Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 25:99 (Jul 1868)
Article: The Evangelical Lutheran Church In The United States
Author: J. A. Brown

BSac 25:99 (July 1868) p. 435

The Evangelical Lutheran Church In The United States

J. A. Brown

The preparation of a satisfactory statement concerning the Evangelical Lutheran Church, such as the Bibliotheca Sacra desires and reasonably expects, in completing the series of denominational Articles, is a task not easy of execution; and the writer does not even presume to hope that he will be entirely successful in the attempt. The most that he can promise himself or others is some fair degree of good intention and honest endeavor.

A number of things combine to enhance the difficulty of the undertaking. The Lutheran church boasts of the liberty in non-essentials granted to her children. She does not design to burden the conscience or fetter the free development of individual liberty. In everything not expressly revealed in the word of God, and included in the faith of the church, she allows and practices a large degree of diversity. Her great Confession distinctly declares that “for the true unity of the Christian church it is not necessary that-uniform ceremonies, instituted by men, should be everywhere observed” (Augsburg Confession, Art. vii.). In this country,, originally composed of different nationalities, conducting her worship in different tongues, constantly receiving large accessions from different countries, she exhibits more or less of the peculiarities which distinguish different parts of the church as existing in the several countries where she is known. Hence her organization is not so compact, nor her government and usages so uniform, as those of some other,

[Note. — This is one of the Series of Articles representing the peculiar views of different theological sects or schools.]

BSac 25:99 (July 1868) p. 436

denominations. Besides, the present condition of the church in this country is not the most favorable to such a statement or exposition, and indeed would seem almost to forbid any one to speak for the whole.

Still the Evangelical Lutheran church may justly claim the privilege of being heard, and others may justly claim to know something of her history, doctrines, usages, etc. For, besides being by far the largest Protestant body in the world, the Lutheran church has a distinct position in the United States among evangelical denominations, and Providence has given her a great work to do. Such a statement seems the more appropriate and important in this Journal, because in the region where it is published and has its largest circulation, the Evangelical Lutheran church is comparatively but little known. The writer would only further premise, that as he does not assume to speak for the whole church, he only claims or expects such weight to be given to his statements, as the truth will secure for itself.