I wrote before that J. P. Meyer's Ministers of Christ leads someone effortlessly into Decision Theology, because Meyer's own language is thoroughly unLutheran and anti-Scriptural in places. He does not make some points about Corinthians, especially about adulterating the Gospel. But note what happens with his precious UOJ:
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "More on Justification Book":
In the Feedback section of FIC, A Lutheran Voice, someone spoke of "decision theology" concerning the series on the Holy Spirit.(referring to the NOV. edition) I will quote the feedback that was put in the January 2010 edition:
"I'm compelled to respond to the most recent article in Pastor Degner's series on the Holy Spirit. "Earlier in life I was involved in a variety of "evangelical/fundamental" churches. "Decision theology" was big in their presentation of the gospel. I can recall many Sunday school sessions in which I strived very hard to convince my student to "accept Jesus in to their hearts"-i.e., to accept God's offer of forgiveness and eternal life in Christ. How often I used variations of Pastor Degners's analogy of the rich man trying to give each person in town a million dallars[Nov.]. "Just accept it!" I pleaded. But then God arranged circumstances that brought me into ELS/WELS churches. What a great epiphany occurred when I fully realized and understood that we are totally incapable of accepting salvation; that it is wholly the work of the Holy Spirit as he effectd our new birth by way of his gift of faith in Christ Jesus!"
Here is the response by "one" of the editors:
"Your point about decisions to accept God's gift is well taken. With Luther we confess that we cannot come to Jesus or believe in him by our own power. That is the work of the Holy Spirit by the power of the gospel. Yet Paul invited the jailer simply to "believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." The gospel does come with an invitation that we cannot accept but by the work of the Holy Spirit.-ed."
If GJ and Brett remember, that is taken from the same article that I quoted a few months ago. So we were not the only folks who noticed these things (a few words from that article/universal justification....forgiven and not forgiven)
In Christ,
from WELS church lady
