# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S548
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

548

CHURCH AND CULTURE

Resolved, That the district in convention memorialize the Synod
to develop resources for use in home and schools related to the issue
of Gnosticism.
Minnesota South District
Ov. 11-16

To Address the Global War on Christianity
WHEREAS, The Christian family understands we are “strangers
here and heaven is our home” (John 8:18; 9:2); and
WHEREAS, Satan has worked to undermine and destroy
Christians in every age (Rom. 8:18–39; Col. 4:18); and
WHEREAS, The global culture is continuing to be an instrument
of evil in the slaughter and harm of Christians in many parts of the
world. Every month 322 Christians are killed for their faith, 214
churches and Christian properties are destroyed, and 722 acts of
violence (such as rape, beatings, forced marriages, arrests, and
abductions) are perpetrated against Christians (statistics from Open
Doors Ministry, 2017); and
WHEREAS, The Italian journalist Antonio Socci asserts that there
have been 70 million martyrs worldwide since the church began and
that 45.5 million, or 65 percent died in the 20th century (Zenit.org
News Agency, “20th Century Saw 65% of Christian Martyrs,” May
9, 2002); and
WHEREAS, Persecution is carried out by many government and
totalitarian regimes; and
WHEREAS, Societal pressure as experienced in much of western
culture marginalizes and discriminates against Christians and the
Church; and
WHEREAS, The apostle Paul writes that Christians in the body of
Christ “should have equal concern for each other” and that if “one
part suffers, every part suffers with it” (1 Cor. 12:25–26); and
WHEREAS, We are encouraged “to remember those in prison as
if you were together with them in prison, and those who are
mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” (Heb. 13:3);
therefore be it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS)
in convention pray for Christians everywhere who suffer and are
suffering persecution for the faith; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS regularly inform pastors,
congregations, and individual members of the ongoing persecution
of Christians; and be it further
Resolved, That the congregations of the LCMS regularly pray for
Christians who are being martyred around the world; and be it
further
Resolved, That the LCMS become a global leader in speaking to
the issue of Christian persecution; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS provide the means and resources to
help, support, and protect the lives of Christians everywhere; and
be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS establish a task force to examine the
best ways we can accomplish these goals.
Concordia, Fort Wayne, IN; Emmanuel, Fort Wayne, IN; Martini,
New Haven, IN; New Life, Fort Wayne, IN; St. Michael, Fort
Wayne, IN; St. Peter’s, Fort Wayne, IN

2019 Convention Workbook

Ov. 11-17

To Remember the Persecuted Church
WHEREAS, The Christian family understands that we are
strangers here and heaven is our home (Heb. 11:13; 2 Cor. 5:6–8);
and
WHEREAS, Satan has worked to undermine and destroy
Christians in every age (Eph. 6:10–12; 1 Peter 5:8); and
WHEREAS, The secular culture is continuing to be an instrument
of evil in the slaughter and harm of Christians in many parts of the
world. Every month 322 Christians are killed for their faith, 214
churches and Christian properties are destroyed, and 722 acts of
violence (such as rape, beatings, forced marriages, arrests, and
abductions) are perpetrated against Christians (Source: Open Doors
Ministry, 2017); and
WHEREAS, The Italian journalist, Antonio Socci asserts that there
have been 70 million martyrs worldwide since the church began and
that 45.5 million, or 65 percent, died in the twentieth century
(Antonio Socci, “Twentieth Century Saw 65% of Christian
Martyrs,” Zenit, May 9, 2002); and
WHEREAS, Persecution is carried out by many government and
totalitarian regimes; and
WHEREAS, Societal pressure as experienced in much of Western
culture marginalizes and discriminates against Christians and the
Church; and
WHEREAS, The Apostle Paul writes that Christians in the body of
Christ should “care for one another” and that if “one member
suffers, all suffer together” (1 Cor. 12:25–26); and
WHEREAS, Christians are encouraged to “remember those who
are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are
mistreated, since you also are in the body” (Heb. 13:3); therefore be
it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS)
in convention pray for Christians everywhere who suffer and are
suffering persecution for the faith; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS regularly inform pastors,
congregations, and individual members of the on-going persecution
of Christians; and be it further
Resolved, That the congregations of the LCMS regularly pray for
Christians who are being martyred around the world; and be it
finally
Resolved, That the LCMS provide the means and resources to
help, support, and protect the lives of Christians everywhere.
Zion
Fort Wayne, IN
Ov. 11-18

To Expand the Mandate of the Lutheran Center
for Religious Liberty
WHEREAS, The newly created Lutheran Center for Religious
Liberty (LCRL) has as its mandate to be about the task of
“educating encouraging and equipping LCMS members and
organizations to take informed action …”; and
WHEREAS, This institution currently is focusing on “marriage,
life and religious freedom,” and pro-life theology in all its manifold
manifestations; and