Monday, July 21, 2008

News from the Church of England's Big Love (Not) Fest



PB Jefferts-Schori: "You believed that promise about the property?
Your bad."


Virtue Online:
Bishops and their spouses (we don't call them wives) are unable to sleep together. The rooms are too small at the University of Kent, so it is separate bedrooms for the next 20 days. This might be the longest running story about enforced celibacy in modern ecclesiastical history. Who knows, it might be just enough pressure to help them come to a decision about sodomy.

*****

Officials of the Lambeth Conference recently disclosed that 230 of the 880 bishops in the worldwide Communion were staying away from the Lambeth Conference. The entire Anglican provinces of Uganda, Rwanda and Nigeria and at least four bishops from the Church of England are boycotting the event. There is a token Kenyan, which the Lambeth conference is trumpeting as a victory for their side. But it's nonsense of course. One bishop out of 34 means only that the Kenyans want a first-hand account of what is happening here, and not the spin from the left. Makes sense to me.

*****

A VOL reader went to Salisbury Cathedral to hear the Primate of TEC, Katharine Jefferts Schori field a forum on the issue of ordaining homosexual bishops. To justify their practicing sodomy, she used the passed-its-sell-by date mantra of "science has shown that homosexuality is as genetic as left handedness and red headedness." And she claims to be a marine biologist! Even Peter Tatchell rejects this pretext.

"The session commenced with Jefferts Schori talking with her usually heavy and seductive drawl, about the word "conversation" and its Latin root (to give gravity to what we were about to listen). She then guided us to the conversations that took place in the Garden of Eden and between Christ and his father at the time of his baptism: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." She then asked us all to close our eyes and meditate on how God "is well pleased with us." Following this getting in touch with our inner selves, she then went round the assembled devotees asking them how they felt. By this time my frustration had become unbearable. I raised my hand and asked permission to ask a question, which seemed momentarily to break the spell.

"Talking of conversations I reminded her of the promises she had made in Dar el Salaam not to confiscate the church properties of those ECUSA congregations who realigned with African bishops and how she had reneged on this promise. For example, in the case of the Falls Church, Virginia (George Washington was on its building committee, decades before the diocese existed) who had made an agreement with their bishop, Peter Lee, in exchange for a substantial sum of money, to realign to the Province of Nigeria, she acting beyond her authority, had overturned this protocol, suing the congregation for trespassing on their own property. Was this the kind of conversation she was going advocate in Britain for those congregations wanting to take refuge with GAFCON?

"She gave a rational explanation as to why those churches and their assets should be repossessed (and I suppose left empty, to be sold as Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets and carpet warehouses). This explanation was warmly received by the assembled grey, silver-haired and bald worshippers and I briefly wondered how the bishops and medieval knights lying in their tombs, just a few feet away, would view Salisbury Cathedral being turned into a Mosque?

"There was one other person, a clergyman who challenged her on her assertion that there are many routes to God, in spite of clearly biblical passages to the contrary. Again, we had the extraordinary flim flam, with references to the Christ like Dalai Lama and again with the enthusiastic applause from the damned."

Claims to a Pedigree Most Have Never Noticed


rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Amusing, Snide Comments from a Constant Reader":

Those in the WELS who have a pedigree chart or are WELS-connected often get worked up into a dander when one criticizes holy mother synod. One of my former co-workers was of this ilk. He often spoke of his long rap sheet as if it were something to be proud of -

"I know Huebner", "I know Kruschel", "I know Jeske the elder", "my daughter belongs to Jeske the lesser's congregation", "three of my daughters are married to pastors".

He always reminded me that his wife was a teacher and that got him in to the WELS inner circle where he ran with the big dogs. On the flip side, he would complain about the foreign missionaries who "went over to the dark side" and became pentecostal. He bragged about his connections, but he could never make the right connection. Unable to look past the end of his nose, he just couldn't figure out that the WELS pastors who had defected were just taking their training from the sausage factory to its logical conclusion.

I have witnessed what happens to laity who swallow the Church Growth bird, feathers and all. The first thing that they start doing is grumbling about empty pews, lack of zeal among members, and of course, not having enough money in the coffers. Then, they look to Geneva or the pentecostal circus tent down the road and begin to make comparisons. Their solution is some sort of law motivation to raise the level of involvement. Without knowing it, they diminish the importance of sound doctrine and trust only what they see at the end of their nose.

Various Comments


LCMS Pastor:I bought your book Thy Strong Word, and found some of your internet stuff.

In short, thanks and keep it up. I'm the pastor at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in __________. LCMS. Your part-time student and Ichabod lurker.


A Laywoman, about the Book of Concord series, Internet broadcast:
Excellent Lutheran church history lesson!


From A. Nony Mouse:
If this isn't proof you're off your rocker, I don't know what is! Keep it up, Greg. I know several who like to view your blog to get their daily laughs!
(GJ - I wonder if those several belong to the same Twelve-step Program.)

76 Paul Kelms




76 Paul Kelms
(apologies to Meredith Wilson and his classic 76 Trombones)


Seventy-six Paul Kelms led the big parade,
With a hundred and ten Parlows close at hand,
They were followed by rows and rows of the Fuller gloriosos,
The stars of every Luthrun band.

