# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1850 08 06_S196
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

196

the favorable moment for us Protestants of France: since all conditions in the land are taking on a new shape, and the church laws also will not remain untouched, the union should be carried through publicly and by law. We should have an outward advantage from it also. The Lutherans as well as the Reformed, taken singly, are so insignificant that they count for nothing; but united they would be a number, would have weight in the land, for union makes strong. This new united church would moreover have a wide, loving heart (a wide conscience?), and everyone who goes over to it could remain undisturbed in what he is. Then one would also, at one stroke, be rid and quit of the venerable but burdensome old confessions of faith, and would know no other (??) rule of faith than God's Word."

Is it then really true that the doctrines of difference have been given up on our side? Is it true that we have become Reformed in the doctrine of the Holy Supper? Is it true that we hold for error what the fathers believed, and do not use what was their comfort? God forbid! On the contrary, he who has eyes and will see must recognize that there are many who have remained true to the holy inheritance, and that precisely in our day many a prodigal son returns penitent from his wanderings, and seeks only comfort in the old faith, and will never let the real enjoyment of the body and blood of Christ go for a mere sign or a spiritual enjoyment. To be sure, there are fearfully many who have suffered shipwreck concerning the faith. What shall these do? First we ought to repent; therefore they also must learn to recognize that in the state of doubt and uncertainty in which they now find themselves, they are not able to build anything firm — least of all a church! I think further that they should begin to examine themselves earnestly before they rashly reject. And if they nevertheless do not return to the faith of the fathers? Well, then let them go and unite with those of like mind — but not draw others along with them and prepare for them bitter regret, when once the eyes of the deceived are opened!

See how empty this union business is! While some give as the ground that one is indeed one in faith, the others admit that difference of faith can be no hindrance, because in matters of faith one never gets to agree anyhow. — We all have Christ and His Word, you say, therefore let us unite — the Catholics have that also; shall we also unite with the Catholics?

It almost seems to me that many people love the union so because they think the confessions of faith from the time of the Reformation can then be carried to the grave. O prove first that the confessions, from the Augsburg Confession to the Formula of Concord, are against the Scripture! — So long as you do not do that (and you will probably leave it undone!), you must not take it ill of us if we think that behind your "The Scripture alone" there lurks a Jesuitry, and that precisely what is scriptural in the confessions*) of our Church is your vexation.

*) Christliches Concordienbuch, that is: Symbolische Bücher der Evangelisch-lutherischen Kirche. New-York: Printed and published by H. Ludwig & Co., No. 70 Vesey Street. Also to be had at the office of the "Lutheraner" for $1.25. Ed.

II. However, let us take the matter into calm consideration. How? In what manner and way shall the union be made? "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish." (Luke 14:28-30.) Thus, perhaps:

1. The Reformed can become Lutheran, come over to us, accept our confession and our church order in faith. Against such a union we should of course have nothing to object. But the answer is so simple that we know it before it is given, and runs: "That is not what is meant; when we unite with you, we do not want to accept a new faith; faith is not changed like a coat; we remain what we are. Besides, we Reformed are the majority in the land, we are two thirds, you only one third, and the rule is that the minority yields to the majority: come you to us!" Well, we see it: if you adopt this counsel, nothing will come of it; the Evangelical Reformed do not want to become Evangelical Lutheran.

2. So the Lutherans become Reformed? But here the answer is just as simple: "I will accept no other faith; faith is not changed like a coat; numbers count for nothing in matters of faith, else we should have to become Catholic or Turkish, if the number is there. Our name 'Evangelical Lutheran' is too honorable for us to give it up, and with the name we should give up the cause. Besides, I know now what I have; what I should get I know also. In the Reformed Synod at Paris we have seen what a confessionless church it wants. First become united among yourselves — then we will see whether we should have fellowship with you. For the present it is by no means the time."

Well, we see, the Reformed will not become Lutheran, and the Lutherans will not become Reformed. — How could a union then take place further? Perhaps thus:

3. We let our confessions fall on both sides, and set up a new faith. That is a proposal which appeals very much to many people; and, I will not conceal it at all, they are people who still call themselves Christian and evangelical. These want, after all, a church which confesses and says what it believes; these do not want to make of the church a public pen where Krethi and Plethi come together, they want, after all, unity in faith. But in the first place it is greatly to be feared that in such a new confession, out of regard for the spirit of the world and of the age, much that is evangelical will be left out of the old confession, and much will be put in, in order to please "them that are without"; — if not, then one will just confess again what is already confessed in our old faith — and then it is truly not worth the trouble to make something new, where the old is good! — And in the second place, you who know the world as it is: speaking honestly, do you think that men would agree upon a new confession of faith which confesses something serious and makes it binding? Perhaps thus:*)

*) Here follows a confession of faith such as the united Protestant church of the hired preachers, Messrs. Suhr, Kröll and the like, in Cincinnati has approximately set up. Ed.

"We believe: that probably there is a GOD in heaven, who created the world, although there are people to whom that is not plain, and whom one may leave to their opinion; — that JESUS may be called God's Son, under which name each may think what he will; that the Holy Ghost governs the Church, yet no one can know so exactly what the Holy Ghost is, and what the Church is, and how it is governed;

"That the pastor at the administration of the Lord's Supper may say: ""Blessed are the pure in heart""; or: ""To day shalt thou be with me in paradise""; or: ""Christ says: Take, eat, this is my body"" (but you may take it as you will, and I make of it what I will);

"That there might be an eternal life, which would be very comforting when one must die; yet it is not so certain;

"That the best religion is to live honestly, because one gets through best that way."

I confess that I know of no other faith that could be set up on which all "wide" hearts today would agree.

But we will not jest with serious things. We say: upon a faith which confesses the truth purely, men will not now agree, and to a faith which confesses nothing only those go who believe nothing. But he who has a firm ground of faith does not go into a mixed church which sins against the Word: "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you" (1 Pet. 3:15). He who holds fast to the faith goes out of such a church of all the world, and joins brethren of like mind and a church true to its confession. — So it will come! Then one will have made, through the union, instead of One church out of two, rather three out of two: namely a Lutheran, which believes and confesses; a Reformed, which believes and confesses after its own fashion; and a United, which is indifferent and therefore tolerates contradictions. That will be the fruit.

Well, you admit it, so neither will it