Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1958, Page 31

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Lutheran Synodical Conference, 1958 81

I
THE COMPOSITE MODE OF LIFE

We now come to the third and last of Augustine’s categories,
the composite mode of Christian living, in which practice is linked
with precept, but in a creative, not a mechanical way. The com-
posite mode results when the spiritual insights gained by con-
templation determine the course of our actions. This definition
sounds simple, but the composite mode is actually complex and
difficult. At least four considerations show it to be so.

First of all, our insights are not always clear or complete.
“Now we see in part,” says Paul. Sometimes this inadequate
knowledge is the result of our own laziness, crotchetiness, or lack
of talent; sometimes it lies in the nature of the problem. There
are many problems which cannot be solved at the present because
we do not yet know enough about them.

But suppose our insight is clear and complete and correct.
It usually takes tact, will power, and again talent to put it into
effect, and these qualities are often lacking wholly or in part in
ourselves. We can all tell what is wrong: with a sermon, for
instance, and perhaps give the rules for making a good one, but
to make that good sermon is another thing. .

But let us say that the insight is everything it should be and
the requisite tact and talent and will power are also there. We may
still be thwarted in our purpose because our insights do not
harmonize with those of other people. That, alas, is only too true
in the theological field. How many times two different persons or
groups contemplating the same Scripture passage, both approach-
ing it humbly and with the desire to let God speak, come up with
almost exactly opposite conclusions, the one saying, “This is so
plain a child can understand it. God is speaking about our par-
ticular problem and telling us exactly what to do about it,” while
others say, “The passage does not apply to this problem at all but
to something quite different.”

Now suppose that all the insights agree and all the wills are
forceful and ready to act and the. problem is thoroughly under-
stood. A fourth difficulty will arise if the problem is of such
a stubborn nature that it perennially resists our best efforts to
solve it. Our sinful human nature is such a problem. “The good
that I would I do not.” We are all agreed, I think, that Christians
should attend church service every Sunday. We have the will to
persuade them to attend and we spend endless effort in trying
to achieve such a desirable course of action. Yet who has ever
completely succeeded in attaining this particular goal? Yes, the
composite life is complex and difficult. No wonder it gives rise
to tensions.

Fortunately we all agree on the great fundamentals, the neces-
sity of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in season and out
of season to all men everywhere. There is no quarrel about aims
here, but there often is about methods. Have you ever heard the
criticism that the preaching in our Lutheran pulpits is becoming
too Calvinistic? Since I doubt that some of the critics have ever
read any of Calvin’s sermons, I take it they mean to say that our
Lutheran sermons are approximating the style of preaching found
in many other Protestant churches, especially the liberal ones.