Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS Convention Monday - Good and Bad":
...."In light of Pres. Schroeder's remarks, how can they even keep the Core - or others like it - open another day?...."
Well, they'll just continue on with what they are doing without question in most cases. They'll lay low for a while and consider that they are suffering for Christ and take assurance from the CGM teachers that "they will take all sorts of criticism from the nay sayers and just need to keep moving forward and undeterred."
BUT there IS hope. I was pretty well in the camp of CGM albeit unknowingly. I was a pretty good Pietist as well. But guess what? The confessions cleared up my thinking.
Interestingly I was feeling very uneasy about things I was doing and involved with - basically teaching and preaching without a call. I talked to some very well respected friends, pastors and people well grounded in confessional Lutheran doctrine. I started reading - even reading what the likes of Rick Warren and C. Peter Wagner had written, but mostly confessional stuff. I was convinced by the TRUTH that what I was doing was not right.
So there is hope for those well meaning folks out there who out of wholesome, yet misguided, zeal want to share the message of Christ. Through the Means of Grace this is accomplished. I have yet to see a CGM program that hasn't detracted from this and have seen the emphasis put elsewhere. Unionism seems to always follow or lead in these efforts as evidenced by some of our leaders going elsewhere to learn at CGM teachers' feet. They are missing the spirit of the doctrine of fellowship.
S.D.G.
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.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Convert from the Church Growth Movement
WELS Convention Thread for Tuesday
Intelligent remarks, observations, and factual accounts are welcome.
Back to Bach - Free Downloads
Click here.
Bach was an orthodox Lutheran--shush, don't tell--and the Lutheran Church was blessed during the time of orthodoxy.
Notes on the President's Report
He served on the WELS world mission board, constantly promoting the Church Growth Movement.
He is now an atheist, publishing with the foundation called
Freedom From Religion.
Above is one of their efforts.
WELS SP Mark Schroeder started out by talking about slogans. I imagine this was a hint about the misleading slogans of Church Growth.
He gave a general view of Gospel work.
He described the world of the Roman Empire during First Century, which is just like today. (ELCA will have everything but a toga party to celebrate that.)
Schroeder emphasized the Word and Sacraments, quoting Isaiah 55 about the efficacy of the Word alone.
He also described the Means of Grace, a phrase ignored in the last 30 years.
Success is to be measured by faithfulness, not by the theology of glory but the theology of the cross. He clearly described the marketing approach of Church Growth, soft-pedaling the Gospel, making it appealing to the self. Not packaged.
"Effective, powerful Word."
"Making the Gospel reasonable or attractive" to those who are perishing means changing it, and "then we will have failed."
"WELS has described itself as a confessional synod." He distinguished between the quatenus and quia subscriptions of the Book of Concord, doctrine and practice.
WELS began by people being sent by unionistic, Pietistic mission societies from Europe. These groups emphasized the marks of Pietism, which he named - prayer versus the Means of Grace, feelings versus the objective truth of the Gospel, etc.
Bading began changing the commitment of the synod in 1861.
Faithfulness to doctrine is not opposition to mission work. (The Shrinkers claim otherwise.)
The synod grew in the 1960s and 1970s during the crisis with the LCMS. (Note that TELL began to unravel this in 1977.)
People cannot hide behind adiaphora.
"Doctrine shapes practice."
Also - "practice influences our doctrine."
Warnings about Evangelical and Reformed theology. Methods emphasizing feelings named.
"Generic feel-good Christianity" criticized.
The last part is an extensive discussion of budget woes, past and present.
Let's Discuss Wasteful Spending
There are many more stories to tell about wasteful synod spending, but these stand out as prime examples.
Victory of the Movie Theater
They were excited to lease a movie theater, so they can lease anti-Lutheran films from anti-Lutherans. Their soccer camp equates the Resurrection of Christ with winning a game. Didja know soccer is a Means of Grace?
The CORE
Regurgitated Groeschel. $250,000 spent so far - in Fox Valley, loaded with WELS congregations. Two full-time staffers, a pastor and a female assistant.
Rock N Roll
In spite of two full-time staffers and a $20,000 Antioch grant, this Round Rock mission is not setting the prairie on fire with copied sermons. Two full-time staffers, a pastor and a female assistant.
Latte Lutheran Church
Couches, movie screens. Gourmet coffee. Vicar. Two full-time staffers, a pastor and a female assistant, but does the pastor count when he is just on a movie screen? Featured in FIC, so it must be good. Randy Hunter got a vicar assigned, thanks to the DP, so Randy must be kosher.
CrossWalk in Phoenix
Pastor Jeff was TopGunn at Church and Change, until the money ran dry. The congregation was kept out of WELS membership by a vote of the district. He is shopping a call at WLC, the fetid womb of Church and Change.
Kudu Don Patterson has a well established church with a huge staff, but he needed another free vicar so he could hunt for zebras in Africa - and for Enthusiasm in Orlando.
CrossRoads in S. Lyons, Michigan
Unfair! they shriek. "They are no longer WELS." Ah yes, but DP Robert Mueller and VP Kuske approved the start of this congregation, which had three WELS pastors involved - Rick Miller, Mark Freier, and Kelly Voigt. All three pastors are thanked by Pastor Joe for establishing the Evangelical Covenant Church.
More Insubordination To Come
The Love Shack staff (WELS Headquarters) has shown its colors by their acts of open insubordination, ever since their security was threatened by the election of SP Schroeder, two years ago.
FIC Spin for Church and Change
Some items are well known. FIC has continued to be the synod-funded printing press for Church and Change, with the recently fired Jim Aderman--a former Chicanery board member--slotted to teach WELS about the Ten Commandments. Each issue of FIC has featured articles by Shrinkers. Why? Because Church and Change = Synod Staff, and Synod Staff = Church and Change. Who started Church and Change? The Synod Staff did, with synod offering money. How nice.
FIC featured one of the more outrageous Shrinker congregations, Randy Hunter's Latte Sect, with the cross blasphemously resting in a coffee cup as their logo. As I recall, the logo was not printed with the article. Too bad - that might have made some DPs wake up.
Paul Calvin Kelm Call
Bruce Becker's Perish Services insisted on calling a new person, in spite of the obviously budget crisis. They were admonished by the SP not to spend more money and not to hire a polarizing figure. When everyone opened the call report that fateful morning, they all learned Paul Calvin Kelm had a call from St. Mark Willow Creek Lutheran to The Love Shack - thanks to defiant Becker and Perish Services. No one told the duly elected Synodical President that the call was issued. I have been at The Love Shack. Walking down the hall is not much of a struggle, even for an overweight staffer. The appointment was clearly arranged as a kick to the ribs. Kelm, who turns 65 in December, was not exactly a symbol of youth and energy.
