ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
When Calvinists Were Still Crypto
Crypto-Calvinists, Then and Now
Read the chapter for free here.
Before Luther's death, most of the doctrinal battles were against the Medieval errors of Roman Catholicism. After his death in 1546, the errors of John Calvin began to undermine Lutheran doctrine. Calvin's errors, in this controversy, concerned the two natures of Christ as well as the Lord's Supper. What someone believes about Christ will inevitably be reflected in what he believes about Holy Communion. Calvin could not believe that the resurrected Christ could pass through solid walls (John 20:19).
J-737
“They [the Lutherans] object that Christ went forth from the closed sepulcher [Matthew 28:6] and went to His disciples through closed doors [John 20:19]. This gives no more support to their error. For just as the water, like a solid pavement, provided Christ with a path as He walked upon the lake [Matthew 14:25], so it is no wonder if the hardness of the stone yielded at His approach. Yet it is more probable that the stone was removed at His command, and immediately after He passed through, returned to its place. And to enter through closed doors means not just penetrating through solid matter but opening an entrance for Himself by divine power, so that He suddenly stood among His disciples clearly, in a wonderful way, although the doors were locked.”
John Calvin, ed. John T. McNeill, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2 vols., Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960, II, p. 1400. Book IV, XVII, #29.
Similarly, Calvin could not accept the Real Presence of Christ with the elements of the Lord's Supper.[25] In addition, he separated the work of the Holy Spirit from the Word, so the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Baptism were symbolic and not effective in Calvin's thought. Once again, Melanchthon's unionism, timidity, and lack of honesty played a tragic part in launching the evil Crypto-Calvinist party. His desire for union with Calvin's Geneva and with Rome caused Melanchthon to change his views and try to strike a compromising position somewhere between the truth, Rome, and Geneva.
As early as 1535, Melanchthon harbored anti-Lutheran views, but hid them from Luther. By 1540 Melanchthon had changed the Augsburg Confession to conform with Calvin's views! Many people are still astonished today that Luther's co-worker could alter a confession of the Lutheran Church on his own. That is why Lutheran denominations adhere to the "Unaltered Augsburg Confession" or UAC, as found on church cornerstones. Melanchthon urged his followers to dissimulate, to cleverly deceive, rather than reveal their positions to the pure Lutherans. Modern Crypto-Calvinists, in the Church Growth Movement, also refuse to state their doctrinal beliefs.
J-738
"To all practical purposes the University of Wittenberg was already Calvinized. Calvinistic books appeared and were popular. Even the work of a Jesuit against the book of Jacob Andreae on the Majesty of the Person of Christ was published at Wittenberg. The same was done with a treatise of Beza, although, in order to deceive the public, the title-page gave Geneva as the place of publication. Hans Lufft, the Wittenberg printer, later declared that during this time he did not know how to dispose of the books of Luther which he still had in stock, but that, if he had printed twenty or thirty times as many Calvinistic books, he would have sold all of them very rapidly."
F. Bente, Concordia Triglotta, Historical Introductions to the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 189.
Joachim Westphal was the one of the first to warn Lutherans of the influence of Calvinism. John Calvin caused confusion by his early agreement with the Lutheran position. Melanchthon secretly converted to Calvin’s position on the Lord’s Supper. Westphal's polemics brought out Calvin's polemics, which clarified the differences between the two confessions. During this period of time, a group of Philipp Melanchthon's followers in Wittenberg conspired to surrender Luther's Reformation to the Calvinists. They convinced the Elector August that they were faithful Lutherans. These secret Calvinists (Crypto-Calvinists) also encouraged the Elector to drive out the genuine Lutherans, accusing the faithful men of being heretics! Luther predicted this would happen.
The Crypto-Calvinists gathered Melanchthon’s writings into a Corpus Philippicum with the approval of Melanchthon. The group of writings included Melanchthon's false doctrine and excluded Luther's writings. Those who did not subscribe to the document were deposed and driven out of their church positions. Early success made the Crypto-Calvinists bolder. They surrounded Elector August and convinced him to persecute sincere Lutherans as zealots and trouble-makers. Calvinist books were promoted to such a degree in Wittenberg that Luther's books remained unsold. The theologians craftily published a book, Exegesis Perspicua, which advocated union with the Calvinists, surrendering all doctrinal points to Calvin. Their triumph opened the eyes of the naive Elector, but one more stroke destroyed them in their cleverness.
The Crypto-Calvinists Self-Destruct
After Luther's death in 1546, Melanchthon's followers, with his help, conspired to replace Luther's doctrine with Calvin's at Wittenberg, Leipzig, and across Germany. Their stealth book, Exegesis Perspicua, revealed their dishonesty and allegiance to Calvin. Elector August, a faithful Lutheran who had been deceived by the Crypto-Calvinists, was angered and humiliated. The Crypto-Calvinists added to their fame as liars in 1574, when a Calvinist devotional book was delivered to the wrong person.
J-739
"By mistake the letter was delivered to the wife of the court-preacher Lysthenius....After opening the letter and finding it to be written in Latin, she gave it to her husband, who, in turn, delivered it to the Elector. In it Peucer requested Schuetze dexterously to slip into the hands of Anna, the wife of the Elector, a Calvinistic prayer-book which he had sent with the letter. Peucer added: 'If first we have Mother Anna on our side, there will be no difficulty in winning His Lordship [her husband] too.' Additional implicating material was discovered when Augustus now confiscated the correspondence of Peucer, Schuetze, Stoessel, and Cracow. The letters found revealed the consummate perfidy, dishonesty, cunning, and treachery of the men who had been the trusted advisers of the Elector, who had enjoyed his implicit confidence, and who by their falsehoods had caused him to persecuted hundreds of innocent and faithful Lutheran ministers. The fact was clearly established that these Philippists had been systematically plotting to Calvinize Saxony. The very arguments with which Luther's doctrine of the Lord's Supper and the Person of Christ might best be refuted were enumerated in these letters. However, when asked by the Elector whether they were Calvinists, these self-convicted deceivers are said to have answered that 'they would not see the face of God in eternity if in any point they were addicted to the doctrines of the Sacramentarians or deviated in the least from Dr. Luther's teaching.' (Walther, 56.)"
F. Bente, Concordia Triglotta, Historical Introductions to the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 190
The sly letter enclosed with the book from Melanchthon's son-in-law, suggested that Elector August be converted through his wife Anna. August ordered an investigation, which revealed even more intrigue. The Crypto-Calvinists were thrown into prison. August took on a leadership role in restoring genuine Lutheran doctrine. Martin Chemnitz, Jacob Andreae, and Nicholas Selnecker were made trusted advisors to August.[26]
As horrible as the Crypto-Calvinist reign appeared at the time, their excesses and sudden collapse provided a God-given way to unite Lutherans in a common confession. At the Colloquy of Worms in 1557, the Lutherans were divided, thanks to Melanchthon, and the Romanists refused to negotiate with them. Many unity efforts failed, until Jacob Andreae published his Six Christian Sermons in 1573. Andreae's sermons, the collapse of the Crypto-Calvinists, and Martin Chemnitz' leadership all combined to generate movement toward the Formula of Concord.
