Luther versus Universal Objective Justification

From Brett Meyer:

LUTHER:
12. To accept as true the record of Christ--this they call faith. The devils have the same sort of faith, but it does not make them godly. Such belief is not Christian faith; no, it is rather deception.

22. Now, the Cain-like saints have not, as they themselves confess, the Christian faith which would assure them of being the children of God.

37. Note, Paul everywhere teaches justification, not by works, but solely by faith; and not as a process, but instantaneous. The testament includes in itself everything--justification, salvation, the inheritance and great blessing. Through faith it is instantaneously enjoyed, not in part, but all. Truly is it plain, then, that faith alone affords such blessings of God, justification and salvation--immediately and not in process as must be the case with works--and constitutes us children and heirs who voluntarily discharge their duties, not presuming to become godly and worthy by a servile spirit. No merit is needed; faith secures all gratuitously-- more than anyone can merit. The believer performs his works gratuitously, being already in possession of all the Cain-like saints vainly seek through works and never find--justification and divine inheritance, or grace.

74. But what is the process whereby Christ gives us such a spirit and redeems us from under the Law? The work is effected solely by faith. He who believes that Christ came to redeem us, and that he has accomplished it, is really redeemed. As he believes, so is it with him. Faith carries with it the child-making spirit. The apostle here explains by saying that Christ has redeemed us from under the Law that we might receive the adoption of sons. As before stated, all must be effected through faith. Now we have discussed the five points of the verse.

108. Paul adds "through Christ" to avoid the implication that the inheritance is bestowed upon us without any merit or cost whatever. Although it costs us nothing, and although it is bestowed without merit on our part, yet Christ was placed under great obligations. For the sake of that inheritance he was put under the Law for us; he paid the cost to secure, or to merit, the inheritance for all who believe in him. (EMPHASIS: "for all who believe in Him" Christ died for all, but only those who have the Holy Spirits faith in Christ are reconciled, forgiven, justified and declared righteous because they, through faith, have Christ as their mediator.)

http://www.trinitylutheranms.org/MartinLuther/MLSermons/Galatians4_1_7.html

YOUR LOCAL WELS SCHOOL:
"If forgiveness were dependent on faith in the sense that God does not forgive until we believe, we would always have to be sure that we are believers before we would be sure that we are forgiven." (p.60)

"And yet many Lutherans still labor under the delusion that God does not forgive us unless we believe. Instead of seeing faith as nothing more than the spiritual hand with which we make the forgiveness of God our own, they see it as a reason why God forgives us. They believe that Christ has indeed provided forgiveness for all men, that God is willing to forgive them, but before he really forgives he first of all demands that we should be sorry for our sins and that we should have faith. Just have faith they say, and then God will forgive you. All the right words are there. The only thing wrong is that the words are in the wrong order. God does not forgive us IF we have faith. He has forgiven us long ago when he raised his Son from the dead." (p. 59) two quotes from Our Great Heritage, WELS and heralded by Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, WELS and Evergreen Lutheran High School, (WELS)

"I am in agreement with Pastor Humanns statements as printed in the paragraphs from Our Great Heritage. They are correct and consistent with Gods Word and the position of WELS." Greg Thiesfeldt, Principal, Evergreen Lutheran High School, (WELS)

"When Jesus rose, he rose as the substitute for every sinner. By his resurrection God declared sinners, all of them, forgiven. This is the good news Scripture reveals. This is the good news we proclaim to contrite sinners: “God has reconciled you to himself. Your sins are already forgiven. Calvary and the empty tomb are the proof of it.” Evergreen High School Board of Directors, Pastor Nathan Seiltz, Principal Greg Thiesfeldt (WELS)

"When speaking of salvation, we don’t want to turn a person’s attention inward to his faith, but outward to the grace of God. Preaching about faith will not produce faith, but proclaiming God’s love and mercy and forgiveness will produce believing hearts." Evergreen High School Board of Directors, Pastor Nathan Seiltz, Principal Greg Thiesfeldt (WELS)

"To justify in the Bible always has the meaning “to declare righteous.” Never do the terms denote a qualitative change in man, a physical or medicinal thing. The change which is meant is not a change in one’s person, but a change in one’s status before God." Evergreen High School Board of Directors, Pastor Nathan Seiltz, Principal Greg Thiesfeldt (WELS)

"A quick look at the terms ought to be sufficient to remind ourselves of the Lutheran doctrine of objective or universal justification–that God at the resurrection of Christ declared sinners justified, universally, excluding none, and objectively, whether they believe it or not." Evergreen High School Board of Directors, Pastor Nathan Seiltz, Principal Greg Thiesfeldt (WELS)

"Previously God viewed the world apart from Christ—and it stood condemned. Now God views the world in the light of Christ’s work of redemption and has declared the world righteous, forgiven." Evergreen High School Board of Directors, Pastor Nathan Seiltz, Principal Greg Thiesfeldt (WELS)

"But whoever molests the doctrine of justification stabs the gospel in the heart and is on the way of losing entirely Christian doctrine and personal faith and of falling into the arms of heathenism, even if he ever so much emphasizes justification by faith." August Pieper quoted by Evergreen High School Board of Directors, Pastor Nathan Seiltz, Principal Greg Thiesfeldt (WELS)

LUTHER:
99. In persecuting faith and defaming and condemning it as heresy and presumption, the unbelievers conduct themselves as their father Cain did to his brother Abel. Thus in themselves they slay Christ their brother. His innocent blood will not cease to cry toward heaven against them, as the blood of Abel cried against Cain.

http://www.trinitylutheranms.org/MartinLuther/MLSermons/Galatians4_1_7.html

Dancing Around the Doctrinal Issues

No church growth here. The kids have been tagging again.

