One Savior

Our Synod's mission

statement says well what

we seek to do together:

The only Way, Truth, Life

 In grateful response 

T

he Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is not an

to God's grace and

office building, nor a staff, in St. Louis, Mo.  It's

empowered

by the

not a federation of districts.  It's not even a collection of

Holy Spirit through

congregations, though that's getting closer to the truth.

Word and

You and I are the Synod, all of us together, because we belong to congregations

Sacraments

, the

that are  members  of the Synod (or, in some cases, because we are professional

church workers who also have joined the Synod as individual members).

mission of The

Together, we are doing things that we could not do or could not do so

Lutheran Church 

well by ourselves, either as congregations or as individuals.  Together, through

our representatives at Synod conventions, we determine what work we want to

Missouri Synod is 

accomplish, we elect boards and officers to make certain decisions on our behalf

vigorously to 

make

(and call or hire staff to carry out these decisions), and we tell the world (and our 

selves) what we believe.  And, together, we pay for this work to be done.

known

the love 

That's what this special report has tried to convey what you and I are

of Christ by 

word

doing together as the Missouri Synod under the theme,  One Mission, One

Message, One People. 

and 

deed

within our

Personally, I think we're doing a lot of very good things together.  But none

churches, communities

of what we're doing would mean a thing apart from another  One  One Savior.

and 

the world

. 

The apostle Paul wrote that  if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is

useless and so is your faith  (1 Cor. 15:14).  If Christ hadn't been raised, He

would be no Savior.  Then, says Paul,  you are still in your sins  and are con 

demned because of them, and  we are to be pitied more

than all men  (vv. 17, 19). 

But, Paul says,  Christ has indeed been raised from

else than Jesus Christ for their place in eternity are, in

the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ...

fact, those who are most to be pitied.  Jesus said it

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive 

Himself:  I am the way and the truth and the life.  No

(vv. 20, 22).

one comes to the Father except through me  (John 14:6).

God, our Father, sent His only begotten Son to be

If you ever wonder why our Synod takes theology

our Savior.  Christ Jesus is our Savior, our only Savior.

so seriously, this is it.  We are committed to all that

There is none other.

Scripture teaches because Christ is at the center of all

It is no little thing to be part of a Synod that clearly

that Scripture teaches.  And Christ is our one Savior.

confesses one Savior.

The intensity of this commitment at times appears

A nationwide survey last year found that 75 percent

to be a weakness because it can lead to conflict and acri 

of Americans say that many religions can lead to eternal

mony.

life.  Even 48 percent of those identified as  highly com 

But this commitment is, in fact, our strength.

mitted white evangelical Protestants  said the same thing!

Thank God that He has given us the desire to be faithful

The results of yet another survey, reported in

to His Word for the sake of the Gospel. And thank God that

October, are just as disturbing. Half of all adults, it said,

He has given us the desire to take this life giving Word

believe that anyone who  is generally good or does

to those who are looking elsewhere than to Jesus Christ,

enough good things for others during their life will earn 

the one Savior, for life, here and in eternity.

a place in heaven.   In other words, half of all adult

Americans believe they can be their own savior.

Rev. David L. Mahsman, Executive Editor

Those who are counting on anyone or anything

The Lutheran Witness

44

THE LUTHERAN WITNESS (70)