We are ever fighting hyper-American pietists and iconoclasts who would rob us of our Christian freedom. Lately, this has manifested itself in a certain spirit who accused good Pastor William Weedon of papism for ringing bells during the consecration (a practice that Immanuel also embraces). (Pastor Beane’s defense of Pastor Weedon is worth reading.)

Here are a couple things to ponder from Luther on the topic:

First, Luther regarded the use of bells in worship as a “thing indifferent”:

Images, bells, eucharistic vestments, church ornaments, altar lights, and the like I regard as things indifferent. Anyone who wishes may omit them. Images or pictures taken from the Scriptures and from good histories, however, I consider very useful yet indifferent and optional. I have no sympathy with the iconoclasts. [AE 37:371]

Second, in his Sermon on the Worthy Reception of the Sacrament, Luther expounds on the true, evangelical understanding of mass bells:

Eighth, the priest’s elevation of the sacrament and the cup, together with the ringing of the bells,6 has no other purpose than to remind us of the words of Christ. It is as if the priest and the bell-ringer were saying to us all, “Listen, you Christians, and see, take and eat, take and drink, etc. ‘This is the body and this is the blood of Christ,’ spoken softly by the priest, but heard clearly and audibly by us. With these words you must now edify your hungry heart and rely upon the truth of this divine promise, then receive the sacrament, make your way to God, and say, ‘Lord, it is true that I am not worthy for you to come under my roof, but I need and desire your help and grace to make me godly. I now come to you, trusting only in the wonderful words I just heard, with which you invite me to your table and promise me, the unworthy one, forgiveness of all my sins through your body and blood if I eat and drink them in this sacrament. Amen. Dear Lord, I do not doubt the truth of your words. Trusting them, I eat and I drink with you. Do unto me according to your words. Amen.’ ” [AE 42:173]
This is why we ring a bell at the consecration at Immanuel. No one is required to do it. But neither can any spirit rob us of our devotion to the Lord’s gift to us in the Sacrament, or make rules forbidding something the Lord has not forbidden.