We had an earthquake in Bella Vista tonight.
2.5 on the Richter scale.
ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Earthquake in Bella Vista
We had an earthquake in Bella Vista tonight.
2.5 on the Richter scale.
Goddess Worship Is Common in ELCA, Mainline Churches
Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago.
Earth Day and Mother Goddess rituals go together.
Exposing the ELCA:
Have you ever prayed to the Goddess? Recited the "Goddess Rosary?" Joined an ELCA Goddess small group? If you stay in the ELCA long enough you may just get your chance. ELCA church, Ebenezer Lutheran in San Francisco (http://www.herchurch.org) has been doing this for a long time, but they are not the only ones. Rev. Jeff Johnson, recently elected to the Sierra Pacific Synod Council, and his church University Lutheran Chapel (ELCA) in Berkeley, CA are conducting a monthly "Goddess Rosary" service.
Here is what the University Lutheran Chapel newsletter says about the service.
"Goddess Rosary.
Last Sunday of the Month Goddess Rosary, 6:45PM at the Chapel. During the 1-hour session, the Divine Feminine will be recognized and reclaimed through recitation of the Goddess Rosary, silence, music, and movement. This very special Rosary consists of prayers by feminist theologian Carol Christ and musician Sister Miriam Therese Winter. The evening will be based on Rev. Stacy Boorn’s Goddess-centered devotion at Ebenezer/herchurch Lutheran Church in SF. People of all gender identities are welcome." ( See here )
You can't have a Goddess service without praying the "Hail Goddess" prayer. It goes like this,
"Hail Goddess full of grace. Blessed are you
and blessed are all the fruits
of your womb.
For you are the MOTHER of us all.
Hear us now
and in all our needs.
O blessed be, O blessed be. Amen
(adapted from Carol Christ)
(see here)
One participant in the Goddess Rosary service (at herchurch) described her experience this way -
"From the basket of rosaries, I took into my hand a strand of vibrantly-colored beads with a silver goddess icon in place of the traditional cross. The goddesses came in a variety of shapes and sizes, celebrating the beauty of the feminine form; I found reflections of my own figure in the full hips and Rubenesque curves of my goddess. Once gathered, we began to recite together the “Our Mother” and “Hail Goddess” prayers."
(see here)
This is what is happening in the ELCA! The ELCA is well aware of this and they have chosen to accept it. If they didn't, they have the power to stop this practice. But the ELCA does not. This is false teaching and praying to a false god. This is on the ELCA's head. Let's not forget that they have promoted it in official publications (See on Page 6) AND have allowed a pastor who sanctions it to be on a Synod Council.
For those of you on the fence concerning if you want to remain in the ELCA, what is it going to take? For those that insist on staying in the ELCA, there is more than enough evidence that the ELCA has abandoned scripture and true Christian teaching (see here), you cannot deny it. You are living for your own desire for your church and placing that above the will of God which is clear to all in His scriptures.
Here is what the University Lutheran Chapel newsletter says about the service.
"Goddess Rosary.
Last Sunday of the Month Goddess Rosary, 6:45PM at the Chapel. During the 1-hour session, the Divine Feminine will be recognized and reclaimed through recitation of the Goddess Rosary, silence, music, and movement. This very special Rosary consists of prayers by feminist theologian Carol Christ and musician Sister Miriam Therese Winter. The evening will be based on Rev. Stacy Boorn’s Goddess-centered devotion at Ebenezer/herchurch Lutheran Church in SF. People of all gender identities are welcome." ( See here )
You can't have a Goddess service without praying the "Hail Goddess" prayer. It goes like this,
"Hail Goddess full of grace. Blessed are you
and blessed are all the fruits
of your womb.
For you are the MOTHER of us all.
Hear us now
and in all our needs.
O blessed be, O blessed be. Amen
(adapted from Carol Christ)
(see here)
One participant in the Goddess Rosary service (at herchurch) described her experience this way -
"From the basket of rosaries, I took into my hand a strand of vibrantly-colored beads with a silver goddess icon in place of the traditional cross. The goddesses came in a variety of shapes and sizes, celebrating the beauty of the feminine form; I found reflections of my own figure in the full hips and Rubenesque curves of my goddess. Once gathered, we began to recite together the “Our Mother” and “Hail Goddess” prayers."
(see here)
This is what is happening in the ELCA! The ELCA is well aware of this and they have chosen to accept it. If they didn't, they have the power to stop this practice. But the ELCA does not. This is false teaching and praying to a false god. This is on the ELCA's head. Let's not forget that they have promoted it in official publications (See on Page 6) AND have allowed a pastor who sanctions it to be on a Synod Council.
