ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
Music: Franz Xaver Gruber, 1818
Words: Joseph Mohr, 1816/1818
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
---
Silent night, holy night
All is calm all is bright
'Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia;
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
---
There have been many stories of the origins of the Christmas carol “Silent Night, Holy Night.” One of the most popularly told one is as follows:
In the winter of 1818 at St. Nicholas’ Church at Obendorf, a village near Salzburg, Austria, Joseph Mohr, the assistant to the priest, faced a dilemma. It was just days before Christmas, and the church organ which was so important to providing music for the Christmas services was broken. Since the organ repairman was not a local of the village it would actually be months before the repair could be made, and Christmas would be long past.
His solution to the problem of the broken organ resulted in one of the most popular Christmas carols of all time. In 1816 Mohr had written a simple poem that the villagers could understand expressing the wonder of the birth of Jesus. He asked his friend Franz Gruber who was the organist at St. Nicholas to write music to accompany his poem so that they could sing it together using a guitar to accompany their singing.
They first performed their newly composed Christmas carol at the Christmas Eve midnight service on December 24, 1818. It did not instantly receive the worldwide recognition it has come to know, however. It was not until years later in 1825 when Carl Mauracher was rebuilding the organ at St. Nicholas that a handwritten copy of the words and music was found in the organ loft.
Mauracher was from an area in the mountains of Tyrol which had many traveling folk choirs who performed throughout Europe. He carried the carol back home, and it became a popular song with the choirs as they traveled and spread its popularity wherever they went.
In some versions of the story it is told that mice had eaten the bellows of the organ. Others say that Gruber himself had broken the organ. It is believed that there was frequent flooding of the area that caused rust and mildew to affect the condition of the church organ often making it unplayable. It is actually not known however if the organ was truly broken at Christmastime of 1818. Some say that Mohr simply wanted a new carol for the service and was fond of the guitar as an instrument. Some stories tell that both the poem and the music were hastily written that Christmas Eve. A manuscript for “Silent Night” in Mohr’s hand was discovered in 1995 which is dated 1816. In the manuscript Mohr credits the melody used for the carol to Franz Gruber.
Whatever the details of the circumstances, Joseph Mohr’s and Franz Gruber’s contribution of Christmas music for their village’s Christmas Eve midnight mass gave us all the beautiful “Silent Night, Holy Night.”
submitted by Janice Hayen
"Now Rest Beneath Night's Shadow"
by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676
1. Now rest beneath night's shadow
The woodland, field, and meadow,
The world in slumber lies;
But Thou, my heart, awake thee,
To prayer and song betake thee;
Let praise to thy Creator rise.
2. The radiant sun hath vanished,
His golden rays are banished
By night, the foe of day;
But Christ, the Sun of gladness,
Dispelling all my sadness,
Within my heart holds constant sway.
3. The rule of day is over
And shining jewels cover
The heaven's boundless blue.
Thus I shall shine in heaven,
Where crowns of gold are given
To all who faithful prove and true.
4. To rest my body hasteth,
Aside its garments casteth,
Types of mortality;
These I put off and ponder
How Christ will give me yonder
A robe of glorious majesty.
5. Lord Jesus, who dost love me,
Oh, spread Thy wings above me
And shield me from alarm!
Though evil would assail me,
Thy mercy will not fail me:
I rest in Thy protecting arm.
6. My loved ones, rest securely,
For God this night will surely
From peril guard your heads.
Sweet slumbers may He send you
And bid His hosts attend you
And through the night watch o'er your beds.
Hymn #554
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Ps. 139: 11
Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1648, cento
Translated by: composite
Titled: Nun ruhen alle Waelder
Composer: Heinrich Isaak, c. 1490
Tune: O Welt, ich muss dich lassen
---
Nun ruhen alle Wälder,
Vieh, Menschen, Städt und Felder,
Es schläft die ganze Welt;
Ihr aber, meine Sinnen,
Auf auf, ihr sollt beginnen,
Was eurem Schöpfer wohlgefällt.
Wo bist du, Sonne, blieben?
Die Nacht hat dich vertrieben,
Die Nacht, des Tages Feind;
Fahr hin! Ein ander Sonne,
Mein Jesus, meine Wonne,
Gar hell in meinem Herzen scheint.
