Dedication of the New Building at Luther College

Decorah, Iowa

October 14, 1865

Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Psalm 127:1

O Lord, gracious, merciful God and Father, laud and praise be yours for all the grace and loving kindness which you have demonstrated toward us poor sinners and for the fact that you now allow us to gather on this day for such a wonderful celebration! O faithful God, bless now our going in and our coming out here, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our dear Lord and Savior! Amen.

Dearly beloved brethren of the Lutheran faith, and countrymen! Grace be with you and peace from God our Father through his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ!

I am convinced that in this festive hour you want to confess from the bottom of your hearts to the laud and praise of God with the psalmist in the 126^th Psalm, "The LORD has done great things for us; whereof we are glad," (Vs. 3). Yes, Christian men and women throughout our congregations, was it not joy over the wonderful thing which you heard that the Lord had done among us which moved and touched your hearts deeply at home? Was it not the eager longing to see this large, handsome school building which through the power of his grace the Lord has erected among us, which urged you here from your distant homes! Was it not this heartfelt joy which gathered you here today from far and near in unity of faith in Jesus' name in order to praise the Lord, the mighty King who has done such great things for us? Scripture often says of people when they had been witnesses to the miracles of the Lord, "And they marveled greatly." Thus are there also many among you who marvel greatly in this hour. Yes, I know, many, myself included, looked forward to this work which the Lord has done among us so very, very much, that our joy over it only finds its expression in a holy awe. O, that's how I feel right now, dear friends, when I am to step forward in your midst and express the joy and holy awe which fills my soul when I consider the goodness, power and faithfulness of the Lord which he has shown to us, his poor servants, and of which this building is so excellent a testimony.

I remember well how a couple of years ago we talked about obtaining a suitable building for our school, but we talked about it as a fine hope for the future. I remember also that just one year ago we laid the cornerstone in this building with heartfelt joy but also with fear. We asked each other: "I wonder when we'll see it finished?" And, look, now it stands there, large, solid and handsome, ready for use, a work so well carried out in every respect as really hardly any of us had envisioned. And yet, my friends, how poor, how pitiful were not our joy if it were only a joy over the completion of this building of stone! How meager then were not our understanding of the great things the Lord has done among us? No, we will rejoice over the spiritual work which the Lord has done among us, over the power his Word of truth has obtained over our hearts, over the desire and the zeal he has awakened for the preservation and spread of this "his blessed Gospel." We want to rejoice over the fact that the Lord has made himself known through our evangelical testimony, however weakly we may have spoken it! Finally, we want to rejoice that through allowing this building to become reality the Lord has given us so excellent an opportunity to strengthen so many young men in the Word of his truth and strengthened our hope that he himself will graciously preserve it for our descendants! Because in this wise and for this purpose has the Lord built this house.

Or, is it not he, the Lord of hosts, the mighty Father of mercy, who has done it? Was it perhaps our zeal, our might, our sacrifice?

O brethren, in what great weakness did not even the most zealous among us work! How much ill-will and opposition did not this work meet both here and there? How many enemies did not make fun of it and predict a sad end for it? And its friends, how often were not they weak, how fainthearted and dispirited! In spite of the Lord so often demonstrating himself to us a Helper in need, how often did we however not say to ourselves: "We can't go on. Now there is no longer a way out! You're just tempting God by continuing!" However, we have been put to shame with all our worries and doubts! The Lord would let us acknowledge that his arm is not yet shortened, that he still knows how to lead hearts to rivers of waters, that he is still capable of doing things where our own strength isn't worth a thing. While a dreadful civil war was raging in our country, while people in many places were hit by crop failure, scarcity and heavy burdens, the means were provided, often in surprising ways, and this building went up one foot at a time and now it stands here before our eyes a year later, completely finished. Yes, we really have to say: It has gone wonderfully; truly "the Lord has done great things among us," when "the Lord has built the house the work of the builders is not in vain."