So what did the Shrinkers do? They cried out with one voice that this was not so. I checked two different trustworthy sources (as others did). My version was verified - Kelm was hired behind the back of the SP, against Schroeder's clearly expressed counsel, and the news slipped out in the official WELS call report. Bruce Becker was being paid as the head of Perish Services while leading Church and Change. When his position was threatened, he left for - Time of Grace with Mark Jeske, one of the founders of Church and Change.
Stetzer Conference Invite
In keeping with their sneaky, deceptive methods, the Shrinkers invited Babtist Ed Stetzer to be their keynote speaker at the November, 2009 Church and Change conference. This happened after District VP Don Patterson took a bunch of WELS workers to the Exponential Conference in Orlando, Florida, where Stetzer spoke. At about that time, Stetzer announced he was speaking for Church and Change. He put it on his Twitter first. He blogged about it, making fun of the Lutheran Confessions in the process, and also added the gig to his official calendar. Thus, Stetzer affirmed his speaking engagement for Church and Change three different ways.
The Church and Change websty announced the conference but not the speaker. Why so deceptive?
The Chicaneries went wild denying Stetzer, in spite of the published evidence. I wonder if Stetzer got the message - "We love you, Ed. Be our speaker. But we will deny you three times before the cock crows." At some point the Conference of Pussycats actually stomped their paws and demanded a dis-invite.
The Chicaneries were not happy. I never got their listserve messages on this, but I heard they were hissed off, the snakes that they are. Several of their leaders were invited to a Come-to-Jesus meeting with the SP. They were also told to keep him informed. Why would an official organization of WELS have to keep the SP informed? Who does he think he is?
Now we finally have the agenda of Church and Change for November. But first they will have a stealth meeting in August, at The Sausage Factory, with Bruce Becker speaking under the cover of the WELS Prayer Pietism Institute. They also have a women's ordination lobby called Jars of Clay. Shrinkers are like bunny-rabbits. Leave them alone for a few days and they have babies. They cannot grow the Church, because they do not know how, but they can reproduce if left alone in the dark.
Howling Mad When Exposed
Various people have given me links and documents. The Shrinkers did not like having their secret listserve published. Most believers would ask, "Why is a discussion group secretive?" One discussion showed how no one could dissuade Paul Calvin Kelm from having Leonard Sweet as the Church and Change keynote speaker. (I actually thought Sweet was canceled.) The Shrinkers say, "Come to us and talk to us," but Kelm said he wasn't even going to discuss the issue with anyone.
Earlier, when I was learning about Church and Change, EastCoast told me the group was finished, gone, shut down by Gurgle. So I said, "Really? Then why is their next conference registration being linked right from the WELS.net website, via the jumpwords?" That was for 2007. Like I said, Church and Change = Synod Staff, and vice versa. The 2007 conference was limited to Lutheran Shrinkers, but they went back to the roots of pure Enthusiasm for 2009, until stomped again.
Ski and The CORE
Lenski pointed out (in Acts, I believe) that Lutheran pastors should not innovate unless they discuss proposed changes with brother pastors. Instead, some people decided to spend a boatload of money ($250,000 already) on an alleged mission placed one block from a large, established WELS church with a downtown ministry.
Ski and Bishop Katie do not hesitate to display their study with Groeschel, Stanley, Beeson, Driscoll, and others deliberately copying Groeschel's sermons.
Ski is on the board of Church and Change. Ski and Bishop Katie were previously at St. Marcus, Pastor Mark Jeske. Questions? Buehler? Buehler? Anyone?
WELS Convention Monday - Good and Bad
I heard many reports about SP Schroeder's opening remarks, but I cannot get the video to run so far. That suggests the servers are unable to keep up with the demand.
Readers are understandably ecstatic about the affirmation of Biblical, Lutheran doctrine and Schroeder's outright rejection of Church Growth doctrine. I will say more when I can hear the address itself.
Lutherans have been looking for this ever since Fuller Seminary took over their synods in the distant past. I date the WELS takeover from 1977, when Ron Roth began publishing TELL with a positive endorsement from SP Naumann. As bad as Mischke was with CG, Naumann let the ideology get started. Likewise, Robert Preus installed a CG program at The Surrendered Fort. Before he died, Preus wrote against Romanism, which was taking over the seminary as an answer (?) to the Shrinkers (Werning, et al.). Thus Enthusiasm is countered with more Enthusiasm, Romanism promoted by errorists to stop in inroads of Fuller Seminary!
Al Barry was elected LCMS President around 1992, when the doctrinal errors of CG were well documented. I was invited to the Purple Palace by Paul McCain, but he turned hostile the moment I said Barry was too mild about CG. Thus Missouri squandered an opportunity to turn from unionistic Pietism and Enthusiasm. Nine years of unchecked growth and Barryolatry gave Missouri the reign of Kieschnick.
Yesterday, WELS elected one of the worst CG leaders, Jim Huebner, as First VP. I anticipated that Church and Change would rally the synod staff and most DPs to vote in a solid block for their choice. The CG minders always make sure that no word is spoken against one of their own, so they can turn lay votes their way too. Nevertheless, the post is not the same since Wayne Mueller made himself virtual SP and handed himself a fat salary to boot. Mueller was voted out of office, but the VP-elect, Kolander, refused to serve, so Mueller was voted back in. Why take illegal drugs when you can have the same nightmarish experience watching WELS elections?
Efficacy of the Word Alone
The power of the Word comes from affirming sound doctrine and rejecting false doctrine. If Lutherans cannot do this at every level, they are not Lutherans but Pietists.
Conventions have only the slightest impact compared to the doctrinal leadership of the officials, pastors, and laity. If there is a serious, synod-wide study of the Book of Concord, that will unfetter the doctrinal aptitude of the membership.
In the last year I began hearing from friends from long ago, not to mention new friends from blogging. Their response to SP Schroeder's leadership has been universally positive. In fact, he is the only official I can recall to have shown doctrinal leadership which is both Biblical and Confessional. For example, I admire what Jack and Robert Preus accomplished in their day, but they limited their efforts by appealing to the Biblical piety of Missouri, letting inerrancy suffice as an issue. As Scaer said about the Inerrancy Conference, "The only thing they agree on is inerrancy." Mrs. Ichabod and I went to the Chicago gathering, which Preus and Marquart also attended. It was a rainbow coalition, with some of the Lutherans representing a compromising inerrancy at that! The room was filled with Pentecostals, Babtists, etc. (Shrinkers will be saddened to learn that I refused to participate in singing.) To say that the Bible is completely true, without error or contradiction, is no more than claiming that water is wet. Stopping at the inerrancy of the Word is a grave error, one which killed the Missouri revolution and handed the victory to apostates lying in wait.
Pasadena Follies
The Fooler Seminary professors appealed to the vanity of the Midwestern Lutherans by saying conservative church bodies would grow--according to studies!--if only they would unleash the power of marketing. McGavran told Larry Olson (DMin, Fuller) to harvest with a scythe, "not with a penknife."
