# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1924_S12
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

12 Proceedings of the twenty-ninth convention

Word. And it is not necessary for the true unity of the Christian Church that uniform ceremonies, instituted by men, be observed everywhere, as Paul says, Eph. 4:5: 'One body, one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.'" (Augsburg Confession, Art. VII.) However much we may therefore wish unity also in such external things as church ceremonies, customs and usages, order of worship, melodies, feast days, etc., the unity of the Church is nevertheless thereby neither preserved nor destroyed. In order to be one, the churches need only preach the same truth and agree in the administration of the sacraments according to Christ's institution. In these two points, to be sure, no difference and no deviation whatever may take place.

It is further true what the Apostle says in 1 Cor. 3:12-15: "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it. For it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." By wood, hay and stubble he here means errors, foolish human opinions, which some pastors preach. But far from calling such perverse human opinions and doctrines a blessing or saying that they are in accord with the will of God, the Apostle says rather that they are foolish and dangerous additions which in no way further the work of the Church but rather hinder and endanger it, and are calculated to destroy the true, essential unity of the Church. This brings us to the next point: the causes of division and disruption.

Thesis 3.

Disobedience to our Lord Jesus Christ is the cause of all division, sectarianism, false doctrine, separation and disruption in Christendom.

Although many with us lament the division and disruption of the Church, only few go with us when we put our finger on the root of the evil: disobedience to Christ. And still more turn away from us when we explain and prove this. But that does not discourage us; for he that is of the truth heareth the Master's voice. But those who love darkness rather than light will have no excuse on that day when they stand there before the Judge whom they would not accept here as their Shepherd.

One reason why so little progress is to be recorded in the work of unity is precisely this, that so little effort has been made to get on the track of the true cause of the evil. Many people, among them some well-meaning ones, work diligently to heal the sad condition of disruption without having even seriously weighed the causes of the disease. What wonder that they accomplish no more than one who beats the air? Others are so foolish that they ascribe the disruption of the Church to the various confessions of faith of the church bodies. That would mean as much as: they