Ichabod on Slow-Down

My priority is to finish the publication of Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant. I have given readers enough to study for a year or two. I will be back soon.

The new links provided are loaded with quotations to study. You may hate my conclusions in Thy Strong Word, but study the materials. No one else has gathered as much on the efficacy of the Word. I scoured many libraries and microfilms for the references.

WELS SP Schroeder

I was pleased when Schroeder was elected Synod President of WELS. He has inherited a lot, more than any of us can imagine. He needs to have time and your prayers to accomplish his work. That will take some patience.

A pastor is not really settled into doing his job for a year or two. I cannot estimate what it takes to be a new synodical president at a time like this. Several years are a bare minimum, I think

The forces that put him into office should continue to support the changes needed. I am a complete outsider, so I am not part of the equation.

Reformation Quotations

"Since now, in the sight of God and of all Christendom [the entire Church of Christ], we wish to testify to those now living and those who shall come after us that this declaration herewith presented concerning all the controverted articles aforementioned and explained, and no other, is our faith, doctrine, and confession, in which we are also willing, by God's grace, to appear with intrepid hearts before the judgment-seat of Jesus Christ, and give an account of it; and that we will neither privately nor publicly speak or write anything contrary to it, but, by the help of God's grace, intend to abide thereby: therefore, after mature deliberation, we have, in God's fear and with the invocation of His name, attached our signatures with our own hands."
Formula of Concord, SD, XII. #40. Other Factions and Sects. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1103. Tappert, p. 636. Heiser, p. 296.

"The Lutheran Church is a doctrinal Church. She attaches supreme importance to pure doctrine. The preaching and teaching of God's pure Word is her central activity. Say the Confessors: 'The true adornment of the churches is godly, useful, and clear doctrine.' (Triglotta, p. 401)"
W. A. Baepler, "Doctrine, True and False," The Abiding Word, ed., Theodore Laetsch, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1946, II, p. 496.

"Let him therefore who is concerned about his life not be taken in by the friendliness of heretics to agree with their doctrine. Neither let him be offended at my faults, who am a teacher, but let him consider the doctrine itself." [Origen, Homily 7, on Ezekiel]
Martin Chemnitz, Examination of the Council of Trent, trans., Fred Kramer, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1971, I, p. 154.

"But now I ought not to quote the Nicean, nor you the Ariminensian Council, as if to judge beforehand. I will not be bound by the authority of this, nor you by the authority of that. On the authority of the Scriptures and not on any one's own, but on the common witnesses of both, let matter contend with matter, cause with cause, reason with reason." [Augustine, Contra Maximum, Book 3, chap. 14]
Martin Chemnitz, Examination of the Council of Trent, trans., Fred Kramer, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1971, I, p. 155.

"What is the reason for certainty in Christian doctrine?...7. the hatred of the devil over against this doctrine;
David Chytraeus, A Summary of the Christian Faith (1568), trans., Richard Dinda, Decatur: Repristination Press, 1994. p. 21.

"The worst of all is, that we must not only suffer shame, persecution and death; but that the world rejoices because of our great loss and misfortunes. This is indeed very hard and bitter. Sure it shall thus come to pass, for the world will rejoice when it goes ill with us; but this comfort we have that their joy shall not last long, and our sorrow shall be turned into eternal joy."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 80. Third Sunday after Easter John 16:16-23.

"For it is not possible for those not to be offended in Christ who walk by sight and feeling and do not adhere firmly to the Word."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, I, p. 23.

"Perhaps you look about and think: What, could so many people be wrong all at once? Beware, and do not let their number trouble you; hold fast to God's Word; He cannot deceive you, though all mankind be false, as indeed the Scriptures say, Psalm 116:11: 'All men are liars.'"
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, I, p. 416. Epiphany Matthew 2:1-12.

"It is true, the injury is not so glaring, and it appears to be much worse if a person's head is struck off, than if a false prophet or writer comes forward; but a false sermon, yea even a false word, which comes whirling along in God's name, will cut off a great number of souls, so that an entire city or country may fall under it."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, IV, p. 386. Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, Second Sermon Mark 7:31-37.

"Perhaps you look about and think: What, could so many people be wrong all at once? Beware, and do not let their number trouble you; hold fast to God's Word; He cannot deceive you, though all mankind be false, as indeed the Scriptures say, Psalm 116:11: 'All men are liars.'"
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, I, p. 416. Epiphany Matthew 2:1-12. Psalm 116:11.

