After Pietism, Rationalism, American frontier conditions, and the alien influence of American Protestantism, helps on
pastorally recovering a genuinely Lutheran parish for the gospel...
A decent Lutheran college for your parishioners...
Mankato, Minnesota
When one examines the practice described in the Lutheran Confessions
and that which was evident in the early decades of Lutheranism before the Thirty Years War and then compare this to typical
teaching and practice in modern day Lutheran parishes in North America, it is clear that there is much disparity. The
Thirty Years War, Pietism, Rationalism, Frontier Conditions in early America, combined with alien influences from Calvinists,
generic Protestants, and difficulties in transitioning to the English language, have effected terrible erosion on the
Lutheran Church in her difficult history in these end times of the world. These are manifestations of the three great
enemies: the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh. There is much to do to give back our heritage to the people in
Scripture, Book of Concord, and Lutheran liturgy and hymns.
C.F.W. Walther wrote:
The Book of Concord should be in every Lutheran home. For that reason our church should provide a good, inexpensive copy,
and pastors should see to it that every home has one. If a person isn't familiar with this book, he'll think, "That
old book is just for pastors. I don't have to preach. After working all day, I can't sit down and study in the evening. If
I read my morning and evening devotions, that's enough." No, that is not enough! The Lord doesn't want us to remain children,
who are blown to and fro by every wind of doctrine; instead of that, He wants us to grow in knowledge so that we can teach
others.
(C.F.W.
Walther, Essays for the Church, Vol. II, pg. 51).
Translated into English for the first time, this an essential work
for those studying the orthodox Lutheran response to Pietism. Author, Valentin Ernst Loescher (1673-1749), the most capable
opponent to the Pietists, was moderate and patient during the bitter conflict that divided German Lutheran.
The two parts of this book are his defense of Orthodoxy against the violent attacks of the Halle theologian. Part
one -- systematic presentation of pietistic theology and Loescher's evaluation of it. Part two -- response to a Pietist refutation
of Part one, and makes a plea for honesty in the judgments of embroiled theologians. In sum, these volumes represent the only
complete and mature analysis of Pietism by someone who experienced it firsthand.
On June 1993, Repristination Press began its work of publishing the works of our Lutheran forefathers with a reprint of
Löhe’s (or Loehe’s) Liturgy for Chirstian Congregations of the Lutheran Faith (selected portions of the third
edition of Loehe’sAgende, which had originally been published in 1902). Now, in connection with the two hundredth anniversary
year of Löhe's birth, and Repristination Press' fifteenth anniversary year of publication, Repristination Press is pleased
to announce publication of an English translation of Löhe's 1849 Aphorisms.
The 1849 and 1851 Aphorisms constitute
Löhe’s two most significant detailed studies on the Office of the Holy Ministry. Dr. Stephenson’s translation
is the first published English edition of 1849 Aphorisms.
Löhe’s substantial involvement in ministry and mission
in the North America (including founding Concordia Theological Seminary-Fort Wayne and providing crucial support for American
missions) highlight the importance of his thought for confessional Lutherans. One need not agree with all of Löhe’s
conclusions to acknowledge the importance of his role in supporting confessional Lutheran theology and practice in North America
and around the world.
Dr. John Stephenson’s excellent translation of this important text was carried out from
the original edition, including Löhe’s footnotes from the original edition, and additional endnotes by the translator.
99
Pages • Hardcover • $20.00 (plus $3 shipping charge for U.S. mailing addresses, shipping rate higher elsewhere).
You
may order Aphorisms online and pay with Paypal:
Vocation: God's Will for Your Life Dr. Steven Hein of the Concordia Institute for Christian Studies
and The Augustana Ministerium
Let this serve as an exhortation,
then, not only for us who are old and advanced in years, but also for the young people who must be brought up in Christian
teaching and in a right understanding of it. With such training we may more easily instill the Ten Commandments, the Creed,
and the Lord’s Prayer into the young so that they will receive them with joy and earnestness, practice them from their
youth, and become accustomed to them. For it is completely useless to try to change old people. We cannot perpetuate these
and other teachings unless we train the people who come after us and succeed us in our office and work, so that they in turn
may bring up their children successfully. In this way God’s Word and a Christian community will be preserved. Therefore
let all heads of a household remember that it is their duty, by God’s injunction and command, to teach their children
or have them taught the things they ought to know. Because they have been baptized and received into the people of Christ,
they should also enjoy this fellowship of the sacrament so that they may serve us and be useful. For they must all help us
to believe, to love, to pray, and to fight against the devil.[1]
Large
Catechism, Sacrament of the Altar, paragraph 86
[1]Robert Kolb, Timothy J. Wengert and Charles P. Arand,
The Book of Concord
: The Confessions of the EvangelicalLutheranChurch, 475 (Minneapolis:
Fortress Press, 2000).
