The Lutheran Spokesman (July 1995)
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* L u t h e r a n *
* S P O K E S M A N *
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* July 1995 *
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O' SWEET AND BLESSED COUNTRY
In this issue
Prophets and Profits
Free Indeed
Lessons From The Old Testament
Floundering In A Sea
Aspirin-sized Words
Book Review
Graduation At ILC Eau Claire/Construction Projects
Graduation In Mankato/Sign Posts
Graduates Of The Martin Luther Bible School
Announcements
For Circulation and Subscription Information, click here.
Business and Industry are out to make a profit. But the Church is
called a "nonprofit organization". In a way that's too bad.
NonProfit Organization
Think of the Church as a "profit" institution -- for herself and others.
The profit is spiritual and eternal -- the best kind, a Bible notion.
In Mark 8:36 Jesus asks: "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole
world and lose his own soul?" Isaiah 48:17 tells us: "Thus says the Lord
your Redeemer: I am the Lord your God who teaches you to profit who
leads you in the way that you should go".
Profit Through Christ
You know what these words are saying. You believe in Jesus, profiting
immensely and beyond expressing, by His Gospel of the forgiveness of
sins. Hundreds of Bible passages report the gains received.
1 Corinthians 3:21 says: "...all things are yours showing the profit you
have thorugh Christ".
The Church must continue to explain clearly the advantages and
blessings of the Gospel, the "benefits of Christ" -- to use an
Augsburg Confession term. (The losses must also be explained as
warnings to the Old Adam within, as well as reminders of the Devil's
tricks and the world's baits and lures.)
Profits and Prophets
This leads us to the other word. There is a connection.
You may think the word "prophet" is antiquated that its use has died out.
But there are prophets in the world today, in your congregation. When
Jesus ascended He left prophets behind to carry out His prophetic work.
Every man-, woman-, and child-believer has this function. The Great
Commission clarifies it. The congregations which exercises that Word
receives many blessings, some appearing as "new members". Where there
are faithful prophets there are great profits.
Scripture Basic
St Paul says: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is
profitable..." (you know the rest). Profiting prophets are bound to
both Testaments. The Church remains the only durable "profit
organization", claiming souls for God and heaven through the Word and
Sacraments.
If a denomination and its people neglect the Word, you can expect a
decline, not always in quantity, but certainly in quality. A non-prophet
(non-Word) church is soon a non-profit (non-faith) church. Could it
happen to your church? Has it happened elsewhere?
Three questions spring from the Book of Job: "What shall I profit if I
be cleansed from my sin?" (35:3) "Who is the Almighty that we should
serve Him? What profit do we have if we pray to Him?" (21:15) Unless we
come often to sit at Jesus' feet to hear His Word and take His holy Body
and Blood, we might end up with another Job quote: 'It profits a man
nothing if he should delight himself in God" (34:9). God will then say of
us as He said of His people in Jeremiah 2:8 11: "My people have changed
their glory for that which does not profit".
The World Needs The Prophets Profits
If you were to neglect, abuse, and despise Word and Sacarments you would
soon despair. And the world around you will fall into a worse despair
than it has now! That world needs you. It is "held together" by the
Church. It needs you to "share the wealth", the gain, the advantages,
and profits that come streaming through the Means of Grace
Our congregations are in positions to cause communities around us to
profit in all things divine and eternal. So we strive by God's Spirit,
to increase our prophet-ability. And our profit-ability.
-- Pastor Warren Fanning
A mother wrote to her state senator complaining about laws that allow
women as young as eighteen to perform as dancers in bars. She had
sent her daughter to Houston to go to college. To make extra money,
the daughter got a job dancing in a bar. The money in this line of
work was so good that she soon forgot about getting an education.
The senator used this mother's moving letter to write an editorial
piece for a Houston paper, arguing that at the very least the minimum
age for this degrading work ought to be raised to twenty-one, to
prevent immature eighteen-year-olds from being lured into it.
