Lenski - Negative Texts and Positive Truths

Lenski was the most prolific and least photographed Lutherans of his era.

“All negative texts involve the corresponding positive truths, and all positive texts imply the corresponding negatives. When Paul wants us to glorify God with one mouth he opposes two or more mouths. The divine way is union, not unionism. Our Lutheran Church as such has always been opposed to unionism and has always held to true union. The other Protestant churches have advocated and practiced unionism with the fearful result that now they have been corrupted by modernism. Some Lutherans follow this evil example. They cease to be true to the unity expressed in our Lutheran Confessions, believe and confess contrary doctrines, and yet want us to treat them as true confessors. Usually they act as though it is almost impossible to define unionism.” 

 “Yet the definition lies on the surface in our text. True union is that ‘with one accord with one mouth we glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (v. 6). Therefore, unionism is the act that without one accord and without one mouth we pretend to glorify God. True union is ‘like mindedness in accord with Christ Jesus’ (v. 5). Therefore, unionism consists in being of different minds, some at least in discord with Christ Jesus, yet pretending they are one. In other words, unionism is fellowship practiced by those who do not believe and do not confess the same doctrine. Whoever believes and confesses the true doctrine of the Scriptures must not fellowship those who believe and confess contrary doctrines. The dangers involved in unionism are always great, as the history of the Church shows. 

From: Lenski. The Epistle Selections of the Ancient Church: An Exegetical Homiletical Treatment: A Series of Epistle Texts for the Entire Church Year. 1935/2021 LutheranLibrary.org