Sunday, November 1, 2009

Can the WELS/Chicanery Marriage Be Saved?
Let's Hope Not!


The WELS/Chicanery marriage cannot last much longer.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Reformation Is Possible When Lutherans Lead With D...":

You are right. I love to hear our Pres. Schroeder and all he has to say about the Doctrine of the Cross and keeping WELS on the confessional straight and narrow. What I don't understand is how the Church and Change group is allowed to meet and assemble to basically do the opposite and undermine what Pres. Schroeder just reported at the convention this past summer. It's all very confusing and it makes the WELS look like they are speaking out of both sides of their mouth. It's one way or the other- either/or. You cannot have both factions under the same tent or umbrella. The question is.... which is it? Which way will the lot be cast?

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Another WELS layman:

I wonder what Mequon is teaching future pastors about faith and works. The Shrinkers hate Ichabod because you quote Luther, the book of concord, and other confessional Lutherans (notice I did not say synodical Lutherans). We have the Word and plenty of the above mention to quote. They instead quote every thing or everybody that is not Lutheran. They are the enemy within. They really hate their own synod. Notice how they drop the Lutheran name whenever given the chance. Names like pilgrim, crosswalk, the core. SP Schroeder has his work cut out. How this comes out in the next few years will be something to watch. I guess the question should be will synodical (WELS) Lutherans turn back to confessional Lutheranism or go the way of ELCA and the Anglicans. Join Rome or they become non denominational (Baptist like).
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Can the WELS/Chicanery Marriage Be Saved? Let's Ho...":

Ditto.

In my opinion, just by virtue of the fact that the Church and Change crew would choose to continue to hold its alternative convention, it's a slap in the face and a thumb of the nose to everything Pr. Schroeder is trying to accomplish. There are only two options. Yes, either you agree that our synod should strive to be a confessional Lutheran church, holding to Christ's teaching as recorded in the Holy Bible or you don't. It's black and white.

***

GJ - Confessional Lutherans should part with a few dollars and attend the Enthusiasm convention hosted by Church and Change this week. If the Southern Baptists had a parachurch group devoted to promoting infant baptism, the Real Presence, and the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace, the smell of boiling tar would chase that opposition group out of town.

I wrote before - do not look for officials to do the right thing - do it yourself with polite but firm emails, letters, phone calls, and conversations with the false teachers and with their enablers, the Doctrinal Pussycats.

At the same time, encourage those who are applying the Word of God and the Confessions.

A Comment So Clueless, It Deserves a Special Post


Why are there no objections about false doctrine from WELS leaders?


Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Characteristics of False Teachers":

Did you get permission to use the wolf in sheep clothing picture? It's not your own creation, copy and paste works well for you huh? (<--English 101 needed) The site it came from also contains sexually explicit material. Thought your readers might like to know where you find your images from.

***

The picture is clearly credited, unlike the sermons of the WELS Chicaneries: Ski, Kelm, Parlow, Doebler, et al. I imagine the print was hard to see, with a beam lodged in one's eye - eh, Anonymous?

Most photos are PhotoShopped by me or by stealthy contributors. Most people accept that as a new creation. No one outside of the Shrinker movement has complained. From them I get threats of lawsuits, etc. Ho hum.

I obtained the previous photo from putting "wolf in sheep's clothing" in Google images. I have several that I use from time to time, to illustrate the crafts and assaults of Church and Change. Almost all my photos come from adding "funny" to a particular image name. That is how I found the LolCats site and the parallel dog site. They are also marked at the bottom.


This clueless Pharisee seems to know a lot about StrangeCosmos. He may do as much for that URL as the MLC did for Fire Island. But no, I never go to that site. Sorry to disappoint his prurient interests.

Many Lutheran images will now show up in Google as pointing to Ichabod. That probably drives traffic, since I also look up sites using images I want to kelm.

My BoyScout detector reads the following for his comment:
1. Former WELS school student? - Yes.
2. Expelled from NWC for excessive drinking? - Was that even possible?
3. Son of a Shrinker? - Very probable.
4. Name? - They are all pretty much the same.