Seventy-six Pietists signed at Willow Creek,
With a hundred and ten Wernings right behind,
There were more than a thousand cells springing up like Hell,
There were horns of every demon kind.

There were silver-plated false prophets in limousines,
Making goals, marketing, all along the way,
Doubled-chinned, fat phonies, in their leisure suits,
Leisure suits woven in neutral gray.

There were fifty mounted leaders in WELS Church and Change,
Feminists, womenists, louder than before.
Martinets of every size and capons who'd improvise
A full octave higher than the score.

Seventy six Ron Roths hit the counter point,
While a hundred and ten Olsons played the air,
To the rhythm of 'Sell this plan!'
All the sheep began to lamb
And they're still reproducing right today.

Not Dead Orthodoxy, but Synod-Worship To Blame



Church Growth Kitty at Work


The critics of Luther's doctrine, like the Minister of Audio-Video at Victory of the Lamb, like to blame dead orthodoxy.

C. F. W. Walther preferred the term orthodoxism, since orthodoxy is not dead.

Unfortunately, Walther instigated the biggest problem of all - worship of the synod. The Missouri Synod has been in love with itself from the beginning, and that has spawned a number of weak sisters (ELS, WELS, and the nano-sects) who also adore their own institutions and their recently dead teachers. Some are not even dead yet but are revered nevertheless as Equal to the Apostles (Constantine's favorite term for himself).

As Westcoast, a WELS pastor, said, "We went too far with this UOJ business. Now we are too proud to admit it."

The Lutheran Infallibility doctrine holds that no dead professor can be wrong about anything. He is infallible ex cathedra, or perhaps ex crypta. The professors with a smattering of Latin can die happily, saying with the Roman emperor, "Puto ut deus fio. (I think I am becoming a god.)" The greater the error, the more it is honored.

That does not mean the synod escapes criticism. No, not at all. The expert graduates of Fuller Seminary are allowed to criticize the synod whenever it is right, Luther whenever he is right, all past teachers whenever they are right. But woe, thrice-woe on anyone who points out the obvious - that the Lutheran sects have embraced the Spirit of This Age and rejected the Means of Grace.

Amusing, Snide Comments from a Constant Reader




Fresh from his refresher course at Hazelton, one reader has sent a series of anonymous messages, some unprintable, trying to deal with his inner rage and loss of self-esteem.

I would be more inclined to publish his monologues, which may be therapeutic for him, but the lack of a name inhibits me. I have so many signed rants to copy and paste into Ichabod. Why bother with someone so mousy, so chicken, that he cannot add his name to his fulminations?

One characteristic of Reformed Pietists--especially the nominal Lutherans--is the need to claim good works and question the good works of others. For instance, the chattering NML agent quoted below brags he is descended from a synodical treasurer. An electric thrill ran up and down my leg and I considered his true-blue Welsian blood. Unfortunately, most Lutherans do not know what the Wisconsin sect is.

Many who do know the Wisconsin sect are unimpressed. David Jay Webber, who may be known to the anonymous source, called WELS - "Our Weak Evangelical Lutheran Sibling" and taught his son to chant about breaking fellowship with WELS. Such are the precious bonds of fellowship between WELS and the Little Sect on the Prairie.

The Church Growth fanatics, whether sober or juiced up, want all their victims to list a series of evangelism good works. Since the CG drones have no trust in the Gospel, they conduct audits on everyone else. They are not concerned that they have turned Moses into the Savior. The CG Enthusiasts prattle on and make people feel guilty about what they have not done.

They are like Catholic priests: "Have you done enough to deserve salvation? No, you have not! Purgatory is a blessing for the likes of you."

They are like Pietistic preachers: "Look at what God has done for you. What have you done for Him? Nothing! Grovel, you swine."

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Church Growth Apostates Scorn the Means of Grace




Baa-a-a-a-h. I am harmless, soft, meek. I can help. Ignore my feral eyes. Now, that is better isn't it? Come a little closer for a big huge... I mean, big hug.



I think it is ironic that in these blogs and such it would appear that the WELS is just repleat (sic) with all this liberalism in CG and all you need to do is talk to someone who is involved in it whole heartedly (sic) and I can tell you. The WELS is 99% full of nothing but crusty old traditionalist boogers who sit on their hands, can't handle change, and won't evangelize...like the many here who only believe in the Holy Confessions that were verbally inspired by Martin Luther...the true Lutheran god.

Tim Niedfeldt, Northwestern Mutual Life

Victory of the Lamb Lutheran Church (WELS)
Web/AV ministry

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Prescription Price Shocker at Sam's Club




I went to the doctor's for a routine exam. The physician's assistant suggested I try Sam's Club for the prescription. I have no group insurance and individual coverage went beyond the stratosphere some years ago.

I said, "I tried Wal-Mart already. They are no better than Walgreen's."

She said, "My $100 prescription is $20 there. Try them."

So I did.

Norvasc is about $90 a month, name brand.

The generic is $50 a month at Walgreen's and Wal-Mart.

The generic is $5 (five bucks, yes 90% cheaper) at Sam's Club.