However, at the same time as we give God alone the glory and joyfully confess that it is he who has done great things among us, yet we gladly want to extend them our gratitude who have been his instruments in this building: above all, the venerable German-Lutheran Missouri Synod through which the Lord has led us to a much purer and clearer understanding of the doctrine of our dear Lutheran Church and in that way to so much greater joy in the precious Gospel and zeal for its preservation and spread, without which understanding, joy and zeal we certainly would not have brought this building about, even less, have built it with the holy purpose as we have done: to "serve the Lord here in Spirit and in truth" ; furthermore, our capable as well as beloved architect, Mr. Griese, and our dear Building Committee, chiefly Professor Larsen, Pastor Koren and Dr. Gulbrand Rustad and Jens Naeseth, who have carried out the laborious, difficult tasks and duties assigned to them with so much zeal, eagerness and self-sacrifice; and finally, the pastors and congregations throughout the synod who have worked for the cause and supported it with great zeal and sacrifice. The Lord be praised for everything which he has done through them! May he bless them all with rich joy from the work!

Yes, friends, we have much reason to rejoice and to be glad, teachers and students, congregations, pastors, old and young: 'because the Lord has done great things among us."

But in our joy let us now not forget that we ourselves can hinder, misuse and corrupt even the best work of the Lord.

The Lord has allowed this work of ours to go well. This building of stone now stands ready, but the spiritual building for whose sake it was constructed and which is to be carried on in it is not finished. Much rather, we are all now to work on it with much greater joy, zeal and strength. But, brothers and sisters, if we are to become capable of that, if we shall not instead come to work with sorrow and wailing, with faintheartedness and despair, without hope and without fruit, then the Lord must take neither his Spirit nor his hand from us but still "do great things among us," in other words then, "the Lord must build the house." How this shall occur now through the work we shall do, we want to reflect on with one another since we have gathered today in order to dedicate this house to its important and holy use through the Word and prayer. As the basis for our meditation we will with the help of the Holy Spirit consider the holy words which the Spirit of God has let be written in the first verse of Psalm 127:

 "EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE, THEY LABOR IN VAIN THAT BUILD IT."

First then, Christian friends, we must have a clear picture of what the work is which shall be done here, what the spiritual house is which is now to be built. I will state it briefly in the same words in which it was expressed in the description which was placed in the cornerstone last year, namely: "to train pastors for the church according to the doctrine of the evangelical Lutheran Church through whose service, by the grace of the Lord, the blessed Gospel can be preserved unadulterated in Word and Sacraments for those who come after us." These words certainly state the most important work most precisely, but in no way do they exclude striving toward helping as many as possible of the young men growing up in our congregations to a thorough and intimate understanding of the evangelical truth and imparting to them also all other literary knowledge so far as space and the means are provided, through which later in various positions in life they can the better use and make the most of the Christian understanding which God may have allotted to every individual among them. But now, even though this is the work which lies closest at hand, building the kingdom of God in the hearts of these young men, yet with it, if even further, the building up of the kingdom of God in a larger circle round about in our congregations, is and shall, however, be bound as the main objective in the most intimate way. Brethren, these are appalling times in which we are living. "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ep. 6:12. The devil knows that "the end of all things is at hand." (1 Pe. 4:7.) He has mounted one last battle against Christ and his bride, the church. The falling away from Christ is frightening and it appears to be growing each day. The prince of this world is active in the children of disobedience. His power is coming to light more and more clearly, partly in the general deification of man, his reason, his power, his piousness, in the so-called Pantheism and Humanism, partly in the growing desire for this world's goods and pleasures, in the so-called materialism. It cannot be denied that these mainstreams of the spirit of these times are penetrating into our congregations more and more and that the hope of our future, our youth especially, are exposed to the danger of being pulled along into the abyss. If we are not now, dear friends, to face the future with the utmost terror with regard to our children, yes, if we shall not have to be separated from them permanently in despair, since we leave the generation after us defenseless against a frightful future -- oh, then, more than anything else it is up to us to bring up and to train our youth in such a way that they can always be on guard, ready to defend themselves against powerful as well as poisonous enemies so that in the generations which shall come they can stand as a bulwark against the mighty stream which is forcing its way in. And with this I have stated the essential basic difference between our "Norwegian Luther College" and the majority of the colleges which are to be found here in this country, even of those which belong to Christian denominations.

