Last week, Wally Bronner of Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, MI passed away. He is considered an icon and pillar of the colonies. It continues to be all the buzz, with two days of visitations over the weekend and his funeral today at St. Lorenz.
His death is in the hearts and minds of many. Repeatedly though I hear expressions like “He did so much for the community” or “He was such a generous man” or “Look at how he spread the Gospel!” How quickly we fall into legalism and works-righteousness! Many attach his faith to His deeds. But Wally himself wrote that “the reality that our Loving Lord and Saviour the Christ of Christmas is ready to receive me into his heavenly kingdom where all believers… will be with him forever and ever.” Wally attached salvation not to his deeds but to the salvific action of Christ.
The assurance of Wally’s salvation is not in his evangelism, his generosity, or his leadership. The marks of Wally’s faith are the marks of the church. He faithfully attended the divine service, received our Lord’s body and blood, and lived in baptismal grace. We know that our Redeemer lives and that Wally will be raised to Him on the last day… not by his works or words… but by His faith in Christ crucified and risen, received daily and richly in His divine service to us.
c.f.: Wally Bronner’s final staff note
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