# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1845 05 03_S72
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

The Voice of a Layman Against the Polemical Article Contained in No. 16 of the "Theophilus."

The "Lutheraner" — and with it the Lutheran Church itself — has been attacked and reviled in the above-named paper in a manner that must fill with deep sorrow anyone to whom the spread of the Kingdom of God is a matter of the heart. If only the author of this article, who is a member of that church which he himself calls "the quiet in the land," had at least first read through and taken to heart, with calm and quiet examination, the issues of the Lutheraner that have so far appeared, before he took the field against it. Perhaps he would then have sinned less grievously!

Anyone not caught up in preconceived opinions, who does not resist Christian truth but is willing to give it a hearing; anyone who is capable — even if only to an ordinary degree — of distinguishing truth from error, will, upon comparing the article mentioned with what was said in Nos. 1-2 of these pages concerning the name "Lutheraner," and further in Nos. 11-14 concerning the new evangelical church in North America, certainly soon find on which side the truth lies, and what is really behind the accusations made against the Lutheran church (which he calls "Ultra-Lutheranism") and the false doctrines ascribed to it.

For Christian readers of the sort just described, a detailed refutation of that article is therefore something unnecessary and superfluous. But I feel compelled in conscience to protest as definitely and decisively as possible against these accusations and errors — naming, if only to single out a few of the crudest:

1) That we are followers of Luther in the sense that we would wish to make him our pope and set up a Lutheran papacy. I cannot marvel enough that the Theophilus does not shrink from stating this untruth so boldly, seeing that in the first four issues of the Lutheraner this very point was answered so thoroughly, and it was shown clearly and plainly in what sense we call ourselves Lutherans, and in what sense we do not.

2) It is untrue and false that our church teaches that one can be saved only through accepting the symbolic writings of the Lutheran Church, as though souls in the Lutheran Church were "led not to the pure fountain of the Word of God, but only as far as the symbolic books." Against this unjust reproach, too, the Lutheraner has already sufficiently guarded itself in the very first issue, page 3, by citing the clear passage from the Formula of Concord; and whoever is willing to understand us at all, and has read the glorious confessional writings of our church, will surely be glad to grant, along with us, that the form of these writings is indeed human, but that their content is eternal, divine [72] truth, which one must indeed hold fast for the sake of one's salvation — not insofar as it is human, but because it is taken from God's Word.

God help us, therefore, that all of us Lutherans, who by great grace have come to the knowledge of such saving truth, may persevere in it until our end, against all the seduction of this last age! May God also continue to bless these pages of the "Lutheraner" to be a powerful testimony to that truth among a good many souls in this land who may perhaps still be against us now, and may he adorn the teaching with abundant blessing.

An Evangelical Lutheran Christian in Perry County, Mo.

Editor's Postscript. — It gives us great joy to be able to share the above testimony of a layman who speaks as he does because he believes from the heart. We consider it unnecessary to add anything further, since "the Theophilus," as our dear brother notes, has thus far merely renewed the accusations against Lutheranism that have already been rejected in the "Lutheraner" with clear grounds. Since, however, "the Theophilus" has, in its most recent issues, set against us a defense of the Union by Dr. Hengstenberg of Berlin, a man well versed in the old theology — a defense that certainly deserves to be given ample consideration — we will, once that quite plausible-seeming defense has fully appeared, not fail to give it its due assessment in our "Lutheraner."

The Separatist.

A separatist is the name given to one who separates himself from a Christian congregation that holds the right doctrine, because its members are not holy enough for him, or because he thinks he has no need of a preacher.

Such a false saint and despiser of the holy preaching office once came to an upright Lutheran preacher in Lübeck and asked him to spend a few hours discussing with him various scruples he had regarding the pastor. The preacher explained to the separatist that he was indeed willing to speak with him about his misgivings, but that just then was the hour in which his office required him to appear at the hospital; if the man wished to accompany him to the hospital, they might perhaps discuss the most pressing matters along the way. The scrupulous man agreed to this and went with the pastor into the sickroom, where several patients lay who were afflicted with most disgusting and contagious diseases. The faithful shepherd of souls at once went kindly to the wretched sufferers, prayed with them, and refreshed them in their great distress with the comfort of eternal life. The separatist had scarcely listened for a few minutes when he pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the sweat of anguish from his brow, and opened the little box of balsam lying on the table to rub on himself, feeling himself close to fainting. At last, however, he turned to the preacher with the words: "Ah, dear sir, I simply cannot bear it any longer here amid this dreadful stench. I must confess, I never would have believed that this is how things go in the preaching office. I see that I have, unfortunately, sinned gravely in this matter. It shall not happen again from now on." — Healed of his dangerous sickness of soul, the separatist left the hospital and became one of the most zealous members of the congregation which that faithful servant of God shepherded.

Psalm 91:18.

In the year 1548, two years after Luther's death, when Emperor Charles V had a religious settlement drawn up between the Protestants and the papists, called the Interim, by which he intended to reunite the divided parties at least to some degree, John Brenz in particular opposed it with great firmness. The Emperor, upon being informed of this, thereupon sent a commissioner to Schwäbisch Hall, where Brenz was then a preacher, with orders to deliver him up alive or dead. The commissioner concealed his purpose, convened the town council, and first had them take an oath to keep secret what he was about to tell them. He then disclosed his commission to them amid many threats. Everyone was thrown into consternation, for Brenz enjoyed the love and respect of all those assembled. However, one councilman had not yet been present during the taking of the oath, and he now came in unnoticed. He therefore at once wrote a note to Brenz with the words: "Fuge, fuge, Brenti, cito, citius, citissime" — that is, "Brenz, flee, flee, as quickly as possible!" Brenz thereupon at once went out through the town gate. Before the gate he met the commissioner, who asked him where he was going. Brenz answered: To a sick man outside the city. The commissioner then reminded him to come to him for the midday meal the next day, as promised, whereupon Brenz said only: "God willing" — and with that he went out of the city, and was saved. — Therefore, dear Christian reader, always confess your faith freely, and do not fear the defiance of the enemies and perverters of God's Word, and do not be afraid. (1 Peter 3:14.) Even here the Lord is your protector, and there your Savior — whose Gospel you confess here despite all reproach — will in turn confess you before his heavenly Father.

Teach and Defend.

A preacher must not only feed the flock, that is, instruct the sheep in how they are to be true Christians, but must also, besides this, ward off the wolves, so that they do not attack the sheep and lead them astray with false doctrine and bring in error. For the devil does not rest. Now, one finds nowadays many people who are quite willing to tolerate the preaching of the Gospel, so long as one does not cry out against the wolves and preach against the prelates. But even if I preach rightly, and feed and teach the sheep well, the sheep are still not sufficiently tended and guarded if the wolves are not kept from coming and leading them away again. For what use is it if I build up stones, while I stand by and watch someone else knock them down again? The wolf can well tolerate the sheep having good pasture; he likes them all the better for being fat; but what he cannot tolerate is the dogs barking fiercely at him. — Luther. Halle ed., IX, 818-19.

Printed by Weber and Olshausen.