WELS AnswerMan

Q:	I would like to be pointed to information that the WELS synod has done regarding the insurgence of the "church growth" movement throughout the Lutheran synods and specifically the WELS synod. I have read much information put out by the LCMS synod relating to this topic but I do not find much information on this website or through any other sources. I am beginning to believe that the WELS synod as a whole is confused about the importance of studying this matter and how it impacts the doctrine that our churches practice under. The lack of intelligent discussion on this topic can be seen in the amount of contemporary material being used in our churches and the lack of discussion at the recent convention on any topics other than budget concerns. I am concerned that the synod is directly being guided by a buisness (sic) model and not focusing on the direct practice of delivering the Word and Sacraments. I also believe that the work of missions is the responsibility of each individual member and not the synod. The synod and each individual church should be working on the preservation of each individual member and those members are the ones who are called to do the work of the great commission. This is why I believe that the synod is beginning to loose sight of the return to scriptural truth that Luther set in motion during the reformation. I find myself lost in a synodical distortion of scriptural purity.
A:	It is hard to respond to your question since it is too big a question for an email, since you fail to give any specifics to support your allegations, and since you say nothing about the sources of your information, which for the most part appear to be inadequate or misleading. There have been a lot of studies of Church Growth. When Church Growth became the trendy fad more than a decade ago, we published a number of evaluations for pastors conferences and for the synod. You can find a number of them by looking under the topic "Church Growth" in the online essay file of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. The studies by Koester, Valleskey, and Wendland would be a good place to start. Much more of the relevant material does not directly address Church Growth as a phenomenon, but deals with the proper antidote to the errors of Growth Growth, which is a proper emphasis on the means of grace as the source of growth in the church. You will find these studies under topics like the mission of the church or the means of grace or the doctrines of church and ministry. If you search the term "Church Growth" (in quotation marks) on this Q & A , you will find more than 80 discussions of the topic. Including the following one. ______ What exactly is the "Church Growth Movement"? I read on a LCMS website that we, along with the ELS and CLC, embrace this movement. The site stated that LCMS condemns the approach but gave no more details than this. The "Church Growth Movement" teaches a set of principles for doing mission work and evangelism. Some of them are good, common sense suggestions for reaching out to people in a way that will get their attention and interest. Some seem to place excessive emphasis on statistical growth. Some seem to place a greater emphasis on "what works" rather than on "what's right." Others seem to suggest reshaping the church's message so it won't offend people. It is difficult to respond to the second part of your question without seeing the site that you refer to. I doubt very much that it was an official LCMS site since everything it says is wrong, including what it says about the LCMS evaluation of Church Growth. It may have been a site developed by an individual who has or claims affiliation with the LCMS. Though there are a number of disagreements between the WELS and the LCMS, it has been our experience that official LCMS sites accurately report those differences. The site you refer to is inaccurate both about the LCMS and the WELS. The official LCMS evaluation of the Church Growth movement which appears on their site comes to the following conclusions. AN EVALUATION WITH RECOMMENDATIONS "Church Growth principles have been described as universal truths. That is, they are in a general way acceptable to all. Christians. Examination of these missiological principles reveals that some of them are indeed Biblical principles which have been used in Christian churches, including The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, for many years. Others are new and have their origin in sociology, anthropology, and psychology, but they too have been found to be useful, also by numerous congregations in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. Still other principles have caused some concern in Lutheran circles chiefly because they are perceived as coming into conflict with Scriptural teaching, especially with the doctrine of the means of grace. "As we attempt to evaluate Church Growth principles, two important questions need to be kept in mind: Do these missiological principles reflect a theology which is non-Scriptural to the point that their application in Lutheran congregations is unacceptable? Or, can they be modified so that they are consistent with Lutheran theological presuppositions, providing new missiological techniques acceptable to Lutheran pastors and congregations as they strive to carry out the great commission? "Lutherans are concerned not only that missiological principles themselves be in accord with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. They must also be used and applied to human needs in a manner that is consistent with the clear teachings of the Bible." You can read this report in its entirety on the LCMS web site. Even the brief section quoted here shows that the LCMS does not make a blanket rejection of the Church Growth Movement, but does caution against aberrations and errors that occur in many writings produced by the movement. I believe that any unbiased observer would say that the WELS, ELS, and CLC are all much less influenced by the Church Growth Movement than the LCMS and are more blunt in their rejections of the Church Growth Movement than the LCMS. A WELS evaluation Halleluia Chorus for the Church Growth Movement appeared in the Spring 1991 issue of the Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly. [Valleskey's spoiling the Egyptians] You may be able to obtain a copy of this from your pastor or from the library of one of the synodical schools. If you have correctly understood the site you refer to, it is either sadly misinformed or malicious since none of its statements that you report in your question are correct. ________ The statement that this has not been studied is simply untrue. Your view of what is happening in the LCMS also does not seem to be based on reliable information but on the sort of information referred to in the previous answer. Most of the stronger writings against Church Growth coming from Missouri Synod sources, such as the writings of men like Robert Preus or Kurt Marquart, are not from the synod as such, but from indivduals seeking to counter what they see as too strong of an inclination toward Church Growth in the Missouri Synod. There are many other inadequate general statements in your message which you did not support with any evidence. "The lack of intelligent discussion on this topic can be seen in the amount of contemporary material being used in our churches and the lack of discussion at the recent convention on any topics other than budget concerns." The very considerable amount of discussion is listed above. Your statement about the convention is also not correct. There was considerable discussion of other issues including the mission of the church. In fact, the recent letter from the new president of the synod focused on the statement on the mission of the church adopted by the convention. Is everything contemporary Church Growth? "I am concerned that the synod is directly being guided by a business model and not focusing on the direct practice of delivering the Word and Sacraments. " Again you ignore the fact that the convention voted against centralization of power along a business model. You do not seem to have a good source of information of what is actually happening. Certainly, some have such ideas, but the synod has not endorsed them. "I also believe that the work of missions is the responsibility of each individual member and not the synod. " You have set up a false dichotomy here. Certainly, every Christian should share the gospel whenever there is opportunity, but Christians have also always sent out missionaries to do this work on their behalf. Missions along with the education of missionaries has always been a key purpose for the synod. "The synod and each individual church should be working on the preservation of each individual member and those members are the ones who are called to do the work of the great commission. " Again you set up a false contrast. It is not a members or missionaries situation. "This is why I believe that the synod is beginning to lose sight of the return to scriptural truth that Luther set in motion during the reformation. I find myself lost in a synodical distortion of scriptural purity. " It is wrong to make such statements without basis in fact. What has the synod that speaks through its convention done that enables you to say it has lost sight of the scriptural truth? I was a delegate at the convention and I did not see that in the actions of the convention.

Baby Concord Says

"Fight the Good Fight with All Thy Might"
by John S.B. Monsell, 1811-1875

1. Fight the good fight With all thy might;
Christ is thy Strength and Christ thy Right.
Lay hold on life, and it shall be
Thy joy and crown eternally.

2. Run the straight race Thro' God's good grace;
Lift up thine eyes and seek His face.
Life with its way before us lies;
Christ is the Path and Christ the Prize.

3. Cast care aside; Upon thy Guide
Lean, and His mercy will provide;
Lean, and the trusting soul shall prove
Christ is its Life and Christ its Love.

4. Faint not nor fear, His arms are near;
He changeth not, and thou art dear.
Only believe, and thou shalt see
That Christ is All in all to thee.

Hymn #447
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: 1 Timothy 6:12
Author: John S.B. Monsell, 1863
Tune: "Mendon"
German melody
Arranged by: Samuel Dyer, 1828

Great Cartoon from Scott Blazek

Click on this link.

Luther - This Body in the Grave We Lay

This was sent in memory of Pastor Paul Schmeling.

Memorial Day Loss - Pastor Paul Schmeling, WELS

The Memorial service was conducted principally in the interest of the many young children in our pre-school (the majority of whom are not members), children in our congregation, and community, to help them understand what happened to Pastor -- who they knew from frequent contact with him. Pastor Joel Luetke was asked to preside this service, not only because of his relationship with Pastor, but also because he leads a District program called "Jesus Cares" -- a Gospel ministry to the mentally disabled -- and has quite a bit of experience reducing what can be complex for children to very simple words. An unofficial attendance estimate for this service is on the order of 325.

The Funeral service was presided by Paster Mark Schwertfeger (first half of the service) and Pastor Wayne Hilgendorf (second half of the service). Both are pastors from our District, and classmates of Pastor. Pastor Charles Degner, District President, served as preacher. All musicians were from our congregation, except the choir, which was a group of pastors from our District, and one of the trumpeters, who is a son of our congregation but is now an active member at another congregation along with his new wife and child. A more official count of attendance for this service is on the order of 575.

