Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › front matter 5
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, front matter 5

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

Unto the Hills!

After working his way through the many reports
and overtures here presented, the average delegate may
well conclude that Overture 4-08 contains the most sen-
sible suggestion in the book.

But he will also have sensed that deep concerns are
expressed here in many different directions — concerns
that need to be honored with a respectful hearing.

But what then? Some kind of action or answer
needs to follow upon the hearing if it isn’t all to be
wasted motion. What will determine the action?

It has long been a watchword in the Lutheran Church
that Holy Scripture is the only source and norm of
Christian faith and life. The Constitution of the Synod
asserts: “Synod, and every member of Synod, accepts
without reservation the Scriptures of the Old and the
New Testament as the written Word of God and the
only rule and norm of faith and of practice.”

Well and good. Some of the questions before the
convention can be answered directly from the Scrip-
tures. Chapter and verse can be quoted. No problem
here.

But the delegate will soon discover that most of the
issues raised in this volume cannot be answered so
easily just by quoting an appropriate statement from
the Scriptures. Sometimes many statements must be
brought together and focused on the matter at hand.
Indeed, at times one might search in vain for any guid-
ance at all in God’s Word.

What then? Then we will need to be on our guard
against the temptation to play God. We will need to
resist any suggestion that implies that this or that
person or group has a hot line to the Holy Spirit. Or

a special revelation. Fanaticism (Schwaermerei) is one
thing we can do without.

No. When such a situation confronts us, we will
need to rely on other things. In addition to any in-
sights at all which God’s Word might offer we will
need to enlist every other resource at our disposal.
Our sanctified heart, which loves God and the neighbor.
The lessons of history. The rich experience of the
people of God. Common sense. An open mind and ear
to the concern of the brother and to the cry of the world
around us. Forbearance. Humility. Courage.

And whatever other resources the reader may wish
to add to this list, one more at least should be added.
Prayer.

The psalmist once said: “I will lift up mine eyes
unto the hills, from whence cometh my help; my help
cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”

No doubt while we are in Denver we will catch
glimpses every day of the majestic Rockies. May they
keep reminding us to lift our eyes to Him who has not
only made the hills but who in Christ has made it clear
that He is for us. All the way. And if He is for us, who
or what can be against us?

A cross once stood on a hill overshadowed in size
by the mighty Rockies. But because of Calvary and
its cross we can rest on the promise of our God: “The
mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but
My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall
the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord
that hath mercy on thee.”

This should be enough for us. Also when the hard
decisions need to be made in Denver.

HERBERT MUELLER, Secretary