Characteristics of False Teachers





God wants His church to grow, seriously. I will show you how.
It will take a lot of money, trust me.

Luther says this about false teachers:

False Doctrine Tolerated

"And such false teachers have the good fortune that all their folly is tolerated, even though the people realize how these act the fool, and rather rudely at that. They have success with it all, and people bear with them. But no patience is to be exercised toward true teachers! Their words and their works are watched with the intent of entrapping them, as complained of in Psalm 17:9 and elsewhere. When only apparently a mote is found, it is exaggerated to a very great beam. No toleration is granted. There is only judgment, condemnation and scorn. Hence the office of preaching is a grievous one. He who has not for his sole motive the benefit of his neighbor and the glory of God cannot continue therein. The true teacher must labor, and permit others to have the honor and profit of his efforts, while he receives injury and derision for his reward."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 110f. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9. Psalm 17:9.

God Punishes Ingratitude by Allowing False Teachers

"In the second place such teachers are disposed to bring the people into downright bondage and to bind their conscience by forcing laws upon them and teaching works-righteousness. The effect is that fear impels them to do what has been pounded into them, as if they were bondslaves, while their teachers command fear and attention. But the true teachers, they who give us freedom of conscience and create us lords, we soon forget, even despise. The dominion of false teachers is willingly tolerated and patiently endured; indeed, it is given high repute. All those conditions are punishments sent by God upon them who do not receive the Gospel with love and gratitude."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 111. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9. John 5:43.

False Teachers Flay Disciples to Bone

"In the third place, false teachers flay their disciples to the bone, and cut them out of house and home, but even this is taken and endured. Such, I opine, has been our experience under the Papacy. But true preachers are even denied their bread. Yet this all perfectly squares with justice! For, since men fail to give unto those from whom they receive the Word of God, and permit the latter to serve them at their own expense, it is but fair they should give the more unto preachers of lies, whose instruction redounds to their injury. What is withheld from Christ must be given in tenfold proportion to the devil. They who refuse to give the servant of truth a single thread, must be oppressed by liars."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 111f. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.

Avarice in False Teachers

"Fourth, false apostles forcibly take more than is given them. They seize whatever and whenever they can, thus enhancing their insatiable avarice. This, too, is excused in them."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 112. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.

They Lord It Over Us

"Fifth, these deceitful teachers, not satisfied with having acquired our property, must exalt themselves above us and lord it over us...We bow our knees before them, worship them and kiss their feet. And we suffer it all, yes, with fearful reverence regard it as just and right. And it is just and right, for why did we not honor the Gospel by accepting and preserving it?"
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 112. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.

We Are Dogs and Foot-Rags

"Sixth, our false apostles justly reward us by smiting us in the face. That is, they consider us inferior to dogs; they abuse us, and treat us as foot-rags."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 112. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.

Reformation Is Possible When Lutherans Lead With Doctrine and Honesty




WELS President Mark Schroeder


WELS elected Mark Schroeder as Synod President over two years ago. I am skeptical about elections and conventions, especially since Gurgle was the dream candidate of the conservatives about 16 years ago.

Gurgle retired suddenly and resurfaced at the Headquarters of Church and Change/South, paid from the reduced salaries of staff at Holy Word. Who says Don Patterson isn't a nice guy?

Schroeder has shown himself to be a doctrinal leader. Many high-flying Shrinkers have had their wings clipped for good. When Schroeder speaks, confessional Lutherans take heart and Changers squirm.

Parish pastors know that their influence does not really take hold for about five years. Institutional leaders seem to have more immediate impact, but they probably feel like the captain of the Titanic, trying to remedy a situation with too little time left.

If the synod studies the Bible and the Book of Concord for the next few years, applying the lessons learned, great blessings will follow. Enthusiasm cannot exist side by side with the Means of Grace. One must expel the other, as the Shrinkers have shown with their excuses for having no communion services - not to mention their cloaking and deceiving about being Lutheran.

