Monday of Whitsun Week – Thoughts about Pastor Paul Schmeling

KJV Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

KJV John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

The Day of Pentecost used to be so important that it was celebrated for a week, with Monday and Tuesday set aside for services as well.

The Monday lessons seemed especially appropriate for remembering Paul Schmeling, who died far too young on Memorial Day.

Paul was a pastor, husband, and father, not a careerist. He cared deeply about doctrine and was never afraid of discussing the facts of church politics and the problems of false doctrine.

One memory is his help on my new computer. The church bought one for me but I had no training. When I had questions, he helped. When Paul got on my computer, I thought the keyboard would come undone. He pounded it with such energy that it bounced on the table.

If Paul thought something was wrong, he was willing to stand against it. One time he heard the two divorced pastors of Columbus mock me the entire time I gave a paper at a conference. He told me exactly what they said. Later, one of the divorced pastors said that I was unloving, etc. I mentioned his comments while I gave the paper. The circuit pastor said, “Do you have a witness?” I said, “I do and he will gladly tell you about it.” The circuit pastor quickly changed the subject – the WELS answer to facts. A few more pastors like Paul would have made the Shrinkers back down permanently, but Paul was one in a million.

Paul was always learning and teaching the Word at the same time. I learned more about WELS from him than any other source. I don’t recall him breaking out into “Thank God I’m WELS” as so many did. He was honest and sincere.

His home was full of love for his wife and children. They adored him. I recall his daughter making a reference to a princess story or movie and saying, “Daddy, you say I’m your princess.” Paul blushed. I could imagine him thinking, “In front of the guys!” He exemplified kindliness.

I listened to the memorial and funeral services with my wife and a teen visitor. We could hear the pastors’ voices breaking as they spoke. On the Day of Pentecost our church sang Luther’s great hymn.

"We Now Implore God the Holy Ghost"
by Martin Luther, 1483-1546
1. We now implore the Holy Ghost
For the true faith, which we need the most,
That in our last moments He may befriend us
And, as homeward we journey, attend us.
Lord, have mercy.
2. Shine in our hearts, O most precious Light,
That we Jesus Christ may know aright,
Clinging to our Savior, whose blood hath bought us.
Who again to our homeland hath brought us.
Lord, have mercy.
3. Thou sacred Love, grace on us bestow,
Set our hearts with heavenly fire aglow
That with hearts united we love each other,
Of one mind, in peace with every brother.
Lord, have mercy!
4. Thou highest Comfort in every need,
Grant that neither shame nor death we heed,
That e'en then our courage may never fail us
When the Foe shall accuse and assail us.
Lord, have mercy!
Hymn 231
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: John 16: 13
Author: unknown, stanza 1
Author: Martin Luther, stanzas 2-4, 1524
Translated by: composite
Titled: "Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist"
Tune: "Nun bitten wir" Sacred melody, c. 1100
The first verse of the hymn brought everything to mind: the conferences with Paul, visiting his home, and his trips to the Cleveland Clinic.

When our daughter Erin Joy was dying, we brought her to the Cleveland Clinic, from Columbus. That was a strange trip, where we ended up looking for the ER on the wrong side of a one-way street, with a truck full of glass starting to head toward us as the light changed. I tried to honk my horn, but that car had a fussy horn. At the last minute the driver’s partner got his attention and he stopped. My wife Chris offered one of her typical observations, “There is no better place to get hit with a glass truck. They can be picking the glass shards out of us in surgery in a few minutes.” Erin, who loved such jokes, began laughing, which made us laugh even harder. We entered the Emergency Room entrance with a child helpless from neurological degeneration and all three of us helpless with laughter. The nurse said, “Most patients don’t arrive here laughing,” and that made Erin laugh even more.

Paul visited us often at the hospital, and that was a great relief. He came to Erin’s funeral soon after. I never expected to watch his.

As I mentioned before, he kept a copy of Liberalism: Its Cause and Cure. He marked the place where I dedicated it to his children, among others. He suggested the book to others, as I have learned, so his emphasis on doctrinal integrity has united various people.

I noticed that Paul’s congregation had a special recognition for his 30 years in the ministry. That used to be common, but now, with synodical leaders despising the Word, the bureaucrats and members also despise the person who preaches the Word. His congregational website did not list his resume, no surprise to me. The first page now mentions tragic loss of “our beloved pastor.” That is a far higher commendation than being featured in the synodical magazine for serving coffee to members during the worship service.

Many ministers have made shipwrecks of their faith. I know Shrinkers who have become Pentecostal faith healers, atheists, and home-wreckers.

The Word was everything to Paul and his family. He personified Luther’s statement about proclaiming the Gospel:

"The preaching of this message may be likened to a stone thrown into the water, producing ripples which circle outward from it, the waves rolling always on and on, one driving the other, till they come to the shore. Although the center becomes quiet, the waves do not rest, but move forward. So it is with the preaching of the Word. It was begun by the apostles, and it constantly goes forward, is pushed on farther and farther by the preachers, driven hither and thither into the world, yet always being made known to those who never heard it before, although it be arrested in the midst of its course and is condemned as heresy."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 202. Ascension Day Mark 16:14-20.

His attitude toward doctrine is reflected in these quotations:

"Paul does not speak of opposing or antagonistic doctrines, but of those placed beside the true doctrine; they are additions, making divisions. Paul calls it a rival doctrine, an addition, an occasion of stumbling, an offense and a byway, when on establishes the conscience upon his own goodness or deeds. Now the Gospel is sensitive, complete and pre-eminent: it must be intolerant of additions and rival teachings."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 376. Pentecost Tuesday Romans 16:16-17.

"God will have patience with man's moral failings and imperfections and forgive them. But He cannot, will not, and shall not tolerate a man's altering or abolishing doctrine itself. For doctrine involves His exalted, divine Majesty itself. In the sphere of doctrine, therefore, forgiveness and patience are out of order."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 417.

His family reminds me of this statement:

"But He has given and entrusted children to us that we should train and govern them according to His will; otherwise He would have no need of father and mother. Let everyone know, therefore, that it is his duty, on peril of losing the divine favor, to bring up his children above all things in the fear and knowledge of God and, if they are talented, to let them learn and study so that they be of service wherever they are needed...And because this commandment is being disregarded, God is punishing the world so terribly that there is no discipline, order, or peace. We all complain of this state of affairs but fail to see that it is our own fault."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 140f. Large Catechism Ten Commandments.

Paul helped me understand this database in 1987, and I still use it. His life, teaching, family and church will continue to be the stone thrown into the water.