Only human admiration of a modern exegete?

What appeared to the modern individualistic pastor as a shackle of his personal freedom has proven to be precisely the most powerful protection of the congregation. It is not necessary for the pastor to inform the congregation in his exhortation on the Lord’s Supper [Abendmahlsrede] which more or less obvious hypothesis Professor so-and-so recently drew up about the Sacrament of the Altar. When that happens, it does not actually show respect for the Bible. Today, a great deal gets called respect for the Bible which in truth is only very human admiration of a modern exegete. However what is necessary is that the congregation would be led ever more deeply into the Biblical exegesis of the catechism, which is indeed the confession of the church in its most simple form, one that a seven-year-old child can grasp. One should indeed not believe that this robs the congregation of being able to understand and articulate the teaching of the Bible. Quite the opposite! The experience of the church since the days of the Reformation teaches that the congregation arises thus [via the catechism] and thus alone. This congregation can, as Luther wanted, “judge doctrine” and is capable in the strength of the universal priesthood even to help correct her pastor should he at some time fall into error. Incidentally, what church history also teaches is that the order of the clergy [Pfarrstand] was rich in creative spirits and free thinkers when its being bound to the confession was still a matter of the heart that was simply understood. The sects and the unchurchliness are what flatten people out into a homogenous mass. In the church of God there is room for diversity. For the gifts of the Holy Spirit are always diverse.

Sasse, Rundbrief 1, 1943, translated by Rachel Mumme