Cicero (and Der Lutheraner) on: Theater and Comedy (or "shame and vice")

      Following a previous quote on this subject, I discovered another pithy quote from Cicero that the Der Lutheraner editor inserted as a brief blurb, from vol. 30 (Feb. 15, 1874), p. 30:

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Theater.

 

Even the heathen Cicero mockingly exclaims to those who declared the theater to be a school of virtue, “O, the comedy, that is to me an excellent improver of life, which would not exist at all if one did not approve of shame and vice.” (The Latin reads as follows: “O praeclaram vitae emendatricem, comoediam, quae, si flagitia non probaremus, nulla esset omnino.”)

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      The "comedy" presented today by the media is only deepening our "approval of shame and vice".  And so all laws in America against shame and vice are being not only removed, but reversed! — Der Lutheraner is making the point that even unbelieving heathen can have worldly wisdom.  But in today's America, and indeed worldwide, "shame and vice" are not only promoted, but are actually taught in its universities, also according to a North Korean refugee, one who has, so far, not claimed to be a Christian: "Columbia University reminded her of the oppressive regime".

Walther on America's "Religious Freedom" for 1876: Der Lutheraner 1875

      I have blogged recently on this topic but since then discovered another notable blurb in Der Lutheraner by Walther promoting their "American Calendar for German Lutherans". Walther, the American Luther, comments on America's greatest freedom, at least as it was at its Centennial celebration, 100 years after this nation's birth – 1876.  From vol. 31 (Oct. 1, 1875), pp. 151-152: 

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American Calendar

 for

German Lutherans 

on the political jubilee year 1876.  

It gives us great pleasure to be able to inform our dear readers that our calendar for the coming year under the above title is not only already ready for dispatch, but has also succeeded in the most marvelous way.  

It was certainly a most happy thought of the tireless editor of our calendar, Director [J. C. W.] Lindemann's, to take into consideration that this next year will be the jubilee year of the United States of North America, since, as is well known, on July 4, 1876, one hundred years will have passed since the original thirteen states of the Union declared their freedom and independence. Since our calendar is not a purely political one, but is first of all intended for German Lutherans living here, the editor could certainly not choose a more suitable subject for his main topic than the one he has chosen. Above all, he reminds us of the unspeakably great benefit that everyone, and therefore also we Lutherans, enjoy in that “religious freedom” that is assured and guaranteed to all inhabitants of this country by its constitution. In the calendar for the coming year, however, Director Lindemann has by no means merely praised religious freedom, but in it he also takes us into history, and shows by means of the terrible oppressions and persecutions for the sake of religion, which occurred in [page 152]  former times both in Europe and in America, and in America how great a reason we Lutherans have, among other things, to praise and glorify God from the bottom of our hearts, to rejoice and exult that we can serve God here in a country of complete religious freedom, undisturbed and unhindered according our faith. With the utmost diligence, the most important facts from various times have been collected, the memory of which is particularly suitable to remind us what a precious good is religious freedom, under whose broad and strong shield we live here in peace. In addition, the new calendar also gives a characterization of those ecclesiastical bodies that bear the Lutheran name here, and everything that it has always given so far, the volume 1876 offers in, where possible, even greater correctness and completeness than all previous volumes. 

All who acquire and use this beautiful calendar will surely join us in blessing the dear brother Lindemann in their hearts for this new glorious gift of his faithful care for God's Kingdom and for his restless diligence in serving it.      W. [Walther] 

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      All the Fathers of this nation put together could not be more eloquent in expressing just how great America's "Freedom of Religion" was for itself and for the world, than in this blurb by the "American Luther".  Because of this (former?) American freedom, even communist China wants to be known as allowing religious freedom.  — It is hoped that there will be a followup blog post presenting Lindemann's history.  [2021-10-31: See the later series presenting the full English translation.]

Benjamin Franklin's Life – Der Lutheraner's judgment (1878)

      The American company Hobby Lobby is notable for full page nationwide newspaper advertisements on certain holidays of the year that generally promote Christianity. Recently on the American holiday of Independence Day, or the 4th of July, they published a piece entitled "One Nation Under God" and quoted various American statemen on this subject, including several Supreme Court Justices. While Hobby Lobby claims Christianity, its leaders, who have become quite wealthy, are followers of Reformed sect churches. — While surveying old issues of Der Lutheraner, I ran across a short book review of the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, a statesman of worldwide renown. Franklin was not one of those quoted in Hobby Lobby's advertisement.  From vol. 34 (April 1, 1878), p. 53:

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Benjamin Franklin's Life.

