# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_M rz 1864_S65
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Lehre und Wehre.

Volume X.    March 1864.    No. 3.

(By Pastor Fürbringer.)

Something on the Doctrine of the Oberkirchencollegium of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Prussia Concerning Church, Church Government, and Church Order.

(Continuation and Conclusion.)

The kingdom of nature encompasses human beings as God's creatures who have, however, become sinners; therefore it is for them, insofar as they belong to it, a kingdom of the law, which subjects them to a “shall,” although in their hearts they say, “I will not.” This is the reason why here God has established the distinction between those who command and those who obey — that is, between ruling and being subject — and a corresponding compulsion. In the kingdom of grace, whose members take delight, according to the inner man, in what is divinely commanded, the third use of the law comes into play, including this: “Let all things be done honestly,” etc. But there that distinction is entirely abolished; there all are equal — “there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither bond nor free, neither male nor female, for they are all one in Christ Jesus”; only as those who call to service and those who are called do they remain distinguished for this earth; the fulfillment of the commandment, “let all things be done honestly,” etc., they carry out in freedom from the curse and compulsion of the law, as from all human authority, without that equality being in the least impaired. If worldly authority forcibly encroaches upon this domain, one bears with it, as God wills it to be borne, because the opposite would bring far worse consequences — only that, in this, one not go beyond matters that remain indifferent things. But because hypocrites and the godless are constantly mixed in among Christians, and because even Christians themselves still find themselves in the flesh, the law must continually be preached here on earth; whoever is manifestly evil is to be put out from the fellowship of the name, the signs, and the offices (at least regarded, by whoever has the knowledge of it, as a heathen and a publican), while all others who remain are nevertheless to be regarded, with believing, forbearing, and hoping love, as those dearly bought for spiritual freedom, and to be dealt with accordingly.