The Book of Concord also known as the Lutheran Confessions |
Martin Luther wrote in the preface, "The deplorable, miserable condition which I discovered lately when I, too, was a visitor, has forced and urged me to prepare [publish] this Catechism, or Christian doctrine, in this small, plain, simple form. Mercy! Good God! what manifold misery I beheld! The common people, especially in the villages, have no knowledge whatever of Christian doctrine, and, alas! many pastors are altogether incapable and incompetent to teach [so much so, that one is ashamed to speak of it]. Nevertheless, all maintain that they are Christians, have been baptized and receive the [common] holy Sacraments. Yet they [do not understand and] cannot [even] recite either the Lord's Prayer, or the Creed, or the Ten Commandments; they live like dumb brutes and irrational hogs; and yet, now that the Gospel has come, they have nicely learned to abuse all liberty like experts."Although the Lutheran reformation has been going on for 496 years this one document remains the bedrock for the Christian faith as pastor and layperson alike must continue to be taught. We, at St. Paul's, place the catechism before ourselves as the best tool for teaching the Word and so we encourage you to understand the Lutheran faith and use the link below to be taught the truth of God's Word. |