J-740
"What really gave Andreae a break and promoted his unity endeavors was the exposure of the Crypto-Calvinists in Wittenberg in 1574. Thus all three groups of true Lutherans were for the first time in many years to sit down at the table and devote their efforts to their internal problems. Just about this time Andreae providentially published his Six Christian Sermons. At this point and on these sermons Chemnitz was willing to talk."
J. A. O. Preus, The Second Martin, The Life and Theology of Martin Chemnitz, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1994, p. 183.
J-741
"The Exegesis perspicua [1573] marked the end of the hidden and underhanded efforts of those within Saxony who had espoused Calvinism. Everything was out in the open. These men repudiated the sacramental union, the oral eating of the body of Christ, and the eating of the body by the wicked. They held that Christ's body is enclosed in heaven and Christ is present in the Supper only in His power. There is no union of the body of Christ with the bread. The ubiquity doctrine of Brenz is repudiated as Eutychianism, and ancient heresy that asserted that after the union of the divine and human natures in Christ only one nature remained. Believers who participated in the Supper, the Wittenbergers asserted, become members of Christ who is present and efficacious through the symbols of bread and wine. They lavished praise on the Reformed and urged immediate union with them in opposition to the papacy."
J. A. O. Preus, The Second Martin, The Life and Theology of Martin Chemnitz, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1994, p. 175f.
The Formula of Concord required the cooperation of Andreae, Chemnitz, Selnecker, David Chytraeus, Musculus, and Cornerus.[27] Most people could not abide Andreae, because of his tactless, overbearing, and self-willed nature, but he was crucial in getting the work started and completed. Chemnitz was the dominant theologian, but the others all contributed significant insights to the Formula, which was signed in 1577. The Book of Concord, which includes the Ecumenical Creeds, the Augsburg Confession, the Apology to the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Small Catechism, the Large Catechism, and the Formula of Concord, was completed in 1580.
J-742
"Such was the manner in which the Elector allowed himself to be duped by the Philippists who surrounded him, —men who gradually developed the art of dissimulation to premeditated deceit, falsehood, and perjury. Even the Reformed theologian Simon Stenius, a student at Wittenberg during the Crypto-Calvinistic period, charges the Wittenbergers with dishonesty and systematic dissimulation."
F. Bente, Concordia Triglotta, Historical Introductions to the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 188.
Crypto-Calvinism Now
J-743
"In other words, Zwingli and his numerous adherents declare that the means God has ordained are unnecessary and hinder true piety."
Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, 3 vols., trans., Walter W. F. Albrecht, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1953, III, p. 104.
J-744
"Calvinism rejects the means of grace as unnecessary; it holds that the Holy Spirit requires no escort or vehicle by which to enter human hearts."
John T. Mueller, "Grace, Means of," Lutheran Cyclopedia, Erwin L. Lueker, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1975, p. 344.
J-745
"The Christian doctrine of the means of grace is abolished by all 'enthusiasts,' all who assume a revealing and effective operation of the Holy Spirit without and alongside the divinely ordained means of grace."
Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, 3 vols., trans., Walter W. F. Albrecht, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1953, III, p. 127.
J-746
"Our opponents hold that saving faith must be founded on Christ Himself, not on the means of grace. This reasoning, common to the Reformed, the 'enthusiasts' of all shades, and modern 'experience' theologians, assumes that faith can and should be based on Christ to the exclusion of the means of grace."
Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, 3 vols., trans., Walter W. F. Albrecht, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1953, III, p. 152.
J-747
"The specific Reformed cultus, due to the Reformed denial of the efficacy and objective nature of the Means of Grace, represents a quest after the grace of God revolving around human agency and subjective experience. The Lutheran cultus places the grace of God nigh unto the sinner in the Means of Grace."
Th. Engelder, W. Arndt, Th. Graebner, F. E. Mayer, Popular Symbolics, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p. 21.
J-748
"The Reformed are simply deluding themselves in claiming Scripture support for their teaching regarding the means of grace. Their teaching is not derived from the Bible."
Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, 3 vols., trans., Walter W. F. Albrecht, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1953, III, p. 150.
J-749
"The doctrine of salvation through the Means of Grace is distinctive of Lutheranism. The Catholic churches have no use for means of grace, for a Gospel and for Sacraments which offer salvation as a free gift. And the Reformed churches, while they hold, in general, that salvation is by grace, repudiate the Gospel and the Sacraments as the means of grace. It is clear that matters of fundamental importance are involved. The chief article of the Christian religion, justification by faith, stands and falls with the article of the Means of Grace. Justification by faith means absolutely nothing without the Means of Grace, whereby the righteousness gained by Christ is bestowed and faith, which appropriates the gift, is created."
The. Engelder, W. Arndt, Th. Graebner, F. E. Mayer, Popular Symbolics, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p. 4f.
J-750
"This downplaying of the importance of the means of grace on the part of many in the Church Growth Movement would seem to stem from several factors."[28]
David J. Valleskey, "The Church Growth Movement: An Evaluation," Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, Spring, 1991 88, p. 105. Holidaysburg, 10-15-90.[29] [emphasis added]
J-751
"Observe, then, the depreciative, contemptuous, and scorning ring in the words of the Reformed when they speak of the sacred Means of Grace, the Word and the Sacraments, and the grand majestic ring in the words of the Lord and the apostles when they speak of these matters...The true reason for the Reformed view is this: They do not know how a person is to come into possession of the divine grace, the forgiveness of sin, righteousness in the sight of God, and eternal salvation. Spurning the way which God has appointed, they are pointing another way, in accordance with new devices which they have invented."
C. F. W. Walther, The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel, trans., W. H. T. Dau, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1928, p. 152f.
WELS Laity Know the Score Now
Email:
The last two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) you have really posted hard-hitting material on the big I. I do not think you could have spelled it out any better than you did.
Why we subscribe to the Book of Concord and why the Changers are the crypto-Calvinists of our time in WELS.
I am glad to hear that the WELS pastors are bending the officials' ears. I think this convention should be about whether we want to be Lutheran or non-Lutheran.
The schools are meaningless unless WELS wants to be Lutheran. People are really speaking out.
***
GJ - The false teachers being exposed think it is unfair to quote them, link their websites, and catalog their offenses against the Christian faith. When the synod controlled the information, and the Shrinkers controlled the official magazine, the laity thought everything was hunky-dory.
Isn't it odd that the crypto-Calvinists were so allergic to the word Lutheran that they had to get rid of it on the masthead of the official magazine?
