The vocabulary used here are words such as missional, intentional, lifestyle, living practices, goal, process. Conspicuously absent is a Lutheran vocabulary, such as forgiveness of sins, life and salvation, repentance, resurrection, grace, mercy, liturgy, sacrament.
It does the heart good to know you will not sit idly by while certain teachers in the Church rob themselves and others of the comfort we receive through the sound pattern of words and instruction that, together with vessels of humble appearance, declare us righteous while bestowing every good gift from Above. The fact that you are able to recognize departures from the Truth may be attributed to your dear Savior, whose tender voice you have heard and known from youth; whose grace day by day has kept you faithful.
The proliferation of notions akin to those expressed by many in Church officialdom is nothing new. How to address them to salutary effect is an art I am not particularly adept at practicing. My tendency is to flee in the opposite direction. This I may do, because I know a place where these alien teachings do not hold sway, namely the place where together we are recipients of, and conductors for, the grace of God in Christ Jesus at Emmaus, South Bend. Many other such places have, by the grace of God, been put forth in this land and around the world. The Holy Spirit calls you to seek them out.
As we draw nearer to the end of time in this world, the opportunities to confess the Faith clearly will increase. I take Pastor Stuckwisch, President Harrison, you, and several others as examples of those whose teaching, life and conduct are exemplary in dealing with matters like this. There is definite, inward stress that comes about when those in the Church continually place emphasis on our work and activity, making it a starting point, when in fact all we are and have is, from one moment to the next, sustained by grace through the same Word that created the heavens and the earth.
Perhaps there will be others who, like you, take time to express concern. The LCMS seems to be taking significant steps toward doctrinal oversight, so we may see an increase in faithful teaching and practice in our midst for which we may give thanks and praise to Christ Jesus. At the same time, based on my few visits outside of Emmaus over the years, chopped liver tends to be more in evidence than one Body. Well . . . we walk by faith!
I was reminded by your concern to reach back to Dr. Herman Sasse, whose life of teaching in the Church, in the paraphrased words of Dr. J.W. Kleinig, "frequently reminds us that the church is not sinless and free from the ravages of original sin. Nor has it ever been! It isn’t as if only heretics, liberal theologians and heterodox churches have erred. No, the church has often erred and would always err; even its most saintly leaders and all its greatest theologians have erred and have perhaps done the cause of Christ the greatest damage; even Luther and our orthodox fathers have erred; he himself has erred, and we, too, will err. Only Christ and His Word have never erred, and they will never err."
It is to this we are given to yield as we deal with one another under the grace we have received, in Whom we abide, namely that all sufficiency for all time is ours in Christ alone. Since He is proven to know our weakness, we may also deal in love with our neighbor's weakness, knowing no weakness ultimately nullifies the end of all that has been ordained from the beginning for the Body of Christ.
Peace be with you.
