The Lutheran Spokesman (August 1995)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
* L u t h e r a n *
* S P O K E S M A N *
* ----------------- *
* August 1995 *
* * * * * * * * * * * *
I believe that God has made me with all creatures, giving me
my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason
and all my faculties.
And that He still preserves me; therefore richly and daily
providing clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and home,
wife and children, land, cattle, and all my goods, and all
that I need to keep my body and life; defending me against
all danger, and guarding and prtecting me from all evil;
And all this purely out of fatherly, divine goodness and
mercy, without any merit or wirthiness in me;
For all of which it is my duty to thank and praise, and to
serve and obey Him.
This is most certainly true.
--Luther's explanation to the First Article
In this issue
Divinely Dependent
New Creatures In Christ
A Letter From Asia
Worth Looking Back At
Looking Back in the Spokesman, August 1965
To Our Readers
Meet Seth Schaller
Announcements
For Circulation and Subscription Information, click here.
The IRS defines a dependent as one who relies on his parents or
someone else for more than half his support. According to God's family
design "growing up", in most cases, involves moving from a state of
dependency to a state of independence. Yet even the most independent
among us realizes that term is purely relative -- for all of us depend
upon others in countless areas of our lives.
Our relationship to God gives new meaning to the term "dependent". "In
Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). Whether children,
youth, adults, middle age, or senior citizens, we remain ultradependent,
physically and spiritually, for everything we are and have. This humble
dependent spirit pervades Luther's Explanation to the First Article, as
he cites the three great "P's" which show our Creator-Gods ongoing hand
of blessing in our lives. Our God is our Provider Protector and
Preserver.
Our Provider
"... Richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support my
body and life". Consider the vast amount of food and natural resources
needed to feed and care for this world's five billion people. Despite
repeated warnings of overpopulation, depleted natural resources,
worldwide starvation, and economic doom, God still provides daily,
reproducing, renewing, and replenishing His creation. Any problems that
exist stem not from God's lack of provision, but from man's sinful greed,
waste, and mishandling of His gifts.
"Truly the eyes of all wait upon You, O Lord, and You give them their
food in due season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every
living thing." (Ps 145:15) Indeed is it even conceivable that our
all-powerful and loving Creator who "spared not His own Son, but
delivered Him up for us all" would not also "freely give us all things"
(Rom 8:32)?
Our Protector
Farmers raising chickens well recognize the threat of chicken hawks
who circle the sky waiting for the little chicks to stray from the
hen -- only to swoop down and destroy them. Seeing the hawk the mother
would call her chicks and spread her wings -- under which they would
dash for protection. This striking picture both our Savior (see Luke
13:34) and the Psalmist allude to: "Therefore the children of men put
their trust in the shadow of Thy wings." (Ps 36:7)
Luther puts it this way: "He defends me from all danger and guards and
protects me from all evil". Do we realize all the physical dangers that
surround us daily and from which we have been spared -- bacteria and
virus that can invade and infect our bodies, the breakdown of our
organs, accidents and natural disasters, crime that pervades our society?
Even when illness, trouble, and sorrow come our way He is at our side to
see us through and to strengthen us spiritually.
Consider the hordes of spiritual enemies and threats we face daily. All
have been overcome for us by and through Jesus. He bids us walk and
live in faith, not fear. "For The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of what shall
I be afraid?" (Ps 27:1)
Our Preserver
..."And still preserves me". As awe-inspiring as the creation account is,
the continuation and preservation these past 6000 years of all that
God created may be even more marvelous. The evidence for creation was
and is; evolution is not and never was. In spite of the debilitating
effects of sin and the impending destruction of this universe, the hand
of our Master Creator remains evident to the child of God both by
faith and by sight.
Similarly the miracle of spiritual birth and life through Holy Baptism
is a miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit. However, even more amazing may
be the preservation of that faith until Christian death safely secures
one "forever with the Lord". This is accomplished only by ongoing
application of the Word by the Spirit through Christian parents,
teachers, pastors, spouses, and individuals themselves.
The words of the apostle in 1 Corinthians 4:7 are a fitting summary to
the First Article: "And what do you have that you did not receive? Now
if you did indeed receive it why do you glory as if you had not
received it?" Have I earned and deserved any of Gods blessings?
Never, answers Luther emphatically: "And all this purely out of
fatherly divine goodness and mercy without any merit and worthiness
in me".
