Christ Our Good Shepherd

This photo does not fit, but it is cute.

"Thus too, if our confidence is to begin, and we become strengthened and comforted, we must well learn the voice of our Shepherd, and let all other voices go, who only lead us astray, and chase and drive us hither and thither. We must hear and grasp only that article which presents Christ to us in the most friendly and comforting manner possible. So that we can say with all confidence: My Lord Jesus Christ is truly the only Shepherd, and I, alas, the lost sheep, which has strayed into the wilderness, and I am anxious and fearful, and would gladly be good, and have a gracious God and peace of conscience, but here I am told that He is as anxious for me as I am for Him."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, IV, p. 86. Third Sunday after Trinity, Second Sermon. Luke 15:1-10.

Luther - On Pain

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

"Therefore the Holy Spirit must come to our rescue, not only to preach the Word to us, but also to enlarge and impel us from within, yea, even to employ the devil, the world and all kinds of afflictions and persecutions to this end. Just as a pig's bladder must be rubbed with salt and thoroughly worked to distend it, so this old hide of ours must be well salted and plagued until we call for help and cry aloud, and so stretch and expand ourselves, both through internal and through external suffering,that we may finally succeed and attain this heart and cheer, joy and consolation, from Christ's resurrection."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 253. Easter, Third Sermon. Mark 16:1-8.

"Now what does the poor woman do? She turns her eyes from all this unfriendly treatment of Christ; all this does not lead her astray, neither does she take it to heart, but she continues immediately and firmly to cling in her confidence to the good news she had heard and embraced concerning Him, and never gives up. We must also do the same and learn firmly to cling to the Word, even though God with all His creatures appears different than His Word teaches. But, oh, how painful it is to nature and reason, that this woman should strip herself of self and forsake all that she experienced, and cling along to God's bare Word, until she experienced the contrary. May God help us in time of need and of death to possess courage and faith!"
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 150. Matthew 15:21-28;

"If I only kept in mind that He gave me eyes, truly a very great treasure, it would be no wonder if shame caused my death, because of my ingratitude in that I never yet thanked Him for the blessing of sight. But we do not see His noble treasures and gifts; they are too common. But when a blind babe happens to be born, then we see what a painful thing the lack of sight is, and what a precious thing even one eye is, and what a divine blessing a healthy, bright countenance is; it serves us during our whole life, and without it one would rather be dead; and yet no one thanks God for it."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 129. Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity. Luke 7:11-17

The Bethany Worship Site Stores Video Files

"E = E-Learning."
The term E-Learning is being applied to online education,
which is growing faster than kudzu.

The Book of Concord introduction was received well. Those who cannot watch the service and the education series (due to 56k downloads) can try to watch the saved files. I understand the sound comes through but does not match the video exactly.


They are at our video site.

Click here to see them.

I am learning by doing. I see that the last recording is the first one. I do the adult lesson without my robe on. So you should see a variety of knit shirts featured in the coming weeks. Fashion comments will be blocked by the blogmeister.

I will be posting material on the Ichabod and Bethany blogs, to supplement what is said during the lesson. I plan to take plenty of time to cover the Book of Concord. I find this quite enjoyable.

The college students are in awe of my broadcasting over the Internet. For once I am ahead of them in techno-literacy.

The Feast of the Holy Trinity

By Norma Boeckler

The Feast of the Holy Trinity

Live Lutheran Worship Service, Sundays, 8 AM, Phoenix Time

The Hymn #246 - Nicea
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 Romans 11:33-36
The Gospel John 3:1-15
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Athanasian Creed p. 53
The Sermon Hymn #251 by Luther - Wir glauben all’
The Sermon

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

The Hymn #250 Grosser Gott
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 #464 - Boyston

Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Romans 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

One of the familiar claims of liberal theology books is this – The Trinity did not exist until around 500 AD, when the term first began to be used, after the Council of Chalcedon, in 451 AD.

As I said before, the term Trinity is rather late, because the word itself was invented to serve as shorthand for all the discussions, a way of saying Three-in-One, the Three-ness of the One God, the Unity of the Three Persons. Trinity is a concise way of saying – Tri-unity.

In this brief lesson from Romans, there are three different indications of the Trinity. The one is hidden by the translation. It is more like this – O the depth of the:
1. Riches
2. Wisdom
3. Knowledge
Of God.

This is followed by three questions:
1. For who hath known the mind of the Lord?
2. or who hath been his counselor?
3. Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

And then we have another series of three:
1. For of him,
2. and through him,
3. and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Throughout the Bible, God’s attributes are described in groups of three. But the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are specifically named together in many places – long before Chalcedon. (There are many Trinitarian passages in the Old Testament, but I will get to those in another sermon.)

One illustration of the Holy Trinity is well known to everyone. When Jesus was baptized, the voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Paul’s letters are full of Trinitarian references.

Titus 3:4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

The lessons from John about the coming of the Holy Spirit are explicit teachings about the Trinity:

John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever --
17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

Matthew shows Jesus addressing the Trinity.

Matthew 22:43 He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying: 44 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool" '? 45 "If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?"

Matthew closes with the Great Commission, where the Holy Trinity is named. Jesus’ Gospel command is to teach all nations (not to manufacture disciples) and to baptize in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Cults Hate the Trinity
The cults, including the cult of apostate liberal theology, all hate the Holy Trinity. They do not want to name the Name of God. They fight against it. Jehovah’s Witnesses will come to the door just to teach against the Trinity. (JWs use liberal scholarship to prove the Trinity is wrong. There is something amusing and deadly about JWs and liberal scholars in agreement.) Mormons use the word Trinity but teach polytheism when they do.

Feminists do not want to baptize in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So they use Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier (three terms also used for the Hindu group of three main gods). Agreement with Hinduism is not good, since they accept around 300 million gods.

The Holy Trinity Named and Defined
There can only be one true God. He has revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Teaching against this is a grave sin because there are many false claims about the godhead.

Avoiding the Trinity means a denial of God Himself. The liberal apostates have chosen to pick and choose what aspects they approve, but that is not possible.


Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

The epistle expresses the nature of God, as far beyond anything we can imagine. The general trend in the last 100 years has been to move from seeing everything from the perspective of Creation to seeing everything from the perspective of man. If man approves and understands, then it is accepted.

We can see this in the area of evangelism, ethics, and ministry. Something is true because a group did a study about the issue. It is true because it is superficially successful. It is true because it is popular at the moment.

Born From Above

Maxfield Parrish - New Moon
John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.



NICK AT NIGHT



Luther said that the Bible is a book for heretics, and John's Gospel has been especially favored in promoting false teaching. Nevertheless, the Fourth Gospel clearly teaches Christian doctrine in the simplest language. People have misused the Gospel from the beginning because its clear message.



The Gospel of John has the clearest apostolic authority, assuming the use and knowledge of the first three gospels. The other gospels have more narrative, while John's gospel has more of Jesus' teaching.



Knowledge of the original text of the Gospel can defeat many false views, but a proper understanding of the English will also defeat the wolves. English alone is enough, but when Greek is used to advance a phony argument, Greek is needed to defeat it. For instance, Lutheran feminists would have us believe that the Greek word anthropos (the root for anthropology and misanthrope) can only refer to humankind in general and never to a man. For that reason, they cannot confess that the Son of God "became man," only that he became "fully human." But let's read the first phrase of this lesson again, ” There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus…"



The word for "man" in this phrase is anthropos! It is impossible to translate the word in any feminist form and make it sound like English. Examples:

1. There was a fully human from the Pharisees named Nicodemus.

2. There was a human being from the Pharisees named Nicodemus.

3. There was a person from the Pharisees named Nicodemus.

4. There was an individual from the Pharisees named Nicodemus. (We use "individual" when we want to hide the gender and ordination status of someone. Confessions are not meant to hide information.)



I recall someone who wondered a bit about having a woman preacher at his Pentecostal church. I said, "The Bible clearly precludes women preaching to men and teaching men. And how can she be "the husband of one wife" when she is the wife of one husband? The man answered, "She says the passage doesn't mean that."



We would have funny looking homes if every builder and contractor had a different concept of one inch. The canon of Scripture means "measuring rod." The standard is unchanging. Otherwise we must argue that God's Word is infinitely flexible and constantly changing.



