The latest issue of Christian News arrived yesterday, reminding me that conservative Lutherans have thrown away most of their opportunities in the last 50 years.
Otten promoted George Stoeckhardt as the greatest Lutheran exegete in America. Stoeckhardt was one of the more obvious proponents of justification without faith, UOJ.
Here is the problem. Missouri conservatives begin and end with the Synodical Conference - its glorious history, its descended-from-heaven doctrine.
Missouri, WELS, and the Little Sect came from European Pietism. They battled Enthusiasm and unionism, not always with great success. All three groups have engaged in extensive navel-gazing, marveling at how God has blessed them with such purity of doctrine and severity of practice.
LCMS
Under Barry-McCain, all the demons of apostasy flourished and grew - unionism, feminist ordination, Church Growthism, and Pentecostalism. McCain reminds me of General Custer telling everyone how he won at Little Big Horn.WELS
Under Mischke and Gurgle, WELS found a new love...ELCA and quietly celebrated its morganatic marriage. Church Growthism, feminist ordination, and other toxins grew faster than kudzu. WELS is now tossing the old team out in favor of Lutheran doctrine.Little Sect on the Prairie
Under Orvick and Moldstad, the ELS covertly criticized WELS while overtly kelming their big sister denomination's worst habits. But, when some dared disagree with the ambiguous political statements of the sect, the righteous wrath of Pope John the Malefactor was kindled and the Left Foot of Fellowship extended. The ELS has not yet recovered from the Johannine purge.