Der Tag ist nun vergangen,
Die güldnen Sterne prangen
Am blauen Himmelssaal;
Also werd ich auch stehen,
Wann mich wird heißen gehen
Mein Gott aus diesem Jammertal.
Der Leib eilt nun zur Ruhe,
Legt ab das Kleid und Schuhe,
Das Bild der Sterblichkeit;
Die Zieh ich aus. Dagegen
Wird Christus mir anlegen
Den Rock der Ehr und Herrlichkeit
Das Haupt, die Füß und Hände
Sind froh, daß nun zu Ende
Die Arbeit kommen sei;
Herz, freu dich, du sollst werden
Vom Elend dieser Erden
Und von der Sünden Arbeit frei.
Nun geht, ihr matten Glieder,
Geht hin und legt euch nieder,
Der Betten ihr begehrt;
Es kommen Stund und Zeiten,
Da man euch wird bereiten
Zur Ruh ein Bettlein in der Erd.
Mein Augen stehn verdrossen,
Im Hui sind sie geschlossen,
Wo bleibt denn Leib und Seel?
Nimm sie zu deinen Gnaden,
Sei gut für allem Schaden,
Du Aug und Wächter Israel.
Breit aus die Flügel beide,
O Jesu, meine freude,
Und nimm dein Küchlein ein!
Will Satan mich verschlingen,
So lass die Englein singen:
Dies Kind soll unverletzet sein.
Auch euch, ihr meine Lieben,
Soll heute nicht betrüben!
Kein Unfall noch Gefahr.
Gott laß euch selig schlafen,
Stell euch die güldnen Waffen
Ums Bett und seiner Engel Schar
The Second Sunday in Advent
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship
Bethany Lutheran Worship, 8 AM Phoenix Time
The Hymn # 71 St. George IV.9
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 15:4-13
The Gospel Luke 21:25-36
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn # 376 Toplady IV.47
Written for Our Learning
The Hymn #304 St. Crispin IV.6
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 #657 Schoenster Herr Jesus IV.24
KJV Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
KJV Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. 29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Second Sunday In Advent
Lord God, heavenly Father, who by Thy Son hast revealed to us that heaven and earth shall pass away, that our bodies shall rise again, and that we all shall appear before the judgment seat: We beseech Thee, keep us by Thy Holy Spirit in Thy word; establish us in the true faith, graciously defend us from sin and preserve us in all temptations, that our hearts may not be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, but that we may ever watch and pray and, trusting fully in Thy grace, await with joy the glorious coming of Thy Son, and at last obtain eternal salvation, through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
KJV Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
Written for Our Learning
The continuity of the Scriptures is one of the clearest signs of the Holy Spirit’s inspiration.
There is only one message in the Word of God, and we can see that plainly – from the Book of Genesis to the Book of Revelation. The Bible carries Christ the way a cradle holds a baby, as Luther said.
When someone goes to visit a newborn baby, the parents will say, “There he is,” and point to the cradle or crib. The visitor may see the bed and blankets, but the main focus is on the baby. The importance of the container is the baby.
Often the academics who get bored with the Word (by ignoring the Word) point to everything else except Christ in the Scriptures. Or they want to make a case – that only part of the Bible is valid for them.
I find it interesting that Fuller Seminary has always been passed off as a conservative Protestant seminary. Even in its earliest days the school had a compromised statement on the inerrancy of the Scriptures. They only confessed the Scriptures to be inerrant about doctrine, which meant they thought there were historical and geographical errors. (This is another symptom of rationalism, where current attitudes judge the Bible rather than allowing God’s Word to judge all books.) From that compromised view of inerrancy they degenerated into a polemical stand against inerrancy and all kinds of errors have followed that.
The so-called conservative Lutherans from Missouri, WELS, and the ELS have loved Fuller—not in spite of that—but because of that opposition to inerrancy. Apostates know each other and love each other. The intellectual trip from Fuller Seminary to Freedom From Religion is a short one, as I have seen in many cases.
The Word of God remains the anvil upon which many hammers have been worn out. We only need to let the Word speak to have its effect.
