LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 199

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 199

his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but

nourishes.and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because

we are members of His body. (Eph. 5:25-30 NASB)

How often has the church withdrawn from her Husband, failed
to surrender to Him, and refused to love Him? “If we are faithless,
He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.” 2 Tim. 2:13
NASB). Christ’s love for His Bride endures, perseveres, and over-
comes her stubborn loneliness as He gently and patiently pursues

her and draws her to Himself. ‘““We love Him, because He first .

loved us” (1 John 4:19 NASB). Thanks be to God for the example,
the strength, and the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. On Him we may
depend in the face of all trials and temptations.

“Whom have I in heaven but Thee?
And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
(Ps. 73:25-26 NASB)

and

WHEREAS, The CTCR has not yet forwarded that Opinion for
publication in the Convention Workbook; and

WHEREAS, Convention delegates along with others in our Synod
should have the opportunity to read and consider the points made in
this Opinion in order to draw their own conclusions; therefore be it

Resolved, That those ecclesiastical supervisors, pastors, and
laity of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod who read the
CTCR’s Opinion on Malicious Desertion also be reminded to give
careful consideration to the Minority Opinion submitted by Mr.
Paul Nus.

Notes

1. The words “until death parts us” are traditionally part of the
marriage vows in a Lutheran wedding. These words are con-
spicuous by-their omission from the CTCR’s Opinion.

2. Is. 5:20 NASB: Woe to those who call evil good, and good
evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
who. substitute bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Prov. 17:15 NASB: He who justifies the wicked, and he who
condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination
to the Lord.

Prov. 24:24 NASB: He who says to the wicked, “You are
righteous,” peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him.

3. Gregory J. Lockwood, | Corinthians, Concordia Commentary
Series (St. Louis: Concordia, 2000), p. 237.

4. Lockwood, pp. 226-27.

5. The texts of Lockwoods’s marginal verse references are pro-
vided here:
Matt. 5:32 NASB: But J say to you that everyone who di-
vorces his wife, except for the cause of unchastity, makes her
commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman
commits adultery.
Matt. 19:9 NASB: And I say to you, whoever divorces his
wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman com-
mits adultery.
Mark 10:9 NASB: What therefore God has joined together,
let no man separate.

Luke 16:18 NASB: Everyone who divorces his wife and mar-
ries another commits adultery; and he who marries one who is
divorced from’ a husband commits adultery.

Mal. 2:14—-16 NASB (13-17 shown here): And this is another
thing you do: you cover the altar of the Lord with tears, with
weeping and with groaning, because He no longer regards the
offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. Yet you say,
“For what reason?” Because the Lord has been a witness be-
tween you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have
dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your
wife by covenant. But not one has done so who has a remnant
of the Spirit. And what did that one do while he was seeking a
godly offspring? Take heed then, to your spirit, and let no ote
deal treacherously against the wife of your youth. “For I hite

divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “and him who cov-
ers his garment.with wrong,” says the Lord of hosts. “So take
heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.” You
have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, “How
have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “Everyone who does
evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them,”
or, “Where is the God of justice?”

6. Rom. 7:2 NASB: For the married woman is bound by law to
her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is
released from the law concerning the husband.

1 Cor. 7:39 NASB: A wife is bound as long as her husband
lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to
whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

. Lockwood, pp. 237-39.

. Lockwood, p. 229.

. Lockwood, pp. 231-32.

10. John H. C. Fritz, Pastoral Theology (St. Louis: Concordia,

1979), p. 167.

11. Martin H. Scharlemann, “The Pastoral Office and. Divorce,
Remarriage, Moral Deviation,” Concordia Journal, July 1980,
p. 147.

12. Paul Althaus, The Ethics of Martin Luther (Philadelphia:
Fortress Press, 1972), pp. 98-99.

13. Words alone cannot quickly erase one’s actions here. Pastoral
insights for discerning false from true repentance can be found
in Martin Chemnitz, “The Difference between Mortal and
Venial Sin,” Locus XVI, Loci Theologici, trans. by J. A. O.
Preus (St. Louis: Concordia, 1989), pp. 667-83. - .

14. 2 Cor. 3:4-5 NASB: And such confidence we have through
Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to
consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy
is from God.

Phil. 4:13 NASB: I can do all things through Him who
strengthens me.

15. Scharlemann, p. 149.

ow ~

Grace
Haven, Wisconsin

3-104

To Bring Discussions with RIM
to a God-Pleasing Conclusion

WuerEAS, Representatives of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod have been engaged in theological discussions with leaders of
Renewal in Missouri (RIM) since its inception in the late 1980s; and

WHEREAS, Earlier rounds of these discussions resulted in “some
progress in the resolution of differences between the position of the
Synod regarding ‘charismatic’ teaching and positions of RIM”
(1992 CW, p. 11), while certain areas of disagreement remained
(1992 CW, p. 12); and

WHEREAS, The most recent round of discussions held in
1998-2000 resulted in the following “Concluding Affirmations and
Rejections” approved unanimously by representatives of RIM and
Synodical representatives:

1. Affirm: God promises to initiate and sustain a saving relation-
ship with Himself only through the means of grace. Signs and
wonders and spiritual gifts given by God may accompany the
means of grace.

Reject: That signs and wonders and spiritual gifts have been
given as marks of the true church; that the Church has been
given an ongoing command (e.g., “Go ye therefore . . . bap-

~ tizing,” “this do ye oft”) to perform signs and wonders; and
that signs and wonders and spiritual gifts are brought about
according to the schedules of human beings.