(ttnurnrbiu UJqrnlnglrul £tttt41y Continuing LEHRE UNO WEHRE MAGAZIN FUER E v .-Lu TH. HOMILETIK THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLY-THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY , Vol. XV December, 1944 No. 12 CONTENTS Page William Herman Theodore Dau __ _ _____________ __ __________________________ ____ 793 Liberal Theology and the Reformed Churches. F. E. Mayer ____ . 795 A Review of Moehlman's "School and ChuI'ch: The American Way." o. C. Rupprecht .. ___ .. __ ... __ ... __ ___ . __ ... ___ . __ ___ __ . ___ .. _____ _ ... . 815 Sermon Study on 1 J ohn 1:1-4. Theo. Laetsch . _ __ .. __ ._. __ __ ... _ 829 Outlines on Gospels Adopted by Synodical Conference ________ . 839 Theological Observer ___ ... _______ ______ . ______ . __ ._ ___ __ _ __ . _____ ._. ___ ._____ . __ . ______ . __ 849 Book Review __ ._______ _______ . ___ . ________ .. ___ __ __ .______________ ______________________ 859 Ein Prediger muss nieM allein wei- den, also dass er die Sehafe unter- weise. wie sie reehte Christen sollen sein. sondem auch daneben den Woel- fen w enTen-, dass sie die Schafe nleht angreifen und mit falscher Lehre ver- fuehren und Irrtum einfuehren. Luther Es 1st kein Ding. das die Leute mehr bel del' Klrche behaelt denn die gute Predigt. - Apologie, ATt. 24 If the trumpet give an uncertain sound. who shall prepare himself to the battle? -1 COT. 14:8 Published for the Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE, St. Louis 18, Mo. PJtI!fDD Dr '0'. S. 1. Book Review 859 Book Review All books reviewed in this periodical may be procured from or through Con- cordia Publishing House, 3558 S. Jellersou Ave., St. Louis 18, Mo. You That Labor. By Myron Lindblom. The Wartburg Press, Columbus, Ohio. 77 pages, 5X7%. 25 cents. This booklet, which is to be followed by another edition later in the year, as the publishers announce, is an attempt to make the Chris- tian religion palatable to the laboring man of America. An undertaking of this type would seem a trifle incongruous in the midst of the Lutheran Church, which is, on the whole, composed of members in the middle and lower economic brackets and can hardly be said to include many in- dustrialists. However, the intention of the book is undoubtedly good. Its first part contains a story of a workingman who won a friend for Christ. This victory was followed by other successes, which are vividly portrayed. The reader would sometimes have preferred a somewhat less vigorous language and takes exception to the fact that the pulpit is sup- posed to be made the springboard for social service propaganda. The Church teaches its members to work for amelioration of social conditions everywhere, but does not take a direct part in these efforts, since it is pledged to win souls through the preaching of the Gospel. The last part of the book presents a rather interesting discussion on the question: "Do You Go to Church?" which contains some fine arguments for regular attendance at church. P. E. KRETZMANN The Social Gospel of Walther Rauschenbusch and Its Relation to Re- ligious Education. By Vernon Parker Bodein. Yale University Press, 1944. 168 pages, 6X9%. $3.00. This book fully corroborates, as it adequately documents, the evalu- ation of the "social gospel" offered in an article in this periodical earlier in the year. (Vol. XV: 459 ff.) The publisher asserts that this study "reveals with clarity and cogency the middle way between the two extremes of humanism and 'neo-orthodoxy,' meeting both the need for personal salvation and the need for a changed social order." And the Preface clarifies this statement by declaring: "The conception of the Kingdom of God is the center of Rauschenbusch's social gospel. The Kingdom means to him the Reign of God on earth. It is of this world and in this world and- is concerned with all of life. (P. vii.) Farther down on the same page the author states: Rauschenbusch "offers a theological" formulation of the social gospel which would place the doc- trine of the Kingdom of God in the-center of theology." These statements of the Preface are borne out by the author's entire presentation. So completely was Rauschenbusch engrossed in the concept of the Kingdom of God "here and now" that he included in his treatise FOT the Right: "for right cooking and dressing and living; for right thinking and speak- ing"; which definitely makes his attitude presentworldly, as distinguished from Rom.14:17. The author states that "the social gospel has some- thing to say about the doctrines of the Holy Spirit, Revelation, Inspira- 860 Book Review tion, Prophecy, and about the sacraments of the Lord's Supper and Baptism." (P.61.) And what is said concerning these doctrines is not in accordance with Scriptural truth. "Rauschenbusch believes that it is a mistake to interpret the Greek phrase E'V'tO'; uJ.twv in Luke 17:20,21 as meaning 'within you.' It does not mean an internal and spiritualized Kingdom, he insists. He opposes the spiritual interpretation