Closing of the Book of Concord

Martin Chemnitz, Chief Editor of the Book of Concord and Formula of Concord, 1580
"We have no intention of yielding aught of the eternal, immutable truth of God for the sake of temporal peace, tranquility, and unity (which, moreover, is not in our power to do). Nor would such peace and unity, since it is devised against the truth and for its suppression, have any permanency. Still less are we inclined to adorn and conceal a corruption of the pure doctrine and manifest, condemned errors. But we entertain heartfelt pleasure and love for, and are on our part sincerely inclined and anxious to advance, that unity according to our utmost power, by which His glory remains to God uninjured, nothing of the divine truth of the Holy Gospel is surrendered, no room is given to the least error, poor sinners are brought to true, genuine repentance, raised up by faith, confirmed in new obedience, and thus justified and eternally saved alone through the sole merit of Christ."
Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article XI. Election. #94-96. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1095. Tappert, p. 632. Heiser, p. 294.

Apostates Have a Powerful Leader

Satan by Dore

Satan’s Work

J-644.1

"Just as true doctrine is the greatest gift we can enjoy, so false doctrine is the most baneful evil that can beset us. False doctrine is sin, it is the invention of Satan, and it imperils and destroys salvation. False doctrine is every teaching contrary to the Word of God. Scripture enjoins upon us to proclaim only the truth."
W. A. Baepler, "Doctrine, True and False," The Abiding Word, ed., Theodore Laetsch, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1946, II, p. 501.

J-645.1

"Faith is a tender, subtle thing, and we so easily make a mistake and are liable to stumble; but the devil is watchful, and unless men exercise watchfulness, he quickly gains his point."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 265. Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity, John 4:46-54; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:12

J-646.1

"Thus also the devil is angry because God wants to trample him under foot by means of flesh and blood. If a mighty spirit were opposed to him, he would not be so sorely vexed; but it greatly angers him that a poor worm of the dust, a fragile earthen vessel defies him, a weak vessel against a mighty prince. God has placed his treasure, says St. Paul, in a poor, weak vessel; for man is weak, easily aroused to anger, avaricious, arrogant, and weighed down with other imperfections, through which Satan easily shatters the earthen vessel; for if God would permit him, he would soon have utterly destroyed the whole vessel."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 268. Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity, John 4:46-54; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:12.

J-647.1

"The devil does not sleep, he will do many more such things, he looks around and exerts himself to exterminate the pure doctrine in the Church and will finally, it is feared, bring it to this, that should one pass through all Germany he would find no pure pulpit, where the Word of God is preached as in former days. He tries with all his might to prevent the pure doctrine from being taught, for he cannot endure it."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 266. Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity, John 4:46-54; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:12.

J-648.1

"The devil also is able to present to the factious spirits the idea that they regard themselves as right, like the Arians who thought their cause was right."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 266. Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity, John 4:46-54; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:12.

J-649.1

"Indeed, more factious spirits shall arise and it shall come to pass that they will not regard Christ as God, nor as the son of a virgin. For the devil is so cunning and skillful that, if one thing is taken from him, he makes use of another. Thus it has been from the beginning, and it will continue to be so in the future."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 269. Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity, John 4:46-54; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:12.

Satan and Emotions

J-650.1

"Satan torments you until you conclude that you are lost and ruined, that heaven and earth, God and all the angels, are your enemies."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 247.

J-651.1

"For that rogue, the devil, has a sharp vision and easily becomes conscious of the presence of a true Christian. Therefore he exerts himself to entrap him, and surrounds and attacks him on all sides; for he cannot bear that anyone should desert his kingdom."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 264.

J-652.1

"When you preach or confess the Word, you will experience both without, among enemies, and also within, in yourself (where the devil himself will speak to you and prove how hostile he is to you), that he brings you into sadness, impatience, and depression, and that he torments you in all sorts of ways. Who does all this? Certainly not Christ or any good spirit, but the miserable, loathsome enemy...The devil will not bear to have you called a Christian and to cling to Christ or to speak or think a good word about Him. Rather he would gladly poison and permeate your heart with venom and gall, so that you would blaspheme: Why did He make me a Christian? Why do I not let Him go? Then I would at last have peace."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 928.

J-653.1

"Neither is he [Satan] truthful; he is the spirit of lies, who, by means of false fear and false comfort having the appearance of truth, both deceives and destroys. He possesses the art of filling his own victims with sweet comfort ; that is, he gives them unbelieving, arrogant, secure, impious hearts...He can even make them joyful; furthermore, he renders them haughty and proud in their opinions, in their wisdom and self-made personal holiness; then no threat nor terror of God's wrath and of eternal damnation moves them, but their hearts grow harder than steel or adamant."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 302.

J-654.1
"The deeper a person is sunk in sadness and emotional upheavals, the better he serves as an instrument of Satan. For our emotions are instruments through which he gets into us and works in us if we do not watch our step. It is easy to water where it is wet. Where the fence is dilapidated, it is easy to get across. So Satan has easy access where there is sadness. Therefore one must pray and associate with godly people."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1243.