Starting with Robert Schuller, who claimed the invention of Church Growth, and Fuller Seminary, where McGavran and Wagner gathered all the denominational officials, apostasy spread to the point where chuckleheads like Hunter, Werning, Beeson, Stanley, Driscoll, Stetzer, and Sweet have assumed the role of Doctors of the Lutheran Church. This power was not grabbed by the Enthusiasts, but handed to them - with millions of synod offering dollars.
Naming Names
I remember John Lawrenz denouncing a fine paper by Pastor Sauer. "He named names!" That is one of the Shrinkers' worst condemnations. And - "They were not there to defend themselves!" John failed to recall that he was criticizing Sauer behind the man's back, naming names. In fact, he made Sauer's commendable essay look like sin. Sauer was not there to defend himself when John yelled, "His church is dead!"
Naming names has a fine tradition, going back to the Scriptures, if done correctly. The concept is simple - identify the false doctrine and who is teaching it. That is not a personal attack. Publicly refuting false doctrine is not a violation of the 8th Commandment. Matthew 18 is not required, for similar reasons. The most hateful thing a pastor or layman can do is overlook false doctrine, excuse it, and pretend it is not blasphemy against God's Word.
For all their professed sensitivity, the Shrinkers have proven themselves the Largest, Established, Permanent, Floating Slander Machine in Lutherdom. They transcend synodical boundaries, with Hunter and Werning just as active in WELS/ELS as they are in Missouri. Werning chased one critic of CG out of two different synods, Missouri and the ELS. Fellow Book of Concord students - he was not alone, as everyone knows by now. The Shrinkers cannot make a case for their doctrine, so they howl about their hurt feelings while burying their opponents in Dreck.
Monday, July 27, 2009
First VP Nominees - Fuller Fan Huebner Elected
raklatt has left a new comment on your post "Monday Convention Thread":
Elections Committee - 1st Vice-president
James Huebner elected and is considering the call.
Elections Committee - Nominees
for First Vice-president
James Huebner
Earle Treptow
Joel Voss
"'Church growth.' I've seen people cringe when they hear those words. I think I know why. They react negatively because they feel 'church growth' implies an obsessive fixation with numbers and statistics."
Pastor James Huebner, Spiritual Renewal Consultant, Notebook, School of Outreach IV, Seventeen Ways to Keep Your Church from Growing, p. 178.
"We can't do a thing to make his Word more effective. But surely we can detract from its effectiveness by careless errors and poor judgment. It just makes good sense to utilize all of our God-given talents, to scour the field for appropriate ideas, concepts, and material (sic), to implement programs, methods, and techniques so that we do not detract from the effectiveness of the gospel we proclaim. Church growth articles, books, seminars, and conferences can offer such ideas and programs."
Pastor James Huebner, Spiritual Renewal Consultant, Notebook, School of Outreach IV, Seventeen Ways to Keep Your Church from Growing, p 178.
Monday Convention Thread
The comments should be directly related to the WELS convention in Saginaw. Post news, comments, spin.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Monday Convention Thread":
Wow, did you hear President Schroeder's address to the convention?
The first 45 minutes were a direct attack on the church growth movement within the WELS. He talked about efficacy of the Means of Grace, the theology of the cross, the dangers of contemporary worship, the proper use of Christian freedom, and more. I had hoped he would make at least some references to some of those things, but the things he said were far more and more powerful than anything I had hoped for.
Thank God for President Schroeder!!! For the first time in a long time I feel like my synod is on the right track.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Pietism, Hymns, and Francke":
A Pietist-Babtist sermon from Kudo Don..
Holy Fun
God Wants Us To Have Holy Fun
1. A fun without alcoholic intoxication.
2. A fun that is generated by the Holy Spirit.
3. A fun that meets needs and glorifies God
- Kudo Don - DP in waiting
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------------------------ C A L L S - A C C E P T E D -----------------------
Witte, Rev Steven L - Asia Lutheran Seminary Board - 07/24/2009
Vice President
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Coming to a Lutheran Church Near You
Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Coming to a Lutheran Church Near You":
"Coming to a Lutheran Church Near You" - Do you mean the dancing or the staff minister leading the service?
WELS Staff Ministry program
http://www.staffministry.net/directory.php
- Susan Bondow Minister of Music St. Peter Appleton, WI (Page 2)
- Ann Conley Staff Ministry Student Shepherd of the HIlls West Bend, WI (Page 2)
- Susan Fink Staff Ministry graduate (interned spring '03) St. Peters Mishicot, WI (Page 3)
- Vicki L. Hartig Time of Grace Ministries (Page 4)
- Diane Kumm Grace Lutheran Church Charlotte, NC (Page 5)
- Judith Metzger Outreach Coordinator/Campus Ministry Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel & Student Center Madison, WI (Page 6)
- Kristine Metzger Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee, WI (Page 6)
- Marilyn Miller Deaconess in Staff Ministry Abiding Word Houston, TX (Page 7)
- Amanda Miller Apostles San Jose, CA (Page 7)
- Chrystal Moldenhauer Staff Minister/Chaplaincy Assistant The Lutheran Home Association (Page 7)
- Juliane A Naumann Staff Ministry graduate (Page 7)
- Lisa M Ohland Director of Family Ministry St. Peter's Mishicot, WI (Page 7)
- Sarah Owens Deaconess Wisconsin Lutheran Institutional Ministries Inc. (Page 7)
- Rebecca Palacios Deaconess of Hispanic Outreach St. Mark's Watertown, WI (Page 8)
- Jacqueline Phoenix St. John Antigua, West (Page 8)
- Sheila Pottorff Staff Ministry Student Martin Luther College (Page 8)
- Janeen Roska Minister of Music St Lucas Milwaukee, WI (Page 8)
- Connie Sauer Deaconess/Parish Nurse (Page 8)
- Jennifer Schuessler Deaconess St. Paul Amherst, NH (Page 9)
- Michelle L Weihing Staff Ministry intern Christ our Redeemer/Christo Nuestro Redentor El Paso, TX (Page 10)
- Donna M Wolle Staff Ministry intern St Paul's (Page 11)
Sunday Thread for the WELS Convention
Feel free to post about the WELS convention.
Pietism, Hymns, and Francke
Lutheran Pietism began with Spener. Several distinctive characteristics were established by Spener and often taken to extremes:
1. A de-emphasis upon orthodox doctrine. While many in his generation were overly contentious about philosophical points, Spener was a union theologian who had few problems with Reformed doctrine.
2. Lay-led cell groups or conventicles were the key method of Pietism, and they spawned all kinds of doctrinal aberrations.
