1 Freed From the Shopkeeper's Prison1 Rev. H. R.

Curtis Trinity Lutheran Church Worden, IL Zion Lutheran Church Carpenter, IL Presented General Pastors Con!erence o! the "orth Re#ion o! the I" $istrict, LC%&, %ay ', ()11. I. Introduction
*+erican pastors are a,andonin# their posts, le!t and ri#ht, and at an alar+in# rate. They are not leavin# their churches and #ettin# other -o,s. Con#re#ations still pay their salaries. Their na+es re+ain on the church stationery and they continue to appear in pulpits on &undays. .ut they are a,andonin# their posts, their calling. They have #one /horin# a!ter other #ods. What they do /ith their ti+e under the #uise o! pastoral +inistry hasn t the re+otest connection /ith /hat the church s pastors have done !or +ost o! t/enty centuries. * !e/ o! us are an#ry a,out it. We are an#ry ,ecause /e have ,een deserted. %ost o! +y collea#ues /ho de!ined +inistry !or +e, e0a+ined, ordained, and then installed +e as a pastor in a con#re#ation, a short /hile later /al1ed o!! and le!t +e, havin#, they said, +ore ur#ent thin#s to do. The people I thou#ht I /ould ,e /or1in# /ith disappeared /hne the /or1 started. .ein# a pastor is di!!icult /or12 /e /ant the co+panionship and counsel o! allies. It is ,itterly disappointin# to enter a roo+ !ull o! people /ho+ you have every reason to e0pect share the 3uest and co++it+ents o! pastoral /or1 and !ind /ithin ten +inutes that they +ost de!initely do not. They tal1 o! i+a#es and statistics. They drop na+es. They discuss in!luence and status. %atters o! God and the soul and &cripture are not #rist !or their +ills. The pastors o! *+erica have +eta+orphosed into a co+pany o! shop1eepers, and the shops they 1eep are churches. They are preoccupied /ith shop1eeper s concerns ho/ to 1eep the custo+ers happy, ho/ to lure custo+ers a/ay !ro+ co+petitors do/n the street, ho/ to pac1a#e the #oods so that the custo+ers /ill lay out +ore +oney. &o+e o! the+ are very #ood shop1eepers. They attract a lot o! custo+ers, pull in #reat su+s o! +oney, develop splendid reputations. 4et it is still shop1eepin#5 reli#ious shop1eepin#, to ,e sure, ,ut shop1eepin# all the sa+e. The +ar1etin# strate#ies o! the !ast6!ood !ranchise occupy the /a1in# +inds o! these entrepeneurs2 /hile asleep they drea+ o! he 1ind o! success that /ill #et the attention o! -ournalists. . . The ,i,lical !act is that there are no success!ul churches. There are, instead, co++unities o! sinners, #athered ,e!ore God /ee1 a!ter /ee1 in to/ns and villa#es all over the /orld. . . . The pastors responsi,ility is to 1eep the co++unity attentive to God. It is this responsi,ility that is ,ein# a,andoned in spades.

6 7u#ene Peterson, Working the Angles, pp. 16(. Peterson #oes on to e0plain these shop1eepers concerns, and the prison they create !or pastors, in #reater detail and o!!er his o/n antidotes. They are #ood antidotes and I reco++end the ,oo1, ,ut so+ethin# is +issin# in his dia#nosis, there is a 1ey Peterson does not 3uite ,rin# !ully to ,ear. That 1ey is the Gospel. Peterson has ri#htly, po/er!ully, and poetically identi!ied the pro,le+ and he has provided the ri#ht antidotes !ro+ the real+ o! the La/5 a pastor should not ,e a shop1eeper, instead he should do this5 study the &criptures, pray, and #ive spiritual direction to his !loc1. Ri#ht5 ,ut /hy8 Why do these #ood /or1s8 We Lutherans 1no/ that /e +ust !ind an ans/er in the Gospel that it is the
1 I a+ inde,ted to +y !riend and collea#ue, Rev. 9evin %artin, !or introducin# +e to several o! the 1ey concepts e0pressed in this paper.

( #lorious !ree Gospel o! Christ that ani+ates and drives us. :nless and until /e #et the Gospel ri#ht, it /ill not +atter at all ho/ poetically so+eone tells us the ri#ht thin#s to do. We /ill not ,e a,le to do the+ unless !reed ,y Christ Christ +ust co+e /ith his Gospel and ,ust us out o! the shop1eeper6 pastor s prison. This is the tas1 I have set +ysel! !or our ti+e to#ether. I /ant to ,rin# the Gospel to ,ear on the shop1eeper6pastor s prison. I /ant to ,rea1 the ,ars asunder /ith the only /eapon I have5 the Gospel. "o/, the Gospel is a +any !aceted -e/el. There is the Christ6alone6ness o! the Gospel and the outside6 us6ness o! the Gospel and the #race6aloneness o! the Gospel and the !aith6aloneness o! the Gospel and so on. 7ach o! these !acets o! the Gospel is vital and each has a role to play in puttin# us in the ri#ht place over a#ainst God. The !acet that that shall !ree us !ro+ the &hop1eeper Pastor s Prison is, I thin1, the !ro+6eternity6ness o! the Gospel. Here is ho/ /e #et put in the &hop1eeper s Prison. Ho/ o!ten have you heard the !ollo/in# speech, ;We are the livin# a+on# the dyin#. We are those /ho 1no/ the cure to the /orld s ail+ent o! sin. &o it is up to us spread the +essa#e o! our Lord <esus Christ. <ust thin1 o! ho/ +any /ill #o do/n to hell this day. I /onder ho/ +any o! the+ could have ,een saved i! /e had -ust done a little +ore. Ho/ +any /ould ,e enterin# the pearly #ates i! each o! our +e+,ers had -ust told one +ore person a,out <esus8 Ho/ +any could /e save i! /e /ere /illin# to #ive up our sacred co/s and +a1e &unday /orship spea1 to the outsider a little +ore rather than -ust to the insider8 Ho/ +any people have needlessly ,een turned o!! o! the Gospel ,ecause o! stod#y Lutheran hy+ns and cushionless pe/s8 I! the lost shall ,e saved, then /e +ust repent, rethin1, and re!or+ /hat /orship in our +idst has ,een. We +ust open the doors, ,oth physically and +etaphorically, so that the see1in# un,eliever /ill ,e dra/n in and hear the Gospel and perhaps ,e saved.= &ound !a+iliar8 4ou ve heard one version or another o! that speech !ro+ &ynod and district o!!icials !ro+ ti+e i++e+orial. 4ou pro,a,ly /rote so+ethin# alon# those lines in your se+inary entrance essay e0plainin# /hy you /anted to co+e. Go ho+e a!ter the con!erence and revie/ your

> ans/er to 3uestion nu+,er 1 on your &7T !or+ and you +ay -ust !ind a +iniature version o! that speech. "o dou,t you ve heard that speech and !elt a t/in#e o! #uilt5 a+ I doin# enou#h !or the lost8 Ho/ +any +ore could ,e in heaven i! I tried a little harder, did a little +ore, ,ent over a ,it +ore ,ac1/ard8 Clan#. 4ou are stuc1 in the shop1eeper s prison o! nu+,ers and de+o#raphics and appealin# to the desires and /hi+s o! un,elievers since they are your custo+ers. Let s see i! /e can t pic1 the loc1 and let you out.

II. Functional Arminianism Explained .ac1 to that speech on +issions you ve heard so +any ti+es. The +ost recent rendition o! this speech that ca+e to +y ears /as in the conte0t o! natural disasters. :nder discussion a+on#st a !e/ pastors /ere natural disasters as a call to repentance as <esus tal1s o! the to/er o! &iloa+ ?this /as soon a!ter the Haiti earth3ua1e@. Ane ,rother, ho/ever, too1 the call to repentance in a novel direction5 the call to repentance is really to us Christians. Bor /hen /e see all those countless thousands die /e should repent o! not havin# shared the Gospel /ith the+, /e should re+e+,er that the ti+e is short and the Word +ust #et out ,e!ore others #o to hell. This o!!ers a #ood startin# point !or understandin# /hat I ll call the Bunctional *r+inianis+. Bull6throated *r+inianis+, all Lutherans 1no/, is ,ad. <aco, Her+an ?*r+inius@ #re/ distrau#ht /ith Calvinis+ s see+in# insistence that God deli#hts in da+nation. There!ore, he posited that +an1ind possesses true !ree /ill in spiritual +atters, that a +an can decide /hether or not to co+e to God. There is no +ystery in this syste+. Why are so+e saved and not others8 &o+e chose to !ollo/ God o! their o/n !ree /ill, and so+e chose to re-ect hi+. There is no +ystery in the Calvinist syste+ either, ,y the /ay5 God choses to save so+e to display his #race and he choses to da+n so+e to display his -ustice. It s -ust that Calvinis+ raises so+e unco+!orta,le 3uestions a,out #ood, evil, and God *r+inius /anted out !ro+ under those 3uestions. 4et, *r+inius also /anted no part in the pope s #a+e o!

C pro#ressive -usti!ication /hich entailed pur#atory. *r+inius /anted Grace6*lone6ness o! the Gospel and he /anted responsi,ility !or da+nation not to reside in God and he /anted no unco+!orta,le unans/ered 3uestions. The syste+ he developed /ill ,e !a+iliar to anyone /ho has ever heard an *+erican 7van#elical preach. 4our #ood /or1s can t save you, your sins have da+ned you ,ut Christ has paid the ,ill. His ,lood covers all so cast your lot /ith hi+D %a1e your decision !or Christ today and ,e saved ,y his all6availin# sacri!ice. The Lutheran ?and Calvinist@ criti3ue o! this syste+ is that the pope s syste+ is let in throu#h the side door. It s only that in place o! +any and #reat #ood /or1s, hu+an salvation no/ han#s on a s+all and si+ple #ood /or15 decidin# !or Christ. *r+inians are no Pela#ians they /ould /hole heartedly a#ree that the /or1 o! the Holy &pirit is a necessity !or a decision !or Christ. .ut they /ould also assert that +an s truly !ree /ill truly plays a vital role in the +atter. %uch hoop -u+pin# ensues that they +i#ht convince the+selves that this decision is not a ;/or1= 6 and li1e +ost -u+pin# o! hoops, it !rays the nerves a!ter a short /hile. Lutherans #et that. "o Lutheran is advocatin# !ull6throated *r+inianis+. It /as Luther, a!ter all, /ho /rote The Bondage of the Will; ;I cannot ,y +y o/n reason or stren#th ,elieve in <esus Christ +y Lord or co+e to hi+= and all that. &alvation really is ,y #race alone God s /or1 alone. Which +a1es the o,verse o! the salvation coin read, in ,old letters5 7L7CTIA". ;4ou did not chose +e, ,ut I chose you.= ;It depends not on +an s /ill or e0ertion, ,ut on God,= etc. I! you /ant the Grace6*lone6 ness !acet o! the Gospel, you /ill also have to ta1e the Bro+67ternity6ness !ace. I! you /ant salvation ,y #race, then you +ust have the doctrine o! unconditional election. .ut you need not have Calvinis+ you can leave it as a +ystery. Cur alii, alii non Bor us this is the cru! theologorum a +ystery /hose ,otto+ /e never 3uite reach. Indeed, accordin# to Lutheran in the Bondage of the Will it loo1s as thou#h God is a ,ully, da+nin# !ol1s /ho can do nothin# else ,esides re-ect hi+ and yet ,la+in# the+ !or it. That is /here, !or Luther, !aith enters in. We trust God ,ecause o! the cross o! Christ. We trust that he is #ood ,ased on that evidence and despite all evidence to the cont#rary. God /ants all

E +en to ,e saved. 4et so+e are not and it s their !ault, not God s. 4et i! any are saved it s all God s doin# !ro+ ,e#innin# to end. That is a parado0, a +ystery, an unco+!orta,le spot. That Lutheran ans/er is o,viously antithetical to *r+inianis+ and neither does it co+port /ith Calvinis+. *r+inius pro,le+ /ith Calvinis+ /as that it appeared to +a1e God the author o! evil and da+nation. In order to resolve this pro,le+, yet 1eep #race alone, *r+inius snea1ed in -ust one teensy /eensy /or1 throu#h the door o! hu+an choice. Lutheranis+ presents a di!!erent di!!iculty, si+ilar to ,ut distinct !ro+ Calvinis+. It is +ost unsatis!yin# to have ,old ,loc1 letters readin# I $A" T 9"AW at the center o! your theolo#y o! salvation. Why are so+e saved and not others8 It s a +ystery that has not ,een e0plained to us " don't kno#. .ut /hat i! there /ere a side door also into Lutheranis+8 What could /e do to retain #race alone yet also resolve this unco+!orta,le, illo#ical +ystery8 ;I ,elieve that I cannot ,y +y o/n reason or stren#th ,elieve in <esus Christ +y Lord or co+e to Hi+, ,ut the Holy &pirit has called +e ,y the Gospel, enli#htened +e /ith his #i!ts, sancti!ied and 1ept +e in the truth !aith.= *h here is a path to Lutheranis+ s the side door. &alvation does not !all !ro+ the s1y. God /or1s throu#h +eans. These +eans are the Word and the &acra+ents. These #i!ts co+e throu#h +en +en to print .i,les, +en to preach ser+ons, +en to share the Gospel /ith their nei#h,ors, and so !orth. I! +en stop doin# those thin#s then the Holy &pirit can t call people ,y the Gospel and enli#hten people /ith his #i!ts. Thus a ne/ theolo#y e+er#es that is not *r+inianis+, nor Calvinis+, nor, as I /ill ar#ue ,elo/, Lutheranis+. Those theolo#ies all 1eep their attention /ithin the person ,ein# saved5 it is this individual s /ill, choice, decision, /or1s, that are under discussion. His /ill is !ree and he can choose salvation or his /ill is not !ree and God alone +ust save hi+. The characters in the play are li+ited to t/o5 God and the individual ,ein# saved. Lutheranis+ s discussion o! the +eans o! #race I a+ convinced does not +ean to introduce other characters as e!!icient causal a#ents. That is, /hen Luther spea1s o! the +eans o! #race as tools o! the Holy &pirit that is e0actly /hat he intends to say5 the Holy &pirit uses these +eans as his tools, his instru+ents. The Holy &pirit is the e!!icient causal

F a#ent. .ut throu#h that door o! the +eans o! #race other characters can ,e ,rou#ht on to the sta#e5 those +en throu#h /ho+ the +eans o! #race co+e. Ho/ shall they hear /ithout so+eone preachin# and ho/ shall they preach unless they are sent ri#ht8 "o/ /e can spea1 not only o! the individual and God and ar#ue /hether the one the other or ,oth are the e!!icient causal a#ents o! salvation no/ /e can also spea1 o! an al+ost li+itless nu+,er o! individuals /ho +i#ht ,e e!!icient causal a#ents o! salvation or at least cause da+nation. I! Grand+a &chic1el#rG,er sends in her +ission dollars and there,y a +issionary #oes to dar1est *!rica and preaches the Gospel then the Holy &pirit can /or1 and perhaps save <ean6.aptiste, the villa#e ,lac1s+ith o! Gadon#a, .ots/ana. I! Grand+a &chic1el#rG,er, ho/ever, hordes her /ealth in a Thrivent C$ no +issionary #oes to Gadon#a and <ean6.aptiste #oes to hell. The ti+e is short !or pauvre <ean6.aptiste, #rand6+Hres5 send in your +itesD *nd there is that !a+iliar speech e0hortin# us to +issionary endeavors. There is the theolo#y o! the ,rother /ho sa/ in the Haiti earth3ua1e this 3uestion5 ho/ +any o! those people /ent to hell ,ecause you and I did nothin#8 We +ust repent /e +ust tell the Gospel /e +ust #ive our !unds and send our +issionaries ,ecause /e are sendin# people to hell ,y our inaction. I! this theolo#y sounds !a+iliar to you it is not only ,ecause you have heard it !ro+ the district +ission e0ec is also ,ecause you have read a,out it in history ,oo1s. This theolo#y is, in !act, Ro+an Catholicis+ the only other ,ranch o! Christianity that +ultiplies the possi,le causal a#ents o! salvation ,eyond t/o. Ro+e does it throu#h pur#atory. In the !inal analysis, it is up to you and +e and the Church on earth -ust ho/ lon# #rand+a has to spend in pur#ation. *re you so sel!ish so as to horde your +oney, to clin# to your ,ad ha,its, to ,e so laIy as not to pray, /hen those poor souls su!!er /ithout relie!8 *t least /ith pur#atory the elevator only #oes up the #uilt trip is +uch +ore ponderous in the Bunctionally *r+inian version /here !ol1s don t only lan#uish a /hile lon#er, ,ut #o to hell i! /e !ail to act. *ctually, Ro+an Catholicis+ and *r+inianis+, too, can use the !ull ,ore #uilt trip /hen it

J co+es to +issions ,ecause once you allo/ in any hu+an e!!icient cause in salvation you have allo/ed the+ all. I! it s up to a hu+an ,ein# s choice, then it can ,e up to other hu+ans to convince the+ to choose. The Ro+an Catholic call !or +ission donations is identical to the *r+inian call /hich is identical to the Bunctional *r+inian6Lutheran version al+ost. The savvy Lutheran practitioner o! this call !or +issions /ill not dare to say that /e are tryin# to convince people to +a1e their decision !or <esus and convert the+selves /ith their o/n /ill po/er. "o, he /ill spea1 o! the necessity to #et the Word out so that the Holy &pirit can convert +ore +en. Which is /hy I thin1 the ,est na+e !or its appearance in Lutheranis+ is Bunctional *r+inianis+5 a ,it o! a di!!erent theory, ,ut the sa+e actions. .e!ore #oin# !or/ard /ith a criti3ue o! Lutheran Bunctional *r+inianis+ let +e a#ain su++ariIe the case !or it. We are saved ,y God s #race alone. We cannot /or1 !or our salvation ,ecause our /ills are ,ound /e are ,orn in sin and cannot pull ourselves up ,y our ,oot straps. There!ore, God +ust hi+sel! save us i! /e are to ,e saved. .ut God does not do this /ithout +eans. The Holy &pirit converts us, turns our ,ound /ills to/ard hi+ and enlivens !aith in our hearts ,ut he does this throu#h the preachin# o! the Word and the ad+inistration o! the &acra+ents. Bor these thin#s to ta1e place, +en +ust ,e called into +inistry, the church +ust ,e supported ,y !inancial #i!ts, +issionaries +ust ,e sent into !orei#n lands, individuals +ust share the Gospel /ith their nei#h,ors, ,utts +ust ,e #otten in the pe/s. I! every Christian to+orro/ shut his +outh and re!used to spea1 the Gospel, i! every Christian to+orro/ shut his /allet and re!used to send in +ission dollars5 then +any /ho other/ise +i#ht have ,een saved /ill ,e da+ned ,ecause the Holy &pirit does not /or1 outside o! these +eans. Li1e/ise, i! the Church puts up arti!icial ,arriers to hearin# the Word li1e a stod#y litur#y, ,ad par1in#, terri,le +usic, etc then +en /ill #o to hell ,ecause they could not hear the Word in those circu+stances and there,y ,e converted ,y the Holy &pirit. Indeed, a pastor s cra,,y personality could prevent +en !ro+ hearin# the Gospel preached ,y hi+ and thus prevent the Holy &pirit !ro+ savin# so+e. Given this theolo#y, it is no surprise that +any Lutheran churches loo1 e0actly li1e their

K &hop1eeper *r+inian nei#h,ors and have the sa+e &hop1eeper conerns. While the theory is sli#htly di!!erent, the practical i+plications overlap. The entrance o! hu+an a#ency into salvation si+ply co+es at a di!!erent point !or the *r+inian, in the /ill o! the one to ,e saved, !or the Bunctionally *r+inian Lutheran in the /ill o! those /ho can prevent the Holy &pirit !ro+ doin# his /or1 ,y re!usin# to #ive +oney !or +issions or tell their nei#h,or a,out <esus. .ut once the hu+an a#ency ?as an e!!icient cause@ is in-ected, the practice o! the church !lo/s naturally. The *r+inian has a praise ,and ,ecause that is /hat a lot o! people li1e, and they /ant to convince those people to +a1e a decision !or Christ. The Lutheran has a praise ,and ,ecause a lot o! people /on t co+e hear the Word ?throu#h /hich the Holy &pirit /or1s@ unless they have a praise ,and2 in other /ords, the Lutheran has a praise ,and ,ecause that is /hat a lot o! people li1e. The *r+inian #ives to +issions ,ecause people can t +a1e a decision !or Christ unless they hear a preacher, and so !ol1s +i#ht #o to hell i! they don t #ive. The Lutheran #ives to +issions ,ecause people can t ,e saved apart !ro+ the +eans o! #race throu#h /hich the Holy &pirit /or1s, and so !ol1s +i#ht #o to hell i! they don t #ive. * sli#htly di!!erent e0pression o! theolo#y, to ,e sure ,ut the sa+e practice, the sa+e church li!e e+er#es hence, Bunctional *r+inianis+. Indeed, even the speech patterns end up ,ein# the sa+e5 ;Bather God, /e -ust /ant to praise you....= &uch diction resides not in the &criptures, not in the historic Lutheran litur#y, and not in the Con!essions. Lutherans /ho pray this /ay learned it !ro+ *+erican evan#elicalis+ and /hy8 Well, ,irds o! a !eather !loc1 to#ether. Churches /ith the sa+e practice reco#niIe each other !or /hat they are and learn !ro+ one another no +atter the na+e on the si#n that s out !ront.

