A Few Responses on Voter Supremacy and Wohlrabe
Dear brother Jack,
Deo volente, we will meet. As of yet I don't recall that we have. I appreciate your perspectives presented in "Reclaim" although I sense the absence of a crucial element. In all matters, technically, our Father is the Only Supreme. Is this truly the focus of your disagreement with brother Wolrabe? The absence of Scriptural support for the arguements indicates another scource of authority, which, even if it is Luther, must be subordinate to the God and Father of our Lord Himself. The pendulum swings. From where and to where has been pointed out, but the Truth is in consensus with our benevolent Father. Consider the unspeakable joy of a congregation, Pastor included, in AGREEMENT. Jesus Himself SUBMITTED to the Father's will. This is what we must seek. i am horrified by the (to my understanding) misplaced "lord it over" attitude of a statement such as, "By the grace of God, Marbach (still under Stephan's influence on this issue) lost the debate as to whether the local congregation is the true church but, at the same time, won the battle for congregational supremacy." What difference does it make if the congregation achieves some irreverent supremacy if it ceaces to "win the battle" of remaining TRUE CHURCH? The self-sacrificing demeanor I have learned from our Lord and His servants always includes "SDG." Have the postings to "Reclaim" simply omitted that aspect of your relationship to God & His Church or am I missing it or what? An arguement without a judge will, naturally, degenerate into greater disharmony. Please call on our Reconciler in your public debate and slow the swing of the pendulum. The schisms exist already and so does the Means of healing. Matthew 13:14-15
Pastor from Iowa
Dear Pastor From Iowa:
Thank you for your reply. I fail to understand your point. Why would Voter supremacy imply that the congregation "achieves some irreverent supremacy"? Why would Voter supremacy imply that the congregation "ceases to 'win the battle' of remaining TRUE HURCH?" Aren't the clergy just as capable of irreverence and ceasing the battle for the true church or do I have to explain what is going to happen at Augsburg, Germany, on October 31, 1999, with the LWF and the Catholic Church. I would be delighted to enter into Dispute Resolution with a Reconciler who would rule on whether or not there is Voter supremacy in the LCMS. Reconcilers could be the replacement for the LCMS Convention delegates who may lean toward irreverence.
Blessings,
Pastor Cascoine
Pr. Cascione,
In his book, "Die Stephan'sche Auswanderung nach Amerika", Vehse is fond of quoting the Saxon Spener, the "father of Pietism." One wonders whether Veshe left due to slanders or to regain his position at the Royal Saxon court, since he was a friend of H.M. the King. Vehse does, however, make excellent points against the Stephanite concept of Hauptgnademittel via the Confessions and Luther's personal writings. While correctly supporting Vehse against the episcpoate of the Stephanites, perhaps you may want to keep in mind that Veshe may have has some Pietist leanings. Surprisingly, Wohlrabe hasn't mentioned Vehse'e Pietist leanings.
Layman from New Jersey
Dear Sir:
There is no question that Vehse was strongly influenced by Pietism as were all the others who migrated from Dresden in 1838 to Perry ounty. Nearly 50 years later, in his "Law and Gospel" Walther laments the influence that Pietism had on all of them. Vehse confronted Walther's error on hierarchy with Voter supremacy and Walther confronted Vehse's confusion on the hierarchy of the laity with the autonomy of the congregation. Loehe supplied nearly 200 pastors for the LCMS but broke fellowship with Missouri because it taught congregational autonomy and Voter supremacy. Today we remember Loehe's great contribution to the LCMS but we ignore the ontribution of Vehse and Marbach. In 150 years people may read about the 1990's and see how greatly we were influenced by postmodernism. Will such a revelation negate the positive contributions that were made in this era because we were consumed by postmodernism? Yes, Vehse was a pietist. The marvel of the Lutheran Confessions is that 480 years later they speak with an untainted voiced because they followed the Scriptures and not human philosophies.
Blessings,
Pastor Cascione
Dear Rev Cascione:
You might find some Eugene Klug's "Church and Ministry Helpful", here. I'm shooting off the top of my head, but I seem to recall a couple of quotes favorable to Missouri's polity by European theologians. They're in the back of his book. I assume you've got it? What I seem to remember is a quote where the respondent stated that Walther successfully navigated between a low-church and high-church polity. It may armor you against Wohlrabe's thrust and Hyper-Euro's parry.
Regards,
Texas Layman
October 25, 1999