The Unity of the Christian Church

8/8/2019 The Unity of the Christian Church

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Doctrinal Proceedings

Speaker: Prof. M.S. Sommer

The Unity of the Christian Church

It is regretted almost universally that Christianity, which ought to form a united front

against unbelief and superstition, is so divided and wastes so much time and energy in a bitter

feud between various parties. It is generally conceded that this unfortunate state is one of the

biggest obstacles facing the prospect of foreign missions and is a cause of great contention and

scandal at home. Repeated efforts are made by various parties and many new resources were

brought into use, in order to bring the various church fellowships closer together and thus to

forge the way of complete unity. Many of us are familiar with the efforts of the Evangelical

Alliance, a fellowship of Protestants "from different churches and countries that pursues the

purpose, to achieve religious freedom, Christian unity, and joint work together in every good

work. She owes her origin to a widespread and growing desire for greater unity of Protestants,both for her own sake and for the purpose of being able to lead the struggle against unbelief on

the one hand and superstition on the other hand, in order to lead successfully." The Papists

impress again and again their regret over the divisions in Christianity and constantly invite us all

to combine ourselves with them. Furthermore, they work among the Protestants, in order to

gain more and more followers and to draw them into their nets. This work is particularly

operated by the Paulist Fathers and through the so-called Catholic Missionary Union. In many

cities, associations have been set up, consisting of pastors of different fellowships: from

Episcopalians, the Reformed, "Disciples of Jesus" (Disciples), Congregationalists, Baptists,

Presbyterians and from Lutherans of different synods. These people gather weekly to discuss

issues that affect their work. They hope that such meetings and such united efforts bring them

closer together and be a means to clear differences out of the way. At the same time, of course,we read: "As far as one can see, these gatherings of pastors have not produced the least

success. Rather, they have proved that they are not able to formulate a basis for unity.

Declarations of principles that one cannot abandon have been made by different men, but their

pronouncements have been so rare that they would have come close to an agreement. After

one had realized the futility of that, the subject was dropped. And when this did not happen,

then the organization was torn.1

We must not forget that in this as in any other work, those who want to count on

success first and foremost must have a right, clear knowledge of the real goal that they want to

achieve, and that they must also apply the right resources, whereby this goal can be achieved.As everywhere, it is also useless "to fight as one that strikes the air". All efforts to restore the

unity of the external Church are lost time and energy, yes, prevent and prohibit true success, if

one does not recognize the clear objective and know the right way with others, - the objective

can be achieved by them. To help Christians in this beautiful, desirable, important and blessed

work of peace is the task of this work.

1St. Louis Globe-Democrat, February 27, 1911.


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Thesis 1

The inner spiritual unity of the Christian Church is in the union of each Christian with

Christ through faith, whereby he becomes a member of the body of Christ, in which all other

Christians are members of the same, and so by the same faith with each other and all

"members of one another"2

.

Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ founded one Church, and only one, namely the Holy

Christian Church. This one Holy Christian Church consists of all true believers in Christ of all

times, among all peoples and nations, in all places. In this Holy Christian Church there is no

unbelievers, no hypocrites, no false Christians. Every member of this Church has something that

distinguishes it from all non-members: saving faith. Every member of the Church of Christ has

saving faith. No one else except members of the Church of Christ has this faith. Saving faith is

what separates members of the Church, and indeed all members without exception, from all

other people and unites [members] into one body. Saint Paul writes: "You are all God's children

through faith in Jesus Christ."3

And in Ephesians 2:19 he writes to the members of the Church as

the household of God. John 11:51-52 says: "For Christ should die for the people and not only for

the people, but that He would bring back together the children of God that were scattered."

The Church of Christ, founded by the Son of God and still ruled in grace, is made up of the

whole number of God's children, His household. And what makes them children of God? Faith

in Christ Jesus.

This is also the doctrine of our Church in her Confessions. In the Augsburg Confession,

Article VIII, the Christian Church is described as "the gathering of all believers and saints." The

word "saint" is used here and in the Scriptures as a synonym for "believer". We read in the

Smalcald Articles, Part III, Article XII: "Praise God that a seven year old child knows what the

Church is, namely the holy believers." The Bible calls the Church the Body of Christ. The word"body" is not used here in its literal meaning, but means a spiritual body. Saint Paul writes:

"God has set [Jesus] as the Head of the congregation [of God] over all things, which is His

body."4

Christ is the Head, with Whom the body is intimately connected. As a member of this

body, every Christian is closely connected with Christ, the Head, and with all other members.

Paul speaks of this intimate union of Christ with all His members and the members with each

other in Ephesians 4:3-6: "Be diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace:

one body and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith,

one baptism, one God and Father of us all, Who is above you all and through you all and in you

all." And the same apostle says even more in his epistle to the Romans, chapter 12, verse 5: "So

we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another." Here againthe apostle testifies that Christians are so closely connected in a spiritual way that members are

known to each other. The same truth meets us in his letter to the Ephesians: "Bet let us be

honest in love and in all things grow into Him Who is the Head, Christ, from Whom the whole

2Romans 12:15.

3Galatians 3:26.

4Ephesians 1:22-23.


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body is assembled and a member hangs on the other through all joints, through which one

helps another according to the work of any member in his measure and might, that the body

grows into its own bettering, and all in love."5

The same idea of a close association of each

member of the Church with Christ and all members with each other is mentioned in the words

of our Lord in John 15:5: "I am the vine, you are the branches." The Lord says here that

separation from Him means spiritual death, but union with Him [brings] spiritual life andfruitfulness. He is the source of life and spiritual fruit. And what is it that united us with Christ;

what is it that unites members of the body with Christ? It is faith in Christ Jesus, the saving faith

of Christians. The Bible speaks everywhere of this faith as equivalent to union with Christ as the

head and therefore also with members of Christ with each other as parts of the same body of

Christ. "For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus."6

The bond that unites Christians is not something external or visible: no uniform

ceremonies, no equality in manners and customs, not some sign of recognition, not some

identical words or phrases; the bond that unites Christians is spiritual and invisible. Christ says

in Luke 17:20-21: "The kingdom of God comes not with external signs; one will not say, 'See

here!' or 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is among you." And Peter says in his First

Epistle, chapter two, verse five: "And you also, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual

house." That fact is that externally the members of the body of Christ are very different in some

ways; but inwardly they are all one through one Spirit Who dwells in all of them and works in

them all the same faith. Through the same Word the same Lord Jesus Christ has been made

known to all of them, and through the Sacraments He has been sealed in all of them. This is

unity in the Spirit. Through the same saving faith that has been lit in every one of them by the

same Holy Spirit, each member is connected to the same Lord Jesus Christ and with all other

members of His body, with all other believers.

Dr. Stckhardt says in his commentary on Ephesians, page 1807: "The believingChristians are truly and actually one body, they are truly united. Each one is united with all the

others. The Spirit and faith unites and holds them together. This Christian faith is, if you wish to

express it thus, the chief social principle. The Christian faith possesses in itself a vis unitiva, it

binds human hearts together. We repeat, by the gift of the Christian faith, which of course not

all men have, but which is never restricted to one person only, there is eo ipso created and

established the congregation of believers. A considerable or even a smaller number of believers

is in itself truly a communion of saints. It is not true that Christians must, through their own

efforts, consultation, and agreement bring about this union of the Church. Remember, the

Church is not the work or creation of man, but the work and creation of God. Moreover, this

work is essentially identical with the chief work which God carries on here on earth, thecreation of faith. In calling one soul after the other, ever more persons through the Gospel, by

enlightening them with His gifts, preserving and sanctifying them in the one true faith, the Holy

5Ephesians 4:15-16.

6Galatians 3:26. See Galatians 2:20, 3:2, 7; Ephesians 3:17.