For those of you on the fence concerning if you want to remain in the ELCA, what is it going to take? For those that insist on staying in the ELCA, there is more than enough evidence that the ELCA has abandoned scripture and true Christian teaching (see here), you cannot deny it. You are living for your own desire for your church and placing that above the will of God which is clear to all in His scriptures.
Lavender Lutheran Would Be a Good Name
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
May 20, 2010
ELCA Worshiping Communities Intent about being Welcoming
Members of Central Lutheran Church in Elk River, Minn., voted earlier this year to terminate their relationship with the ELCA, but some members there sought to remain in the ELCA and have started their own worshiping community.
"For now we're called Elk River Lutheran. We may undergo a name change, but we had to do something quickly. [GJ - How about Lavender Lutheran?] People started leaving Central," said Richard Spyhalski, president of Elk River Lutheran's steering committee.
The ELCA Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission program unit affirmed Elk River Lutheran as an ELCA "new start" in March 2010.
"Elk River is a congregation under development," said the Rev. Susan E. Tjornehoi, director for evangelical mission, ELCA Minneapolis Area Synod.
Tjornehoi said the members of Elk River are passionate about their mission and ministry. "They've gone from no place to bursting at the seams. The depth of their joy, tears of happiness and being the people of God has freed them to gather in community, (engage) in ministry and identify with the ELCA." [GJ - Rev. Susan has a gift for fractured English.]
Elk River Lutheran "intends to be a full-service ELCA congregation," said Spyhalski. "Right off the top" members of the community committed 10 percent of Elk River's budget to support ELCA ministries, said Spyhalski. "We are very brand-loyal." [GJ - How about being Word/Confessions loyal?]
Spyhalski said he joined Central Lutheran in 2007 and became disenchanted with the congregation. "Central had stopped certain ministries like Sunday school, and/or started doing other things, which had caused people to leave the congregation," he said.
"The final straw for me was the congregation's response to the decisions of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly," said Spyhalski.
The assembly adopted a social statement on human sexuality and called for revisions to ministry policy documents, making it possible for eligible Lutherans in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender [GJ - aka homosexual, lesbian] relationships to serve as ELCA clergy and professional lay leaders. The ELCA Church Council adopted the revisions to ministry policy documents April 10.
To date less than 2 percent of the ELCA's 10,396 congregations have officially left the denomination, primarily as a result of the assembly's actions.
***
GJ - Offerings are 10-20% down, because many congregations have already impounded offerings that would have gone to ELCA, perhaps sending them to the LCMC, etc. The news release fails to concede that the largest, most established congregations are leaving or considering an exit.
Say It Ain't So, Joe - Moonshine from ELCA Bishop Woolerslime
though he advanced the Lavender Mafia cause
while denouncing traditionalists.
ALPB Forum:
The latest item on the ELCA News Release is "ELCA Worshiping Communities Intent about being Welcoming" (full story can be found at http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Communication-Services/News/Releases.aspx?a=4528).
It concerns two new worshipping communities, Elk River Lutheran, Elk River, Minnesota, and Lord of Love! Lutheran in Galena, Illinois. Both "worshipping communities" are the result of members leaving a congregation that has voted to leave the ELCA. But wait! It turns out that the Lord of Love folks have left St. Matthew Lutheran in Galena, which has NOT taken any vote to leave the ELCA! Pastor Baltz from St. Matthew Lutheran is quoted in the article as saying, "We had small group discussions after the assembly, and the result of those was that the consensus was that we would take no action to leave the ELCA at this time." However, some folks were unhappy at St. Matthew, so they began their own "worshipping community" with the help of the synod bishop, Rev. Gary Wollersheim, who is quoted as saying, "Our synod council set a goal to be supportive of those who want to stay in the ELCA while their congregations are in the process of leaving."
In other words, the Bishop of the Northern Illinois Synod has helped to organize a "worshipping community" just a few blocks from an established ELCA congregation consisting of disgruntled members of that congregation, even while that established congregation has stated that they have no plans to leave the ELCA, have not taken any vote to leave the ELCA, and continue to be a viable congregation in good standing in the synod. Furthermore, it is the hope that this "worshipping community" may "become a new mission start". For those who are looking for an example of schismatic action, here it is, carried out by a bishop of the ELCA! And lying about the actions of the congregation he is undermining in the process...
There are other troubling things about this news release, but this is so blatant it makes the rest of it seem tame.
Marshall Hahn
***
GJ - This same serpentine bishop organized a group from Faith Lutheran in Moline, called SavingFaith, to oppose the exit from ELCA and to take away the congregation's name. In other words, he did his best to polarize one of his own congregations...twice.
I give Lord of Love five stars for having a suggestive name. What ever happened to the "love that dare not speak its name"? Now it is the love that will not stop yakking.
