Witness, Mercy, Life Together Bible Study by Albert Collver: A Review by Robert Zagore

Pastor Robert Zagore of Trinity Lutheran Church in Traverse City, MI, wrote a book review for Logia on the Witness, Mercy, Life Together Bible Study published by CPH. Logia is a quarterly journal published by The Luther Academy. You can read about Logia here. The review is posted below but can be found at Logia's Blogia site. A special thanks to both Pastor Zagore and Logia for the book review.

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SEP• 22•11

A new Bible study and DVD presentation, Witness, Mercy, Life Together [Witness Mercy Life Together Bible Study by Albert B. Collver, Saint Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2011. 64 pages. $5.99.]

has been published as a rally-cry-educational-let’s-work-together piece by Dr. Albert Collver and the LCMS President Matthew Harrison. Many pastors who receive it in the mail will have a conditioned response, ‘we’ve seen this before.’ Every publishing house, every administration and (it seems) most pastors seek to build the church into a savvy social organization using marketing surveys, demographic insights and the effective use of technology. Slogans and catch phrases inform believers about the church’s core competencies, strategic goals, and mission. Books and “Bible Studies” show how their’s is really the Lord’s plan updated and informed by the insights of the modern mind. How strange and welcomed therefore is the new Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod theme and emphasis which is built on something altogether different. “Witness, Mercy and Life Together” is the new Synodical emphasis put forward by LCMS President Matthew Harrison and his administrative staff. The emphasis is not a focus-group-tested slogan set forth to move forward with strategic objectives. “Witness,” “Mercy,” and “Life Together” are words the Lord has spoken describing the work of His church. The church is purest and most beautiful when she is defined and described by the Lord. Through His eyes she stands as, “a radiant church without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:27). It is indescribably refreshing to the weary to hear those words applied to us. That is the point of the new study by Dr. Albert Collver, to hear what the Lord has said about His church and embrace it as a gift. From the start one can tell this theme and Bible study are much different than the usual “grow more, give more, get more” fare.

The difference becomes obvious in Lesson One, “Witness.” In the church-speak world the word witness has become shorthand for an intentional conversation by which believers help an unbeliever make a decision for Christ and therefore grow the kingdom. “Lesson One” should really be called “Round One” because Collver gently wrestles the word back to its Biblical intent, “The Lord saves souls, but He locates His saving Gospel in the Church, and He uses people within the Church as his instruments to proclaim the Gospel” (p.14). The leader’s guide, the accompanying Steven Starke hymn, and the impressive concordance of Biblical usage thoroughly equip students and leaders to complete the journey which brings the word “witness” back from Law to Gospel.

“Round Two,” builds on this gift and extends it. Throughout history, well-intented but misguided people have declared that pure doctrine and the desire to save the lost are antagonistic goals. Systematicians have sometimes made doctrine devoid of proclamation. Mysticism, pietism, the theological descendants of Dwight Moody decry doctrinal and confessional subscription as anti-missional. The LCMS is certainly no stranger to this battle. Collver however beautifully and convincingly demonstrates that these two stand together in the Lord’s church, “A witness that does not confess what Jesus taught is not a Christian witness. Likewise, a confession that does not witness is not a New Testament confession. . .Telling about Jesus and doctrine go together” (p.18). The leaders’ guide to this section is especially strong. As Collver presents a precisely written and beautiful summary of how true doctrine is manifest in Christ coming to us according to His promise—which is the only hope of the world. With very little modification the leaders’ guide could become a great Christmas sermon.

Lesson three, wrestles the word “mercy” (his translation of the Greek word diakonia) back into it’s Biblical sense, “Being rooted in the forgiveness of sins that Jesus won for us on the cross, mercy means feeding the poor, taking care of the sick, and caring for the orphans and widows. Diakonia, then is caring for our neighbor in concrete and effective ways because of what Jesus has done for us” (p.22). Collver does not speak of himself, but his experience as a parish pastor and as an executive in LCMS World Relief and Human Care fills this far-too-brief study with an authenticity and understanding that is known by one who has “done the hard work” (Proverbs 14:23).