J-655.1

"It is not the devil's aim to plague us physically; he is a spirit who is always thirsting for the tears and the drops of blood that come from our hearts. He wants us to despair and to perish from sadness. This would be his joy and delight. But he will not succeed."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1244. John 15:19.

Deception of Satan

Satan works primarily as the father of lies (John 8). One famous author, loved by the Church Growth gurus, wrote this:

J-656.1

"One day I overheard my stepmother say to my father: 'The only real devil that exists in this or any other world is the man whose business is that of making devils.' I accepted this statement instantly and never have departed from it."
Napoleon Hill, Grow Rich With Peace of Mind, New York: Fawcett Crest, 1967, p. 212.[36]

We should consider that Rev. Robert Schuller was given a Napoleon Hill medal by the Napoleon Hill Foundation for promoting the wisdom of Napoleon Hill.[37]

J-657.1

"Now and again I have had evidence that unseen friends hover about me, unknowable to ordinary sense. In my studies I discovered there is a group of strange beings who maintain a school of wisdom which must be ten thousand years old, but I did not connect them with myself. Now there is a connection. I am not one of them!—but I have been watched by them."
Napoleon Hill, Grow Rich With Peace of Mind, New York: Fawcett Crest, 1967, p. 158. check quote

J-658.1

"'I have come,' said the voice, 'to give you one more section to include in your book. In writing this section you may cause some readers to disbelieve you, yet you will write honestly and many will believe and be benefited. The world has been given many philosophies by which men are prepared for death, but you have been chosen to give mankind a philosophy by which men are prepared for happy living...I come from the Great School of the Masters. I am one of the Council of Thirty-Three who serve the Great School and its initiates on the physical plane.'" [Hill explains]: "That is the school of wisdom which has persisted secretly in the Himalayas for ten thousand years...From the remotest days of antiquity, the Masters of the Great School have communicated with each other by telepathy."
Napoleon Hill, Grow Rich With Peace of Mind, New York: Fawcett Crest, 1967, p. 158f.

J-659.1

"The School has Masters who can disembody themselves and travel instantly to any place they choose in order to acquire essential knowledge, or to give knowledge directly, by voice, to anyone else. Now I knew that one of these Masters had come across thousands of miles, through the night, into my study."
Napoleon Hill, Grow Rich With Peace of Mind, New York: Fawcett Crest, 1967, p. 159.

J-660.1

[Great School's message to Hill:] "You have passed through the Jungle of Life safely. Now you must give to the world a blueprint with which others may traverse that same Black Forest."
Napoleon Hill, Grow Rich With Peace of Mind, New York: Fawcett Crest, 1967, p. 160.

Hill’s theology is remarkably void, even for a Church Growth leader:

"Faith is the only agency through which the cosmic force of Infinite Intelligence can be harnessed and used by man." Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich, New York: Fawcett Crest Books, 1937, revised 1960, p. 51.

"I do not even attempt to guess the over-all purpose or plan behind the universe. So far as I can tell, there is no plan for man except to come into this world, live a little while, and go." Napoleon Hill, Grow Rich With Peace of Mind, New York: Fawcett Crest, 1967, p. 213.

J-661.1

"For this reason one should not be too credulous when a preacher comes softly like an angel of God, recommends himself very highly, and swears that his sole aim is to save souls, and says: 'Pax vobis!' For those are the very fellows the devil employs to honey people's mouths. Through them he gains an entrance to preach and to teach, in order that he may afterward inflict his injuries, and that though he accomplish nothing more for the present, he may, at least, confound the people's consciences and finally lead them into misery and despair."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 322. Easter Tuesday Luke 24:36-47.

J-662.1

"But, being deceived by the devil, we forsake the light of day and seek to find truth among philosophers and heathen totally ignorant of such matters. In permitting ourselves to be blinded by human doctrines, we return to the night. Whatsoever is not the Gospel day surely cannot be light. Otherwise Paul, and in fact all Scripture, would not urge that day upon us and pronounce everything else night."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VI, p. 17.

J-663.1

"The devil does not rest yet, and hence he stirs up so many sects and factions. How many sects have we not already had? One has taken up the sword, another has attacked the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, others that of baptism."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 266. Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity, John 4:46-54; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:12.

J-664.1

"The devil does not sleep, he will do many more such things, he looks around and exerts himself to exterminate the pure doctrine in the Church and will finally, it is feared, bring it to this, that should one pass through all Germany he would find no pure pulpit, where the Word of God is preached as in former days. He tries with all his might to prevent the pure doctrine from being taught, for he cannot endure it."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 266.

J-665.1

"The devil also is able to present to the factious spirits the idea that they regard themselves as right, like the Arians who thought their cause was right."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 266.

J-666.1

"For every sect has always had one or more particular hobbies and articles which are manifestly wrong and can easily be discerned to be of the devil, who publicly teach, urge and defend them as right certain and necessary to believe or to keep For the spirit of lies cannot so conceal himself, but that he must at last put forth his claws, by which you can discern and observe the ravenous wolf."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, IV, p. 282f.

