# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_April 1859_S120
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

120 On the Difference in the Law between the Missouri Synod, etc.

— We therefore also always call the General Synod only the "so-called
Lutheran" Synod, because it is in truth not Lutheran, has no Lutheran
confession, but falsely calls itself merely Lutheran. Many an
American-Lutheran gentleman may already have shrugged his shoulders in
pity over this, piously rolled his eyes heavenward, and sighed from the
depths of his breast: narrowness of mind!! want of brotherly love!!! —
But sighing and shrugging the shoulders accomplishes nothing. Who in the
General Synod has the courage to stand up and refute the assertion that
the confessional state of the General Synod is a false, hypocritical
one? and that on that account this ecclesiastical body also stands, in
moral worth, far below the [German] Union? For the General Synod (who
could even dare to deny this?) unites within itself just as many
different "points of doctrinal standing" as the Union does: Lutheran,
United, Reformed, pietistic-enthusiast — all of whom likewise declare
themselves publicly to be such. But the German Union is ashamed to call
itself Lutheran, since it knows that it is not. The General Synod acts
otherwise; it is past such "German" scruples; it calls itself whatever
it likes, and probably regards that as a piece of the highly-vaunted
American liberty.

Is it then really unloving of us that we continually attack the General
Synod on account of its confession? Is it not rather a sign of true,
biblical love that we rebuke the erring and perverse brethren and do not
let up until they have put away their hypocritical confession? Is it
narrow-mindedness to admonish someone to lay aside falsehood — for
"lying lips are an abomination to the LORD" (Proverbs 12:22) — and to
become open and honest?

Another fact in which the lazy, false spirit of love of the General
Synod manifests itself is the condition of its theological seminaries.
Most members of the General Synod who have advanced even somewhat in
knowledge know that its professorial chairs are in part occupied by
false teachers; they know too that God has said one should beware of
false prophets; they know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump.
Indeed, the "Lutheran Herald" recently printed an excerpt of Dr.
Luther's exposition of these words of Paul, to which we would like to
add the following words worth taking to heart. Luther says: "The false
apostles must, to outward appearance, have been very pious and holy
people; and it may well be that among them there was a particularly
great and notable man, a disciple of the true apostles, who had gained a
great and splendid reputation; for St. Paul surely does not, without
cause, use such great and forceful words as these: 'But he who troubles
you shall bear his judgment, whoever he may be.' In the same way he
speaks also above, in the first chapter: 'Though we, or an angel from
heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we have
preached unto you, let him be accursed.'" There is likewise no doubt