# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S378
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

378 SOCIAL ACTION AND WELFARE

Moot Issues of Our Day

It is difficult to articulate God's manifest will in
many areas, problems, and issues which deeply trouble
thoughtful people and convinced Christians in our time.

For instance: Can we say with the certainty of
a Biblical prophet that we should be involved in Viet-
nam or that this war is unjust and wrong? Is Christian
participation in this conflict. or acquiescence in it, sin-
ful? Should Communist China be admitted to the
United Nations? With what kind of group may a Chris-
tian ally himself in the interest of hastening the day
of what he hopes will be a time of peace and a more
just order?

When do individual rights and liberties take prece-
dence over society's acknowledged need for law and
order? Do the rebels in our society recognize the divine
authority of governments even when they are imperfect
or unjust? Are riots and rebellions an inescapable part
of God's plan for a new and better social order? When
is unpopular, “antisocial,” and strange behavior really
an example of obedience to God rather than to man?

Lutheran Action Councils

These and similar questions must be answered when
various Lutheran action groups petition for statements
and specific deeds by the Synod and its officials.

Two problems interact in situations of this sort: the
misunderstanding of the nature and the process of the
church's government, and questions of theology and
common sense which are involved in positions which
are demanded.

The assumption should be demolished that synodical
administration imposes curbs or directives concerning
“peace” on synodical periodicals. Petitioners should
take up the matter of such policy with the editors of
the Lutheran Witness and the Lutheran Witness Re-
porter. As a matter of fact, editorials and articles have
appeared frequently encouraging prayer and support
for peace and for concern for human need in America
and elsewhere.

It should also be made clear that the synodical ad-
ministration has no right to brainwash its constituency
on any issue. It has not done so counter to the concerns
of some, but neither has it the right to do so in keeping
with their opinions. The church's business is to provide
for the rich application of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
to the hearts of its people to the end that God’s will be
done in their private lives and in their relation to their
citizenship.

The questions of war, military service, conscientious
objection, and the deploying of national resources to
remedy social ills involve differences of opinion that
are sometimes profound and irritating. This does not
mean that the church has no responsibility to bring the
power of the Spirit of God to bear upon its people as
they engage in discussing and meeting them. The
church is making substantial steps forward in the
problems of welfare. The Commission on Theology and
Church Relations and the Commission on Social Action

have addressed all the congregations of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod with helps toward sound dis-
cussion of the questions of war and military service.
They have sought, not to influence governments but to
strengthen the Christian patience and resolve of the
people of their church.

We should all be encouraged to move forward
through the channels of public service and public opin-
ion with the conviction which we believe the Spirit of
Jesus Christ sustains in us.

The Church’s Essential Task and Witness

Many point to the Old Testament prophets as the
original and ideal champions of peace and of social
justice. Yet it is sometimes forgotten that the prophets
in ancient Israel always spoke in the name of the Lord,
by His authority, as believers, and on behalf of His
people. St. Paul and the New Testament apostles worked
and suffered scorn and persecution “for the sake of the
Gospel.” Preachers in New Testament times brought
sinful man the Gospel even though everyone continued
life in a corrupt and unjust society and form of govern-
ment. Full Christian witness and suffering for Jesus’
sake always involve insistence on the Lordship of Christ
and His salvation. It is the “offense of the cross” that
is the real burden and joy and power of His church.

Christians indeed must be prepared to suffer for the
cause of peace and justice in the world, even when these
are denied them. But this task and this lot are the com-
mon burden of all men of decent and humane senti-
ments. Social action on behalf of good temporal causes
is important, but the church’s responsibility is to give
its people the will to meet the needs of themselves and
their world by preaching the Gospel of Christ's love to
them and thus helping them to be His witnesses.

Social action on behalf of world peace and justice is
good when it helps to speed the arrival of a better day
and time for man on earth. We who live and work
within the communion of confessional Lutheranism have
not always accepted our full share of this earthly task.
Let us admit this historical fact. confess our sins, and
take a just and a Christian share of this part of our
earthly task and responsibility. Yet the Christian knows
that his eschatological hope and promise transcends any
temporal advantage or condition. “Here we have no
lasting city. but we seek the city which is to come”
(Hebrews 13:14). Let us be sure that we speak and do
what is the Lord’s will when we witness in His name
and on behalf of His church. “And whatever you do, in
word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
(Colossians 3:17)

The commission believes that the following areas
need deeper and more specialized study than we have
been able to give them up to this time:

Abortion, Birth Control— Population Explosion.
Church-State Relations, Conscientious Objection, Ex-
tremism (Right and New Left) in the U.S. A., Homo-
sexuality, Types of Power and Their Christian Uses, and
The “Theology of Revolution.”