At most, our nave only seats 200 comfortably. To effectively serve all of the attendees with the Gospel, and provide a means for their participation in the services, four large television screens were placed in adjoining fellowship and banquet halls, in front of several hundred chairs which were set up in rows. Real time video was piped to the screens so that those seated in the chairs could participate in the services along with those in the nave.

Pastor Paul Schmeling died today when he fell from a tree while pruning some branches. His son-in-law saw him land on his head. He still had a pulse but he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Click here for a touching series of photos of Paul Schmeling and his family. The service will also be available on this link later on May 30th.

Memorial Service for Rev. Paul Schmeling from Faith Evangelical Lutheran on Vimeo.

Funeral Service for Rev. Paul M. Schmeling from Faith Evangelical Lutheran on Vimeo.

Memories of Paul Schmeling from Faith Evangelical Lutheran on Vimeo.

Paul was the pastor at Faith Lutheran, River Falls, Wisconsin.

My wife and I knew his family from our days in Ohio. Paul knew about the dangers of the Church Growth Movement in the 1980s.

The funeral is tentatively scheduled for Saturday; his youngest daughter was going to have her wedding shower that day.

I once talked to Paul's father, another pastor, about a distant situation. His father took care of it in the best possible way, leading to great happiness as a result. Paul was a pastor like his father, caring about people and sound doctrine.

My wife and I are very sad about Paul's death, what this means for his widow and his children. I will post more information as it comes in.

I heard this anecdote from the area. Paul's children were listed in the dedication of Liberalism: Its Cause and Cure, published by Northwestern Publishing House. Paul had that underlined when he gave a copy of the book for someone to read. Liberalism will soon be published again via Lulu.com.

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Bruce Church has left a new comment on your post "Memorial Day Loss - Pastor Paul Schmeling, WELS":

Video of Pastor Paul M. Schmeling giving sermons from his website:
http://www.blogger.com/%20http://www.vimeo.com/jbf%20

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Here are the Visitation and Funeral details:

Visitation and Funeral Schedule
Friday, May 29, 2009
Visitation: 3:00-7:00pm
Short Memorial Service: 7:00pm

Saturday, May 30, 2009
Visitation: 9:00-11:00am
Funeral: 11:00am
Meal to follow in banquet hall

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Michael Schottey has left a new comment on your post "Memorial Day Loss - Pastor Paul Schmeling, WELS":

I went to school and am friends with both his daughter, her fiance, and his niece.

They are a beautiful family and he was, by all accounts, a wonderful pastor.

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Obituary

Pastor Paul M.Schmeling 5/25/2009

Paul Michael Schmeling was born on July 5th, 1952 in Springfield, Illinois, the son of Arlyn L. and Evelyn H. (nee Heldt) Schmeling. He was baptized into the Kingdom of God and made an heir of eternal life through the cleansing of Holy Baptism on July 13th, 1952, in Springfield. He attended elementary school at St. John Ev. Lutheran School in Two Rivers, WI. On Palm Sunday, April 3, 1966, he publicly confessed his Christian faith and promised to remain faithful until death to his Savior Jesus Christ.

He attended Manitowoc Lutheran High School for three years until joining the graduating class of 1970 at Northwestern Preparatory School in Watertown, WI to begin preparation for the ministry. Following his graduation from Northwestern College of Watertown in 1974 he enrolled at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI. After spending his vicar year (1976-77) at St. John, Baraboo, WI, he returned to the seminary campus and graduated with the WLS class of 1978. He was assigned to serve Ascension, Roseville, MI and Zoar, Detroit, MI and was ordained and installed as pastor on July 9, 1978. His service to those congregations ended on January 31, 1981. He served Hope Ev. Lutheran Church of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, from 1981-1990 and Bethany Lutheran of Granite Falls, MN from 1990-1992. Pastor Schmeling has served at Faith Lutheran in River Falls, WI since June 1st, 1992. He preached for the last time and conducted his final service here on Sunday, May 24th, 2009. He served the church at large in many capacities, most recently as Coordinator of the MN District Parish Services and currently as Chairman of the MN District Nominating and the WELS Nominating Committees. On December 28th, 1975, he married Beth (nee Berger) at Salem Ev. Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI. The Lord blessed this union with two sons, Andrew and Pastor Benjamin Schmeling and two daughters, Amy (Scmeling) Bryant and Caralyn Schmeling. In addition to his love for the ministry and spending time with his wife, family members and friends, he enjoyed a wide variety of activities and games, golf, swimming, lawn and garden work, music, computers, traveling. The Lord Jesus in his infinite wisdom and love called to himself in heaven the soul of Pastor Paul Schmeling while at home with his family in River Falls, WI on Monday, May 25th, 2009 at the age of 56 years 10 months and 20 days. He is survived by wife, Beth; children, Andrew (Andrea nee Berg) and children, Luke, Jack and Samuel of Wilsonville, OR; Rev. Benjamin (Ann Marie nee Uecker) and children, Noah and Owen of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; daughter Amy (Ethan Bryant) and children, Cole and Landon of Woodbury, MN; and daughter Caralyn and fiancée Brian Wrobel; parents, Rev. Arlyn L. and Evelyn H. Schmeling of Sun City, AZ; Mother-in-law, Marie L. Berger of Milwaukee, WI; siblings, Angela (Darvin) Klatt, LaCrosse, WI; Rebecca (David) Klatt, Buffalo, MN; Marian (Gaius) Wiechmann, Elk River, MN, Rev. James (Martha) Schmeling of Monroe, MI; and Rev. Steven (Paula) Schmeling, Menomonie, WI, along with Beth’s five siblings and spouses, numerous nieces and nephews, many other relatives, friends and beloved members of Faith Ev. Lutheran Church. He was preceded in death by his father-in-law Gerald Berger and sister, Ruth Ann, who died in infancy. The Christian funeral service for Pastor Paul Schmeling is being held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 30th, 2009 at Faith Ev. Lutheran Church, River Falls, WI. Visitation will be on Friday, May 29, 2009 from 3-7 pm at the church with a Memorial Service at 7 pm designed for preschool families, the community and families with small children and on Saturday from 9-11 am before the service. A private committal service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to Faith Ev. Lutheran Church or St. Croix Lutheran High School. Funeral arrangements are with the Bakken-Young Funeral Home of River Falls. Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:21 might best summarize his life of service to his Savior: “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Then I heard a voice in heaven say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” (Rev. 14:13)

Send condolences from this link.

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Cynthia Clement has left a new comment on your post "Memorial Day Loss - Pastor Paul Schmeling, WELS":

A friend gave me a Bible which planted the seed, another new friend asked me to join her one Sunday at Faith Ev. Lutheran Church; which brought me to the garden of Pastor Paul Schmeling's Church, with his teaching my faith in Jesus has grown spreading vines through out my family. My mentor and friend will be missed,he was such a wonderful teacher of the word, his legacy will last forever.

Problems with Ichabod ? - Switch to Mozilla Firefox for Free

"Help me, Obi-wan. You're my only hope."

Google's Blogger is reporting problems, which many of us have experienced:

http://knownissues.blogspot.com/

Some users are seeing an 'Operation Aborted' error message when trying to load their blogs from Internet Explorer. We're looking into this and will update this message when we have a fix.