A biography of this not insignificant man in the history of our country, written by himself, has been published by Mr. Jg. Köhler in Philadelphia [WorldCat, this is a German translation “The autobiography to 1759.”]. He also sent a copy to the editor. Since Der Lutheraner is a purely religious publication, we can only speak about this book as far as it touches on religion. If we allow the book its value in other respects, if we allow that one can get to know this man and his time from it, then we cannot avoid declaring that, as far as religion is concerned, it can easily mislead those who have untrained senses. Franklin may have been an eminent practical head, a Christian he was not. He writes, for example: “I had been conscientiously and devoutly educated as a Presbyterian, and although some dogmas of that sect . . . seemed to me incomprehensible and others doubtful, and I often stayed away from the public meetings of the sect because Sunday was the day of my studies, yet I was never without some religious principles.” (p. 122.) But these principles can be subscribed to by every heathen, Jew, and Turk. He continues, “I never doubted, for example, the existence of God, never doubted that he created the world and guides it by his providence; that the most fitting service of God is to do good to men; that our souls are immortal, and that every crime has its punishment and virtue its reward, either here or hereafter.” (p. 122. 123.) He knew the Lord Jesus as Savior. He wanted to be his own Savior. He writes: “About this time I made the bold and serious resolution to strive for moral perfection. I wished to be able to live without making any mistake at any time. I wished to overcome everything that either natural inclination, habit, or society could lead me to do.” (p. 125.) In regard to humility, he had laid down the following rule: “Imitate Jesus and Socrates.” (p. 128.) Is this not appalling, that he places our Lord Jesus next to a blind pagan as a model of humility? Such harmful things occur many times. One must not be blinded by the talk of virtue. Our judgment may seem harsh to some people. But we cannot do otherwise according to God's Word. We cannot do anything against the truth. We cannot do it like the sect papers, which recommend all kinds of things, but nothing truly biblical. It is therefore highly unconscionable, indeed a disgrace, when the editor of the anabaptist “Sendbote” in the number of Jan. 2 thus judges the book: “A better guide to diligence, to perseverance in good, to thrift and honesty, yes, to all virtues which should adorn a citizen, and which are now often missed in our republic, cannot be given to the hands of the youth.” G. [Martin Günther]

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      Since I had previously read from Franklin's autobiography, I was not surprised by Guenther's review.  However I was surprised that the publisher of Franklin's autobiography (German translation) would send a copy of it to the editor of Der Lutheraner.  Lutherans and Lutheranism are not a topic of general interest in the world and are generally ignored.  You will not see true Lutheran leaders given voice on major issues of the day.  You will not see any true Lutherans portrayed in any Hollywood movies. You will see so-called "Protestant" sect preachers generally portrayed in an unfavorable light.  So in 1878 Der Lutheraner was recognized as a leading publication for German language people in America.  And we see in this review why true Lutheranism is shunned by the world, for it stands up against unbelief wherever it is portrayed, including in one of the fathers of the American nation.

Luther: Doctrine and Defense, or Lehre und Wehre

      10 years before Walther started his great theological journal Lehre und Wehre in 1855, he inserted a blurb quoting Luther's memorable saying.  From Der Lutheraner, vol. 1 (May 3, 1845), p. 72 (see also Pastor Baseley's translation here:

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Doctrine and Defense.

 

A preacher must not only feed the sheep, so that he instructs them how to be true Christians, but also ward off the wolves, so that they do not attack the sheep and lead them astray with false doctrine and lead them into error. For the devil does not rest. Now you will find many people who will suffer you to preach the Gospel, if only you do not cry out against the wolves and preach against the prelates. But though I preach rightly, and feed and teach the sheep well, yet is it not yet enough to shepherd the sheep, and keep them, lest the wolves come and lead them away again. For what is built, if I throw up stones, and watch another throw them down again? The wolf can well suffer that the sheep have good pasture; he has them the better that they are fat; but he cannot suffer that the dogs bark in hostility. — Luther. Hall. IX. 818. 19.