of the Kingdom because he thinks it tends to mystical experiences which by their nature lead one away from any constructive reformation of society." (P.75.) Then the author continues: "The Kingdom of God is of this world," a statement which directly contradicts John 18: 36. According to Bodein's explanation of the stand taken by Rauschenbusch, the latter denied, or refused to be concerned with, "any metaphysical problem in- volved in trinitarian and Christological docb'ines" (p.l04), that "the orthodox doctrine of original sin is of little concern to Walter Rauschen- busch" (p. 112). He sets aside the doctrines of the fall of man (p.llS), is not concerned with any attempted discrimination between the deity of Christ and His divinity (p.1l9), does not want the atonement and justification to be taught as the Bible teaches it. The entire book offers convincing evidence that Rauschenbusch made the fundamental error of confusing the fruits of Christianity (which include good works also in the social field) with the essence of Christianity (which is Lhe ac- ceptance of Christ as the individual's personal Savior). Incidentally a touch of humor is presented in a printer's error, when on page 29 the text has Judenvereine instead of Jugendvereine. P. E. KRETZMANN Broken Pillars. By Harold Garnet Black. Fleming H. Revell Company, New York. 129 pages, 7¥4X5l!4. $1.50. Anyone who reads this book will profit by so doing. Pastors will find material for their classes and for their sermons. More stress ought to have been given to the fact that the commandments are first of all directed to the heart. The author does not entirely overlook this, for in elaborating on the commandment "Thou shalt not covet," he says: "This is the only one that is concerned with motives; it strikes at the source of all the sins forbidden in the other nine. This last word from Sinai has primarily to do with man's relation with his fellows. It is unlike the earlier ones in that they prohibit only the overt act. This one, however, gets below external actions and reaches down into the hidden places of the mind, into the thought life wherein lie the springs of human conduct." (P.97.) In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us that all commandments are transgressed in thoughts, words, and deeds. Also the summary of the commandments given by Jesus, Matt.22:37-39, shows that the commandments are first of all directed to the heart. The author ought to have given more attention to this in the explanation of each commandment. J. H. C. FRITZ Revivalism in America, Its Origin, Growth, and Decline. By William Warren Sweet. Charles Scribner's Sons. New York. 192 pages. $2.00. Dr. Sweet has given us in this book the results of his studies of the religious phenomenon which we call revivalism. It has long been a highly controversial subject and has often caused divisions in the :teview 861 American Church. The virtue of this book lies chiefly in this, that the author has gone to great pains in showing the background of our pioneer era, out of which revivalism sprang, and that revivalism was a great effort on the part of church leaders and members to save early Amer- icanism from religious bankruptcy. Those who have been the severest critics of revivalism have usually overlooked the fact that Christianity in America "in the good old days" was at low ebb; that the percentage of our population enrolled in the churches has been steadily increasing from an all-time low at the beginning of the last century; and that the religious revivals played a most important role in "saving many brands from the burning." When our own Wyneken, in his famous "Call for Help," issued a little over a century ago, described the deplorable re- ligious conditions in his part of the country, he was really depicting conditions as they prevailed in vast sections beyond his own territory. Another charge which is often raised against the old-time revivals, namely, that their results were too superficial, is also refuted by the author. He admits a degree of superficiality, but brings sufficient evi- dence to prove that many frontier denominations followed up the re- vivals with painstaking religious instruction. To quote a significant paragraph: "Frontier religion was also much more solidly based than is usually pictured. The long lists of catechisms, Bibles, Testaments, hymnbooks, disciplines, and other religious books which were sold by the Methodist circuit riders to the people on their circuits are evidence of the religious instruction afforded. The fact that almost all the early Presbyterian preachers in the West were also schoolteachers is evidence that theirs was a teaching as well as a preaching ministry." To give our readers an idea of the scope and arrangement of the volume, here are the main chapter heads: Colonial Revivalism and the Growth of Democracy; Theodore J. Freylinghuysen and the Log College Evangelists; The Colonial Revivalist-Theologians: J onathan Dick~ inwn and Jonathan Edwards; The Revivalists Who Brought Religion to the Common Man; Revivalism and the Westward March; The By- Products of Revivalism; Revivalism on the Wane. The book concludes with a selected bibliography and an index. We recommend it to all our pastors for study. W.G.POLACK My Privilege as Sponsor. Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis. A folder, 4X61,2. 5 cents. This is something new: a folder which is to be given to sponsors at the time when the child is baptized to remind them of their obligations. It is to be feared that not a few who are called upon to act as sponsors think that they have done their duty when they have been witnesses at the child's baptism. J. H. C. FRITZ Helping Ourselves to ~ad, Practice Book I. By Wm. Bloom, Elmer Huedepohl. Consultant: Alfred Schmieding. Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo. 62 pages, llx81,2. 45 cents. On Our Way in Reading, Practice Book n. By Wm. Bloom, Elmer Huedepohl. Consultant: Alfred Schmieding. Concordia Publishing House, St.Louis, Mo. 62 pages, llx81f2. 45 cents. 862 Book Review Traveling On in Reading, Practice Book 111. 'By Wm. Bloom, Elmer Huedepohl. Consultant: Alfred Schmieding. Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo; 62 pages, llx8lj2; 45 cents. Reading in the ' Primary School. By Alfred Schmieding. Concordia Publishing Hause, St. Louis, Mo. 88 pages, 6X6. 45 cents. The teaching of reading in prhnary grades , is one of the most hn- portant and at the same time one of the most difficult subjects for the teacher to master. Wrong, reading habits acquired in childhood may seriously hamper the reading ability of the adult throughout life. The four books here, presented offer excellent helps to assist the teacher in the development of this hnportant skill. The first three books listed are workbooks and are. what the name , of the . first hnplies, practice books, in which the PllPil is encouraged to help himself in the ,learning-to-read process without much aid from the teacher. The books are designed for the first three grades and provide tests, word analyses, and other useful activities for. the children of these grades. The exercises follow the corresponding units in the respective readers. The directions are shnple and aim to develop the skills previously learned. The books in their content and make-up reveal the master hand of the experienced classroom teacher. Pastors who have parochial schools will do well to encourage their teachers to introduce these books if this has not already been done. Reading in the Primary School is a book for teachers. Its purpose is "to stress the reading trend, above all, the reading trends and prac- tices of the Lutheran school that characterize and distinguish i1; ,as an, agency of Christian education." The following subjects are treated: 1. Trends in Prhnary Reading; 2. Preparation for Successful Beginning Reading; 3. Problems and Procedures in the Development of Basic Reading Skills; 4. Readers and Exercise Materials for the Prhnary School; 5. Reading in Grade I; 6. Reading in Grade II; 7. Reading in Grade III; 8. Results Attained in the Primary School. Teachers will also appreciate the bibliography found on the last two , pages. This is an excellent little book. Every beginning teacher should have it at his elbow and live in it. Experienced teachers might well use it to test themselves from thne to thne whether they are still doing their best for the children entrusted to them in this all-hnportant school subject of reading. The harm done to children by starting them off with a faulty reading habit is beyond calculation. The book may also be placed in the hands of parents whose children are passing through the learning-to-read process and are often called upon to help them with their home work. To achieve the best results, home and school ought to co- operate, but it is hnportant that the same method be employed. A. M. REHWINKEL Heaven Below. By E. H. Clayton. Prentice-Hall, Inc., New York. 282 pages,6%x9%. $2.75. In 1912 Missionary Clayton, D. D ., went to China as representative of the American Baptist Mission Society, serving mission schools at Huchow, Chekiang, and at last at Hangchow, where his school became a refuge for thousands of Chinese women and children during and Book, Review 863 after the occupation of this -once flourishing city. In 1942 he ret1ll'ned to America on the Gripsholm, but after the war he intends to return to China to continue his work; for, as he says, nothing can save China but Christianity. The book records manifold gripping experiences of his, especially such as happened during the destructive Sino-Japanese war, But there are delightful episodes, too, such as big-game hunting in the mountains, family experiences of a quite human missionary, whose wife and five children, after all, are nearest and dearest to him, etc. The whole narrative is pervaded by an enriching, refreshing humor, found frequently even in descriptive passages of tragic incidents. The