Law&Gosopel
The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel by C.F.W. Walther is a literary gift, and guiding doctrinal and pastoral tether, given to his Church. Walther’s passion for Christ and his Church is clearly accentuated on every page. The intimacy and concern for “pastors to be” is captured and retained by the translator, W.H.T. Dau. In so doing, Dau brings us into both the lecture room and private tutelage of Walther. In this book Walther gives us a synopsis of Law and Gospel in his XXV Theses. This is not all. He reviews correct doctrine and the perils and pitfalls of the pastoral ministry, especially focusing on the young pastor. Walther also reminds us of our Lutheran heritage, and reinforces the knowledge we have of the differences in doctrine that are held, and in conflict with, the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.
Walther was concerned with more than his students’ understanding of Law and Gospel. He felt, that to be proper teachers and preachers of the Gospel, they needed to be firmly rooted in correct doctrine. He states, “A theologian who has not the greatest interest in the Christian doctrines is unthinkable. Even where there is but the beginning of faith in the heart, a person regards no point of doctrine as trifling…."[1] Again he says, “From what has been you can gather how foolish it is, yea, what an awful delusion has taken hold upon so many men’s minds who ridicule the pure doctrine and say to us: “Ah, do cease clamoring, Pure doctrine! Pure doctrine!”[2] Walther does not review all the doctrines of the Holy Christian Church in this book. He boldly teaches the primary doctrines, especially focusing on those doctrines that we Lutherans dispute with other sects, namely the doctrines of salvation, justification, sanctification, original sin, Scriptures, conversion, faith, Lord’s Supper, Baptism, predestination, repentance, sin, and forgiveness. Walther masterly weaves together both simple and complex statements of doctrine. He simply states what he wants us to know in lecture form and then gives us his compelling arguments in his Theses. This is an excellent example of what Rev. Strasen has stated in class, namely, that we are to tell our audience what our message is about and then go about the business of telling them. As Walther teaches his young students about Law and Gospel, he sets it off with a backdrop of pure doctrine.[3] With this in mind, he reminds us of how difficult and arduous a task this is. While difficult to do, it is central to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.[4]
Even with the correct understanding of Christian doctrine, Walther knew that there were many pitfalls that were waiting in the parish for his seminarians. He still admonishes and cautions us, as he did them. His primary focus was on proper preaching. It was his belief that the preaching of God’s Word was the most important act a pastor performed. What a pastor did in the pulpit effected more people than anything else. At the core of this idea we find his words “Preach so that the hearer feels: ‘He means me.’” This is the bull’s-eye. It seems certain, if the Law is preached effectively, these words will ring out. The same thing will happen if the Gospel is preached in all its sweetness. Pastor Walther reminds us to continually check our sermons, “again and again he must go over his sermon and consider whether everything is quite as it should be, that there is nothing in the sermon contrary to either Law or the Gospel.”[5] We must make sure that our sermons have a point and a purpose[6]; and make sure that we remain true to God’s Word.[7] Fearlessly, we must proclaim the truth as we administer the Law (even though it will get us in trouble, as Christ was crucified for no less), and the Gospel in all its sweetness.[8] “We must preach them into Hell before we can preach them into Heaven.[9] Walther reminds us to be prayerful in our sermon preparation[10]and that true preaching is only inspired by the Holy Spirit. He exhorts us to remember that the Office of the Holy Ministry is the dearest and most precious spot a man can find himself in.[11] Discharging this office properly, and thereby saving the world, a pastor must know how to distinguish between Law and Gospel.[12]
To distinguish between the Law and Gospel is a difficult task. Making this point, Walther quotes Dr. Martin Luther, “If anyone were well versed in this art, I mean, whoever could properly make this distinction, he would deserve to be called a Doctor of Theology.”[13] To make the distinction and to apply it correctly is equal to effective preaching. Walther’s XXV need to be continually reviewed by students and seasoned pastors as they strive to reach his benchmarks of Law and Gospel application. As I have now written my first sermon, I must say that the application of Law and Gospel is a difficult task to perform. Striving to weave Law and Gospel in and out of my sermon I became tangled in a web. Attempting to “do it right," I would lose my theme or create a new one. In the process, the words of the sermon became tangled, and their force was diminished. Certainly distinguishing Law and Gospel and applying it properly in a sermon is like solving a Rubic’s Cube (I never did solve it). Certainly this is a lifetime endeavor, and a very worthy one.
Walther’s The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel, is not only a benchmark for the individual’s preaching and pastoral application; it is an excellent litmus test of the theology of the Church as a whole. What questions can the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod ask itself? The questions that come to mind are the same as those asked by are Lutheran fathers - What are we preaching and how are we preaching it? What is acceptable? What is the norm? Are we afraid to preach the Law in all its severity (will the laity let us without threat of termination)? Has the Gospel been reduced to a warm fuzzy feeling? With God’s help, may we ask these question of ourselves. Certainly we must guard our preaching. Even more certain, we must guard our attitude towards Law and Gospel. Walther’s book will continue to be a tool to help us follow the narrow path, guided by our loving Savior.
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[1] Walther, C.F.W. The Proper Distinction of Law and Gospel. Saint Louis, CPH, (1986) 13
[2] Walther 20.
[3] Walther 351.
[4] Walther 265.
[5] Walther 54.
[6] Walther 99.
[7] Walther 111.
[8] Walther 115.
[9] Walther 118.
[10] Walther 248.
[11] Walther 207.
[12] Walther 63.
[13] Walther 23.