III. Critique of Functional Arminianism $octor "a#el is !ond o! pointin# out that every error in theolo#y is pushin# a truth a ,it too !ar. <esus is a +an push that too !ar and you #et *rianis+. <esus is God push that too !ar and you #et $ocetis+. God /or1s throu#h +eans push that too !ar and you #et Bunctional *r+inianis+.

' This is /here our criti3ue o! this theolo#y +ust ,e#in5 /ith /hat it #ets ri#ht. God does /or1 throu#h +eans. The Holy &pirit converts +en throu#h the +eans o! #race the preachin# o! his Word and the ad+inistration o! his &acra+ents. This is ,oth ho/ God #ives ,irth to ne/ ,elievers and ho/ he stren#thens those /ho are already his children. This truth is a #reat co+!ort to us5 !or /e can loo1 at o,-ective acts to 1no/ that /e are saved. $o you dou,t /hether God loves you8 4ou don t have to /onder, li1e a Calvinist, i! you are really one o! his elect5 you are ,aptiIed, God s pro+ises are !or you. 4ou don t have to /orry, li1e an *r+inian, that your choosin# o! <esus /asn t done in the ri#ht /ay or /ith your /hole heart the !irst ti+e5 it s not your choice or po/er that +atters, ,ut God s actions. 4ou don t have to !ret, li1e a Ro+an Catholic, that you haven t 3uite done enou#h yet 6 you have ,een a,solved ,y God s +inister so o! course God loves you. He +ade pro+ises to you in that .aptis+ and God does not lie. 4ou heard God hi+sel! !or#ive you in Holy *,solution. 4ou received <esus ,ody and ,lood !or the !or#iveness o! sins in the &upper. &o never !ear God is really /or1in# throu#h these +eans. *nd don t ,other chasin# a!ter your !eelin#s or anythin# else !or God has only pro+ised to /or1 throu#h these +eans. Receive God s Word and &acra+ent and 1no/ that you have God s ,lessin#. That is the co+!ort o! the Lutheran +eans o! #race theolo#y /e have o,-ective, tan#i,le proo! that God has ,lessed us and is savin# us. .ut it is the #rossest perversion o! the sacred truth to ta1e /hat is +eant !or our co+!ort and turn it into a ,asis !or dou,t, spiritual ,lac1+ail, and placin# hu+an action at the center o! salvation. .ut this is /hat Bunctional *r+inianis+ does. It ta1es a /ord o! co+!ort God /or1s throu#h Word and &acra+ent to save you and turns it into a /ord o! dou,t and e0tortion. Indeed, +ore than this, Bunctional *r+inianis+ +a1es the Creator su,-ect to the created. Bor ta1e that state+ent !ro+ +y Win1el ,rother a,out all the people in Haiti /e sent to hell ,y not #ettin# the+ the Gospel 3uic1er. What does that state+ent say and /hat does it i+ply8 Let us really thin1 it throu#h. God /as prevented !ro+ savin# the people o! Haiti ,ecause o! our inaction. The nu+,er o! saved on the last day /ould have ,een lar#er than it no/ /ill ,e had /e acted di!!erently.

1) The Holy &pirit /as po/erless to do anythin# ,ecause he had ?it see+s !oolishly@ pro+ised only to /or1 throu#h the +eans o! #race /hich /e prevented !ro+ #oin# to Haiti. God /anted to save those poor people, ,ut /e stopped hi+ !ro+ doin# so. There is the te+ptation in this theolo#y the sa+e te+ptation that has al/ays ,een !ront and center since the #arden pride and po/er. While +y salvation is not up to +e I do have the po/er to prevent or allo/ others into heaven. What a head tripD Truly, on the day that /e eat o! this !ruit /e shall ,e as #odsD Is it any /onder that this theolo#y is so popular8 What a sense o! purpose and acco+plish+ent co+es /ith it and /hat a po/er!ul incentive #uilt can ,e as /ell. Bor not only +ay I save, ,ut +y inaction +ay da+n those /ho other/ise +i#ht have ,een saved. &uch #uilt can ,e /ielded ,y s1ill!ul practitioners o! the preachin# arts to #uarantee a steady inco+e !or li!e5 every ti+e a coin in the co!!er rin#s, a +issionary to dar1est *!rica sprin#s. .ut thin1 a little +ore deeply on the su,-ect. I! so+eone else s salvation is dependent on your /or1s isn t your salvation dependent on so+eone else s /or18 I! your inaction can da+n another can t so+eone else s inaction da+n you8 Well then, it is not really true that neither li!e nor death nor an#els nor po/ers can separate you !ro+ the love o! God in Christ <esus all it ta1es is a sel!ish and laIy hu+an ,ein#. .ut this is +adness. God does not +a1e hi+sel! hosta#e to us /hen he pro+ises to save us throu#h the +eans o! #race. .ut that is e0actly /hat Bunctional *r+inianis+ teaches, /ittin#ly or not. This is /hy it is Bunctional Arminianism5 the doctrine o! election, the !ro+6eternity6ness o! the Gospel, is co+pletely denied. I! it is true that the nu+,er o! souls, L, that /ill ,e in God s 1in#do+ on the last day is a !unction o! hu+an e0ertion, 4, then there is no doctrine o! election at all2 in the !inal analysis everythin# depends on +an s !ree /ill. *nd this is /hat happens to every sche+e that tries to have the doctrine o! salvation ,y #race alone /ithout the doctrine o! unconditional election. .ut you can t have one /ithout the other. It s #race alone, or it s /or1s /hether your o/n or another s /or1s, it does not +atter. *nd i! it is not ,y hu+an /or1s then your salvation is secure ,ecause it is all in God s hands.

11 "o one can snatch you out o! God s hands. *nd, conversely, you cannot snatch any o! the elect out o! God s hands. I! you re!use to preach the Gospel !ro+ this day out God s purpose in election /ill stand. I! you attac1 and persecute the Church, none o! the elect shall ,e lost. I! you horde your +oney and re!use to pray !or +issionaries on their dan#erous /ay, Christ s little la+,s /ill still ,e in his !old. He has lost none and he /ill lose none o! those his Bather has #iven hi+. $o nothin# and the nu+,er o! souls in God s 1in#do+ on the last day /ill ,e -ust the sa+e as i! you had #iven all you had to +issions and dedicated your every /a1in# +o+ent to preachin#. &tart a praise ,and and stroll the aisle /hile preachin# in your polo shirt and shorts and the nu+,er o! souls in God s 1in#do+ on the last day /ill ,e -ust the sa+e as i! you chanted TLH p. 1E /ee1 in and /ee1 out rather poorly in an ill6!ittin# cassoc1 al, and +is+atched soc1s. IV. But... .ut i! this is the case, then /hy preach at all8 I! this is the case, then /hy #ive at all8 I! this is the case, then /hy pray at all8 I! this is the case, then /hy #ive any thou#ht to ho/ /orship is conducted or the church ad+inistered8 I can sit around and do nothin# and everythin# /ill ,e !ine, so /hy ,other8 *haD Can you no/ see that /e are tal1in#, at last, a,out the Gospel8 *ren t these the 3uestions that the Gospel al/ays elicits8 In Ro+ans F, a!ter three chapters o! poundin# a/ay at salvation ,y /or1s, &t. Paul +ust say, ;Well then, i! it s not our /or1s shall /e #o on sinnin# that #race +ay a,ound8= In those chapters the *postle /as !i#htin# !or the #race6alone6ness !acet o! the Gospel ,ut the sa+e 3uestions arise /ith every !acet i! it is Christ alone /ho saves, then /hy should I ,other8 I! salvation is ,rou#ht !ro+ outside o! +e, i! +y inner rene/al is not the ,asis o! +y -usti!ication, then /hy should I try to ,e rene/ed8 I! !aith alone saves, then /hy should I ,other tryin# to ,eco+e lovin#8 I! those /ho /or1 only one hour receive the sa+e pay as those /ho have ,orne the heat o! the day /hy ,other8 I! God has his elect, then /hy ever send a +issionary8 "o/ /e are tal1in#D Those are the

1( ri#ht 3uestions i! I have !orced you as1 the+, then I have !orced you to loo1 the Gospel s3uare in the !ace and see it !or it is5 truly Grace alone, God s /or1 alone /ith +an ,ound in sin and God alone !ree to act. *nd ironically enou#h, this is /hy only the Gospel, the real Gospel o! #race alone and unconditional election ?/hich are the sa+e thin#@, can +otivate #ood /or1s. It is the only thin# that can cut throu#h the +ercenary instinct in the !allen hu+an +ind. Is savin# our s1ins the only possi,le +otivation !or #ood /or1s8 What a narro/ and odd doctrine. God had to 1ill it /ith the #race6alone6 ness o! the Gospel. &o li1e/ise /ith +issions. Is the desire to lord it over another and ,e a little #od /ho can save so+e and da+n others ,y action or inaction the only possi,le +otivation !or preachin# the Gospel and #ivin# to the Church8 What a ,iIarre notion. God had to 1ill it /ith the doctrine o! 7lection. %y +otivation in +ission /or1 is neither the !ear o! punish+ent ?+y o/n or another s@ nor the hope o! re/ard ?+y o/n or another s@5 it is rather the -oy I have in the Gospel and the a+aIin# +ercy o! Christ /ho has chosen to use us vessels o! clay, /hat is, /e cha+,erpots. Bor consider /hat happens to Christian !reedo+ and that hearty Lutheran -oy in God s creation under the Bunctional *r+inian sche+e. What is +ore i+portant5 your child s colle#e education or the savin# o! souls8 Ho/ can you spend all that +oney that could have #one to +issions8 Ho/ dare you have a ho,,y that ta1es ti+e that could have ,een spent in door to door evan#elis+D Bor surely, a soul saved is +ore i+portant that a !ishin# trip. Ho/ can you in #ood conscience plun1 do/n hundreds o! dollars !or a !a+ily vacation /hen that +oney could have have ,een used to save a soul8 Those /ho ta1e this doctrine seriously are already ra!!lin# o!! cars at 7aster &unday services. I salute the+ !or havin# the coura#e o! their convictions. I! /e can save +ore people /ith our actions than /ould have ,een saved other/ise, i! /e +ust do /hatever /e can to #et people into the church to hear the Word ,ecause God /or1s throu#h +eans then /oe to us i! /e don t #ive a car a/ay every /ee1 to #et !ol1s to sho/ up, or !lat out pay un,elievers to sho/ up to hear the Word /oe to us i! /e spend even one

1> di+e on a cruise to CaIu+el rather than on a +issionary s tic1et to so+e God!orsa1en land. The truth de+ands consistency and coura#e. I! you really ,elieve that your #ivin# or action is the decidin# !actor in the savin# or da+nin# o! so+e, then truth de+ands that you ta1e a vo/ o! poverty. &o ,less those papists +on1sD They have the clear6si#hted vision to act on their ,elie!s. "othin# is +ore i+portant that helpin# sprin# people out o! pur#atory and save souls here on earth. *ll earthly pursuits +ust ta1e a ,ac1seat. The ,est thin# you can do is dedicate your /hole li!e, loc1, stoc1, and ,arrel to the savin# o! souls. 7verythin# else is second ,est, sel!ish, and carnal. .ut Luther overthre/ all those notions /ith the Gospel o! #race alone and to have #race alone, you +ust have election. He !a+ously said in his pre!ace to his collected /or1s that he could /ish all his /or1s /ould ,e lost save only the catechis+ !or children and The Bondage of the Will. It is those /or1s that !ocus +ost clearly on salvation ,y #race, and #race alone. It is those /or1s that allo/ !or Christian !reedo+ and the en-oy+ent o! God s creation. We are not ,ureaucrats in heavne s $epart+ent o! &alvation. We are not cu,icle d/ellers /ho +ust trud#e throu#h one sharin# o! the Gospel a!ter another and never #ivin# thou#ht to any other +atter. We are not &hop1eepers tallyin# ho/ +any soul s #et into the saved colu+n. We are the sons o! the !ree /o+an. We are the !ree children o! God. We can sit in Witten,er# and drin1 ,eer /hile the &pirit does his /or1 throu#h the Word. We can #o !ishin# and play rac1et ,all and ta1e a /al1 /ith our /ives and /orry a,out ho/ the Hus1ers /ill do this !all in the .i# Ten ?Go .i# Red@. It is !or !reedo+ that Christ has set us !ree. *nd #lory o! #lories in all this the Lord has chosen to use us !or his purposes. *nd his purposes are +any. That he +i#ht have +ore children to love, he sets us in !a+ilies and ,lesses us to ,e !ruit!ul and +ultiply. That +en +i#ht serve one another as Christ serves us, he #ives us each a vocation and a place o! service to others as ,utchers and ,a1ers and candlestic1 +a1ers. *nd that his /ord +i#ht #o !orth, he calls so+e to ,e preachers in his church and provides !or the+ throu#h the #enerosity o! the people. In all these thin#s, God deli#hts to ,less us ,y doin# his #ood /or1s throu#h us. .ut don t

1C 1id yoursel! i! you re-ect this, ta1e your ,all, #o ho+e and pout5 not one o! the elect /ill ,e lost. 4ou cannot stop God s plans, you cannot snatch a la+, !ro+ hi+ no +atter ho/ +uch you +i#ht try. Why preach8 Why #ive8 Ho/ can /e not8 We /ho died to sin, ho/ can /e live in it any lon#er8 We /ho are saved ,y #race, ho/ can /e resist #ivin# a reason !or this hope /e have /ithin to all /ho as18 We do not do #ood /or1s to earn salvation, our o/n or another s, ,ut ,ecause /e are the Bather s children and /e love to please the Bather. We do not spread the Gospel to collect !eathers in our cap, or out o! !ear that God +i#ht lose one o! his elect i! /e don t, ,ut ,ecause /e live and ,reathe and have our ,ein# in this Gospel. * !ather loves his son -ust ,ecause. * preacher preaches -ust ,ecause. * Christian prays -ust ,ecause. I! any +ercenary thou#ht, any e0tortion, any ;or else= enters into such thin#s they cease to ,e /hat they are and /e are held a#ain under the La/, coercion, and sin. God /ill save his elect, /ith or /ithout you. I! you do not a da+n thin# none o! His elect /ill ,e da+ned. I! you do everythin#, their nu+,er /ill not increase. This is the doctrine o! #race alone. This is the doctrine o! election. 4ou are nothin#. God is everythin#. It depends not on +an s /ill or e0ertion, ,ut on God, /ho has +ercy.