3. Looking for results made Lutheran Pietists focus on methods rather than relying on the Word to be effective.
Here is a Pietistic hymn, which displays the some aspects of the movement:
"Since I thought I was a Christian
And knew how to speak about it,
I needed the church and altar,
I sang and gave to the poor.
I had no terrible vices,
And yet it was only hypocrisy"
Quoted by John Pless
The Muhlenberg tradition (General Synod, General Council, ULCA - the biggest component of the LCA) was born in Pietism and soon promoted revivalism. Pless has this interesting statement about the General synod hymnal:
"Schmucker's pietism makes it possible for him to adapt the new measures of revivalism for Lutheran use. This adaptation can be seen clearly in the General Synod's Hymns Selected and Original of 1828. This hymnal stands in the pietistic tradition with hymns arranged topically not according to the liturgical year or catechetical themes but the being and characteristics of God and the ordo salutas. It is especially telling that in the section designated "The Means of Grace" six hymns are included on prayer, nineteen on the spiritual pleasures of worship in God's house, five on Baptism, and fourteen on the Lord's Supper. None of the great sacramental hymns of Lutheranism are included in this collection. " (ibid)
Lutherans follow the Scriptures in emphasizing the Word and Sacraments, while Pietistic hymns and services emphasize prayer and experiences of joy. As Pless noted, this leads to worship as performance for God rather than receiving grace through His chosen instruments of grace.
Francke
Francke began with lecturing on the Bible, when that practice was greatly neglected. Spener contacted him and Francke expanded the outreach of Pietism. Halle University was established to promote the movement.
Francke established an orphanage and his charitable work expanded, influencing many to come to Halle and see his work. Halle also became the center of the Danish missionary efforts in India.
Pietism was really the start of world missionary work, so many of the unionists of today talk about world missions as a way of promoting Pietism without naming their favorite movement.
Missouri, WELS, ELS, and CLC (sic) missionary types see Pietism and Fuller as essential for their work. Since outreach is primary, false doctrine is not a concern for them. Unionism breeds doctrinal apathy, and doctrinal apathy fosters unionism. How can it be wrong when it feels so good?
Francke's son-in-law, Freylinghausen, edited Pietism's hymnal. A hymn is not bad simply because a Pietist wrote it. Some hymns from that era are excellent and worth singing in Lutheran services. However, Pietistic worship has always moved away from the liturgy, creeds, orthodox preaching, and Means of Grace hymns to favor prayer and personal experience.
As mentioned above, Lutheran Pietism in America degenerated into revivalism and actual union congregations where Lutheran and Reformed doctrine, catechisms, and communion existed side by side. There are many historic cases in WELS where this existed for decades. No one in those congregations thought anything wrong with having Lutheran communion one Sunday and Reformed communion the next. But many today see nothing wrong with training a man at Fuller Seminary and making him the president of Mequon for "spoiling the Egyptians."
Unlike today's Lutheran Pietists, Francke was enormously successful in his efforts. However, Halle Pietism, by emphasizing works at the expense of doctrine, quickly degenerated into a Unitarian school of apostasy, where it continued to exert a vast influence over Lutherans through double-justification.
At this point there are two sources clearly identified for the double-justification scheme of UOJ and Subjective Justification. One is Burk, the son-in-law and collaborator of Bengel, the Wuerttemberg Pietist. The other is the Pietist Knapp at Halle, senior to Tholuck, who trained Hoenecke.
PS - Note this about the Franckean Synod, named after Francke:
"Franckean Synod.
Organized May 25, 1837, in Minden, New York, by a number of men of W Conf. of Hartwick* Syn. The Franckean Syn. did not only fail to adopt the AC but also failed to declare its belief in some fundamental doctrines of the Bible, e.g., the Trinity and the deity of Christ. It held aloof from all other Luth. syns. until it was admitted to the General* Synod of the Ev. Luth. Ch. in the US 1864. Its admission contributed to the disruption of the Gen. Syn. and the founding of the General* Council of the Ev. Luth. Ch. in N. Am. The Franckean Syn., Hartwick Syn., and the New York and New Jersey Syn. merged to form the New York Syn. of the Gen. Syn. 1908. See also Slavery and Lutheranism in America; United Lutheran Church in America, The, Synods of, 15." LCMS website
Next lesson on Pietism - Zinzendorf and Wesley.
Watch Video Promoted by Church and Change Founder Witte
This video is currently featured on the Beautiful Savior websty, Pastor Steve Witte, Church and Change founder; DMin, Gordon Conwell. Gordon Conwell is a double-Babtist merger. Seeing the C and C picture? Babtist Stetzer, Babtist Witte. Babtist Stanley, Babtist Ski.
07/20/09 WISCONSIN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNOD 7:09 am
P A S T O R - C A L L - R E P O R T
07/14/2009 through 07/20/2009
----------------- N O - D E C I S I O N S - R E P O R T E D ----------------
Witte, Rev Steven L - Asia Lutheran Seminary Board - 05/29/2009
Vice President
Hillside Christian Church
For your convenience, we've listed some of the most commonly asked questions. If you have others, please don't hesitate to give us a call at 806-457-4900.
Q: What type of church is Hillside Christian Church?
A: Hillside is a non-denominational church that desires to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Q: Do you have services for my children and teens?
A: Children and students best learn spiritual truth in ways appropriate and relevant to their age and life stage. We have designed environments for all age groups from birth through High School. Please click on Hillside Kidz or Hillside Students for more information.
Q: How often do you have communion? Who is welcome to participate?
A: We serve communion every week. Anyone who has given their life to Jesus Christ is welcome to participate in Communion whether you are a member, regular attender, or guest at Hillside Christian Church.
BELIEFS
God is Creator and Ruler of the universe. There is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. He is Holy and Righteous. The only way to have an authentic relationship with God is through Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1:1; Psalm 145:21; Colossians 1:16; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14.
Jesus Christ was with God in the very beginning, and God created the universe through Him. Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, took on flesh and blood, and made His dwelling among us. His physical death on the cross saves us from our sin. His bodily resurrection changed the course of history and created the path to eternal life with God.
Colossians 1:15-20; Matthew 1:18-2; John 1:1-4, 14:6, 3:16; I Corinthians 15:1-8.
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He makes us aware of our need to follow Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. He lives in every Christian from the moment that person gives his or her life to Christ. He gives us guidance and leadership on a daily basis so we can obey God’s Word and do what is right. He gives each of us spiritual gifts for the purpose of serving the Body of Christ. We seek to live under His control in all situations.
John 16:8-9; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:26-27; Ephesians 1:13-14, 3:16, 4:30, 5:18; Galatians 5:16,25, I Corinthians 12,13.
We believe that man, created by God, willfully sinned, and as a result, is lost and without hope apart from Jesus Christ.
Genesis 1:27; Isaiah 53:6, 59:1-2; Romans 3:23, 5:8.
