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.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Giving Up in WELS
Congregation Mission Offerings
Our congregations have been expressing their thanks to God through their gifts of love and faith in support of the mission of the synod to proclaim the gospel to more and more people. Congregation Mission Offerings for November were 26% higher than November offerings the previous year. Even in a time when the economic climate is still filled with uncertainty, when many of our members are experiencing unemployment, and when congregations are facing their own financial struggles, Congregation Mission Offerings received through November are at 99% of year-to-date commitments made last January. We thank God for moving his people to express their thanks to him in this way. We thank congregational leaders for keeping the synod's work before our people. And we thank you for your faithful support of our mission to proclaim God's grace in Jesus.
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http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa233/shredtastical/I-see-what-you-did-there.jpg
Sprung From ELCA
Many secular organizations have come from congregational involvement in various issues.
This is expanding as semi-demi-quasi-church organizations like Bethel New Life in Chicago claim corporate, governmental, and church funds.
The original Inner Missions of the Lutheran Church sought to combine ministry with providing for various needs (nursing homes, orphanages, soldiers' and sailors' missions, hospitals). The political activists moved in and Lutheran Social Services became one of these Non-Governmental Organizations where vast amounts of money was gathered because the government matched church funds.
Lutheran Social Services has been known for working with Missouri and ELCA at the same time. There were efforts to un-splice this relationship, but I doubt whether that lasted.
Long ago, Lutheran Social Services provided abortion counseling (not pro-life) and adoption services for people who vacation at Fire Island Pines.
ELCA Congregations Begin To Boycott ELCA Benevolence: Stories Ripped from the Pages of the ELCA Archives
What took so long?
Non-WELS readers know it should read "You're fired."
Non-WELS readers know it should read "You're fired."
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CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) acted Nov. 15 to reduce the 2010 churchwide current fund spending authorization by nearly $7.7 million, 10 percent less than the budget authorized by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. The council's action eliminated 40.75 full-time equivalent positions, of which six were vacant.
The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. It met here Nov. 13-15.
The action reduced the current fund spending authorization for 2010 to $69,022,800. The 2009 assembly authorized $18.7 million in World Hunger spending for 2010, which was unchanged.
Nearly all churchwide units were affected by staff reductions or reassignments of staff, said the Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock, ELCA executive for administration, in a report to the council. She said 23 executive staff positions and 18 support staff positions were eliminated. To respect their privacy, the names of people affected by the reductions will not be made public by the churchwide organization, Bullock said.
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Party in the ELCA
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a revision to the reinstatement process for former clergy and other professional leaders who were removed from the church's official rosters for disciplinary reasons or resigned in lieu of discipline -- solely because they were in a lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationship.
The change, adopted Nov. 15, applies to former ELCA associates in ministry, deaconesses, diaconal ministers and ordained ministers.
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In Fargo, N.D., the Rev. Ronald Bock, senior pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, and Dr. Joel Kangas, a local dentist and member, gave interviews to a television news crew about their congregation. They wanted people in the Fargo-Moorhead area to know their congregation is open to everyone. They wanted to say that St. John "seeks to encourage, reflect and grow community in Christ" -- as its mission statement says.
They also wanted residents to know there's another side to the news reports they've been reading and hearing about in Fargo in the past month. At least three other large ELCA congregations in town have declared they will redirect mission support funds away from the ELCA: Hope Lutheran Church, First Lutheran Church and Pontoppidan Lutheran Church.
But don't count St. John among them. The congregation intends to increase its giving to the ELCA.
Why? Because members have always had a "high view" of mission support, Bock said in an interview. And it was painful when the congregation had to reduce its giving a few years ago to meet mortgage costs, he said. Since then, they've been working their way back up.
For 2010 Bock said St. John's budget proposal will likely be about $510,000. Overall benevolence, which includes mission support, could be set at $48,000. If so, that would represent an increase of $13,000 over 2009.
That doesn't mean that all of the congregation's 1,100 baptized members agree with the assembly's decisions, Bock said. Members have many opinions. But what binds them together is not whether they always agree -- it is that have been called by Christ in baptism to be together, Bock said.
"We're hanging together. That's what the church ought to be about," he said.
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CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Two former presiding bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have appealed to members to pray for unity of the church and its mission, and to contribute financial gifts to support the ELCA.
"Our troubled world needs the Good News of the Gospel and all that flows from it," wrote the Rev. Herbert W. Chilstrom and the Rev. H. George Anderson, in a Dec. 3 e-mail message. "Our differences must not divide us at a time like this. We are absolutely certain that we can continue to live together and serve as one family in the ELCA."
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Missed Opportunities To Stop the CG Juggernaut
The Word and the Confessions can rescue Lutherans from the Slough of Despond, but nothing else will.
Below are some missed opportunities in WELS, when hordes of pastors and laity should have rioted, waving pitchforks and torches:
- Ron Roth and others began their TELL newsletter in 1977, to promote CG.
- David Valleskey was hired at the Sausage Factory.
- Paul Calvin Kelm went from editing TELL to heading Evangelism at the Love Shack.
- All the Mission Vision fiction.
- Every new hire at the Love Shack.
- Perish Services expanding under Wayne Mueller.
- Wayne Mueller denying in print that there was any CG in WELS, but also claiming the CG in WELS was confessional. GA grad? You betcha.
- Perish Assistants.
- Wayne Mueller voted out of the VP slot, the VP-elect getting the vapors, and Mueller voted back in. Groundhog Day.
- Lutheran Parish Resources starting in Columbus, thanks to DP Mueller and VP Kuske, with Stolzenburg and Zehms in charge.
- Pilgrim Community Church, Columbus, started by Kuske, Zehms, Stolzenburg.
- CrossRoads in South Lyons, also started by DP Mueller, with help from Rick Miller, Mark Freier, Kelly Voigt.
- CrossWalk in Phoenix, Jeff Gunn.
- Cross-Something in Chicago.
- Latte Lutheran, with Randy Hunter.
- Rock and Roll, with Doebler.
- African safaris and free vicars with Don Patterson.
- Taking Lutheran out of various names, such as the hymnal, the magazine, the emerging churches above, WELS Lutherans for Life.
- Time of Generic Grace, with Jeske.
- Charis, Church and Change.
- The CORE.
- Steve Witte on the Asian board.
- Jim Huenbner, First VP.
*** GJ - I got the nickname from Jay Webber. He told me the ELS calls Mequon "The Sausage Factory" because they all come out the same. That GA-induced conformity has been useful in conforming everyone to Church Growth doctrine - false doctrine. Back in the old days, if they did not get enough from Valleskey, they got a dose a week after graduation, when a seminary was forced upon all graduates. If that was not enough torture, they will ordered back a year later for another dose - from Paul Calvin Kelm, Larry Oh!, and future first VP Huebner. So you missed the point, again.
--- mjleyrer has left a new comment on your post "Missed Opportunities To Stop the CG Juggernaut": Okay... but the nickname is still totally off because I know plenty of WELS pastors who are anti Church Growth. I don't think Jay was in all seriousness when he said that. Maybe just a joke. *** GJ - I would like a list of the articles or papers they have published against Church Growth, starting with Jay's list.
--- Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Missed Opportunities To Stop the CG Juggernaut": In the Peoples Bible Teachings, Church-Mission-Ministry, Prof. Armin Shuetze Has a few things to say concerning church growth: "By its emphasis on addressing the "felt needs" in a society, it shifts away from the inportance of proclaiming forgiveness in Christ by a proper use of law and gospel with ultimate goal of eternal life in heaven. "In the felt needs approach ... sanctification becomes the means to fulfill the prospect's need for acceptance, fulfillment, and a better life through the victory over sin." "God has not promised that everyone who hears the good news will come to faith. The church cannot expect more success than its Lord." "How do we measure succeess ? And growth? Even one sinner who repents and turns in aith to the Lord Jesus causes rejoicing in heaven." "In the 1950's a missionary in India for the Disciples of Christ, Donald McGavran, was troubled by the lack of numerical growth. His concerns began what has become known as the Church Growth Movement." There is much more I could quote. I recomend you read the book for yourself. Schuetze echoes the same thing that Pastor Jackson has been saying. The CG pastors could learn from this book. In Christ, from WELS church lady *** GJ - John D. Schuetze has published a Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly article where he emphasizes the Means of Grace. I hope he has good connections, because a lot of WELSians are allergic to that message.
--- mjleyrer has left a new comment on your post "Missed Opportunities To Stop the CG Juggernaut": First I would like to say that there are probably papers written against it and secondly, even if there WEREN'T papers that doesn't mean you can just write off every pastor in the synod. There are those in the WELS that are against C&G. It just isn't fair to put a giant black mark on the entire synod just because there's no one writing papers. I'm not trying to defend C&G, I dislike it as much as you do but I do have to defend a sister synod. Yeah papers are a good way to oppose something in your synod but there is leading by example. I think that's what most of them do. *** GJ - It is indeed comforting to know that there are "probably papers written against" Church Growth. If I wrote off every pastor in WELS or put a black mark on the entire synod, I would not bother posting. I spend little time on the LCMS and even less on the ELCA, because both are far gone. Perhaps someone could write a paper about the Appleton Dumbling gang. Or, they could lead by example and kick the Enthusiasts out.
WELS Appleton (Fox Valley) Demonstrates Dangers of Unsafe Sects
If so, you belong in Church and Change.
Ron Ash chairs C and C - Ski was on the board.
Ski, Glende, and Bishop Katie went to Seattle for a "pastor conference" with...?
Ski taking in members from another WELS CG church? That is just the beginning.
The problem with aping the worst of the Reformed is this - Whatever WELS tries to do, the pure Enthusiasts have done better.
All the work of Ron Roth, Paul Calvin Kelm, David Valleskey, Fuller Bivens, David Hartmann, James Hueber, Larry Oh! Olson, and the spineless DPs has gone toward training people to be Enthusiasts. Missouri, the ELS, and the CLC (sic) are doing the same thing.
Once the Half-Way Enthusiasts find out where the good stuff is, they will bolt for greener pastures.
In a decade, the Fox Valley WELS CG congregations will either be empty of members or in fellowship with Unitarian-Universalists. Sure, it may take a little longer than that, but it will happen.
Anti-Confessionalism is inherently anti-Biblical.
"The modern radical spirit which would sweep away the Formula of Concord as a Confession of the Church, will not, in the end, be curbed, until it has swept away the Augsburg Confession, and the ancient Confessions of the Church--yea, not until it has crossed the borders of Scripture itself, and swept out of the Word whatsoever is not in accord with its own critical mode of thinking. The far-sighted rationalist theologian and Dresden court preacher, Ammon, grasped the logic of a mere spirit of progress, when he said: 'Experience teaches us that those who reject a Creed, will speedily reject the Scriptures themselves.'"
Theodore E. Schmauk and C. Theodore Benze, The Confessional Principle and the Confessions, as Embodying the Evangelical Confession of the Christian Church, Philadelphia: General Council Publication Board, 1911, p. 685.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
MLC Concert on Ustream - You Missed It
http://www.wels.net/streams-media/live/audio-only/mlc-music
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TR has left a new comment on your post "MLC Concert on Ustream Now":
Glad to see you got my comment in time. I hope you enjoyed the concert!
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GJ - It was great, breathtaking in parts.
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TR has left a new comment on your post "MLC Concert on Ustream - You Missed It":
Diet O. Worms,
The school records the concert each year and makes it available on CD for $10 (paying for copyrights and shipping). Contact Dr. John Nolte (noltejp@mlc-wels.edu) for more information.
Apologies to Doris Day
Once I had a secret love
That lived within the heart of me
All too soon my secret love
Became impatient to be free
So I told a friendly star
The way that dreamers often do
Just how wonderful you are
And why I'm so in love with you
Now I shout it from the highest hills
Even told the golden daffodils
At last my heart's an open door
And my secret love's no secret anymore
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Hi Professor,
not trying to be contentious, but weren't you the one defending SP Schroeder before? What do you mean to turn him into a flower child? Don't get it.
DK
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GJ - Flower child? The first graphic shows a morganatic (secret) marriage between Jeske and Kieschnick. The first stage of this relationship had Jeske involved in lecturing at Concordia U. (LCMS, Mequon), participating in a joint service with the LCMS, and speaking at a Missouri district meeting.
I thought the old Doris Day lyrics fit the new situation, with Jeske promoted on the home page of the Missouri Synod. "Now my secret love's no secret anymore."
The "friendly star" is Bruce Becker, an expert in explaining fellowship principles.
"Now I shout it from the highest hills
Even told the golden daffodils."
At some point Jeske has to explain to Schroeder, and the Wisconsin State DPs that he is a Missouri pastor now. Therefore, the three DPs and the SP are the daffodils.
I still think SP Schroeder is doing a great job, and I do not envy him at all.
WELS and the Episcopal Church USA - A Comparison
Bishop and Presiding Bishop, Episcopal Church, USA
The Episcopal Church USA officially opposed women's ordination, so bishops ordained a few women, then took a vote. They won.
The WELS officially opposed women's ordination. Brug and a bunch of pastors gave papers claiming, strangely, "there is nothing in the Bible against women being pastors." Church and Change skipped ordination (as far as we know) and simply installed women pastors, including one who says in her bio that she "administers the Means of Grace."
Bishop Robinson and his friend.
The Episcopal Church USA officially opposed homosexual priests and bishops - at least if they were out in the open. They finally enthroned Robinson, who celebrated with his male partner and his daughter (from when he was married). That caused an uproar across the world and a split in the world-wide Anglican communion.
The WELS opposed ELCA's latest support of homosexual and lesbian pastors. When the Martin Luther College video, "Party in the USA," was embedded in this blog, there was a huge uproar - against this blog. Wisconsin Luther College's student newspaper printed a front-page editorial, disguised a news, backing up the poor innocent students who naively made a worse video than the Fire Island Pines troop. The gaydar dish was installed Photoshoppingly, to help guard against future video pratfalls.