My retail advisor says that WM and Sam's are run as separate units, with some happy results at times. So give Sam's a try if prescriptions are beating you down.

For those who qualify for Medicare, the Medicare Advantage program may work out, depending on the carrier. Mrs. Ichabod is saving tons of money and getting great care with Cigna.

Thank You For the Mail -
Church Shrinkage Movement Continues




I appreciate the mail you have been sending. I would be happy if a few people read the blog. Instead, people all over the globe read it. Some people say they read it every day.

Two years ago, I worked at getting more teaching opportunities. Nothing seemed to happen. In 2008, two schools expanded rapidly at once, while I added a new set of classes in a third entity, and enrolled in a journalism program. A scheduler in my education (MA) class said, "We start 400 intro to college classes each Monday, and we put 24 students in each class." At least 4 will drop out of each class, perhaps more. But that still means 8,000 new students each week. I do not teach the starter class but the next one, about critical thinking. I am an expert in dealing with logical fallacies, after being in the Wisconsin sect and the CLC (sic). I am listed as "over-used," which means the manager has to override the scheduler to give me more classes. Many more have the same status because of expansion in adult education.

I am mentioning these universities because I continue to wonder at the future of many Lutheran colleges. They have expensive operations and tiny enrollments. Tuition (or rather, school loans) pay for salaries, so costs are way out of line for tiny schools. Bethany, MLC, and WLC could be combined and still be one small college. They are all within 8 hours of each other, a short distance today.

Money Makes the Sect Go Around, The Sect Go Around...
Speaking of money, the Wisconsin sect seems to be getting more frantic about their loot every day. The Love Shack will have a giant sale on indulgences to pay off the money fraudulently drawn from designated accounts. When a congregation attempts to build it so they will come, the leaders find themselves with cost overruns, irritated members, and mortar evangelism. They should read their Schuller more carefully. His Garden Grove Community Church grew only during a population expansion. Once Orange County stablilized, so did his membership.

The various Lutheran synods (ELCA too) imagine that the key to growth is being generic Protestant. They have driven a few clergy to Rome and Constantinople, but they have not achieved their dreams of membership expansion.

The spineless Lutheran pastors chose to do nothing about the Church Growth Movement. The marketing fad has taken over the Lutheran Church. The result is an emphasis on money (but a lack), members (shrinking), love (in the form of self-centeredness). Many faux-Lutherans, who took the CGM seriously, have departed from their nominal membership. Others continue to be lauded and lionized within their synods by the blind and hardened apostates.

The Ninth Sunday after Trinity



The Crab Nebula.

THE spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.
Th' unwearied Sun from day to day
Does his Creator's power display;
And publishes to every land
The work of an Almighty hand.

Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The Moon takes up the wondrous tale;
And nightly to the listening Earth
Repeats the story of her birth:
Whilst all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.

What though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball;
What though nor real voice nor sound
Amidst their radiant orbs be found?
In Reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice;
For ever singing as they shine,
'The Hand that made us is divine.'
(Joseph Addison)




The Ninth Sunday after Trinity

Click here for the 8 AM Sunday service, Phoenix time, and the recorded services and Book of Concord studies.


Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

The Hymn #13 Before Jehovah’s – Old Hundredth
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 1 Corinthians 10:6-13
The Gospel Luke 16:1-9
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #479 Zion rise – Fahre fort
Escape from the Castle of Despair

The Hymn #387 by Luther vss. 1-5 – Nun freut euch
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 # 387 vss. 6-10


1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Luke 16:1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. 3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. 4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. 5 So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? 6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. 8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. 9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

Collect by Veit Dietrich
Lord God, heavenly Father, who hast bountifully given us Thy blessing and our daily bread: We beseech Thee, preserve us from covetousness, and so quicken our hearts that we willingly share Thy blessed gifts with our needy brethren; that we may be found faithful stewards of Thy gifts, and abide in Thy grace when we shall be removed from our stewardship, and shall come before Thy judgment, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.


1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

In this lesson we are warned to learn from the example of those who have been destroyed by their own folly. But we are also encouraged by the promises of God to help us with temptation.


We no longer have to look up historic references to Corinth to show people how sinful one city can become. We only need to look around, wherever we are, from the metropolitan areas to the rural counties. America has become Corinth and we are all paying a terrible price for it. Meth maggots or speed freak are common among the celebrities and among the poor, even though the drug is known for destroying people.

America is following the Roman Empire and many others in its decline. Juvenal, a Roman poet, wrote about women parading around in armor, pretending to be soldiers. We have a general social decline accompanied by vast wealth. Unfortunately, wealth allows vice to multiply rapidly.

Therefore, we have to be careful that we do not get drawn into the decline of society, in the name of freedom and forgiveness, and learn too late the penalties attached to that decline. In addition, we should not despair that so many seem to get away with everything. God’s Law is natural law. He commands what is good for us. Therefore, if we continue to violate His law, the consequences will follow.

Most police reports begin, “Outside a bar, downtown, at 2 AM…” or “Police are looking for the live-in boyfriend, who is suspected of…” If those two factors were eliminated, the crime stories would be much tamer. People cannot defy natural law and enjoy good consequences from their actions.

