Religion Commons^™

A Study Of Numinous Experience, Dama C. Cofield

Graduate Thesis Collection

For the past ten years I have worked in the area of Christian education in an ecumenical context. This has afforded me the privilege of participating in many communities of faith as well as the challenge of ministry and leadership in diverse situations. These responsibilities, involving me in the lives and personalities of fellow human beings and the necessity of personal growth to meet the demands of my own life's situations have forced me to examine repeatedly the premises of my own faith and its relevance to life.

Some Directives For The Education Of A More Excellent Ministry, Arthur C. Repp

Concordia Theological Monthly

The continuing reevaluation which theological seminaries have been making of themselves, coupled with a growing criticism of the seminaries' products on the part of many in the church, has produced a lively ferment in the current discussion of ministerial education. Some outstanding theological books and articles of late have addressed themselves to this subject, all of them showing a real concern for finding a solution.

Gifts From The Lord Of The Church, Leonhard C. Wuerffel

Concordia Theological Monthly

After a little more than 16 years of service as the dean of students at a seminary, we have been asked to set forth some observations concerning the students served during this period of time. First of all, there is something frightening about such a request. To have been intimately associated with more than 2,000 young men, who today are ministers of the Gospel and are serving their Lord and His people somewhere in the world, is unquestionably a great privilege and a humbling experience.

Law And Gospel In Christian Education, Harry G. Coiner

Concordia Theological Monthly

When one attempts a discussion of Christian doctrine which involves Law and Gospel, the mind should think clearly and the pen should write carefully. Since the right distinction between these two doctrines is one important key to the proper understanding and teaching of the Scriptures, the attention of all who teach Christian doctrine is most earnestly invited.

Covenant And Justification In The Old Testament, Walter R. Roehrs

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Lutheran World Federation convention at Helsinki in 1963 was not able to reach agreement on a formulation of the doctrine of justification. This lack of agreement, it is said, does not imply disagreement regarding the doctrine itself, but it resulted from the inability to formulate or present this basic teaching of Scripture to modern man in such a way as to speak to him in terms that are relevant and pertinent to him. This difficulty arises, it is said, particularly because modern man no longer asks Luther's question: "How do I find a gracious God?" but asks: "Is there …

Helsinki-After One Year - A Symposium, Unknown

Concordia Theological Monthly

The contemporary movement toward a united world Lutheranism entered upon its present phase only 40 years ago. 1923 at Eisenach, Germany, the Lutheran World Convention was organized after World War I to enable Lutherans to pool their spiritual and physical resources to salvage the battered remnants of many mission fields, to bring relief to millions of sufferers all over the world, and to enable the European Lutheran churches to get back on their feet. After 24 years and another world war the members of the LWC were sufficiently encouraged by past successes to take a long step toward a stronger …

I Believe In An Omniscient, Loving God, Daniel Walther

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

From Advent To Shrove Tuesday, Walter E. Buszin

Concordia Theological Monthly

Liturgical life and activity have not been at a standstill since the close of World War II. Already more than a decade ago more books on worship and liturgics were being published in English than in any other area of theological literature. It is likely that this is true also today. At present more courses in liturgics are being offered at theological schools of North America than ever before in American history; they continue to increase in quantity and quality from year to year. Services of worship conducted in American churches of our day reflect concern for decorum and order …

The Power Of Faith, Daniel Walther

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Faith That Saves, Daniel Walther

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Pastor As Administrator Of The Christian Fellowship, Harry G. Coiner

Concordia Theological Monthly

It may be helpful to say immediately that a church office, receptionist-secretary, an electric typewriter, a motorized mimeograph machine, and a mahogany desk are some of the trimmings and tools of parish administration but not the real substance of it. Parish administration is concerned with Christian discipleship. It is an activity rooted in what God is doing through the Word and the sacraments in the lives of men and women and children and in how they are being built up, trained, and committed to spiritual tasks.

Matthias Flacius Illyricus. A Biographical Sketch., Henry W. Reimann

Concordia Theological Monthly

Matthias Vlacic, the son of Andreas Vlacic and his wife Jacobea Luciani, was born on March 3, 1520, in Albona, a south Istrian town of 1,200 inhabitants. The Vlacics, originally rural peasants, had lived in this Adriatic city as artisans and landlords for three generations.

