No one can preach the Gospel more sweetly and gloriously that our dear Luther. Not only does he offer great comfort in his sermons, but he preaches in such a way as to lay hold of any doubting listener and drag him out of his doubts, compelling him to believe that he is a child of God and would die saved if he were to die that night.
Praise God, if only that testimony were given about you when you enter the ministry! Pray to God on your knees for His help in order that you may repeat Luther's confession. If only all pastors could repeat this confession, and - alas - I sadly must add: "all pastors in the Missouri Synod!" For even here [in our Synod], pastors are not all alike. Some have a legalistic tendency, which does great harm to their own soul and those of their listeners. Some do not carry out their office with genuine cheerfulness and do not make their people cheerful Christians. But that is what you will have to do to achieve wonderful results. If you preach the Gospel abundantly, you need not fear that your people will leave your church for some spiritual snake oil salesman who comes along and puts on a big show in his pulpit. Your people will say, "Our pastor gives us what we could not get anywhere else. He is a true Lutheran pastor and pours out great treasure for us every Sunday."
C.F.W. Walther
Law and Gospel (2010) p. 461
Posts
1 comments:
Thank you for sharing such wise words from Pr. Walther, encouraging all Pastors, without fear and with all joy, to confess and teach the great things God has and continues to do for us.
Post a Comment