Only one response remains appropriate: "For all of which it is my duty
to thank and praise to serve and obey Him. This is most certainly
true!"
--Pastor David Schierenbeck
2 Cor 5:17
Studies in Second Corinthians
Chapter 5
LIFE AFTER LIFE
What Is So New About Your Hope?
The Scriptures tell us: be prepared at any time to give the reason for
the hope we have to everyone who asks us. (1 Peter 3:15) Suppose, if you
will that someone has raised a question about "Life after Life" --
a very popular topic these days. Using the Bible, especially our
assigned chapter, as the reason, the dialogue might go somewhat like
this:
Q:
I have heard you say that if anyone is in Christ he is a new
creation; the old has gone, the new has come" (5:17). Presumably your
hope of life after life would be something quite new and different in
the world?
A:
Absolutely. "'No mind has conceived what God has prepared
for those who love him.' But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit"
(1 Cor 2:9).
Q:
What is so different and new? When the Corinthian letters
were written, there was a lot of talk about life-after-life. Years
earlier the Egyptians believed that a body properly embalmed and
entombed in a monumental pyramid had the prospect of another life.
And the Corinthian Christians must have been familiar with the ideas
of the Golden Age of Greece. People like the Dionysians then held that
someone's soul lives forever in bliss when it is finally freed by death
from imprisonment in matter and flesh -- usually after repeated
unfortunate reincarnations in some physical prison. New Age channelers
in America and Hindus in India are still offering these things as their
hope. Hollywood script writers love to have the dead become ghostly,
disembodied spirits that still look surprisingly like their counter-
parts "on this side". The same in some comic strips.
So what is so new and different about your hope?
A:
A vital part of the answer lies in our study chapter. It
starts with a comparison of our present, temporary habitat ("the
earthly tent") with the future eternal home of believers in Christ.
Q:
What's the difference between the two habitats?
A:
Some key points: Our present habitat is quite imperfect, being so
much involved in "human hands" which have quite spoiled God's perfect
creation. Like ourselves, it is mortal, temporary (4:18), destined
for destruction, when the earth will be laid bare by fire on the Day
of the Lord (2 Peter 3:10). In spite of the countless good things the
Lord provides, this present existence can be loaded with groaning,
(v. 4) pain, and trouble (recall chapter 4). Moreover, since we walk
by faith, not by sight (v. 8), we are in a sense "away from the Lord",
whom we would please and in whom we trust.
Q:
You call that hopeful?
A:
And most meaningful. In our present habitat ("while in the
body" v. 10) we, like Paul, have opportunity to know Christ, believe
in Him, and "please him" (v. 9). So we can be "always confident"
(v. 6) as we live out our days, looking forward to the time when we
all shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may
receive the gracious inheritance due him (v. 10).
Q:
And what is that?"
A:
Back to verse 1, if you will. "A building from God an eternal
house in heaven not built by human hands".
Q:
That's pretty lofty for a flesh and blood person like me. Like
your Paul, I have no desire to be "unclothed" (v 4), becoming a sort of
naked spirit.
A:
Actually the Bible encourages us to think of our life-after-life
eternal home in very physical, down to earth terms. Jesus spoke simply
of the meek "inheriting the earth" (Matthew 5:5). The apostle Peter
echoes the prophecy of Isaiah 65:17 that God will create new heavens
and a new earth, which he pictures as the home of righteousness (2
Peter 3:13). In Revelation 21:2 we are given to see "the Holy City, the
new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a
bride beautifully dressed for her husband. So the dwelling of God will
be with men." So, our writer says, we will have left our present habitat
("away from the body") to be "at home with the Lord" (5:8).
Q:
Now just a minute. Your text says that the eternal house is
"in heaven" (5:1).
A:
Yes, in preparation. Jesus declared that He has gone
"to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2). When He comes back to the
restored earth he will be able to escort us to our quarters, made
glorious by His peesence, in the Fathers House. For an exciting
picture of perfection in the eternal city, read Revelation 21.
Have you ever gone camping in a tent? In spite of the hard ground and
the lack of a shower, you were probably quite content knowing that
tenting was temporary. Your permanent house with all its
creature comforts was waiting for your happy return. That's the picture
before us in chapter 5:1-10.
Q:
I'm not sure I could be suited to life in this glorious eternal
city. The weight of my years is heavy upon me, and I feel I am wearing
out.