Church Growth Go Zunder
Fox Valley has confirmed that Ski is taking members from local WELS congregations. So much for "doing anything--short of sin--to reach the unchurched."
The Shrinkers illustrate the journalistic term I learned a few decades ago. When one tabloid gets readers with a particular type of story or photograph, its rival "goes under" the previously established barrier in search of new readers. "Goes under" means lowering the standards.
A Shrinker church goes under, to sheep steal. The ALC used to do that with WELS and Missouri. So did the LCA. If Missouri and WELS have closed communion, the new mission has open communion. If lodge members have been bumped off the membership list, the new mission takes them in and sympathizes. As one LCA mission boss said, "That town only had WELS and Missouri there before we came. They never heard the Gospel before."
Shrinkers have no conscience, so they gleefully take members from their own denomination. That is why Larry Oh's old congregation in Love's Park is moving away, because another WELS congregation was set up nearby. Apparently, Love's Park went Lutheran after Our Staph Infection left, so LP had to be punished.
Stadler was famous for taking in members from WELS congregations, members who were being disciplined. Eventually Stadler and his fellow pastors, Iver Johnson and Mike Albrecht, left. Logia put Albrecht on the board. I think Albrecht was on an ELCA magazine board at the same time. Oh, those Confessional Lutherans.
The CORE is ideal for all those WELS members trained in Pietism and Enthusiasm. Hate the liturgy and creeds? Go to CORE. Need to be tickled and entertained? Go to CORE. Prefer Groeschel to Luther? Go to CORE. Favor women's ordination? Talk to Bishop Katie.
But CORE is not so dumb that they will compete with normal WELS services. That would leave the gigantic, expensive movie theater ("20 sub-woofers!") almost empty.
Geometry students figure the Appleton pie now has more slices in it. That does not make the pie bigger. Enormous amounts of money have already been spent to make each slice smaller. That is the Shrinkage Movement at a glance. For confirmation, look at the statistics for WELS and Missouri, ever since they started sending all their leaders to Fuller and Willow Creek.
The joke is on the Synodical Conference, because second rate Lutherans make fourth rate Babtists. Whatever Lutherans think they can do in going under each other, the Babtists have already done it and done it "better," as judged by their peers in apostasy.
The CORE is not the first Emerging Church in Appleton. It is the fourth or fifth, the others being well established. That is where Ski went during his initial exile from Milwaukee. He was going to the Appleton Alliance worship services and hoping against hope he could hear the big guy preach there.
Nor is The CORE the first Shrinker WELS church in Fox Valley. Many of them are already thoroughly infatuated. St. Mark Depere is a member of the Willow Creek Association. Perhaps those other WELS congregations lack a movie screen, popcorn machines, gourmet coffee, and ice cream. Is that really enough to make people forget they are hearing recycled Groeschel material?
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TShinnick has left a new comment on your post "Church Growth Go Zunder":
How has it been "confirmed that Ski is taking members from local WELS congregations"? While I have not attended the core, I have heard from multiple people who were present at services shortly after they opened their doors that at some point in the service Ski plainly stated that if anyone was an active member of another congregation that the core was not for them, but that it was, instead, there for those who were not involved in a church proclaiming God's grace in its truth and purity.
I'm interested as to the source that has confirmed your presupposition.
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GJ - That is an old WELS trick:
1. I can't believe it, so prove it's true.
2. Demand the source.
3. Attack the source, because not even a videotape is good enough.
I am sure Ski or Bishop Katie could offer a list of actual, communing members, along with their previous memberships.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Church Growth Go Zunder":
If you go to St. Matthew Appleton's website www.stmatthewlutheran.com, select "File Downloads", and select the December newsletter, they have listed a family that indeed did transfer to the CORE. This is ironic, since St. Matthew is probably the second most CG congregation in the Valley next to St. Peter Freedom / CORE...
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GJ -
Yes indeed, Gary and Connie Vanden Heuvel transfered to The CORE in October.
But St. Matthew cannot possibly claim Church-Growthiness. The same newsletter shows worship attendance down three years in a row, membership down three years in a row, and the budget $17,000 in the red.
Brothers of John the Steadfast Photoshop Kieschnick's Book
The original artwork can be found here. (Mequon graduates, left click the link. Thanks.)
Once again, I have to ask, "What do the Church Growth numbers tell us about the stated aims of the Movement?" Fuller's Ponzi scheme may be bigger than Bernie Madoff's.
Years ago, family friends went to me at my mother's funeral. They were LCMS and on my mailing list. They thanked me for the doctrinal bulletins, which were emailed in those primitive days. They were supporting their conservative Missouri pastor, but afraid the apostates in the district and congregation would drive him away.
WELS members should take note of the doctrinal unity established through Fuller, Willow Creek, Trinity Deerfield, and other beehives of Church Growth. Those who are filled with Enthusiasm are united across synod lines. They read the same books, pervert worship the same way, and think in the same categories. Sometimes WELS pastors think they are entering paradise to leave Wisconsin and join Missouri. In reality, they are accelerating their abandonment of Biblical doctrine. After Missouri will come ELCA or a Babtist group. Then atheism. Jungkuntz led the way.
I am not saying WELS is the fortress of Lutheran orthodoxy - far from it. Look at the State of Wisconsin DPs - all Schwaermer. But, as one General Council theologian wrote - those who abandon the Confessions will soon abandon the Scriptures as well. Pietism turns into atheism in one or two generations.
Second Sunday in Advent
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Second Sunday in Advent":
Thank you. Our pastors need to start "Kelming" you. You belong in a pulpit.
PW
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The Second Sunday in Advent
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship
Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time
The Hymn # 58 – Gerhardt O Lord 4:49
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 15:4-13
The Gospel Luke 21:25-36
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #71 Watchman 4.9
My Words Will Not Pass Away
The Hymn # 304 An Awesome Mystery 4.6
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 # 647 O Little Town 4.13
Second Sunday In Advent
Lord God, heavenly Father, who by Thy Son hast revealed to us that heaven and earth shall pass away, that our bodies shall rise again, and that we all shall appear before the judgment seat: We beseech Thee, keep us by Thy Holy Spirit in Thy word; establish us in the true faith, graciously defend us from sin and preserve us in all temptations, that our hearts may not be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, but that we may ever watch and pray and, trusting fully in Thy grace, await with joy the glorious coming of Thy Son, and at last obtain eternal salvation, through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
KJV Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
KJV Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. 29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
My Words Will Not Pass Away
This Gospel gives us both a warning and great comfort. The warnings about the end times give many different clues but also tell us not to predict. Whenever crises stir up the world, people think about the end times.
When the papacy was bent on destroying the Lutherans, and faithful men were burned at the stake, leaders wondered if the end times had arrived. That was when Lutherans still called the pope the Antichrist instead of having his archbishop teach Lutherans about the Word of God (WLC, Milwaukee; similar examples in the ELS, LCMS).
