# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S108 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 108 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS WHEREAS, Various humanist. historical critics. unorthodox theologians, universalists, existentialists. evolutionists. charis- matics. cultists. and others are introducing errors which are not always answered in confessional documents written centu- ries ago: and WHEREAS. A comprehensive document of confessional rank is now needed to apply the truth of the Scriptures to the errors of our day in order to bring to an end the scandalous divisions among us and provide an international basis and rallying point for fellowship among orthodox Christians everywhere: therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod take appropriate steps to produce a “Twentieth Century For- mula of Concord” that will deal precisely, in thesis and antithesis, with the errors of our time and will establish the truth in accordance with the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions: and be it further Resolved, That this “Twentieth Century Formula of Con- cord” be submitted to theologians, churches, and individuals all over the world for their signatures and adoption. Trinity Lutheran Church New Haven, Mo. Orville Meyer. Secretary 3-36 To Repudiate Luther’s Treatise on Jews WHEREAS, The year 1983 marks the 500th anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther (1483—1546); and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church is especially mindful and appreciative of the many gifts God bestowed upon this hero of the faith, which he used to glorify the Lord of the church; and WHEREAS, The voluminous amount of material he wrote during his lifetime contains material of many types and quality; and WHEREAS, Not all of the writings of the blessed Martin Luther deserve the same weight as instructive in the church today; and WHEREAS, Of particular difficulty in the church which bears his name is his treatise entitled On Jews and Their Lies (Luther's Works, American Edition, Vol. 47, pp. 123—306); and WHEREAS, This lengthy treatise is replete with anti-Semitic and scurrilous treatment of the Jewish people; and WHEREAS, It is encumbent upon the church to praise that which is good and to repudiate that which is wrong: and WHEREAS, The position of Dr. Luther among us is that of teacher, professor, and pastor but not infallible nor inerrant; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod repudiate the treatise of Martin Luther entitled On the Jews and Their Lies in its entirety; and be it further Resolved, That the sections of the treatise herewith sub- mitted be especially denounced: What shall we do with this rejected and condemned people, the Jews? ...I shall give vou my sincere advice... First, to set fire to their synagogues or schools and to bury and cover with earth whatever will not burn, so that no man will ever again see a stone or cinder of them. This is to be done in honor of our Lord and of Christendom, so that God might see that we are Christians... Second, I advise that their houses also be razed and destroyed... _ Third, I advise that all their prayer books and Talmudic writings in which such idolatry, lies, and cursing, and blasphemy are taught. be taken from them... Fourth, I advise that their rabbis be forbidden to teach hence- forth on pain of loss of life and limb... Fifth, I advise that safe conduct on the highways be abolished completely for the Jews... Sixth, I advise that usury be prohibited to them. and that all cash and treasure of silver and gold be taken from them and put aside for safekeeping... Seventh, I recommend putting a flail, an ax. a hoe, a spade, a distaff, or a spindle into the hands of young, strong Jews and Jewesses and letting them earn their bread in the sweat of their brow and be it finally Resolved, That the church continue to give thanks for the multitude of Christ-exalting writings and sermons prepared and delivered by Dr. Luther during his lifetime. Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church Beverly Hills, Calif. Elwood Hillger,. Chairman Jeffrey Mueller, Secretary R. John Perling. Pastor 3-37 To Clarify Our Position on Anti-Semitism WHEREAS, Some falsely believe that the Lutheran Church is bound to the opinions of Martin Luther; and WHEREAS, Some anti-Semitic statements of Luther are being given public expression; therefore be it Resolved, That the Florida-Georgia District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod disavow and reject any and every anti-Semitic remark attributed to Martin Luther (e.g., Luther’s Works, American Edition, Vol. 47, pp. 268—72); and be it further Resolved, That the District reaffirm and determine to proclaim the precious Gospel of Jesus Christ to Jew and Gentile alike since ‘“‘all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” but ‘‘all have been justified freely by His grace through the redemption which is in Jesus Christ.” Florida-Georgia District L. Lloyd Behnken, President Gerald W. Seaman, Secretary 3-38 To Celebrate the 500th Luther Jubilee Properly WHEREAS, Lutherans all over the world this vear are celebrating the 500th birthday of Martin Luther; and WHEREAS, Many of the leading Lutheran theologians se- lected to speak at various celebrations commemorating the 500th year of Luther's birth reject the Christ of Holy Scripture whom Martin Luther proclaimed: and WHEREAS, The theological position of Martin Luther is often misrepresented by liberal Lutheran theologians who claim Luther rejected the inerrancy of the Bible, the immortality of the soul, the vicarious satisfaction of Christ. and other basic doctrines of historic Christianity: and WHEREAS, Lutherans, as they celebrate Luther's 500th birthday, do not want to give the impression to non-Lutherans that they worship Martin Luther: therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod emphasize that. while orthodox Lutherans thank God for Martin Luther, they trust only in the merits of Jesus Christ for their salvation and regard the Bible alone as the source and norm of all Christian doctrine; and be it further Resolved, That the LCMS in its official publications this year show that Luther affirmed 1. the complete inerrancy of the Bible in all matters: 2. the Genesis account of creation in six natural days, and the Mosaic authorship of the first five books of the Bible: 3. the doctrine of justification by faith alone; 4. the vicarious satisfaction of Christ; 5. the virgin birth, deity. and physical resurrection of Christ: 6. the immortality of the soul: 7. the Scriptural doctrine of the Trinity (not any kind of modal monarchianism—three manifestations of God—which is held by many liberal Lutherans):