LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1965, Page 273

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THEOLOGY OF FELLOWSHIP 273

ducees? Then understood they how that He bade them
not beware of the leaven of bread but of the doctrine
of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” Gal. 5:9. “A little
leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” Gal. 1:6-9. “I mar-
vel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called
you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel, which
is not another; but there be some that trouble you and
would pervert the Gospel of Christ. But though we or
an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you
than that which we have preached unto you, let him be
accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any
man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye
have received, let him be accursed.” Acts 19:8-10. “And
he [Paul] went into the synagog and spake boldly for
the space of three months, disputing and persuading the
things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers
were hardened and believed not, but spake evil of that
way before the multitude, he departed from them and
separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of
one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two
years, so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the
Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.” 2 John
9-11. “Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the
doctrine of Christ hath not God. He that abideth in the
doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine,
receive him not into your house, neither bid him God-
speed. For he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker
of his evil deeds.” Rom. 16:16-20. “Salute one another
with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause
divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye
have learned, and avoid them. 18. For they that are
such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own
belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the
hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad
unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf, but
yet I would have you wise unto that which is good and
simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall
bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” 1 Tim. 1:19, 20.
“Holding faith and a good conscience, which some hav-
ing put away, concerning faith have made shipwreck,
of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have
delivered unto Satan that they may learn not to blas-
pheme.” 1 Cor. 5:3-6. “For I verily, as absent in body
but present in spirit, have judged already, as though
I were present, concerning him that hath so done this
deed, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye
are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power
of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto
Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit
may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glo-
rying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven
leaveneth the whole lump?” Matt. 18:15-18. “Moreover,
if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell
him his fault between thee and him alone. If he shall
hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will
not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more

that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word
may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them,
tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the
church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and
a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever
ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

? John 8:44. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the
lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from
the beginning and abode not in the truth, because there
is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie he speaketh
of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it.” 2 (Cor.
2:8-11. “Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm
your love toward him. For to this end also did I write,
that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be
obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive anything,
I forgive also; for if I forgave anything, to whom I for-
gave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of
Christ, lest Satan should get an advantage of us; for
we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Cor. 11:2-4, “For
I am jealous over you with godly jealousy; for I have
espoused you to one husband that I may present you
as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear lest by any
means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty,
so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity
that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth
another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye
receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or
another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might
well bear with him.” 1 Tim. 4:1, 2. “Now the Spirit
speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits
and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy, hav-
ing their conscience seared with a hot iron.” Matt. 24:24.
“For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets
and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch that
if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect.”

“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you
to be like-minded one toward another, according to
Christ Jesus, that ye may with one mind and one mouth
glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(Rom. 15:5, 6)

PART TWO

The Concept and Practice of Church
Fellowship as Disclosed by Church History

The teachings of Scripture concerning the fellowship
of Christians with God through faith in Christ, and the
fellowship with one another which inevitably follows
from their mutual fellowship with God as His children,
as set forth in Part I of THEOLOGY OF FELLOWSHIP,
are meant to be translated into practice. A study of the
history of the Christian church shows that the church
has sought to do this, both in the intimate circle of the
local congregation and beyond, in what has commonly
been called church fellowship, or communicatio in sacris,
terms somewhat more inclusive than the expression
“pulpit and altar fellowship.” Pulpit and altar fellow-