Not a Product of the Ichabod Studios - But Funny Nevertheless
The First VP of WELS, Fuller-trained Jim Huebner, has a Soul Cafe at his church.
---
From Grace Downtown, WELS, Milwaukee:
Financial Peace University
Financial Peace University (FPU) is Dave Ramsey’s life-changing program that teaches you to achieve your financial goals by eliminating debt, saving for the future, and giving like never before. Current Grace members are among the more than one million families who’ve attended FPU with amazing results. The next 13-week class will be offered at Grace from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday evenings, June 8 – August 31. To register for the summer class, call the church office at 414-271-3006.Pastor Daron Lindemann
dlindemann@gracedowntown.org(414) 271-3006, ext. 104
In 1999, Pastor Lindemann became the first associate pastor in Grace's history. His ministry responsibilities include Grace Group supervision and shepherd coaching, new member nurture, leadership and staff development, evangelism, volunteer support, and counseling, along with regular preaching and teaching. He also preaches regularly for the Message from the Master radio broadcast and is a fully-trained barista for the Grace Place coffee shop.
***
GJ - I believe it was called the Soul Cafe at first.
Financial Peace University - commonly called "Eff P U" - is also at RockNRoll in Round Rock, Texas.
Can you imagine VP Jim yelling,
"I told you DE-CAFF!"
I can.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Apostates Communicate the Same Gospel of Love - But Withhold It from Conservatives
but maintains iron control of the Lavender Agenda.
He reminds me of the WELS Shrinkers and their great love -
for themselves and their agenda.
From the ALPB forum:
" I'm sure that the pastors you would upbraid have participated in plenty of synod assemblies over the past 10 to 15 years. They have consistently opposed the movement to overturn 2000 years of church teaching on human sexuality. They have done this while being labeled
trouble makers,
schismatics,
fundamentalists,
homophobes,
segregationists,
apartheidists,
blasphemers against the Holy Spirit
from the floor of those same synod assemblies. They are simply exhausted."
Oregon ELCA in Financial Meltdown
as the minister who will be the first openly Lesbian bishop in ELCA.
Who published about this in 1987? With citations?
And mentioned Anita Hill?
ALPB Forum:
The Oregon Synod is May 28-30 and the pre-assembly report is out. The report contains some information on the impact of the 2009 CWA actions on congregations and synod finances. As a former member of the ELCA in this Synod, who was a voting member in the 2005 Synod Assembly (where the Synod adopted the RIC label), in my opinion this is one of the more liberal and fully CWA 2009 action supporting Synods. It seems clear that even here the impact has not been positive. I am off to work so will not be able to comment further on the report.
http://www.oregonsynod.org/10assembly
http://www.oregonsynod.org/10assembly/ReportofOfficers2010.pdf
In Bishop Dave Brauer-Rieke's report:
"Fourthly, we have congregations and members in distress over rostering decisions made at our
August 2009 Churchwide Assembly. Much of my time since August has been expended here.
• We have six Oregon Synod congregations that have taken votes on disaffiliating with the
ELCA. Three (see note at bottom of page) have succeeded in achieving their first of two
required 2/3 majority votes to do so. In my judgment five of these six congregations have
damaged their capacity for vital ministry in the process.
• On the positive side of the equation, other congregations report the reception of new
members thankful for the welcome and openness of this church.
• The number of ‘Reconciling in Christ’ congregations in the Oregon Synod continues to grow
with ten congregations now designating themselves in this fashion. Others are in
conversation.
• A new Synod Authorized Worship Community, Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, is being
formed in Hermiston as Trinity Lutheran Church votes to disaffiliate.
(Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Lebanon voted 125-39, with one abstention, in their first vote to disaffiliate with the ELCA on November 15, 2009. On April 25, 2010, a second vote of 130-77 failed to reach the required two-thirds majority. The congregation remains in the ELCA, but the congregation has split. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Boardman voted 24-1 in their first vote to disaffiliate with the ELCA on January 24, 2010. After a congregational split, Trinity Lutheran Church in Hermiston on their third ‘first vote’ voted 45-1 to disaffiliate with the ELCA on February 28, 2010. In these two cases, a consultation process with the bishop is being undertaken, after which a second vote must be held before separation with the ELCA is complete.)
From the financial report:
General Fund:
Mission Support in 2009 started slowly compared to 2008, about $22,000 below at the end of July. Following the Churchwide Assembly in August, the decline steepend to an average of $18,000 per month. At the end of the year, we were $131,500 below 2008, 89.2% of the annual budget.....
