A GREAT HERO OF THE FAITH

A Name Written In Heaven
Ignored by Most of Lutheranism But Known to God
A GREAT HERO OF THE FAITH
Christian News, Vol. 49, No. 13, March 28, 2011

“A Great Scholar With A Pastoral Heart!” on page one reports that Pastor Kenneth Miller, the chief theologian of The Lutheran Churches of the Reformation was called to his eternal home. CN is removing about half of the articles already completed for this issue to make room for a special issue on Pastor Miller. Even many Lutherans will ask, Why? Who is Kenneth Miller? He is one of Christendom’s greatest Old Testament scholars during the last 50 years. He has been virtually ignored by both liberals and the organized conservatives in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Those Pastor Miller taught, both children and seminarians, hold him in high esteem. Note “A Great and Good Man” by one of his students from grades 1-8.

This issue includes just a few excerpts from some of Pastor Miller’s many writings. Why was he ignored by most of Lutheranism? A photo in this issue shows Pastor Miller with some of the more than 40 pastors, professors, and laymen who met at Trinity Lutheran Church, New Haven, Missouri, in 1963, to make plans to help restore the LCMS to orthodoxy and remove the liberals at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, CPH and elsewhere in the LCMS. One of those in the photo with Miller is Larry Burgorf who became head of the Schwan Foundation. What a tragedy that Miller was never able to get the necessary support to publicize his excellent writings from any major foundation or insurance company who have poured millions into publishing projects of those who supported the anti-scriptural theology and destructive criticism of the Bible Miller so ably exposed and opposed. They preferred to finance a seminary which called an Old Testament scholar with a doctorate from Seminex who accepted the critical views of the O.T. Miller opposed.

Note “Miller Not Rowold Should Lecture at Concordia Seminary” in this issue.

Pastor Miller and this editor were students at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. For a year or so, he was much too busy working for his Th.D. to get involved in the battle the editor and Kurt Marquart had with the liberals. However, by 1961 he showed great courage when as a graduate student he signed this statement:

RESOLUTION ON THE NEW HAVEN CONGREGATION
Whereas, Trinity, New Haven, has been suspended from Synod by Presidential fiat; and
Whereas, The case has not been presented to the Board of Appeals of the Western District according to 5.25 of the Bylaws;

Whereas, Suspension is not included in the “administrative action” therein mentioned; and

Whereas, Counter-charges have been filed against the President of the Western District; therefore be it

Resolved, that Trinity congregation, New Haven, Missouri, be rightfully considered a member of the Western District of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod until such a time as the District Board of Appeals shall render a decision in the case; and be it further

Resolved, That this congregation be invited by the District to register its lawful two delegates.

Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Kenneth K. Miller
Walter Dautenhahn
Fred Maetten
Dr. A.M. Rehwinkel
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In 1960 Pastor Miller went with Kurt Marquart, Walter Otten and the editor to visit Valparaiso University President O.P. Kretzmann to discuss the teaching of evolution at VU. When the editor expressed concern about the teaching of evolution at Valpo, O.P. had invited Otten to meet with him. Otten took some real scholars with him.

Discover the vast scope of Pastor Miller’s writing’s, then read some of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s writings. CPH lists 10 books by Bonhoeffer in its latest catalog, yet, CPH lists none by Pastor Miller. Read the writings of Pastor Miller in this issue and find out why CN is publishing this special issue on him just as it published special issues and articles when such great Lutheran churchmen as John Behnken, John Tietjen, William Beck, Robert Preus, Jack Preus, Paul Burgdorf, Kurt Marquart, Henry Koch, Siegbert Becker, Raymond Surburg and some others died.

May his faithful wife, six children, 21 grandchildren and now a growing number of great-grandchildren gain comfort by reading what their deceased loved one wrote about “A Blessed Death,” No. 20 in CN’s list of “Some Writings of Pastor Kenneth Miller in Christian News”, pp. 2 and 3.

One of the most significant things this editor can say about Pastor Miller is that, in an age when many pastors have dysfunctional families, his children and grandchildren have remained faithful to God’s Word and are members of confessional Lutheran congregations. May they all rejoice not in what Pastor Miller has done but that he recognized he was a sinner redeemed by Christ. When the disciples rejoiced because of all they had done for the Gospel, Jesus told them: “Only don’t be glad that the spirits obey you but that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20.