The Word and the Confessions can rescue Lutherans from the Slough of Despond, but nothing else will.
Below are some missed opportunities in WELS, when hordes of pastors and laity should have rioted, waving pitchforks and torches:
- Ron Roth and others began their TELL newsletter in 1977, to promote CG.
- David Valleskey was hired at the Sausage Factory.
- Paul Calvin Kelm went from editing TELL to heading Evangelism at the Love Shack.
- All the Mission Vision fiction.
- Every new hire at the Love Shack.
- Perish Services expanding under Wayne Mueller.
- Wayne Mueller denying in print that there was any CG in WELS, but also claiming the CG in WELS was confessional. GA grad? You betcha.
- Perish Assistants.
- Wayne Mueller voted out of the VP slot, the VP-elect getting the vapors, and Mueller voted back in. Groundhog Day.
- Lutheran Parish Resources starting in Columbus, thanks to DP Mueller and VP Kuske, with Stolzenburg and Zehms in charge.
- Pilgrim Community Church, Columbus, started by Kuske, Zehms, Stolzenburg.
- CrossRoads in South Lyons, also started by DP Mueller, with help from Rick Miller, Mark Freier, Kelly Voigt.
- CrossWalk in Phoenix, Jeff Gunn.
- Cross-Something in Chicago.
- Latte Lutheran, with Randy Hunter.
- Rock and Roll, with Doebler.
- African safaris and free vicars with Don Patterson.
- Taking Lutheran out of various names, such as the hymnal, the magazine, the emerging churches above, WELS Lutherans for Life.
- Time of Generic Grace, with Jeske.
- Charis, Church and Change.
- The CORE.
- Steve Witte on the Asian board.
- Jim Huenbner, First VP.
*** GJ - I got the nickname from Jay Webber. He told me the ELS calls Mequon "The Sausage Factory" because they all come out the same. That GA-induced conformity has been useful in conforming everyone to Church Growth doctrine - false doctrine. Back in the old days, if they did not get enough from Valleskey, they got a dose a week after graduation, when a seminary was forced upon all graduates. If that was not enough torture, they will ordered back a year later for another dose - from Paul Calvin Kelm, Larry Oh!, and future first VP Huebner. So you missed the point, again.
--- mjleyrer has left a new comment on your post "Missed Opportunities To Stop the CG Juggernaut": Okay... but the nickname is still totally off because I know plenty of WELS pastors who are anti Church Growth. I don't think Jay was in all seriousness when he said that. Maybe just a joke. *** GJ - I would like a list of the articles or papers they have published against Church Growth, starting with Jay's list.
--- Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Missed Opportunities To Stop the CG Juggernaut": In the Peoples Bible Teachings, Church-Mission-Ministry, Prof. Armin Shuetze Has a few things to say concerning church growth: "By its emphasis on addressing the "felt needs" in a society, it shifts away from the inportance of proclaiming forgiveness in Christ by a proper use of law and gospel with ultimate goal of eternal life in heaven. "In the felt needs approach ... sanctification becomes the means to fulfill the prospect's need for acceptance, fulfillment, and a better life through the victory over sin." "God has not promised that everyone who hears the good news will come to faith. The church cannot expect more success than its Lord." "How do we measure succeess ? And growth? Even one sinner who repents and turns in aith to the Lord Jesus causes rejoicing in heaven." "In the 1950's a missionary in India for the Disciples of Christ, Donald McGavran, was troubled by the lack of numerical growth. His concerns began what has become known as the Church Growth Movement." There is much more I could quote. I recomend you read the book for yourself. Schuetze echoes the same thing that Pastor Jackson has been saying. The CG pastors could learn from this book. In Christ, from WELS church lady *** GJ - John D. Schuetze has published a Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly article where he emphasizes the Means of Grace. I hope he has good connections, because a lot of WELSians are allergic to that message.