Our college is not to be a school of the world, the training here not a means for gaining this world's goods, gaining its glory. No, it is to be a school in and for the church which the Lord himself has founded on the Rock and which he truly has placed here in the world but which he has separated from it from the beginning and until the end of time to do battle against the world which lies in the evil one, and God has made our college to be a leaven so that through its power as many of the children of the world should be saved as will allow themselves to be saved from this wicked generation.

From this basic difference flow all other differences in our and most other colleges' organization, through their leadership, through the training, through the discipline, and that with respect to the subjects as well as also their varying importance, as well as with respect to the manner and the thoroughness of the instruction.

With absolute contempt and disgust for all superficial knowledge, all sham, all craving of praise and glory before men, the work in our college is to be directed toward the training of the heart for the kingdom of God with the soul's salvation and the glory of God alone in mind.

You see, friends, this is the work, this is "the house" which is to be built!

O, who should not gladly want to be along in such a work? Who should not gladly want to build such a house where the stones are the believing hearts, which founded on the Rock, Jesus, are intimately knit together through the bond of love, such a house whose foundation the gates of hell itself are not going to shake, whose pinnacle shall reach above the highest heavens and one day be revealed in the splendor of glory?

But who are the builders?

Obviously they are the teachers and the students of the school. But since both of these have the foundation of their spiritual life in the church as their mother's bosom, have come from the congregations, are supported by them and are expected to return to them, then the congregations have a mother's calling over toward the school, and every member of the church is a builder in this work. But chiefly is this true of the officers of the Synod and the Church Council elected by the congregations, who because of their special call are in a special sense to be the servants of everyone. Thus then, all of us who are here should be builders! What a wonderful calling! O, that we might do our work properly and work with joy and delight!

Now we come to the third point, brethren, how we as builders should let the Lord build the house so that we do not labor in vain.

Everything which we could do with our innate natural powers is nothing but sin, therefore every such work of ours is vain and of no benefit. Yes, even if we could attempt to serve God with our best works, yet they were, however, nothing but a transgression of the Second Commandment and a blasphemy of God, our imagined worship were idolatry. Because, through original sin we are sold under sin. We are Satan's slaves, children of wrath from birth and deserving of eternal death and condemnation.

But out of boundless love God has decided from eternity to save us lost sinners, and "God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (Jo. 3:16.)

The miracle of miracles happened. "The Word, who was God, became flesh and dwelt among us." Jo. 1:14. "Through Jesus Christ," God's and Mary's Son, true God and true man, "God reconciled the world unto himself," (2 Co. 5:19) for "he made him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that we should be justified before God." (2 Co. 5:21.)

Through his holy life Jesus fulfilled the Law in our stead, through his unjust and innocent death on the cross he became a curse for us, reconciled us with God, freed us from sin, death and the power of Satan and earned for us forgiveness of sin, eternal life and salvation, through his resurrection he became our righteousness before God.

Everything which Jesus Christ has earned for us poor sinners out of incomprehensible love, he offers and bestows upon us out of undeserved grace in the Word and the Sacraments because they become sacraments when the Word comes to the natural elements. They therefore also have the same power and bestow the same grace which the Lord has and bestows. The Word of God and the Sacraments are therefore the true Means of Grace in which Christ is, even if invisible, however, mightily present with his disciples until the end of time and through which he works graciously for the salvation of souls.

Therefore Scripture also calls the Gospel of Christ the power of God unto salvation, a life-generating seed. Likewise Paul says to the Romans, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (10:17). And through faith which grasps and appropriates Christ and all his merit we are justified before God and receive the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation which God bestows upon us in his Gospel.