The report states that most of the decline came post CWA. I don't have time to copy it here, but page 46 discusses income projections for 2010-2011, and makes the following points:
- They are coming off a watershed change in 2009 when CWA actions resulted in changes in Mission support
- This, along with the economy, caused support to "plummet" beginning in August 2009
- For 2010, they have assumed this lower giving pattern for the entire year
- Projecting modest growth in that giving it 2011 due to the following factors which "may" help
a) a "robust economic recovery"
b) "quiet discussion on sexuality matters"
c) 1-1 conversations between the Bishop and congregations
d) Assistant bishop and another pastor dedicated to encouraging Mission support in the Synod
e) A new "Believe" fund raising initiative to try reach young people drifting away from the church
In expense section, the report indicates a drop in percentage sharing with Churchwide in the past years, they intend to increase this percentage in 2010 and 2011. However, actual dollars to CW are lower since it is a percentage of the declining mission support income that goes to CW. Expenses are also lower due to Synod staff changes.
we're really babes in armor.
California Has a Suggestion
Re: The suggestion that you print your article, "The Gospel In a Few Simple Steps" and send it to every WELS pastor. How about the responder and like minded readers printing it out themselves and sending or handing it to as many pastors as they know? That way readers can express the courage of their convictions on their own dimes and with their own names and return addresses. I had already downloaded and printed it to have available for distribution to anyone of my choosing whether they identify themselves as Lutheran or "Other".
They Read It Before
Scott E. Jungen has left a new comment on your post "The Gospel In a Few Simple Steps":
Wow! I wish you could re-print that and sent it to every WELS pastor. I'm afraid most wouldn't get it. How sad!
***
GJ - My sources are old and trustworthy. I remember what a famous atheist poet said at our college - Steal from the best.
The problem is that the Syn Conference pastors have been trained to steal from the worst and conceal the theft.
Many WELS pastors read this blog. Some have said, "Everyone does, but no one admits it." I doubt everyone, but many do.
I would like everyone to see what treasure the Book of Concord is, but that only happens during a time of confessional crisis. If no one will admit that there is one, few will study the Confessions and be edified. The Lutheran Symbols, as they are sometimes called, will remain "old-fashioned, boring, and irrelevant." All that is true for Elmer Gantry clergy.
St. Matthew in Appleton - $1 Million Gone
Caleb wrote about Getting Dirty with God, St. Matthew Church and Change, Appleton:
Just a note on St. Matthew.
My in-laws belong there and are totally disgusted.
To quote a member of that church "They p--- away the Albrecht legacy to the tune
of $1,000,000.000 on Big Screen TV's and gimmicks in the church."
Thank God you are bringing these things out in the open.
***
GJ - Being disgusted with the destruction of Lutheran doctrine is a violation of the Eighth Commandment, Matthew 18, and Article LVI, Section, A, Subsection 2, Paragraph 3 of WELS Canon Law.
Scott E. Jungen has left a new comment on your post "St. Matthew in Appleton - $1 Million Gone":
I like your flow chart. However, I believe you forgot a rectangle in the "Blame it on.." section. Where's the spot for "Blame it on... Ichabod"?
The Gospel In a Few Simple Steps
God's will is carried out only through His Word, and this Word is always united with the divine energy of His Holy Spirit. Isaiah 55:8-11.
The efficacious Word of God created the universe in six days and converts the blind, hardened unbeliever into a new creation. This same Word continues to work in the believer, to encourage godly contrition and sustain his faith in Christ.
The Holy Spirit works through the Law to condemn our sins against the Ten Commandments, our spiritual sins (First Table) against God, which lead to the more visible sins against our neighbor (Second Table).
God uses the preaching and teaching of the Gospel to plant and sustain faith in the crushed hearts of contrite sinners. The Gospel message is summarized:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." KJV John 3:16.
The proclamation of the Gospel is carried out through the invisible Word of preaching and teaching, the visible Word of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. God grants grace only through His instruments, the Means of Grace.
Those who believe in the Gospel of Christ receive what He has promised, complete and free forgiveness of sin. God declares that person forgiven - justification by faith. Romans 5:1-2.
The fruits of the Spirit follow from faith in Christ, and God is glorified by all things done in faith. Those who wish to harvest more for the Kingdom should broadcast the Word with complete abandon, trusting in God's Promises.
Errors Refuted
What God could do should not be confused with His Promises. He has bound Himself to the Word forever, so the Holy Spirit never works apart from the Means of Grace. Separating the Holy Spirit from the Word is called Enthusiasm.
The word of man accomplishes nothing and only serves to dilute and pollute the Word of God when mixed with His Wisdom. All Church Growth and Emerging Church programs are pure Enthusiasm, loved by Satan for turning weak members into Unitarians, lazy pastors into atheists.
