'As Foolish As It Would Be To Scold A Farmer...'

I think I originally saved this from another popular Lutheran website (most likely, Steadfast Lutherans if I had to guess), but I can't be sure about that. In any event, this is really good stuff.

I think we'd all agree that just because someone uses Christian words and phrases (perhaps even cites specific Bible verses too), that does not necessarily mean that they are part of Christ's Church unless they actually use them within their proper context and with their Biblical definitions and meanings.

Without giving away too much just yet, I'll just say that I've come across a lot of "missional" texts lately (missional seems to be the buzz word in contemporary Christian circles today).

God willing, I plan to discuss that important subject soon, especially as I'm coming to learn that the LCMS Church that I belong to has been infiltrated by "Church Growthers," but for now let's turn to a statement that still resonates with us today even though it was made a long time ago.

"Many say, 'Instead of disputing over doctrine so much, we should much rather be concerned with souls and with leading them to Christ.' But all who speak in this way do not really know what they are saying or what they are doing.

As foolish as it would be to scold a farmer for being concerned about sowing good seed and to demand of him simply to be concerned about a good harvest, so foolish it is to scold those who are concerned first and foremost with the doctrine, and to demand of them that they should rather seek to rescue souls.

For just as the farmer who wants a good crop must first of all be concerned about good seed, so the church must above all be concerned about right doctrine if it would save souls."

*- C.F.W. Walther

It is a false dichotomy to separate concern for the lost from pure doctrine.

In a Lutheran Layman's terms, we must remember that first and foremost is concern for pure doctrine, from which the concern for the lost will naturally flow.

[NOTE: As you know, I am a newly converted Confessional Lutheran who recently escaped American Evangelicalism. That being said, please contact me ASAP if you believe that any of my "old beliefs" seem to have crept their way into any of the material you see published here, and especially if any of the content is not consistent with our Confessions and Lutheran doctrine (in other words, if it's not consistent with God's Word) so that I can correct those errors immediately and not lead any of His little ones astray. Finally, you might discover that some of the earlier pieces I wrote on this blog definitely fall into that category since I was a Lutheran-In-Name-Only at the time and was completely oblivious to the fact that a "Book of Concord" containing our Confessions even existed. I decided to leave those published posts up only because we now have this disclaimer and only to demonstrate the continuing work of Christ and the Holy Spirit in my life. Thank you for stopping by and thank you in advance for your time and help. Grace and peace to you and yours!]

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