# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1882_S32
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 32 —

we believed quite differently from what we taught — whoever treats us thus, with him we cannot and may not sit together any longer as a brother, or we make ourselves guilty of the grossest syncretism that has ever occurred. Prof. Schmidt has been admonished, warned and rebuked for years. Here the Word of God applies, Rom. 16:17: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." This divine command we may not neglect. With Pastor Muus it is something quite different. He has not done what Prof. Schmidt has done. Therefore he still has seat and vote here.

Pastor Muus thereupon declared: But in practice it is hard, and not so easy to establish, when someone is no longer simply caught in false doctrine, but has now also become a real αἱρετικός, that is, a heretic. I do not deny the word of Scripture that one should avoid a heretic. But how is it to be decided when someone has become a heretic or not? That must surely be discussed here in the Synodical Conference, so that Schmidt also be allowed to defend himself. And if this is refused to Prof. Schmidt, then it must also be refused to me. It has indeed been declared: between Pastor Muus and Prof. Schmidt there is a great difference; Muus has not done what Schmidt has done, has not publicly decried the Missourians as Calvinists and has not made factions in congregations. But against that I would now give to consider that this difference is not so great after all. Schmidt wrote in German and did what is objected to in German congregations. Muus has indeed not done that; I thought I would much rather not write too much, but discuss the matter at conferences and synods. But Schmidt held the opinion that he must attack the Missourians publicly, because their Calvinism is publicly taught. Now, I find nothing prescribed in God's Word about the manner and way of attacking a false doctrine. That, I think, anyone can do according to his conviction. And as for making scandal in congregations, the question here is: Who has made the scandal? It stands thus: In a Lutheran congregation the pastor suddenly teaches Calvinism. A part, which does not want to fall away from its Lutheran church and doctrine, calls Prof. Schmidt to help, so that the Lutheran doctrine may be saved. If he is now filled with Christian love, he must help these people, so that the right doctrine remains preserved. Now, if I had been in the same position as Prof. Schmidt, I too would have done the same.

To this it was replied that Pastor Muus then evidently does not agree with us either in the doctrine of the ministry and call; whereupon Pastor Muus declared: That may be, that I do not agree with you in it, as indeed I do not know at all in what I can still agree with Dr. Walther.