# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S199 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 199 his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes.and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. (Eph. 5:25-30 NASB) How often has the church withdrawn from her Husband, failed to surrender to Him, and refused to love Him? “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.” 2 Tim. 2:13 NASB). Christ’s love for His Bride endures, perseveres, and over- comes her stubborn loneliness as He gently and patiently pursues her and draws her to Himself. ‘““We love Him, because He first . loved us” (1 John 4:19 NASB). Thanks be to God for the example, the strength, and the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. On Him we may depend in the face of all trials and temptations. “Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Ps. 73:25-26 NASB) and WHEREAS, The CTCR has not yet forwarded that Opinion for publication in the Convention Workbook; and WHEREAS, Convention delegates along with others in our Synod should have the opportunity to read and consider the points made in this Opinion in order to draw their own conclusions; therefore be it Resolved, That those ecclesiastical supervisors, pastors, and laity of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod who read the CTCR’s Opinion on Malicious Desertion also be reminded to give careful consideration to the Minority Opinion submitted by Mr. Paul Nus. Notes 1. The words “until death parts us” are traditionally part of the marriage vows in a Lutheran wedding. These words are con- spicuous by-their omission from the CTCR’s Opinion. 2. Is. 5:20 NASB: Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who. substitute bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Prov. 17:15 NASB: He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord. Prov. 24:24 NASB: He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him. 3. Gregory J. Lockwood, | Corinthians, Concordia Commentary Series (St. Louis: Concordia, 2000), p. 237. 4. Lockwood, pp. 226-27. 5. The texts of Lockwoods’s marginal verse references are pro- vided here: Matt. 5:32 NASB: But J say to you that everyone who di- vorces his wife, except for the cause of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Matt. 19:9 NASB: And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman com- mits adultery. Mark 10:9 NASB: What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate. Luke 16:18 NASB: Everyone who divorces his wife and mar- ries another commits adultery; and he who marries one who is divorced from’ a husband commits adultery. Mal. 2:14—-16 NASB (13-17 shown here): And this is another thing you do: you cover the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and with groaning, because He no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the Lord has been a witness be- tween you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit. And what did that one do while he was seeking a godly offspring? Take heed then, to your spirit, and let no ote deal treacherously against the wife of your youth. “For I hite divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “and him who cov- ers his garment.with wrong,” says the Lord of hosts. “So take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.” You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, “How have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them,” or, “Where is the God of justice?” 6. Rom. 7:2 NASB: For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. 1 Cor. 7:39 NASB: A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. . Lockwood, pp. 237-39. . Lockwood, p. 229. . Lockwood, pp. 231-32. 10. John H. C. Fritz, Pastoral Theology (St. Louis: Concordia, 1979), p. 167. 11. Martin H. Scharlemann, “The Pastoral Office and. Divorce, Remarriage, Moral Deviation,” Concordia Journal, July 1980, p. 147. 12. Paul Althaus, The Ethics of Martin Luther (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1972), pp. 98-99. 13. Words alone cannot quickly erase one’s actions here. Pastoral insights for discerning false from true repentance can be found in Martin Chemnitz, “The Difference between Mortal and Venial Sin,” Locus XVI, Loci Theologici, trans. by J. A. O. Preus (St. Louis: Concordia, 1989), pp. 667-83. - . 14. 2 Cor. 3:4-5 NASB: And such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God. Phil. 4:13 NASB: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 15. Scharlemann, p. 149. ow ~ Grace Haven, Wisconsin 3-104 To Bring Discussions with RIM to a God-Pleasing Conclusion WuerEAS, Representatives of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod have been engaged in theological discussions with leaders of Renewal in Missouri (RIM) since its inception in the late 1980s; and WHEREAS, Earlier rounds of these discussions resulted in “some progress in the resolution of differences between the position of the Synod regarding ‘charismatic’ teaching and positions of RIM” (1992 CW, p. 11), while certain areas of disagreement remained (1992 CW, p. 12); and WHEREAS, The most recent round of discussions held in 1998-2000 resulted in the following “Concluding Affirmations and Rejections” approved unanimously by representatives of RIM and Synodical representatives: 1. Affirm: God promises to initiate and sustain a saving relation- ship with Himself only through the means of grace. Signs and wonders and spiritual gifts given by God may accompany the means of grace. Reject: That signs and wonders and spiritual gifts have been given as marks of the true church; that the Church has been given an ongoing command (e.g., “Go ye therefore . . . bap- ~ tizing,” “this do ye oft”) to perform signs and wonders; and that signs and wonders and spiritual gifts are brought about according to the schedules of human beings.