LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1986, Sheet 98

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96 BIBLE STUDY AND DEVOTIONAL ESSAYS

6. Alive in Christ—the Pastoral Office

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Christian leaders today are emphasizing “the pastoral
office,” because of clergy divorce rate, stress from the work-
load, friction that is rising between church and worker,
declining seminary enrollments, and decreasing subsidies
for various ministries.

The pastoral office is part of interdenominational dia-
log. The World Council of Churches concluded 50 years of
one study with a statement on Baptism, Eucharist, and
Ministry, urging a three-fold pattern of bishop-presbyter-
deacon to promote and to preserve Christian teaching. As
you know, some want the new Lutheran church to redefine
its ministry policy.

A book of fiction details an interview Martin Luther had
with a colloquy committee of the Pennsylvania Minister-
ium. Luther withdrew from the committee in anger. The
committee said, “Let us not be disappointed” because Lu-
ther “was thoroughly confused on the doctrine of the min-
istry.” Perhaps it is confusion, certainly it is concern that
prompts studies on the pastoral office.

Within the next half hour we are going to share some
practical applications on the four aspects of the divine call
and four marks of the pastoral office. This is after you ex-
plore the Bible-study guidelines, discussing these six ques-
tions:

1. What degree of respect for the pastor do we find to-
day?

2. Why should respect be given the pastor?

3. What can both pastors and parishes do to increase
the stature of the pastoral office?

4. Are church members as equally capable as pastors to
judge doctrine and evaluate teachings from Holy
Scripture?

5. Are our members able to pass judgment on pastors
as teachers of God’s Word?

And then,

6. How does God supply the church with pastors?
About respect for ministry Walther had this to say in The-
sis 9 of Church and Ministry:

Respect and also unconditional obedience are due to the
ministry of the Word if the preacher presents God’s Word. [2
Cor. 5]... The principal efficient cause of the public ministry
of the Word is God.... If... a pastor presents God’s Word,
whether by teaching, admonishing, reproving, or comforting,
either publicly or privately, then the congregation hears out
of his mouth Jesus Christ Himself. (Walther on the Church, p.
105-6)

Our church confessions give a high place to this proc-
lamation of the Word because it

has God’s command and glorious promises: . . . (Rom. 1:16)...
(Isa. 55:11)... . The church has the command to appoint min-
isters; to this we must subscribe wholeheartedly, for we know
that God approves this ministry and is present in it. It is good
to extol the ministry of the Word with every possible kind of
praise in opposition to the fanatics who dream that the Holy
Spirit does not come through the Word but because of their
own preparations (Ap XIII 11-13).

The ministry of God’s Word is important. When Dr.
Walther closed the 1876 convention he had these words to

say to the pastors and delegates:

Be alert, study, keep on reading the Word! Truly you cannot
read too much in the Holy Scriptures, and what you read, you
cannot understand too well; and what you understand, you
cannot teach too well; and what you teach well, you cannot
live too well. It is our own flesh that storm[s] and ragels}
against us. Therefore, dear sirs and brothers, pastors and
preachers: pray, read, study, be diligent! I tell you the truth:
there is no time for us to lay around, to snore and sleep in
these evil, wicked times. So bring your talents that have been
entrusted to you and reveal the mystery of Christ.

Walther again states (Gerberding 275): “Most impor-
tant of all the pastor’s actions is his public preaching. . . .
Practical and clear declaration of God’s Word is the real
adornment of the churches today.”

It’s now time for group discussions and the six ques-
tions.

Alive in Christ—the Pastoral Office

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus:

Every seven years in an average Missouri Synod con-
gregation there is a change, as the pastor accepts a call,
leaves for another church. The pastor was a close friend
and counselor for the people. He was respected by most
members who knew Jesus’ words, “Whoever listens to you
listens to Me” (Luke 10:16). He was God’s mouthpiece to
them. When he left the church it knew it might never see
or hear from him again (Matt. 10:14), especially the suc-
cessor, for he ought to kick off the dust from his feet as he
leaves the town. ...

Whether his leaving causes grief or joy in the church,
it contacts the district office to help get a new man. There
are some pious people in the parish who remember the
words that: “The sight of the people moved Him [Jesus] to
pity: they were like sheep without a shepherd, harassed
and helpless; and He said to His disciples, “The crop is
heavy, but laborers are scarce; you must therefore beg the
owner to send laborers to harvest His crop.’ ” (Matt. 9:35—
38).

At each church gathering they do pray that the Lord of
the harvest would send them a pastor. They are one in
faith, one in hope, they are one in their concern and pray
to the Lord, as Jesus told them: “T tell you this: if two of
you agree on earth about any request you have to make,
that request will be granted by my heavenly Father. For
where two or three have met together in my name, lam
there among them” (Matt. 18:19-20).

The district president asks the church, “What kind of
a pastor do you want?” 1 Timothy 3:2-7 gives an answer:

[A pastor} must be above reproach, faithful to his one wife,
sober, temperate, courteous, hospitable, and a good teacher,
he must not be given to drink, or a brawler, but of a forebearing
disposition, avoiding quarrels, and no lover of money. He must
be one who manages his own household well and wins obe-
dience from his children, and a man of the highest principles.
If a man does not know how to contro! his own family, how
can he look after a congregation of God’s people? He must not
be a convert newly baptized, for fear the sin of conceit should
bring upon him a judgment contrived by the devil. He must
moreover have a good reputation with the non-Christian pub-
lic, so that he may not be exposed to scandal and get caught
in the devil’s snare.