Thursday, October 4, 2007

For Your Disgust and Revulsion


Pastor Jackson,

I wanted to bring this to the attention of your Ichabod readers. I ran across the WELS Prayer Institute on the web while confirming the Church Growth apostasy of the Church and Change group. http://www.welsprayerinstitute.com Its web pages provide links to the WELS, Christian Life Resources, Church & Change, Jars of Clay Ministries among others.

Most disturbing are the sample prayers they offer.

Here are a few under Parish Services,

"Dear Father, prevent "worship wars" in our Synod. Instead, move us to use our time and energy to prepare worship services - in the worship language of choice - which clearly lift up the gospel.",

"Holy Spirit, bless the Schools of Outreach in our Synod. Touch a person's heart today through that ministry. Change a person so they not only learn about sharing their faith - they actually do it."

Under WELS in general, "Holy Spirit, give individuals in our Synod great hunger for your Word. Move 1000 people in the WELS right now, today, to begin reading their Bible again. Remove their spiritual laziness, and build them up as they read your life-giving message.",

"Holy Spirit, bring back 1000 people to the fold around the WELS this week. Motivate pastors and elders to make phone calls and visits. Renew them by your Holy Word. Help them to know your love in a new and better way.",

"As you are bringing babies into our Synod this month and year, Heavenly Father, stir their hearts. Raise up for us men and women who will call people to repentance and lead your flock to serve the world with the good news of Jesus in the next years.",

"Savior, you have rescued the world - but so many people do not know that or trust in that fact. Help each one to reach one this month. Move hearts to care, pray, and share in a way that works for them.",

"Help the WELS to shine in the larger body of Christ, O Spirit. You have given spiritual gifts for the common good. Motivate us to interact boldly with non-Christians and Christians - unafraid that we will lose the truth of the gospel you have given us. Help our WELS members and leaders to practice Christian fellowship, without losing our wonderful blessing of church fellowship."

Some of these have Baptist and Reformed theology or could have come from a Benny Hinn or Robert Tilton telethon. I hesitate to even copy/paste some from the second sample page...... There's also a list of ELS and WELS churches that support this operation. The majority of the laity are no longer vigilant. Please continue the God pleasing work of warning the sheep of the wolves in their presence.

2 Peter 2:1, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." 1 Corinthians 11:19, "For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you."

WELS Layman (He signed his name to the email, but I am leaving it out, so his prayer-warrior-partners don't pile on.)

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GJ - Is there a reason LCMS seminarians and pastors join Rome or Eastern Orthodoxy? Yes, they are trained to make the jump.

Is there a reason WELS pastors have become Pentecostal or generic Evangelical? Yes, the Wisconsin Synod has been training them for this for decades now. When I have more time I will type in material from the early issues of TELL, the official instrument for converting the synod to Fuller-itis.

Luther's Prayer for False Teachers

"May God dash you to the ground."