As Lutherans, How Should We Treat Feelings and Emotions?

What Does It Mean That We Are Christ's Body

We know that Jesus had a body — he was born, lived, died, rose again, and ascended to heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father.  There's another body of Christ, too — the Church.  But what exactly is it and why does it matter? Being part of Christ's body isn't just a nice metaphor. It's real and tangible.  When you belong to the church, you receive specific gifts and gain brothers and sisters in Christ. Church is where Jesus promises to be. It's where we eat His body and drink His blood. It's where forgiveness happens.  Not going to church would be like spiritually starving yourself. Our faith needs nourishment just like our bodies do. The body follows the head, and the head is Jesus. It’s not going to look perfect. The church is full of sinners, but the good news is that Jesus is really good at saving people like us. Your salvation isn't something that can be reversed. There are no take-backsies with Jesus.  Even when you mess up (and you will), even when the people around you are just as broken (and they are), Jesus keeps forgiving.  The body will follow where the head leads — and the head rose from the dead. When you go to church and hear Jesus preached, receive absolution, and take communion, you're with Jesus.  You're already connected to the resurrection because He conquered sin and death. Your faith is about going to Jesus, who is in your church through the Holy Spirit.  There, you become part of His body. Contributor Deaconess Emma Heinz serves as the Registrar of Higher Things. Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology. #higherthings #lcms #lutheran #bodyofchrist

Finding Christ in Your Darkest Moments

When life feels too heavy, you are not alone in your struggle.❤️‍🩹 In Philippians 1, the Apostle Paul may have been wrestling with wanting to die when he wrote: "To live is Christ, to die is gain."  He was likely feeling the weight of beatings, shipwrecks, and imprisonment. (In fact, he was in prison when he wrote that.) When everything hurts and we wonder why we should keep going, remember this truth: two things can be good at once . . .   >>> It's good to look forward to being with Christ eternally, AND it's good to remain here now. Your life matters. It matters so much that Jesus came to undo death by dying for you. Some days are unbearably painful. Some days the darkness feels overwhelming. But here's what you need to know: You can't outrun God's grace. Nothing — not even your darkest thoughts — is bigger than Jesus and what He's done for you. When you're struggling: ➡️ Talk to someone. Your pastor, parents, friends, or a hotline. You don't have to carry this alone. ➡️ Get to church. Not because it instantly fixes everything, but because that's where Jesus meets you with His gifts of grace. ➡️ Let others help you. On days when you can barely get out of bed, let someone else drag you to where Jesus is — or bring Jesus to you. ➡️ Remember your baptism. You belong to Christ. Nothing — not even your darkest thoughts — can separate you from His love. Christ defines what is good — not our feelings. And He says YOU are worthy, loved and necessary. Remember: Jesus isn't distant when you're hurting, and his mercy is deeper than any darkness. He's right there in the Word, the sacraments, and the people He's placed around you. You are His baptized child, and nothing can change that. The God who defeated death will never abandon you to fight alone. ✝️ Contributor Deaconess Emma Heinz serves as the Registrar of Higher Things. Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology. #higherthings #lcms #lutheran #mentalhealth

As Lutherans, How Should We Treat Feelings and Emotions?

❓Do Feelings Matter?  What are my feelings in relation to God, other people and ourselves? 🤔 Your emotions matter! 💗 Jesus had them, too — he wept 😢, got angry 😠, and even celebrated at parties 🎉. From the beginning, God created humans to feel things. Adam was so excited when he met Eve that he broke into song! 🎵 As Christians, we need to avoid two extremes: ↔️ 1️⃣ The "just don't feel anything" approach (stereotypically "Lutheran") 🧊 2️⃣ The "if I feel good, God must be happy with me" approach (think televangelism) 🌈✨ The truth is somewhere in the middle. ⚖️ Your emotions are real and valid, but because of sin, they don't always point "true north." 🧭 You can be mad about things God isn't mad about, or love things God doesn't want you to love. ❤️‍🩹 The Psalms are full of emotions — from deep sadness to immense joy. 🥹 When you're feeling sad, you can pray a sad psalm. But notice how the Psalms usually end with hope in God's love and help. 🙏 Here's the good news: Christ not only had emotions, he redeemed them! ✝️ When you feel things . . .  ☑️It's okay to feel them — God made you this way 👍 ☑️ Check them against Scripture — emotions aren't your God 📖 ☑️ Seek help when needed — from friends, pastors, or counselors 🤝 Sometimes you'll have to sit with difficult emotions for a while. ⏳ God's timing often feels terrible to us, but he provides promises to focus on and people to support you through those seasons. 🌦️ Learning to navigate your emotions is lifelong spiritual and emotional growth - emotional sanctification! 🌱 It's not easy, but it's worth it, like physical therapy after breaking a leg. 🦵💪 In the resurrection, your emotions will always point true north again. Until then, Christ gives you his Word to guide you, and forgiveness when you fail. 🌟 Contributor Deaconess Emma Heinz serves as the Registrar of Higher Things. Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology. #higherthings #lcms #lutheran #emotions