J-667.1

"On that day every false teacher will wish that he had never been born and will curse the day when he was inducted into the sacred office of the ministry. On that day we shall see that false teaching is not the trifling and harmless matter that people in our day think it is."
C. F. W. Walther, The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel, trans., W. H. T. Dau, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1928, p. 88.

Norm Teigen on Christian Life Resources

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Why is Norman Teigen blogging about Christian Life Resources?

I am a member of a congregation in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The ELS lists Christian Life Resources on its web page which I take as an endorsement. I am not a spokesperson for my congregation or for my synod. I am writing my own opinions in my blog.

I see the Christian Life Resources as a self-perpetuating organization without any control from a responsible church body. Christian Life Resources endorses an organization called Church and Change.

A pastor in my synod was accused of false doctrine for his stated intention of attending the Church and Chanage conference. The objectee also, apparently, said that the Wisconsin Synod has a false doctrine in its synod in Church and Change.

My suggestion is for the ELS to put Christian Life Resources and Church and Change under the microscope and advise the membership of its results.

Posted by Norman Teigen at 6:25 PM 0 comments Links to this post



Christian Life Resources schedule in focus

The Church and Change Conference has made a big stir within the Wisconsin Synod. Christian Life Resources is endorsed by the synod, the ELS, of which I am a member, and I have previously written about this.

The Real Womens' Voices 2007 Conference is a political action conference. This conference "will combine cutting-edge, elections-oriented political activist training and advanced grassroots lobbying training on Capitol Hill. We know you have the passion to make a difference. Real Women's Voices 2007 will transform that zeal
into action with the practical nuts and bolts skills necessary to help pro-life candidates win. In this way, you as a woman activist can learn the practical skills to impact the 2008 elections for Life."

Attendees will learn how to be politically active in the secular realm, but they will continue to be vote-less when they return to their individual congregations.

The Alzheimer's Disease Workshop looks very interesting and worth-while.

The Christian Life Resources' National Convention is November 2-4. The host congregation is St. Paul's of Slinger WI. A visit to this congregation's web site indicates that worshippers may choose a traditional service or a contemporary service. The contemporary service is described:

"Our contemporary service features a blend of elements from historic Christian worship and modern music. The very "user-friendly" service features a single theme for the day. It offers opportunity for confession and forgiveness, for prayer, for a scriptural devotion, and for praise. In addition, electroinc media, such as Powerpoint and video, are included to add impact and meaning to the worship experience.

"Many of the services feature our full praise band called "The Breath of Life Band". It consists of guitars, keyboards, drums and vocalist(s). We pray this new worship opportunity will not only serve our members, but be a wonderful new door into the congregation for newcomers. Praise the Lord with us!"

On November 10th the WELS Prayer Institute Conference will be held in Sussex WI. "This conference offers information on prayer ministry. Featured speaker is WLS President Rev. Paul Wendland. Workshops include "Building your prayer team," "Training your people to pray", "Sample Pack of prayer ministry ideas in use today," information on intercessory prayer, prayer idea sharing, praying for our WELS synod as well as various ministries and leaders."

***

Norm Teigen has made many good points about this group, which used to be WELS Lutherans for Life. We all know that Lutheran is a bad name for anything. The initial idea in starting WELS Lutherans for Life was to avoid the evil LCMS Lutherans in Lutherans for Life. Now the original WELS Lutherans for Life is pan-Christian and ecumenical to a fault.

CLR illustrates the problem with parachurch organizations. Synods are bad enough, but the semi-independent organizations can be a nightmare. CLR uses its WELS-ELS contacts to raise money and probably gets Thrivent funds, foundation money, and government grants. Who is really in charge?

Various ELS officials told me that Thoughts of Faith was not ELS. I asked, "Why were three ELS pastors commissioned for Thoughts of Faith at the ELS convention?"

Trouble in Paradise

Trouble in Paradise, focusing on the Little Sect on the Prairie and Milwaukee branch of Fuller Seminary, has some good comments about contemporary worship.

My only complaint is that he does not post enough.

Please Ignore Gerhardt's Anniversary...Thank You!

Paul Gerhardt is likely the most favored hymn-writer of the Christian Church. His hymns are used more often by more denominations than any other writer, more than Luther. That is what one source claims. I have not done my own research on this because I hate to wade through piles of Holy-Spirit-drenched praise hymnals to find out.

Below are Gerhardt hymns in the new LCMS hymnal:

1. O Lord, How Shall I Meet You
   
2. All My Heart Again Rejoices
   
3. O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is
   
4. Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising
   
5. A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth
   
6. O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
   
7. Upon the Cross Extended
   
8. Awake, My Heart, with Gladness
   
9. All Christians Who Have Been Baptized
   
10. Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me
    
11. If God Himself Be for Me
    
12. Evening and Morning
    
13. Rejoice, My Heart, Be Glad and Sing
    
14. Entrust Your Days and Burdens
    
15. Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me
    
16. Now Rest beneath Night's Shadow
    
17. I Will Sing My Maker's Praises

The synods falling over each other to celebrate Paul Gerhardt's 400th anniversary should hide away in shame. They should run away from Gerhardt as much as they shun Luther, Chemnitz, and J. Gerhard.

