# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S537
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

590 INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS

Correct Synodical District Essay
(Memorial 609)
We, the undersigned members o

attention of Synod to the follo
action.

f Synod, would hereby cal] the
wing facts and request remedial

The Visible Side of the Church

In its Declaration the American Lutheran Church has said:
“We declare that (to speak of a visible side of th

e Church when
defining its essence) is not a false doctrine if b i

ceedings, 1938, p. 223.)

Lehre und Wehre in 1904 designated this definition of the
Church “unbiblical, contrary to the Confessions, and downright
absurd,” and showed how it can become “very detrimental to the
faith.” (Vol. 50, p. 443 f.)

Our Synod therefore confesses in its Brief Statement: “In our
day some Lutherans speak of two sides of the Church, taking the
means of grace to be its ‘visible side.’ It is true, the means of grace
are necessarily related to the Ch.
created and preserved through them. But the means of

n external institution, we shall
continue to call the means of grace the ‘marks’ of the Church.”
(Par. 25.) “Not to be included in the number of open questions
are the following: the doctrine of the Church and the Ministry
... these doctrines being clearly defined in Scripture.” (Par, 44.)

But in an essay read to the 1949 convention of the Southern

California and the California and Nevada Districts of Synod, Dr.

W. A. Arndt says regarding this false teaching of the A.L.C:
“It is evident that here we are dealing with a quéstion of termi-
nology.” ,

In short, what Missouri has always regarded as being a dif-

ference between truth and error and as a departure from the clear

teaching of Scripture is regarded by Dr. Arndt and the A.L.C.

merely as a “question of terminology.”

Antichrist

In its Declaration the American Lutheran Church has said:

“We accept the historial judgment of Luther in the Smalcald

Articles that the Pope is the very Antichrist, because among all
the antichristian manifestations in the history of the world and
the Church that lie behind us in the past there is none that fits the
description given in 2 Thessalonians 2 better than the Papacy. ...

urch, seeing that the Church is -

TTT
2 SR ARNG

“us, prior to the

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 591

i i ture that is still before
the question whether in the fu
e answer weturn of Christ, a special unfolding and persona!
ichristi lready present now an
a tion of the antichristian power a \
gone more comprehensive fulfillment of 2 Thessalonians ;
shes i cur we leave to the Lord and Ruler of the Church an

Frid history.” (Proceedings, 1938, p. 225.)
- We

That the Pope is the Antichrist is not accepted by the A. ar
ctrine of Scripture, but merely as an “historical ju gm i
asa L.C. is willing to accept the opinion of Luther in this
The be ause at present there is none that fits 2 Thessalonians 2
aa ee than the Papacy. However, by adding the second state-
wae ted above, the A.L.C. makes the identity of the An-
jee Dat open question — Luther may be right, or he may be
tichrist Th A L. C. thereby also makes room in its midst for the
wee t hin that prior to Christ’s return (the Declaration does
false soci which return of Christ His return to Judgment or
His supposed return before the millennium) THE jarani
will appear and will be vanquished at the first wv Oat
Christ will terminate Antichrist’s rule, cause the st ne (Rea
tion,” and then begin His millennial reign with the saints. ,
‘matics, 1945 ed., p. 375ff.)
oe hre und Wehre in 1904 said we confidently assert nat
it is the teaching of Scripture . . : tl at e ‘ope  eteae e clearly
Here, too, it is a matter of accepting in faith or rej ey
ine of Scripture. ... We do indeed reproac
sees who till expect a future Antichrist that they 4 not
understand these words of nnd and refuse faith and obe
the same.” (Vol. 50, p. 492.
near Synod therefore confesses in its Brief Statement ‘rat x
is a “doctrine clearly defined in Scripture that the Prope
of the Holy Scriptures concerning the Antichrist, - ess. 2 Ke
1 John 2:18, have been fulfilled in the Pope of Rome and nit
dominion. All the features of the Antichrist as drawn mn ae
prophecies . . . are the oustanding characteristics of the Papacy.
.44, 43. Our emphasis.
eat in the essay under consideration, Dr. Arndt, misunder-
standing the A.L.C. position entirely, contends that oe eae
hold that “the antichristian power now in the worl 1 roe
future reach a height which it nas not yet attained” do no
“ ing that the Scriptures teach.” _
_, short, what Missouri has always regarded as ‘ qilection
of a clearly expressed doctrine of Scripture is designa e e y a
Arndt and the A. L. C. as not being a denial of any ing t
Scriptures teach.”