# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1908_S21
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1908. 21

other disciples, did not want to forbid him, does not confirm the recognition of erring churches. For this man was acting precisely in the name of Jesus. —

If certain outward differences in station, endowment, education, etc., sometimes call forth a certain aversion to outward association with such people, the awareness of the glorious treasure of inner fellowship nevertheless helps one over it: that even the person least congenial to me, so far as he is a Christian, is yet a member of the body of Christ. —

The confession with those who confess the right doctrine is not a demand beyond the Gospel, but lies in the nature of the matter, is a fruit of the Gospel. Through the Gospel God works new life, a life which expresses itself just so, that we speak and confess, and indeed speak what God according to His Word wants to have spoken by us. Two different speeches cannot both be right. And to side with those who speak otherwise, or to withdraw from those who speak the same, is therefore to deny the truth. It is simply impossible for faith to keep silent about the other who has the same faith.

The Essayist [Referent].

Purpose of the outward fellowship ordained by God. — What are those to do who have come to believe in Christ in their hearts? Is each to lock the mystery of faith within himself and wander through the world alone until God takes him out of the world into heaven? Christ gives the instruction: "What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light; and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops," Matt. 10:27. Christians are to confess their faith. So that no disorderly state may arise, Christ has also ordained the manner and way. The Christians of one place are to form a local congregation and gather around the preaching office ordained by Christ. To what end? The prophet Isaiah addresses the Church of the New Testament thus in chap. 40:9: "O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!" Here the Church is described according to her outward fellowship, according to her appearance in the world. She is to appear outwardly in the world above all by proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. And indeed as a fellowship, with united powers and with great courage, which is expressed by the climbing of a high mountain and the lifting up of the voice with strength. Every Christian should, to be sure, proclaim the Gospel also in his own circle and surroundings. But from the very beginning we find also that the preaching of the Gospel in the world is a matter of fellowship, or of the congregation. Thus in Acts 13 the congregation at Antioch receives command from the Holy Spirit to send out Barnabas and Saul as missionaries. Through the preaching