bored has left a new comment on your post "Write a Letter? Ha!":
Writing letters to the synod is a big joke. You will be ignored or patronized (and then be shunned).
So if moving through official channels won't work, whaddya do? It's tough to know what to do about the WELS. Nothing is impossible with God, so I do believe the WELS might be fixed--but it is a quagmire. Here's one example: People over at Insipid Lutherans are saying that without UOJ, faith becomes a condition for Grace and Salvation. As far as I know this is a typical attitude towards that doctrine. But think about it: UOJ teaches that all are righteous because all have been forgiven, and yet not all will go to heaven. Only those with faith go to heaven. So isn't UOJ actually making faith a condition?
Real Lutheranism teaches that God demands a condition of perfection, which men, of course, cannot achieve. God in his mercy provided Christ, who became the perfect sacrifice and substitution; through faith alone is Christ's righteousness placed on us. Through faith alone does God forgive us our sins for Christ's sake. We can't believe on our own either. In mercy upon mercy, God provides us with his Holy Spirit through the Word to create and sustain this saving faith in us.
According to UOJ, God certainly doesn't demand a condition of perfection, since, according to UOJ, all are already righteous and yet some go to hell. So, God must demand something else besides righteousness, right? What is left but faith? Faith becomes the central focus. It's nearly belief in belief.
But back to my point, unraveling that is a messy nasty business. That is a complicated bit of verbiage, even for honest theologians, and you'll notice that guys like Rydecki and Webber truly shine in ambiguity. I doubt if real Lutherans will ever win in a theological argument, because you'll never pin 'em down. (and not to harp on it too much, but watching WELS pastors get out of hot water, and backing out of their words is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. LCMS pastors too. It reminds me of watching CSPAN. Brilliant subterfuge.)
Real Lutherans aren't going to beat the Crypto-pentecostal-baptalicious UOJ Storm Troopers at their own game without becoming them. How do we untangle this mess? What I described is just one of many issues. How the heck is it even possible? At what point do we shake the dust off our feet, recognizing that we've done all we can: testify from Scripture? I don't think a mass exodus from the W(ELS) and LCMS could come soon enough.
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rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Write a Letter? Ha!":
We must remember who we are dealing with here. If you work in an ethical, secular business environment, you can take people at their word. I used to work with a gent who was always dispensing shoddy financial advice. He took a bath in stock market downturns three times. After his son lost his house, he advised me against having my son buy a house. His co-workers had a saying, "whatever Gene says, do the exact opposite".
One bad experience could be considered an anomaly. The WELS powers that be have repeatedly proven that letter writing is not the act to engage in. I believe that it is a trap. If you don't write a letter, you will be castigated for not following their recommendation. If you do write a letter, you are placed on the hate list. This is actually a political tactic as it will draw out the opposition so that they can be identified. It would be akin to a battle where you get your enemy to fire first to reveal his position.
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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Two Laymen Respond to "Write a Letter, Ha!"":
I doubt if real Lutherans will ever win in a theological argument, because you'll never pin 'em down.
I know Bored understands this already as he's speaking in the context of a singular discussion, but I wanted to comment on this.
Anyone who faithfully wields the Sword of God's Word has already won. Even in a discussion against false doctrine and practice. Even if to the secular world it looks as if the false teacher couldn't be pinned down so as to surrender the point the true Christian, faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, has already won. Romans 8:31, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" and Galatians 6:7, "Be not decieved; god is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
Faithful Christian Lutherans have already won through keeping the Word pure, by the grace and mercy of God, through faithful confession and use. 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
Rydecki and Webber's perversion of Scripture, self contradictions and blatant heresies are available for everyone to see. This is a victory in itself. This is why Holy Mother Synod doesn't want anyone to openly, publicly discuss doctrine - they don't trust the Word and it becomes quite evident, heretics cannot maintain their charade and will expose their false doctrine when questioned and asked to give a confession of the hope they have - from one side of their mouth or the other, they make the Synod officials look like the spineless hirelings they are when others step forward to speak in their place and most importantly - Holy Mother Synod does not want anyone to think for themselves - Holy Mother Lutheran Synod is so close to being Holy Mother Roman Catholic Church it isn't even funny anymore.
So faithful Christians everywhere need to speak up, remain faithful to Scripture, Christ, the Lutheran Confessions and write letters, blog comments, speak to anyone who will listen and fight the good fight while it is day, for the night cometh when no one can work John 9:4
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GJ - When I was still WELS, I walked up to John Brenner (Sparky), Professor at The Sausage Factory in Mequon. I asked him how the faculty could publish the blatant falsehoods and lies in Valleskey's so-called study of the Church Growth Movement. Brenner said, "Write a letter." I said, "Write a letter? Don't you have an editor?" He said, "Gawrisch has been sick." I asked, "Is the whole faculty sick?" Mrs. Brenner was in a state of shock that someone would ask a Prince of the Church such questions.
The next time I saw Sparky, I got the WELS Glare.
