Steven (college student, attends occasionally): I think we have a problem with pride.

Rev. James (St. Barnabas’ pastor): In what way, Steven?

Steven: When we talk about how our church has the purest doctrine, we sound like we’re bragging.

Abby (college student, attends when home on weekends): People do get that impression. When I told my roommate that I was WELS, she said, “Oh, the ones who think nobody’s going to heaven except you!” I was startled.

Mrs. Bonita (Sunday school teacher): My neighbor is convinced that we hate Catholics.

Rev. James: Do we really think only our church members are saved?

Riley (recently confirmed youth): No, we believe in “one holy Christian and apostolic church”—like we say in the Creed. All people who look to Jesus for forgiveness are included in the true church.

Mrs. Bonita: So there are many Catholics and Baptists and others who belong to God just as much as we do.

Gina (active teen member): If that’s what we confess, how come people think we’re arrogant?

Jacki (inactive young adult member): I don’t think people in other churches realize what we believe. They just think we view ourselves as better than others.

Mrs. Schnitt (ladies’ association president): But aren’t we better? We hold to the teachings of the Bible, while those other churches are full of errors.

Erin (college student, training to be a Lutheran school teacher): We’re supposed to guard against false prophets. We can’t condone or tolerate error.

Tim (active teen): I read an article that compared false teachings to infectious diseases. We need to keep away from people who are infected like that, or we put our own faith at risk.

Mr. Newsome (council member): Actually, the Bible says that false doctrine is worse than an infectious disease. It’s gangrene.

Abby: Think of what you’re saying though. If so many people have dreadful spiritual sicknesses, and we push them away so we can stay pure, aren’t we abandoning people who really need our help?

Mr. Newsome: Is there some way we can stay free from spiritual disease that will harm us and still bring help?

Rev. James: The doctors and nurses don’t go out to help people without taking precautions for themselves. We should do the same. God says that we should avoid false teaching so we don’t lose our faith.