LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 146

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146 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

g. Practical problems confronting pastors in the transferr-
ing of members.

h. The need for doctrinal supervision.

i. The need for a consistent practice of church fellowship
among pastors, with special reference to the changing of
pastorates.

2. What Biblical references not mentioned in this study do
you think need to be considered for an understanding of what
fellowship means?

The commission surveyed the large number of Scripture
passages (with a few exceptions, from the New Testament)
which the respondents considered important for further study
and has taken special note of those texts which were not cited
in the Bible study. One general observation might be made
with respect to the responses to this second question.

In Lesson 5 of the Bible study, entitled “Fellowship—A Gift
to Preserve,‘ the commission emphasized the Biblical mandate
for Christians to be concerned about the truth of God's Word
“not only because it is the means by which the unity of the
church is given but also because it is the means by which it is
preserved.” Calling attention to Scriptural command to ‘speak
the truth in love,” the commission wrote that ‘the Scriptures
teach that under certain conditions Christians are to withhold
certain outward expressions of fellowship” and asked, ‘When
must separation take place (Rom. 16:17-18; Titus 3:9-11; 2 John
2:7-11; Gal. 1:6-9)?” A question raised frequently in connection
with the use of texts such as these was the following: Are the
errorists mentioned in the New Testament Christians? Do
texts such as Rom. 16:17-18, Titus 3:9-11, 2 John 7-11 and Gal.
1:1-9 speak of the relationship between nonerring and erring
Christians, or between Christians and non-Christians? The
commission observed that these questions were frequently
raised by respondents who cautioned against applying the
Biblical texts mandating the preservation of the truth to
fellowship relationships between church bodies, particularly
Lutheran church bodies. (In its report on ‘‘The Nature and
Implications of the Concept of Fellowship” the CTCR has
called attention to Dr. Martin Franzmann’s treatment of this
matter in an article entitled “Exegesis on Romans 16:17 ff..”
reprinted in the January 1981 issue of Concordia Journal).

3. What aspects of membership in the church need to be
accented in your congregation? In our Svnod? In the organized
church as a whole?

The following two lay responses somewhat typify the
overall reaction to the third question in the “Response
Questionnaire’:

Bible study. Love one another in the congregation. Less fault-
finding. More concern with visiting the sick, shut-ins, delinquents.
Less externals, like making banners, having parties, sponsoring
suppers, selling things, etc., putting on programs, getting big groups
involved in things by combining with other churches (bigger is
better idea).

I believe we have a problem not really caring about each other
enough. Those who are active get together and often criticize those
who are not active. Then we trv to get others involved by having a
supper or something and we may get a few ‘new people’ —but thatis
not enough. We have to really take an interest in one another—take
risks—be open, give ourselves and become a real friend—able to bear
one another's burden (Gal. 6:2).

The commission summed up the theme of the fourth lesson
of the Bible study. entitled “Fellowship—In the Bond of
Peace,” by saving, “A person who loves as Christ loved will
want to build up others in their faith and help them remain
faithful to Him and His Word.’”’ Numerous respondents
affirmed this lesson’s accent on love for fellow Christians.
People with fists cannot shake hands,” it was said.

The following theme was expressed again and again in the
responses: ‘We need more Bible study, more involvement and
participation on the part of church members in the activities of
the congregation. We need a greater degree of commitment to
Christ on the part of members. We need to encourage our people
to come to church and Holy Communion. We need to accent
evangelism, stewardship, and upbuilding of people within our
congregations.” A pastor summarized the feeling expressed by
a large number of lay responses: “Although this may not have
been the thrust of the question, most members of the class were
more concerned about strengthening the bonds of fellowship

within our congregation than they were with extending the
bonds to other congregations or churches.”

4. What points in the study do you consider most helpful in
clarifying what the Scriptures say about fellowship? What
facets of the issue do you think were missing?

The following remarks illustrate the kind of response often
given with respect to this question:

The first section of the study, which stressed the fellowship that we
have with God was the most helpful. This study didn't really get into
the nitty-gritty issue of what is to be our posture over against other
denominations. Further suggestions, study, and guidelines would
have been helpful. This study did not stress the errors of many
denominations and the necessity for avoidance of any type of
fellowship with such groups (Rom. 16:17-18...). Membership needs
to be put into proper perspective. It is not just joining others in an
organization but it is agreement on the teaching of Scripture that
binds us together in the congregational fellowship (Acts 2:42). The
same holds true for the Synod. Today many in the Synod could care
less about doctrinal unity: for them unity is outward unity only,
which is not unity at all.

This comment summarizes what the respondents con-
sidered the most helpful, namely, the stress on the fact that
God created unity with Him and between believers in Christ.
On the other hand, it was felt that the study did not deal
straightforwardly with the practical problems that face the
church in the area of inter-Christian relationships. A pastor
said it in another way:

A good statement on what “fellowship” is. but lacking in
practical guidelines as to how these principles may be applied:

a. by individuals in their relationship to others of a different
Christian denomination:

b. by congregations in their practice with respect to individuals
of different Christian denominations, as well as their practice as
congregations over against congregations of other Christian
denominations:

c. by Synod in its dealings with other synods or church bodies.

This same pastor continued by asking:

Do the Scriptures speak of any other kind of fellowship than that
which we have with all other Christians in the body of Christ (the
Una Sancta)? On what basis do we make the distinction between our
fellowshipin the Una Sancta and what weterm “church fellowship.”
“altar and pulpit fellowship’?

5. How can church members express the unity they have
with other Christians without forfeiting their witness against
error and compromising doctrinal purity and integrity?

Some of the more lengthy responses received by the com-
mission represented an attempt on the part of congregations
and pastors to articulate some kind of a workable model for the
practice of church fellowship, particularly on the local level.
The following paragraphs, though not to be understood as a
representative poll, summarize five responses to the last
question on the questionnaire. It is not the intention of the
commission at this point to offer a critique of any of these types
of approaches, but only to illustrate how some have attempted
to apply what they view to be the Biblical principles of
fellowship.

A special study group of pastors submitted arguments for the
practice of altar and pulpit fellowship only in cases where there
is full doctrinal agreement. Urging that the concept of “‘union-
ism” be retained, these pastors stated:

To maintain outward fellowship by tolerating error or by neglecting

to deal with errorists is sin. It reveals a disregard for the supreme

blessings which Christ has given to His church, which blessing is
not outward fraternal fellowship, but the truth of the sacred Gospel.
for only by that truth, not by fellowship, are we sanctified according
to the Savior’s prayer: “Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word
is truth” (John 17:17) (1 John 2:4).

Since the Scriptures as God’s Word are the only rule and
norm of faith and practice, “no one has the right to depart from
the Word of God in even the smallest point, or to reject or refuse
to teach any doctrine clearly revealed in Scripture.” There are
“open questions,” but these are questions which the Scriptures
themselves leave unanswered. Scripture also urges us to
tolerate a weak brother, but fellowship with a person must be
dissolved if he refuses instruction, reproof, and correction from
the Scriptures. By way of conclusion, this response stated that
while “we will never achieve perfect uniform practice in the