# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_December 1858_S367
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Lutheran Theological Pastor's Library. 367

express our astonishment that in Germany, the land of scholarship, and from
an otherwise capable theologian like Pastor Wucherer, such an exegesis and
such an application to the present could be produced. It is a matter for
wonder not only from a theological but also from a logical point of view. We
would never have expected that through Pastor Wucherer, within the circle of
Löhe's adherents, the very thing would be declared a duty of true Lutherans
that was recently declared, on quite another side here in America, namely
within the General Synod (see the report and critique in the September
number). Who would have believed it possible to hear, from sides so opposed
to one another, an exhortation to abandon the church-splitting doctrinal
controversy, an exhortation to an indifferent, conflict-shy, peace-slothful
union? For that is where Pastor Wucherer's principle irresistibly drives as
well. Once the pure Word of God is no longer the highest and sole good of
the church, once one no longer regards differences in important points of
doctrine as so important that one must therefore carry on honest strife
without any false regard for consequences, once one holds outward unity
higher than unity in faith — then we cannot see why, consistently, one
should not also unite with the Reformed, Methodists, Baptists, Episcopalians,
and Catholics, especially if they outwardly adopt the name "Lutheran" and
are willing to submit to the order of the church. The General Synod here is,
in practice, admittedly more consistent than Pastor Wucherer, but since the
principle is the same, he too will have to own the consequences.

In view of this remarkable parallel which Pastor Wucherer and the General
Synod form with respect to the unionistic principle, it is all the more
striking how such opposite directions can touch one another. In both there
must lie, even if in different form, one and the same thing at bottom, and
that is — indifferentism toward the pure doctrine and unadulterated truth
of the gospel, and overestimation of outward churchly unity. And yet a
single little word of God helps more toward the preservation of the church
than ever so great masses of men. Therefore we will preach and hold fast to
the pure Word of God, whether it be in season or out of season, and bear
witness before friend and foe to the truth that is in Christ Jesus. God help
us to this end!

Lutheran Theological Pastor's Library.

(Continuation.)

VI. In passing over the discipline of church law, since what is
scattered about this in the detailed dogmatic works of our church —
especially in the loci on the church, on the ministry, on the civil
authority, and on marriage — is sufficient for an "ordinary pastor,"