Salvation is a free gift of God. The death of Christ on the cross is the only sufficient payment for our sins. Every person has sinned, but every person also can be forgiven and saved by Christ. This salvation is available for any person who puts his or her trust in Christ as Savior. Those trusting Christ should ask Him for forgiveness of sin, believe in Him, confess their faith in Him, and be baptized. We show our faith publicly through baptism.
Romans 3:23, 6:23; John 3:16; Romans 10:9; Acts 2:38; Matthew 28:19; Matthew 3:13-17.
We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God and the final authority for all matters of faith. The Bible is God’s Word to all people.
Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 119:105,160.
The church is the body of Christ on earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue the task of leading others to faith in Christ and teaching followers of Christ to obey and serve Him. Involvement in a local church is critical to individual growth, fellowship, and support for life’s day-to-day challenges.
Matthew 28:19-20; I Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 4:1-16; Ephesians 2:19.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
The Seventh Sunday after Trinity
The Seventh Sunday after Trinity
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship
Bethany Lutheran Worship, 8 AM Phoenix Time
The Hymn #536 Awake My Soul 3.28
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 Romans 6:19-23
The Gospel Mark 8:1-0
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #36 Now Thank We 3.40
The Opposite of Fear Is Not Courage, But Faith
The Hymn #316 O Living Bread 3.45
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 #354 In the Cross 3.84
KJV Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
KJV Mark 8:1 In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, 2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: 3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. 4 And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? 5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. 6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. 7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. 8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. 9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
Seventh Sunday After Trinity
Lord God, heavenly Father, who in the wilderness didst by Thy Son abundantly feed four thousand men besides women and children with seven loaves and a few small fishes: We beseech Thee, graciously abide among us with Thy blessing, and keep us from covetousness and the cares of this life, that we may seek first Thy kingdom and Thy righteousness, and in all things needful for body and soul, experience Thine ever-present help; through Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
The Opposite of Fear Is Not Courage But Faith
The theme of this sermon is from Luther, who always preached about faith.
This miracle is familiar to everyone. The rationalists have always tried to explain it away, as they did so many other parts of the New Testament. People shared their food after hiding it away – a remarkable feat after spending three days with Jesus. They stored so much away that they had more leftovers than anyone could imagine. Such a miracle of sharing, the rationalists tell us. No wonder the rationalists also try to figure out how to live in luxury while denying the message of the Bible, yet many manage to do exactly that.
First we notice that Jesus anticipated the needs of the crowd before they asked. That is a common message of the Bible, even though we forget. God is answering our prayers before we begin to ask. He cares for those who never acknowledge Him.
For believers, there is this promise:
KJV Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
I recently wrote that to a client, who lost his business after 20 years of running a Christian bookstore. The next day a long-time acquaintance started to cry when he said his son’s house was in foreclosure due to double-job losses (his and his wife’s).
These are evil times for everyone, and more troubles seem to be rising each day.
Jesus revealed in this miracle that God provides miraculous abundance through His Word. The Kingdom of God is not based upon material needs but spiritual needs. Nevertheless, God consoles us with His promises so that we do not abandon the Kingdom to provide for ourselves out of fear and anxiety.
This miracle nurtures our faith, so we can see how God can provide whatever He wants.
Children have the faith Jesus taught as ideal. They simply trust their parents to provide and never wonder about all the complexities involved. I am not sure we understand either. All the financial experts write that they were caught flat-footed, and they know far more than I can imagine.
Faith is constantly urged by the Scriptures and naturally in all of Luther’s sermons. As he pointed out so often, the opposite of fear is not courage (a virtue among the philosophers) but faith.
False teachers are always fearful, so they make doubly-sure they have all the power, authority, and money. They are afraid people will find out what they really believe, so they hide their doctrine.
False teachers often hide behind others, so they are not found out, because they are afraid of the consequences.
False teachers want to strike out against the Word of God, but they are afraid to do that openly, so they find ways of appearing pious and holy while they undermine the Word.
Faith conquers fear, so we should not look to possessing more courage. That is, we should not look inwardly and try to conjure up inner strength, but look to the Word of God for nurturing our faith in Him.
Anxiety and fear are the result of trusting in ourselves and relying on our experiences. The disciples did that when they were in the boat with Jesus as the storm kicked up. There is no way to describe the terror caused by a storm on a vast inland sea like the Sea of Galilee. Everything is black. The waves rise up and crash down with enormous power. The lack of light means total confusion about land, sea, and safety. The disciples relied on their expertise and faith disappeared. Jesus let them be terrified to show them what it meant to be with the Savior and to have the Savior with them. He silenced the sea. He walked on the water – still an expression for divine power.
Again, when the disciples knew there were no fish to be netted, Jesus spoke the Word and their boats were swamped with a miraculous catch of fish.
The answer is not in figuring it out, because we cannot. These mysteries are revealed to believers and hidden from unbelievers, who think they are foolishness.
The answer is relying on God and casting our cares upon Him.
KJV 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished [experienced] in your brethren that are in the world.
What was true of the disciples is also true for us.
When they faced the crucifixion of their Master, they once again fell prey to fear and anxiety, running away (except for John and the women at the cross). They were still in great anxiety after the Resurrection, when Jesus came to them. They were still in a locked room, not only the first time (Easter Sunday) but also the next Sunday (Doubting Thomas Sunday).
In each circumstance described and many others, Jesus allowed them to feel the depths of fear, despair, and anxiety so He could reveal His love, power, and compassion. Each display of love and divine power increased their faith. Their faith was confirmed and strengthened again in the post-resurrection appearances, which the 500 shared together and separately in some cases. They could admonish and encourage one another because of those many revelations of Jesus’ power and compassion.
It would be foolish to say a Christian believer never worries, never experiences anxiety. We take a certain state for granted and stop being thankful about God’s material blessings. When those blessings disappear, our anxieties rise up like storm clouds and darken our perception of everything. Fear can cause a kind of paralysis – as if we are saying, “What’s the use? Everything is beyond my control.”
If we look back we can see how many different ways God has turned bad events into blessings. We can only see them in retrospect, seldom at the time. As I have mentioned, I never wanted to live in a big city, but we landed in Cleveland with a baby and then two. That was the best place for the medical issues we faced in the next two years. Later, Cleveland seemed to be perfect, for all its flaws.
Difficulties should make us grateful, although mustering thanks to God for them at the time seems a real challenge. Spiritual difficulties make us spiritually strong. Other difficulties build character. If I want help from someone, I go to an individual who has gone through a lot. As Luther said, unless that person has experienced Anfectungen (onslaughts), he is no help to me. And then, in due time, we have something to offer people, after learning from the spiritual wisdom of others, offering some ourselves from the Word and the Confessions.
After all, what does a Trust Fund Baby know? How to relax from a winter vacation by taking a summer vacation. The truth is – very few people offer much when they have been given everything.
