LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1962, Page 7

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8 PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

What God said to the people of the Old Testament
by the mouth of the prophets and what He said in the
New Testament through the evangelists and the apostles
our fathers had in the written Word even as we have
it in the written Word. They respected and revered it.
They would not tamper with it. They accepted it as
God gave it.

This was the very reason why they left Germany
and came to this land of religious freedom, where they
might worship God according to the dictates of their
conscience. The fact that they “trembled” at God’s
Word prompted them to unite with like-minded Lu-
therans in our country and organize our Synod. They
exercised every precaution when they effected this or-
ganization. The constitution which they adopted has
undergone very few changes throughout the century.
The chief article of the constitution has never been
changed. It presents the confession of the Synod. It
states that “every member of Synod accepts without
reservation the Scriptures of the Old and the New
Testament as the written Word of God” and the Lu-
theran Confessions “as a true and unadulterated state-
ment and exposition of the Word of God.”

God in His grace has preserved this precious heritage
for us. He has made us guardians and trustees of it.
God used our fathers as His instruments to preserve it.
Last year’s sesquicentennial celebration of Dr. C. F. W.
Walther’s birth emphasized anew that the fathers
guarded this heritage most faithfully and con-
scientiously.

This brings with it the searching question: What
about our generation? Have we been faithful and con-
scientious in matters of sound Scriptural doctrine and
practice?

First let us ask about our practice. Has there been
carelessness and indifference? Anyone acquainted with
facts knows that here and there we have had deviations
from sound Scriptural practice. From time to time Dis-
trict officials are called upon to admonish those who in
their practice have gone their own way without any
regard and consideration for their co-workers, their
sister congregations, and their Synod. Occasionally this
has involved something of unionism or something which

borders on unionistic practice. Sometimes it has in-
volved indifference in dealing with the lodge question.
Let us admit that here and there synodical practices
based on, and solidly grounded on, Scriptural principles
have been violated.

However, a matter which has caused even greater
unrest in the Synod is the charge that purity of doctrine
is being sacrificed. We must ask in all seriousness
whether some are influenced by European neo-ortho-
doxy, whether the floods of present-day European
theology are threatening also our century-old position
on the verbally inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of
God. If someone is influenced by such modern theology,
this demands that proper corrections be made. We
know, of course, that the procedure must be both evan-
gelical and firm. This holds true whether it takes place
at conferences of pastors and teachers or in the faculties
of our colleges and seminaries or among the officials of
Districts and the Synod.

When we think of the fact that all manner of charges
have been made, even in public print, and that some
are brought before our convention, we have every rea-
son to examine ourselves in the light of God’s Word.

But must we not also bear witness to the truth? To
be sure. If we are convinced that by God’s grace we
have received the precious heritage — and we are con-
vinced of this— we should be ready —

1) to bear witness to God’s truth wherever oppor-
tunity arises. Of course, this must be a faithfu]
witness-bearing. It must be done without violat-
ing any of our Scripture-based principles;

2) to remain faithful and loyal to God’s Word and
not yield to mere expediency whenever we have
an opportunity to bear witness.

May God graciously attend us and bless us. Wher-
ever we have been guilty, let us approach Him with
contrite hearts and humbly plead, “God, be merciful
to me a sinner,” gratefully accept God’s gracious pardon,
and in deep consecration and with hearts that truly
tremble at His Word pledge renewed and genuine
loyalty to our God and to the precious heritage which
He has entrusted to us. Amen in Jesus’ name. Amen.