LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1929, Page 7

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Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1929. 7

a; | how we regard this legacy of the fathers. The fathers of our Lu-
4 ran Church prized purity of teaching as their greatest treasure.
‘ one fear was that they might in some way adulterate the truth.
Sheir one purpose was to spread the truth by faithful instruction in
pit and school. Alas, how many who call themselves Lutherans
prove themselves unworthy of the fathers! In large territories of
Lutheran Church, purity of teaching is held in but low regard,
fad a spirit of indifference can calmly see one Scriptural doctrine
er the other thrown overboard, while but little effort is put forth
indoctrinate the Church’s youth in church and school.
., The founders of our beloved Synod had eyes opened to recognize
|:the Lutheran Confessions a golden legacy. How they prized the ©
ruth of these writings, and how zealous were they to hand this truth
n-intact to us, their children! To this end they erected educational
titutions, published books and periodicals, and established congre-
ations and schools. With sadness of heart we must register the in-
putable fact that in our own generation the appreciation and love
{pure doctrine is waning. We can see this in many places. Our
hurch is in great danger of drifting into a state of lethargy. By the
race of God the coming jubilees want to help us to appreciate anew
wr-inheritance and to turn it to good account, so that with all our
arts we may join the psalmist in saying: “Thy testimonies have
ken as an heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart.”
Our fathers, however, did not only rejoice in the glory of the
d that had risen upon them, they also were ready to prove the
enuineness of their faith by supporting their confession with a readi-
néss to suffer shame, persecution, yes, even death for the sake of the
‘truth. When at Spires and Augsburg they were threatened with
severe punishment, they did not allow themselves to be intimidated.
Ths at Marburg, Luther was tempted to make concessions to the
winglian party for the purpose of bringing about a great political
‘confederation, calculated to afford the new teaching the protection of
he sword, he withstood the temptation, heedless of consequences, and
a as willing to go his way alone rather than, at the expense of the
ivine truth, enter into an alliance with men who had “a different
spirit.” It was not easy thus to isolate oneself. The Smalcald Articles
ay: “To dissent from the agreement of so many nations and to be
alled schismatics is a grave matter. But divine authority commands
fall not to be allies and defenders of impiety and unjust cruelty.”
Trigl., 516.)
In this attitude of our fathers, my dear brethren, there lies a
lemn admonition to the Church of the present day. And how we
o need that admonition! The universal tendency of our times is
“get together.” Isolation in church-life is regarded as intolerable.
liose who keep themselves separate for the sake of the truth are