American Lutheranism | Page 3

a
Christian, a member of the Church. Essentially, then, the Church, is
invisible, because faith is a divine gift within the heart of man, hence
beyond human observation. Dr. Walther: "The Church is invisible
because we cannot see faith, the work of the Holy Spirit, which the
members of this Church have in their hearts; for we can never with
certainty distinguish the true Christians, who, properly, alone constitute
the Church, from the hypocrites." (Lutheraner, 1, 21.) Luther: "This
part, 'I believe a holy Christian Church,' is an article of faith just as well
as the others. Hence Reason, even when putting on ever so many
spectacles, cannot know her. She wants to be known not by seeing, but
by believing; faith, however, deals with things which are not seen. Heb.
11, 1. A Christian may even be hidden from himself, so that he does
not see his own holiness and virtue, but observes in himself only fault
and unholiness." (Luther's Works. St. Louis, XIV, 139.) In order to
belong to the Church, it is essential to believe; but it is essential neither
to faith nor to the Church consciously to know yourself that you believe.
Nor would it render the Church essentially visible, if, by special
revelation or otherwise, we infallibly knew of a man that he is a
believer indeed. Even the Word and the Sacraments are infallible marks
of the Church only because, according to God's promise, the preaching
of the Gospel shall not return without fruit. Wherever and only where
the Gospel is preached are we justified in assuming the existence of
Christians. Yet the Church remains essentially invisible, because
neither the external act of preaching nor the external act of hearing, but
inward, invisible believing alone makes one a Christian, a member of
the Church. Inasmuch, however, as faith manifests itself in the
confession of the Christian truths and in outward works of love, the
Church, in a way, becomes visible and subject to human observation.
Yet we dare not infer that the Church is essentially visible because its
effects are visible. The human soul, though its effects may be seen,
remains essentially invisible. God is invisible, though the
manifestations of His invisible power and wisdom can be observed in
the world. Thus also faith and the Church remain essentially invisible,
even where they manifest their reality in visible effects and works.
Apart from the confession and proclamation of the Gospel and a

corresponding Christian conversation, the chief visible effects and
works of the Church are the foundation of local congregations, the
calling of ministers, the organization of representative bodies, etc. And
when these manifestations and visible works of the Church are also
called churches, the effects receive the name of the cause, or the whole,
the mixed body, is given the name which properly belongs to a part, the
true believers, only. Visible congregations are called churches as quartz
is called gold, and a field is called wheat.
3. Visible Churches, True and False.--The objects for which Christians,
in accordance with the will of God, unite, and should unite, in visible
churches and local congregations, are mutual Christian
acknowledgment and edification, common Christian confession and
labor, and especially the establishment of the communal office of the
public ministry of the pure Gospel. This object involves, as a divine
norm of Christian organization, and fellowship, that such only be
admitted as themselves believe and confess the divine truths of the
Bible, and who are not advocates of doctrines contrary to the plain
Word of God. Christian organizations and unions must not be in
violation of the Christian unity of the Spirit. Organizations effected in
harmony with the divine object and norm of Christian fellowship are
true visible churches, i. e., visible unions as God would have them.
They are churches of the pure Word and Sacrament, professing the
Gospel and deviating from none of its doctrines. Christians have no
right to embrace, teach, and champion error. They are called upon and
bound to believe, teach, and confess all, and only, Christian truths. Nor
may they lawfully organize on a doctrinally false basis. Organizations
persistently deviating from the doctrines of the Bible and establishing a
doctrinally false basis, are sects, i. e., false or impure visible Churches.
Yet, though error never saves, moreover, when consistently developed,
has the tendency of corrupting the whole lump, false Churches may be
instrumental in saving souls, inasmuch as they retain essential parts of
the Gospel-truths, and inasmuch as God's grace may neutralize the
accompanying deadly error, or stay its leavening power. Indeed,
individuals, by the grace of God, though errorists in their heads, may be
truthists in their hearts; just as one who is orthodox in his head may, by
his own fault, be heterodox in his heart. A Catholic may,