LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1967, Page 55

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SES SRI:

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CLOSING ADDRESS

Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far
spent. Luke 24:29

Dear MEMBERS or Gon’s Hoty FAMILY:

Since the opening service of this convention a week
ago Christ has been with us in a very special way and
measure. Now that the time has come for us to return
to our homes and the work which is waiting for us
there, we ask Him, as did the Emmaus disciples:

“Abide with Us”

We frame our petition in the pattern of the familiar
hymn, “Abide, O Dearest Jesus.”

I

We pray: “Abide with us, Lord Jesus, with Thy
grace.” This convention has been a sustained tribute
to divine grace. Alone by the grace of God we are
what we are—redeemed by Him, reconciled to Him,
sanctified through Him. His grace is our sufficiency,
our strength, our life, our everything.

We may have tasted every spring of human wisdom;
we may be thoroughly steeped in all philosophy; our
names may be adorned with a dozen doctor titles; but
without His grace we are nothing. We may be learned,
clever, persuasive, and skilled in countless ways, but
without His grace all of our abilities and achievements,
of which we are so prone to be proud, total zero.

Dr. Roland Wiederaenders

55

Now if we are to be strong in the Lord and mighty
to do His will as we return to our homes, our congre-
gations, and our work, there to carry out the splendid
resolutions we adopted here in convention, then we will
need to be renewed and reinvigorated continually by
His grace.

Therefore we pray: “Abide with us, Lord Jesus,
with Thy grace.”

Ir

Again we pray: “Abide with us, Lord Jesus, with
Thy Word.” During this convention much was said
about the Word of God. We heard messages from the
Word, discussed reports and resolutions related to the
Word, even expressed differences in how to approach,
interpret, and apply the Word.

But despite all that was said, may we never forget
that the Word of God as we have it in Holy Scripture
is bigger than all of us put together and more precious
than all the treasures of the land and the sea combined.
It is a sure Word. It is an authentic Word. It is an
inerrant Word. It is our unfailing chart and compass.
It is God’s absolute, eternal truth. It is the power of
God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.

Is it possible for us to lose that Word? We tremble
at the thought, and yet it is possible. Many before our
time and in our time have had the Word and have
lost it. May God in mercy preserve us from this tragedy!

Therefore in all humility and in all fervency we
pray during these closing moments of a convention
which has taken us over much controversial theological
terrain: “Abide with us, Lord Jesus, with Thy Word.”

ni

We also pray: “Abide with us, Lord Jesus, with Thy
direction.” We need our Savior’s guidance and direc-
tion when we communicate — teach, preach, and live
the Word of God. Everywhere in church circles, in all
denominations of Christendom, there is a premium on
communicating the Word in a manner that is mean-
ingful to man in our day.

We too must strive for that kind of communication,
but we dare not add to the Word of God by our think-
ing on it. We dare not empty that Word of old mean-
ings by putting new meanings into it. We dare not
get so caught up in techniques of communicating the
Word of God that it loses its authority and power. For
this we need direction, we need the light of Him who
is the Light of the world; we need the heavenly light
that shines from every hallowed page. We need to
stand in this light, think in this light, talk in this light
when we deal with God’s Holy Word.

Therefore we pray: “Abide with us, Lord Jesus, with
Thy direction that we may grow in grace and wisdom
daily through Thy Word.”

IV

Now we add the prayer: “Abide with us, Lord
Jesus, with Thy protection.” According to another of