September 2003VOL. 122 NO. 8

‘Luther’: A Moviefor Our Time

www.lcms.org/witness

Also:Confronting CohabitationGrace at Ground Zero

FeaturesFeatures

3 LifelinePaul E.Goddard

4 Letters

14 National News

22 In My OpinionTim Pauls

23 Notices

24 Searching ScriptureElroi Reimnitz

26 People and Places/ Family Counselor

27 Q&A/Shedding Some Light

28 From the PresidentGerald B.Kieschnick

WITNESST h e � u t h e r a n

A Magazine for the laypeople of the lutheran church — missouri synod

September 2003

Official periodical of The Lutheran Church—MissouriSynod through the Board for CommunicationServices, Dr. Martin G. Schramm, chairman; Rev. J.Thomas Lapacka, executive director.

Staff: Rev. David L. Mahsman, executive editor; Don Folkemer,managing editor; Joe Isenhower Jr., news editor; Paula SchlueterRoss, contributing editor; John Krus, senior designer; CorinneLatimer, marketing manager; Pam Burgdorf, coordinator;Marcy Hanewinkel, advertising sales; Carla Dubbelde, editori-al manager, district editions; Karen Higgins, editorial assistant;editorial office: 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd., St. Louis, MO 63122-7295;(314) 965-9917, Ext. 1228.

© 2003 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Reproductionof a single article or column for parish use only does not requirepermission of THE LUTHERAN WITNESS. Such reproductions,however, should credit THE LUTHERAN WITNESS as thesource. Cover images and “Shedding Some Light” cartoons arenot reproducible without permission. Also, photos credited tosources outside the LCMS are not to be copied.

Published 11 times per year by Concordia Publishing House,3558 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118-3968. Individual sub-scription $18.48 per year. Organized congregation subscriptionsand district editions offered at reduced rate if submitted throughlocal churches. Standard A postage paid at St. Louis, MO.

For subscription information or address changes, e–mail: cphorder@cph.org

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod1-888-THE LCMS (843-5267) www.lcms.org

e–mail: LUTHERAN.WITNESS@lcms.org

Member: Associated Church PressEvangelical Press Association

September 2003 (ISSN: 0024-757X) Vol.122, No.8

Martin Luther (Joseph Fiennes) from the movie, “Luther.”Cover photo by Rolf von der Heydt, copyright © 2003

by Neue Filmproduktion, Berlin.

To subscribe, renew or to give a gift subscription,call Concordia Publishing House at: 800-325-3381

DepartmentsDepartments

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CONFRONTING COHABITATIONby Roger Sonnenberg

With so many couples living togetheroutside of marriage,what is the churchto do?

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THE KIND OF PASTORREADERS WANT ...by Joe Isenhower Jr.

Readers accepted the invitation to comment.

LUTHER—A MAN FOR THIS SEASONby Uwe Siemon-Netto

Martin Luther’s discovery of a merciful Godcomes through in a new film that’s alsoriveting entertainment.

1616GRACE AT GROUND ZEROby David W.Wollenburg

Sept.11,2001, said something aboutthe extent of sin in the world.But italso said something about the great-ness and love of God.

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Victory Over FearPage 24

Dehumanizing pain

Abortion does not just dehumanizeand kill the child in the womb; itdehumanizes and kills all of us.

Allen Yount

St. Louis, Mo.

(Ex. 18:25), or the land (Matt.2:20–21). With the possible excep-tion of Gal. 6:16 (“Israel of God”),the word “Israel” is not used in theBible for “the church.” (One could

use the term “true Israel” to referto those Jews who believe in Jesusas their personal Messiah—as setforth by Paul in Rom. 9:1–13 andby implication in Rom. 2:28–29.)

The Abrahamic Covenant(which came 450 years before theMosaic Covenant), unconditionalin its essence, promised to thedescendants of Abraham throughIsaac and Jacob (a.k.a. Israel),three things: a great nation, land,and that all peoples on earth wouldbe blessed through a descendant(viz., a Savior). Cf. Gen. 12:3, 7 andPsalm 105:6–11. We cannot pickand choose which aspects of theAbrahamic Covenant we wouldlike to keep.

It is correct to say that believersin Christ, regardless of their ethnicroots, are the children of Abraham(Gal. 3:7–9)—including ChristianPalestinian Arabs and Jesus-believing Jews. And praise God forall the children who are singing“Father Abraham” this summer invacation Bible school!

