Forgiveness in the Concordia Triglotta

Forgiveness in the Book of Concord
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"But Christ was given for this purpose, namely, that for His sake there might be bestowed on us the remission of sins, and the Holy Ghost to bring forth in us new and eternal life, and eternal righteousness [to manifest Christ in our hearts, as it is written John 16:15: He shall take of the things of Mine, and show them unto you. Likewise, He works also other gifts, love, thanksgiving, charity, patience, etc.]. Wherefore the Law cannot be truly kept unless the Holy Ghost is received through faith...Then we learn to know how flesh, in security and indifference, does not fear God, and is not fully certain that we are regarded by God, but imagines that men are born and die by chance. Then we experience that we do not believe that God forgives and hears us. But when, on hearing the Gospel and the remission of sins, we are consoled by faith, we receive the Holy Ghost, so that now we are able to think aright."
Apology Augsburg Confession, III. #11. Love Fulfilling of Law. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 159. Tappert, p. 125. Heiser, p. 42.

"If we call Sacraments rites which have the command of God, and to which the promise of grace has been added, it is easy to decide what are properly Sacraments...Therefore Baptism, the Lord's Supper, and Absolution, which is the Sacrament of Repentance, are truly Sacraments. For these rites have God's command and the promise of grace, which is peculiar to the New Testament. For when we are baptized, when we eat the Lord's body, when we are absolved, our hearts must be firmly assured that God truly forgives us for Christ's sake. And God, at the same time, by the Word and by the rite, moves hearts to believe and conceive faith, just as Paul says, Romans 10:17: 'Faith cometh by hearing.' But just as the Word enters the ear in order to strike our heart, so the rite itself strikes the eye, in order to move the heart. The effect of the Word and of the rite is the same..." [Luther, Bab Captivity, 3 sacraments]
Apology Augsburg Confession, XIII,#3. Number/Use Sacraments. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 309. Tappert, p. 211. Heiser, p. 94.

"Also they teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake, who, by His death, has made satisfaction for our sins. This faith God imputes for righteousness is His sight. Romans 3 and 4."
Augsburg Confession, IV. Justification. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 45. Tappert, p. 30. Heiser, p. 12f. Romans 3; Romans 4

"Of Repentance they teach that for those who have fallen after Baptism there is remission of sins whenever they are converted; and that the Church ought to impart absolution to those thus returning to repentance. Now, repentance consists properly of these two parts: One is contrition, that is, terrors smiting the conscience through the knowledge of sin; the other is faith, which is born of the Gospel, or of absolution, and believes that, for Christ's sake, sins are forgiven, comforts the conscience, and delivers it from terrors. Then good works are bound to follow, which are the fruits of repentance."
Augsburg Confession, Article XII. Repentance. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 49. Tappert, p. 34f. Heiser, p. 13.

"But outside of this Christian Church, where the Gospel is not, there is no forgiveness, as also there can be no holiness [sanctification]. Therefore all who seek and wish to merit holiness [sanctification], not through the Gospel and forgiveness of sin, but by their works, have expelled and severed themselves [from this Church]."
The Large Catechism, The Creed, Article III, #56, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 693. Tappert, p. 418. Heiser, p. 195.

"We further believe that in this Christian Church we have forgiveness of sin, which is wrought through the holy Sacraments and Absolution, moreover, through all manner of consolatory promises of the entire Gospel. Therefore, whatever is to be preached, concerning the Sacraments belongs here, and in short, the whole Gospel and all the offices of Christianity, which also must be preached and taught without ceasing. For although the grace of God is secured through Christ, and sanctification is wrought by the Holy Ghost through the Word of God in the unity of the Christian Church, yet on account of our flesh which we bear about with us we are never without sin."
The Large Catechism, The Creed, Article III. #54. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 693. Tappert, p. 417. Heiser, p. 195.

"Everything, therefore, in the Christian Church is offered to the end that we shall daily obtain there nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word and signs, to comfort and encourage our consciences as long as we live here. Thus, although we have sins, the [grace of the] Holy Ghost does not allow them to injure us, because we are in the Christian Church, where there is nothing but [continuous, uninterrupted] forgiveness of sin, both in that God forgives us, and in that we forgive, bear with, and help each other."
The Large Catechism, The Creed, Article III. #55. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 693. Tappert, p. 418. Heiser, p. 195.

"For now we are only half pure and holy, so that the Holy Ghost has ever [some reason why] to continue His work in us through the Word, and daily to dispense forgiveness, until we attain to that life where there will be no more forgiveness, but only perfectly pure and holy people, full of godliness and righteousness, removed and free from sin, death, and all evil, in a new, immortal, and glorified body."
The Large Catechism, The Creed, Article III. #58. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 693. Tappert, p. 418. Heiser, p. 196.

"Behold, all this is to be the office and work of the Holy Ghost, that He begin and daily increase holiness upon earth by means of these two things, the Christian Church and the forgiveness of sin. But in our dissolution He will accomplish it altogether in an instant, and will forever preserve us therein by the last two parts."
The Large Catechism, The Creed, Article III. #59. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 693f. Tappert, p. 418. Heiser, p. 196.

"Therefore we believe in Him who through the Word daily brings us into the fellowship of this Christian Church, and through the same Word and the forgiveness of sins bestows, increases, and strengthens faith, in order that when He has accomplished it all, and we abide therein, and die to the world and to all evil, He may finally make us perfectly and forever holy; which now we expect in faith through the Word."
The Large Catechism, The Creed, Article III. #62. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 695. Tappert, p. 419. Heiser, p. 196.

"Therefore there is here again great need to call upon God and pray: Dear Father, forgive us our trespasses. Not as though He did not forgive sin without and even before our prayer (for He has given us the Gospel, in which is pure forgiveness before we prayed or ever thought about it). But this is to the intent that we may recognize and accept such forgiveness."
The Large Catechism, The Lord's Prayer, Fifth Petition, #88, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 723. Tappert, p. 432. Heiser, p. 202f. Matthew 6:12

"For this reason let every one esteem his Baptism as a daily dress in which he is to walk constantly, that he may ever be found in the faith and its fruits, that he suppress the old man and grow up in the new. For if we would be Christians, we must practise the work whereby we are Christians. But if any one fall away from it, let him again come into it. For just as Christ, the Mercy-seat, does not recede from us or forbid us to come to Him again, even though we sin, so all His treasure and gifts also remain. If, therefore, we have once in Baptism obtained forgiveness of sin, it will remain every day, as long as we live, that is, as long as we carry the old man about our neck."
The Large Catechism, Part Fourth, Of Baptism. #84-86. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 753. Tappert, p. 446. Heiser, p. 209f.

"Therefore also it is vain talk when they say that the body and blood of Christ are not given and shed for us in the Lord's Supper, hence we could not have forgiveness of sins in the Sacrament. For although the work is accomplished and the forgiveness of sins acquired on the cross, yet it cannot come to us in any other way than through the Word. For what would we otherwise know about it, that such a thing was accomplished or was to be given us if it were not presented by preaching or the oral Word? Whence do they know of it, or how can they apprehend and appropriate to themselves the forgiveness, except they lay hold of and believe the Scriptures and the Gospel? But now the entire Gospel and the article of the Creed: I believe a holy Christian Church, the forgiveness of sin, etc., are by the Word embodied in this Sacrament and presented to us."
The Large Catechism, Sacrament of the Altar. #31-32. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 759. Tappert, p. 450. Heiser, p. 211.