V. The Lutheran Practice of Worship and

issions

.ut does this +atter8 Is election the one doctrine that has no i+pact in the real /orld o! Christian ,ehavior8 Can you ,elieve li1e a Lutheran, ,ut act li1e an *r+inian8 Can your su,stance ,e the .oo1 o! Concord, ,ut your style Willo/ Cree18 &hould you 1no/ and ,elieve in your heart that this doctrine o! unconditional election is true, ,ut act li1e it isn t8 I have heard this parado0 put in a positive li#ht ti+e and a#ain. 4es, /e 1no/ that God has his elect yes, /e 1no/ that salvation is not ,y hu+an choice ,ut still God co++ands that /e preach to ,rin# people to !aith. &o, it see+s that at the heart o! the +atter, yes, God alone saves. .ut in the /or1aday /orld o! #uidin# a parish and sendin# out +issionaries our /or1s do indeed +atter. &o you can ,e a Lutheran /ho 1no/s the deep truths o! election and #race ,ut you ll still /ant to /or1

1E /ith the do/n to earth tips and tric1s that, /ell, #ork $ and the place to #o to learn those is at the !eet o! the *r+inian &hop1eepers. <a+es MoelI tried on this notion a !e/ years ,ac1 in an in!luential article, ;"e/ton and 7instein at the Boot o! the Cross.= MoelI uses the analo#y o! physics as a /ay to e0plain ho/ see+in#ly contradictory state+ents in &cripture and theolo#y can ,e reconciled. He calls this a post6+odern approach to theolo#y vie/in# these see+in#ly opposin# state+ents as ,oth ,ein# true dependin# on your perspective. ?I hear echoes o! this in the &aint Louis !aculty s tal1 o! the T/o 9inds o! Ri#hteousness as /ell, ,ut that is a topic !or another day.@ Bro+ +odern physics /e 1no/ that there are deeper truths at /or1 than "e/ton understood. .ut still, /hen you /ant to #raph the tra-ectory o! a ,ase,all !ro+ the short stop to !irst ,ase, you /ould /aste a lot o! ti+e /or1in# throu#h the #eneral theory o! relativity, #ravity s curvin# o! space, and so !orth. "e/ton s si+ple, +ore strai#ht!or/ard e3uations /ill #et the -o, done -ust !ine. MoelI essay is /orth readin# and as an e0ercise in speculative theolo#y it is en-oya,le and e0pands the horiIons o! its readers. Ho/ever, I /as not i+pressed /ith ho/ the essay /as used ,y this or that pro!essor in +y se+inary trainin#. &ee they /ould say Lutherans are 7instein. We 1no/ the deep, accurate truth. *nd that is i+portant to 1no/ and it even co+es in handy so+eti+es. .ut the *r+inians are "e/ton. *nd /hen you are playin# a #a+e o! pool, a s1ill!ul "e/tonian en#ineer is /orth a doIen Ivy Lea#ue theoretical physicists. When it co+es to the day to day practice o! the church in reachin# out to the lost, it s not the hi#h!alutin BC &$ LI you need, ,ut a #ood .illy Graha+ ser+on. &o, it /ould see+, 1no/in# the doctrine o! election or not 1no/in# it has no practical i+pact. .ut then /hy does Paul tal1 a,out it so +uch and <esus8 .ut our Con!essions treat 7lection li1e a practical doctrine a doctrine that is not +eant !or the ivory to/er ,ut !or the ,edside and con!essional. I thin1 /e are !ools to i+a#ine that a Lutheran parish can use *r+inian !or+s o! /orship, *r+inian son#s, *r+inian prayers, and *r+inian preachin# and re+ain Lutheran in theolo#y. I thin1 that /e are !ools i! /e thin1 any doctrine /orth havin# does not have practical i+plications. *nd election and

1F salvation ,y #race alone are doctrines /orth havin#. &o /hat does +issions and /orship ,ased on a Lutheran con!ession o! election and #race loo1 li1e8 I! God has his elect, then +y preachin# o! God s Word /ill ,e received ,y the+. I need not dou,t it and I need not ,eat +ysel! up i! +y preachin# o! God s Word is not received. Consider Paul in Pisidian *ntioch. He preaches a riproarin# ser+on at the syna#o#ue and then Lu1e cal+ly notes, ;*nd /hen the Gentiles heard this, they ,e#an re-oicin# and #lori!yin# the /ord o! the Lord, and as +any as /ere appointed to eternal li!e ,elieved.= ?*cts 1>@ *s +any as /ere appointed to eternal li!e ,elieved. That is +y +issions +otto. That is ho/ it /or1s. The Word #oes out ,ecause preachers have -ust #ot to preach, and Christians have -ust #ot to #ive an ans/er !or the hope they have /ithin and then as +any as are appointed to eternal li!e ,elieve. I! that is the case then /hy on earth /ould I tailor the /orship o! God s house to those /ho do not ,elieve his Word li1e a &hop1eeper tryin# to sell ice crea+8 Will that +a1e a di!!erence in ;as +any as /ere appointed to eternal li!e ,elieved8= Will +y +achinations increase the nu+,er o! the elect8 The *r+inians, on the other hand, sail ,y the pole star o! their theolo#y5 hu+ans are !ree to re-ect God or not. %en need convincin#. %&er'one is a potential con&ert. There!ore, /e need churches and /orship that appeal to everyone. * praise ,and church !or the .oo+ers, an ancient6!uture, or#anic /hole6/heat host co!!ee house church !or the -aded +illenials, a roc1a,illy church !or the hill,illies, red chasu,les /ith #iant /hite " s on the+ in "e,ras1a, etc. We need that, ,ecause everyone is a potential convert, a person /averin# on +iddle #round ,et/een God and &atan and to #et people to convert, to choose God, you need the+ to ,e co+!orta,le. *nd since everyone is a potential convert you +ust +a1e everyone /ho is not yet converted co+!orta,le. &o your church starts to loo1 li1e places /here everyone /ho is not yet converted ?that is, un,elievers@ are co+!orta,le5 /hether co!!ee house, hon1y ton1 dive, or university lecture hall. Thus the clientHle o! *r+inian churches is, ,y desi#n, heathenish. That s /hy you #et advertise+ents li1e these that do not have a spec1 o! the Gospel

1J in the+ they are all a,out heathenish concerns5 cool +usic, co+!orta,le seats, tips !or raisin# your !a+ily. Bor a Lutheran, everyone is not a potential convert in the *r+inian sense. We do not ,elieve that every +an is on a sort o! neutral #round /hence he +ay chose to #o /ith God or not. Rather, /e ,elieve that everyone /e +eet -ust +i#ht ,e one o! those appointed to eternal li!e /ho /ill ,elieve /hen they hear the Word not tips !or healthy livin#, ,ut the Gospel. 7ach +an I see +i#ht -ust ,e one o! God s elect. There!ore, our churches do not cater to those /ho are not yet converted ,ecause /e /ant to #et the+ to +a1e their decision. We don t have to have this sort o! church and that sort o! church to appeal to this sort o! un,eliever and that sort o! un,eliever /e do not have several di!!erent constituencies that +ust ,e appeased. Rather, /e serve the one people o! God, his elect !ro+ every nation. *nd /hat the elect /ant, /hat the Church /ants, is the Word o! God, and /orship that !lo/s ceaselessly !ro+ the Word o! God and is i++ersed in the i+a#ery o! the Word o! God and is connected to the people o! God o! all ti+es and places. &o, the &hop1eepers are ri#ht this !ar5 1no/ your tar#et audience. Is yours the potential convert or the elect o! God8 It /ill +a1e all the di!!erence. Potential converts /ill ,e co+!orta,le /ith a sta#e they /ill reco#niIe !ro+ corporate events and plays. The elect o! every nation /ill /ant an altar, set hi#h and !ront and center, so that the La+, o! God once sacri!iced +i#ht al/ays ,e ,e!ore their eyes. Potential converts /ill need +usic they can connect /ith and that +atches their individual tastes so they ll need several di!!erent venues /ith several di!!erent #enres represented. The elect o! every nation /ill /ant the +usic o! the Church, +usic that /ill connect the+ to Christians o! all a#es not +usic that /ill pi#eon hole the+ not only in their o/n ti+e, in their o/n de+o#raphic, thus cuttin# the+ o!! !ro+ !ello/ship /ith all the ,elievers in their #eo#raphical area.. Potential converts /ill /ant to see a preacher they can relate to a +an in suit and tie, or 1ha1is and polos a ,uddy, a !riend /ho +i#ht convince the+ to -oin up /ith hi+. The elect o! every nation

1K /ill /ant a servant o! Christ, a +an /ho stands in the stead o! Christ and so is thus covered in ro,es thic1 /ith +etaphorical +eanin# and ,eauty. Potential converts /ill /ant preachin# that is practical that hits the+ /here they live that tells the+ ho/ to #et the thin#s potential converts ?that is, un,elievers@ /ant5 a happy !a+ily, a ,etter se0 li!e, a secure !inancial !ootin#. Potential converts do not understand /ords li1e rede+ption, -usti!ication, propitiation, and so !orth and certainly don t /ant to hear the+. The elect o! every nation /ill /ant preachin# that is drippin# /ith the ,lood o! Christ !or they 1no/ and !eel their sin!ul condition, their /ea1ness, and their need. They /ant to learn the Word o! God as he #ave it and #ro/ to 1no/ the lan#ua#e o! the &criptures inside and out. Potential converts /ill /ant a+ple par1in#, theatre seats, shiny ne/ ,uildin#s in the latest style, and a !ood court5 thin#s they reco#niIe and are co+!orta,le /ith. The elect o! every nation /ill appreciate the solidity o! a parish that has e0isted !or a lon# ti+e and i! they need a ne/ ,uildin# /ill /ant it to loo1 li1e it /ill ,e there standin# !aith!ul /atch until Christ returns. They /ill not /ant to ,e isolated !ro+ the ,ody o! Christ ,y the +ore than +etaphorical /alls o! the theatre seats ar+s. *nd they also /ill li1e a+ple par1in#. Potential converts /ill en-oy an hour a/ay !ro+ the annoyance o! carin# !or children and /ill thus de+and a children s service or other planned activity to 1eep pre6pu,escent children out o! si#ht and out o! +ind. The elect o! every nation are the ,ody o! Christ, youn# and old, and yearn to ,e to#ether to hear the preachin# o! his Word and to receive his &acra+ent. Potential converts are a little put out at ,ein# e0cluded ,etter not to have the &acra+ent /ith the+ present, or i! you +ust have it, not ,e too strin#ent a,out lettin# any and all participate. The elect o! every nation cannot i+a#ine a &unday /ithout the .ody and .lood o! Christ and they do not /ish any to receive it /hose li!e or doctrine /ould #ive the lie to the unity it e0presses. Potential converts do not li1e to sin#. It is an e+,arrassin# pu,lic act ,est le!t to pro!essionals. &o the +usic should ,e the solo driven !are o! the radio that you can sin# alon# /ith i! you so desire,

1' ,ut that so+eone else is actually sin#in#. The elect o! every nation reco#niIe that there is too +uch -oy !or plain /ords only5 (uis cantat, )is orat, he /ho sin#s, prays t/ice. Potential converts li1e thin#s ne/ and !resh and /ant to ,e out o! a rut. * screen /ill ,e handy in displayin# ne/ thin#s !or the+ to say and read. The elect o! every nation /ant to pray to#ether as the ,ody o! Christ in this ti+e and /ith all ti+es thus they /ill /ant to 1no/ the /ords ,y heart and /ill /ant those /ords to ,e /hat Christians have al/ays prayed. Potential converts /ill /ant a diversion !ro+ any sense o! holiness a -o1e !illed e0position o! the little 1iddies in a children s ser+on ou#ht to do the tric1. The elect o! every nation /ant their children to vie/ God s house ?and especially the chancel@ as a holy place !or prayer, /orship, and silence not -o1es and play ti+e. Potential converts /ant to ,e entertained and /ill appreciate a sta#e dra+a put on every no/ and a#ain. The elect o! every nation /ant to ,e in the dra+a o! salvation !ro+ con!essin# their sins to hearin# the Word to +eetin# heaven on earth in the &acra+ent. In other /ords have a heart !or the elect o! God, not a ;heart !or the lost.= Which is such an oddly unthin1in# phrase. I! the *r+inians and the Bunctionally *r+inian actually +eant /hat <esus +eant ,y ;the lost= they /ould indeed ,e #ettin# it ri#ht. .ut /hen they say, ;I have a heart !or the lost= they +ean that they /ant to cater to un,elievers to +a1e the+ ,elievers. To love #oats that they +i#ht turn into sheep, i! you /ill. .ut /hat does <esus say8 He has a heart !or the ;lost sheep o! Israel.= They are the sheep. They are God s elect. They are -ust lost. What is #oin# to lead the+ ho+e8 "ot #oatly thin#s ,ut sheeply thin#sD

Thus, this doctrine o! election is the +ost practical o! all !or it tells you to /ho+, and there!ore ho/, to +inister. Let +inisterin# to the elect ,e your pole star and #uide to your +inistry. $o /hat the elect Church o! Christ /ant. Lead the sheep co++itted to your care into ,ein# /ho they are, even /hen they are te+pted ,y the /orld and !alse shepherds to ,e so+ethin# less than /hat they are. This

() /ill #ive you the clear si#ht and the coura#e to 1no/ /hat to do /hen the la+,s entrusted to your care co+e ,e##in# !or entertain+ent /orship. That s not really /hat they /ant it is the /orld livin# in the+ tryin# to ta1e over. The Church has never done such thin#s toss out the litur#y and introduce the theatre into the chancel8 .e the +an o! God in that place and lead the+ ,etter than that. *nd rest assured God /ill ,rin# his elect to his Church /here a !aith!ul shepherd /ill care !or the+5 as +any as are appointed !or eternal li!e /ill ,elieve. Perhaps in your !ield o! service that /ill ,e a s+all nu+,er, or perhaps it /ill ,e #reat. Perhaps you /ill have to under#o +uch adversity and &atanic attac1 and su!!er +uch !or the 1in#do+ o! Christ. Ar perhaps it is the Lord s pleasure to ,less you /ith a peace!ul +inistry and your cross /ill co+e in other /ays. .ut no +atter ,e the +an God ordained you to ,e5 a servant o! the Church, not a servant o! potential converts or a /ould6,e creator o! the Church. *nd li1e/ise /ith +issions that is nothin# else than a church livin# in a place /here the church is s+all. The Brench traded /ith the 9oreans and lo and ,ehold, the Word #ets out ?!or ho/ can Christians not #ive a reason !or hope they have /ithin#8@ and so+e 9oreans ,elieve. What can the Church do then ,ut send the+ their o/n pastor8 The sa+e happened /hen the "or/e#ians ,u+ped into %ade#ascar so+eone as1s, and another #ives a reason !or the hope he has /ithin, and a ,eliever is ,orn, and he needs a pastor, and o!! he #oes to have a church and +inister to the elect o! every nation. The parish is the +ission and there is no +ission outside o! the parish !or ho/ can there ,e a Christian isolated and alone8 It s not co+plicated it s hard, it s heavy /ith crosses, and runs thic1 /ith the ,lood o! +artyrs ,ut it s not co+plicated. The Church #oes on ,ein# the Church and so+eho/ the Word #oes !orth, !or /hat can a Christian do ,ut ,e a Christian and con!ess his !aith ,e!ore the /orld8 There are no techni3ues re3uired that is !or sales+an and shop1eepers. We do not sell <esus. We proclai+ Hi+ to ,e risen !ro+ the dead and are too ,usy ,ein# e0cited a,out that to #ive a particular da+n /hat so+e heathen thin1s a,out it5 as +any as are appointed to eternal li!e /ill ,elieve, the elect o! every nation

(1 /ill ,e #athered, nothin# can stop God s plan and purpose and nothin# can direct or control it. It is Christ s to /eep over un,elievin# <erusale+, and surely as little Christ s /e /ill learn to do the sa+e5 ,ut ours is not to understand the +ystery o! un,elie!, let alone thin1 that /e can solve it ,y our +achinations /hen Christ hi+sel! could not. Instead, the Church -ust turns on the ,eacon o! God s Word in the litur#y so that the elect 1no/ /here they are supposed to #ather.

VI. Conclusion Isn t that a +ore e0citin# and appealin# and, i! I +ay, *utheran, vie/ o! +issions and /orship than the *r+inians can provide us8 It is !ull o! !reedo+ and -oy not #uilt and hi#h pressure sales presentations. It is #race and not /or1s it is con!idence in God and not !ear o! our o/n !ailin#s. It is si+ply ,ein# the Church and lettin# the chips !all /here they +ay. *nd !or a pastor, it is si+ply +inisterin# to the elect o! every nation, the Church and livin# one s o/n li!e o! continual repentance and !aith, o! !ailin# and ,ein# /ashed up a#ain in Con!ession and *,solution, o! ,ein# 1ic1ed around and ,eaten up ,y the alli#ators and the hal!6heathen and the ,ureaucrats and then ,ein# healed /ith the &acra+ent. *nd so+eti+es so+eti+es it is even ,ein# +artyred. .ut that cro/n is !or the chosen !e/ and /e need not /orry a,out that either. We ll -ust #o on ,ein# the +en God ordained us to ,e5 preachin# the Word, servin# the parish, shepherdin# the la+,s to/ard #reen pastures and still /aters, hope!ully /ith the sense God #ave a #oose, ,ut never apart !ro+ his #race.

Epilo!ue" What I didn't #ust sa$ I thin1 it i+portant at this point to reiterate /hat I did not say. When I !irst pu,lished and presented this paper, I #ot several reactions accusin# +e o! sayin# all sorts o! thin#s that I didn t say in !act, o! sayin# thin#s that I speci!ically re-ected in the ,ody o! the paper. Chie!ly I /as accused o! ,ein# a Calvinist and o! thus !or,iddin# +ission /or1 and evan#elis+. This is odd !or at least t/o reasons. Birst, I speci!ically conde+ned Calvin s li+ited atone+ent and dou,le predestination in the

(( paper as /ell as spea1in# o! the proper reason !or doin# the #odly /or1 o! evan#elis+ in a .i,lical !ashion. .ut the second reason is perhaps even +ore puIIlin#. It see+s that the *r+inian assu+ptions are no/ so in#rained a+on# us that /e assu+e that Calvinists don t do +ission /or1 or evan#elis+D Ho/ could you ,elieve in predestination and do +ission /or18 .ut, o! course, Calvinists do +ission /or1. *nd so should Lutherans ,ut they should not do it li1e *r+inians or !or *r+inian reasons. &o -ust as the GospelNs #race6aloneness does not #et the antino+ian Christian o!! the hoo1 let us sin that #race +ay a,ound no /ayD &o also the !ro+6eternityness o! the Gospel does not #et the laIy pastor o!! the hoo1. ItNs -ust that the laIy pastorNs sin is not that he is decreasin# the +e+,ership o! heaven and increasin# the +e+,ership o! hell itNs -ust that heNs laIy. He is not 1eepin# is ordination vo/. %ore on that in a !uture presentation on /hat the pastor s -o, is and ho/ to -ud#e one s o/n e!!ectiveness and !aith!ulness. Li1e/ise, I did not say that you could not possi,ly har+ another hu+an ,ein# in soul and ,ody. 4ou can. It s a possi,ility. I! you do so, you need to repent and co+e to Christ !or !or#iveness and strive to do ,etter. What I said /as that even thou#h +en +ay har+ one another, no +an /ill ,e a,le to snatch the elect out o! Christ s hand. The Gospel, you see, al/ays +a1es its ene+ies a!raid. But if " preach that #orks don't sa&e, no one #ill do good #orks. *nd indeed, Luther /as accused ,y 7c1 o! actually !or,iddin# #ood /or1s -ust as I have ,een accused o! !or,iddin# evan#elis+. "f " preach the election of grace no one #ill do mission #ork, e&angeli+e, or tell the good ne#s a)out ,esus. $o you see ho/ they are ,oth the sa+e accusation8 .ut, ironically enou#h, it is only the Gospel /hether the #race6aloneness or the !ro+6 eternityness that sets one !ree.. Anly so+eone /ho ,elieves in #race alone is set !ree !or #ood /or1s. Anly so+eone /ho ,elieves in election is set !ree !or true evan#elis+. Part o! the pro,le+ is that *r+inian in!luenced Lutherans is they thin1 thin1 that the only reason /e could possi,ly have to spea1 the Gospel is to try to /in over so+e potential convert. .ut there is another reason to preach the Gospel to discover God s electD To #ather the !a+ily to#etherD

(> To turn on the ,eacon so that the lost sheep o! Israel 1no/ /here ho+e is /hen the &pirit ,rin#s the+ to repentance. Aver our ne0t !e/ +eetin#s I /ill see1 to ,uild the insi#hts in this paper into a cohesive pastoral theolo#y and practice o! evan#elis+.