"The doctrine may well be correctly taught by a person even though his life is evil. Bad doctrine is a thousand times more harmful than a bad life."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 846.

"All the others also say that they are teaching the Word of God. No devil, heretic, or sectarian spirit arises who says: I, the devil, or a heretic, am preaching my own views. On the contrary, all know how to say: This is not my doctrine; it is God's Word."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 640.

"Error and heresy must come into the world so that the elect may become approved and manifest. Their coming is in the best interests of Christians if they take the proper attitude toward it. St. Augustine, who certainly was sufficiently annoyed by wretched sectaries, says that when heresy and offense come, they produce much benefit in Christendom; for they Christians industriously to read Holy Scriptures and with diligence to pursue it and persevere in its study. Otherwise they might let it lie on the shelf, become very secure, and say: Why, God's Word and the text of Scripture are current and in our midst; it is not necessary for us to read Holy Scripture."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 639.

"The devil has the advantage of being able to find pupils for a doctrine or a dream no matter how absurd the doctrine or the dream may be. The more absurd it is the sooner he finds pupils."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 632. WLS #1940 Mark 7:31-37.

"However, if anything is undertaken against the Word, faith, and the honor of God, we are in no wise to preserve silence, are to bear it far less patiently. Then we should offer stubborn resistance."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1308. Sermon, 1523

"Hence everything here depends only upon this, that you rightly learn to look upon Christ according to the Word, and not according to your own thoughts and feelings, for human thoughts are frauds and lies, but His Word is true and cannot lie."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, IV, p. 92. Third Sunday after Trinity, Second Sermon Luke 15:1-10.

"This is going through closed doors, when He comes into the heart through the Word, not breaking nor displacing anything. For when the Word of God comes, it neither injures the conscience, nor deranges the understanding of the heart and the external senses; as the false teachers do who break all the doors and windows, breaking through like thieves, leaving nothing whole and undamaged, and perverting, falsifying and injuring all life, conscience, reason, and the senses. Christ does not do thus."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 355. First Sunday after Easter John 20:19-31.

"But when St. Peter stood up and preached, they made a mockery of it and considered the apostles drunken fools. When they had urged the Gospel a long time, they gathered together three thousand men and women. But what were they among so many? Yea, no one could discern that the Gospel had accomplished anything, for all things continued in the same state as before. No change was seen, and scarcely anyone knew that there were Christians there. And so it will be at all times."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 306. Easter Tuesday Luke 24:36-47.

"Be not worried because of this! for even though a man preach and continue in the Gospel for many years, he must still lament and say: Aye, no one will come, and all continue in their former state. Therefore you must not let that grieve or terrify you."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 305. Easter Tuesday Luke 24:36-47.

"He permits it to happen that many great saints err and stumble, in order that we may not trust in men, though they be many, great, and holy. We must be led to rely upon the Word that is sure and cannot deceive, as here these two men, and all the others afterward, were directed to the Scriptures."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 290. Easter Monday Luke 24:13-35.

"All preaching of sin and God's wrath is a preaching of the Law, no matter how or when it may be done. On the other hand, the Gospel is such preaching as sets forth and bestows nothing but grace and forgiveness in Christ. And yet it is true that the Apostles and preachers of the Gospel sanctioned the preaching of the Law, as Christ Himself did, and began with this in the case of those who had not yet acknowledged their sins and had felt no fear of God's anger."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, IV, p. 158. Fifth Sunday after Trinity Luke 5:1-11.

"You may tie a hog ever so well, but you cannot prevent it from grunting, until it is strangled and killed. Thus it is with the sins of the flesh."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 247. Easter, Second Sermon Mark 16:1-8.

"The Holy Spirit is given to none except to those who are in sorrow and fear; in them it produces good fruit. This gift is so precious and worthy that God does not cast it before dogs. Though the unrepentant discover it themselves, hearing it preached, they devour it and know not what they devour."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 281f. Pentecost Sunday John 14:23-31.

"Godly and believing persons know their sins; they bear all their punishment patiently, and are resigned to God's judgment without the least murmur; therefore, they are punished only bodily, and here in time, and their pain and suffering have an end. Unbelievers, however, since they are not conscious of their sins and transgressions, cannot bear God's punishment patiently, but they resent it and wish their life and works to go unpunished, yea, uncensured. Hence, their punishment and suffering are in body and soul, here in time, and last forever beyond this life."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 131. Fourth Sunday after Easter, Second Sermon John 16:5-15.