Luther explained the problem of temptation as follows, paraphrased. Satan deceives people to sin, as if there will never be bad consequences. They go along blindly and often enjoy a great measure of happiness, especially in scorning those who feel inhibited by such concepts as right and wrong. However, at the end Satan tears away the mask and shows people what they have become. Then they despair of all forgiveness and make themselves even more fodder for the devil.

Imagine how pitiful is the condition of the great apostates of today – those religious leaders who do not believe in salvation through Christ alone. Are they poor? Are they losing members? Are they scorned by the media? No, just the opposite is true. The worse they become, the more successful they are in every respect but one. Their hearts are hardened against God’s Word. One man wrote about going in to see a televangelist about the corruption of his ministries. The minister responded by ordering his financial secretary to write out a large check, a bribe to silence the man. How much money will God need to be silent on the Day of Judgment? “Lord, Lord, did we not perform great miracles in Your Name?”

Temptation comes in other forms for believers. Then Satan makes us think that others have much better conditions. He encourages us to doubt the goodness of God. Some believers question whether they can be forgiven and fall into despair when they realize how weak their flesh is. However, when we fall into temptation, we should be reminded of how we cannot rely on our own strength to save ourselves.

Since we live in an era with great wealth and peace, we do not despair about the age-old problems of hunger, security, and housing. Nevertheless, there are many ways to be tempted.

Those who suffer from long-term illness are tempted to despair. Many opportunities are closed off to them. I have known several people who are always treated as if they are retarded, just because they have limited physical abilities. The equation does not make sense, unless we believe a professional wrestler is a genius.

Long-term illnesses are almost always accompanied by great discomfort and pain, and many forms of humiliation. Greater expenses are matched by lower income. We worship the active, athletic life, and not one of thought, so it is easy for many people to feel useless because they are not athletes in residence.

But God’s purpose should not be questioned. We should not think He neglects us but rather see how He gives us blessings in the form of problems. Years ago, one mother was despairing because her son had special learning problems. Her husband made $400 an hour in sales, so they were not limited by financial concerns. I said, “That’s a minor problem. He just needs some special training and lots of love.” She said, with some disgust, “You make it sound so easy.” I thought to myself, “Compared to what I have seen in many hospitals and nursing homes, yes it is.”

When people have little, they often value the smallest things. One of our friends had severe lupus, retardation, physical problems, and a father who died fairly young. Her relatives did not treat her very well. On one icy Minnesota day, I stopped at Hardy’s and got her a bag of French fries, her favorite. The weather was too evil for her to walk there. She munched on those fries as if they were the best gourmet food in the world.

When someone has almost nothing, God’s Word is the only treasure. I think we could find more believers among the chronically ill than among the chronically rich. Knowing that their lives are shortened and many things beyond their reach or imagination, they take great comfort in the promises of God. A poor weak person is usually far more patient than a rich, strong person. It is well known that the Mafia don, John Gotti, beat the daylights out of a truck driver for talking back to him. Then, at the assault trial, he scared the trucker into denying the beating. What makes the chronically ill more patient is not their greater virtue, but the leaven of the Gospel working in them, making them more forgiving, more willing to endure.

Despair does not always come from great difficulties. It also comes from the normal challenges of daily life. For instance, as Luther wrote, it is easy to become despondent over the state of the church and the disappointing behavior of pastors. I counted up four pastors I have tried to help with publishing. All four have been especially spiteful and destructive. Those who want to be faithful Lutherans find themselves in one congregation after another, prompting their relatives to mock them for never being happy. I was told several times that WELS district presidents had gone through one doctrinal crisis with the break with the Missouri Synod. For that reason, they refused to engage in another doctrinal battle, as if God gives us a quota of one in our lifetimes. Even deer licenses are more lenient than that.

Despair can also come from fulfilling responsibility and never seeing any great results, often reverses. Mothers must do the same jobs every day and never feel rested or caught up. Gratitude is not a quality found in great abundance in children. Surrounded by love and concern, children take it for granted. Who can measure the great impact a loving mother has on her children, especially when the time spent (for an at-home mother) is so rarely in evidence today?

God’s blessings are being realized when we tempted to despair. At one time I thought my whole life consisted of walking through hospital halls, waiting for test results, listening to social workers insult my intelligence, watching helplessly as the weakness grew in our children. Every cure made things worse. Later, I realized those were times of the greatest possible happiness and fulfilling as well. It is a blessing to be able to care for someone and to receive so much love in response. Black Christians consider it a great honor to be able to care for someone. It is in giving without receiving back that we approach God’s love for us, but God gives us many rewards in the act of giving time and concern.

God promises us a way of escape, an answer for the problems of the moment. In that way, time after time, we see how God works to solve our greatest difficulties. When we see a teenager blow his stack over a minor frustration, we can say, “Oh yes, I often feel the same way.” When we think about how silly it is at the moment, we can think, “I have been as silly if not worse.”

Escaping the Castle of Despair
Every Lutheran should know the great work of Bunyan called Pilgrim’s Progress, because many Biblical lessons are taught in the allegory. I often recall the scene in which Christian is lying in a jail cell in the Castle of Despair. The giant who captured him is loudly discussing with his wife how he will kill Christian in the morning. Finally Christian realizes that he has had the keys to unlock the jail cell all along. They were in his pocket. They are: the Promises of God.

