Justification by Faith - Lutheran Layman

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Truth and Love in WELS":

Mike, in all honesty Pastor Jackson is not being loveless. He is in fact doing what all of Christ's Shepherds are required to do. Not only does he communicate the truth of Scripture but he also protects the sheep by educating them to the dangers in the false doctrines that are being taught in our churches today. In 2005 I contended with Pastor Buchholz over his preaching of UOJ to my church. The discussion lasted many weeks and in the end he agreed that the WELS needed to teach Biblical Justification in the words of Scripture. Two months later he gave his presentation on Justification to the 2005 WELS Convention where he declared the whole world forgiven and justified the moment Christ paid the all sins. Is that an act of love when he taught false doctrines to the Pastor's and laity of the WELS? Is it love for anyone in the audience who by the grace of God was able to discern the error but did not love their fellow man enough to risk being shunned in order to stand up for Christ's true doctrine?

In 2006 I contended with Pastor Schewe when he shared the reading of the liturgy with the women of the church. We contended for many months. Was it love when he declared God's Word concerning women in the church as being a grey area? Was it love when Pastor Buchholz called my wife and told her that I was being legalistic and as the Pharisees were condemned for it I too would be condemned to hell if I continued. That she would be under the same condemnation if she obeyed my judgement in this regard? Is that love? Did any WELS pastor who was brought into the discussion contend with me for Christ's command, no they didn't. For the sake of unity and man made peace they didn't contend with me but stood with those who see God's Word as indefinite, unclear and open to their interpretation in their era of Christian Freedom.

Where are the thousands of faithful lay people supposed to turn when the pastors of the ELS, WELS and LCMS reject God's efficacious Word for the worm ridden doctrines of men? Where are we supposed to turn when the pastorate ridicule the Lutheran Confessions which were built on the one true Rock and Foundation of the Christian Church? Where do we turn when the pastorate turn God's church from a place where God's feeds us with His Word and Sacraments to a place where we learn to live a Godlier life and live it to it's fullest? Well we turn to Scripture, the Lutheran Confessions and our Orthodox Lutheran Fathers. And in doing so we migrate also to those few in the pastorate who, out of love for Christ and their fellow men, contend daily against the false doctrines of the world and seek to feed Christ's sheep His true Word. For I tell you that Christ's sheep hear his voice in the true unpolluted doctrines and follow Him and those who are in Him. Those who continue to lean on man's wisdom and the wisdom channeled from Satan into the doctrines of the church growth guru's will suffer God's wrath for their rejection of His Word. Is it love if Pastor Jackson remains silent when he sees these things happening? No, and neither is it love if you remain silent. Are we not to use God's Word to instruct and reprove false doctrine so that the individual can in Godly contrition be brought back into the fold?

Pastor Jackson exposes the publicly professed false doctrines that are being taught so that all who care to listen can learn to discern the truth. To try and cover up or protect those who are leading Christ's sheep away is hatred for Christ and those who He has called according to His grace. Public proclamation of false doctrine is the crime, not exposing it and teaching the laity about it is the crime, exposing it is true love and concern in Christ and does not break the 8th Commandment.

By the grace of God, in Christ,
Brett Meyer

Why Is the Lutheran Church a Two-Headed Calf?

Left Head: "There's Rome, but I don't want to explain my wife to everyone. Eastern Orthodoxy is the way to go. I can have everything without the ignominy of poping."

Right Head: "I can stay right here with my pension plan and beer buddies. All I need to do is bow to the latest Church Growth fads. Gotta remember. We were a CG church. Then we were Courageous. Then Purpose-Driven. Now we are Missional. Listen to the iPod - I am a winner. I am the best. Accept no negatives. Wait. When were we Willow Creek Association?
Officially never. That's the ticket."

The Lutheran Church (and I do mean all branches, from ELCA to the micro-mini groups) became a two-headed calf because it lost its fidelity to the Confessions. Some would say, "The Scriptures first." I agree with Schmucker that the creeds go first, then the adherence to the Scriptures.

Satan attacks where we are weak. No one is going to get far by attacking the Scriptures directly. That is why the LCMS apostates fared so badly in the battles around Seminex. The Church of Rome tried to argue from the Scriptures during the Reformation, as Chemnitz observed. They were clobbered in every debate, so they began to attack the clarity, sufficiency, and efficacy of the Scriptures. Everything is so hazy that we need an interpreter - the Pope himself.

Wauwatosa (WELS) is another papacy. They pretend to argue from Scripture but they really mean - starting from our view of everything. They even say, "In our circles (one circle), this means..." Bow and scrape to the WELS prelate.

Satan knows that people fall into hero worship rather easily. Once that is established, the synod cannot back away. Thus Walther must be correct about everything he ever wrote. Pieper was chosen by Walther, so he must be infallible too.
The ELS and WELS are too clever to fall back upon older thinkers, who are too Lutheran. They make idols out of recent leaders. No one dares question an idol set up by Holy Mother Synod.

Instead of teaching the Book of Concord thoroughly, all the synods use the 1580 Confessions as a rabbit's foot. WELS has even officially repudiated the Book of Concord in one of its execrable sets of books, either Our Great Heritage (sic), or their Wauwatosa set. Pope John the Malefactor, the malignant menace of Little Sect on the Prairie, is obedient to WELS, so any pretense of confessional integrity in the ELS is a belly-laugh. The ELS saying is, "They drink beer in Milwaukee. Moldstad burps in Mankato."

ELCA had a pretty understanding of doctrine, if we go back to the glory days of the General Council. The first thing to do was not the Scriptures, but the Confessions. When the three parts of the Muhlenberg tradition (General Synod - boo hiss; General Council - hoorah; United Synod of the South) united to form the ULCA in 1917, the confessionals compromised to bring the groups together again. The attack against inerrancy began after that. Armies often knock off the pesky trouble-spots first, for training and protecting the flanks. A weak confessional base will not defend the Scriptures.

Look at what has happened in the old Synodical Conference (ELS-WELS-LCMS). No one blanched when their pastors and professors-to-be began earning degrees at Fuller Seminary, Notre Dame, and other Roman schools. No one trembled when Church Growth programs with obvious false doctrine sprouted at all the schools and synods. The clergy wanted to fight about trivia, not doctrine. The clergy wanted political battles to back their friends and feather their nests, not doctrinal war where they might have to take up the cross daily.

The biggest trend in all the Lutheran synods in the last 30 years has been the return to union with the Reformed, in every way possible. The ELS has entertainment worship and CG pronouncements. WELS is so bad that no one can deny how Fuller-centric it is. WELS has a jump on Missouri in women's ordination, cell groups, entertainment evangelism, open communion, poor finances, and looming catastrophe.

The response to apostasy of the Reformed model has been to join Rome or Eastern Orthodoxy. Every time I loook at the Missouri conservative blogs, I see an infatuation with infant communion (EO), robes (EO, Rome, and La Cage), Mariolotry (EO, Rome), and the Patristic Fathers (EO, Rome).

Lutherans no longer know what it means to be Lutheran.

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A. Nony Mouse has left a new comment on your post "Why Is the Lutheran Church a Two-Headed Calf?":

Lutherans no longer know what it means to be Lutheran.

if (sic) you're the best example of what a lutheran (sic) is, i (sic) want no part in it.

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GJ - Please use the shift key when appropriate. The true Church is invisible.

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A. Nony Mouse has left a new comment on your post "Why Is the Lutheran Church a Two-Headed Calf?":

You wrote:

"WELS has even officially repudiated the Book of Concord in one of its execrable sets of books, either Our Great Heritage (sic), or their Wauwatosa set."

"There you again," as Ronald Reagan used to say. How can you make such a charge without any proof? It shouldn't surprise me, though. You haven't changed.

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GJ - I cannot do all your homework for you, Rev. Mouse. You are lazy. The essay title is something like "Are We Bound by the Book of Concord?" The answer is clearly "NO!" The essay is probably in Our Great Heritage (sic). It may be in Wauwatosa. I had all six volumes but there was a paper recycling drive, so I donated them.

