Limits6d: “pretense of modern science”; whither Luther Classical College?

      This concludes from Limits 6c, a 4-part appendix to the original series (Table of Contents in Part 1). — Again, as he did with Concordia–Milwaukee, Pieper highlights the limits for higher education, and why there must be these limits for a truly Christian institution. — From Der Lutheraner 65 (1909, pp. 386-387 DE [EN]:

Diverse knowledge and unique knowledge.

Address delivered at the dedication of Concordia College at 

Bronxville, N. Y., by F. Pieper. (conclusion)

But we know what they are talking about. We know that their speeches, under the pretense of modern science, lead mankind back to the time of ignorance, to the time when people did not know Christ and his sacrifice for the sin of the world, but tried in vain to reconcile God with their own works and sacrifices. These people therefore also have a completely wrong world view. They truly do not know what the world still stands for. They think that the world is still there for human genius to unfold and have an effect, for the English spirit, the German spirit, the French spirit, the Japanese spirit, but especially the American spirit to show what it is capable of. That is a completely erroneous view of the world. This is talk that belongs to the age of ignorance, but not to the twentieth century. The world is not for the purpose of people showing what they are capable of, but the world is for the purpose of people repenting and believing in Christ. As the apostle Paul testifies to the Athenians that God now commands all men to repent and that everyone should believe in Christ, and as Christ himself declares: “The gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). 

The correct worldview is therefore this: The world and all that is in the world exists only for the sake of the gospel. The world is waiting for people to repent and believe in the gospel of Christ. For the sake of the gospel, God still gives life and breath to everyone, everywhere. States still exist for the sake of the gospel: England, Germany, France, Japan, even the United States of North America. For the sake of the gospel, the sun, moon and stars still shine. For the sake of the gospel, God still gives seed and harvest and earthly goods. For the sake of the gospel, God still gives understanding and wisdom and institutions of learning. The things of the world have value in the last analysis only in that they serve the gospel of Christ. In the light of the right worldview, even educational institutions only have as much value as they directly or indirectly serve the Gospel.

This alone also gives — let us never forget it! — the value of our Concordia of Bronxville. All knowledge and all training of the spirit that is imparted here is intended to serve the Gospel directly or indirectly. Hebrew, Greek, Latin, German, English — these five languages will be taught and learned here for the service of the Gospel. O glorious Concordia! You will be a jewel in the eyes of God if you remain faithful to your destiny. Your walls will not remain forever, but will decay or sink back to nothing on the Last Day. But your fruit will remain if you have served the Gospel. Therefore all who love Christ and His Gospel should love you, Concordia of Bronxville, pray for you, care for you, give you abundantly of their earthly goods and finally receive their eternal reward of grace for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

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      What a sobering situation… Concordia–Bronxville is now gone, like several other Concordias, including Portland and Alabama. Some may attribute their demise to the changing situation, changing demographics, financial strain, etc. But with the reports of how far the teaching changed with respect to the Gospel and the Word, how can one avoid Pieper’s words above which also contained a warning, “You will be a jewel in the eyes of God if you remain faithful to your destiny”. One notices that all the "Notable alumni" who were theologians were also "Walkout" sympathizers. Did they “remain faithful”?  Far from it. — One wonders what "Notable alumni" will come out of the new Luther Classical College. May they take note of Pieper's counsel! 

     In the December 2023 issue of Ad Fontes, a monthly publication of Luther Classical College, Dr. Christian Preus stated that "the measure of our success is faithfulness to God’s Word", and that "We seek to hand this faithfulness down to the next generation." While many consider that his leadership will be enough to get this institution properly focused on the right doctrine, yet a problem exists for Dr. Preus in that he is in fellowship with LC–MS leaders and teachers whose teaching has been demonstrated to be lacking "faithfulness to God's Word", and even to the Lutheran Confessions. How does he think that he can maintain the proper focus where the Concordias of Bronxville, Portland, Alabama, Texas, also Valparaiso University have gone? Will he remain faithful to God's Word and avoid expediencies that cut corners? May God help him!