Pastoral work is summarized by carrying out the divinely blessed work of the Means of Grace - preaching, teaching, and visitation with the Word. The minister is not obliged to balance the budget, keep everyone happy, or pack the calendar with social events. He is not an entertainer, a fishing buddy, a shrink. God enrages the devil by making an ordinary person the ordained vessel for transmitting the Means of Grace.
Ministerial success is defined solely by faithfulness to the Scriptures and Confessions, as Walther stated in quoting Luther, at the end of Law and Gospel. God Himself will bring about His results.
Money is not a Means of Grace and has no effect on the growth of the Kingdom. Because the love of money is the root of all evil, an abundance of money will normally work against the Gospel - materially bankrupting the spiritually bankrupt, as shown by the work of the Schwan Foundation.
Scarlet fever is best discouraged by making men pay to hold office in the organization, paying a penalty for avoiding a studious life.
Working with those who deny the Means of Grace will always undermine trust in God's appointed instruments. Lutherans have proven repeatedly that they cannot work with the Reformed and remain faithful to the Scriptures and Confessions.
False doctrine is a cancer, not an adiaphoron.
Synodical traditions and unwritten rules are hogwash designed to fool the unwary, keep the organization captive, and thwart God's Word. He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. KJV Mark 7:6.
Preaching of the Gospel – Stone in a Pond
"The preaching of this message may be likened to a stone thrown into the water, producing ripples which circle outward from it, the waves rolling always on and on, one driving the other, till they come to the shore. Although the center becomes quiet, the waves do not rest, but move forward. So it is with the preaching of the Word. It was begun by the apostles, and it constantly goes forward, is pushed on farther and farther by the preachers, driven hither and thither into the world, yet always being made known to those who never heard it before, although it be arrested in the midst of its course and is condemned as heresy."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 202. Ascension Day Mark 16:14-20.---
California suggested:
Re: The suggestion that you print your article, "Gospel In a Few Simple Steps" and send it to every WELS pastor. How about the responder and like minded readers printing it out themselves and sending or handing it to as many pastors as they know? That way readers can express the courage of their convictions on their own dimes and with their own names and return addresses. I had already downloaded and printed it to have available for distribution to anyone of my choosing whether they identify themselves as Lutheran or "Other".
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Parlow Son, Fox Valley Lutheran Student, To Attend ELCA College
By Mark Miller
WisSports.net Editor
Fox Valley Lutheran senior Micah Parlow has decided to attend Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and play basketball at the NCAA Division II school. 
Parlow, who selected Augustana over Division II South Minnesota State, averaged 12.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a senior while leading Fox Valley Lutheran to an 18-6 record under coach Matt Koepsell.
The 6-foot-7 Parlow earned first-team all-league honors in the Eastern Valley Conference and is a three-year varsity letter winner for the Foxes.
“Micah chose Augustana because it is a very good academic fit as there are and have been others on the basketball team who are in the pre-med program, which is Micah’s field of study,” said Parlow’s father, John Parlow. “The city is also very similar in feel and size to the Green Bay area, and the (sic) he had a very positive experience with the coaches and other guys on the team when he did his official visit.”
***
GJ - St. Mark is good training for going to an ELCA college. Fox Valley Lutheran is a WELS area high school.
This would make an excellent feature story for FIC - "Son of Church and Change Founder Picks ELCA College over WLC, MLC, and BLC."
Getting Dirty with God - Church and Change at St. Matthew, Appleton
The tree is part of their logo.
St. Matthew: A family rooted in, growing through and living for Jesus.
They closed the school to pay for a second Church and Change pastor.
As they said about Kelm at WLC -
watch for an explosion of growth.
Buehler? Buehler? Anyone?
Ichabod Top Ten Popular Posts, Last Three Years
That is why synod drones love Zwingli so much.
Number one is the first page of Ichabod.
/2009/06/world-evangelism-broadcast-from-america.html - 3,388
/2007/05/kuske-report-on-wels-mismanagement.html - 2,600
/2009/12/time-to-tell-truth-at-st-peter-freedom.html - 2,425
/2009/12/just-as-i-warned-wels-has-womens.html - 1,719
/2009/05/elca-convention-in-minneapolis.html -1,684
/2009/02/ichaslang-lexicon_01.html - 1,659
/2008/05/famous-lutherans.html - 1,634
/2008/01/brief-autobiography.html - 1,600
/2010/03/we-saw-sandra-bullock-jess-james-at.html -1,283
***
GJ - I am hoping the Sandra Bullock hits came from Google searches rather than regular readers! I added the tags for this post because that will draw more of the same searches.
WELS District Conventions To Vote on Returning to Church and Change Leadership
He owned a house in Green Bay, now up for sale.
WELS Lutherans are even denser in Milwaukee than in Fox Valley.
