LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 82

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82 THE CONVENTION ESSAY

The principle of involving laymen not only in dol-
lars, but also in doctrine, was consistently applied dur-
ing the conferences with other Lutheran bodies in sub-
sequent years. Today one need only look at the struc-
ture of our synodical boards and commissions and the
operation of Concordia Publishing House as evidence
of the important role of the laity.

Two factors thus gave the Missouri Synod a tremen-
dous power pack: its theology and its lay involvement.
At the heart and center of its theology and proclama-
tion has always been Christ the crucified. The oneness
in spirit among the clergy, teachers, and laity had its
source in the Cross. Whether one looks at obituaries
published or news items, or an elaboration of a theologi-
cal position, Christ the crucified remained central.

There have been times in the history of the Synod —
as there may well be at this convention — when some
thought that the future of the Synod rested exclusively
upon the abilities and decisions of people. A review
of the past 126 years, however, will quickly remind us
that the church did not grow, expand, or move forward
because of puny men, but in spite of them. To the Lord
of the church who has “purchased and won” each indi-
vidual member and still contines to direct and control
all affairs — to Him belongs all praise and glory.

H. C. Schwan, a former president of the Synod, put
it so succinctly when he spoke of the unifying factor in
the Synod:

What has kept us together until now was not our Con-
stitution as good as it is, not the personality of those who
bear the highest synodical offices. No, it was something
radically different, something which God Himself has
given us. This was the unity of spirit and faith, We
remained together outwardly because we are one in-
wardly....

... As long as we by God’s grace remain one in heart

and soul through the Word and faith, then our bond of

fellowship and the continued existence of the Synod will
not be seriously challenged. If this [spirit] is ever lost,
then no Constitution will coerce those who rebel, and
the resultant cooperation will be of no value. {Missouri

Synod Proceedings, 1884, p. 30]

The writer to the Hebrews summarizes what we have
been trying to convey:

Remember your leaders who told you God’s Word. Con-

sider how their lives ended, and imitate their faith. Jesus

Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Don’t

get carried away with different kinds of strange teach-

ings. It is good to be inwardly strengthened by God’s

love... . [Hebrews 13:7-9]

As we remember our leaders and look at Jesus Christ
as the same yesterday, today, and forever, the theologi-
cal power pack will continue to be available to us today
and into the future. It is Christ Himself. Amen.

IV

Launched Into Service

The space platform launched last May required
923,800 gallons of liquid oxygen, hydrogen, and kerosene
in order to produce the necessary 8,850,000 pounds of
thrust in order to launch it. An unbelievable amount
of power! In contrast, our Synod had and still has an

even greater thrust or power, the Gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, the
theological power pack as we saw yesterday. Whenever
we have failed to use this power, and instead have
looked to people, to organizations, and to gimmicks, as
the source of power, we have failed. But we take com-
fort in our anniversary theme, “Rejoicing in Mercy.”

Today we will glance at the work and service of the
Synod motivated by its theological “power pack.” We
do this on the basis of St. Paul’s second letter to the
Corinthians 13: 7-9:

Examine yourselves to see if you really believe. Test

yourselves. Don’t you know Jesus Christ is in you—

unless you fail in your test? I hope you’ll see we haven't
failed in our test. We pray God you will do no wrong —
not to show we haven’t failed, but we want you to do
what is right even if we may seem to have failed. We
can’t do anything against the truth but only work for it.

We are glad when we’re weak and you're strong. And

we're praying that you may grow to be perfect.

What gave the Missouri Synod its motive power, its
“spirit”? Some have suggested that it was motivated
by a sort of ecclesiastical imperialism similar to Ger-
man nationalism which chanted “Deutschland, Deutsch-
land, iiber Alles!” Others have identified it as a blind
commitment either to a leadership or to an ideology.

After reviewing our past 125 years, one must admit
that there is a blind commitment, a sacrificial dedication,
a compulsion to serve. But not to a leader, to an insti-
tution, or to an organization, or even to a convention
resolution. Much rather, it is an unyielding commit-
ment to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Like Saint
Paul, who felt an inner compulsion in his restless dedi-
cation and commitment to Christ, so the members of
the Synod felt that the Gospel must be proclaimed;
Christ’s people must be served!

At the time of its founding in 1847, the Synod con-
sisted of some 23 pastors and 5 teachers serving 12 mem-
ber and 7 nonmember congregations. Its baptized mem-
bership was slightly more than 4,000, the equivalent of
one of our largest congregations today! These limited
members have grown to 3,057,000 baptized members
and 2,136,500 communicant members in 6,000 congrega-
tions. Today the church has three times as many pas-
tors and teachers as it had members at the time of its
founding.

Statistics can be misleading. Nevertheless it is inter-
esting to note that during its first full decade of exis-
tence, from 1850 to 1859, the membership increased
343%! A similar growth rate continued during the 19th
century, declining in the first decades of the 20th cen-
tury, but increasing to 65% in the 1950s and 24% in
the 1960s. Recent “backdoor” losses which in 1972
amounted to 52,012 must be of deep concern!

Today we will briefly survey some aspects of the
Synod’s work produced by its theological power pack.
I wish we had the time for a thorough look at the mis-
sion outreach, the educational enterprise, and the wel-
fare work because it is, indeed, a thrilling and gripping
story. We are the heirs of this goodly heritage.