The lowpoint of WELS will be remembered as the time when the word Lutheran was dropped from WELS Lutherans For Life, the new hymnal, the magazine, campus ministries like Point of Grace, the TV show starring Mark and Avoid Jeske, and many new congregations. The issue is not the word itself, but the spirit of Zwingli behind it. The Shrinkers want the worldly success of those frauds they covet and emulate. The Chicaneries are so possessed by carnal desires that they copy verbatim the sermons--even the emails--of their Reformed heroes.

Luther and Zwingli cannot co-exist as doctrinal leaders. "Du hast einen anderen Geist," (Translation for Mequon graduates - "You have another spirit.") Luther said, when he refused to shake Zwingli's hand. Zwingli rejected the Real Presence while Luther emphasized the Biblical teaching of the efficacy of the Word.

Luther did not start the Reformation. The Word of God ignited the underbrush that had accumulated for centuries. Luther proclaimed the Word and accepted the consequences. Thirteen years after the 95 Theses, he was advised not to be present at the Diet of Augsburg, because he might have been seized and burned at the stake. I wonder how many Lutheran pastors today would live with a death sentence over their heads for 13 minutes, let alone 13 years.

The same problem has repeated itself in each generation. Lutheran pastors were forced to accept the Prussian Union - denial of the efficacy of the Word, the Real Presence, baptismal regeneration - all for the sake of outward peace and unity.

The Definite Synodical Platform and "American" Lutheranism were new versions of the same old compromises with the Reformed.

Church and Change is a WELS institution set up to promote Zwinglian doctrine. One only has to look at its stars, board members, and parachurch offshoots to see the bitter fruit of such endeavors. The Shrinkers charge money to have people come to have their doctrine changed to Zwingli's and Calvin's. WELS members even paid to hear space cadet Leonard Sweet, a United Methodist New Ager.

November 5-7, Church and Change wants to Regain the Momentum lost since their man Gurgle was ousted, the horse and his rider tossed into the sea. What a beautiful way to celebrate the Reformation - to have a conference devoted to Reformed doctrine and practice.


  • Just look at their Resources.




  • Or Post-Modernism.




  • Comparative Theology is still misspelled. Check it out.




  • Various Enthusiasm projects, including Doebler's Church From Scratch.




  • Try the Link Suggestion. I suggested the Book of Concord site, leaving this note: "This is a book you have never opened, or, if you did, you tossed it. Maybe you buried it under your Zwinglian books. The Book of Concord is our best manual for studying the Bible. All your theories and practices are thoroughly rejected by the Concordists. Repent and believe in the Gospel."

    Many want to mark and avoid this conference. But even an old hidebound Bronze Age Missourian like Pieper said it was proper to go and observe false teachers at work. How else can one write effectively about them?

    At the Changer conference, I would count the Doctrinal Pussycats in attendance. They are the enablers and protectors of the Shrinkers. I would do a census of Jeske Corp - Ski, Bishop Katie, Lampe, Becker, and His Grace. I would look for the foxes of Appleton - Parlow, Kelm, Glende, Ash, Witte. I would observe the reactions of the audience and the content of the presentations.

    The strength of this blog is not my writing, but the information supplied from across the US. Lutherans know they can raise issues here without getting Sisera Counseling from their brothers in the faith. In many cases, one person will be cut off from the Shrinker source but another one will supply the same materials. Stealth works both ways. I imagine Shrinker meetings now invoke secrecy more frequently than the Holy Trinity. WELS once pronounced anathemas on leakers after I sent Corky's 1992 essay to Christian News for publication.







  • KJV Judges 4:21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 22 And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.

    Reason Enough To Post





    John has left a new comment on your post "Two Study Bibles, Almost Identical Titles":

    Rev. Jackson,

    I am not a learned person.

    I am drawn to many of your posts, especially those on Justification. You back most posts up with thoughtful references that a reader can checkout for himself.

    You speak of Justification in exactly the same terms as I was taught it in my youth.