Able Ministers In The New Year, Lorenz Wunderlich

Concordia Theological Monthly

This Word of God through St. Paul the apostle is preeminently for those who are privileged to stand in the diaconate of our Lord and who perform diaconal functions for Him. To be sure, it does not offer the catena of one and one-half dozen qualifications which the same apostolic writer forges in his letters to Timothy and Titus.

Christianity And Communism -An Ideological Comparison, Ralph L. Moellering

Concordia Theological Monthly

In his book Communism and Christ, Charles W. Lowry contends that we are living in a new religious age. As evidence he points to the post-World War II popular religious revival, to what he calls "a new priesthood" set up by psychiatry, to the influence of existential thought in philosophy and theology (consider Paul Tillich), and to the "collective neurosis" brought on by the crisis and anxieties of our hydrogen-missile age. "The final and conclusive proof that we have entered into a new religious era Lowry perceived in the expansion and menace of the "new universal salvation religion - Communism."

The Psychological Disciplines In Theological Education, Paul W. Pruyser

Concordia Theological Monthly

Much has been written during the last decade about the relevance of certain aspects of psychology and psychiatry to the professional role and work of ministers. When one surveys the massive literature which has been produced in this area of concern one is impressed at first by great topical variety. which ranges from theological critiques of psychological concepts and theories to pastoral counseling; from the psychological screening of candidates for the ministry to how pastors might deal with grief; from life situation preaching to techniques of supervision in clinical pastoral training courses.

The Function Of Historical Theology In The Theological Training Program, Walter W. Oetting

Concordia Theological Monthly

What is the function of historical theology? Since many of you students are not sold on the value of studying history, to say the least, we need to know at the very outset why it is important for theological students to study the history of the church.

Calvin's Doctrine Of Justification, Thomas Coates

Concordia Theological Monthly

Justification by faith was the great central doctrine of the Reformation, a doctrine which formed the foundation of the entire theological system of Luther and was bequeathed by him to the succeeding generations of Christendom as the great heritage of the Reformation. This doctrine, of course, did not originate with the reformers, but was restored by them to its rightful position as the pivot around which the entire Christian religion revolves - the doctrine which, in a preeminent sense, marks the great cleavage between Christianity and all heathen religions. The unique and distinctive character of Christianity, in contrast with all …

The Secret Of God's Plan, Harry G. Coiner

Concordia Theological Monthly

A restive search is going on today, and almost everyone is engaged in it. The search is for meaning in life, for significance, for purpose. Captured by a meaningless job and caged inside four walls with a TV set for companionship, modern man feels trapped. We need not extend the picture except to suggest that a disintegrating anguish takes possession of people when suddenly they realize that life is empty and sterile, completely lacking in meaning for them. One single devastating question keeps begging for an answer: Why live? The author of Ecclesiastes struggled with this question long ago and …

Polygamy And The Church, Willard Burce

Concordia Theological Monthly

Polygamy is a common practice among the Enga uibcs of Wabag, New Guinea. A survey a few years ago showed that nearly 30 percent of Enga marriages were polygamous.

Extracongregational Communion Services, Frederick H. Pralle

Concordia Theological Monthly

The Church exists in the world to glorify God by bringing the Gospel and the sacraments to the world and thereby keeping Christians in saving faith. The people of the Christian community are also to live their faith in actions of love toward one another and those outside the fellowship of the Christian community. The Church is, therefore, in the world but not of this world.

The Voice Of Augustana Vii On The Church, Frederick B. Mayer, Herbert T. Mayer (Translator)

Concordia Theological Monthly

In Europe as well as in the U.S. A. the question concerning the nature of the church is as much alive as the question concerning the nature of the Gospel Fundamentally one's ideas about the church are determined by one's position toward the Gospel. In the United States the Reformed theologians are concerning themselves with the question of the church from two points of view: the theological and the practical. As to the theological aspect of the question, the Reformed bodies offer a variety of answers, among which three stand out.