"For here in the Sacrament you are to receive from the lips of Christ forgiveness of sin, which contains and brings with it the grace of God and the Spirit with all His gifts, protection, shelter, and power against death and the devil and all misfortune."
The Large Catechism, Sacrament of the Altar. #70. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 769. Tappert, p. 454. Heiser, p. 214.

"...it has been unanimously taught by the other teachers of the Augsburg Confession that Christ is our righteousness not according to His divine nature alone, nor according to His human nature alone, but according to both natures; for He has redeemed, justified, and saved us from our sins as God and man, through His complete obedience; that therefore the righteousness of faith is the forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and our adoption as God's children only on account of the obedience of Christ, which through faith alone, out of pure grace, is imputed for righteousness to all true believers, and on account of it they are absolved from all their unrighteousness."
Formula of Concord, SD, III. #4. Righteousness of Faith. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 917. Tappert, p. 539f. Heiser, p. 250.

"These treasures are offered us by the Holy Ghost in the promise of the holy Gospel; and faith alone is the only means by which we lay hold upon, accept, and apply, and appropriate them to ourselves. This faith is a gift of God, by which we truly learn to know Christ, our Redeemer, in the Word of the Gospel, and trust in Him, that for the sake of His obedience alone we have the forgiveness of sins by grace, are regarded as godly and righteous by God the Father, and are eternally saved."
Formula of Concord, SD, III 10, Righteous of Faith before God, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 919. Tappert, p. 541. Heiser, p. 250.

"This righteousness is offered us by the Holy Ghost through the Gospel and in the Sacraments, and is applied, appropriated, and received through faith, whence believers have reconciliation with God, forgiveness of sins, the grace of God, sonship, and heirship of eternal life."
Formula of Concord, SD III. #16. Righteousness of Faith. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 921. Tappert, p. 541. Heiser, p. 251.

"Moreover, neither contrition nor love or any other virtue, but faith alone is the sole means and instrument by which and through which we can receive and accept the grace of God, the merit of Christ, and the forgiveness of sins, which are offered us in the promise of the Gospel."
Formula of Concord, SD, III 31, Righteous of Faith before God, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 925. Tappert, p. 544. Heiser, p. 252.

"The other eating of the body of Christ is oral or sacramental, when the true, essential body and blood of Christ are also orally received and partaken of in the Holy Supper, by all who eat and drink the consecrated bread and wine in the Supper--by the believing as a certain pledge and assurance that their sins are surely forgiven them, and Christ dwells and is efficacious in them, but by the unbelieving for the judgment and condemnation, as the words of the institution by Christ expressly declare...."
Formula of Concord, SD, VII. #63. Holy Supper. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House 1921, p. 995. Tappert, p. 581. Heiser, p. 270.

Quotations for Trinity 18

"The New Testament is the inerrant record of the revelation of Jesus Christ in word and deed, and of the truths and principles proceeding, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, from that revelation. The Old Testament is in like manner an inerrant record, having the express and often repeated testimony and authority of Christ, of the preparatory and partial revelations made concerning Him before His coming. Hebrews 1:1."
Henry Eyster Jacobs, A Summary of the Christian Faith, Philadelphia: General Council Publication House, 1913, p. 3. Hebrews 1:1.

"The Old Testament dealt with the promises of God to the chosen people. Thereby God placed Himself in 'covenant' relation to Israel (berith). This relation, like the promises and the gifts of God to Israel, is always onesided. It is always God's covenant, not Israel's, and not a mutual agreement, not a suntheke. This promise and covenant indeed obligates Israel, and Israel assumes these obligations, but the covenant emanates entirely from God."
R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of the Epistle to the Hebrews, Columbus: Lutheran Book Concern, 1938, p. 235. Hebrews 7:22;

"In view of their spiritual meaning the psalms are really lovely and sweet; for they are comforting to all depressed, wretched consciences, who are in fear of sin, the anguish and agony of death, and all sorts of trouble and misery. To such hearts the Book of Psalms is a sweet, comforting, lovely song, because it sings and preaches the Messiah, although one merely reads or recites the words without notes. Nevertheless, the use of notes or music, as a wonderful creation and gift of God, helps greatly to produce this effect, especially when the people sing along and do so with fine devoutness...Thus David, too, often dispelled, or at least checked or weakened, the evil spirit for Saul with his minstrelsy (1 Samuel 16:17ff.). For the evil spirit is not at ease when one sings or preaches God's Word in true faith. He is a spirit of sadness and cannot stay where a heart is spiritually joyful (joyful in God and His Word).
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed. Ewald M. Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 981. 1 Samuel 16:17ff.

Trinity 18 Sermon

1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

THANKFUL FOR THE GRACE OF GOD

Whenever we consider the meaning of this verse (4), we should recall that the Corinth church was full of problems. Their use of the Lord’s Supper needed correction. Their irrational tongue-speaking prompted 3 chapters of admonition. They had problems with the role of men and women, meat offered to idols, gross immorality, factions, and so forth. In addition, Paul made the congregation so angry that he was anxious about returning to them. This galaxy of conflicts has given us 1 and 2 Corinthians, important both for doctrinal and practical reasons.

When people try to put down the Bible as a human document, they forget that the Holy Spirit has chosen to reveal divine truth through a fallible person, Paul in this case, and because of sinful human beings, the Corinthian congregation. After dealing with many different congregational histories, I can see how 1 and 2 Corinthians differ from ordinary human documents. No one would ever record in a congregational history what we find in 1 and 2 Corinthians.

I started putting in stories about congregational history in the Ohio Synod paper, about 25 years ago. After I used some of the more interesting anecdotes, some pastors insisted on writing their own stories, which were bland.

So, in spite of all the problems in Corinth, Paul was thankful. He did not praise himself or the individuals. Instead, he wrote that he was thankful to God for the grace given to them in Christ Jesus.

What does this mean? Grace. We use the term all the time. One of the most popular hymns in America is “Amazing Grace.” But what would most people say if they had to define the word grace?

Grace is God’s favor or love, freely given to us without us being deserving.

Too often we think of love or friendship only in terms of a barter arrangement. For instance, one man will build a deck for his friend or relative. The friend or relative will respond by fixing the car.

Or we think in terms of reward. A soldier earns the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor that can be earned in America. There is always a citation, describing what heroic actions made the soldier worthy of the special medal worn around the neck.

God’s grace is appreciated best when we consider the Biblical teaching of original sin, that our nature cannot ever escape the taint of sin. The outwardly exemplary citizen is no better than the prisoner on death row in this regard. In fact, as Luther has often pointed out, the obvious transgressor is more likely to know that he is a sinner in need of a Redeemer. The works-saint is more likely to think he has saved himself through his virtue, hard work, and moral rectitude. If someone is impressed with his own holiness, he will not think he needs forgiveness.

When we worship or study the Bible, God treats our biggest sin, doubting His Word, by exposing it through the Law. Whenever Jesus says, O ye of little faith, or whenever God addresses our doubt, it is the Law making a diagnosis. We react to the Law the way we react to medical tests – with fear and avoidance. Yet we know something is wrong. The Law is the diagnosis but not the prescription.