7English Translation p. 183-184.


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Ghost eo ipso gathers, calls, and enlightens the whole Christian Church upon earth and keeps it

with Jesus Christ in the true and uniting faith."

All external differences among Christians may be important in their way, but they do not

disturb the unity of the Church, if only they do not jeopardize or destroy saving faith. Therefore

St. Paul says in Galatians 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free,there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Externally, Christians are

different in respect to language, race, nationality, color, customs, gender, culture and different

degrees of civilization and order. Such differences are neither against Christ's will, nor do they

disturb the unity of the Church. However, there is one external division that is incompatible

with the internal unity of the Christian Church, dangerous to the spiritual life of Christians,

dangerous for the union of each Christian with Christ, the head of the Church, indeed it is often

devastating - the separation that Christians cause who fight in the camp of those false teachers

who teach the truth, or at least outwardly are separated from them by errors in faith and

doctrine. We speak about that in the second thesis.

Thesis 2

According to God's will this inner unity should now also manifest itself externally by

concord of all members of the Church in doctrine under one Lord, Jesus Christ.

When Christians gather themselves for common prayer, for Divine Service, for

celebration of the Lord's Supper or to come together in other gatherings and deal with each

other in love, humility, gentleness, and patience, then the unity that previously existed

between them is thereby now apparent. And it is God's will that Christians have Divine Service

together and go to the Lord's Supper and that the Pastors thus work together in unity.

Dr. Franz Pieper writes about this external unity in the report of the Evangelical-

Lutheran Synodical Conference of 1908, page 16: "The joining together of Christians in one

place into local congregations and the establishment of the public Preaching Office is not left to

the discretion of Christians, but commanded by God. That local congregations still continue to

join together into larger ecclesial fellowships, e.g. into synods, is not divine, but human

(ecclesial) ordering. This must not be so. But the fact that Christians in one place form a

congregation and that [they] set up and use the public Preaching Office among themselves, that

must be so; that is God's will and order." And on page 18 he writes: "We will not make

synodical affiliation a divine order. But one thing in addition to this is still a divine order

concerning the affiliation of the local congregation: that we recognize and treat Christians whoconfess the true faith in other places as fellow believers. The apostle Paul writes to Timothy:

'Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner.' Hereafter Timothy is

also physically separated from him and recognized and treated Paul, imprisoned in Rome, as a

fellow believer, because Paul was a true preacher of the Gospel. Christ is confessed or denied

here on earth among the adherents of His Word."


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Since Christ is the head of the Church, it is the duty of every member to live under the

rule of Christ as the one master. And since every Christian is a member of the common body,

where every Christian is also a member, it is the duty of every [Christian] to live and work in

harmony with other members. Anything that interferes with the rule of Christ and harmony

between members is contrary to the will of God. This St. Paul explains further in 1 Corinthians

12[:3-20]:

"Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus

accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of

gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are

diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the

Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through

the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the

same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles,

to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to

another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things,

distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members,

but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one

Spirit we were all baptized into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free -

and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but

many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,' is it therefore not

of the body? And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,' is it

therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the

whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each

one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the

body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body." Accordingly, it is totally

against God's will and against the nature of the Body of Christ that some members adverselyattack other members or refuse to bring about and to testify publicly to the unity by which they

are actually connected as members to the body.

Thus, e.g., division or schism is forbidden in 1 Corinthians 1:10-13: "Now I plead with

you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that

there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind

and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by

those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of

you says, 'I am of Paul,' or 'I am of Apollos,' or 'I am of Cephas,' or 'I am of Christ.' Is Christ

divided? Was Paul crucified for you?O

r were you baptized in the name of Paul?"

And Ephesians 4:3-6: "Be diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord,

one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you

all."


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At this point, it is clearly taught that it is against God's Will that parties, divisions, and

schools of thought exist in Christianity. There have been and still are people that claim that

divisions and opposing parties in the Church are a blessing. They claim that Christians were thus

provoked to the task and the spirit of friendly rivalry will be maintained and that through

mutual criticism and vigilance each party works better and on the one hand would be saved

from deadlock and stagnation, but on the other hand from tyranny and injustice of a monopoly.But all those who thus wish to play happy optimists, we say: your opinion is not true, but self-

flattery that wishes not to be disturbed in its dream of peace, where there is no peace. God

Himselfdeclares against such division. He exhorts us seriously to "keep the unity of the Spirit in

the bond of peace." He exhorts Christians that they should firmly hold together "in one mind

and in the same opinion." It is also not God's will that there are such divisions, as we know it

today as denominations, as there are Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic, Old Catholics,

Episcopalians, Baptists, Congregationalists, Seventh Day Adventists, etc., any hostile act against

the other. This state is not only unspeakably sad, but also sinful and detrimental to the Church

of Christ and the members of His body. Woe, woe to those who are responsible for such a sorry

state; and woe to those who work there, that this condition continues to exist!

When a brother fights the other, Paul says: "It is a fault among you", and adds, "I say this

to your shame".8

If this applies to a sad dispute among a few, how much more will this apply

then, when thousand of those who call themselves Christians, others, who purely proclaim the

Word of Christ, facing hostility and they revile and denounce [them]. How can that be a blessing

in such opposition? Christ says: "Every kingdom divided against itself is desolate, and one house

falls on another."9

When Christ says here that Satan is not so foolish as to build his kingdom by

mutual war, how can anyone be so crazy to say that Christ wants to build His kingdom through

such conflict! No, Christ wants unity.

The apostle of Christ warns and asks Christians "firmly to hold together" and tells them:"But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you will be consumed by one

another."10

Yes, this is the solemn, earnest prayer of our high priest, Jesus Christ in John 17:11:

"Holy Father, keep through Your Name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one

even as We are!" And again: "I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me

through their word, that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in me and I in You, that they

also may be one in us, even as we are one."11

And yet people announce that they want to be

teachers of the Church, that it was a blessing for the Church and in accordance with God's will

when the Church was split, and that she should be built through mutual hostility. We know well

enough that God directs these evil, sinful divisions and disputes for the benefit of those, "all

things work together for good to those."

12

But even though God guided the wickedness of thebrothers of Joseph for the best, we do not call their evil thoughts and works good. What we

read in 1 Corinthians 11:19 is true: "There must be factions among you, so that those who are

81 Corinthians 6:7, 5.

9Luke 11:17.

10Galatians 5:15.

11John 17:20-21.

12Romans 8:28.


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upright may be manifest among you." But such a mob are not good and salutary per se, even

though God brings good out of evil and thus makes apparent the righteous. Liberal-minded

people sometimes say: "There are all sorts of people and views to fill the world."13

They want to

prove the necessity of different religions in this world. To this we answer: Yes, there are

criminals to fill our prisons, drunkards and fornicators to fill our asylums and hospitals; but who

wants and asks you to belong to such parts of the world, and who feels called to make effortsso that the world does not lose this part of its citizens? A lot of evil is tolerated in the world by

God and Christians, partly for the purpose to save them from their sad state; but in the Church,

we need only those who are by faith in [an] intimate connection with the one Lord, Jesus Christ,

and demonstrate their faith in that they are obedient to the Lord and live in peace with

members. Christ Himself says: "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He will take away...

