Lutheran Hymns, The Catholics, and the LCMS
Robert P. George is one of the most well known and influential public intellectuals of the Roman Catholic Church in America. Right alongside him is Anthony Esolen. Both have been fighting the culture wars for decades; extolling the gifts of Western Civilization as we have received them from God Himself; defending conscience and religious liberty in America, the sanctity of life, marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and on and on. Read them and be challenged to think, and hone your arguments for the true, good and beautiful.
George was recently a speaker at the Issues Etc. Making the Case Conference. Yesterday he took to Facebook and posted what you see above regarding congregational singing of traditional Lutheran hymns, and then Esolen chimed in. Both were extolling our Synod because of our Lutheran Hymnody. Would our Synod receive such praise from such men without our sung confession? The question answers itself.
What we sing makes a difference. It distinguishes us as the Lutherans we are, and this is good. Lutheran hymns have not lost their monopoly in the Missouri Synod, at least not among those who desire to teach and live the fullness of Lutheran doctrinal confession and piety through what is said and sung in our churches. If Lutheran Hymns have been lost in our congregations, every pastor should do what he can to restore them to the lives of the people he serves- in the Divine Service, in our homes and in our Lutheran Schools.
Two of the most well known Catholics in the country can see that our Hymnody sets us apart, and one even says that the Roman Catholics should learn from us. That sure is nice. Even if they didn’t say such nice things, our singing of Lutheran Hymns would still clarify who we are, and what we believe, as our Hymns join our doctrine and faith together through music. Understanding that, we will not play the game of competing for narcissistic worship consumers. There is no need. We will simply be the Lutherans we are and sing Lutheran Hymns, from our Hymnals. The Holy Spirit will draw men to faith where and when He pleases through the preached Gospel and the Sacraments. And so we preach Christ Crucified, and hold fast to our confession by singing it.
Our hymns teach the faith. They confess the truth. They give thanks to God for what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do. They give comfort in times of trial and sadness, and give expression to joy in times of celebration. They join us to the saints of old, and to those who are to come after us.
We are Lutherans. We sing Lutheran Hymns. As CFW Walther said, “We ought not to refuse to walk in the footsteps of our fathers.”
PS That Wayne Smith guy needs to read the Augsburg Confession. So should George and Esolen.