Given the dominant content of FIC (nee The Northwestern Lutheran), a better name would have been The Milwaukee Bee.
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"Luther protested against Rome's soul-destroying teachings and reformed the Church by restoring the pure doctrine of God's Word. Zwingli hoped to reform the Church by abolishing Rome's superstitious practices. Calvin believed that a complete reformation implied two things: First, it was necessary to abolish all ceremonies, even those which were in use in the ancient Church, such as the liturgy, the church year, pulpits, altars; secondly, a truly reformed Church must follow the pattern of the Apostolic Church in all its church practices and adopt the form of church government given to Israel in the Old Testament."
F. E. Mayer, American Churches, Beliefs and Practices, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1946, p. 24.
"The divine power must never be separated from the Word of Scripture; that is to say, the Holy Ghost does not operate beside or outside the Word (enthusiasm, Calvinism, Rathmannism in the Lutheran Church), but always in and through the Word, Romans 10:17; 1 Peter 1:23; John 6:23."
John Theodore Mueller, Christian Dogmatics, A Handbook of Doctrinal Theology, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p. 134f. Romans 10:17; John 6:23; 1 Peter 1:23.
"The doctrine of the means of grace is understood properly only when it is considered in the light of Christ's redemptive work (satisfactio vicaria) and the objective justification, or reconciliation, 2 Corinthians 5:19-20, which He secured by His substitutionary obedience (satisfactio vicaria). If these two doctrines are corrupted (Calvinism: denial of the gratia universalis; synergism: denial of sola gratia), then also the Scripture doctrine of the means of grace will become perverted." John Theodore Mueller, Christian Dogmatics, A Handbook of Doctrinal Theology, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p. 442. 2 Corinthians 5:19-20.
"Calvinism rejects the means of grace as unnecessary; it holds that the Holy Spirit requires no escort or vehicle by which to enter human hearts."
John T. Mueller, "Grace, Means of," Lutheran Cyclopedia, Erwin L. Lueker, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1975, p. 344.
"Pietist preachers were anxious to discover and in a certain sense to separate the invisible congregation from the visible congregation. They had to meet demands different than those of the preceding period: they were expected to witness, not in the objective sense, as Luther did, to God's saving acts toward all men, but in a subjective sense of faith, as they themselves had experienced it. In this way Pietism introduced a tendency toward the dissolution of the concept of the ministry in the Lutheran Church."
Helge Nyman, "Preaching (Lutheran): History," The Encyclopedia of the Lutheran Church, 3 vols., ed. Julius Bodensieck, Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1965, III, p. 1943.
"All those doctrinal questions which were not immediately connected with the personal life of faith were avoided. The standard for the interpretation of Scripture thus became the need of the individual for awakening, consolation, and exhortation. The congregation as a totality was lost from view; in fact, pietistic preaching was (and is) more apt to divide the congregation than to hold it together."
Helge Nyman, "Preaching (Lutheran): History," The Encyclopedia of the Lutheran Church, 3 vols., ed. Julius Bodensieck, Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1965, III, p. 1943.
"Pietism greatly weakened the confessional consciousness which was characteristic of orthodox Lutheranism."
Helge Nyman, "Preaching (Lutheran): History," The Encyclopedia of the Lutheran Church, 3 vols., ed. Julius Bodensieck, Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1965, III, p. 1945.
"In other words, Zwingli and his numerous adherents declare that the means God has ordained are unnecessary and hinder true piety."
Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, 3 vols., trans., Walter W. F. Albrecht, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1953, III, p. 104.
True Confessions
False teachers like to change the subject and use the straw man logical fallacy. Some examples:
- I worship Jesus, not Martin Luther. Straw man.
- The Bible did not fall out of the sky from heaven. Straw man.
- The only true Word of God is the Bible. Changing the subject (ignoratio elenchi.)
They will explain that the word Trinity is not in the Bible, ignoring the revelation of the Trinity hundreds of times, including the Old Testament.
False teachers will also confess that the word Sacrament is not found as such in the Bible, in spite of Chemnitz teaching how newer words (like Trinity) are used as shorthand to discuss a Biblical truth.
The official statement about the two norms are: The Canonical Scriptures are the ruling norm (norma normans) and the Book of Concord is the ruled norm (norma normata).
So, the right way to talk about the Book of Concord is thus - "I believe the Book of Concord is a correct exposition of the Scriptures." (quia subscription)
A qualified subscription is called a quatenus subscription and is often used to argue against the Confessions - "I believe the Book of Concord is correct insofar (quatenus) it agrees with the Word of God."
The old Synod Conference parts (LCMS, WELS, the Little Sect on the Prairie) and their offscourings (LCR, CLC, CLC, etc) are officially hotter than a Phoenix sidewalk for the quia subscription.
Unofficially, they treat their Midwestern Pietistic forefathers as the Twelve Apostles. All argumentation starts with the quest for the historical Walther and other sentimental rubbish.
The Chicaneries, for instance, try to wrap themselves in Biblical piety. After all, only the Scriptures count. Forget not the wonders of Wauwatosa.
In their ignorance they overlook the distinction between the revelation of God and the confession of man. The Book of Concord does not compete with the Scriptures. The Confessions do not supplant the Word of God. Our Book of Concord is our confession of faith, just as the Ecumenical Creeds are. In fact, the Book of Concord starts with the three Creeds of Christendom.
The faked Biblical piety is a mask for the Calvinism of their agenda, which they no longer hide. As the preface to the History of Pietism says, crypto-Calvinism is no longer crypto with Valleskey's "spoiling the Egyptians," endorsed by the Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly and the District Pussycats.
What is the use feigning a quia subscription while providing massive amounts of money to Schwaermer schools and conferences?
In the last 25 years, the path to promotion in all the synods has been time spent at Fuller, Willow Creek, or Trinity Deerfield. Ask Larry Olson, Our Staph Infection. Or Jim Huebner, First-VP-in Waiting.
The button to push for immediate defenestration is criticism of the Church Growth Movement. The Left Foot of Fellowship has been extended many times.
Tell me, you who hold the Church Growth Movement so dear - does Fuller Seminary spend as much time defending Lutheran as you spend defending theirs? Do they suggest Luther's books to their confused and confusing students?
Victory of the Movie Screen - Update - WELSians Are Waking Up
Some people found the eye-witness account of Victory of the Movie Screen shocking, but they are not as jaded as I am.
Pastor Roger Zehms, VP Paul Kuske, and ex-pastor Floyd Stolzenburg started their own little "experimental mission," called Pilgrim Community Church. That was 20 years ago. DP Robert Mueller approved the stealth mission, but it flopped. Only one person openly opposed it - moi - yielding a multi-page venomous diatribe from Kuske, which he mailed to everyone. 1989.