Whoever does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered, and one gathers

them and throws them into the fire and they must burn."14

It is sometimes pointed out that many different tendencies and characteristics are

among people, a wide variety of gifts, and that different people require different church

fellowships. "There are emotional people who are by nature Methodists. There are people who

like to have a solemn liturgical order of Divine Service, who are by nature Episcopalians. There

are people who need a strict church rule. One must accommodate their sensual nature with

religious images, gaudy church ornamentation and beautiful priestly gowns. They must be kept

in fear and awe by painful, unintelligible actions before a beautiful, shining altar. They use

entertainment for their very active religious imagination, and their natural superstition must be

directed into channels that bring benefit to the church. These are by nature adapted to the

monarchy of the Pope." To this we answer: Just as little as the difference between eye and foot,

between tongue and hand destroys the unity of the body, nor is the difference with respect to

gifts, inclinations, characteristics and skills among Christians a hindrance of the unity of the

body, except that its character excludes them from the Church as slaves of Satan; because theydo not belong at all to the church. We take no measures to keep dead members of the body.

Paul paints a beautiful picture of this agreement between the members that need not be

disturbed by diversity of gifts and abilities in 1 Corinthians 12 (citation provided above). Yes,

this difference is rather an ornament of unity. "The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each

one for the profit of all."15

And: "If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If

the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? And if they were all one member,

where would the body be?"16

This difference is indeed a blessing. The most-dignified, unhasty

Christ delights in His vibrant, warm and soulful brother and benefits from it. Each will carry the

weakness of the other, as far as weakness is in them, and everyone is relieved by the special gift

of the other and has therefore benefited from it. Personal taste in relation to churcharchitecture and different orders of Divine Service can be satisfied in the united church, without

it the fellowship is torn apart; because we know what is necessary for the true unity of the

13The original has translated this German phrase into English: "It takes all kinds of people and minds to make a

world." - Tr.14

John 15:2, 6.15

1 Corinthians 12:7.16

1 Corinthians 12:17, 19.


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Church. "And to the true unity of the Church it is enough to agree concerning the doctrine of

the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments. Nor is it necessary that human traditions,

that is, rites or ceremonies, instituted by men, should be everywhere alike. As Paul says: 'One

faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all', etc. Eph. 4:5-6."17

However much we may wish

therefore also have unity in such external things, such as religious ceremonies and customs,

orders of Divine Service, melodies, festival days, etc., it thus will neither keep nor destroy theunity of the Church. In order to be united, churches need only to preach the same truth and be

consistent in administering the sacraments according to Christ's institution. In these two parts

may certainly occur no difference and no deviation.

It is also true, as the apostle says in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15: "Now if anyone builds on this

foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become

clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each

one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a

reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as

through fire." By wood, hay, and stubble he means here errors, foolish opinions of men that

some pastors preach. But far removed from such perverted human opinions to name a blessing

or to say they are according to the Word of God, the apostle rather says that they are foolish

and dangerous additives that in no way promote the work of the Church, but rather prevent it

and put [it] in danger and are likely to destroy the true and essential unity of the Church. This

brings us to the next point: on the causes of division and disunity.

Thesis 3.

Disobedience to our Lord Jesus Christ is the cause of division, sectarianism, false

doctrine, separation and conflict in Christendom.

Although many lament with us about the division and conflict in the Church, only a few

walk with us when we put our finger on the root of evil: disobedience to Christ. And even more

turn away from us when we discuss this and prove it. But we are not discouraged; because he

who is of the truth hears the master's voice. But those who love the darkness rather than light

will have no excuse on that day when they there stand before the Judge those they did not

want to accept here as their shepherds.

One reason why one has made so little progress in working toward unity is that one has

made little effort to track down the true cause of evil. Many people, including some well-

minded [people], are working diligently to heal the sad state of conflict but without even havingseriously considered the causes of the sickness. Is it surprising that they are not more organized

as one who beats the air? Others are so foolish that they attribute the conflicts of the Church to

the different creeds of church fellowships. That would mean as much as: You all are different

because they are different. These are the people who criticize those most who express their

own beliefs most clearly and defend it with determination and without compromise. Without

17Augsburg Confession, Article VII.


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going into the reasons of the matter of dispute, they blame all parties that they actually fight,

and give them most of the blame, who defend their position with great seriousness. How easy

would be the work of the judges of our country if they wanted to settle all processes using this

method!One can understand why Luther, when he speaks of such people, often attributed the

names of those that they deeply insulted. If someone wanted to propose such a method in a

different dispute as that between the different church fellowships, one would examine him tosee if he was sane. Either there is no greater good in Christianity in general, or the good of the

struggle is worth it.

Others point to the Bible as a source of confusion. Some of them claim that the Bible is

not clear enough and therefore easily misunderstood, from which then slight differences would

arise. The pope used this argument when he forbid the laity the Bible in their native language.

Apparently, he confirmed his assertion by pointing to the various sects that deliberately twist

the Bible. But when one has time and effort and shall look closely into the matter, one will find

that the pope teaches against the clear and express words of the Bible and only looks for an

excuse to wrench away the Book of Books from the hands of the common man, and then the

poor man cannot refute the pope's fraud from Scripture.

Besides the Pope, there are also others who simply push all the blame on the Bible. This

is convenient because one does not need to insult people. But God tells us that His Word is not

confusing and ambiguous or puzzling, but contains the clearest, most definite and accurate

statement of faith and conduct that the world has ever seen. Therefore we have supplied the

testimonies of God: "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."18

"The testimony

of the Lord is sure and makes the foolish wise."19

"It makes wise the simple." Far removed from

that, that the Bible had been written only for scholars, rather it should be read, heard, and

studied by all, even by the unlearned and by beginners or "children in Christ". The apostle

testifies that he writes to those whom one again "must teach the first letters of the divinewords."

20And Peter speaks to "newborn children" in Christ who are inexperienced Christians

who have only recently come to know the ABCs of Christian doctrine; for he says: "Be desirous

for the sensible, pure milk as the newborn child, so that you may grow thereby."21

Saint Paul

witnesses to the same when he writes: "And I, dear brothers, could not speak to you as unto

spiritual, but as to carnal, as unto babes in Christ. I have given you all milk to drink, and not

meat; because now you are not able. Even now you are not able."22

If one says that the Bible is

not clear enough for simple, ordinary and inexperienced Christians, then one is not only saying

that Paul has spoken thoughtless, dark, and incomprehensible words, even perverse [words],

but one thus accuses God that He has given us a worthless Word; because then the simple,

common people are forced to rely on the word of several preferred spiritual leaders, while Godwants just ordinary lay Christians to be the judge of truth and error. "Judge for yourselves what

I say", Paul says to those highlighted in 1 Corinthians 10:15, whom he calls "children in Christ".

18Psalm 119:105.

19Psalm 19:7.

20Hebrews 5:12.

211 Peter 2:2.

221 Corinthians 3:1-2.


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Concerning the Christians in Berea God tells us, "These were more fair-minded than those in

Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures

daily to find out whether these things were so."23

Peter spoke well concerning the letters of Paul, "some things are hard to understand,

which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest ofthe Scriptures."

24This passage tells us certainly that "some things" in the Bible are "hard to

understand". And we thank God for that. This should make us all, even the wisest among us, to

be humble students of the Word of God. He does not want masters of His Bible, but students,

humble students, therefore He has given us things that are hard to understand. He does not say

that all things are hard to understand. He also says to us, who are the ones that thereby "are

confused to their own destruction". There are those who do the same "with the rest of the

Scriptures." Is there any blessing from God that some are abusing to their damnation? Does not

the Scriptures and our experience teach us that Christ Himself, our glorious and dear

Redeemer, is a stumbling block to some? And does not Paul say that the Gospel he preached

and that to one it is the power of God to save, to another is an aroma of death leading to

death? But he resolves the whole thing by telling us, who are the ones, where Scripture is

unclear: "Now if our gospel is hidden, it is hidden in those who are lost, in which the god of this

world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, lest they see the bright light of the Gospel."25

We believe it is hardly necessary to respond to those who want us to believe that the

Bible is the cause of the schism in the church because the Bible itself should contain

contradictions and doctrines that one cannot harmonize. Whoever thinks that the Bible is full

of errors and offer us conflicting judgments and opinions of fallible men, declares himself thus

an enemy of God and His Word. For one such gives no revealed truth except what they

themselves have fabricated from their own folly, dressed up with a number of distorted and

twisted Bible words with which they wish to give their devilish doctrine the reputation, as if itwere Scriptural doctrine that they want to destroy.