The use of John's Gospel by heretics can be clearly seen in this lesson. As we know from this familiar passage, Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, probably because of his fears, since he was a religious leader of the Jews. Jesus converted Nicodemus to faith in Him by teaching him the Word, as we see from the Gospel.



He spoke up for Jesus when the leaders wanted to kill the Son of God:

John 7:50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them…



He was rebuked for his attempts.



Later, he helped in the burial rites.



John 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.



In the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, the Savior said, "You must be born from above." This is a pun, because the same word can be used for again, and Nicodemus in his confusion asked how a full-grown man could be born all over again.



We might ask, "Why didn't Jesus speak more clearly?" But whenever Jesus spoke of spiritual matters, people misunderstood Him. This happened with the woman at the well and when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. It reminds us that when God speaks to us about matters of eternal salvation, we worry about the daily concerns of this earthly life.



When parents take children on a long car trip, they will ask, "When are we going to eat?" The father or mother is tempted to say, "Do you think we are going to let you starve to death? Don't be so anxious."



In the discussion with Nicodemus, Jesus defined what He meant by "You must be born from above." The decision theology people say that He meant we must make a decision for Christ, defining that moment when we decided to accept Jesus, an act of the will. This is so important that some denominations have made that a requirement, giving the date in which the person made a decision.



Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.



Here we must mention Greek again, because the original text is our standard. "Born of water and of the Spirit" is often mumbled by Baptists. Once a radio sermon by a Baptist, passed over this phrase very quickly. The actual phrase completely destroys their anti-Sacrament argument. Non-Lutheran Protestants deny that baptism grants forgiveness of sin, planting faith in the heart of the baptized person. Some of them baptize infants; some refuse to, although they dedicate them with the Word. But they agree together that baptism is not God acting upon us.



By taking this away, these same people have paved the way for Pentecostals, who separate water baptism and Spirit baptism, by saying, "I was a baptized Christian for many years, but I was not a real Christian until I was baptized by the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues." False teaching about baptism leads to confusion, two or more baptisms. Many are baptized again and again. Many tongue-speakers look for ever increasing signs of God's blessing upon them.



Jesus does not separate water and Spirit baptism. Neither should we. The phrase " Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit" lacks any articles. The Greek New Testament is very generous with its use of the word "the." Therefore, when "the" is lacking, the words can be seen as hyphenated. Except a man be water/Spirit born. This is the real meaning of the phrase. Water baptism is Spirit baptism because the Gospel promises are linked to the earthly form of water.



Luther's opponents wanted to make fun of water accomplishing anything, but they ignored the role of the Word of God connected with baptismal water. A dog or a cat would look into a baptismal font and see only something to quench their thirst. We are not to listen to God's Word and hear no more than an animal would.



Being water/Spirit born teaches us that God is indeed involved in each and every true baptism. Birth itself suggests an image of a new person. The apostle Paul also wrote of washing and rebirth. Washing is the clearest possible image of sins being forgiven. Rebirth means a new life has started.



Jesus distinguished between the carnal and the spiritual. The apostle wrote: 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.



The "natural man" is used by the Greeks to describe the noblest aspect of man. Whoever is considered a great hero for all his virtues - he cannot receive Spiritual things. They are comical to him. He sees no more than a cow or a horse. Many wise men of the ages have said that the Bible is nothing but foolishness to them.



No one can believe unless the Holy Spirit has planted faith in that person's heart through the Word. Adults are converted and receive baptism as God's sacrament of forgiveness. Children hear the promises of God through baptism and are converted to faith. Their parents, then, must nurture this faith. One does not plant a seed and then let it dry up and wither away. People spend more time nurturing their gardens than nurturing their children's faith.



The comfort of baptism cannot be overstated. No baptized person need doubt his standing with God. All despair can be answered by this, "God has baptized you into His kingdom. He has done this because of His gracious, kindly and forgiving nature." If someone has fallen into deep and terrible sins, he can nevertheless rest forgiveness upon his baptism. Through faith we receive the Gospel message of Jesus redeeming us from sin, death, and the devil.



Parents also have the comfort and blessing of baptism in their children. They have no reason to question whether their baptized children are in fact in the Kingdom of God. It is a sad day when we have to plead for the innocence of children when their lives are cut short by accident or diseases. The most helpless child can be proud, obstinate, jealous, and even vindictive. The Old Adam does not wait to arrive until a convenient time. We inherit this sinful nature. But when we lose a child, we can say, "God made him a member of His kingdom through baptism."



The blessings of baptism are infinite. Children grow up with faith and hear the Word of God with great love and confidence. They have their little distractions but they do not have the skills of adults in rejecting what they hear in the Word. They are dry sponges, absorbing what they hear. One girl cried and begged her family to take her to Sunday School, when they wanted to sleep in all weekend. This does not come from the flesh, because kids like to goof around too. It comes from the Holy Spirit.

A child who grows up in the Christian faith will be blessed in many ways and be a blessing to everyone as well. His impact will be impossible to determine, but God knows.

As adults and as children, we are united by what God has done for us, so that we are water/Spirit born.

Famous Lutherans

Steve Jobs, Apple Computer, was confirmed in the LCMS.
He died October 5, 2011.
Famous Lutherans List

Famous Living Lutherans
Here is a list of “Famous Living Lutherans” compiled from various sources. Those listed are ELCA members, unless noted otherwise. This list is accurate to the best of our knowledge. Please send your additions and/or corrections to michelle.daniels@elca.org Updated March 2008.

Politics
U.S. Representatives: Michele Bachmann (WELS), Lois Capps, John R. Carter, Norman Dicks, Stephanie Herseth, Darlene Hooley, Ron Kind (WELS), Tom Latham, Zoe Lofgren, Collin Peterson, Thomas Petri, Dave Reichert (LCMS), John Shimkus (LCMS), Bill Shuster, Tim Walz.
U.S. Senators:
Sherrod Brown, Byron Dorgan, Ernest F. "Fritz" Hollings, Tim Johnson and Nikki G. Setzler
Nane Annan, wife of former UN Secretary General Koffe Annan
Douglas K. Bereuter – former US House, now head of the Asia Foundation
Bob Bergland, former US Secretary of Agriculture
John Bolton, US Ambassador to the United Nations
William Dannemeyer, former US House of Representatives (LCMS)
Tim Goeglein, special assistant to President Bush and Deputy Director of
Public Liaison (LCMS)
Steve Gunderson, former US House of Representatives, now known as an author
Gaylord T. Gunhus. former chief of chaplains for the U.S. Army
John Hamre, former deputy director, US Department of Defense
Donald Hodel, former US Secretary of Energy and Interior
John E. Jones III, judge, US District Court, Pennsylvania (ELCA)
Judge Dan Joy, New York State
Thomas S. Kleppe, former US Interior Secretary
Conrad Lautenbacher, Jr., Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
Cynthia Lummis, Treasurer, Wyoming (LCMS)
John Marty, Minnesota State Senator
Ed Meese, former US Attorney General
Mark Neumann, former US House of Representative (WELS)
Tim Penny, former US House of Representatives
Dale Sandstrom, Justice, North Dakota Supreme Court

Sports
Shane Battier, Memphis Grizzlies NBA
Kim Bauer, Womens PGA Golfer (WELS)
Tom Brady, New England Patriots quarterback
Matt Bullard, Houston Rockets
Karyn Bye, US Women’s Hockey Olympic Team
Dan Califf, San Jose Earthquakes (soccer)
Dom Capers, Houston Texans coach
Bill Cartwright, former Chicago Bulls coach
Chris DeMarco, PGA golfer
Morgan Ensberg, Houston Astros baseball (LCMS)
Darin Erstad, Los Angeles Angels
Phil Hansen, former Buffalo Bills defensive end
Elrod Hendricks, former Baltimore Orioles catcher
Tony Kubek, former NY Yankee (WELS)
Michael Jackson, former Seattle Seahawks & Washington Huskies football
Dale Jarrett, NASCAR driver
Ned Jarrett, NASCAR commentator & retired NASCAR driver
Calle Johansson, Washington Capitals (hockey)
Janet Lynn, Olympic skater
Madeline Manning Mims, former Olympic athlete, current Olympic chaplain
Scott Madson, Soloflex ads (LCMS)
Carmelo Martinez, professional baseball player
Luis Matos, Baltimore Orioles baseball player
Paul Molitor, Baseball Hall of Fame
Andy North, PGA Golfer, former US Open champion (LCMS)
Gregg Olson, retired professional baseball player
Lute Olson, University of Arizona basketball coach
Hank Peters, former general manager of the Orioles and Indians (LCMS)
Brian Propp, NHL (ELCIC)
Paul Reuschel, former Chicago Cub
Rick Reuschel, former Chicago Cub
John Scheirholz, general manager, Atlanta Braves
Jerry Seeman, head NFL referee
Richard Steele, referee
Terry Steinbach, Minnesota Twins baseball (WELS)
Gary Suter, NHL
John Vambiesbrouck, Philadelphia Flyers goalie, NHL (LCMS)
Duffy Waldorf, professional golfer
Bruce Weber, coach, University of Illinois basketball
Jim Wilson, former Chicago White Sox
Mark Wilson, PGA Tour player (ELCA)
Dave Winfield, Baseball Hall of Fame
John Zimmerman, professional skater

