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5. Luther Taught That
Households Should Govern The Church.
By: Rev. Jack Cascione |
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In America the State has no authority in church Government. Therefore,
Walther simply moved to a two-tiered instead of a three-tiered society for
the kingdom on the right, namely an assembly of divinely instituted
housefather/voters governing the congregation.
In practical terms, many of the LCMS clergy have rebelled against the
authority of the home over the local congregation as originally taught by
Luther and Walther.
In this respect, the current advocates of the Church Growth Movement, PLI,
CEO/pastors, and Leadership Training, and those who advocate a return to
pre-Walther-19th century-European-Lutheran-Episcopal-hierarchy have all
abandoned Luther.
Luther claims that the lay people have authority to govern the church as
follows: "For when our Savior Christ says, 'Tell it to the church,' He
by these words commands the church to be the supreme judge. From this
it follows that not only one state, namely that of the bishops, but also
other pious and learned persons from all states are to be appointed as
judges and have decisive votes." ("Church and Ministry"
C.F.W. Walther, Luther St. Louis Ed, 17:1159 1851, CPH 1987, -page 343)
Luther knew there is a little Pope in all of us. We only have to look
at the CTCR document, "Women in the Church," to reasonably assume
that the CTCR's goal is the eventual Synodical control of congregational
property. The CTCR throws Luther out the door with the following
quotations:
"...the pastoral office has oversight from God over the congregation,
the household of God. . . " (p. 41)
"Since a 'headship' over the congregation is exercised through these
functions unique to the office of the public ministry, . . ." (p. 42).
For Luther, the "household of God" was under the authority of the
home.
Luther repeatedly speaks about the excellent way Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, Judah, and Joseph ruled their homes, their household churches, and
led the worship as illustrated in the following quotation: "What
beautiful, fraternal love there was in the household church of Jacob
together with the excellent discipline of the patriarchs when the older
patriarch Isaac was still living with Jacob!" (LW6:325)
Luther claimed it is the Cains, Hams, Ishmaels, Esaus, Simeons and Levis
that are always usurping authority in the saintly household churches and
introducing new forms of worship. Luther wonders if Christ will give
them a spirit like the swine that ran over the cliff.
Luther speaks positively about household churches, small congregations, and
small regions of congregations, owned and controlled by homes, cities, and
small towns. He saw small regional churches as the ideal alternative
to the corruption and abuse of power he experienced his entire life at the
hands of the Catholic Church.
Luther lived and died a revolutionary. He never gives directions or
plans for the administration and organization of a grand, nationwide
Lutheran Church of Germany such as the LCG.
Not once in the eight volumes of his Genesis Commentary does Luther praise
or ask for God's blessing for a nationwide church body. Such a church
body, in his opinion, would just be another opportunity for corruption in
the hands of people whose flesh is always tempted.
Unlike Walther, Luther, in a different time and place, would not have tried
to unite a nationwide, centrally headquartered church body like the LCMS.
Luther wanted seminaries and universities that supplied pastors, but each
family, region, city, local government, and congregation was to carry on
with the work of the church in their location like those ideal household
churches of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Luther loves to repeat the mantra of "household, state and
church." The household is above the state and church. These
are just few of the quotations that emphasize his ideal of local government
by families.
"God has appointed three social classes to which he has given the
command not to let sins go unpunished. The first is that of the parents, who
should maintain strict discipline in their house when ruling the domestics
and the children. The second is the government, for the officers of the
state bear the sword for the purpose of coercing the obstinate and remiss by
means of their power of discipline. The third is that of the church, which
governs by the Word." LW3:279
"This evil is also to be found in the household, in the state, and in
the church. Those who have sinned excuse themselves and do not acknowledge
their sin." LW3:61
"A monk, of course, leads a more burdensome life and wears more sordid
garments; but that he serves God-this he will nevermore be able to say
truthfully, as can those who serve the household, the state, or the
church." LW3:218
"These, then, are the three hierarchies we often inculcate, namely, the
household, the government, and the priesthood, or the home, the state, and
the church." LW5:139
These, then, are the three hierarchies we often inculcate, namely, the
household, the government, and the priesthood, or the home, the state, and
the church. LW5:139
For you will be assailed in the household, in the state, and in the church.
LW:5:142
Jacob has obtained the blessing that concerned the household, the state, and
the church. LW5:160
"We know that there are three estates in this life: the household, the
state, and the church." LW7:312
"The examples of the fathers, the prophets, and the apostles should be
shown to them. These men did not despise the household, the state, and the church."
LW7:312
"But someone else, who lives without the Spirit and faith and does not
fear God, is puffed up by his own righteousness and sanctity, chooses grand
works, and shrinks from these games and works of saints because they are too
civic, carnal, and secular. He shuns household affairs, the state, and the
church, lives as a celibate, tortures and kills his body, and finally tries
to escape the sight of all creatures." LW7:366
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April 9, 2003 |