# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Juni 1855_S174
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

174 How Are Truly Lutheran Congregations Founded, etc.

has been entrusted with the Word for faithful administration and has no authority to conceal even the smallest part of the heavenly doctrine in any way, out of servility and human favoritism, in order to win some and not repel others, or to detract from it, or to falsify it by human interpolation and by inserting inventions of his own, or to present it as a secondary doctrine. For whoever does this—as the Papists, Unionists, and enthusiasts undeniably do in favor of their human delusions, ecclesiastical traditions, and human customs—proves incontrovertibly that he has no true fear of God and regards Holy Scripture as a nose of wax, as an obscure, uncertain, and ambiguous word, just as the Papists openly declare and the Unionists are now also coming to do.

Secondly, because the conscience of an orthodox, that is, Lutheran Christian is captive and bound to this Word of God in Holy Scripture, which is certain and able to teach; and whether teacher or hearer, he would rather offer up ten necks and suffer death ten times than, to the shame and dishonor of the truthful and holy God, depart in even one article from the saving doctrine of God’s Word as it stands, out of fear of man or a desire to please men.

Thirdly, because true love for one’s neighbor, and all the more for those who err and have been led astray, commands us fearlessly to defend the faith—that is, the heavenly doctrine once delivered to the saints in Holy Scripture—even against the mighty and powerful, against the noble and wise of this world, indeed, when necessary, against father and mother and one’s closest blood relatives, so that, if possible, at least some may be rescued from the satanic magic snares of powerful errors and brought to the knowledge and apprehension of the saving truth in Christ.

It is chiefly for these reasons that the faithful servants of the Lutheran Church always devote themselves with all diligence not only to doctrine but also to its defense, and instruct their people to test the spirits, to beware of false prophets, and to turn away from—and not unite with—those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine they have learned from God’s Word. From the unity and purity of doctrine flows every other blessing as well; and it is utterly impossible for sound evangelical godliness, expressed in holy works pleasing to God and in every kind of Christian virtue and fruit of the Spirit, to flourish and be practiced in a congregation where the Word of God is not taught purely and unadulterated.

Yet as certain as it is that, where such defense against and rebuke of errors is not practiced, no true Christians and sound Lutherans can be produced, it is equally certain, on the other hand, that in teachers holy zeal for God’s honor and love for the saving truth must also be joined with Christian discretion and wisdom, so that they do not, as the Reformed generally do against the Pa-