# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1857_S330
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— Page 330 —

Rev. 20; Acts 1; Ps. 67; Dan. 2 and 7, and so forth — where they contain
such a doctrine — as false and as a distortion of Scripture, since this
teaching is contrary to the analogy of faith, namely to the articles
concerning the nature of Christ's kingdom in the world, the general
resurrection of the dead, the Last Day, and the return of Christ to
judgment.

On 2. Although the Synod declares every named form of chiliasm to be
just as false as it is harmful, it nevertheless holds that even a true
Christian can fall into this error; it therefore considers it its duty
not to immediately withhold the hand of brotherhood and church
fellowship from those who have fallen into this error, provided they
are otherwise devoted to the pure doctrine, do not teach or seek to
spread their error, and show themselves open to instruction; but it
likewise considers it its duty to attempt everything in order to bring
such erring brothers back to the pure confession on these points as
well.

We then held the hope that, through God's Word and Spirit, what is
right would again take root in the hearts of the brothers, but
unfortunately it turned out otherwise, and in the congregations in
Perry County and some others, chiliasm has given rise to a number of
distressing and sad disturbances. Later it seemed as though things
would at least come to rest again in Altenburg, in that Pastor
Schieferdecker, at my urgent request, accompanied me to St. Louis and
conferred there with several brothers. He then declared in his
congregation that he could no longer defend this teaching as before,
and that he would accordingly teach in keeping with the points that
had been put on record. Unfortunately, however, it did not remain so;
rather, formal splits have since occurred, and now the one party has
sent along a kind of deputy and submitted with him protests against
the resolution of the Western District synod. At the time when the
subjects now under discussion were announced in a circular, it was
assumed only that the resolution of the Western District would be
confirmed. But now, unless the Lord leads the brothers back through
His Word and Spirit, the division in doctrine within our Synod will
become manifest; but may God the Lord so govern hearts that the error
is vigorously resisted.

The Präses then read the letter of that party requesting the admission
of a representative appointed by them. After lengthy debates, which
carried over from this session into the following one,

Resolved: According to our constitution, only voting and advisory
members are permitted to speak at the synodical session. If another
person wishes to speak, they must request permission within the
synodical sessions; if it is granted, the person may speak, otherwise
not.

Pastor Schaller then read out the paper on chiliasm assigned to him by
the general Präses (see Appendix A in the supplement). A letter from
Pastor Gruber to the Synod was then read, as were the letters of
protest from some members of the congregations of Altenburg and
Frohna.

Since, at the beginning of the fourth session,

it was asked what course the Synod wished to take for the discussion
and eventual decision on chiliasm, the