by Dr. Ely Prieto

If you have had a chance to visit Concordia Seminary, St. Louis and walk around campus, you probably have noticed the many images of lamps and torches. The Seminary’s seal and motto also highlight a theme of light: “Light From Above.” Not any type of light, but a Light that comes from above, a divine Light illuminating our learning, teaching and living.

Martin Luther, in his Large Catechism, talks about two types of religion, an “up” religion and a “down” religion. The “up” religion is a religion that began long ago; one we received from our first parents, Adam and Eve. It is a “do” religion, where I can go up to God on the basis of my own strength and my own works. The results of a religion like this are either pride or despair. Some say, “I think I’m better than anybody else,” while others say, “I can’t do it; I’m hopeless.”  

The “down” religion is when God comes down to us in Christ. As we confess in the Nicene Creed, “who for us men and for our salvation [Jesus Christ] came down from heaven …” How far does God come down to us? All the way into human flesh, when the Word becomes flesh and dwells among us (John 1:14). All the way to the cross, when obediently Christ suffers and dies! (Phil. 2:8). This is the Light from above: Christ coming down to us. It is God’s doing, the unconditional gift of God, by grace, by faith alone.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee who practiced “up” religion, trying to go up to God from below. He realized that it was not working for him, so he came to visit Jesus during the night. Nicodemus was intrigued by this new rabbi in town, and seeking an answer, he tells Jesus, “We know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him” (John 3:2 ESV). Jesus’ answer puzzles Nicodemus. Jesus says: “Unless one is born again [from above] he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3 ESV). Nicodemus was born from the flesh. But to see God’s kingdom, he needed to be born of water and the Spirit in Baptism!

Baptism is light coming from above into Nicodemus’ darkened heart! Nicodemus was practicing an “up” religion and Jesus tells him, let Me teach you about a “down” religion! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 ESV). This is true for everyone, including you, Nicodemus. When Nicodemus returned home, it was still dark, but he was illuminated, born into the light, by Jesus’ words and teachings! Jesus brought light from above into Nicodemus’ heart.

An attentive reader of the Scriptures will notice that throughout its pages, we see this teaching again and again. There are essentially two different religions in the world, a religion of the Law and a religion of the Gospel: In other words, an “up” religion and a “down” religion.  

When Jesus met His disciples after His resurrection and told them,“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations …” (Matt. 28:19 ESV), He not only commissioned His disciples, but the whole Christian church. Jesus knew that “up” religion, a religion of the Law, leaves humanity in darkness, lost and in despair.  To make disciples of all nations means to practice a “down” religion, a religion of the Gospel. Light coming from above and going to all nations!

Baptism and teaching go hand and hand because both bring the Light from above into peoples’ hearts. In Baptism, we die with Christ and we rise with Christ, so that we might walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:2-4). The Light that brings us down to death with Christ brings us up to life in Him and continues to guide us in our walk in the new life, illuminating our path (cf. Ps. 119:105, 130; 18:28).

Probably by now, you are wondering what all of this has to do with Concordia Seminary. Well, the answer for me is quite simple: If there are basically two religions in the world, it is obvious that there are also two basic theologies in the world, an “up” theology and a “down” theology. At Concordia Seminary, we preach, teach, confess and practice a “down” theology. “Light From Above” reminds us of where we stand in terms of our theology. Our motto reminds us that the Light from above is a divine Light that illuminates our learning, teaching and living.

But there is more. When I think about light, I can’t stop thinking about what Jesus says in Matt. 5:14-16 (ESV), “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

When we receive Light from above, we share the light. We also become a light. Our Lutheran forefathers picked up on this too when they said in the preface to the Book of Concord: “from the very beginning of [our] work on this our [statement of] Christian accord it was never and still is not our disposition and intention to keep this salutary and highly necessary work of concord hidden in the dark and secret from everyone or to place the light of divine truth under a bushel or a table.”  

Since its inception, Concordia Seminary was established to be a beam of light on a hill, a light to the nations. As its mission statement says: “Concordia Seminary serves church and world by providing theological education and leadership centered in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ for the formation of pastors, missionaries, deaconesses, scholars and leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod [LCMS].”

“Remember that the true Light comes from above; it comes from God.”

As a light, Concordia Seminary has attracted students from all corners of the world. Currently, we have students from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Latvia, Madagascar, Mexico, Norway, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan and South Sudan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Uruguay and Venezuela, among other countries. Exposed to the Light from above, to the teachings of the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, our students return to their home countries to serve and shine the light of the Gospel.

Some of our graduates serve as missionaries and pastors, others as theological educators, seminary presidents and leaders in their churches. Recently Rev. Daniel Akoh, a Master of Sacred Theology student, was elected to be the next president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana, a partner church body of the LCMS. Also Rev. Aiji Komiyama, who is finishing his Ph.D. this summer, upon his return to his home country, will have a leadership role in the Japanese Lutheran Church. 

Also consider the impact and reach of our students from the Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS), the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) and the Cross-cultural Ministry Center (CMC, in partnership with Concordia University, Irvine, Calif.). After completing their studies, they are sent out as missionary-pastors in the United States, shining the light of the Gospel into the immigrant communities scattered across the country.

Concordia Seminary also has a tradition of having international scholars serving on its faculty. In the recent past, the sainted Dr. Won-Yong Ji (South Korea) and Dr. Norman Nagel (Australia/China), and Dr. Victor Raj (India) all served important roles on the faculty. Now, we have Dr. Leopoldo A. Sánchez M. (Panama/Chile), Dr. Abjar Bahkou (Syria), Dr. Adam Hensley and Dr. Stephen Pietsch (Australia), and Dr. Vilson Scholz and me (Brazil).

The presence of international students and faculty has not only provided cross-cultural experience for students and faculty, but also has raised students’ interest in studies abroad at our sister seminaries in Argentina, Brazil, England and Germany, or in short-term mission immersion trips to sites such as the Dominican Republic and other parts of the world. Some of our graduates have received calls from the LCMS Office of International Mission to serve as missionaries and theological educators in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. Concordia Seminary’s faculty is constantly traveling internationally, speaking at conferences, teaching at seminaries in mission lands, sharing the Light from above in all corners of the world. 

As you walk around our beautiful campus, keep your eyes open and pay attention to the many images of lamps or torches. Also don’t forget the stained-glass windows in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus, especially the beautiful tones of yellow, red and blue. They use the light to tell the biblical story. As you do so, remember that the true Light comes from above; it comes from God. It is His strong Word that cleaves the darkness, the light of salvation that breathes life-giving breath into us and leads us to shine and sing, “Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to Thee who light does send! Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end!” (“Thy Strong Word,” LSB 578).