Rev. Bruce J. Lieske

Lutherans in Jewish Evangelism

Orlando, Fla.

THOUGH WE ARE SPIRITUALLY PART OF

the true Israel and partakers inmany blessings that those whoreject Christ cannot have, someblessings and promises for thehistoric people of Israel still standand we must recognize this. The

LINDA BARTLETT IS TO BE COMMENDED

for her article, “The Secret Pain”(May ’03). We know all too well thatabortion dehumanizes the child inthe womb, making such a child athing that can be disposed of shouldits existence prove to be “inconven-ient.”

However, abortion does not stopthere. Women seeking abortions arereduced to dollar signs in the eyes of those who operate the abortionclinics. Furthermore, to useBartlett’s words, these women “areabandoned to burdens of guilt, griefand anger that threaten to pull theminto cold and lonely darkness, awayfrom the giver of life.” She mentionsa similar effect upon the meninvolved. And I would add that abortion even dehumanizes thosewho make a living at it.

Abortion does not just dehuman-ize and kill the child in the womb; itdehumanizes and kills all of us. Godgrant that, through our witness andactions, this horrible sin of our soci-ety may be stopped. And may theabundant life that Jesus promises beexperienced by all—the child in thewomb, the woman (or man) suffer-ing from guilt over abortion, andeven those currently profiting fromabortion.

Allen Yount

St. Louis, Mo.

Israel

THE “Q&A” FOR MAY DEALT WITH “THE

True Israel.” In a strict exegeticalsense, the word “Israel” can meanonly the man (Gen. 32:28), the peo-ple who are descended from him

chosen people are still the apple ofHis eye. The promise of the prom-ised land still stands.

Tyler Carlson

San Marcos, Texas

Dignity for women

I FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT YOUR

article, “Civilization Transformed”(June/July ’03), spoke of the newdignity for women that Christianitybrought with it. Correct me if I amwrong, but I believe that someLCMS churches still do not allowwomen members to vote. Doesthis compute?

Donna Holmquist

Omaha, Neb.

Another possibility

THE MARCH “Q&A” CORRECTLY POINT-ed out the difficulty in commentingon the pastor’s statement as quotedby the questioner—“We don’t haveto repent of our sins and God stillforgives us”—without knowing thecontext in which it was spoken.The several possibilities suggestedby “Q&A,” however, did not includea very practical one: The pastormay have been responding to acommon question, “What happensto a believer in Jesus who diessuddenly without having repentedof preceding sins?”

Dr. C.F.W. Walther, in the 15th ofhis 25 theses on Law and Gospel,states, “In the Holy Scriptures, theterm repentance is used in ... anarrow sense to signify the knowl-edge of sin and heartfelt sorrowand contrition.” Such repentancemay not involve an immediaterealization of sin or an instanta-neous, contrite response to theHoly Spirit’s prompting. A believerwho dies suddenly without suchrepentance for preceding sins willbe forgiven because of God’sgrace, through faith (Eph. 2:8).

Rev. Raymond F. Kahle

Grand Prairie, Texas

Letters

THE LUTHERAN WITNESS

Marriage counseling

THE MARCH “FAMILY COUNSELOR” COLUMN

suggests finding a qualified marriagecounselor from among credentialedpsychiatrists, psychologists, socialworkers, marriage and family thera-pists or licensed professional coun-selors. Notably absent is any mentionof the thousands of certified pastoralcounselors who offer marriage coun-seling.

In the secular world, the emphasistoday is on “couple counseling,” withno distinction made between that andthe God-created basis for family life,marriage (Genesis 1 and 2). A keyquestion for anyone seeking a mar-riage counselor is, Do you believe inmarriage—in theory and in your ownlife?

Dr. Erwin Brese

Niagara Falls, N.Y.

The missions shortfall

NOT TOO MANY YEARS AGO, A LARGE

LCMS church and school with whichI am acquainted developed a revenueshortfall. The immediate remedialaction was for the church to discon-

tinue its missions commitment.Within a short period, fiscal and spiri-tual bankruptcy reigned. Divisionerupted. The school failed. Flighttook place. Membership leveled off at about 50 souls.

Wayne Spiering

Jacksonville, Fla.