Martin Chemnitz, in his Examination of the Council of Trent, referred to “the last days of an insane, old world.”
World war and weather catastrophes have made people wonder if the end times had finally arrived.
Jesus’ address in Mark 13 emphasizes not being fooled by pretenders when the end times threaten. Many people were fooled when the year 1000 AD came around, because they took the number from Revelation literally.
This passage has a different emphasis – the great terrors mean the Savior is returning:
Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
We take for granted the serene calmness of the night skies. When the sun and the moon change, with world-wide political crises, and the oceans roaring – people will be terrified.
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Once the normal state is changed, and our calm world disappears, the rest of the calamities can only be imagined. Although we can never predict, our emotions can easily focus on many types of disasters.
We accept the relative calm of the natural world as our due, seldom realizing how much this depends on God’s gracious will. All power lies within His hands, so whatever we see is the result of His governance.
Everything is perfectly balanced for life on earth to prosper. The sun’s warmth, the moon’s effect on the seas, and the atmosphere are all exactly right. One little example is the reflective surface of the moon. If it were normally reflective (like other satellites), it would be too bright and have an adverse effect on the cycle of life. So would a different gravitational pull. All these complications, working perfectly together, point to the God’s Creation and management, rather than evolution.
When everything was nearly perfect, before the Flood, man took the prosperity and ease of life as normal, and became utterly evil. We know that a Florida-like climate existed all over the planet, so all forms of life grew in abundance, but thankful hearts were rare. Rehwinkel’s The Flood is quite instructive about the pre-Flood era. Who knows what life-easing technology existed then, when people lived for centuries?
We live in a much tougher climate than the time before the Flood, but we Americans are blessed with a unique combination of resources, weather, and soil. Slight changes in weather patterns make people all too aware of how much we are harmed by the slightest variations.
We cannot even imagine what it means to have the great powers of heaven shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
When Christ returns, as the Word reveals, no one will have any doubt about the truth of the Scriptures. Although Christianity takes a beating in the world press, it is world-wide and remains the largest religion of all, in spite of being preceded by other religions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism.
My understanding is that the pagan religions of the world are perversions and mockeries of the original true religion revealed to the Biblical patriarchs. (Evolutionists see polytheism starting first, followed by monotheism, with the best and final stage being an ethical atheism! That is like saying a rusty car, left alone, will become a shiny new car. I see the pagan religions as the rusty cars, sometimes barely recognizable.)
Philippians 2 will be fulfilled at the return of Christ:
KJV Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Every knee will bow and everyone confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
The return of Christ will be a great terror for unbelievers, but a great comfort for believers:
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption [GJ – release] draweth nigh.
Here is the same word for redemption (setting us free, release) - NKJ 1 Corinthians 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God -- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption –
Christ is a terror to guilty unbelievers, but salvation to those justified by faith. The same epiphany will divide the world into believers and unbelievers, for final judgment. Eternal damnation will be the knowledge of God without His comfort, plus far more. Eternal salvation will mean reunion with all believers at the Throne of the Lamb.
This has been revealed to us so our hearts do not fail when the calamities come. Nothing is worse than being without hope, and this knowledge from the Holy Spirit gives us hope.
The Parable
29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
This brief parable encourages us in our discernment. People know when a tree buds and begins to flower and fruit. This does not require secret knowledge. Even those who are oblivious to nature are aware of these signs of spring and summer. Likewise, when the global calamities come, it is a sign of hope, rather than despair, for believers. Even thought the time is delayed, the increase of catastrophes is enough to make us hopeful rather than frightened.
In the last week, Dubai declared it could not pay on its huge debt. Dubai is part of the oil-rich Emirates. They built the largest skyscraper in the world, a new train system with very few passengers, and incredible numbers of office buildings and residential buildings, all 50% empty. Many buildings have stopped, partially completed. That is just one snapshot of a worldwide debt and real estate catastrophe.
32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
“This generation” has been used to justify the notion that the New Testament is wrong about the return of Christ, that this had to be patched up in other places. That would be true if “this generation” meant precisely what the skeptics want it to say. But 2 Peter says 1,000 years is like a day, and a day like 1,000 years to the Lord. So that means two days have elapsed, in the divine count, not 2000 years.
In history, we are still in the Roman era, one generation. All of the things we value come from the Roman Empire, and they filched the best from the Golden Age of Athens.
Egypt and Sumer were so long ago that they have little influence on our customs, our language, science, and arts. (“Walk like an Egyptian” is still popular at Mequon.) That was truly another age and we have very little left from that era.
In contrast, the Roman era continues. America was founded by men who read The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, a best-seller at the time. Our Founders were educated in Latin and studied Roman history. Hitler called his era the Third Reich, using Rome as the first. At the time of WWI, the ruler in German was the Kaiser (based on the word Caesar, one Roman name for rulers). In Russia, the ruler was called Czar, also based on “Caesar.” We have Czars in America, appointed by the president.
33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Verse 33 is found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. As I mentioned many times before, since the Bible is so concise, every phrase means something important. Repeating the same phrase or verse is especially important.
Those who belittle the Word of God by replacing it with their words are fighting against one of most important revelations of the Bible. All of this stuff that people value so much will not last. Everything will pass away. Granite and marble monuments with brass plates will be gone. Nothing will last, except the Words of Christ.
Because the words of Christ will outlast heaven and earth, they should be valued accordingly. Yet we find the revealed Word of God bent and twisted to serve the carnal needs of man. One of the current fads is to say, “God told me…” That is another example of Enthusiasm. God has one revelation – the Scriptures. He has not given a license to people to make up whatever they want and call it a vision or revelation from God.
Luther’s Large Catechism:
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.
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.
Application
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
So many celebrities are eager to prove the validity of these words from Christ. These three verses are the practical application of this lesson. Dangers that make us unprepared for the coming of Christ include carousing, drunkenness, and being overwhelmed with the cares of this life.
A snare grabs wildlife (or human targets) suddenly and traps them. We have all seen movies where the hero is suddenly hoisted into a tree in a big net. The snare has found its target. When people are consumed with their material needs or with hedonism, they are also caught in the snare and unprepared for the return of Christ.
Watchfulness and prayer are necessary, that we remain with the True Vine and stay fruitful through the Gospel Promises so generously given to us.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Bad Sentence Construction, Worse Theology
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS Church and Change Cannibals:Outreach Means Po...":
I agree with many of your reports of symptoms but I must add, certainly not all. Nevertheless I fundamentally disagree with your diagnosis of the cause. If Lenski's Ohio synod doctrine of election intuitu fidei with its concomitant limited atonement were the solution, then there'd still be an Ohio Synod today instead of generic ELCA congregations and a miserable excuse for a seminary in Columbus. Furthermore, while some theological clods make statements naively implying receptionism, the fact is one can, and MUST not go beyond Scripture to determine an exact time of the real presence. The correct doctrine is that the real presence is effected by the Words of Christ, repeated by the pastor, and that nevertheless, there is no sacrament apart from the sacramental use, which includes 1. Consecration, 2. Distribution, and 3. Reception. Lutherans have always confessed this and therefore refused to accept private masses with no communicants as the papacy promoted.