--- mjleyrer has left a new comment on your post "Missed Opportunities To Stop the CG Juggernaut": First I would like to say that there are probably papers written against it and secondly, even if there WEREN'T papers that doesn't mean you can just write off every pastor in the synod. There are those in the WELS that are against C&G. It just isn't fair to put a giant black mark on the entire synod just because there's no one writing papers. I'm not trying to defend C&G, I dislike it as much as you do but I do have to defend a sister synod. Yeah papers are a good way to oppose something in your synod but there is leading by example. I think that's what most of them do. *** GJ - It is indeed comforting to know that there are "probably papers written against" Church Growth. If I wrote off every pastor in WELS or put a black mark on the entire synod, I would not bother posting. I spend little time on the LCMS and even less on the ELCA, because both are far gone. Perhaps someone could write a paper about the Appleton Dumbling gang. Or, they could lead by example and kick the Enthusiasts out.
10 comments:
I find it ironic that you refer to the WLS as "The Sausage Factory" because they all come out the same but you continue to gripe about the differences between WELS churches. Kinda contradictory don't ya think?
Okay... but the nickname is still totally off because I know plenty of WELS pastors who are anti Church Growth. I don't think Jay was in all seriousness when he said that. Maybe just a joke.
In the Peoples Bible Teachings, Church-Mission-Ministry, Prof. Armin Shuetze Has a few things to say concerning church growth:
"By its emphasis on addressing the "felt needs" in a society, it shifts away from the inportance of proclaiming forgiveness in Christ by a proper use of law and gospel with ultimate goal of eternal life in heaven. "In the felt needs approach ... sanctification becomes the means to fulfill the prospect's need for acceptance, fulfillment, and a better life through the victory over sin."
"God has not promised that everyone who hears the good news will come to faith. The church cannot expect more success than its Lord."
"How do we measure succeess ? And growth? Even one sinner who repents and turns in aith to the Lord Jesus causes rejoicing in heaven."
"In the 1950's a missionary in India for the Disciples of Christ, Donald McGavran, was troubled by the lack of numerical growth. His concerns began what has become known as the Church Growth Movement."
There is much more I could quote. I recomend you read the book for yourself. Schuetze echoes the same thing that Pastor Jackson has been saying. The CG pastors could learn from this book.
In Christ,
from WELS church lady
First I would like to say that there are probably papers written against it and secondly, even if there WEREN'T papers that doesn't mean you can just write off every pastor in the synod. There are those in the WELS that are against C&G.
It just isn't fair to put a giant black mark on the entire synod just because there's no one writing papers. I'm not trying to defend C&G, I dislike it as much as you do but I do have to defend a sister synod.
Yeah papers are a good way to oppose something in your synod but there is leading by example. I think that's what most of them do.
Dr. Jackson:
I have been following your blog and sharing what I have learned with others in and out of my Synod for about 2 years. I have been a WELS member for 13 years but it is only in the last five or 6 that I have begun to "smell a rat" in the Synod after attending District and National Conventions. You have put words and most of all Confessional proofs to my suspicions that the Wisconsin Synod is not what it claims to be. I am trying to establish a case for our congregation in Hastings, NE, to admonish the Synod for membership in Thrivent. I think I have enough evidence based on the Planned Parenthood and Minnesota LGBT sites to establish gay-friendliness and PP participation with Synod funds. However, do you have a link or other documentation of your statement that Thrivent funds went to pay for abortion(s) for ELCA female clergy? Thank You.
I will continue to follow your insight and may begin submitting information from WELS publications and bulletin inserts (propaganda) that you may not have access to.
