LETTERS: REAL UNITY RELIES ON GOD'S WORD

To the editor:

In the past few days, much publicity has been given to the recently adopted policy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which approved "full communion" with the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ and the Reformed Church in America.

The impression might be left that the position of the ELCA is representative of all Lutheranism. In fairness to confessional Lutheranism, the undersigned feel it is necessary to inform the public that such is not the case.

The president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Dr. A.L. Barry, said that he regretted the pact of the ELCA with these other Protestant church bodies since their teachings on the Lord's Supper are not in agreement with Scripture and the confessional position of the Lutheran church as stated in the "Book of Concord."

In fact, Dr. Barry addressed the assembled convention of the ELCA before the vote was taken and encouraged them not to pass this policy, because it diverged from the position of Scripture and the Lutheran confessions.

Based on Scripture and the Lutheran confessions, the congregations of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod continue to hold the position that there must be doctrinal agreement on Christian teaching before we can enter into full pulpit and communion fellowship with another church body.

Also, in newspaper reports Aug. 20 reference was made about the ELCA and the Roman Catholic Church reaching agreement on the doctrine of justification.

When it comes to this central doctrine of the Christian faith, namely the doctrine that sinful mankind is saved only by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ without any personal merit, Dr. Barry stated that vague formulations do not remove the differences that still exist on the basis of God's word. The undersigned realize that it is impossible to reconcile the teaching of the Council of Trent, Session VI, Canon 12 with what Scripture and the Lutheran confessions teach. The Council of Trent, Session VI, Canon 12 states: "If anyone saith that justifying faith is nothing else but confidence in the divine mercy which remits sins for Christ's sake or that this confidence alone is that whereby we are justified, let him be anathema."

The Bible teaches: "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." -- Romans 3:28. Again, the Bible teaches: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast." -- Ephesians 2:8-9.

In accordance with Scripture, our Lutheran confessions teach: "Faith justifies, not for this cause and reason that it is so good a work and so fair a virtue, but because it lays hold of and accepts the merits of Christ in the promise of the Holy Gospel." -- Formula of Concord, Article III, 13, Triglot, p. 919.

We are delighted to see that Christian church bodies are involved in theological dialogue. Such discussion should always be welcome as an opportunity to confess our faith. We always rejoice when "unity" is reached among church bodies -- a "unity" that is based on true agreement on the basis of God's word.

However, we are saddened by this move on the part of church bodies to "agree to disagree" for the sake of "outward unity" when Scripture itself is not "the rule that rules" all teaching.

Anyone interested in learning more about the teachings of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod may contact anyone of the undersigned.

The REV. DAVID V. DISSEN and VICAR SCOTT PERRY

Trinity Lutheran Church

Cape Girardeau

The REV. DAVID JOHNSON and the REV. ROBERT HENRICHS

St. Paul Lutheran Church

Jackson

The REV. LEE CULLEN

Christ Lutheran Church

Gordonville