Theology is a refined enough matter, that it is not to be "fought" with mere "slogans" and clodhopper formulations. Hab vorsicht mit deinen theologischen formulären. In so doing the true statements you make will be much more "effective" (even though you seem to reject "effectiveness" out of hand).
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GJ - The thesis falls apart with the author's lack of knowledge about Lenski. They replaced him at the seminary, deliberately, with a liberal who taught the opposite. That paved the way for ELCA's merger. They also formed a committee to silence Lenski on inerrancy, so the old ALC began in 1930 with a compromised statement. That also greased the skids for ELCA.
Receptionists have two mottoes defining their error -
1. "We don't know the exact moment the elements are the Body and Blood of Christ." I agree that the Enthusiasts do not know and will never know. See Teigen's excellent book on the topic. The Synodical Conference was in error and remains in error by dancing around the issue.
2. "The elements become the Body and Blood when received by the communicant." I heard that from a WELS pastor. Normally I discuss things like that, but my jaw dropped open and stayed open. Before that, I had trouble believing anyone defended or taught Receptionism. Even Gawa, in WELS, admitted the old Synodical Conference was wrong. However, the compromising dance "We don't know" is not the answer.
I read a lot of "repeat after me" WELS slogans from the Sausage Factory in the post above.
Another red herring is the intuitu fidei charge against Lenski. He is the only American Lutheran to produce a complete New Testament commentary, very well written, with an extensive knowledge of Lutheran dogmatics. I do not think Lenski is perfect, but he overshadows anyone else in America. The Book of Concord is my ruled norm, not Walther, Lenski, Valleskey.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Bad Sentence Construction, Worse Theology":
So do you approve of bells to signify the exact moment that you claim to know?
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GJ - My, my - a Straw Man fallacy enclosed in sarcasm - that sounds so Mequonisch.
I approve of B. Teigen's fine book.
And I approve this - from Luther's Large Catechism:
"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."
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Bad Sentence Construction, Worse Theology":
Confessing orthodox Lutheran, thank you for the full elaboration of the initial anonymous poster. You are right, it is only in our limited human thinking that we try to take apart the one divine action of the Sacrament of the Altar, and begin all sorts of worthless logomachia. (Yet it is true, there are numbskulls on both sides of the issue that can't master the simplicity of Holy Scripture and the Lutheran doctrine as presented in the Bool (sic!) of COncord (sic). This is nothing new of course. Cf. the "Hamburger Streit") Thanks again.
***
GJ - I like that - both sides of the issue. Therefore, a compromise that will appeal to two sides at once is best. But see below the conclusion of the Formula of Concord.
"We have no intention of yielding aught of the eternal, immutable truth of God for the sake of temporal peace, tranquility, and unity (which, moreover, is not in our power to do). Nor would such peace and unity, since it is devised against the truth and for its suppression, have any permanency. Still less are we inclined to adorn and conceal a corruption of the pure doctrine and manifest, condemned errors. But we entertain heartfelt pleasure and love for, and are on our part sincerely inclined and anxious to advance, that unity according to our utmost power, by which His glory remains to God uninjured, nothing of the divine truth of the Holy Gospel is surrendered, no room is given to the least error, poor sinners are brought to true, genuine repentance, raised up by faith, confirmed in new obedience, and thus justified and eternally saved alone through the sole merit of Christ." (Closing of Formula of Concord, Triglotta, p. 1095)
Cited in Francis Pieper, The Difference Between Orthodox And Heterodox Churches, and Supplement, Coos Bay, Oregon: St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1981, p. 65.
In fact, the Enthusiasm of the Synodical Conference, which emerged from Pietism, created the war and division. The Enthusiasts still insist on their own interpretation. Their answer in the ELS was to silence B. Teigen's position and treat him badly.
WELS Church and Change Cannibals:
Outreach Means Poaching WELS Members
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Fox Valley Fed Up":
I think the best thing for WELS members in the Fox Valley to do is shun the churches and pastors who are in bed with the C&C crowd. Also, those of you who are in non C&C infested congregations should ask your pastors about the state of the district. Why, for example, is CORE being allowed to poach member from real WELS churches in the area? (I know for a fact that CORE is actively poaching members). Is CORE even really a WELS parish? Ask these kinds of questions, and don't stop asking until you get answers. Ask them do do something about it. Raise the issue at council and voters' meetings. Put the pressure on them. The best hope is that the voices raised against C&C in the Fox Valley will get too loud even for the derelict DP to ignore.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Fox Valley Fed Up":
"In May 2001, WELS Perish Services applied for and received a Forward in Christ grant to conduct a three-year pilot program to address the issues surfaced by the previous two Church and Change conferences."
A three-year pilot is now permanent. This shows how deceitful the leaders are. Their efforts nearly bankrupted the synod, and still they continue. They cannot be trusted except to destroy what has been built up over generations.
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GJ - The real problem is doctrinal, but the obvious problems grow out of that false doctrine. WELS (like the ELS and Missouri) laid the doctrinal foundation for Shrinkage by publishing faked studies about how wonderful it was. That was just the third stage of Enthusiasm. The previous two manifestations were Receptionism and Forgiveness Without Faith.
How long has St. Mark Depere been a member of the Willow Creek Association. The Jeske connection with the LCMS is far less obnoxious than a Lutheran congregation establishing open unionism with the Reformed. And nothing has been done by anyone. But they would march with pitchforks and torches if I preached at a local WELS church.
Ski, as I recall, was rendered kosher before he even started, giving a presentation on evangelism to the Northern District. The entire program was Church and Change, in fact. He returned a year later to give another presentation to that venue. I understand he invited the WELS youth of the district to his congregation. Is that outreach or cannibalism?
Fox Valley Lutherans ought to investigate how much money has been misspent on this venture and the source of these funds. The CORE reported to St. Peter Freedom an outlay of $250,000 and a net gain of 9 members. That may even more expensive than Schwan's Ukraine Church, at a cost per member. If those 9 new people are just transfers....
This Might Sound Familiar
From the Brothers of John the Steadfast:
(Editor’s Note by Pastor Rossow: Carol Wysocki is a lay-woman from the Chicago area. After enduring the saga detailed below she began doing countless hours of research into the loss of the traditional Lutheran church. She has as business background and has noticed that a lot of warmed-over corporate trends are being followed in the church. We are hoping that she will be able to take the time and expand on each of the significant points below so that we and others can benefit from her study on how LCMS leaders, pastors and layman are hi-jacking the historically strong Biblical and confessional church and turning it into a feminized, trendy community determined by market forces and cultural preference.)
Here is the saga of my recent experience in a LCMS church. I was the victim of a “bait and switch” in the Northern Illinois District. I thought I was joining a LCMS church and I ended up in a Willow Creek style clone church. Thank you for the opportunity to warn or alert other unsuspecting Lutherans.