The Gospel defeats despair because it is nothing more than the promises of God. Do we have worries? God will provide. Are we afraid? God will take care of us. Does our suffering seem meaningless? God will show us the meaning in time.

When I think about difficult people I have known, and they come in a marvelous assortment, I believe they have one thing in common – no concept of forgiveness. It is not so much that they must be forgiving toward others. They seem never to have grasped forgiveness of their own sins, how they can receive it and rejoice in it. Forgiveness comes to us through that contrition which is worked in us by God’s Law. We see ourselves as we truly are when we look into the mirror of the Law. It is not that contrition makes us worthy to be forgiven.

Forgiveness of sin is not based upon how sorry we are or how sorry we say we are. Forgiveness comes from the Gospel alone, received in faith. But as long as our hearts are hardened in pride, as if we need no forgiveness, the Gospel does not mean anything to us.

But when we properly despair of ourselves and ask for mercy from God, we realize how great His love is toward us, how devoid of resting that love upon our worthiness.

Those who know how great this forgiveness is, through the blood of Christ on the cross, also find it easy to forgive others as well. They are also likely to assure others, “Just as God helped me out of my troubles, so He will help you in your crisis.” God is faithful. He will fulfill His promises. His Gospel promises defeat despair, fear, and anxiety.

Quotations

A Pastor Smites Wolves
"It is not enough that we preach correctly, which the hireling can also do; but we must watch over the sheep, that the wolves, false teachers, may not break in, and we must contend for the sheep against the wolves, with the Word of God, even to the sacrifice of our lives. Such are good shepherds, of whom few are found."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 34. Second Sunday after Easter. John 10:11-16.
Spineless Conservative Pastors Are Wolves
"For nothing can feed or give life to the soul, which is not the doctrine of Christ. Although the hireling does not himself slay and destroy, he does not restrain the wolf. Therefore, because you neither point out nor teach this shepherd, you shall not and ought not to be heard, but you shall be shunned as a wolf."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 58f. Second Sunday after Easter. John 10:11-16.
False Teachers and the Colored Filter
"They [the false teachers] fared like a man who looks through a colored glass. Put before such a man whatever color you please, he sees no other color than that of the glass. The fault is not that the right color is not put before him but that his glass is colored differently, as the word of Isaiah 6:9 puts it: You will see, he says, and yet you will not see it."
Martin Luther, What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols.,
ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 644. Isaiah 6:9.
Adiaphora and Confessional Crisis
"We believe, teach, and confess that at a time of confession, as when enemies of the Word of God desire to suppress the pure doctrine of the holy Gospel, the entire community of God, yes, every individual Christian, and especially the ministers of the Word as the leaders of the community of God are obligated to confess openly, not only by words but also through their deeds and actions, the true doctrine and all that pertains to
it, according to the Word of God. In such a case we should not yield to adversaries even in matters of indifference, nor should we tolerate the imposition of such ceremonies on us by adversaries in order to undermine the genuine worship of God and to introduce and confirm their idolatry by force or chicanery. It is written, 'For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.' (Galatians 5:1)."
Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article X, 10-11, The Book of Concord, ed. Theodore G. Tappert, Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1983, p. 612. Galatians 5:1.
Luther and Fellowship
"Dr. Luther, who understood the true intention of the Augsburg Confession better than any one else, remained by it steadfastly and defended it constantly until he died. Shortly before his death, in his last confession, he repeated his faith in this article with great fervor and wrote as follows: 'I reckon them all as belonging together (that is, as Sacramentarians and enthusiasts), for that is what they are who will not believe that the Lord's bread in the Supper is his true, natural body, which the godless or Judas receive orally as well as St Peter and all the saints. Whoever, I say, will not believe this, will please let me alone and expect no fellowship from me. This is final." [WA 54:155, 156]
Formula of Concord, Epitome, Article VII, Lord's Supper, 33, The Book of Concord, ed. Theodore G. Tappert, Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1959, p. 575.
Spoiling the Egyptian Garbage
"Is it possible that one who has such models as Luther, Walther, Stoeckhardt, Lochner, Sieck, C. C. Schmidt, and Wessel, etc., etc., should leave these rich pastures to feed upon such garbage heaps as those from whom I have quoted?"
Martin S. Sommer, Concordia Pulpit for 1932, St. Louis:
Concordia Publishing House, 1931, p. viii.
"It is the purpose of this volume to aid in displacing books of Reformed preachers. We would encourage the cultivation of distinctly Lutheran preaching. Therefore, we now appeal to our brethren always to consult Luther when preparing to preach. Quo propior Luthero, eo melior theologus! Let us who are called Lutheran preachers be sure that in every one of our sermons we preach God's Word and Luther's doctrine pure. It is that preaching which God demands of us, 1 Peter 4:11. It was that preaching which conquered the Roman Goliath, Revelation 12:11. By that preaching we shall truly build the walls of Zion, not with hay, straw, and stubble, but with such stones as all the powers of hell shall never overthrow, Luke 21:15."
Martin S. Sommer, Concordia Pulpit for 1932, St. Louis:
Concordia Publishing House, 1931, p. ix.
Proper Use of Love
"In like manner we will also do to our princes and priests;

when they attack our manner of life, we should suffer it and show love for hatred, good for evil; but when they attack our doctrine, God's honor is attacked, then love and patience should cease and we should not keep silent, but also say: I honor my Father, and you dishonor me; yet I do not inquire whether you dishonor me, for I do not seek my own honor."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed.,
John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983,

II, p. 176. Fifth Sunday in Lent. John 8:46-59.