title perhaps was suggested by the proverbial saying: "Above is heaven; below Hangchow." Dr. Clayton is a regular contributor to such maga- zines as the Yale Review, the American Magazine, the Christian Herald, Missions, and others. Heaven Below is an engagi~, instructive, and timely book, which, we are sure, will do much to revive missionary interest in China, and which, well written, splendidly made up, and lacking in the common profanity which disgraces so many otherwise good modern books, will furnish hours of pleasant and profitable enter- tainment to young and old Christian readers. A good, clean book for Christian homes and schools. JOHN THEODORE MUELLER ':'he Chapel Hymnat Authorized by the Intersynodical Committee on Hymnology and Liturgics for the Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America. Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo. 127 pages. Stiff paper cover. 25 cents. This little Chapel Hymnal contains 103 hymns, all but eight of which have been taken from the Lutheran Hymnal, The others are from the Sunday-School Hymnal. Each hymn has its musical setting. In addi- tion to the necessary indexes the Orders of lVIatins and Vespers are included, and prayers for the opening and the close of service, Psalm 23, the Apostles' Creed, the General Confession, the General Prayer, and the Lord's Prayer. The purpose of this Chapel Hymnal is given by the Committee in these words: "There are many places and occasions outside the church and its stated services when a smaller collection of hymns is more convenient and practical than that of the official Hymnal. There are open-air mission festivals, noonday Lenten services in public buildings, Easter sunrise services in the open, meetings of men's clubs, ladies' aid societies, young people's meetings, summer and winter camp conferences, evan- gelistic services of various kinds, services in hospitals, infirmaries, penal institutions, services . _ J camps, naval stations, on shipboard, etc. H is for such uses that this little collection has been prepared. Then there are services in new industrial centers, in preaching stations in city, town, and country. To many a person in a hospital or some other institution, to a missionary prospect, individual or family, to many a poor home, this little book would be an appreciated gift. "This little Chapel Hymnal is inexpensive. It is handy and can be carried in the pocket or purse, in the serviceman's duffel and in t} servicewoman's handbag. 864 Book Review "May it be a welcome messenger to many hearts, them to devout singing of the great songs of Zion!" and may it lead May this little Hymnal serve this purpose to the greater glory of our God! W.G.POLACK e Alta] I. By A. Menges. The Muhlenberg Press. Phil- adelphia. 47 pages. Stiff paper covers. 40 cents. This little booklet is intended to give directions to the ladies of the altar guild on the proper care of the altar and the sanctuary. It covers especially the following points: Vesting the Altar; the Altar Cloths; Laundering the Linens; the Use and Arrangement of Flowers; the Arrangements and Care of the Vessels for Holy Communion; the Care of the Brasses and Candles; etc. The instructions given for the ladies are sober and sensible, with due emphasis on the matter of personal consecration on the part of those who wish to sprve the church as members of altar guilds. r W. G. POLACK BOOKS RECEIVED Every Teacher a Trained Teacher. Prepared by the Board of Christian Education, Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. Author: A. C. Mueller. 7 pages. Opening a Parochial Schopl. How to Go About It. Prepared under the Auspices of the Board of Christian Education, Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. Author: A. C. Stellhorn. 12 pages. Week"- ..... ~hools of Religion on Released Time. Prepared by the Board of Christian Education, Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. Author: Clarence Peters. 7 pages. Soul Secrets. Daily Devotions, November 1, 1944, to December 21, 1944. No. 57. By the Rev. C. W. Berner. 64 pages. Price: 5 cents per copy, postpaid; 48 cents per dozen, postage extra; $3.00 per hundred, postage extra. Das verheissene Paradies. Taegliche Andachten fuer die Zeit vom 1. November bis zum 21. Dezember 1944. The Rev. R. Herrmann. Price same as above. These items are published by Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Missouri. Corrigendum November number, page 770, line 3, top, should read: placed under suspicion in a critical way, nor are the 430 years, accord-. To Our Subscribers It has been our cnstom to retain the names of our subscribers on our lists for two numbers after the subscription has expired, so that the subscriptions could be continued without interruption in case a renewal came in late. We were very happy to follow this plan at extra expense, but we are now unable to continue this policy because of present conditions. June, 1943 CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE