SP Schroeder Noticed by LCMS Blog

Great Example of What a Synodical Presidential Address Ought to Be from WELS President Mark Schroeder, by Pr. Rossow

The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) President Mark Schroeder delivered a wonderful address to their convention last summer. He seamlessly interwove doctrine and practice. Right doctrine in this address is not some sort of boundary or some set of right words added to a program to make it work. For Schroeder true biblical doctrine is in, with and under all that the redeemed say and do.

Here is an excerpt from the address which asserts that our work is not a matter of slick programs with God’s word sprinkled on top but our work is simply a matter of proclaiming God’s word sans programs.

The book of Acts tells us repeatedly that, as God’s people proclaimed the gospel, “the Word of the Lord grew.” As the Holy Spirit worked, the Word grew in the hearts of people. It grew to fill the empire. It grew to span the centuries…
What we do conclude from that? First, we are reminded wherein the success of our mission lies. If we were left to our own strength, our own wisdom, our own resources, the task would be daunting. We would surely either be compelled to retreat from that task or be doomed to failure. But the strength of our mission and our witness does not depend on us, on our own cleverness, our own will power, or on our abilities. Its effectiveness is not to be found in slick programs or in effective marketing strategies. The strength and success of our mission is found in one place: in the power and faithfulness and love of a God, whose Spirit works through the preaching of his Word and the administration of his sacraments. (p. 3)

A while back I complained that President Kieschnick’s address to the district onventions was the opposite approach. Instead of a unified presentation of doctrine and life he spent the first fifteen minutes rattling off confessional truisms to try and convince the synod that he is orthodox. “Me thinks thou dost protest too much.” More to the point, a good synodical president does not need to prove his orthodoxy; he simply is orthodox in word and deed. This is what we mean by churchliness and this is an outstanding trait of Matt Harrison who is the clear confessional alternative to President Kieschnick for president of the LCMS.

Unlike the leadership of the LCMS, President Schroeder judges synodical success by the measure of faithfulness and not the measure of numbers. Here is another excerpt from President Schroeder’s address:

As our synod carries out its mission of sharing the gospel with the lost and caring for the souls of the found, we dare never forget that our success will not be measured in terms of numbers or statistics. Ours is a theology not of glory—striving for mere outward achievement or measurable accomplishments for their own sake. Our success will be measured only by our faithfulness—to God, to his effective and powerful Word, and to the work he has called us to do.
Rather than a theology of glory, ours is a theology of the cross. Our theology centers on a message that came to us wholly and completely because of the love of Christ. It proclaims a message that calls sinners to repentance, directs them to the cross, and that assures them that in Christ and his love all of their sins find full forgiveness.

Admittedly, the theology of the cross is not attractive in our postmodern, self-gratifying world. Unlike the theology of glory, the theology of the cross makes no promises of instant relief for the ills of life in a sinful world. It does not beckon people with the lure of financial or personal or professional success. It does not seek validation of its success in terms of numbers. It does not offer a practical “how to” manual to achieve temporal happiness or to mine the depths of human potential. The message of the cross cannot be packaged to be palatable and cannot be soft-pedaled to be acceptable. It is a message that this world does not understand and does not desire.

In fact, our message—if we are faithful to it—will always be regarded as utter foolishness, just as Paul reminds us, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.” (1 Cor 1:18)  (pp. 3-4)

This address sounds like the addresses of the synodical president’s (sic) of old. You can get a taste for those traditional and faithful presidential addresses in Rev. Harrision’s new book, which of course demonstrates that Rev. Harrison is at home with this Biblical approach to leading a synod and further qualifies him for the LCMS presidency.

We recommend you read the entirety of President Schroeder’s address. You can do so by clicking here.

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GJ - Faithfulness to the Word is success - so reads the conclusion of Walther's Law and Gospel, quoting Luther. Oh wait, Reformation Day is over. Forget him for another year. Sorry.

I am pleased that Missouri has a leader to emulate - Schroeder. Sadly, Barry and McCain simply prepared the way for Kieschnick.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "SP Schroeder Noticed by LCMS Blog":

Dear Greg,

I appreciate the words of the synod president as I was present and felt very good about his presentation. However, I also believe the WELS is in denial about many areas of ministry and wants to blame that on church growth or a host of other excuses. My school is struggling and as a member I see no serious effort by the pastors, principal, or lay leadership to address the problems. How do I balance my concerns against your feelings that I might be focused on measurements? I just don't feel like we have the right effort and yes, I do realize that God is directing all things to His glory. I am however having a real problem with the lack of urgency and action that I see from our called workers and some of our lay leaders.

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GJ - I can understand the dismay. WELS was in complete denial 20 years ago. Someone like Kelm could publish a Reformed paper, teach Reformed doctrine in WLC, and still be hired as a Perish Assistant at headquarters. As someone said about a mere Circuit Pastor, "The Holy Spirit put him in that office. If I question his decisions, I am questioning the Holy Spirit." I might add - and no one questions Holy Mother WELS, either.

One synod leader told me, "Even the best pastors do no visiting." I think that is the heart of the problem. The executive model has killed the pastoral model. A home-going pastor does make for a church-going congregation.

District Popes have also used their imaginary prestige to meddle with congregations and destroy the divine call. Tis strange how a man has a "divine call" to be a Fuller-trained consultant, a kindergarten teacher has a "divine call" to tell kids to draw within the lines, but the parish pastor is just a robot wound up to do the bidding of the DP. If the DP wants to get even because a pastor has discovered a praesidium pal in adultery, may God have mercy on that man's soul - because the DP won't. And I don't mean the adulterer.

The WELS method has been, at least since the days of heresiarch Ted Hartwig, to prosecute the person who tries to deal with false doctrine. WELS can always invent evidence that the wrong process was used, or the right one used in the wrong way, to incur the wrath of the officials against who? - not the false teacher, but the one who dares mention such a thing. God cannot bring about the fruits of the Gospel, when the Word of God is mocked at every step.

Second Installment - Justification by Faith

"

Dr. Walter E. Lammerts has a doctorate in genetics, and is well known as a prominent breeder of roses. He reportedly produced 46 new varieties of roses between 1940 and 1981 including the famous Queen Elizabeth. Twenty-five percent of his roses were chosen by the All-American Rose Selection for the years top rose variations. As a result of his efforts the American Rose Society created an entirely new class of rose known as the Grandiflora.

It would not be inappropriate to state that Walter Lammerts is one of the fathers of the modern creation science movement. He was the first president of the Creation Research Society (the first creationist organization in the U.S.), which was founded by 10 scientists in 1964. Dr Lammerts was also the editor of the Creation Research Society Quarterly (CRSQ) from 1964 to 1968. Most notably, he was an active researcher for several decades in biological and geological sciences, and much of his work was published in the CRSQ." Creation Wiki

Efficacy of the Word

November 13, 2009

"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. 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."

The Large Catechism, #100, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 609. Tappert, p. 378f. Heiser, p. 175f. 

            Efficacy is the most neglected characteristic of God’s Word today, although it was central to Luther, the Concordists, the orthodox Lutherans of Europe, and the General Council in America.  The efficacy of the Word was defined by WELS theologian Adolph Hoenecke: “The Word never without the Spirit, the Spirit never without the Word – that is sound doctrine.” Encapsulating the Scriptures and Confessions, that plain and simple formula means God Word and Spirit cannot be divorced from each other. If God’s Word is taught in its purity, without the adulteration of man’s wisdom, that Word will have its effect, whether to save or damn, illuminate or darken, convert or harden. Moreover, the timing of God’s work and will is not ours to judge. The efficacy of the Word is the point of contention in discussing the topic of justification. Enthusiasm—separating the Holy Spirit from the Word—lies behind every error in teaching justification, whether that error is advanced by Roman Catholics, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, or synodical Lutherans. [A synodical Lutheran honors and protects the visible church, the synod. A confessional Lutheran values the Scriptures and Confessions above all.]

Starting a book with the authority and inerrancy of the Scriptures would allow many points of agreement with traditional Protestants and with Rome. Evangelicals are keen to sponsor inerrancy conferences. My wife and I attended one in Chicago, where Robert Preus and Kurt Marquart were in attendance. One of the best descriptions of the Scriptures is from Pope Pius XII – “The Scriptures are like Christ, having a divine and a human nature, but without error.” (Paraphrased from memory. Cited in Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant.) Tragically, Lutherans have been far too eager to concentrate on points of agreement rather than areas of discord. Abusing and neglecting the efficacy of the Word has made it easy for synodical Lutherans to engage in unionistic efforts without pangs of conscience. Compromise unites, while doctrine divides – the sheep from the goats.

            The doctrine of Creation embarrasses synodical Lutherans because they must believe, teach, and confess the efficacy of the Word to allow Creation its rightful place. Modern Evangelicals, influenced by Harold Ockenga, are only too happy to surrender Creation to the theory of Evolution, that 19^th century insight that gave us eugenics, genocide, and abortion. Roman Catholics can teach evolution with a good conscience because the Vatican has approved man’s ascent from apes (now revised as “descent” by the animal rights advocates). No one should be shocked that the “conservative” pastors who gladly embrace Church Growth are just as willing to abandon Creation:

"Don't let the world paint us into a corner of antiquarianism on subjects like a six-day creation or verbal inspiration." Rev. Paul Kelm, WELS, "How to Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good to Mission Prospects," p. 13. 

"The evangelical believes that Christianity is intellectually defensible but the Christian cannot be obscurantist in scientific questions pertaining to the creation, the age of man, the universality of the flood and other moot Biblical questions." Rev. Harold J. Ockenga, 12-8-57, news release quoted in William E. Ashbrook, Evangelicalism, The New Neutralism, Columbus: Calvary Bible Church, 1963, p. 8.

"Thus, the Teaching of the Church leaves the doctrine of Evolution an open question, as long as it confines its speculations to the development, from other living matter already in existence, of the human body. (That souls are immediately created by God is a view which the Catholic faith imposes on us.) In the present state of scientific and theological opinion, this question may be legitimately canvassed by research, and by discussion between experts on both sides."  Encyclical of Pius XII, Humani generis, August, 1950, #36. Cited in Remy Collin, Evolution, New York: Hawthorn Books, 1959, p. 117.

"Many Catholics hold what is known as 'moderate evolutionism,' that is, the theory that the human body evolved to a certain point from animals, and then God intervened directly and breathed into this living, animal body a human soul and so produced the first man and the first woman.  Such a theory does not seem to be contrary to Catholic teaching, and Catholics are free to hold it." Kenneth Baker, S.J., Fundamentals of Catholicism, 3 vols., San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1982, II, p. 142.

Therefore, these leaders of compromise and retreat, Rome and Kelm and Ockenga, urge their disciples to look upon Creation as a burden, a terrible cross to bear. They are saying that we can make the revealed doctrine of God sound better if we process it, add sweeteners, and remove the splinters of the cross.

            Synodical Lutherans will allow the doctrine of Creation to remain in the background, if no one insists on the Six-Day Creation. Are they embarrassed by God getting His work done in six 24-hour days, resting on the seventh? No, they are secretly scandalized by God working exclusively through the Word, because that Biblical doctrine denies them their glory, their agenda, their expensive programs of adulterating God’s Word. In short, the doctrine of Creation threatens their income and worldly honors, such as the Church Growth Hall of Shame.

Doctrine of Creation – Conversion – Efficacy

            Before man existed, God fashioned the entire universe through the creating Word – the Son of God. When God spoke through the Logos (the Word), His will was immediately carried out, not in billions of years to allow for random events of infinite complexity. This issue is not antiquarian but essential to justification by faith.

KJV Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature [new creation].

KJV 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature [new creation]: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

KJV Ephesians 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

KJV Ephesians 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

KJV Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

The universe was created by the Word, and every believer is a new creation through the Word. But UOJ advocates would have us understand that God works without the Word in declaring the entire world absolved, free from sin, extending this Enthusiastic decree to the residents of Hell.

Christ unifies Creation and the new creation. The Fourth Gospel begins with phrases so simple that they serve well to introduce anyone to a new language. Each of the three clauses seems to be the ringing of a solemn bell—the Word, the Word, the Word—tolling the eternal Godhead of Christ Jesus, the foundation of the Christian faith, the cornerstone of the City of God.

A.    In the beginning was the Word – The Incarnation, Virgin Birth, and Two Natures are implicit in the revelation of the pre-existence of Christ, five words in Greek, six in English. Jesus, the Word, has existed from the beginning, and therefore must be God. He is also man, having Two Natures, divine and human, in one person, Christ. Far from being absent in John’s Gospel, the Virgin Birth is assumed, since it is consistent with the Two Natures united in one person.

B.    And the Word was with God – The Father/Son relationship, so clearly revealed in John’s Gospel, illuminates every passage of the Old Testament where God commands, speaks, and sends forth His Word. God speaks and the speaking is accomplished through the Word, the Son of God, co-equal in majesty.

C.    And the Word was God – On the first day of Greek class, the slowest student, using a jimmy, can determine that all denials of the divinity of Christ are utterly rejected in a few words of child-like simplicity.

     The Genesis commands, “and God said,” are the work of the Logos in John. The creating Word—He was in the beginning with God.

Sasse on the Holy Spirit

Missouri made a point of treating Herman Sasse like dirt.

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

What the Word of God is no longer trusted to do is achieved with the psychological techniques of such modern evangelization. There is of course talk of the Holy Spirit, but one no longer knows who He is. It seems He can be measured and quantified. - Hermann Sasse, *We Confess: The Church* p. 23.

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GJ - The quotation above is from Weedon's blog. A good source of Sasse wisdom is the Sassedotalist blog.