# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1894_S59
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1894. 59

can also point to experience. The results of other doctrines of education can be very questionable, at least with regard to the Church of Christ. Possibly we get figures of character who make themselves very noticeable in the field of civic life, but not characters in whom Christ has taken shape.

We have fanaticism in the field of preaching. Just as the believing subject, the believing "I" of the teacher, is to be the source of living theology and dogmatics, so the believing subject is to be the source of living preaching. As if first the subject, the preacher, made the Word living — and not the Word with its doctrine were in itself Spirit and life. As an example take the following from the *Theologische Monatshefte* [Theological Monthly] I, 383: "How often we speak of assurance of salvation, . . . like the blind man of color — but I mean more —, like one who has read a book about Africa and reports from it. How very different it is when Dr. Wangemann reports from Africa, and people say: he has been there, he is at home there — when we preach in such a way that one must say: Yes, he has been there, he is at home there — that is believing preaching. We cannot help speaking of what we have heard and seen. — That must be characteristic of a believing sermon. Then one can calmly say: Confess your sins, you will be absolved and enjoy the holy Supper, and then walk by the power of the body and blood of Jesus Christ toward heaven —: that brings the soul to rest, not to a false rest, but to a rest in constant struggle . . . but to certainty of faith." These are questionable statements, as if the experience and believing consciousness of a preacher made the Word of God more powerful, more living, more effective, more certain than it is in itself. Similar statements are met with on every street, in many books of sermons, homiletical textbooks and periodicals.

Where we find fanaticism, it was said, there we are to condemn it without regard. a. We are not to let the lofty names and titles of the fanatics lead us astray. There is a name that is above every name; in it and under it the knees of all who are on earth shall bow, that he, our highly praised Savior Jesus Christ, be Lord to the glory of God the Father.

b. Without regard to what excellent things are held out in prospect. Truly spiritually living presentation of the doctrine of faith; truly vital preaching; truly evangelical theology of faith — all governed by faith, instead of by Word and Confession. As true apples of paradise the newer theology has offered its fanaticism under the aforesaid designations, but they are the apples of Sodom.

c. Without regard to our name. If we condemn all fanaticism without regard and without reserve, it is said of us: