CFW. Walther Address to a Christian Young Men Society
A Summary and Review of C.F.W. Walther’s Address to a Christian Young Men’s Society on July 4th, 1853 Christopher R. Gillespie (Unpublished translation, unknown author) Written for Cornerstone student paper but I don't know if it will be published before the election. Its too relevant to pass by. C.F.W. Walther, pastor, theologian, Synodical president, was asked on the occasion of Independence Day, 1853 to speak to a society of young Christian men. The connection to events of July 4th, 1887, a mere 77 years previous was not lost on him. His address speaks directly to the national holiday. Why ask Dr. Walther to speak to this group on a civil holiday? Is he not a pastor and theologian? Why not ask a veteran, statesman, or civil leader? Walther accepted their invitation despite what to us seems inappropriate. From the content of the address we note two characteristics which hint at his motives. First, he addresses the group not only as Americans but primarily as Christians. A Christian pastor is suitable for address to a Christian society. Second, he focuses principally on religious freedom not on creaturely freedom or comforts our nation affords (i.e. health, wealth, and prosperity.) He speaks as a Christian, a pastor, and as a citizen. Only one hundred and fifty words into his speech, he speaks honestly to the society of his address’s intent:
If now you should desire that I blend my voice in the accustomed fashion with those who appear before the citizens of this land on this day; that is to say, should you expect of me that I present a eulogy on the ingenuity of man which has erected the astounding, great, glorious, and richly blessed edifice of this republic, then you would, of course, soon be disappointed in me.Â
I am a Christian! As highly as I value the gifts and virtues of citizenship by which the founders of this republic have earned an undying name in the history of nations and States, and which are reflected in the constitution under which we live as citizens, nevertheless, as a Christian I could never be a priest who would lay the offerings of praise and thanksgiving on altars erected to mortal men.
He shifts from typical praise of nation, founding father, soldier, or working class and refocuses the thanksgiving due towards God.As a Christian I know and believe that God the Lord alone has given success to every successful deed, has granted His blessing to every blessed effort. Only God the Lord, who governs the destiny of nations, bestows success and prosperity. He dethrones tyrants. He gives wisdom and power that effects and brings to fulfillment a new national government under which a people may live in prosperity and peace in their land.Â
Walther names the blessings his new fatherland brings, including wealth, fertile soil, republican government, industry, and dramatic expansion. He shifts the hearer quickly from return to self-praise for our accomplishment. He says:You know that I am a theologian, a preacher of religion, a servant of the church. In considering this union of States today, I am naturally going to do so in relation to religion, to Christianity, to the church.
The richness of Walther’s address is his ability to present a civil holiday while considering Christian theology. We continue to address our congregations even on the Lord’s Day, recognizing national holidays such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, as well as Independence Day. The challenge is to maintain focus upon the Gospel of Christ and His cross when speaking of civil glories, whether the noble death of a compatriot, the wealth built by the hardworking citizens of the nation, or the freedoms gained at the arrival of the nation. These are deeds can easily shift the hearer from Creator to creature. Most appropriately Walther focuses his audience not upon the works of man but the great gift given by God at with their hands and life, namely religious freedom. As happens today, many in Walther’s day disputed the benefit of this freedom and did not see it as a great and praiseworthy blessing. The bulk of Walther’s address is prove the pundits wrong on both counts. Walther praises our nation for not intertwining citizenship and faith. He undoubtedly has in mind the Prussian Union, where civil leader Fredrick William III imposed doctrine upon the “Old Lutherans†in a false attempt to unify Lutheran and Reformed faiths. These confessional Lutherans were suspended or imprisoned when practicing the old liturgical rite or confessing the Lord's body and blood of the Lord’s Supper. Walther holds the distinction between church and state in high esteem, not found in former homeland:State and Church, the civic and religious life, are here separated from one another in such a way that the State does not inquire how its citizens come to God or what they trust for their salvation. The State is concerned only that no one seeks by force to hinder the other from honoring and worshipping God according to the conviction of his conscience. I maintain that this religious freedom is one of the brightest stars in the banner of our new fatherland.
As he addresses these Christian men, Walther defines the true role of the state.A State is certainly not an institution of God by which its citizens are to be led to eternal life. The State, in which there are authorities and subjects, commanders and followers, rulers and the ruled, is rather frail arrangement of God for this life, established for order in the world, that what is mine and yours should be protected, that justice and righteousness be meted out, that each one may live quietly and undisturbed with his family.Â
Especially appropriate today are those who suggest our state is one which can further the Gospel. A number of candidates for this year’s presidential election have blurred this distinction, misusing Scripture to support their run for office. One candidate has repeatedly been referred to as a “messiah.†Walther rightly disputes good government is within the realm of the Law and does not deliver the eternal freedom of heaven. Yet in his day, the scoffers pointed towards heretical preachers and teachers as examples why religious freedom is less preferred to state mandated and managed religion.ÂIt is furthermore true, that indeed here, under the protection of our religious liberty, the voices of deceit sound out loud and clear, and thousands of innocent hearts are offended, poisoned and misled, and scores of immortal souls are being hurled into the abyss of destructive errors… As great, however, as this evil is, nevertheless, it is heavily outweighed by the blessings that the religious liberty brings.
Walther has in mind the abuses of the church of Rome, where the church mandates false doctrine and the states of Europe provide earthly enforcement. Walther disputes that such unification is more than unhealthy but compromises the very faith.A religion that calls upon the arm of a temporal power for her protection, propagation, and subjection of her enemies, has surrendered herself, has judged herself, borne personal witness that she no longer bears a world-conquering power in herself, and that the sword of the Word of God is not in her sheath; that therefore she is not the true religion, that she will not be able to bring the kingdom of heaven and its eternal treasures to the world but desires to bring the world and its perishable goods into her heavenly kingdom.
The best gift a state can bring to Christendom is not special privileges but liberty. Liberty affords the faith freedom to proclaim the Gospel and an environment where the faith can be believed and lived without fear. Walther’s address one hundred and fifty years ago is as timely now as it was then. The gift of religious freedom is the hallmark of this country. The other privileges granted by our state are secondary to the freedom to believe. In this union of states we rightfully thank God that His Gospel can be preached for the salvation of our neighbor.
