"The insect-minded sectarian allows the Reformation very
little merit except as it prepared the way for the putting forth, in due time,
of the particular twig of Protestantism on which he crawls, and which he
imagines bears all the fruit, and gives all the value to the tree. As the little green tenants of the rose-bush
might be supposed to argue that the rose was made for the purpose of furnishing
them a home and food, so these small speculators find the root of the
Reformation in the particular part of Providence which they consent to adopt
and patronize. The Reformation, as they
take it, originated in the divine plan for furnishing a nursery for sectarian
Aphides."
Charles P. Krauth, The Conservative Reformation and Its
Theology, Philadelphia: United Lutheran Publication House, 1913 (1871), p.
5.
"For every sect has always had one or more particular hobbies
and articles which are manifestly wrong and can easily be discerned to be of
the devil, who publicly teach, urge and defend them as right certain and
necessary to believe or to keep For the
spirit of lies cannot so conceal himself, but that he must at last put forth
his claws, by which you can discern and observe the ravenous wolf." Sermons
of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker
Book House, 1983, IV, p. 282f. Eighth Sunday after Trinity Matthew
7:15-23.
"This article concerning justification by faith (as the
Apology says) is the chief article in the entire Christian doctrine, without
which no poor conscience can have any firm consolation, or can truly know the
riches of the grace of Christ, as Dr. Luther also has written: If this only
article remains pure on the battlefield, the Christian Church also remains pure,
and in goodly harmony and without any sects; but if it does not remain pure, it
is not possible that any error or fanatical spirit can be resisted. (Tom. 5,
Jena, p. 159.) And concerning this article especially Paul says that a little
leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Formula of Concord, SD III. #6,
Righteousness of Faith. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia
Publishing House, 1921, p. 917. Tappert, p. 540. Heiser, p. 250.
"If this only article remains pure on the battlefield, the
Christian Church also remains pure, and in goodly harmony and without any
sects; but if it does not remain pure, it is not possible that any error or
fanatical spirit can be resisted."
Dr. Luther Formula of Concord, SD. III. #6. Righteousness of
Faith. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921,
p. 917. Tappert, p. 540. Heiser, p. 250.
"It is a curious fact in denominational history, that, as an
ordinary rule, the more large, catholic, and churchly the title of a sect, the
smaller, narrower, and more sectarian is the body that bears it." Charles
P. Krauth, The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology, Philadelphia:
The United Lutheran Publication House, 1871, p. 115. ELDONA.
"The second class of hearers are those who receive the Word
with joy, but they do not persevere.
These are also a large multitude who understand the Word correctly and
lay hold of it in its purity without any spirit of sect, division or
fanaticism, they rejoice also in that they know the real truth, and are able to
know how they may be saved without works through faith...But when the sun
shines hot it withers, because it has no soil and moisture, and only rock is
there. So these do; in times of
persecution they deny or keep silence about the Word and work, speak and suffer
all that their persecutors mention or wish, who formerly went forth and spoke,
and confessed with a fresh and joyful spirit the same, while there was peace
and no heat, so that there was hope they would bear much fruit and serve the
people."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed. John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book
House, 1983 II, p. 116. Sexagesima. Luke 8:4-15 (par. Mark 4: Matthew 13:)
"The liberal movement in Lutheran circles is not a thing of
sudden growth. In our circles it began
half a century ago. In its early stages
it showed itself by an aping of the sects in external things, while our
doctrine remained sound. Perhaps the
first thing to go was the Lutheran hymn...Many of the pastors and congregations
gave up the ancient Gospels and Epistles, and began to preach on free texts, in
imitation of the sects. There was a fad
at one time for series of sermons on Old Testament characters. Lent was still observed, but the sermons
became mere character sketches of Pontius Pilate, Judas, Simon Peter, and the
Roman centurion."
"Contributed," "The Development of Liberalism, The
Confessional Lutheran, 10/45. p. 121.
"Yes, the drift toward sectarian liberalism went on and
on. When the sects conducted Boy Scout
investitures, we began to do likewise.
When the sects preached the social gospel it had its echo among us. When the sects decided on fervent prayer as
the one mighty means of grace that rules the world, men in our circles began to
buy books on that subject and to preach on its invincibility."