"Therefore the Holy Spirit rightly and justly convicts, as sinful and condemned, all who have not faith in Christ. For where this is wanting, other sins in abundance must follow: God is despised and hated, and the entire first table is treated with disobedience."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 141. Fourth Sunday after Easter, Third Sermon John 16:5-15.

"A hardened heart will not be instructed, no matter how plainly and clearly the truth is presented; but the faith of the righteous is strengthened when they see that the ground of their faith is right and good."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 157. Third Sunday in Lent Luke 11:14-23.

"Christ, in the saying we have quoted from Matthew (24:45), tells us further, the servant of the household should be not only faithful, but also wise, able to discern between the mysteries of God and the mysteries of the devil, that he may safely guard and keep himself and those committed to his care. For, as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11:13-14, false apostles sometimes fashion themselves into true apostles of Christ, even as the devil transforms himself into an angel of light."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VI, p. 77. Third Sunday in Advent, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Matthew 24:45; 2 Corinthians 11:13-14

"You cannot of a truth be for true doctrine without being unalterably opposed to false doctrine. There can be no 'positive theology' where the God-given negatives have been eliminated from the Decalog."
Norman A. Madson, Preaching to Preachers, Mankato: Lutheran Synod Book Company, 1952 Preface.

"...and Luther asked that his early writings be read 'with much charity,' since they were not yet entirely free from Romish errors."
Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, 3 vols., trans., Walter W. F. Albrecht, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1950, I, p. 89. SL XIV, 439; also XIX, 293, 296

"When the time comes that the worldly shall gnash their teeth, they shall witness all the elect and angels saying to God: 'This man has been a faithful minister and teacher. He has proclaimed the saving Word of God to a world of castaways. On yonder earth he was despised, persecuted, and maligned, but he shines now as a star with imperishable luster.'"
C. F. W. Walther, The Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel, trans., W. H. T. Dau, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1928, p. 402. Daniel 12:3.

UOJ Is Enthusiam

Studying the concept of Enthusiasm in the Smalcald Articles will show why Universal Objective Justification is false doctrine. UOJ teaches that God declared the entire world free of sin, without the efficacious Word, without the Means of Grace. People should wonder how this UOJ fraud was perpetrated the the Synodical Conference.

LCMS Pastor Vernon Harley was one of the few ministers to oppose UOJ openly with his thoughtful essays. He told me at his home that no one ever refuted him or even fought against him. I got the impression Missouri just ignored him. Pastor Harley gave me some good material, which I am quoting below. It shows that Missouri did not slavishly follow UOJ at first.

Another leader against UOJ is Dr. Robert Preus. He completely repudiated UOJ in his last book. I will post that section a little later.

Missouri's Small Catechism, Before UOJ

"#305. Why do you say in this article: I believe in the Forgiveness of Sins? Because I hold with certainty that by my own powers or through my own works I cannot be justified before God, but that the forgiveness of sins is given me out of grace through faith in Jesus Christ. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also true justification. Psalm 130:3-4; Psalm 143:2; Isaiah 64:6; Job 25:4-6 (Q. 124)."
Kleiner Katechismus, trans. Pastor Vernon Harley, LCMS, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1901, p. 164ff.

"#306. What is justification? Justification is that activity (Handlung) of God by which He out of pure grace and mercy for the sake of Christ's merits forgives the sins of a poor sinner who truly believes in Jesus Christ and receives him to everlasting life."
Kleiner Katechismus, trans. Pastor Vernon Harley, LCMS, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1901, p. 164ff.

***
PS
A. Nony Mouse cannot sign his name or defend UOJ. Instead, he wrote:

Greg, I am so happy you wrote the following: "Universal Objective Justification is false doctrine." Now every confessional Lutheran can see for themselves you're a false prophet.

"What is the reason for certainty in Christian doctrine?...7. the hatred of the devil over against this doctrine;
David Chytraeus, A Summary of the Christian Faith (1568), trans., Richard Dinda, Decatur: Repristination Press, 1994. p. 21.