In 1991, a few months after agreeing in public that Church Growth was dangerous, Doctrinal Pussycat Robert Mueller approved the start-up of Crossroads Community Church in S. Lyons, Michigan. That "experimental mission" is now a proud member of the Evangelical Covenant sect, sharing the same doctrinal statements (more or less verbatim) with CrossWalk (quasi-WELS) in Phoenix, a more recent "experimental mission."
There are three reactions to reading the truth about Victory of the Movie Screen, The CORE, Latte
One - disgust and fury with a synod, DPs, and Circuit Pussycats who have let this develop and spread like an untreated cancer.
Two - disgust and fury with anyone who dares oppose the designs of Church and Change, although no defender of Chicanery is a "Changer." No, the Chicaneries are a movement without members whenever this is discussed. They are open Calvinists but crypto-Changers, one and all.
Three - Baby Blue-eyes - can't be true - I know these guys are right just fine. Those people are the most dangerous to Lutheran doctrine because they judge the person, not the doctrine. No amount of written evidence is enough because "he is a nice guy." All the Baby Blue-eyes get upset because someone is suggesting Holy Mother Synod might be less than perfect, contrary to what they have been taught. If the organization is infallible, then the Word of God is fallible. If the structure is worshiped and defended, Christian doctrine is attacked and left undefended, if only through apathy.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
WELS Prayer Institute Promotion
For the July Synod Convention
I mean, piety.
Tim Felt-Needs - In Need of Conversion, Furioso Feels
Furioso has left a new comment on your post "WELS Members Visit Victory of the Movie Screen:Ano...":
Hey Tim,
I think you and your church's approach to worship is conflicted. You say you're Lutheran but the casual "Hey man, bring yer coffee, bring yer pets, let the kids distract everyone else..." argues with that claim.
Lutherans believe that worship should be orderly and reverent--AND in a manner that sets worship apart from our secular lives, and the trappings of the world.
Many of your persuasion are blunt in their admission that they craft your style of worship service to be attractive or acceptable to the random unbelieving visitor. (I don't know if you'd claim that) Whatever the motivation, you and those of your persuasion have ended up with a worship service disorderly as a flea market and about as irreverent as a rock concert. (oh... wait...)
You thinks it's okay to let your kids be noisy and rambunctious in church? That sure sounds disrespectful (to God and other worshipers). I think you should bring your pets so Pastor Billy-Bob can bless them. You could start a dog walking ministry! Would you mind if I brought a spit cup to church? I can't have coffee without a nice big dip of Copenhagen Long Cut. Oooo Oooo or MAYbe you could get some Pinball machines in the sanctuary!
*Interlude to everyone else*:
Did you notice that Tim used the term 'secret shopper'? This is because he looks upon church as a business and doctrine as a commodity. He and his fellows Shrinkers approach evangelism with the savvy of Marketing gurus. They ask, "What is it that customer wants? What brand is going to sell best in this neighborhood? Should we use the Caucasian or the Black Jesus picture? We should do a focus group! Better yet, a Hallepalooza!". What more evidence is needed that the C&Cers refuse to acknowledge the Holy Spirit's power and role in conversion?
*End of Interlude*
The sarcasm comes from frustration at your inability to be honest. You are not Lutheran, and do not want to be. That's unfortunate, and we'd love to have you back on the straight and narrow, but we both know that's not happening. Churches that deny the Holy Spirit's power through the means of Grace are not Lutheran. You're business-model approach to Worship is a threat to your faith, Tim.
In the meantime, for the sake of everyone involved, please take a stance of honesty. Encourage your church and pastor to admit that you're not Lutheran and vote to leave the Lutheran church. I wouldn't want strangers to think you were "mind-numbing". Your church could write a grant for a new sign, with the word Lutheran left off. Don't be painted into a box by antiquated terminology!
Real Lutherans who subscribe to the Book of Concord don't like, need, or want you associated with our Church.
Make no mistake Timmy-boy, If churches and people like you don't leave the WELS we'll get ya. A separation needs to happen. Make the break or it'll be done for you.
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Secret Shopper has left a new comment on your post "Tim Felt-Needs - In Need of Conversion, Furioso Fe...":
PS
The "Felt Need" that Tim lacks is a reality check. Generously, there were maybe 50 people in worship.
I understand its summer but I think his estimates on worship attendance are a little faulty.
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Tim claimed: "What you could find out from me is that membership is about 85 members with about 40 of those from other WELS congregations. The rest were unchurched or under churched. We have about 120 - 130 worshiping each week. There are about 10-15 people in Adult instruction at any given time."
***
GJ - How can a "mission" fatten itself from the members of other congregations? Stadler did that for years and left WELS. Before that, he was a big hero to the WELS leadership, serving as the keynoter at the WELS Youth Conference in Columbus, Ohio.
Chicanery-Speak
Church and Chicaneries speak with forked tongues, so their words need translation. Their terms are listed below, reverently posted in red, followed by their real meaning:
Outreach - Sheep-stealing from other congregations.
Excellent Worship - Entertainment by a Praise Band.
Praise Band - Members of various denominations who want to perform in a Lutheran church.
Ichabod! - Our funds are being cut.
Divisive - Someone who makes clear distinctions between sound and false doctrine, with examples of both shown.
Legalist - A person who does not like garage bands, Zwingli's doctrine, unionism, the destruction of the historic liturgy, and closeted-Calvinism.
Creative Minister - Someone who slavishly copies the latest fads among the Enthusiasts.
Violating the Eighth Commandment - Publishing our false doctrine.
Violating Matthew 18 - Failure to speak privately to us about our public sins, because we need time to trash the speaker before anyone pays attention to him.
Church Consultant - Fuller Seminary graduate.
Mission Counselor - Fuller Seminary graduate.
Seminary Professor - Fuller Seminary graduate.
Staff Ministry - Finding a way to ordain women.
WELS Prayer Institute - A place for Chicaneries to hide in case Church and Change is shut down.
Foundation Grants - The lifeblood of C and C.
Thrivent Grants - The lifeblood of C and C.
Synod Subsidies - The lifeblood of C and C.
Stewardship - Arranging for various funds to keep us going because we hate to give.
Totally Awesome Worship Leader - Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Marc Driscoll, etc.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Chicanery-Speak":
Amen, and Amen!
I am glad the "WELS Prayer Institute" was mentioned. I just heard that we had one last week.
Is the "WELS Prayer Institute" an admission that up to now we didn't have a prayer?
I suppose looking for a WELS Means of Grace Institute is expecting way too much!
***
GJ - Actually, you are at the Lutheran Means of Grace Institute right now - serving all synods since the last century.
