Facebook tells me to link up with potential friends, based on mutual friends. I was using that tonight and harvesting a lot of new contacts, people fun to know. Most of them are conservative Lutherans, divided by a common faith - ELS, LCMS, WELS, and independent. A few are school friends.
I clicked off some new ones and had some new conversations started. Then I got this message (the only one like this from Facebook):
Re: Do I know you?
Ah, then you have smeared me without even recognizing me.
Or did you not compose this wee bon-bon of gossip?
And did you not use my image to suit your own purposes, or has another written and made editorial choices for your inglorious sausage-making?
You may go jump in a lake. Or repent, as best suits you.
I wrote back, irenic as always:
My, my. Touchy. The only thing that does NOT offend the ELS is false doctrine.
I was going to let it go at that and not blog about it. But he responded:
James sent you a message.
Re: Do I know you?
"That'll be quite enough from you. You are a liar and a fool."
I am providing this information because it is so typical of synodical bullying. First of all, the initial post was well researched and not "gossip." Not only are there eye-witnesses to the ELS and WELS pushing women towards ordination, but the latest episode at Willow Creek
Secondly, the photo was a funny way to illustrate the point made so often in the Little Sect and WELS - "This never happened. We all agree on it." No one ever went to the hoosegow for murder. No DP served time for felonies. No money ever disappeared. No women led the worship services in the ELS or WELS. No women celebrated Holy Communion. There is no Church Growth in either synod. Ask anyone from either synod who went to Fuller Seminary.
Thirdly, the name-calling is unbecoming someone so distinguished that he can shake hands with Pope John the Malefactor. A papal audience is not granted to just anyone. I clicked off about 20 potential friends tonight and only one replied with venom. The rest said, "Sure" and linked up.
3 comments:
The (W)ELS has a new doctrine which allows women to read Scripture to the congregation during the divine service: WELS now declares that the reading of Scripture by women is not teaching. Only when the Pastor reads it is it considered teaching. Very Roman Catholic in my opinion.
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 8:58 PM
Subject: Fw: Women in the church
August 18, 2006
From: HTLC Board of Elders
Stan Bauer
Tad Doviak
Monte Ewald
Dave Fulton
Kevin Nack
Dan Smith
Mark Tacke
To: Brett Meyer
Dear Brett,
You originally e-mailed the Board of Elders regarding the question of antiphonal worship at Holy Trinity. After prayerful consideration and study of the Word in this matter we believe that antiphonal worship is a proclamation or reading of God's inspired word and is not considered to be 'teaching' the congregation. Reading of scripture as a congregation is an activity to be encouraged in worship. Teaching of scripture is an activity that the Lord in His Word has clearly reserved for the Pastor or other duly appointed official man of the congregation. Furthermore, the Board of Elders considers you to be in fellowship with Holy Trinity and the WELS.
Thank you for bringing this important issue to the Board.
The antiphonal reading in this case was that Pastor Mark Schewe began the liturgical reading during the service. He then instructed all of the women to continue reading the liturgy to the congregation, then he had all the men read and around and around they went. According to them every third reading which was done by the Pastor was the only time God's Word was teaching. This is in direct opposition to Scripture which states:
Isaiah 55:11, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
1 Timothy 2:11-12, "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence."
1 Cor. 14:34-35, "Let you women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church."
I left the WELS over this rejection of God's Word, rejection of Christ, no longer an elder at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. No one came to speak with me. Of those I went to talk to there was one, a teacher at the school, who said they should have dealt differently with the issue since I was so weak in faith. Would have been funny if he didn't mean it. Pastor Jon Buchholz, WELS CA/AZ District President told my wife that I was a pharisee and would be condemned to Hell for being legalistic. He told her that she and my children should leave me. The other I spoke to was my inlaws. They didn't want to hear about any possible false doctrines being taught and practiced. Their focus was on love, friendships and fellowship. Their last statement to me was that this was not an important doctrine but that they still loved me. Rings hollow when their podium is crushing God's Word, Christ.
"Secondly, the photo was a funny way to illustrate the point made so often in the Little Sect and WELS - "This never happened. We all agree on it." No one ever went to the hoosegow for murder. No DP served time for felonies. No money ever disappeared. No women led the worship services in the ELS or WELS. No women celebrated Holy Communion. There is no Church Growth in either synod. Ask anyone from either synod who went to Fuller Seminary."
Duplicity and misrepresentation is a way of life for the poor fools.
Who is mobster figure in the picture?
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