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      This is one of the main characteristics of both Luther and Walther that sets them apart in the Lutheran Church.  But where are the defenders today??  That is why I put out this blog, to give my faith a defense against a mad world ...

Luther's Daily Devotions for Year – Tägliche Hausandacht (Der Lutheraner, 1877)

Pastors Geo. Link, Joel Baseley

      While processing the text of Der Lutheraner, I ran across a book review of interest for today in several ways.  An extensive compilation of the sermons of Martin Luther was made for every day of the year by Pastor Georg Link (1829-1908). The excellent translator of Old Missouri works Pastor Joel Baseley prepared the English version of this book from 1884. Sadly it appears no longer to be available for purchase, but contact the seller (j_baseley@hotmail.com ) to confirm this since there is no "Out of Print" designation on his Mark V Publications website.  It has 700 pages (!).  — The book review of the first edition follows, from vol. 33, (1877) p. 184:

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Luther's Daily Home Devotions on All Days of the Church Year. Collected from Dr. Martin Luther's writings by George Link, Lutheran pastor at St. Louis, Mo. [German book here] 

Under the above title, a book has just appeared in the publishing house of our synod, which, as the reader will see, is intended to serve daily home devotions. It is true that the first and noblest book from which a Christian householder reads to his family during morning or evening devotions is and remains the Holy Scriptures themselves. But it is not only not to be rejected, but rather very good and salutary, if besides the Bible also human books are used, in which the pure doctrine of the divine Word is clearly and understandably presented and explained for the instruction and edification, for the comfort and admonition of the household. Among all human writings, however, there are none in which greater treasures of divine wisdom and knowledge are laid down, which could therefore serve better for instruction and edification than the writings of Dr. Martin Luther. In them the trumpet of heavenly truth gives such a clear sound; in them the divine law is preached with such crushing earnestness and the sweet gospel is proclaimed in such a comforting and heart-satisfying manner; in them true sanctification, divine life, is urged so powerfully: that everyone who prayerfully reads or hears them derives the greatest benefit for his soul. Should it not therefore be highly welcome to every householder if such passages from Luther's writings, which are especially suitable for reading aloud in house devotions, are offered to him collected in one book? And such a book is the above. In it, the Christian reader receives for each day of the church year a not too long and not too short reflection on a Bible verse, unabridged, without omissions and additions, in Luther's own words. Of course, in the selection of these contemplations, due consideration has been given to the order of the church year, so that the reader receives Advent contemplations during Advent, Passion devotions during Passion, and generally such passages from Luther's writings which either refer to each time of the church year, or are in some way related to the Gospels or Epistles of the church year. At the end of each reflection there is a suitable verse from a beautiful hymn, which can also be sung together. Thus, in "Luther's Home Devotions" one receives such strong food, filling the soul with heavenly joy, that one can pursue one's earthly occupation strengthened and refreshed, or confidently and cheerfully lay down one's head to rest. The dear book is therefore warmly recommended to all domestic fathers, indeed to all Lutheran Christians. We are convinced that from the devotional reading and listening to these precious reflections, each one will draw a great, salutary benefit for his faith and his life. May they therefore not be missing in any Lutheran family!

The 720-page book, beautifully and durably bound, is available for $2.50 and 20 Cts. Postage from the general agent, Mr. M. C. Barthel here. E. W. K. [Kähler?]

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Even if Pastor Baseley's book is not available in print, it remains available in Google Books for free to read HERE. (Please advise me if the reader should learn more on the status of the print version, I would then update this post.)

“Contradictions in our Lutheran doctrine.”– Luther to Melanchthon

      In the 1852 Der Lutheraner, the editor (Walther), inserted this short blurb containing Luther's comment on "our Lutheran doctrine".   From vol. 8, April 13, p. 135: 

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Contradictions in our Lutheran doctrine.

Thus Luther wrote to Melanchthon: 

“How can our doctrine appear to contain anything but vain contradictions in the eyes of the ungodly, since it demands good works and condemns them, abrogates church customs and yet retains them, honors the authorities and yet punishes them, confesses sin among the saints and yet denies it!”

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      As I pondered the truth of Luther's statement, it occurred to me that the contradictions only make sense in the light of what Walther called "The Proper Distinction of Law and Gospel".