In a separate letter, Mr. Spiering

sent $100 to put toward the current

shortfall in mission funding—part

of a grassroots movement begun

early this year via e-mail by Paul

Koehler of Omaha, Neb. A fund

has been set up as a result.

Contributions may be sent to LCMS

World Mission Support, 1333 S.

Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO

63122-7295. Make checks payable to

“LCMS World Mission” and note that

the donation is for the “grassroots

effort.” — Ed.

THE LUTHERAN WITNESS

All photos by Rolf von der Heydt, copyright ©2003 by Neue Filmproduktion, Berlin.

THE LUTHERAN WITNESS

by Uwe Siemon-Netto

It’s a pity that the title “A Man for All Seasons” is taken(a brilliant movie about Sir Thomas More, a RomanCatholic martyred at the hand of King Henry VIII). It

would be a perfect title for the first full-length featurefilm in half a century about Martin Luther, which opens in300 theaters nationwide on Sept. 26.

Ah well, let’s call Luther a “Man for This Season”then—the right man for our manic era, a time of “cafete-ria religion,” an era whose statement of faith seems to be:“Here I stand—and here, and here, and here.”

So, to whom shall we turn to guide us out of post-modernity’s labyrinth of creeds? This marvelously fast-paced film suggests the person who ranked third onA&E’s and Life magazine’s lists of the most influentialpeople of the last millennium—even though 78 percentof Americans don’t know who he was: Dr. Martin Luther.

Hence the actual, very simple title of this new film,“Luther.”

Martin Luther (Joseph Fiennes) translates the Bible into Germanwhile hiding out in the Wartburg castle. “Luther” portrays eventswith attention to detail and considerable historical accuracy.

Martin Luther’s discovery of a merciful God comes

through in a new film that’salso riveting entertainment.

A Man for This Season

‘Here I stand’It so happens that the same quality that cost Sir

Thomas More his life is what makes Luther so importantfor us. Both men’s faith did not permit them to waffle.The relationship between God and man does not allowfor choice; there is but one option. As Luther, playedsuperbly by English actor JosephFiennes (“Shakespeare in Love”),said in 1521 before the ImperialDiet of Worms, risking death at thestake: “Unless I am convicted byScripture and plain reason … myconscience is captive to the Wordof God: I cannot and will not recantanything, for to go against con-science is neither right nor safe.God help me. Amen.”

Maybe Luther added, “Here I stand”; maybe that’s justsomething pamphleteers edited into their reports imme-diately after Worms. It doesn’t really matter. Thesewords sum up who Luther was; that’s why the filmmak-ers, thankfully, inserted them into their amazingly accu-rate and detailed account of the Worms standoff withoutwhich Western democracy as we know it would neverhave developed.

“Here I stand”—by God, these words churn up one’sguts and send shivers down one’s spine! Even if thiswere only a dreary documentary, this brief scene wouldstill win over hundreds of thousands.

But “Luther” is anything but dull. It is so fast-movingthat some who previewed it wondered if it might con-fuse the audience, which Idoubt. It is breathtakinglyfilmed. It has humor and charmand wonderfully authenticaphorisms (Luther: “In Romeyou can buy sex andsalvation”). It keeps you on theedge of your seat, wondering atfirst—only to be reassuredlater—about Luther’s sanity.

Bowed headsIt also makes you wish dole-

fully that we were governedtoday by men like thoseGerman princes, who towardthe movie’s end bowed theirheads to Emperor Charles V atthe Augsburg Diet of 1530—no, not in deference, but show-ing their readiness to be decap-itated for the sake of theGospel. O that in these deca-

dent days, when the dirtiest fingers fumble with theWord of God presuming to conform it to their own fouldesires, we would hear dialogues like this:

Emperor Charles: “Your ministers shall not preachand you will outlaw these Bibles in the common lan-guage and declare anyone who possesses one an enemyof the state.”

Philip of Hesse: “We will not stop our ministers frompreaching the Word.”

John of Saxony: “We will not outlaw the new Bible”(translated by Luther into German).

Charles: “As a sign of your loyalty to me, tomorrow youshall all march in the Corpus Christi procession tothe Cathedral and worship. All of you—in the Romanmanner.”

George of Brandenburg: “We will not, my Lord.”

Charles: “You … shall know my sword!