The Law wilts the pride in our stubborn and hardened hearts. Sometimes outward events will reinforce the message. Waking up face down on concrete, for instance, will magnify the meaning of the Law. The Holy Spirit causes true sorrow for sin, contrition, by showing what God has commanded.

Worldly contrition is being sorry for being caught. Sometimes it turns into sincere sorrow for sin, but only under the influence of the Word. For instance, if a boy throws rocks and breaks windows, it is not wrong because it hurts the family name, but because of the 7th Commandment. We should help preserve our neighbor’s property.

If people are worried about the family name, they will more likely cover up a problem, to save themselves embarrassment. Many parents act as if their children can do no wrong. So it is no wonder that few want to be parochial school teachers today, dealing with an impossible task. One teacher removed two obnoxious students from band class. Soon the father showed up and shouted down the teacher in front of the class.

In contrast, when I was a pastor in Columbus, a little girl stole my teddy bear, which I was showing to her. Her sister later told me that I gave it to her. I said, “Ask her the real story.” The next day the little girl appeared at the door with her dad. She apologized and gave me my teddy bear. I didn’t care about the toy, only about the impulsive behavior. Needless to say, with such a father, those five children were wonderful to have around the neighborhood. They planted my entire garden, demanding pay and treats. The plants came up the way they were sown, randomly. The treats were kool-aid and some cookies.

Sinful behavior is thwarted—-in some cases--by saying, “It is proven that it isn’t good for you.” That seems good at first, but it sounds as if the opposite of sin is taking care of yourself.

Sin is defined through the 10 Commandments, the First Table (1-3) describing our relationship with God; the Second Table describing our relationship with our neighbor.

When an unbeliever in converted to faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit works first through the Law to soften his sinful heart and show him the utter futility of salvation through works, virtue, or turning over a new leaf. Believers also need this continued approach, because we soon lose our sense of our true sinful nature.

People experience the divine power of the Law, because they say, “It was like a knife through my heart.” Or “I felt crushed.” Or “Suddenly I saw myself as God must see me.” Or “I finally saw that all my efforts had been completely in vain. I felt powerless.”

The broken, contrite, sorrowful sinner then hears or reads the Gospel promises.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The Holy Spirit teaches us the meaning of the crucifixion in this passage. This is a Gospel passage. Jesus was without sin and yet was treated as the totality of human sin, dying in agony, abandoned by God. Why? That we might be made the righteousness of God.

When we believe the Gospel promises, we are justified, declared righteous or innocent in the eyes of God. Christ has paid for our sins.

How do we believe? How does this happen? The divine power of the Gospel causes faith.

Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

This is the great irony. Man can only sin by treating sin with the Law. God demands faith, but God provides faith by the proclamation of the Gospel. That shows us the grace of God, since we are dead to Him, dead through sin. Yet God in His mercy provides a way to escape the penalty we deserve, placing His Son on the altar, out of love for each and every one of us.

Have you ever stayed at someone’s house and damaged something? And the host didn’t seem to mind at all? That would be a gracious host. Or you did something stupid, really careless, and damaged something of unique value to the host. And the host said, “It never happened. I already forgot.” That would be even more gracious.

Few people are gracious, because it takes such an effort, to stifle rage and the need for revenge and justice. But God is gracious far beyond our ability to comprehend His love and mercy. Before we knew we are sinners, God provided the remedy for our illness, forgiveness in Christ.

In raising children one of the most frustrating things is that being absolutely fierce with them and extremely strict will not bring about the desired results. Often parents will see just the opposite from the use of the Law alone. That is why parents need to understand forgiveness and to practice it daily, often in a series of lessons. Wrong must be addressed according to God’s Word. But forgiveness must also be promised and experienced. Because children are so open to teaching and sensitive, they will become overly alarmed with the Law alone, just as they will become monsters if they get away with everything.

Paul’s tenderness toward the Corinthian congregation is a good example of this approach. He certainly denounced some bad and sinful behavior, but he also thanked God for them and for the power of the Gospel in their midst. Wherever the Gospel is proclaimed, forgiveness and salvation will be found.

In forgiveness, not the Law, we find the power to defeat temptation, little by little, and chase away Satan with the Word. When we see the meaning of forgiveness, justification by faith, then we can look at the 10 Commandments in terms of loving what God commands.

Third Commandment – Honor the Sabbath and keep it holy. The Gospel message makes us enjoy what God commands. When people love the Word of Truth, they show the fruit of the Spirit promised in Galatians 5. That loves comes from God not from man. It is the power both to will and to do.

Christ is nothing but forgiveness. One example is often used against God. He has provided so many ways to receive forgiveness. We may say the Word and the Sacraments of baptism and communion. But we may also say through absolution and the mutual consolation of the brothers (as Luther does). Or absolution is called a sacrament, in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession.

God’s grace can be seen in this superabundance of methods to grant forgiveness and to strengthen faith. Sometimes a minister will speak consoling words to a member. Sometimes members to one another. Other times a member to a pastor. God’s Word is so powerful that man cannot stop what God has begun. When one man is forgiven, he will be forgiving toward others and teach forgiveness. Those who have been completely wiped out by the follies of life will be the most thankful for God’s riches. The greatest sinners will have the greatest joy in being forgiven.

The Pharisees did not run to Jerusalem with good news. They ran back to plot the death of Jesus. Ordinary men and women, great sinners and small sinners, foundation salvation in Jesus, who converted them through the preached Word.

As sinners, we value the sacrament of Holy Communion. People ask when they will receive the Lord’s Supper. Why is it so special for Lutherans? It is the visible Gospel. Not just bread and wine, but also the body and blood of Christ.

Where is the power of communion? In the Gospel word of consecration and distribution: Given and shed for the forgiveness of sin.

We are weak. We need the visible reality united with the invisible promise of the Gospel. We need to receive as individuals when the sermon gives to the whole group assembled. We need communion on a regular basis.

Sound Like Your Synod?

Scandal Brewing at Oral Roberts U.
By JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS – 1 day ago

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Twenty years ago, televangelist Oral Roberts said he was reading a spy novel when God appeared to him and told him to raise $8 million for Roberts' university, or else he would be "called home."

Now, his son, Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts, says God is speaking again, telling him to deny lurid allegations in a lawsuit that threatens to engulf this 44-year-old Bible Belt college in scandal.

Richard Roberts is accused of illegal involvement in a local political campaign and lavish spending at donors' expense, including numerous home remodeling projects, use of the university jet for his daughter's senior trip to the Bahamas, and a red Mercedes convertible and a Lexus SUV for his wife, Lindsay.

She is accused of dropping tens of thousands of dollars on clothes, awarding nonacademic scholarships to friends of her children and sending scores of text messages on university-issued cell phones to people described in the lawsuit as "underage males."

At a chapel service this week on the 5,300-student campus known for its 60-foot-tall bronze sculpture of praying hands, Roberts said God told him: "We live in a litigious society. Anyone can get mad and file a lawsuit against another person whether they have a legitimate case or not. This lawsuit ... is about intimidation, blackmail and extortion."

San Antonio televangelist John Hagee, a member of the ORU board of regents, said the university's executive board "is conducting a full and thorough investigation."