No, the cause of division among Christians is not to be found in God and His Word, but

in mankind, who disobeyed God, and the devil, the father of lies, following. God has given us

one religion that is revealed clearly and completely in his Word, Holy Scripture. Whoever

always follows these words will agree with all others who follow the same words, and only

those who cause division and separation who are disobedient to the Lord, and teach and speak

which is contrary to God's word. All the faithful servants of our Lord, Who has written down His

word by inspiration of God, are in complete agreement with one another. And those who

follow them faithfully do not follow a number of teachers who present conflicting doctrines,but one Lord and one united Church. Disobedience, disobedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, is the

true cause of separation. Ask millions of sincere Christians, why, for example, they do not unite

with the large, influential and powerful Roman Catholic Church, which claims to be the true

23Acts 17:11.

242 Peter 3:16.



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Church of Christ; they will say what Dr. H. Mott, a member of the Church of the Holy

Communion, responded to such a question: "In response to the question of whether I or my

congregation would accept the Roman Catholic teachings as they are, I must certainly say no.

The 'Renaissance,' advocated by Martin Luther and the English Reformers, has determined for

all time the fact that the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, on the whole, are not the

teachings of Christ and the early Christian Church."26

From Dr. Thomas Gallaudet of St. Ann'sChurch of New York it was reported that he had written in the same newspaper: "The Roman

Catholic Church, in my opinion, cannot unify the various Christian church fellowships. She has

added too much to the faith, as it once was delivered to the saints." Shall I mention a number

of false doctrines whereby the papacy has separated themselves from the Church of Christ?

Our Lord Jesus Christ said: "Drink of it, all of you", as He administered the cup in the Lord's

Supper to His disciples. The pope says, "No, by no means, the incumbent priest alone shall drink

from it." How can there be unity when one is so disobedient and God's Word so

contemptuously disregarded? Christ, our Lord, says: "One is your master, Christ; and you all are

brethren".27

The pope, however, says: "I am the infallible head of the Christian Church. Believe

what I teach, no matter what it may be, or I will cut you off as a dead branch who has separated

himself from my church." How can there be unity when the pope forces his followers to recite

the obedience of Christ and to separate themselves from those who hold true to God's word?

This disobedience of the pope is the source of the great separation and division that has arisen

when his sect broke themselves loose from the loyal and faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

What caused the discord among the Protestant churches, and why does this discord

exist today? Answer: Disobedience against the Lord Christ. Jesus has clearly taught that He

gives us, as He administers the bread in the Sacrament, at the same time His true Body, when

He says: "Take this and eat; this is My Body".28

What could be clearer than these words that

were spoken from the wise, almighty God in that solemn night before he took up his suffering

and death? Who dares to doubt or to change these words of his last testament? Who?Thousands who claim to be obedient servants of Christ while they have caused by their terrible,

wanton disobedience of a split between themselves and the faithful servants of the Lord who

neither will allow themselves or others to change these words that one or a number of people

changes its clear meaning. Disobedience is the source of division between the Church that has

expressed her obedience to her masters in the Augsburg Confession and those who are not in

agreement thereby and refused to listen and believe when the Lord spoke. What separates the

Baptists and Campbellites29

from the faithful, obedient Christians? It is their disobedience

against the clear Words of Christ as He speaks to adults: "Unless you are converted and become

like little children, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven."30

They teach the contrary,

26New York Herald, May 19, 1895.

27Matthew 23:8.

28Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24.

29Campbellite refers to any of the religious groups historically descended from the Restoration Movement, a

religious reform movement in the early 19th century in the United States. The major groups are: The Churches of

Christ movement, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Independent Christians Churches/Churches of Christ,

the Churches of Christ (non-institutional). Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campbellites.30

Matthew 18:3.


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that a child must first be an adult before he is able to be baptized and to be a Christian. This

disobedience against the one Master who orders His disciples to baptize all nations, and limits

baptism merely to adults of a nation, is the cause of division of the Church that remains with

the express words of the Lord the church in this part. And again: what was the cause of

separation of the synergistic Lutherans from the Lutherans of the Synodical Conference? It was

the disobedience of its leaders who refused to accept and to teach the Word of the Lord, as Hespeaks: "You did not choose Me, but I have chosen you",

31and against the point where the Lord

teaches His apostles that God has predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself,

according to the good pleasure of His will.32

They ascribe to the choice of men what should be

attributed to the grace of God alone. This disobedience caused the deplorable, sad, and

harmful separation of synergistic Lutherans from the faithful Lutherans of this country.

But what if a church fellowship allows us to preach the truth, but at the same time

requires that opposing views should be allowed in some things, such as the Evangelical Synod

on the question of the true presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper? By such disobedience and

such unfaithfulness that a church fellowship claims for themselves the authority not only to

preach the opposite of the pure doctrine of the Lord of the Church, but also to allow others to

do just that, she necessarily severs the unity of the Church binds herself to people who are

against Christ. Their offer, that it should be allowed to preach the Words of Christ, does not

make things better; for Christ and His disciples did not ask for permission, but taught the truth

without any permission from men. But their error to concede equal rights is not only

disobedience, but also an attack against the sovereignty of Christ. It is rebellion against the Lord

of the Church. God forbid that we forsake Him and defeat ourselves to rebels and insurgents!

Is there a church that is faithful and obedient to the Lord, that preaches God's Word

purely and never deviates from it? Thank God, God has graciously given such a Church. It is the

Church that confesses the whole truth of God as taught in Scripture and is explained purely andclearly in the unaltered Book of Concord of 1580. In this country this Church is known as the

Synodical Conference, to which we also belong, a union of synods of the Evangelical-Lutheran

Church of America. When pride or Pharisaism is mentioned, that we acknowledge gratefully

pure doctrine as such and are happy about it, then it is also pride and Pharisaism when a

healthy person would like to thank God for his health. Yes, then Paul, Peter, John and James

would have been Pharisees, then all true and faithful teachers would be proud, pompous

people; because they all have made claims that they were faithful teachers of God's Word. And

if not even the faithfully inclined to the Word of God protect us from error, then Christ's Words

are not true: "If you remain in my word, then you are my disciples and you shall know the truth

and the truth shall make you free."

33

We do not claim perfect sanctification. We do not claimthat the Lutheran Church is without hypocrites, but we assert that God has given us His

infallible Word and pure doctrine that we simply repeat and teach.

31John 15:16.

32Ephesians 1:5.

33John 8:31-32.