I agree with the author who said, "It does not matter what your subscription to the Confessions is. It matters what you believe, teach, and confess. Is it the whole truth?"

Cute? Let's Have Another Look

The Venerable Mary Grave-Reeves, age 41,
California Bishop, El Camino Real,
which translates as
the Royal Road to Apostasy

Spouting Off has left a new comment on your post "Left Foot of Fellowship Extended But Blocked":

The one on the left is actually pretty cute. Kind of like a young Martha Stewart who joined the clergy.

Chalk this one up to "you know you are getting old when..."

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GJ - The correct angle, from a distance, with hair combed down, will make a model out of a venerable female bishop.

Left Foot of Fellowship Extended But Blocked

"They call us Babes in Arms.
We're really Babes in Armor."


PITTSBURGH: Attempted Coup to Unseat Bishop Fails

By David W. Virtue

www.virtueonline.org

1/15/2008

An attempted coup by US Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, her attorney David Booth Beers, and liberal parish priest Harold Lewis to unseat Bishop Robert Duncan, the Bishop of Pittsburgh, failed recently when three canonically required senior bishops refused to sign inhibition papers that would have prevented him from functioning as a bishop.

The back room attempts to fast track and inhibit the evangelical catholic bishop, saying that he had abandoned the communion of the Episcopal Church, had all the makings of Tammany Hall politics. It all fell apart when bishops Leo Frade of Southeast Florida, Peter Lee of Virginia, and Don Wimberly of Texas refused to go along with the public lynching. (It is not known at this time how many of the three bishops did not give consent).

The charges that Bishop Duncan has abandoned the communion simply do not hold up. When he heard the news Duncan said, "Few bishops have been more loyal to the doctrine, discipline and worship of The Episcopal Church. I have not abandoned the Communion of this Church. I will continue to serve and minister as the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh."

The Title IV Review Committee acted with alacrity to give Mrs. Jefferts Schori what she wanted, drawing up a 41-page brief in near record time. By contrast, it took the Title IV Review Committee almost a year to inhibit revisionist Pennsylvania Bishop Charles E. Bennison for conduct unbecoming a priest with charges that included his failure to stop his brother from having sexual relations with a 14-year old girl - a minor.

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GJ - See how little it takes to stop a tyrant? All the trembling Lutheran pastors-- secretly blogging, secretly emailing, secretly meeting--should do a little blocking instead of punting.

Former Rep Siljander Charged

Ex-Lawmaker Charged in Terror Conspiracy

Jan 16 03:42 PM US/Eastern

By LARA JAKES JORDAN

Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) - A former congressman and delegate to the United Nations was indicted Wednesday as part of a terrorist fundraising ring that allegedly sent more than $130,000 to an al-Qaida and Taliban supporter who has threatened U.S. and international troops in Afghanistan.

The former Republican congressman from Michigan, Mark Deli Siljander, was charged with money laundering, conspiracy and obstructing justice for allegedly lying about lobbying senators on behalf of an Islamic charity that authorities said was secretly sending funds to terrorists.

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GJ - I was just trying to recall the weird guy who met with me and a few others when he was campaigning for the House seat. He was sitting at a table in the fellowship area of my church in Sturgis, Michigan. The previous Representative was David Stockman, famous or infamous in the Reagan administration.

Siljander went from being a Falwell trooper to a Muslim apologist. The liberals and academics loved him in his new mode. Now they will cast him as a Reagan Republican.

What Would Spener Say, III The Final Installment, Part One

"If you speak that way, no one will ever join.
We need l-o-v-e and entertainment."

KJV Matthew 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Truth and Love in WELS

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "What Would Spener Say?":

Truth and love?

The WELS shows neither. What truth is there when the WELS promotes Universal Objective Justification? That the moment Christ paid for the sins of the whole world, God declared the world forgiven, righteous and justified. This doctrine makes God into a liar and Christ into an underachiever. Have you led your sheep away from this blasphemous doctrine? Would you risk your call, your house, your wife and family and the respect of your fellow pastors and congregation in order to stand up for Christ and his true doctrine of forgiveness, righteousness, justification and salvation by faith alone in Christ's all sufficient work? If you haven't yet, then don't speak of truth and love. Matt. 10:32-42

For apart from Christ there is no truth and apart from Christ there is no love. But where Christ is and where his Word is taught in all of it's truth and purity then there is truth,love and peace through God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Brett Meyer

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "What Would Spener Say?":

Maybe "Mike" can explain why a WELS pastor in Green Bay continues to "borrow" sermons from Baptist and Methodist preachers.

Bailing Water

What Would Spener Say, II? Channeling Paul Kelm

"If you keep quoting Luther and Paul, I'll have another hissy fit."

"Mike" has left a new comment on your post "What Would Spener Say?":

GJ - "This WELS pastor is being disingenuous, but I appreciate his public display of how WELS responds to everything less than starry-eyed adoration."

ME - This is exactly what I mean by putting the worst construction on everything. Is not doing so sin? You presume to know me and my motivations, yet you do not. Since you do not, you assume the worst and write your post against the straw man you presume me to be. Then, ironically, you accuse me of a straw man argument.

GS - "The straw man fallacy is typical for the Wisconsin sect. This Mike, who is a regular reader, knows what I would have said to the Apostle Paul and then announces what I would have said. Notice the implication: WELS is the Apostolic Church! Yes, reborn before our misty eyes."

ME - I have no misty eyed idealistic view of WELS. She has her faults as does every human institution.

In the bulk of your post, you go on to repeat your main themes and tirades. You ignore my points about your loveless, uncharitable posts which regularly break the 8th Commandment. (This includes your response to me.) My suggestion is, then, that you remove the plank from your own eye. I imagine you might be pleasantly surprised at what a response you might get when you approach others in humility, love and charity. By all means, continue to be direct and non-yielding when it comes to the truth. But you will not find a license for breaking the 8th Commandment no matter how right you are.

My point in bringing up the apostle Paul is that IF a WELS / ELS person were to express ideas, programs, seminars, etc. that help pastors and congregations better become "all things to all people" would you not scream "Fuller?" If not, I would appreciate a positive statement from you (or a link) regarding what you think churches should do to be all things to all people.

Despite your uncharitable view of me, the truth is I believe as you do that it is impossible for human beings to strengthen, improve on, or empower God's truth. It is efficacious and powerful in and of itself. Do you agree it is possible for us to muffle his truth, keep it from reaching a person's ears, or fail to communicate it clearly? Is it CGM when we learn how to remove or reduce barriers to communicating the gospel clearly? If I better know the mind of an unbeliever, might I better be "all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some?" If I give thought to having adequate parking at our church knowing that if I don't the first-time visitor might drive off, does this mean I am a CGM flunkie? Or is it possible that I'm so in love with Christ and his powerful Word that I will bend over backwards to remove every possible barrier which might keep a person from coming into contact with the Word and hearing it clearly?
Greg, a simple yes / no question: Are you taking other people's words and actions in the kindest possible way?

Was there shocking behavior in the early Christian churches to which Paul wrote? And how! What was his response to it? Do you see your response to shocking behavior in Lutheran churches to be in the same spirit as that of the apostle Paul?

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GJ - Note the bolded section above. I added the bold because it is pure Paul Kelm, who has made a career out of affirming Biblical, confessional truths and repudiating them in the next section with his clever Yes...but... That does not prove Paul Kelm wrote this. By now he has made so many disciples than any WELS pastor could have written this. The short-fusedness is very Kelmish. I will leave it at that.

The pathetic shallowness of efficacy but is the most disturbing part of this message. Was the Apostle Paul converted by a paved parking lot or by the Word of God? Is WELS shrinking because the parking lots are full? The empty lots should be a distinct marketing advantage.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "What Would Spener Say, II? Channeling Paul Kelm":

"Mike," don't even bother trying to get anytwhere with someone with a personality disorder as serious as Greg Jackson's. You're just banging your head against a wall. No matter what you say or write, he'll twist it and spin it. This man is no preacher of the gospel--he doesn't even know what the gospel is. He has wrecked every church he has served. Someday he will be answerable for all his lies and half-truths, and it won't be to me or to you.

