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How the Missouri Synod is Judged in Germany Today.
[A review of an 1881 pamphlet by Pastor Rudolph Hoffmann of Germany]
By Pastor Ch. Hochstetter, Stonebridge, Canada.
In this sense the tone of lamentation [p. 32-33] in the synodical address [by Walther] at the opening of the 1878 Delegate Synod [German text, English translation (DeepL)] is to be understood, which tone Hoffmann sees as a sign of the threatening decay of our Synod. Such warnings must sound, so that we do not arrive where the United Church has long been! Meanwhile, the Election of Grace controversy that erupted soon after that synodical session and is now drawing to a close has served to show that the Missouri Synod still holds fast to the true church unity described in Article VII of the Augsburg Confession.
It is also clear from the respect with which Hoffmann writes of Missouri as a whole that the voice of the Missouri Synod has not yet faded away in Christendom. According to his writing, Hoffmann also knew about the present dispute, for he is surprised that we do not swear by the words of John Gerard in regard to the doctrine of the Election of Grace. Finally, however, he thinks that as long as the congregations bow to the Word of God, and "Walther's prudent hand" [p. 29] still holds the reins, the Missouri Synod may well remain, but it is understandable to say that the Missouri Synod sees only through two eyes, and if these close, Missouri will dissolve into general fragmentation. The latter fear is understandable in a man of the State Church, because such a man thinks that with the departure of that man another régime begins, in the manner of a change of ministers.
On the whole, however, the writer of this, as often as Hoffmann's judgment on Walther confronts him (as it has already been mentioned earlier), thinks that the latest opponents (Ohioans, Iowans), who had just set their sights on Walther, should be somewhat ashamed by the testimony of this [German] foreign stranger [Hoffmann], who after his death still has to speak of the Missourian professor with such recognition.
It seemed as if a Catilinian conspiracy was about to break out in the midst of the Synodical Conference, while younger men [Profs. F. A. Schmidt of Norwegian Synod, F. W. Stellhorn of Ohio Synod], who already hold important chairs, fired their arrows against their old teacher [Walther]; but the arrows did not hit, it seemed as if mountains wanted to give birth, it was said that the command for this dispute was from God, but behold, this work was not from God… what finally became of it? A point of defiance for some malcontent pastors, America will perhaps be enriched by a small synod! —
As far as Hoffmann's fear is concerned, we well know that the eyes of everyone, even of a dear teacher, will close once in death, until the Day of Resurrection. But the eyes of the Lord are always open and they look at the righteous! [Psalm 34:15] That is, to those who hold on to the pure Word and are not lax in the work of the LORD! The external <page 82> Missouri synodical association can dissolve what is visible, what is passing away; but the church of the Missourians cannot fall, for it is the church of which Luther said that it was founded on the Word of God, and will be renewed by the Word of God; therefore, it will be preserved by the Word of God even in this last time of sorrow. Even the gates of hell will not overpower it.
“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever.” [1 Peter 1:24-25]
- - - - - - - - - - - Continued in Part 13 - - - - - - - - - - - -
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