Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi - literally means law of praying, law of believing, law of living. The phrase is often translated as "The way we worship is the the way we believe and the way we live." Often only the first four words in Latin are used, but the last two are especially fitting when applied to the Shrinkers in Lutherdom. They leave behind them - lawsuits, divorce decrees, and ruined congregations. They are stealth exterminators.
Architecture always reflects faith and worship.
- Roman Catholic churches feature elaborate altars and diminished pulpits, because they feature the abomination of the Mass, a priest's unbloody sacrifice of Christ to reduce one's time in Purgatory.
- Babtist churches feature a wading pool, inside or out, because they are stuck on immersion. Altars are minimal because they have ordinances, but no Sacraments. Non-Lutheran Protestants have baptismal fonts.
- Pentecostals replace altars and pulpits with stages, to feature their amateur bands and singing artists. Others have followed this trend, which has degenerated to entertaining and snacking people at movie theaters.
- Confessional Lutherans balance the altar and font with the pulpit, to emphasize Word and Sacrament. One does not overwhelm the other.
In their ignorance, Pilgrim and CrossRoads both stumbled onto well known denominational trademarks, in the name of avoiding the denominational stigmata. Under the toxic tutelage of Kelm, Valleskey, Bivens, Mark Jeske, James Huebner, and Wayne Mueller, WELS abandoned the name Lutheran with alacrity and without remorse: the hymnal, magazine, Lutherans for Life, and congregational names. They kept saying, as Kuske did, "We can leave out the name Lutheran," but no one wanted to ask why they itched to do so. The faux-answer was, "So we can grow faster."
The real answer was Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi. They did not trust in the efficacy of the Word and Sacraments, so they saw name Lutheran as a barrier to becoming generic Protestants. These jokers have advertised their lack of faith, through their Sunday services, for decades. They consciously avoid the liturgy and hymnals while featuring entertainment and half-baked musical performances. Sound systems get them excited. Holy Communion is avoided entirely. Ski/Glende's The CORE, Jeff Gunn's CrossWalk are typical.
WLC Board Member Gunn gives cogent reasons for attending his sect: food, casual dress, friendliness, and relevance. Not content to compete with the club scene, they covet the restaurant and bagel business as well.
What do these Shriners read and where do they go for spiritual edification? They love CG books and recommend them to gullible members. Valleskey suggested a string of CG textbooks in The Northwestern Lutheran and still became The Sausage Factory president. Kelm, Jim Huebner, and Olson made careers out of promoting Reformed doctrine. In the foulness of time, Mark Jeske appeared, with an excellent chance to make an unknown name well known through TV. He did the opposite. No one can tell he is Lutheran or WELS (or Missouri) from his edu-tainment shows. His cronies are the worst of the anti-Lutheran clergy in WELS. Ski's monthly need for Schwaermer conferences (with Glende and Bishop Katie in tow) are testimony to Jeske's influence. Ditto Patterson and his fondness for Exponential.
The Jeske-Parlow-Kelm style of worship will lead them out of WELS, perhaps to Missouri, but ultimately to a non-Lutheran sect. Parlow and Kelm are already ministerial members of Willow Creek Community Church (no discipline from DP Engelbrecht). I predict that Willow Creek will be the ultimate destination for many. Jerry Kieschnick could create a non-geographical district for WELS exiles. They would be allowed to eat tiger meat and continue secret GA hazing routines.
Marc Schroeder (LCMS, not the SP) had an assistant when they were both still WELS. The assistant gave a sermon where he said people had to make a decision for Christ. Soon the assistant was in the LCMS, followed by Marc. The assistant then joined the Babtists. Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi. The men who slavishly copy Reformed sermons and Sneaker Services will not remain nominal Lutherans because they are anti-Lutheran in thought, word, and deed. They were able to move WELS into their orbit by leading Mischke and Gurgle around, but everyone finally woke up when they found the accounts empty (lex vivendi). Church and Change was more effective when they operated secretly.
What do the Chicaneries stand for? Read about their conference materials, the leaders they adore, the books they read, the conferences they attend, the fellow Shrinkers they promote, the grants and subsidies they grab.
The Shrinkers have picked a bad time to strand themselves. Dubai's financial meltdown has spooked money markets and made people wonder, "If an oil-soaked kingdom is in trouble, where will the rest of the countries go?" The Shrinkers do not depend on their own success but the prosperity of others. This is old stuff for Lutheran church historians. The 19th century anti-confessional Lutheran churches (with their own anti-confessional synods) became United Church of Christ congregations, if they survived at all.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi - Recessiona...":
It must be "nice" to be an independent Lutheran Pastor- then you never have to be challenged by what your colleagues say or do, you can just throw brick bats at everyone else who is not as enlightened as oneself. (Actually, it seems pretty lacking in courage)
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GJ - It is even better to indulge in anonymous name-calling.