Television News and Sports
Troy Aikman, FOX Sports, former NFL player
Emily Akin, NBC news, Houston
John Bachman, WHO TV, Des Moines, Iowa
Dick Bremer (LCMS), Minnesota Twins TV announcer
Jack Cafferty, CNN anchor
Gretchen Carlson, FOX news (former Miss America)
Mary Hart, "Entertainment Tonight" host
Jim Henderson, radio announcer
Joel Hochmuth (WELS), former CNN reporter
Donna Kelley, CNN anchor
Verne Lundquist, CBS sports
Ann Martin, KABC-TV (L.A.), news anchor
Lisa Malosky, NBC Sports
Cliff Michaelson, WCSH TV, Portland, Maine
Mike Miller, Milwaukee TV news
Pat O’Brien, former "Access Hollywood" host, now “ The Insider” host
Dane Placko, FOX news, Chicago
Dick Reeves, CBS radio news anchor, retired
Jane Robelot, CBS news
Christine Romans, CNN anchor
Orion Samuelson, WGN TV and radio
Flip Saunders, NBA head coach, Detroit Pistons.
John Scott, NBC news (LCMS)
Susan Spencer, CBS news
Ron Steele, KWWL-TV, Waterloo, Iowa
Michelle TaFoya, CBS sports
Bill Whitney, CBS radio news
Paul Yeager, KWQC-TV news, Quad Cities

Actors/Entertainers/Musicians/Film Industry Folks
Erika Alezander, actor ("Bill Cosby Show")
Loni Anderson, actor
Brice Beckham, actor, Wooley Owens on “Mr. Belvedere”
Beverly Benda, soprano
Beau & Jeff Bridges, actors (entire Bridges family are active Lutherans)
Dana Carvey, comedian and actor
Gary Cole, actor, “Brady Bunch” films
Brandy Dejongh, actor (LCMS)
Justino Diaz, opera singer
Fred Durst, singer and actor
Kirsten Dunst, actor
Rusty Edwards, composer
Kurt Elling, jazz musician
Paul "Ace" Frehley, rock musician "KISS" (LCMS)
Janie Fricke, country music star
Michael Gesme, Conductor of Bend Oregon Symphony Orchestra
Annabeth Gish, actor, "The X Files"
Jerry Hadley, opera tenor
Don Hahn, Disney film producer
Hilary Hahn, young violinist
Patti Hansen, actor and model
David Hasselhoff, actor/producer, "Baywatch"
Marty Haugen, composer
Adolph Herseth, retired Chicago Symphony lead trumpeter
Felicity Huffman, actor “Desperate Housewives”
William Hurt, actor
Marta Casals Istomin, cellist
Craig Hella Johnson, singer, music director
Kris Kristofferson, singer/actor
Gary Lewis, musician "Gary Lewis and the Playboys"
Lyle Lovett, singer (LCMS)
William H. Macy, actor
Paul Manz, organist
Kurt Masur, former conductor, New York Philharmonic
Ron Maxwell, film producer ("Gettysburg")
Peter & Jim Mayer, Jimmy Buffet band
John Mellencamp, musician and singer (LCMS?)
Kirsten Nelson, actor, “The West Wing” & “Pysch”
Thomas Ian Nicholas, actor
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (attended a Lutheran day school)
Ann-Margaret (Olson), actor (LCMS)
Christopher Orr, actor, "The Mighty Ducks" movies (WELS)
Ivaan David Ortiz, film director
Ivan Gonzalo Ortiz, film producer
Michael Peterson, country music star
Frances Williams Preston, president and CEO of Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI)
James Rebhorn, actor ("The Game," "Fatal Attraction," "Seinfeld")
Andy Richter, former "Late Night with Conan O’Brien" co-host
David Rupprecht, actor, game show host (WELS)
Paul Schrader, film director and screenwriter
Elke Sommer, actor
Kevin Sorbo, actor, "Hercules" and Andromeda
David Soul, actor, "Starsky & Hutch"
Rick Steves, PBS travel host, travel author
Sally Struthers, actor - “All in the Family” and “Gillmore Girls”
Liv Ullman, actor
Stephen Werner, rock drummer
Roger Williams, pianist
Bruce Willis, actor
John Woo, film director ("Windtalkers" among many others)
John Ylvisaker, singer and composer ("Borning Cry")
Steve Zahn, actor "Sahara" and “Out of Sight” (LCMS)

Authors, Artists and Scholars
Gerald Barney, Millennium Institute, Washington, D.C.
Paul Bouman, composer
Warrin Bennis, author on leadership
Peter Berger, sociologist
Robert Bly, poet and author “Iron John”
Sandra Bowden, artist (LCMS)
Herbert Brokering, author
Rita Mae Brown, author "Bingo" and "Rubyfruit Jungle"
Jill Alexander Essbaum, poet
Jean Garton (LCMS), author of "Who Broke the Baby?"
Richard Hillert, composer
Bill Holm, poet
Edna Hong, author
Howard Hong, author
Ichabod, independent blogger
Marta Istomin, director, Pablo Casals Foundation
Cecile Johnson, watercolorist
Betina Krahn, author
Gary Larsen, cartoonist "The Far Side"
Jean LemMon, former editor, "Better Homes & Gardens"
George Lindbeck, scholar/author
Betty Mahmoody (WELS), author of "Not Without My Daughter"
Paul Maier, author (LCMS)
Janet Letnes Martin, author
Martin Marty, church historian
Cindy McTee, composer
Francisco Molina, poet
Alexandra Nechita, artist
Larry Rasmussen, Union Seminary, New York, ethicist
Jose David Rodriguez, author
Carl Schalk, composer
Peter Schieckele, composer, musician
David E. Schrader, Executive Director, American Philosophical Association, Newark, Delaware
Bob Sylwester, author, pioneer in brain-based learning (LCMS)
Walter Wangerin Jr., author/speaker
James Wind, Alban Institute
Karl A. Ylvisaker, artist (WELS)
Harriett Ziegenhais, composer

Science, Military, Business, Beauty, etc.
Linda Ahlers, Dayton Hudson, President, department store division
Bradbury Anderson, CEO, Best Buy
Gerald Barney, the Millenium Institute
Linda Bartlett, president "Lutherans for Life" (LCMS)
David Beckmann, President, Bread for the World
Mary Beth Blegen, 1996 Teacher of the Year
Norman E. Borlaug, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal for his work in agricultural science.
Don Branderstein, astronaut
Tom Buis, President, National Farmers Union
Robert Cade, inventor of Gatorade (LMCS)
Doris Christopher, CEO, the Pampered Chef
Lt.General Roger DeKok, Air Force Space Command
William Foege, former executive director, Center for Disease Control, Atlanta
Ron Gangelhoff, Chicago Cutlery Company founder
Bryan Holderby, US Navy Chief of Chaplains (1996 – 2000)
Steve Jobs, Apple Computer co-founder (LCMS)
Michael Johns, health care executive
Rebecca O. Kendall (Gass), retired Eli Lily VP & general counsel
James M. Kilts, CEO, Gillette
Grant Krafft, scientist (Alzheimer’s research)
Ed Kruse, CEO, Blue Bell Creameries, Inc.
Victor Langford, US Army General & chaplain
Judith Larson, scientist
Mark Lee, former astronaut
John Moellering, US Army General, former West Point commandant (LCMS)
Don Muchow (LCMS), former Navy chief of chaplains (1992 – 1996)
George "Pinky" Nelson, former astronaut
Marilyn Carlson Nelson, CEO, Carlson Companies
Paul Olson, President, National Farmers Organization
Ardath Rodale, CEO Rodale Press
Carolyn Sapp, former Miss America
Alfred Schwan, CEO, Schwan Foods (WELS)
Norman Schwarzkopf, US Army General
Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation
Diane (Baum) Thormodsgard, President of Corporate Trust Div. at U.S. Bank
Ross Trower, former Navy chaplain chief
General John Vessey, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (LCMS)
Jeff Williams, astronaut

***

Joe Abrahamson has left a new comment on your post "Famous Lutherans":

Greg,
Too funny if the reference
"Ichabod, independent blogger"
means you!!! And without the parenthetical qualification of membership, the ELCA is claiming you as their own!!

