Why?… is Pieper's name unknown in LC-MS? (Part 4 of 3*)

**** Today is the 95 anniversary of the passing of Dr. Franz Pieper, 

the "Twentieth Century Luther" ****

 

      Continuing from Part 2 (* from 11 years ago!) where I gloried in Pieper's (and Walther's) recounting Luther's famous "Here I Stand..." (on Scripture), I now must return back to Franz Pieper's textbook teaching presented in Part 1, a teaching that perfectly follows THE Reformer, Martin Luther. 

      Franz Pieper captures the spirit of Luther.  But I was left with nagging questions as I first read Pieper's Christian Dogmatics 30 years ago.  This is a lengthy passage from Pieper's work, and I recall reading it as I returned to my Christian faith after falling away... and I had to ask myself some sharp questions...  questions about "the training of my youth". 

      In Part 1, I published Pieper's teaching that takes all Christians back to their roots founded on the Prophets and Apostles... and through the true teachers of the Church, including Augustine, that all point us in that same direction. So as I read Pieper's work 30 years ago, I heavily marked up my copy of the English edition with notes and underlining.  And a question kept coming to my mind: "Why had I not even heard of Franz Pieper in the training of my youth?"  I had heard of "Walther"...  his name was part of the youth organization called the "Walther League", an organization that I wonder was weak at bringing Walther's teaching to the youth of the LC-MS.  The "Walther League" seemed more to follow its first leader Dr. Walter A. Maier than provide a means to learn from the Missouri Synod's first president.  Perhaps someone else could comment more on the "Walther League" than Barb Below did on the "Witness, Mercy, Life Together" blog.  I was never a member of the "Walther League", but an older brother of mine was.  And I don't remember hearing from him of learning any knowledge that he gained from Walther's writings in the "Walther League".  —  But as for hearing the name "Franz Pieper" or "Francis Pieper"?... who was he?  I do not recall ever hearing his name, let alone hearing of his teaching.  I must say that his influence was not completely gone during my confirmation training.  I vaguely recall my Pastor's teaching during confirmation classes that was largely faithful to Luther's Catechism.  And I am deeply indebted to him as I recalled my Lutheran upbringing when I returned to the Christian faith 20 years ago.

But again, why didn't Walter A. Maier or Oswald Hoffmann (speakers for The Lutheran Hour) mention Pieper?  Why wasn't there any mention of Pieper in the many issues of the Lutheran Witness that I read growing up?  Why no mention of Walther or Pieper in the Portals of Prayer booklets that were read daily for our evening devotions after supper?  During the "Rallies" put on by Oswald Hoffmann that our family attended, why no reference to Walther or Pieper?

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==>> To the Lutheran youth of today (LC-MS and otherwise):

Have you ever heard of "Franz Pieper" in your youth training?... 

Nay, I will go one step further and ask even the oldest Lutheran ADULTS of today:

Did you ever hear the name of Franz Pieper in the training of your youth?

Neither did I 60 years ago.  But why is Pieper's name so unknown? ... even though his textbook was (and is?) a standard textbook for LC-MS pastors ever since he died in 1931.  He is the chief author of the Brief Statement of 1932.  So why don't the pastors even mention his name?  They are happy to mention Wilhelm Loehe.  Many were happy to mention names like Walter A. Maier, Hermann Sasse, C. S. Lewis, etc.  So why are the names of Pieper and Walther largely ignored?  Why are their writings so scarce and so little used?

      Now I know why –  why the name of "Franz Pieper" was so hidden from the laity like me.  It was because the LC-MS that I grew up in had long before begun to leave its heritage.  It was embarrassed at him, it wanted to go in new directions, it wanted to be a part of the world, it wanted to be recognized by the world.  It had no interest in translating the German language heritage of its leaders  Only a small handful of teachers after the death of Pieper carried on his pure legacy.  And so I say that to the extent that the name of "Franz Pieper" has been buried in the LC-MS, that is just how important he is as The Teacher for the Church of Today, for he is The Twentieth Century Luther.

      And so I ask the YOUTH of today: Who would you rather have as your teacher – one who makes you a good contestant for the TV game show "Jeopardy"?... or one who best makes you wise unto salvation? 2 Tim. 3:15?

Franz Pieper, the 20th Century Luther!