Luther's Smalcald - Against Enthusiasm, III

Book of Concord, Smalcald Articles, VIII, Of Confession

9] In a word, enthusiasm inheres in Adam and his children from the beginning [from the first fall] to the end of the world, [its poison] having been implanted and infused into them by the old dragon, and is the origin, power [life], and strength of all heresy, especially of that of the Papacy and Mahomet. 10] Therefore we ought and must constantly maintain this point, that God does not wish to deal with us otherwise than through the spoken Word and the Sacraments. 11] It is the devil himself whatsoever is extolled as Spirit without the Word and Sacraments. For God wished to appear even to Moses through the burning bush and spoken Word; and no prophet neither Elijah nor Elisha, received the Spirit without the Ten Commandments [or spoken Word]. 12] Neither was John the Baptist conceived without the preceding word of Gabriel, nor did he leap in his mother's womb without the voice of Mary. 13] And Peter says, 2 Pet. 1, 21: The prophecy came not by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Without the outward Word, however, they were not holy, much less would the Holy Ghost have moved them to speak when they still were unholy [or profane]; for they were holy, says he, since the Holy Ghost spake through them.

The Church of Rome vests its authority in its age, its centuries of tradition, its pope, and its historic and self-serving titles. All these claims are false, but they appeal to restless spirits. The Church Growth Movement (Purpose-Driven, Willow Creek) claims to be making the visible church grow, yet C. Peter Wagner has admitted in print that CG Principles "do not work." Whether they did or not, CG would still be false.

Zwingli and John Calvin separate the work of the Holy Spirit from the Word, contrary to Isaiah 55 and the entire Bible. Calvin said that a sermon would have no effect if the Holy Spirit was not present. That is why Calvinists use the term Sovereign Lord. God may or may not choose to accompany the Word with His Holy Spirit. So some Calvinists argue that man must make the Word of God appealing, germane, or relevant to man. A modern crypto-Calvinist like Floyd Luther Stolzenburg argues that the users must be friendly to make the sermon effective.

Both errors (Rome and Pasadena) appeal to the emotions. Our emotions are good but they vary more than the weather. Our emotions can never be the anchor of our faith. We must base our salvation on the objective Word of God, not on our emotions. Then our volatile emotions can be strengthened and harnassed with the assurrance of salvation in Christ.

Both errors also lead to salvation by works alone. Listen to their dreary heroes for a few minutes. They crow about Mass every Sunday and all the Romanizing tendencies they have introduced (ala Fenton before he jumped the fence). They brag about their paved parking lots and new buildings, as if God coveted one more acre of parking for His people. If their doctrine is questioned, the claws come out, the fangs moisten, and they shout, "Do you know what I have done?"

Luther Wrote
"In short, wherever the Word of Christ is found and held, that is, believed, have no doubt that there the church is, even though he who administers the Sacraments and teaches the Word is godless and blasphemous; for the Word of the Lord does not return void but bears fruit, just as the rain waters the earth and makes it fruitful (Isaiah 55:10-11)."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed. Ewald M. Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1469. Exposition of Genesis 21. Isaiah 55:10-11.

Luther's Smalcald - Against Enthusiasm, II

Book of Concord, Smalcald Articles, VIII, Of Confession

5] All this is the old devil and old serpent, who also converted Adam and Eve into enthusiasts, and led them from the outward Word of God to spiritualizing and self-conceit, and nevertheless he accomplished this through other outward words. 6] Just as also our enthusiasts [at the present day] condemn the outward Word, and nevertheless they themselves are not silent, but they fill the world with their pratings and writings, as though, indeed, the Spirit could not come through the writings and spoken word of the apostles, but [first] through their writings and words he must come. Why [then] do not they also omit their own sermons and writings, until the Spirit Himself come to men, without their writings and before them, as they boast that He has come into them without the preaching of the Scriptures? But of these matters there is not time now to dispute at greater length; we have elsewhere sufficiently urged this subject.

On the one hand - we have the Fuller disciples, with their notebooks, programs, books, and tapes from Pasadena and Willow Creek. On the other hand - we have the Romanists with their garments, incense, hardware (chalice), and choreography. Neither group can stop obsessing about their favorite topics, which are contrary to the revealed Word of God and yet so appealing to the emotions.

Rome is the not the antidote for the Church Growth Movement. Both represent the Enthusiasm condemned by Luther and by all who subscribe to the Book of Concord.