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GJ - Rev. A. Nony Mouse should take his own advice and give up posting. It's a pity that I quote Mouse. Yes, pity is the word. I know he needs attention, just like the little boys who make prank phone calls anonymously. Funny how he wants to advise "Mike" via a moderated comment. That means I must post his stuff so he can be in contact with "Mike."

Mouse is another expert on the 8th Commandment. My favorite comment from him is: "You don't have the guts to publish my comments. Signed, Anonymous."

Ichabodians - there you have the sect that suports wife-murderers and child molesters. They are in bed with ELCA but denying it. In bed with Rome, but excusing it. In bed with Fuller and loving it.

Plagiarizing the Reformed

Wauwatosa Must Be An American Indian Word for Xeroxing

WELS pastor continues to plagiarize Reformed sermons!

From Bailing Water

It is sad that the WELS is allowing the Church and Change group to lead the way in the synod.

It is also sad that WELS pastors in Green Bay resort to plagiarized sermons and yet the WELS leadership does nothing.

Here is a comment that was recently left on BW...

--------------
Check out this recent sermon (Dec. 23, 2007) from Parlow's church in Green Bay. It doesn't say who "wrote" the sermon, but as has been mentioned on this site and others, Parlow has plagiarized at least one sermon in the past.

Anyway, here is an excerpt from the sermon:

"'Joy' is clearly a Christmas word. Those other activities can make us happy but don’t confuse happiness with joy. They are not the same thing. Happiness is temporary; joy is lasting. Happiness is on the surface; joy is deep down. It is not unusual to have joy without happiness and even have happiness without joy.

A few years ago there was a book published entitled, The Progress Paradox. It documented the enormous improvement in American lives over recent generations. Average life expectancy has doubled since 1900. Undernourishment was a major problem in our country and now we are “over nourished.” How many of us aren’t officially overweight according to the national BMI scale? Central heating was unusual and air conditioning unknown. Medical care is much more sophisticated and available."

Here is an excerpt from Lieth Anderson of "Faith Matters":

"'Joy' is clearly a Chirstmas word....We sometimes confuse joy and happiness althout they are not the same. Happiness is temporary; joy is lasting. Happiness is on the surface; joy is deep down inside. It is not unusual to have joy without happiness and it is not unusual for some who have happiness not to have joy.

The progress Paradox by Gregg Easterbrook documents enourmous improvement in the American way of life and standard of living over recent generations. Average life expectancy in the United States has doubled since 1900. Undernourishment was a major problem, but now we are 'over-nourished'. Central heating used to be unusual and few homes had central air conditioning. Today medical care is much more sophisticated and available."

The St. Mark's sermon is here:


The "Faith Matters" article is here:


PP
---------------------------------------------------
Ha! The Sermon from the week before is the same way. From "The Gif of Peace - Dec. 16":

"In the great depths of the oceans the pressure is enough to crush a submarine like a can of Coke. In order to explore down deep the oceanographers have built bathyspheres. They are like miniature submarines constructed out of steel plates that are several inches thick. They have thick "skins" to stop the crushing power of the pressure on the outside from getting to the scientists on the inside. When those bathyspheres finally settle on the ocean floor and turn on their lights for exploration, the scientists see fish—fish with very thin skins. Why don’t they implode? Those fish have pressure inside them equal and opposite to the pressure outside. They are able to swim freely and easily where we would be destroyed."

Type "In the great depths of the oceans the pressure is enough to crush a submarine like a can of Coke" into Google and you find this:

"In the great depths of the oceans the pressure is enough to crush a submarine like a can of Coke. In order to explore down deep the oceanographers have built bathyspheres. They are like miniature submarines constructed out of steel plates that are several inches thick. They have thick "skins" to stop the crushing power of the pressure on the outside from getting to the scientists on the inside.
When those bathyspheres finally settle on the ocean floor and turn on their lights for exploration, the scientists see fish—fish with very thin skins. Why don’t they implode? Those fish have pressure inside them equal and opposite to the pressure outside. They are able to swim freely and easily where we would be destroyed.
That is what peace is like. Peace on the inside is equal and opposite of all the stresses and pressures crushing us from the outside."

My Flock

PP

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GJ - Isn't it equally sad that the laity do nothing about the plagiarism? It is dishonest, unethical, and a crime to use another's words and claim them as original.
Perhaps this editorial--When Pastors Plagiarize--from Christianity Today (probably on their reading list) should be published on the St. Mark's website, too, with a proper citation.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Plagiarizing the Reformed":

I did some googling of my own and found that all three of the sermons in this "Shopping for a Savior" series seem to come from the Advent 2003 sermon archives of Wooddale Church. Woodale is a Baptist church. The Pastor at Wooddale is the same guy that wrote the "Faith Matters" article.

http://www.wooddalechurch.com/sermons/sermons2003.asp

Note the copyright at the bottom. This isn't just plagiarism. It is copyright infringment too.

Sharper Than a Two-Edged Sword

From Thy Strong Word:

1.4 The Word as a Sword—Hebrews 4:12


For the Word of God is (1) quick, and (2) powerful, and (3) sharper than any twoedged sword, (4) piercing even to the (5) dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, (6) and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.


(1) Quick (living) - The effectiveness of the Word is revealed in this well-known passage, where the KJV translates the word for effective as “powerful.” Two groups of three indicate that this is the divine work of the Trinity.[7] In Greek the verse begins with “living” for emphasis. “Living is the Word of God and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword…” Just as God is often called “the living God” in Paul’s letters and in the Bible in general, so here the use of living with the Word of God reminds all believers of the intimate connection between God and His Word.[8] One might say that the force of this word is “life giving.”


(2) Powerful (effective)

J-115

"Energes = full of living energy to carry out the will of God by either blessing or cursing as the case may be. What folly to treat the Word of God as though it is subject to our minds, our 'views,' our opinions! It is electric and smites him who tampers with it; it is electric to light him who bows beneath it. Who can escape its blasting power when he scorns its threats? Read, for example, Psalm 95:11[9] and look at the Jews of the Exodus. Read Matthew 23:38 and look at the 'desolate house,' desolate for almost 2,000 years. But the blessings of the Word are equally 'effective' and energetic. Eternity rings with their praise."

R. C. H. Lenski, Hebrews, Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1966, p. 141.

(3) Sharper Than Any Two-Edged Sword

The sword of the Word has three-fold power. First of all, it is sharper than any two-edged sword, a striking visual image for those who know weapons. The Roman sword had to be razor sharp to cause the maximum amount of damage to the enemy, who was armored both with hardened leather and metal equipment. Those who preach and teach the Word of God correctly are wielding a sword against hearts hardened by sin and willful rejection of God. The contrary images of man seeking God, making a decision for God, or cooperating with God in his conversion – all are impossible to harmonize with the active, living, and cutting Word. Man does not seek the sword, decide for the sword, or cooperate with the sword. Man receives the full effect of the sword. He who swings the sword—who knows the Word—has no doubt of its effect.

J-116

"This surgeon goes into and through the joints and marrow, not cleaving between them…The surgeon carries a bright and powerful light for every dark crevice and a sharp knife for the removal of all the pus revealed by the light. It is a powerful picture here drawn."
Archibald T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, 6 vols., Nashville: Broadman Press, 1932, V, p. 363f.

J-117

"Machaira was commonly used as a designation for the short, two-edged sword of the Roman hoplite or legionary (Ephesians 6:17) although other types of swords could be called thus. 'Piercing,' etc., makes a comparison with the penetrating power of the Word and thus uses an instrument which penetrates most quickly and effectually, the Word even exceeds any such instrument. The figurative sword is repeatedly used in this way: Isaiah 49:2; Revelation 1:16; 2:12; 19:15."
R. C. H. Lenkski, Hebrews, Columbus: Lutheran Book Concern, 1938 p. 142.