Short Bio

Students of Lutheran doctrine and worship should remember three things about Gerhardt. First of all, he tutored children well into his adult life (age 45), enhancing his ability to communicate with vivid and concrete images. Second, he was resolute in opposing Calvinism, but mild in his overall manner. Calvinists loved his services and his hymns. Nevertheless, he was kicked out of his congreation in Berlin and forced out of the city. The rest of his life was very difficult because he would not compromise his doctrinal standards. Third, he lost all of his children except his son and then lost his wife as well.

Please Stop This at Once!
The Little Sect on the Prairie will celebrate Gerhardt's life with the Bethany lectures. Gaylin Schmeling, STM (Nashotah House) will be one lecturer. Once upon a time, the Bethany lectures were given by known scholars, not by the staff. The other lecturer, Carlos Messerli, seems to be LCMS or ELCA. The information is difficult to track down. All his publishing credits seem to be ELCA. He was connected to the hideous Liberal Book of Weirdness and seems to think it was a good hymnal. That was the first feminist Lutheran hymnal but not as bad as WELS' Charismatic Worship.

Kieschnick's LCMS has a URL devoted to Gerhardt. Have the Missouri pastors noted the irony of this veneration?

The Sausage Factory, also known as Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, noticed Gerhardt as well. And yet the offical WELS line goes like this, "We can learn from Fuller Seminary because we are spoiling the Egyptians."

I ran into this article, which is appropriate, comparing "Elvis" singing leading a church in singing How Great Thou Art to the life and work of Paul Gerhardt. The article suggested the next step in WELS-ELS-LCMS Seeker Services, aka Friendship Sunday.

Why Ignore the Anniversary?

The "conservative" synods are really apostate synods. They are more unionistic than the ruler who deposed Gerhardt. For 30 years the old Synodical Conference--hand in claw with ELCA--has promoted Reformed doctrine, Reformed worship, and the elimination of the Creeds. The Book of Concord is a joke to these people, all the more because they pretend to have some respect for the document.

Why praise Gerhardt when the District Popes fire pastors right and left for being faithful? Pope John the Malefactor (Little Sect on the Prairie) set a record in the percentage of pastors and congregations he defenestrated.

The micro-mini sects are even worse.

Are Any Solutions in Sight?

Doctrinal apostasy is now so obvious that people are taking notice. More men will be kicked out, but the synods will still collapse from their own incompetence and top-heavy costs.

I will brag about two women who decided to spoil the Egyptians on their own. They went to a Reformed bookstore in Grand Rapids and bought the fabulous 8-volume Lenker set of Luther's sermons.

Comment on Apostates Crush the True Church

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Apostates Crush the True Church":

You are so right about the advertising. What does it mean to me when I see Jeff Gunn's pet project "CrossWalk" advertise that they basically aren't your average boring/crappy/dull/stuck-up church. So, under what category, dear Rev. Gunn does my church fall under? You haven't left many flattering categories left for my congregation.

The whole thing sets up this false dichotomy in people's head, just like the WELS Parish Assitance survey question that goes like this:

What type of music do you prefer?
a. Traditional Lutheran hymnody
b. Upbeat, relevant, easy-to-sing praise songs

False Teachers - From Thy Strong Word

False Teachers Use Work of Others

J-635.1

"Note the master hand wherewith Paul portrays the character of false teachers, showing how they betray their avarice and ambition. First, they permit true teachers to lay the foundation and perform the labor; then they come and desire to do the work over, to reap the honors and the benefits. They bring about that the name and the work of the true teachers receive no regard and credit; what they themselves have brought—that is the thing. They make the poor simple-minded people to stare open-mouthed while they win them with flowery words and seduce them with fair speeches, as mentioned in Romans 16:18. These are the idle drones that consume the honey they will not and cannot make."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 110. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9; Romans 16:18.

False Doctrine Tolerated

J-636.1

"And such false teachers have the good fortune that all their folly is tolerated, even though the people realize how these act the fool, and rather rudely at that. They have success with it all, and people bear with them. But no patience is to be exercised toward true teachers! Their words and their works are watched with the intent of entrapping them, as complained of in Psalm 17:9 and elsewhere. When only apparently a mote is found, it is exaggerated to a very great beam. No toleration is granted. There is only judgment, condemnation and scorn. Hence the office of preaching is a grievous one. He who has not for his sole motive the benefit of his neighbor and the glory of God cannot continue therein. The true teacher must labor, and permit others to have the honor and profit of his efforts, while he receives injury and derision for his reward."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 110f. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9. Psalm 17:9.


God Punishes Ingratitude by Allowing False Teachers

J-637.1

"In the second place such teachers are disposed to bring the people into downright bondage and to bind their conscience by forcing laws upon them and teaching works-righteousness. The effect is that fear impels them to do what has been pounded into them, as if they were bondslaves, while their teachers command fear and attention. But the true teachers, they who give us freedom of conscience and create us lords, we soon forget, even despise. The dominion of false teachers is willingly tolerated and patiently endured; indeed, it is given high repute. All those conditions are punishments sent by God upon them who do not receive the Gospel with love and gratitude."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 111. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9. John 5:43.

