I have more laws in the works for you...
and your little dog Toto."
Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "No Thanks from a Thankless Clergy":
This is a timely post. God's Word, Christ, is efficacious. It either works contrition and faith, by the gracious work of the Holy Spirit in those God has predestined, called, justified, glorified and saved, or it hardens the heart against God's Word, Christ, and prohibits understanding.
It is the hardening of the heart which we see so often. There is no understanding of God's Word in those who are perishing, in those who have rejected Christ and His doctrine of Justification by Faith Alone. After years of focused discussion on the intricate falicies of the false gospel of Universal Objective Justification this point hits home often. I spoke to one (W)ELS teacher about UOJ and gave him the Scripture, Confessional quotations and the statements of his Synod. He said he would get around to it later, right now he was focused on getting his masters degree - it would add another $130.00 a month to his salary.
Pastor Jackson's point hit me yesterday while waiting for someone to publicly express a concern about UOJ or the Scripture and Confessional statements posted as clear rejections of UOJ. Waited to see if anyone would comment in disgust over the (W)ELS ecumenical effort of establishing worship services for a multidenominational congregation led by a (W)ELS staff minister - nothing. Will (W)ELS deal with the issue of their Thrivent money financing murder worldwide? Haven't yet. Will (W)ELS deal with the New Age Emergent Church Growth teachers on their payrolls? Haven't yet. Will (W)ELS allow anyone to openly discuss false doctrine and practice in Holy Mother Synod? No. Will anyone retract the label of "Conservative" or "Confessional" from the spineless (W)ELS Synod President, District Presidents, circuit pastors, clergy, church elder's? No. Few even know what the Book of Concord is.
God's wrath and judgement don't always come in one moment with pillars of fire. Sometimes it happens over time, as it has been happening with the Lutheran churches.
Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Mark 4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
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GJ - People are probably expecting the current leadership to deal with their doctrine issues, whether LCMS, ELS, or WELS. That would be like asking their ministry partner--ELCA--to turn against homosexual and abortion advocacy. They will dance with the guy who brung them - and be widows in the Age To Come.
They all work with ELCA through Lutheran World Relief and Thrivent, and ELCA calls the shots - always.
The so-called conservatives reached their positions by cheering on Church Growth or saying/doing nothing while frowning when the topic came up. Anyone can see what a practiced frown on a do-nothing head accomplishes.
Notice how they demand proof and do nothing with it. Backdoor leaks about a closing college will develop 2,000 page reads a day, two days in a row. That is far above average. But doctrine? That interferes with having lunch with the poo-bahs of Lutherdom.
Nevertheless, deafening silence also shows an effect. The blind guides stifle themselves because they cannot answer the Scriptures, the Confessions, Luther, Melanchthon, Chemnitz, or Gerhard. I believe my most ignored book, Thy Strong Word, has had the most effect. I see UOJ crumbling around the edges now - thanks to the laity.
I measure interest by individual communications. A number of laity began saying, "We really need a print version of TSW." And that is being finished.
If the Syn Conference clergy are so well trained, why do they avoid publishing on Lulu.com, where they can distribute their wisdom for free? They could be sending their PDFs all over the world. I created them, download them, and send them to people who ask.
I know the answer. Day-Timer. Oct 24th. Lunch with Poo-Bah.
