Peace and Unity in the Lord

A Statement from The Office of the President
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
1333 South Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63122
United States of America

As our Synod seeks God's guidance to be strongly in the Word, people-centered and people-sensitive, reaching out boldly with the Gospel and remaining faithful to Scripture and to the Lutheran Confessions, we do all of this committed, finally, to living together in peace and unity in the Lord.

Again, how is this accomplished? As with each of the other points, it must begin in each of our individual lives. How do we handle ourselves as Christian men and women? Are we personally committed to peace and unity in the Lord? How, for instance, do we handle unfair criticism, personal attacks or troubling situations? Do we lash out? Do we ourselves go into an "attack mode"? Or do we forgive those who hurt and harm us? Do we set our eyes on our higher goals and move forward?

In our personal relationships with others we need to find the way that makes for peace, not war. Some have observed that we Missouri Synod Lutherans seem to enjoy war rather than peace. We have gone through some turbulent times. We dare not be deceived into thinking that the struggles we have faced as a church body were simply personality conflicts. No, we have faced genuine struggles to retain the truth among us and we shall always face these struggles; however, there are times when we seem to prefer war rather than peace.

Sometimes our opinions are expressed in ways which are harsh, cruel and unkind attacks against persons, rather than expressions of concern about issues. We should be able to openly express our disagreements, point out errors and offer constructive criticism without resorting to personal attacks.

Peace and unity in the Lord is possible only in light of the forgiveness which Christ our Lord won for us on the cross. Christ's peace flows into our lives and then out into the lives of others. As people who are redeemed by the "Prince of Peace," we are called to be peace-makers.

During my first term as president of our beloved Synod I have committed myself to work for peace and unity in the Lord. Sure, there have been a few bumps along the way, but I do feel strongly that the most important way we can promote peace and unity in our Synod is if each of us is committed to the peace of Christ's forgive-ness and is committed to extending that to others.

And then that peace works its way into our families. Our attitudes and actions toward family members flow from the sacrificial love God extends to us in Christ. We love our family members and forgive them because Christ has forgiven them and us. "Peace-making" must begin in our families and then it can work its way out from there. In this way peace starts with us and from there moves into our congregations, our synodical districts and into the Synod-at-large.

In our congregations we need to work continually on maintaining peace and unity in the Lord. I am genuinely saddened when I hear about congregations that are in conflict. At times the members of a congregation are determined to remove their pastor because they disagree with his faithful preaching and teaching, or dislike his personality. They are far too quick to judge and find fault instead of forgiving and understanding their pastor and working with him. At other times, our pastors and other church workers can go to war in the congregation over issues which would be better settled through careful discussion and study.

At the national level, our Synod's leaders must also model peace and unity in the Lord, putting the needs of our Synod first, before their own desires. Our leaders must be people of peace, committed to unity in the Lord and working hard to achieve this goal. Again, this is not to suggest that we as a Synod do not need to struggle for the truth. Struggling for the truth is not something to be avoided at all costs, but in the process we dare not lose sight of our calling to be agents of peace.

We need to be very clear about this. If the price of peace is sacrificing the truth, the price is far too high. We must never deceive ourselves into thinking that just because there is an appearance of "peace," all is well. Nor for that matter is an expression of concern, even pointed criticism, something to be avoided at all costs. But even when there is controversy or disagreement among us, we dare not surrender a desire for peace in our zeal to "win" the battle or carry the day.

Therefore, as individuals, families, congrega-tions, districts and Synod we need to work together as a family to take those steps necessary to maintain peace and unity in the Lord. We need to say to ourselves, "Beginning with me and then extending into my family, my congregation, my district and into the Synod, I will work for what makes for true peace and unity in the Lord." For it is to this task that we have been called.

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:1-6).