George of Brandenburg: “Before I let anyone take fromthem the Word of God and ask me to deny my belief,I will kneel and let him strike off my head ….”

“I cannot and will not recant.” Luther’s defense of his writings before the Diet of Worms in April 1521 is faithfully and dramatically portrayed in the movie.Luther’s declaration of faith could well have meant his death by fire at the stake.

“Luther” is anything but dull.It is fast-moving [and] breath-takingly filmed. It has humorand charm.

THE LUTHERAN WITNESS

At this point, a filmmaker mindful of hisaudience’s stereotypical pangs, might havethe throngs out in Augsburg’s streets breakinto Luther’s anthem, “A Mighty Fortress Isour God.” Director Eric Till doesn’t do that.In fact, he only hints at Luther’s musicalaccomplishments, which later influencedBach and all classical German composers.Yes, somewhere in the movie a group ofworshipers sings “Out of the Depth I Cry toYou.” But that’s it. Clearly, “Luther” is notabout Luther the musician.

Nor is it really a film about Luther thefamily man, although a hint at the immenseinfluence of the Lutheran parsonage onWestern civilization might be particularlywelcome at a time when there are sugges-tions in some quarters that it might be OKfor the parsonage to be inhabited by a himand a him or a her and a her.

But then Luther the musician, or Luther the familyman, would make great topics for separate films orinstallments of a television series, as would, alas, the oldand sick Luther’s outbursts against the Jews. Let’s rejoice

that this movie ends at a point when, with PhilippMelanchthon’s presentation of the Augsburg Confession,the Reformer was at the pinnacle of his ministry and inthe loving arms of a still youthful Katharina von Bora,played superbly by Claire Fox, also English.

Thankfully, Luther’s chief message was that of theGospel (which for some inexplicable reason played onlyfifth fiddle in an uninspiring Luther documentary on PBSthis summer). Doubtless there are also other reasons torevisit the Father of the Reformation—the magnificent

realism of his two-kingdoms theology, for examplewhich would bring some sanity to postmodern

times. But that his discovery of a merciful Godshould come across in what is also excellent

entertainment—therein lies the filmmakers’genius.

I have often wondered what effectgreat men of faith might have on

artists who played them orperformed their works. Thomas

Quasthoff, the crippled Germanbass-baritone, once said whenhe sang Christ’s part inBach’s Saint MatthewPassion he stopped beingan agnostic. JosephFiennes, whose churchis by his own acknowl-edgment soccer, wasmade to ponder his ownfaith while acting Luther.

“You can’t get awayfrom it if you embrace thisman,” Fiennes told aninterviewer. “I have found

THE LUTHERAN WITNESS

Luther (Joseph Fiennes) throws onto a fire the papal bull excommunicatinghim from the Roman Catholic Church.

English Actress Clair Cox superbly plays former nunKatharina von Bora, who became Martin Luther’s wife.

faith to play a big part in my life.” This comes acrossforcefully in the way he masters the massive, threefoldtask of showing Luther’s discovery of his personal rela-tionship with God, the application of this discovery aspriest and professor, and his concern with how much of his accomplishments would last beyond his death.For Luther fully expected to be martyred.

A powerful journeyIf you think this kind of heavy-duty stuff can

never be turned into a riveting film, stand cor-rected. In the opening scene you will literallybe sucked into the terrifying thunderstorm thatmade a scared Martin Luther vow to become amonk, if spared. Later you are tempted to iden-tify with his fellow Augustinian monks, snig-gering as Luther, shaking with fear over hissinfulness, spills the altar wine during his firstconsecration of the Eucharist. Then you arewith him in Rome, that “circus, sewer andbrothel for clerics,” stumbling disgustedlyacross whoring monks.

You—yes, you!—will experience withLuther the wise guidance of his superior, Johnvon Staupitz (Bruno Ganz), who makes himdiscover the liberating message of salvation byGod’s grace through faith in Christ. You will,like Luther, recoil during the magnificentscenes of John Tetzel’s sale of indulgences. Youwill sit among the superbly costumed congre-gants in Luther’s church, having eye contactwith him as he thunders from the nave—whichis historically incorrect (he would have usedthe pulpit) but cinematographically very effec-tive—against this perversion of the Gospel.You will laugh with his Wittenberg students ashe ridicules the folly of collecting relics:“Eighteen of the 12 apostles are buried in Spainalone!”

