Church Fellowship--Our Term, God's Teaching

Abstract

John Braun’s 1977 essay, Church Fellowship—Our Term, God’s Teaching, offers a comprehensive theological and practical overview of church fellowship within the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). Braun emphasizes that fellowship is exercised within the visible church and must be based on a clear, unified confession of faith. He explores the biblical foundation for fellowship, the dangers of false doctrine, and the necessity of doctrinal purity. The essay outlines how fellowship is to be practiced in Christian love, with patient admonition preceding separation. Braun strongly affirms the “unit concept” of fellowship, rejecting selective or progressive approaches that compromise doctrinal clarity. He warns against unionism and the erosion of confessional integrity, urging believers to maintain a faithful witness to God’s Word. The essay concludes with a call to preserve the gospel for future generations through vigilant adherence to Scripture. —Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)