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But is not also struggle, strife, and division created in the Lutheran Church through envy,

jealousy, selfishness, hatred, and enmity? Certainly that was also disobedience, and where one

is not opposed to these passions, but lets it grow and spread, also false doctrine follows after

that, and such disobedience has torn the Church. Brothers who are united shall therefore

consider not only pure doctrine, but must also beware of evil, hostile passions against their

brothers, or else Satan wins the upper hand. "Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, withoutwhich no man shall see the Lord. And see that someone does not neglect God's grace that does

not grow up as a root of bitterness and cause strife and many are contaminated by it."34

But was there no strife and discord even in the Apostolic Church? Certainly, we read in

Acts 15:2: "Then an uproar raised and Paul and Barnabas had no small argument with them,

they arranged that Paul and Barnabas and many more from them go up to Jerusalem to the

apostles and elders about this question." We hear that no small discord and strife arose in

Antioch concerning circumcision. And we read in Acts 15:37-39: "Now Barnabas gave advice

that they would take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul insisted that they

should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not

gone with them to the work. And they came sharply together that they moved from one

another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus." We read that a major dispute was

between Paul and Barnabas, and that Paul publicly rebuked Peter before all at Antioch. "But

when Peter came to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, for there had been complaints about

him. For earlier, before some came from James, he ate with the Gentiles, but since they came,

he withdrew and separated himself, because he was afraid of the Jews. And the other Jews

played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was misled to play the hypocrite with

them. But when I saw that they did not walk rightly according to the truth of the Gospel, I said

to Peter publicly before all: 'You who are a Jew living like a pagan and not like a Jew, why do

you force the Gentiles to live like Jews? Although we are by nature Jews and not sinners of the

Gentiles."35 The whole epistle to the Galatians shows that Paul fought false teachers. And hepronounces [in] Galatians 1:8-9 a terrible curse over anyone who preaches a different Gospel

that he has preaches to the Galatian congregations: "But if we or an angel from heaven preach

any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed! As

we have said, we say again: If anyone preaches a different gospel unto you, than that you have

received, let him be accursed!" Paul rebukes the church at Corinth [in] 1 Corinthians 1:11-13

because strife was among them. "It has come to me, dear brothers, by those of Chloe's servants

of you, that strife is among you. But this I say, that one among you says: 'I am of Paul', the

other, 'I am of Apollos', the third, 'I am of Cephas', the fourth, 'I am of Christ'. How? Is Christ

now severed? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul's name?" It is clear from

Romans 14:15 that discord was even in the congregation at Rome, that one could not let it goon in this way: "But if your brother is grieved for the sake of your food, then you are no longer

walking in love. Rather, do not corrupt with your food the one for whom Christ died!" Acts

21:20-30 shows that discord arose in the congregation at Jerusalem because differences of

opinion prevailed concerning the binding character of Mosaic Law for Christians. In the Gospels

34Hebrews 12:14-15.

35Galatians 2:11-15.


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we often hear how Jesus disputed with the false Jewish teachers of that time and condemned

them. Finally we have the prophecies of Christ and the Apostles who proclaimed in advance

that trouble and discord would wreak havoc by many in the Church and false doctrine and

division will arise. "For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and

wonders that will seduce even the elect (if it were possible) into error."36

"For I know this, that

after my departure horrible wolves will come among you who will not spare the flock. Also fromyour own selves men will rise up, speaking perverse doctrines, to draw disciples to

themselves."37

Such strife and controversy was not always the same kind. At first there was sometimes

some confusion about certain things, e.g. about the eating of meat sacrificed to idols or about

the binding force of Mosaic Law in the New Testament. These differences of opinion were

settled by Christians through mutual instruction from God's Word. Then there was differences

of opinion about how one should act in certain cases where God has not given a specific

commandment. In such cases consultation, mutual training and patience, combined with loving

self-sacrifice to God's commandment, has prevented separation. Then occurred also real sins in

life and change. If they were punished according to Matthew 18 and one repented over it, as,

e.g. in the case that is reported to us in Galatians 2:11-15, unity was restored. But when false

teachers spread unscriptural doctrines and remained after received warning in such

disobedience, separation and division followed. Such false teachers were excluded from the

congregation. "Shun a heretical man when he is admonished once and again."38

Paul gives

explicit instructions that one should not tolerate such false teachers in the external fellowship if

their disobedience has revealed them as an actual deceiver. "For there are many unruly and

vain talkers and deceivers, especially those from the Jews."39

We learn from that how one has to act in obedience to Christ, our Master, when

differences arise or division threatens.Over things that Christ, our Lord, has not decided, oneshould consult with the brothers and reach an agreement, even if one must sacrifice his own

opinion about it. In some cases it is also possible that one lets each have their own opinion,

without discord arising thereby, such as in the case reported to us in Acts 15:37-39. "Now

Barnabas gave advice that they would take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul

insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in

Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. And they came sharply together that they

moved from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus." In such cases

where the Lord has given no specific commandment, the one who caused the split, if such a

dispute arises, who insists upon persistent disobedience against God's command to his opinion,

as if it was God's will. "Brotherly love is cordial to each other. Come with reverence before oneanother."

40But where Christ has given us His Word, those who cause dissension and division,

who do not obey Him, but hold different opinions and doctrines lead to God's Word. When

36Matthew 24:24.

37Acts 20:29-30.

38Titus 3:10.

39Titus 1:10.

40Romans 12:10.


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such people look for external unity with us and want to put the blame of separation upon us,

because we refuse to unite with them, it is only further proof of their wickedness because they

forget what the Lord says through his apostle: "Shun a heretical man when he is admonished

once and again" ( = to withhold fellowship). "But I admonish you, brethren, that you

keep an eye on those who cause divisions and offense against the doctrine that you have

learned and depart from the same!"41

Do we reject every man as wicked, as a heretic, as an unbeliever, who has a different

opinion in any doctrine of the true Church than us? No. In obedience to God we make this

distinction: Those who reject essential and fundamental teachings of Scripture we believe to be

enemies of God, Children of Satan, and retreat from them. It is impossible that such people can

be Christians who preach the grossest heresies in regard to the main teachings of Christ. Christ

commands that everyone who wants to be a member of his church shall be baptized in the

name of the Triune God. Therefore, whoever refuses to accept this one true Triune God is

certainly a heathen and has no part in Christ. If someone denies the deity of Christ or does not

want to worship Him as God, he is certainly an idolater and is completely outside the Christian

Church; yes, he is damned, because the Lord tells us: "Whoever does not honor the Son does

not honor the Father who sent Him."42

Such is an idolater. And the Holy Spirit says: "If anyone

does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema. Maranatha!"43

, that is, he is

surrendered as damned to the court of God. Such so-called religious fellowships shall not be

called Church, for they are synagogues of Satan.44

This has been the doctrine of our Church from the beginning, for we read in the Apology

of the Augsburg Confession: "The First Article of our Confession our adversaries approve, in

which we declare that we believe and teach that there is one divine essence, undivided, etc.,

and yet, that there are three distinct persons, of the same divine essence, and coeternal,

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This article we have always taught and defended, and we believethat it has, in Holy Scripture, sure and firm testimonies that cannot be overthrown. And we

constantly affirm that those thinking otherwise are outside of the Church of Christ. and are

idolaters, and insult God."45

On the other hand, when we deal with those who still believe and confess a substantial

part of God's Word, but in doctrines that also are clearly revealed to be wrong, but are not

fundamental [doctrines], we make in turn some distinctions according to Christ's command.

We do not want to be understood as if we did not consider important any part of the

Word of God, or as if one could disregard set clearly revealed doctrines. Far from it! Weconsider the whole Word of God very important and an immense treasure; because our Lord

says: "I say to you: Truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter, not one

41Romans 16:17.

42John 5:23.

431 Corinthians 16:22.

44Revelation 2:9.

45Article I.


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tittle of the law will disappear, till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of

these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven."46

And at the very end of Holy Scripture the curse is pronounced. "I testify to everyone that hears

the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the

plagues that are written in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of

this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the book of life, from the holy city, and fromthe things which are written in this book."

47

The Lord Himself teaches us in His Word that a foundation and a roadbed is under

Christian doctrines. No one is a Christian who overthrows the foundation of his teachings, no

matter whether it is out of ignorance or malice; because in the Christian Church no one can "lay

any foundation other than the one that has been laid." But if anyone builds on this foundation,

it is possible that he retains the foundation, but builds errors on it, and these errors are called

wood, hay, and stubble. Nevertheless, such a foolish builder can be a Christian and be saved.