It wasn't long before a letter to the editor appeared, challenging
the senator's idea. The writer argued predictably that an eighteen-
year-old should be able to decide for herself what is best for her
and that she should not be told by a bunch of middle-aged men in the
state legislature.
This letter expressed a common modern American idea of freedom. In
the mind of the writer, freedom is the license to do whatever you
please; it is an exemption from having to listen to anyone who tries
to tell you what to do. This is the sort of thing many seem to have
in mind these days when they celebrate the freedom we have in our
country.
Doing What God Wants
But the freedom they have in mind is no freedom at all. It is in fact
freedom's very opposite: bondage. The undisciplined person's freedom
is an illusion, a lie. Satan is the orginator of the idea of license
as freedom. He first tried it on Eve, when he suggested that she
would be a lot better off doing something other than what God had
commanded. Throw off the constraints of God and be free, he said.
Eve and Adam found to their sorrow that not only was disobedience to
God not liberating, it was enslaving. It gave Satan a hold
on them, to lead them where they did not want to go, to trick them
into doing things they regretted and that brought them endless misery.
Their experience has been universal to the human race. The promise
of freedom in giving in to the desires of the flesh turns out to be
a most cruel and enslaving lie.
There is such a thing as real freedom, however. It is the freedom
that Jesus won for us by atoning for our sins with His cross. Jesus
promises that whoever continues in His Word will know the truth and
that truth will give freedom (John 8:32). The truth is that Jesus
has broken sin's power and released us from its hold and from its
final result, which is death and eternal damnation. Jesus said:
"If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).
The really surprising thing about the freedom that Christ gives is
that it is exercised in bondage to God. Real freedom turns out
to be this: to be able to do, not what we want, but what He wants.
The flesh wants to be free from God, to follow its own desires.
But the spirit -- that new nature in us that is the creation of
the Holy Spirit -- knows that it is good to be God's slave.
The apostle Paul put it better: "For when you were slaves to sin,
you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you
have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the
end of those things is death. But now having been set free from
sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to
holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is
death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord" (Rom. 6:20-23).
-- Pastor John Klatt
"That We Might have Hope" (Rom 15:4)
Genesis Chapters Twenty-seven Through Twenty-nine
Jacob's Ladder
The Lord is forever faithful to His promises -- that we might have hope.
Believers, yet in their sinful flesh and in this sinful world, are not
always faithful in believing His promises. They become weak in faith
and hope, and begin to doubt that the Lord can keep His promises
without their clever interventions and devices.
God's Will Is Always Done
The great promise of a Savior from sin was passed from Adam and Eve
down through Noah and Shem; then through Abraham and his son, Isaac God
chose to withhold the blessing of children from Isaac and Rebekah for
twenty years. In addition to their natural desire for children, they
also knew that the promise of the Savior was to pass on to the next
generation through their son. In connection with their prayers to the
Lord for His blessing, He revealed to Rebekah that she would be the
mother of twins. He also revealed His will that, contrary to the
customary order, her firstborn twin would serve the younger (Gen
25:19-26).
In chapter 27 we are surprised to read that the aged Isaac called his
elder son Esau to prepare a special meal and bring it to him to
receive the blessing of the first-born. Surely Isaac remembered the
Lord's will concerning the son who would receive the savior-promise.
And, if aged Isaac was a bit forgetful, surely his faithful, believing
wife, Rebekah, would consider it her sacred duty to remind her husband
of the Lord's will and promise -- to Jacob, not to Esau.
Instead of such expected behavior, we are confused and dismayed by
Isaac's determination to do otherwise than the Lord had said; and by
Rebekah's deceitful plot to gain the precious savior-promise for her
son Jacob. Furthermore, where was Jacob's trust in the Lord's will
and its fulfillment? Did the Lord need the deceitful and lying
assistance of mortals to accomplish His will?