In Christ, Jim Becker
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Hastings, NE
mjleyrer, leading by example? Do you mean in the same way the existing ELS pastors lead by example when they silently watched as Pres. Moldstad showed himself to be an Antichrist when he removed a called pastor from his office of Public Ministry of the Word in an ELS congregation? Those who objected were swiftly shown the door and are no longer members of the synod. Only Christ calls a man into His office through the congregation and only Christ can remove him. Your president Moldstad took it upon himself to usurp Christ's authority and your sister synod simply nodded her approval. And now you point to her leading by example in opposing the satanic Church Growth which festers inside of her. There may be faithful pastors in the ELS and WELS who say nothing, oppose nothing, risk nothing but by doing so they allow those in their fellowship to persecute Christ and His Church. For evil to take root and succeed it certainly helps when good men do nothing. Would you call those pastors 'good' who quietly stand by as men, women and children have their Treasure stolen from them?
Certainly men of God given courage as Mr. Jim Becker above will be remembered as those who risked what they have to carry the Cross and stand for Christ. Those are truly good men, by the grace and mercy of God.
Taking "Lutheran" out of names? Last time I checked WELS was a Christian church. So, for instance - The Northwestern Lutheran which went to Forward in CHRIST, Lutherans for Life went to CHRISTIAN Life Resources. I think these names more clearly demonstrate what Lutherans are - CHRISTIANS! What on earth does Northwestern Lutheran even mean to people of this day and age.
Jim,
We all know the Rolph Preus incident was not carried out in the best way. Yeah, it was dumb. Yeah, I don't like Pres. Moldstad. But I don't think it would be fair to cite that one incident and then just get down on the whole Synod for it. I mean, that's like holding the crusades against the Catholic church today. They happened, we need to move on.
Nobody I know is happy about the Rolp Preus incident but no one blames the WELS or the other ELS pastors for not stepping in, maybe they should, I don't know. That burden does, and ever will, lie on the shoulders of Pres. Moldstad. And maybe those who lead by example lack the fortitude to so boldly proclaim their thoughts as we do. There are good pastors, right pastors, in the synod and we need to have faith that God will continue to work through them toward reform.
Names certainly should mean something.
The name "Lutheran" ought to mean, and embody what the name "Lutheran" certainly truly does mean.
But sadly, in the synods in our day, it rarely does.
Like Brett Meyer, I applaud and pray all God's blessings upon Jim Becker and all his Godly Lutheran efforts. As well, I pray he may not be offended in Christ (in his faith in Christ), should all his Godly Lutheran efforts be to no avail....
We are living in perilous days.
Where Mr. Becker is now, well, I've been there, done that, and on the other side of all the personal drama and trauma involved (which unfortunately got nowhere) with the "Looseran" powers that be whom I dealt with, so eventually came to the conclusion that independant Lutheran congregations
are the only possible way forward,now,for those intent upon nothing more than, but certainly nothing less than, TITUS 1 "..the faith once delivered."
That one can no longer rely upon the mere name/label "Lutheran" as in fact either being or reflecting what being Lutheran truly means, is to the shame of many.
Still, like Mr. Meyer, my prayers are very much for Mr. Becker, for I know even should he appear to get nowhere, his genuine witness shall indeed be blessed of the LORD; and greatly benefit any of the elect blessed to hear him.
In response to Ichabod 2.0,
What will become of our Lutheran identity once the word "Lutheran" ceases to exist? The Word Alone, Faith Alone, and the Means of Grace, are what makes us not only othodox confessing Lutherans, but true Christians.
When churches take down the "Lutheran" sign, then a host of losses will follow. The liturgy is replaced with a contempory service. With contemporary services you get contemporary doctrines. The Augsburg Confessions(Book of Concord) is the foundation of the Reformation. This was a testiment of faith in accordance to Scripture.
If these things are taken away, we are left with reformed doctrine, or worse, New-Age worship. My close friends at a conservative LCMS church refuse to worship or teach at the "hidden identity places." "Lutheran School" has become "Christian School" at many LCMS and some, though not many, WELS schools.
Yes, we are Christians. As Confessional Lutherans we affirm our orthodox teachings as a true confession of faith to the inerrant Word Of God.
In Christ,
from WELS church lady
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