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LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1959, Page 13

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

DOCTRINAL ESSAY

“TAKE HEED UNTO THE DOCTRINE”

By Paut M. Brerscuer

Introduction

2 ¢e

The terms “doctrine,” “teaching,” “pure doctrine,” “truth,”
3? 66 39 8e

“false doctrine,” “error,” “corrupt teaching,” and similar expres-
sions are familiar to every informed churchgoing Christian. They
appear in the liturgical parts of our divine services, particularly in
prayers and hymns. In the “General Prayer” of the Order of
Morning Service we praise and petition God:

We praise Thee especially that Thou hast preserved unto us
in their purity Thy saving Word. ... And we beseech Thee,
O Lord, to . . . grant unto Thy holy church throughout the
world purity of doctrine. (L.H., 13)

In the “General Prayer” of the Order of the Holy Communion we
petition God:

Most heartily we beseech Thee so to rule and govern Thy
church Universal .. . that we may be preserved in the pure
doctrine of Thy saving Word. (L.H., 23)

In other prayers which appear in our Lutheran Hymnal we plead:

Send, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, Thy Holy Spirit into
our hearts that He .. . may defend us from all error and lead
us into all truth. (P. 102)

Almighty and everlasting God .. . impart the grace and help
of Thy Holy Spirit to all ministers of Thy Word that they may
purely teach it to the saving of men. Bring to naught...
all the counsels of those who hate Thy Word and who, by cor-
rupt teaching or with violent hands, would destroy it. (P. 103)
Almighty, merciful, and gracious God and Father, with our
whole heart we beseech Thee for all who have forsaken the
Christian faith, all who have wandered from any portion
thereof, or are in doubt or temptation through the corrupters of
Thy Word, that Thou wouldest visit them as a Father, reveal
unto them their error, and bring them back from their wander-
ings, that they, in singleness of heart, taking pleasure alone in
the pure truth of Thy Word, may be made wise thereby unto
everlasting life. (P.104)

We poor sinners do beseech Thee ...O Lord God... to
preserve all pastors and ministers of Thy church in the true
knowledge and understanding of Thy Word... to put an end
to all schisms and causes of offense; to bring into the way of
truth all such as have erred and are deceived; to beat down
Satan under our feet; . . . to raise up them that fall and to
strengthen such as do stand. (P. 111)

In the majestic Pentecost hymn, “Come, Holy Ghost, God and
Lord!” we plead with Luther:

From ev’ry error keep us free;
Let none but Christ our Master be. (L. H., Hymn 224)