1 Freed From the Shopkeeper's Prison Bible and Confessional Study on Election and Evangelism Rev. H. R. Curtis Trinity Lutheran Church Worden, IL Zion Lutheran Church Carpenter, IL Presented General Pastors Con!erence o! the "orth Re#ion o! the I" $istrict, LC%&, %ay ', ()11. The post* 1'th century Protestant vie+ o! ,issions is to see- out people +ho have never heard the Word o! God and preach to the, to #o to pa#an places to !ind pa#ans to convert. In the past !orty years, this idea has .een e/panded in the 0,erican 1van#elical scene. "ot only are +e see-in# to !ind people +ho have not heard the Word, .ut +e are actively see-in# to cater to their desires and assu,ptions. We +ish to ,a-e the church a place that un.elievers are co,!orta.le in. 0s I have already narrated, I .elieve that this pastoral practice is .ased on an 0r,inian understandin# o! !ree +ill and an 0r,inian re2ection o! election. 1very hu,an .ein# is a potential convert +ho +ill convert i! I a, persuasive enou#h, or ,a-e the, co,!orta.le enou#h, or incluturate ,ysel! enou#h, or conte/tuali3e ,y ,essa#e enou#h. The cornerstone o! theolo#y can .e easily su,,ed up4 re2ection o! the Gospel can .e ,ini,i3ed and acceptance o! the Gospel ,a/i,i3ed .y the care!ul study and s-ill o! the presenter o! the Gospel. &o !ar, I have laid do+n one .asic ar#u,ent a#ainst this idea4 the election o! #race. "ot everyone is a potential convert. %y persuasiveness, ,achinations, plans, and so !orth can neither snatch so,eone !ro, the hand o! Christ nor ,a-e God say on the last day, 5What6 7oe &ch,o is here in heaven6 8ut +ait, he +asn t on ,y list ho+ did he #et converted6 Well9 "ice +or- Curtis9 I never sa+ that co,in#9: I , #oin# to turn no+ to try to .ac- up ,y assertions +ith a .it ,ore analysis !ro, the &criptures and Con!essions and I +ill approach it !ro, this direction. The pro.le, a,on# us Lutherans is that +e -no+ a lot o! thin#s .ut pretend li-e +e don t, or don t thin- they really ,atter. We have separated +hat +e .elieve !ro, +hat +e do. We are all o! us s+orn to the Lutheran Con!essions so I -no+ that +e all .elieve in the doctrine o! election. 8ut, I a, contendin#, +e also act li-e it doesn t ,atter. &o since +e all .elieve in this doctrine I , only #oin# to spend a s,all a,ount o! ti,e loo-in# at the classic proo! te/ts !ro, the &criptures and do the .rie!est possi.le revie+ o! the eleventh article o! the ;or,ula o! Concord. What I +ant to spend ,ore ti,e on, ho+ever, is the practice o! 7esus and the 0postles. They also .elieved this doctrine, and they acted, I thin-, di!!erently than +e have .een tau#ht to act. In other +ords, the doctrine o! election is a necessary and clear li#ht +hen it co,es to understandin# evan#elis, indeed, I thin- that +e +ill see that this is the li#ht .y +hich 7esus and the 0postles and the ;or,ulators acted.

( Part I: Overview of Classic Biblical and Confessional Texts on Election A. Classic Proof Texts for Election 1phesians 1< Ro,ans ' B. Formula of Concord S !I Election of "race #numbers refer to $ara%ra$&s' (. 5Cannot .e re#arded as unpro!ita.le or unnecessary, ,uch less as o!!ensive or har,!ul.: =. There!ore, no one should i#nore or re2ect this teachin# o! the divine Word 2ust .ecause so,e have ,isused and ,isunderstood it. >. There ,ust .e a distinction .et+een God s ;ore-no+led#e praescientia vel praevisio and eternal election. That God -no+s everythin#, #ood or .ad, that is to happen. ?. 5The !ore-no+led#e o! God sees and -no+s even the evil .e!ore it happens, .ut not in such a +ay as i! it +ere God s #racious +ill that it ta-e place.: @. 5God s !ore-no+led#e is not, ho+ever, the ori#in or cause o! evil. Instead, the evil, perverted +ill o! the devil and hu,an .ein#s is its ori#in and cause.: A. Praedestinatio - 5does not apply to .oth the #odly and the evil, .ut instead only to the children o! God, +ho are chosen and predestined to eternal li!e, .e!ore the !oundation o! the +orld +as laid. : B. God s eternal election not only !oresees and !ore-no+s the salvation o! the elect .ut is also a cause Ccausa est eine !rsacheD o! salvation and +hatever pertains to it, on the .asis o! the #racious +ill and #ood pleasure o! God in Christ 7esus. 0s this cause, it creates, e!!ects, aids, and pro,otes our salvation. Eur salvation is !ounded upon it, so that the #ates o! hell ,ay not have any po+er a#ainst this salvation. . . 0nd a#ain, 0s ,any as had .een destined !or eternal li!e .eca,e .elievers. " problem is then identified not a problem #ith this doctrine$ but a problem of fallen humanity psychology4 ' 5"o one should consider this eternal election or God s preordination to eternal li!e ,erely as the secret, inscruta.le +ill or counsel o! God, as i! it had nothin# ,ore to it and nothin# ,ore to consider than that God perceived .e!orehand +ho and ho+ ,any +ould .e saved and +ho and ho+ ,any +ould .e da,ned.. . . 1) &uch ideas could cause and stren#then either !alse security and i,penitence, or !aintheartedness and despair: . . . so,e ,i#ht say 5&ince God has !oreseen his elect to salvation. . . i! then I a, !oreseen to salvation, it cannot har, ,e i! I practice all -inds o! sin.: %otice$ this is the same set of &uestions set against Paul's doctrine of grace in 'omans () To this false delusion and [dangerous] thought we should oppose the following clear argument, which is sure and cannot fail, namely: Since all Scripture, given by inspiration of God, is to serve, not for [cherishing] security and impenitence, but for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 2 Tim. :!"# also, since everything in God$s %ord has been prescribed to us, not that we should thereby be driven to despair, but that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope, &om. !':(, therefore it is without any doubt in no way the sound sense or right use of the doctrine concerning the eternal fore)nowledge of God that either impenitence or despair should be occasioned or strengthened thereby.

= ! ] Therefore, if we wish to thin) or spea) correctly and profitably concerning eternal election, or the predestination and ordination of the children of God to eternal life, we should accustom ourselves not to speculate concerning the bare, secret, concealed, inscrutable fore)nowledge

So speculation is tossed aside) *he solid reality of election is not tossed aside$ though$ but rather strengthened in the follo#ing list) 5God has preordained the !ollo+in#. . .: !. That the human race is truly redeemed and reconciled with God through *hrist, who, by +is faultless [innocency] obedience, suffering, and death, has merited for us the righteousness which avails before God, and eternal life. !"] 2. That such merit and benefits of *hrist shall be presented, offered, and distributed to us through +is %ord and Sacraments. !,] . That by +is +oly Ghost, through the %ord, when it is preached, heard, and pondered, +e will be efficacious and active in us, convert hearts to true repentance, and preserve them in the true faith. !-] (. That +e will .ustify all those who in true repentance receive *hrist by a true faith, and will receive them into grace, the adoption of sons, and the inheritance of eternal life. !/] '. That +e will also sanctify in love those who are thus .ustified, as St. 0aul says, 1ph. !:(. 22] ". That +e also will protect them in their great wea)ness against the devil, the world, and the flesh, and rule and lead them in +is ways, raise them again [place +is hand beneath them], when they stumble, comfort them under the cross and in temptation, and preserve them [for life eternal]. 2!] ,. That +e will also strengthen, increase, and support to the end the good wor) which +e has begun in them, if they adhere to God$s %ord, pray diligently, abide in God$s goodness [grace], and faithfully use the gifts received. 22] -. That finally +e will eternally save and glorify in life eternal those whom +e has elected, called, and .ustified. %o# further points are cleared up generally thoughts that seek to defang the radical nature of election+ 3nd [indeed] in this +is counsel, purpose, and ordination God has prepared salvation not only in general, but has in grace considered and chosen to salvation each and every person of the elect who are to be saved through *hrist, also ordained that in the way .ust mentioned +e will, by +is grace, gifts, and efficacy,

> bring them thereto [ma)e them participants of eternal salvation], aid, promote, strengthen, and preserve them. "gain$ this goes back to para) ,) -.) by #hat signs are the elect recogni/ed0 1ere various points of Calvinism are re2ected+ 2-] Therefore, if we wish to consider our eternal election to salvation with profit, we must in every way hold sturdily and firmly to this, that, as the preaching of repentance, so also the promise of the Gospel is universalis 4universal5, that is, it pertains to all men, 6u)e 2(:(,. 7or this reason *hrist has commanded that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in +is name among all nations. 7or God loved the world and gave +is Son, 8ohn :!". *hrist bore the sins of the world, 8ohn !:2/, gave +is flesh for the life of the world, 8ohn ":'!# +is blood is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, ! 8ohn !:,# 2:2. *hrist says: *ome unto 9e, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and : will give you rest, 9att. !!:2-. God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that +e might have mercy upon all, &om. !!: 2. The 6ord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, 2 0et. :/. The same 6ord over all is rich unto all that call upon +im, &om. !2:!2. The righteousness of God, which is by faith of 8esus *hrist, unto all and upon all them that believe, &om. :22. This is the will of +im that sent 9e, that every one that seeth the Son and believeth on +im may have everlasting life, 8ohn ":(2. 6i)ewise it is *hrist$s command that to all in common to whom repentance is preached this promise of the Gospel also should be offered 6u)e 2(:(,# 9ar) !":!'. *hus re2ected are+ 3imited atonement$ and a call devoid of intent on 4od's part) *he difference is that it is only the elect #ho #ill hear the 5ord) ) ) *hus #e do not look for an inner secret kno#ledge of #ho is elect) 'ather$ there are out#ard signs+ 7or this reason also *hrist causes the promise of the Gospel not only to be offered in general, but +e seals it through the Sacraments which +e attaches as seals of the promise, and thereby confirms it [the certainty of the promise of the Gospel] to every believer in particular. /] There would also be overthrown and ta)en from us the foundation that the +oly Ghost wishes certainly to be present with the %ord preached, heard, considered, and to be efficacious and operate through it. Therefore the meaning

A is not at all the one referred to above, namely, that the elect are to be such [among the elect are to be numbered such] as even despise the %ord of God, thrust it from them, blaspheme and persecute it, 9att. 22:"# 3cts ! :("# or, when they hear it, harden their hearts, +eb. (:2. ,# resist the +oly Ghost, 3cts ,:'!# without repentance persevere in sins,6u)e !(:!-# do not truly believe in *hrist, 9ar) !":!"# only ma)e [godliness] an outward show, 9att. ,:22# 22:!2# or see) other ways to righteousness and salvation outside of *hrist, &om. /: !. (2] Summary of %ot 4od's Fault+ (!. 7or few receive the %ord and follow it# the greatest number despise the %ord, and will not come to the wedding,9att. 22: ff The cause for this contempt for the %ord is not God$s fore)nowledge [or predestination], but the perverse will of man, which re.ects or perverts the means and instrument of the +oly Ghost, which God offers him through the call, and resists the +oly Ghost, who wishes to be efficacious, and wor)s through the %ord, as *hrist says: +ow often would : have gathered you together, and ye would not; Establishes the Gospel of Grace alone, everything that pertains to our conversion, etc.: 43. Thus far is the mystery of predestination revealed to us in God's Word, and if we abide thereby and cleave thereto, it is a very useful, salutary, consolatory doctrine; for it establishes very effectually the article that we are justified and saved without all wor s and merits of ours, purely out of !race alone, for "hrist's sa e. #or before the time of the world, before we e$isted, yea, before the foundation of the world was laid, when, of course, we could do nothin! !ood, we were accordin! to God's purpose chosen by !race in "hrist to salvation, %om. &'((; ) Tim. ('&. 44* +oreover, all opiniones ,opinions- and erroneous doctrines concernin! the powers of our natural will are thereby overthrown, because God in .is counsel, before the time of the world, decided and ordained that .e .imself, by the power of .is .oly Ghost, would produce and wor in us, throu!h the Word, everythin! that pertains to our conversion. 4/* Thus this doctrine affords also the e$cellent, !lorious consolation that God was so !reatly concerned about the conversion, ri!hteousness, and salvation of every "hristian, and so faithfully purposed it 0provided therefor* that before the foundation of the world was laid, .e deliberated concernin! it, and in .is 0secret* purpose ordained how .e would brin! me thereto 0call and lead me to salvation*, and preserve me therein. 1lso, that .e wished to secure my salvation so well and certainly that, since throu!h the wea ness and wic edness of our flesh it could easily be lost from our hands, or throu!h craft and mi!ht of the devil and the world be snatched and ta en from us, .e

? ordained it in .is eternal purpose, which cannot fail or be overthrown, and placed it for preservation in the almi!hty hand of our 2avior 3esus "hrist, from which no one can pluc us, 3ohn (4')5. 46* .ence 7aul also says, %om. 5')5. 3&' 8ecause we have been called accordin! to the purpose of God, who will separate us from the love of God in "hrist9 Time and hour: /6* Thus without any doubt God also nows and has determined for every one the time and hour of his call and conversion 0and when .e will raise a!ain one who has lapsed*. 8ut since this has not been revealed to us, we have the command always to clin! to the Word, and to commend the time and hour to God KEY PO !T: "ere is the #ey passage for understanding the difference bet$een the outloo# of the %onfessors and the outloo# $e have absorbed from the &rminian &merican %hurch. 'hen $e loo# at a land $ithout the 'ord of God $e thin#, (Those poor people) They have not heard)* t is this notion that leads people to as# in +ible class, ,"o$ can God damn somebody $ho has never heard-, The assumptions of the &rminian here are that ./ people have not heard the 'ord and that this is not their fault0 1/ That Original 2in does not damn 3ustly0 4/ that people have free $ill to decide. & very different vie$ of nations $ithout the 'ord of God is revealed here in the 5ormula: it is a punishment from God on men $ho have re3ected the 'ord and on their posterity: /: ;i ewise, when we see that God !ives .is Word at one place 0to one in!dom or realm*, but not at another 0to another nation*; removes it from one place 0people*, and allows it to remain at another; also, that one is hardened, blinded, !iven over to a reprobate mind, while another, who is indeed in the same !uilt, is converted a!ain, etc.,<in these and similar =uestions 7aul 0%om. (('))ff * /5* fi$es a certain limit to us how far we should !o, namely, that in the one part we should reco!ni>e God's jud!ment 0for .e commands us to consider in those who perish the just jud!ment of God and the penalties of sins*. #or they are well<deserved penalties of sins when God so punishes a land or nation for despisin! .is Word that the punishment e$tends also to their posterity, as is to be seen in the 3ews. 1nd thereby 0by the punishments* God in some lands and persons e$hibits .is severity to those that are .is 0in order to indicate* what we all would have well deserved, and would be worthy and worth, since we act wic edly in opposition to God's Word 0are un!rateful for the revealed Word, and live unworthily of the Gospel* and often !rieve the .oly Ghost sorely, in order that we may live in the fear of God, and ac nowled!e and praise God's !oodness, to the e$clusion of, and contrary to, our merit in and with us, to whom .e !ives .is Word, and with whom .e leaves it, and whom .e does not harden and reject.

()* %hen we proceed thus far in this article, we remain on the right [safe and royal] way, as it is written +os. ! :/: :srael, that you have gone to ruin is your own fault# that you have been helped rests alone on my grace. *hen #hy are some damned0 " . +owever, as regards these things in this disputation which would soar too high and beyond these limits, we should, with 0aul, place the finger upon our lips, and remember and say, &om. /:22: < man, who art thou that repliest against God= 5e should not despair and go after other means+ ,2. Therefore, whoever would be saved should not trouble or harass himself with thoughts concerning the secret counsel of God, as to whether he also is elected and ordained to eternal life, with which miserable Satan usually attac)s and annoys godly hearts. >ut they should hear *hrist [and loo) upon +im as the >oo) of 6ife in which is written the eternal election], who is the >oo) of 6ife and of God$s eternal election of all of God$s children to eternal life: +e testifies to all men without distinction that it is God$s will that all men should come to +im who labor and are heavy laden with sin, in order that +e may give them rest and save them, 9att. !!:2-. ,!] 3ccording to this doctrine of +is they should abstain from their sins, repent, believe +is promise, and entirely trust in +im# and since we cannot do this by ourselves, of our own powers, the +oly Ghost desires to wor) these things, namely, repentance and faith, in us through the %ord and Sacraments 5hose fault is it #hen folks re2ect the 5ord0 9oreover, the declaration, 8ohn ":((, that no one can come to *hrist e?cept the 7ather draw him, is right and true. +owever, the 7ather will not do this without means, but has ordained for this purpose +is %ord and Sacraments as ordinary means and instruments# and it is the will neither of the 7ather nor of the Son that a man should not hear or should despise the preaching of +is %ord, and wait for the drawing of the 7ather without the %ord and Sacraments. 7or the 7ather draws indeed by the power of +is +oly Ghost, however, according to +is usual order [the order decreed and instituted by +imself], by the hearing of +is holy, divine %ord, as with a net, by which the elect are pluc)ed from the .aws of the devil. ,,] 1very poor sinner should therefore repair thereto [to holy preaching], hear it attentively, and not doubt the drawing of the 7ather. 7or the +oly Ghost will be with +is %ord in +is power, and wor) by it# and that is the drawing of the 7ather. ,-] >ut the reason why not all who hear it believe, and some are therefore condemned the more deeply [eternally to severer punishments], is not because

B God had begrudged them their salvation# but it is their own fault, as they have heard the %ord in such a manner as not to learn, but only to despise, blaspheme, and disgrace it, and have resisted the +oly Ghost, who through the %ord wished to wor) in them, as was the case at the time of *hrist with the 0harisees and their adherents. %e6t several paragraphs again against Calvinism) Summary+ >ut that God hardened 0haraoh$s heart, namely, that 0haraoh always sinned again and again, and became the more obdurate, the more he was admonished, that was a punishment of his antecedent sin and horrible tyranny, which in many and manifold ways he practised inhumanly and against the accusations of his heart towards the children of :srael. 3nd since God caused +is %ord to be preached and +is will to be proclaimed to him, and 0haraoh nevertheless wilfully reared up straightway against all admonitions and warnings, God withdrew +is hand from him, and thus his heart became hardened and obdurate, and God e?ecuted +is .udgment upon him# for he was guilty of nothing else than hell@fire. Summary of causa electionis+ --. Therefore it is false and wrong [conflicts with the %ord of God] when it is taught that not alone the mercy of God and the most holy merit of *hrist, but that also in us there is a cause of God$s election, on account of which God has chosen us to eternal life. 7or not only before we had done anything good, but also before we were born, yea, even before the foundations of the world were laid, +e elected us in *hrist# and that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of wor)s, but of +im that calleth, it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger# as it is written concerning this matter, 8acob have : loved, but 1sau have : hated, &om. /:!!ff.# Gen. 2':2 # 9al. !:2f. Part II: A +oo, at t&e -inistr. of /esus and t&e A$ostles. So there are your classic statements of the doctrine of election from both the Scriptures and the Confessions) But there is more$ much more to say) 3et us take a look at more Scriptures #ith a special focus on ho# the doctrine of election played into the ministries of 7esus and Paul) 1o# did they do evangelism0 5hat #as their modus operandi0 A. /esus* Election* and t&e Conduct of 0is -inistr.. T&e End Time iscourse 0lso Parallel in %ar- 1=
Mat 24:22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Mat 24:23 hen if anyone says to you, !"ook, here is the #hrist$! or ! here he is$! do not believe it. Mat 24:24 %or false christs and false &ro&hets will arise and &erform great signs and wonders,

