# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Februar 1859_S63
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Contemporary Church History. 63

even only a weak experience of its own of the Gospel, of the free
grace of God in Christ, of justification, forgiveness of sins, and
blessedness through faith, without our work, merit, and contribution,
then it would not carry on so hawker-like a trade with the peculiar
performances of its piety, would not without ceasing read out the
swollen register of its ostentatious works of love, as if it wanted to
say: Behold, so much one must do for the Lord, so much money spend for
him, so much pray, run, and hurry, if what he has done for us is really
to benefit us!" After Ströbel has here adduced examples of how people now
reckon up for others what great things the societies have brought
together, he adds: "Do you see, St. Peter, now one no longer says: Silver
and gold have I none — or even: that you shall be damned with your
money! Now there has dawned in the church the glorious age of metallic
and arithmetical holiness, which no longer asks: what does one believe
—? but only: what does the Christian pay?" — Would to God that our own
work-busy America too might be given such a critic as Ströbel! We should
need him very badly.

Contemporary Church History.

I. America.

The Tennessee Synod and Chiliasm. From the report of this synod on
its proceedings of October 15 of last year and the following days, we
take the following: "The Special Committee No. 2 now reports as follows:
On the question put to this synod by the Rev. Georg A. Schieferdecker,
whether we admit pastors and congregations who hold the doctrines of a
general conversion of the Jews before the Last Day and of a millennium
or kingdom of Christ on earth, during whose duration all the ungodly are
to be subjugated — which are chiliastic errors — we, the committee
appointed to report on this subject, propose that the synod simply
answer No. H. Wetzel. A. J. For, J. F. Smyre, J. M. Wagner. On motion
this report was adopted, and after brief discussion its further
consideration was postponed indefinitely." — From the report we further
learn that Mr. P. Wetzel has been appointed delegate to the Eastern
District of the Missouri Synod, and Mr. P. J. R. Moser to the Western
District.

Swedish Lutherans. At the close of the year 1858 there were 28 or 29
Swedish Lutheran congregations in this country, mostly in Minnesota and
Illinois, the first of which, at Andover, was founded nine years ago by
Professor Esbjörn. These congregations are served by 9 pastors and 4
assistant preachers.

II. Abroad.

The United Church of Prussia. Already in the last number we shared an
address of the Prince Regent which holds out the prospect of great
changes regarding the ecclesiastical conditions of that country: If the
Union has good days to expect, then bound up with that is also the
revelation of its rotten foundation and the separation of those elements
which have hitherto held back the rot and kept it alive; if, on the other
hand, the Lutherans within and outside the Union are again to expect more
pressure, then bound up with that likewise is the proving of the upright
and the deliverance from false brethren. For a false church indeed never
has anything more to fear than the protectorate