LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 134

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134 MISSIONS

1-05

To Seek Clarification of Word Israel and Reaffirm
Commitment to Jewish Evangelism

WHEREAS, The word Israel today has several meanings, viz., the
patriarch, the Jewish people who are descended from him, the land,
and the modern democratic state; and

WHEREAS, The resurgence of fundamentalistic Islam has re-
cently generated unprecedented anti-Semitism, that is frequently
linked with anti-Western and anti-Christian statements along with
acts of terrorism; and

WHEREAS, It is important for Lutheran Christians to speak to
one another, and to the world, with a clear biblical voice concern-
ing certain issues that pertain to /srael in its multiple meanings;
and

WHEREAS, These issues include the following: (1) The chosen-
ness of Israel (the people) according to the Abrahamic Covenant;
(2) The status of the Israel (the land); (3) The future conversion of
Israel (the people) to belief in Messiah Jesus; and (4) The differ-
entiation of the modern State of Israel from Israel (the people); and

WHEREAS, The need to address these issues is essential to en-
sure effective evangelism among Jewish people, the speaking of
truth, and justice among the nations; and ~

Wuereas, Although the issue of millennialism has already been
settled by the Lutheran Confessions (Augsburg XVII), the Confes-
sions are silent on the four issues stated above; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod encourage and support the two LCMS
recognized service organizations which are proclaiming Jesus as
Messiah to Jewish people, viz., The Apple of His Eye Mission So-
ciety and Lutherans in Jewish Evangelism; and be it further

Resolved, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations
study the aforementioned issues and publish a study document that
will: (1) Clarify the use of the word /srael, and (2) Identify God’s
intended meaning from Scripture concerning these issues—also
rendering its opinion if any or all of the issues are adiaphora; and
be it finally

Resolved, And that we reaffirm our commitment to Jewish
evangelism as stated in Section III of Convention 1979 Res. 1-30:

1. That Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah, who fulfilled the
prophecies of the Old Testament and by His life, death, and res-
urrection provided complete atonement for the sins of all people,
Jew and Gentile alike.

. That since the New Testament, as well as the Old Testament, is
the verbally inspired Word of God, the words of Jesus remain
true for us today: “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no
one comes to the Father but by Me” (John 14:6); as do the words
of Peter: “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other
name (than the name of Jesus) under heaven given among men
by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

3. That we are obligated to share the Gospel of Jesus as Lord and
Savior with all people, Jew and Gentile alike (Matt. 28: 18-20;
Luke 24:46—-49), and we seek to follow the example of our Lord
and the early apostles with the zeal expressed by St. Paul when he
said, “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for them [Jews] is that
they may be saved” (Rom. 10:1).

4. That we do love the Jewish people, that we stand with them in
opposing all forms of anti-Semitism and injustice, that we join
them in humanitarian concerns, and that we will continue to love
them even when they choose not to accept our witness.

St. John, Ocala, FL; Prince of Peace, Orlando, FL

N

1-06

To Prepare New Study and Increase Emphasis
on Priesthood of All Believers

WHEREAS, All baptized Christians are priests in the church of
God by virtue of their Baptism (“But you are a chosen people, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you
may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into
His wonderful light,” 1 Peter 2:9); and

WHEREAS, Martin Luther declared that all believers are priests
called by God to declare the works of God (Luther’s Works vol-
ume 30, pp. 62-65); and

WHEREAS, “The priesthood of all believers did not make every-
one into a church worker; rather it turned every kind of work ...
into a sacred calling ... every kind of work is ... an occasion for
priesthood, for exercising a holy service to God and to one’s neigh-
bor” (Gene Edward Veith Jr., God at Work, p. 19); and

WHEREAS, The membership in our denomination has declined
over the last 30 years from about 2.9 million to 2.4 million mem-
bers; and

WHEREAS, In spite of the biblical and Lutheran doctrine of the
priesthood of all believers, many members of Synod do not know
of their call to priesthood, nor do they exercise that call; and

Wuereas, Our Synod has adopted the Ablaze! movement in
order that our church may reach people in the U.S. and around the
world, who are in need of the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That Synod prepare a new study of the priesthood of
all believers, written by the Oswald Hoffmann School of Evange-
lism for congregations to share with their members, and that this
study be distributed to Synod congregations by December 31,
2008; and be it further

Resolved, That all Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod congre-
gations, agencies, auxiliaries, organizations and ministries be en-
couraged to re-discover, re-emphasize, and intentionally structure
their organizational life to mobilize all baptized Christians to min-
ister through witness, prayer, and sacrificial service in all areas of
life; and be it finally

Resolved, That the LCMS affirm the efforts of all the boards of
Synod to deepen the public congregational and personal priesthood,
service, and ministry of all baptized Christians.

; Board of Directors
Northwest District

1-07

To Encourage Seminary and University Faculties
to Affirm Priesthood of All Believers
WHEREAS, All Christians “are consecrated priests through Bap-
tism, as St. Peter says in 1 Peter 2:9 [Luther, To the Christian No-
bility of the German Nation}”; and
Wtereas, All Christians are “a holy priesthood [for the purpose
of] offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus
Christ” (1 Peter 2:5 NIV); and
WHEREAS, Such “spiritual sacrifices” encompass all of Christian
life and according to the Lutheran Confessions [Ap XXIV 25] in-
clude:
* preaching of the Gospel,
* faith,
* prayer,
* thanksgiving,
* confession,
¢ the troubles of saints,
* yes, all good works of saints;
and
WHEREAS, “‘The priesthood of all believers’ did not make
everyone into a church worker; rather, it turned every kind of work
... into a sacred calling” [Gene Edward Veith Jr., God at Work, p.
19}; therefore be it
Resolved, That in order to correct a sacerdotal notion of the Of-
fice of the Public Ministry all Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
seminary and university faculties be encouraged to continue to af-
firm that “every kind of work . . . is an occasion for priesthood, for

exercising a holy service to God and to one’s neighbor” (Gene Ed-
ward Veith Jr. God at Work, p.19); and be it further