One way we do that is by learning the basic content of the Old Testament. The Old Testament is more like a library of books, and this library includes the Creation and continues until the time before Christ.
Genesis 1 begins with God commanding through the Word. Genesis 1 implies the Son of God creating, and John 1 makes this explicit. “All things came about through Him. Nothing was created without Him.”
The Genesis Flood gives us our modern world and the first sacramental sign – the rainbow – a common, physical element combined with God’s Promise.
The modern world has been shaped by the Genesis Flood. When I visit the Grand Canyon and see the Great Lakes, I see the evidence of the Flood. Oil, natural gas, and coal are all called fossil fuels, but how did all that organic material get compressed and gathered at once? I find it intriguing that oil is found near brine deposits. Michigan is known for its salty oil. In fact, Midland Michigan became a chemical town because Dow wanted to use the vast deposits of brine underneath the soil. Salt water is so common in Midland that they spray that on snowy streets to melt the ice. Dow donates brine from its many brine wells. Brine and oil are together where an inland sea covered the area. Rehwinkel argued in his book that oil came from vast shoals of fish killed in the cataclysm of the Flood.
I was reading recently that the first oil rigs used in Pennsylvania were borrowed from drilling for brine in the area. They knew what to do with brine. Oil had to find a market. A chemist at Yale investigated this rock oil (petroleum – rock oil) and discovered it could be fractioned into kerosene and other useful components.
Much more could be said about coal, where 10 feet of leafy matter is supposedly needed to form a coal seam 1 foot thick. And yet there are seams of coal 90 feet thick. Where did 900 feet of leafy matter come from? Or, why are dinosaurs found heaped up in one place, or a mountain of animal bones, with all the animals together, as if they gathered to escape rising waters?
When scientists and engineers deal with our elements and how to use them, it is clear that God provided for man’s future.
The divine purpose we see in Creation gives us hope and comfort as well. Every single aspect of Creation has a purpose, and so do we. I copied this portion of Psalms in all my classes at one school:
KJV Psalm 37:18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. 21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. 22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. 27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. 28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
The key verse is 25:
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Many in the class thanked me for posting this portion of Psalm 37. It is just one example of how the Scriptures provide hope and comfort.
In following the Old Testament, from Genesis through the Prophets and Writings, we can see how God’s plan has unfolded over the centuries, always with Christ at the center.
The Old Testament teaches us about the purpose and plan of God, but also about his mercy and forgiveness through Christ. I remember a member asking about the Old Testament patriarchs, as if they could not be in heaven because they lived before the time of Christ.
Paul makes this point in Romans, that Abraham believed in Christ, and it was counted (or reckoned) as righteousness. That is, Abraham was justified by faith. He received forgiveness through his faith in Christ, not because of works. All the Old Testament figures who believed in the Messiah were those who believed in the Messiah to come. The Scriptures all taught the coming of the Messiah, and many believed before the Incarnation.
Luther pointed out in a sermon that faith in Jesus was more difficult because people saw an ordinary looking man rather than an ideal figure. Nothing was lacking in Jesus, but his disciples and the crowds often expected something else, even demanded something else. Peter rebuked Jesus for declaring His future of death and resurrection (Matthew 16).
So we may begin with Jesus in the New Testament and look back into the Old Testament, or begin with the Old Testament and see how all the Promises were fulfilled in the New Testament.
From either perspective we see the continuity of God’s message, His clear and plain Word of salvation.
Quotations
Preaching of the Gospel – Stone in a Pond
"The preaching of this message may be likened to a stone thrown into the water, producing ripples which circle outward from it, the waves rolling always on and on, one driving the other, till they come to the shore. Although the center becomes quiet, the waves do not rest, but move forward. So it is with the preaching of the Word. It was begun by the apostles, and it constantly goes forward, is pushed on farther and farther by the preachers, driven hither and thither into the world, yet always being made known to those who never heard it before, although it be arrested in the midst of its course and is condemned as heresy."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 202. Ascension Day Mark 16:14-20.
Two Natures of Christ
"These arguments of the Monothelites can be found in the proceedings of the Sixth General Council and in the writings of Damascenus. The Church was severely shaken by this controversy, for on the one hand, the Nestorians, under the pretext of the two wills and activities in Christ, tore the person of the one Christ in two, and on the other hand the Eutychians, stressing the one activity, took away the difference of the natures and the essential attributes of Christ."