For it is written: "Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire;

and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it

endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself

will be saved, yet so as through fire."48

Here Paul explains to us in a picture that those who

build out of ignorance upon the foundation of errors in non-fundamental things can still be

saved, although their work is destroyed. Therefore, we also do not condemn people

immediately as heretics or wicked those who accept, believe, and confess fundamental

doctrines, but at the same time hold onto heresy. In the preface to the "Christian Book of

Concord" of our Church it states: As to the condemnations, censures, and rejections of godless

doctrines, and especially of that which has arisen concerning the Lords Supper, these indeed

had to be expressly set forth in this our declaration and thorough explanation and decision ofcontroverted articles, not only that all should guard against these condemned doctrines, but

also for certain other reasons could in no way have been passed by. Thus, as it is in no way our

design and purpose to condemn those men who err from a certain simplicity of mind, but are

not blasphemers against the truth of the heavenly doctrine, much less, indeed, entire churches,

which are either under the Roman Empire of the German nation or elsewhere; nay, rather has it

been our intention and disposition in this manner openly to censure and condemn only the

fanatical opinions and their obstinate and blasphemous teachers, (which, we judge, should in

no way be tolerated in our dominions, churches, and schools,) because these errors conflict

with the express Word of God, and that, too, in such a way that they cannot be reconciled with

it. We have undertaken this also for this reason, viz., that all godly persons might be warneddiligently to avoid them. For we have no doubt whatever that even in those churches which

have hitherto not agreed with us in all things many godly and by no means wicked men are

found who follow their own simplicity, and do not understand aright the matter itself, but in no

46Matthew 5:18-19.

47Revelation 22:18-19.



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way approve the blasphemies which are cast forth against the Holy Supper as it is administered

in our churches, according to Christs institution, and, with the unanimous approval of all good

men, is taught in accordance with the words of the testament itself. We are also in great hope

that, if they would be taught aright concerning all these things, the Spirit of the Lord aiding

them, they would agree with us, and with our churches and schools, to the infallible truth of

Gods Word. And assuredly, the duty is especially incumbent upon all the theologians andministers of the Church, that with such moderation as is becoming they teach from the Word of

God also those who either from a certain simplicity or ignorance have erred from the truth,

concerning the peril of their salvation, and that they fortify them against corruptions lest

perhaps, while the blind are leaders of the blind, all may perish."49

Those Christians who are in external fellowship with false believers are internally united

with Christ, and when they are instructed in the right manner and with patience about their

false teachings, that they are in external fellowship with enemies of the Truth, would have had

them clearly in mind so they would willingly leave their false teachers.Or if someone refuses to

recant the error, though he recognizes that it is contrary to the Word of our God, he is willfully

disobedient to the Lord and is thus a dead branch on the vine. If someone urges us nevertheless

to maintain ecclesiastical fellowship with members of heterodox fellowships, because there are

still Christians among them, then we must refuse to do this if we want to obey Christ. Because

we cannot always judge and decide whether someone is stuck in an error out of ignorance or is

revealed to him out of spite and contempt of truth; but we can distinguish truth from error

and wherever we find an error we fight against it and reject it and hold no fellowship with those

who insist to teach it or to have it taught. But where we find the Truth, we defend it,

acknowledge it, and teach it with all diligence and assist those who teach it.

We also distinguish between those who assume to teach, and those who are willing to

learn. God forbid that we should not have patience with a weak brother who is confused or hasfallen into temptation and seduction, who is ignorant or is still suffering the aftermath of his

wrong training. If he listens to the Truth, accepts admonition and is willing to listen to the

Truth, we will take Christ's statement in accordance with one such, instruct him carefully, and

guide him into all Truth, as Priscilla and Aquila did with Apollo and the apostles did with their

congregations. But if someone willfully will teaches and spreads error, then we must not and

cannot tolerate him. If he is too ignorant, if he does not know what Christ wants to have taught,

then he should first learn and study before he can begin to teach others. But if he does his evil

work, although he knows that his teaching does not match the Scriptures, then his mouth must

be stopped50

, and after the first or second time of exhortation he must be avoided as a false

prophet. God's Word clearly shows what our duty is: "But I admonish you, brethren, that youkeep an eye on those who cause divisions and offense against the doctrine that you have

learned and depart from the same ( ' )!"51

49Concordia Triglotta, p. 18f.

50Titus 1:11.

51Romans 16:17.


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We hold no fellowship with those who outwardly appear to be in fellowship with false

believers as long as they are not willing, after completion of instruction and explanation, to

disassociate themselves from their false teachers. We do not pass judgment and adjudicate

concerning their heart, but we do it because we expect from every brother that he obeys his

master, and Christ says to each one of His disciples that they watch out for false prophets, they

should condemn and avoid them.

Paul writes to those who will not tolerate fellowship with false believers: "Do not be

unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with

lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with

Belial?Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of

God with idols?... Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do

not touch what is unclean,'"52

Again, in 2 John 10-11 we find this admonition: "If anyone comes

to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house and also do not

greet him. For he who greets him makes himself a partaker of his evil deeds."

False teachers especially describe loyal and obedient servants of Christ as disturbers of

the peace and enemies of true unity; but "wisdom is justified by her children."53

The preacher

who defends pure doctrine in obedience to Christ is not the one who rends the Church, but the

rebel against the King of Love, our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, is the cause of discord and

division with his disobedience.

No one is arguing that we owe love to the erring; because if it is granted that they are

wrong, then it is the duty of love to help them get back on track again with a spirit of

gentleness, as the apostle exhorts us. But if we are told that we should also remember that we

are not infallible, and that we should let others have freedom to teach differently than we

teach, we answer: Then no one could be sure of the doctrine, and all teachings in the churchwould be nothing but conjecture. That would mean nothing other than Christ is the arch-liar

when He says: "If you remain in My Word, then you are my disciples, and you shall know the

Truth and the Truth shall make you free." No one has greater love than God Who has given us

His only-begotten Son, and no one has sacrificed more for the lost sheep than Christ Who died

for them. If we follow the clearly revealed word of the Lord and deal with false believers as He

has commanded us, then we follow the voice of Him Who is love Himself. We repeat: The

faithful teachers, who are led by pastors to reject and fight error, are not the cause of division

in the Church, but the disobedience of those who preach their own dreams.

Thesis 4.

The Holy Spirit is the instrumental cause of all true inner and outer unity in the

Church.


53Matthew 11:19.


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The attempt has often been made to heal the external conflicts of the church. One has

proposed this plan for example: A man is at the top, whom all recognize at the head and whom

all must obey, and whom must have the right to decide all differences, and whom, if necessary,

achieves obedience toward his decisions by force and thus compels a superficial unity. Now

what is wrong with this plan? This: It is the plan of the devil, and like all plans of the enemy, it

promises much, but achieves nothing good and creates countless evils. This plan, like those ofso many foolish people, is the trick of the hellish juggler, whereby he deposed Christ as head of

the Church and - without people noticing - will put in his place the Antichrist. We say to the

proponents of this plan: There already is one at the head of the Church, to Him all should obey;

it is He Whom the Father has given a Name that is above all names; it is He Whom the Father

has increased and Who now sits at the right hand of God. The Father has "all things under His

feet and has made Him the head of the Church over all, which is His body, the fullness of Him

Who fulfilled all in all."54

Whoever wishes to take this place that the Father has given His Son,

Jesus Christ, shows that he is not even a member of the Body of Christ, but a rebel, seduced

and kindled from Satan, the rebel spirit; because "One is your master, Christ; and you are all

brothers."55

Satan's way is to improve God's plan in outlook. God gave man a paradise; Satan

promised Adam and Eve something better than paradise. God gave man marriage; Satan has

promised something better to them in celibacy. God gave the Church Christ as the head, Satan

promises more success with the pope as head. And as long as many people like Eve are blinded

by the god of this world, as long as many are fascinated by Satan, that he can pretend the

Antichrist as the representative of Christ to them. What unity, peace, harmony, conformity is

promised to those who accept the pope as the head of the Church! The former so-called

Apostolic Delegate of the Pope to Washington, Cardinal Satolli56

, at that time wrote the

following: "The Roman Catholic Church is not only not reluctant, but is trying hard to bring

about this unity, and the pope, our head, constantly invites Christians who have separatedthemselves to return to the unity which existed from the beginning."