We blush with shame to read of the account of our believing ancestors
as they go their way and use their devices to circumvent the will of
the Lord. (Yet, the blush quickly fades to a lack of color as we remind
ourselves of the many, many times we have chosen to "go our own way" to
"do our own thing", and somehow circumvent the will of the Lord
concerning us. Oh Lord have mercy!)
Believers pray: "Thy will be done" and indeed the will of God is always
done. So with Jacob of old. Because of Esaus anger and intention to kill
Jacob, Rebekah arranged to have him go to her brother's house in distant
Haran. Isaac also called for Jacob and blessed him with the blessing of
Abraham, directing him to go to Haran. There Jacob was to find a
believing wife to be his helper as they together carried on the
promise of the coming Savior.
To equip Jacob for this journey of faith, the Lord would teach him anew
that he could trust God's promises. To that end the Lord repeated the
words of the Messianic promise through Isaac: "May God Almighty... give
you and your descendants the blessing of Abraham!" (Hebrews 11:20 adds
the note that "by faith Isaac blessed Jacob.")
The Lord would also repeat the promise directly to Jacob on his way to
Haran (a journey of some 500 miles). As Jacob was along his way to Haran,
tired and alone, he stopped to rest. With a stone for a pillow he went
to sleep. And the Lord prepared an audiovisual lesson for him: "He had a
dream in which he saw a stairway set up on the earth. Its top reached
up to heaven and Gods angels were going up and down on it. And the Lord
stood above it. 'I am the Lord' He said... and in you, that is in your
Descendant, all the people on the earth will blessed."
Jacob woke and named the place Bethel (the house of God). He arose to
continue his journey to Haran with the added security from God: "...I
am with you and watch over you everywhere you go and will bring you to
this country".
Learning To Despair Of Self
The account of Jacob's arrival at Haran and his life under Laban is
recorded in chapter 29. There Jacob learns to desapir of self and look
to the Lord. Laban was a greedy man and sought to take advantage of
Jacob at every opportunity. He deceived Jacob after he worked for Laban
seven years to gain the hand of Rachel, Labans daughter in marriage.
Laban gave him his daughter Leah instead. Jacob worked another seven
years for his beloved Rachel and won her. When the Lord observed that
Leah was the less-loved wife He blessed her with four sons: Reuben,
Simeon, Levi, and Judah. The name Judah signifies "praise". Judah
became the ancesor of King David and of the Savior, Jesus.
Jacob was being taught to know by faith: despite the treachery of evil
Laban, God's will was always done. The Lord was with Jacob! -- No
matter what Laban did to take advantage of Jacob, the Lord saw to it
that Jacob always came away the the material blessings.
Thus the Lord was training and schooling Jacob to trust in His
gracious promises, to lean upon Him in every time of need, and to
avoid resorting to his own schemes for accomplishing what God had
already promised. All this was done for the sake of the savior-
promise, that generations to the end of time "might have hope".
Hallelujah to Jesus who died on the tree
And has raised up a stairway of mercy for me!
-- Prof Gordon Radtke
As Jacob with travel was weary one day,
At night on a stone for a pillow he lay;
He saw in a vision a stairway so high
That its base was on earth and its top in the sky.
This stairway can never no never be made
By man with his might for his cunning is vain;
But God in His love has revealed the One Way
By which man can leave darkness and come to God's day.
The love of the Father invites to ascend;
His spirit gives faith through the Word to this end,
That mankind so base might arise from the dust
To the mansions prepared by the Savior above.
O joy We arrive at the stairway to Home,
Tis Jesus who is the One Way to that goal.
With hearts full of love with the angels we sing:
Praise God for His stairway we live now with Him!
Those who keep abreast of what is going on within the churches know
that the larger Lutheran synods are often recipients these days of
many thousands of dollars of fraternal grant monies. The Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
(LCMS), the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS -- and its little
sister, the Evangelical Lutheran Synod {ELS}), are regular beneficiaries
of grant money from fraternal insurance companies known as Lutheran
Brotherhood (LB) and Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL).