In the area of Christian doctrine, the times of turmoil develop the best hymns, confessions, and books. When people simply sit around and praise themselves for being orthodox, they have nothing to offer. The Book of Concord did not come from a self-satisfied seminary faculty but from an era of Muslim terror (Turks at the gates of Vienna) and religious persecution – dungeons, the stake, exile.
Lack of thankfulness to God is a great sin, because it is akin to lack of faith. Not being thankful and instead blaming God is just like thinking God wishes evil upon us. He does not. He is so powerful that He turns evil into good, as He did with the crucifixion of His only Son. We only have to wait for God to accomplish His purpose in His time.
Quotations
"Thus we have two parts, preaching and believing. His coming to us is preaching; His standing in our hearts is faith. For it is not sufficient that He stand before our eyes and ears; He must stand in the midst of us in our hearts, and offer and impart to us peace."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 355.
"This is going through closed doors, when He comes into the heart through the Word, not breaking nor displacing anything. For when the Word of God comes, it neither injures the conscience, nor deranges the understanding of the heart and the external senses; as the false teachers do who break all the doors and windows, breaking through like thieves, leaving nothing whole and undamaged, and perverting, falsifying and injuring all life, conscience, reason, and the senses. Christ does not do thus."
Sermons of Martin Luther, II, p. 355.
"Hence I send you into the world as my Father hath sent me; namely, that every Christian should instruct and teach his neighbor, that he may also come to Christ. By this, no power is delegated exclusively to popes and bishops, but all Christians are commanded to profess their faith publicly and also to lead others to believe."
Sermons of Martin Luther, II, p. 359.
"The first and highest work of love a Christian ought to do when he has become a believer, is to bring others also to believe in the way he himself came to believe. And here you notice Christ begins and institutes the office of the ministry of the external Word in every Christian; for He Himself came with this office and the external Word."
Sermons of Martin Luther, II, p. 359.
"Now God drives us to this by holding the law before us, in order that through the law we may come to a knowledge of ourselves. For where there is not this knowledge, one can never be saved. He that is well needs no physician; but if a man is sick and desires to become well, he must know that he is weak and sick, otherwise he cannot be helped."
Sermons of Martin Luther, II, p. 370.
"For the devil will not allow a Christian to have peace; therefore Christ must bestow it in a manner different from that in which the world has and gives, in that he quiets the heart and removes from within fear and terror, although without there remain contention and misfortune."
Sermons of Martin Luther, II, p. 380.
"Reformed theologians, in order to support their denial of the illocalis modus subsistendi of Christ's human nature, have sought, in their exposition of John 20, an opening in the closed doors, or a window, or an aperture in the roof or in the walls, in order to explain the possibility of Christ's appearance in the room where the disciples were assembled."
Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, 3 vols., St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1950, II, p. 127.
"Flower Patterns and Fibonacci Numbers
Why is it that the number of petals in a flower is often one of the following numbers: 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34 or 55? For example, the lily has three petals, buttercups have five of them, the chicory has 21 of them, the daisy has often 34 or 55 petals, etc. Furthermore, when one observes the heads of sunflowers, one notices two series of curves, one winding in one sense and one in another; the number of spirals not being the same in each sense. Why is the number of spirals in general either 21 and 34, either 34 and 55, either 55 and 89, or 89 and 144? The same for pinecones : why do they have either 8 spirals from one side and 13 from the other, or either 5 spirals from one side and 8 from the other? Finally, why is the number of diagonals of a pineapple also 8 in one direction and 13 in the other?
Are these numbers the product of chance? No! They all belong to the Fibonacci sequence: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, etc. (where each number is obtained from the sum of the two preceding). A more abstract way of putting it is that the Fibonacci numbers fn are given by the formula f1 = 1, f2 = 2, f3 = 3, f4 = 5 and generally f n+2 = fn+1 + fn . For a long time, it had been noticed that these numbers were important in nature, but only relatively recently that one understands why. It is a question of efficiency during the growth process of plants.
The explanation is linked to another famous number, the golden mean, itself intimately linked to the spiral form of certain types of shell. Let's mention also that in the case of the sunflower, the pineapple and of the pinecone, the correspondence with the Fibonacci numbers is very exact, while in the case of the number of flower petals, it is only verified on average (and in certain cases, the number is doubled since the petals are arranged on two levels)."
http://www.world-mysteries.com/sci_17.htm
Congratulations to Steve Witte:
Calvinistic Grant Awarded for Worship
This is the Calvinistic view of the Resurrection, found on the front page of the Beautiful Savior (WELS) website, Green Bay. Calvinists believe Jesus could not leave the tomb until the angels let Him out. John Calvin himself said - Jesus entered the locked room through a secret entrance. Calvinists also reject the Real Presence - in fact, Calvin mocked it in his Institutes. Calvinism is rationalistic and always leads to Unitarianism at best.
Pastor Steve Witte has a DMin from Gordon Conwell. Witte was a founder of Church and Change. He has a call to serve in Asia for WELS missionary work. The CLC (sic) did the same thing with David Koenig, they sent a Lutheran-doctrine-hater overseas.
"Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
for the study and renewal of worship
Worship Renewal Grant Recipients—Year 2009
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Green Bay, Wisconsin
To initiate avenues for teens and young adults to become involved in planning and leading worship for a growing multicultural congregation."
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GJ - Witte is so broke he has to run to the Calvinists for money. Send him overseas - the heretics in world missions won't even notice.
Hey Mac, Could You Help Pull My Car Outta These CGM Vines?
What Larry Staph Infection Hath Wrought
"The staff minister who did a brief stint at my mother's church ran the WELS chapel services at her senior citizens' residence, complete with Holy Communion."
This is a major problem that is developing in the WELS "staff ministry" program. Staff ministers are not trained for this level of soul care, but to an increasing extent they are being asked to provide it anyway. This is disorderly. Examining would-be communicants, and admitting them (or declining to admit them) to the Lord's altar, is a distinctive act of pastoral oversight. It is a very weighty matter. One gets the impression, though, that those congregations that authorize men who are not trained or called to be pastors to do this pastoral work are not appreciating the full seriousness of what is happening, when communicants are guided in their preparation for the sacrament, and when the Lord's Supper is then administered to them.
David Jay Webber (Djw)
Member
Username: Djw
Post Number: 157
Registered: 12-2004
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Posted on Saturday, July 25, 2009 - 11:08 am:
Jay, it is not primarily a question of training. It is a question of office. There is a simple response to the staff minister who presumed to administer the Lord's Supper at WELS chapel services.
1. God instituted the pastoral office.
2. Pastors are to administer the Lord's Supper.
3. A staff minister is not a pastor.
That's quite simple and easy to understand.
