Pf09: Servant behaves like master; Pfaffen fall on doctrine

      This continues from Part Pf08 (Table of Contents in Part Pf01) in a series presenting C. F. W. Walther's 1874 Der Lutheraner essay on "Who are the Pfaffen?", the good and the bad. — Walther finishes a description of his fourth class, then declares that Pfaffen, with their subtle attempts to appear orthodox, usually fall regarding Christian doctrine in the long run. Luther thinks so too. — From Der Lutheraner, vol. 30 (1874), p. 52-1 to 52-2:

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Who are the Pfaffen?

[by C. F. W. Walther; Part 9]

But that all this, as I said, is something pfaffish, we see from the fact that this is also listed in God's Word as one of the characteristics of a wicked priest or Pfaffen. For so we read of the false shepherds: 

“The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.” Ezek. 34:4. “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule in their office; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” Jeremiah 5:30–31. 

It is true that it is an abomination for preachers to flatter the people and to act in a lascivious manner in order to curry their favor, but it is no less abominable when he who is supposed to be the servant and steward of the church behaves like the master of the house. [Gottesdienst]

By the way, it is rare that a preacher, in whose life and practice all kinds of pfaffish things tend to occur, should then remain completely faithful in doctrine. Not only will he not easily preach that by which he would reveal himself, he will thus “deviate” somewhat from God's Word in this respect, but, if the pfaffish sense prevails with him, God's grace and Spirit will finally depart from him completely, and he will then be intent on embellishing and justifying his Pfaffery, whether it exists in his way of life or in his official practice, by distorting God's Word, that is, by false doctrine. Luther therefore writes concerning the life of preachers: 

“If a preacher seeks honor and riches, it is impossible for him to preach or believe rightly, as the Lord Christ in John 5 also says, when he says: How can you believe, who seek honor among men? [John 5:44 ff.] He that seeketh honor in preaching, and desireth to be great and honourable and wise in the sight of the world, believeth not. If he himself is unbelieving, how can he preach rightly? He must keep silent about everything that may harm his honor and reputation with the people; and he will always mix his leprosy and poison into the wine and adulterate it; if this is the case, then the preaching ministry is not pure.” (On Matt. 21, 1538, Erlanger Ausgabe, Vol. 44, p. 266. f. [StL 7, 1080; Am. Ed. v. 68:101-102]) 

It is the same with the pfaffish ministerial practice [Amtspraxis]; an unfaithful preacher will finally try to cover it up with false doctrine, even to justify it, and finally, together with the Pharisees, make his human ordinances and commandments equal to God's commandments, even to abolish God's commandments with his human essays. Matth. 15:1–14. In this way, preachers with a pfaffish nature finally become — perfect Pfaffen.

Nor must it be thought that only those preachers are on the way to becoming Pfaffen who, from shameful [pg 52-2] motives of honor and lust for power, make their orders and commandments equal to the divine ones; no, those also belong to this category who, in their delusion, think that preachers must have this authority for the sake of the salvation of the church. [Harrison / LC–MS / Gottesdienst] Luther therefore writes on Ecclesiastes 1:14–15: 

“With these words Solomon wants to have increased the thought of the wise people when they do something without the fear of God in governing or in church matters, as first happened with some statutes under the papacy, and then say that it is truly good and well meant. For it is not always good that it is well and truly meant to help the country and its people. For what is not done by God's command and Word and in faith, even if it seems to be a good and noble idea, often turns out to be the worst and does great murderous harm” (V, 2060; not the same text in StL V, 1398)

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The "Gottesdienst" organization wants people to think that proper Liturgy will save the church, instead of doctrine. Walther calls that "delusion". — In the next Part Pf10…