It will not be news to anyone who reads the Lutheran Spokesman that
our CLC synod, long ago now, adopted a stance, for conscience reasons,
against receiving and accepting such fraternal monies. We were uneasy,
and said so, when we perceived that connections with the AAL would
involve us in fraternal activities with those with whom we were not
doctrinally like-minded (known in the church as "unionism").
The uneasiness of which we speak was the result of extended careful
and indepth study of the issues involved. The uneasiness was, furthermore
and most importantly, the result of a consistent application of copious
scripture passages in which God warns His believing children against
compromising their Christian faith, and their confession of that faith,
before the watching world.
As the world watches the following for example what must it conclude?:
* AAL awards grants totalling $600,000 to the three major church bodies
within the Lutheran denomination for a 1994 "Church Membership
Initiative Grant Program" to study trends and attitudes about
membership in the Lutheran church... (May 25 1994 AAL news release)
* Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Maplewood, has been awarded an $800 grant
from AAL. The funds will help the church in conjunction with
Transfiguration Catholic Church, to conduct an ecumenical Vacation
Bible School June 20-24. Children aged 4 through second grade will meet
at Gethsemane Lutheran Church. Those in grades 3-5 will meet at
Transfiguration Catholic Church... (May 20 1994 release)
* The Inter-Lutheran Seminary, Hancock, has been awarded a $2500 grant
from AAL. The grant will provide tuition assistance to seminary
students. AAL awarded the grant through its Church Vocations
Enrichment Program, which gives financial support to 16 Lutheran
seminaries in the United States... (July 1 1994 release)
* The Council of Lutheran Churches of Greater St Louis has been awarded
$500 to help fund the Oct. 15 Lutheran Octoberfest in St. Louis
(July 5 1994 release)
* Etc. (such releases come to our desk almost monthly)
As the world reads about such obviously ecumenical and inter-Lutheran
activities on a regular basis there is only one conclusion: that the
"big three" Lutheran synods are "in this business" (pun intended)
together. The world has the right to conclude that at times these
Lutheran "big three" are even willing to do church work together with
the Roman Catholic Church.
Some "Dirty Little Secrets"
And as far as we are concerned there is more involved than simple
sinful unionism Financial support from AAL -- which, by the way, includes
members of all three major synods on its national policy board -- turns
up here and there for questionable purposes. There is the report of how
a $2200 AAL grant helped fund a new magazine called "Appropriate". This
magazine which bills itself as a Christian humor magazine was founded
last year by a California couple. To us it approaches blasphemy. The
first issue, for example, talked about "The Gospel of RuPaul", in which
"the tranvestite entertainer is presented as a disciple of St. Paul".
Equally as telling can be some activities to which AAL chooses not to
lend its financial support. Under the headline "AALs Dirty Little
Secret" is this report: "Aid Association for Lutherans has a policy
of not funding pro-life efforts in the Missouri Synod because this
might alienate some of its customer base, particularly within the ELCA.
AAL's dirty little secret is that it is not willing to defend the life
of the unborn, but prefers to protect its market share in the Lutheran
insurance business instead." (Christian News March 27 1995).
Knowing how the ELCA has embraced totally the new theology of
liberalism, and how the LCMS has long allowed pockets of liberals to
exist within its fellowship, we are not surprised when these synods see
no problem with the confessionally-compromising activities of the
fraternal insurance companies.
What continues to perplex, however, is how the WELS and the ELS can
continue to flounder about in the sea of Lutheran fraternities. When we
of the CLC meet with them -- officially or individually -- to discuss
fellowship questions on the basis of Scripture their representatives
often speak good words.
Guilt By Association?!