Of all the stupid ironies.

I guess that shows us how reliable the rest of the list probably is.

My name isn't on the list. So, I know two things. 1) I'm not a famous Lutheran, and 2) The ELCA doesn't consider me a member. Well, yet, I suppose. I'll try to avoid both.

Wishing you the best,
Joe A.

***

GJ - Joe, I have to admit scratching my name in the wet cement. I could not resist. I wondered if anyone would notice. Diablo saw it right away. So did Kovaciny-Mouse, squeaking away as expected.

Formula of Concord - Bethany Lutheran Worship

How the Formula Of Concord Was Forged


Luther's Death

When Luther died, Lutheranism collapsed. Military defeat of the Lutherans worsened the weaknesses of the Wittenberg faculty. This era is painful to read about and seldom studied, but it is important for two reasons. First: God used the compounded tragedy to bring about the Formula of Concord and the Book of Concord. Second: our era is very close to that following Luther's death -- orthodox doctrine almost completely forgotten, conservative Lutheran seminary faculty members
promoting Calvinism, conflict and confusion abounding.

Luther died on February 18, 1546. On the fourth of July, the Pope issued a bull: "From the beginning of our Papacy it has always been our concern how to root out the weeds of godless doctrines which the heretics have sowed throughout Germany. . . Now it has come to pass that, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, our dearest son in Christ, Charles, the Roman Emperor, has decided to employ the sword against those enemies of God."

Charles V, the Roman Catholic emperor who heard the Augsburg Confession read in 1530, attacked the German Lutheran forces and quickly defeated them. His victory was facilitated by the neutrality of some Lutheran princes and the secret treachery of Maurice of Saxony, who was given John Frederick's position. The Elector of Saxony, John Frederick, was taken captive.

Charles V entered Wittenberg on May 23, 1547 and stood at Luther's grave. He was urged to have Luther's body dug up and burned at the stake for heresy. He responded by saying he was warring with the living, not the dead. His forces controlled most of Germany, and he used his military might to force the Lutherans back into submission to the papacy.

Luther feared the loss of sound doctrine. Stephanus Tucher reported Luther saying, "After my death not one of these (Wittenberg) theologians will remain steadfast." Luther not only saw the inconstancy of Melanchthon, Bugenhagen, Cruciger, Eber, and Major, but also their indifference to false doctrine, especially about the Lord's Supper.

Luther's blast against George Major is a perfect antidote to the current attitude of "spoiling the Egyptians," promoting and defending the false doctrine of non-Lutherans:

It is by your silence and cloaking that you cast suspicion upon yourself. If you believe as you declare in my presence, then speak so also in the church, in public lectures, in sermons, and in private conversations, and strengthen your brethren, and lead the erring back to the right path, and contradict the contumacious spirits; otherwise your confession is sham pure and simple, and worth nothing. Whoever really regards his doctrine, faith, and confession as true, right, and certain cannot remain in the same stall with such as teach, or adhere to, false doctrine; nor can he keep on giving friendly words to Satan and his minions. A teacher who remains silent when errors are taught, and nevertheless pretends to be a true teacher, is worse than an open fanatic and by his hypocrisy does greater damage than a heretic. Nor can he be trusted. He is a wolf and a fox, a hireling and a servant of his belly, and ready to despise and to sacrifice doctrine, Word, faith, Sacrament, churches, and schools. He is either a secret bedfellow of the enemies, or a skeptic and a weathervane, waiting to see whether Christ or the devil will prove victorious; or he has no convictions on his own whatever, and is not worthy to be called a pupil, let alone a teacher; nor does he want to offend anybody, or say a word in favor of Christ, or hurt the devil and the world.

After Luther's death, Major taught that good works were necessary for salvation, a false doctrine refuted by the Formula of Concord.

The Wittenberg faculty abandoned Luther's theology to such an extent that by 1566 the scriptural truths of the Reformation were taught publicly in only a few places.

Sausage Factory Wisdom

God in the Hands of an Angry Sinner

No one can mangle a question faster than Frosty Bivens, the Waldo Werning Professor of Church Growth at the Mequon Sausage Factory. He was asked about masculine and feminine in the Holy Trinity.

One part of his answer had to do with the gender of the words in Hebrew, Greek, etc. Someone with only a slight knowledge of foreign language realizes that the gender of the word does not indicate the gender of the thing itself. Does parthenos (virgin) in Greek indicate the person is male because the noun is masculine? Utterly ridiculous.

Here is a pronouncement from the Oracle of Mequon:

Most adequate approach

Christians understand that the Father and the Spirit don’t have gender in the same way humans do; God is neither male nor female. Yet we maintain that masculine terminology be normative with reference to God because that is how God has revealed himself in Scripture. Of greater importance is the creating, redeeming, and sanctifying work of God for all humanity. We rejoice in that above all else.

I think Frosty is still trying to justify the absurd feminist Creeds they foisted upon WELS in Charismatic Worship. "Creating, redeeming, and sanctifying" are the new words used by feminists for work of the Holy Trinity. As always, WELS is up to date, 20 years late. The words themselves are not wrong. They have been ill used so often by so many opponents of the Holy Trinity that a Lutheran should avoid them. Many ELCA baptisms today are conducted "In the name of the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sanctifier." A Hindu could use the same words. The specific Biblical formula is the actual name of the Holy Trinity - The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Fuller Seminary would be proud. They have a special committee to deal with students who do not accept the ordination of women and feminist theology. I trust that Frosty and his WELS kindred did not fall into the clutches of those harpies.

PS - The WELS hymnal turned "and became man" into "fully human," a rendition offered by Wisconsin's favorite group of unionistic, non-Lutheran, apostates. The synod was forced to use this version, they claim. I can imagine that. A bunch of committe members from this pan-denominational study committee walked into the Love Shack, their leather pants perfectly matching their Calvin Klein glasses. They stomped their Guccis and declared, "Use fully human or we will cancel your retreat at Fire Island."

WELS Would Appoint Him to be a Church Growth Consultant

Jefferts-Schori: We are all about the rainbow.

Convicted Pedophile Episcopal Priest to Host Spiritual Retreats with Presiding Bishop's Blessing

by David W. Virtue
May 14, 2008

A convicted and defrocked pedophile Episcopal priest is being allowed to conduct spiritual retreats - two of them in an Episcopal facility with the blessing of Mrs. Katharine Jefferts Schori, TEC's Presiding Bishop.

In an exchange of correspondence with David Clohessy, National Director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), Mrs. Jefferts Schori, through her Pastoral Development Officer Bishop F. Clayton Matthews, said that Mr. Lynn C. Baumann could function as a spiritual retreat master on the understanding that "Mr. Baumann's contact (is) to adults only".

Buffer Space Helps Bethany Lutheran Worship

From one of our readers, Grey Goose:

Anyway, the buffering on the recording came along about every two sentences. (I hadn't experienced that at all earlier.) So I right-clicked on the picture and got a box with a Settings choice for the Adobe Flash Player on my machine that Ustream must use.

Clicking on Settings, I learned that the buffer space was very small. I set it for Unlimited. From then on, everything was fine again.

I mention this in case others comment on too frequent buffering. Resetting the Adobe FP buffer space might give them a helping hand. But one has to leave the BLW site and return to it for the new setting to take effect.

***

GJ - Ichabodians - try this to get rid of the hiccups. There are things on my side to improve and also variables from home to home and along the Internet path. This is so new that college students look at me with awe and wonder when I describe it to them. It is gratifying to be ahead of the 20 to 30 year-olds in something technological. I remember when we had only two TV channels to watch. I had to walk all the way cross the room to change the knob from 4 to 6. I was the family remote control.