(4) Piercing – The image of the Word as sword becomes more vivid when the author moves from the power of the sword to the effect of the sword. No armor can withstand the Word, whether it is the armor of our image or the hardness of our hearts. Doubts are destroyed and replaced by trust in the living God. The worst blasphemers, such as Paul and Augustine, and the most obvious sinners, such as the prostitutes and tax-collectors, know best the converting energy of God’s Word. The verb means “to penetrate, to go all the way through.” When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he called upon them to remember the dramatic effect of their conversion.

1.5 Conversion of John Newton


The mother of John Newton (1725-1807) taught her son the Word of God and hoped he would become a minister. Newton wrote of her in his autobiography: “She stored my memory with many Scripture portions and chapters, catechisms, hymns, and poems.”[10] His father cared for him, but he was often away at sea. Newton’s mother died when John was only seven, so he followed in his father’s wake and became a sailor. Newton grew in opposition to the Scriptures and became increasingly dissipated. He was an outcast even on slave ships, work considered to be the worst kind of duty at sea with the least reputable crews. A deadly storm at sea and a miraculous rescue brought the prodigal son to his senses. The ship’s cargo, beeswax and wood, kept the vessel floating. The trip back to a safe harbor was long and arduous, made worse by the captain’s expressed wish to throw Newton overboard, suspecting him of being a Jonah. Gradually, after the return to shore, Newton came to an understanding of the Gospel through many long conversations with a kindly believer.[11] The shipwreck convinced him that the Scriptures were the Word of God, because they described his condition exactly while the ship threatened to sink.



KJV Proverbs 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices



Newton became an ordained minister at last, as his sainted mother wished. Only the power of the Gospel could have pierced his heart, doubly-hardened from willful rejection of his mother’s teaching and his energetic pursuit of pleasure. The name of the Savior was a curse on his lips until the taught and remembered Word of God converted him, showing him his sin and recalling the Gospel promises. Newton’s hymns are known for their ethereal joy, because he remembered so well his former state and the contrasting peace that followed contrition and faith in the atoning death of Christ.



J-118

“How sweet the name of Jesus sounds

In a believer’s ear!

It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,

And drives away all fear.”

“How sweet the name,” The Lutheran Hymnal, #364, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941.



John Newton wrote his own epitaph, which reads:



J-119

“John Newton, clerk, once an Infidel and Libertine, a servant of slavers in Africa, was, by the rich Mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the Faith he had long labored to destroy.”



For many, Newton’s epitaph is sung almost daily: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I was once lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.”



(5) Dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow – A hunter will not take an ordinary knife with him, nor will he burden himself with a fairly good knife. He will take the sharpest and strongest knife to slice through the hide and cut into joints or through tendons.



The distinction made here in the Greek text is between the natural (soul) and the spiritual (spirit). The Greek word for soul does not translate properly into the English for soul. Here soul means all of our life forces, while spirit equates to our concept of soul. The Word converts the natural (yuciko.j) man so that the spirit (pneu/ma) takes control of his thoughts, emotions, drives, and activities. The unconverted or natural man has no struggle between soul and spirit, because the natural urges dominate the spirit.[12] As one believer expressed it, “I was never tempted when I was a pagan. I did whatever I wanted. There was no struggle.” Worldly wisdom attacks the natural man and tells him what he must do to be better, but the sword of the Word distinguishes between the natural and the spiritual and converts the spirit.[13]

In Acts 2:14-36, the Sword of the Spirit was used against the crowds who were stabbed (katenu,ghsan) in their heart after hearing that the man they had killed was the promised Messiah. Man’s wisdom would have led the apostles to address a more receptive audience than those who had the blood of Christ on their hands, especially since they had hailed His entrance to Jerusalem.



KJV Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.



(6) A discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart - The Word judges or sees what the inmost man is like. The discerner is the critic (kritikos) judging both the good and the bad. The same root is used for judge.[14] Because God has bound His Spirit to His Word (Isaiah 55:8-11), there is no difference between God judging and the Word judging. All of us manufacture the impressions we want to give, offer excuses, deny our sinful nature, and promote all our words and deeds as beyond reproach, but the living, active Word, sharper than any weapon, pierces our armor, converts our spirit, and judges our thoughts with divine wisdom.

1.6 Effective Prayer in James 5:16
KJV James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.


When the Word of God converts someone to faith in Christ, one effect is a child-like trust in God, manifested in prayer. Although we are urged to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), God Himself moves us to pray to Him, to praise Him, give Him thanks, and cast all our cares upon Him, through hundreds of promises. These promises are another way of saying, “the Gospel, the Good News.” We are not only given promises of comfort, peace, forgiveness, eternal life, and joy, but we enjoy an abundance of promises:


KJV John 15:7-8 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.



The righteous man is the one whose faith in Christ receives complete and full forgiveness for his sins. The prayer is effectual or effective because of God’s promises, not because of man’s exuberance, verbosity, or piety. God has promised to glorify His Name by answering our prayers. Some misguided Christians will try to make the effectual prayer one which is louder or longer, but the word group in the New Testament is used for divine activity (or Satan’s), not man’s. [15]



J-120

"It is not human effort, sincerity, fervor nor persistency that matters, it is rather that the prayer be energoumene, supernaturally operative."

Kenneth W. Clark, "The Meaning of Energeo and Katargeo in the New Testament," Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 54, 1935, p. 99.



1.7 Satan Effective—2 Thessalonians 2:7, 9, 11
KJV 2 Thessalonians 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:


Simply by focusing on the same word-group in the New Testament, we find that effectiveness, energy, and power are also used to describe the ministry of Satan. The word-group is used three times in a few verses to describe the time of apostasy and the man of iniquity, the Antichrist.



J-121

Clark translation: "By the very epiphany attendant upon the Lord's parousia he will render powerless (or exorcise) that one whose parousia is accomplished by the energeia of Satan attended by dunamis, semeia, and terata pseudous."

Kenneth W. Clark, "The Meaning of Energeo and Katargeo in the New Testament," Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 54, 1935, p. 100.

What Would Spener Say?

What Would Spener Say?

Mike has left a new comment on your post "Wauwatosa Equals Upside-down Exegesis":

I did a Google search and had the unfortunate result of finding your site.

Can you stand tall before God Almighty and with clear conscience affirm you are writing and working in the Spirit of Christ? Even if "the glory" is departing from WELS, would Jesus start a similarly toned blog today to correct those wayward souls? Do you believe love for Christ, his truth, the Church and individual souls douses the pages of your blog? How can you fail to see the plank in your own eye in the form of your biting criticisms, slandering, gossiping, hearsay spreading, and putting the worst construction on everything you hear and read?

Had you lived during the time of the Apostle Paul, you undoubtedly would have label him a Fuller Seminary heretic. "'All things to all people?!' Why, this fellow doesn't believe in the power and efficacy of God's Word! The glory is departing from our young church, and this so soon after Jesus' ascension."

Truth and love, Greg. For the glory of God, please consider shutting down this blog.

***

GJ - This WELS pastor is being disingenuous, but I appreciate his public display of how WELS responds to everything less than starry-eyed adoration. It reminds me of several communications from Waldo Werning, Paul Kelm, Paul Kuske, Norm Berg, Joel Gerlach, and Larry Olson (D.Min., Fuller).

The straw man fallacy is typical for the Wisconsin sect. This Mike, who is a regular reader, knows what I would have said to the Apostle Paul and then announces what I would have said. Notice the implication: WELS is the Apostolic Church! Yes, reborn before our misty eyes.

Paul denounced the man who living in sin with his father's wife, 1 Corinthians 5:1ff, and the congregation for tolerating something the pagans would repudiate. That is the antinomianism found in WELS today, thanks to UOJ. For years WELS tolerated a DP known for molesting women and girls in his own congregation. He was still a DP when he was put in government housing - the state prison. Did WELS excommunicate him? Did WELS publish the facts in FIC (False Teachers in Collusion)? Did they publish a story about the married vicar who had an affair with a minor girl while the mission board chair covered it up? State prison for him, but who knew? Another cover-up because Holy Mother WELS is perfect.