'
so as to lead astray, if &ossible, even the elect. Mat 24:2' (ee, ) have told you beforehand. Mat 24:2* (o, if they say to you, !"ook, he is in the wilderness,! do not go out. )f they say, !"ook, he is in the inner rooms,! do not believe it. Mat 24:2+ %or as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the (on of Man. Mat 24:2, -herever the cor&se is, there the vultures will gather. Mat 24:2. /)mmediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the &owers of the heavens will be shaken. Mat 24:30 hen will a&&ear in heaven the sign of the (on of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the (on of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with &ower and great glory. Mat 24:31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trum&et call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. The Parable of the Unjust Judge And he told them a &arable to the effect that they ought always to &ray and not lose heart. "uk 1,:2 2e said, /)n a certain city there was a 3udge who neither feared 4od nor res&ected man. "uk 1,:3 And there was a widow in that city who ke&t coming to him and saying, !4ive me 3ustice against my adversary.! "uk 1,:4 %or a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ! hough ) neither fear 4od nor res&ect man, "uk 1,:' yet because this widow kee&s bothering me, ) will give her 3ustice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.!/ "uk 1,:* And the "ord said, /2ear what the unrighteous 3udge says. "uk 1,:+ And will not 4od give 3ustice to his elect, who cry to him day and night5 -ill he delay long over them5 "uk 1,:, ) tell you, he will give 3ustice to them s&eedily. 6evertheless, when the (on of Man comes, will he find faith on earth5/

1&o Comes to /esus2 1&o +eaves /esus2 7ohn *:438*. 7esus answered them, /9o not grumble among yourselves. 44 6o one can come to me unless the %ather who sent me draws him. And ) will raise him u& on the last day. 4' )t is written in the :ro&hets, !And they will all be taught by 4od.! ;veryone who has heard and learned from the %ather comes to me88 4* not that anyone has seen the %ather e<ce&t he who is from 4od= he has seen the %ather. 4+ ruly, truly, ) say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 4, ) am the bread of life. 4. >our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. '0 his is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. '1 ) am the living bread that came down from heaven. )f anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that ) will give for the life of the world is my flesh./ '2 he 7ews then dis&uted among themselves, saying, /2ow can this man give us his flesh to eat5/ '3 (o 7esus said to them, / ruly, truly, ) say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the (on of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. '4 -hoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and ) will raise him u& on the last day. '' %or my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. '* -hoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and ) in him. '+ As the living %ather sent me, and ) live because of the %ather, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. ', his is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread

1)
the fathers ate and died. -hoever feeds on this bread will live forever./ '. 7esus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at #a&ernaum. *0 -hen many of his disci&les heard it, they said, / his is a hard saying= who can listen to it5/ *1 But 7esus, knowing in himself that his disci&les were grumbling about this, said to them, /9o you take offense at this5 *2 hen what if you were to see the (on of Man ascending to where he was before5 *3 )t is the (&irit who gives life= the flesh is no hel& at all. he words that ) have s&oken to you are s&irit and life. *4 But there are some of you who do not believe./ ?%or 7esus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.@ *' And he said, / his is why ) told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the %ather./ ** After this many of his disci&les turned back and no longer walked with him. *+ (o 7esus said to the welve, /9o you want to go away as well5/ *, (imon :eter answered him, /"ord, to whom shall we go5 >ou have the words of eternal life, *. and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the 2oly Ane of 4od./

T&e iscourse and Pra.er on t&e 3i%&t 1&en 0e was Betra.ed

7ohn 1':1* >ou did not choose me, but ) chose you and a&&ointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the %ather in my name, he may give it to you. 7ohn 1+:182* -hen 7esus had s&oken these words, he lifted u& his eyes to heaven, and said, /%ather, the hour has come= glorify your (on that the (on may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true 4od, and 7esus #hrist whom you have sent. 4 ) glorified you on earth, having accom&lished the work that you gave me to do. ' And now, %ather, glorify me in your own &resence with the glory that ) had with you before the world e<isted. * "I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have ept your word. + 6ow they know that everything that you have given me is from you. , %or ) have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that ) came from you= and they have believed that you sent me. . I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and ) am glorified in them. 11 And ) am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and ) am coming to you. 2oly %ather, kee& them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 -hile ) was with them, ) ke&t them in your name, which you have given me. ) have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost e<ce&t the son of destruction, that the (cri&ture might be fulfilled. 13 But now ) am coming to you, and these things ) s&eak in the world, that they may have my 3oy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them be!ause they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 1' ) do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you kee& them from the evil one. 1* hey are not of the world, 3ust as ) am not of the world. 1+ (anctify them in the truth= your word is truth. 1, As you sent me into the world, so ) have sent them into the world. 1. And for their sake ) consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20 /) do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, 3ust as you, %ather, are in me, and ) in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 he glory that you have given me ) have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 ) in them and you in me, that they may become &erfectly one, so that the world may know

11
that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 %ather, ) desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where ) am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 2' A righteous %ather, even though the world does not know you, ) know you, and these know that you have sent me. 2* ) made known to them your name, and ) will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and ) in them./

0ow did /esus tell &is disci$les to tailor t&e messa%e or 4contextuali5e6 it2 0ow were t&e. to receive re7ection2 "uke 10:1822 After this the "ord a&&ointed seventy8two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and &lace where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, / he harvest is &lentiful, but the laborers are few. herefore &ray earnestly to the "ord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 4o your way= behold, ) am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 #arry no moneybag, no kna&sack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. ' -hatever house you enter, first say, !:eace be to this house$! * And if a son of &eace is there, your &eace will rest u&on him. But if not, it will return to you. + And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they &rovide, for the laborer deserves his wages. 9o not go from house to house. , -henever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. . 2eal the sick in it and say to them, ! he kingdom of 4od has come near to you.! 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 !;ven the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wi&e off against you. 6evertheless know this, that the kingdom of 4od has come near.! 12 ) tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for (odom than for that town. 13 /-oe to you, #horaBin$ -oe to you, Bethsaida$ %or if the mighty works done in you had been done in yre and (idon, they would have re&ented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable in the 3udgment for yre and (idon than for you. 1' And you, #a&ernaum, will you be e<alted to heaven5 >ou shall be brought down to 2ades. 1* / he one who hears you hears me, and the one who re3ects you re3ects me, and the one who re3ects me re3ects him who sent me./ 1+ he seventy8two returned with 3oy, saying, /"ord, even the demons are sub3ect to us in your name$/ 1, And he said to them, /) saw (atan fall like lightning from heaven. 1. Behold, ) have given you authority to tread on ser&ents and scor&ions, and over all the &ower of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 6evertheless, do not re3oice in this, that the s&irits are sub3ect to you, but re3oice that your names are written in heaven./ 21 )n that same hour he re3oiced in the 2oly (&irit and said, /) thank you, %ather, "ord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children= yes, %ather, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my %ather, and no one knows who the (on is e<ce&t the %ather, or who the %ather is e<ce&t the (on and anyone to whom the (on chooses to reveal him./ To 1&om id /esus Send 0is -inister2 To 1&om id 0e "o2
Matthew 10:'8* C hese twelve 7esus sent out, instructing them, /4o nowhere among the 4entiles and enter no town of the (amaritans, but go rather to the lost shee& of the house of )srael.D

2ummary: 7esus never sought out pagans in pagan places8 he never #ent looking for people #ho #ere not people of the Scriptures8 he searched for the 3ost Sheep of 9srael) 7esus never intentionally see-s out places and people +ho have not heard the Word, +ho are

1( pa#ans, 7esus speci!ically does not pray !or any .ut the elect Fthou#h he +eeps and la,ents over the da,ned +ho re2ect his WordG, +hen outsiders Fnon*IsraelitesG hear o! hi, and see- hi, out, he +elco,es the, into the ;a,ily o! God, !or the Children o! 0.raha, are children o! the pro,ise, not the !lesh. 8ut, interestin#ly enou#h, he sees no need to cater the ,essa#e to the,, he does not even intentionally see- the, out9 Rather, the elect are dra+n to 7esus so,e+hat ,ysteriously .ecause the Word lea-s out, people notice the di!!erence and as- a.out it, ne+s travels, the elect o! ever nation hear and they see- out 7esus4 the Holy &pirit has dra+n the, .y the Word. 7esus does not han# out at the pa#an te,ples and a,pitheatres +aitin# to a,.ush the +orshippers and en#a#e the, in reli#ious de.ate or procla,ation. E6ceptions to the rule&a,aritan Wo,an in 7ohn >6 &he is a Hal! 7e+, one +ho has the 8oo-s o! %oses and she comes to 1im. The Gree- proselytes6 The God*!earin# centurion6 They already .elieve in the Word o! %oses and a#ain, they co,e to 7esus. The only true pa#an that 7esus preaches to in the Gospels is the Canannite +o,an * and a#ain, she co,es to Hi, F%atthe+ 1AG. An Aside. 0t this point +e ,i#ht consider a very interestin# assu,ption +e all tend to ,a-e. Whenever the doctrine o! election co,es up in 8i.le class, so,eone +ill inevita.ly say4 .ut it s not !air. Thin- o! all the people +ho have never heard the Gospel, never had a chance to .elieve9 Ho+ could God da,n the,6 There are several assu,ptions tied up in that Huestion. ;irst, that people so,eho+ do not really deserve da,nation that is, a re2ection o! ori#inal sin. &econd, that people have a !ree +ill that lets the, 5have a chance: to decide. 0nd third, that there are people +ho have not heard, or have not heard innocently. 8ut consider these t+o !ascinatin# Huotations one !ro, Paul and one !ro, the ;or,ula4
Eomans 10:13821 %or /everyone who calls on the name of the "ord will be saved./ 14 2ow then will they call on him in whom they have not believed5 And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard5 And how are they to hear without someone &reaching5 1' And how are they to &reach unless they are sent5 As it is written, /2ow beautiful are the feet of those who &reach the good news$/ 1* But they have not all obeyed the gos&el. %or )saiah says, /"ord, who has believed what he has heard from us5/ 1+ (o faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of #hrist. 1, But ) ask, have they not heard5 )ndeed they have, for / heir voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world./ 1. But ) ask, did )srael not understand5 %irst Moses says, /) will make you 3ealous of those who are not a nation= with a foolish nation ) will make you angry./ 20 hen )saiah is so bold as to say, /) have been found by those who did not seek me= ) have shown myself to those who did not ask for me./ 21 But of )srael he says, /All day long ) have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary &eo&le./ Consider also what Paul says about all nations in Romans 1 and 2. SA 7* B: ', 6i)ewise, when we see that God gives +is %ord at one place [to one )ingdom or realm], but not at another [to another nation]# removes it from one place [people], and allows it to remain at another# also, that one is hardened, blinded, given over to a reprobate mind, while another, who is indeed in the same guilt, is

1=
converted again, etc.,@in these and similar Cuestions 0aul [&om. !!:22ff ] '-] fi?es a certain limit to us how far we should go, namely, that in the one part we should recogniDe God$s .udgment [for +e commands us to consider in those who perish the .ust .udgment of God and the penalties of sins]. 7or they are well@deserved penalties of sins when God so punishes a land or nation for despising +is %ord that the punishment e?tends also to their posterity, as is to be seen in the 8ews. 3nd thereby [by the punishments] God in some lands and persons e?hibits +is severity to those that are +is [in order to indicate] what we all would have well deserved, and would be worthy and worth, since we act wic)edly in opposition to God$s %ord [are ungrateful for the revealed %ord, and live unworthily of the Gospel] and often grieve the +oly Ghost sorely, in order that we may live in the fear of God, and ac)nowledge and praise God$s goodness, to the e?clusion of, and contrary to, our merit in and with us, to whom +e gives +is %ord, and with whom +e leaves it, and whom +e does not harden and re.ect. And there is more of this in the (cri&tures: Eomans 1*:2*:6ow to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gos&el and the &reaching of 7esus #hrist, according to the revelation of the mystery that was ke&t secret for long ages )6 but has now been disclosed and through the &ro&hetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal 4od, to bring about the obedience of faith F ): to the only wise 4od be glory forevermore through 7esus #hrist$ Amen. #ol 1:23 Cif indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the ho&e of the gos&el that you heard, which has been &roclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which ), :aul, became a minister.D he idea of an unreached &eo&le is actually very &roblematic from a Biblical stand&oint. )ndeed, didn!t 7esus say that the 4os&el must be &reached to all nations before the end and that the end will come when you don!t know it5 And didn!t (t. :aul e<&ect the end in his life time5 -ell, then. . . it a&&ears that no one has the e<cuse that they have not heard$

B. T&e ministr. of t&e A$ostles in Acts. T&e A$ostles in Acts When the disciples #o out preachin# 5to all nations: they !ollo+ the sa,e ,ethod as 7esus in the Gospel. Their ,inistry is !or the sa-e o! the elect and they see- the, +here the elect are e/pected to .e !ound4 around the Word o! God. They do not #o out intentionally see-in# pa#ans in pa#an places. They do not han# out at pa#an te,ples +aitin# to do 5street evan#elis,.: They do not #o door to door in pa#an nei#h.orhood sharin# the Gospel. They #o !ro, &yna#o#ue to &yna#o#ue and the elect are dra+n in !ro, all nations.
Paul"s #inistry for the $a e of the %le!t 2 i 2:10 herefore ) endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in #hrist 7esus with eternal glory. it 1:1 :aul, a servant of 4od and an a&ostle of 7esus #hrist, for the sake of the faith of 4od!s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,

&o they start o!! .y #oin# +here the elect are e/pected to .e !ound4 #athered around Word and &acra,ent. God sa+ to this ,ethod +ith Pentecost. He #athered in 7e+s and proselytes o! every tri.e

1> and nation so that they ,i#ht hear the Word o! God in the te,ple. Then they +ent ho,e. Then, +hen the disciples #o out to preach, in 7erusale,, in 7udea, in &a,aria, and to the ends o! the earth they never #o into #odless places. They #o to syna#o#ues to announce to .elievers in the Eld Covenant that the "e+ Covenant is here. 8ut they never intentionally !ocus their ,inistry on pa#an un.elievers. They do not cater or conte/tuali3e F+hich is Latin !or 5co,pro,ise:G their ,essa#e to an un8i.lical people. 8ut I can see that you do not .elieve ,e. &o let s ta-e a loo- at the .oo-s o! 0cts. 0cts 1*@. 0ll the action is in 7erusale, and !ocused in and around the Te,ple. 0cts B. Philip #oes to &a,aria +here 7esus had esta.lished .elievers in 7ohn >. 7ohn and Peter then #o to the, to pray !or the Holy &pirit. Then God drops o!! Philip to spea- to the 1thiopian a .it o! Pentecost delayed, as it +ere. 0cts '. Paul is called to #o .e!ore Gentiles and Iin#s. He .e#ins to !ul!ill his ,inistry .y #oin# to proclai, 7esus in &yna#o#ues. 0cts 1) a Gentile proselyte receives the Gospel. 0cts 11 the 7e+ish party +as tal-in# only to 7e+s, .ut the Hellenists also spea- to Gentile proselytes note +ell no.ody has tal-ed to pa#ans yet, let alone sou#ht the, out or conte/tuali3ed the Gospel !or the,. 0cts 1( Peter rescued, Herod dead. 0cts 1= Paul and 8arna.as sent out they preach in &yna#o#ues. In &ala,is, a!ter they preach in the syna#o#ue, Paulus the pa#an su,,ons the, as-s the, !or an account. This is the !irst pa#an in 0cts * and he as-s to hear the ,essa#e. Paul and 8arna.as did not see- hi, out, it +as the other +ay round. Then in Per#a, they preach in the syna#o#ue. The ne/t &a..ath, the +hole city #athered at syna#o#ue to hear it +as the tal- o! the to+n. The 7e+s +ho don t receive the Gospel toss the, out, .ut the Gentile proselytes +ho had co,e receive it +ell, 5as ,any as +ere appointed to eternal li!e .elieved: v. >B. 0cts 1> they enter the syna#o#ue at Iconiu,. 0t Lystra, Paul heals a ,an +ho +as listenin# to hi, spea-. Where +as he spea-in#6 &o !ar, +e !ind hi, only spea-in# at syna#o#ue or to individual rulers +ho de,and testi,ony o! hi,. In Lystra it is not ,entioned +here Paul +as preachin#, +here6 In 0cts 1? +e #et a clue4 i! there +ere not enou#h 7e+s in a city they did not .uild a syna#o#ue, .ut ,et in so,e place !or prayer. &ince Paul +as preachin# to the 7e+s at their place o! prayer, so,e pa#ans #et +ind o! the ,iracle, or even see it. "ote +ell the te/t4 they 5sa+ +hat Paul had done: they did not hear hi, preachin# .ecause he +asn t preachin# to the,. %ore proo! that Paul +asn t preachin# to pa#ans4 they call Paul and 8arna.as #ods. . . Paul and 8arna.as then have to e/plain the very .asics o! the !aith to the pa#ans4 that there is only one God +ho created heaven and earth. It is there!ore clear that Paul +as not preachin# to these cro+ds o! pa#ans .e!ore he +or-ed the ,iracle on this ,an. ;or i! he had .een spea-in# to the,, ho+ could he have started +ith any other topic .esides4 there is only one God6 In $er.e li-e+ise, +e only #et a su,,ary o! his preachin# and no narration o! ho+ he +ent a.out it. 0cts 1A 7erusale, Council.

