# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1924_S26
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

26 Proceedings of the twenty-ninth convention

have tried, produce hypocrites and can at most bring forth an outward, limited, hypocritical uniformity with respect to some articles of faith or the worship service, but never true brotherly unity, the treasure which we wish for and ask for.

Luther expresses himself on this as follows: "So you say again: Yes, secular power does not compel to believe, but only guards outwardly that people be not misled by false doctrine; how else could one resist the heretics? Answer: That is for the bishops to do; this office is commanded to them and not to the princes. For heresy can never be resisted by force; another grip is required for it, and there is here another kind of contest in the matter than with the sword. God's Word is to fight here; if that accomplishes nothing, it will likely remain unaccomplished by secular power, even if it fills this world with blood. Heresy is a spiritual thing, which one cannot hew with any iron, burn with any fire, drown in any water. But it is all there in God's Word; that does it, as Paul says in 2 Cor. 10:4, 5: 'The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.'" (Volume X, col. 403.)

An attempt has also been made to organize a colorless fellowship, which has no definite creed, in which all parties could unite. The Campbellites and the Congregationalists are such fellowships. The Evangelicals, too, who consist of Lutherans and Reformed and have made a compromise, have taken a step in this direction. But the whole attempt is only a self-deception; for in spite of repeated efforts not even the first two could bring about an understanding or union. In spite of all their assertions to the contrary they have a creed after all, and a very narrow one at that. Their decision to tolerate all sorts of false doctrine excludes all Christians who believe that Jesus Christ is the sole Shepherd of His flock and that all others who came before or after Him and pretend to be good shepherds are nothing but thieves and robbers, John 10:8. Such a foolish and narrow creed is too narrow for us. The results of this attempt stand approximately in inverse proportion to what was meant to be achieved by it. Even a Baptist, who otherwise fraternizes in another way with these false unionists, writes: "An insipid church, without a creed, which makes compromises, is worse than worthless. It 'cumbereth the ground.'" (Luth. Witness, Vol. 29, 145.) [The German reads: "hindert nur das Land," 'hinders only the land.']

Yet another means of healing the disruption of the Church has been proposed and welcomed by many with great enthusiasm. Since we cannot find a better expression for it, we will call it "interdenominational" unionism. This is the idea of the Evangelical Alliance. According to those who advocate this attempt, "it is a voluntary union of evangelical Christians from various churches and countries for the purpose of promoting religious liberty, Christian unity and cooperation in all sorts of good works. It owes its origin to a widespread and growing desire for a closer union of the Protestants both for their own sake and in order to be able to combat unbelief on the one side and superstition on the other more successfully." (Dr. Ph. Schaff.) "It does not aim at an outward union or federation of churches as such,