False Teachers Flay Disciples to Bone

J-638.1

"In the third place, false teachers flay their disciples to the bone, and cut them out of house and home, but even this is taken and endured. Such, I opine, has been our experience under the Papacy. But true preachers are even denied their bread. Yet this all perfectly squares with justice! For, since men fail to give unto those from whom they receive the Word of God, and permit the latter to serve them at their own expense, it is but fair they should give the more unto preachers of lies, whose instruction redounds to their injury. What is withheld from Christ must be given in tenfold proportion to the devil. They who refuse to give the servant of truth a single thread, must be oppressed by liars."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 111f. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.

Avarice in False Teachers

J-639.1

"Fourth, false apostles forcibly take more than is given them. They seize whatever and whenever they can, thus enhancing their insatiable avarice. This, too, is excused in them."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 112. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.

They Lord It Over Us

J-640.1

"Fifth, these deceitful teachers, not satisfied with having acquired our property, must exalt themselves above us and lord it over us...We bow our knees before them, worship them and kiss their feet. And we suffer it all, yes, with fearful reverence regard it as just and right. And it is just and right, for why did we not honor the Gospel by accepting and preserving it?"
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 112. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.

We Are Dogs and Foot-Rags

J-641.1

"Sixth, our false apostles justly reward us by smiting us in the face. That is, they consider us inferior to dogs; they abuse us, and treat us as foot-rags."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 112. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.

False Teachers Are Peacocks
J-642.1

"The peacock is an image of heretics and fanatical spirits. For on the order of the peacock they, too, show themselves and strut about in their gifts, which never are outstanding. But if they could see their feet, that is the foundation of their doctrine, they would be stricken with terror, lower their crests, and humble themselves. To be sure, they, too, suffer from jealousy, because they cannot bear honest and true teachers. They want to be the whole show and want to put up with no one next to them. And they are immeasurably envious, as peacocks are. Finally, they have a raucous and unpleasant voice, that is, their doctrine is bitter and sad for afflicted and godly minds; for it casts consciences down more than it lifts them up and strengthens them."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 642.

Efficacy of False Doctrine - from Thy Strong Word

Chapter Six: The Efficacy Of False Doctrine

Entrance to Hell

The entrance to Hell is not an ugly, frightening edifice of black obsidian, obscured by clouds of sulfurous smoke and guarded by Cerberus, the hideous three-headed dog of legend. Instead, Hell’s gate is a building of great beauty, adorned with the finest marble and inlaid with gold. Choirs sing solemn anthems inside, while banks of candles add warmth and beauty to the incense filled chambers. Its halls are filled with men of great learning and outward virtue. This enchanting entrance is the Church of Rome, standing guard over the gates of Hell, welcoming the multitudes, eagerly training the curious and the confused, sternly warning the erring, confirming her doctrines with deceptive signs and wonders, blinding the world with her works of charity. The pope sits enthroned in the Basilica of St. Peter, infallible in all of his official communications. According to Roman dogma, the Holy Spirit will not let him err in doctrine, making him godlike. His pronouncements all war against the Gospel, as shown below in this chapter, but he claims to be the ultimate judge of the Scriptures. We cannot begin to think about false doctrine unless we first acknowledge that the papacy is the Antichrist prophesied in the Scriptures. In reality, all false doctrine contributes to and leads to the work and ultimate purpose of the Antichrist.

In considering the Church of Rome in the context of all false doctrine, we need to understand that the Scriptures teach us about efficacy in two forms: 1) the pure Word is God’s effective method in saving souls; 2) false doctrine is Satan’s effective method in destroying souls. Many will credit gambling, alcohol, vice, drugs, and other carnal seductions for bringing people down, but nothing is more powerful in damning people than the Word of God twisted for the benefit of Hell. No religious institution has more resources—money, property, traditions, societies, liturgies, prayer books, theological works, graduate schools, priests, brothers, bishops, nuns, theologians—dedicated to this end than the papacy.

The Biblical doctrine of the Antichrist reveals itself more clearly now than ever before. The term Antichrist is explained as “opponent of Christ,” but he is also regarded as the one who stands in the place of Christ, supplanting Him. The papacy continues to be the largest, best organized, and most efficient agency in subverting the Gospel, that is, in using the name of Christ to undermine and destroy the meaning of forgiveness through the cross. The Antichrist must come from within the visible Church and be treated as a God, as taught by the apostle in 2 Thessalonians.[1] Notice that the Greek word group for “being effective” appears in this section no less than three times, in English as “work”, “working”, and “strong” in the KJV.[2]

Man of Sin

KJV 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Selnecker's Doctrinal Hymn

Lord Jesus Christ, With Us Abide

Oh, keep us in Thy Word, we pray;
The guile and rage of Satan stay!
Oh, may Thy mercy never cease!
Give concord, patience, courage, peace.

