Spring Grove Lutheran Church

Houston County, Minnesota

May 25 - June 1, 1881

To the Synod of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America!

Dear brethren in the Lord! Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord!

Psalm 25, verses 4 and 5, says: “Show your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me: for you are the God of my salvation; on you do I wait all the day.” With this prayer to the God of our salvation we meet today as we bid one another welcome to our nineteenth regular joint synod meeting with sincere thanks to God. We have only the grace of God to thank for it that this can occur in these last evil times. We will surely all acknowledge that. This grace is to be praised all the more because we know the evil foe had readily prevented our coming together had he been able. That God will be with us and in us and bless our work with his grace are the things for which we ought all call upon him humbly with prayer and supplication now and all the time we are together, the more anxious the concern of us all is that it truly might succeed and the more genuinely we acknowledge in this hour that it depends solely on the grace of God which works in us both to will and to do.

Our synod certainly has always been beset with cunning and violent attacks. The foe has taken special pleasure in getting our synod divided and ruined. Why? Because in his great grace God has entrusted his Word of truth to it. Surely the more we have striven through this same grace - even if in great weakness - to confess this truth, surely the more we have sought to hold Jesus’ “pure doctrine” in esteem and honor and let it appear clearly in our lives, the more he has fumed and raged and stirred up storms and waves against the little ship of our church so that he could completely crush it. So far, however, God be praised, he has not succeeded! For the fortunate outcome of this struggle as well as for the confessional position which our synod has taken in the course of the years, its love and zeal for the pure doctrine of the Word of God which we have inherited from the fathers of the Reformation, we have essentially to thank, as every man among us knows, next to the grace of God, the Missouri Synod and the man whom God has let be its leader for over a generation. And surely, the more people from various sides and for varying reasons are now seeking to awaken ill-will against these builders and defenders of the Lutheran Church and the faith in these western regions, the more proper it is for us to remember with gratitude all their devoted love toward our synod , and above all the richer acknowledgement of the truth and the encouragement to richer use of it for a sound congregational life and true Christian life of which God has allowed us to be partakers through them.

I especially want to call attention to some basic truths for whose preservation and carrying out, both in theory and in practice, Dr. Walther, together with the whole Missouri Synod, has lifted the banner and fought with unshaken faithfulness, namely, the freedom of a Christian man and a Christian congregation, the universality of divine grace and the total depravity of the natural man and his inability to cooperate in any way whatsoever in his conversion.

Of what importance their testimony has been for our holding fast to these basic truths and our continuance in them in our synod’s fight over the Gospel, absolution and justification, among other things, and through it also for our abiding in the truth of the Word of God in these doctrinal points, I need not explain further here. If we also hold fast to these basic truths in the future, then we surely shall not go astray in the fight which may be imminent, but we will continue in the truth and emerge from the controversy victorious. ²²

Through the discussion of the agenda proposed by the Church Council we will again get a good opportunity to deepen ourselves in the consideration of the two basic truths which I mentioned last and to acknowledge to our profound humiliation that in regard to spiritual things we are nothing and can do nothing of ourselves, that to us belongs only confusion of face but that all glory and praise are due to the grace of God alone.

On the whole, however, it has been more quiet with the fight with the other Norwegian church bodies in this country. Naturally, in saying that, I am paying no attention at all to all the scornful words with which people have been pleased to bespatter our synod and various of its members in certain newspapers. From the fact that they have, however, never yet wanted to engage in an orderly discussion with us, but pull back as often as their errors and untruths are pointed out to them, our Kirketidende has for the most part in recent issues chosen the only reasonable course - to let them revile, but be silent itself. Even if they now have been untiring in catering to their readers with such articles spiced with hollow phrases about “the instruction of children,” ‘free congregations,” in a free fellowship, “congregational rule,” etc., yet few conferences of the various members of the synod have been able to proceed unaffected by them and it seems in any case as if a better understanding and progress in important points has been reached here and there. It is, of course, also the old experience that the truth still breaks through eventually and all the righteous accept it. No large joint free conferences have been held during this triennium. But when the president of the Minnesota District, following the close of the last synod convention, in accordance with its resolution took the opportunity of communicating with the presidents of the various church bodies, they agreed to issue invitations to a general free conference for the 24^th of June and the days following. It is to be hoped that it shall neither be hindered by nor interfered with by violent attacks against it and those people who have been invited, but that God will permit us to meet in the honest attempt to further the glory of God and build the Lutheran Church among us on the ground of truth.

