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LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1935, Page 176

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

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176 Proceedings of Thirty-Sixth Regular Convention,

5. The exclusive use of Shen gives us a one-term practise, the
same Chinese word being used for both God and god, even as we have
one word for God and god in Greek, Latin, German, English, etc.

VI.

On the basis of this brief summary your Committee submits the
following opinion and recommendations: —

1. Because of the difficulty of properly safeguarding the term
Shangdi at all times, even when used as a descriptive title or appella-
tion of God and because of the danger of confusion resulting from
such use under conditions in China, it is our opinion that the use
of Shangdi as a name for God should be discouraged because of its
similarity to the idol name Shangdi.

2. We recommend that as the translation for the words God and
god the Chinese term Shen and shen be used exclusively.

3. We believe that this change can be gradually effected within
a reasonable time and should be prepared for, and accompanied by,
proper and necessary instruction.

Respectfully submitted, .
W. H. Kruse. E. W. Koruter.

Report of Committee 16:—

Your Committee recommends : —

1. That Synod express its appreciation to the Committee on the
Chinese Term Question for having done intensive work during the
past three years;

2. That Synod acknowledge with joy that there is no actual theo-
logical difference between the two parties, since they agree that an
idol name with its idol connotations may not be used of the true God,
Scripture forbidding such usage; *

8. That Synod thank God that all personal grievances and
alleged or real insults have been removed by proper explanation or
apologies;

4, That Synod determine that the linguistic issues involved, with
reference to the Chinese term for God, be referred to our missionaries
in China for eventual adjustment on the basis of the accepted lin-
guistic usage, without any foreign interference;

5. That all parties interested in this Term Question be asked to
withhold judgment in this matter until the Missionaries’ Conference
in China has found a satisfactory solution.

Action of Synod.
Synod adopted the report of Committee 16.

* On the floor of Synod Dr. Th. Engelder formulated the question thus:
Can a name which has been used as an idol name be divested of its idol
connotations and then be used in Christian worship?