O God, how sin's dread works abound!
Throughout the earth no rest is found,
And falsehood's spirit wide has spread,
And error boldly rears its head.

The haughty spirits, Lord, restrain
Who over Thy Church with might would reign
And always set forth something new,
Devised to change Thy doctrine true.

A trusty weapon is Thy Word,
Thy Church's buckler, shield, and sword.
Oh, let us in its power confide
That we may seek no other guide!

The Lutheran Hymnal, #292
Selnecker participated in creating the Book of Concord, 1580.

Will Kelm's Church Sing This Hymn on Reformation Sunday?

O Lord, look down from heaven behold,
And let Thy pity waken
How few are we within Thy fold,
Thy saints by men forsaken!
True faith seems quenched on every hand,
Men suffer not Thy Word to stand;
Dark times have overtaken.

With fraud which they themselves invent
Thy truth they have confounded;
Their hearts are not with one consent
On Thy pure doctrine grounded.
While they parade with outward show,
They lead the people to and fro,
In error's maze astounded.

May God root out all heresy
And of false techers rid us
Who proudly say: "now where is is he
That shall our speech forbid us?
By right or might we shall prevail;
What we determine cannot fail;
We own no lord and master."

As silver tried by fire is pure
From all adulteration,
So through God's Word shall men endure
Each trial and temptation.
Its light beams brigher through the cross,
And, purified from human dross,
It shines through every nation.

The Lutheran Hymnal, #260.
Best sung to the tune of #387.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Will Kelm's Church Sing This Hymn on Reformation S...":

'With fraud which they themselves invent...' Wow, who knew that would become a problem and cancer for our dear beloved Wisconsin Synod? Dark times truly have overtaken! That is a powerful and prophetic hymn.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Will Kelm's Church Sing This Hymn on Reformation S...":

Written against Rome, presumably, yet rings so true in the light of WELS Growthers.

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Brian P Westgate has left a new comment on your post "Will Kelm's Church Sing This Hymn on Reformation S...":

We sang this at Zion Detroit this morning, to "Allein Gott in der Hoeh' sei Ehr'" Why do you prefer it to "Nun Freut Euch?" I personally would prefer we stick to singing it to the tune written for it. It has a haunting beauty to it, and fits it wonderfully.

GJ - I will work on the original melody. My choice was based on what people were used to singing. I have a lot of trouble introducing the great Lutheran hymns because Lutheran pastors before me have taken the easy route and used familiar non-Lutheran hymns. Now the synods are moving to Pentecostal, emotional, doctrinally-twisted ditties. Soon "Lord Keep Us Steadfast" will be a foreign hymn.

Apostates Crush the True Church

Has anyone else noticed that the Church Growth and BMers really hate the true Church? They usually start off by making fun of the traditional congregation in worship. They mock the sermons, despise the members, insult the music, and then offer their demonic solutions. They even have ads that say, "We are not boring." That is like a university proclaiming on its website, "We are not ignorant."

What do apostates (commonly called liberals) do for the Church? Look around.

1. People cannot find a traditional Lutheran church within 100 miles of their home.
   
2. The seminaries are half-empty because vocations have declined.
   
3. The denominational budgets are busted.
   
4. Members conspire with synod officials to get rid of good pastors.
   
5. Criminal clergy acts go un-punished. No, they are rewarded.
   
6. Lutherans think the best way to do well is to hide the name Lutheran, hide the liturgical service, hide the confessions, replace the hymns, and substitute a coaching man-made law talk for a Law/Gospel sermon.
   

Surprised and Confused

"as much as I like this blog, sometimes I'm still surprised or confused by your points of view. Anyway, keep up the good work."

I had a retiring GM worker in my class at one school. He was surprised that I encouraged debate about a variety of topics in two different classes. He ended up writing a letter to me and phoning my bosses about it. The worker said his best teachers encouraged debate, so he was thanking me. He said, "I think you were doing that on purpose."

Yes, I believe in openly debating these topics. Most people would agree that the synodical method of silencing any dissent has worked badly. I saw a post by a WELS pastor about Reggie McNeal speaking for Church and Change. He was apologizing for even posting an objection. I know where that comes from. After being beaten up by WELS officials for opposing Church Growth, he does not want another round or two similar treatment.

Silence favors the false teachers. That is why they have tried to silence me and others so many times. Opposition sharpens our weapons against falsehood and makes us confident in the Word and the Confessions. Studying the Book of Concord as homework is not easy. Reading the Book of Concord during a doctrinal battle is essential.

Mission BMs in WELS

Task Force analysis of The Fifth Church: St Andrew congregation is already using all five levels to some degree. Worship services and Bible studies help to reinforce levels one and two. Intergenerational activities, such as summer Bible studies, children’s devotions, camping activities and holiday festivities, bring members of various ages together. Recently the Youth Ministry adopted the Fifth Church organization strategyand may be able to advise us on how well this structure works.

