# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1924_S10
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

10 Proceedings of the twenty-ninth convention

flattery, which does not wish to be disturbed in its dream of peace where there is no peace. God Himself declares Himself against such division. He earnestly admonishes us to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." He admonishes Christians that they are to hold fast together "in one mind and in one judgment." It is therefore not God's will that such divisions should exist as we know them today as church fellowships, such as the Roman Catholics, Greek Catholics, Old Catholics, Episcopalians, Baptists, Congregationalists, Adventists, etc., each hostilely active against the other. This condition is not only unspeakably sad, but also sinful and harmful to the Church of Christ and to the members of His body. Woe, woe to those who are responsible for so sad a condition; and woe to those who work to the end that this condition may continue!

When one brother fights the other, Paul says: "There is a fault among you," and adds: "I speak to your shame," 1 Cor. 6:5, 7. If this holds already of a sad quarrel among a few, how much more does it hold when thousands who call themselves Christians stand in hostility to others who purely proclaim the Word of Christ, and revile and brand them. How can there be a blessing in such opposition? Christ says: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth," Luke 11:17. When Christ says here that even Satan is not so foolish as to build his kingdom through mutual warfare, how can anyone be so mad as to assert that Christ wishes to build His kingdom through such discord! No, Christ wants unity.

The Apostle of Christ warns and entreats Christians "to hold fast together," and says to them: "But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another," Gal. 5:15. Yes, that is the solemn, earnest prayer of our High Priest Jesus Christ, John 17:11: "Holy Father, keep them in thy name, those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are!" And again: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, even as we are one," John 17:20, 21. And nevertheless people who want to be teachers of the Church declare that it is a blessing for the Church and in accord with God's will when the Church is divided, and that it is to be built up through mutual enmity. We know well enough that God directs these evil, sinful divisions and quarrels to the best of those "to whom all things must work together for good." But although God directed the wickedness of Joseph's brothers for the best, we do not call their evil thoughts and works good. It is true what we read in 1 Cor. 11:19: "There must be factions among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." But such factions are not in themselves good and wholesome, although God also brings good out of evil and thereby makes the upright manifest. Liberal-minded people sometimes say: "All kinds of people and minds are needed to fill the world." [Printed in English:] "It takes all kinds of people and minds to make a world." By this they wish to prove the necessity of the various religions for this world. To this we answer: Yes, criminals are needed to fill our prisons, drunkards and fornicators to fill our asylums and hospitals; but who