Lesson four, “Life Together” leads through a study of the Biblical word koinonia. Once again the word is rescued and revived from its more unworthy uses. In common usage koinonia and its common translation fellowship have lost their Biblical, sacramental foundation and have come to refer to donuts. Collver’s study and leaders’ guide demonstrates with great skill that our fellowship and unity are not founded on liking each other (think of St. Paul and Barnabas), but on a doctrinal and sacramental unity that transcends men, personalities and time. If the LCMS (and any denomination) would escape their bondage to bickering and infighting it will only be as people who have a bond that is deeper than human affronts and leadership cults. “Life Together” rightly teaches Divine fellowship that flows from the Gospel as the hope and substance of churchly interaction. Reconciliation with Christ through His cross enables reconciliation with others. Individual gifts find their fruit and proper use through their incorporation in the Body of Christ.

Lesson five, “Witness, Mercy, Life Together” speaks of the history of conflict in days of the apostles. The obvious conclusion is that the unity of the church has always been under assault from without and from within. The only proper response and the only faithful response of the church is to return to the mission which can be summarized by the Bible’s words witness, mercy and life together. It is indeed commendable that the author would take this approach to a topic so important at this stage of the LCMS’s life. The approach is Biblical, evangelical and draws us to the Gospel and the need for the faithful administration of the Word and Sacraments.

The accompanying DVD shows LCMS President Harrison presenting these same doctrines in a way that is winsome, pastoral, humorous and demonstrates a tremendous grasp of the practical application of Lutheran theology. While the production quality is not wonderful, it is hard to imagine a faithful non-partisan who could fail to be edified and delighted by Harrison’s presentations.

The study is designed to be used in any adult or teen level Bible class and can be used with great profit. Pastors may find that its most enduring value will be as a “new member’s” class or a follow-up to Catechism and confirmation classes. Many congregations offer special classes for those who wish to join by transfer or reaffirmation of faith; it is hard to imagine a better study for such use.

The Bible studies, leaders’ guide and DVD are not fundraising, team building or leadership training devices that use pop psychology and marketing techniques to win hearts. They are Biblical, sacramental, genuine, doctrinally solid, studies on the nature of the Church. It is easily the most useful item to come out of the Synodical Office Building since the sainted A. L. Barry’s What About series; and in many ways, it is more important. One can pray that the Biblical emphases in these studies will come to mark President Harrison’s term of office. If so, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is entering a period of great importance in this dark and fallen world. “The world is longing for what we have,” Harrison cries out in the presentation. If the LCMS and her leaders can maintain a strong Biblical witness, shown forth in mercy and lived out in our life together, she will truly be, “a radiant church.”

Robert Zagore is Senior Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church and School, Traverse City, MI.

WMLT and Grace Lutheran Church Strasburg, IL

Witness, Mercy, Life Together Banners at Grace Lutheran

This weekend, after the Board for International Mission (BIM) meeting, my family and I traveled to Strasburg, Illinois for a mission festival at Grace Lutheran Church. The congregation is almost 115 years old. Their pastor is Michael Mohr, a former classmate of mine. It was a pleasure to be there and preach on Luke 24:48, "You are witnesses of these things." When I entered the sanctuary, I was pleasantly surprised to see see banners for Witness, Mercy, and Life Together. 

For the past four weeks, the congregation has been going through the Witness, Mercy, Life Together Bible Study published by CPH. A woman in the congregation made the banners for the promotion of Witness, Mercy, Life Together in the congregation. 

Thank you for your hospitality.

Witness Mercy Life Together Pin from CPH

Witness, Mercy, Life Together Pin

Get your own Witness, Mercy, Life Together lapel pin from Concordia Publishing House!

Only $1.75 from CPH.

Click Here for CPH's Page

Lutheran Witness: Witness, Mercy, Life Together

     Collver, A. B. (2011, January). Witness, Mercy, Life Together. Lutheran Witness, 130, No. 1, 12-15. Saint Louis, MO. Retrieved from http://www.lcms.org/pages/wPage.asp?ContentID=904&IssueID=51.


What is the purpose of the Church?

This question might provoke a variety of answers: to save the lost, to worship God, to have fellowship, to show care to the neighbor, and so on. Most Christians likely would suggest that the purpose of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost. Indeed, Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). In the Church, Jesus has promised to be in the midst of “two or three” gathered in His name (Matt. 18:20). In the Church, Jesus lets Himself be found in the Word and the Sacraments, which testify, or bear witness, to Him (1 John 5:7–8).
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus has compassion on people in need (Mark 6:34). Jesus came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). When Jesus saw people hungry or sick, He would feed and heal them. Jesus served and had mercy upon those in need.

Just before Jesus was handed over to be crucified, He prayed that the Church might be one (John 17:11, 21, 23). Jesus desired His Church to have fellowship, or to have a life together as one people, before His Father, just as He and the Father are one. God has called us into the fellowship of His Son (1 Cor. 1:9).