Author Reggie McNeal asks challenging questions in The Present Future to stimulate congregations to adopt new methods to fully obey the command to go tell others aboutJesus. He says that congregations often focus on the wrong issues, such as: How dowe do church better? How do we grow this church? How do we get members involvedwith church work? While these questions are traditional, they lead us down the samepath that we’ve already traveled. McNeal says to build a future that brings more peopleto faith in Jesus, we need to think in new ways. He suggests we focus less on “how toget people to come to our church” and shift our thinking to “how do we facilitate more members of our community to become part of the Kingdom of God?”

St. Andrew Online WELS

Task Force Members:John Favorite, Jim Garner, Randy Hackbarth, Randy Hunter, Susan Skochelak ,Karen Teske-Osborne, Jim Wendorf, November 2005

BMs: The Next Thing in WELS

"One of the books making the rounds in WELS circles is The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church by Reggie McNeal. That particular book is far enough removed from some of the original books that the thinking of Peter Wagner and others is no longer recognizable as being a problem."

Christian Concerns

BMs at Wisconsin Lutheran College

Found on WELS.net, what a surprise!

"I am a leader of our new youth group and I agree with your statement about getting teens involved on the worship committee, etc. Why are we losing so many teens in the Wisconsin Synod? I believe a main reason is that we don't give them the opportunities to feel ownership in their church. As a church body we have many generations to reach out to and everyone has different tastes. Too often we just reach out to the style of one generation and usually only 1-2 generations make the decisions within the church body. I encourage you to check out the book "The Present Future" by Reggie McNeal. I saw him speak at WLC and I believe we can learn from his insight. Any other thoughts I would appreciate hearing from you."

Mark Heckendorf

Trinity 18 Sermon

Trinity Eighteen
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

KJV Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

KJV Matthew 22:34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

The Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity

The Hymn #388
The Invocation p. 15
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual Ephesians 4:22-28
The Gospel Matthew 22:34-36
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #261
The Sermon
Doctrine of the Word

The Offertory p. 22
The Hymn #307
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn (tune: 387) #260

Biblical Doctrine of the Word

KJV Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

1] As the distinction between the Law and the Gospel is a special brilliant light, which serves to the end that God's Word may be rightly divided, and the Scriptures of the holy prophets and apostles may be properly explained and understood, we must guard it with especial care, in order that these two doctrines may not be mingled with one another, or a law be made out of the Gospel, whereby the merit of Christ is obscured and troubled consciences are robbed of their comfort, which they otherwise have in the holy Gospel when it is preached genuinely and in its purity, and by which they can support themselves in their most grievous trials against the terrors of the Law. (Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Law and Gospel)

These three verses summarize the Law and Gospel. God’s Law teaches us what is good for us, as we can see from the many celebrity and leadership disasters often on display. Many with prominent roles carry out the modern agenda of doing whatever we please. Now everyone has been trained to accept this and not condemn it as sinful, harmful, or corrupting to minors. As one lawyer explained, “That cannot take children away from their mother just because she does drugs in front of them.” The loss of custody came from offending the court! Missing a hearing and disobeying court orders led to the custody loss. But doing drugs and various other offenses? Not a problem.

As we can see from the long-range effects of this attitude, people still suffer from their rebellion against God’s Law. What the justice system misses, God’s Law will address in time or on Judgment Day.

The Law has three basic uses

The Curb of the Law

First of all, the Law curbs the Old Adam in us all. Even the most brutal regimes are carrying out God’s will in keeping order. Anarchy is the most violent of all systems, because no one is protected.

We often experience the effect of the curb. We were sailing down 63rd avenue when a parked but waiting Glendale police car came into view. The side streets are limited to 25 mph. The appearance of the police car prompted a discussion on the speed limits. My wife thought we could do 40 on a major connecting street, but I pointed out 63rd did not qualify. I was only at 30 mph but I let the speed drift down to 25 mph, the actual limit.

When America saw itself as a religious country, the legal system was a reflection of the Bible. Now our country sees itself as non-religious, even anti-religious. Radical minorities make the rules for the majority. The minorities set the agenda.

The curb of the Law can have an interesting effect. One year illegal immigrants bragged about their status on signs at huge rallies across the US. Then deportation began as the mood of the country darkened about the lawlessness. Legal Mexican-Americans were also opposed to open borders (though many were sympathetic too). The next demonstrations showed a singular lack of signs bragging about illegal status.

All government is derived from God, and God can use the military might of one country to punish another. Luther feared the day of God’s wrath against Germany. I doubt he could have imagined what WWII brought his country. World history is fascinating because great empires have risen and then fallen for the most trivial reasons. One historian traced the turning point of Waterloo to a moment when the French did not have enough nails to spike the English guns they captured. Soon the guns were used again, against them.

KJV Isaiah 14:5 The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.

The rule of government is for our good, so we pray for wise and just rulers.

The Mirror of the Law

The Law is a mirror in showing us our sinful nature.

KJV Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The Law is diagnosis, which is good for us. If we do not know the problem, how can we receive the right remedy? If a surgeon went around trying to cut people, he would be arrested. But when they know they need surgery, a good surgeon is in great demand. So the diagnosis of the Law prepares us for the Gospel.