"Contributed," "The Development of Liberalism, The
Confessional Lutheran, 10/45. p. 122.
"I often say that there is no power or means to resist the
sects except this one article of Christian righteousness. If we have lost it, we cannot resist any
errors or sects."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing
House, 1959, III, p. 1225. Galatians 2:20.
"The sects have two great advantages among the masses. The one is curiosity, the other is
satiety. These are the two great
gateways through which the devil drives with a hay wagon."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing
House, 1959, III, p. 1268. 1 Corinthians 15.
"But now these sects are our whetstones and polishers; they
whet and grind our faith and doctrine so that, smooth and clean, they sparkle
as a mirror. Moreover we also learn to
know the devil and his thoughts and become prepared to fight against him."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing
House, 1959, III, p. 1269.
"When one heresy dies, another presently springs up; for the
devil neither slumbers nor sleeps. I
myself--though I am nothing--who have now been in the ministry of Christ for
twenty years, can truthfully testify that I have been attacked by more than
twenty sects. Some of these have
entirely perished; others still twitch with life like pieces of dismembered
insects. But Satan, that god of
factious men, raises up new sects."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing
House, 1959, III, p. 1270. Preface, Galatians Commentary Galatians.
"Four people from each of 61 growing congregations gathered
to share their congregational development experience, to react to the utility
of toolbox items uncovered in Sections 2B and 2C above, and to exchange views
with church body officials.
Approximately 125 church body officials [ELCA, WELS, LCMS] and other
guests observed these congregations and participated in the discussions."
Church Membership Initiative, Narrative Summary of Findings, 1993,
Aid Association for Lutherans, 4321 N Ballard Road, Appleton, WI, 54919-0001,
June 30, 1993. p. 20.
"But dissensions, sects and divisions are sure signs that the
true doctrine is either ignored or misunderstood, men thus being left in a
condition to be 'tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of
doctrine,' as Paul says (Ephesians 4:4); which is indisputably the case with
these same schismatics who condemn the Church and her doctrines because of some
discordant ones." Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas
Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 204. Tenth Sunday after
Trinity, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Ephesians 4:4
"Thus Paul rejects the glorying and boasting of the sects
over their offices and gifts--they who pretend to be filled with the Spirit and
to teach the people correctly, and who make out that Paul and other teachers
are of no consequence...More than that, they demand a higher attainment in the
Spirit for Gospel ministers, deeming faith, the Sacrament, and the outward office
not sufficient." Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand
Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 206. Tenth Sunday after Trinity, 1
Corinthians 12:1-11;
"The same is true of other factions--the Anabaptists and
similar sects. What else do they but slander baptism and the Lord's Supper when
they pretend that the external [spoken] Word and outward sacraments do not
benefit the soul, that the Spirit alone can do that?"
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983,
VIII, p. 208. Tenth Sunday after Trinity, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11;
"However, we see that although Satan causes many sects and
factions to rise up soon they war among themselves and disappear again. What countless cliques and fanatical tyrants
Satan has produced to oppose the Gospel during these fifteen hundred years,
endeavoring to rend and destroy the kingdom of Christ!"
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book
House, 1983, III, p. 235. Ascension Day Mark 16:14-20.
"The devil does not rest yet, and hence he stirs up so many
sects and factions. How many sects have
we not already had? One has taken up
the sword, another has attacked the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, others that
of baptism."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book
House, 1983, V, p. 266. Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity, John 4:46-54; 1
Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:12
"For every sect has always had one or more particular hobbies
and articles which are manifestly wrong and can easily be discerned to be of
the devil, who publicly teach, urge and defend them as right certain and
necessary to believe or to keep For the
spirit of lies cannot so conceal himself, but that he must at last put forth
his claws, by which you can discern and observe the ravenous wolf." Sermons
of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker
Book House, 1983, IV, p. 282f. Eighth Sunday after Trinity Matthew
7:15-23.
"The doctrine of the means of grace is a peculiar glory of
Lutheran theology. To this central
teaching it owes its sanity and strong appeal, its freedom from sectarian
tendencies and morbid fanaticism, its coherence and practicalness, and its
adaptation to men of every race and every degree of culture. The Lutheran Confessions bring out with
great clearness the thought of the Reformers upon this subject."