1A 0cts 1? In $er.e and Lystra is +here Paul ,et Ti,othy a hal! 7e+. This #ives us a clear that there +as indeed a syna#o#ue in those places as +e suspected a.ove. The drea, o! the %acedonian ,an as-in# !or help +hen they #et there +hat do they do6 They re,ain ,any days doin# nothin# until on the 5&a..ath +e +ent outside the #ate to the riverside +here +e supposed there +as a place o! prayer, and +e sat do+n and spo-e to the +o,en +ho had co,e to#ether.: 0ha9 "o &yna#o#ue +ithout 1) ,en. &o they ,eet to#ether outside. Pro.a.ly +hat happened in Lystra and ho+ the pa#ans sa+ +hat happened and ,isunderstood. In the 7ail Paul and &ilas pray and sin# hy,ns and the prisoners listen4 .ut they do not preach to the,9 The pa#an prisoners only overhear. Paul stops the ,an !ro, -illin# hi,sel!. Then the ,an as-s, 5What ,ust I do to .e saved6: 0nd then Paul spea-s to hi,. 58e ready to #ive a reason !or the hope you have +ithin to those +ho as-9: This is the second pa#an conversion and li-e the !irst FPaulusG Paul did not see- hi, out, .ut only spo-e to hi, +hen Huestioned. 0cts 1@ Thessalonica they #o to the syna#o#ue. To 8erea they #o to the syna#o#ue. In 0thens Paul is #rieved .y all the idols so he goes to the synagogue to talk #ith the :7e#s and devout persons;$ and to the ,ar-etplaces +ith +ho,ever is there. Who are these !ol-s +ho are there6 The 7e+s and devout persons. 0nd ho+ do +e -no+6 8ecause o! the JK at the start o! v. 1B indicatin# a chan#e in su.2ect, 58ut, so,e o! the 1picurean and &toic philosophers also conversed +ith hi,.: Paul did not see- the, out, they overheard and conversed FHuestionedG hi, as he sat in the ,ar-etplace +or-in# his trade and tal-in# +ith 7e+s and God*!earin# Gree-s +ho ca,e up to hi,. 0nd then they ta-e hi, to the 0reopa#us9 He did not see- out a pa#an audience, they overheard, as-ed, and then ta-e hi, there. 0 !e+ o! these pa#ans .elieve at the end o! chapter 1@. Paul does not !rea- out that ,any ,ore do not .elieve, he does not chan#e his preachin# to acco,odate or conte/tuali3e it to the,, he doesn t lose sleep that ,ore don t .elieve, etc. C0lso note God has arran#ed ti,e and places. This #oes .ac- to Ro,ans 1, (, and 1)4 they have heard .y God s arran#e,ent. "o e/cuse. ;C &$ LI.A@*AB4 Lac- o! the Word o! God in a nation is a punish,ent !ro, God, not a ,ista-e.D 0cts 1B He reasoned in Corinth in the syna#o#ue tryin# to persuade 7e+s and FdevoutG Gree-s. 0t 1phesus he #oes to the syna#o#ue to reason +ith the 7e+s. 0cts 1' so,e disciples !ound +ho only -no+ 7ohn s .aptis,. He continues preachin# in the syna#o#ue, and +hen he is tossed out, they start a church and that is +here Paul preaches. The &ons o! &ceva use the na,e o! 7esus in e/orcis, and the de,ons testi!y and people hear o! 7esus and .elieve a#ain, not throu#h Paul s see-in# the, out. 0nd no+, even thou#h Paul has not sou#ht out to preach to pa#ans at all in 1phesus or any+here in 0sia, the Word has done its tric-, and ,any o! the elect have .een called !ro, Pa#anis, and its hurtin# the 0rte,is trade4 the riot. 0cts () Paul visits so,e o! the churches and preaches on &unday to the,. 0cts (1 In 7erusale, 0cts (( &peech to the riotin# 7e+s. $oes not preach to the Ro,an tri.une +ho does not as- hi,. 0cts (= Paul .rea-s up the &anhedrin. 1scapes.

1? 0cts (> ;eli/ and $rusilla as- !or catechesis and receive it. 0cts (A M (? Paul called upon to testi!y .e!ore 0#rippa. 0cts (@ En the ship. Paul is treated -indly .y the Ro,an o!!icers and in turn #ives the, advice. 8ut he never preaches to the,. When he does spea- to the,, it is only to tell the, that God has told the, they +on t die .ut crash the ship on an island. "o preachin# o! the Gospel. 0cts (B En %alta the sna-e .ites hi,, they natives +atch, he doesn t die, they thin- he s a #od. 0nd Paul never preaches to the,. Paul does so,e healin# the people honor the,, .ut no preachin# is narrated. 5He lived there t+o +hole years. . .and +elco,ed all +ho ca,e to hi,, proclai,in# the -in#do, o! God and teachin# a.out the Lord 7esus Christ.: C. So w&at about All T&in%s to All -en t&at I -i%&t Save Some2 I hope .y no+ +e can see so,e ,ore conte/t to this o!ten Huoted, .ut ,isunderstood passa#e !ro, Paul. 7ust as Ro,ans 1) Fho+ +ill they hearG is o!ten ,isunderstood .y stoppin# the Huotation too soon Fthey have heard9G, so also here $epends on +hich sylL0.le you put the e,PH0sis. That I ,i#ht save some. Parallel +ith ( Ti, (41)4 ,y ,inistry is !or the sa-e of the elect) With all those uses o! the ver. save in the &criptures here, and I +as saved .y your prayers, and even 8aptis, no+ saves you the ver. is used in an instru,ental sense. Christ saves us. ThatNs the a.solute. 8aptis, only saves .y connectin# to Christ. Prayers saves .ecause o! Hi, +ho hears Fand re,e,.er4 he hears and -no+s +hat you need even .e!ore you as-G. 8aptis, is the ,eans .y +hich Christ co,es and Paul is the ,eans .y +hich the ,eans .y +hich Christ co,es co,es. &o read that a#ain. HeNs not sayin# that .y his e!!orts at least a !e+ !ol-s +ill .e saved. HeNs sayin# that at least 9 ,i#ht .e the one to .rin# these #i!ts to some. This passa#e is speci!ically a.out the Gentile .eliever, 7e+ish .eliever divide. 0s +e ve 2ust seen, Paul never sou#ht out opportunities to see- pa#ans. He did not start co!!ee .ars, or tabernae as the Ro,ans called the,, to dra+ in the pa#ans so that they ,i#ht hear a ,essa#e tailored to pa#an ears. This is not +hat he ,eant .y .eco,in# all thin#s to all ,en. He 2ust ,eant that he lived accordin# to 7e+ish cultural la+ a,on# 7e+s and accordin# to Greecultural nor,s a,on# Gree-s. In other +ords4 I! you live in "1, prepare to root !or the Hus-ers.
&. 'hen People (eave, or don"t believe the 'ord his theology G that 4od has his elect, and that 4od works through his -ord when and where he &leases, causes a very different outlook in regard to Cfailure.D -hat if you &reach and nobody listens5 -hat if everybody leaves5 )n our day and age, you will &robably be told to get better at &reaching, get snaBBier music, or follow some other fad. But how do 7esus and :aul react to CfailureD5 7ohn * again. ) 7n 2:1,81., C#hildren, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. herefore we know that it is the last hour. hey went out from us, but they were not of us= for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become &lain that they all are not of us.D And again Acts 13:4,.

1@ Aside: Elect An%els

1 i ':21 )n the &resence of 4od and of #hrist 7esus and of the elect angels ) charge you to kee& these rules without &re3udging, doing nothing from &artiality.

S8--A9: A3 T9A3SITIO3 TO 3E!T 0O89 &o your ,inistry is to the elect. Where are they6 In the pe+s, in the hospital .eds, on the list o! the .apti3ed. The Word itsel! +ill #et out and dra+ in the rest o! the elect. Really. Christians +ill .e Christians, people +ill +onder and as-, they +ill #ive the reason !or the hope they have +ithin, and the elect +ill .elieve it and co,e to the Church. God has #ot thin#s under control. &o the Huestion is not +hat dra+s in 0,ericans or people in ,y nei#h.orhood or see-ers or un.elievers the Huestion is ho+ to care !or and ho+ to dra+ the elect. Oour tar#et audience is not a .unch o! pa#ans or 0,ericans, .ut rather the elect. 0nd God dra+s the, in, not you and your s-ills and +its. 0nd he dra+s the, in .y his Word, not pro,ises o! cars .ein# ra!!led o!! or .y tips !or success!ul livin#. Ene last scene +ill su, up the di!!erence .et+een the "T s picture o! outreach and ours. &aint Polycarp +as old enou#h to have -no+n the apostles. 0nd .oy does he have their style. I,a#ine the scene. Oou are arrested !or preachin# Christ. Oou are dra+n .e!ore a +hole cro+d o! pa#ans in the a,petheatre. What an opportunity !or +itness9 What a chance to #ive a ser,on, to reach out to the lost9 Let s listen in on +hat happens +hen Polycarp is .rou#ht into the arena.
The Martyrdom of Polycarp, chapter 9 >ut as 0olycarp entered into the stadium, a voice came to him from heaven# $>e strong, 0olycarp, and play the man.$ 3nd no one saw the spea)er, but those of our people who were present heard the voice. 3nd at length, when he was brought up, there was a great tumult, for they heard that 0olycarp had been apprehended. %hen then he was brought before him, the proconsul enCuired whether he were the man. 3nd on his confessing that he was, he tried to persuade him to a denial saying, $+ave respect to thine age,$ and other things in accordance therewith, as it is their wont to say# $Swear by the genius of *aesar# repent and say, 3way with the atheists.$ Then 0olycarp with solemn countenance loo)ed upon the whole multitude of lawless heathen that were in the stadium, and waved his hand to them# and groaning and loo)ing up to heaven he said, $3way with the atheists.$ >ut when the magistrate pressed him hard and said, $Swear the oath, and : will release thee# revile the *hrist,$ 0olycarp said, $7ourscore and si? years have : been +is servant, and +e hath done me no wrong. +ow then can : blaspheme my Eing who saved me=$ [*hapter !2] >ut on his persisting again and saying, $Swear by the genius of *aesar,$ he answered, $:f thou supposest vainly that : will swear by the genius of *aesar, as thou sayest, and feignest that thou art ignorant who : am, hear thou plainly, : am a *hristian. >ut if thou wouldest learn the doctrine of *hristianity, assign a day and give me a hearing.$ The proconsul said# $0revail upon the people.$ >ut 0olycarp said# $3s for thyself, : should have held thee worthy of discourse# for we have been taught to render, as is meet, to princes and authorities appointed by God such honor as does us no harm# but as for these, : do not hold them worthy, that : should defend myself before them.$

1 Freed From the Shopkeeper's Prison Building a Pastoral Theology -or- What Should I be Doing with My Time Rev. H. R. Curtis Trinity Lutheran Church Worden, IL Zion Lutheran Church Carpenter, IL Presented General Pastors Con!erence o! the "orth Re#ion o! the I" $istrict, LC%&, %ay ', ()11. &o*e !a*ous +riter, *ay,e it +as He*in#+ay, said that the scariest thin# in the +orld is a ,lan- sheet o! paper. That is certainly the !eelin# I had +hen I arrived at +or- the %onday a!ter *y ordination. What e.actly does a pastor do/ I !ound *ysel! stran#ely unprepared to ans+er that 0uestion a!ter !our years o! pre1se*inary study, three years o! %div study, and a vicara#e. Perhaps you had ,etter luc-, or +ere 2ust a naturally +iser person, or had ,etter *entors than I ,ut I +as #enuinely lost and had to !eel thin#s out as I +ent. There are no shorta#e o! ans+ers to the 0uestion, 3What should the pastor ,e doin#/4 I ,e#an *y presentation ,y 0uotin# 5u#ene Peterson s la*ent a,out the ans+er o! the &hop-eeper Pastor set6 plannin#, ad*inistratin#, vision 0uestin#, ho,no,,in#, -eepin# trac- o! trends, studyin# de*o#raphics !or the ne.t location, conte.tuali7in#, etc. 8ou have #raciously #iven *e t+o hours o! your ti*e in +hich I have tried to ar#ue that the &hop-eeper Pastor s outloo- is ,ased on a !aulty anthropolo#y and soteriolo#y6 that *en have !ree +ill to *a-e decisions !or Christ and that there is no election to li!e everlastin#, ,ut only a ,unch o! potential converts to ,e persuaded into the !aith. "o+ I +ant to *ove on to puttin# *y theory into practice. What does a pastor do +ho ,elieves that God is in control, that His elect are His elect/ Let s start, thou#h, +ith +hat you do. 5very 9e,ruary I hold a +or-shop !or se*inarians !ro* C&L +ho +ish to attend it s called the Litur#ical Parish Li!e Con!erence and +e have a spea-er co*e in and tal- a,out real li!e in the parish and then +al- throu#h the traditional cere*onies o! the Lutheran $ivine &ervice. I also #ive the* all a copy o! a resource C$ it includes stu!! li-e cathechesis

( *anuals, pre*arital counselin# pro#ra*s, helps !or e.plainin# stu!! to your ,oard o! elders, etc. etc. :asically everythin# I have !ound use!ul in *y *inistry so that these #uys are not startin# !ro* s0uare 7ero. :ut as +orthy as I thin- all o! those resources are, perhaps the ,est thin# on that C$ is a ,unch o! diaries I as-ed a lot o! pastors to *a-e. "ot diaries really, *ore li-e a la+yer s ,illa,le hours sheet. I! you are ,lessed never to have had to hire a la+yer, let *e e.plain. La+yers *a-e a,out seven ,illion dollars per hour. They need to ,ill, there!ore, do+n to !ractions o! an hour. In !act, I #ot this idea !ro* a !riend !ro* colle#e +ho +ent on to ,e a la+yer at a ,i# !ir* in ;*aha. &he +as co*plainin# to us ho+ she had to stop +hat she +as doin# every 1< *inutes and +rite do+n +hat she had ,een doin# in the last 0uarter hour. &o I as-ed a #ood *any pastors I -no+ to -eep this -ind o! detailed 3,illa,le hours diary4 !or a +ee-. I as-ed senior pastors !or* ,i# parishes, associate pastors, pastors a dual parishes, s*all parishes, etc. etc. =s a !irst step to+ard your re!resh*ent in the *inistry, I encoura#e you do the sa*e. When I did I discovered several ine!!iciencies and de!iciencies that needed corrected. I chan#ed *y schedule to ,etter !it *y theolo#y and once I had that ne+ schedule I -ept the diary a#ain and shared it +ith *y ,oard o! elders. I *ean to repeat the process no+ at least once a year. 9or no+, thin- !or a *o*ent a,out your typical +ee-. ;! course, typical +ee-s are !e+ and !ar ,et+een ,ut thin-, +hat is your &unday li-e/ "o+ %onday is that your day o!! or a +or- day/ What ti*e do you #et up/ What do you typically do on %ondays/ ;n Tuesdays/ What *eetin#s are scheduled/ What classes do you have to teach/ ;n Wednesday no+ and Thursday and 9riday and &aturday. I! I +ere a cruel and vindictive presenter +ho actually listened in education classes at Concordia &e+ard I +ould not as- you to ,rea- up into s*all #roups and +rite all this do+n. :ut ,ehold, I a* #entle and #racious and slo+ to ,elieve such nonsense so 2ust thin- a,out it !or a *inute and really do it !or a +ee- +hen you #et ,ac- to the parish.

> "o+, ho+ does your +ee- stac- up to your theolo#y/ =re you doin# +hat a pastor should ,e doin#/ To !ind out, to ,e#in ,uildin# our pastoral theolo#y, let us ,e#in at the ,e#innin# +ith your ordination vo+s. What did you pro*ise to do/ What does the Church thin- it is i*portant enou#h to re0uire o! you ,e!ore you ,e#in/ 9irst, you +ere as-ed i! you ,elieved that the canonical ,oo-s o! the ;ld and "e+ Testa*ents +ere the Word o! God. 8ou said that you did. I hope you still do. I! you do, they *i#ht ,e i*portant to read, yes/ &econd, you said that you ,elieved that the three 5cu*enical Creeds +ere !aith!ul testi*onies to the &criptures and that you re2ected the errors they conde*ned. &o I rec-on you ou#ht to -no+ +hat those are. Third, you con!essed that the =u#s,ur# Con!ession and the rest o! the :oo- o! Concord +ere in a#ree*ent +ith the one &criptural !aith. This presupposes a thorou#h -no+led#e o! the*. 9ourth, +e turn !ro* +hat you ,elieve to +hat you +ill do. 8ou pro*ised to per!or* the duties o! your o!!ice in accordance +ith the Con!essions, and con!or* your preachin# and teachin# to these Con!essions. &o you are supposed to preach and teach. 9i!th, a verita,le list o! duties6 instruct ,oth youn# and old in the chie! articles o! Christian doctrine, !or#ive the sins o! the penitent and never divul#e the* !or any reason, *inister to the sic- and dyin#, ad*onish and encoura#e the people to a lively con!idence in Christ and in holy livin#. &i.th, that you +ill lead a holy li!e, ,e dili#ent in the study o! Holy &cripture and the Con!essions, and ,e constant in prayer !or those under your pastoral care. &o no+, let us evaluate your schedule accordin# to your vo+s. Here is the list o! duties a#ain put in lo#ical order6 Lead a #odly li!e

? $ili#ently study the &criptures and the Con!essions :e constant in prayer !or those under your care Preach and teach in accordance +ith the Con!essions =d*inister the &acra*ents in accord +ith the &criptures and the Con!essions Instruct youn# and old in the !aith 9or#ive the sins o! the penitent and not divul#e their sins %inister to the sic- and dyin# =d*onish and encoura#e the people to con!idence in Christ and holy livin# What an interestin# list. It s +hat +e s+ore to do these the the thin#s that the Church !orce us to avo+ ourselves to. This is the shape and plan o! the plo+ handle to +hich +e have set our hands and !ro* +hich +e dare not turn ,ac-. :ut, oddly enou#h, +e tend to evaluate ourselves and our ,rothers in the *inistry ,y other ru,rics. 9or us, a pastor is success!ul i! his church is #ro+in#, or at least not shrin-in#, or i! he encountered a church +ith a de!icit and he !i.ed it, or i! a decline in *e*,ership +as halted, or i! a ne+ ,uildin# +as ,uilt. We li-e our evaluations to have nu*,ers, thin#s to count, +ei#h, and *easure. That s +hat a &hop-eeper +ants6 counta,le nu*,er,le thin#s to put do+n in an accountant s set o! dou,le ,oo-s. :ut loo- a#ain at the list that the vo+s have #iven you. "ot one &hop-eeper Pastor concern on the list. "othin# a,out #ro+in# the church. "othin# a,out !inances at all. "othin# a,out attractin# the un,eliever. "othin# a,out #oin# out in pu,lic and proselyti7in#. "othin# a,out standin# on street corners, see-in# out un,elievers, or pinin# over pa#ans. Isn t that !ascinatin#/ Given the rhetoric that has ,eco*e 0uite co**on in =*erican Lutheranis* surely +e +ould have e.pected this ,ut it s not there. The !ocus is very *uch on the sheep under a pastor s care. ;r thin- o! it #eo#raphically these vo+s place the pastor in the pulpit, in the classroo*, at the