We apologize for the inconvenience. — latest update on Thursday, May 21, 2009

I get "operation aborted" and "Windows busy" messages.

The solution is to download the Firefox browser from Mozilla for free. Firefox runs much faster and can take over the favorites of Internet Explorer.

Free download for Firefox - click here.

Blogger Update

Update (May 26): We are still working on resolving this bug. This only affects viewers using IE to view the blog; for right now, blog owners can either move the Followers gadget lower in their sidebar, or remove it altogether. Either action will eliminate the pop-up dialog box in IE.

We will update this post when a fix has been made. — latest update on Thursday, May 21, 2009

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I followed Blogger's suggestion and moved the followers list to the bottom. Now Ichabod works fine with Internet Explorer.

Stetzer Is No Longer on the Church and Chicanery Speakers List

Stetzer seems to be fading away from the picture. Not to worry, Chicaneries - Babtist Andy Stanley is still being fed
by seven (7) WELS pastors and Bishop Katie..

I looked up Babtist Ed Stetzer's speaking schedule. He no longer listed the Church and Change Conference. I did not see the LCMS listed either. Both rock-ribbed, orthodox synods were listed before. Stetzer even Tweeted about his WELS gig.

I consulted various sources. One said this:

"Regardless of the evidence, I don't recall C & C even verifying the fact that they scheduled Stetzer. So they likely won't announce that they uninvited someone they invited when they were too chicken to announce they invited him before they were forced to uninvite him." [That man is a Talmudic scholar in the making.]

Another said that the Conference of Pussycats finally roared and ordered the Chicaneries to uninvite Stetzer. That had been reported as "expressing concern," but more was involved than that. I even heard that two leaders were called on the carpet for their chicanery.

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rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Stetzer Is No Longer on the Church and Chicanery S...":

Straight from the horse's mouth: At my former congregation, they have contracted with Cornerstone Stewardship Ministries. By the time Jeff Davis came in to give his sales pitch to the Church Council, I had already expressed my reservations to the Congregation President about Mr. Davis' connection to C&C and Ed Stetzer. Apparently, Mr. Davis told the President that it would be most likely that Ed Stetzer would be "dis-invited" to the C&C conference. This was due to some controversy Stetzer was causing. There you have it. One cannot be dis-invited if you have not been invited first.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Stetzer Is No Longer on the Church and Chicanery S...":

Just the fact that they wanted Stetzer in the first place speaks volumes.

Memorial Day Posts From Various Sources

A salute to our military, past and present.


St. Crispin's Day Speech
Shakespeare's HENRY V- A.D. 1599

Although Shakespeare wrote this work nearly two hundred years after the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, it remains one of the finest dramatic interpretation of what leadership meant to the men in the Middle Ages.

Prior to the Battle, Henry V had led his English army across northwestern France, seizing Calais and other cities in an attempt to win back holdings in France that had once been English and to claim the French crown through the obscure but powerful Salig Law.

The French, aware of Henry's troops weakening condition because of their distance from England and the attacks of dysentery that had plagued the dwindling force, moved between King Henry and Calais, the port he needed to reach in order to return to England. The troops followed Henry's troops along the rivers, preventing their crossing, and daring them to a battle the French believed they could not lose.
The English knights fought on foot after the manner devised by Edward III. Archers were to be used in support, the famous and deadly longbows having established their credentials both at Crecy (1347) and at Poitiers (1356). But here the French seemed to have sufficient numbers to deal with even this threat. Thus, they refused to allow Henry to pass to the coast, angered by the English seizure of some of their cities.

Morale in the English line as they looked upon the overwhelming force of heavily armored, and highly skilled French knights was extremely low. King Henry, rising to the occasion, spoke words of encouragement that rallied the English troops and carried them to a victory. As a result of the victory the French Princess Catherine was betrothed to Henry V, and France and England were at peace for the remainder of Henry's short life. He died in 1422, but was survived by his son, Henry VI, and was buried at Westminster Abbey, close to the shrine of Edward the Confessor.

Although the speech itself is a work of fiction, we know that some kind of rousing speech was indeed given. And taking into consideration Shakespeare’s research into the historical details of his plays, it is fair to surmise that the Bard may have had some written records to go by in reconstructing Henry’s words. In any case, the words are most certainly evocative of the spirit with which Henry ruled through the strength of his convictions and by force of his personality.


Enter the KING

WESTMORELAND: O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work to-day!

KING: What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;

If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

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From Michele Malkin:

Words and men I’ll never forget:

“Others have died for my freedom, now this is my mark.” - Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr.

“He knew what he was fighting for.” - father of Lt. Michael P. Murphy.

“He felt that what we were doing was just and right.” - Charles Cummings, father of fallen hero Army PFC Branden Cummings, who died in an IED attack in Diyala, Iraq.

“I genuinely believe the United States Army is a force of good in this world.” - 2LT Mark Daily.

Choking back tears, Christian Golczynski accepted the flag from his father's casket. Photographer Aaron Thompson described this moment as "the most emotionally moving event I may have ever witnessed and may ever witness in my life."
(The Daily News Journal)

And from young Christian Golczynski, the young son of Marine Staff Sgt. Marc Golczynski:

Heather Golczynski and her 8-year-old son Christian hold tightly to the memory of Marine Staff Sgt. Marc Golczynski.

On March 27 [2007], just a few weeks before Marc Golczynski was to return home from his second tour in Iraq — one he volunteered for — he was shot on patrol and killed by enemy fire in al-Aanbar province.

During a moment at the burial, Christian stepped forward to receive the flag for his father. The expression of grief on his young face was captured in a photo and became a powerful symbol for soldiers, their families and anyone who sees it.

When asked about his dad by ABC News’ Chris Cuomo, Christian said, “He was a hero. He helped our country.”

…Just days before he left for his second tour, Marc sent a letter to his family that would be his epitaph.

“Due to our deep desire to finish the job we started, we fight and sometimes die so that our families don’t have to. Stand beside us because we would do it for you. Because it is our unity that’s enabled us to prosper the nation,” Marc wrote.

“Marc believed very much what he was doing was right,” [wife] Heather said.

Since Marc’s death, letters of support and gifts have poured in for the family. But for all that his father may now represent to others, to Christian, Dad is the man who spent time with him and played, and who was teaching him about being a soldier.

“He helped our country and tried to stop terrorists,” Christian said.
Give thanks to all who have given their lives in service to our great nation. Freedom is not free.

Recommended by Bishop Katie at The CORE

RT @T_Nutz: Message of the week @gotocore was ENVY, here is a video that nailed it..http://bit.ly/JeEg7
about 16 hours ago from TweetDeck

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Bambooman man posted a comment. Thursday, April 23, 2009


This is very mocking and blasphemous. You don't need to go to that length to make a point. The Lord will not lets his name be taking in vain. No one tells Jesus "You have a brain figure it out" Even though this is just an illustration, it totally crosses the line. Don't know why teachers/pastors always feel the need to steep so low to reach young people. Do they think young people are unintelligent? This could have been done so much more tastefully.

