# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1911 06 13_S185
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Der Lutheraner.

God's Word and Luther's teaching shall not pass away, now or ever.

And I saw an angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice: Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Rev. 14:6-7.

Published by the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States.

Edited by the faculty of the theological seminary in St. Louis.

67th Year.

St. Louis, Mo., June 13, 1911.

No. 12.

"He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth."

Luke 11:23.

What the Lord meant by this is not hard to recognize. Even in Christ's time there were already many who, unlike the scribes, Pharisees, and chief priests, did not set out to destroy Christ's kingdom, but who also did nothing to see that it was advanced and spread. They did not want to be opponents of his kingdom, but they also did not want to commit themselves fully to it; instead they maintained a certain neutrality. They thought that, although they did nothing for Christ's kingdom, they should still count as friends and promoters of it simply because they did nothing against it. But what judgment does Christ pronounce on them? He renders the strict verdict: "He that gathereth not with me scattereth." By this he means to say, in short: even if a person does nothing with the intent to hinder or fight my kingdom, if he is merely an idle onlooker, if he is not willing and active in working so that my church may be gathered and built up, he already scatters it through his inactivity and sluggishness; he is thereby already an enemy rather than a friend, an opponent rather than a promoter of my kingdom.

We must all agree with this judgment, for it holds true even among men. Whoever does not stand by me in my need, though he is able to, shows thereby that he does not love me as a friend, for otherwise he would help me; for the nature of love is that it shows itself in deeds. Whoever in our last civil war would do nothing for the Union and its preservation was already counted an enemy of it, even if he did and said nothing against it. Neutrality never counted, and never counts, in a decisive struggle.

Well then, my dear friends, let us also apply this standard of Christ's word, "He that gathereth not with me scattereth," to our own Christianity — how do matters stand with us? It is true that there is no one among us who is actually annoyed when Christ's kingdom spreads, when his gospel is preached ever more purely, when ever more schools and churches are founded for the building up of Christendom, when ever more people are truly converted to Christ. But how is it? Are we all active, zealous, and willing participants in this great work of Christian love? Do we not only pray daily with sincere hearts, "Thy kingdom come," but also prove the sincerity of our prayer? Do we take heartfelt interest in what is happening in Christ's kingdom, in Christendom, among the heathen, and do we rejoice over the advance and spread of his kingdom? Or are there not some among us who are far more eager to hear about worldly affairs than about the church? Are there not some among us who not only have no heart at all for the heathen mission and never give a mite for it, but who will not even make any sacrifice so that in their own midst churches and schools may be built, and institutions for training preachers and teachers established? Are there not some among us who set themselves against every effort undertaken to improve their own congregation's affairs, who openly declare that they have paid enough for this church and want to leave the rest to others — indeed, who take so little interest in the welfare and troubles of their own congregation that they almost never appear at the congregational meeting, where it must be deliberated and decided what is needed for the preservation and advancement of Christ's kingdom among us, and who always leave this work to their brethren? In short, are there not many among us who are so inactive, so indifferent, so sluggish and lukewarm in matters of Christ's kingdom that, if everyone were like them, not only could no churches and schools be built, but even what already exists would all fall back into ruin?

But what does Christ judge of such Christians in name only? He says: "He that gathereth not with me scattereth." Behold, they are not friends and benefactors, but enemies and destroyers of Christ's kingdom. O God, what a severe judgment, what a condemning word! Even true Christians, who sometimes fail to do something for Christ