Colleagues fear for the reputation of the university and the future of the Roberts' ministry, which grew from Southern tent revivals to one of the most successful evangelical empires in the country, hauling in tens of millions of dollars in contributions a year. The university reported nearly $76 million in revenue in 2005, according to the IRS.

Oral Roberts is 89 and lives in California. He holds the title of chancellor, but the university describes him as semi-retired, and his son presides over day-to-day operations on the campus, which had a modern, space-age design when it was built in the early 1960s but now looks dated, like Disney's Tomorrowland.

Cornell Cross II, a senior from Burlington, Vt., said he is looking to transfer to another school because the scandal has "severely devalued and hurt the reputation of my degree."

"We have asked and asked and asked to see the finances of our school and what they're doing with our money, and we've been told no," said, Cross who is majoring in government. "Now we know why. As a student, I'm not going to stand for it any longer."

The allegations are contained in a lawsuit filed Tuesday by three former professors. They sued ORU and Roberts, alleging they were wrongfully dismissed after reporting the school's involvement in a local political race.

Richard Roberts, according to the suit, asked a professor in 2005 to use his students and university resources to aid a county commissioner's bid for Tulsa mayor. Such involvement would violate state and federal law because of the university's nonprofit status. Up to 50 students are alleged to have worked on the campaign.

The professors also said their dismissals came after they turned over to the board of regents a copy of a report documenting moral and ethical lapses on the part of Roberts and his family. The internal document was prepared by Stephanie Cantese, Richard Roberts' sister-in-law, according to the lawsuit.

An ORU student repairing Cantese's laptop discovered the document and later provided a copy to one of the professors.

It details dozens of alleged instances of misconduct. Among them:

_ A longtime maintenance employee was fired so that an underage male friend of Mrs. Roberts could have his position.

_ Mrs. Roberts — who is a member of the board of regents and is referred to as ORU's "first lady" on the university's Web site — frequently had cell-phone bills of more than $800 per month, with hundreds of text messages sent between 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. to "underage males who had been provided phones at university expense."

_ The university jet was used to take one daughter and several friends on a senior trip to Orlando, Fla., and the Bahamas. The $29,411 trip was billed to the ministry as an "evangelistic function of the president."

_ Mrs. Roberts spent more than $39,000 at one Chico's clothing store alone in less than a year, and had other accounts in Texas and California. She also repeatedly said, "As long as I wear it once on TV, we can charge it off." The document cites inconsistencies in clothing purchases and actual usage on TV.

_ Mrs. Roberts was given a white Lexus SUV and a red Mercedes convertible by ministry donors.

_ University and ministry employees are regularly summoned to the Roberts' home to do the daughters' homework.

_ The university and ministry maintain a stable of horses for exclusive use by the Roberts' children.

_ The Roberts' home has been remodeled 11 times in the past 14 years.

Tim Brooker, one of the professors who sued, said he fears for the university's survival if certain changes aren't made.

"All over that campus, there are signs up that say, `And God said, build me a university, build it on my authority, and build it on the Holy Spirit,'" Brooker said. "Unfortunately, ownership has shifted."

ELCA Abuse Case

From the Cafeteria Is Closed

Wednesday, August 22, 2007
ELCA abuse case

Maybe the abuse scandal in the Catholic Church has encouraged others to come forward ? From KELO

A former South Dakota Lutheran Pastor is accused of molesting boys and girls in more than one South Dakota congregation, and his own son apologizes to the alleged victims. But the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America will not talk about it.

Pastor Floyd Bacon died in 1997, but a number of people claiming sexual abuse have just now begun to come forward.

KELOLAND News had two conversations with leaders in the ELCA church. Bishop Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl of the South Dakota Synod sent just a brief written statement. Communications director John Brooks of the ELCA News Service says the allegations are none of the public's business.

In a written statement acknowledging alleged inappropriate sexual contact with children at the hands of Pastor Floyd Bacon, the South Dakota Synod of the ELCA states it has been in contact with victims and has disclosed information to several congregations.

That raises a number of questions, but few answers.

First, how many victims have come forward?

South Dakota Synod Bishop Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl says the church won't release that information. She also would not disclose which congregations may have been affected by the suspected abuse, or when the abuse may have happened at those specific churches.

We then contacted John Brooks of the national office of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. He said these allegations are not a matter for the media. He said the ELCA will not release which churches Pastor Bacon served, and over which periods of time.

When asked to explain why it is better to keep this information from the public, rather than reach out to victims who may have since moved away, he said, "This conversation is over." And he hung up the phone.

According to the Synod's statement, the church's commitment is to stand with victims of abuse. But church leaders will not explain why it believes alleged abuse should stay quiet.

More on Martin Luther College

Some attemts were made to justify the new chapel at Martin Luther College, New Ulm. Context is everything.

Synodical Pope Gurgel and his gang decided on their own to have MLC take over Northwestern College in Watertown. That was supposed to cost only $8 million. I understood that the price was more like $30 million.

The two colleges were not threatened with closure when this Wild Hair project began. Gurgel's leadership team did not care how much people hated the idea. They bulled it through anyway, even when they lost the ultimate vote on the debacle.

Now, many years and many millions of dollars later, what are the results? Get out the Excel spreadsheets. Oh yes. NWC is no more. Prairie is gone. There is no college dedicated to training pastors. The pastoral and teacher training tracks are combined at New Ulm. How has that worked? Most people think the college will close in a matter of years.

The solution is - build a new chapel for a crumbling educational system.

Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant Supplies Arrive

Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant arrived at home, just when I drove to Yuma to teach (200 miles one way) and got ready to see our grandchildren in Arkansas. The timing was flawless. I came home at midnight to find a box of books I could not send out until we got back. Oh well.

Christian News is handling orders. I am responding to the early orders and to those who want 10 or more at a time.

One enormous advantage of Lulu.com is the ability to revise and republish the same work with the same ISBN number. Therefore, typo police - please make a list of typos you find. In fact, if you mark them in a copy of CLP, I will send two clean copies to you as a small token of my thanks.

Republishing a work takes about 15 minutes. The entire inside can be changed that quickly.

Teacher's Guide Being Finished

A teacher's guide for CLP was available before. It will be published via Lulu fairly soon. The guide will include discussion questions and tips on how to teach the class.

New Poll at the Bottom of the Page

Please take part in the new poll at the bottom of the page.

This is the opposite of Values Califiication, where there are no wrong answers.

This is more like Fuller Seminary, Willow Creek, or a Leonard Sweet seminar: there are no right answers.

How Do You Define a Feeling?

When SP John Brenner (WELS) said Missouri was going liberal, his colleagues jumped him about the proof. He said, "How do you define a feeling?"

Brian Westgate wondered about the Niles, Michigan photo. I noticed that James Heiser, besides assuming the role of bishop, grew Eastern Orthodox chin whiskers. (Please don't cite the adiaphora section of the Formula of Concord. Give me a minute.) Rutovich, of Niles, has lost his, if memory serves.

Here is one website on orthodoxy and beards.

More on this subject.

In other words, beards are important to Eastern Orthodoxy. Bishops wear beards, big bushy ones. Perhaps Heiser has only a starter beard. There may be a trim length for the number of congregations served. The photos above illustrate big territories.

The Niles congregation is the one offering "Confessional Lutheran links" to a monastery where Mary is worshiped, the same liberal, ecumenical Marian center linked by the liberal Lutheran Forum folks. Do you homework, please. I scour the Internet for this information and you forget this stuff.

