Pieper — Rom. 16:17 (# 2, How division is judged)

      This continues from Part 1, Prof. Franz Pieper's sermon before the Synodical Conference convention of 1912. — Some years ago, a well-educated pastor of the ELCA told me "... you are the only person I know who studies extensively all of Old Missouri theological history".  Of course he is not correct, in part because this sermon was translated in Australia, not in America.  Apparently there are some in Australia who prefer to stay with "Old Missouri" and those faithful teachers in Australia who did not bow down to modernism.  —  We continue with Pastor Bryce Winter's translation of

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Opening Sermon (on Ro. 16:17)

(1912 Synodical Conference)

Delivered by Dr. F. Pieper.

(Translation by Pastor Bryce Winter, ELCR 1997)
(continued from Part 1)

2. How division is to be judged (p. 10)

In our time one is not free from self contradiction in the judgment of division in the Christian Church. On the one hand, one mourns the division and emphasizes -- correctly --, how much more the Christian Church could accomplish, if it was not divided, but also externally was completely united. On the other hand, one however also often speaks, as if division does not have much significance, yes indeed even as if something good is intended by God. Every church body [Ed. communion] has its particular gifts and preferences. That is perverted human judgment. The Apostle’s judgment reads differently. He says: “Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to (alongside of) the doctrine which ye have learned.” He does not call those who cause division something good or also merely indifferent, but an offense. Already the mere fact of division is an offense for the world and for weak Christians. The world thereby excuses its unbelief and weak Christians are misled from the faith. Even more the offense is evident, when we add that those who are causing the divisions have originated through departing from the doctrine of Christ. Different doctrine is brought as Christ’s Word, is a hit in the face of Christ, who wants to teach and rule the Church through His Word. Different doctrine brought as Christ’s Word, is also a hit in the face of the Christian, whose Christian dignity and Christian glory exist in this that they have not submitted to the word of men, but have submitted alone to Christ’s Word. And also finally: Different doctrine brought as Christ’s Word, can always only bring harm to souls. It is a question of life and death. The word of men, even if it be so well intended, can never save a single person of the human race dead in sins. God's Word alone can do that. Every word of men in the Christian Church is like grass and all his glory is like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower decays (falls away), when men also flatter themselves that they could bring light to the whole world by their “understanding” or “further development” or “supplementing” of Christian doctrine. Only God’s Law, in so far as it is taught without weakening [watering it down, Ed.] and human addition, makes men to be truly poor sinners. Only God’s Gospel, in so far as it is proclaimed without being intermingled with the works of this Law, produces faith in Christ, confers the highest good on earth, the certainty of grace and salvation, and gives power and joy to walk the narrow way to eternal life. Every alteration of the Gospel through admixture of the works of men, whether one directly calls it merit or only right behaviour, is poison and death for the spiritual life, places itself as an obstacle, as a trap, as an offense between mankind and the grace and salvation obtained for them by Christ. Therefore the zeal of the Apostle that he pronounces the curse over all those who teach the Gospel of Christ different than he has taught it (Gal. 1:8). (p. 11)

Yet, aren’t there then any Christians in church bodies who do not continue in all parts of the Apostle’s word? Do we condemn all, do we deny salvation to all those who depart from God’s Word in any point? This judgment one assigns to us, but unjustly. We know from God's Word: there is in certain doctrines an erring out of weakness whereby Christianity can exist, if the person in his heart is a poor sinner and trusts alone in Christ as his Saviour. So many take part in external division, but continue at the same time to cling to Christ in their hearts. We think of the two hundred, who, called from Jerusalem, went with Absalom and knew nothing about the evil matter (2 Sam. 15:11). Of this fact the Apostle also points out in our text, when he speaks of “innocent hearts,” who “through sweet words and excellent speech” to whom division is an offense. God wants to have no other doctrine in the Church than His Word and fellowship with those who teach otherwise is an evil association forbidden by God and a constant danger for souls.

= = = = = = = = =  concluded in the last Part 3  = = = = = = = =

      In the concluding Part 3, Pieper turns to what is on the mind of every Christian, the Scripture's direction on how division is to be removed.  Only God's Word can supply that answer...