Sometimes dramatic films have to takesome liberties with history, and “Luther” hassome of those. As Luther hides in the Wartburgtranslating the New Testament into German,for example, two appalling events—the 1521iconoclast riots and the 1525 Peasants’ Wars—seem to flow into one. But the message comes

THE LUTHERAN WITNESS

The movie has received a PG-13 rating. The scenes of the peasant warare graphically presented, along with several images of executions.

Luther (JosephFiennes) nails his

95 theses as anopen challenge tothe corrupt church practice of selling

indulgences.

Although quite young when he presided over the Diet of Worms in1521, Charles V (Torben Liebrecht) was one of the most powerful menin Europe, and not someone a lowly monk should defy. He imposed animperial ban, declared Luther an outlaw.

across clearly: Luther’s struggles and deepremorse over the horrors his Reformation havetriggered, including the slaughter of 50,000 to100,000 rebels.

But that’s precisely the point of this film:What history courses and even the most won-derful books cannot accomplish, succeedshere. In two gripping hours, you literallybecome part of one of the most dramatic biog-raphies in human history, a tale with enormousheights but also great lows most of us wouldshy away from. Within minutes you switchfrom breathlessness as you partake in the wildboar hunt of the extravagant Pope Leo X, whoexcommunicated Luther, to the calm and wilywarmth of Saxony’s prince elector Frederickthe Wise, who saved his “little monk,” as he

called him, and thus changed history. The inexorable Sir Peter Ustinov plays this

ruler with so much allure and humor that heseems a prime candidate for an Oscar as bestsupporting actor. In one of the movie’s loveliestscenes, Luther enters Frederick’s study to handhim the first print of the New Testament inGerman. As he engages the prince in dialogue,the aged Frederick impatiently snaps his fin-gers, asking with a childlike smile, “Do youthink I can have my present now?”

This film is all about this gift’s magnitude—it is a drama about the Gospel of Christ madeavailable not just to sages but to all, which iswhy Luther’s deed enthralled all of Germanyand the rest of Europe in the 16th century. Suchare the vagaries of history, though, that in muchof Germany, Luther is recognized merely as ahistorical giant, while his true significance as aChristian prophet seems widely forgotten.

But here comes yet another twist: So cata-strophic is Germany’s spiritual decline of thelast decades that its Roman Catholic Church

Sir Peter Usitnov plays Elector Frederickthe Wise. In this scene, Luther (JosephFiennes) presents him with a first printof the New Testament in German.Although such an event probably neverhappened, the scene underscores how Luther made the Gospel availableto everyone.

It is clear in the movie that itis Christ to whom Luther points

for hope and salvation and who is the focus of his work.

The movie concludes with Luther at the pinnacle of his ministry andin a blessed marriage to Katharina.

That [Luther’s] discovery of a merciful God should comeacross in what is also excellententertainment— therein liesthe filmmakers’ genius.

THE LUTHERAN WITNESS

has joined its Protestant sister inpromoting this film about the Fatherof the Reformation. As Cardinal KarlLehmann, chairman of the GermanConference of Catholic Bishops,once told me, “We, too, recognizeLuther as a great teacher of thefaith.”

Ironically, in the much more reli-gious United States, a leading filmdistributor told Dennis Clauss, exec-utive producer of the film and corpo-rate projects leader with ThriventFinancial for Lutherans, the movie’ssponsor: “Great! I’ll handle this, ifyou leave out the Christ stuff.”

It’s amazing how confused moviemoguls can be! “Christ stuff”—that’swhy you want to see this film; that’swhy you want to fret, smile andrejoice with Luther, and do battle onhis side; that’s why he is the Man forThis Season. His renaissance doesnot come one moment too soon.

The motion picture is boundto cause higher visibilityfor Martin Luther and for

Lutherans, and that’s wonderful,”says Rev. Tom Lapacka, executivedirector of the Synod’s Board forCommunication Services.

Shot on at least 100 sets in 20locations around Germany, Italy andthe Czech Republic, “Luther” was co-produced by Thrivent Financial forLutherans and Neue Filmproduktionof Berlin, Germany.