California and the Planet of the Apes

Planet of the Apes, 1968, Starring Charleton Heston, RIP

George Taylor: "You Maniacs! You blew it up!"

Poor George Taylor got back home to Earth, only to find that the nuclear holocaust had buried the Statue of Liberty.

Earthlings today, especially Baby Boomers, are busy with their demolition efforts. They dismantled the Lutheran Church years ago. Now synodical leaders can pretend to be conservative while running off to Fuller Seminary and promoting gay lib. According to Fuller alumnus Frosty Bivens, one should not suggest that a homosexual orientation is wrong. However, he does think it is a lie to tell the truth about his Church Growth education. As Luther opined, "When right is wrong and wrong is right, nothing can help anymore."

The California Supreme Court decision (4 to 3) to bless homosexual marriage is one more non-surprise in a long series of ethical retreats initiated by the churches of America. Like their mainline counterparts, the conservative synods paved the way for the California decision decades ago when they abandoned sound doctrine for the fads of the day.

The problem does not center on the issue of the moment, but the foundation for making decisions. Our country was founded on the principles of natural law, that right and wrong are derived from divine Creation. Once that concept was removed from Christianity and Judaism, anything could be decided. The turning point was not Roe versus Wade, but much earlier, when evolution became the accepted stance of most denominations.

Fuller Seminary succeeded in attracting all synod leaders (ELCA, ELS, WELS, LCMS) precisely because those synods were already apostate. The Fuller education drive began in the 1970s. No one really objected at the time. Dr. Robert Preus and the Concordia, Ft. Wayne faculty endorsed Church Growth principles. Preus offered a Church Growth degree at The Fort. Kincaid Smith said his Ft. Wayne D.Min. was all Church Growth.

When there was some chance to follow through and fight Church Growth ecumemnism along doctrinal lines, the conservative Lutheran pastors and laity ducked into their rabbit warrens and shivered, hoping to escape synodical wrath. However, the pan-Lutheran Church Growth Mafia was not so passive. They hammered every critic until he was declared legally dead. Werning, Hunter, Valleskey, Olson, Koenig, Tiefel 1, Tiefel 2, Bivens, Oelhaven, Sweet, and Adrian were One in the Spirit, One in the Lord.

Stay tuned for "Tch tch" sermons this Sunday. Woe is us. The California court decision shows how bad things are. Thank God we are so conservative. We are so conservative we never admit having pastors who have died of AIDS. Etc. Etc.

The Apostates Do Not Like This Kind of Criticism

Obamessiah with Satan

The Fad-Driven Church

by Todd Wilken




Monday, October 6, 2014.


LAKE FOREST - Rick Warren, author of the best selling, “The Purpose-Driven Life,” has written his last book. Warren announced Saturday that he is leaving publishing, “I’m just feeling led in a new direction now. My books will still be out there, it’s just that I won’t be writing any more new ones.” Warren is pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest.



The mood is somber as several dozen clergy gather outside Warren’s Saddleback church. Many wear Hawaiian shirts, a look Warren made popular among pastors a decade ago. Some take turns reading aloud from their Purpose-Driven Life Journals.



Warren’s withdrawal from publishing follows a similar move this year by Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Community church near Chicago.



Warren has dominated Christian publishing for a decade. “The Purpose-Driven Life” has sold 24 million copies since 2002. Warren’s other books include “Practical Purpose: How to Do Life Purposefully,” and “A Purpose-Driven Retirement.” Hybels’ books, “Becoming a Contagious Christian,” “Beyond Contagious: Six Signs of an Infectious Christian,” and “The Epidemic Christian” were also best sellers. In March Hybels also announced the end of his Willow Creek Leadership Summits.



Mark Jones has been pastor at Metropolitan Family Fellowship in Ventura since 2004. “I feel a little betrayed. I mean, I’ve pretty much based my entire ministry on Warren and Hybels’ stuff. I don’t know what I’m going to do now. And I can’t imagine what I’m going to tell my congregation.”



Jones is looking for something to fill the expected void in his ministry. “It’s not like my congregation is going to put up with just interpreting Scripture every Sunday. That’ll hold their interest for about two seconds.”



A representative of Zondervan, Warren and Hybels’ publisher, responded to Saturday’s announcement, “Rick’s decision is obviously going to impact our bottom line. If worse comes to worst, we can always go back to selling Bibles.


The dictionary defines a fad as “a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal.” This could just as well be a description of congregational life of many Christian churches today.

There is a new book, a new program or a new emphasis every year or so. It’s all anyone can talk about; it’s all the preacher preaches about — for a while. Then, as quickly as it came, it’s gone. As eagerly as it was received, it’s abandoned and forgotten.

Welcome to the Fad-Driven church.

At first this might not sound like a problem. Some Christians can remember when the Church didn’t jump from bandwagon to bandwagon every year or two. But for others, this is all they have ever known. For them, it is hard to imagine what the Church would be like without the constant ebb and flow of church fads. For them, the long list of church fads represents their personal history as a Christian: Spiritual Gift inventories, Spiritual Warfare, Promise Keepers, Weigh Down Workshop, The Prayer of Jabez, the Left Behind series, Becoming a Contagious Christian, a long succession of evangelism and stewardship programs, and most recently, The Purpose-Driven Life and 40 Days of Purpose. There are many Christians for whom this list (give or take one or two) is Christianity.

Some church fads come and go, some come and stay. A few are genuinely harmless; most contain serious theological errors. All are popular — while they last. In the fad-driven church, “exaggerated zeal” has replaced “the faith once for all delivered to the saints.”[i]

In the course of hosting Issues, Etc. I’ve examined most, if not all of the recent church fads. I am always surprised — not by the fads themselves, but by something else. I am always surprised by how uncritically churches accept a fad, how enthusiastically churches embrace a fad and how carelessly churches abandon a fad. That is why this article isn’t about the fads themselves, but about the kind of churches that accept, embrace and then abandon fads.

The Life Cycle of a Church Fad

Every fad has a life cycle. The fad is first accepted, then embraced and finally abandoned. For the fad-driven church, this life cycle is a way of life.

The cycle begins with acceptance. The fad-driven church is practiced at this. Too close an examination of the fad at the outset might raise too many questions. “After all, this book is a best-seller!” “Thousands of churches are doing it, how can we go wrong?” Accept first, examine later, if at all. This acceptance may come through the pastor’s active promotion or through grassroots popularity. Either way, the fad spreads like wildfire in the congregation.

The cycle continues with enthusiastic embrace. By “enthusiastic” I don’t mean excitement or emotion, although those things may be involved. What I mean is that the fad-driven church embraces its latest fad with creedal intensity. While the fad has currency, it is an article of faith. Belief in the fad becomes a mark of loyalty to the church. During this phase of the fad’s life cycle, critics of the fad may be dismissed as unloving, judgmental or unconcerned for saving souls. At the very least, they are viewed as troublemakers and obstacles to the church’s mission. During this phase, in some cases, the fad may dictate what is preached, the content of Bible study or even the focus of congregation life.

The life cycle ends with the abandonment of the fad. Some fads have a built-in expiration date (40 Days of Purpose), most simply linger until something better comes along. The fad-driven church may cling with a martyr’s fervor to the fad while it lasts, but everyone knows that its days are numbered. Sooner or later it will have to be abandoned.

Accept the fad, embrace the fad and abandon the fad. This is the life of fad-driven church.

There are exceptions to this life cycle. In a few cases, a fad doesn’t die; it grows into something bigger than a fad. It grows into a movement. The Church Growth movement, the Charismatic movement and the Word-Faith movement all started as fads. Now they are something more. Advocates point to their movement’s longevity as a sign of its truth. They forget that the Church’s history is littered with many fads-turned-movements — Gnosticism, Arianism, Pelagianism to name only a few — we call them heresies.

I have often been critical of church fads at the height of their popularity. After several encounters with fad defenders, I noticed something. The seasoned member of the fad-driven church will defend his fad today. But he will happily abandon the same fad six months from now. I realized that the fad itself is inconsequential; everyone knows that it will be forgotten sooner or later. Christians caught in the cycle of church fads must defend a particular fad, because by doing so, they are defending their willingness to accept, embrace and abandon fads in general. They are defending their fad-driven-ness

A Lack of Discernment

The need for discernment in the Church is one the most frequent admonitions of Scripture.[ii] Paul’s warning to the Ephesians is typical:

We are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ.[iii]

The Church is supposed to stand immovable against “every wind of doctrine.” By contrast, the fad-driven church is a windsock. If you want to know which way the wind is blowing, the latest teachings, the newest programs or the most current methods, just look at the fad-driven church. If you want to know what the fad-driven church will be doing next, just walk through your local Christian bookstore or page through a Christian publisher’s catalogue.