But if it has been comparatively peaceful outwardly, yet our church body has, however, unfortunately lived to see such sorrows during this triennium as never before, and that chiefly through disunity in doctrine.

Surely the pain has been felt deeply round about among us because of it, and while our ecclesiastical opponents, together with the world, heaped scorn and ridicule upon us because of these things, thousands of sighs and prayers were offered that our loving God who had permitted the evil foe to sow his seeds in the garden of his church would also help his poor church to remove the offence and prevent the seed of dissension from taking deeper roots and spreading further.

In the face of such facts it behooves us when we are meeting now as the representatives of our synod to weight its plight and to deliberate on the means for its upbuilding, with shame and blushing also humble ourselves before our Lord and God in acknowledgement of the fact that it is because of our sins that he has laid his hand heavily upon us.

He has thus far preserved his Word pure among us. He has let the rivers of his Gospel flow liberally to the refreshment and healing of all the sick and wounded. But, oh, how much indifference to the Word and to letting its power appear in a holy life, how much surfeit and sluggishness has he not had to be a witness to among us! How much false and habit-Christianity has he not become aware of in us! How little is there, at any rate in a large portion of our older congregations, as things stand, of the zeal for searching into the Word of God, of the willingness to sacrifice time and money so that the kingdom of God can be built up and preserved among us, as so often we could rejoice over seeing in the first days of our synod!

How does not indifference for the Christian instruction and upbringing of the children grow, just as though it is enough that we have good textbooks!

Our loving God had to wake us up in this way so that we should better perceive his grace, use it more faithfully to our own and others’ edification and more diligently thank him in a godly life.

In his wisdom he has allowed these tribulations to come upon us and allowed this new doctrinal controversy to arise in order to lead us back to the source of all true wisdom, so that we should seek light, life and salvation in the words of Scripture.

Oh, that it then, my brethren, may not apply to us now as it did earlier to Israel, “I smote them, but they did not feel it!” That would certainly be the worst thing of all. Then there surely were no longer any hope of rescue. No, let us examine ourselves. Let all proud, willful thoughts depart. Let us humble ourselves before God and men, repent of our sins and with earnest prayer turn to God and say with the psalmist, “LORD, let me know your ways and teach me your truths, lead me in your truth and teach me, because you are the God of my salvation. I wait on you all the day,” Psalm 25:4.5. Even now he is still God, the Strong One, the Mighty One, the Gracious One, our tender-hearted Father who chastises those whom he loves, who with each of his blows has thoughts of peace for us. Therefore, only be comforted, my heart, do not lose heart! Let us not give up hope or cast away courage, but with the singer say “I wait on you all the day!” Certainly he will not forsake us or abandon us, but he is still with us in his Word to comfort as to chastise , to exalt, as to humble.

Let us therefore hold his Word in high esteem and honor. Let us, as we have learned in our Catechism, sigh to God for the Holy Spirit’s enlightening and read it with devotion and a willing intent to live according to the Word! Surely the Lord shall then show us his ways and teach us his paths so that Satan shall not succeed in enticing us out on the broad way of sin to our common offence. Then shall he also cause us to advance in his truth and himself teach us. And then shall the cunning foe neither succeed in entangling us in the net of error nor leading us away from the simple truth which is revealed to us by God in the Holy Scriptures and which was confessed by our faithful fathers in the Confessions of our Lutheran Church. And brethren! what an excellent treasure the fathers have left us in these writings, as though God has wanted to remind us through the triple jubilee festival in which we celebrated the coming into existence of Luther’s Small Catechism and the Augsburg Confession 350 years ago and the gathering of all the Confessions of the Lutheran Church into the Book of Concord which took place 50 years later. In them our faithful fathers have laid down their simple confession of the divine truth and as such we ought to hold them in esteem because they are thoroughly in agreement with the revealed Word of God in the Holy Scriptures.