Therefore, if we now want the Lord to build the house through this work of ours so that we shall not work in vain, then we must let the Word of God be the primary tool in our work so that we let it dwell among us richly, accept it in true faith and on its basis work with all faithfulness and diligence toward its proper understanding, so that we go to it for strength and power as well as for the desire for the work, so that we let it be our light and supreme authority also with regard to the use of the other means which God might give us for the furtherance of the work -- all with the glory of God and the salvation of souls in mind.

And it is so very much more important that we hold the Word of God properly in respect and honor while not only the sects but also many so-called spokesmen and supporters of the Lutheran Church in our days partly deny the divine power of the Word and partly think that they can explain and interpret it as they wish according to their own distorted opinions and views. So, brethren, this is the work which lies before us, this is the tool which we should use for it!

Who of us must not exclaim:

What a wonderful work! We should be servants of our God, yes, his coworkers for people's salvation! Our main tool with which we should work daily is to be the almighty, blessed Word of God which is his power unto salvation to everyone who believes. What an honor does not God do us poor sinners, that we, even the most insignificant among us, get to be along in such a work! Shame and disgrace on him among us who would hold back here, who out of love for the world and its glory would fold his hands in his lap here where the glory of God and the salvation of souls is involved! No, let it be seen that we appreciate the honor the Lord shows us! Let each of us do our part in it diligently and faithfully!

But what our part is, we will consider now as we apply what was just said to each class of workers.

Exalted and sacred is the teacher's calling! To him parents bring their young sons, God's precious gifts, so that through his conscientious watching and knowledgeable, careful nurturing, the seed of God can thrive in the hearts of the young and produce a divine growth so that through his earnest, loving nurture and admonition in the Lord the young men can be brought up in order someday to work as men in Christ for the salvation of brethren. But the teacher's calling is also full of responsibility! Within the parameters of his work he is placed in God's stead to counsel and to rule over the young men who are entrusted to his care and he is to watch over their souls as he who shall give account for them. Only the teacher who has learned to know his own heart's deep depravity through the discipline of the Law and after that has sought and found peace in the Gospel of Christ and experienced that it bestows a divine power so that "we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us," (Ph. 4:13), only that teacher will be capable of doing his work with joy and with diligence, with faithfulness and patience. With all his instruction as well as discipline, he will be looking toward the salvation of souls as his main objective. He knows the power of the Word of God. He speaks because he believes. Through instruction as well as through admonition and discipline his efforts will therefore aim through the Law at leading his students to a thorough understanding of God's holy will and of their own and other people's deep depravity because of original sin, as also of their specific transgressions of the Ten Commandments so that they feel with fear and sorrow that it is the majesty of the holy and righteous God which they have offended with their sins, the loving Father they have grieved. Likewise, through the Gospel he teaches them ever more clearly to know God's boundless love for them in Christ, leads them to an ever firmer faith and comfort in God's grace in Christ alone and the justification of sinners through him, and thus are made capable in the same faith to testify fearlessly against the world's sin, to confess the grace in Christ and to give themselves wholly as an offering for the service of Christ. Through the imparting of all other knowledge then he will let it be illuminated and explained in such a way by the Word of God that it can be recognized that in itself it is of no value but is only to be imparted and used as a means so that the abilities of the young men can be developed, so that made capable for the Lord's service through the Word of God, enriched with all kinds of useful knowledge, they can work the more, and bear fruit to the glory of God and their neighbor's temporal and eternal welfare.

It is now coming to this that at the present time, through the schools, especially in this country, that as a rule only a mass of information with which a person will gain and serve the world is sought, a vain knowledge which most often is also extremely superficial, so that even the teachings of the Christian religion are considered a part of this information which a person must have with him for the sake of the same earthly end, so that often the discipline in the schools is nothing or worse than nothing since through it only a false feeling of freedom is grafted into the youths and natural pride and vanity are nurtured in their hearts, so that in a word we could say that such schools are in the service of sin and are well equipped for developing the evil nature in the young and for training them to be children of the world. You see then that in contrast to this it will be the primary task for our teachers to let the Word of God be the illuminating, quickening, purifying, reforming and all-permeating power through the instruction as well as through the discipline in our college.