The Information Age Stinks - As Far as Church and Change Is Concerned
rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Michigan Lutheran Seminary Will Close And Then What...":
Many of us have moved on. Either we have totally left the WELS or we have practiced "selective fellowship" by transferring to another congregation and/or shunning the contempo ones. It is important to look at the past and the present to establish cause and effect. Also, unintended consequences should be pointed out. One of these is that there will be disgruntled laity who exercise discernment. Some of us will not play in the C&C/CGM sandbox. We will not be intimidated into silence. Ever since Al Gore invented the Internet, information leaks spread faster. Those who have kept the laity in the dark can no longer do so. They often have to engage in damage control. Examples of this would be Ed Stetzer being dis-invited to this year's C&C convention and Phil Gurgle's lame attempt to defend Ski's brazen unionistic practices.
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rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "The Information Age Stinks - As Far as Church and ...":
"WELS stubbornly refuses to acknowledge this negative consequence of their obsession and meddling with C&C/CGM."
Amen. When I requested a transfer, the pastor that I spoke to said that he would compose it right away. Instead, the other pastor wrote it and it took him three to four weeks to get it out. The tone of it was that I was being distracted by my concerns and it conveniently neglected to mention the doctrinal issues that I had. Not a single one of the elders bothered to speak with me. They were either afraid to or else were satisfied with the version that was given to them. Any hint that my talking points were valid could have possibly discredited the doctrine of leadership infallibility.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Information Age Stinks - As Far as Church and ...":
WELS leaders keep lying about their innocence even after they were caught holding the smoking gun and standing over the mortally wounded body of WELS.
Pietism: Past and Future
Identifying Signs of Spener's Sect
Pietism, Part II, Adult Education,
Bethany Lutheran Church
Spener was born 55 years after the Book of Concord, 1580, was published.
As Schmid's History of Pietism noted, the Thirty Years War and caesaropapism contributed to the decline of the Lutheran Church. Caesaropapism means the secular rulers took control of the church.
Spener did two things which continue to influence Lutherans today. Copying the former Catholic Labadie, he organized cell groups. He also wrote Pia Disideria, which began as a preface to a popular book. The agenda in the book included cell groups and a downplaying of doctrinal differences.
Using small groups to promote piety has always been popular in the Roman Catholic Church. Since they see themselves as The Church, their congregations are often large and impersonal. The various societies organized around Mary encourage intense devotion and a focus upon one's personal experience. A congregation may have many different small devotional groups. Labadie took this into the Reformed church, which was especially destitute from its elimination of the Sacraments. Labadie's prescription was another version of the papal method.
Differences between the Lutheran Confessions and Pietism
Method versus the Word of God
The cell group (affinity, share, care, or home Bible study) is a method. Those who deny the efficacy of the Word will necessarily turn to a method to produce the fruits they desire. If they are not satisfied, they will tweak their method until they get what they want. For example, cell groups tend to degenerate into Pentecostalism. Pentecostal cells look for a bigger buzz by turning to holy laughter, miraculous dental work, and claims of raising the dead.
Luther allowed that faithful preaching may produce no visible results for 20 years, but that was not his concern. He trusted that faithful preaching and teaching would produce God's results, which include the cross.
Fruit versus the Tree
Walther came from Pietistic circles and his spiritual father, Bishop for Life Stephan, was a Pietist. Walther made a good observation - that the Pietists look for the fruit rather than the source of the fruit. A farmer or gardener looks for good stock or seed, knowing that is the source of a good harvest. The Pietist judges the source by the harvest, trusting in the method - not the real source, the Word.
Some Lutherans itch because they do not see enough happening to satisfy themselves so they look for something besides the efficacy of the Word. In fact, that is exactly what Bruce Becker (WELS Perish Services, Church and Change Board, now Time of Grace) asked of congregations - "What, besides the Means of Grace, has led to your growth?" Of course, he only asked certain pals in his doctrinal circle.)
Unionism versus Communion Fellowship
Spener was the first union theologian, as Otto Heick observed. He advocated Reformed methods within the Lutheran Church and downplayed the Means of Grace, to use a term abused by David Valleskey. Halle University was founded to promote Pietism and soon became a center for all European Pietists. Lutherans and the Reformed worked together on charitable projects.
I came from an Augustana Synod congregation and attended Augustana College. The Swedish Pietists did not hide their Pietistic origins. Their most famous leader, Conrad Bergendoff, was known for his motto: "Doctrine divides, but service unites." Doctrine does divide - the sheep from the goats. No easier path can be found than one where all doctrinal differences are ignored. That broad path is also why Halle University went from Pietism to Unitarianism in one generation, all the while churning out future Lutheran leaders for America, from Muhlenberg to Hoenecke.
Cell Groups versus the Means of Grace
Cell groups are essential to Pietism. They are the foundational method of Pietism, just as yoga is essential to Hinduism. Where cell groups start, the Sacraments become an embarrassment. Decades ago, some WELS congregations began hiding their Holy Communion service because that might detract from recruiting efforts at the Sunday service.
I heard Willow Creek's Bill Hybels lash out at his Sunday members for not showing up for the Wednesday service, where they have "communion," where they really worship.
If cell groups produce the results desired, the liturgy and hymns and creeds and sermons must go. The General Synod was unionistic and Pietistic, so the first Lutheran body in America was more likely to have a Mourner's Bench (Anxious Bench, Altar Call) for Come-to-Jesus moments during a revival service.
One WELS pastor wrote me that his synod would have more Blacks if they had sponsored more revival services in the past. He was very pleased with theirs.
Needless to say, all the Billy Graham Crusades start with unionism and end with an Altar Call - where they make a decision for Christ. Instead of teaching that Christ comes to use through the Word and Sacraments, the Pietistic revivalists present us as coming to Christ and making a decision.
Levels of Christianity versus One Church
There is only one true Church, invisible, made up of all those who trust only in the merits of Christ for their salvation.
Pietists invented levels of Christianity, which is also why they fall prey to Pentecostalism and other temptations.
We all suffer from spiritual pride, or the inner Pharisee, which must be beaten down by the Law and Gospel, but Pietism inflames this pride. Pietists are holier than thou, and they never stop telling people so. I heard one of the proponents of cell groups (koinonia) tell his audience that the cell groups did all the work in the congregation, created most of the attendance at the annual picnic. For this layman, the cell groups were the Real Church while the others in his congregation just sat there in spiritual torpor.
Nothing is quite so Spenerish as those thoughts.
The Church Growth Movement Is Pietism, Unionism
The Church Growth Movement came out in the open with TELL magazine, in 1977, but probably had an earlier, secretive start. CGM has flourished in WELS, Missouri, ELCA, and the Little Sect on the Prairie - with dismal results.
CGM characteristics reveal the DNA of Pietism:
- Cell groups are essential for good results.
- The Sunday service is not for worship through the Means of Grace, but serves as a recruitment tool through entertaining Sneaker Services. For instructions, read We Believe, Therefore We Sneak, by Valleskey.
- The liturgy is all but abolished. Pop songs are substituted for real hymns, and the sermon is slavishly copied from non-Lutheran sources, such as Driscoll, Hybels, Groeschel, and anyone who posts on the Net (but never Luther).