"Grace, Means of," The Concordia Cyclopedia, L.
Fuerbringer, Th. Engelder, P. E. Kretzmann, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing
House, 1927, p. 299.
"When the Gospel begins to assert its influence, everybody
wants to become a Christian. All seems
well, and everybody is pleased. But
when a wind or rainstorm of temptation comes on, people fall away in droves.
Then sectaries arrive, as worms and bugs, gnawing and polluting the fruits of
the Gospel, and so much false doctrine arises that few stay with the
Gospel."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing
House, 1959, I, p. 37. John 4:46-54.
"Why do so many people in our country fall in with the
preachers of fanatical sects? Because
these sects spread the glamour of great sanctity about themselves. Alas! man regards the works of God as
trifling, but esteems the works of men highly.
That is nothing but one of the sad results of man's fall into sin."
C. F. W. Walther, The Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel,
trans., W. H. T. Dau, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1928, p. 372. The CORE.
"The world is now full of sects which exclaim that Baptism is
merely an external matter and that external matters are of no use. However, let it be ever so much an external
matter; here stand God's Word and command which institute, establish, and
confirm Baptism. However, whatever God
institutes and commands cannot be useless but must be an altogether precious
matter, even if it were worth less than a straw."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing
House, 1959, I, p. 43. Large Catechism Matthew 28:19.
"We should be on our guard against the Anabaptists and
sectarian spirits, who speak
contemptuously of Baptism and say that it is nothing but ordinary water,
which helps no one. They look at the
sacred act as a cow looks at a new door; for they see a poor preacher standing
there or some woman who baptizes in an emergency, are offended at the sight,
and say: Indeed! What might Baptism be? Moreover, they state: Whoever does not believe is really not
baptized. In this way they dishonor and blaspheme the most worthy Sacrament,
not seeing any farther than a horse or a cow sees...."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing
House, 1959, I, p. 45. John 1:30-32.
"Error and heresy must come into the world so that the elect
may become approved and manifest. Their
coming is in the best interests of Christians if they take the proper attitude
toward it. St. Augustine, who certainly
was sufficiently annoyed by wretched sectaries, says that when heresy and
offense come, they produce much benefit in Christendom; for they cause
Christians industriously to read Holy Scriptures and with diligence to pursue
it and persevere in its study. Otherwise
they might let it lie on the shelf, become very secure, and say: Why, God's Word and the text of Scripture
are current and in our midst; it is not necessary for us to read Holy
Scripture." What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald
Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 639.
"Error and heresy must come into the world so that the elect
may become approved and manifest. Their
coming is in the best interests of Christians if they take the proper attitude
toward it. St. Augustine, who certainly
was sufficiently annoyed by wretched sectaries, says that when heresy and
offense come, they produce much benefit in Christendom; for they cause
Christians industriously to read Holy Scriptures and with diligence to pursue
it and persevere in its study.
Otherwise they might let it lie on the shelf, become very secure, and
say: Why, God's Word and the text of
Scripture are current and in our midst; it is not necessary for us to read Holy
Scripture." What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald
Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 639.
"All the others also say that they are teaching the Word of
God. No devil, heretic, or sectarian
spirit arises who says: I, the devil,
or a heretic, am preaching my own views.
On the contrary, all know how to say: This is not my doctrine; it is
God's Word."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing
House, 1959, II, p. 640.
"For as truly as I can say, No man has spun the Ten
Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer out of his head, but they are
revealed and given by God Himself, so also I can boast and given by God
Himself, so also I can boast that Baptism is no human trifle, but instituted by
God Himself, moreover, that it is most solemnly and strictly commanded that we
must be baptized or we cannot be saved, lest any one regard it as a trifling
matter, like putting on a new red coat. For it is of the greatest importance
that we esteem Baptism excellent, glorious, and exalted, for which we contend
and fight chiefly, because the world is now so full of sects clamoring that
Baptism is an external thing, and that external things are of no benefit. But
let it be ever so much an external thing, here stand God's Word and command
which institute, establish, and confirm Baptism."
The Large Catechism, Part Fourth, Of Baptism. #6-8. Concordia
Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 733. Tappert, p.
437. Heiser, p. 205.