< !ont, ,e!ore the altar, in the con!essional ,ooth, and in the study. I do not ,elieve that it is an accident that these vo+s contain no counta,le &hop-eeper concerns. Listen to the prea*,le to the vo+s6 3God #athers His Church ,y and around His Holy Gospel and there,y also #rants it #ro+th and increase accordin# to His #ood pleasure.4 =#ain, the *inistry to the Church is +hat is in !ocus. =nd a#ain, reliance on the divine activity o! God is the thin#. =nd note +ell that phrase 3accordin# to His #ood pleasure.4 That, o! course, co*es !ro* the =u#s,ur# Con!ession +here the Holy &pirit creates !aith throu#h the Word and &acra*ents 3+hen and +here he pleases.4 This really *a-es any -ind o! &hop-eeper evaluation i*possi,le. It is si*ply not theolo#ically possi,le !or us Lutherans to evaluate so*eone s preachin# ,ased on ho+ *any converts he #ets6 ,ecause +e ,elieve that the Word only +or-s 3+hen and +here God pleases.4 8ou cannot tell ho+ *uch truth a *an has preached ,y ho+ *any converts he #ets ,ecause the Holy &pirit +or-s +hen and +here he pleases as the Word is preached. 8ou cannot say @esus had an unsuccess!ul day in @ohn A +hen 3*any disciples4 le!t, or that Paul s preachin# in Pa*phylia +as un!ruit!ul ,ecause only those appointed to eternal li!e ,elieved it. Isn t that interestin#/ The &hop-eeper has 2ust had his le#s -noc-ed out !ro* under hi*. :ecause i! you canBt 2ud#e on nu*,ers, +hat are +e le!t to 2ud#e on/ I! you cannot evaluate *inistry ,ased on #ro+in#, shrin-in#, ,uildin#, or countin# then +hat shall +e *easure a pastor ,y/ :ac- to the list o! ordination vo+s o! course 1 and your schedule. 9or there is one counta,le thin# that is counta,le ,y the nature o! thin#s and cannot ,e #ot around6 ti*e. Ho+ do you spend your ti*e/ Consider your schedule. Let us #o vo+ ,y vo+. =nd let us ,e ,rutally honest +ith ourselves. Let us let the La+ have its +ay +ith us and let us not pretend that +e have access to the Gospel apart !ro* repentance. Lead a Godly Life "o+, !irst o!! +e *ade the pro*ise to lead a #odly li!e. "o one e.pects you to ,e per!ect, ,ut

A you did s+ear to lead a li!e !ree !ro* #ross out+ard sin and to see- to -eep yoursel! !ro* !ree entan#lin# vice. = !or*er district president in "orthern Illinois +as -no+n to #ive this si*ple ad*onish*ent to his pastors6 $on t lie to your people, $on t steal !ro* your people, and $on t sleep +ith any,ody ,ut your +i!e. = #ood start. :ut the ,est advice I ever received on this score +as indeed so*ethin# you can put do+n in your schedule6 #o to con!ession. What +ould +e thin- o! a pastor +ho never received the Lord s &upper/ Ho+ can you teach the &*all Catechis* and never ta-e co**union/ We *i#ht as- the sa*e thin# a,out Con!ession C =,solution. Ho+ can +e teach the &*all Catechis*, ho+ can +e ,e dili#ently studyin# the Con!essions, and never *a-e use o! one o! the si. Chie! Parts/ Li-e you I #re+ up in a nor*al Lutheran parish in %iddle =*erica. I never +ent to con!ession #ro+in# up. I never really even heard o! it until colle#e. =nd I never #ot up the nerve to #o until se*inary +hen the hypocrisy o! teachin# the catechis* and not doin# +hat it said +as starin# *e s0uarely in the !ace. It has chan#ed *y li!e. "othin# *a-es sin *ore repulsive than sayin# it out loud to another *an. There is no su,stitute !or this in the !i#ht to lead a #odly li!e. Luther said that +e should ,e #lad to run 1)) *iles to #o to con!ession and receive a,solution. 8ou need it *ore than your people do especially i! you stru##le +ith a ,esettin# sin. 9ind a #ood !ather con!essor, so*eone +ho ta-es his ordination vo+s seriously, and #o. Co**ittees li-e the one that put this con!erence to#ether should *a-e dou,le sure that opportunities !or Con!ession are part o! these t+ice yearly *eetin#s. 8ou need to live a #odly li!e, the devil is out to #et you, especially you, ,ecause o! +hat your !all +ould *ean as a scandal to the Church so you need this tool +hich Christ has le!t !or your ,ene!it. Diligently study the Scriptures and Confessions =re you dili#ently studyin# the &criptures and the Con!essions/ Ho+ *uch ti*e does 3dili#ently4 re0uire/ When +as the last ti*e you read the Lutheran Con!essions ,eyond the &*all Catechis*/ Loo- at your diary o! ,illa,le hours and see ho+ *uch ti*e you are spendin# readin# the

D :i,le and Con!essions. =nd then as- ho+ *uch o! that readin# counts !or 3dili#ently studyin#.4 =nd then as-, ho+ *uch ti*e does it ta-e to dili#ently -eep up a la+n/ Ho+ *uch ti*e does it ta-e to dili#ently prepare !or deer season/ Ho+ *uch ti*e does it ta-e to dili#ently !ollo+ current events, or -eep up on your !avorite TE sho+/ Repent. 8ou are +astin# your li!e and ,rea-in# your ordination vo+s. Ho+ do I -no+ you are doin# this/ Call it a hunch a!ter loo-in# at *y o+n diary o! ,illa,le hours. I +ill spend hours cra!tin# the per!ect .><D round !or *y lever action car,ine Fit s a 1(< #rain lead truncated cone ,ullet over D.1 #rains Gni0ue po+der seated to 1.<D< inches +ith a li#ht cri*pH, paintin# steel tar#ets, and settin# everythin# up. I +ill plan *y ne.t huntin# trip +ith all the *inutes I can spare !ro* =u#ust throu#h "ove*,er. I can sit and read a ,oo- ,y =l,ert @. "oc- or a ,io#raphy o! &a*uel de Cha*plain !or hours at a ti*e +ith deep interest and ,e annoyed i! I a* ,othered ,y the -ids. :ut do I spent a tenth o! this ti*e each +ee- in the &criptures/ $o I spend a hundredth o! this ti*e each +ee- in the Con!essions/ :rothers, +e *ust repent. We s+ore to study these ,oo-s dili#ently. &ince there is nothin# in the vo+s that is counta,le, I cannot tell you +hen you have studied the* lon# enou#h or hard enou#h. I cannot #ive you a *ini*u* re0uire*ent that +ould soon ,eco*e a *a.i*u* result any+ay. :ut I can tell you that +hen the La+ con!ronts us +ith our sins, the only ans+er is to repent. =nd I thin- +e can sa!ely say that +e should ,e as dili#ent a,out studyin# the &criptures and the Con!essions as +e are a,out our ho,,ies. That see*s to ,e a #ood rule o! thu*,. With our ho,,ies +e are al+ays each to learn *ore too o!ten +ith the &criptures and the Con!essions +e thin- that there is nothin# ne+ to learn. :ut +e -no+ that is a lie. We -no+ +e cannot e.haust the Holy &pirit s -no+led#e and +or-. The only thin# that has ever +or-ed !or *e is settin# aside the ti*e !irst thin# every day. =nd this should include our day s o!!. There are a plethora o! readin# schedules, lectionaries, and so !orth to -eep you on trac-. = very si*ple place to start is +ith

I the !antastic Treasury o! Daily Prayer and its readin#s !ro* the ;T, "T, and devotional +ritin#s ri#ht there in the ,oo- as +ell as su##ested readin#s in the :oo- o! Concord. The #reat ,ene!it o! !ollo+in# this course o! readin# as a !irst step to+ard dili#ent study is that it is +idely availa,le !or ,oth yoursel! and your laity. :ut I thin- the *ain thin# to re#ain and you +ill re#ain it i! you start this readin# is your curiosity in the thin#s o! God. I! you !orce yoursel! to ,e disciplined in this readin#, you +ill encounter 0uestions thin#s you don t understand thin#s you +ant to -no+ *ore a,out. =t that point, #o !ollo+ that lead, trac- do+n the ans+er. This is ho+ +e !irst learned to love the idea o! ,ein# a pastor. Recapture your !irst love and this +ill cease to ,e a ,urden and ,eco*e a pleasure. Be Constant in Prayer for Those under Your Care &i*ilarly +ith prayer. %any o! us never really learn to pray. The saints, Luther a*on# the*, +ho +ere truly devoted to prayer have al+ays ,een so*ethin# o! a *ystery to *e. :ut +e *ust see- to understand and act on this +e pro*ised to, a!ter all. The Church *ade us pro*ise to ,e constant in prayer. Ho+ is this done/ Ho+ do +e pray/ Well, i! ,aptis* is our ,irth into the Jin#do* o! God, i! the Word o! God is our true spiritual *il-, i! the holy :ody and :lood o! our Lord in his &upper is a ChristianBs real !ood and drin-, then prayer is our ,reath. =nd i! it is ,reath then it is #iven to us, !or in GodBs Word no one *ay ta-e a ,reath, ,ut only receive it as a #i!t. In the #arden =da* received GodBs o+n ,reath in order that he *i#ht ,reathe and ,e a livin# soul. God ,reathed in, =da* ,reathed out. When 57e-iel sa+ the vision o! the $ry :ones o! Israel, God instructed hi* to call on the :reath that it *i#ht enter those li!eless ,odies and revivi!y the*. God ,reathed in, Israel ,reathed out. We *ust learn to prayer this +ay. This is +hat the services o! the Church have ,een tryin# to teach us. In our +orship +e receive GodBs ,reath, his Word, as +e hear +hat he has said to us and as +e say it ,ac- to hi* in Introit, Jyrie, Tract, and &anctus. God ,reathes in, the litur#y ,reathes out.

' =nd i! God does not ,reathe in, +e can neither inhale nor e.hale. 9or li-e a *an +ith a roc- on his chest +e do not have the po+er to dra+ in our o+n airK or rather, li-e a disoriented ocean diver +ho cannot read the la,els on her divin# tan-s, +e donBt -no+ +hat +e should ,reath. 5u#ene Peterson identi!ies the Psal*s as the place to start in his ,oo- that I have re!erred to ,e!ore, Working the "ngles# and I thin- he is ri#ht. This is ho+ Luther learned to pray in the *onastery and it al+ays stayed +ith hi*. Co*e to thin- o! us, *ost all o! the #reat pray1ers in Christian history have this relationship +ith the Psal*s. =#ain, I thin- the ans+er to recapturin# a desire to ,e constant in prayer is to ,e disciplined ,y the Church s discipline. Pray %atins or Eespers or ,oth everyday. Put it on the parish schedule and do it in the Church. This +ill help -eep you honest and it +ill also invite the con#re#ation to a ,etter devotion as +ell. I thin- this is so*ethin# +e could really learn !ro* the old =n#lican villa#e church. 9ans o! =#atha Christie -no+ ho+ o!ten %ornin# Prayer and 5venson# !i#ure into the plot. They +ere a livin# part o! parish li!e ri#ht into the *iddle ()th century. :ein# constant in prayer !or those under your pastoral care also chan#es the +ay you see your parishioners, *a-es the con!licts easier to ,ear, #ives you hu*ility, inspired patience and perspective. It really is true, you -no+, +hat the hy*n says, 3oh, +hat help +e o!ten !or!eit, oh, +hat needless pain +e ,ear.4 Preach, Teach, and Administer the Sacraments in accordance with the Scriptures and the Confessions The !irst step here, o! course, is that dili#ent study +e have already *entioned. =nd the second step is to honestly evaluate your practice. =re you ,ein# !aith!ul/ The Con!essions descri,e Churches o! the =u#s,ur# Con!ession as churches that cele,rate the Lord s &upper every Lord s $ay and on other Hi#h 9estivals. $oes that descri,e your practice/ The Con!essions say that +e are not !rivolous in our +orship and that cere*onies +e use should teach the people. When +as the last ti*e you really thou#ht a,out ho+ you conduct the $ivine &ervice, the cere*onies you use/

1) Is your practice o! ad*ittin# people to the Lord s &upper causin# a nei#h,orin# pastor #rie!/ =re you in har*ony +ith others in your circuit on this topic/ I! you *a-e a tou#h call, do you seeadvice !ro* other ,rothers, your circuit counselor, or your $P/ When +as the last ti*e you read a ,oo- a,out preachin#/ ;r even read a ser*on ,y so*eone other than yoursel!/ orgi!e the Sins of the Penitent and "e!er Di!ulge their Sins Loo- at your diary o! ,illa,le hours. Ho+ *uch o! that ti*e do you set aside !or -eepin# this vo+/ :ut, you say, no,ody +ould co*e. Ho+ do you -no+/ Have you set aside the ti*e/ Have you encoura#ed people to *a-e use o! Con!ession C =,solution/ I! you start usin# it yoursel!, you +ill reali7e 2ust +hat a ,lessin# it is and +ill +ant your con#re#ants to have access to is as +ell. #nstruct the Young and $ld in the aith I !ear that it is only the rite o! con!ir*ation and the visceral attach*ent to it a*on# our people that has saved us !ro* ourselves here. We are !orced, as it +ere, to at least -eep up +ith instructin# the youn# in the !aith. 8et I -no+ o! places +here the pastor has passed this duty o!! to a $C5 here or a vicar their. 8ou s+ore to do this. 8ou are the catechist o! the parish. 8ou pro*ised that you +ould instruct the* not oversee the instruction, ,y instruct the* yoursel!. :oth youn# and old you are to instruct ho+ does instruction o! your !loc- at lar#e +or- in your schedule/ What :i,le classes do you teach/ What part does instruction in the Christian !aith play in your preachin#/ %inister to the Sic& and Dying Ta-in# God s Word and &acra*ent to the nursin# ho*e and the hospital ,ed to the shut ins is one o! the *ost ti*e consu*in# parts o! your *inistry. Too ,ad. 8ou s+ore to do it. 8ou and not another. Havin# a deaconess or an elder visit the old ladies is nice ,ut you are supposed to *inister to the* +ith Word and &acra*ent. 8ou and not another.

11 Admonish the people to confidence in Christ and holy li!ing That s ri#ht you are to preach !aith and #ood +or-s. 8ou are not allo+ed to ,e 3+ea- on sancti!ication4 in your preachin#. 8ou s+ore that you +ould ad*onish to holy livin# alon#side preachin# !aith in Christ. Read the 5pistles. This is +hat the =postles did too. It is hard. It is di!!icult to stay on the narro+ path that runs ,et+een the ditches o! antino*ianis* and +or-s1ri#hteousness. This +ill call upon you to thin- care!ully a,out ho+ you preach and teach. Summary of the 'ows &o !ar the ordination vo+s. =nd i! you do these thin#s +ell, i! you set aside ti*e to study the &criptures and the Con!essions dili#ently, and to ,e constant in prayer, and to instruct youn# and old, and to prepare +ell !or preachin# and teachin# and ad*onishin#, and to hear con!ession, and to *inister unto the sic- and dyin#, +hat else +ill you have ti*e !or/ What else could you have ti*e !or/ =t this point you are no dou,t ready to plead the ar#u*ent o! reality6 yes, these are *y vo+s and I strive to -eep the*. :ut let s ,e realistic. I ve #ot to #o to the school ,oard *eetin#. =nd i! the ,ills are not #ettin# paid, that is a real pro,le*. =nd plans do have to ,e *ade. =nd I *ust *eet +ith the sta!!. =nd I *ust *eet +ith the co**ittees. =nd I *ust. . . Ri#ht. I #et it. I ve ,een part o! a *ultiple pastor sta!! at a ,i# church +ith a #a#iliion thin#s #oin# on and as a *any pro,le*s and crises that have to ,e handled ri#ht no+. =nd I ve ,een the only pastor at a parish stru##lin# to -eep a school open and the !unds ,alanced. =nd I ve ,een all o! that +hile ,ein# a dad and hus,and. I -no+ +hat you *ean. 8ou are pulled in too *any directions. =nd that is e.actly +hy the Church *ade you ta-e these vo+s. These are the *ost i*portant thin#s. These are the ,oundaries o! your *inistry. 8es, you +ill have to #o ,eyond the*, you +ill have to ,e a !ather to your parish, and a ,usiness *ana#er, and a 2anitor, and a hundred other thin#s. :ut you *ust -eep your vo+s in !ocus or you +ill #et lost in the +ilderness o! all these e.tracurriculars. That s +hat they are6 e.tra, ,eyond +hat you are called to do, and +hat you are called to do is all consu*in#.

