What can you do with the knowledge that the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is persistently heterodox and that the Scripture commands Christians to have no fellowship with false teaching?
Whether you are a pastor or layperson in the LCMS, God calls you in His word to “mark and avoid” false teaching (Rom 16:17), not to “stay and fight” or “stay and discuss indefinitely.” God calls on you to witness to this by your words and actions.
If you are a pastor of a Missouri Synod congregation, you confess this truth in your words and actions by teaching your flock about these false teachings and the Scriptural doctrine of fellowship. This catechesis should eventually lead the congregation to separate from fellowship with the LCMS and seek a truly confessional fellowship. If your congregation is unwilling to accept the Scriptural teaching, it is your duty to obey God’s Word and leave the synod with those of your flock who accept the Scripture’s teaching to form a truly confessional congregation. Saving sheep from a wolf is not sheep-stealing. It is the shepherd’s duty.
If you are a layperson of a Missouri Synod congregation, you confess this truth in your words and actions by giving this booklet to your pastor and other members of your congregation. This will help educate others to the fact that they are in fellowship with persistent error and that the Scripture provides a clear answer to the situation. If there is not movement toward rectifying this issue of fellowship with error, it is your duty to obey God’s Word for yourself, leave the LCMS, and seek a truly confessional congregation or start one. Leaving a false teaching church body is not divisive. It is the Christian’s duty.
If, moved by the teaching of Holy Scripture, you simply cannot in good conscience remain a member of the Missouri Synod clergy roster or a Missouri Synod congregation, you are welcome to email Pastor Sullivan for more information on finding a truly confessional congregation or starting one.
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)