From the Gospels, we see that the work of Jesus was to witness, to show mercy, and to have a life together with His people. From these examples, it would seem there are several purposes of the Church, including proclamation.


Describing Our Purpose

“Witness, Mercy, Life Together—in Christ, for the Church and the World” describes what Christians as individuals—and collectively as the Church—do. Different words could be used. A slogan could be created, a program or process developed, that encompasses the work of Christians as the Church, but the Scriptures succinctly summarize this work—this purpose—as “Witness, Mercy, Life Together.”

It seems that with the election of each new Synod president there has been a new campaign, slogan, program or emphasis. Not only is this understandable, but it is one of the ways a Synod president exercises pastoral care for the church-at-large—by noting particular needs for a given time. In the past, the Missouri Synod, for example, has heard and responded to “Forward in Remembrance,” “Keep the Message Straight,” “Ablaze! ” and “One Mission, One Message, One People.” Yet, each of these programs, emphases, or themes has dealt with one or more aspects of “Witness, Mercy, Life Together.”

In light of the many challenges facing our Synod, and considering the recent discussion of how to reorganize the Synod for the most effective and efficient use of the Lord’s gifts to His Church, it is important to focus on the purpose of the Church more than the specific process of carrying out its work. Witness (martyria), Mercy (diakonia), and Life Together (koinonia) describes the purpose of the Church in a way that keeps the focus on the cross of Jesus and yet also clearly articulates the work of the Church both internally and externally.


Witness (Martyria)

The Witness (martyria) aspect of our threefold emphasis is mission and evangelism. The image for Witness depicts the cross in the center with the Greek word martyria (witness) at the bottom. Above the cross is a symbol that resembles the tongue of fire at Pentecost, or perhaps a dove or a drop of water for Baptism. Red is the color we use for Pentecost Day, ordinations, and days commemorating the martyrs of the Church, whose death testified to Jesus. Witness, mission, evangelism: All flow from the cross of Jesus.

The word that the New Testament uses for Witness (martyria) is the same word the ancient Greeks used for testimony in a courtroom. Martyria could refer either to the testimony given or to the person who gave the testimony. In this sense, a person, or his or her life, could become a witness. This Greek word also is the source of our English word martyr, someone who loses his or her life for the sake of Jesus. In fact, the death of Jesus was a witness: “For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood: these three agree” (1 John 5:7–8). After Jesus cried, “It is finished,” and gave up His Spirit (John 19:30), the soldiers pierced His side, from which flowed blood and water (John 19:34). In the next verse, John proclaims, “He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true . . . that you may also believe” (John 19:35). The testimony, or witness, of Jesus creates faith so that you may also believe. Notice that the testimony, or witness, about Jesus centers on the cross. The cross of Jesus is at the center of every witness about Him. The witness of Jesus includes not only the spoken Word but also Baptism (“the water”) and Holy Communion (the body and “the blood”). The Holy Spirit works behind the scenes, so to speak, so that we see Jesus. The witness of Jesus is connected to His cross, proclaimed through the Word and given out in the Sacraments. This is the heart and center of witness.

Martyria also can refer both to facts that a person has experienced, or knows firsthand, and to the truth. When a person bears witness to the truth, he or she is confessing. This aspect of martyria is seen in the preaching of John the Baptist. When the priests and Levites came to the Jordan River to question John the Baptist, the Gospel writer reports “the testimony of John” (John 1:19). The text continues, “He confessed [homologein], and did not deny, but confessed” (John 1:20). Here John the Baptist testified what he knew, and he confessed the truth. In the New Testament, the word for “confess” is formed from two Greek words: homo, which means “same” and logos, which means “word.” To confess is to say the same words that another testified to or bore witness about. Witness and confession go hand in hand.

Witness and confession cannot be separated from each other. The separation of witness and confession is an indication of a problem. This seems to be a tension in the Church at times. Some people focus on witnessing but seem unconcerned with how carefully that witness is spoken or if it is delivered in the way handed down to the Church through the ages. Other people seem more concerned with the articulation of the message and with the tradition in which it was given than actually witnessing to people. Each of these views indicates a distortion or a separation of witness and confession. A biblical, cross-centered witness confesses the Lord’s truth both in the Law and the Gospel. A faithful witness proclaims the harshness of the Law and identifies sin as damnable. But it also proclaims the Gospel in its fullness as the free gift of God, the forgiveness of sins, in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. A biblical, cross-centered, confession witnesses to the world. Witness, mission and evangelism go with confession. In Christ, the Lord has declared to us, “You are My witnesses” (Is. 43:12).


