I just read this on a blog:
KJV John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Yes, it was my blog, but that should not detract from its value.
Based on this passage, pastors should aim their messages at increasing faith rather than undermining it.
The UOJ Stormtroopers, advocating justification without faith, grace without the Means of Grace, paved the way for the Emergent Church takeover of today. When a Doctrinal Pussycat complains about the Emergent Church in his backyard, like CrossWalk in Phoenix--and does nothing--the apostates have already run.
The results can be seen at The SORE in Appleton, the WELS showcase for Emergent Church popcorn theaters. Victory of the Lamb and Latte
Someone photographed the interior of The CORE during his visit. Two quotations, lovingly painted on the wall, gave away the works righteousness of its lupine pastor.*
One is verbatim from Groeschel: "In order to reach those who (sic) no one else is reaching, we'll have to do things no one else is doing." Bad grammar too!
This is pure works-righteousness. Reaching, whatever that means, is justification for anything that follows, using such logic. We know from observation that reaching in the Emergent Church means luring members away from sister congregations, luring them with love seats and lattes, movie theaters and popcorn.
Do not neglect the doing. We are doing things. Fidelity to the Word? That is not on the agenda, because "no one else is reaching...."
Two - St. Francis is quoted on the SORE wall as saying "Preach the Gospel always, use words when necessary." This fortune cookie wisdom has been slopping around the Emergent Church tank for a long time. Pay someone's toll on the highway! Buy their lunch! Look at their expression! "I'd like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony." My choice would be Gerhardt, of course.
The Christian Church is a mouth church, as Luther said, relying on speaking the Gospel and teaching it correctly, not reviving the works-righteousness of the Pharisees. The Shrinkers are obnoxious bullies, thugs, thieves, and liars. Have I mentioned that today? No? But that is good to remember because such behavior is the fruit of works-righteousness.
The point of the sermon is not to justify bad behavior by doing something so noble that it avoids all criticism, but to teach child-like faith.
Faith is not a virtue but trust in God's Word, which conveys Christ to us. Luther warned against the Enthusiasts who talk about Jesus all the time but tear down the bridge He uses to reach us - the Means of Grace.
The Shrinkers mock the efficacious Word, so I mock them by quoting them.
*Landlord, after canceling the lease - "That's my last mission painted on the wall,
I scraped but cannot get it off at all." (Browning, My Last Duchess, more or less)