The WELS response to church workers murdering their wives was:
1. Defend the guy in court. (DMLC President Huebner defended Al Just in court.)
2. Move the murderer to a new call. (Tabor)
Just like the Apostle said, even the pagans are shocked by such behavior.

The Apostle Paul taught the efficacy of the Word, something extensively discussed in Thy Strong Word. At the risk of offending another false teacher who wants to silence me, I will quote some passages below.

The Efficacy of the Word in Paul, from Thy Strong Word:

It should not surprise us that today conflict in the congregation is caused by exactly the same problem—an emphasis upon the person and a lack of trust in the efficacy of the Word.

Paul first attacked the problem of strife by negating the effectiveness of the individual. The ministry does not derive its divine power from personalities but from the Word. Our temptation to rely upon salvation by works, in spite of our confession, is revealed by the tendency to compare and contrast men when they are only instruments of God’s power. One cannot even compare the type of word, as Paul stated:



I have planted, Apollos watered;

but God gave the increase.

1 Corinthians 3:6

Many people find their gardening efforts thwarted because the seeds they planted did not germinate well. The proper amount of moisture needed for germination is taken for granted in America, unlike in Paul’s world. [27] We do not plant the last of our seed (Psalm 126:5) with tears. But where rain is rare and food is precious, the watering of the sown crop is essential. Paul’s comparison reminds us that planting and watering are both necessary, yet only God can give the growth.

J-230
"On what has now been sown

Thy blessing, Lord, bestow;

The power is Thine alone

To make it spring and grow.

Do Thou in grace the harvest raise,

And Thou alone shalt have the praise."

John Newton, 1779, cento, alt., "On What Has Now Been Sown," The Lutheran Hymnal, #46, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941.

J-231
“The work in Corinth was that of obtaining a spiritual crop. To Paul’s lot it fell to break the ground and to plant the seed of the Word; God caused the seed to strike root and to spring up. Then came Apollos and tended the young plants by developing the life of faith, by confirming the believers in their Christian knowledge; God’s merciful power accompanied his efforts and caused the plants to bring forth fruit. It follows, then, that neither he that plants nor he that irrigates is anything; they are mere instruments in the hand of God, the Lord of the harvest, who alone gives the growth, and to whom, therefore, all glory must be given: He is everything, He alone remains, all others are excluded.”
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible, The New Testament, 2 vols., St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, II, p. 99.

The negation of the person is repeated in 1 Corinthians 3:7. Neither the sower nor the one who waters is anything. The only One Who causes growth is God. Paul’s inspired argument destroys the foundation for any strife about the abilities and labor of various people. The missionary who begins a congregation is nothing. The man who helps to germinate the work of the congregation is nothing. God causes the increase while we go through the motions.

J-232
"But ye have not the power to create faith. For there is a great difference between planting and giving the growth; as Paul says to the Corinthians: 'I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.' 1 Corinthians 3:6"
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 362.

J-233

“The two aorists: ‘I planted,’ ‘he watered,’ point into the past—the men did their little work and are gone. So it is still: each performs his little instrumental task and leaves. When he is describing God’s activity Paul writes the imperfect hu;xanen (gave the increase) which refers to an act begun in the past but going on and on indefinitely, for the tense is open and sets no terminus. Paul and Apollos have left Corinth, God is still there and causing the growing. Why quarrel about men when the Corinthians should unite in praising God?”
R. C. H. Lenski, Corinthians, Columbus: Wartburg Press, 1947, p. 128.

Those who doubt the power of the Word alone are exasperated by this explanation, saying, “If God can do everything and does everything, where do we fit in? Why even try?” In a world governed by Law, it does seem strange to say that God does everything, but nothing is more liberating than realizing we only need to be faithful. Pharisaical weakness makes us want to glory in our own deeds and not in God’s power, so we are inclined to adulterate the Gospel, sell it as a commodity, cheapen it, or make it appealing as a way of proving our worth.[28] The antidote is to boast about God rather than ourselves:

The Power Behind the Peculiar Glory of the Lutheran Church


Purpose

The purpose of this chapter is to explore every example of the efficacy word-group (energeia, energew, energhs, energhma) in the New Testament. In every single New Testament use, we find either God or Satan at work. However, most uses of the word-group in the New Testament are divine rather than demonic.[1] Lutherans are unique among Christian confessions in teaching that the Holy Spirit works only through the Word and never apart from the Word: the invisible Word of preaching and the visible Word of Baptism and Holy Communion. The only way to test the soundness of Lutheran doctrine is to study those passages that relate to the Means of Grace, the Gospel in Word and Sacrament. The foundation for all assertions about how God works must be grounded in the Scriptures.



J-101

"The doctrine of the means of grace is a peculiar glory of Lutheran theology. To this central teaching it owes its sanity and strong appeal, its freedom from sectarian tendencies and morbid fanaticism, its coherence and practicalness, and its adaptation to men of every race and every degree of culture. The Lutheran Confessions bring out with great clearness the thought of the Reformers upon this subject."

"Grace, Means of," The Concordia Cyclopedia, L. Fuerbringer, Th. Engelder, P. E. Kretzmann, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1927, p. 299.



The literature is singularly lacking in its treatment of the efficacy word-group, perhaps because the spirit of this age has promised to leave so many modernists widowed in the age to come. An academic wrote with some discernment about the misunderstanding of the efficacy word-group in the New Testament, complaining about recent translations:

J-102

"Our contention is that these are all under-translations, short of the mark, modernizations not only in language but in idea. They do not live in the first century Christian experience. They all apparently refer to an inner human capacity, rather than to that external supernatural divine spirit which had possessed both Peter and Paul. The translations live in the realm of humanism, rather than of supernaturalism. Yet no quality is more characteristic of the first century than its supernatural imagery and belief."

Kenneth W. Clark, "The Meaning of Energeo and Katargeo in the New Testament," Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 54, 1935, p. 93.



1.1 The Pauline Example


1 Thessalonians 2:13 – Power in Conversion

When the apostle Paul preached in Thessalonica (Act 17:1-10), a new congregation was created within four weeks by proclaiming the Gospel. A mission board would have given the apostle high marks for starting a new congregation so quickly in a major seaport, but they would have censured him for starting a riot (Acts 17:5). Paul’s deeply personal remarks to the church of the Thessalonians not only reflect his intimate experience with them but also proclaim the theme of this volume:

KJV 1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.


The apostle emphasizes two spiritual truths in this verse:

a) The Word of God is not the word of men;

b) The Word of God works effectively.

Many church leaders are desperately seeking effective methods today for accomplishing their ecclesiastical work. This verse clearly reveals God’s unique method and its power.

Paul is saying here that he, Timothy, and Silvanus are just as thankful as the Thessalonians for the conversions that took place through preaching the Gospel. The townspeople did not hear and receive men’s opinions, but the Word of God. Then, as now, the opponents of sound doctrine attacked the preaching of the Word by making personal attacks upon the preachers. Unbelievers, “moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar…” (Acts 17:5) God’s methods and Satan’s methods never change.

The Word of God in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 seems to be literally the “Word of hearing of God” (logon akoes…tou theou; lo,gon avkoh/j parV h`mw/n tou/ qeou). The phrase does not emphasize the act of hearing, but rather the preaching which is heard. Arndt and Gingrich[2] translate the phrases using akoe thus:

Galatians 3:2 – “I wish to learn this only from you, did you receive the Spirit from the works of the Law or as the result of preaching which demanded only faith.”

KJV Galatians 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?


Professor R. C. H. Lenski makes the same point about the hearing of faith:



J-103

“’Works of the law’ and ‘hearing of faith’ are exclusively opposites; neither tolerates the other. ‘Works’ are such as we do, and they are many so that no man can know whether he has done enough of them. The opposite is akoe, but not in the active sense, the actus audiendi [act of hearing], but as Cremer-Koegel 106, etc., shows, in the passive sense: ‘being made to hear’ what God wants us to hear…This belongs to faith in the sense of being intended for us to believe. When God speaks and makes us hear, He wants us to believe. As law calls for works, so our being made to hear calls for faith. Compare Romans 1:16-17; also Hebrews 4:2.”