Mercy (Diakonia)

The image for Mercy is violet and reminds one of the penitential seasons of the Church: Advent and Lent. Those in need of mercy, help and service are often sorrowful. As in the case of Witness, the cross is at the center. Every act of mercy and service flows from the cross, where Jesus came to serve us and to give His life as a ransom. To the right of the cross is the Greek word diakonia, which in Greek literally means “service.” Mercy describes what the service delivers. To the left of the cross is a heart with a cross representing the love of Christ shown to the neighbor. The Mercy work intended here is primarily of human care for the sick, lonely, orphan, widow or widower, and so on.

The word diakonia literally means “waiting at table,” which is how it was used in Acts 6, when the apostles said, “It is not right for us to give up preaching in order to wait tables” (v. 2). In a more general sense, diakonia means “to provide for the body” or “to serve.” To the Greeks, such service was looked down upon and considered beneath dignified or noble people. Yet Jesus uses this very word of Himself: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus did not consider serving us to be beneath Him. In fact, His service is centered on His cross. Such service is motivated by genuine love; Christ’s love and mercy for us, as well as His obedience to the Father, led Him to the cross. Because of His love for us, we serve our neighbor and show mercy to him. In so doing, we
serve Christ.

In Acts 6:4, the apostles said, “We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The word ministry is also diakonia. The service of the Word refers primarily to the preaching of the Gospel, which delivers Jesus, the Bread of Life, to those who hear it. There is an overlap between Witness (martyria) and Mercy (diakonia). This overlap between Witness and Mercy is shown in our image as overlapping circles. All the areas of the Church’s life are interconnected. While each area is distinct, they also flow together with one leading to another. So, if a person goes out to witness and discovers another in need, he or she stops and shows mercy to that person. In the third century, Turtullian wrote, “‘See,’ they say, ‘how they love one another,’” (Apology, XXXIX; ANF 3, 74). This was written when the Church was struggling against the pagan world of the Roman Empire. The acts of mercy the Early Church did for one another served as a witness to the world. While human care is not the proclamation of the Gospel, it does bear witness to Christ and the love Christians have for their neighbor because of His service to us on the cross.


Life Together (Koinonia)

The image for Life Together is green, which is the color of the Church, the Pentecost season, and life. The Church’s life together is life under the cross of Jesus. Like the images for Witness and Mercy, the cross is at the center. To the upper left, the Greek word koinonia appears. Koinonia is usually translated as “fellowship.” The word fellowship is familiar to the Church. However, due to various uses of the word such as church fellowship, communion fellowship, right hand of fellowship, fellowship hall, and so on, this word might not be the best to describe the church’s life together under the cross. Life Together includes many aspects of the Church’s life: worship, church fellowship, Holy Communion, schools, universities, seminaries and more. The lower right side of the image has a chalice with grapes, recalling to mind that in the Lord’s Supper Jesus not only gives us His body and blood along with the forgiveness of sins, He also gives us a collective life together. Individual grains become one loaf. Individual members become one body with Christ as the head, guiding our Life Together.

The word for Life Together occurs less in the New Testament than either the word for Witness or Mercy. Life Together (koinonia) is somewhat abstract in Greek. In fact, the term is so broad that at times it can be challenging for us to pin it down. The word means “fellowship” or “participation.” The Christian has fellowship, participation, or Life Together with Jesus because of Jesus’ work on the cross. “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:9). The Christian has fellowship, participation, or Life Together in Communion fellowship, that is, in receiving the true body and blood of Christ in the Lord’s Supper. The Church has fellowship or a Life Together with herself and with individual members who have been made one body in Christ. Christians have fellowship, partnership, or Life Together in carrying out the Witness (martyria) and Mercy (diakonia) of the Church. As the Church lives her Life Together under the cross, opportunities for Witness and Mercy abound.


Conclusion

The Witness, Mercy, and Life Together of the Church centers on the cross of Jesus. The Church’s Witness to the world proceeds from the cross of Jesus, where He died to forgive the sins of the entire world. The Church’s work of Mercy is enabled by the cross, where Jesus showed His love for us. As He loved us, we go and love our neighbor, helping, serving, and showing mercy to them when in need. The Church’s Life Together is lived under the cross of Jesus. Each of these is held together and connected by His cross. Each overlaps and flows into the other yet retains a distinctive emphasis and purpose. The words behind Witness, Mercy, and Life Together are found throughout the Scriptures. These or similar words are used by churches throughout the world to describe the purpose of the Church. Martyria, diakonia, koinonia are ecumenical words, known by the Church worldwide.