For example, listen to these good words spoken by a WELS church
leader. In answer to a reader's question about "guilt by association"
and whether "a persons membership in a church body or organization
(i.e. lodges) indicate acceptance and support for the beliefs
and standards of that organization", this was said:
The Bible teaches guilt by association especially in the area of
religious confession, membership and practice, for what is at stake is:
the glory of God, the truth of Scripture, the witness of the church,
the integrity of a Christian, and -- ultimately -- the salvation of the
misguided. 1 Corinthians 10:18 asks rhetorically 'Do not those who eat
the sacrifices participate in the altar?'... To participate in,
subscribe to, and subject oneself to the influence of spiritual
falsehood is to contaminate one's own faith and understanding with
error. Paul's metaphor for that demonstrable fact is: 'A little yeast
works through the whole batch of dough' (Galatians 5:9)." (Paul E. Kelm
Northwestern Lutheran, p. 279, August, 1991)
We have often noted in recent years that the WELS and ELS speak well
in the area of the doctrine of church fellowship and its practice But
apparently both synods have floundered about so long and so far now in
the sea of fraternal dollars that theres no turning back
Well spoken. but now what about the practical application of the
doctrine? Isn't it "participating at the altar" of false religions
when one uses fraternal monies to support liberal Lutheran seminaries
and even activities with Roman Catholic Churches? Isnt it clear that the
yeast is in the dough when unChristian practices are supported and/or
condoned by my fraternity? How can one participate in these things and
claim before God one is free of contamination? Pilate washed his hands,
but they were still dirty.
Apparently WELS and ELS have floundered about so long and so far in
the sea of fraternal dollars that there's no turning back. What's
worse, from a spiritual standpoint, is that apparently most of them
are getting used to, and even enjoying, something which at one time
we know gave many of their pastors and people a bad case of seasickness.
It is sad. Especially when essential things like "the glory of God,
the truth of Scripture, the witness of the church, the integrity of
a Christian" (Kelm quote above) are stashed in the hold of the ship
as the craft flounders at sea.
-- Pastor Paul Fleischer
(Note: Since the time of this writing, a letter in which AAL explains
its gift to "Appropritate" appeared in Christian News. In
effect, it is said that the gift was channeled indirectly through its
Lutheran Network grant program. The AAL Grant Program Manager writes that
"(we) feel we were deceived" by the way in which these particular grant funds
were used, and adds: "We are saddened by the offense caused by what was
promoted to be a Christian publication.")
Customer: "I want to buy some acetylsalicylic acid."
Druggist: "Do you man aspirin?"
Customer: "Yes I can never remember that word..."
Most people can remember and understand simple words more easily
than "jaw breaker" terminology. In our Bible the Holy Spirit has
presented mind-boggling truths in "aspirin-size" words.
For example: Scripture declares that Jesus is God and man in one
Person. His divine and human natures did not remain aloof from each
other like two kinds of wood glued together. Nor did they melt into
just one nature making Christ not quite God yet super human.
Instead, the Son of God and the Son of man share the use of each
others abilities just as powerful electricity and the wires in your
toaster share their individual capabilities in order to make toast.
In order to produce our glorious salvation the God and human parts
in Christ worked together.
But see how the Bible presents these stupendous truths in "aspirin-size"
words! Is our Savior both God and man? Answer: "Unto you is born ...
the Lord" (Lk 2). "God was manifest in the flesh
(1 Tim 1).
Did His two natures share the use of their abilities with each other?
Answer: "Jesus went unto them walking on the sea (Mt 14). "But that ye may
know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (He said
unto the sick of the palsy), 'I say unto thee arise and take up thy
couch, and go into thine house'" (Lk 5).
Did God and man in Christ accomplish our salvation by working together?
Answer: "We were reconciled to God by the death of His Son (Rom 5) The
blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin" (1 Jn 1).
Pharmicists must study long hours in order to know precise (but
long-worded) terms for simple medicines like aspirin. Our future
ministers must also study long hours in order to know precise (but
long-worded) terms for the great truths of Scripture.
At Immanuel Lutheran Seminary in Eau Claire, Wisconsin these dedicated
young men, under the professors guidance discuss how Christ's divine
and human natures work together. Their discussion involves sentences
such as: "The communication of Christs attributes in the idiomatic
(individual), majestic and apotelesmatic (accomplishing) areas."