R. C. H. Lenski, Galatians, Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1961, pp. 126f.[3]



KJV Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

In this context, lest there be confusion, the preached Word also causes hardness of heart among those who reject the Gospel. The Word is always at work with God’s power, converting or hardening, enlightening or blinding.

J-104

“The Word did its utmost to accomplish this, beating upon their ears constantly so as to enter their hearts by faith. They indeed hear it, but hardened their hearts, the very thing the Word warned them not to do (3:8 etc.). That is why they perished in the wilderness. Their tragedy was their unbelief (3:19).”
R. C. H. Lenski, Hebrews, Columbus: Lutheran Book Concern, 1938, p. 128.



So when we read that faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17), the text does not intend to teach us that it is primarily the act of hearing, but God’s proclamation of the Gospel which creates faith. Isaiah 53:1 asks, “Who has believed our report? (akoe)” Paul quotes the same passage in Romans, as a foundation for how we begin to believe:



Jackson Literal Version Romans 10:16 But not all obeyed the Gospel. For Isaiah said, “Lord, who believed our preaching (akoe)?” 17 Therefore, faith comes from preaching (akoe), and preaching (akoe) from the Word of God.



KJV Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

J-105

“This whole chapter [Romans 10], let us repeat, hinges on the Word, on this means of grace, which is applied by preaching, by commissioning preachers, by making men hear and enabling them to hearken and to believe (v. 14, 15). It is the main thought, and it should not be overlooked that ‘then’ (ara) Isaiah, too, makes ‘the faith’ of which he speaks (hence the article) a result (ek) of what one is made to hear (akoe); and here the thing the Jews were made to hear (akoe, now properly with the article) is mediated by (dia) Christ’s own uttered Word.”

R. C. H. Lenksi, Romans, Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1963, p. 667.



The faithful commentators show that these passages use akoe as a technical word, to mean the preached Word of God. Works do not convert people to faith in Christ. Love, friendship, and cultivated relationships do not convert anyone. Buildings, chancel drama, and programs do not convert a single soul. God has given us a singular method, the proclamation of the Gospel, and no other. Jesus Himself used the preached Word to convert people to faith during His earthly ministry. This Word belongs to God and no one else.

J-106

"It is God alone who may speak the word of pardon, who can produce faith, but it is God who is speaking in the Gospel and the Sacraments (Luke 24:47: 'in His name') and creating faith through them (Acts 16:14—Lydia; James 1:18; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). The word of the Gospel is therefore not a dead letter, nor are the Sacraments empty symbols, but they are the power of God. The power of God is inseparably connected with, is inherent in, the means of grace."
Edwin E. Pieplow, "The Means of Grace," The Abiding Word, 3 vols., ed., Theodore Laetsch, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1946, II, p. 335. J-1001.

J-107

“The efficacy of the Bible is that property by which the Bible has indissolubly united [Romans 1:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13] with the true and genuine sense [Ephesians 3:3-4; Acts 8:30, 31, 34] expressed in its words the power of the Holy Spirit, [Romans 1:16; 1 Thessalonians 1:5] who has made it for all times the ordinary means by which He operates [Psalm 19:8; Psalm 119:105, 130; 2 Peter 1:19; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17] on and in the hearts and minds of those who properly hear and read it [Revelation 1:3; Ephesians 3:3-4; John 7:17].
A. L. Graebner, Outlines of Doctrinal Theology, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1910, p. 12. J-1002.



J-108

"Thou holy Light, Guide Divine, Oh, cause the Word of Life to shine!

Teach us to know our God aright And call Him Father with delight.

From every error keep us free; Let none but Christ our Master be

That we in living faith abide, In Him, our Lord, with all our might confide.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!"

Martin Luther, 1524, "Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord!", The Lutheran Hymnal, #224,

St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941.



J-109

"God would not have the sinner die,

His Son with saving grace is nigh,

His Spirit in the Word doth teach

How man the blessed goal may reach."

Author unknown, 1719, "God Loved the World So That He Gave," The Lutheran Hymnal, #245, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941. (John 3:16)

J-110

"Besides, it is an exceedingly effectual help against the devil, the world, and the flesh and all evil thoughts to be occupied with the Word of God, and to speak of it, and meditate upon it, so that the First Psalm declares those blessed who meditate upon the Law of God day and night. Undoubtedly, you will not start a stronger incense or other fumigation against the devil than by being engaged upon God's commandments and words, and speaking, singing, or thinking of them. For this is indeed the true holy water and holy sign from which he flees, and by which he may be driven away."
The Large Catechism, Preface, #10, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 570f. Tappert, p. 359f. Heiser, p. 167.

In this era of confusion and ambiguity, the Scriptures teach us that God’s Word alone creates faith. To make this especially clear, God shows us that the Word is efficacious, effective, energetic, always at work. Although the concept of efficacy is not confined to one word or word group in the Bible, the New Testament does have a word group that precisely expresses how God works through the Word. The following list should help those who do not have a Greek concordance of the New Testament, so that students of the Word may see and study the passages associated with this word group.

1.2 Energeia, energeia


Ephesians 1:19 the working of His mighty power,

3:7 by the effectual working of His power,

4:16 the effectual working in the

Philippians 3:21 according to the working whereby

Colossians 1:29 striving according to His working,

2:12 through the faith of the operation of

2 Thess. 2:9 is after the working of Satan

2:11 shall send them strong delusion (working of error)



Energeo, energew



Matthew 14:2 works do shew forth themselves in him

Mark 6:14 mighty works do shew forth themselves

Romans 7:5 did work in our members

1 Corinthians 12:6 God which worketh all in all

12:11 all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit

2 Corinthians 1:6 which is effectual (literally, that worketh) in the enduring

4:12 So then death worketh in us,

Galatians 2:8 For he that wrought effectually in Peter

The same was mighty in me

3:5 and worketh miracles among you,

5:6 faith which worketh by love,

Ephesians 1:11 of him who worketh all things

1:20 Which he wrought in Christ

2:2 the spirit that now worketh in

3:20 the power that worketh in us

Philipians 2:13 God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good

Colossians 1:29 which worketh in me mightily

1 Thess. 2:13 which effectually worketh also in you

2 Thess. 2:7 mystery of iniquity doth already work:

James 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.



Energema, energhma



1 Corinthians 12:6 there are diversities of operations

12:10 To another the working of miracles;



Energes, energhs



1 Corinthians 16:9 a great door and effectual is opened

Philemon 6 become effectual by the acknowledging

Hebrews 4:12 word of God is quick, and powerful

According to Kittel, the Greek word “energeia , energia” is derived from “to be at work.” The words are found in the pre-Socratic period in the sense of activity or energy.[4] Although we cannot make automatic conclusions from the previous use of the word, as shown in the English word “gay,” it is worth noting that Moulton and Milligan list a few examples of the word-group before New Testament times.[5] More importantly, as the list above shows, the word group is used exclusively for divine and demonic activity. Therefore, Paul distinguishes between the word of man and the Word of Proclamation (akoe). The miraculous creation of the Thessalonian mission congregation is proof of the divine power of the Word. They received the Word and the Word converted them to faith in Christ, making them thankful and Paul ceaselessly grateful. Nothing in the Scriptures suggests that people make a decision for Christ after weighing a carefully crafted and skillfully executed presentation.

J-111

"This Word works in the Thessalonians what Paul states in 1:3; it came to them with the power of the Holy Spirit and much assurance (1:5); it turned them from the idols to the living God, to Him who raised up Jesus from the dead, the Savior from the wrath to come (1: 9, 10). This effect, wrought by the Word, convinces all believers, all who experience this blessed effect, that this is, indeed, God's Word."
R. C. H. Lenski, Thessalonians, Columbus: The Wartburg Press,1937, p. 261.