Pr Rolf David Preus (Rolf)
Senior Member
Username: Rolf
Post Number: 3738
Registered: 5-2001
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GJ - No one is going to admit that WELS/ELS "staff ministers" come from the fertile copying efforts of the Shrinkers who went to Fuller Seminary. Everyone graduating from Mary Lou College is a minister. It is the WELS School of Ministry. For a time they ordained male teachers too, because male teachers wanted to be ordained. Are they still? Does anyone care?
The ELS is deservedly famous for communing ELCA members, which Jay Webber advocated himself, because it was "easier." Therefore, three years of seminary training and a vicarage are not sufficient to teach someone the basics of historical Holy Communion practice. I know The Surrendered Fort is fabled for its obsession with Eastern Orthodoxy. Real EO priests would choke at open communion.
I never communed anyone outside of WELS/ELS when I was confined to those sects. My mother and father (y'all know that argument) did not receive WELS communion until they were members. One prospect said he was going to commune with his ELCA relatives only once a year, so the infrequency made that OK. I countered with committing only one murder a year. I also said that would convince his extended family there was nothing wrong with ELCA. In fact, he had retained that idea himself since he communed without problem in Florida - at an ELS church.
The prospect joined and convinced his entire family to leave ELCA. We still communicate.
Debating doctrine on LutherQuest (sic) is like going to court to solve family conflicts - an admission of defeat, a hopeless task.
What Aderman Cannot Tell You About the Third Commandment
The Third Commandment.
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
"91] For the Word of God is the sanctuary above all sanctuaries, yea, the only one which we Christians know and have. For though we had the bones of all the saints or all holy and consecrated garments upon a heap, still that would help us nothing; for all that is a dead thing which can sanctify nobody. But God's Word is the treasure which sanctifies everything, and by which even all the saints themselves were sanctified. At whatever hour, then, God's Word is taught, preached, heard, read or meditated upon, there the person, day, and work are sanctified thereby, not because of the external work, but because of the Word, which makes saints of us all. 92] Therefore I constantly say that all our life and work must be ordered according to God's Word, if it is to be God-pleasing or holy. Where this is done, this commandment is in force and being fulfilled.
93] On the contrary, any observance or work that is practised without God's Word is unholy before God, no matter how brilliantly it may shine, even though it be covered with relics, such as the fictitious spiritual orders, which know nothing of God's Word and seek holiness in their own works."
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"95] Since, therefore, so much depends upon God's Word that without it no holy day can be sanctified, we must know that God insists upon a strict observance of this commandment, and will punish all who despise His Word and are not willing to hear and learn it, especially at the time appointed for the purpose.
96] Therefore not only those sin against this commandment who grossly misuse and desecrate the holy day, as those who on account of their greed or frivolity neglect to hear God's Word or lie in taverns and are dead drunk like swine; but also that other crowd, who listen to God's Word as to any other trifle, and only from custom come to preaching, and go away again, and at the end of the year know as little of it as at the beginning. 97] For hitherto the opinion prevailed that you had properly hallowed Sunday when you had heard a mass or the Gospel read; but no one cared for God's Word, as also no one taught it. Now, while we have God's Word, we nevertheless do not correct the abuse; we suffer ourselves to be preached to and admonished, but we listen without seriousness and care.
98] Know, therefore, that you must be concerned not only about hearing, but also about learning and retaining it in memory, and do not think that it is optional with you or of no great importance, but that it is God's commandment, who will require of you how you have heard, learned, and honored His Word.
99] Likewise those fastidious spirits are to be reproved who, when they have heard a sermon or two, find it tedious and dull, thinking that they know all that well enough, and need no more instruction. For just that is the sin which has been hitherto reckoned among mortal sins, and is called torpor or satiety, a malignant, dangerous plague with which the devil bewitches and deceives the hearts of many, that he may surprise us and secretly withdraw God's Word from us."
"100] For let me tell you this, even though you know it perfectly and be already master in all things, still you are daily in the dominion of the devil, who ceases neither day nor night to steal unawares upon you, to kindle in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against the foregoing and all the commandments. Therefore you must always have God's Word in your heart, upon your lips, and in your ears. But where the heart is idle, and the Word does not sound, he breaks in and has done the damage before we are aware. 101] On the other hand, such is the efficacy of the Word, whenever it is seriously contemplated, heard, and used, that it is bound never to be without fruit, but always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and devoutness, and produces a pure heart and pure thoughts. For these words are not inoperative or dead, but creative, living words. 102] And even though no other interest or necessity impel us, yet this ought to urge every one thereunto, because thereby the devil is put to Right and driven away, and, besides, this commandment is fulfilled, and [this exercise in the Word] is more pleasing to God than any work of hypocrisy, however brilliant."
What Aderman Cannot Tell You About the Second Commandment
The Second Commandment.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain.
"53] From this every one can readily infer when and in how many ways God's name is misused, although it is impossible to enumerate all its misuses. Yet, to tell it in a few words, all misuse of the divine name occurs, first, in worldly business and in matters which concern money, possessions, honor, whether it be publicly in court, in the market, or wherever else men make false oaths in God's name, or pledge their souls in any matter. And this is especially prevalent in marriage affairs, where two go and secretly betroth themselves to one another, and afterward abjure their plighted troth. [GJ - Thus synod officials put a known adulterer into the pulpit while claiming he has a Scriptural divorce.]
54] But, the greatest abuse occurs in spiritual matters, which pertain to the conscience, when false preachers rise up and offer their lying vanities as God's Word.
55] Behold, all this is decking one's self out with God's name, or making a pretty show, or claiming to be right, whether it occur in gross, worldly business or in sublime, subtile matters of faith and doctrine. And among liars belong also blasphemers, not alone the very gross, well known to every one, who disgrace God's name without fear (these are not for us, but for the hangman to discipline); but also those who publicly traduce the truth and God's Word and consign it to the devil. Of this there is no need now to speak further.
56] Here, then, let us learn and take to heart the great importance of this commandment, that with all diligence we may guard against and dread every misuse of the holy name, as the greatest sin that can be outwardly committed. For to lie and deceive is in itself a great sin, but is greatly aggravated when we attempt to justify it, and seek to confirm it by invoking the name of God and using it as a cloak for shame, so that from a single lie a double lie, nay, manifold lies, result.
57] For this reason, too, God has added a solemn threat to this commandment, to wit: For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. That is: It shall not be condoned to any one nor pass unpunished. For as little as He will leave it unavenged if any one turn his heart from Him, as little will He suffer His name to be employed for dressing up a lie. 58] Now, alas! it is a common calamity in all the world that there are as few who are not using the name of God for purposes of lying and all wickedness as there are those who with their heart trust alone in God.
