Decorah-posten og ved arnen., 1915-06-25

| NiiOhs
Let us trace our spiritual ~genealo-
gy from the men of the reformation
and from that man who is for always
the central figure therin. . . We do
assuredly find that we are the heirs
of men of faith.
They were men of faith in God as
a Savior, men of faith in the provid-
ence of God, men of faith in the
the efficient and sufficient agency for
the work of the church among men,
they were men of faith in themselves
under Gods guidance, of confidence,
where led by the spirit of God, in
their ability to understand Alright,
and rightly state the messages of
Holy Scripture.
| have read that in China our
Lutheran Church is sometimes re-
ferred to with a name, which liter
ally translated would be "the Right
ousness-by- Faith Church." a fitting
name, and a fine tribute to the central
hONtlihC vi Jul NiNSu. Dul VIC III
this country who still use our historic
name, have no reason to change, for
Luther, whose name we bear, was
first of all a man of faith in God the
Savior.
There have been dark days, days
when it would be hard to trace and
say there runs the heritage of truth"
days when a false pietism marked in
the garb of seeming righteousness
brought in the old f~orgetfulness of
God as Savior, and intruded itself
upon the church, days Of insinuating
rationalism, Of brutal denial when our
ancestry, the men of faith, would
not be found high in the university
choir and court cathedrals, but in the
lowly village pulpit and congregation.
When our Synod a dozen years ago
passed the half century mark of its
existence, it was deemed fitting and
proper that in the celebration of that
event there should be a statement of
the principles by and for which our
church stands. In the documents of
that occasion under the heading: "The
Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures CON
corning a Sinners Justification before
God" you will find a classical state
ment-a platform, which places us
| squarely in the line of succession.
Yes, we are heirs of men of faith in
that name, other than which none is
given under heaven whereby we must
be saved. . There will be tempta-
tons enough now, TO turn aside from
the paths of the fathers into the val
ley OF God-forgottcn, God-ignored,
into the lazy roads of Indifference
there will be voices famed for their
eloquence calling Ii the satanic
heresies of salvation by character
and o. by a living faith, pointing to
a pretty and lazy morality as a road
Of life. But let us remember that VIC
have another heritage coming relent-
lessly from Adam, sin and all his
host of misery, sorrow, shame, and
death stalking with the rest.
What a chapter from the book OF
heroism in this world is the II that
deals with Luther in the presence of
his enemiees. We can hardly com
prehend what it meant to live for
years under the ban of the pope
| whose Missions fervently believed that
| whose riddeth the world of such a
hereto would be doing God an honor.
The challenge of his life to all
his dangers and troubles was as his
answer to the sneering question:
But if your ruler withdraws his safe
conduct and his protection, where
will you be- Under Gods heaven
in his watchful care 49,.
If the mind OF a ready writer
among you should take as his theme,
our own Norwegian American church
pioneers, he would not be lacking
material. Much of personal heroism,
much OF trust in Gods providence is
there. What Of those early immi-
grants who came strangers to a
| strange land, what of those early
ministers who came with them into
a wilderness there to solve the prob
lens OF the church in a new environ
ment. out of their poverty to found
school and college, amidst the con
hicting impulses OF Theology to lay
deep and true the foundation in the
old way.
An have not we, even the youngest
among us neeed of a personal trust
in Gods guiding care? Have we not
Just now need of faith in Gods low
ing kindness toward his church, that
he even for us and our little Synod
will find a way out of present difficult
ties and tribulations into the light?
Such a faith and trust is ON rightful
inheritance.
Look again in the synodical reports
OF the year of jubilee and you will
fnd-as on the official milestone
deeply engraved THE Bible the Word
of God"-and the message of that
able thesis is not a mere verbal attec-
ton. but it tells the same story as the
work OF our church in public and i'll
private( in pulpit and in school, has
been telling. You will find us guilty
of that which some have been pleased
to call "%Bibliolatry." She-the church
has honored ability, il ability would
enlist itself in service. she has priced
learning, il learning would humbly
serve the word, but never has she
conceded that the word and sacra-
ments of God were not the efficient
and sufficient means for doing God,
..,-i- Ma. hoe slo t,rraj - nan