God wants us to have well-trained pastors who guard us from the poison
of false religious ideas. Yet relying on their pastor should not cause
church members to shy away from studying Scripture themselves The Holy
Spirit is an excellent Teacher. By using aspirin-size words He enables
all Christians to search the Scriptures daily, to judge the correctness
of the minister's teaching, and to have the Word of Christ dwell in them
richly.
-- Pastor Robert Mackensenheran
"The Second Martin the Life and Theology of Martin Chemnitz"
by J A O Preus
Concordia Publishing house, 411 pages $35
I last saw Jack Preus, former president of the Lutheran Church
Missouri Synod, at a Bach concert, where he told my son, "If you
want to translate, get a regular job. Translating doesnt pay very
well." Preus, who died in 1994 will be remembered for two things:
1) He was the only LCMS president since Pfotenhauer to move the
Missouri Synod toward orthodox Lutheranism; no progress has been
made since Preus left office. 2) He translated a considerable amount
of Chemnitz' works and capped his translating career with a fine
biography of a little known Concordist.
Those who do not know the works of Martin Chemnitz should acquire
them. They are easy to read, filled with Scriptural insight, witty, and
eloquent in their presentation of the Gospel, the two natures of Christ,
the Real Presence, and other essential doctrines. He deserves being
called "the second Martin" because of his orthodoxy and sense of humor.
Basic works are: Examination of the Council of Trent, a devastating
refutation of Roman Catholic false doctrines; Enchiridion, a brief
outline of doctrine; Loci Comunes a complete doctrinal textbook; The
Lords Supper, a defense of the Real Presence agaist the Reformed; and
The Two Natures of Christ a brilliant and devout treatise on Christology.
Preus translated all of them except Examination and Enchiridion.
Chemnitz' greatest achievement may be his role in drawing up the Formula
of Concord and the Book of Concord at a time when Lutheranism was
badly divided. As a student of Martin Luther and Philip Melanchthon,
Chemnitz had the training and God-given talents to draw together the
lax followers of Philip and the overly zealous Gnesio (pure) Lutherans,
who took certain doctrines to the extreme.
Preus' biography offers a vivid background for an era which is almost
totally neglected, the time after Luther died (1546). The Roman Catholic
emperor stood over Luther's grave and gloated. The Protestant revolt
seemed to be ended, not only by political might, but also by internal strife.
Weaknesses of Philip Melanchthon, "The hamlet of the Reformation", and
George Major were translated into Lutheran treachery. The Wittenberg
faculty became committed to anti-Lutheran doctrine while persecuting
orthodox Lutherans, much like todays "Lutheran" Church Growth Movement
in the former Synodical Conference.
Luther battled the papists and also dealt with the Reformed. Chemnitz
spent more of his time refuting insidious Reformed doctrines which
invaded Lutheranism.
The son of a cloth merchant, Chemnitz enjoyed Latin much more than
fabrics. He studied at Wittenberg as a child and later as an adult
where his genius caught the attention of Melanchthon. In Koenigsberg,
Chemnitz was paid to cast horoscopes for the duke, a position which
allowed him to become an expert in the church fathers, using the dukes
library. He later earned a doctorate at Rostock.
Chemnitz was mild mannered and an expert in Latin and Greek, like
Melanchthon, but he never shied away from a doctrinal battle to enhance
his theological career. He never compromised with the papists or the
Reformed. Nor did a duke's power sway him to ignore wrongdoing. When
Duke Julius took part in a Roman Catholic mass, Chemnitz objected and
lost everything in the process: position, money, and ducal support for the
Formula of Concord. How few Lutheran leaders we have today with the
courage of Chemnitz!