I was catechized back in the day when LCMS pastors did not hold back on teaching difficult doctrines to their catechumens: like syncretism, ecumenism, and unionism. I was taught properly. I remember the material. I drifted away from the church, and I put myself in the “unchurched” classification for a long time. In 2003, I commenced a five-year period of confinement taking take care of an aged parent. It was during that period with a lot of discretionary time that I renewed my mind and read the Scriptures.
When released of my caregiver responsibilities I attempted to reconnect to the church and checked into the local LCMS parish. The LCMS is still generally reputed to be a faithful denomination. I chose the brand, not the church. I was not acquainted with anyone in that church or either pastor. My time there lasted about 15 months and my experience began in the June 2008.
Upon completion of my re-education class in Lutheran doctrine in December 2008, I was made to pledge to join a Bible study or Small Group. I chose Bible study. The small group idea did not appeal to me. Small groups are not consistent with my recollection of LCMS church practices. From that time forward I would see a lot of things not consistent with my childhood experiences in the LCMS church.
Traditional worship was familiar to me except for the big Jumbotron screen in the front of the sanctuary and an empty pulpit. The biggest inconsistency with what I knew of the “old” LCMS was the semon content delivered to the congregants. I kept waiting for the pastors to proclaim the full gospel and never once did I hear any mention of sin, repentance, justification, heaven, or the certainty of God’s future judgment. Instead the senior pastor would regularly deliver a “sermonette” with sentimental platitudes and a superficial exposition of the NT reading. I began to notice there are not a lot of men attending worship, and my own husband of 37 yrs. would never sit through a “relational”, “nurturing” feminized sermon.
Sermons accompanied with ‘fill in the blank’ outlines are passed out to worshippers. There are almost always three big fill in the blank statements like: ”God will bless me if I _______ and ________.” and ”To overcome your fears, you must _______ and _____.” It is not my experience to have a pastor say, “Can I get an Amen?” for affirmation of a statement that he made during sermons or do hand holding prayers.
(In the second and concluding post of this telling saga we will hear how the sermons are focused on good works, how Chuck Colson, George Barna and other non-Lutherans are the “mentors” of the congregation, and the “contemporary service” that has very few young people attending and other bothersome characteristics in this parish that has rejected our grandfathers’ church.)
Inappropriate Channel
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Fox Valley Fed Up":
Yup, the old "appropriate channels" where the complaint ends up in the circular file. That's why we need inappropriate channels like Ichabod.
Yup, the old "appropriate channels" where the complaint ends up in the circular file. That's why we need inappropriate channels like Ichabod.
WELS Pastor Jeske on LCMS Home Page
WELS members paid for Jeske's group, Church and Change,
to be established.
His switch to Missouri may be their reward:
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS Pastor Jeske on LCMS Home Page":
As a WELS pastor, it's nonsense like this that has me seriously considering leaving the synod. They keep telling me that issues like this are being addressed, but I see no evidence that anything is actually being done.
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GJ - I am told his DP is standing in the way of any action. One must also consider the vast number of pastors and teachers trained in Church Shrinkage, all paid for through the mission offerings.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS Pastor Jeske on LCMS Home Page":
Pastor Jackson wrote: "all paid for through the mission offerings". Is that an assumption? My gut feeling is that some of the money for C&C and Fuller educations came out of the general operating fund and gifts that could have went towards the ministerial school system and tuition there.
Also, I bet the pastors who went to Fuller and similar seminaries would never actually think of rolling up their sleeves and going to a mission in a third world country, so why should they dip into the missions till?
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GJ - I meant "missions" in the generic sense, anything given to the synod, not to mention Thrivent and Schwan money.
I know mission pastors were given free rides to "study" at Willow Creek, back in the 1980s. I doubt whether that money came from the officials' own pockets. Funny, I was never offered a Willow Creek scholarship.
Did Larry Oh, Fuller Bivens, David Valleskey, et al. pay the whole cost for their Fuller/Willow Creek/Trinity Deerfield educations? I doubt it.
Fox Valley Fed Up
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Episcopal Candidates for Bishop Love "Party in the...":
Dr. Jackson never said anything about Fox Valley pastors "starting a revolt." He used the phrase "fed up," which, according to laymen in the Valley, is correct.
I am a layman at Riverview Lutheran in Appleton. I care not only about my own congregation, but about my neighboring churches, and I've been concerned about this whole CORE thing from the get-go. I listen to whatever information I can get my hands (ears?) on. My pastors and the other pastors around don't share much at all with laypeople about this whole thing, but you still hear things now and again...from people I consider very reliable.
St. Peter Freedom had a level-headed pastor come and go within five months, fed up with "deceit" (HIS WORD), in the St. Peter/CORE conglomeration, and insisting that he feels sorry for the members of those churches, who hear nothing more than recycled Baptist theology every week. I'd call that pretty fed up.
While most pastors in the area still remain silent (there are a lot of wimps up here), there are at least 5 pastors in the area who, for now at least, are still voicing objections "through appropriate channels." Apparently they are doing so louder and louder, to their district leadership and synod leadership. If their voices are ignored much longer, though, "fed up" will become a "revolt."
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GJ - The CORE is really the Rosetta Stone of Church and Change. Ski and Bishop Katie knew each other from St. Marcus, Milwaukee. Ski was a board member of Church and Change, but he is no longer listed. Bruce Becker, of Perish Services fame, was also a board member, but is no longer listed. Becker joined Mark and Avoid Jeske as soon as he realized his PS job would soon be PM...post-mortem.
The CORE is the essence of Church and Change - spending tons of money, running off to Schwaermer conferences every few weeks, hiding the evidence when it surfaces, shamelessly copying the most blatant false teachers. The entire operation is a sham, aimed only at entertaining the Fox Valley WELS members who will go to evening services, but scared skitless about having regular Sunday or Advent services.
The claim - "Ski will do anything--short of sin--to reach the unchurched."
The reality - "Ski will do anything except rely on the pure Word of God, so he reaches no one but the WELS Pietists."
Here is the history of Church and Change, oddly missing some key names, so y'all can see how you were suckered with your own offering money:
From the Church and Change websty history:
History of Church and Change
In 1995, a group of about 10-12 men gathered at Wisconsin Lutheran College to discuss current methods of sharing Jesus which were commonly being used in the WELS at that time. Many at the first meeting felt that those methods of sharing Jesus were not “keeping up with” the rate of change in society. The message of the Bible was not, therefore, penetrating society very well.
In 1998 two men who had attended the first meeting planned a Church and Change conference in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The next year there was a second conference in Green Bay. About 20 people attended each year.
In May 2001, WELS Perish Services applied for and received a Forward in Christ grant to conduct a three-year pilot program to address the issues surfaced by the previous two Church and Change conferences. The three-year pilot program was designed to be a grassroots gathering of individuals who were pioneering new innovative methods of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with a changing culture.
