Lutheranism is the Truth (Part II)
“We admit that the so-called Lutheran Church is just one denomination, one part of the visible church, but we also claim, despite some faults it may have, that it is nevertheless the one among all which has the mark of the pure denomination, the church par excellence. We will allow that name ‘Lutheran,’ when used with the sublime name ‘church,’ is a bad contradiction in terms, but we still maintain that historically it is nothing but an inadequate substitute for all the more beautiful titles of honor which belong to the church. We believe that the church should not be named for any man, but we feel that the reproof of the Corinthians earned because of the way they applied the names of ‘Cephas, Paul, and Apollos’ to their parties is completely undeserved by the Lutheran Church... The name ‘Lutheran’ pertains to the content of the teaching itself and was applied to our denomination by its enemies because in their vain arrogance they claimed the names ‘Christian,’ ‘catholic,’ and ‘apostolic’ for themselves and on account of their egotism could not apply them to others. Its friends tolerated this name and still tolerate it because they had and still have the well-founded conviction, first, that no protest would do any good and, second, that a proper consideration of the matter could easily prove and can still prove that even though ‘Lutheran’ does not sound the same as ‘Christian,’ ‘catholic,’ and ‘apostolic,’ it means the same... Here on earth the true church temporarily calls itself Lutheran until the better names belong to it once again, but in heaven it has always had those better names and still has them.”
“All of this is said incidentally, for there is something else we really want to talk about. We want to say that our opponents, contrary to the better practice of earlier days and in opposition to the truer statements of many teachers within their own ranks, deny that the Scriptures are clear and that it is therefore easy to judge what is the proper confession on the basis of the Holy Scriptures. They deny this only, or chiefly, because if they admitted it, the truth and the glory of the true church, the church par excellence, would irrefutably have to be ascribed to our despised Lutheran Church. No one has yet been able to prove that our confessions are in error on one single point. It is still true that every simple reader who compares our distinctive doctrines with the clear words of the Holy Scriptures must confirm the truth of our confession. The Augsburg Confession may be refuted by the writings of the fathers, which do not always agree, but it can never be refuted by God’s Word.”
“.... Let us now elevate this discussion without allowing ourselves to exaggerate. Because it has the Word and sacrament in a pure confession, the Lutheran Church is the foundation of truth, and from its waters all thirsty souls in other churches have their thirst quenched. With cheerful faces and sharp swords the members of this church stand in serene peace around the fountain which saves all those who are saved.”
“Here is the host of Israel in whose midst is the ark of the Word and the sacraments, and above the ark is the Lord. Yes, here is the holy of holies of God’s house, and when it is said, May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion, it means the sanctuary and Zion which are here in the church of the pure confession, the church in whose Word and sacrament the Lord dwells more gloriously than in the temple of the Old Testament. From it all salvation proceeds, for here is uncovered the clear truth of the gospel, not just partially, but as fully as is possible on this side of the grave. The truths that other denominations possess are here united in the truth...”
“So here is the church par excellence. Do they deny it? Let them try to take from us the banners and standards of the church! Let them first prove what they can never prove, that our confession deviates from the Word. As long as they do not do this, the Lord is with us, and we are the church from whose perfect fullness all other churches live. Until then we will rejoice in what we possess and will be a blessing to all other churches, rejecting their errors and rejoicing in their truths. We fight against what they do wrong but consider ourselves one with them in all they do right.”
Wilhelm Löhe, “Three Books about the Church” (1844)