Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Have We Lost Our Balance?, P. E. Kretzmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

Things are said to be in unstable equilibrium when they lose their balance even upon very slight provocation. When men are in the same predicament, they are said to have lost their poise. If this condition is habitual, the individual is said to be erratic. The same phenomenon may often be associated with an organization, partly because of mob psychology, partly because of leadership that is subject to eccentricities. Such a body, organization, or association is said to have lost its balance.

The Preparation Of Confirmands, Or The Instruction Of Catechumens, Herm. A. Steege

Concordia Theological Monthly

From the very earliest time of the Christian era, candidates for admission into membership of the Christian Church were first duly instructed and prepared. In the early days such instruction was to prepare them for baptism; for Baptism is the Sacrament of initiation, and it was natural that this mission-work of those days concentrated on adults. It seems to have exhibited various degrees of thoroughness. Without question such instruction was made a matter of prime importance in the Apostolic Age. The several glimpses which the Book of Acts gives us into this particular activity of the early Church easily convince …

Introduction To Sacred Theology, J. T. Mueller

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Nature and Constitution of Sacred Theology.

Theology and Academic Freedom.

Modern rationalistic theology demands that the official teachers of the Church, both in the pulpit and in the lecture chair, should be invested with full academic freedom. That is to say, they should be allowed to assert their subjective opinions without any restrictions whatsoever; oven Holy Scripture must not be forced upon them as the only source and standard of the faith which they are to inculcate.

Introduction To Sacred Theology, J T. Mueller

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Nature and Constitution of Sacred Theology.

The Purpose of Christian Theology

In the performance of his sacred functions the Christian theologian must at all times conscientiously keep in mind the true objective of his theological activity. The purpose of sacred theology, so far as it regards lost and perishing mankind, is not the spread of culture nor the establishment of civic righteousness on earth nor the satisfaction of the intellectual craving of the human mind nor the enrichment of human knowledge, but the eternal salvation of sinners.

Introduction To Sacred Theology, J T. Mueller

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Nature and Constitution of Sacred Theology.

Primary and Secondary Fundamental Doctrines.

The fundamental doctrines of the Christian religion may be divided into primary and secondary fundamental doctrines. Also this distinction is Scriptural, practical, and useful, for it helps the Christian theologian to discriminate rightly between the fundamental doctrines themselves. As we have learned, fundamental doctrines are such as constitute the foundation of the Christian faith; yet not all fundamental doctrines constitute this foundation in the same manner. Hollas rightly observes (53): "All the fundamental articles of faith must necessarily be known, but the grades of this necessity are different." …

What Is Unionism?, Th Graebner

Concordia Theological Monthly

A question which has been rife in the Lutheran Church for a hundred years; a question which is easily the most important, affecting the inner life as also the outward relations to one another of the American Lutheran bodies; a question upon the answer of which, in the opinion of many, depends the future alignment of the various Lutheran synods and federated bodies in the United States. It may also be phrased: What is church-fellowship? or thus: What is the practical application of the confessional principle? Possibly, with a modernistic touch: Why creeds, if any?

Introduction To Sacred Theology, J T. Mueller

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Nature and Constitution of Sacred Theology.

Christianity, the Absolute Religion

The Christian religion is the absolute religion, inasmuch as it is absolutely perfect, neither requiring, nor being capable of, improvement or supplementation. It is God-given and therefore precisely as God would have it to accomplish its beneficent purpose of "saving sinners." When we ascribe to the Christian religion perfection or absoluteness we do not mean to say that it is a "logically complete whole", or a logically complete and perfect system, in which there are no missing links of thoughts or doctrines. Considered from this viewpoint, the Christion religion …

Introduction To Sacred Theology, J T. Mueller

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Scriptural Viewpoint of the Christian Theologian.

Owing to the diverse views and tendencies prevailing among theologians to-day, it is necessary for the Christian theologian, before presenting to his readers his dogmatic treatise, to declare in clear and unmistakable terms from what viewpoint this has been written.

The viewpoint of the present-day modernistic theologian is that truth must be determined by human reason in the light of scientific research. The theological Liberalist therefore does not recognize Holy Scripture as the source and norm of faith, but bolds that this ancient standard of the Christian Church has been superseded by the …

The Modern Church Looks At Society, Th. Graebner

Concordia Theological Monthly

The official papers of the Lambeth Conference have been published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. The Lambeth Conference is a meeting of bishops of the Anglican Church and the Episcopalian bodies (including the American Protestant Episcopal Church) affiliated with it. The name is derived from the old palace overlooking the river Thames, owned by the Anglican State Church.

Suggestions Concerning Courses For Better Indoctrination, P E. Kretzmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

The question of preparing courses of instruction for adequate indoctrination in the various institutions which have been found available for this purpose in the Church is a rather difficult one, but it can be solved successfully if everything is taken into consideration that is now at our disposal in the field.

The Sermon Methods, J H. Fritz

Concordia Theological Monthly

The three requisites for good sermonizing are: a thorough study of the text, a good outline, and good delivery. Neglecting any one of these will result in poor preaching.

What is perhaps mostly neglected in sermonizing is that which is most important: a thorough study of the text. A thorough study of the text is absolutely indispensable for good sermon work. Without it the preacher cannot make a good outline, and without it he cannot be filled up with his subject, which he must be if he would deliver well, for a preacher's delivery is influenced by his mastery of …

Atheistic Propaganda In Our Country, John Theodore Mueller

Concordia Theological Monthly

Dreary though it may be, the subject of atheistic propaganda in our country nevertheless demands conscientious study, especially by our pastors and all who are directly interested in the young people of our Church in order that ways and means may be found to safeguard their spiritual welfare, in particular while they are attending colleges and universities.

Only a short time ago we were horrified by the blasphemies of agnostic Modernists. To-day, however, we are facing a foe that is even more treacherous and pernicious. Modernism, with all its vagaries, at least endeavored to preserve some kind of religion and …

Thee Pastor At The Bedside Of The Unbeliever, F C. Streufert

Concordia Theological Monthly

If we are called to the bedside of a patient who has no knowledge of the Word of God, to the bedside of the unbeliever, this is done in most instances not at the request of the patient, but upon the suggestion of one of the family or a friend. It cannot be otherwise. How can any one have a desire to hear concerning Christ of whom he knows nothing and in whom he does not believe. It is a sad fact that many, though they are at death's door, in spite of all are filled with hatred against the …

Outline For A Sermon On The Presentation Of The Augsburg Confession, W G. Polack

Concordia Theological Monthly

The circumstances leading up to the completion of the Augsburg Confession have been discussed in the foregoing sermon of this series. We shall therefore turn our attention to the events connected with its presentation at the Diet of Augsburg June 25, 1530.

The Position Of The Christian Woman, Especially As Worker In The Church, P E. Kretzmann

Concordia Theological Monthly

The position of women in most heathen nations and tribes was and is one of almost unbelievable degradation and unspeakable misery. In most cases, even among the more enlightened nations of antiquity, she was nothing more than a mere chattel. Under the old Roman law, for example, a husband had absolute power of life and death over his wife and absolute control of her property. (Brace, Gesta. Christi, 20.) In Athens, during the age of the orators, the woman was obliged to accept without questioning a position distinctly subordinate to the men, both intellectually and socially. "The life of the …