# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_December 1860_S353
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Lehre und Wehre [Doctrine and Defense].

Volume VI.    December 1860.    No. 12.

(Submitted.)
The General Synod.

In the Observer of September 21, Dr. S. S. Schmucker of Gettysburg declares
himself with resolution against the admission into the General Synod of such
preachers as consider its doctrinal basis unlutheran. He says: "Would not the
General Synod be exhibiting a lack of self-respect if it were to admit into its
fellowship men who appear to hold that it has departed so far from Lutheran
doctrine that it can no longer rightly claim the Lutheran name? The opposite
course of the Missourians and of other old-believing synods is far more
honorable, and has won for itself the respect not only of the General Synod, but
of the Church everywhere." Although this praise of our synod is of course spoken
only for the sake of those who, despite their conviction that the General Synod
stands on a false foundation contrary to Scripture and confession, nevertheless
enter it or wish to enter it, we must still agree with all decisiveness to Dr.
Schmucker's principle. It is, in our conviction, not merely dishonorable but
acting against God's Word when preachers, against their better knowledge, enter
the General Synod in order to gain outward advantages from it — say, a pastoral
call, or support, or something else of the kind — and then, to quiet their
awakened conscience, come forward as witnesses against the false doctrinal basis
of the General Synod, which they had nevertheless recognized as such before their
entry. Such people are plainly dishonest, and their conduct is never Lutheran. It
is quite otherwise with those who entered the General Synod with an erring
conscience, because in weakness they failed to recognize its false direction.
These are themselves free from the reproach of dishonorableness if, now that they
know better, they bear witness with the full resolve of a settled faith in the
revealed truth and of an ardent love for their Savior and their dearly bought
brothers, against the error in the General Synod and against all who represent
it. Yes, woe to them if they should be found to be dumb dogs!