Convention Greetings

On July 27 I brought greetings to the convention of the International Lutheran Laymen's League on behalf of President Harrison and my role as LCMS Liaison to the LLL Board of Directors.

I am privileged to bring you greetings this afternoon from President Matthew Harrison and the six thousand plus congregations of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.  He regrets not being with you today, but after thirty-five LCMS District conventions with some twenty-five in June and July, he has been busy.  The mayor of Saskatoon mentioned his American “cousins” in his welcome this morning. I am one of those returned home.  My grandmother was born in Blind River, Ontario.  I have several generations of French-Canadian ancestry in m family tree. My family roots go further back in Canada than in the United States.

Since 1917 the International Lutheran Laymen’s League has been a vital partner with the Synod as one of its two auxiliaries.  Bringing Christ to the nations and the nations to the church remains the mission of Lutheran Hour Ministries through its signature broadcast under its dynamic speaker Greg Seltz.

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised.  What was said of the British Empire at its zenith can be said of the Holy Christian Church and Lutheran Hour Ministries.  The sun never sets on the work of the International LLL. Lutheran Hour Ministries serves worldwide with offices on six continents. The twenty-first century is shaping up to be the one where the global south receives the Gospel with joy and gladness.  The southern hemisphere shows tremendous potential for the Christian church in the coming decades. Walk the streets of Saskatoon and visit its stores and eateries.  The world is coming to Canada too.

North America remains a challenging mission field.  No county in the United States has shown growth regarding the percentage of Christians to population in the last twenty years.  Apathy and apostasy are real barriers to the Gospel.  Cafeteria style spirituality where individuals select parts of various beliefs that appeals to them undermine the church’s catechetical efforts.  Still, the words of Jesus remain true.  He builds His church and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it.  The Holy Spirit brings people to faith where and when He will in those who hear the Gospel.

Lutheran Hour Ministries is an evangelistic arm of the Synod. The materials are excellent and award winning.  Encourage your pastors to take a new look at LHM publications and productions as tools for local ministry.  From its inception the Church has grown from faith to faith, person to person, an individual at a time repenting of their sins and being born from above through baptismal waters. LHM materials can be a catalyst for this to begin and for a person to be assimilated into the church.

It is easy to lament the decline of Christianity, and well we should.  However, this is not a time to wring our hands, weep and abandon the faith as irrelevant.  Jesus, the great I AM is always relevant, always practical, always appropriate for any situation or circumstance.  Neither the Church nor its auxiliaries will benefit from jettisoning the faith once delivered to the saints.  No, the preaching of the Word, the clear, consistent proclamation of the truth is needed more than ever.  The grass withers and the flowers fall but the Word of the Lord endures forever.  This is the Word that has been preached to you.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  He is the name above all names and the only name under heaven by which we must be saved.  The LCMS, the LCC and LLL/LHM will never go wrong in bringing Christ to the nations and the nations to the church.  From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised.  So shall it be eternally.  Thank you for your partnership in His mission. May the Lord bless our work together in His name.

The Prophet's Call

The following was presented at the International Center of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod on  Tuesday, July 17, 2012.  The text is from Amos 7:7-15.


The prophet’s task has never been simple.  An eloquent expression of it flows from the pen of Martin Franzmann: 

“Preach you the Word and plant it home

To men who like or like it not,

The Word that shall endure and stand

When flowers and men shall be forgot” (LSB 586:1). 

Amos preached to men who liked it not.  His message was one of judgment on Israel and her idolatrous worship.  When Israel split, King Jeroboam established Bethel as a shrine to keep his people from making a pilgrimage south to Jerusalem.  The northern monarchy had no problem mixing church and state.  Golden calves were erected as symbols of the deity who led them out of Egypt.  The revolt against the Lord at Sinai was renewed in Bethel.

                The prophet saw a vision of the Lord holding a plumb line in His hand.  God was placing it in the midst of His people Israel.  The false worship sponsored by the house of Jeroboam will end.  The shrines and religious high places will become desolate, the land laid waste.  Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, protests.  He does not welcome such a prophecy in his presence.  He tattles on Amos to Jeroboam the king.  Before the king can issue a reply, Amaziah tells Amos to go back home and prophesy there.  Bethel is the king’s sanctuary and it is the temple of the kingdom.  Note carefully.  It is not God’s sanctuary nor His temple but that of the earthly ruler and his line.  Playing church is not being church.  God’s judgment falls on impostors and personal kingdom builders.

                Speaking truth to governmental leaders is never easy.  Ask President Harrison who made the good confession before Congress.  Politics and religion have clashed throughout history.  The state does not like to be told that it is in error or does not have the backing of the Almighty.  Nevertheless the Church must speak – boldly, confidently – assured that her Lord stands with those who are faithful to “the Word that shall endure and stand when flowers and men shall be forgot.”

                The evil foe is consistent with his attacks on the church throughout the ages.  If you can’t discredit the message, destroy the messenger.  Blame it on the delusions of a sinful, misguided prophet who really doesn’t know what he is saying.  Appeal to the glory of what man has built and accomplished.  Amos did not back down.  He quotes the Lord who said to him:  “Go, prophesy to My people Israel” (Amos 7:15).  Jesus commends Amos and all the faithful when He says:  Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you on My account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven (Matthew 5:11-12).  As for the church today:

                        Preach you the Word and plant it home

And never faint, the Harvest Lord

Who gave the sower seed to sow

Will watch and tend His planted Word (LSB 586:6), Amen.

Astonishing Bravery

Alban Butler's "Lives of the Saints" is a two hundred and fifty year old chronicle detailing the life and often martyrdom of over 1600 saints from the early church.  July 3 is the date that Phocas is observed.  Here is Butler's moving summation.


When a cruel persecution, probably that of Dioclesian in 303, was suddenly raised in the Church, Phocas was immediately impeached as a Christian, and such was the notoriety of his pretended crime, that the formality of a trial was superseded by the persecutors, and executioners were despatched with an order to kill him on the spot wherever they should find him. Arriving near Sinope, they would not enter the town, but stopping at his house without knowing it, at his kind invitation they took up their lodging with him. Being charmed with his courteous entertainment, they at supper disclosed to him the errand upon which they were sent, and desired him to inform them where this Phocas could be most easily met with. The servant of God, without the least surprise, told them he was well acquainted with the man, and would give them certain intelligence of him next morning. After they were retired to bed he dug a grave, prepared everything for his burial and spent the night in disposing his soul for his last hour. When it was day he went to his guests, and told them Phocas was found, and in their power whenever they pleased to apprehend him. Glad at this news, they inquired where he was. “He is here present,” said the martyr,—“I myself am the man.” Struck at his undaunted resolution, and at the composure of his mind, they stood a considerable time as if they had been motionless, nor could they at first think of imbrning their hands in the blood of a person in whom they discovered so heroic a virtue, and by whom they had been so courteously entertained. He indirectly encouraged them saying, that as for himself, he looked upon such a death as the greatest of favors, and his highest advantage. At length, recovering themselves from their surprise. they struck off his head.

Butler, A. (1903). Vol. 3: The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and Other Principal Saints (18–19). New York: P. J. Kenedy.

Lord, grant us such courage and conviction to face our own death bravely!