Unfortunately, our Old Adam makes us prone to cure problems with the Law, as if someone found out he had cancer and people tried to cure him thus:

1. What did you eat? You probably ate the wrong foods. That’s why you have cancer.
2. Did your parents or anyone else have it? You probably got it from them.
3. Where did you live? You could have gotten it from the air.
4. Stress is bad. I heard from Aunt Sadie that stress can cause cancer. You need to get stress out of your life. That’s your problem. You have always been too stressed.
5. Did you spend a lot of time in the sun when you were young? You brought it on yourself with all that outdoor activity.
6. You wouldn’t listen to me when I told you to take multi-vitamins. And now look at what you have done to yourself.

Blaming and accusing are a function of the Law. The Law always condemns, but the Law cannot cure, cannot comfort, and cannot produce fruit. The Law is good but limited.

19] Thus, the Law reproves unbelief, [namely,] when men do not believe the Word of God. Now, since the Gospel, which alone properly teaches and commands to believe in Christ, is God's Word, the Holy Ghost, through the office of the Law, also reproves unbelief, that men do not believe in Christ, although it is properly the Gospel alone which teaches concerning saving faith in Christ. (Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration)

KJV Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

The Law as Guide

The third use of the Law is illustrated in the Small Catechism, where fear represents the mirror effect of the Law while love represents Gospel motivation. The Law by itself produces fear, but the Gospel moves us to love God and to obey Him out of love.

The Second Commandment.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain.
What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name [Law – forbidding] but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks [Gospel motivation].
When a doctor reduces pain and cures us, we thank him. If he rescues us from death, we feel gratitude and look on him as someone who gave us a new life. Luther’s point was always this – God has taken care of all our spiritual and material needs, so we trust Him and show love to our neighbors by helping them.

Driving people with the lash of the Law is a terrible crime. The results are terrible, too. But everyone is tempted nevertheless. Ministers are tempted to drive with the Law. Members are tempted to ask for Law solving the diagnosis. In other words, since we live in a Law world, no one is converted to faith in Christ if salvation also comes from the Law. That can mean “practical, fix-it talks” instead of Law/Gospel sermons. That can mean a system of obligations and a place to satisfying them (Purgatory).

There is no need to try to create the Third Use. Preaching and teaching the Gospel will generate those fruits that are God’s will to produce. No one can program those results, though generations have tried.

One minister said correctly, “If you want a cow to give more milk, you feed her more hay. You don’t pull on her teats harder.” After years of being pummeled by the Mission Board Church Growth experts, I responded, “I have the sorest teats in WELS.”

24] For the old Adam, as an intractable, refractory ass, is still a part of them, which must be coerced to the obedience of Christ, not only by the teaching, admonition, force and threatening of the Law, but also oftentimes by the club of punishments and troubles, until the body of sin is entirely put off, and man is perfectly renewed in the resurrection, when he will need neither the preaching of the Law nor its threatenings and punishments, as also the Gospel any longer; these belong to this [mortal and] imperfect life. 25] But as they will behold God face to face, so they will, through the power of the indwelling Spirit of God, do the will of God [the heavenly Father] with unmingled joy, voluntarily, unconstrained, without any hindrance, with entire purity and perfection, and will rejoice in it eternally. (Third Use of the Law, Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration)

Old Man, New Man

Putting off the Old Man is really a metaphor. The expression is associated with removing clothes. When the Holy Spirit works on us through the Law, we remove from us the sins and temptations that take us away from God’s will. That is true if we listen to and apply to ourselves what the Word teaches. Many do not listen to the Word because they treasure the things of this world and hate God. For them, the Law is hateful in reminding them of their sin. That is why they are so anxious to show the world they will redeem it through their good works.

Putting on the New Man is associated with wearing the baptismal robe. When Ephesians was written, most Christians were adult converts who also baptized their infants (entire households, as Acts records). The audiences remembered putting on their baptismal robes, normally on Easter Sunday.

Putting on the New Man does not mean making a decision. These words are addressed to believers, to remind them of the righteousness of faith. Christ taught that all those who continued to abide in Him would bear fruit, that their prayers would be answered.

The New Man is God’s Creation by the Word. Only the Word can convert us. The Word alone converts, not love. We can be ever so friendly to our neighbor and never convert him. We might say something off-hand, using the Word, and the Holy Spirit will convict him of his unbelief. A skeptic said something like that to C. S. Lewis and converted him. The skeptic expressed the fact that the New Testament witness could really be true. That struck the intellectual Lewis like a hammer. He counted on brain-power to resist the Gospel and this intellectual skeptic took it away.

God used children playing to convert Augustine. Let us not forget his Christian mother Monica praying for him for years. The final stroke was children singing a ditty in Latin, “Take and read.” The ditty did not convert Augustine. He picked up the Scriptures and read. The Holy Spirit working through the Word had its final effect that day. He had read the Scriptures before but found them beneath his great intellect. He knew about his mother’s faith. But the Holy Spirit finished the effort that day and continued in making Augustine one of the greatest theologians of all time, second only to Luther.