A Fabulous Pfotenhauer Essay for an Upcoming Convention!

The Gifts of the Spirit

1903 District Address Minnesota and Dakota District

By Friedrich Pfotenhauer

Translated by Edwin Suelflow

This brief address demonstrates Pfotenhauer’s fundamental Lutheran fidelity and practical ability to bring to bear the teaching of the Word of God on “spiritual gifts” in an extremely practical way. For the Synod to prosper, and for the district convention to carry forth the work of Christ, all the gifts of the gathered were necessary. And though they varied, they all were—and remain—necessary. Every Synod convention, every district convention, every meeting in the Synod to carry out the tasks of mission and mercy before us, would benefit if this simple, brief address by Pfotenhauer were studied. More than a hundred years later, its timeliness is evident.

Translated from Fuenfzehnter Synodal-Bericht des Minnesota- und Dakota-Districts der deutschen evang.-lutherischen Synode von Missouri, Ohio und anderen Staaten, versammelt u Waconia, Minn., vom 4. bis zum 10. Juni 1903 (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1903), 6–9. —M. H.

We lift our eyes to the hills, from whence comes our help. Our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Amen. [Psalm 121:1]

Honored and beloved fathers and brothers in the Lord: By the grace of God, we have assembled once again as a Synod to spend the next eight days studying the Word of God, singing and praying, and mutually encour- aging one another to be excited about the work our dear Lord has given to His Church, especially to our district. If you ask by what rule our mutual gathering and work is to be guided, we have a clear answer in 1 Corinthians 12:7: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” Where this Scripture serves as the guiding light for a Synod, then it cannot be any other way but that these words will be an inexpressible bless- ing for all the members of the Church. So permit me, honored fathers and brothers, as we begin our deliberations, to explain these words and then apply them to ourselves.

When he writes about the gifts of the Spirit, the apostle does not mean the gifts of sanctification, which are common to all Christians without exception, and without which one cannot be or remain a Christian. Among these gifts are repentance, faith in Jesus Christ, our certainty as God’s children, the hope of eternal life, our salvation from God, etc. Rather, as the context shows, with the gifts of the Spirit, the apostle understands special gifts that the Holy Spirit bestows on the Church, sometimes in greater and sometimes in lesser manner. We are told that in apostolic times, some Christians had the gift to raise the dead, heal the sick, speak in alien tongues, interpret tongues, [and] also to reveal future matters. As a rule, these wonderful gifts are no longer present in the Church. Yet, the Holy Spirit has adorned His Church on earth with many magnificent gifts. To one He has granted the gift of a deep understanding of sacred truths. To another He has given special ability to teach the Word of God clearly and with understanding. Another has the gift of discerning false spirits. Still another has the gift to comfort and lift up those afflicted with severe trials and temptations. To others He gives the skill of governing, or a special spirit of prayer, or a willingness to give sacrificially. Others have a joyful, heroic faith. The Holy Spirit, in the distribution of these gifts, does not bestow all of them on a single person so that others receive none. Rather, everyone has been given several gifts, some more, some less, some in an illustrious manner, some in a more modest manner. The gifts of the Spirit are evident in everyone. However, all these gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to the Church are not to be an idle treasure. They are to be evident in an active practice that accomplishes a common good, that is, for the welfare and promotion of the Church, and not for self-aggrandizement or a lust to obtain power for oneself.

Now, it is easy to recognize that our Synod, by virtue of its composition and in its discussion of the forthcoming business, has a wonderful opportunity to see how the gifts of the Spirit will appear for our common use as a blessing to the entire Church. At our gathering, a large part of the orthodox [rechtglaeubigen] Church of the United States and Canada is represented. What we will talk about and discuss these days will have far-reaching significance for the development and spiritual growth of many congregations, as well as for greater mission expansion in our district.

Now then, let us assume that we have received all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to be used for our common good. If you have received from God a rich understanding of Christian doctrine, then open your mouth at the doctrinal discussions and help your brother to be- come better grounded in the Word of truth. If you have a lively, joyful attitude for the work of missions, then let your fire warm the cold and slothful among us, and with your words, stir up the assembly to ever greater diligence for the work of the Lord. If the gift of speaking in public has been denied you, but you understand how to comfort the sorrowing in private conversation, to encourage the weary, to give counsel to those who do not understand, then you will have many opportunities these days in your room or in other circumstances to do that. And if you cannot do any of that, then you have received from the Holy Spirit the gift of prayer for your brothers. Therefore, use these days to pray fervently that our heavenly Father help us to do all things well. Yes, it is true, all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are eminently practical. They serve the purpose for the Church, the Body of Christ, to be built up and its glorious goal to be carried out.

No member of Synod, whether he is a pastor, teacher, or congregation delegate, should ever think, “It is not necessary for me to be here; things will go just as well without me. I came to the Synod meeting merely to refresh myself spiritually and to let others share their thoughts with me.” Much rather, everyone should realize that he has gifts that dare not lie idle, but are demanded by the Church for its well-being and are to be in evidence these days, useful for the common good. Everyone should consider this: The Church of God is like a living body in which there are no dead parts, but every member has a special function. Just as the natural body does not function well when an ailment is present, or when its development is disturbed, or when one or the other part refuses to perform or becomes lazy in its function, so also the Church of God, if its members do not diligently use their Holy Spirit-given gifts. Paul writes thus to Timothy: “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you” (1 Timothy 4:14). “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6).

You need not be sad if you notice a lack of gifts for yourself that are evident in your brother. If your gifts do not seem to shine as bright to people as those of your brother, your gifts, nevertheless, serve the same purpose: the upbuilding and nurturing of the Christian Church. And no one has reason to exalt his gifts above his brothers, because the gifts of the brother, whether they shine as bright as his or not, they nevertheless serve just as great a need for the Church as his own. “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable” (1 Corinthians 12: 21–22).

From the example of the apostolic Church, we see how the gifts of the Spirit are different and how they are to be used for a common purpose. The congregation at Antioch had many prominent teachers; Paul and Barnabas set them apart for the service of missions. The congregation at Macedonia was lacking in earthly goods, yet [was] quite willing to give to external purposes. Their example encouraged other congregations. Paul carried the Gos- pel from city to city, but he knew that the prayers of the Christians must accompany him. For that reason he exhorted them again and again to pray that doors be opened to him.

Now then, let us care for one another and help each other with the gifts that the Lord has given to each congregation and to every individual member. And let us never forget that we are members of that Body of which Christ is the Head. Then there will be no schism among us, but we will remain in peace and of one mind. We will perform all things well and be built up and strengthened as the blessed of the Lord, endowed richly with heavenly gifts, to return home to our brothers and share with them what we have received here. Amen.

From "At Home in the House of My Fathers"