# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1924_S22
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

22 Proceedings of the twenty-ninth convention

hortation, receive such a one, instruct him carefully and lead him into all truth, as Priscilla and Aquila did with Apollos and the Apostles with their congregations. But if anyone wilfully wants to teach and spread error, then we neither may nor can tolerate him. If he is too ignorant, if he does not yet know what Christ wants taught, then he shall first learn and study before he begins to teach others. But if he carries on his evil work although he knows that his doctrine does not agree with Scripture, then his mouth must be stopped (Titus 1:11), and after the first and second degree of admonition he must be shunned as a false prophet. God's Word shows clearly what our duty is in this: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them (ekklinate ap' autōn)!" Rom. 16:17.

With those who stand in outward fellowship with false believers we hold no fellowship, so long as they are not, after instruction and teaching have been given, willing to renounce their false teachers. We do not judge and pass sentence on their hearts, but we do it because we expect of every brother that he obey his Master, and Christ tells each of His disciples that they are to beware of false prophets, to reject them and to shun them.

To those who are willing to tolerate fellowship with false believers Paul writes: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers! For what fellowship [German as printed: Genieß, enjoyment] hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? . . . Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing!" 2 Cor. 6:14-17. Again, in 2 John 10, 11 we find this admonition: "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds."

False teachers represent precisely the faithful and obedient servants of Christ as disturbers of the peace and enemies of true unity; but "wisdom is justified of her children," Matt. 11:19. It is not those preachers who tear the Church who in obedience to Christ defend the pure doctrine, but the disobedient rebel against the King of love, our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, who by his disobedience is the cause of discord and division.

Let no one object that we owe love to those who err; for if it is conceded that they err, then it is the duty of love to help them back again in a spirit of meekness, as the Apostle admonishes us. But if we are told that we should also consider that we are not infallible and should therefore allow others the freedom to teach differently from what we teach, we answer: Then no one could be certain of the doctrine, and all teaching in the Church would be nothing but conjecture. That would mean nothing other than making Christ an arch-liar when He says: "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." No one has greater love than God, who has given us His only-begotten Son, and no one has done more for the lost sheep