III. THE CONCLUSION OF THE BOOK OF CONCORD
"We have no intention of yielding aught of the eternal, immutable truth of God for the sake of temporal peace, tranquility, and unity (which, moreover, is not in our power to do). Nor would such peace and unity, since it is devised against the truth and for its suppression, have any permanency. Still less are we inclined to adorn and conceal a corruption of the pure doctrine and manifest, condemned errors. But we entertain heartfelt pleasure and love for, and are on our part sincerely inclined and anxious to advance, that unity according to our utmost power, by which His glory remains to God uninjured, nothing of the divine truth of the Holy Gospel is surrendered, no room is given to the least error, poor sinners are brought to true, genuine repentance, raised up by faith, confirmed in new obedience, and thus justified and eternally saved alone through the sole merit of Christ."
Of God's Eternal Election, Article XI, S.D., Formula of Concord, Concordia Triglotta,St. Louis: 1921, p. 1095. The Book of Concord, ed. Theodore Tappert, Philadelphia: Fortress Press, p. 632.

Bible Babes?



Do people think of the little ones, seated,
when they hear the term Bible Babes?


Tim N. - a member:

Now I know our events are "marketed" We send out at least 12 mass mailings of 12000 pieces a year. We design our website our material and almost everything around a "target audience" of unbelievers and unchurched. We have done our research too. We know our website has 15-20 seconds to make an impression and that nearly 80% of anyone who visits our church goes to the website first to find out what to expect and who we are. We know that no handout, no brochure, no website is going to convert someone. We know that we need to get our name out there and let the community know we exist and we care about them. We call Sunday School "Bible Quest" Is that a program now because it has a name? We call our Womens bible study group "Bible Babes" instead of some "circle" or even worse the OWLS (Old Wornout Lutherans). Weekly bible study are called neighborhood groups. I guess those sound like programs...but they are names that make sense to those who don't know "church words". What really is in a name?


Urban Dictionary definition of babe.

Rolf Keeps Orange Jump-Suit




Apparently Rolf Preus is keeping the orange jump-suit issued to him when he joined the Little Sect on the Prairie. He is now the Presiding Bishop of the Rolf Synod. His brother Daniel made fun of people starting their own synods.

In this photo Rolf is congratulating Norm Teigen for completing the Minneapolis Bridge, one of a dozen of Norm's volunteer projects.

I just got an email correction. They are congratulating each other for being related to most of the Lutheran clergy in the Midwest.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Sincere Flattery from Another Church Growth Hive



Luther (remember him?) referred to the Enthusiasts as Schwaermer, German for buzzing bees. Swatting at them only makes them mad and sting. But their sting is rather slight.


Doing a little research on Bailing Water, I came across some gratuitous insults from a Tim Niedfeldt. According to LinkedIn, he is a Northwestern Mutual Life agent. I wonder if Tim's boss approves of him calling the extensive quoting of orthodox Lutheran theologians "tripe." We are all quite sure Tim has read most all of 1200 posts recently.

Here are a few of the inspired words of Tim. He is quite verbose.

I have done a lot of reading the last few weeks as I stumbled across this site and then branched out to read the many others with related themes. I've read most all of Wacky Jackson and his tripe. I've read the issuesinwels folks site, the motley magpie, combed through all the comments on these blogs. I've had many things cross my mind that I'd love to say about various issues and even started some comments of my own ...only to stop and decide there would be no point arguing here...much like the protester in Tienamen Square.

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GJ - I checked out Tim's congregation, which is an oozy-schmoozy WELSy Church Growth. They have a women's Bible study group, a fun group, called Bible Babes. I read that title over twice. The congregation suffers from Mark Freier Syndrome, I fear. Mark was a WELS Church Growth Superstar, fawned over by the Love Shack until he left True Blue WELS altogether.

The congregation has a statement of faith, a corrupted and mangled version of what I published 21 years ago. The edited sentences have the lilt of a flat tire and the sentiments of an ELCA seminary graduate. But no, Pastor Ben is a product of the Sausage Factory in Mequon:

What We Believe

In an age of anxiety, we believe that real peace comes from Jesus Christ.

In an age of confusion, we believe that the Bible is the word of God, without error.

In an age of doubt, we believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

In an age of guilt, we believe that Jesus died on the cross to remove the power of sin from our lives.

In an age of hopelessness, we believe that Jesus rose physically from death -- and so will we rise.

In an age of skepticism, we believe that God is at work in the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.

In an age of despair, we believe God's promises to heal and transform us.
In an age of violence, we believe that God calls us to embody his love in the world.