Represented as three equal circles, they serve as a reminder that no one area should dominate the other. When Witness (martyria) is emphasized to the diminishment of the other two, the focus becomes mission, evangelism or witness without care for the neighbor or for a Life Together gathered around the Word and Sacraments. When Mercy (diakonia) is emphasized above the others, the end result is a social gospel, where feeding the poor or caring for those in need is seen as equal to or more important than the forgiveness of sins. When Life Together (koinonia) is emphasized above the others, some sort of rabid ecumenicism is
created, where the confession is lost and honest differences in the Church are no longer seen, where unity is the overarching principle. None of these three extremes represents health for the Church.

The work and life of the Church engages in Witness (martyria), Mercy (diakonia), and Life Together (koinonia) with the cross of Jesus at the center. These aspects flow into one another. One begins with Jesus, and each aspect complements and flows into the others. Jesus bore witness to His Father by going to the cross. Jesus served and showed mercy to those in need. And Jesus has called us into a Life Together with Him. As the Church lives in Christ, the Church also follows this pattern, this threefold emphasis of Witness, Mercy, and Life Together—for the Church and for the world.

> For more on the new threefold emphases, go to www.lcms.org/?17740.

> To read the "Witness, Mercy, Life Together." blog, go to www.wmltblog.org/.

> To order "Witness, Mercy, Life Together." posters, see “new releases” at www.cph.org.

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About the Author: Rev. Dr. Albert B. Collver III is director of church relations—assistant to LCMS President Rev. Matthew C. Harrison.

January 2011

Albert B. Collver III

WMLT Blog: Predestination and Epiphany

Check out the posts on the WMLT Blog.

The first post is an Epiphany Greeting from President Harrison.

Blessed Epiphany and New Year from President Harrison from VimeoLCMS on Vimeo.
LCMS President Rev. Matthew Harrison reminds us that no matter what challenges the new year brings, we can look ahead with one certainty – Jesus came for us!

The second post is a sermon I preached in chapel at the International Center today on Predestination based on Ephesians 1:3 - 14. Also reproduced below.

Chapel Sermon at the International Center Concerning Predestination

http://www.wmltblog.org/2011/01/chapel-s...

Chapel Sermon at the International Center Concerning Predestination

Ephesians 1:3-14; Responsive Prayer 2; LSB 686

Pastor Collver

4 January 2011

I.N.I.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Do you remember waiting to hear your name called in school or on the playground to participate in an important event or to play on a team or in a game? Do you remember the agony of waiting to hear your name called? Do you remember the comfort and relief you felt when you heard, “I pick him.” “She was chosen to…” Imagine going to high school or college graduation not knowing if you would receive a diploma, but waiting in the audience to hear if your name would be called. As bad as these sorts of uncertainties are in our lives, how much worse it is to wonder and doubt if God has chosen you… how much worse to wonder if you are elect. Friends in Christ, your heavenly does not want you to be in doubt of your salvation. He wants you to have the comfort of knowing that he has called you by name in Holy Baptism. He wants you to know that you have been called, chosen, and elected from the foundation of the world to be his child.

The appointed text for today deals with the doctrine of Predestination. It seems that many people regard the topic of Predestination as mysterious, complicated, and perhaps frightening. Yet our Lord and Savior Jesus himself teaches about predestination in the Gospels, particularly when he said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” (John 15:16) In today’s reading, St. Paul writes to the Christians in Ephesus, “he chose you before the foundation of the world … in love he predestined us.” The teaching about Predestination is intended for our instruction and for our comfort as Christians. It is, as Dr. Walther, the founder of the Missouri Synod said, “the golden thread that runs throughout the Scriptures.”

Now I suspect that you have rarely or perhaps never heard a sermon about Predestination. When the people of God do not hear about the blessed doctrine of Predestination they are denied a couple of important truths. First, not hearing about the doctrine of Predestination creates the opportunity for our sinful flesh to arise and convince us that we somehow contributed to our salvation or chose to follow Jesus. As Jesus himself clearly told his disciples, “You did not choose me.” Yet we as sinful human beings, and particularly Americans who believe our destiny belongs to us, we do not like being confronted with the reality that we do not have free will in matters related to God. We do not have the free will to choose to follow Jesus. This teaching strikes against our pride and offends our reason. We want to think we can follow Jesus, rather than recognizing we are “lost and condemned creatures” who are dead in our sins. When you feel that you are more righteous or holy than another person, or when you think you are more deserving than another person, know that these thoughts are not from the Holy Spirit. Repent and seek forgiveness from your Savior.