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Savannah Austin posted a comment. Sunday, May 10, 2009


Awesome message!It totally speaks to me.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Recommended by Bishop Katie at The CORE":

Now, members inspire themselves and deliver their own parables. How moving and potentially dangerous!

***

GJ - Some of the toxic trends picked up from Stanley, Groeschel, Beeson, and Driscoll are:

Manufactured spontaneous moments - like the Drive 09 dance.

Man-made parables - tedious, verbose, over-acted, devoid of Biblical content.

Liturgical dance.

Pop and rock music, drippy lyrics. Manipulated emotions as a substitute for the Word of God.

Giant video screens and incredible amounts spent on media. Compare - $75 for a web camera at Bethany Lutheran Church.

Limited vocabularies: awesome, dude, totally, like. A Martian could attend four or five conferences simply by saying repeatedly, "Dude, totally awesome. You, like, nailed it."

Latte Lutheran Church Promoted on WELS Streaming Video

It took some looking around, but I found the link:

WELS videos

Rev. Randy is traveling around once a month, and he gets a vicar to train.

"Am I a Solder of the Cross"
by Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

1. Am I a solder of the Cross,
A foll'wer of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own
His cause Or blush to speak His name?2. Must I be carried to the skies
On flow'ry beds of ease
While others fought to win the prize
And sailed thro' bloody seas?

Hymn #445
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: 1 Cor. 16:13
Author: Isaac Watts, 1721
Composer: Thomas Ests, 1592
Tune: "Winchester Old"

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Everyone is waiting for the ant sermon to be posted.

More Evidence of Women's Ordination in WELS

Beth Thompson


Conversation with Beth Thompson

Beth Thompson is the Program Coordinator for English Conversation Outreach Model Program at Gethsemane, Milwaukee, Wis. Beth talks about her background, thankfulness for all the volunteers, the students, and the blessings from this program.

Publish Date:
5/20/2009
Length:
16:19
See Series:
English Conversation Outreach English Conversation Outreach Series RSS
Channels:
Information
Tags:
About Education Languages Programs Society Spotlight Volunteers.

***

GJ - This appears to be the role of a pastor, but everyone knows - anything goes.
KJV 1 Timothy 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. The Shrinkers like to slither away from the main point, but they know they are promoting the cause, one baby-step at a time.

Seminary Scholarship Funds Used To Fund Vicars, Support African Safaris

Seminary scholarship offerings are used to pay for the free vicar program, so the money goes to congregations, not students struggling to finish school.

http://www.wls.wels.net/news/1435.php


Vicars in mission settings
Posted April 7th, 2009
The vicar year is a vital year of instruction for a seminary student. Students learn from hands-on ministry experiences as they are mentored by a supervising pastor. Because of the importance of this field experience, the seminary collaborates with the WELS Board for Home Missions (BHM) in subsidizing the cost of a vicar through the Vicars in Mission Settings Program.

For the past two years we have committed a substantial amount of money from our Scholarship Fund to allow mission congregations that perhaps could not afford a vicar to receive one. We pray that the Lord would allow us to continue to collaborate with the BHM in this important program of gospel outreach and pastoral training. 

Generous donations to the seminary’s Scholarship Fund make this collaboration possible. If you would like more information on how you can support the Vicars in Mission Settings Program, please contact the office of mission advancement.

***

GJ - The material above is posted from the WELS website. The vicar program has been abused by the Shrinkers two different ways.

Traditional congregations are denied a vicar while Randy Hunter gets one to train in latte evangelism.

This program is aimed at mission congregations, but Patterson's Holy Word is 30 years old and has a huge staff already.

One thousand verbally abusive and anonymous comments may win some lucky rocker a free African safari with VP Patterson.

The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Fall

DETROIT, MI: Cathedral Faces Closure. Cash Reserves At All Time Low

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
May 13, 2009

The Cathedral Church of St. Paul in DetroitThe Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit may have to close unless it gets an injection of money to keep it going till the end of the year.

The Very Rev. Dean Scott Hunter, Dean of the Cathedral, has asked the Diocesan Council for emergency assistance, saying he needs $200,000 to get through 2009. The dean reported that the cathedral has cash reserves for only six to eight weeks of operations.

When asked if there were staff adjustments that could assist the cathedral in meeting the financial challenges it faces, Hunter said, "There are no staff cuts which save us dollars this year. Even if we release people this year, their departure expenses will equal what we would be paying them for the rest of the year. The bottom line is: if this doesn't happen, my brothers and sisters of council, what are your plans for closing and selling the complex, and ceasing the ministry of the cathedral that is 100 years old and is by congregational age, older than the diocese itself? "That's the challenge we are looking at," Hunter concluded.

A source told VOL that there is much more to this story. "The finances, audits (or lack thereof), and inaccurate parochial reports should be thoroughly investigated."

Neither Herb Gunn Director of Communications nor Bishop Wendell N. Gibbs, Jr., returned phone calls or e-mails to VOL asking for clarification of these charges.

Hunter outlined for council the various ministries and staff personnel involved in the cathedral's work--including a Sunday morning breakfast ministry that feeds 150 people and draws them into worship and the cathedral's renowned church music ministry.

Council member Matthew Bode, pastor at Spirit of Hope Episcopal/Lutheran congregation in Detroit, noted that the cathedral is engaged in valuable mission and ministry work in Detroit. "To allow a congregation at the intersection of Warren and Woodward to fold, at one of the prime intersections in the largest city in our state, is making a statement of our value in the city of Detroit. The cathedral's problems are our problems," he said.

Council member Sarah Midzalkowski, chaplain at Michigan State University, sought to "reframe the conversations," not only in reference to the challenges at the cathedral, but also the challenges of struggling university chaplaincies and other imperiled ministries of the diocese.

"What is our priority when it comes to the Extended Ministry Fund (EMF) and are we moving into a place where we are going to protect money rather than use the EMF to do the ministry we are called to do in this diocese?" Midzalkowski asked.

"If we want to use it as a rainy day fund, it is pouring for these ministries. If we want to look at it as an emergency fund, it is a red light emergency for these ministries. If there is ever a time to use the EMF for the reason it was established, it is times like this," said Midzalkowski.

Hunter concluded that if the council and the diocese consider the Cathedral Church of St. Paul as only a parish church or another congregation, emergency financial support shouldn't be considered. But he reminded the council of the history of St. Paul's being named the cathedral in the early 20th century and the joint project of constructing the Cathedral/Diocesan complex in the 1950s.

A large number of Episcopal cathedrals are in financial trouble across the country with dwindling congregations and Trust Funds. Most bishops have no idea what to do about it

END

***

GJ - Watch the big congregations tumble as they first release staff members, then realize their fixed costs were too high anyway.

New Money Raising Project for Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary: On Site Ads

The sun is Bill Hybels, Willow Creek, who won the bid for the naming rights. St. Mark Depere is already a member of his denomination.

Andy Stanley was asked to remain in stealth mode, since most WELS disciples of the Drive Worship Conferences do not wish to be openly identified with a Babtist. Stealth rights were discounted 50% but they were still hefty.

Craig Groeschel got his face painted on the left roof, because, he says, "I'm writing their sermons anyhoo." He does Catalyst with Andy, and VP Patterson organized a bevy of WELS workers to attend.

