# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_September 1860_S284
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

284 Church and Contemporary Affairs.

hopes, however, we must decline with thanks, for it could in the end come to this: hoping and waiting makes many a man a fool, or, as Scripture puts it: "As when a hungry man dreams, and behold, he eats, but he awakes, and his soul is empty; or as when a thirsty man dreams, and behold, he drinks, but he awakes, and behold, he is faint, and his soul has appetite." Isa. 29:8. The Lutheran Church is too sober to let herself be fed on daydreams. And every sincere Lutheran does indeed say: "One is my dove," in which the dove's simplicity reigns, which sinks itself into the Word alone and holds fast to it. In doing so he gladly lets others soar aloft with their thoughts and roam in the air; he himself remains with the Word, for the Word possesses him, and he possesses the Word.

What, then, are these "errors" supposed to be that are to be found in the Lutheran Church and her confession? These would first have to be demonstrated. But that, we think, would prove very hard indeed. — The "charismata given to other churches" we are quite willing to let stand and be granted; only let us keep our own charisma of the pure confession. But what, then, is meant by this "God-willed progress"? It cannot lie in doctrine, for God's Word does not contradict itself. According to it, Yes is to remain Yes, and No is to remain No. And therefore we must indeed stand fast already at "the antithesis to the evangelical sister church," until she gives up her unscriptural doctrines — doctrines which may well accord with reason, but do not accord with Scripture.

Church and Contemporary Affairs.

I. America.

The following opinion of the editors of the "Lutheran Observer," the Doctors of Theology Anspach and Diehl — which advises that ministers be banned in the most reckless manner for a violation of external church order — we read in the paper named, July 20:

""To the Editors. — A Lutheran minister has been deposed for no other reason than that he neglected to attend the meetings of Synod and did not excuse himself for his absence, as the constitution of the body of which he was a worthy member required. — Question: Does he remain a rightful member of the church and a worthy communicant? etc." — If our correspondent has stated the case correctly, the question is easily answered, and we are astonished that he could have had any doubt or misgiving whatever in so simple a matter. A minister applies to a synod for admission of his own free will and without compulsion, and if he is judged worthy, he is received; he is then, as a member, solemnly obligated to comply with everything the constitution of the body to which he belongs requires of him. The rules which are made for the purpose of governing ecclesiastical bodies require of their members attendance at the regular meetings, and members are obligated, when prevented through no fault of their own, to excuse themselves, so that the synod may learn the reasons for their absence. If a member absents himself without just cause, he breaks his obligation and treats the synod in an unworthy manner; if he stays away from the meetings and refuses or neglects to send in a valid excuse, he treats that body with contempt. Under these circumstances the Sy-