) and if church expects blind obedience to that, there is against free will and worth of a human being. also many people who say something like that really mean that their followers don't have spiritual strength while they themselves do they just hide their true believes and agendas behind smokescreen. and in any case If God exists then we might not be his equal but we do have spiritual strength and things to contribute. furthermore every living being has some form of spiritual strength be it not equal among species. no species is truly superior than other, although there factors that make one more advanced than other. I don't believe that consumption of meat is a sin however if one was to consider what is sin killing living beings of any kind for reasons other than food or self defense is a sin. although I do not believe that killing an insect is the same as killing a human being.Anger while might be considered a sin is generally smaller sin than betrayal under most but not all circumstances. also under some circumstances anger is a correct response, and while many churches teach to turn the other cheek their leaders are full of anger sometimes but definitely not always justified. Pride is a sin but only if it is as a form of arrogance or narcissism. birth control is a form of protection against unwanted pregnancy and taking birth control is a much better option than having an abortion or having a baby for which parents cannot provide for. and the idea that you can have it both ways is impractical. there is nothing wrong with being a virgin and the fact that many idiots look down on it, even if church supports staying a virgin until marriage it is weakness of society not the person who happens to be a virgin and church is correct about that. however if someone chooses to have sexual relationship with other that is their right provided it is consensual and of course their either both under 18 or both over 18 years of age. naturally a child that is not in their teens should not have sex of any kind and preferably this person should be in their midd teens or older but if they are both younger it is a mistake not a sin in the strictest sense.
You are not the first to doubt or challenge God. Here is only some of what He says:
In Isaiah 55:8-9, God tells us,
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
In the book of Job, He gets more to the point:
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man;I will question you, and you make it known to me.
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements-surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
“Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?
“Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? It is changed like clay under the seal, and its features stand out like a garment. From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken.
“Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this.
“Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness, that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home? You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war? What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?
“Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt, to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man, to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground sprout with grass?
“Has the rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew? From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the frost of heaven? The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
“Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion? Can you lead forth the Mazzarothb in their season, or can you guide the Bear with its children? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?
“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you? Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’? Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind? Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens, when the dust runs into a mass and the clods stick fast together?
“Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in their thicket? Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food?
Ultimately, YOU must decide if you are God's creation, or if He is yours. HE has given you the answer.
@@johnhouchins3156 and who says that I'm questioning God when I'm questioning you. but you are right I believe i do things because of my own will and regardless who or what created me I have rights as far as what I do and free will of my own. and I decide my fate not anyone else. and certainly not someone like you. I want to evolve to what I wish to evolve into that would improve my abilities and that is my right and my choice. that doesn't mean I'm necessarily challenging God either I simply wish to achieve things that were denied to me. and it wasn't my own weaknesses or probably not God either that stood in my way but men and women. regardless if they called themselves atheists or Christians. that includes the ones who claimed that what they said was Gods will. also I'm pretty sure God didn't say not to use contraception especially if lack of use of it can lead to unwanted pregnancy and in some cases abortion which is far worse. nor did he say that environment was man's to abuse, but rather to use wisely.
Now we all need helping hand and if God would be willing to help me I would be grateful and I would owe him one. but that does not mean he would own me. and if he gave those who need his help the most that is good on him and if he does not give neither them or me that is his choice but under those circumstances all that either me or those other people achieved it all on their own. and if God gives to those who need him the least or much worse those who I met in my youth then he deserves no worship. (nor is he a true God) and I wouldn't mind if those who need him the most and are good people got more than me (at least in terms of money, honors, and that kind of thing,) but those i met in my youth deserve nothing. they act as if they were Gods. some simply claiming that they are better than me or other people in general. while others acted as if God gave them the right to do what they wish because they believe in him therefore their word is God's word. But obviously its not. and anyone who stands in a way of my evolution is simply an obstacle to be removed and if God supports them (I doubt that he does, although you might given a chance but I don't know if that is so or not) then frankly so is he. but no I don't believe God is necessarily my enemy assuming he is not like you and definitely not like people I met in my youth. but any force that is like them or supports them is not my friend I might not be strong enough to challenge this force and I'm not giving this force a name it could be God but it could just as well be Satan which is what you want. but don't confuse fear or caution with respect I know you believe that I can never challenge you much less the force I'm talking about but I will do everything I can to do so and I'm capable of more than you or anyone else thinks.
Very sad to learn they are monergists
Lutherans and Calvinists are, by definition, Monergists.
They are sad to learn you're a synergist
Of course, they’re Lutherans!
The Church Triumphant in Heaven is going on as we speak... it totally worships God the way He wishes and deserves to be worshipped. No church on earth comes even close... the more liberal church members will have a hard time keeping up IF they are saved and enter His Kingdom.... hope they aren't offended.