Mark Driscoll fought for the right roof because "I am producing their materials and inspiring their multi-site vision."

Leonard Sweet earned the right to be painted at the top of the tower because of his philosophical influence as Rev. Moonbeam.

Granger Community Church was short on funds because no one wanted to pony up $1500 to watch them work, do church, and do life, so they could only afford a banner.

Johnsonville asked to change the name of the school legally to The Sausage Factory. President Wendland sighed and said, "The ELS already calls us that, so we might as well make some dough with it."

Some people claim they can see Babtist Ed Stetzer if they stare at the tower long enough, but Church and Change board members say that is a slanderous lie.

Glowering in the background, Paul Calvin Kelm is arranging for a complete takeover of Deformed Theology.

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Anonymous has given his scheme away, and his tortured childhood memories, by replying to your post "New Money Raising Project for Wisconsin Lutheran S...":

I was watching a cable show today and thought of you. I checked out Wikipedia, and yep, I was right. My guess is you're now making up for all the times you were picked on as a kid. Your site fills the bill for "cyber-bullying":

Wikipedia: "Cyber-bullying involves the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others."

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "New Money Raising Project for Wisconsin Lutheran S...":

Wonderful Caricature! Too bad you could not do it in brail (sic) for the WELS leaders blind to their own imperfections.

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Braille alphabet.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "New Money Raising Project for Wisconsin Lutheran S...":

The picture captures the essence of the problem, namely, a jumble of opinion and practices replacing the word of God and worship. Too bad the infallible leaders of WELS do not get it.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "New Money Raising Project for Wisconsin Lutheran S...":

I wonder what your employer would say if they witnessed the slanderous remarks on your site. You've tried to ruin many reputations. Maybe it's time someone ruined yours.

***

GJ - I am also concerned about the reputations of Stetzer, Groeschel, Stanley, Hybels, Driscoll, Beeson, and Sweet. They would probably not like having their reputations ruined by their association with WELS apostates. Which photo should I erase from the satirical PhotoShop?

All the false teachers have worked with WELS leaders, and I did even list Trinity in Deerfield.

I am 100% self-employed and work exclusively from my spacious home, not far from my pool with a waterfall.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "New Money Raising Project for Wisconsin Lutheran S...":

The picture misses an important point. The CGM exists in large part due to pastors who abdicate their responsibilities of teaching the clean, pure Word of God, and emulating Christ. Instead they blithely follow the Devil’s enticements to take the easy way out. Specious promises that quack techniques, marketing, dvertising (sic), and ambience (sic) will do it for them proves too much of a temptation.

Chances of this situation being corrected remain slim to none as long as bulky pastors harden their hearts and attack persons seeking to admonish them.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "New Money Raising Project for Wisconsin Lutheran S...":

"...maybe it's time someone ruined your reputation..."

Oh, plz, Br'er Mouse, don't throw Pr Jackson in THAT briar patch. Whatever you do, DON'T tell your C&C friends about Ichabod, or the Book of Concord, or the Confessions. Oh, LAWSIE, NO! They might accidentally read a Bible verse instead of an Enthusiast "how to do church" book-o-the-month.


Don't let them read Ichabod!

Their heads would explode.


+Diet O. Worms

Ascension Day WELS Service - Lots of Ice Cream But No Sermon

A group of WELS congregations had a joint Ascension Day service at one of their churches. The service had no sermon at all, but ice cream was served afterward.

Eyewitness report.

Journalism Major Who Cannot Spell

J-school grad and Church and Change founder Joe Aderman claims to be a frog-kisser. But is he the mysterious Anonymous of today?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Creepy Blog Stalker Cannot Stop Reading and Writin...":

Aw, Minnie Mouse must have touched a sensitive nerve, eh? The audaciousness of criticizing GJ has actually earned it's (sic) own highlighted posting!

Actually, GJ, you're not the only one who's studied journalism and communication laws.

Your interpretation of section 107 Fair Use is rather liberal. While purposes of "criticism" or "comment" certainly fit your blog, because that's just about all you do, in the legal world that's a rather loose application. Fair Use most often applies to the use of intellectual property for educational purposes - formal education. Furthermore, your definition of "truth" is also loose. Truth, as in factual? Or truth, as in your opinion? Hearsay is not a legal argument in U.S.courts.

You are taking the creative work of others without their permission. You are then using it for your own purposes and, quite often, distorting it in a manner of which the author or artist would not approve. As Christians obeying God's commands, copyright laws apply to us also. And, out of love, we should respect the talents God gave to creative minds: meaning, we should not be stealing their work.

***

GJ - The only nerve it struck was in my funny bone. I post these inane comments because they are so WELS-Church-and-Chicanery. The laity are discovering the tactics of the foul-mouthed, bad-spelling, inarticulate Shrinkers - and how those thugs work the WELS grapevine anonymously. The sanctimony just oozes from their veiled threats and condemnations. An earlier one today said I should follow D. James Kennedy (!?) and worry about how many souls I am taking to heaven.

Minnie Mouse threatened me with lawsuits, without saying exactly why. The comment above could be from Minnie Mouse too - the advantage of unsigned communications.

All the accusations above are stated without a single reason or example given. The apostates have been using the WELS/Little Sect grapevine that way for years. If someone identifies false doctrine face-to-face, they scream, "Unloving! Unbrotherly! Eighth Commandment!" Meanwhile, they mutter anonymously that someone is senile, brain-damaged, or worse. Such brotherly love toward their own fellow pastors. GA must not have united them.

Quoting someone's blog or Tweet is not hearsay. It is digital scholarship. I copy and paste their eructations because Chicaneries quickly erase the evidence, as Pastor Rick did in Corona, California, when I exposed him as a Leonard Sweet-heart.

St. Mark Willow Creek DePere had a life-coach on the staff until I published that fact. Then the title disappeared, but the grant application for a life-coach remained on the Internet. My research team works 24/7.

I think the delightful critique of Willow Creek, written by a non-Lutheran, sparked the inner rage of Church and Chicaneries, prompting their battle cries, which must sound eloquent in the St. Marcus staff lounge.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Journalism Major Who Cannot Spell":

WELS Church and change really likes "to isolate, intimidate and even shame their critics into silence and cooperation with "hurt feelings" as their license and authority." Their despotic demeanor will continue to drive away the faithful replacing them with more feeling-sensitive members.

***

GJ - Very sensitive about feelings - their own.

Non-Lutheran Smells the Fetid Waters of Willow Creek

Church and Chicanery: "Let's just sweep this under the rug."


http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/hybels/people.htm

As I went on to research The Willow Creek Association, I discovered that thousands upon thousands of established churches around the country were being transformed into sensory driven "seeker churches" EXACTLY like ours under the guidance and direction of this organization, all with the same tolerance, diversity and unity theme, liberal worship format, scripturally shallow teaching, heavy on the comfort and light on the conscience, equipped with huge multi-media projection screens, large sound systems, exotic music, no choir, female ministers, feelings-motivated skits, dance interpretations and heavily burdened with millions of dollars of debt from building state-of-the-art entertainment venues they call "worship centers". I think the revolving disco ball sparkling overhead at our dedication service a couple of years ago was a REAL poignant moment for me personally.

