Many will parse 11111111 and wonder what the binary code means. One person knows, and that is enough. This post fits many people in the Lutheran Church today.
These are discouraging times for Lutherans laity. The seminaries have been controlled for decades by the unionistic Reformed - in the name of Church Growth. The administrative structures have put their own people in, expelling anyone thought to be disloyal to the agenda. As Father Neuhaus once observed, "Liberals excommunicate for life."
This also happens at the congregational level. Sadly, the Shrinker agenda appeals to the typical layman. If a layman loves sound doctrine, he is different and likely shunned. As Luther observed, the most painful part of this comes from fellow church members being evil. We expect non-believers to be hostile, but there is nothing like the burning rage of the apostates, especially when delivered covertly, anonymously, or in a faux-friendly way.
Another disappointment comes from people who could do or say something, but never do, in fear of retribution, or just because they love approval. I know one pastor who never said anything for years, for or against. He accumulated no negatives that way.
I know of pastors driven out of the ministry for saying one thing about the obvious. One family was driven out of their congregation because their pastor was unethical and dishonest. The pastor was rewarded by the system, promoted, and paid well. He still is.
All that is the gist of church history. The wolves avoid the cross and say, "Look at how well we are doing." They point to those who bear the cross and say, "Look at what miserable failures you are."
One of the saddest moments, which I mentioned before, came when a fine pastor told me he was a failure. He was so hounded by his fellow pastors (all from the same schools, etc.) that he never wanted to preach again. He discounted all his work because the wolves scattered his flock so effectively. That distant city, not where I was, saw three fine pastors driven out by the synod - all for being faithful. If you think there is no doctrinal discipline in WELS, the Little Sect, or Missouri, revise your judgment. Apostates are dogmatic doctrinal discipline advocates, never forgetting, never forgiving.
Walther too commented on the false teachers enjoying the good things of this life, like the rich man, while faithful pastors suffered. I hear from many laity, so I am aware of what they have gone through in various locations.
All those difficulties of life have been true since the beginning and will remain the norm, even with good leadership, which is in short supply. Nevertheless, the will of God bears fruit among the cross-bearers. The very act of bearing the cross, suffering because of the Word, is the source and energy of fruitfulness in the Gospel. So the Gospel seed seems thinly sown but continues to be abundant in the harvest.
In contrast, the thistles grow thick and strong, spreading their influence and glorying in their abundance. But their crop is sterile and useless. Shrinker churches become Reformed, and Reformed churches become Unitarian. There are many large, wealthy, influential Unitarian congregations, but how valuable have they been in preparing people for eternal life?