In the fad-driven church, books, programs and seminars are evaluated primarily by their sales, popularity and attendance records, rather than on their theological merits. “False teaching? Why would so many churches be reading this book if it contained false teaching?” “Why would so many attend this event if there is anything wrong with it?” Can millions of Christians be wrong? Yes, they can.

Ironically, the fad-driven church often excuses its lack of discernment in the name of saving souls. It justifies its appetite for fads in the name of evangelism. “Whatever it takes” is the creed of the fad-driven church. “Whatever it takes to reach the lost” is supposed to be a courageous new strategy for evangelism. But “Whatever it takes” isn’t a strategy. “Whatever it takes” is an admission that you have no strategy. Sinners aren’t saved by “whatever,” sinners are saved by what Jesus did at the Cross. “Whatever it takes” is just another way of saying, “Whatever people want,” or “Whatever everyone else is doing.” Rather than seeking the lost, the fad-driven church is just seeking its next fix.

Some advocates of church fads take the “Eat the meat, spit out the bones” approach to false teaching. They claim that practicing discernment means spitting the “bones” of error while eating the “meat” of truth. There are several problems with this approach. First, this assumes that a church fad contains only isolated false teachings, like so many bones in a fish. But many church fads don’t just contain false teaching; they are based on false teaching. Promise Keepers is based on the idea that sinners can keep promises and ultimately keep God’s law. Weigh Down Workshop is based on the idea that man is saved by his works. The Prayer of Jabez is based on the idea that God answers prayer because of the character of the one who prays. The Left Behind series is based on the idea that national Israel is the key to Bible prophesy. Becoming a Contagious Christian is based on the idea that conversion is an act of the human will. The Purpose-Driven Life is based on the idea that you can earn God’s favor and heavenly rewards by your works. These fads don’t just contain false teaching; they are based on false teaching.

Second, the “bone-spitting” approach assumes that the errors of the latest church fad will be obvious to everyone. Often they are not. In the 2nd century, Irenaeus battled the fad of Gnosticism. He observed:

Error, indeed, is never set forth in its naked deformity, lest, being thus exposed, it should at once be detected. But it is craftily decked out in an attractive dress, so as, by its outward form, to make it appear to the inexperienced (ridiculous as the expression may seem) more true than the truth itself. [iv]

The “inexperienced” are still infants in the faith. Would you give an infant a fish to eat knowing that there were bones in it?

Finally, the “bone-spitting” approach fails to recognize that a continuous steam of fads will erode the church’s ability to discern truth from error. With every new fad, the fad-driven church grows less sensitive to error. With every new fad, the fad-driven church grows less able to recognize the truth. In time, the fad-driven church is unable to discern the true Gospel from a false gospel. Paul found this to be the case among the Corinthians:

If one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. [v]


This is the bottom line. A church willing to tolerate some false teaching will eventually tolerate any false teaching — even a false gospel, a false spirit and a false Jesus. For this reason, when it comes to false teaching, Scripture’s command isn’t to “bone-spit,” but to avoid it altogether. [vi]

Desperation

The Church’s fascination with fads is nothing new. The prophet Jeremiah described a similar situation among God’s people in his day:

My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this, and shudder, be very desolate," declares the LORD. For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. [vii]

The people had committed apostasy: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters. And apostasy led to idolatry: to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

First, and most importantly, Jeremiah tells what apostasy is. Apostasy is replacing God’s fountain of living water with man-made cisterns. It is replacing the message of God’s Grace with a message of human works. In the case of many church fads, it is shifting the focus from Christ to the Christian.

Paul encountered apostasy in Galatia. The Galatians had an “exaggerated zeal” for circumcision. Rather than dismiss this as a harmless fad, Paul warned them in no uncertain terms:

I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. [viii]

This is what many church fads do. There is the subtle legalism of Promise Keepers or the overt legalism of Weigh Down Workshop. There is the Christ-less prayer of Jabez or the Christ-less prophecy in the Left Behind series. There is the man-centered view of Justification in Becoming a Contagious Christian or the man-centered view of Sanctification in The Purpose-Driven Life. In every case, God’s Grace in Jesus Christ takes second place to human works, and the focus shifts from Christ to the Christian.

Whenever or however the Church downplays the certainty of Jesus’ perfect life, death and resurrection in favor of the uncertainty of human works, it commits apostasy.

This is why the fad-driven church is so desperate. In Jeremiah’s words, when you forsake the living waters, you will drink anything to quench your thirst. When the Church forsakes the truth of Gospel, it will try anything, it will buy anything.

This also explains the response I often get from my fellow pastors when I criticize the latest church fad: “Well, sure it contains false teaching, but what’s your alternative?” Notice: these are the words of someone who doesn’t believe there is an alternative. These are the words of someone who is desperate. These are the words of someone who thinks that he has no choice but to drink polluted water from a broken cistern.

Idolatry is the inevitable consequence of apostasy. Os Guiness’ has written recently about the “idol of relevance” and accurately described the mentality of the fad-driven church:

Whatever is is not only right but a great deal better than what was. And of course, whatever is next must be a great deal better still…. The past is beside the point, outdated, reactionary, stagnant. In a word that is today’s supreme term of dismissal, the past is irrelevant. Everything Christian from worship to evangelism must be fresh, new, up-to-date, attuned, appealing, seeker-sensitive, audience-friendly, and relentlessly relevant, relevant, relevant. “All-new,” “must-read,” “the sequel that is more than equal” —the mentality is rampant and the effect is corrosive. [ix]

Rather than making the church more relevant, this mentality only makes the fad-driven church more susceptible to fads and more desperate,

Relevance without truth encourages what Nietzsche called the “herd” mentality and Kierkegaard “the age of the crowd.” Further compounded by accelerated change, which itself is compounded by the fashion-driven dictates of consumerism, relevance becomes overheated and vaporizes into trendiness. [x]

Guiness’ final observation is an uncanny paraphrase of Jeremiah’s lament:

Feverishness is the condition of an institution that has ceased to be faithful to its origins. It is then caught up in “a restless, cosmopolitan hunting after new and ever newer things.” [xi]

They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. This explains the short life span of so many Church fads. It is the result of desperation. The fad-driven church’s new cisterns are broken. They can’t hold water. Even while the last drops drain from the old cistern, the fad-driven church must desperately dig a new one. But the new cistern is as leaky as the old one, so the digging must go on.

Nothing to Offer, Nothing to Say

William Inge said, “Whoever marries the spirit of this age will find himself a widower in the next.” Take away the fads, and what of the Church is left in the fad-driven church? In some cases, what’s left isn’t the Church at all, but a collection of principles, practices and ideas that don’t add up to anything resembling the Christian faith. Rather than “the pattern of sound words,” [xii] there are only the remnants of past fads.


In the name of saving the lost, the fad-driven church is trading the saving message of the Gospel for the newest gimmick. If such a church does reach the lost, will it have anything to say that can save them?

What does the fad-driven church have to offer to its own members? Sure, the next sermon series is new, but is it true? Sure, the next book can sell, but can it save? Will the fad-driven church give Christians Jesus or Jabez, lasting forgiveness or the latest fashion?

And for the member of the fad-driven church who has known nothing but fads, will these fads leave her a Christian on her deathbed (or will she be left wondering what that whirlwind of best sellers, seminars, video sermons and three-ring binders was all about)?

“The church that wraps its identity and mission around the evanescent desires of finicky consumers will run the risk of creating a church as ephemeral as those desires.” [xiii] Will the fad-driven church remain the Church? In its “exaggerated zeal” for all things new, will it hold fast to the unchanging message of the Cross?

Fad or Faith

We live in an age of pious distractions. We live in an age of church fads. The fad-driven church has structured its life around the trends and innovations of the day. Christian publishers and the mega-church gurus are ready to provide something new as often as masses demand it. But St. Paul encourages and warns the Church:

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage— with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. [xiv]

The Church has something better than any fad. The time has come. Ears are itching. Ears are turning. The Church must take up Paul’s charge. Now more than ever the Church must preach the Word and ignore the fads.

