# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1850 02 05_S89
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Der Lutheraner.

"God's Word and Luther's doctrine shall never pass away."

Published by the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other States.

Edited by C. F. W. Walther.

Volume 6.  St. Louis, Mo., February 5, 1850.  No. 12.

Terms: Der Lutheraner appears once every two weeks at the yearly subscription price of One Dollar for out-of-town subscribers, who are to pay for it in advance and bear the postage. — In St. Louis each single number is sold for 5 cents. Only those letters which contain communications for the paper are to be sent to the editor; all others, however, which contain business matters, orders, cancellations, money, etc., are to be sent here under the address: Mr. F. W. Barthel, care of C. F. W. Walther, St. Louis, Mo.

(Contributed by Pastor Schieferdecker.)

A Conversation on the Duty of a Lutheran Christian to Join an Orthodox Lutheran Church Congregation as a Member.

A devout Christian named Gotthold, who knew no higher riches than that which David praises: "The law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver," was going home from church one Sunday, and while he was devoutly pondering the Word he had heard and praising God with a thankful heart that He had let him find in this land that which could make him eternally rich and blessed, his neighbor, who likewise had been in church, joined him. The conversation turned to the sermon which they had both heard, to the great grace that befalls a congregation when it hears the Word of God proclaimed so purely and plainly; but also how much will one day be required of such a congregation, and what heavy responsibility will fall upon those who have let the Word bring forth no fruit in their hearts. Gotthold, who knew his neighbor's undecided and indifferent disposition, took the good opportunity to lay a serious word upon his heart.

Gotth. But tell me, dear neighbor, if you recognize the benefits and blessings of the Church, why do you not also show your gratitude in deed? You have been going to church with us now for so long, and yet you still hold yourself toward the congregation as a stranger; you have still done nothing to become a member of our congregation; so tell me, what is the real ground of this aloofness?

Gebhard. That I will gladly tell you. Until now I was still undecided as to what church I should join, and no one can hold it against me if I first examine carefully and look into everything beforehand; for one does not gladly take so important a step, which, once it has been taken, cannot well be taken back again. There are indeed many in this land who do so and ponder for years before they join a congregation as members; for when one looks at things merely from outside, they often have a very fine appearance, but when one becomes better acquainted with the inner condition, one sees the rotten spots.

Gotth. Well, what demands then do you actually make upon a Christian congregation?

Gebh. Above all I look to this, that the congregation have good order and that there be unity and love among the members.

Gotth. If you look only to that, you could just as well join a church of false belief as one of right belief.

Gebh. Well, of course I presuppose that God's Word also be taught purely and plainly.

Gotth. Is this then a matter that one can always presuppose so surely? I think this is the first and most necessary question, which one has to be earnestly concerned about, before one asks after good order, love, and unity. For the order may be ever so fine and the love ever so great, yet this cannot make me blessed if I do not have God's Word. But where the pure and living Word of God is, there order, love, unity, and much other noble fruit grow forth of themselves.

Gebh. You seem to me, however, too severe in this point; it does not agree with my conscience not to acknowledge other believing Christians as brethren.

Gotth. I thought as much, that something like this was in your heart. But tell me, who has expected of you that you should not acknowledge other believing Christians as brethren?

Gebh. Well, are there not among the Reformed, the United Evangelicals, the Methodists, and so forth, just as good believing Christians as among the Lutherans, and yet you will not recognize these as brethren?

Gotth. That among the sects named there are childlike believing souls who in all simplicity cleave to the LORD and err more from ignorance, we have never denied. These we must receive as weak ones, if they let themselves be taught and instructed. With those sects themselves, however, we want nothing to do, for to give them the hand of brotherhood would mean nothing other than to set the seal of truth upon their errors and to make ourselves guilty of the grossest denial. The dear Apostle John, who in his epistles cannot urge the exhortation to love urgently enough, yet speaks in his 2nd Epistle, verse 10, the solemn word: "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed" (understand: as a brother). "For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."

Gebh. But I find little or no difference in doctrine; they preach Christ just as well as we Lutherans.

Gotth. I am truly astonished that you, having examined so long already, have still not recognized their false doctrine. As many Methodist or Evangelical preachers as I have heard in this land, I have yet to hear one who rightly divided Law and Gospel, showed the way of salvation plainly and correctly, and grounded the hearers rightly upon the Word. It is incomprehensible to me that a man like you can content himself with such miserable twaddle and with such pious drivel as one is accustomed to hear from such preachers. Yes, even if they preached like angels from heaven, their notorious blasphemies concerning the holy Sacraments should be such an abomination to you, and to everyone who is honestly in earnest with God's Word, that you would never set foot in their churches. But so it goes when, under the pretext of testing, one runs now here, now there; one loses the tender conscience for the pure doctrine of the divine Word and becomes indifferent and dulled toward error.

Gebh. If one wishes to know the true from the