59] For by nature we all have within us this beautiful virtue, to wit, that whoever has committed a wrong would like to cover up and adorn his disgrace, so that no one may see it or know it; and no one is so bold as to boast to all the world of the wickedness he has perpetrated; all wish to act by stealth and without any one being aware of what they do. Then, if any one be arraigned, the name of God is dragged into the affair and must make the villainy look like godliness, and the shame like honor. This is the common course of the world, which, like a great deluge, has flooded all lands."
What Aderman Cannot Tell You About the First Commandment
Luther, Introduction to The Large Catechism,
Book of Concord:
"9] Therefore I beg such lazy paunches or presumptuous saints to be persuaded and believe for God's sake that they are verily, verily! not so learned or such great doctors as they imagine; and never to presume that they have finished learning this [the parts of the Catechism], or know it well enough in all points, even though they think that they know it ever so well. For though they should know and understand it perfectly (which, however, is impossible in this life), yet there are manifold benefits and fruits still to be obtained, if it be daily read and practised in thought and speech; namely, that the Holy Ghost is present in such reading and repetition and meditation, and bestows ever new and more light and devoutness, so that it is daily relished and appreciated better, as Christ promises, Matt. 18:20: Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.
10] Besides, it is an exceedingly effectual help against the devil, the world, and the flesh and all evil thoughts to be occupied with the Word of God, and to speak of it, and meditate upon it, so that the First Psalm declares those blessed who meditate upon the Law of God day and night. Undoubtedly, you will not start a stronger incense or other fumigation against the devil than by being engaged upon God's commandments and words, and speaking, singing, or thinking of them. For this is indeed the true holy water and holy sign from which he flees, and by which he may be driven away."
"The devil is called the master of a thousand arts. But what shall we call God's Word, which drives away and brings to naught this master of a thousand arts with all his arts and power? It must indeed be the master of more than a hundred thousand arts. 13] And shall we frivolously despise such power, profit, strength, and fruit-we, especially, who claim to be pastors and preachers? If so, we should not only have nothing given us to eat, but be driven out, being baited with dogs, and pelted with dung, because we not only need all this every day as we need our daily bread, but must also daily use it against the daily and unabated attacks and lurking of the devil, the master of a thousand arts."
The First Commandment
"Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
1] That is: Thou shalt have [and worship] Me alone as thy God. What is the force of this, and how is it to be understood? What does it mean to have a god? or, what is God? 2] Answer: A god means that from which we are to expect all good and to which we are to take refuge in all distress, so that to have a God is nothing else than to trust and believe Him from the [whole] heart; as I have often said that the confidence and faith of the heart alone make both God and an idol. 3] If your faith and trust be right, then is your god also true; and, on the other hand, if your trust be false and wrong, then you have not the true God; for these two belong together, faith and God. That now, I say, upon which you set your heart and put your trust is properly your god.
4] Therefore it is the intent of this commandment to require true faith and trust of the heart which settles upon the only true God, and clings to Him alone. That is as much as to say: "See to it that you let Me alone be your God, and never seek another," i.e.: Whatever you lack of good things, expect it of Me, and look to Me for it, and whenever you suffer misfortune and distress, creep and cling to Me. I, yes, I, will give you enough and help you out of every need; only let not your heart cleave to or rest in any other."
The Word Alone Is Effective:
Word Proclaiming Means Cross Bearing
Our Old Adam does not like the cross. Nevertheless, God gives each person a cross to bear because of the Word. It may be a Chicanery or Babtist conversion in the family, a spouse who takes the opposite position, or another problem. Several Church Growth leaders are now facing an old Jewish curse - "May you marry a pious woman and then lose your faith."
We would like to see nothing but love, happiness, prosperity, and the esteem of the world from adhering to the Word, but instead we find hatred, rejection, loss of income, and shunning as a reward.
St. Therese, the Little Flower, told God in her confusion, "This is why You have so few friends - you treat them so badly!"
Paul Gerhardt and John Bunyan saw things differently, because they had saving faith. Gerhardt's hymns and Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress are filled with spiritual wisdom about the cross. Lutherans are telling me that they are reading the Deutschlander book on the cross.
The political solution is to say, "If it's bad for me at this moment, I won't do it - If it's good for me at the moment - I will." Thus the blind lead the blind into a pit. Many momentary calamities are blessings, but we never see the blessings develop if we want to invent our own, and manage the world better than God can.
How can we admire Lutheran clergy who were thrown into dungeons and threatened with death for being faithful, if we worry about missing a meal or a committee assignment?
Pious Wishes:
Lutherans Dropped the Ball
I have to admit that Fuller Seminary is good at sales. They hornswoggled all the denominations, even the Roman Catholics, into going to their schools, paying for their drive-by degrees, and buying their disgusting books. Fuller has served as God's avenging angel, showing the denominations how corrupt, dishonest, and anti-Biblical they really are.
This is what a considerable group of Lutheran laity and pastors would like to see:
- Liturgical worship, genuine sermons, and Creeds in all congregations.
- Most importantly - respect shown for brother pastors and sister churches when tempted to innovate in worship, so no one is clamoring - "Why can't we have women lectors and communion assistants? Bee-bop Church of the Coffee Pot does!"
- Serious study of Lutheran doctrine. This is a great blessing for every congregation taking the trouble, requiring preparation by the pastor and persistence by the people attending.
- Tossing the clever ideas marketed for superficiality. The Word does not need gimmicks. The use of cuteness proclaims a lack of confidence in the Word and Sacraments.
- A winnowing of synod expenses. We are in another Great Depression. Almost every single person has lost equity, income, or both.
- Senior leaders need to step down voluntarily. Many of the church officials and their lay enablers are very good at what they do - clinging to their jobs. They perfected that role, so they need to resign and let others do the job without pay.
- Dissolve the synodical Doctrinal Boards, which exist to refute sound doctrine and excuse false doctrine.
- Give false teachers a chance to repudiate their doctrine, followed by the normal steps in removing them from their positions, whether in a congregation, the colleges, or seminary.
Lutheran laity and clergy have been voting with their feet for decades. Many clergy have departed after having the Left Foot of Fellowship extended to them - for doing their jobs. The time has passed for the Shrinkers to admit they have bankrupted their denominations - spiritually, financially, and morally.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Pious Wishes:Lutherans Dropped the Ball":
"Pious Wishes:
Lutherans Dropped the Ball"
Lazy, apathetic members were lulled into being pew potatoes hanging on every word of their false WELS leaders. The Devil made sure that they were conditioned to doing nothing.
Beavis and Butthead Quit and Erased
Beavis and Butthead quit their blog and erased all the evidence.
They had to say one more thing, fulfilling a proverb about the Devil, as Chemnitz recorded - "The Devil in departing is accustomed to leave a foul stink behind." Exam., IV, p. 147.
A rare moment of candor:
"Friday, July 24, 2009
Dude....
Our blog didn't fly man. We aren't posting anymore. I'm bummed!!"