The Church As The People Of God United In The Word Of God, James W. Mayer

Concordia Theological Monthly

The word "church" has come to mean so many things that it is difficult to think of church with any ontological precision. Our present study is an examination of the nature of the reality that is ekklesia, and the bearing that the unique quality of its being has on certain problems of fellowship. Although we at times use terms borrowed from the philosophers, we have nonetheless set ourselves the task of thinking in strictly Biblical categories, wherein reality cannot be contemplated apart from the personal Lord, by whom and in whom the reality exists; where being cannot be abstracted from …

The Inclusive Nature Of Holy Baptism In Luther's Writings, Harry G. Coiner

Concordia Theological Monthly

Though our action or behavior does not make the sacrament valid, nevertheless legitimate concerns are to be expressed from time to time regarding our understanding and employment of Baptism. Luther reminds us that Baptism is no human trifle devised or invented by men, but it is instituted by God Himself; for He strictly commanded that we must be baptized, or we cannot be saved; let no one regard it as a trivial matter, like putting on a new red coat. He expressed his estimation of Baptism in strong terms.

Theology As Habitus Practicus Theosdotos: A Lutheran Emphasis, Henry J. Eggold

Concordia Theological Monthly

The theologians of the 17th century distinguished between the abstract and the concrete use of the term "theology." Only in an abstract, accidental, and relative sense did they call theology "doctrine ... or even a book or a system exhibiting theology."

Heirs Of The Reformation In The Pulpit, Graeme M. Rosenau

Concordia Theological Monthly

Being an heir of the Reformation involves far more than giving oratorical impasto in the pulpit to the slogan ''We have Luther as our Father" and engaging in unbridled ranting against Rome or Geneva. Without scorning necessary and proper polemics, the Lutheran preacher will at the same time be gratefully aware that in the very act of occupying his pulpit he is enjoying one of the richest blessings of his heritage.

The Will Of God In The Life Of A Christian, Eugene F. Klug

Concordia Theological Monthly

In what has been called "the greatest piece of theological writing" to come from his pen, The Bondage of the Will, Luther scores his contemporary Erasmus very sorely because of his unwillingness to assert plainly and forthrightly each and every truth which the Scriptures contain. Erasmus took a stance frequently duplicated today when theologians contend that Scripture does not contain propositional truth. Although we grant, of course, that it does not embrace formulations like a dogmatics textbook, the fact is that Scripture, as Luther reminded Erasmus, contains many doctrinal assertions which must be expressed and defended. "Take away assertions," Luther …

The Crisis Of Theological Historicism And How It May Be Overcome, William Mundle, Herbert J. Bouman (Translator)

Concordia Theological Monthly

Our theme, the crisis of theological historicism, is to be taken in a double sense. In the first place, I am thinking of the crisis which the historical approach has precipitated in theology and, in the second place, of the problems created by a consistent application of the historical method in historical research itself. As we shall see, both are related. To limit the theme, I shall confine myself to the questions connected with New Testament exegesis. However, a contest fought out in this arena will naturally have far-reaching consequences for the total understanding of theology.

The Devotional Use Of The Bible, James G. Manz

Concordia Theological Monthly

Our topic suggests that there is another use of the Holy Bible. This is the study of Holy Scripture which is traditionally associated with the discipline of theological seminaries and the work of Biblical scholars and ministers. Its technical term is exegesis and has as its task to get out of the sacred text what God put into it. To achieve its purpose an exegetical study of Scripture involves knowledge of the ancient tongues. Martin Luther had a high regard for that language study which had as its aim the understanding of the meaning of the Scripture. He said, "As …

Religion In America And The Church's Use Of Mass Media, Carl Schalk

Concordia Theological Monthly

There is little doubt that the church today faces a unique opportunity as well as a unique responsibility in communicating the message of God in Christ to man today.

The greatest need is for the churches to listen to what God says to them and through them. Yet the churches have equal responsibility to determine the best ways in which they can pass on to those who do not hear and who do not listen, what they know and believe about their Lord and Savior.

A Brief Statement-Guidelines And Helps For Study, Unknown

Concordia Theological Monthly

Documents such as A Brief Statement are functional; they are intended to perform a service and have validity and worth because, and insofar as, they do perform a service. As Lutherans, who receive and embrace the Holy Scriptures as the pure fountains from which the people of God must drink to live, we live in the conviction that the one functioning power in the life of the church is the Word of God.