LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 448

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448 ADDITIONAL THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS AND REPORTS—OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

We can agree with Church Growth experts on such things as
the need for plenty of free parking, which is merely an acknowl-
edgment of the importance of transportation technology in con-
temporary American culture.

Teaching is theological. lf there are no moral absolutes, if God’s
Word is not objectively true, if religion is no more than a private,
interior consolation with no reference to a transcendent, universal
reality—as today’s culture tends to believe—then Christianity is
completely invalid. The teaching of the church, in this cultural cli-
mate, must be more thorough, more intentional, and more wide-
ranging than ever.

The Great Commission says to “make disciples of al] nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded
you.” (Matthew 28: 19) The Greek word for “disciple” includes the
sense of being a student; the text is rigorously sacramental, em-
phasizing both Baptism and Christ’s real presence in the church;
and it stresses the necessity of teaching “everything” in God’s
Word, as Jesus said: “If you continue in My Word, you are truly
My disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will make
you free.”(John 8:31-32)

The key to how well the church thrives in today’s culture is
surely in how well and how thoroughly the church teaches. This is
not a time to cut back church membership classes to one Saturday
afternoon, as some are doing. This is not a time to turn Bible
classes and the Sunday School into “sharing times,” rather than
training in God’s Word. This is not a time to minimize doctrine,
morality and discernment of error. Rather, the church must pay new
attention to catechesis, not only of young people and new members
but of the whole congregation struggling to live as Christians in a
non-Christian culture.

Lutheran Evangelism in American Culture

THE CHURCH GROWS IN NUMBERS through
evangelism, when unbelievers hear the
Good News of Jesus and receive the gift
of faith. This is the work of the Holy
Spirit operating through the Means of
Grace. Calling into question certain fea-
tures of the Church Growth Movement
should by no means lessen our
churches’ commitment to evangelize the lost. The Reformation
under the leadership of Martin Luther emphasized how God pro-
vides the growth of His church through the Word and the Sacra-
ments. “The Holy Spirit does not come without the Word,” he
wrote, “but He wants to come through the harp, that is, through
meditation on the Word or through the voices of father, mother, or
others. Otherwise, the devil comes.” (SL 2, 263)

Luther was so convinced of the power of the Spirit working
through the Word that he explained the meaning of the Third Arti-
cle of the Apostles’ Creed in those terms: “I believe that J cannot
by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or
come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me with the Gospel,
enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true
faith.” (Small Catechism)

The Lutheran Confessions emphasize what causes true growth.
Speaking of the Gospel and the Sacraments, the Augsburg Confes-
sion says, “Through these, as through means, He [God] gives the
Holy Spirit. who works faith, when and where He pleases, in those
who hear the Gospel.” (Article V)

In America, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod from the
beginning was evangelistically-minded, emphasizing how God pro-
vides growth in the church through Word and Sacrament. C. F. W.
Walther, one of the key founders and the first president of the
LCMS, wrote, “The congregation should join in the work of bring-
ing the Gospel to those who still sit in darkness and in the shadow

2001 Convention Workbook

of death.” (The Proper Form of an Evangelical Lutheran Congre-
gation Independent of the State, Thesis 65)

Reflecting upon our Synod’s past and future, a pastor said over
forty years ago, “In addition to the responsibility of keeping safe
every soul in the church for the Lord Jesus, the church also has the
responsibility to conduct an effective soul-winning program.”

God has truly blessed The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
as we have used His Word and Sacraments. We now have more
than 2.5 million members in more than 6,000 congregations and
students in more than |,000 schools—the largest parochial school
system of all Protestant churches. We have two seminaries that are
preparing men of God who proclaim the clear Word of God.

Today our Synodical president, Dr. A. L. Barry, is encouraging
our entire church body to “Tell the Good News About Jesus” in the
years 2000 to 2010. He put it this way at the Synod’s 1998 con-
vention: “As we move into the final years of this present century,
and the opening years of the next, we are going. with great zeal,
reach out to those around us who do not know Jesus Christ and the
Good News of His salvation. And we are going to do it with untir-
ing vigor in the Lord.” The Synod in convention wholeheartedly
adopted the outreach emphasis of “Tell the Good News About
Jesus.” There could not be a better theme and motive for a church
body that believes and practices that God causes His growth
through the means that He has given us, the Word and Sacraments.

These means do, in fact, bring people to faith, as they have for
centuries. Dire warnings that churches will “die” unless new and
questionable methods are employed cast doubt upon God’s faith-
fulness and His active work in bringing sinners to Himself. We do
not need anything new or unique to cause growth; God can and will
grow His church by the means God has given the church.

Conclusion
Tell the Good News About Jesus!

APOSTLES, PASTORS AND PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN doing that ever since Pentecost.
When persecution scattered the first be-
lievers, “those who had been scattered
preached the word wherever they
went.” (Acts 8:4) This has been the
consistent pattern also in The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod. Blessed by
God with fidelity to His saving Word and dedication to His mis-
sion for more than 150 years, our passion continues to be “Tell the
Good News About Jesus!” To be practical, that comes down to you
in your daily life within the home and society, and to your local
congregation as the church in the world. Pastors and congregation
leaders should jointly study this report, seeking to bring their con-
gregation’s worship life and outreach into harmony with Scripture
and our Lutheran Confessions. Then out of loyalty to Christ and
Jove for the lost, each congregation must explore new opportuni-
ties to tell the Good News, asking such questions as:

* How can we bring the secular world to the church without secu-

larizing the church?

¢ What opportunities do we have to “teach (all nations) all things”
in our community?

¢ What classes can we offer our community, and in what new loca-
tions that will reach the hearts and lives of people with the
Gospel?

* How can we train members to be sponsors for inquirers, accom-
panying them to adult catechetical classes and serving as mentors
in Christian faith and life?

* What locations in our community lend themselves to distribution
of Christian tracts, books and literature?

* How can we develop and publicize a web site for our church that
is not only attractive, but also informative and invites contact with
us?