    You are, however totally missing the mark regarding THE LUTHERAN STUDY BIBLE.

    Your posts on TLSB are simply digs at both the LCMS and the ELCA, and show that you have not cracked the cover of either The Lutheran Study Bible or Lutheran Study Bible.

    The blog is, of course yours. You are free to post anything on it that you like and anyone who doesn't agree can take a hike. I get it.

    What I am saying is that I respect your posts because you indicate your research and experience in most of them. That equals credibility.

    Your comments on the two different Lutheran study Bibles, however show a total lack of any research into either of the books and give no insight to your readers who may be wondering about them.

    We Lutherans have had to put up with reformed study Bibles forever, depending on our pastors to sort out the drek (sic - Dreck). Two 'Lutheran' study Bibles come out in the same year. I, for one was hoping for your usual, studied, informed comments. We get only sarcasm directed at ELCA and LCMS.

    Again, this is your blog and you are certainly free to print anything you wish. In this instance, though I shall seek the counsel of one who has actually researched these two Bibles and is able to speak from that perspective.

    I pray that you will bring your assessment of these two books up to the same level as your assessment of subjects such as Justfiication (sic).

    God bless!!

    Jack

    ***

    GJ - I do not need to do any research on ELCA publications, especially Biblical ones. ELCA has a consistent Unitarian perspective on everything, so there is no need to do research there. They owned a number of copyrights they were glad to get rid of - Lenski, Sasse. The scholarly publications of Fortress used to make a big impact on the academic world, because they were well done (Barth, Tillich biographies) but that was decades ago. If John/Jack wants to buy the ELCA version and mail it to me, I will look it over and use it later for kindling.

    I find the constant promotion of the Translation Du Jour wearisome. The English language does not change every week, so we hardly need 500 translations of the same Bible. How does anyone sort out the differences in text and language?

    I linked a review to the CPH effort a few weeks ago. Paul McCain has not sent me my free review copy, so I have not seen his version. The blogger who had his own copy said the pages were so thin the print showed through - not good planning for someone "abolutely" crazy about fonts, etc (McCain). 

    I brought up Missouri and ELCA working together because the issue is serious, not something to be overlooked by jaded moderns. I am afraid that Missouri now wants to be the LCA of the past - ordination of women, open communion, anything goes doctrine,  and welcoming Masons if they can find one under the age of 80, but none of that crazy stuff. Twenty years ago, the son of a pro-life LMCS activist was told never to bring up the abortion issue when he was a Missouri vicar. John Johnson, Otten's old pal at Our Lady of Sorrows, St. Louis, told vicars never to mention open communion, women leading worship, Pentecostalism, etc. Paul McCain did not want to hear that ELCA women seminarians were consecrating Holy Communion and baptizing babies at LCMS congregations. (How do I know? I stumbled upon the annual vicar boasts at Trinity Seminary, Columbus.)

    In 1912, the captain of the Titanic wanted to earn a name for himself by crossing the Atlantic in record time, his last trip before retiring. He ignored all the warnings and ran full speed into an iceberg. Some think by reversing engines at the last minute he made matters worse. He did make a name for himself. People still talk about "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic." That is precisely what most Lutheran leaders are doing at the moment.



    Nils A. Dahl studied under Bultmann and defended his dissertation in Norway under Nazi occupation.

    I had a great opportunity to study Biblical literature under Nils Dahl, Abraham Malherbe, and Robert Wilson at Yale. All three men emphasized the text of the Bible rather than the sterile Historical-Critical Method theories that still drive ELCA exegesis. HCM is a relic of the 19th century.

    I would have more respect for CPH if Missouri had not published an NIV commentary where one of the editors (Hoerber) was not only anti-Lutheran but also HCM. I read his letters to Otten where he said, "Now that I am retired from the seminary, I can say anything I want." Another seminary professor, still active, told me when Johnson was the president, "Now we can teach anything we want."

    Instead of demanding that I write a blog their way, some readers should start their own and use their real names. Ichabod is not required reading for anyone, but I hear it is read everywhere.