If I could read their email, look at their libraries, and hear what they discuss, I would predict whether these fellows were going to Rome or to Eastern Orthodoxy in the future. The trend out of Concordia, Ft. Wayne (where these men are from) is Eastern Orthodoxy. The Ft. Wayne graduates talk about Eastern Orthodoxy the way WELS leaders talk about Fuller Seminary. I have been to Ft. Wayne conferences. One Ft. Wayne graduate gave me a book on Eastern Orthodoxy and the Lutheran Reformation.

Google Fenton and Lutheran. You will find the pastors who are Fentonites. They are the ones who will finally join Eastern Orthodoxy.

Avery Dulles, SJ (son of John Foster Dulles) recruited Richard Neuhaus for the Roman Catholic priesthood. In time, a number of Neuhaus Lutheran Forum associates at Lutheran Forum were Roman Catholic priests.

Dulles' nickname among Romans is "A Very Dull SJ."

One priest in the Church of England grew tired of dealing with bishops. He said, "Bishops move obliquely in the game of chess, too."

Missouri Going Eastern Orthodox

This is a photo from the Niles, Michigan congregation of ELDONA.

Preus Weeping

Does anyone believe this account?

I visited Dr. Robert Preus at his home in Minnesota and showed him the problem when we were alone in his study.

Doctor Preus was never given to emotion; at least not in the years I had worked for him and known him. He looked at the passages in "God's Word" that mistranslated justification "by" and "through" faith and burst into uncontrolled weeping.

Jack Casione

Reunion of Union Churches

The Wisconsin Synod and Michigan Synod began as union (Reformed and Lutheran) denominations. The old Lutheran Church in America had a long history of union churches. At one point the LCA was dividing union congregations in Pennsylvania and splitting the assets.

St. Paul's in Columbus (which is not WELS but pretends to be) was begun as a union congregation. The big but shrinking WELS church in New Ulm was a union church. I think St. John's in Milwaukee (Vliet) was also union. The title of these churches was normally "Lutheran-Reformed."

A union church might have Reformed and Lutheran catechism separately, Reformed and Lutheran communion separately.

When WELS became more Lutheran, thanks to leaders like Hoenecke, the parting of the ways began. A typical response was to have the Reformed group get in a huff and march off, forming their own congregation, which is now United Church of Christ (pan-religious, politically active).

Suddenly, the LCA/ELCA put the brakes on splitting churches and said, "Union churches are good." They began forming union churches, sometimes with the Reformed, sometimes with Roman Catholics. The Lutheran/Roman Catholic parishes have two separate clergy, two different names, but the same building. One photo showed a priest eyeballing his new Lutheran pastor co-tenant, a strikingly beautiful woman. My intuition sensed a new definition of union church.

WELS never gave up its union ways. That explains how the Church Growth Movement did so well. The Synodical Conference in general felt that danger came from Rome and from anti-inerrancy liberals. They did not have the sense to deal with the Reformed and Pentecostals who said, "You are just like us. We can teach you how to grow like us. You only have to throw off those silly little liturgies, creeds, and funereal hymns."

This came from a WELS pastor's consecrated and consecrating lips, "David Valleskey cannot help himself. He was an abused child. His father made him read all that Reformed garbage." He loves the Church Growth Movement, went to Fuller Seminary, bragging about it and denying it as necessary.

If you look around at the favored pastors of various synods - Tiefel in the CLC, Jeske in WELS, Kalstad in ELCA, Werning in the LCMS - you will see unionists at work. These clever chameleons will pretend to be Lutheran when it suits them, but they really loathe Lutheran doctrine and worship. Proof is their demonic hatred toward anyone who is Lutheran. That is the third stage of false doctrine, identified about 16 centuries ago by St. Augustine.

The various synods are union synods because the leadership cannot or will not deal with doctrinal issues. They are pragmatists, and pragmatists are ultimately apostate.
They will do what is easier in the long run. Confessional Lutherans are rather passive and accepting, eager to believe the next deception. Unionists are like feral cats on meth. They will bite and claw whenever the kingdom of their Father Below is threatened. So the leaders will always cater to the unionists.

God's Word could solve these problems, but the efficacious Word must be applied, not simply used as a rabbit's foot. That is why I remain pessimistic.

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.)

***

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."

You Saw Me Crying in the Chapeltorium

Michael Schottey has left a new comment on your post "MLC Yet Again":

Ah Rev Jackson, how I longed over your absence to comment even though I knew my words would be twisted to your preconceived notions. A few thoughts from a student who is not only at MLC, but was at synod convention when this was discussed, and also has talked at length with the people deciding how to build it.

a) The Chapel fund was primarily (at its beginnings) not just a chapel fund. There were extraneous things (new boiler, updating the grounds, improving existing facilities) all which would one day point to a new chapel. All of these extraneous things are completed, all that was left was to build a chapel.

b) The synod in convention approved that a chapel be built ONLY with existing monies. No new money could be solicited.

c) No new monies have been solicited since the budget crisis arose. Of course, good natured lutherans still gave to the chapel fund, many on admonishment changed the designation of their funds, but others still saw it a fitting gift.

d) It is illegal to spend the money on something else unless the person donating or the estate therein changes the designation. This approach was tried. The money managers came back and said the overwhelming theme was "Keep the money until you can build a new chapel"

e)MLC does not need a chapel for aesthetic purposes only. The "chapeltorium" is a fine place to worship God. However it is also a fine place for Children's Theater, or the many other things that happen there which move worship to the gymnasium at times. Yes indeed we are a small school, but we have scheduling issues too.

f) Finally, what would you rather spend the money on? Certainly the synod's work of missions and ministerial education is more than fitting. But did anyone begrudge David for the wealth he gathered for the temple? Or Solomon for constructing it? What about Haggai when he wanted to construct a house for the Lord.

Are there plenty of things to spend money on? Yes...there will never be a shortage. But we should never work against God's people as they build houses fitting to him, where the architecture, lighting, seating, and decor of our rich heritage which has been fine tuned to point to Christ can all come together.

***

GJ - I don't twist words. I just quote people. That gets them all twisted up. Mouse gets his Breezies in a bunch just from Lutheran quotations. Even worse, I quote the CG gurus of WELS.

Yes, we need a lecture on spending designated money for the wrong purposes. I suggest a postcard to the Love Shack Curia would be more fitting. "The $8 million? You lie! We only took $7 million."

Gurgel fired the treasurer who told him this was wrong, then blamed the treasurer for the spending spree. Then it was explained as an Excel typo. "Oh, we just forgot to add the one and carry the nine and divide by six."

Mike, do not stir up the facts. The Law fills the room with dust (Pilgrim's Progress, Bunyan, never read by Sweet-hearts). Too many unpleasant things may come to light.

Listen up, chapel fans. Buying a building at a failing college is not considered wise. At the rate they are going, this chapel will cost $1 million for each student using it. (Hyperbole, humorous exaggeration to make a point.) Prairie spent $500,000 on a music building while planning to close. And they closed Prairie.

Ring Knockers in WELS, LCMS, ELS

Rob on Point

Are there "ring-knockers" in WELS?
This discussion thread ties to poll at right by same name.

Are there "ring-knockers" in WELS?

