LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 53

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53

PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

Text: Philippians 2:5-11 (KJV)

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be
equal with God

But made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the
form of a servant and was lade in the likeness of men,

And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself
and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him and given Him
a name which is above every name,

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things
in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth,

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

St. Paul’s epistle to the Philippians, a document that
emphasizes the joy we rightly possess as God’s people, is
both optimistic and realistic in tone. It is often called
Paul's love letter. While there is much to be joyful about,
such as partnership in the Gospel (1:5), the fact that
Christ is preached, whatever the motives (1:17-18), being
united with Christ, comforted by His love, and having
fellowship with the Spirit (2:1), yet an important ingredi-
ent is lacking. “Make my joy complete,” he urges, “by
being likeminded, having the same love, being one in
spirit and purpose” (2:2). And after putting thumbs down
on selfish ambition and vain conceit (2:3), the apostle
points to the example of Christ Jesus. Your attitude,
your mindset, should be as His.

Look, he implores you, Christ Jesus, “being in the
form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God
but made Himself of no reputation” (2:6-7). In other
words, in humbling Himself, according to His human
nature, He refrained from the full use of His divine
majesty. He took upon Himself the form of a servant and
was made in the likeness of men. That was humility, a
kind of humility the world had never seen. But more: He
humbled Himself in obedience to God's will even .unto
death, and not a usual kind of death but death on the
cross. (2:7-8)

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and
gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on
earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (2:5-
11)

As we come together for this, the Slst synodical
convention, let us consider these words as they apply to
our situation today.

1. Concord Among Ourselves

“Qne in spirit and purpose” 1s what the apostle urges.
“One,” says Paul, and he says it in many places:

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement
give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow
Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom.
15:5)

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there
may be no divisions among you and that you may be
perfectly united in mind and thought. (1 Cor. 1:10)

Make every effort te Koop the unity of the Spirit through

President J.A.O. Preus

you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord,
one faith, one baptism, one God ‘and Father of all, who is
over all and through all and in all. (Eph. 4:3-6)

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since, as
members of one body, you were called to peace. (Col. 3:15)

Let us first of all thank God for the measure of unity
that exists among us. By the working of His Holy Spirit
we are all members of the church in that we believe in
Jesus Christ to be our Savior and the only way to eternal
life. It is because we confess together the central truth of
Scripture that many of us are impatient concerning the
overwhelming task of bringing this only saving message
to all men. Many feel that far too much time, energy,
and money has been expended in attempting to solve our
doctrinal problems and that our evangelism and mission
efforts are suffering as a result.

Still we must be mindful that any compromise of any
clear teaching in the Scripture has inevitably led to the
loss of the Gospel itself. We must remain as uncompro-
mising as Martin Luther, who wrote:

We want to retain all articles of the Christian faith abso-

lutely pure and sure and not give up one tittle of them, no

matter whether they are great or small (though none is
small or unimportant to us). And so it must be, for the

doctrine is our only light which shines upon our Wa. and
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