Three annual conferences were planned and held beginning in 2001. At the first conference, approximately 50 WELS members attended. The attendance grew to 150 in the second year and 180 in the third year. By the third year, the attendees included more than just individuals who were actively pioneering new and innovative methods for sharing Jesus. Many in attendance wanted to learn about how to better share the gospel with the changing culture in which they served. In addition to the three annual conferences a variety of other workshops and gatherings were held dealing with specific ministry issues such as leadership, worship, and women’s ministry.
At the final conference of the three-year pilot, held in November 2003, the conference participants enthusiastically encouraged the organizers to continue Church and Change. A steering committee was subsequently formed from among the participants to address the future direction of Church and Change.
From November 2003 until the present the steering committee has met and drafted a proposal that addresses the future of Church and Change.
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GJ - Church and Change made a lot of progress. Mark Jeske is now featured on the LCMS websty, and Time of Generic Grace is a Missouri Synod Registered Service Organization. He has done this without mentioning on the air that he is Lutheran. In that respect, Jeske is honest and above board - he is not Lutheran. DNA does not a Lutheran make.
Climate Changers Act Just Like Church and Changers
Have you ever kissed a frog? asked Jim Aderman
Yes I have, said FIC contributing editor Jim Aderman.
Here is the link for the story below:
This is a handout photo of Toronto blogger Steve McIntyre.
Photograph by: Canwest News Service, Canwest News Service
So why does his name appear again and again - in the most unflattering ways - in hundreds of e-mails written by the world's most influential climate change scientists, that were mysteriously taken from a computer in Britain last month and published on the Internet?
In these private messages, McIntyre is called everything from a "bozo" and a "moron" to a "playground bully."
"In my opinion," said one e-mail written by Benjamin Santer, a senior climatologist with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, "Stephen McIntyre is the self-appointed Joe McCarthy of climate science."
Tree-ring Fraud Detailed Here
***
GJ - I have spared the readers most of the comments from anonymous changers, who are clearly WELS members and pastors. The name-calling above is quite mild and restrained compared to the language of the Chicaneries.
Deceitfulness does not like to be uncovered, so the climate changer frauds act just like the Church and Changers. They insist on getting of anyone in their way, so they pile more lies on top of their deceit.
For example, David Valleskey appeared to say something good about me in his odious "Figs From Thistles" essay published in the Quarterly. But he told a WELS pastor that he wrote that essay "against that legalist in Ohio." He did not call me a legalist in his essay, nor did he say anything against my hundreds of published articles. But his buddy DP Marcus Nitz soon jumped on my case like a hobo on a hotdog.
I could give many more examples of this behavior, with even worse cases in the notorious CLC (sic).
The key to the Climategate scandal (also called Climaquiddick) is not due to hacking the computer files. The evidence points to someone carefully sifting through the data and emails and leaking them. Someone on the inside probably grew tired of the scientific fraud, deceit, and slander.
The Chicanery problem is - they do not know who the leakers are. Various people send me information all the time. At first I had to do all my own legwork (so to speak) going through blogs, websites, and Google searches. Later, people began sending me links to look at. More recently, boatloads of material starting coming my way, high quality intell, from here and there. Now it is difficult to keep up with the information sent.
The Chicaneries can continue to call me names. I hope the student newspapers complain again about Ichabod. Traffic doubles when they get their lavender hose in a bunch.
The Shrinkers did not want me in a synod, so I am independent. They did not want Christian News publishing the truth, so I have a bigger audience now. Plenty of younger Lutherans are active in fighting the false doctrine of the WELS-LCMS apostates.
According to Christ, apostasy will come close to prevailing. "When the Son of Man returns, will He find faith?"
Who has declared war against faith itself - the UOJ Stormtroopers of Church Growth!
He must not publish in CN again!
Handicapping the Easter Bunny Zebra Hunter - Kudu Don Patterson
Yet - Patterson dodged a bullet and got another free vicar
in the midst of the Second Great Depression.
Glaeske also called each free vicar back to their district.
Lions, tigers, and bears - beware if they vote in a Lutheran
If Glaeske retires as DP, Patterson may well become the next DP. For years Patterson has enjoyed African safaris and free vicars at his church. When those Patterson free vicars graduated from the Sausage Factory in Mequon, Glaeske gave them calls back to Central Southern Babtist.
In short, Patterson has a built-in network, thanks to the "conservative" Glaeske.
Likewise, the weathervane Engelbrecht is against Church and Change when he is away from them, but actively supporting them for so-called district evangelism events and wild hair projects like The CORE. Why is Ski openly kelming Groeschel? Do the Emerging Church leaders channel Luther or even quote him?
District Popes are enablers of Church and Change. They are like state governors, in the secular world - where politics are a little more honest. DPs have plenty of clout to promote Enthusiasm and to quash Confessionalism.
Patterson is on the board of WLCFS, a key node in the Church and Change network.
Patterson has been called to serve as a Mequon professor more than once.
Recently, he and Paul Calvin Kelm gave papers to the Mequon faculty on how to improve seminary education. And you think WELS has no sense of humor?
Here are some imaginary quotes (imaginary, as in satire):
Kelm: "We need to train our boys in how to copy Schwaermer sermons and entertainment services. Too much time is spent on learning dead orthodoxy."
Patterson: "The seminary should host an annual trip to Exponential. I took a bunch of church workers there, and they were impressed."
Kelm: "Maybe I am just sensitive about my middle name, but I think Mequon should stop criticizing Calvin. A waste of time."
Patterson: "I don't want y'all teaching grantsmanship. Leave my money connections alone."
Kelm: "As my mentor, David Valleskey, wrote - we can spoil the Egyptians instead of criticizing the Reformed. No more Christian bashing in class. We can learn from them."
Patterson: "Pure gold, Paul. Pure gold."
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Handicapping the Easter Bunny Zebra Hunter - Kudu ...":
Greg, c'mon if you checked yor facts, you'd see that Patterson isn't on the board of WLCFS and hasn't been for over a year. Ceck it out for yourself at www.wlcfs.org.
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GJ - Totally awesome. I looked up the Board of Directors. According to the logic of the above comment, Patterson ceases to have any connections if he is no longer on the board. I see. Very astute, for someone who just fell off the beet wagon. And Bruce Becker is no longer a leader in Church and Change because he is not listed on the board.
WLCFS is a node in the Church Shrinkage Network. I noticed that Mattek has been demoted from CEO to Director of Ministry. It appears a Missouri guy is in charge. The bios are brief, almost absent, so I will await corrections with bated breath.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Episcopal Candidates for Bishop Love "Party in the MLC"
Episcopal Clergy in Los Angeles
Friday, December 04, 2009
* ShareThis
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Clergy and laypeople voting to replace two retiring assistant bishops in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles will choose Friday from a pool that includes two openly gay candidates.
The selection of one or both of the gay candidates at the diocese's annual convention would mark the first election of a bishop in a same-sex relationship since Bishop V. Gene Robinson was chosen in New Hampshire in 2003. Robinson lives with his longtime male partner.
Robinson's win six years ago led dozens of conservative parishes and four dioceses to vote to leave the 2.1-million member U.S. denomination and pushed the 77 million-member Anglican fellowship to the brink of schism.
