The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Christmas Service at Lutheran Church

Tom,

With the hopes of dispelling any misunderstanding let me express what I believe is the biblical and confessional view of the Reformed churches historically.

1. An elder has no inherent nor delegated authority to actually remit/absolve sins, i.e., he has no ability nor authority to remove/forgive the sins of another nor even himself.
2. An elder does have the authority to state that confessed sins of a true believer are forgiven by God on the basis of the merits of the Lord Christ.
3. An elder, has the authority of Christ in regard to the 'keys of the kingdom' to pronounce that those who voice a valid profession of faith and whose lives are consistent with that profession, i.e., a true desire to live a life of holiness and exhibit such are part of the true Church. Those who do not voice a true profession of faith and/or whose lives have unrepentant sin have no citizenship in the Church. This would apply to those seeking entrance into the Church (regardless of which local church assembly is involved) and/or those who are already members of a local church. In the case of the latter, this would apply to disciplinary action, especially excommunication.
4. Universal proclamations of remission of sins is unwarranted. There MUST be the qualification mentioned with the pronouncement that this remission belongs to all who are truly in Christ and them alone. Unbelievers and false believers are exempt.
5. In short, an elder has no personal power nor authority to remit/absolve sins, but on the truth of the Gospel, he can express the teaching of the Gospel; in Christ God forgives all sins.

Not having been at the service you attended, it is impossible for me to make any judgment as to the legitimacy of what the elder did.