LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 101

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 101

divided and separated from the error. especially as concerns
the term ‘Word of God”: and

WHEREAS. The above facts come about because the au-
thority and infallibility concerning the divine character of the
Bible as a Book of God's revelation of eternal, immutable, divine
truth is being questioned and also opposed even within our own
Synod: and

WHEREAS. This attack against the divine Scriptures as a
Book of divine information. which is the prime object of our
faith (Jesus Christ being the secondary object of our faith. insofar
as faith in Him as Savior is impossible without a faith in what
Scripture reveals about Him), is the chief battle which must be
waged today against all enemies to the contrary: therefore be it

Resolved:

1. That the Synod temporarily suspend all other dialog,
personality invectives, guessing at motives and intentions. silly
and fruitless argumentation, study papers which obfuscate
rather than clarify, etc. etc.. and that the Synod focus on a clari-
fication of what is meant by “The Word of God,” this single
issue concerning the Bible — an issue which never needed a solid
defense and refutation of the attacks against it, until our recent
history (‘But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that
ye be not consumed one of another,” Gal. 5:15):

2, That the Synod identify the four major attacks, all of which
are based on philosophical rationalization, which is anti-Bible
and anti-God. In their order of appearance in history. these
four are:

A. The historical-critical method. or “higher criticism":
B. Evolution as fact. no longer just a “theory”:

C. 20th-century neoorthodory. beginning with the Swiss
theologian Karl Barth and promoted by Jaroslav Pelikan within
the Missouri Synod:

D. The 20th-century knowledge explosion.

Clarification for Resolve No. 2.

A. Historical-critical method. which a priori judges the Holy
Scriptures to be just another human-authored book. arising out
of human history and human development. which can therefore
lay no a priori claims to divine source or origin. Such a method
is totally anti-Bible, anti-God. and anti-Christian.

B. Erolution vs. God's fiat creation in 6 calendar days.
which is therefore anti-Bible, anti-God, and faith-destroying.
Evolution is being taught in the Missouri Synod under the
guise of ‘Theistic Evolution” (compromising position) and under
the guise of “Continous Creation.’ — What did God create on the
8th, 10th, or 20th day? The only creative work, since the 6th
day, is the creation of new spiritual life through means (“means
of grace,’ Scripture and sacraments), not by direct creative
activity.

C. 20th-century neoorthodoxy. which claims that the Bible
is not per se *THE Word of God": not a Book of divine informa-
tion: not the revelation from God: static doctrines are not
“The Word of God": truth is “dynamic” (in flux. constantly
changing).

Since this neoorthodoxy claims the Bible is not “The Word
of God,” it substitutes and refers the term “Word of God" to
“deeds”, or “kerygma”’, orto a “Person” rather than to “words,”
thus confusing the whole religious world by these ‘crypto-
meanings,” as follows:

a. “The Word of God” ‘historical sense) is a “deed” of God
as an historical erent:

b. “The Word of God” ‘basic sense) is the “‘*kerygma,” the
preaching, teaching. proclamation of the church:

ce. “The Word of God" ‘derivative sense) is the “Bible,”
derived from the “kerygma™ and the “deed.” The Bible
may be called ‘The Word of God" also in the form of the
“written” Word:

d. “The Word of God” is a Person. the Second Person of the
Holy Trinity. that is, Jesus Christ. (John 1:1)

These ‘“crypto-meanings” assigned to the term ‘Word of
God" by neoorthodoxy, have created confusion and deception.
This is “‘deceit’s working,” a “strong delusion,” a ‘sending of the
working of error’ (2 Thess. 2:11), which must be clearly eluci-
dated as an attack to destroy Holy Scripture.

D. The 20th-century knowledge explosion. which claims that
from the beginning of World War I man has learned more and
advanced further than he had in all previous history. Therefore
we no longer have our old civilization. and therefore all previous
knowledge is “passé.”’ All knowledge must be updated (including
the Bible) to coincide with the vastness and newness of our
present knowledge. which is completely authenticated by
modern technology.

3. That the practical application of the above crypto-mean-
ings of “The Word of God.’ namely. “the body of Christ’ con-
cept. as it is incorrectly interpreted in ecumenical efforts at
false and unionistic church union, be remored from the “Theo-
logical Basis for Mission” as it was presented to the synodical
convention in Detroit. 1965. in "The Mission Survey Report”
(pp. 114-125, Convention Workbook), and that a reaffirmation
of the commission of the Lord of the church, Jesus Christ Him-
self, be once again declared to the mission policy of the Synod.
that is: “Go ve therefore. and teach all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father. and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you.”

These resolutions will not magically cure the ills of the
Synod and bring about instant reconciliation. They will. how-
ever. assist both clergy and laity to be better equipped to make
proper personal decisions from a clearer understanding of the
basic 20th-century issue concerning what constitutes “The
Word of God.” Once that issue is understood. further issues will
be better understood and determined more confidently.

Pilgrim Lutheran Church of the Deaf
Los Angeles. Calif.

Charles Kotal. President

Marcus Tibbetts. Secretary

Arnold T. Jonas, Pastor

3-127

To Clarify Terms “Canonical Text”

and “Canon”

WHEREAS. The Lutheran Church-— Missouri Synod has re-
tained throughout its history, by God's grace. a right under-
standing of the doctrines of the inspiration and inerrancy of
Scripture: and

WHEREAS. The vast majority of the members of the church.
when considering the terms “God's Word.” “Scriptures.” “the
Bible,’ do believe that these terms are interchangeable and
synonymous with the term “canonical text’: and

WHEREAS. The term “canonical text.” when used by these
members. is taken to mean the 66 books of the Christian Bible:
and

WHEREAS. In recent months there have appeared in print.
with disturbing frequency. statements which indicate that there
are some who have serious reservations as to exactly what is
meant by the term “canonical text’ and/or “canon”: and

WHEREAS. These reservations are no doubt grounded in past
questions surrounding the Homologoumena and the Ant-
legomena— questions with which few of our lay members are
acquainted: and

WHEREAS. Confusion over this matter is bound to affect our
people. undermining their confidence in the truthfulness of the
doctrines of the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture. thus
sowing the seeds of future conflict in our church: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations prepare a study document on the subject of the
“canonicity’’ of Scripture and related subject matter: and be it
further

Resolved. That this document be published and distributed
throughout the Synod.
St. Thomas Lutheran Church
Rocky River. Ohio
Edgar H. Krause. President
James P. Walker. Secretary
Phillip B. Giessler. Pastor