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever." (1st John 2:15-17)

I have long-since worn out my welcome with certain members of the church staff by repeatedly protesting our involvement in these ecumenical movements and carnal extravaganzas beginning with the "men's movement"; that emotionally driven, highly advertised, celebrity endorsed, spiritually misguided and now financially bankrupt organization known as "Promise Keepers". The "Consensus Process" or "Hegelian Dialectic" teaches "facilitators" to isolate, intimidate and even shame their critics into silence and cooperation with "hurt feelings" as their license and authority. This too is carnal. Those seeking group acceptance and approval are powerless against it. Frankly, I'd much rather have God's acceptance and approval than the herd's. You see The Willow Creek Association always emphasizes "felt needs", unity, harmony, peace and human relationships over everything else...Just like the United Nations. But, that's not the Gospel.

"Consensus" is all about compromising toward "group-think" not God think. It is conformity to the collective through peer-pressure. This is the very heart of the heresy.

***

GJ - Go to Trapp's WELS congregation and Parlow's - and find the same doctrinal ID, along with heavy debt.

Both of them joined the Willow Creek Association, but Trapp desisted at some point. Nevertheless, Trapp transformed the congregation into a Willow Creek clone.

This corruption is far more extensive in WELS than most people realize. The Little Sect on the Prairie has its echo version, and Missouri is rife with it. McCain-Barry had nine years to rebuke the false doctrine of CGM and did nothing at all.

Exaudi, The Sunday after the Ascension

The Last Supper, by Norma Boeckler


Exaudi, The Sunday after the Ascension

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 8 AM Phoenix Time

Note – if you are having trouble reading Ichabod or the Bethany blog, Google is reporting problems not yet fixed - as of this post. One solution is to download and use the Firefox browser (much faster working than Internet Explorer). The free download site is : http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/ie.html
I am still having IE problems but have no problems using Firefox.

The Hymn #231 We Now Implore God 3:38
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual 1 Peter 4:7-11
The Gospel John 15:26-16:4
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #39 Praise to the Lord, the 3:1

The Spirit of Truth

The Hymn #216 On Christ’s Ascension 3.41
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #37 Lord Tis Not 3:52


KJV 1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. John 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Exaudi Sunday
Lord God, heavenly Father, we give thanks unto Thee, that through Thy Holy Spirit Thou hast appointed us to bear witness of Thy dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: We beseech Thee, inasmuch as the world cannot endure such testimony, and persecutes us in every way, grant us courage and comfort, that we may not be offended because of the cross, but continue steadfastly in Thy testimony, and be found always among those who know Thee and Thy Son, until we obtain eternal salvation through the same, Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Gaost, one true God, world without end. Amen
.

The Comforter, The Spirit of Truth
Man searches for truth. The Information Age has increased the distribution of facts and opinions, but people still wonder, “What is truth?”

In this Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the work of the Holy Spirit. This particular Sunday comes after the Ascension of Jesus and just before the Day of Pentecost. Most Christians think that Pentecost is a holiday unique to Christians, but the day is simply taken over from Jews who continue to celebrate Pentecost as they did in the past, as 50 days after Passover.

The Gospel lessons from John address the coming of the Holy Spirit several times. I find one description of the work of the Holy Spirit annoyingly cute, but it also fits the Biblical portrait well. Once Northwestern Publishing House published a book about the Holy Spirit called, The Holy Spirit, The Shy Member of the Trinity.
This title comes from the Biblical witness that the work of the Holy Spirit is to witness to the glory of the Father and the Son. If you read many different passages in the Bible, you will see how often the Father and the Son are emphasized, while the work of the Holy Spirit is implicit.

Dr. Robert Preus taught at Ft. Wayne that Pentecostalism arose because modern Christianity was too interested in Jesus alone, to the detriment of understanding the Holy Trinity, especially in how the Holy Spirit works. This requires some explanation. The liberals attacked Christianity by denying the divinity of Christ and wondering out loud what He really thought about Himself. Their main code word was “the mind of Christ,” distorting a phrase from Philippians 2. What they meant by this was that Jesus did not consider Himself the Son of God, so we should have this same “mind of Christ.” This also became a good excuse to teach a new doctrine of salvation by works – rather, the old doctrine of works.

Obviously in this concentration upon Jesus, built upon distortions and the manipulation of facts, the work of the Holy Spirit was forgotten. In one verse we have two descriptions of the work of the Holy Spirit. One is that of Comforter, or Spokesman, or Advocate. In this role we know that those who are faithful in their study of the Word and careful in teaching the Word alone, without distortions or man-made additions, will speak God’s truth. That does not mean that any kind of blabber is the work of the Holy Spirit. But it does mean that “he who listens to you listens to Me.”

No individual can speak God’s Word on his own. The Holy Spirit moves us to witness to the truth. Only the Spirit can plant faith in our hearts and nurture that faith through the Word and Sacraments. Knowing and believing this solves several basic problems. One is: how can I ever speak for God? The other is: how can I know what truth is?

The Christian faith is taught so clearly in the Bible that anyone can become an orthodox Christian through reading the Scriptures alone. We are helped by having other books, but the Bible does not require another book. What people often lack is not an understanding of the “difficult” Bible but a lack of study of the Word. The best professor of the Scriptures is the Holy Spirit. If we want to know what the Gospel of John teaches, the best books are not by Lenski and Luther, as good as they are, but by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. That is also what Luther and Lenski taught, following what the Christian Church has done from the beginning – using Scripture to interpret Scripture.

I remember how excited Time magazine got about hyper-linked texts. We are used to it on the Internet now. Click on a link about Moby Dick and it takes you to the Melville museum in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, next to the WELS congregation there. Click on a word in the museum site and it takes you to the complete text of the novel.

The Bible did this many centuries ago. Every verse is linked to all other verses. We are confident that the entire Bible is God’s truth, but also that it is a unified truth. The tiny book of Jonah relates directly to the death and resurrection of Christ. The expulsion of Adam and Even from the garden includes the first Gospel promise of our Savior. The New Testament is filled with verses that contain a phrase from the Old Testament. Then we can see how God prepared His people for centuries to see and believe in the Incarnate Son of God, Jesus our Savior.

The Bible is the Book of the Holy Spirit. We can say the Holy Spirit does not get much credit, but to have that One Book on His resume is quite an achievement. After all, the Bible is not judged by any book. Instead, it judges all books. I read a massive book on Charles Darwin, who was quite a genius and student of biology. Nevertheless, Darwin’s works do not stand above the Bible even if Darwin is the smartest of all scientists. (I find it ironic that he studied the earthworm for 40 years and missed its unique role in improving the soil, emphasizing instead its ability to create soil and bury all the creations of man.)

The explosion of information makes people uncertain about the truth, but every believer can open the Scriptures and test the latest claims with what the Bible has always taught. This is a great comfort for adults and children, because we can be thrown into all kinds of educational turmoil and remain believers by clinging to the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

Although we have many faults, weaknesses, and sins, and fall into doubt about God’s power and goodness, the Holy Spirit constantly teaches us and strengthens our weak faith. As one person said to Jesus, “I believe. Help thou mine unbelief.” We believe. We trust in Christ, yet we fall into turmoil from the assaults of Satan, our weak flesh, and the unbelieving world.