A:
We take heart from the Word of 1 Corinthians 15. Read there how
we shall be changed by the creative working of God in the
Resurrection. Then this mortal (oh, how mortal!) shall put on
immortality; this mortal will be "swallowed up by life" (2 Cor 5:4).
"The Lord Jesus Christ ... will transform our lowly bodies so that they
will be like His glorious body" (Philippians 3:21).
Q:
You sound so sure about all this. How can you be considering
that all you describe of life-after-life is completely beyond human
experience?
A:
The Spirit has revealed these things through Christ in the
Word. And -- according to the text (v. 5), He has been given
to us. His joyous presence is Life -- a foretaste of our future life,
and a sort of down payment that guarantees what is to come.
Q:
This lovely picture of life-after-life is obviously drawn for
Christians. As your oft-quoted John 3:16 has it: "Whoever believes in
Him (the Son of God) shall not perish but have eternal life." Do you
see any hope for an inquirer like me?
A:
A glorious yes rings out from the remainder of our
chapter. In dealing with the universal problem of sin, the root
cause of mortality, we are told that Jesus, as a sacrificial
substitute, "died for all, and therefore all died" (v. 14). Every
person on earth is encouraged to see Jesus as dying to make atonement
for his/her sin. It was the world that God was reconciling to
himself in Christ, not counting peoples sins against them (v. 19).
The status of the whole human race was changed from guilty to innocent.
Justified!
Because of this, those who have been led to receive their new status
in faith have become Christ's ambassadors (v. 20). Addressing any
and all, they implore people on Christ's behalf: "be reconciled to
God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him
we might become the righteousness of God." (vv. 20-21).
Don't you find yourself drawn to this? Enjoying in Christ what makes
possible the believers sure and certain hope of true life-after-life?
I implore you, be reconciled to God!
--Rollin A Reim
(The following are excerpts from a recent letter from our
missionary to Thailand We know you will find it interesting As you
read you will also find many things for which you will want to pray.)
June 10 1995
Dear Fellow Believers:
How I praise God that I can write to you from Asia, the most
spiritually needy continent in the world! It is both a privilege and
a challenge to be here. Since this life is so short, and we have so
little time to serve our Savior and proclaim the Gospel, I am thankful
to the Lord that He has granted me the opportunity to bring the Gospel
to a part of the world where so many have not heard. What a joy to
prepare for this task! We miss our families in the United States
very very much. We also miss all of you. In spite of this present
loneliness we look forward to the Resurrection when we will all be
together forever, and so the Lord comforts us with this certain hope.
Now it is day when we can work. According to Gods grace and strength
we intend to do just that until the Lord grants us rest.
Last January, I came to Thailand to prepare the way for my family's
trip here. Prior to January, I waited in the United States for
communications from a friend in Thailand who volunteered to help us
get visas to stay in Thailand. He was also to meet us when we
arrived. Since I didn't hear from him and I couldnt contact him,
the Mission Board permitted me to come to Thailand myself in January
to attempt to get everything done, including getting a recommendation
letter for a visa, finding a home, and enrolling in language training.
(Pastor Bohde then tells how the Lord marvellously arranged all these
things).
. . . After arriving in Thailand on February 5 we allowed ourselves
a couple of weeks to buy the things we needed to get going, and
familiarize ourselves with the city, and where such things as
hospitals, doctors, and clinics were, etc. We also spent a couple
of days getting over jet lag. We began our language study at the
end of February. Our language teacher comes to our home five days a
week for two hours a day. We began by learning the 44 consonants,
45 vowels, and combinations, and five tones. We are studying through
the basic Thai language books that children get in school. Since I
will need to read and write as well as speak Thai, we have chosen a
more traditional approach to learning the language. Our Thai teacher
agrees. Thai children go through one book in about six months. We have
been studying for about 3 months and are preparing to begin our third
book. We have also begun basic communications. We speak Thai for example
when we go to market or talk briefly on the street, to take a taxi, etc.
Our vocabulary is growing. We are now beginning to emphasize vocabulary
and speaking. We are able to read quite easily now. We don't know much
of what we are reading yet but we are progressing. We have been told by
several people that we are moving very quickly. We praise God for that
Shelly is doing extremely well in speaking, because of her ability to
hear and reproduce the tones. I am excelling in reading. Please pray
for me in the area of speaking. While I am progressing well, it is
more difficult for me to hear and reproduce the tones consistently.
