The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1929, Sheet 81

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

disputing with him in the synagog were not able to
resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
Acts 6,8—10. Of Aquila and Priscilla we are told
that they expounded unto Apollos the way of God,
and Apollos in turn “mightily convinced the Jews,
and that publicly, showing by the Scriptures that
Jesus was Christ.” Acts18,26.28. That was splendid
lay activity, an activity which was very much in
evidence not only during that period of the Chris-
tian Church, but also in the time of the Reformation.

The writer of an article in the Lutheran School
Journal has this to say concerning the missionary
activity of the laity: —

“Tet us hark back for a moment to the funda-
mentals of the missionary obligation. Who has the
command to do mission-work? Every Christian.
‘Go, ye,’ says Christ, and ye are the disciples of
Christ, the Christians. ‘Go ye and disciple the
nations,’ — there we have the missionary commis-
sion to every soldier of the Cross. When Christ says,
‘Come unto Me,’ He means everybody, and when
Christ says, ‘Go ye,’ He means every Christian. In
the word come we get justification by faith; in the
word go we show sanctification by works.

“Tn the parable of the two sons, Christ has a cer-
tain man say to his son: ‘Son, go work to-day in my
vineyard.’ Matt. 21, 28. That man is a type of God.
The vineyard is Christ’s kingdom. Accordingly,
every one who is a son of God through faith in
Christ Jesus is called to work in Christ’s vineyard.
God calls us into His vineyard, not only that we
may eat of its fruit, but also that we should work in
and for His kingdom. All Christians are to place
themselves in this service of helping to bring the
kingdom of Christ to blood-bought souls and these
souls into His kingdom and then to enrich their
own selves and them more and more with the trea-
sures of this kingdom. Can you think of any richer
and more blessed work?

“Again, are we not all royal priests? We know
that this office of the royal priesthood not only gives
the privilege to go to God without the mediation of
an earthly priest, but that it also puts the solemn
obligation on each and every one of us to teach the

saving Word to others.

“All the first disciples of Christ did personal
work. Seven of the eleven apostles were won by per-
sonal work. When the Samaritan woman heard
Jesus, she left her waterpot at the well, returned to
the city and did personal mission-work, saying:

‘Come, see a man which told me all things that .

T ever did; is not this the Christ?” Even in the Old
Testament we see the personal mission-work of

19

a Jewish captive maid, who sent Naaman to Elisha,
the prophet of God, to be cured of his leprosy. When
the great persecutions broke out after the establish-
ment of a Christian Church, the Christians were
scattered; but wherever they went, they preached
the Word. The whole history of the early Church
is the record of the spreading, by individuals, of
those truths which brought so much joy to their own
hearts. The missions in Samaria were started, not
by the apostles, but by laymen.”

Since by precept and example the Word of God
teaches us that it is the solemn duty of every Chris-
tian to do mission-work, we need not fear that there
is any lay Christian in our midst who will find
nothing to do. Every one without exception can be
personally active in and for the Kingdom. By word
and deed every one can and should prove to be
a priest and a missionary. And if those whom God
has especially blessed with earthly goods can give
special contributions towards the spreading of the
Gospel, for the support of a student or missionary,
for the erection of a chapel or schoolhouse, or for _
any other purpose, that should be considered a glori-
ous opportunity and blessed privilege to be a co-
worker with God in a way which is not open for
many others. — Australian Lutheran.

Immanuel College Commencement.

Baccalaureate Sermon, May, 26, 7.30 rp. a. Alumni Day,
May 29. Jubilee Service, May 30, 10.30 a.31. Commence-
ment Exercises, May 30, 3 P. xt. Wa. H. GEHRKE.

New Treasurer of Synodical Conference.

Mr. Albert Gruett, the treasurer of the Synodical Con-
ference, has entered into eternal rest. I have appointed
Mr. Martin Markworth, Merrill, Wis., as his successor,
and he has accepted the appointment. .All those who have
dealings with the treasurer of the Synodical Conference
will please remember his name and address him at 506
State St., Merrill, Wis.

L. FUERBRINGER,
President of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Oonference
of North America.

BOOK TABLE.

Lutheran Catechism. By Christopher Drewes. Rudolph
Volkening, St. Louis, Mo. 112 pages. Price, 35 cts.

This is the seventh edition of Director Drewes’s ex-
planation of Luther’s Small Catechism. This new edition
also brings the much-demanded Enchiridion and the Table
of Duties. The Catechism without the Enchiridion and
the Table of Duties is still to be had for 30 cts. the copy.
The simple language of this explanation of Luther’s Small

~ Catechism commends this book for use in the lower grades

or mixed schools. Pastors will find ita most helpful guide
in the instruction of adults. The close coordination of
Catechism and Bible History as we have it in Director
Drewes’s exposition and the lists of word-explanations at
the end of ahantace are noteworthy and desirable features.
The book will see many more editions, no doubt.