Second, not hearing about the doctrine of Predestination denies us of the tremendous comfort our Lord Jesus wants us to have in Him. Listen to the text again, “he chose us before the foundation of the world.” In eternity, before the Lord God created the heavens and the earth through His Almighty Word, your heavenly father chose you. This is the ultimate indicator that we did nothing to contribute to our salvation. Before the heavens and the earth existed, before there were atoms, molecules, or cells from which to form your body, the Lord God chose you. This, my friends, is pure, undeserved grace. Your heavenly Father chose you in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world. In your Baptism, the Lord God put His Name upon you and made you His own.

There are many things in our lives that can make us doubt whether or not we have the favor of God. Perhaps, things are not unfolding in your life as you would hope. Perhaps, your life is riddled with sin and loneliness. You may be facing hardships and difficulties and wonder why you are afflicted with such things. Know that your Lord even predestined the sufferings and crosses in your life so that you may be conformed into the image of the crucified Son of God. Your Lord has promised to work all things for your good. In fact, even your hardships and sufferings are turned into a blessing for your ultimate good. You see, your Lord does not want you to doubt that he has chosen you when you face hardships. Know that He chose you and chose your sufferings for you so that nothing can ever take you from His hand.

When you face suffering in this life and doubt about the favor the Lord has for you, seek comfort in the cross of Jesus. Seek comfort in the forgiveness of sins. Seek comfort in knowing that you are baptized and that the Lord has put his Holy Name upon you. Know that your heavenly Father has chosen you before the foundation of the world in Christ Jesus.

Unlike waiting on the schoolyard playground, wondering if you will be chosen, if your name will be called. Your Lord Jesus has called you by Name and given you His Holy Spirit as the down payment, the guarantee of your inheritance in the Lord’s kingdom. Now we wait, not to find out if the Lord has chosen us, but we wait to realize what He has already given us in Christ Jesus. Take comfort in the promises of your Lord and in the forgiveness of your sins. Take comfort in the election and calling of your heavenly Father through Jesus Christ his Son.

Go in peace.

Amen.

Walther’s Prayer, “Concerning Predestination,” Selected Sermons, CPH, 1981: 173.

“Lord Jesus, You Son of the living God. You have come into this world to save sinners. Thanks, praise, glory and honor be to You today, on the day of Your gracious and saving birth, that You not only came into the world to save us poor sinners, but also that You as the Good Shepherd followed us, who all like sheep have gone astray, called us to Yourself through the shepherd’s voice of Your sweet Gospel, brought us to faith in You, and also preserved us in the same until today. Oh, how in time and eternity can we sufficiently thank You for this? We did not seek You, but You sought us; we did not come to You, but You came to us. How have we deserved it that You had mercy upon us rather than millions of others? Ah, it is Your undeserved grace alone that we have to thank for this. You saw us lying in the blood of our sins, and behold, Your heart broke, and You said to us: ‘You shall live!’ Oh, Lord Jesus, You today once gave Yourself for us; today we give ourselves to You. Here is our heart. Take it, cleanse and adorn it for Yourself as Your dwelling and rule in it until our death. For this, with all angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, thrones and dominions, with all blessed and chosen ones, we will in heaven give You thanks, glory, praise, and honor through all eternity. Amen.”

President Harrison Advent Blessing Video

Advent Blessing from President Harrison from VimeoLCMS on Vimeo.

Check out President Harrison's Advent Blessing Video originally posted on the new Witness, Mercy, Life Together blog.

Worldwide -- Witness, Mercy, Life Together

Sign on Silesian Lutheran Headquarters

This post is much less about the Silesian Lutherans that I have written so much about lately, and more about the Synodical Emphasis of Witness, Mercy, and Life Together. One thing I have noticed in my travels to various churches throughout the world is that nearly every church focuses on three areas summarized by witness, mercy, and life together. Various churches do not necessarily call their work by these names, nonetheless, this is the work that they do. I was rather surprised (and pleased) when I saw that the Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession had an evangelism department, a diakonia department that is celebrating its 20th year, and a church fellowship department.

