KJV Romans 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
That is certainly the C&C script. Notice that the members must change their beliefs and attitudes – not the arrogant leaders! How backwards and evil! They demonstrate their lack of faith and cover it up with talk about the infinite mercy of God. Surely God needs infinite mercy to put up with them.
False Teachers, According To Luther
"Note the master hand wherewith Paul portrays the character of false teachers, showing how they betray their avarice and ambition. First, they permit true teachers to lay the foundation and perform the labor; then they come and desire to do the work over, to reap the honors and the benefits. They bring about that the name and the work of the true teachers receive no regard and credit; what they themselves have brought--that is the thing. They make the poor simple-minded people to stare open-mouthed while they win them with flowery words and seduce them with fair speeches, as mentioned in Romans 16:18. These are the idle drones that consume the honey they will not and cannot make." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 110. Second Sunday before Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9; Romans 16:18.
"And such false teachers have the good fortune that all their folly is tolerated, even though the people realize how these act the fool, and rather rudely at that. They have success with it all, and people bear with them. But no patience is to be exercised toward true teachers! Their words and their works are watched with the intent of entrapping them, as complained of in Psalm 17:9 and elsewhere. When only apparently a mote is found, it is exaggerated to a very great beam. No toleration is granted. There is only judgment, condemnation and scorn. Hence the office of preaching is a grievous one. He who has not for his sole motive the benefit of his neighbor and the glory of God cannot continue therein. The true teacher must labor, and permit others to have the honor and profit of his efforts, while he receives injury and derision for his reward." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 110f. Second Sunday before Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9. Psalm 17:9.
"In the second place such teachers are disposed to bring the people into downright bondage and to bind their conscience by forcing laws upon them and teaching works-righteousness. The effect is that fear impels them to do what has been pounded into them, as if they were bondslaves, while their teachers command fear and attention. But the true teachers, they who give us freedom of conscience and create us lords, we soon forget, even despise. The dominion of false teachers is willingly tolerated and patiently endured; indeed, it is given high repute. All those conditions are punishments sent by God upon them who do not receive the Gospel with love and gratitude." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 111. Second Sunday before Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9. John 5:43.
"In the third place, false teachers flay their disciples to the bone, and cut them out of house and home, but even this is taken and endured. Such, I opine, has been our experience under the Papacy. But true preachers are even denied their bread. Yet this all perfectly squares with justice! For, since men fail to give unto those from whom they receive the Word of God, and permit the latter to serve them at their own expense, it is but fair they should give the more unto preachers of lies, whose instruction redounds to their injury. What is withheld from Christ must be given in tenfold proportion to the devil. They who refuse to give the servant of truth a single thread, must be oppressed by liars." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 111f. Second Sunday before Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.
"Fourth, false apostles forcibly take more than is given them. They seize whatever and whenever they can, thus enhancing their insatiable avarice. This, too, is excused in them." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 112. Second Sunday before Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.
"Fifth, these deceitful teachers, not satisfied with having acquired our property, must exalt themselves above us and lord it over us...We bow our knees before them, worship them and kiss their feet. And we suffer it all, yes, with fearful reverence regard it as just and right. And it is just and right, for why did we not honor the Gospel by accepting and preserving it?"
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House,
1983, VII, p. 112.
"Sixth, our false apostles justly reward us by smiting us in the face. That is, they consider us inferior to dogs; they abuse us, and treat us as foot-rags." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 112. Second Sunday before Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.
"Neither is he [Satan] truthful; he is the spirit of lies, who, by means of false fear and false comfort having the appearance of truth, both deceives and destroys. He possesses the art of filling his own victims with sweet comfort ; that is, he gives them unbelieving, arrogant, secure, impious hearts...He can even make them joyful; furthermore, he renders them haughty and proud in their opinions, in their wisdom and self-made personal holiness; then no threat nor terror of God's wrath and of eternal damnation moves them, but their hearts grow harder than steel or adamant." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 302. Pentecost, Third Sermon John 14:23-31.
Simple Calculation
Here is a simple calculation - if money feeds it, then deny it money and tell them why. I did that with one charity, which I knew was pro-abortion. When my very nice neighbor tried to collect for it, I told her why I would not give them a dime. She was shocked and upset, asking me to prove it. I gave her the book that told about the situation. She checked it out for herself and told the charity - no deal.
All the synods prop up, promote, and spread false doctrine. The so-called conservative synods are no better than ELCA and continue to work joyfully with ELCA. The mico-minis sit in the back and throw spit-wads at the rest, but they are just the same, if not worse.
Most of the benevolence dollar goes to salaries, benefits, buildings, and paying off lawsuits. That would be a good use of money if the employees did their jobs, but they do not. The Doctrinal Pussycats soak up a lot of money, getting paid assistants to do their parish work for them, but the DPs show the greatest skill in avoiding any real labor. Why do they deserve all the perks and free trips?