The film stars Joseph Fiennes(“Shakespeare in Love,” “Elizabeth,”“Enemy at the Gate”) as MartinLuther, Alfred Molina (“Frida,”“Chocolat”), and two-time AcademyAward winner Sir Peter Ustinov (“Spartacus,”“Topkapi”). The movie’s director isEric Till.

A list of the theaters where“Luther” will open is to be available at the film’s Web site,www.lutherthemovie.com. Thelist will be updated “as long as it’sin theaters,” according to DennisClauss, co-executive producer ofthe film and Thrivent’s church andcommunity project leader. He alsosaid that the film will be availableon DVD and “possibly videocassette”in 2004.

Special edition bookAs complements to the film,

Concordia Publishing House is pro-ducing a number of resources,including a special edition ofLuther: Biography of a Reformer,by Frederick Nohl. The book is to beavailable by mid-September.

CPH interim President and CEOPaul T. McCain describes the bookas “a very clear, direct and simplebiography, with many full-colorpictures from the movie, that will fill

in many gaps and articulate muchmore clearly the essential truths themovie covers.”

Soon after the book is available,CPH plans to mail a gratis copy toeach LCMS pastor, along with infor-

mation about orderingadditional

copies of the 224-page hardcover book at $14.99($10 introductory offer, see ad onpage 29).

Full-color images from the moviealso will be in a new children’spicture book about Luther that CPHplans to publish early next year andin a new edition of its “Luther,Servant of God” study materials for grades 6–8, to be available nextmonth.

McCain said that he is “convincedthat this movie really will open doorsfor people interested in Lutheranism,wanting to learn more about MartinLuther, his life and his work. ... Itwill provide a valuable tool for yearsto come to help portray the essentialtruths of the Lutheran Reformation.”

— Joe Isenhower Jr.

Dr. Uwe Siemon-Netto is religion editor forUnited Press Inter-national and a memberof Mount OlivetLutheran Church,Washington, D.C.

‘LUTHER’ TO OPENNATIONWIDE SEPT. 26“Luther,” the new motion picture about the life and timesof Martin Luther, is scheduled for release Sept. 26 andwill open in more than 300 movie theaters nationwide.

THE LUTHERAN WITNESS

“

THE LUTHERAN WITNESS Jason Szenes—Getty Images

Sept. 11, 2001, will long beremembered as one of themost tragic and devastating

days in the history of our nation. The pictures and images we

have seen so often, and will seeagain during this second anniver-sary, are stark reminders of thehatred inflicted against us as anation, and of man’s depravednature, willing to use innocentpeople to commit these violentacts of terrorism.

After two years, the question isstill being asked, “How couldsomething like this have everhappened in America, the mostpowerful nation in the world?”

Life in our country will neverbe the same because we are deal-ing with an enemy that has nomercy or respect for the right tolife.We live in fear of theunknown—not knowing whenand where terrorists will strikeagain.

But for us Christians thereshould be no fear. We can learnfrom tragedies by turning theminto triumphs. We know andbelieve that God can turn ourfear and hatred into triumph andvictory. What does God say inthese psalms to allay our fears?

Ps. 23:4 __________________________________________________

Ps. 34:4______________________________

Ps. 46:1–2 ________________________________________________

______________________________

SearchingSCRIPTURE

How do Jesus’ wordsto His frightened disci-ples relate to you andyour life? Read Matt.8:23–27 and Luke8:24–25.___________________

___________________

___________________

What does God say to those who areanxious?

Phil. 4:6–7 ________________________________

________________________

1 Peter 5:7____________________________

_______________________________

What does Jesus say in Matt.10:26–31 and John 14:27 that appliesto us when we are anxious andafraid for our nation and for our-selves of further acts of terrorism?_______________________________

_______________________________

Now read Ps. 118:6–7. What elsedoes God say about those who wantto harm us?_______________________________

_______________________________

What does God promise to those who trust in Him in both theOld and the New Testaments? (Ps. 56:3– 4 and Heb. 13:5–6)_______________________________

_______________________________

In an article in the “ThousandOaks Star,” Michael Josephson of theJosephson Institute of Ethics, aresearch and education center inMarina del Rey, Calif., wrote: “Wecan commit to focus on more thansadness, fear and anger. We canremind ourselves and, more impor-tantly, our children that this anniver-

Dr. Elroi Reimnitz ispastor of RedeemerLutheran Church inThousand Oaks, Calif.

