# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Februar 1862_S44
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

44 The New Periodical on Us Poor Missourians.

past nor present generation, as a spiritual power, much as our heart longs for it. Rather we must, unfortunately, perceive that scarcely three notable Lutheran theologians of the present are at one in the confession and doctrine of the fathers, and that almost every one has his own peculiar pet notion, which sometimes runs flatly counter to Luther's Small Catechism and the other symbolical writings of the true mother church, namely that of the Reformation. We, as churchly colonists and apprentices, are indeed heartily sorry that, as far as the true Christian Lutheran doctrine is concerned, we can learn almost nothing thorough, sound, and upright from any of the present spokesmen of our dear mother church.

For some indeed dally about with philosophy and beget with it monstrous births and horrors that we cannot possibly acknowledge as children of the Lutheran church, and at the sight of which Father Luther would be utterly appalled. Others set up propositions concerning the church, the preaching office, the sacraments, church government, and so forth, that contend against the doctrine of justifying faith and are perhaps good Popish, but poor Lutheran. Still others seek the flourishing of the Lutheran church in its connection with the state, and rejoice in their territorial prince-bishop, as one who, by worldly threat and punishment, by bailiff and cudgel, holds the great mass of their disobedient parishioners together in wholesome strictness. But in relying on men, taking flesh for their arm, and leaning on this hollow reed staff, they forget God's threat that this staff shall break and wound them. Others practically deny the Lutheran confession which they confess with their mouth, in that they persist as before in the churchly fellowship of the Union, contrary to Scripture and confession, thereby acknowledging and upholding it in deed.

Where, then, in the present is there for us poor apprentices in this western land the true mother church that could nourish and tend us with sound doctrine and wholesome practice, so that we might gradually grow up to manhood as well? Would we not rather, wherever we might turn as eager pupils, find an ugly, misshapen stepmother, under whose fare and care we would naturally also languish and become stunted? For that most of the present-day spokesmen of the Lutheran church — who among themselves are heartily at odds — each regards himself almost as an improver or further developer of the Lutheran Reformation and cries out, "Here is the temple of the Lord," although they all show our confessional writings a kind of outward respect and reverence — that settles nothing. The question is whether the present Lutheran church of Germany is itself a true, sound daughter church of our one mother church, namely that of the Lutheran Reformation. Were this so, we would gladly acknowledge it too, with honor, gratitude, and joy, as our mother church. But the above indications already show clearly enough that