The Matthew 18 excuse, long used by WELS to cover up their crimes against the Word and against their own members, shows the clergy are "not apt to teach." That is a requirement for pastors.
The apostate leaders cleverly demand Matthew 18, and they train the robots at the Sausage Factory to obey these novo-commandments. These wolves do not apply Matthew 18 to themselves. They constantly engage in backbiting to enhance their positions and to protect their fellow felons.
This approach works splendidly to turn false doctrine into synodical dogma, just as Matthew 18 does.
Even if someone is very careful to follow the steps of Matthew 18, the response, "You did it wrong, you black-hearted sinner." That is shared with the entire synod, of course, because of the Matthew 18 escape clause.
So, let us see Matthew 18 in action, even though it does not apply. Ski and Glende were blatantly copying Craig Groeschel in their sermons and proud of it. Glende was going to "save" St. Peter's in Freedom that way. Isn't it funny that the congregation needed to survive after 30 years of the Church Growth Master hisself - Ron Ash, chairman of Church and Change, holder of many synodical titles?
Public false doctrine can be and should be addressed publicly, as Luther taught, and we confess, in the Large Catechism.
False doctrine is not subject to the Matthew 18 rule. Nor does Matthew 18 protect the scandalous lives of criminal pastors.
Using Matthew 18 inappropriately, a group of Northern District WELS people addressed their concerns about false doctrine in a supposed meeting with the District Pope, Deputy Doug Englebrecht.
They had a meeting date set. Oh joy!
They could hash out these problems. WELS triumphant!
But Deputy Doug did not show up. He skipped the meeting and sent a letter. I don't have the letter, but I heard that Doug blamed me.
Can you believe that? He refused to carry out his duties as DP by skipping and blaming me. The district re-elected Doug, who has proven himself "not apt to teach."
For years I have been getting descriptions of the extent of corruption in his district. The facts have not come from pastors but from the laity, who are disgusted with WELS.
Some people think I am rough on the cowards, criminals, and false teachers.
Quoting someone from the distant past, "You serve God your way, and I will serve God His way."
Your way has smoothed the path for apostasy. Church workers can murder without having their names in the synod news. They can run off with millions and flimsy excuses (lies) are broadcast to keep the older people calm. They can turn an allegedly Lutheran group into a discount store for trashy Fuller programs and no one notices.
Your way is working wonders indeed. As I wrote one pastor, "Don't bring a squirt gun to a knife fight."
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rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Not Apt To Teach":
The Matthew 18 portion of the "8 and 18 switch" always works the first time around on naive and unsuspecting laity. The problem is that the apostate leaders keep using it, no matter what the circumstances. This prompted one member to jokingly refer to it as the favorite Bible chapter at our former congregation. Here is a seemingly strange coincidence. The circuit pastor recommended a face to face meeting with the pastor and a group of concerned members. The pastor refused to attend, just like Deputy Doug. An elder was there, who attempted to make an audio recording of the meeting. That almost set a lynch mob into motion. Fortunately, no blood was shed. Little did any of our members realize at that time that the improper application of Matthew 18 was synod wide and not relegated to just one congregation.
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GJ - The Matthew 18 against heresiarch Ted Hartwig did not work. Pastors were told to "mind their own business." I know of pastors who went to Kelm - no difference. The C and C list of WELS pastors begged Kelm to cancel Leonard Sweet. He would not even respond.
I recently sent three certified letters, two to pastors, one to an official. The signed receipts came back. Not one of them responded in any way whatsoever. Previously, an email went unanswered. The matter is not over just because the boys will not answer for their lawbreaking.