The Formula of Concord, largely the work of Chemnitz and Jacob Andreae,
owes it clarity and Scriptural power to the pen of Chemnitz, who was
tried and purified in the fires of doctrinal strife. The final words
of the Book of Concord remind us why people during the Reformation gave
up everything, even their lives for orthodoxy:
"We have no intention of yielding aught of the eternal, immutable truth
of God for the sake of temporal peace, tranquillity, and unity (which,
moreover, is not in our power to do). Nor would such peace and unity,
since it is devised against the truth and for its suppression, have any
permanency. Still less are we inclined to adorn and conceal a corruption
of the pure doctrine and manifest, condemned errors. But we entertain
heartfelt pleasure and love for, and are on our part sincerely inclined
and anxious to advance that unity according to our utmost power, by which
His glory remains to God uninjured, nothing of the divine truth of the
Holy Gospel is surrendered, no room is given to the least error, poor
sinners are brought to true, genuine repentance, raised up by faith,
confirmed in new obedience, and thus justified and eternally saved alone
through the sole merit of Christ" (Concordia Triglotta, p. 1095).
-- Gregory L Jackson
Construction Projects
(Editor's note: At our request Prof. John Reim was our on-site
reporter for this year's graduation at Immanuel, Eau Claire. We thank
him.)
The setting was unusual. Those attending the graduation events at
Immanuel Lutheran College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin on May 20 found the
traditionally serene landscape of the campus considerably less so.
Entering the fieldhouse meant maneuvering wooden boards and dodging a
few ditches. Evidences of construction were all over the place
outside.
And inside.
An even more important type of construction was to be found in the
members of the class of '95. Marching in stately and colorful procession
was a group of Christian young adults whom the Holy Spirit had built
up in the faith through their study of His Word. Nathan Kettner,
representing the senior class during the Class Day exercises, spoke
appreciatively of the opportunity to grow in Biblical understanding
while he was at ILC -- that upbuilidng which was accomplished in the
graduates by the "power of the Gospel".
President John Lau spoke of that power as he addressed the assembly on
the basis of Jeremiah 6:16: "Thus says the Lord: Stand in the ways and
see and ask for the old paths where is the good way and walk in it and
you will find rest for your souls". And Acts 1:8: "You shall receive
power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. And you shall be
witnesses to me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and
to the uttermost part of the earth."
One of the construction workers whom the Lord brought into His Church's
site is Gordon P. Radtke. For over fifty years he has faithfully served
both as pastor and teacher in the on-going work of building up the
saints. In recognition of his retirement, Pastor Michael Sydow recalled
the significant dimensions of the ministry of this "fellow student of
the Word", and led the assembly in grateful applause for all that the
Lord has accomplished through his labors.
Shortly thereafter it was out the door for the graduation class of
1995. From the high school department 24 seniors received their
diplomas. From the college department two students graduated with
Associate of Arts degrees, six with Bachelor of Science degrees, and
three with Bachelor of Arts degrees. Three theological students
graduated from the seminary as Candidates for the Holy Ministry.
It was out the door from Immanuel's unique construction site to the
many other locations and situations into which the Lord Jesus will
place these newly trained workers. Equipped with saving faith and the
means of grace, they too have been directed by the Church's Head to
head out to make disciples. Thus equipped, they are to continue in the
Church's construction until that day when the scaffolding of this world
is removed, and the Church Militant graduates to the status of the
Church Triumphant.
On Graduation eve, Immanuel's choir sang confidently of the growth which
Christ promises to give His Church. They were words with which these
Christian graduates can take up their work:
We thank You that Your Church unsleeping
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping
And never rests by day or night.
So be it Lord; Your Church shall never
Like earths proud kingdoms pass away.
Your kingdom stands and grows forever
Until there dawns Your glorious day!
Sign Posts
Six young people formed the 1995 graduating class at Immanuel Lutheran,
an area CLC High School in Mankato, Minnesota. Their graduation service
was conducted at 2:30 p.m. on Pentecost Sunday, June 4. Pastor L. Dale
Redlin served both as liturgist and speaker.
