Letter to the Church in Response to Governor Northam's Statements on Worship

I wrote the following to the members of Immanuel Evangelical-Lutheran Church, Alexandria, Virginia.

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Dear Christians,

One of the great blessings of America is the First Amendment's guarantee of the free exercise of religion (and the right to peaceably assemble). The government's job is to protect the rights of the people, not make religious pronouncements.

Yesterday the governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, crossed that line. Blaming churches for the spread of the Coronavirus, he said that going to church is unnecessary. “This year, we need to think about what is truly the most important thing. Is it the worship or the building? ... For me, God is wherever you are. You don’t have to sit in the church pew for God to hear your prayers.... Worship with a mask on is still worship, worship outside or worship online is still worship.”

It is important that we show honor and respect to our government and its officers. In matters of Christian doctrine, we must respectfully correct the governor's erroneous statements.

Christians gather together around Christ's Word and Sacraments (Acts 2:42, 46). The Lord's Supper is by its very nature communal (1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:17-21, 33). It is true, "God is wherever you are." However, God's omnipresence is not His gracious presence. The Lord Jesus established means of grace. These means are tangible, coming to us in water, bread, wine. The Word, while we can encounter it through print or electronic media, is intended to be proclaimed to the assembly of the faithful (Heb. 10:23-25), where the shepherd (pastor) is instructed by Holy Scripture to lay his hands on the people, pray for them, call them by name, etc.

We all want the Coronavirus to go away. Let's listen to the governor in his recommendations to wear masks, practice social distancing, cleanse our hands, and practice other mitigation measures. We will honor and pray for Governor Northam and all our federal, state, and local leaders. But in matters of theology, remember that the gathering of the Church is essential, receiving the sacraments is essential, and in these matters we must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).

Every good wish in Christ, 
Pastor Esget

The Poison-root of Vanity

“The entrance of faith into the heart has the effect of making the believer humble in the presence of God and men. Lest we despair when listening in occasionally on our own heart, we must not forget that a poison-root of vanity remains in our heart; but as soon as it begins to stir up vain thoughts in us, we must fight it. A person who does not fight his vanity has no faith and is not a Christian.”

 C.F.W. Walther, The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel, 212.

On Christian Unity

If Christians do not cultivate unity in doctrine and in life among themselves, they are misled by their flesh and blood, standing by peacefully as divisions arise and discord grows day by day. God did not give His gifts to only one Christian or to one Christian congregation. Instead, He distributes them in such a way that all must work together to succeed. When divisions surface, success is hindered—errors increase, quarrels become more passionate, confusion grows, false judgments and a spirit of condemnation ensue, and sects become more numerous. When this happens, how many lose the foundation upon which their faith is built! When the poor world sees how disunited Christians are among themselves, it finds little reason to embrace the faith and is even comforted in rejecting it. Many are offended who might have been won to Christianity.

Christian unity always produces a blessing. If the Church is one in doctrine and life, in faith and love, it shares its gifts and knowledge. It then grows in the wealth of knowledge, the power of faith, the fervor of love, the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the liveliness of hope. It grounds itself ever more deeply and builds itself ever more gloriously, adorned with all sorts of gifts of the Spirit. It then extends its hands to raise up shepherds and soldiers who pursue the work of converting those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and who struggle against the enemies of the truth.

Satan knows all too well what kind of power the Church exercises when it is united. It then not only greens and bears fruit, but it also stands invincible against all of its enemies, conquering them and extending its borders. Therefore, Satan’s most important and dangerous strategy, which he employs to damage the Church is destroying its unity and sowing discord among its members. And how easily he succeeds! how quickly is the holy bond that binds Christians together torn apart! how quickly an ember of discord among the ashes is fanned into a bright flame that seizes and lays waste entire congregations! How necessary it is, then, that the Church carefully cultivate unity, pursuing it as a precious jewel!

– C.F.W. Walther

The Pride of Dominion

Here's a great passage from St. John Chrysostom on the Parable of the Unrighteous Steward that shaped my thinking in preparing yesterday's sermon:

You are an administrator of things that are another's ... Upon you has been bestowed but the right of their brief and passing use. Cast then from your soul the pride of dominion, and put on instead the modesty and humility of a steward.

Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers, vol. III, p321