The Christian Congregation: Its Responsibility, Its Discipline, Its Service

Abstract

In this essay, Pastor Reinhold Buchholz explores the essential characteristics of a living Christian congregation, emphasizing its responsibility to uphold pure doctrine, exercise loving discipline, and serve one another in faith. Delivered in 1966, the essay draws from Scripture, the Lutheran Confessions, and pastoral experience to argue that a congregation must be rooted in the Gospel, vigilant in church discipline, and active in mutual care. Buchholz stresses that confession and discipline are inseparable fruits of faith, and that pastoral care and congregational service must be grounded in love, humility, and fidelity to God’s Word. He addresses challenges such as fringe membership, Communion neglect, and legalism, offering practical and theological guidance. Ultimately, the congregation is called to be both evangelical and evangelistic, living out its faith in service to Christ and neighbor, always dependent on God’s grace. —Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)