Church & Ministry - Lesson Nine

CHURCH AND MINISTRY

2003

LESSON NINE

I. Thesis 8 Concerning the Church

Although God gathers for Himself a holy church of elect also where His Word is not taught in its perfect purity and the sacraments are not administered altogether according to the institution of Jesus Christ, if only God’s Word and the sacraments are not denied entirely but both remain in their essential parts, nevertheless, every believer must, at the peril of losing his salvation, flee all false teachers, avoid all heterodox congregations or sects, and acknowledge and adhere to orthodox congregations and their orthodox pastors wherever such may be found. (Church and Ministry, page 101)

2.B. Every believer for the sake of his salvation must flee all false teachers and avoid all heterodox congregations or sects. (Church and Ministry, page 113)

a. Scripture Proof

1. Dt 13:1-3

2. Mt 7:15

3. Mt 24:23,24

4. Ro 16:17,18

5. 1Co 10:18-21

6. 1Co 11:19

7. 2Jn 10,11

8. Rev 18:4

b. Confessions and Creeds

1. Apology: Art VII, VIII (Tappert, pp. 168-178; Kolb and Wengert, pp. 174-183)

2. Smalcald Articles; Of the Power and Primacy of the Pope (Tappert, pp. 319-335; Kolb and Wengert, pp. 329-344)

3. Formula of Concord, S.D., Art X, para. 5,6 (Tappert, p 611; Kolb and Wengert, p 636)

c. Witnesses in Private Writings

1. Luther (see Lesson Two)

a. “‘Whoever knows that his preacher teaches Zwinglian [Reformed] doctrine, he should avoid him and rather go without the sacraments as long as he lives than receive it of him; indeed, he should rather die and suffer all things because of it…’ (Warning Addressed to the Christians at Frankfurt to Guard Against Zwinglian Doctrine and Teachers, St. Louis edition, 17:2011, 2016)” (quoted Church and Ministry, p 117)

b. “‘Whoever regards his doctrine, faith, and confession as true and certain cannot stand in one stall with others who teach false doctrine or are agreeable to it, nor can he continue to speak sweet words to the devil and his followers. A teacher who is silent over against error and nevertheless pretends to be a true teacher is worse than an outspoken enthusiast and by his hypocrisy does greater harm than a heretic, so that no one should put confidence in him.’ (“Conversation with Dr. George Major,” St. Louis edition, 17:1180).” (quoted, Church and Ministry, pp. 119-124)

c. “‘Therefore, the doctrine must be like a precious and pure golden ring that has no rent or flaw; for as soon as such a ring suffers a flaw or rent, it is no longer perfect….’ (Detailed Interpretation of the Epistle to the Galatians, 1535, St. Louis edition, 9:642ff)” (quoted, Church and Ministry, pp. 119-124)

2. Chemnitz (see Lesson Seven)

a. “‘It is true that doctrine is the chief part of the ministry, and that if true doctrine is perverted and perverse opinions are established, then the very ministry is changed.’ (Examen concilii Tridentini p. 237, a).” (quoted, Church and Ministry, p. 128).