How is an individual forgiven? Most of the confessions of Christianity are in confusion about this, but the Bible speaks clearly. Forgiveness comes only through the appointed Means of Grace: the Word, Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. In each case, the Holy Spirit works exclusively through the Word to bring us forgiveness: through the invisible Word of teaching and preaching, the visible Word of Baptism and Holy Communion.

We have consistent worship throughout the Lutheran Church (that is the ideal, no longer in effect) for a reason – to call attention to the Holy Spirit’s work in worship, creating sorrow for sins through the Law and rejoicing in forgiveness through the Gospel. The worship service should be consistent from congregation to congregation, so that people do not whisper to each other, “I like the congregation’s pit band better than ours. We really need some bongo drums and better sound. I think I will donate some loud speakers in memory of my mother-in-law.”
Christianity Today was forced to admit one time that the traditional Lutheran worship service glorifies the grace of God more than any other. Isn’t it odd to have people gibbering in tongues to prove they have the Holy Spirit when the Word, baptism, and communion are welded to the Holy Spirit. In fact, God never works apart from these means of grace.

This is important to realize in terms of forgiveness. The entire world may refuse to forgive you, but every believer knows he is forgiven by God because of the promises given by the Holy Spirit. Ultimately what matters is God’s forgiveness and not the world’s forgiveness.

I know that many pastors and laity are facing great difficulties today. But there is little respect for the Word of God today, especially among church leaders who no longer recognize the divine call of the pastor. Nevertheless, as bad as things may be, we still know that the Holy Spirit guides us through the Scriptures. God will judge all these things in time and the judgment will begin in the house of God.
KJV 1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

It is easy to be in a position of power and gloat over the harm done to others through bullying and abuse of power, but God sees all and understands what is in the heart of man. Many a poor Lazarus will be in the bosom of Abraham in the age to come. Many a rich baron will cry out for a drop of water when his unrepentant sins toss him into the eternal flames of Hell.

The Holy Spirit warns us and comforts us. If we love the truth, the Spirit of Truth gives us confidence and peace. If we hate the truth, the Spirit of Truth will seem to be a burning fire, a hammer, a terror, and wrath without end.

Part II
John 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
The second part of this lesson should resonate with many, because people continue to be shocked that sound doctrine causes strife, alienates people, and brings the cross. The first stage of the growth of Christianity came from the preaching of the Gospel in the synagogues. The first converts were Jews, and they used the worship and teaching centers to say that everything they learned from the Scriptures was fulfilled in Jesus the Messiah. The Jewish followers were excommunicated for teaching the truth, so Jesus said, “I am telling you so you won’t be scandalized when it happens.”

Simply from preaching the Word the apostolic church saw explosive growth and immediate persecution. We know from the historical records of non-Christians that vast numbers became followers from the beginning. That should not shock us because 500 were eyewitnesses of the risen Lord and heard Him preach before His Ascension.
The apostles also drew from the dregs of society, the criminal class and the slaves. This added to the low esteem of Christianity, which was considered a sect of the Jews, who were nothing but trouble for the Romans. This loathing made it easy to persecute Christians and put them in the arena for sport, to be attacked by wild animals.

Jesus warned, “They will think they are doing a service for God when they kill you.” As Luther commented, the most bitter pill is the persecution of Christians by Christians. In the early days it was the Jews defenestrating fellow Jews, accompanied by Rome killing Christians in the name of religious harmony.
Now there are subtler forms of persecution. But rather than feel sorry, we should be satisfied that the Word is exactly right about this. Besides, conflict makes us study the Word and learn more. Ease and luxury have always made people lazy about the Word and more prone to fall away, as Jesus warned in the Parable of the Sower. The cares and riches of the world choke part of the crop because people pay more attention to material things. They even think that material means will create spiritual blessings. They say, “If only we had more money,” instead of “If only we applied ourselves to the Word.”

3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

Someone wrote, “Don’t take things personally.” This verse shows where the animus comes from. There are many indications, such as deceitfulness, hiding behind anonymity, and quoting false teachers as their authority. As one stealthy person claimed recently, Lutherans need to be judged by something D. James Kennedy (Reformed) wrote, a quotation so steeped in Law and Pietism that it was laughable. “How many people are you taking to heaven with you?” I cannot imagine a better load of guilt to lay on people – the Protestant version of Purgatory: motivate works with fear, guilt, and uncertainty.

The same has happened when people imagined they had a special claim on the Holy Spirit. They increased their annoying behavior many times over by always speaking for God—“the Holy Spirit told me…”—in spouting their hostilities. I know of ministers who cringed because they could not stand up to these self-appointed apostles, surrendering the great blessing of teaching where the Holy Spirit can always be found – in the Word and Sacraments.

When ministers turn against the Scriptures, they turn toward Rome as the materialistic symbol of truth. Or they spend their careers teaching people the Bible is not true, as so many mainline ministers do. Or they focus on personality, performance, and entertainment, because they think the Holy Spirit is not capable of producing the miracle of faith without their marketing skills and pop music.

False teachers cause a lot of damage, but they also prove how powerful the Word of God is. That is why they rage against orthodoxy and try to silence anyone who figures them out. They would not rage if they had a soft target.

"Nevertheless, He has said that the Holy Spirit should testify of him and that they also should bear witness; and He assures them that their testimony shall not be effaced by this rage and persecution of the world." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 258. Exaudi John 15:26-16:4.

Quotations

"We have the comfort of this victory of Christ—that He maintains His Church against the wrath and power of the devil; but in the meantime we must endure such stabs and cruel wounds from the devil as are necessarily painful to our flesh and blood. The hardest part is that we must see and suffer all these things from those who call themselves the people of God and the Christian Church. We must learn to accept these things calmly, for neither Christ nor the saints have fared better." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 263. Exaudi John 15:26-16:4.
"From these two convictions—that they do not know Him and that they persecute and slay His advocates—Christ now passes the judgment that the so-called Church is not the Church. He then concludes that with their false doctrines and persecutions they are both liars and murderers of God and of Christ and of all His saints." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 270. Exaudi John 15:26-16:4.
"It is not the devil's aim to plague us physically; he is a spirit who is always thirsting for the tears and the drops of blood that come from our hearts. He wants us to despair and to perish from sadness. This would be his joy and delight. But he will not succeed." What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1244. John 15:19.
"Nevertheless, He has said that the Holy Spirit should testify of him and that they also should bear witness; and He assures them that their testimony shall not be effaced by this rage and persecution of the world." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 258. Exaudi John 15:26-16:4.

In Memory of Our Fallen Soldiers
I have had the great privilege of teaching active duty military in college classes, and I often teach former members of the military and family members as well. In church work I have also know WWII veterans, Korean, Viet Nam, and Iraq war veterans. Memorial Day began after the Civil War, to honor those who lost their lives in our bloodiest conflict. Graves were decorated, so I remember it still being called Decoration Day, as it was among some in the beginning.

Every time I read a book about our wars, I marvel at the courage and tenacity of our military people in facing political battles and logistic struggles while fighting the enemy.

The strength of our country has come from a core of veterans who placed their country above their own interests and saw their best friends die for it.

Our best way of remembering their service is to thank them and their families for their sacrifices.