- The only way to learn the arcane secrets of Church Growth is by sitting at the feet of teachers at Fuller Seminary, Willow Creek, Trinity Divinity School in Deerfield, Drive and Exponential Conferences, Granger Community Church, and many more. The Shrinkers will offer their favorites, but some like Ski go to all of them, on a monthly basis.
- Spiritual arrogance is the key characteristic of the Shrinkers, in spite of their failures, scandals, and broken marriages. They do not lower themselves to defend their beloved movement, because the hoi polloi would not be able to grasp their brilliance. Calling themselves apostles of love, they really hate their synod, Lutheran doctrine, and anyone who raises an eyebrow about their manifold heresies.
- Shrinkers are the Real Church.
Monday, July 13, 2009
WELS Members Visit
Victory of the Movie Screen:
Another Chicanery Showcase
We went to Victory of the Lamb a while back. The irony of the whole scenario is that we stopped going to our normal place of worship because we felt it wasn't liturgical enough. I didn't have high hopes for VotL but my friend said, "Its kind of contemporary, but it's done right."
He couldn't have been more wrong.
I drove past another WELS church about three miles and arrived at Celebration Cinema and immediately had reservations. I walked into the lobby, smelling of old popcorn, and was greeted by Pastor Ben...more reservations. He invited us to grab a snack and a drink from the "Victory Cafe"...I was unsure because it was already after the time church should start but he invited us to bring it with us into Theater #1.
We walked in just as the praise band started.
Got to our chairs as people said hello to us and tried to carry on conversations (the first "hymn" was still in session). We awkwardly tried to sing along but gave up and mouthed the words. Then "Pastor" Ben invited us to greet each other. After the confession of sins which was somewhat normal...the rest of the service was contrived and awkward. We were unable to sing anything and people clapped after each praise band performance.
I was perturbed when the children left before the sermon, except for one who screamed loudly and the parents acted like they were in a movie theater--wait, they were. Zero transcendence at this point. "Pastor" Ben started his sermon which contained five lengthy stories--probably taking up 1/4 of his actual speaking time. The rest of his time was spent retelling those stories (using Abraham) and then retelling them again (using us) and giving us a "takeaway."
Then, the coup de grace was when he claimed that we need to be attached to the means of grace...didn't mention the Lord's Supper once...and said we "can remember our baptisms every time we wash our face in the morning..." (paraphrase)
After the service he gave a announcement about "Hallepalooza" and Soccer Camp. We got out of there as fast as I could.
They are having "success" - many of their families are from established congregations but there are a few large convert families as well (from the soccer camps)...however sowing seed in shallow ground often has early success. I can guarantee you, as a WELS Lutheran...I would not have communed there (as if it had been offered) and my wife and I did not feel the least bit edified.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS Members Visit Victory of the Movie Screen:Ano...":
Anon@10:22
No the sermon did not center on the savior. The word "God" was used in stories about Abraham. The words "Jesus" or "Christ" were not.
As for the hymn, the entire atmosphere at VotL (along with other happy clappy churches) is a performance. When you take the people out of worship by installing a praise band no one can sing along to--no one sings(Koine is the obvious WELS exception).
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS Members Visit Victory of the Movie Screen:Ano...":
As the writer/visitor states, I too, like many WELS members, are beginning to do what may be called Selective Fellowship. I do not think this is recognized by the leadership in WELS as a scriptural principal. I have heard it said "we do not practice selective fellowship. We either are in fellowship with our brothers or we are not." Those leaders who are not doing what the Bible tells us to do, with regards to those who cause divisions among us, have allowed laity to do it. That is simply to "Mark and avoid", which the laity are doing in a very quiet way.
I myself, having been in Greenbay not too long ago, found it quite a job of finding a sound Lutheran church in town. But I did. Web sites can tell you volumes of what a church is doing and you can save yourself the heartache caused by much of what is being done in the name Lutheran. Some people say, "step out of your comfort zone." I say, step into the light of discernment.
Bye, bye.
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Joseph Schmidt answered the howls of Joe Krohn here.
***
GJ - Many of us have seen choir members, organists, choir directors, and acolytes in a cassock and surplice. I am so high church that I chant the announcements.
Beavis and Butthead Blog
a small sample of the ignorance on that site.
Joe Krohn loves the blog.
He claimed GCU was a Baptist school.
Joe knew because he used to live in Phoenix.
I want them to keep displaying their nastiness,
oafishness, Schwaermer theology, and boneheaded cluelessness.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Love and Hate in WELS":
I don't know if you've been following what's been going on over on the Fake Ichabod site. Fake Ichabod was criticizing you for your comments about Gurgel. I demonstrated that you had fairly and accurately quoted the conversation--Ski by his own admission really did worship with the heterodox and Gurgel really did support and defend him.
Fake Ichabod then chastised me by abusing the 8th Commandment as all C&Cers do, telling me I had no business saying anything if I didn't go and speak privately with Ski.
I then pointed out his abuse of the 8th Commandment, leading him to delete the entire post and pretend it never happened, rather than admitting his dirty tricks.
It's the usual C&C m.o. Abuse the 8th Commandment in order to give yourself time to cover up your own wrongdoing.
Love and Hate in WELS
I began doctrinal bulletins by email many years ago. They turned into sermons as well because various people asked for them. Although I kept the list small, where I knew every recipient, I still found a few individuals serving as self-appointed kamikaze pilots, eager to zoom in and detonate on any target.
The first few Ichabod posts were on a website, but that was time-consuming, so I turned to blogging for convenience.
Soon the sanctimonious name-calling began. People who want to be known for their great love unleashed a volley of invective, revealing a lot more about their tortured personalities than anything they read.
Some would like to be known for their great love of the (fill in the blank) synod. Most Doctrinal Pussycats have refused to do their jobs - with the excuse they are protecting Holy Mother Synod from scandal, danger, harm, and bad PR. Ditto many leading pastors and church bureaucrats.
The end result of their torpor is genuine hatred. They have allowed hatred for the Word of God, the sermon, the Confessions, the liturgy, and hymns to dominate all discussions. What was once unthinkable has become a well-funded norm.
The Chicaneries hate the synod they have parasitized for decades. They tilted the budget to guarantee failure of all the schools, simply by changing the percentages. The WELS pastors knew that 20+ years ago.
The Chicaneries put their men and women into positions of power, turning their headquarters into the Chicanery Coop. The Shrikers promoted heresy right and left in the name of "spoiling the Egyptians."
I was favorably impressed with discussions from the WELS group on Facebook. A lot of people see through the heretical and criminal deeds of the recent past. Those who want to Photoshop their family histories--or parade their DNA--are still rolling in the mud of Willow Creek, but they are fading fast.
Nevertheless, Satan's minions do not go gentle into that old blight. They rage, rage against the dying of the night.