Each word has its own tone; this is what makes asian languages sound
sing-songy. Unless the tone is spoken accurately, a Thai speaker can't
understand what you are saying, if you pronounce the letters and the
word correctly. Please pray for my speaking ability. This ability is
critical to both preaching and witnessing.
. . . We live in a neighborhood that is all Thai. We are the only
Farang (foreigners) in the area. While most foreigners tend to live
close to others from their own country, we wanted to avoid that so
that we would have more intereactioin with the Thai culture. It is
more demanding this way because we don't have the comfort of the
familiar that we would have if we spent alot of time with fellow
Americans. While it is more demanding in the short term, I believe
our living siituation will be a real blessing in the long term. The
people in the neighborhood have been very friendly to us. We thank
the Lord for His great kindness to us.
. . . While Thailand, like any tropical country, has alot of reptiles
and insects, we aren't bothered too much where we live. Since we live
in the city, we don't have too many to deal with. Of course, we have
snakes in the yard. We are infested with ants (everyone is) including
fire ants as the children have found out. Both have been bitten by fire
ants and are much more cautious now. We have large roaches which die
hard. We have lizards in the house which are good because they eat
insects. We have several varieties of lizard outside, one of which
is poisonous. The children avoid that one when they see it. The other
day I found a spider on the road down the street from our house that
was the size of a tarantula! While I have seen them in houses before
we don't have any in our house. The mosquitoes aren't too numerous
now, since we are just entering the rainy season. . .
. . . The Lord has richly blessed us with all that is necessary.
How we praise God for your prayer and financial support of this new
mission. Please continue to pray for us. The Lord has answered
prayers abundantly. Please pray especailly for the following:
1) Rapid progress in Thai language study; 2) Our physical and
spiritual protection; 3) An appropriate vehicle; after our formal
language study is completed, I will need to be much more mobile;
4) The Lord would give me wisdom and guide me to know where He wants
us to begin our work after language study.
. . . Many of you have requested a list of what we need. We will be
sending that along shortly. May the Lord richly bless all of you.
How we praise God for the privilege of carrying the Gospel to Asia!
The Lord will continue to sustain us and guide us through your
prayers, support and love. Please continue to pray.
Your Fellow Servant,
Mark Bohde
Worth Looking Back At
It was 1965 when then editor of the Lutheran Spokesman Winfred
Schaller Jr wrote a provocative series of articles entitled REMEMBER
THE DAYS OF OLD The following words from the first article in the
series (May 1965) help to explain the authors purpose: In several
articles we wish to explore our heritage and make an attempt to
understand ourselves in the light of our inheritance And we would view
that heritage not only as a history of amazing and wonderful gifts
from a merciful God but we would also see the bad elements the sins of
the fathers which are also a part of our heritage For we must learn
that that which has called forth the judgment of God will also call
forth judgment on the CLC to the extent that we continue in the sins
of the fathers We would learn the weaknesses of Missouri which go back
100 years or more and see how we carry those weaknesses; we would
recognize all weakness sic in Wisconsin which we share; we would learn
what wrong emphases the Norwegians transmitted to us We would try to
discern our errors and faults that we may seek to be cleansed from
them and kept from presumptuous sins.
Such searching through past history was both a bold and commendable
undertaking particularly because many of the writer's CLC peers we
include layleaders in this assessment had lived through and thus
personally experienced a large part of the period of synodical
conference history to be reviewed They with the writer were not
unaware of the rich heritage from which confessional Lutheranism had
sprung in this country; they with the writer were not unaware of their
personal and synodical weaknesses yes failings They with the writer
knew where the strength lay for the future in a childlike submission
to those things which the Savior says have been hidden... from the
wise and prudent and been revealed... to babes (cf Mt 11:25ff).
Thirty years have passed. It is well, we think, for the new generation
to be reminded, and to learn a little something about the concerns and
attitudes of the former generation now fast disappearing from the
scene. Schaller (Spokesman Editor from June 1958-August 1970;
died 1983) had many gifts. Current readers may not be aware that it is
due largely to his writing that we have the confessional statement
Concerning Church Fellowship. Schaller composed the first draft
of this writing which continues to this day an essential part of the
doctrinal platform of the CLC.
The April 1983 issue of the Spokesman reports on Schaller's death.
The report includes the following: "In 1975... he took a colloquy and
was received as a clergy member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri
Synod". The report written by current staff member Rollin A. Reim,
concludes with the observation that later in life Schaller
"apparently no longer held to the convictions about fellowship which
he so forthrightly expressed in Concerning Church Fellowship.