FICKLE promotes the Church and Money Changers while paying them money to spread their odious false doctrine. Has anyone heard any cries of outrage that Bivens, Patterson and Company still control the expensive WELS production? No. Ditto Lutheran Witness and the rest.
Each WELS or LCMS DP is the criminal defense lawyer, de facto, for the false teachers.
Any layman or pastor will find out the truth just by being persistently opposed to false teachers. At first the synodical employees will make nice and say they are working on it (30 year plan) but everything is hush-hush (silencing the opposition). Eventually the persistent person finds out HE is the problem. The spineless DP, for example, will become a raging tornado of wrath when asked about Fred Schmertz, the layman or pastor who asked why false doctrine is tolerated.
Most people do not want to find out the game is rigged. Parsons and members play the pussyfoot game until they are almost as bad as the false teachers themselves, tolerating and defending what they would have condemned earlier as contrary to God's Word. Thus the new ELCA dissenters, who paid dearly to establish ELCA. They worked hard at ignoring the gay agenda, gay quotas, and gay programs, and now labor to roll back the clock 20 years and enjoy the illusion of orthodoxy.
God's Word Is Not a Toy for Little Boys
As I mentioned long ago, I once helped out an electrician who decided to drill into a live circuit box. It was going to save him time and keep my father's business from going dark for a few minutes. The idea was simple. I held a piece of cardboard in place to keep his industrial sized-drill from going too far into the box. I was dubious. He started the drill in the right place for just a second. The drillbit ate through the outside case and moved into the box at full speed, delivering a huge wallop to the hapless electrician. The bakery went dark upstairs and people called down, "What happened? Is everyone OK?" The electrician was bending over, trying to sort out his fried brain cells. I was fine but wiser about pros who say, "Don't worry."
The Word of God is far more powerful than the amps delivered to the electrician. The Gospel converts and sustains us, but also hardens the hearts of those who think it is their toy, their magic wand for money and perks.
Many people are enjoying the feast while Lazarus has his sores attended by dogs. The material blessings of the moment are Satan's wages for being his employees. They are earning eternal death and punishment, hardening themselves and their unfortunate (but willing) audiences each time they invoke the Name of Jesus in support of their foul doctrine.
Those who flock to false teachers are not innocent. They are usually the ones who were once trained in Lutheran doctrine but found this or that too burdensome to tolerate. Suffragettes may glory in attending a WELS/LCMS/ELS church where they set up women as pastors while denying it - wink, wink. Adulterers love to hear a false teacher who adulterates the Gospel and declares his wayward flock forgiven in advance, stealing a march on Tetzel - for a fee.
I find this curious, after watching some ministers over the decades. They start out looking and sounding normal, like anyone else. Later their faces take on a demonic look of scorn and anger. Even when they pose for professional photos and post the best one, Old Nick comes through. Rick Warren and Robert Schuller are the two best examples, but I have seen it in Lutherans too.
The fools who paid big money to hear Wagner, Sweet, Warren, Stanley, Groeschel, Hybels, Driscoll, and the rest are slowly experiencing The Picture of Dorian Gray. But, the painting is not hidden in the closet, but out where everyone can see it. The false teachers create their own self-portrait, a fitting tribute to their Father Below, by defying the Word of God and cynically using it to feed their capacious stomachs.
KJV Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Many people are enjoying the feast while Lazarus has his sores attended by dogs. The material blessings of the moment are Satan's wages for being his employees. They are earning eternal death and punishment, hardening themselves and their unfortunate (but willing) audiences each time they invoke the Name of Jesus in support of their foul doctrine.
Those who flock to false teachers are not innocent. They are usually the ones who were once trained in Lutheran doctrine but found this or that too burdensome to tolerate. Suffragettes may glory in attending a WELS/LCMS/ELS church where they set up women as pastors while denying it - wink, wink. Adulterers love to hear a false teacher who adulterates the Gospel and declares his wayward flock forgiven in advance, stealing a march on Tetzel - for a fee.
I find this curious, after watching some ministers over the decades. They start out looking and sounding normal, like anyone else. Later their faces take on a demonic look of scorn and anger. Even when they pose for professional photos and post the best one, Old Nick comes through. Rick Warren and Robert Schuller are the two best examples, but I have seen it in Lutherans too.
The fools who paid big money to hear Wagner, Sweet, Warren, Stanley, Groeschel, Hybels, Driscoll, and the rest are slowly experiencing The Picture of Dorian Gray. But, the painting is not hidden in the closet, but out where everyone can see it. The false teachers create their own self-portrait, a fitting tribute to their Father Below, by defying the Word of God and cynically using it to feed their capacious stomachs.
KJV Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
