rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Joseph Schmidt Leaving WELS":
I am encouraged when I read accounts of those whose patience has gone thin and eventually leave a synod. The exodus of faithful members is brought about by leaders who refuse to be held accountable for their apostasy. The question of where to go is also a valid one to ask. For years, many of us have been told that only the WELS is pure as the driven snow.
This is why doctrinal study is so important for the laity. A working knowledge of the Confessions helps expose the false teachings and practices that are all around us. Secondly, it gives the departing member the discernment that is needed to find a new home.
This is why apostate leaders refuse to engage their members in a serious study of the Lutheran Confessions. These leaders would much rather waste their and their members' time with meetings, workshops, conferences, seminars, et al. This topic has been covered often here at Ichabod. Leaders at my former WELS congregation keep begging for money because of an endless shortfall in their budget.
The shortfall may be both a symptom and a diversion. The root of the problem is false doctrine and the practice of small m methodism. This pattern has repeated itself many times across all synods. As a side note, today is Walking Together Sunday in the WELS. I find this rather ironic as this same WELS is falling apart. How can any member with discernment say with a clear conscience that they walk together with The SORE? Intrepid Lutherans does a good analysis of the pre-packaged sermon sent out from the Love Shack for all to use today. The sermon is heavy with Third Use of the Law. This is so typical of the message coming from those who embrace today's navel gazing evangelicalism.
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twissted_sisster has left a new comment on your post "Joseph Schmidt Leaving WELS":
'Lord, grant while words endure,
We keep ITS teachings pure
Throughout all generations. Amen!'
It a sad commentary but it should be a glaring wake-up call for the WELS when long-time or lifelong members are talking about quitting due to doctrinal issues. We - here in this little forum- are just the tip of the iceberg. I think the C&C crowd would be happy to see us go because are on to them, see what they are up to, and don't like the light shining on it. We should never have had to wonder what comes next after the WELS but it's come to that. THEIR leaders are well known but who will lead our cause of confessional Lutheranism? There are plenty of followers out here!