Through a new edition of The Book of Concord last year’s synod meetings/district conventions hoped to give support so that the excellent treasures which are contained in it would become more generally disseminated, known and loved in our congregations. And truly, if our congregations become properly familiar with this treasure chest of simple, edifying knowledge unto salvation, then we shall find that in these writings the Lord has also given us - the laity as well as the clergy - a powerful aid to “showing us his ways and teaching us his paths, to leading us in his truth and teaching us.” At the very least, the children of the Lutheran Church should not then remain in uncertainty about what is Lutheran doctrine and what is not.

Yes, it is as though the Lord, through these jubilee festivals just now, has wanted to point to this excellent armory in order that we should seek a defense there also in the doctrinal controversy which has recently broken out, and take up weapons against the invading errors of whatever nature they might be. Because therein, must, however, all those who want to be Lutherans also agree that what the 11^th Article of the Formula of Concord teaches about “God’s Eternal Foreknowledge and Election” is what the Lutheran Church confesses as the teaching of the Word of God on this point.

However, my brethren, if there is going to be talk among us of a more general knowledge and a more diligent use on the part of the congregations of these Confessions of the church for their edification and strengthening in the faith of the father as well as for a rebuttal and defense against errors and false spirits, then a good foundation must be laid for it in the congregations, above all through a thorough Catechism instruction! But this is obtained, as conditions now exist, essentially through Christian schools where the Word of God rules and permeates the whole instruction and the entire discipline.

And here I have come to undoubtedly the sorest point in our synod’s history and the weakest side of our synodical life. There is nothing of which the complaints of the pastors in the various districts are more unanimous and eloquent than about the sorrowful condition of education. If the instruction in the home had been carried out with the carefulness with which it ought to have been, the situation would be far from as bad and the damage from the lack of Christian schools not as great as it now is. But the neglect of the parents toward it in the home makes the situation, as it exists, even more critical and dangerous.

That is to say, that while in many places there are a few parochial schools, in other places there are none, so that the largest majority of the children of our Christian congregations are either entirely or to a large degree exposed to the ruinous influence of the worldly spirit which as a rule must prevail in the religionless state schools. In vain shall a person be able to find in the earlier history of the church a phenomenon like this which our times have to exhibit, that Christian parents and congregations entrust their children’s upbringing to teachers without regard to whether they are heathen or Christians. It is unbelief and materialism we have to thank for this so-highly-praised educational system which has come into vogue in our days. It appears far too obvious that through the establishment of such a system, it will be able to indoctrinate our children with its leaven most easily, bring on the fall of our posterity from the faith, and make them its slaves. And it is the indifference of Christians who willingly hand their offspring to this Moloch of our time. It has, however, been the desire of Christian missionaries, as much as possible, to rescue the baptized children of the heathen from the heathen influence and in that way secure for them a thoroughly Christian upbringing. Also in our days when out of hatred for Christianity or in the misconception of its power and from a misunderstood concern for its own welfare through coercive laws, the state wants to take the whole upbringing of the children into its hands, we see zealous Christians, for example, in Holland, Germany and Australia, ready either to sacrifice everything, yes, even to go into exile rather than to abandon their children to the world at such a price.

Also in our country, because of the sorrowful experiences of the fall from Christianity and the demoralization of the growing generation, more and more powerful and weighty voices are being raised for grounding the bringing up of the children and youth on the rock-like foundation, Christianity. The General Assembly of the Episcopal Church, among others, has declared Christian parochial schools and schools of learning to be absolutely necessary if the youth are going to be spared from temporal and eternal damage.