The conversion of Grace Fuller, wife of the founder of Fuller Seminary, is told with great force and conviction, illustrating the very point made by Paul in this passage.[6]

1.3 Conversion of Grace Fuller

J-112

"Mrs. Barnhill looked at me and said, with such a loving look in her gray eyes, 'Oh, Grace, Christ said, 'No man cometh unto the Father but by Me,' and, my dear, you have no way of approach to a holy God unless you come through Christ, His Son, as your Saviour.' "The Scripture which she quoted," Mrs. Fuller continues, "was the Sword of the Spirit, and at that moment Unitarianism was killed forever in my heart. I saw the light like a flash and believed at that moment, though I said nothing. She had quoted God's Word, the Spirit had used it, and, believing, I instantly became a new creation in Christ Jesus. She might have talked and even argued with me about it, but instead she just used the Word."
J. Elwin Wright, The Old Fashioned Revival Hour and the Broadcasters, Boston: The Fellowship Press, 1940, p. 54.

As Grace Fuller realized, the proclaimed Word has the power to slay the elegant doubts of Unitarianism and to energize faith in the Gospel in an instant. Therefore, believers have an abundant witness in the Scriptures about the power, clarity, and effectiveness of the Word, but they also have the added benefit of experiencing the energy of the Law and Gospel, which work together to kill the dead old skeptical sinner and to create a new man who loves God and wants to serve Him. The Old Adam remains, but the leaven of the Gospel continues to work in those who hear the Word.

Our Two-Headed Calf

I was going to explain the Episcopal Church as a two-headed calf, one head looking toward Rome, the other toward Protestantism. Bishops are often defined as Anglo-Roman or Evangelical. The Anglo-Romans would like a church more like the Church of Rome, even reunion with Rome. Yale students called them Smells and Bells, for their liturgical practices. The Evangelical wing remembers the Reformation and favors a conservative Baptist approach. These are rather crude distinctions, but they are fairly accurate.

Then I realized: Lutherans are now the two-headed calf. Some examples:

Wisconsin Lutheran College, WELS - The same college invited Archbishop Weakland and spawned Church and Change, yet another Church Growth agency. WELS is bonkers for Fuller Seminary but also follows Roman Catholic liturgical innovations (such as the three-year lectionary of Rome and the new gay-friendly liturgical colors).

Bethany Lutheran College, ELS - They had a former Roman Catholic bishop (still a Roman Catholic) march in a religious procession with the seminary faculty for a religious service at their Schwan chapel. Bethany also dabbles in Church Growth.

ELCA - Clergy join the Church of Rome as an antidote to the mission departments' reliance on the Church Growth Movement. ELCA definitely has its active Roman wing and its Fuller/Willow Creek wing. Community of Joy, ELCA, a few miles away, boasts a pastor with a D.Min. from Fuller and a program of entertainment evangelism.
Nota bene: Like ELCA and Missouri, ELCA has a herd of Fuller alumni.

LCMS - Groan. One of the WELS CG fanatics bragged that more LCMS pastors went to Fuller than their own semiaries (for graduate training). Concordia, St. Louis has its own CG D.Min. now, as Paul Kelm (WELS) knows. That is where he earned his. On the Roman and Eastern Orthodox side - both seminaries are turning out Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic priests. Some do not have the guts to leave the synod. They just stay and pontificate about clothing, incense, dates of festivals, and the need to return to Mariolatry.

The micro-mini groups tend to be Reformed and Pietistic, but the faux Church of the Lutheran Confession had the distinction of promoting Roman Catholic and Reformed doctrine via Paul Tiefel and his buddy David Koenig, in their humorously titled While It Is Day, distributed free of charge at their clapboard college and seminary in Eau Claire. Like his first cousin, James P. Tiefel in WELS, Paul Tiefel is ecumenical to a fault. He loves every denomination except his own.

Doubtless some micro-mini groups will pick only one head to favor. ELDONA is Eastern Orthodox.

In a future post - Why Has the Lutheran Church Become A Two-headed Calf?

Natural Law: Part Two

rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Natural Law: God Commands What Is Good":

There is an inherent beauty and simplicity in natural law theory. Overpriced barristers were not needed to argue and place their spin upon mountains of codified legal documents. Magistrates with a sense of decency and morality could be expected to judge fairly according to natural law.

Before the institutions of higher learning were hijacked by libertine types, most folks with a classical liberal arts education had a good understanding of natural law.

Luther reportedly had made a comment that he would rather be ruled by a wise Turk than a foolish Christian. Because he was captive to the Word of God, Luther still had both feet firmly planted on the ground. He understood the serious nature of the Ministry of the Sword.

***

Norman Teigen has left a new comment on your post "Natural Law: God Commands What Is Good":

GJ. . . I am a Natural Law guy, but it is not historically wise to say that Natural Law was thrown out ini the 60s. It was thrown out a long time before that, and, I think for good reason.

It is hard to apply the Natural Law to a specific case because who could stand up to cross-examination for that case? I think it is better to base a theory of law on man-made law rather than god-made law.

I want to be a free American.

Cheers, and best wishes

Norman Teigen
ELS layman

***

GJ - Here is a basic natural law situation. Homosexuality was a crime against nature since God made us male and female. Therefore a deviation from the created norm was harmful to society and could be punished. Marriage was created by God, so the authorities used to admonish those who lived "without benefit of clergy." The US Supreme Court nullified the concept that government has any role in morality, reversing its earlier decision.

Now we have a complete reversal of that situation. The inclinations of 2% of our population dominate the media and define the agenda. Therefore, the Lavender Mafia has more to say about ethics than the Bible. Marriage is portrayed as a burden (optional at best). Children are a cost.

Natural Law: God Commands What Is Good

Natural law is summarized in a few words: God commands what is good.

Luther emphasized natural law in his writings. For those of us who survived the 1960's, natural law is the medicine to cure many ills of society.

The Sixties began the Long March of radicalism through society. God's Law was viewed and taught as oppressive, evil, and traumatic for free souls yearning to express themselves.

People do not use their brains well under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Suddenly those who operated in a haze became cool. Self-destruction was not enough. Taking over institutions was the real goal.

Now we live in an illegal drug culture. The price of crossing over from Mexico to Arizona includes carrying a large bag of drugs to sell. Human mules carry contrabrand for American consumption. But that is OK for people in their free time.

Natural law means that the government is formed to reflect what God has commanded. The U.S. Constitution is not a theocratic document, mandating religion, but it does assume religion. The Declaration of Independence names freedom as a God-given right, self-evident.

When Judge Bork was being borked (a verb created to show how Ted Kennedy and others treated him), he rested his hand on the Constitution. Bork sinned against the radicals. When he was teaching at Yale Law School, he opposed a move to deny recruiting rights to any law firm that discrminated against homosexuals. The radicals never forgave him for this; they could not let a distinguished legal scholar help turn the nation back to natural law.

Some implications of natural law:
1. Marriage between men and women is good, and the complete family is the backbone of society.
2. Children need both parents when growing up, because God created the family as the best way to nurture the young.
3. Self-destructive behavior (like drug abuse) is bad enough to be punished by society, and even more to be punished and restricted when it affects others.
4. There will always be deviations from the norms of natural law, but there is no hope when deviations become the norm and traditional ethics are punished.

Bishop Opposes Hetero Marriage Law in Puerto Rico

This priest, Gene Robinson, left his wife to live with his partner. When he was elected bishop, requiring the votes of other bishops, the Episcopal Church finally became unglued. The Puerto Rican bishop supported Robinson.

PUERTO RICO: Episcopal Bishop Opposes Legislation Establishing Heterosexual Marriage

Alvarez Accuses Opposition Christian Leaders of "Fundamentalism"

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
1/14/2008

The Episcopal Bishop of Puerto Rico, David A. Alvarez, has started a campaign on the island opposing Joint Resolution 99, approved by the Senate and being considered by the House of the Puerto Rican legislature, establishing marriage as solely between one man and one woman.

A referendum will be held later this year, on Election Day, allowing the people to vote on a constitutional amendment establishing marriage as a heterosexual union between a man and a woman only. The bill was already approved in the Senate, by a two thirds majority, and has strong support in the House.