Such faithful teachers shall certainly not be lacking comfort and encouragement during their difficult work because they shall surely know that their work is God's work, that the seed they are sowing has the promise that it shall not return void. They are going to be able to comfort themselves with the fact that their dear Lord willingly forgives all weaknesses and prevents their harming the souls entrusted to them, so that in no way therefore do they work in vain, because the Lord is building the house. "He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Ps. 126:6.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Co. 15:58.

We heard also that the dear students should be workers here. Now if their work is not going to be in vain, then it is up to them first of all that they acknowledge with heartfelt thanks and praise to God what unutterable grace the Lord is showing them by letting them be partakers in such a thorough Christian education and nurture. Above all, they must hold the Word of God in which they are being instructed in respect and honor, and accept it for both discipline and admonition, for the strengthening of faith, for comfort and encouragement, so that they can also know for sure that they have a gracious Father in heaven whose work they are all called to do as students when they use their time and abilities zealously and faithfully, a Father who will gladly bless their work and enlighten and strengthen them while they can daily seek full forgiveness of sins in him. O, must not such a blessed faith truly prompt them to yield themselves body and soul to the Lord's work, day by day make them more obedient, diligent and faithful? O, must they not in love for the precious Savior, in the desire to thank him for his unspeakable grace, have a defense against the spirit of the ungodly world so that they do not pride themselves in their knowledge, do not seek it for its own sake nor in order to gain riches, glory and power in the world, but in order that they can become capable of someday working to the glory of God and the salvation of souls as pastors, teachers, or members of the church in another profession. Just as we heard that the student is especially exposed to being tempted by pride and love of the world to unfaithfulness, so does his work often become difficult for him. He gets sick of it, especially when it doesn't progress as quickly as he wished, or when sickness, need and want come. But the student who has peace for his soul in faith in Christ and who daily finds comfort in the Gospel and tastes how good God is, in whose heart finally is also kindled a heartfelt longing for becoming capable of helping others out of sin's distress to the same grace of God, he will not lose heart. The Lord will strengthen him and assure him that the builder's work cannot be in vain when the Lord builds the house. He will rejoice and be strengthened through the certain hope that the Lord who has given him abilities and gifts will also help him in attaining their proper development, and if he will deign to use him in his service, also place him in the position where he can bear the most fruit according to the measure of his gifts.

We come now to the congregations. Every member is to work together, young and old, men and women, lay and learned. And should it not be an honor, a joy, to get to be along with such a work where the Lord himself is building the house? But how is it going to happen?

The congregations should of course first of all be concerned that the Word of God is proclaimed richly and purely in their midst. Every member is to hear and read this Word so diligently and accept it in sincere repentance and faith that the Gospel can be the most precious treasure in the world for their souls, more precious than gold and silver and all treasures. Then they will also have their joy in the school's work because the spread of the consoling Gospel is being furthered through them to the salvation of souls. They will prepare their sons for the work of the school by bringing them up in Christian nurture and admonition. They will apply themselves so that a spirit of Christian love, humility and piety can be dominant in the congregations, so that from childhood the youths shall not be brought up to serve the world and enter the school with a mind which proudly, conceitedly and vainly only seeks its own, only aspires to the pleasure, glory and splendor of this world. The parents in the congregation will busy themselves with bringing up and sending to our school young men who have all learned from childhood to fear and love God and to trust in him alone, and who are used to modesty, humility and frugality, diligence and obedience. They will gladly offer those children of theirs to the Lord's service and look upon it as a great honor and grace if God will make them capable and someday use them as servants of the Word in his vineyard. They will willingly support pious young men whom the Lord has equipped with the necessary abilities and gifts so that they can attend the school. According to their ability they will share generously that which is necessary for the school's existence and progress, bring the matter to the Lord in prayer and pray for his blessing. They will not ask from the school a training of the young men after the custom of this world so that they can become rich in the things which are of this world; much rather will they not only be glad but will also see to it that the young men are strengthened in their knowledge of the pure truth and exercised in the fear of God. Then when such young men leave, with what thankfulness and joy will not the congregations accept and use such gifts of the Lord! And in all this, the pastors should remember that they are examples for the flock.