Since my eyes have been opened to the importance of this matter and I have received the grace to see how the preservation and growth of our church, and the temporal and eternal welfare of our successors, depends upon our taking the right steps here, and earnestly caring that our children are brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, I have not been silent. I have sought to raise my weak voice on behalf of this matter as often as I have had the honor of speaking to the assembly of our congregations’ pastors and representatives. Even if I must fear that for the most part it has been a voice in the wilderness, and should this even be the last time this is granted me, I should, however, wish for myself a powerful voice in order rightly to be able to shout it into the conscience of the congregations: Who has bewitched you that you have so little concern for your own flesh and blood, and so little see and heed what is necessary for their peace and salvation! It is therefore of urgent necessity that the synod discuss this matter. It is before you in the report of the committee “On Christian Parochial Schools,” the discussion of which was postponed by the previous general convention of the synod.

But brethren! if our dear God, through these so heavy trials, could truly get our hearts to bow to him and to lead us, pastors and laity, as I said earlier, to a richer knowledge and a more sincere acceptance of his truth, to a more genuine fellowship with him and to a more faithful use of his gifts in a healthy and sound congregational life and a pious, God-fearing Christian life, then we should still praise him who smote us, notwithstanding that it is written, “Woe to him from whom offenses come.”

Chapter VII, paragraph 2 of the synod’s Constitution says: “The presidents of the districts shall, before each regular convention, submit a comparable report for the triennium to the synod’s president.” The meaning of this directive is really that through these reports the president of the synod shall be in a position to give the synod an overview of the facts and condition of the entire synod for the previous triennium and make the synod aware of what things of special importance might have taken place or because of which some measures ought to be taken. Unfortunately, only the reports of the president of the Eastern District and the president of Luther College were received in time, so that I have been able to make further use of them in the drawing up of my report. The synod is asked to take this into consideration if my report is less complete than is desirable. The district presidents complain that the pastors’ reports did not come in in the proper time.

In the following paragraphs President Preus reports on the numerical growth of the synod during the previous three years, on a number of congregations which have not joined the synod being served by pastors of the synod , reminding them of their consequent forfeiture of the right to take part in helping to determine the direction in which the synod shall go, of ordinations, retirements, and deaths among the clergy, etc.

Thus we have seen that we have much reason to be thankful because the Lord has spread the cords of our fellowship so wide. How widely our synod has also now made comparable progress in internal development is certainly difficult to determine. However, brethren, even if it is not possible to separate the tares from the wheat before the time of harvest, yet we must not forget that it is by their fruits that the trees shall be known! Wherever corrupt fruits appear, these are testimonies that Satan still holds power in the children of unbelief, or in the flesh of believers. Likewise, to the same extent that the lack of good fruits comes into view there is also a lack of the Christian life and its root, which is faith. However, we must not forget here that it is written, “Our life is hid with Christ in God,” so that the good fruits as a rule are not as easily noticed as the bad and that some of the best fruits of faith either are not seen at all by people, or, like blue anemones only gladden the nearest surroundings.

Now first, concerning the daily Christian life among us which of course forms the basis for the life of both the congregations and the synod, there is no doubt that the greatest and most and most dangerous deficiency in our Christian life, the greatest sin of omission, is to be sought in the lack of daily use of God’s Word. The instruction of the mother, which is of the greatest importance so the children may acquire the grace and growth of their Baptism, is being neglected more and more! Further, how family devotion is declining and with it the diligent and careful searching into the Word of God in order to be strengthened in the faith and to grow in the knowledge of Christ! And would not many fallings away be prevented, and how many risings of those fallen have occurred when brotherly admonition and discipline was practiced among us! We do not need to look for the sorrowful consequences of these neglects. The reports of the district presidents all complain about the thoughtlessness of the youth and their increasing indifference toward church and the Lord’s Means of Grace, and I will add: lack of true respect for the elderly and proper concern for parents weakened by age. They also complain about an earthly mind, which along with covetousness and drunkenness, is more and more on the rise in several places. Something else, which alongside that, appears to me to be the most conspicuous, is a refined worldliness combined with an aversion for the coarseness of the former days. There is a shrinking from the cross and the zealous confession of Christ but it is not ashamed of being yoked with the world and the bitterest enemies of Christ.