57

First of all, let us examine their claims and see what fruit the pope's unity plan has

produced. At first no one claimed, not even the pope, that by his method all had been united

into an inner and outer union. The pope himself admits that not everyone who is outside the

supremacy of the pope also is united internally with the Catholic Church. He admits that even in

the Catholic Church "are rotten and dead limbs".58

The Roman Catholic Church admits that

teachers in their midst make mistakes and have kept false doctrine.59

According to their own

concessions the papists have not succeeded and also never will succeed to bring all those who

profess their doctrine into living fellowship with Christ, not even to bring [them] to full

54Ephesians 1:22-23.

55Matthew 23:8.

56Francesco Cardinal Satolli (1839-1910) was the first Apostolic Delegate to the United States, serving from 1893-

1896.57

New York Herald, May 10, 1895.58

Complete Catechism of the Catholic Church by J.O.E. De Harbe, S.J., p. 147.59

ibid, p. 141.


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himself from the holy Church, and while he has led others to such disobedience, he has

snatched away thousands from unity in the faith. While he has established the kingdom of the

Antichrist, he has become among men the main rebel against the authority of the one Lord,

and, more than anyone else, has helped to destroy the unity of the Church. Yes, there can be no

doubt about the fact that he has torn apart members from inner unity with brethren through

his many bloody persecutions and through his fraudulent doctrines in a cruel manner, until itreached the point that the papacy "is drunk from the blood of the saints and the blood from the

martyrs of Jesus."62

Nothing has caused so much confusion and havoc in the Church as the

papacy. And despite all his protests the pope is, by his disobedience and rebellion against Christ

unto this day, the main obstacle that stands in the way of the unity of the Church. The papacy is

working day and night with his powerful machinery of spiritual and earthly resources and with

all his influence against the unity of the Church. There are many Christians in outward bondage

under the pope, sighing under his tyranny, and are prevented by this scourge and plague of

mankind to come to outward unity with other Christians. And yet people look foolish in their

ignorance to Rome, who shall bring about unity. Let us pray:

Keep us, Lord, in Your Word

And restrain the Pope and the Turks murder,

Who want to overthrow Your Son,

Jesus Christ, from His throne.63

Caesaropapism is another method that has been suggested in some circles. The state

should take up the matter and compel people through punishment, imprisonment, banishment

into exile and death for uniformity of confession and worship. This is similar to the papacy, but

on a smaller scale. It can only strive for a certain, limited area of unity and has never reached

the goal, so pathetic it was. And to see what kind of a failure it was, one needs only took look atthe attempts of Henry VIII in England

64or Philip II in the Netherlands

65or Duke George in the

small Saxony of Luther's time.66

Joachim I of Brandenburg67

could not even force his family to

unity, much less to a cordial agreement. In short, attempts to unify the Church by force, as the

pope and some authorities have tried, produce hypocrites and can bring forth at most a

superficial, limited, hypocritical uniformity with regard to several articles of faith or worship,

but never true, brotherly unity, the treasure that we ourselves want and to which we ask.

Luther expressed it this way: "Again you say: Temporal power does not force men to

believe, but simply prevents them from being misled by false doctrine; otherwise how could

heretics be prevented from preaching? I answer: This the bishops should do, to whom, and not

62Revelation 17:6.

63A literal translation of the first stanza of "Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word", LSB 655.

64Henry VIII (1491-1547) reigned as King of England from 1509-1547.

65Philip II (1527-1598) reigned as Lord of the Netherlands (among many other titles, including King of Spain) from

1555-1598.66

George the Bearded (1471-1539) reigned as Duke of Saxony from 1500-1539.67

Joachim I Nestor (1484-1535) was a Prince-elector of the Margraviate of Brandenburg from 1499-1535.


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to the princes, such duty is entrusted. Heresy can never be prevented by force. That must be

taken hold of in a different way, and must be opposed and dealt with otherwise than with the

sword. Here God's Word must strive; if that does not accomplish the end it will remain

unaccomplished through secular power, though it fill the world with blood. Heresy is a spiritual

matter, which no iron can strike, no fire burn, no water drown. God's Word alone avails here, as

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10 [:4-5], 'Our weapons are not carnal, but mighty before God todestroy every counsel and high thing that revolts against the knowledge of God, and takes

captive all thoughts to the service of Christ.'"68

The attempt has been made to organize a colorless fellowship that has no particular

confession of faith, in which all parties could unite. The Campbellites and Congregationalists are

such fellowships. The Evangelical [Synod], which consists of Lutherans and Reformed, has also

made one step in this direction and have made a compromise. But the whole effort is only a

self-deception; because, despite repeated efforts, the first two could not even bring about an

understanding or agreement. Despite all their claims to the contrary they do have a creed, and

a very narrow one to boot. Their decision to submit to all sorts of false teaching excludes all

Christians who believe that Jesus Christ is the only shepherd of his flock and pretending to be

good shepherds, [when] they are nothing but thieves and murderers.69

Such a foolish and

narrow commitment is too small for us. The results of this experiment are roughly in inverse

proportion to what one wanted to achieve. Even a Baptist, who otherwise fraternizes in any

way with these false unionists, writes: "A wishy-washy church, without a confession of faith,

that makes compromises, is worse than worthless. She 'only disturbs the country'."70

Still another remedy to heal the conflict of the Church is proposed and has been

welcomed by many with great enthusiasm. Because we cannot find a better expression for it,

we intend to call it "interdenominational" unionism. This is the idea of the Evangelical Alliance.

According to those who support this effort, "it is to promote a voluntary association ofevangelical Christians from different churches and countries for the purpose of religious

freedom, Christian unity and cooperation in all sorts of good works. It owes its origin to a

widespread and growing desire for a closer union of the Protestants, both for its own sake, and

also as a successful fight at unbelief on the one hand, and superstition on the other hand."71

"It

does not seek an external union or cooperation of churches as such, but a free Christian union

ofindividual members from different churches that by and large have the same faith. Naturally

such an association is also intended gradually to bring the churches themselves into closer

fellowship and to mutual recognition." So then, men from various church communities have

accepted a number of articles of faith in which they agree, and though in many other pieces

they still do not agree, they believe on the basis of this "expression of essential agreement ofevangelical Christians" they have accomplished a kind of unity and, of course, even better

expectations for the future. The pastors and members of this ecclesiastical fellowship must

68Translation from Martin Luther: Selections from His Writings, p. 389. Originally from "On Secular Authority",

written in 1523.69

John 10:8.70

Lutheran Witness, Vol. 29, p. 145.71

Dr. Philip Schaff.


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recognize each other as Christians and practice at least altar and pulpit fellowship. They

emphasize the points where they agree, and suppress and reduce the differences; they treat

each other as brothers and jointly participate in various external religious endeavors, e.g., in the

organization of Christian Endeavor Societies and Young Men's and Young Women's Christian

Associations.

What do we think of this attempt to unite the churches? Do we welcome them as a step

in the right direction and are we to work hand in hand with these people in their effort to

secure unity of churches? No, absolutely not! Never! We will now mention our reasons.

This interdenominational unionism does not quite satisfy even its own supporters.

