Episode 19: The Course of Error in the Church, C. P. Krauth

Christ for Us

In Episode 19, Pastor Preus discusses the course of error in the Church as described by Charles Porterfield Krauth in his book, "The Conservative Reformation." Enters the Church in three stages:

1. Asking for tolerance. 2. Demanding Equality. 3. Asserting Supremacy.

Listen to how this progression of error is taught in Scripture, seen in history, and how it takes root in the present day, including in our own lives. You can read the quote and outline to the Bible Study at Christforus.org.

#Theology #Krauth #errorinthechurch #Lutheran #Biblestudy

After recording this episode, I discovered that Charles Porterfield Krauth’s “Conservative Reformation” is available free online at lutheranlibrary.org as a pdf. You can find it here. You can also purchase “Conservative Reformation” from CPH .

Course of Error in the Church

By Charles Porterfield Krauth

When error is admitted into the Church, it will be found that the stages of its progress are always three. It begins by asking toleration. Its friends say to the majority: You need not be afraid of us; we are few, and weak; only let us alone; we shall not disturb the faith of others. The Church has her standards of doctrine; of course we shall never interfere with them; we only ask for ourselves to be spared interference with our private opinions. Indulged in this for a time, error goes on to assert equal rights. Truth and error are two balanced forces. The Church shall do nothing which looks like deciding between them; that would be partiality. It is bigotry to assert any superior right for the truth. We are to agree to differ, and any favoring of the truth, because it is truth, is partisanship. What the friends of truth and error hold in common is fundamental. Anything on which they differ is ipso facto non-essential. Anybody who makes account of such a thing is a disturber of the peace of the church. Truth and error are two co-ordinate powers, and the great secret of church-statesmanship is to preserve the balance between them. From this point error soon goes on to its natural end, which is to assert supremacy Truth started with tolerating; it comes to be merely tolerated, and that only for a time. Error claims a preference for its judgments on all disputed points. It puts men into positions, not as at first in spite of their departure from the Church’s faith, but in consequence of it. There recommendation is that they repudiate faith, and position is given them to teach others to repudiate it, and to make them skilful [sic] in combating it. Charles Porterfield Krauth, Conservative Reformation and Its Theology, CPH, St. Louis, 195-196.

Summary of Krauth’s Thesis on Error in the Church

Error enters the Church in three stages:

1. Asking for Toleration.
2. Demanding Equal Rights.
3. Asserting Supremacy.

Biblical Evidence of Krauth’s Thesis on Error in the Church

• The High Places, God’s prohibition to let the pagan nations abide with them.
  • Solomon tolerated the high places. 1 Kings 3; 11
  • Soon the kings of Judah and Israel worshiped the other gods as equals to the true God. 1 Kings 12:25-33
  • Ahab and Jezabel as well as Athaliah and Manasseh forbid true worship. 1 Kings 18; 2 Kings 11; 21
• Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. 2 Corinthians 6:14-15
• A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Galatians 5:9
• Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
• I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. Romans 16:17

Evidence in History

• The Roman Catholic Church on the doctrine of justification by works.
• The Reformed Church verses the Lutheran Church and forced unions, Rationalism, Higher Criticism, Unionism, etc.
• C. P. Krauth’s experience with Protestant Unionism in America, Samuel Simon Schmucker (1799-1873), organizer of the General Synod, founder of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg and Pennsylvania College. He among others pushed for union among the protestants in America, even removing five articles from the twenty-eight articles of the Augsburg Confession.

What we are seeing today! In the Church/Synod

• Feminism, universalism, and higher criticism in the Church
• Open Communion
• Evolution, relativism
• Unionism, thinking that Lutheran is equal to other denominations and it is just a matter of preference.

In the Nation

• Sexual Revolution
• Abortion
• “LGBT”

In Yourself!

• What sins and errors have you tolerated?
• What opinions have you accepted as equal to the teaching of Scripture?
• What opinions and errors and sins have you permitted to rule over you in regards to your faith and morals instead of what Scripture teaches.

First Petition of the Lord’s Prayer from Luther’s Small Catechism

Hallowed be Thy name. What does this mean? God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also. How is God’s name kept holy? God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us. Protect us from this, heavenly Father!