# Der Lutheraner_Frankfurt am Main_September 1950_S65
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Der Lutheraner
TIME PAPER FOR EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CONGREGATIONS
IN GERMANY

"If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

John 8:31, 32.

Number 9                    Frankfurt am Main, September 1950                    Volume 4

Church and Mission

The development which the affairs of this
world are now taking before our eyes
points with unmistakable clarity
toward the approaching
end. Five years after the terrible
events of the Second World
War, the flames of war are again
blazing in the Far East. A
dreadful fear fills mankind,
that the monstrous armament of
the two greatest world powers, despite
all conferences and all
assurances of the will to peace,
must in the end, with compelling
necessity, lead to a bloody
struggle, terrible beyond all measure.
Renunciation of
reasonable understanding and
the ruthless use of all
available means of power, even the most cruel,
seems to statesmen the last
resort of their policy.

In this world full of helplessness,
disaster and fear, the Church
of Jesus Christ goes the path
shown to it by the LORD. This path is
full of danger and great
temptation, both outward and inward.
Open hatred against God and His
holy Word, antichristianity
and the fanaticism of an overrunning
sectarianism within her own
walls—the devil uses these
to fight against her. The
spirit of materialism and of
the pursuit of pleasure takes hearts
captive.

And yet the holy Christian Church is
comforted and calm "amid so many assaults of
the devil." "God is within her, therefore
she shall not be moved. God helps her early."

She knows her Lord comes soon, to lead her
to glory, and awaits Him with
the burning lamps of faith, which
has overcome the world, expects nothing more
from the world, and holds itself ready daily
to hasten to meet the coming Redeemer.

[Image: Church with tower, surrounded by trees and a wall]
Photo Witwar

"It is founded firmly upon the holy mountains.
Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God."
Ps. 87:1, 3.

But this waiting for the future
glory must never be an idle waiting.
The Church still has an important
service to render to the sinking
world—not the political-
social service of which so much
is said today in church papers and
church conventions, but rather
the spiritual, eternal service:
The preaching of the imperishable,
saving Gospel. "This gospel of
the kingdom shall be preached
in the whole world for
a witness unto all nations;
and then shall the end
come." Matthew 24:14. The end
time of the world must be mission
time. "Ye shall be my witnesses";
this mighty commission
of our Master must stand in large
letters over the work of every
church and congregation and over
the daily life of every true
Christian. Now is still the time
for this, as well as an abundance
of possibilities and opportunities.
Many of our congregations have
in the past months been able
to celebrate their customary mission
festival. Were these not merely
festival days, but also days of preparation
for more intensive work toward the salvation
of immortal souls? We also read
in this issue of "Der Lutheraner"
joyful reports of such
days. Have they filled hearts with
new zeal and our mission
treasuries with new resources?
This is urgently needed, more needed than much else
on which money is spent abundantly.
God is opening doors for the mission. In
Japan the Christian mission can now