Almost every one of them admits that it would be much more desirable if the various

ecclesiastical fellowships would come to a full agreement and full harmony in doctrine and in

the administration of the sacraments. They regret that this cannot currently be achieved. They

are a long way off to assert that interdenominationalism was a satisfactory solution to the

problem. However, they hope that it would lead to a better understanding and a better state of

affairs in the church. For the present time, they hold this is a lesser evil than the complete lack

of unity among ecclesiastical fellowships. We see that this arrangement does not even satisfy

their supporters; then it also does not achieve a partial understanding among all ecclesiastical

fellowships; because Lutherans and Catholics do not want anything to do with it, while others,

like Unitarians, are excluded, so that this arrangement is already quite unsatisfactory.

Furthermore, there are those who affiliate themselves to an association who

themselves are not in agreement about what forms the basis for such an organization, who

should be included and who should be excluded. Former President [Theodore] Roosevelt states

in a letter to the Y.M.C.A.: "The longer I live, the more I learn to appreciate the admirable work

of the Y.M.C.A. I do not believe they should just like Christians of all ecclesiastical fellowships,but also those who do not confess the Christian faith. You remember, no doubt, how I, when I

was still police commissioner, through their intercession, won a young Jew who was part of the

Bowery Branch of the Y.M.C.A. as a valuable recruit for the police. It seems to me unwise and

illiberal to be excluding Catholics from the office of Director of the Y.M.C.A. I knew that this was

the rule, but now someone has informed me that it is so. It seems to me to be of the utmost

importance for our country that our people, who are honest and decent, associate with each

other as much as possible regardless of theological differences, and from my own experience I

know that in the Y.M.C.A. no Catholics are denied any privilege that is given to a Protestant, and

that any kind of religion is never forced upon [them], but each [one] who wants it is given

religion. Therefore, I fail to see why such a difference as the one mentioned should becontinued. It can provide no benefit, but could cause quite a stir. Whenever a Catholic priest or

layman heartily agrees with the purpose and the work of the YMCA - and I know there are many

of them - then they should be admitted to the office of Director and every other influential

position as well as Protestants. I wish that this would be brought before the competent

authority of the Y.M.C.A., and I would appreciate if you further forwarded this letter to the

proper person."


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These interdenominational unionists still fight, make fools of themselves, blame each

other, build ecclesiastical opposition, write against each other, and mutually condemn each

other. We cannot see what kind of a benefit will come of it.

On the other hand, interdenominationalism has also much attendant evil. It causes

hypocrisy. Whoever is sincerely attached to the doctrines of his own church, should maintainbrotherly contact with those whom they condemn, spread doctrines that appear false to him

that false teachers who scatter discord and weeds among the people, speak as true disciples of

Jesus, praise their so-called good work, and express the hope that they will also be given to

further success and prosperity. As with many a hypocrite, once he has done it several times, he

becomes a true Pharisee, a hypocrite through and through; and the interdenominational

unionists stand by and applaud.

In the Lutheran Witness, Volume 29, page 162, we read: "We cannot understand how

people can have honest opposing viewpoints and try to hide the difference between truth and

error. In Canada the Methodists, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians are trying to unite

themselves. These fellowships do not agree with each other in doctrine and make no bones

about it. Therefore, if members of these ecclesiastical fellowships are convinced that they have

the truth, they must believe that others are in error. Nevertheless, the committees of these

sects, have managed to produce an agreement that should cover all these different

doctrines."72

The Methodist Christian Advocate describes one such agreement with the following

words: "It is a carefully prepared document, an admirable compromise and an elusive report

that should satisfy Arminians and Calvinists, Episcopalians and Presbyterians."

We cannot comprehend that a man can seek to unite those who hold one doctrine ofGod's revealed Truth and another of human error deliberately in an ambiguous document.

But what kind of foolishness, we would rather say, diabolical fraud, it is, that someone

will produce the right unity in the Church through hypocrisy!

The interdenominational unionist also produces the spiritual disease of our time:

Indifferentism. Indifference toward doctrine goes against the problem of various ecclesiastical

fellowships, while asserting that there really is no difference or that the differences are slight

and unimportant. These people therefore also believe and teach that it is hardly worth the

trouble to get to know the differences that exist between the various ecclesiastical fellowships.The deceiver and the wolf in sheep's clothing here has his opportunity. With beautiful, smooth

talk that teem with love and liberalism, he invites his victim to come and join the other church;

" because in reality there is no difference". Here is a bed which is for the convenience of the

spiritually lethargic: "Why should I do my best to distinguish the truth from error? There are

72Translators note: One year after this essay was read, these fellowships merged into the United Church of

Canada.


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really no differences." This opens up a haven of rest for ignorance and laziness. These are the

sages and saints who can see no difference. Is this not the open door to unbelief? These people

say: "In matters of faith a lot of good people will always have disagreements; but those are only

opinions. They may even be so different, it does not matter what one believes if each one is

sincere and does what is right." In that case, one has finished learning in the school of

interdenominational unionism when each one joins hands and can maintain fellowship withhim if he stated only that he was trying to do right. This masterstroke casts aside Bible,

Catechism, confession, faith, God and eternity. Is this interdenominational unionism not a

wonderful discovery? As Christian Science explains: "There is no sickness" and so with a Don

Quixote-like blow destroyed all medical schools, books, and science, and demolished

indifference to faith and replaced it with a convenient morality that everyone will shove away

with pleasure.

Interdenominational unionism opens the door to heretics and invites them to scatter

their poisonous weeds in the Church. He claims about me that I am the one who denies Christ's

Words in the holy Supper and makes Jesus a liar, acknowledge him as a Christian brother and

should allow him to my flock his soul-murdering error. He claims about me that I should give

the lying-apostles, the so-called "higher critics" who slander the efficacy of the Sacraments and

mock infant baptism, together with the fanatics and enthusiasts, a place in my church at my

altar and in my pulpit. He opens the doors of the divine vineyard and lets the pigs in that

rummage through and ruin it.

On the other hand, interdenominational unionism must silence every positive, clear, and

decisive witness to the Truth of every word of God and every fearless warning against error. If

interdenominational unionism is the correct position for a Christian from Scripture, then he is

considered as reactionary, as a blind zealot, as a narrow-minded sectarian zealot who

condemns all false doctrine in clear, unmistakable terms, exposes errors and faithfully warns,while the same is a man of progress and a teacher who has discovered the new and pleasant

way in religion, as the man who should be admired by all, who neutralized the Truth with

sweet, smooth, liberal phrases, and makes dull the sword of the Spirit. Interdenominational

unionism has no place for Christ, no room for a warning against false prophets, no room for

Paul, who utters the curse on anyone who brings a "different gospel," no place for John, who

condemned the spirit of error. He is the deceiver, the hired hand on the throne, the man who

preaches to the people that itch their ears who proclaims his own dreams and prophecies,

while he who preaches exclusively God's clear Word faithfully, clearly, and positively is blamed

and put to shame. Woe to the Church if the traitor flattered, but slandered, persecuted, and

thrown into prison the true and faithful witness! My dear Christians, flee this pestilence whounder the guise of love for the flock of Christ reveals not only one wolf, but thousands of

wolves! God give us open eyes!

God has not commanded us to live in peace or to make peace with all people in all

circumstances. He says rather, "Woe to you when all men speak well of you!"73

73Luke 6:26.


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As a faithful Christian should be diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond

of peace with Christ, Who is the head of the Church and the Church his body, and also should

seek to create this unity wherever possible, he should also not be unequally yoked with

unbelievers, but come out from them and separate himself from unclean workers of iniquity. If

a division is about to occur, the fault lies not on the faithful people who teach the Truth and

thus obey their Lord and Bishop, Jesus Chri

The Unity of the Christian Church

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