In an age of constant change, we believe in the unchanging Holy Trinity -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

(I wonder if Pastor Ben and his wife were featured at the last Church and Change Conference, as co-ministers. Perhaps an insider can post a denial...to confirm they were.)

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Below is the original. The changes, evidenced above, by the crypto-Pentecostals, are interesting:

We Still Believe

In an age of anxiety, we still believe that peace comes from Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

In an age of confusion, we still believe that the Bible is the Word of God, inerrant and infallible.

In an age of doubt, we still believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

In an age of guilt, we still believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to remove the power of sin, death, and Satan from our lives.

In an age of fear, we still believe that Christ rose bodily from the dead to win for us eternal life.

In an age of self-centeredness, we still believe that God acts through the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion.

In an age of constant change, we still believe in the unchanging Holy Trinity: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

"If you hold to my teaching, then you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8:31-32

***

GJ - I am flattered that this neo-Pentecostal congregation, a mission of WELS, begins with a badly copied, goofily corrupted version of a confession I published for everyone to use. For some reason the Church Growth fanatics must denounce me by name in public, without offering any reason for their bile. And yet, at last count, congregations in three synods have used We Still Believe as their very first statement on their congregational websites. To copy their example I would have to reproduce something from Leonard Sweet or Pete Wagner on the template of this blog and call it my confession. Does anyone see how conflicted these poor devils are?

This just in from Crossroads:

As Crossroads Community Church moves into its sixteenth year of existence, we look back at the people who have led us, the founding families and the Pastors Rick Miller, Kelly Voigt and Mark Freier, and say thanks for getting us here.

Pastor Joe listed three men who were trained in Church Growth at the Sausage Factory, by such luminaries as David Valleskey and Peter Wagner (required reading). All three men have left the Lutheran Church. Crossroads - started with the blessing of WELS DP Robert Mueller and VP Paul Kuske - is no longer pretending to be Lutheran.

Mark Freier and Debbie will stage your wedding. Cool.

Q: Is there any couple you wouldn't marry?
A: I am very open minded. I have officiated ceremonies for people of various backgrounds: Catholic, Protestant (both denominational and non-denominational), Hindu, Jewish, etc.

Mark's quick wit, personal style, and professional leadership set the tone for the wedding weekend.

Respectful of your religious or non-religious traditions and backgrounds.


Church Growth--> Ecumenism--> Anything goes--> Atheism.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Sincere Flattery from Another Church Growth Hive":

Pastor Ben's wife was allowed to take Greek classes at MLC because she said that as a pastor's wife should would need to help out with his preaching. I wonder if she is involved with Bible Babes.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Now the Light Goes On:
Holy Mother Rome Beckons




The Germans have an expression, "Nun geht das Licht an. (Now the light goes on.)" I was thinking about the rampant Romanism at Concordia, Ft. Wayne, and the reasons for the gradual switch from the Robert Preus years.

Then I remembered how the Ignorati at LutherQuest (sic) kept bringing up my degrees from Notre Dame. They overlooked how many Ft. Wayne faculty members had Notre Dame doctorates, which those men earned while LCMS pastors and seminary professors, not as LCA members. So I reminded them about Notre Dame being the school of choice for Ft. Wayne. The Ludiquesters also brought up my synod memberships, until I listed Robert Preus' many affiliations. I pointed out that Al Barry had more synods than a dog has fleas (WELS, ELS, some little sect meeting in a basement in Minneapolis, LCMS).

Notre Dame is famous for being a center of Roman Catholic and Protestant worship training. The school dominates all others in this area, serving as the Microsoft of high churchism in America. Proof is how WELS, Missouri, and the ELS went along with ELCA in adopting the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar and recently invented pericopes. Yes, even the new gay-friendly liturgical colors were minted at the Vatican.

The three-year cycle of readings has displaced the historic one-year cycle. Luther's sermons in the 8 or 5 volume set are based on the ancient pericope series. It is funny how the Lutheran apostates are promoting The Frog in the Kettle while volunteering to be frogs in the kettle. The results are predictable.

Here is a chilling exchange from Virtue Online:

Ackerman: The Church of England has always been 20 to 30 years behind the United States, and we are already witnessing within England a similar phenomenon that has resulted in continuing churches formally or informally applying to Rome moving to Eastern Orthodoxy and or attempting to create a separate province. My hope is that the phenomenal division and hemorrhaging that has taken place in The Episcopalian Church will be an example that the English will look at very carefully as they consider their future.

VOL: As many as 1300 Anglo-Catholic priests in the Church of England are preparing to flee to Rome, many more will wait out another vote sometime in the future in the hope that some sort of provision will be made for them. Some Anglo-Catholic leaders have asked for a Third Province. In your opinion do Anglo-Catholics in the CofE have a prayer of surviving or is their trajectory the same as that of Anglo-Catholics in the Episcopal Church?

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Brian P Westgate has left a new comment on your post "Now the Light Goes On":

What do you mean by "the gay-friendly liturgical colors?"