If we cast a glance upon congregational life, then, next to the sad state of education which was discussed earlier, we really take notice especially of the sad neglect of the Sacrament of the Altar. While church attendance taken as a whole seems to be rather good, and in some places exceptional, yet this is far from the case with attendance at the Lord’s Supper. If we start from this that those who seek the sacrament, as a rule go to communion twice a year, then the reports show that half of the synod’s members do not go to the Lord’s Table. It appears to be somewhat better in the Iowa District than in the other two. If we look at the reports for the individual congregations then we will find that there are several congregations where not more than one-fifth of the confirmed members seek God’s Table. Yes, there are congregations where this is the case with not more than one-tenth; where therefore nine-tenths of the adult members do not go to God’s Table.

It is a sad situation which not only must arouse concern, but demands prayer and work on the part of pastor and congregation. It can well be that one person or another can stay away from the Lord’s Supper for a while from dread of the unfamiliar private announcement for Communion. This, however, ought not cause a congregation to discontinue this, but rather to seek to make those who come better instructed. On the contrary, the congregation ought to see, and the synod watch over, that this so very profitable custom is kept and is introduced where it is lacking. Unfortunately, it has happened that for one reason or another private announcements have fallen into disuse in a congregation. A congregation ought not tolerate such neglect on the part of its pastor. “Finally, the church,” the Smalcald Articles say. “must not allow confession or absolution to fall into disuse.”

That church discipline, especially in its final phase, cannot even be expected under such circumstances is thus reasonable. Now there can certainly be congregations which have so little service, are so lacking in comprehension and are so immature that they could not hope to see it through. But many times, ungrounded fear and lack of proper confidence in the power of the Word of God can actually have stopped even the attempt. Above all, we must not forget that this neglect is a great sin and a great offense for the individual souls and for the congregations as a whole. Therefore it behooves us that we exhort one another not to lose heart but to work in confidence in the Lord without becoming weary. The members of our congregations must also truly lay it on their hearts that even the most capable and zealous pastor cannot initiate church discipline alone.

Where the garden is not weeded diligently, weeds grow. When brotherly admonition and profitable church discipline are neglected, gossip, slander and judging take their place. I fear that there is altogether too much of this weed also in our congregations. Yes, many people are not even bashful about trumpeting the frailties of brethren and scandals in the congregation to the world’s masses through the public press which naturally grabs onto such things eagerly in order to be able to make fun of them. A congregation ought not take part in such things and even less make itself guilty of it. What concern are a congregation’s internal affairs to the world and why do its children insist on meddling in the church’s affairs with their wisdom and giving their opinion of them? If a congregation cannot shine before the world as a city set on a hill by proclaiming the deeds of Christ, then, we ought not, however, spread our own disgrace and make the precious name of Christ an object of ridicule for them. The congregations’ leaders especially ought to watch themselves here about setting a bad example. If there is something to complain about, something to correct in a congregation or in the synod, and unfortunately there can be enough of such things, then let everyone do his duty with earnestness and zeal, but in a Christian way. But one does not turn, perhaps even by bypassing his own people, to the world with his complaints and proposals, to the general public, to set it in motion and to let it dominate the church and its members with its cries.

Finally, we consider the life of the fellowship within our synod and what is most closely connected with it. The purpose of our affiliation with the synod is of course to uphold and preserve the Word of God pure among us and to further the development of the Christian life especially through such mutual activities which the individual congregation cannot do as well alone. Of greatest importance in this direction are undoubtedly our educational institutions.

President Preus goes on to report on the synod’s academy, colleges and seminary; its missions in the United States, the immigrants’ mission in New York City, the Negro mission in the south, and its foreign missions; then, on reports of visitations held in several congregations by the district presidents; and on other matters before directing brief attention to the Election Controversy which had recently been instigated by Professor F.A. Schmidt to which he has alluded earlier in his address. An “Explanation from the Church Council to the Synod” regarding the doctrine of election is included with his report. After expressing his appreciation to the synod’s members for the confidence and cooperation shown him as president, Preus closes with:

And with this be the synod and its work commended to the Lord and his grace! May his blessings be upon our work, that it truly may succeed!

22 A reference to the Election Controversy which shook the Synod so violently in the 1880s.