LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 105

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God, truth, and beauty when all moral fences have been torn
down? Yes, red is the color of the martyrs.
We preach Christ crucified! We have been given the holy calling
of proclaiming the Good News of the redemption of the world
that everyone needs to hear but no one by nature wants to
listen to. The prince of this world is a liar and murderer and
cannot stand the word of truth and life (John 8:44). By
necessity, in this world preaching the cross means carrying the
cross. Christ’s cross reminds us constantly that we cannot
escape suffering for his name’s sake. “... A servant is not greater
than his master ...” (John 15:20). St. Paul’s letter is written by a
persecuted apostle to persecuted Christians: “For as we share
abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share
abundantly in comfort too” (2 Cor. 1:5).
I am reminded of the words of a German theologian: “A
Christian never lives without persecution. Either he is
persecuted or he suffers with the fate of those who are
persecuted.” 5 This is a lesson that we are all learning also in the
West. In my experience, when God plans to expand his work,
He increases the weight of the cross. Thus He pulls us closer to
Himself. But carrying a cross is a powerful witness and always
a gift, not a punishment from the Lord. At this time we need
even more mutual prayers and encouragement from sister
churches and organizations like the International Lutheran
Council, a worldwide association of confessional Lutheran
church bodies in five continents. We are responsible for passing
the faith to the next generation. There is a constant temptation
to shy away from the scandal of the cross and to adapt ourselves
to the surrounding culture and to the spirit of the age. At the
moment we see all over in Christendom massive apostasy from
the Christian faith. In this cultural pressure one church body
after another is divided on issues of creation and redemption of
man. If church bodies and church leaders do not confess the
sacred faith in a hostile world, they betray their mission and the
people wandering in darkness—and they soon join
persecutors. “No man’s land” is not an option in a spiritual
battle.

Thomas Schrirrmacher, The Persecution of Christians Concerns Us
All (Oregon: The WEA Global Issues vol. 5, 2001), 16.
6
See Jesse Yow, Standing Firm (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing
House, 2015).
5

Convention Essays

In post-Constantine and now even post-Christian Western
societies, we within the Mission Diocese of Finland have had to
learn anew the way of the early church and the future church.
First, mission and outreach work is not only done somewhere
far away but right here due to waves of immigration and the
dechristianization of Western societies. Second, hostility and
oppression towards Christians are not only far away in nondemocratic countries but an issue among our members. 6 Third,
while our culture in a narcissistic way idolizes the body, there
is a great confusion about what a man is and a devaluation of
our created body given as a gift from the moment of conception
to natural death. 7 Fourth, the presence of diabolic phenomena
and spiritual warfare are not issues only in a traditional pagan
environment but are becoming a part of pastoral ministry. 8
Fifth, we have to learn to do the Lord’s work together as the
family of God with much fewer resources, numbers of people,
and cultural support but still remain joyful, hopeful, and bold
in Christ!
A few years ago a man, not so young anymore, walked on the
beautiful island of Malta. So many rulers have conquered this
strategically important island in the Mediterranean. Romans
came with their iron power. Ottoman rulers attacked it with a
mighty fleet. Napoleon’s powerful army was stationed there,
and the great Royal Navy of England harbored there. When I
walked down to St. Paul’s Bay in distress, pondering the
weaknesses and challenges in my church, I stopped to marvel
at the sea and asked myself, how did our Lord conquer the
island? Who was our King’s ambassador? Imprisoned Paul.
What was our King’s fleet? A sunken ship. How did our King
arrive? Paul swam to the beach soaked to the skin among a
group of criminals. How was he received? He was bitten by a
snake. What were his resources for mission? Owning nothing
but the word of Christ crucified.
This was the great entry of our crucified Christ! This was and is
His way of showing His power and His wisdom and bringing the
word of the redemption to the whole world even today.
What more can we ask in our short life than to live by His grace
and share His Gospel of salvation!

See John W. Kleinig, Wonderfully Made (Bellingham: Lexham
Press, 2021).
8
See Robert H. Bennett, I Am Not Afraid (St. Louis: Concordia
Publishing House, 2013).
7

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 105