There are six candidates in this week's election, including the Rev. John L. Kirkley of San Francisco and the Rev. Canon Mary D. Glasspool of Baltimore, who are openly gay.
It is hard to know, however, what further impact the selection of a second gay bishop would have on the faith.
The majority of Anglicans outside the United States are theological conservatives.
Within the United States, breakaway traditionalists have formed the Anglican Church in North America as a rival to the Episcopal Church.
Episcopalians have made clear to the rest of the Anglican family that they will not roll back their support for same-sex couples.
Last July, the Episcopal General Convention, the church's top policy-making body, effectively lifted a moratorium on electing another gay bishop. The temporary ban had been requested by Anglican leaders seeking to prevent a permanent break in the communion.
The Los Angeles diocese has 70,000 members and covers six Southern California counties.
Most of the candidates have viewed and approved the "Party in the MLC" video.
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mjleyrer has left a new comment on your post "Episcopal Candidates for Bishop Love "Party in the...":
How do we know that most of them have seen and approved Party in the MLC?
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GJ - Because the candidates are gay, Mr. Leyrer.
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mjleyrer has left a new comment on your post "Episcopal Candidates for Bishop Love "Party in the...":
So... you have no real real proof that they have seen and approved it? You're just assuming they did?
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GJ - I added that line to the actual story, to prank the humorless defenders of "Party in the MLC," similar to installing the gaydar dish on Old Main at Martin Luther College.
I got the idea about adding the sentence from people who accused me of making up the fact that Jeske preached at a joint service with the LCMS. Even though the link was embedded in the article I quoted verbatim, some accused me of making up one sentence because they did not find it in another source, which I never mentioned or linked.
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dk has left a new comment on your post "Episcopal Candidates for Bishop Love "Party in the...":
Dr. Jackson is a called and ordained Pastor, a theologian, and by all appearances, a very knowledgeable gardener. (I read his book but haven't seen his garden)
Beyond that, Dr. Jackson is an honest man. He hasn't hidden anything about himself and his thoughts--he hasn't attempted to hide his dismay and anger at the 'teachers' who falsely represent God's Truth. Of course someone should be angry at false teachers.(and he's pretty good with satire too)
If you invest the time it takes to LEARN, and read what he's written, you will find that his argument against Objective Justification is solid--
the idea the God justifies anyone, without the Means of Grace, before faith, is completely unScriptural.
Jackson bears witness to the truth by proclaiming over and over: (paraphrase) The Means of Grace are called the Means of Grace because they are the means by which grace comes to a person: The Word and Sacrament are solely responsible for creating faith in the heart of a person, and faith justifies.
Professor (Dr.) (Pastor) Jackson deserves your respect for the hard work he's done. If you doubt Jackson's orthodoxy, honor him AND yourself by arguing with Scripture and the Confessions. You may learn something.
Do the work. If he's wrong, rebut. But if you won't do the work it might be a better use of your time to read Daily Kos.
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I. J. Reilly has left a new comment on your post "Episcopal Candidates for Bishop Love "Party in the...":
Mr.Jackson may be ordained, but he is not currently called... unless he called himself like he gives communion to himself.
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GJ - Reilly (fake name) has spoken with the wisdom of WELS, where they "ordain" teachers and "call" kindergarten teachers. Does he know me or my situation? No, but that never stops the Chicaneries from beating their gums. They do not trust the Word of God, but they want everyone to listen with bated breath while they explain the word of man.
I was called to serve Bethany a long time ago, and that has been continuous since that time, 1998. I would like to see the Shrinkers start a congregation without synodical support, multi-million dollar loans, Thrivent grants, foundation loot, and special consultants.
Ah, that is where we have gained the upper hand. Without failed pastors to advise us, our little flock has broadcast the Word around the world. Our overhead is low. Didja ever hear of tent-making, Fake Reilly? I read about it in Shakespeare or the Bible. I would love to see one Chicanery working a real job and preaching twice a week during Advent and Lent.
Ski has spent well over $250,000 and has empty time sheets in all categories, including his quarterly blog offerings. But he goes to more Schwaermer conferences than his mentor, Andy Stanley. But all is not lost. I hear the Fox Valley pastors are fed up with the spreading cancer there. Stay tuned.
Doebler has one web page, after getting a $20,000 grant from Antioch. How much for a second web page? Or maybe there is a back door? Whatcha hiding?
Randy Hunter has a woman pastor working for him, according to the Book of Concord definition. Is the ELS upset? Is his WELS district? Is anyone?
Being legitimate in the eyes of a man-made synod does not equal being faithful in the Word and Confessions.
How many Reformed groups require their mission people to teach the Biblical Means of Grace? Zero. But how many "conservative" Lutheran synods demand that their mission people teach Enthusiasm? All of them.
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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Episcopal Candidates for Bishop Love "Party in the...":
Anonymous at 8:43pm,
"As Staff Minister of Worship, Kristen is responsible for planning and implementing all worship opportunities at St. Andrew."
http://www.st-andrew-online.org/site/cpage.asp?cpage_id=5563&sec_id=2361
Kristen is a Pastor having received and accepted a divine call to serve in the WELS' St. Andrew Lutheran Church as Minister of Worship.
Here she is listed as Minister of Worship. http://www.st-andrew-online.org/site/cpage.asp?sec_id=2361&cpage_id=5431#Staff
Definition of Minister
noun 1. a person authorized to conduct religious worship; member of the clergy; pastor.
2. a person authorized to administer sacraments, as at Mass.
3. a person appointed by or under the authority of a sovereign or head of a government to some high office of state, esp. to that of head of an administrative department: the minister of finance.
4. a diplomatic representative accredited by one government to another and ranking next below an ambassador. Compare envoy 1 (def. 1).
5. a person acting as the agent or instrument of another.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/minister
It's a false claim to say that Kristen is not a Pastor.
History of St. Andrew
|
|
| Pastor Randy Hunter |
| Minister of Worship, Kristen Koepsell |
| Minister of Spiritual Growth, David Hochmuth |
| Vicar, Alex Groth |
| Elders |
| Leaders |
“The best part of my job is knowing that my work directly impacts the spiritual lives of those who worship here and enables them to connect with God. I say this with a full and complete understanding (and appreciation!) of the fact that the actual work is done by the Holy Spirit through the means of grace – but it is a great privilege and a great joy to be an instrument in ‘administering God’s grace’ in the form of worship gatherings."
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Episcopal Candidates for Bishop Love "Party in the...":
Does this lady help with communion?
It is not permitted or Scriptural! Tell me what I am reading ain't so.
President Schroeder, We have a problem!!! Somebody fix it. This is where my part ends, cause women can't usurp athority.
In Christ,
from WELS church lady
Does this lady help with communion?
It is not permitted or Scriptural! Tell me what I am reading ain't so.
President Schroeder, We have a problem!!! Somebody fix it. This is where my part ends, cause women can't usurp athority.
In Christ,
from WELS church lady
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