# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S5
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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|. President's Address - oo BL

4 °° 4

ling ‘to. study God’s ‘Word with due diligence? Are we merely”
aking ‘the ‘correctness. of our ‘Synod’s ‘position ‘for “granted? “One
‘the other hand, should. we not’ also- ask ‘Seriously” whether we
‘have been’ too free to ‘criticize and ‘to abandon’ the position taken’
‘by the fathers'‘simply because we have found it expedient ‘and
~ “because jt serves the cause ‘of union?” Is it. possible that anyone >:
should manifest a ‘tendency to: compromise doctrine because of. a
.. desire to efféct a large united: ‘body of, Lutherans?. . io
‘It affords no pleasure ta ask these pertinent questions. How-.
ever, it has grieved many that the extreme positions indicated
“have found expression, Extreme views''or opinions ‘are always —
», dubious and dangerous. In efforts toward ‘doctrinal unity these
‘ extremes lead-either to ‘separatism or unionism. The separatist
grows so impatient that he is at. once. ready to break off negotia- a
tions with those who are not in doctrinal agreement: with him... 47.
Only too often this. is associated with a very legalistic attitude and.
an uncharitable. condemnation of expressions employed by others
and even with loveless impugning of motives. Such separatism | “
produces isolation, ‘and this ‘in turn results in ‘ inactivity’ and >.
stagnation. The unionist, on the- other hand, considers matters:
of. full: doctrinal agreement of minor importance... He finds. it
Possible to yield a little, especially in. doctrines: which are not °*'
fundamental.. To him ‘the thing of major importance ‘is that a .
union .be effected and that the Church present \a strong front
numerically as she faces the seemingly. insurmountable difficulties. ares
_When men imagine that great numbers are necessary to accom |
> -.plish great things in'God’s Kingdom ‘they are laboring under a .:.,
", baneful delusion,: . The’ Church of Jesus Christ has ever beer
called’ upon to. battle against overwhelming odds. However, with © .
‘God :on her ‘side’ she has always been in the majority and ‘has.
, been able to achieve gloriois victories, The. thing of paramount |
_ importance, then, is that we:be on God’s side, That.is all God asks:
If, as we pause to search and try our ways with respect;to. 2.
.. Soundness of doctrine, we ‘find. any carelessness or indifference.
| OY any mere traditionalism, : let° us confess our ‘guilt and ‘turn’
; again unto the Lord.’ Let. us renew our’ vow of allegiance to .
God’s Word. "Under no ‘condition. let us exchange our definite
--- convictions’ for, wavering uncertainties; As God grants us grace,.
~_let- us. determine that no indifference. or disloyalty to God’s «'
Word shall ever besmirch the escutcheon of our beloved: Church.
-. Never shall the opiate’ of compromise ‘stupefy or deaden jour
allegiance to the. principles of God’s Word. ‘As God grants grace,” '
“we shall by no. means: sell’ our confessional birthright. for “a: *
pottage of vunionistic lentils. In ‘our firm resolve of loyalty. to:
. God’s Word we. must; of course, guard: against the infiltration ‘of

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