The convention and the aftermath will prove whether those who love the Word and the Confessions will exhibit the persistency of their opponents.
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"The Son of God Goes Forth to War"
by Reginald Heber, 1783-1826)
1. The Son of God goes forth to war
A kingly crown to gain.
His blood-red banner streams afar;
Who follows in His train?
Who best can drink His cup of woe,
Triumphant over pain,
Who patient bears his cross below--
He follows in His train.
2. The martyr first whose eagle eye
Could pierce beyond the grave,
Who saw His Master in the sky
And called on Him to save.
Like Him, with pardon on His tongue,
In midst of mortal pain,
He prayed for them that did the wrong--
Who follows in his train?
3. A glorious band, the chosen few,
On whom the Spirit came,
Twelve valiant saints; their hope they knew
And mocked the cross and flame.
They met the tyrant's brandished steel,
The lion's gory mane;
They bowed their necks the death to feel--
Who follows in their train?
4. A noble army, men and boys,
The matron and the maid,
Around the Savior's throne rejoice,
In robes of light arrayed.
They climbed the steep ascent of heav'n
Thro' peril, toil, and pain.
O God, to us may grace be giv'n
To follow in their train!
Hymn #452
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: 1 Timothy 6:12
Author: Reginald Heber, 1827
Composer: Henry S. Cutler, 1872
Tune: "All Saints New"
Sunday, July 12, 2009
rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Gurgel Channels Bivens":
"Become preoccupied with those you haven’t reached as opposed to those you keep."
This has happened at my former congregation.
"BUT, according to Ski's report on Stanley, he means for churches to become preoccupied with those we haven't reached at the expense of those we already have. Of course, he did not say "at the expense of" but that is the connotation. I think you would need to turn your brain off not to infer that from the statement."
When your goal is to get cheeks in the seats, why bother with the members who have been there for a long time? They are going to keep coming anyways. When you have follow the synod and not trust in the Efficacy of the Word, members do not stand much of a chance of having discernment, or the heart with ears. The assumption is that once ya got 'em, it should not be too hard to keep 'em.
Lesson from the mega-churches:
The average life expectancy of a spiritual gypsy in any non-denom church is about two and half years.
***
GJ - Every SP Gurgle editorial was the same - the members should get out and witness so WELS would grow in numbers. They even had some delusional numbers in their Vision or Mission Statement, or was it Mission Vision? Hundreds of new churches would be started. Hagedorn called the plan "fresh and exciting."
Michigan Lutheran Seminary Will Close
And Then What?
An anonymous source says my anonymous sources are wrong.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Michigan Lutheran Seminary Will CloseAnd Then What...":
Who will carry on the tradition of Zex-year hazing, pole mels, pink bellies, cardinals, shagging, etc. if MLS closes???
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Two sources have told me that the Wisconsin Synod expects to close Michigan Lutheran Seminary.
The latest financial figures from WELS were reported sunny-side-up, but the reality is apparently much grimmer.
Martin Luther College has been gasping for several years now. Losing the candidates from MLS may well drop tuition income below the survival point.
There is talk about dealing with The Sausage Factory, too.
Meanwhile, Radloff has written a memorial to close both preps at once.
Radloff was a classmate of Valleskey, so the two worked together very well. Radloff turned the Southern region into a Fuller Seminary playground while pal Valleskey made Mequon a franchise of the Pasadena beehive.
Radloff edited the blasphemous Mission Counsellors' Newsletter, a goldmine of WELS Church Growth thinking.
Radloff is connected with Patterson's congregation. Surprised? I'm not.
The Shrinkers hate the schools.
The Michigan District did not fight against these trends 22 years ago. The pastors served their careers instead of guarding the Word. If someone was driven out for dissenting against Fuller/Willow Creek--and there were a number--the pastors were silent. Oh boy - more job openings.
Not now - and unemployment in Michigan is headed toward 20%.
The Shrinkers are God's chastisement against WELS for neglecting the Word of God, ignoring the Confessions, and abusing members and pastors.
Schmid's Doctrinal Theology for Free
He only quotes orthodox Lutheran authors.
Get Schmid's Doctrinal Theology of the Evangelical Lutheran Church on Google Books.
Click here for the text.
Gurgel Channels Bivens
Phil Gurgel's reminded me of Bivens when he tried to convince WELS members that Ski did not worship with the Babtists.
"Jessica, the blog post [Ski's] was not clear about whether he actually participated in the worship at the conference or not."
Here is the blog post and a quotation:
"The final Main Session with Andy Stanley was just phenomenal. We began with awesome worship. Today though, they began with a Christian rapper, Toby Mac."
In plain English, "We began with awesome worship" means Ski participated: first person, plural, past tense.
"They began with awesome worship" suggests that Ski only observed but coveted. Ski did not say that. He obviously joined their worship with great Enthusiasm.
Decades ago, when I quoted Paul Calvin Kelm endorsing a pan-Lutheran (ELCA-WELS-LCMS) lifestyle evangelism conference, in a paper given to the Northern Conference, Bivens immediately stood up "to defend Kelm's good name."
Bivens first demanded that I offer actual proof that Kelm wrote this. I imagine most in the audience got the same brochure. I had a copy along, so I passed it through the audience.
Bivens' next effort to absolve Kelm went like this, "How do we know Kelm meant to endorse that conference?" Bivens was again calling me a liar and offering a question no one could answer at the moment.
Later, the Church Doctor, Kent Hunter (DMin Fuller) told me that he asked Kelm for the endorsement and got it. So poor innocent Kelm was not snookered into a life with Leah when he expected Rachel. He was a willing participant, as anyone would guess, knowing Kelm. Bivens knew that best of all.
These logical dodges and dishonest cries of alarm might have worked in the 1980s. But now people have seen where these Pietistic methods lead. They are not impressed.
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Phil Gurgel (Mexico) wrote:
You are not in fellowship with the WELS. You have been marked as a false teacher. So identifying you as such is no different than identifying the pope (Luther´s example), or a baptist pastor as being a false teacher. (This was the entire point that Luther was making above), that the public sinner who has been judged as a false teacher, can be testified about in order to help people mark him for what he is.
I have studied the Large Catechism, and it will continue to be part of my ongoing study of the BOC. However, is it safe to assume that you were in agreement with Joe´s understanding of Luther´s words on the eight commandment? It sure appears to me that those words that were pulled out of their context and made to say something that is not at all Biblical nor Luther´s intention in writing them. Perhaps we all could use a better study of the BOC and the Large Catechism! And with that, I encourage us to either 1) move this discussion to a different forum (WELS theology would be fitting) or 2) leave the discussion at this point because it is clearly that all those involved have clearly made up their minds on the issue as it currently stands.
