The unionists and apostates cannot tolerate polemics, which raise the issues they want to avoid.
The word polemic comes from the Greek word for war. Robert and Jack Preus wrote polemics about the state of the Synodical Conference. Their work forced Lutherans to face some of the issues of the day. Special congregational meetings filled with people who wanted to hear about the issues. The Missouri Synod improved and revived from facing and studying the doctrinal issues.
The General Synod in the 19th century went through a similar battle. The liberals (then as now) hated Lutheran doctrine. The tipping point was reached when a new, unionistic synod was formed within the General Synod. The General Council erupted from the General Synod, roughly a 50-50 split. By 1917 the General Council had won over the liberals and they united again as the United Lutheran Church in America. Big mistake. The apostates quickly took over again.
The apostates are not tolerant. They are not loving. They are not forgiving. Read their favorite authors, the ones they quote so often and so lovingly. That is where their treasure is. They work tirelessly to drive away all opposition. For example, WELS drove three good pastors in Toledo out of the ministry. All three dared to oppose some doctrinal aspect of the Church Growth Movement, which is now Becoming Missional among the Leonard Sweet-hearts.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Value of Polemics":
"Three good pastors"? I suppose one of them was you?
GJ - No, but thank you for making my point.
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"Therefore, do not speak to me of love or friendship when anything is to be detracted from the Word or the faith; for we are told that not love but the Word brings eternal life, God's grace, and all heavenly treasures."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1411. Ephesians 6:10-17.
"Therefore nothing but a satanic, seductive, and sinister strategy is involved when we are called upon to yield a bit and to connive at an error for the sake of unity. In this way the devil is trying cunningly to lead us away from the Word. For if we adopt this course and get together in this matter, he has already gained ground; and if we were to yield him a fingerbreadth, he would soon have an ell."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1411f. Ephesians 6:10-17.
"However, if anything is undertaken against the Word, faith, and the honor of God, we are in no wise to preserve silence, are to bear it far less patiently. Then we should offer stubborn resistance."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1308. Sermon, 1523.