Martin Chemnitz, The Two Natures of Christ, 1578, trans. J. A. O. Preus, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1971. p. 234. [Monothelite means Christ has only one will, which is divine, so He would never be tempted. Nestorius attributed some things to human nature, other actions to divine nature, dividing the Two Natures of Christ.]
"This dispute concerning the two wills and the two natural operations in Christ is no idle thing, for in addition to the points which we have mentioned, it also has this use that the Son of God assumed our nature in such a way that first in and through Himself He restored our nature to its pristine beauty which had been despoiled and corrupted in Adam, as Cyril says, In Johannem, Book 11, chapter 25...He restored even the powers which our nature had lost because of sin, and in Himself He first repaired and renewed the powers which had been corrupted through sin."
Martin Chemnitz, The Two Natures of Christ, 1578, trans. J. A. O. Preus, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1971. p. 239.
"To repudiate the errors of both Eutychianism and Nestorianism, we may briefly say: As in Christ the natures themselves are not transformed, but are and remain distinct. This is expressed in the words: 'Each of the two natures does what is peculiar to it.' However, as the natures are not separated, but personally united in such a manner that 'all fullness of the Godhead' dwells in the human nature as in His body, so also the actions of the natures are not separated, but always united, that is, divine-human (theandric) actions. This is expressed in the words: 'Each nature does what is peculiar to it in conjuction with the other.'"
Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, 3 vols., St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1951, II, p. 268 Colossians
"To judge Reformed Christology correctly, we must, in the first place, consider the fact that Reformed theology, through the use of rationalistic axions, fixes an unbridgeable gulf between itself and genuine Christian theology; and secondly, set forth the points at which Reformed theology itself agains establishes connection with the Christian doctrine. It is only by this approach that we can rightly understand the Reformed denominations in our own country which, through their representative teachers, on the one hand, honestly mean to stand up for the Bible doctrine against liberalism, and yet, sharply attack the Lutheran doctrine of the Person of Christ, which, as we have seen, is the teaching of Holy Scripture."
Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, 3 vols., St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1951, II, p. p. 272.
"If Reformed theology wishes to free itself from the confusion of self-contradiction and its other Christological errors, it must by all means eliminate its rationalistic principle that the finite is not capable of the infinite."
Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, 3 vols., St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1951, II, p. p. 275.
Read this article and follow the link.
Fuller is the favorite seminary of ELCA, LCMS, WELS, and ELS pastors. The results are obvious.
Some people like to market the idea that I hate WELS and WELS hates me. One poor soul named Tiefel used to do that in the CLC. He was always trying to protect WELS from me. At the time, Martin Luther College made a point of welcoming me and telling me about their book give-aways at the library. The MLC library also bought my latest books from me.
NPH is selling Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant. I did not even know that until I looked for Liberalism: Its Cause and Cure, which was in print for about 15 years. Wally Oelhafen, Fred Adrian, and Roger Kovaciny hated the "Cure" chapter, when I gave it as a conference paper. Until then I had no cure for Liberalism. Thanks to them, I did.
I am happy to promote worthwhile books. Today our book is the new WELS Yearbook.
Some readers are thinking, "You must be daft."
Not at all. I am a firm believer in data-mining, collecting as much information as possible. The most interesting tidbits are found in the nooks and crannies of official documents and websites. For instance, as of last night, Wayne Mueller was still the First VP of WELS, according to WELS.net. And Janke was still the DP of the Arizona-California-Las Vegas District.
I have had great fun mining the Church and Change website, watching information disappear. Ski's bio disappeared, as soon as I took notice of him. No photo. Stealth! By Googling various names I was able to find how they fund each other's programs.
My best source runs rings around me in this department. I would like to give credit where it is due, but some people are shy.
The pastors probably order the Yearbook as a matter of routine. The laity should order it so they can voice their opinion about the direction of the synod. Phone calls and letters are effective because only 10% of the people who want to do something actually carry it out.
Liberals are very political. They line up supporters so they can appear to be dominant. They are not. They just make more noise.
