Sasse on "The Praying Church"

Though many of the happenings in the liturgical movement are questionable, and though the movement is often dilettante and untheological; still there lies hidden behind the movement Christendom’s deep longing to break forth from the misery into which she has fallen through the modern secularization of her life. In fact, she finds herself unable to withdraw from the necessity of larger and smaller conferences. Even as the Ancient Church had to use the methods and the communication abilities which antiquity provided—the “holy” ecumenical synod was after all originally a very profane institution—likewise the church of today must make use of the technical achievements of our time. The great August Vilmar has called them the earthly basis for our perceiving the one, holy Church.

But she must not forget where her peculiar tasks lie. Now it is true, under certain circumstances the church too can confer with the State through its Secretary for Foreign Affairs [Aussenminister]. But she must be clear on one thing. She makes no impression on the world with her resolutions, announcements, and proposals. They are all swallowed by the wastepaper baskets of governments on either side of the iron curtain. Only a few church politicians are making an impression on the world today. But this is not because they are churchmen,  it is because they are politicians. This is something the Lutheran Churches of the world still have to learn, although they might have learned it from Father Luther, who wasn’t nearly so naively unacquainted with the world as many often assert. The Lutheran Churches are still sunning themselves in the delusion that they have something to expect from the world other than the dear holy cross, which all those must carry who proclaim God’s Law and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to mankind. But this delusion will soon disappear.

Our American brethren in the faith will also learn this through painful experiences. Instead of setting up a church office in Washington, it would have been better had they equipped some place somewhere in the solitude of their immense country, where prayers would be offered day and night for their government and for the peace of the world. For the church of Christ is not a church that is always busy holding conferences, nor is she a church that does business with politicians and the press. She is ecclesia orans. And this is her main calling. Either she is ecclesia orans, as indeed she showed herself to be already in the catacombs,—or she is nothing.

Sasse, Letters to Lutheran Pastors 5.