The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

by G. H. Gerberding

Thus these festival communion seasons were true revival seasons. And why should it not be so still? What can be more inspiring and impressive than these

great facts which our church festivals commemorate? If the solemn warnings of the Advent season, the glad tidings of the Christmas season, the touching and searching lessons of the Lenten season, the holy, inspiring joyousness of the Easter season, or the instructive admonitions of the Pentecostal season, will not attract and move and edify the hearts of men, what will?

What has the radical part of the Church gained by setting aside these seasons, hallowed by the use of Christ, His apostles and martyrs, the Church Fathers and Reformers? Is the modern revival system and the Week of Prayer arrangement an improvement? Can any modern self-appointed committee get up a better and more effective program than our historic Passion Week services, crowned with its Easter communion? Assuredly no! There can be no new "program," however broad or spicy, that can be adapted to bless the saint and sinner, like our old order, following the dear Saviour, step by step, on his weary way to the cross and tomb, and thus preaching Christ Crucified for, at least, one whole week in a year. Though there may be progressive Greeks to-day to whom this preaching of Christ Crucified is "foolishness," or materialistic Jews to whom it is "a stumbling-block," we know it is still the power of God and the

wisdom of God to all who believe. We know that there can be nothing so truly promotive of genuine piety, so well adapted for the conversion of sinners and the sanctifying of believers, as this preaching of the cross. We do not wonder, therefore, that, after a comparatively short experience in the new way, earnest voices are raised, in quarters, whence a few years ago came nothing but ridicule of Lenten services, pleading for the old historic Passion Week, instead of the new Week of Prayer. Not that we object to a week of prayer. We only object to the substitution of this modern week, with its diversified program, for the old week with its Bible Passion lessons.

Thus then we see that there is abundant provision and opportunity for special seasons of awakening and refreshing, by following the regular Church Year.

We would not, however, claim that, in the present state of affairs, on account of a lack of proper understanding and churchliness and because of the unconscious influence of popular notions, there is no need, occasion, and opportunity for still more marked and general awakenings. The word of God speaks of "times of visitation," "times of refreshing," an "accepted time," a "day of salvation," "thy day," etc. There are times and seasons when the good Lord draws

especially near to sinners to convert and save them; times when His Spirit manifests Himself more fully in the Church than at other times. In His own wise Providence He brings about and prepares the Church for such time. Thus, when, from causes noted above, the Church grows cold and languid, He sends afflictions of various kinds. People are made to realize the uncertainty and unsatisfactoriness of the affairs of this life. By losses, diseases, bereavements, or bitter disappointments, God seeks to wean them from their worldly idols. He brings them to reflection. They "come to themselves." They are ready to recall and hear the Father's voice. They are willing to hear the long neglected Word. They go to the house of God. They listen eagerly. The Word finds free course. There is no wilful resistance. It drops as the rain and distils as the dew. It does not return void.

If now the pastors and people know this "time of visitation," if they realize that it is a "time of refreshing from the Lord," not gotten up by human expedients, they will quickly respond to these gracious indications. Whether such times come in connection with the communion and Festival seasons or not, special provision ought to be made to gather the quickly ripening harvest. It is sometimes well to make provision for special services. There may be a

series of special sermons. The preaching must be, above all things, instructive, a plain and direct setting forth of the Way of Salvation. The appeal must be first of all to the understanding, and through it to the heart. The exhortations and invitations must be based on and grow out of these instructions. The great themes of sin and Grace, and the application and reception of Grace, should be set forth with all possible simplicity and earnestness.

This preaching of the Gospel and instruction in the way of life should not be confined to the pulpit. The wise pastor will give opportunity for all inquirers to meet him privately, or will seek them out to tell them the way of God, as it relates to each individual case, still more plainly. This will be a true revival. Only let the churches discern and use the times, when "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by."