Readers know the names and the basic information. Now they can write and phone. The pastors would rather pussyfoot. The COP? They have done nothing for 30 years.
Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "To Sing at the Ed Stetzer Church and Chicanery Con...":
Martin Luther to George Major:
"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 to 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 of 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."
Martin Luther, quoted in Bente's Historical Introduction, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 94.
Reu:
"We find this attitude of tolerance quite frequently among unionists. It is often used to assuage a troubled conscience, one's own as well as that of others; for the unionist declares that every one may continue to hold his own private convictions and merely needs to respect and tolerate those of another. This attitude is totally wrong, for it disregards two important factors: (a) in tolerating divergent doctrines one either denies the perspicuity and clarity of the Scriptures, or one grants to error the right to exist alongside of truth, or one evidences indifference over against Biblical truth by surrendering its absolute validity; and (b) in allowing two opposite views concerning one doctrine to exist side by side, one has entered upon an inclined plane which of necessity leads ever further into complete doctrinal indifference, as may plainly be seen from the most calamitous case on record, viz., the Prussian Union."
M. Reu, In the Interest of Lutheran Unity, Columbus: The Lutheran Book Concern, 1940, p. 20.
In Christ,
Brett Meyer
***
Darth Vader: "Luke, I am your father."
Luke: "No-o-o-o-o-o-o!!!"
Everyone is pretty tired of all the Church and Change chicanery. They operate in secret, write to each other in secret, post anonymously, and conspire to bring the worst false teachers to teach Lutherans about the Word of God.
It's all your fault.
You funded them.
Yes, synodical funds started Church and Change.
I heard that before, but I saw the document in the WELS District Pope report - Central Southern Babtist District, 2004. Synodical funding ran out then.
Of course, it just says "Funding ran out." Maybe they found a way to launder the funds first.
I am sure we will get a signed post soon on the whole issue.
Church and Chicanery are supposedly a 501C group now, so they also have public papers filed about their tax status. That would be interesting to find, too.
They do so much good - for Babtists, Methodists, ELCA, Fuller, and Willow Creek.
O Lord, Look Down from Heaven, Behold
by Martin Luther, 1483-1546
1. O Lord, look down from heaven, behold
And let Thy pity waken:
How few are we within Thy Fold,
Thy saints by men forsaken!
True faith seems quenched on every hand,
Men suffer not Thy Word to stand;
Dark times have us o'ertaken.
2. With fraud which they themselves invent
Thy truth they have confounded;
Their hearts are not with one consent
On Thy pure doctrine grounded.
While they parade with outward show,
They lead the people to and fro,
In error's maze astounded.
3. May God root out all heresy
And of false teachers rid us
Who proudly say: "Now, where is he
That shall our speech forbid us?
By right or might we shall prevail;
What we determine cannot fail;
We own no lord and master."
4. Therefore saith God, "I must arise,
The poor My help are needing;
To Me ascend My people's cries,
And I have heard their pleading.
For them My saving Word shall fight
And fearlessly and sharply smite,
The poor with might defending."
5. As silver tried by fire is pure
From all adulteration,
So through God's Word shall men endure
Each trial and temptation.
Its light beams brighter through the cross,
And, purified from human dross,
It shines through every nation.
6. Thy truth defend, O God, and stay
This evil generation;
And from the error of their way
Keep Thine own congregation.
The wicked everywhere abound
And would Thy little flock confound;
But Thou art our Salvation.
Hymn 260
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Ps. 12
Author: Martin Luther, 1523
Translated by: composite
Titled: "Ach Gott vom Himmel, sieh darein"
Tune: "Ach Gott vom Himmel"
1st Published in: Enchiridion
Town: Erfurt, 1524
---
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "To Sing at the Ed Stetzer Church and Change Confer...":
Clearly you regard Martin Luther very highly. Perhaps then you'll remember that he also wrote the following:
We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame our neighbor, but defend him, speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.
***
GJ - That the first Eighth Commandment post I have seen today. As Luther wrote, and we confess, false teachers are not covered by the Eighth Commandment, which is about private sins. When people have published their error and attacked God's Word, obviously, they cannot be slandered by discussing their doctrinal errors.