1( I! the e.tras are not servin# the called duties, i! they are in !act ho##in# all the ti*e you have !or the called duties o! the *inistry, your s+orn duty, then you +ill need to chan#e, to educate your parishioners, to hold up these vo+s and say6 this is +hat I a* called to do. I! you !ollo+ the #urus !ro* =r*inian =*erican 5van#elicalis*, the &addle,ac-s, and the %ars Hills, and the so !orths and so ons, you +ill #et a di!!erent list o! thin#s to do and your schedule +ill loo- di!!erent. %any a Lutheran has ,een te*pted ,y puttin# the &hop-eeper concerns !irst and !ore*ost. =nd i! you !ollo+ the &hop-eeper ru,rics you +ill #et &hop-eeper results, I don t dou,t it. ;r at least so*e +ill. 9or the +hole &hop-eeper plan is so very pi#eonholed, li*ited in ti*e and place. We drool over one #uru or another and his &hop-eeper success6 *ore *e*,ers, ne+ ,uildin#s, no !inancial +orries. :ut I +ant one o! these &hop-eepers to co*e out to ,ac-+oods Illinois +here I currently serve, to a to+n o! 1))) and do the sa*e thin#. I +ant the* to #o to a %ississippi river to+n in southeast Io+a and sho+ *e their &hop-eeper plan. I +ant the* to #o to &t. Philip s on the southside o! Chica#o and try their polo shirts, s0uare #lasses, and +hite #uy roc- *usic in that nei#h,orhood. ;r they could #o to the isolated "e,ras-a to+n I #re+ up in I) *iles !ro* I1D) and D) *iles !ro* I1I) +ith I))) people and the lar#est to+n !or D) *iles in any direction. We -no+ intuitively and !ro* hard e.perience that their plans don t +or- here. I +as once invited to attend a con!erence called 5.cellent Catholic Parishes and 5.cellent Protestant Con#re#ations. I had a !ello+ship !ro* the 9und !or Theolo#ical 5ducation and they -indly shipped *e o!! to "e+ ;rleans to hear a #a##le o! #urus all #athered to#ether. This +as a shop o! &hop-eeper pastors and every one o! the* runnin# a top notch shop. 9inally, I rose to as- one o! the* a !ello+ !ro* an =tlanta su,ur, +hy it +as that so *any o! the #urus and he hi*sel! +ere leadin# lilly +hite con#re#ations in #ro+in# su,ur,s/ Why didn t he ta-e these techni0ues to 5ast &t. Louis or inner city =tlanta/ Why didn t he ta-e his success to +here it +as really needed/ I! he +as so #ood at *inisterin#,

1> +hy not ta-e it +here there +as very little *inisterin# to #o around/ His response +as that +hite su,ur,anites need savin# too and that these +ere the techni0ues that +or-ed !or the*. =!ter that I ,rie!ly considered !ollo+in# *y heart !or *inistry to rich people +ho o+n yachts and developin# techni0ues !or the*. . . :ut alas, I a* ,ound ,y *y ordination vo+s to *ore universal practices. 8our ordination vo+s +ill #uide you +hether your parish is lar#e or s*all, ,lac- or +hite or Hispanic, rural or ur,an or e.ur,an or su,ur,an or re#entri!ied, or anythin# else. These are truly catholic. They are not one si7ed !its all, ,ut all si7es !it the*. This can ,e seen ,y loo-in# ,ac- at the pastoral #uides o! old. ;ddly enou#h, they line up +ith the ordination vo+s. These are the ti*eless, central, all consu*in# duties o! the pastor. @ohann Gerhard identi!ies seven duties in his early 1Dth century $o%i theologi%i under the %inistry. F1H the preachin# o! the heavenly WordK F(H the ad*inistration o! the sacra*entsK F>H prayin# !or the !loc- entrusted to the*K F?H the honora,le *ana#e*ent o! their li!e and ,ehaviorK F<H the ad*inistration o! church disciplineK FAH the preservation o! the rituals o! the churchK FDH the care o! the poor and the visitation o! the sic-. Indeed, these are ri#ht out o! our (1st century ordination vo+s he only #ets *ore speci!ic a,out preachin# and ad*inisterin# the &acra*ents ,y listin# church discipline and the preservation o! the rituals o! the Church as separate ite*s. =,out a hal! century ,e!ore Gerhard, +e !ind Che*nit7 5nchiridion. I! there is one thin# I could +ant you to read a,out ,ein# a pastor, it is this ,oo-. Che*nit7 +as assi#ned the tas- o! ,ein# the Lord &uperintendent, that is, it +as his 2o, to instruct the superintendents in ho+ to e.a*ine and re#ulate the pastors under the*. This ,oo- is an e.cellent su**ation o! Lutheran theolo#y in !act lar#e chuc-s o! it +ere si*ply copy and pasted into the 9or*ula o! Concord and a spur to ,etter practice. He says that superintendents should e.a*ine their pastors accordin# to +hat is +ritten in this

1? ,oo- t+ice a yearL We are considerin# duties !or parish pastors today, ,ut that says a lot a,out +hat district presidents ou#ht to ,e doin#. When +as the last ti*e you heard o! a $P callin# up a pastor to e.a*ine the latter s theolo#y/ Well, here is Che*nit7 list !or +hat a pastor does6 (. What, then, is the o!!ice o! the *inisters o! the church/ I. To !eed the church o! God +ith the true, pure, and salutary doctrine o! the divine Word. =cts ()6(IK 5ph ?611K 1 Ptr <6( II. To ad*inister and dispense the sacra*ents o! Christ accordin# to His institution. %t. (I61'K I Co 116(> III. To ad*inister ri#htly the use o! the -eys o! the church, or o! the -in#do* o! heaven, ,y either re*ittin# or retainin# sins F%t 1A61'K @n ()6(>H, and to !ul!ill all these thin#s and the +hole *inistry Fas Paul says, ( Ti ?6<H on the ,asis o! the prescri,ed co**and, +hich the chie! &hepherd Hi*sel! has #iven His *inisters in His Word !or instruction. %t (I6(). Che*nit7 also set the e.a*ple that Gerhard +ould later !ollo+ +hen it ca*e to the pastor s duty to+ard !aith!ully leadin# the !loc- in +orship. Listen to these +ords6 3Part >. With re#ard to the doctrine concernin# ecclesiastical cere*onies F+hich +e !irst said +ould ,e the third chie! part o! this e.a*inationH, it is contained and set !orth in the church order. Pastors should also ,e e.a*ined +ith re#ard to that very doctrine, so that they *i#ht ,oth have the ri#ht understandin# o! it and ,e a,le ri#htly to e.plain it to their hearers. Li-e+ise, one should in0uire +hether and ho+ they o,serve those cere*onies. &uperintendents should also con!er +ith pastors re#ardin# *arria#e orders, incorporated in the church order, that they *i#ht have the necessary understandin# also o! the*.4 ;ur #eneration has !a*ously done a+ay +ith the notion o! church orders6 the ,oo-s that contained e.actly ho+ +orship +as to ,e conducted ,y the pastors in a #iven #eo#raphical area. This #oes a ,it ,eyond the scope o! this presentation ,ut it is +orth nothin# 2ust ho+ i*portant the !irst t+o #enerations o! Lutherans thou#ht this +as. It certainly disproves the assertion that even havin# a#reed upon rules !or +orship is unevan#elical and a#ainst the 9or*ula s Tenth article on adiaphora. Here is the *an +ho +rote that article tellin# us that all the pastors under hi* +ere re0uired to !ollo+ a church orderL What the Con!essions conde*n is statin# that *an *ade cere*onies *ay ,e re0uired !or salvation. The Con!essions do not conde*n, ,ut rather approve, ,indin# church orders on lar#e

1< #eo#raphical areas. =nd see i! you don t !ind these +ords !ro* Gerhard prophetic6 The si&th duty o! ministers o! the %hur%h in'ol'es the preser'ation o! the rites o! the %hur%h( To be sure# the institution o! those rituals pertains not only to ministers o! the %hur%h but also to the )hristian magistrate and ought to be done with the %onsensus o! the whole %hur%h( *e'ertheless# this preser'ation is %orre%tly assigned to ministers lest they either %hange or abrogate the rituals a%%epted by the publi% authority o! the %hur%h on the basis o! their personal whim( +ather# they should preser'e them to prote%t harmony and promote good order( For although %hur%h rituals by nature are adiaphora sin%e ,od-s Word neither %ommands nor !orbids them# and though they do not o! themsel'es %onstitute some portion o! di'ine worship# ne'ertheless their abrogation ought not o%%ur merely be%ause o! one party in the %hur%h( 9or t+o or three #enerations no+, your church ,ody has allo+ed one party or another to chan#e the cere*onies and orders o! +orship in the Church accordin# to the +hi* o! the pastor in this place or that. Has that pro*oted har*ony and #ood order/ Ho+ *any con#re#ations have su!!ered throu#h terri,le con!lict over this issue/ (here is )!angelism* Well, as I said that is a ,it ,esides the point F,ut 2ust a ,itH. 8our duties are descri,ed !or you very +ell in your ordination vo+s. Jeepin# up +ith the* is a !ull ti*e 2o, to say the least. They re0uire *uch !ro* you in ti*e, ener#y, and spiritual !ortitude. =nd isn t it surprisin# to us in these latter days that no +here in the vo+s, nor in Gerhard s list, nor Che*nit7 s, nor the Con!ession s is +hat +e co**only thin- o! as 5van#elis* or ;utreach/ It s 2ust not there. I thin- it is not there ,ecause +hat +e co**only thin- o! as evan#elis* is not the :i,lical picture. :ut notice ho+ +ell the ordination vo+s line up +ith our study o! the &criptures !ro* yesterday. Ho+ did the =postles *inister/ They +ent to the syna#o#ue and preached to all +ho +ould #ather there. They ad*inistered the &acra*ents, they preached, they prayed, they tau#ht the people. =nd ,ehold, the Word did its tric-. When and +here it +as pleasin# to God, !aith +as created, and

1A *ore ca*e to hear. Re*e*,er the #eo#raphy o! those ordination vo+s6 they re0uire pastors to ,e in the pulpit, in the classroo*, at the !ont, ,e!ore the altar, in the con!essional ,ooth, and in the study. =nd that is 2ust +here +e see Paul and Peter. =nd yet, the +or- o! evan#elis* #ets done. 8ou see, since they are con!ident that God has his elect +ho +ill ,e #athered, they can ,e dili#ent in study and prayer and teachin# and leave the #atherin# to God. They can catechi7e the people to ,e ready to #ive an ans+er +hen people as- the* and the Holy &pirit +ill #ather his elect throu#h the Word. ;r a#ain, thin-6 Who is your audience/ Who* do you serve/ The &hop-eeper #urus tal- a,out de*o#raphics6 -no+ your audience and acco**odate the*. :ut your audience is the elect. What dra+s the elect/ The Word o! God. &hall you *a-e your church a place +here un,elievers are co*!orta,le or +here the elect are co*!orta,le/ ;r a#ain, the shepherd *etaphor @esus calls you to ,e a pastor, one +ho tends and !eeds sheep. &heep *ultiply ,y hus,andry not *a#icK sheep *ultiply +hen sheep are cared !or, not +hen the shepherd #oes runnin# a!ter #oats and cats and tryin# to turn the* into sheep. :ut I +ant to save the rest o! this discussion !or our last hour. Then, I +ill tal- a,out ho+ I teach con#re#ations a,out evan#elis* e.actly ho+ it should ,e #one a,out.

1 Freed From the Shopkeeper's Prison How to Run a Lutheran Evangelism Program Rev. H. R. Curtis Trinity Lutheran Church Worden, IL Zion Lutheran Church Carpenter, IL Presented General Pastors Con!erence o! the "orth Re#ion o! the I" $istrict, LC%&, %ay 1', ('11. Given )hat )e have seen a*out the doctrine o! election, e+a,ple o! the -postles, and the duties o! the ,inistry as laid out in the ordination vo)s and the classic Lutheran te+ts. )hat place do evan#elis, and outreach have in the parish/ What ,a0es !or authentic Lutheran evan#elis,/ What do )e tell our people a*out this/ Ho) do )e teach the,/ 1irst an anecdote, this one !ro, ,y *rother in la) in Central IL. - pastor he 0no)s recently la,ented the !act that his 1' year old son, since he )ent to Lutheran school and has a Christian !a,ily, did not 0no) one nonChristian )ith )ho, to share the Gospel. Here )e have the ape+ o! the 1unctionally -r,inian ta0eover o! Lutheranis,. a !ather la,entin# the !act that he is *rin#in# up his child in a #ood environ,ent2 - !ather la,entin# the !act that his son is not une3ually yo0ed )ith un*elievers and that his o)n e+tended !a,ily is un3uestiona*ly Christian. I )onder, !or !ol0s o! this pastor s persuasion, is the hi#hest #oal o! a youn# person s li!e to see0 out a pa#an to ,arry/ -!ter all, )hat *etter )ay to evan#eli4e. . . This sort o! approach is *ested seen in 5ill Hy*el s Becoming a Contagious Christian. This *oo0 )as assi#ned to ,e in se,inary and #ained a lot o! traction in Lutheran circles. It is a 6li!e7style8 evan#elis, *oo0. The idea is that you loo0 !or opportunities to spread the Gospel throu#h the everyday relationships in your li!e. Which sounds pretty close to )hat I )ill *e advocatin# *elo). Ho)ever, Hy*els ,ust #o !urther *ecause o! his -r,inianis,. Hy*els, as all -r,inians, *elieve that ,en have !ree )ill. Thus they *elieve that conversion and salvation are to a #reat deal contin#ent on the #iven person s ,ind, and thus they *elieve that conversion is contin#ent on Christians )or0in# hard to

( convince, persuade, and ar#ue )ith non*elievers. -nd i! this is so, then the #reatest thin# you can do in li!e is convert so,e*ody. -nd thus )e learn !ro, Hy*els that )e should cultivate !riendships )ith non*elievers so that )e )ill have opportunities to convince the, into the !aith. -nd in this re#ard, he narrates !or us ho) he struc0 up a !riendship )ith an Indian ca* driver e+actly !or this purpose. 1ran0ly, this #ets 0ind o! creepy very 3uic0ly. 9ou #o out and !ind !riends :ust so you can convert the,/ Is that )hat !riendship is/ -nother popular pro#ra, !or con#re#ational evan#elis, pro#ra,s in Lutheran churches is the ;ennedy pro#ra, and the the Lutheran revision thereo!, ialogue Evangelism. I )ent throu#h this pro#ra, as a student and also tau#ht it in a parish in Chica#o. This is a very intellectual pro#ra, you learn a lot o! *i*le verses and the *asic outline o! an ar#u,ent !or the truth o! Christianity. <veryone I ve ever ,et )ho has #one throu#h the pro#ra, has said so,ethin# alon# the lines o!, 6This pro#ra, ended up *ein# a *ene!it to ,e= I learned a lot a*out ,y !aith, etc.8 In addition, in the t)o parishes I )as involved )ith throu#h this pro#ra,, the !ocus )as on visitin# those )ho had visited the church and on delin3uent ,e,*ers. The 6cold calls8 or nei#h*orhood s)eeps )ere never very ,uch !un, never led to ,any conversations. >Loo0 at the &ynod s ?( thin# here and the pro#ra,s they o!!er. . . @ "o) *oth o! these pro#ra,s, )hich )e ,i#ht call proselyti4in# pro#ra,s, are ni#h unto the 0in#do,. -s I said, )hat I )ill *e advocatin# shortly sounds a lot li0e Hy*els 6li!e style8 evan#elis, *ased on relationships. -nd, there is ,uch to *e #ained !ro, a pro#ra, li0e the ;ennedy stu!! that teaches Christians to *e a*le to e+plain the !aith !ro, the &criptures. 9et, *oth approaches share a de!ect that can *e seen *y as0in# ho) popular they are in the parishes that start the,. While the 5i*le &tudies in that lar#e parish I served in Chica#o )ould dra) in A'7B' people on a &unday the )ee0ly evan#elis, pro#ra, dre) A. Why/

C 5ecause under these -r,inian in!luenced pro#ra,s the )ei#ht o! the )orld is placed upon the people. The eternal salvation o! another hu,an *ein# rests on your shoulders. They try to use this as an induce,ent to :oin. this is the *est thin# you can do2 -nd !ol0s li0e 5ill Hy*els #et a*solutely ,onastic a*out it. all your ho**ies, all your !ree ti,e, all your e!!ort needs to #o into this. 9ou aren t even allo)ed to have real !riends. you need to #o !ind pa#ans and *e!riend the, in order to convert the,. 5ut people are not du,*. They see the do)nside. )hat i! I ,ess it up/ I! ,y actions can in!luence so,e to *e saved, then they can in!luence others to *e da,ned. I d rather stay ho,e and not scre) so,ethin# up. -#ain )e !ace that #reat irony o! La) and Gospel. The La) de,ands #ood )or0s )ith #reat threats and )ith #reat pro,ises. do this and live, don t do this and you re da,ned. -nd yet, !or that very reason the La) cannot ,otivate true #ood )or0s2 5ecause you )ill al)ays *e #oin# the, out o! the hope o! re)ard or the !ear o! punish,ent. 5ut a #ood )or0 done !or any other reason than love is no #ood )or0 at all. &o li0e)ise, the -r,inian, !ree )ill, La) *ased version o! conversion de,ands evan#elis,. We ,ust #et out there to convince people to ,a0e their decision !or Christ. -nd it precisely this sort o! rhetoric #et out there and create a 6critical event8 in the &ynod s latest evan#elis, pro#ra, that ,a0es people a!raid o! evan#elis,. What i! I ,ess up the critical event/ What i! I say so,ethin# )ron#/ What i! so,e*ody shouts at ,e/ What i! they don t )ant to listen/ It )ill all *e ,y !ault. Why should I spend another ni#ht a)ay !ro, ,y !a,ily to do that/ -nd that s )hy your evan#elis, pro#ra,s have never *een success!ul, )hy people #roan )hen they hear a*out it, and )hy you should :ust 3uit that silly #a,e. In the 1unctionally -r,inian version o! evan#elis, everyone in your co,,unity is a potential convert. I! you are persuastive enou#h, so,e )ill convert. 5ut i! none convert )ell then, you are not a success. 9ou are scre)in# up. 9ou should *e doin# *etter.

D It s li0e loo0in# !or so,ethin# you have lost, *ut you can t re,e,*er )here. &hould you loo0 in the closet or the *ase,ent/ Er did you leave it at )or0/ There is nothin# ,ore disheartenin# than loo0in# !or so,ethin# in a place )here you are not sure that it is. 9ou ,i#ht tear a*out the *ase,ent !or an hour and it :ust )on t *e there. Who )ants to *other )ith that/ 5ut i! so,e*ody tells you. I hid a present !or you in the !ront hall, everythin# is di!!erent. "o) I 0no) the pri4e is there and I #et to !ind it. "o) the searchin# is !un. I can t lose. <ven i! I have to thro) up ,y hands and say, 6I can t !ind it28 you ll :ust #o over to )here you hid and pull it out and #ive it to ,e. &o also )ith evan#elis,. Ence I 0no) that I can t scre) it up, that God has his elect and I can t snatch the, !ro, his hand, that he )or0s *y and throu#h his ,eans o! #race )hen and )here he pleases, that God has his elect in this city )ho )ill *e #athered to hi, )ell then, no) I a, set !ree. "o) it s an <aster <## hunt. God )ill ta0e care o! it. -nd, #lory o! #lories, he ,i#ht even use ,e2 1or Lutherans, there!ore, evan#elis, is hi#h re)ard and 4ero ris0. God ,ay use ,e, *ut I ll never *e a*le to scre) it up. &o, ho) to run a Lutheran evan#elis, pro#ra,/ $on t. 1ire the evan#elis, co,,ittee. $on t as0 people to co,e to church !or a ,eetin# a)ay !ro, their vocations in their !a,ilies !or another ni#ht durin# the )ee0. $on t #o )astin# your ti,e searchin# out pa#ans )ho hate your #uts and )ill thin0 a*out you 0noc0in# on your door :ust )hat you thin0 a*out %or,ons and FWs 0noc0in# on yours. -!ter all, i! )e are called to 6have a #ood reputation )ith outsiders8 I thin0 cold calls are ri#ht out. Instead, *ac0 to the vo)s, instruct *oth youn# and old. Here is ho).

Teach the, the Gospel includin# <lection. Teach the, to pray that God )ould #ather his elect around this altar. Teach the, to *e ready to #ive an ans)er and invite those )ho as0. I Peter C not %atthe) (G.

A Turn on the *eacon, the Word. ,a0e your place a place )here the elect )ill !eel at ho,e and ,a0e sure the elect no) )here to !ind you. 9ou should *e visi*le *ut visi*le )ith the una*ashed Word o! Christ. Consider this ,ailin# !ro, %etro Church in ,y nec0 o! the )oods. . .

The elect )on t care i! you have a *and, they )ill care i! you have Christ. I! so,e*ody leaves your church !or another church s *and #ood riddance. 9ou poor pastors2 9ou are :ust li0e )ives )ho #et upset )hen a hus*and leaves !or another )o,an s *i##er *oo*s. I! he s such a :er0 that all he cares a*out are *oo*s, then you don t )ant hi, around any)ay.

>-nother sort o! proselytis,. #oin# a!ter other Christians. <specially )ith our Hispanic ,issions. $oes it see, odd to you that )e are so desperate to #o out evan#eli4in# a )hole *unch o! Ro,an Catholics/ -ren t they *elievers/ 1euerhahn and *ein# a#ainst proselytis,. . . @