Many in the fad-driven church believe that preaching the Word is impractical: “If just preaching the Word worked, people would be lining up at our door.” Others in the fad-driven church believe that preaching the Word is outdated: “It may have worked 50 years ago, but not today.” Others believe that preaching the word is just too simple, Rick Warren has said as much,

We've all heard speakers claim, "If you'll just pray more, preach the word, and be dedicated, then your church will grow." Well, that's just not true. I can show you thousands of churches where pastors are doctrinally sound; they love the Lord; they're committed and spirit-filled and yet their churches are dying on the vine. [xv]

This is nonsense. How can a church that is preaching the living Word of God be “dying on the vine?” Paul tells the Church to preach the Word not because it is the most practical way, or the most current way, or the simplest way. Paul tells us to preach the Word because it is the only way.

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. [xvi]


G. K. Chesterton said, “The Church always seems to be behind the times, when it is really beyond the times; it is waiting till the last fad shall have seen its last summer. It keeps the key of a permanent virtue.” That key is the Gospel, the message of the forgiveness of sins purchased at the Cross, with the blood of Jesus.

That key is the Gospel proclaimed to every sinner every Sunday. That key is the Gospel poured out on every sinner in Baptism. That key is the Gospel provided to every sinner in Jesus’ body and blood in His supper. Yes, this Gospel is popularly believed to be impractical, outdated, and simplistic. But it isn’t. Rather, this Gospel is “the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes.” [xvii]

Without this Gospel, the Church is at the mercy of every new fad. However, with this Gospel, the Church really is beyond the times.

As I write this, my 12-year-old daughter is convinced that hip-hugger bell-bottoms are the greatest idea in fashion history. I don’t have the heart to tell her that I used to think so too. She thinks her father looks old-fashioned and lacks all sense of style. I don’t have the heart to tell her that I look back at pictures of my bell-bottom days and laugh. I don’t have the heart to tell her that someday she will do the same. The Church is an old man who has been wearing the same clothes in the same style his whole life. He refuses to change with the fashions. He simply lets the fads pass him by. Yes, he seems behind the times. But look again at what he is wearing. He is clothed in Christ.


[i] Jude 3.

[ii] Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 14:29; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 1:9; Philippians 1:8-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; 1 Timothy 4:6,16; 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 1:13; 2:15; 4:3-5; Titus 1:7-14; 2:1; 1 John 4:1; Hebrews 5:14.

[iii]Ephesians 4:14-15.

[iv] Irenaeus of Lyons, Adversus Haereses, I, 2, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, ed., Hendrickson, 1994.

[v] 2 Corinthians 11:4.

[vi] Galatians 2:4-5; 5:9; 1 Corinthians 5:6; Philippians 3:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 1 Timothy 4:6-7; 6:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13-14; 2:16-18; 3:1-17; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 3:17-18; Revelation 2:14-16.

[vii] Jeremiah 2:11-13.

[viii] Galatians 5:3-4.

[ix] Os Guiness, Prophetic Untimeliness, A Challege to the Idol of Relevance, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003, pp. 40, 76.

[x] Os Guiness, Dining with the Devil, The Megachurch Movement Flirts with Modernity, Grand Rapids: Baker, 1993, p. 63.

[xi] Guiness, Dining with the Devil, p. 63

[xii] 2 Timothy 1:13.

[xiii] Philip Kenneson, James Street, Selling Out the Church, The Dangers of Church Marketing, Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1997, p. 20.

[xiv] 2 Timothy 4:1-4

[xv] Rick Warren, “Rick Warren Interview” at http://www.pastors.com/portal/news/August/RickInterview.asp

[xvi] 1 Corinthians 1:21-25. Also Matthew 24:14; Luke 24:46-47;Romans 10:17; 16:25-27; 2 Corinthians 4:5; Colossians 1:25-28.

[xvii] Romans 1:16.

The Rev. Todd Wilken is (used to be) the host of Issues, Etc.


-------------------

GJ - A reader sent me the link, which is from the canceled radio show. I tried to get to other documents, but the server said, "No, no." The main page is there. I assume that Rick Warren leaving the book business is a joke, like the date. Why would Kieschnick not like this clever essay?

One blogger wrote this:

You are not free to criticize the synod?

From a while back, Scott at Die Schreiben von Schreiber has a post that may seem unrelated to the Issues Etc. cancellation. But I think it says more about it than anything we've seen out of synodical headquarters so far. He quotes Pres. Kieschnick, from a 2006 appearance at an LCMS Ohio District convention:

“You are NOT free to preach or teach publicly that Synod is wrong on ANY given issue.”

Kieschnick reportedly repeated the statement slowly to give listeners a second chance to catch it.

Given that Todd Wilken and guests were openly critical of a lot of the things the Kieschnick administration is enamored of -- even though they tended not to criticize the LCMS directly.

And incidentally, does this mean synodical leaders will go after pastors who've signed the petition supporting Issues? Their signatures are a clear indication that they believe the synod is wrong on at least one issue.

***

GJ - No one can differ from Holy Mother Synod! That is news? All the synods are the same, from mighty ELCA to the puny off-scourings of the Synodical Conference. The reason to start a new synod is to create a bunch of mini-popes in micro-districts.

These innnocents grew up in a time of synodical stupidity, apostasy, and Stalinesque tyranny. Why are they surprised now?

Kieschnick has them where he wants them. As long as they talk about radio, budgets, and the fate of two or three men, the synod will win...again.

One little Word of doctrine can defeat them.

Minneapolis Bridge Sign

Bailing Water Blog Incites Ad Jacksonem Fallacy

Who told you? Jackson?

Bailing Water calmly discusses Wisconsin sect news and issues. The responses are hilarious. Here are a few:

Anonymous said...
Seems to be more of the same (an Ichabod want-a-be)--Lutherans who seem to never be satisfied and in my opinion jettison the 8th commandment in this blog-sphere in the name of orthodoxy. Should spend more time sharing the gospel than bitch'in about people who don't the way you like.

Just shout'in

[GJ - The post above was incoherent enough to attract another illiterate - below.]

April 20, 2008 9:31 PM


Anonymous said...
Just Shout'in,

"Icabod [sic] want-a-be"? You've got to be kidding, really. Jackson slanders at will (please don't make me re-read his rants to illustrate this). These "Angry Lutherans" comment on public matters. Please illustrate where this group has jettisoned the 8th commandment as you opine. Even if a feather or two is ruffled, as a Wisconsin Synod letter writer to Logia once said, we should be more concerned about God's name than our own. This was in response to someone ripping on him (not Him). And how do you know that they spend more thim "bitch'in" (sic) than "sharing (sic) the gospel"?

R. Flanders

Anonymous said...
R. Flanders writes,

And how do you know that they spend more thim "bitch'in" (sic) than "sharing (sic) the gospel"?

or "time?"

R. Flanders

April 28, 2008 3:07 PM

Anonymous said...
So where did you get your information from? You're acting like Jackson at Ichabod. You just make the statement (or charges), without any proof. Who sponsored the event? When was it held? Who was invited? You've got to tell us more than this. Remember the Eighth Commandment?

April 28, 2008 7:22 AM

John said...
I received the information from a WELS pastor and "staff" minister who were in attendance last week in Orlando, FL at this church planting seminar.

April 28, 2008 11:45 AM

Anonymous said...
And then you have Greg Jackson over at Icabod [sic] who it seems is going Eastern Orthodox. Check out the icon he used on his most recent post. (That is enough proof according to his standards that he is sailing the Bosporus.)

Rick Warren Is All Wet,And WELS Slobbers All Over Him

Fuller-trained Rick Warren walks on water, according to WELS.

From Bailing Water:

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The WELS Challenge

WELS pastors take up the challenge of growing the church. Several heavy hitting WELS pastors took to the road to find out the latest trends going on under the protestant tent. At least one of the pastors in attendance sits on the presidium of a synodical district.

I hope that in a future issue of Forward in Christ (one of those in attendance is a contributing author to FIC) or maybe in the presidential newsletter we will hear a recap of this event and how we can follow in the footsteps of such great leaders as Rick Warren.

http://www.exponentialconference.org/

Session #5b: with Rick Warren: The Challenge - You've heard the scriptures and been through the workshops. You've learned about the biblical principles of reproducing churches, vision, disciple making, community, missional movements. You've networked with people who share your passion for reaching people and showing them the way back to Jesus Christ. Now what? Rick Warren will help answer that question as he closes Exponential 2008 with a time of challenge and commitment.