The district conventions are coming up in WELS. If the members and pastors roll over and play dead, as they have for 30 years, Church and Change will take over again. They are hardly gone. Every fired Love Shack drone has shown up employed a few weeks later, if not sooner: Becker, Kelm, Stroh.
Gunn was going to be gone and CrossWalk no longer at the WELS area school in Phoenix. Instead, Gunn and another member were elected to the Church and Change board of Willowcreek's Little College, and the new college prez is also from CrossWalk, a non-sacramental, no-denomination sect in the semi-empty Western burbs.
Since Jahnke, the previous DP, and DP Nitz before him, both Shrinkers, coddled and encouraged the CGM pastors, a reaction is probably setting in against Buchholz for daring to question the sainthood of a Shrinker hero - Gunn.
That is the problem with using political means to deal with doctrinal issues. One cannot defend UOJ and criticize the Church Growth Movement. They are two faces of Enthusiasm.
Every district meeting will be a vote on WELS returning to its suicidal pursuit of Fuller dogma. Kieschnick put all his chips on the darlings of Church and Change (Sweet, etc) and he is going down in flames. That is precisely why Gurgle was shown the door. In both cases it is easier to talk about the financial crises created by both men, but the problem behind incompetent leadership is false doctrine.
Church and Change had a national meeting in 2009, for "Regaining Momentum." They are organized for it - determined to keep their trotters in the trough of synod subsidies, foundation grants, and Thrivent loot. If you want to find the Changers in your district, drag a $100 bill through the audience on a string. They will follow out the door and ask about matching funds.
---
bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "WELS District Conventions To Vote on Returning to ...":
"trough of synod subsidies, foundation grants, and Thrivent loot"
Don't forget School Choice tax funds, 4th grade kindergarten funds, and inviting HeadStart or pre-schools to use the parochial gradeschool building that the shrinkers close because it takes money that they SAY they want to put toward their hiked salaries and "adult outreach," as is occurring in Appleton, and has happened many places elsewhere.
---
Reminder - Plagiarism and Fraud Are Crimes:
Former Harvard student accused of faking his way in
Adam Wheeler's plan to fake his way into and through Harvard University worked for years, prosecutors allege, until he tried to get a university endorsement for a Rhodes Scholarship his senior year.
That's when a professor noticed Wheeler's writings were nearly identical to those of another professor. The professor dug through Wheeler's application packet for the Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships and found fabricated recommendations from Harvard professors, a falsified transcript showing perfect grades and a much-too-impressive resume listing books co-authored, lectures given and courses taught, The Harvard Crimson reported.
The professor alerted school officials, who began an investigation into Wheeler's student file. Prosecutors allege Wheeler, now 23, also lied when he applied to Harvard in 2007, claiming to be a transfer student from Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a perfect academic record from Phillips Academy in Andover, the Associated Press reported.
Wheeler was arrested on Monday and indicted on 20 offenses, including larceny, identity fraud and pretending to hold a degree. Harvard estimates Wheeler duped them out of $45,000 in financial aid, grants and scholarships. He is scheduled to appear in Middlesex Superior Court Tuesday.
In a Boston Globe story that's rich in details from court documents an anonymous Harvard professor likened the case to the movie "The Talented Mr. Ripley.''
Rogue Lutheran Not a Sweet-heart
the Leonard Sweet Church and Change gathering
and refused to answer questions about it.
Kelm received three calls from WELS after that.
Doctrinal discipline is their motto.
Translation: WELS beats up on Lutherans
and rewards false teachers.
Rogue Lutheran
Leonard Sweet is the darling of the LCMS executive leadership, so much so that he appeared on a dais speaking to Lutherans with the Synod President, Gerald Kieschnick and other prominent Lutherans. This man has captivated the minds of the Leadership in the Missouri community that they openly promote him as a leader who’s ideas the general body should consider.
“On Aug. 18-20 theological convocation on Congregation-Synod-Church is set for the Marriott St. Louis -- Airport, where some 250 Synod leaders -- including representatives from each district -- will take an in-depth look at the 22 theological principles.
Sponsored by the COP and the CTCR, the convocation will feature a presentation on the theological principles by the presidents of the Synod's two seminaries. Also on the schedule as a presenter is Dr. Leonard Sweet, a theologian, author, and church futurist who was voted "one of the 50 most influential Christian leaders in America" for 2006 and 2007.
CTCR Executive Director Samuel H. Nafzger will deliver the convocation keynote address and LCMS California-Nevada-Hawaii District President Robert D. Newton is scheduled to speak on Missio Dei (God's Mission), the second principle covered in Congregation-Synod-Church. Five individuals representing various sectors of the church will respond to Newton's presentation.”