Nevertheless this is also said: "We have reason to recall with profound
gratitude what the Lord provided for us and the church-at-large through
this man of stature during the time he was among us. Since he wrote so
well there will be enduring benefit for many..."
Its in the spirit of those words that we pass along some exerpts
from the second article in the series. Those who would be interested
in reading the five unabridged articles, each of which are quite
lengthy, please contact me.
Pastor Paul Fleischer, Editor
From August 1965
(a portion of) REMEMBER THE DAYS OF OLD -- II. . . . We are all
descendants of one man, C. F. W. Walther. . . .Everything you and I
have learned to treasure all that was good in the Synodical Conference
-- its faithfulness to the Gospel, its emphasis on sound doctrine, its
hatred for all error, its determination to establish Christian day
schools, its thorough indoctrination of pastors, teachers, members, --
all this must be credited (humanly speaking) to that one man, Walther.
Our confessional Lutheran church in America was born at Altenburg
Missouri in 1841, when Walther contended for the true teaching of
the church and ministry.
His greatness is that he did not build a sect on that point of
doctrine. Though forced by controversy to contend for the scriptural
teaching on church and ministry, yet the salvation of the sinner by the
justification of God in Christ remained central in Walthers teaching,
preaching, and writing. He preached the full forgiveness of sins as no
one had since the monk from Wittenberg. In his controversies with the
Buffalo Prussians, and later with the Ohioans in the election
cotroversy, he was able to see the heart of the errors and their
relationship to the good news, the peace of the sinner.
Walther was a courageous battler for the truth. He was also honest.
Though he anxiously yearned to establish one Lutheran church across
the land, his awe for God's Word was so great that compromise was out
of the question for him. Quickly a seminary was established and a
large clergy developed all stamped with Walthers love for the Gospel
and fervent zeal for Gods Word. This is not meant to belittle the other
influential men in Missouri, nor the many gifted lay workers in
Missouri and Michigan. Wyneken, Hattstaedt, and Sievers brought a strong
mission zeal to the group and turned the synod outward and outreaching.
But Walther was the giant, a tremendous worker in every phase of the
work. He combined an amazing practical ability with his theological
gifts. The constitution he wrote for the synod is still used to a great
extent today. His constitution for a congregation is reflected in every
congregation in our midst.
Walther fitted himself into his times. He understood America and
recognized its greatness and its peculiar dangers. He quickly
established that lodge membership was incompatible with a Christian
confession. He knew that the union spirit of the European churches
found even great reception in this country where people of all faiths
mingled freely in the market place.
Walthers greatness overshadowed all else, including the other faculty
members, who were almost insignificant by comparison in the eyes of the
students. The graduates of the first 30 years or so were Waltherian
through and through. This created the unity in Missouri the strong
esprit de corps. There was consistency in doctrine and in every realm
of practice. This strong unified clergy, imbued with Walthers massive
spirit, stood ready to receive and shepherd the mass of immigrants that
flooded the country from 1850 to 1900.
This Walther army was not only a well drilled army, but had great
substance because Walther gave these men more than himself. He
stressed above all objective justification that God had proclaimed
an Easter pardon for every sinner in the world. Therein lay Walthers
greatness, his meaning, his success. From St Lous went forth a host
of faithful Gospel preachers establishing congregations from shore to
shore. As other groups were assimilated by Missouri, they did not bring
adverse influences. The solid corps was too strong. When one joined
Missouri one became Missourian.
Yes we have inherited much from Walther and the Missouri Synod. The
entire concept of a confessional Lutheran church in a free society,
uncompromising loyalty to Christ, an appreciation of the central truth
of objective justification, the importance of Christian schools, sound
congregational life adapted to a democratic society, excellent
organization, and a burning zeal for mission work.
To complete our work we must also see in our inheritance the
shortcomings in Missouri and even in Walther. But we leave that for
another issue.
(W. Schaller, Jr.)
Behind An Editorial Groan
Almost as soon as last month's issue arrived at our home in finished
form I knew I was in trouble. My wife asked me if I looked closely at
the cover. I said: Why? and looked at it again with critical eye.
Immediately I knew what she meant, and sank back into my chair. Oooh no.
"What now dear?" came the editors groan.
Immediately a letter was dispatched to all CLC pastors asking them
to intercept as many issues as possible and insert -- in the issue
itself or in a church bulletin -- some statement to the effect that
the editor is aware that the otherwise attractive cover could
inadvertently mislead.