Posted by Rob at 10:55 AM



1 comments:
Rob said...
In my first career about a third of management graduated from the same college. Graduates of this college wore over-sized class rings, and to stand out they wore their class rings on the hand opposite from most college graduates, on the same finger as wedding rings. In a meeting if they wanted to assert their authority over graduates of other colleges, they tapped their class rings lightly on the table in front of them. Thus, their nickname, "ring-knockers."

Although their college was established in 1845 their college did not gain universal acceptance as an accredited institution until the 1970s. Graduates of this college were no better or worse professionally than the rest of us. Occasionally a ring-knocker in upper management would manipulate the hiring process to yield middle managers in his division who were 100% "ring-knockers". Once again, his division was no better or worse than other divisions filled with graduates of MIT, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, and Berkeley, although worker-bees dreaded the thought of working in a division that was 100% ring-knocker because of the way ring-knockers treated subordinates.

***

GJ - This is definitely true of all the synods. There is always one little group of people who are entitled, or feel entitled. Also, larger sects have the situation where one seminary is opposed to the other: Gettysburg vs. Philadelphia, Ft. Wayne versus St. Louis, Bethany versus Mequon.

The Lavender Mafia pushed aside the former leaders of ELCA. No jokes or puns, please. The elderly ring knockers were defenestrated. At one point the biggest insult in the new ELCA was to call someone a "former synod official." They even had an acronym for that term. Of course, the old liberals who welcomed quotas and apostasy were outraged and quickly became LCMS heroes for complaining about the fruit of their labors. Bishop McDaniel comes to mind.

***

GJ (PS) - There is also the reverse of ring-knockers in WELS. Anyone who went through the Bethany program is called a Bethany Bomber. WELS got rid of the Bethany program for late-starters when they realized that too many member were coming into the WELS program as Lutherans.

One WELS pastor pointed out that the entire leadership of WELS is from one prep - Northwestern.

Bonanza of Logical Fallacies

Jarod Anthony has left this bonanza of logical fallacies on your post "Martin Luther College Chapel, or Build It and The...":

It is true that true worship can be conducted anywhere. But it is naive to assume that doctrine and practice don't go hand in hand. If a Lutheran church worshiped in a place with a stage and glass podium front and center, with no altar, no font, etc. I would hope that even though they have the freedom to worship anywhere they would have the good sense to build a worship space that does not display priorities that are un-Lutheran.

So, I think you're missing the point at best, or at worst simply creating an argument where there is none. The notion of building a worship space that models the worship that happens in *most* WELS churches is not a denial of Biblical Lutheran principles. Otherwise I suppose my church back home that is building is thereby denying Luther, the Bible, and the Confessions.

Ironically, you take the same position as Church and Change who say, "Worship is in spirit and truth, so it doesn't matter how or where we do it." Granted, they also lose the doctrine part, and I know you are about as far opposite from C&C as one can get...but my point is that we have to look at worship as a whole, both the spiritual part, and the practical, visible part.

Of course, how Lutheran the worship at MLC will be will depend on how MLC uses that worship space and what the people who preach in it say.

Also, to the WELS Lay Student... Few may not understand the designated gift paradox, but that doesn't do away with the problem or challenges. If a person doesn't understand the notion that "if I give X amount of dollars for a chapel at MLC, it would be unethical for them to spend it on anything else." The same is true if your grandmother gave you $1000 for your college education and you used it to pay off your credit card. I would hope you would honor your grandmother's wishes, regardless of how dumb your friends might think it would be.

***

GJ - "Sir, it is a small school, as I have said, but there are those who love her." That was said about Dartmouth College, long before it become the model for Animal House.

I enjoyed the straw man (or men!) argumentation, the guilt by association, the ad hominem, and other fruits of a fine college education.

So how did this designated gift come about? Someone handed MLC a check for $7 million, pointed a gun at the head of the president, and said, "Build a chapel or else"? No, I think the gift was solicited and then used as a float for many years.

The comments are a bit hyper. If a $7 million chapel for a tiny college were such a good idea, the wise men of WELS would smile and say nothing. If someone tells me that the moon is made of styrofoam, I do not sling angry accusations at him. I would just say something enigmatic, like, "That explains a lot."

Obviously I have touched a nerve. Others must think the same thing. When my cash flow is poor, the last thing I want is a Rolls Royce as a gift.

If WELS wanted to put more money into the Means of Grace, the Love Shack Curia would resign, then either teach or preach. A mass resignation or firing would provide boatloads of cash for real ministry rather than the ministry of administration.

MLC Yet Again

A. Nony Mouse has left a new comment on your post "Martin Luther College Chapel, or Build It and The...":

Wait a second, there are a couple of important facts that you have to remember about this $7 million.

1. All of that money was given as part of a special gift in 2000, well before the financial crisis even began.

2. All of the money was designated by the givers specially for a chapel at MLC. It would be unethical and illegal for the synod to use that money for anything else but a chapel at MLC.

I agree that building a chapel during this crisis gives a bad impression. In fact, that's exactly the reason that the money has been sitting around unused for 7 years. But at a certain point you simply have to carry out the will of the givers and use the money to do what it was given for.

It may not be going to fix this crisis, but I would rather have it used for something rather than burying it in the ground and getting nothing from it.

***

GJ - I suppose burying the money in the ground was metaphorical. Buildings generate more costs: insurance, maintenance, heat, electricity. One might say that is a definite way to bury the money, and more with it.

I heard a rumor that the chapel money was spent. I suppose putting up a building would help end that rumor.

Will this be another Schwan Chapel, like Bethany's?

Santa Lucia, With Some Improvements
(Apologies to Al Capone and all Neopolitans)

The copper roof shines in my eyes,
Pizza has paid for this, and so has good ice cream.
Come give some major gifts!
Santa Marvin Schwan, Santa Marvin Schwan!

O dear Little Sect, on the Great Prairie,
Where Marvin Schwan was pleased to smile!
Come give some major gifts!
Santa Marvin Schwan, Santa Marvin Schwan!

Poor Mouse, Rants and Raves Again

A. Nony Mouse has left a new comment on your post "Rev. A. Nony Mouse Hates These Sayings":

You can condemn, mock and criticize others to your heart's content, but if someone criticizes you, you put on your site a gazillion quotes. You can't even post the criticisms people send in to you. The buzz in some circles is that Jackson has really gone off the deep end. For proof, they say, just check out Ichabod.

***

GJ - Yes, those quotations really sent poor Mouse into the stratosphere, just as I thought. He knows why I post quotations. I am sure he is the first to yell "8th Commandment" when someone points out his lack of sound doctrine, but he knows my evil motivation from afar.

I quote the great Lutheran theologians because the Leonard Sweet-hearts like Mouse never will. Luther embarrasses Mouse. So does Pieper. And Walther. And Hoenecke. Anyone literate in theology is a cross for Mouse to bear.

I often quote Mouse because he is so funny. I am happy to pass on the reports from his drinking buddies in WELS. I doubt whether they get their buzz from Ichabod. Happy hour is probably their font of buzz.

Mouse always elicits interesting comments from the laity, who provide a stark and shocking contrast to the repetitive fulminations of the nameless one. The laity make sense.