VICTORYOVER FEARAND HATREDby Elroi Reimnitz

A New York police officer mourns at the World Trade Center memorial service at Ground Zero last September.

sary of tragedy is also an anniversaryof triumph, triumph of character—love over hate, hope over fear andfreedom over repression.”

We should never be afraid buttrust in the One who can and willalways help us in our time of fearand anxiety. We should have thesame faith and trust as our fore-fathers as they sang:

“From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,

Make Your strong arm our ever sure defense.

Your true religion in our hearts increase;

Your bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.”

Lutheran Worship, “God of Our Fathers”

(83) FEBRUARY

2003 11

Rev. Random Name ispastor of Holy CrossLutheran Church,Anytown, USA

from thePRESIDENT

called to one hope when you werecalled—one Lord, one faith, onebaptism; one God and Father of all,who is over all and through all andin all” (Eph. 4:3–6).

In light of the fact that morethan two of every three people inthe world have either never heardthe message of salvation throughfaith in Christ or have heard buthave not believed, it is apparentthat we in the Christian churchhave our work cut out for us. Thatincludes the 2.6 million members of the 6,150 congregations of TheLutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

Earlier this year, a friend andcolleague in ministry shared thisobservation: “Your theme of ‘OneMission/One Message /One People’

certainly carries a powerfulmessage. One thing that I haveobserved during these yearsaround congregations is thateven if they have developed a‘shared vision’ that articulatesthe mission, and seem to havean idea about the message anda desire to work together asone people, they have to havethe passion to work at it.

More and more I have noted theimportance of passion.

“The more time I spend workingwith congregations, the more Ihave come to realize that even witha ‘great’ plan written down, an ideaabout the message they are sharingand the effort to bring the congre-gation together around the plan, ifthey don’t have the passion in theirheart it won’t happen. If the themeof ‘One Mission–One Message–OnePeople’ is driven by ‘passion’ wewould be unstoppable. The Lord’schurch would be moving forwardby ‘leaps and bounds.’ ”

Another way to express thissame truth is to state that unlessand until there is a sense of

As I’ve traveled around theSynod, I have been empha-sizing a simple message that

is resonating widely with thosepastors, educators and congrega-tions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod who have sharedwith me their response to this mes-sage. It is articulated in thesewords: One Mission, One Message,

One People.One Mission: Jesus said, “The

Son of Man came to seek and tosave what was lost” (Luke 19:10).Our mission is to proclaim to theworld, “He died for all, that thosewho live should no longer live forthemselves but for him who diedfor them and rose again” (2 Cor.5:15).

One Message: Paul wrote, “Godwas in Christ, reconciling the worldunto himself, not counting our sinsagainst us” (2 Cor. 5:19). Our mes-sage is “For as high as the heavensare above the earth, so great is hislove for those who fear him; as faras the east is from the west, so farhas he removed our transgressionsfrom us” (Ps. 103:11–12).

One People: St. Paul exhorts usto “stand firm in one spirit, con-tending as one man for the faith ofthe gospel” (Phil. 1:27). We becomeone people as we heed thesewords: “Make every effort to keepthe unity of the Spirit through thebond of peace. There is one bodyand one Spirit—just as you were

A SENSE OF URGENCY!

urgency in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod about reaching lostpeople with the message of forgive-ness, life and salvation throughChrist, our church body simply willbe unable to accomplish what Godhas called us to accomplish. Butwith that sense of urgency, drivenby the love of Christ for all people,our church body, indeed, would beunstoppable!

Isaiah wrote with a sense ofurgency: “For Zion’s sake I will notkeep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake Iwill not remain quiet, till her right-eousness shines out like the dawn,her salvation like a blazing torch.The nations will see your righteous-ness, and all kings your glory” (Is. 62:1–2).

It is my fervent prayer that youand your congregation will lead theway, with God-given love in yourhearts, to accomplish one mission

by communicating one message asthe one people God has called us tobe—and that you will do so with asense of urgency!

Jerry Kieschnick

Lives Transformed through Christ,in Time ... for Eternity!John 3:16 –17e-mail: president@lcms.org

Web page: www.lcms.org/president

But with that sense of urgency, driven by the

love of Christ for all people,our church body, indeed,would be unstoppable!

THE LUTHERAN WITNESS