# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S4
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

f PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

have learned. This is the first time for many years that a sister
synod has brought such charges against our Synod. If they can
be substantiated on the basis of Scripture, they should be ack-
nowledged and corrected. If, on the other hand, they cannot be
proved with clear statements of Holy Writ, they should be with-
drawn. God’s Word must decide these issues. Our position is clear.
We must hold fast the profession of our faith, We must do so
without wavering, i.e., unflinchingly, unyieldingly. We are dealing
with a most precious heritage, which we must learn to know ever
more thoroughly. We must not only have it, but also hold it.

The apostle’s next exhortation reads: “And let us consider
one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” Those who
are united by faith cannot be inconsiderate of one another. We
Christians live not merely for ourselves, but also for others. Not
only should we ourselves serve God and our fellow men, but we
should rejoice to see also our fellow Christians lead a life of con-
secrated service. In fact, we should provoke them, arouse them,
and incite them to love and to good works. Both by word and
by example we should make a mighty impact on their conversa-
tion and conduct. The apostle says: “Not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one
another.” Have we people who have grown listless, cold, and in-
different to God and His Word? There we have opportunity for
exhorting and provoking.

What I have said of individuals applies equally to congrega-
tions and their relation to one another. We have a synod not for
the sake of an organization, but to be in a better position to carry
out the great assignment which we have received of the Lord, and
also to consider one another and incite and exhort one another to
love and to good works. We are also meeting in convention for
that purpose. We are eager to enkindle within the heart of every
delegate a burning desire to share the marvelous love of our Savior
and His wonderful redemption with sin-lost, but blood-redeemed
souls, both at home and abroad. We desire to provoke one another
to ever-increasing eagerness to train pastors, teachers, and mis-
sionaries and to send these laborers as our representatives into the
fields white unto harvest, both at home and abroad. That will be
the paramount business of our convention. This is decidedly urgent.
The world is desperately in need of our wholehearted dedication
to this cause. The apostle urges us to consider well that God’s
infinite grace should provoke us to dedicate our life to it.

May God graciously bless our deliberations. May He grant us
a spirit of unswerving loyalty to His Word which will not com-
promise the truth, but at the same time a spirit of love and eager-

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