Oh yes, here is an imaginary conversation during Happy Hour in Milwaukee:
Mouse: Jackson has really gone off the deep end, hasn't he?
Rat: Oh yes, quoting Luther, a bad sign. Are you coming to the Church and Change conference?
Mouse: I can't afford to miss it. Good career move.
Rat: Definitely. I want to be seen there.
Mouse: I need to blow some smoke in people's eyes. Do you still have a copy of "We Still Believe?"
Rat: Dude, it's all over the Net.
Mouse: Oh yeah, thanks.

Martin Luther College Chapel, or Build It and They Will Enroll

Was it only a few weeks ago that WELS longed to close down Michigan Lutheran Seminary, their prep school in Saginaw? Not enough money. Now they have $7+ million for a chapel.

WELS has a history of plowing money into a campus before closing it down.

The person or persons, perhaps parson or parsons who make the same remarks about the $7+ million chapel should study Lutheran doctrine. I am not surprised Mouse agrees with Mouse or with another Mouse. These guys cannot post their own names. Apparently they are just as ashamed of their own names as they are of Luther's.

A. Nony Mice - read this slowly, without your lips moving. There. Maybe read it over several times until you get it: Worship has nothing to do with bricks, mortar, garb, and incense. Proper worship can be conducted anywhere because the only priority is sound doctrine.

I would love to be an African sitting in a grass and mud hut, on the Internet, reading about WELS' passion for my pagan soul, while figuring out how this bankrupt sect has millions for a new chapel when the nearest chapel is put together with buffalo dung.

No, we would not want the McGavran/Leonard Sweet fans to graduate from college and not enjoy a really posh chapel. The chapel will make them orthodox.

Rev. A. Nony Mouse Hates These Sayings. But Loves To Pose with Katy Perry

We can quote Luther, or we can plagiarize Groeschel.

Trials

"One Christian who has been tried is worth a hundred who have not been tried, for the blessing of God grows in trials. He who has experienced them can teach, comfort, and advise many in bodily and spiritual matters."
Martin Luther, What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1381. Genesis 27:28-29.

"In order to keep your faith pure, do nothing else than stand still, enjoy its blessings, accept Christ's works, and let him bestow His love upon you. You must be blind, lame, deaf, dead, leprous and poor, otherwise you will stumble at Christ. That Gospel which suffers Christ to be seen and to be doing good only among the needy, will not belie you."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, I, p. 110. Third Sunday in Advent. Matthew 11:2-10.

"We have the comfort of this victory of Christ--that He maintains His Church against the wrath and power of the devil; but in the meantime we must endure such stabs and cruel wounds from the devil as are necessarily painful to our flesh and blood. The hardest part is that we must see and suffer all these things from those who call themselves the people of God and the Christian Church. We must learn to accept these things calmly, for neither Christ nor the saints have fared better."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 263. Sunday after Ascension, Exaudi. John 15:26-16:4.

"Therefore God must lead us to a recognition of the fact that it is He who puts faith in our heart and that we cannot produce it ourselves. Thus the fear of God and trust in Him must not be separated from one another, for we need them both, in order that we may not become presumptuous and over­confident, depending upon ourselves. This is one of the reasons why God leads His saints through such great trials."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 21. First Sunday after Epiphany. Luke 2:41-52.

"Secondly, God permits His saints to suffer these trials as an example for others, both to alarm the carnally secure and to comfort the timid and alarmed...But when we see and hear that God has in like manner dealt with His saints and did not spare even His own mother, we have the knowledge and comfort that we need not despair in our trials, but remain quiet and wait until He helps us, even as He has helped all His saints."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 40f. First Sunday after Epiphany, Second Sermon. Luke 2:41-52.

"Now it is the consolation of Christians, and especially of preachers, to be sure and ponder well that when they present and preach Christ, that they must suffer persecution, and nothing can prevent it; and that it is a very good sign of the preaching being truly Christian, when they are thus persecuted, especially by the great, the saintly, the learned and the wise."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 97. Fourth Sunday after Epiphany. Matthew 8:23-27.

"Not only is Christ hidden from the world, but a still harder thing is it that in such trials Christ conceals himself even from His church, and acts as if He had forgotten, aye, had entirely forsaken and rejected it, since He permits it to be oppressed under the cross and subjected to all the cruelty of the world, while its enemies boast, glory and rejoice over it, as we shall hear in the next Gospel."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 67. Second Sunday after Easter. John 10:11-16.

"There is another temptation also in the time of trouble which was punished severely among the people of Israel and which alas is common as compared to the other temptation and equally irrational. That temptation occurs before God's Word is heard; this after we hear the Word, namely thus: when we know that God has promised help in the time of any trouble, but are not content with it, go forward and will not abide His promise, but prescribe time, place, and manner for His help; and then if He does not come as we expect and desire, faith vanishes."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, I, p. 366. Epiphany. Matthew 2:1-12.


How the Church Fares

"Yet this is also true, that Christ often delays the bestowal of His help, as He did on this occasion, and on another, John 21, when He permitted the disciples to toil all the night without taking anything, and really appeared as if He would forget His own Word and promise."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, IV, p. 154. Fifth Sunday after Trinity. Luke 5:1-11.

"The word translated 'desolate' literally means 'orphans.' By use of this word Christ would intimate the condition of the Church. In the eyes of the world, and even in her own estimation, she has not the appearance of a prosperous and well ordered organization; rather she is a scattered group of poor, miserable orphans, without leader, protection or help upon earth. All the world laughs at her and ridicules her as a great fool in thinking that she is the Church and comprises the people of God. Furthermore, each individual is so burdened and oppressed in his need and suffering as to feel that no one else lies so low or is so far from help as he."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 304f. Pentecost, Third Sermon. John 14:23-31.


Lutheran "Community Churches" - Crossroads, CrossWalk, DoubleCross, etc.

"Shall we permit this to be done! is the name of Christian unity! and by a latitudinarianism that is our own heritage, which rises ever anew from the embers of the past to find such veiled support and strength in the citadel of Zion that Confessionalism is told to whisper low in Jerusalem lest she be heard on the streets of Gath."
Theodore E. Schmauk and C. Theodore Benze, The Confessional Principle and the Confessions, as Embodying the Evangelical Confession of the Christian Church, Philadelphia: 1911, p. 941.

Orthodoxy Is, Is Not


The Word and the Cross

(Luther makes the following general comment on Romans 2:6­10): "Patient continuance is so altogether necessary that no work can be good in which patient continuance is lacking. The world is so utterly perverse and Satan is so heinously wicked that he cannot allow any good work to be done, but he must persecute it. However, in this very way God, in His wonderful wisdom, proves what work is good and pleasing to Him. Here the rule holds: As long as we do good and for our good do not encounter contradiction, hatred, and all manner of disagreeable and disadvantageous things, so we must fear that our good work as yet is not pleasing to God; for just so long it is not yet done with patient continuance. But when our good work is followed by persecution, let us rejoice and firmly believe that it is pleasing to God; indeed, then let us be assured that it comes from God, for whatever is of God is bound to be crucified by the world. As long as it does not bring the cross, that is, as long as it does not bring shame and contempt as we patiently continue in it, it cannot be esteemed as a divine work since even the Son of God was not free from it--(suffering for the sake of the good He did) --but left us an example in this. He Himself tells us in Matthew 5:10, 12: 'Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake..Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.'"
Martin Luther, Commentary on Romans, trans. J. Theodore Mueller, Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1976, p. 55. Matthew 5: 10, 12.

