Friday, May 29, 2009

Can Lutherans Overcome Their Implicit Doctrine of Synodical Infallibility?



The Love Shack staff was delighted to find this Buddha
being sold in Thailand.


Our Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant lesson on Papal Infallibility reminded me of the implicit Lutheran doctrine of synodical infallibility. No one will admit to it, but the doctrine is expressed in many different ways.

Walther could not be wrong about anything, because that would cast the Synodical Conference in a bad light.

Any publication from the recent past must be defended. Holy Mother Synod is never wrong.

Just like the pope, a seminary professor or DP or synod functionary can declare a doctrine to be true on his own authority, and no one can rescind or debate it.

The accumulated mass of synodical rubbish now competes with the errors of Rome in volume, inner contradictions, and anti-Biblical sentiments. Nevertheless, each Lutheran meeting is marked by an orgy of congratulations for maintaining doctrinal purity, maidenly separation from pox-ridden ELCA, and an abundance of grace. If anyone disagrees, the Sisera method of persuasion is applied with vigor.

Long ago, Pope John XXII saw the dangers of infallibility. He did not want his hands tied down by the declarations of former popes. The reigning Antichrist--thanks to Pope Pius IX--is welded to all previous declarations. No matter what Pope Benedict says now, he is just as Medieval as the popes who battled Luther.

Likewise, the conservative Lutheran synod presidents are burdened with all the errors of the last 50 years. Going back too far would remind them how far they have strayed.


Holy Mother Synod knows how to admonish dissenters.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, yes, all member congregations must pledge allegiance to the holy mother synod and pay tribute. It is God given governance. To question means one must leave. That is how it brings order to religion. We cannot violate it without going against God.

Anonymous said...

WELS ordained pastors are infallible! God and the Holy Spirit speak to them through prayerful thought. Who are we to question? We are just dumb sheep.

Everything that appears to be failure in WELS is really the Will of God. He makes all things happen, and His Will is good. Our pastors make no bad judgment calls as long as they are guided by the Holy Spirit.

Also, our DPs are the vicars of Christ. We need no other pope.

Anonymous said...

If you have any doubts about the infallibility of WELS leaders and pastors, just ask them. They will tell you so in their own way.

Anonymous said...

WELS leaders have a very high opinion of themselves and know how to handle dissenters.

rlschultz said...

The previous two comments are spot on. Recently, I had a young WELS pastor actually admit that his gullibility was one of his weaknesses. This was so out of character for a WELS pastor that I was completely taken by surprise. I consider the incident the exception rather than the rule. One of the most common tactics for WELS pastors is operation by remote control. When called out on the carpet, they hide behind the decisions of a board, the council or the voters' assembly. Cowardice is one of the marks of a bully.

Anonymous said...

Another mark is that while they get off on bullying members they fear and shy away from dealing with non-believers and the unchurched. They do not want to be the victim. Their duties confine them to their church where they feel safe.

Anonymous said...

The answer is NO. All members must accept the infallibility of the synod -- either accept it or the highway.