Why does Jessica Hill know more than the Chicaneries? I wish some pastors could write this:
There have been requests not just to quote people, but to find out exactly what the author meant by that quote. This is taken from Ski's report on what Andy Stanley meant with his mantra: To reach people no one else is reaching we must do things no one else is doing.
"Takeaway - Become preoccupied with those you haven’t reached as opposed to those you keep. This is easier said than done. Wow, it seems so simple. And yet so hard."
The mantra itself *can* be spun and polished and Lutheranized. We, and those in our fellowhip, are the church body who teaches God's Word in its entire truth and purity. So in that way, we are reaching the people nobody else is reaching by doing what no one else is doing. BUT, according to Ski's report on Stanley, he means for churches to become preoccupied with those we haven't reached at the expense of those we already have. Of course, he did not say "at the expense of" but that is the connotation. I think you would need to turn your brain off not to infer that from the statement.
This is NOT the way it works. Believers, laity and lay people alike, must hear the Gospel message clearly and continually in order to have the strength and motivation to go out and reach the lost. If they do not, their motivations will turn away from godly motivations (as has happened with other false teachers) and the strength to take the steps to witness to unbelievers will wane (as has perhaps happened in the WELS).
For the umpteenth time on this thread, when believers are in the Word, God blesses faith. When unbelievers are given the WORD (not ANYTHING else), God works faith. Any extra "things which no one else is doing" are powerless.
[GJ - I just learned Jessica Hill is a Manthey, which means she is also a Brenner on her mother's side.]
The Fifth Sunday after Trinity
The Fifth Sunday after Trinity
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship
Bethany Lutheran Worship, 8 AM Phoenix Time
The Hymn #246 Holy, Holy, Holy 3.35
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 3:8-15
The Gospel Luke 5:1-11
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #26 Praise to the Lord 3.1
Basics of the Christian Faith
The Hymn #307 Draw Nigh 3.72
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 #283 God’s Word 3.90
Fifth Sunday After Trinity
O Jesus Christ, Thou Son of the living God, who hast given us Thy holy word, and hast bountifully provided for all our temporal wants, we confess that we are unworthy of all these mercies, and that we have rather deserved punishment: But we beseech Thee, forgive us our sins, and prosper and bless us in our several callings, that by Thy strength we may be sustained and defended, now and forever, and so praise and glorify Thee eternally, Thou who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
KJV 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
KJV Luke 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
Basics of the Christian Faith
Someone asked me to send a written sermon, so I decided to outline the basics of the Christian faith.
Judaism Completed in Christianity
First of all, there is not a real difference between true Judaism and genuine Christianity. Judaism is completed in the Promises of God fulfilled in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. That is why many people from the earliest days have believed in Jesus as the Messiah and Savior. If 39 books of the Bible point to a Redeemer, and only One Person is described in all those prophecies, then we cannot separate Judaism from Christianity.
Creation
The Christian faith teaches the doctrine of Creation by the Word, as described in Genesis 1 and many other places in the Scriptures.
KJV Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Creation means that everything we see is from God and has a purpose. Luther wondered about flies having a purpose, but now medical science has discovered the value of maggots in cleansing wounds without harming the patient. More importantly, every living soul has a purpose from the moment of conception.
Natural Law - Creation
We know there is right and wrong because of Creation. The principles of the universe were instilled in God’s Creation. That has an important bearing on our understanding of the Law. In Hebrew, Law is Torah, which really means teaching. Parents know what it means to teach children right and wrong, always with a loving, positive outcome in mind. Since God created, He knows even more about what is good for us.
KJV Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the Torah (teaching) of the LORD; and in his Torah doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The Law
God gave the Law on Mt. Sinai to teach us our relationship to Him (the first three Commandments) and our relationship to each other (the last seven commandments). This Torah was made even more concise with: “Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind – and your neighbor as yourself.” This is found in the Old Testament and New Testament as well.
KJV Deuteronomy 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
KJV Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
KJV Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
The Law was revealed for our good. It is good, spiritual, and useful, as Paul wrote. The Law is diagnostic, like an X-ray. The Law tells us where we are broken, hurting, and sinful, but it cannot heal us. An X-ray cannot heal us, and the Law cannot make us better. My wife and I were laughing about a “Bible study group” she tried to attend once. It had more rules than there are books in the Bible. I said, “Perfection through the Law – and it never works.”
The Gospel
Because the Law is good but limited, God also gave us sinful, weak people the Gospel, beginning at Genesis 3:15, when Adam and Eve (real people, not symbols) were expelled from Paradise. God promised them the Savior, whose feet would be bruised (crucifixion) but Who would crush the head of Satan. All the Promises and blessings of the Bible are Gospel.
KJV Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
The Trinity
There was no development of the doctrine of the Trinity. Genesis 1 indicates the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and John 1 spells out this truth with great clarity. There are many references to the Trinity in the Old Testament, such as the three-fold Aaronic blessing, and “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of Hosts” in Isaiah. The Trinity is even clearer in Hebrew than our English versions of the Old Testament. “The Jewish Trinity” by Natan lists all those occurrences. One is clear in English, “Let us make man in Our image.”
KJV Numbers 6:24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
KJV Isaiah 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
KJV Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Jesus, Son of God, Messiah
Isaiah 53 revealed that the Messiah would suffer and die for the sins of the people. When children hear Isaiah 53 and they are asked who this person is, they always say, “Jesus.” That is clear to us now, but it was not obvious until Jesus was crucified and rose again, triumphant over death.
KJV Isaiah 52:13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. 14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: 15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.
KJV Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Psalm 22
The 22nd Psalm teaches us about the crucifixion, and those details were fulfilled when Jesus died on the cross.
KJV Psalm 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Faith in the Messiah
Faith in the crucified Messiah is expressed in Psalm 23, while the New Testament version is found in John 10.
Isaiah also portrays the Messiah as the Good Shepherd:
KJV Isaiah 40:11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd:
he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom,
and shall gently lead those that are with young.
KJV Psalm 23:1 {A Psalm of David.} The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
KJV John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
How Are We Forgiven?
Justification is God’s declaration that we are forgiven all our sins. This takes place when an individual trusts in the Promises of God. Abraham believed in the Messiah, “and he was justified by faith.”
KJV Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
KJV Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
The Gospel is summarized perfectly in John 3:16 –
KJV John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Eternal Life
Everlasting life was earned by Christ and is graciously given to all who believe in Him.
KJV John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
KJV John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Good Works
Salvation is either through the Law or the Gospel. The Bible emphasizes good works throughout. However, good works are the result of salvation, forgiveness of sin. Good works benefit our neighbor – they do not appease God. The more we hear the Gospel and grasp the grace God offers us so freely, the more abundant the fruits of the Spirit will be.
KJV Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Much more could be said about the Means of Grace, which I have discussed many times before. There is really only one Christian doctrine. For our convenience, we break it down into many points, but it remains one unified Truth, revealed by God in His inerrant Word.
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