Grace Through the Pastor
Or
Through the Means of Grace?
By Rev. Jack Cascione

The following sentence published in an article of the Fort Wayne Seminary's October 1999 issue of Life of the World in an article titled, "Called & Ordained" by Rev. Chad Bird is troubling.

"The priestly character of the New Testament ministry is rooted in and flows from the priestly office of the One who speaks and acts through those called and ordained."

My call document states that I am called to administer the Word and Sacraments to the congregation. It never says these things come through me. They come through Christ. The Augsburg Confession states:

"Article XXIV: Of the Mass. 30] But Christ commands us, Luke 22, 19: This do in remembrance of Me; therefore the Mass was instituted that the faith of those who use the Sacrament should remember what benefits it receives through Christ, and cheer and comfort the anxious conscience."

What does the writer mean when he says "through"? The Lutheran Confessions say:

"Article XIII. (VII): Of the Number and Use of the Sacraments. 7] The adversaries understand priesthood not of the ministry of the Word, and administering the Sacraments to others,..."

In other words the correct view of the pastoral office is that the Minister administers the Word and Sacraments for the entire congregation.

The Augsburg Confession calls the Office of the Ministry the office of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacrament as follows:

"Article V: Of the Ministry. That we may obtain this faith, the Ministry of Teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted."

To further safeguard the efficacy of the Word and Sacraments independent of the men who hold the pastoral office "Article VIII: What the Church Is", states:

"...it is lawful to use Sacraments administered by evil men, according to the saying of Christ: The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat, etc. Matt. 23, 2. Both the Sacraments and Word are effectual by reason of the institution and commandment of Christ, notwithstanding they be administered by evil men.."

Again the Apology tells that the Holy Ghost works through the Word and Sacraments.

"Article XXIV (XII): Of the Mass." "And just as the Word has been given in order to excite this faith, so the Sacrament has been instituted in order that the outward appearance meeting the eyes might move the heart to believe [and strengthen faith]. For through these, namely, through Word and Sacrament, the Holy Ghost works."

The Lutheran Confessions do speak of God speaking through pastors in the same way He also speaks through whoever speaks His Word correctly, including a five-year-old girl. Five-year-old girls are precluded by God from holding the Pastoral Office but the Word can never lose its power.

"Article XIII. (VII): Of the Number and Use of the Sacraments: 11] But if ordination be understood as applying to the ministry of the Word, we are not unwilling to call ordination a sacrament. For the ministry of the Word has God's command and glorious promises, Rom. 1, 16: The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. Likewise, Is. 55, 11: So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth; it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please. 12] If ordination be understood in this way, neither will we refuse to call the imposition of hands a sacrament. For the Church has the command to appoint ministers, which should be most pleasing to us, because we know that God approves this ministry, and is present in the ministry [that God will preach and work through men and those who have been chosen by men]."

If Life of the World is saying that God speaks and acts through those called and ordained just as he speaks and acts through all Christians then the sentence in the Life of the World is correct. If Life of the World is saying that God speaks and acts through those called and ordained because they are called and ordained, then they have made the Office of the Keys the property of the Clergy and excluded the Royal Priesthood of all believers.

They used to call Martin Stephan the "Hauptgnadenmittel" or the head grace mediator. This is exactly what the pastor becomes when God speaks and acts through him because he is called and ordained.

The Office of the Ministry is to administer the Word and Sacraments on behalf of the congregation. These things already belong to the entire congregation. There is no thought of the pastor being a conduit or channel for what already belongs to the entire congregation.

Why is Fort Wayne raising the issue that God speaks and acts through those who are called and ordained when God also speaks and asks through those who are not called and ordained? In the best light they make a point with no distinction.

It would be much better if Fort Wayne promotes the Office of the Ministry instead of raising questions about whether God comes through those who are called and ordained?

The congregations are able to call and ordain their pastors. Of much greater importance to the congregations is that the Seminary has thoroughly educated their graduates in sound Christian doctrine.

Let's leave the calling and ordaining to the congregations and the preparation of pastors to the Seminary. Calling and ordaining isn't the Seminary's job, teaching and preparing graduates for the congregations is their job.

Rev. Jack Cascione is pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church (LCMS - MI) in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. He has written numerous articles for Christian News and is the author of Reclaiming the Gospel in the LCMS: How to Keep Your Congregation Lutheran. He has also written a study on the Book of Revelation called In Search of the Biblical Order.
He can be reached by email at pastorcascione@juno.com.

November 22, 1999