His encouraging remarks to the graduates, their family and friends, were
centered around the words of the Savior in Matthew 6:25-34 and the theme
"What Will You Seek In Your Life?" Pastor Redlin mentioned his own high
school graduation, recalling comments from some who couldn't understand
why he would want to go into the work of the church. Such will be the
attitude of those who imagine "things" and "stuff" is what life is all
about. Not so, said the pastor, but rather it is seeking first the
kingdom of God and His righteousness, trusting God to provide the things
which are good and necessary.
Before concluding, the pastor asked the graduates and the assembly to
remember three sign posts along the path through life: 1) Recognize the
Hand of the Lord in Your Life; 2) Remember what true Wisdom is -- Gods
Word; 3) Realize that You Cannot Serve God and Mammon.
Graduate Kristin Arndt spoke to the assembly in behalf of her class.
She thanked God, pastors, teachers, congregation, and parents for the
Christian education provided at Immanuel. Then quoting something she
had heard in her home church in Sleepy Eye recently, she gave what
could be called another good sign post along life's path: "Live each day
as though it will be your last, for it may; live each day as though you
will live forever, for you will." She spoke well, talking about living
each day not fearfully and fatalistically, but confidently in Christ.
The titles of the hymns sung by the grade school and high school choirs
during the course of the service left no doubts as to the direction a
Christian education points its sutdents: "Christ Is Our Cornerstone";
My Hope is Built On Nothing Less"; "How Firm A Foundation"; "Go, My
Children, With My Blessing"; "All Within Me, Bless the Lord."
-- Pastor Paul Fleischer
With this issue we are happy to take note also of the graduation of
four young men from our Bible School (Seminary) in India as well.
Two of these men -- Binoy and Mani -- completed their studies last
December. The other two, Mark and Paul, were scheduled to graduate at
the end of May.
The instructor of these young men, Pastor Mohan Bas of the Church of
the Lutheran Confession in India (CLCI), sent the Spokesman some
photographs of, and a brief story line about, each of these graduates.
From the brief biographical sketches which Pastor Bas gives of each
of the young men, it is obvious that the Holy Spirit has brought the
powerful and saving word of God to bear on their hearts.
It will be no big surprise to hear that none of the four were raised
Lutheran. One (Mark) was born into a Hindu family; another (Mani) had
been a Roman Catholic and two (Paul and Binoy) had early associations
with the Church of South India (Reformed). Before finding joy and peace
in Christ Jesus, each young man in his own way had to experience great
difficulties as well as mighty spiritual struggles to get to the point
where he is today. For example, in the case of Mark, his family at
first opposed him. Now -- according to Pastor Bas' report -- as a
result of Mark's Christian witness, the family is planning to be
baptized into the Christian faith.
We thank God for His wonderful grace in leading these young men to
believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and to confess the doctrines
of God's Word of Truth with us.
After giving his thumbnail sketch of each graduate, Pastor Bas closes
each story with the refrain: "Pray for him..." Indeed, what better
graduation gift could be given across the miles than our fervent
prayers in behalf of each graduate, his family, and his Gospel
ministry to his countrymen? And as we pray, let us remember also
Pastor Bas in his continuing faithful work in behalf of the CLCI and
the Martin Luther Bible School.
"For the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For
'whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.' ... 'How
beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who
bring glad tidings of good things!' ... 'Their sound has gone out
to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.'"
(Romans 10:13,15,18)
-- Pastor Paul Fleischer
Address Correction
Mark Bohde
92 Samlan Soi 6
Tambon Prasingha
Amphur Muang
Chiang Mai 50200
Thailand
Bismarck Services
Summer worship services at St Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bimarck,
North Dakota, are at 8:30 a.m.
Installation
As authorized by President Fleischer, I installed the Rev. Terrel L.
Kesterson as Pastor, Gift of God Lutheran Church, Fairfax, Virginia on
May 21 1995.
-- Ron Rust