Luther: As the Doctrine, so the Church (Der Lutheraner, 1846)

      A short blurb in Der Lutheraner quoted Luther at his best – summarizing Christianity and what it is based on.  From vol. 2, (May 30, 1846) p. 80, translation by DeepL (see also Pastor Baseley's version here):

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As is the Doctrine, so is the Church. 

It is so ordered that in the church of God there is no master, for he says, Matt. 23:8: “One is your Master, even Christ.” And in Psalm 60:8 [Luther's Bibel; or KJV Ps. 60:6] it says: “God speaks in His sanctuary,” i.e. in His church. But where man, or Satan, the devil, speaks, there is no doubt that the devil's synagogue and congregation are there. For as the Word is, so is the people, so is God, so is worship, so is faith, so is conscience, so are works, and all things with one another; so are all things done in man by the Word alone. — Luther on Ps. 8:3.

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      There is a lot of speaking by man (i.e. by Satan) in the church today, not by God and His Word. And so we see whose "church" it actually is.

Chrysostom: Fight Against Unbelievers – not with violence, but words (Der Lutheraner 1846)

      Chrysostom is a well known Church Father and the Der Lutheraner editor included a short quote from him that gives the full picture of his greatness for the Church… especially for today.  From vol. 2 (April 18, 1846), p. 68, translation by DeepL (see also Pastor Joel Baseley's translated version here:

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Fight Against Unbelievers. 

“We are led into the battlefield against the unbelievers, not to strike down those who are standing there, but to raise up those who are lying down. For this is the nature of the war we wage. He does not kill the living, but raises the dead and makes them alive, because He is full of gentleness and goodness. I do not persecute with violence but with words, not the heretic but the heresy. I do not abhor man, but I hate error; I seek to destroy it. I do not wage war with the creature, for the creature is a work of God, but I seek to amend the soul that the devil has corrupted. Thus a physician who heals a sick person does not attack the body, but the infirmity of the same, with the intention of healing it. So when I make war with the unbelievers, I do not make war with the persons, but I only want to expel the error and save them from the corruption. It is customary for me to suffer persecution, but not to persecute, to be oppressed, but not to oppress myself. Thus Christ overcame.” — Chrysostom in his Homily against the Anomœans of the year 404 according to Ch. G.

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     We see that Der Lutheraner picks the very best of the Church Fathers to showcase them, just as Martin Luther did. — And Chrysostom gives the perfect mindset for Christians today who may be tempted to pull out a sword, as the disciple Peter did (John 18:10), instead of fighting with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (Eph. 6:17).

Thinking believers? (Der Lutheraner 1849)

      Sometimes a small item in Der Lutheraner caused me to just burst out laughing when I put the German text through the online translators.  That was the case when I translated a footnote that explained the actual situation regarding a certain Protestant Newspaper. The essayist Dr. Sihler had to explain for his readers what was behind this publication. From vol. 6, (Nov. 27, 1849), p. 52 footnote (emphasis is mine):

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*) These newspapers are written “for the instruction and edification of thinking-believing (i.e. rationalistic) Christians.” But “thinking believers” are those who do not, as the Bible believers do, place reason below but above the Bible; but these ‘thinking believers’ are people who think that they believe and believe that they think.”

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     The name of C. S. Lewis immediately came to my mind as one who considered himself a leader for "thinking believers".  But as I stated previously, I came away confused in my return to my Christian faith when I turned to the writings of this scholar.  — Note well that Der Lutheraner did not eliminate thinking, a common charge by the enemies of Christianity, but only subordinates it to the authority of the Bible. And when one puts reason above the Bible, they are actually destroying it for themselves.

Truth or fiction? Rationalist and Theater (Der Lutheraner 1848)

      From a short blurb in Der Lutheraner, May 16, 1848, p 152:

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Teller               ——                   Iffland    

The difference between a rationalist church

 and a comedy house.

When the rationalist [Wilhelm Abraham] Teller once asked the theater director [August Wilhelm] Iffland in Berlin: how is it that our churches are getting emptier every day, and your theaters are getting fuller every day? – Iffland answered: that's why you give truth as fiction, and we give fiction as truth.

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      Most of the times that I research the persons referenced in Der Lutheraner I get much information from Wikipedia and other sources.  But they don't give the full story… like Der Lutheraner does.