***

GJ - All of the sudden, WELS and the other sects had to follow ELCA and Rome in using peacock blue and gold and such like for their liturgical colors. They never did before. They got along quite well without the Roman cycle of readings. The apostate leaders (like your Tiefel guy) know that the sheep will follow anyone with a title - right off the cliff. The congregations think they are following new synodical guidelines. Ha. Rome is deliberately making its worship style the norm for all Christians, so it is natural for people disturbed about their sect to join Holy Mother Rome, the Real Church.

The LCMS, WELS, and ELS apostate leaders are ecumenical by default. They have no doctrinal bearings so they wander around.

Gay-friendly anecdote: I mentioned a pastor in South Bend, who was high church long before that was even discussed in the LCA. A pastor who graduated from seminary with this man said, "Oh, he was the only high church guy at the seminary who wasn't gay." That does not make high church automatically an alternate lifestyle, as they say in polite circles, but the Lavender Mafia is over-represented among those sinuflecting to Rome.

Stan Hauerwas Explains Al Just and Pastor Tabor - WELS Church Workers




"One reason why we Christians argue so much about which hymn to sing, which liturgy to follow, which way to worship is that the commandments teach us to believe that bad liturgy eventually leads to bad ethics. You begin by singing some sappy, sentimental hymn, then you pray some pointless prayer, and the next thing you know you have murdered your best friend."

- Stanley Hauerwas

***

GJ - Hauerwas was hired to teach at Augustana College, where Mrs. Ichabod and I met. Her sister baby-sat for his son when he taught at Notre Dame, which led me to apply there.

Hauerwas is the most famous theologian to have taught at Augustana, and they canned him in one year. He took a pay cut to teach at Notre Dame. When the pope visited Notre Dame, he ordered the administration to get rid of its Protestants teaching theology and its liberation (Marxist) theologians. Robert Wilken (LCMS, ELCA, later Roman Catholic) went to Duke. Hauerwas (Methodist, now Episcopalian) went to Duke. Frank and Elisabeth Schussler-Fiorenz (liberation and feminist theologians) landed at Harvard.

Hauerwas is considered the best theologian in America, honored recently by giving the Gifford lectures in Europe. All this is rather ironic since Augustana did not want to keep him.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Minneapolis Bridge To Open,
In Spite of Norm Teigen's Supervision



Norm Teigen Inspects Potential Dedication Signage



NYC Bridges Salute Norm's Boat


The new bridge in Minneapolis, People's Republic of Minnesota, will open soon, in spite of Norm Teigen's constant supervision. The appointed supervisor said, "Yah. Norm got in the way with his camera, but we finished anyway, don't ya know."

One Mortgage Solution


The banks always have their trotters in the trough. Right now we are facing a world-wide Depression caused by no-doc mortgages, also called Liar Loans. Mortgage salesmen made zillions placing mortgages where no income documentation was required for people buying spec homes they were not going to occupy. Eventually the greater fool problem cropped up and that packaged debt was seen as worthless, the extra homes unsold, values dropping faster than ever.

I attended a seminar by NACA, which is a non-profit mortgage agency. They get fees for placing mortgages and for saving owners from foreclosure.

NACA confrontational methods make me uncomfortable, but I wonder what else will work. Banks denounce payday loan operations but they charge $29 for insufficient funds on a $1.27 check when the debit is already covered by a deposit (but the deposit conveniently not counted until midnight).

I know a fair number of banking people from teaching them. All the big banks (like Wells Fargo) had no-doc mortgages until recently. The banking people say, "We don't now!" I reply, "That's like giving someone life insurance without asking health questions or verifying any information." Incredible.

This is how NACA works: They require a lot of documentation to save or start a mortgage. They do not have points or most fees, but they have a $50 monthly charge (for a varying amount of time) for placed or saved mortgages. They do credit and budget counseling as a requirement for getting the mortgage or saving it.

More information is available at their website. They may be a solution for some people. They are organizing in major population centers but can be reached by the Internet as well.

Wayne Mueller Encouraged



PETA Demonstration Outside the Love Shack.
Will Wayne's fatted calf be sacrificed for the Watertown prodigals at the next Junk for Jesus auction?
Photo from Planet Wayne. Seriously.


Bailing Water Was Overseas:

Saturday, July 12, 2008
VP steps aside to allow Leadership to function

Back from my journey abroad to hear that Wayne Mueller has taken a call to serve as a pastor. A little birdy also told me that many at 2929 did encourage Wayne to step down as the new leadership is going a new direction and Wayne had been a bit resistant. It wasn't long ago that Wayne was voted out and then back in.

Glad to see that another Church Growth supporter has stepped down. Maybe the ship is being righted.?


***

GJ - Bailing Water loves those oceanic images. For the ship to stop floundering, the crew needs to be competent.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Wayne Mueller Encouraged":

FOUNDER vs. FLOUNDER
To founder means to sink or fail. A ship founders when it goes down--as does a company. To flounder means to act clumsily or ineffectively, or to thrash about helplessly.
http://grammartips.homestead.com/pairs1.html

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GJ - Rev. Mouse, posting again after a recent drying out, wins the Captain Obvious Award for gratuitous, unsolicited, superfluous advice. WELS is thrashing about helplessly. That is why they launched another once-in-a-lifetime giving opportunity. So I meant flounder, not founder. Remember the big, fat WELS catfish post? Flounder.