If the flock will thus cooperate in this work, truly even the work of the least significant member of the congregation shall not then be in vain because then the Lord is building the house. Then shall the school blossom forth as from the church's bosom and derive its warmth from it as from its maternal soil. And the congregations should receive the joy of being witnesses to a moral, enlightened Christian youth which very early is willing and able to proclaim the deeds of him who has led them out of darkness into his marvelous light!

Lastly, we come to the Synod and the Church Council. They are servants of both the congregations and the synod, to whom especially the superintendence and a special leadership is entrusted.

What we heard applied to every congregation-member with regard to the use and acceptance of the Word of God naturally applies even more to the officers of the synod and the Church Council.

According to this Word of God they have to provide superintendence and leadership so that they see to it that the teachers carry out their office faithfully and diligently in an evangelical spirit where both discipline and instruction are concerned, as I discussed earlier. Obviously, they are to see that the proper objective is in mind, namely, the glory of God and the salvation of souls, and that the proper Means, the Word of God, has its proper place in general as well as in specific matters. It will be a joy for them, where they can, to encourage the teachers in their arduous work and to assist them with good advice.

They will also see to it that the necessary means are at hand for the school's existence and progress, and to that end will encourage the congregations to share generously also of their temporal goods. If the synod and the Church Council now work like this in faith in constant prayer to God with the glory of God and the salvation of souls in mind, then surely their work will not be in vain either because then "the Lord is building the house."

They shall also receive comfort under the cares of their office, strength to bear the burdens and crosses and tribulations which accompany it, and finally he who builds the house shall also gladden their hearts through seeing fruit here and there, and blessing from the work they did in faith, even if in great weakness.

And now, friends, let us put our hands to the plow and not look back! Let us work, all as one, diligently and faithfully in this way. Then shall this school exist, go forward and blossom, because then it is built on the right Cornerstone, Christ, standing firm on the Rock which is the Word of God. Then it is being built on it in faith in God's unmerited grace in Christ, with the proper tool, which is the Word of God -- and then, "the Lord is building the house." The Lord shall then also let us see many and wonderful fruits not merely in the capable Christian young men who will go out from it, but also round about in the congregations through the young men's work there, some as pastors, some as zealous, enlightened members of the church. And in these fruits we shall see with joy and thanks a reward of grace from our mutual, even if frail, however, heartfelt work for the school. In the times to come our children after us shall see in this Luther College a testimony that their fathers have held fast to the pure Lutheran faith and doctrine and in confidence in the promise of God have worked for the preservation of this most precious jewel also for their children and grandchildren. They shall also thereby be encouraged to similar zeal and willingness for the preservation and spread of the pure Gospel. Then of his grace the Lord shall also bless their work to the glory of his name and the salvation of many souls among the coming generations, because "when the Lord builds the house, they who build it do not labor in vain."

Yes, brethren, brothers in the faith and brothers in the ministry, then shall God often surprise both us and them who come after us to look at this school and its work with heartfelt thanks and praise to him from whom all good gifts come! Yes, with glad hearts shall we often get to sing with the psalmist his song of praise, and say, "The Lord has done great things among us, whereof we are glad!" In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, then, we dedicate this building to the service of the Lord our God, to the preservation and spread of his Word of truth for the salvation of souls! Amen in Jesus' name! Amen.

Now, Lord, thus "let your work appear unto your servants, and your glory unto their children! And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it!" Ps. 90:16.17. Amen.

The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you! The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace!

Maanedstidende, December 1865, pages 358-371.