A huge Evangelical sector also backs the bill, according to Dr. Dennis Paris an Anglican priest, Psychologist and Professor at the University of Puerto Rico.

"Alvarez believes the Civil Cod, and not the churches, should decide the social order and he has branded evangelicals and other groups who oppose his position as fundamentalists", Paris told VirtueOnline.

An article in El Nuevo Dia, the largest Spanish language newspaper in Puerto Rico, reports that Alvarez wrote to the president of the joint commission dealing with the project in the House, opposing the amendment saying it would discriminate against the rights of certain groups. Alvarez also stated that the Episcopal Church was in favor of including civil unions between homosexual couples in the proposed Civil Code that has not been approved.

Opposition to the draft of a new Civil Code, that would include same sex unions, has been so strong on the island that the Senate has decided against approving it for now, Dennis told VirtueOnline.

Bishop Alvarez was the only bishop in ECUSA's Province IX who voted in favor of V. Gene Robinson's consecration and confirmation as the first openly homosexual bishop in the Episcopal Church.

Wauwatosa Equals Upside-down Exegesis

Chinese Embassy in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

When I wrote against propositional theology earlier, one TBW (True Blue WELS) pastor alleged that made me a Wauwatosan.

No, Wauwatosa is a perfect example of inbreeding, propositional theology, and upside-down exegesis. We only need to look at the fruit of those years of line-breeding the same concepts. Someone summarized WELS this way:

1. We are never wrong.
2. When in doubt, see #1.

Wauwatosan doctrine is not even original. "The world has been declared righteous" is plagiarized from Missouri. Church Growth is xeroxed from Pasadena. They even had to import old whizzers like Hunter and Werning to teach CGM at the Church and Change Schwaermer-fest.

The current movement toward women's ordination is from Fuller, cell groups, and Willow Creek Community Church.

WELS' infallibility doctrine means they must continue to defend UOJ, CGM, women's ordination, and cell groups because their leaders have supported those items. If someone should withdraw approval from something Becker taught or Valleskey favored, that would be The End. The Day of Wrath. WELS fallible? That alone is the sin against the Holy Spirit.

WELS is destined to become Unitarian unless there is a widespread revolt equal to the Episcopalian slo-mo riot.

Source of Animal Pictures

The very first Thanksgiving.

I collect funny animal pictures and use them in teaching. They make me laugh, and I am glad to report others are laughing with me.

Left Foot of Fellowship Extended to 22 Priests: Moldstad Influence Denied

An Episcopalian Bishop Raises Moldstad's Bet: "I will see that 8 and raise you 14 more defenestrations."

Diocese of Florida Reveals Names of Inhibited Clergy

More than 5,000 Episcopalians have left the Diocese and TEC since 2003

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
1/14/2008

The Bishop of the Diocese of Florida, Samuel Johnson Howard, has sent out a letter, which VOL has obtained, inhibiting 22 clergy for "the abandonment of the communion of this church", including some retired distinguished clergy who were never informed of their inhibition until the letter landed in their mail boxes.

Here is the list:

The Rev. David C. Allert, Priest
The Rev. Charles S. Bailey, Deacon
The Rev. Gary R. Blaylock, Priest
The Rev. Charles H. Coit, Priest
The Rev. Gilbert T. Crosby, Priest
The Rev. Mark R. Eldredge, Priest
The Rev. Mark Travis Greenman, Priest
The Rev. Edwin C. Griswold, Priest
The Rev. George W. Hall, Jr., Priest
The Rev. Harald K. Haugan, Priest
The Rev. Dorothy Head, Deacon
The Rev. James L. Hobby, Priest
The Rev. Sharon S. Hobby, Priest
The Rev. W. Hall Hunt, Priest
The Rev. Neil G. Lebhar, Priest
The Rev. Patrina A. McCarty, Deacon
The Rev. Lawrence E. O'Connell, Priest
The Rev. William Earl Palmer, Priest
The Rev. James M. Parker, Priest
The Rev. Shawn E. Porter, Priest
The Rev. Leonard Eugene Strickland, Priest
The Rev. George W. Stockhowe, Jr., Priest

All these priests were inhibited on September 13, 2007, for a period of six months by Bishop Howard. On March 13, they will be officially deposed.

When one priest called and made an appointment to go see him, Howard ripped him to shreds for leading a Bible study at an Anglican congregation, VOL was told.

"Whatever happened to Jesus saying that 'he that is not against me is for me'? These are people who have given their whole life to the Episcopal Church and to be treated like that shows his true colors?" said a retired priest who lives in the diocese.

As of January 14, the Anglican Alliance of North Florida reported that 21 congregations. with 41 clergy, had left the diocese and TEC. The grand total for all departed clergy stands at 50.

Homosexual Bishop Earns $200k, Fires Priests

Fido just wanted to express himself, but other Episcopalian dogs shunned him. Fortunately, Fido appealed to the quota system and got himself a sinecure.

SEATTLE: Homosexual Dean in Hot Water over Cathedral Layoffs

Former Bishop of Arkansas to Examine Complaints at St. Mark's

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
1/14/2008

The Very Rev. Robert Taylor, Dean of St. Mark's Cathedral, a man living openly in a non-celibate homosexual relationship with another man, faces possible firing following a pay raise that brought his salary up to $200,000, while he laid off staff at the landmark cathedral.

St. Mark's Cathedral fell $100,000 short of its pledging goal in 2007, prompting the Lenten layoff of two priests from the staff. Angry parishioners forced the revelation that the cathedral dean receives more than $200,000 in annual salary and benefits. Almost every parish in the Diocese of Olympia in Western Washington has reported a decline in income during the past year.

Dangers of Propositional Theology

Miss Bucky the Cat Looked Everywhere for Bully,
The New Dog Just Arrived from Pasadena

One of the glaring defects of the old Synodical Conference is its tendency to state propositions as if they were Biblical doctrines and defend those statements at all costs. Here are some examples from the last century or so. I challenge anyone to find one such proposition in the Scriptures:

1. The only divinely mandated form of the Church is the local congregation. (LCMS)

2. At the death of Christ (alternately, when He rose from the dead), God declared the world righteous in Christ, whether anyone believed or not. (ELS-WELS-LCMS)

3. We do not know the moment of consecration. (ELS, WELS)

4. There is nothing in the Bible against women's ordination. (Brug, WELS)

5. God wants His Church to grow. (Fuller Seminary, WELS, ELS, LCMS)

L P Cruz Got It Right

UOJ Stormtrooper Shopping for a New Taser

Cruz wanted me to correct him where he was wrong - or wondering.

I hope my blog doesn't turn into a sedes doctrinae. One typo could ruin a whole continent.

Christ died for the sins of the entire world, for all time. That Biblical truth is affirmed by all the Lutheran confessions. The alternate, wrong view is that Christ only for the elect. That view is called Five Point Calvinism, defined by TULIP. Most non-Lutheran Protestants are not true Calvinists but Arminians, like the Methodists. Very few direct heirs of Calvin are Calvinists. They are Arminians, like the late James Kennedy or Billy Graham.

The Gospel Promises move people to faith and this faith receives the forgiveness won by Christ. Preaching and teaching distribute the treasure which is the Atonement. I dislike adding words to Biblical terms. It reminds me of "my personal friend," as if a friend could not be personal, or a "very physical football team" as if some are intellectual.

Notice how the false doctrine promoted by Walther, Pieper, Valleskey, Bivens, and Pope John the Malefactor must take on different names. Thus we have General Justification, Objective Justification, and finally Universal Objective Justification. Even the UOJ Stormtroopers have confessed in writing that the Scriptures and Confessions only know justification by faith.

The clearer the passage, the more opaque the UOJ discussion becomes. 2 Corinthians 5 means simply that the Atonement has reconciled God for all time because there is only one efficacious sacrifice. Christ took on all our sins but His righteousness comes to us only through the Means of Grace - not by thinking, inward preparation, or the independent operation of the Holy Spirit.