Evangelism (Witness) Area of Silesian Church

Witness Emphasis for LCMS

In John 1:19 - 20, the words for witness (martyria) and confess (homologein) are used interchangeably. For the past several years or so, it seems as if the Missouri Synod has been engaged in a struggle over "evangelism / witnessing" and "confessing / remaining confessionally faithful." St. John, the Evangelist, shows that "witness" and "confession" are synonyms and that they belong together. A person cannot witness the truth unless the confession is correct and orthodox. A person retain the orthodox confession without bearing witness to it. Witnessing and Confessing are two sides of the same coin. In ecclesiastical terminology, a "martyr" is a person who gave his or her life bearing witness to Jesus. A "confessor"is a person who did not lose his or her life but who stood before the authorities, kings, or governors and confessed the truth about Jesus at risk to life and limb. Therefore, Robert Barnes is a confessor and martyr, while Martin Luther is only a confessor. Ignatius of Antioch was a martyr, while Cyril of Alexandria was a confessor. Witnessing leads to confessing and confessing leads to witnessing.

Diakonia (Mercy) Area of Silesian Church

Mercy Emphasis for the LCMS

Church Fellowship (Life Together) Area for Silesian Church

Life Together Emphasis for LCMS

In the Missouri Synod, it seems that every new Synodical President brings a different emphasis, slogan, or program to the church. In some ways, this is inevitable and not entirely bad. The time in which a given President serves requires that Law and Gospel be divided for the church at that time and for him to focus on what he believes is most necessary at that moment. This is simply providing pastoral care to the Synod as a whole, not unlike what a new pastor does upon arriving in a congregation. President Harrison's office has strived to not call Witness, Mercy, Life Together a program or slogan, but rather an emphasis. Witness, Mercy, Life Together isn't really anything new. It is really just what the church does as she lives under the cross of Jesus. What these areas are called isn't ultimately important, simply that the church carries these out. The example from the Silesian church shows that Missouri Synod isn't alone in the task but the Christian church throughout the world engages in Witness, Mercy, and Life Together -- even if different church bodies and groups of Christians call it something different.

The Biblical Terms: Witness, Mercy and Fellowship

The Biblical Terms: Witness, Mercy, and Life Together

On Monday, the guys at Issues, Etc. had me on the air to talk about Witness, Mercy, and Life Together. You can listen to it on the Issues, Etc. site here. You can also listen to the audio below.

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My son came to the Issues, Etc. studio with me. Kit had a great time. He asked lots of questions... I think he talked their ears off. In any case, Kit is very excited and wants to visit again. He might even receive his Boy Scout "communications" badge for this.

Kit, Todd Wilken, abc3+

Kit and Todd Wilken

Witness, Mercy, Life Together Hymn "God's Redeemed, Beloved and Holy"

Steve Starke's Hymn, "God's Redeem, Beloved and Holy."

The hymn, "God's Redeemed, Beloved and Holy," used to introduce Witness, Mercy, and Life Together is now available for download from the Synod's Resource Page. (Here is the direct download link.) I hear that a full-color version is coming soon.

In the early days of planning, at the end of July 2010 and early August 2010, we thought it would be great to have a hymn reflecting the themes of Witness, Mercy, and Life Together. Late one evening over Facebook chat, a conversation of Rev. Steve Starke ensued. The next day, he emailed the hymn above -- well not in this exact form but ... Apparently, in 2005, once again demonstrating that this "idea" isn't new, Steve Starke wrote this hymn. We were very thankful that he was willing to share it with us. The singing at the board meetings and orientation,  reported in Reporter October Online, was very robust. We hope you find it edifying in your congregation too. 

Also, at the Synod's resource page are word studies on witness, mercy, and life together from the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT Word Study Link HERE)... more to come later.

Web Discussions on Witness, Mercy, Life Together

Official Graphic of Emphasis Witness, Mercy, and Life Together

Imagine my surprise today when I received an email stating that Berthold Von Schenk invented "Witness, Mercy, and Life Together!" There is quite a discussion over at the ALPB (American Lutheran Publicity Bureau) on Witness, Mercy, Life Together -- as of today 22 September, there are 261 posts. (You can read about it here.) Apart from my blog, I am not a contributor to online bulletin boards, etc. and generally do not follow them much. But in Post #250, Rev. Dr. David Benke, District President of the Atlantic District, suggests that Von Schenk was the main source for the threefold emphasis of "Witness, Mercy Life Together" in his book Lively Stone.