One pastor who also happens to be president of the synod wrote some
good and gracious -- from our standpoint -- words for the sake of
subscribers in his congregation (in his bulletin):
As usual there are the many good articles in the Spokesman that
instruct and edify. But we make the following comment:
According to Scripture we are to respect authority. That includes
civil authority, because civil authority is "ordained of God". So
says the Spirit through the apostle Paul in Romans 13:1. The Spirit
speaks through the pen of the apostle Peter saying, "Submit
yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake: whether
it be to the king as supreme; or unto governors... (1 Pet 2:13-14).
"... Honor the king" (2:17). As Christians who are first of all
citizens of heaven (Php 3:20) one of the manifestations of our
faith is recognized by living as discerning, respectful, and
responsible citizens of our country, these United States.
Indeed, we are thankful to the Lord for the manner in which He has
blessed this country in which we live. With all its problems and
ills as part of this world winding down to its close, in which
other nation of this world would you rather live? God has blessed
this country in His longsuffering and patience. For that we are
thankful.
It was with the intent of recognizing the Lord's blessing upon this
country, undeserving as it is, that the (July 1995) Spokesman
carries the cover that it does. However, unfortunately and much to
the editor's chagrin, the expression on the cover, taken from a
hymn in our hymnal, is used out of context. The hymn verse which
begins with "O Sweet and Blessed Country" obviously does not have
the United States in mind. The hymn verse is speaking of heaven,
"The home of God's elect". It is the home in heaven "that eager
hearts expect". In the hymn we pray "Jesus in mercy bring us to
that dear land of rest..." The editor wants you to know that he
understands the sense of that hymn verse, and that he regrets its
appearance on the cover with the implication that the sweet and
blessed country is this nation.
Nevertheless, read the articles. You will profit.
Why Such A Fuss?
Perhaps this is an opportune time to mention why, from time to time,
the Spokesman prints corrections or clarifications. The reason
is stated succinctly in one of our doctrinal confessions: the Brief
Statement of 1932:
The orthodox character of a church is established not by
its mere name nor by its outward acceptance of, and subscription
to, an orthodox creed, but by the doctrine which is actually
(original emphasis) taught in its pulpits in its theological
seminaries and in its publications (our emphasis)... (Article
29a)
The "its" in each case here means "the synod's." Inasmuch as the
Spokesman is an official CLC publication, it represents the
CLC to the world. What is taught and said on these pages, or what
is depicted on the cover, tell something about the synod.
The Brief Statement above implies that there can be a
discrepancy between what a congregation or synod -- or its official
magazine -- says and what it actually stands for. It has happened
before that what is written or otherwise appears in official pub-
lications leaves a wrong message. Beyond publications, it happens
more and more in our day that what congregations or synods say in
their yellowed, musty constitutions is one thing, but what they
believe or practice may be quite another.
For example, a check of the doctrinal articles in constitutions of
many Lutheran congregations as well as most Lutheran synods today
would likely contain some very good words about the Bible as the
Word of God. But, dear reader, you can't take most of them at their
word! Things have come to such a pass in our day that it needs to be
asked: "What do you mean by that? Does 'is' mean 'is' or are you
suggesting that the Bible just 'contains' God's Word?"
Doctrinal Discipline
Notice yet how the above-mentioned Article 29 of the Brief
Statement concludes:
...On the other hand, a church does not forfeit its orthodox character
through the casual intrusion of errors, provided these are combated
and eventually removed by means of doctrinal discipline, Acts 20:30;
1 Tim 1:3.
Please check the Bible verses. They teach the importance of doctrinal
awareness and supervision. They show that it is a biblical and thus a
divine mandate that great care be taken that "no other doctrine" than
God's clear Word be taught in the church. When and where it is,
doctrinal discipline is called for.
Doctrinal discipline has almost disappeared from most Lutheran synods.
We note in one case this summer that the Wisconsin Synod still
practiced it. Synod officials this summer declared a sizeable
Minneapolis congregation and its three pastors out of fellowship
because they had been teaching and practicing -- and for a number
of years defending their teaching and practice -- contrary to Bible
doctrine on the role of women in the church.
