LBT Core Values – God’s Word

LBT Executive Director Dr. Mike Rodewald offers this reflection on the nature of God’s Word, which lies at the core of LBT’s values.

What a joy and privilege it is to be a part of an organization whose goal it is to reach others with God’s Word through their own language!

Those who read other holy books, most specifically in such as the Qur’an, value and revere the text exclusively in the original language and form rather than the assumed meanings behind the words. This tends to result in approaches that focus on correct practice, deed, and ritual since the individual can never be sure if the meaning of the texts is correctly understood from the words in the original language.

The Gospel Message

But for us, the Word in Scripture is more than just ancient texts written down to practice without understanding. Rather, the gospel message – conveyed through words of any language – is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16).

That is why we as Lutheran Bible Translators exist – not to translate words – but that the power of God, contained in His Word, goes forth through the words of the world.

Where His Word makes its way in its truth and purity, there is fruit – people hear and believe the message proclaimed even at the ends of the earth.

 God’s Word Enlightens Us

God calls, gathers, and enlightens us through His Word. When and where such faith occurs, we as His people live out the Word, which points others to that message through our witness and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

God calls all to Himself through His Word. We rejoice together as the Word goes forth, unchanging and powerful, that together with others we may know Jesus as our Savior.

Lutheran Bible Translators has been founded upon this core value, and we give thanks for receiving God’s Word in our own heart language. We remain committed in the work before us, so that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, people around the world may receive the life-giving joy of the Word in the language of their hearts.