Luther's Smalcald - Against Enthusiasm

Book of Concord, Smalcald Articles, VIII, Of Confession

3] And in those things which concern the spoken, outward Word, we must firmly hold that God grants His Spirit or grace to no one, except through or with the preceding outward Word, in order that we may [thus] be protected against the enthusiasts, i.e., spirits who boast that they have the Spirit without and before the Word, and accordingly judge Scripture or the spoken Word, and explain and stretch it at their pleasure, as Muenzer did, and many still do at the present day, who wish to be acute judges between the Spirit and the letter, and yet know not what they say or declare. 4] For [indeed] the Papacy also is nothing but sheer enthusiasm, by which the Pope boasts that all rights exist in the shrine of his heart, and whatever he decides and commands with [in] his church is spirit and right, even though it is above and contrary to Scripture and the spoken Word.

Ichabod readers - you will never find this paragraph expressed in the synodical publications. Sometimes they speak about the Word, as WELS AnswerMan recently did, without condemning Purpose-Driven false doctrine or commending the work of the Word alone in accomplishing God's will.

Enthusiasm was a term commonly used among Lutherans to condemn the errors of the papacy and the Reformed. Once Lutheran clergy began swinging both ways, toward Rome (or Istanbul) and toward Pasadena (or Willow Creek), they dropped the term faster than a prickly pear cactus.

Smalcald Articles - Luther's Forgotten Masterpiece

Luther wrote the Smalcald Articles in anticipation of an Ecumenical Council. That never happened for several reasons. Councils suggested that the pope was less than a king, diminishing his power. A truly ecumenical council would have promoted Luther's doctrine by publicizing it and allowing it to be debated. Eventually the Council of Trent met, establishing all the errors of Medieval Catholicism as infallible doctrine. The Lutherans were excluded, of course.

Martin Chemnitz' Examination of the Council of Trent remains one of the great masterpieces of theology. The work is full of humorous and wry observations. Chemnitz established that Lutheran doctrine was truly in harmony with the Patristic Fathers, that Romanism was contrary to orthodox Christianity. Chemnitz also dealt with Calvinistic errors. He is called the Second Martin because he did so much to refine and support what Luther (and Melanchthon) taught.

Most Lutherans would say they never heard of the Smalcald Articles. Do not expect a study in your congregation, your synodical rag, or anywhere else. These articles refute everything going on in Missouri, WELS, the ELS, and the micro-mini sects. ELCA? Of course, ELCA too.

Book of Concord Study

The Book of Concord study will continue with the Smalcald Articles. Click on the Book of Concord label for all of them in a row.

I have now subdivided the posts with a second label for each section of the Book of Concord. If you want references to the Large Catechism, click on that label. The Smalcald Articles studies will also have a separate label.

WELS Administration - The Good Old Days

A pastor described the WELS administration in the Good Old Days: Carl Mischke had an office at the bottom of the stairs at the Northwestern Publishing building. Carl's wife Gladys was his secretary. That was the administration.

The faster WELS shrinks, the bigger the administration has become. They even hired a new person to find out where all the money went! And they bought $250,000 in software. I could have sold them a copy of Excel for $100, but no, they needed $250,000 so they did not misplace $8 million again.

The hilarity of this - WELS will teach stewardship to congregations and families!

UOJ and the Sixth Commandment for WELS Clergy

Kokomo Statements

I. "Objectively speaking, without any reference to an individual sinner's attitude toward Christ's sacrifice, purely on the basis of God's verdict, every sinner, whether he knows it or not, whether he believes it or not, has received the status of saint."

II. "After Christ's intervention and through Christ's intervention God regards all sinners as guilt-free saints."

III. "When God reconciled the world to Himself through Christ, He individually pronounced forgiveness to each individual sinner whether that sinner ever comes to faith or not."

IV. "At the time of the resurrection of Christ, God looked down in hell and declared Judas, the people destroyed in the flood, and all the ungodly, innocent, not guilty, and forgiven of all sin and gave unto them the status of saints."

***

J. P. Meyers created the first three Kokomo Statements. Sig Becker endorsed all four of them. WELS still promotes UOJ. Ditto the LCMS, ELCA, ELS, CLC, and LCR. Another component of the WELS clergy attitude toward the Sixth Commandment is their need to prove they are not Pietists.

Sig Becker used to express his disgust to Herman Otten about the adultery and drunkenness of the WELS clergy.

If a District Pope is famous for forcing pastors out of the ministry for no Scriptural reason, then why would he refuse to discipline a pastor for violating the Sixth Commandment? Right is wrong; wrong is right - that is the WELS DP motto.