Doctrinal discipline is practiced in the CLC. Such discipline, as all
things in Christ's church, will be carried out with Christian love,
much patience, and great care on the part of those responsible for
exercising it. Notice what is said in one of our CLC tracts:
...We must watch closely what is preached and taught. Whatever
is contrary to the Bible must be corrected. We first find out
whether what has been said (or written - PF) is just a
slip of the tongue or was poorly expressed. If it is defended, the
false teacher and false teaching are to be identified for all to
see. We must separate ourselves from the error and its teachers.
(This Is your Church, p. 11f).
In other words, what you or I say -- or write -- is one thing. What
you or I take pains to defend is quite another.
-- Pastor Paul Fleischer
Meet: Seth Schaller
Seth Schaller received his elementary education teaching degree from
Immanuel Lutheran College in May 1993. Through the Call Committee on
Graduates, he received a call to teach at Redeemer Lutheran School in
Cheyenne Wyoming, where he is currently teaching. Seth married Erin nee
Fossum Schaller in 1994.
His most memorable day in teaching came when his first firstgrade
student began to read. His favorite subject to teach is science. Outside
the classroom Seth enjoys fly fishing and playing basketball. He has
learned patience by being a longtime fan of the Detroit Lions! When
observing his classroom you may hear him use his favorite expression --
"Get your work done first then you can use free time".
Seth is the son of Pastor and Mrs. Walter Schaller of Lemmon, South
Dakota.
(Editor's note: Staff member Joseph Lau -- himself a teacher --
has agreed to undertake the compiling of brief profiles of our CLC
teachers. These men and women who, day in and day out, instruct
Jesus' little lambs, so regularly and faithfully in the classroom
are among the many "unsung heroes" in the church. Let us remember
to pray for and give thanks for the teachers in our Christian Day
Schools! And, teacher Lau, we thank you for your efforts.)
Appointment
Pastor Stephen Kurtzahn has been appointed as Visitor of the Minnesota
District. He will fill the unexpired term of Pastor Douglas Libby who
resigned upon accepting the call to a fulltime position in Immanuel
High School, Mankato.
--Daniel Fleischer President
Installation
On July 2, 1995 I ordained and installed Michael Schierenbeck as pastor
of Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bowdle So. Dak., as authorized
by President Fleischer. Assisting were Pastors W. Fanning, T. Kesterson,
P. Larsen, P. Naumann, W. Schaller, J. Schierenbeck, and L. W. Schierenbeck
--Pastor Paul Krause
Change Of Address
Wayne Eichstadt
2121 Burwick Avenue 2905
Orange Park FL 32073
904 2720911
WEichstadt@AOLcom
Rev John H Johannes
821 Security Drive Apt AA104
Fond du Lac WI 54935
Two Groups in India
Last month I passed along some mistaken information in connection with
the article about the graduates of the Martin Luther Bible School in
India. That school is conducted by Pastor Mohan Bas, who is leader of
the Bharath Ev. Lutheran Church (BELC), and not, as was stated, of the
CLCI, which is a separate group. However, both the BELC and the CLCI
are in doctrinal agreement with the CLC.
--The Editor
"Invisible Sunday School"
The Invisible Sunday School is now being published by Randi Pomerantz.
Any requests for sets should be sent to her at this address: 3130 E.
36th Ave. #3, Spokane, WA 99223.
The price is now $35.00 plus $5.00 for shipping and handling. Please
send a check with your request for a set. The check should be made out
to: Randi Pomerantz.
Request For Nominations
There will be three vacancies to fill on the faculty of Immanuel
Lutheran College for the 1996-97 school year. Two of these positions
will require a man qualified in the area of elementary education; the
other for a seminary-trained individual. The nominations will be
requested one at a time.
The Board of Regents for ILC at this time invites the voting members
of CLC congregations to nominate an individual or individuals to fill
the vacancy created by the retirement of Professor Robert Rehm. The
nominee should have extensive teaching experience in a multigrade
elementary classroom. He should be qualified to teach education classes
and elementary education methods at the college level. He should also
be qualified to teach high school and college social studies. He would
have a secondary responsibility to teach high school English. The
nominee should have either an advanced degree, masters, or be willing
to pursue one.
Those placing nominations are encouraged to include information
regarding their nominees educational background and teaching
experience. They should also indicate how their nominees might help
our school in supervising extracurricular activities -- band, strings
other music, sports, coaching, etc.
Letters of nomination should be postmarked no later than September 10,
1995 and sent to:
Pastor Michael Sydow Sec
ILC Board of Regents
Rt 2 Box 664
Markesan WI 53946