WELS Pastors attend Exponential Conference in Orlando

Several WELS pastors from across the country gathered together last week at an ecumenical conference (but they didn't pray with 'em).

http://www.exponentialconference.org/
These WELS pastors sat at the feet of nationally known Church Growth gurus including Rick Warren and Ed Stetzer.

People like to shout out that we won't let Leonard Sweet preach to us at WLC. Since the growth leaders can't come to WELS colleges the cutting edge pastors visit these national seminars.

If you want further details about the wonderful ideas presented at this conference contact a pastor at the local WELS congregation in Maitland, FL, our your own local church planting WELS pastor.

Episcopal Bishop Sues Congregation

COLORADO SPRINGS: Church Property Dispute Unresolved. Trial Ordered
Church Will Continue to Stay in Hands of CANA Priest

News Analysis

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
May 14, 2008

A judge of the El Paso County District Court of Colorado ruled that a property dispute between Grace Church & St. Stephen's and the Episcopal Bishop and Diocese of Colorado cannot be resolved by summary judgment and must go to trial court.

Judge Larry E. Schwartz ruled, however, that Grace Church and St. Stephen's legal argument for ownership of the property is valid as they have been a valid, non-profit corporation recognized by the State of Colorado since 1973.

When asked if the majority of the congregation that stayed with Grace Church could remain on the property, the Rev. Don Armstrong told VOL that it means precisely that. "We do stay in the building. A trial date is currently set for Feb 24, 2009. In the mean time, our congregation continues to flourish. God is adding to our numbers day by day. More people are worshipping each Sunday at Grace Church than all the other Episcopal Churches in Colorado Springs combined. Our new programs have been met with great enthusiasm and our congregation's spiritual health is the best I have ever seen it."

Armstrong said he was very pleased that Judge Schwartz is hearing this case. "He has a reputation for thoroughness and precision, which these circumstances require. We trust that whatever the outcome, it will have been well adjudicated. Defrockings, personal law suits, character assassinations, and false claims being used by Mrs. Katharine Jefferts Schori and her bishops is not only un-Christian, but un-American.

"Unlike the ecclesial court in Colorado that thought it could adjudicate civil matters in a religious court, Judge Schwartz is not going to try to adjudicate religious matters in a civil court. The decision here will be based on Neutral Principles of Law, and that part of this ruling we consider to be very wise and hopeful.

"Although our opponents have a complicated house of cards for an argument, our case is relatively straight forward and clear because it is the truth. We look forward to the final outcome, although that itself is over a year away."

Judge Schwartz's decision was in response to a hearing held on May 2, 2008, at the El Paso County Courthouse in which 18 members of Grace Church and St. Stephen's requested that personal lawsuits brought against them by the Episcopal Bishop of Colorado be dismissed.

In May of 2007, Grace Church and St. Stephen's voted to affiliate with the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) in a congregational election. Of the 370 votes cast, an overwhelming 342, or 93%, voted for Grace Church and St. Stephen's, one of the oldest Episcopal Churches in Colorado, to leave the Episcopal Church over its departure from traditional Christian beliefs and practice.

Since that time, the Episcopal Bishop, Rob O'Neill, and the Diocese of Colorado have sued the corporation of Grace Church and St. Stephen's, 18 individual members and lay-leaders of the congregation, and an affiliated elementary school, St. Stephen's Classical School, for the 17 million dollar historic landmark church building in downtown Colorado Springs.

UOP To Start Canadian University

The University of Phoenix has started a Canadian university.

The Ontario branch will issue diplomas that read, "You have earned a bachelor's degree, eh?"

PS - For those who do not know - Ontario natives end most of their sentences with a long "a-a-a-a-ay?" For reasons yet to be explained, it is spelled "eh."

Minneapolis Bridge Almost Completed

The People's Republic of Minnesota has almost completed
the new I-35 bridge in Minneapolis.

Bridge construction superintendent Norm Teigen said recently, "One more coat of paint on the house and we'll be finished."

Norm liked this update!

Famous Lutheran Church Musician Dies at 89

+ Lutheran Kantor on Jaraslov Vajda - 1919-2008 +

The Concordia Publishing House website reports that Dr. Jaraslov Vajda died on May 10, 2008. I first encountered his hymns with the now familiar “Go, My Children, With My Blessing”.

Some of us recently sang or read his Ascension hymn “Up Through Endless Ranks of Angels” (LSB 491) . The doxological verse to this hymn is a fitting closing to a long and productive service to God and the church.

Alleluia, alleluia! Oh to breathe the Spirit’s grace!
Alleluia, alleluia! Oh, to see the Father’s face!
Alleluia, alleluia! Oh, to feel the Sons’ embrace

Candadian Lutherans Lead the Way To Perdition

Lionel Ketola

By Hilary White

NEWMARKET, Ontario, May 7, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Christian doctrine pertaining to sexual morality held by the Evangelical Lutheran Church In Canada (ELCIC) is “discriminatory” and “unjust”, according to Holy Cross Lutheran church in Newmarket, Ontario. The small church congregation is issuing a direct challenge to the ELCIC and is breaking with the doctrines of the Christian religion by announcing it will ordain to the ministry an active homosexual who is “married” to another man.

Lionel Ketola, will be ordained to the Lutheran ministry on May 16th. Their ceremony, Holy Cross admits, is an act in defiance of the policy of the ELCIC that says those who are “self-declared and practicing homosexuals” may not serve as ordained ministers.

The willingness of Holy Cross to ordain Ketola can be seen as a direct challenge to the ELCIC, which refused to accept him as a candidate in 1988 because of his refusal to give up his sexually active lifestyle. In a grant application to cover the cost of Ketola’s internship, the Holy Cross council wrote that they saw their efforts as a corrective “witness to the ELCIC as well as to the communities in which we serve”.

The church has affiliated itself with a group, Lutherans Concerned In Canada, that is pursuing the goals of the homosexual movement’s agenda within the Lutheran Church.

The ELCIC responded in a letter, saying that the action of Holy Cross “marks a serious breach” of the church’s obligations to abide by the ELCIC constitution.

Bishop Michael J. Prysewrote to the Holy Cross Council “with a heavy heart,” but made no direct objection on moral grounds to the church’s determination to endorse homosexuality. He wrote, “With you, I am committed to work toward ending practices that preclude the full participation of all God’s people in the life of the church, regardless of sexual orientation”.

Prysesaid, however, that the process should go more slowly and with greater consultation, objecting only that the action may “do irreparable damage to the already fragile connecting fabric of our church”.

In 2006 Holy Cross announced that the “openly queer-identified” Ketola would be allowed to serve a year long internship as vicar. The church secured financial assistance to fund the internship from a group called Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM) that promotes the ordination to the Lutheran ministry of persons “of all sexual
orientations and gender identities in Lutheran life and ministry”.

Ketolais supported by the Extraordinary Candidacy Project (ECP), a homosexual activist organization which certifies the credentials of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender candidates for ordained ministry in Lutheran Churches. Holy Cross calls the ECP “a hopeful alternative for openly queer people who wish to serve in public ministry and refuse to comply with the ELCIC’s unjust policy” that requires that pastors conform to traditional Christian sexual morality.

Holy Cross proudly announced that “Lionel and his husband Steve Loweth, a 42-year-old music publisher, were married on New Years Eve 2003. Steve is active in leadership in a downtown Toronto congregation of the Anglican Church of Canada.”

The willingness of Holy Cross to embrace the homosexual doctrine will not surprise some who have watched as the ELCIC has “progressed” into greater liberalism.

In a letter dated May 1st, Astrid Neumann, a member of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Surrey, British Columbia, wrote that she was leaving the congregation and that the church’s slide away from the traditional doctrines of Christianity was “the most horrific experience of my life, bar none”.

Neumann wrote of the Lutheran church’s questioning of core Christian beliefs. “I can’t fathom that there are debates about whether or not Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus, if Jesus is or isn’t the only way to the Father, that hell may or may not exist, that everyone will go to heaven regardless of their beliefs or unbelief, etc., and many other debates about what I mistakenly thought were core beliefs”.

“Everything has become iffy. We are left with the end result that the Bible can’t be trusted, there is no Truth, and everything is relative.”

***

More than you want to know about this development.