What’s the Point of Having a Body?

Why do we have bodies and what are they for? 🤔 Our bodies are for our neighbors. 💝 When we think about loving our neighbors, it's easy to want to dodge the hard parts. 🏃‍♂️ We might prefer to care about issues happening far away rather than dealing with the messy relationships right in front of us (because it doesn’t take as much work). 🌍 But love has a specific shape – it looks like sacrifice, like Jesus on the cross. ✝️ Our first neighbors are the people God has specifically placed in our lives through vocations: our family, our classmates  🏫, the people you interact with daily. These are often the most challenging relationships because we see their sins up close (and they see ours 🫣). It's much easier to love people from a distance or through social media, where there's no real sacrifice required. 📱 But here's the thing: when we spend all our energy on distant causes while neglecting those close relationships, the people who should be receiving our time and attention end up paying the price. ⚖️ Our families miss out when we're busy being angry on the internet. 😠 The good news is that Jesus shows us what real love looks like. ❤️ He had compassion on everyone — both Jews and Gentiles — and backed it up with action. 🤝 Every miracle He performed was a down payment on undoing sin, pointing toward His ultimate sacrifice on the cross. 🙏 When we're wondering who our neighbor is, ask: "Is this someone for whom Christ died?" (Hint: The answer is always yes.) ✨ This means loving people who are different from us, and sometimes even harder, loving people who are just like us. 🌈 Your role isn't to pay the price for their forgiveness — Jesus already did that. 💫 Instead, you get to point them to hope and forgiveness, over and over again, because love isn't a one-time transaction. It's a gift. 🎁 Contributor Deaconess Emma Heinz serves as the Registrar of Higher Things. Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive. #higherthings #lcms #lutheran #whybodiesmatter

Taking Care of Our Bodies

Why should we take care of our bodies? 💪 Our bodies are a gift from God 🎁, and while they're not perfect (thanks to sin) 😔, they’re still worth taking care of. But here's the interesting part: we’re not caring for our bodies to prove our worth to God or anyone else. Instead, we’re maintaining them so we can better serve others. 🤝 Think about it: when we’re exhausted 😴, hungry 🍽️, or unwell 🤒, it’s much harder to be there for our neighbors. Just as Jesus grew "in wisdom and stature," we too are called to maintain our physical selves — not for vanity's sake 💅, but for service. 🙌 We might struggle with this concept from two different angles: 💃Body image issues — trying to meet impossible standards. 🫠Neglecting our bodies entirely — thinking only spiritual matters count. Both extremes miss the point: our bodies, minds, and souls are all connected. 🧠💖💪 When one suffers, they all do. Consider something as simple as sleep. 😴 God created day and night for a reason. When you get enough rest, you’re better equipped to love and serve others. The same goes for eating well 🥗 and staying active 🏃‍♂️. It’s not about looking like Captain America 🦸‍♂️ or following the latest fitness trend — it’s about being healthy enough to fulfill our vocations. This balance can be tricky. ⚖️ Society pushes us to prove our worth through constant busyness 🏃‍♀️ or perfect appearances 📸. But remember: your worth isn’t in what you can do or how you look. It’s in what Christ has done for you. ✝️ Your body, broken as it may be 😔, is redeemed by Him 🙏 and will be restored in the resurrection. 🌅 So care for yourself — not too little, not too much. ✔️ Get enough sleep 😴 ✔️ Eat well 🍎 ✔️ Stay active 🚶‍♂️ When we take care of ourselves, we’re better able to love our neighbor ❤️ as Christ loves us. ✝️ Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive. Contributor Deaconess Emma Heinz serves as the Registrar of Higher Things. #higherthings #lcms #lutheran #jesus