An Efficacious Chapel

From The Love Shack, WELS Headquarters:

MLC chapel project update

On Sept. 28, the Martin Luther College (MLC) Governing Board approved a recommendation to move forward with a project to build a chapel on the school’s campus in New Ulm, Minn. The proposal now goes before the Conference of Presidents for input and the Synodical Council (SC) for final approval.

Funding for the project would come from $7.2 million given by individuals as part of synod’s 150th anniversary celebrations, specifically to build a chapel. Funding for the project comes from gifts already on hand.

The initial effort was delayed although the need remains. The campus currently has no chapel. Among other things, a chapel would allow for greater flexibility in the use of choirs and instrumentalists—and allow MLC to model worship more effectively as it trains future worship leaders.

The SC meets in November. If it releases the funds the chapel building committee would take the next steps, including procuring blueprints and engaging contractors. The goal for completion is August 2009.

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GJ - Read Rev. A. Nony Mouse's comment. Actually, everyone knows that WELS teaches against the efficacy of the Word alone. Therefore, the Wisconsin Synod is a heretical sect. WELS is jealous of the Bethany (Little Sect on the Prairie) Chapel, called The Copper-top Chapel.

I attended an organ concert at the MLC chapel-auditorium. I was not offended by its utilitarian nature. I doubt whether $7 million+ will improve the doctrine of WELS. Mouse is probably not aware of Pieper's comment that the Word is efficacious whether in a marble cathedral or the humblest chapel. Mouse should not call attention to his ignorance by being so sarcastic, but that is his WELS training showing.

***

Let's hear it from F. Pieper, originally from the Wisconsin Synod:

"Let us learn more and more to look upon the Lutheran Church with the right kind of spiritual eyes: it is the most beautiful and glorious Church; for it is adorned with God's pure Word. This adornment is so precious, that even though an orthodox congregation were to consist of very poor people ­let us say nothing but woodchoppers - and met in a barn (as the Lord Christ also lay here on earth in a barn, on hay and straw), every Christian should much, much rather prefer to affiliate himself with this outwardly so insignificant congregation, rather than with a heterodox congregation, even if its members were all bank presidents and assembled in a church built of pure marble. Let us be sure that our flesh, and the talk of others does not darken the glory of the orthodox Church, or crowd it out of our sight."
Francis Pieper, The Difference between Orthodox and Heterodox Churches, and Supplement, Coos Bay, Oregon: St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1981, p. 47.

Lutherans for Loot

From Norm Teigen's Blog:

Saturday, September 29, 2007
Christian Life Resources

Christian Life Resources is endorsed by the WELS and the ELS although there is no administrative controls from these church bodies that I can see.

The organization seems to be in business to perpetuate itself. Income is $1.4 million. The leader of the group, Robert Fleischmann, pulls down $68,976 a year. That's a big salary in my book.

There is an upcoming convention. The program is designed to get the attendees to promote the organization's Pro-Life Activities. The national director says that the message of the group is to advise people to vote in such a way that God's will comes first and that human interests come next.

Who is best qualified to tell people what God's will is in the political arena? The CLR would have one believe that that organization can educate people to make the right decisions.

Sounds like a political action group to me under the guise of religious sentiment.

***

GJ - This group began as WELS Lutherans for Life, pulling away from the original LCMS Lutherans for Life to "avoid fellowship issues." That is a hoot. Long ago WELS was active with Lutheran World Relief, a pan-Lutheran organization. WELS district popes sat on the LWR board (but did not pray with them). WELS has given money to the United Nations. WELS and Missouri work with ELCA all the time.

Pause to regain self-control after a laughing fit. OK. I am better now.

Ichabodians can look up the statistics on Guidestar. They can look up the Schwan Foundation, Lutheran News, etc. Guidestar provides a PDF of the non-profit's tax return. I had two national news organizations phone me about the Schwan Foundation's connections with gambling investments. They Googled the general topic and tracked me down.

I would post some of the information from Guidestar, but they are touchy about how it is used. If you want to find it, you can do the research.

Lutherans for Loot has plenty of money socked away. The way I figure, they take a pan-Christian posture now to attract more financial support. They can gather tax money too, under various guidelines. The leader of the group, Pastor Robert Fleischman, was in Columbus for a meeting many years ago. He came over to my church to keep me from mentioning his work in Christian News. I guess it was an intervention. I asked Fleischman if he was the minister who instantly fell in love with his future wife and married her a short time afterwards. He confessed and did not deny, he was the one. I trust they are still happily married and just as much in love.

Church and Change Has Its Own Website

WELS has its own agency of apostasy, linked on the official WELS.net website - Church and Change. Is this strange? Church and Change has its own website, but registration for its conference is direct from the WELS website.

People think that their church leaders enforce doctrinal fidelity. In fact, the church leaders make sure the Scriptures are seldom followed. WELS has gone one extra step in encouraging apostasy, by helping people sign up for the expensive Church and Change Wingding, to be held October 15th.

Linking Church and Change on the WELS website is like having Jesus First linked on the LCMS website. Some may recall that Missouri linked ELCA and AAL as Ministry Partners on their website, then got huffy when I exposed the page in Christian News.

The non-ELCA synods are famous for pretending to be conservative to the point of being hide-bound. They are little models of ELCA. The difference is that ELCA is honest about its non-beliefs.

The WELS AnswerMan fielded a question today on closed communion, saying it was the policy of WELS and Missouri. Everyone knows just the opposite is true. Most Missouri congregations have wide-open communion. Other LCMS congregation welcome ELCA drive-by communicants, as long as they say something to the pastor. WELS' position is, "Don't ask. Don't tell." The ELS is famous for communing ELCA members and all kinds of weirdness not associated with doctrinal orthodoxy. Mind-numbing hypocrisy is rewarded in The Little Sect on the Prairie. David Jay Webber, the Lion of Scottsdale, long ago advocated communing ELCA members and had no qualms about associating his ELS work with that of Floyd Luther Stolzenburg. In the ELS, that is considered principaled leadership. "If you have the principal, we have the interest."

Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant Printed and Arriving

Lulu tells me that the copies of CLP I ordered have shipped. When they get here I will send them out immediately.

I can imagine The Love Shack Curia saying, "Who is Lulu? Get all the information you can find out about her."

Ahem. Lulu.com is fabulous Internet site for publishing books, calendars, and all kinds of materials. Thanks to the tireless efforts of my editor, Mark Ochsankehl, I have more material being readied to post there. For instance, there will be a discussion or teaching guide for CLP. I have also published a short guide for college students, who keep telling me, "I wish I would have known this sooner!"

Martin Chemnitz Press Storefront at Lulu.com.

Michigan District - Giving Not Up

WELS Through August.

WELS is up over 2006 by $444,049 at $12,493,206.

Michigan District is down $73,679 at $1,208,772.

The Michigan District has trailed last year's contributions every month through August, except perhaps for January.

The State of Michigan is in a budgetary crisis. The Wall Street Journal ran an article on the vast shrinkage of GM jobs since 1994. Ditto Ford. The State of Michigan is a subsidiary of the auto business. One pastor said years ago, "If the auto is business is doing well, the congregational budget does well. If not, there is not much we can do."