Futurism and semiotics are scientific disciplines from the sociological branch of (pseudo) science. The social sciences collide with fundamental Christians over the principle of just what exactly is a human being and what is reality, among others.
There is not much about Sweet’s personal life available on the internet, I admit I have not read his writings (I read the short version on Amazon Book reports). What Sweet teaches at George Fox University intrigues me and I wonder how he came to be so well versed in the disciplines of Futurism and Semiotics. Those disciplines seem odd (and redundant) for a Methodist minister.
Semiotics is a sophisticated social science, the most likely experts are MIT and The Stanford Research Institute. If you google the term SRI or Stanford Research Institute, the search engine delivers a plethora of oddities.
Alternatively, I have a keen interest in Chicago Politics and had read about The Chicago Marxist Family histories and thought is was unrelated to my interest in the Transforming Church Growth movement within the Lutheran Synods; the two interest points converged with the person of Russell Targ and the concept of what is described as a Scientific Materialistic Church.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
----------------------------------------X
PENGUIN BOOKS U.S.A., INC., FOUNDATION
FOR "A COURSE IN MIRACLES, INC.", and
FOUNDATION FOR INNER PEACE, INC.,
Plaintiffs, 96 Civ. 4126 (RWS)
- against - NEW CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF FULL ENDEAVOR,LTD., and ENDEAVOR ACADEMY,
“David Hurt ("Hurt") was an engineer associated with the
Stanford Research Institute ("SRI"). He worked at SRI with Russell
Targ whom Skutch Whitson knew in connection with Targ's research regarding the outer reaches of human capability. At a luncheon in July or August of 1975, attended by Targ, Hurt, Skutch Whitson, Wapnick, Schucman, and Thetford, Hurt was provided with a number of pages from the manuscript of A Course in Miracles because of his particular interest in Schucman's experience in"scribing" the Work.”
A Course in Miracles was made famous among the public through Marianne Williamson and Oprah Winfrey, it’s typical New Age schlock. The link is interesting since the work was derived from ‘automatic writing’ and there’s an old astronaut that had his hands on the manuscript-Edgar Mitchell.
(Where is this going? I will tie this all up in the NID-LCMS.)
Coming up:
I. Disciplines of Leonard Sweet are Futurism and Semiotics
A. Semiotics
B. Futurism
II. Example Old Time Futurists; their worldviews are still compatible with Contemporary Futurists, Leonard Sweet and Willis Harmann. By observing the commonalities of stated individuals the futurists worldviews are always the same; they haven’t changed since the Enlightenment Period of History.
Sweet Semiotician-- a closer look at Leonard Sweet, Part I.
Faith in Moline, Illiniois, Has Been Set Free from ELCA
Did Moline need another ELCA congregation,
one meeting at another ELCA church?
Shame on Trinity ELCA, Moline,
for helping out the bishop and his Lavender Mafia.
Faith Lutheran, LCMC, Moline, Illinios
The Reverend Mark Gehrke
and Congregation Council
Faith Lutheran Church
1611 41st Street
Moline, IL 61265
Dear Pastor Gehrke and Congregation Council Members:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
At the Northern Illinois Synod Council meeting held this past Saturday, May 15, 2010, the following actions were approved which are relevant to Faith Lutheran Church:
1. Faith Lutheran Church, Moline, Illinois, is granted approval to terminate its relationship with the Northern Illinois Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Americaeffective May 15, 2010.
2. Pastor Mark Gehrke, Faith Lutheran Church, Moline, Illinois, is removed from the roster of the Northern Illinois Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America effective May 15, 2010.
By copy of this letter, I am notifying Mr. David Swartling, Secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America of this information.
God bless you.
In Christ,
Bishop Gary M. Wollersheim
Certified Mail
c: Mr. David Swartling, Secretary
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Monday, May 17, 2010
Introducing His Beatitude, Presiding Bishop of ELDONA
Book of Concord Is Clear about Justification
Syn Conference nostalgia should be tempered with the knowledge that they kelmed double-justification from a Halle Pietist (Knapp) and his Calvinist translator (Woods), who graduated from Andover Seminary:
"Andover Theological Seminary was founded in 1807 by orthodox Calvinists who fled Harvard College after it appointed liberal theologian Henry Ware to the Hollis Professorship of Divinity there in 1805. Widely in the national press, this was one of the significant events that contributed to the split in the Congregationalist denominations, and to the eventual founding of the American Unitarian Association in 1825, which joined the Universalists to become the Unitarian Universalist Association in 1961[1]." Wikipedia
---
L P has left a new comment on your post "Poor Argumentation from UOJ Stormtroopers":
Dear Joseph,
I am glad you made a great effort to examine the evidence for yourself. Your approach is miles apart from the other people that I know. Some people I know won't even look at the evidence and the arguments. They have chosen to play blind.
