Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 477
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 477

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

THE MISSION OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN THE WORLD 479

separation. The Lutheran Christian uses the Lutheran
Confessions for the primary purpose for which they
were framed: to confess Christ and His Gospel boldly
and lovingly to all Christians. While the Confessions seek
to repel all attacks against the Gospel, they are not in-
tended to be a kind of Berlin wall to stop communica-
tion with other Christians; and be it further

Resolved. That we affirm that by virtue of our unity
with other Christians in the body of Christ, we should
work together when it will edify Christ’s body and ad-
vance His mission, refusing cooperation, however, on
such occasions when it would deny God’s Word: and be it
finally

Resolved, That we affirm that because the church is
Christ’s mission to the church, Christians should speak
the Word of God to one another as they nurture, edify,
and educate one another for Christian faith and life.
Therefore as a Synod we value our strong tradition of
Christian education and seek to extend it throughout
life, for laity and clergy. Far from employing agencies
of Christian education primarily in our own institutional
self-interest, we will endeavor to make them ever more
effective tools in equipping God’s people for His mission.

John 17:1-26
Ephesians 4:1-16

I Corinthians 12:1-31
I John 4:1-21

I Peter 4:7-11

IV.
The Church Is Christ's Mission to the Whole Society

WHEREAS, Jesus Christ is Lord of all the world and
in every area of life; and

WHEREAS, The Christian recognizes no area of life
that may be termed “secular” in the sense that it is re-
moved from the lordship of Jesus Christ, though it may
not be under the control of the institutional church; and

WHEREAS, The Christian does God’s work in the world
through various vocations in the home, church, and state
as distinguished by Dr. Martin Luther; therefore be it

Resolved. That we affirm that the church is Christ’s
mission to the whole society: and be it further

Resolved. That we recognize the difficulty of under-
standing in every instance whether God desires Chris-
tians to act corporately or individually or both in His
mission to the whole society; they will, however, seek His
will through prayer and mutual study: and be it further

Resolved. That Christians be exhorted to serve God
in every honest occupation, recognizing that all of life
is the arena of a Christian’s ministry to God and man;
and be it further

Resolved. That Christians be encouraged to seek the
peace of the city, as God commands, working together
with their fellow citizens of the nation and of the world,
whatever their race, class, or belief; and be it finally

Resolved, That Christians be encouraged as they at-
tempt, under the judgment and forgiveness of God, to
discover and further His good purposes in every area
of life, to extend justice, social acceptance, and a full
share in God’s bounty to all people who are discriminated
against and oppressed by reason of race, class, creed,
or other unwarranted distinctions. Christians recognize
that all their fellowmen come from the Father’s creating
hand and that His Son’s nail-pierced hands reach out in
love to all of them.

James 2:1-17
Colossians 3:8-17
I Peter 2:11-17
Romans 15:1-13
Romans 12:1-21

Vv.
The Church Is Christ's Mission to the Whole Man

WHEREAS, The Scriptures teach us that God’s love
reaches out to the whole man, for God the Father lovingly
creates and preserves man; the Son redeemed him in
body, soul, and mind: the Holy Spirit brings him to faith
and moves him to use body, soul, and mind in God’s
great mission; and

WHEREAS, Our Lord became a man and ministered to
the needs of the whole man, forgiving sins, healing the
sick, feeding the hungry, and even providing wine for
a marriage feast: and

WHEREAS, Our Lord at His return will solemnly report
whether or not we fed, clothed, and visited Him in the
least of His hungry, naked, and forsaken brethren;
therefore be it

Resolved. That we affirm that the church is God’s
mission to the whole man. Wherever a Christian as God’s
witness encounters the man to whom God sends him, he
meets someone whose body, soul, and mind are related
in one totality. Therefore Christians, individually and
corporately, prayerfully seek to serve the needs of the
total man. Christians bring the Good News of the living
Christ to dying men. They bring men instruction in all
useful knowledge. They help and befriend their neighbor
on our small planet in every bodily need. They help their
neighbor to improve and protect his property and busi-
ness by bringing him economic help and enabling him
to earn his daily bread in dignity and self-respect.
Christians minister to the needs of the whole man, not
because they have forgotten the witness of the Gospel
but because they remember it. They know that the
demonstration of their faith in Christ adds power to its
proclamation.

Matthew 8:1-17
Matthew 25:31-46
Luke 16:19-31
Hebrews 13:1-21

I Corinthians 13:1-13