# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S354 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 354 THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS—COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 10. Abortion in Perspective, A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod, as prepared by its Social Concerns Committee, May 1984, 33. 11. Leif Grane, The Augsburg Confession: A Commentary, trans. John H. Rasmussen (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1959), 87. 12. Helpful here by way of summary is Henry Hamann’s asser- tion that “the most significant contribution of the church to the wel- fare of society and the world is by way of its members, as each in his own niche in life and in accordance with his own special capa- bilities works for and serves his fellow-men, activity which in- cludes also doing what is expected of conscientious citizens. The church makes part of its task the training and education of its mem- bers in just this attitude of responsibility for society. Theologically speaking, we have here faith working by love, and the church’s task of education here is its use of the Law in its role as rule and stan- dard of a godly life.” Hamann goes on to say, with comments that are pertinent to our discussion in this section: ‘Part of this life of love and service of the neighbour is the collective activity of Chris- tians through the church to do the work of the state vicariously where society is too weak, too primitive, too lacking in organiza- tion to be able to carry out its proper functions.” Henry Hamann, “The Church’s Responsibility for the World: A Study in Law and Gospel,” in Theologia Crucis: Studies in honour of Hermann Sasse, ed. Henry P. Hamann (Adelaide: Lutheran Publishing House, 1975), 86. 13. See pages 82-90 of Render Unto Caesar. 14. Charles Williams, Arthurian Torso: Containing the Posthu- mous Figure of Arthur (London and New York: Oxford University Press, 1948), 123. 15. In his “Confession Concerning Christ’s Supper” (1528), Martin Luther writes: “The Father gives himself to us, with heaven and earth and all the creatures, in order that they may serve us and benefit us . . . the Son himself subsequently gave himself and be- stowed all his works, sufferings, wisdom, and righteousness, and reconciled us to the Father, in order that restored to life and right- eousness, we might also know and have the Father and his gifts . . . the Holy Spirit comes and gives himself to us also, wholly and com- pletely” (LW 37:366). For the idea of the “great exchange,” see Luther’s Lectures on Galatians 1535, where he comments on Gal. 3:13: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having be- come for us a curse” (LW 26:276ff). 2001 Convention Workbook 16. Paul Johnson, A History of Christianity (New York: Atheneum, 1980), 75. 17. A good example of the social service of the early church is the monastic practice influenced by Basil of Caesarea. Adopting the communal ideals of Pachomius, Basil commonly constructed near his monastic houses shelters for the sojourner, hospitals for the sick, and hostels for the needy. See Epistle 94 where Basil men- tions the places for the care of “strangers, both for those who are on a journey and for those who require medical treatment on account of sickness .. . .” Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series (Peabody, MS: Hendrickson Publishers, reprint edition, June 1995), 8:180. Francis Young writes: “All things were to be held in com- mon and to be used for the benefit of the sick and the needy. The monastery was to be situated within reach of suffering humanity, and provide a hospital and schools. The monk was to engage in manual work for the maintenance of the community and its wel- fare services.” From Nicaea to Chalcedon (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1983). 18. Paul Johnson, History, 75. 19. “Trade and Usury” (1524), LW 45:281-82. 20. “Fraternal Agreement on the Common Chest of the Entire Assembly at Leisnig” (1523), LW 45:189. 21. Robert Rosin and Charles P. Arand, eds., A Cup of Cold Water: A Look at Biblical Charity (St. Louis: Concordia Seminary Publications, 1996), 165. 22. Ibid., 195. 23. Ibid. 24. Ibid. 25. Cooperation with others in ways that would compromise what the Scriptures teach regarding abortion, for example, could not be done without also compromising the church’s confession and proclamation of God’s Word. Render Unto Caesar notes that the Synod has “concluded that the question of abortion is addressed so clearly by Scripture, that it is such an extraordinary social prob- lem, and that this problem is so fundamentally tied up with what Scripture says about the God-given duty of the state, that failure to speak and under certain circumstances to act would be tantamount to the failure of the German church under Hitler” (87). 26. “Lectures on Galatians” (1535), LW 26:105. 27. The LCMS’ Board for Human Care Ministries oversees LCMS participation in supporting a wide variety of organized human care efforts and activities, often done in cooperation with other entities and agencies.