# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_April 1855_S109
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Lutheran Antitheses. 109

...consider that the most ridiculous nonsense; — yet the gospel of these people is indeed no doctrina, but rather something good for the kitchen and the cellar.

58) In the Supper "it is enough to have the consensus, according to which, in accordance with Scripture and in faith, both evangelical churches teach in harmony: that in the sacrament" — bread and wine, with a Calvinist broth served as a side dish, are administered. (Thesis 158–162.)

59) "There are now not a few upright Christians and honestly believing theologians who have righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit through the Lord's grace, and yet, from their spiritual birth onward, through their whole spiritual life, there flows in all their veins united — that is, uniting — blood: who may presume to reject them?" (Thesis 163.) Answer: everyone who sets his trust on Christ's blood. We already know of what spirit this "believing" unionism is a child.

60) "Lutheran primers, Lutheran houses, Lutheran potatoes?" No, only "Lutheran Church and Lutheran Supper." (Thesis 164, 165.) "Why?" Because unionism persecutes Christ under Luther's name. Or is perhaps "Christendom, the kingdom of God, the vineyard of the Lord" a unionist maze — "will heaven have unionist glory?" Hardly; for Mr. Stier himself confesses: The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit — that is to say, it is not unionist, but Lutheran.

61) What is the "freedom-creating spirit of the Lord"? (Thesis 166.) The will-less submission to union edicts of the state-church regime?

62) "Would the evangelical churches then not even be sisters? Disgrace upon men and the judgment of God upon everyone who denies that!" Luther, and with him millions of upright Christians, have denied it; who is Mr. Stier, that he should "revile and judge" them? (Thesis 167.)

63) "Have we come so far as not to deny that, etc." We are, in fact, still far from having come that far; therefore a "Union" will not, "quite naturally and necessarily," arise out of the "Confederation" either. The Confederation is, after all, only a product of weakness of faith, whereas the Union is a product of unbelief. The former leaves each his faith; the latter leaves it to none.

64) "Let us learn from one another, love Christ together, walk in the Spirit, live in love, and deliver the testimony in word and conduct to the unbelievers" (to whom, one may ask?). If we had to learn that first from the unionists, we would be very unfortunate creatures indeed. (Thesis 168, 169.)

65) A recipe for producing the Adamitic universal religion: Knead together the Lord Christ and "my Lord Christ" (Mr. Dr. Stier), then Law and Gospel, the Augsburg Confession, Calvinism, and Rationalism; swallow this unionist electuary, and keep whatever griping and writhing may follow afterward within your conscience