Not being a student of Von Schenk, I cannot claim to be familiar with his book Lively Stone. His book does not grace my bookshelf, nor have I seen it in President Harrison's library. But then we never claimed to have invented anything new. In fact, new in the realm of the church in regards to her purpose and doctrine is not a good thing. Another word for innovation in doctrine is heresy. People turning up references to a similar threefold emphasis in other places might indicate that perhaps Witness, Mercy, Life Together is fairly good at describing what the emphasis of the church is.

Pastor Bill Weedon, someone familiar with Von Schenk, searched for a quote in Lively Stone stating the threefold emphasis. He found on page 97 "where Von Schenk speaks of Missouri's so-called doctrinal purity, moralism and legalistic ritualism (which outlaws the prayer of consecration with anamnesis and epiclesis) as false marks of the Church. 'These false marks are poor substitutes for the true marks of the Church:  Leiturgia, Missio, and Diakonia ('Liturgy, Mission, Service').'"


Indeed, Von Schenk mentions a threefold marks of the church: leiturgia (liturgy), missio (sending/mission), and diakonia (service). Doesn't seem that the "Witness, Mercy, Life Together" is precisely the same focus as Von Schenk's leiturgia, missio, and diakonia, but no doubt there are some similarities. In any case, I am glad that the "evangelical" catholic group on ALPB seems to have in general positive feelings toward "Witness, Mercy, Life Together" -- and if Von Schenk is the reason for that, great!


No doubt other similarities will be found between "Witness, Mercy, Life Together" and other Christian groups and writings. For instance the Huria Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP) -- The Batak Christian Protestant Church -- has three departments in their church listed in the following order -- Koinonia, Marturia, Diakonia. Considering that the church's website is in Indonesian, apart from knowing the three names of their departments, I am not sure this helps us much in further understanding Witness, Mercy, Life Together.


However, you could help us with "Witness, Mercy, Life Together." Thus far, we have focused primarily on New Testament Scripture passages. You could help us by either posting in the comments or emailing us quotations or references from the Book of Concord that further elucidate the emphasis "Witness, Mercy, Life Together." Another area of help could be in the suggestion of quotations from Luther or Walther. How about some early church father references? Any takers?

Official Witness, Mercy, Life Together Downloadable Resources

The crack communications team at the LCMS International Center has produced this page for downloadable Witness, Mercy, Life Together resources. This is just a start. Pastors and Congregations are free to use these materials for non-commercial use. Check out there link here: http://www.lcms.org/emphasis

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Emphasis for the Church

Witness, Mercy, Life Together.

Actions of the 64th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod produced a number of changes for our beloved Synod, not least of which were the election of President Matthew C. Harrison and the adoption of a number of resolutions brought forward by the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance.  While delegates at the convention made dramatic decisions that will affect the future of the LCMS, its congregational principle and scriptural foundations remain unchanged.  And as President Harrison assumed his new responsibilities for leadership of the church and began pondering how to fulfill the responsibility of implementing the restructuring approved by convention, he wanted to start by focusing on the church's work and the emphasis of: 

Witness, Mercy, Life Together.

These phrases illustrate how the church lives and works together to proclaim the Gospel and to provide for our brothers and sisters in Christ in our congregations, communities and throughout the world.   And in all we do, Christ is at the center, leading us, sustaining us, keeping us focused on our mission.  This will never change.

Witness “For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.” – 1 John 5:7-8

Mercy “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45

Life Together “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:9

In Christ, for the Church and the World.

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Resources

Witness, Mercy, Life Together Posters and Banner

Poster 1 (Dimensions: 24" X 36") View larger image Download File (via Box.net) Order From CPH(Coming Soon)

Poster 2 (Dimensions: 24" X 36") View larger image Download File (via Box.net) Order From CPH(Coming Soon)

Banner (Dimensions: 3' X 7') View larger image Download File (via Box.net) Order From CPH(Coming Soon) Witness, Mercy, Life Together. - Logo Files Witness, Mercy, Life Together.   Right click links below and choose "Save Target As" Low Resolution High Resolution(via box.net) Witness   Right click links below and choose "Save Target As" Low Resolution High Resolution(via box.net) Mercy   Right click links below and choose "Save Target As" Low Resolution High Resolution(via box.net) Life Together   Right click links below and choose "Save Target As" Low Resolution High Resolution(via box.net)

Church workers and congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod may use the "Witness, Mercy, Life Together." logos and materials for non-commercial purposes related to their work with the church.  All other use is prohibited.