# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1875_S7
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 7 —

Thesis 6,
which now came up for discussion, reads in its original wording:

From the nature and character of this orthodox confession it follows of necessity that church practice must conform to it. For every churchly act is either a direct expression and actual realization of the confession, or at least one which, even though it moves within the sphere of Christian liberty, may nevertheless not in deed contradict the confession.

In the very thorough discussion the following was remarked: Nothing is easier than to subscribe the symbolical books, especially for someone who has no conscience, and at a time when it belongs to the good reputation of a Lutheran preacher. If it came down entirely, for being an orthodox preacher and an orthodox congregation, merely to giving this signature, that would be no heavy requirement. That is not what the seventh article of the Augsburg Confession has in view when it names as a mark of the church that "the Gospel is preached purely." This is not fulfilled where a church body acknowledges the pure Lutheran doctrine as validly existing among it and perhaps also lets no contradictory, heretical doctrine be heard from the pulpit; the confession is satisfied only when one accepts, out of conviction and from the whole heart, the doctrine confessed by the Church of the Reformation, and confesses it not merely with the mouth but also in deed. God is not content with such a life, in which one readily speaks pious words yet in life gives the lie to them. James therefore demands: "Show me your faith by your works, and I will show you my faith by my works" (chap. 2:18), and David says that whoever hates discipline should not take God's Word into his mouth. From this it is clear that that is the true Lutheran church which not merely accepts the pure doctrine with the mouth but also bears witness to it in deed. True, it is the chief point in a preacher that the doctrine be pure, but Paul requires of Titus that the work be in keeping with the professed knowledge of God (Titus 1:16). Therefore in the church not only pure preaching should be current, but the whole conduct should correspond to it, otherwise the church stands there as a great hypocrite.

The following testimony of Luther was cited in explanation of the thesis: "First, this Christian holy people is to be recognized by this, that it has the holy Word of God. . . . But we are speaking of the outward Word through men, such as through you and me, preached orally. For such a word Christ has left behind him as an outward sign, by which one should recognize his church or his holy, Christian people in the world. Also