The justification by faith that is taught by the BoC has already defined what is the faith that justifies in here AC IV.
1] Also they teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for 2] Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake, who, by His death, has made satisfaction for our sins. 3] This faith God imputes for righteousness in His sight. Rom. 3 and 4.
This faith that believes that one is received into favor and one's sins are forgiven for Christ's sake because Christ has made satisfaction for his/her sins, such faith, God imputes for righteousness in His sight.
I doubt if anyone else can improve better on that formulation. It is plain.
LPC
***
GJ - LPC has been insightful about the connection between Calvinism and double-justification. The DNA of this error is clear:
1. George Christian Knapp, the last Pietist at Halle while it was turning rationalistic.
2. Leonard Woods, wunderkind translator, trained at a Calvinistic seminary.
3. C. F. W. Walther.
Kudu Don Patterson's League of Leaders Cannot Spell Their Own Propaganda
No spelling corrections were spotted so far,
Tues. 8:30 AM Central.
League of Leaders, Linked from the Holy Word, Austin, Texas websty:
League of Leaders
512-836-4264
aleagueofleaders@gmail.com
10601 Bluff Bend Dr.
Austin, TX 78753
This site is designed to provide resources to help pastors and lay people grow as leaders. It is connected to a leadership institute called "A League of Leaders".
Here you will find leadership insights, devotions, curriculums (sic), webinars, seminars and other opportunites (sic) to grow as a leader. Leadership in the church is first of all a spirtual (sic) aptitude created in the heart by Christ.
Our mission is to help you grow in Christ centered, servant leadership. Jesus is our strength and our model for leadership along with his Apostles.
You will also find here practical advice and networks to other leadership associations.
Leadership is a spiritual gift as well as a fruit of faith. By having you join our league we will help you hone your gift and grow in your faithful use of it.
---
Philosophy of Ministry
Leadership is a spiritual gift as well as a fruit of faith. By having you join our league we will help you hone your gift and grow in your faithful use of it.
Our mission is to help you grow in Christ centered, servant leadership. Jesus is our strength and our model for leadership along with his Apostles.
---
Non-WELS REading
---
From the South Central District:
Please note, there is one additional question to this form at the bottom regarding the Leadership Institute being held at Calvary on June 9 (mentioned at the April Study Conference).
www.Calvarydallas.org/convention
***
GJ - Are Kudu Don and the Ex-SP forming their own Church and Change coven in South Central? Kudu has enough former free vicars to form a lobbying effort.
One sign of Enthusiasm is the growth of political organization (to benefit the pastoral members) while the congregations shrink.
---
WELS church lady has left a new comment on your post "Kudu Don Patterson's League of Leaders":
I found this League Of Leaders over the weekend. There is a calendar link that was not working. Yesterday, I was able to get the calendar, but nothing is slotted in the dates at this time. This non-WELS and WELS reading is keeping me in suspense. The Leadership Institute is being held the day after the SCD convention. Remember Calvary is only hosting the convention. Church and Change is not the motto at Calvary. They have NO contemporary services or small groups. These pastors care about the spiritual well-being of ALL members and never hesitate to visit the sick and shut-in. God bless our faithful pastors.
In Christ,
from WELS church lady
Whac-A-Mole No Longer Works in the Internet Era:
Church and Change Liars Club Exposed
When knowledge was held by the high priesthood alone--the overpaid drones of the synod--people only knew the facts from local gossip. When DP Ed Werner went to the Big House, the Wisconsin Synod spread a false story to cover-up the truth. In the district they had to tell some facts because it was in the newspapers. However, the synod PR engine did not find it necessary to tell WELS members and pastors that a District President went to the state prison for molesting girls in his own congregation, that it went on for decades while the district's pastors continued to re-elect him.
Scott Zerbe went to state prison in Michigan, but a nearby WELS pastor knew nothing about it. He said he had to get the WELS news from me. DP John Seifert did not think it was newsworthy that a vicarage ended in a multi-year sentence. That was not as bad as getting a call to Calumet. Scott's astute supervisor, Fred Adrian, is a pastor once again in the Michigan District. Seifert watches over
Missing synodical funds? The treasurer objected, so he was fired by Gurgle, and blamed by Gurgle. WELS put out a lame story about counting money twice, etc. Finally someone pulled a chapel out of the magician's hat. Nothing to see here, move along.
One member really laughed when I told this story - A WELS CG hero picked his own successor for his parish (confusing his role with the Holy Spirit - typical for an Enthusiast). "The new pastor later resigned because of depression." I asked, "What was her name?" The informant yelled, "Who told you?"
When communication is slow and the truth withheld from everyone, Synodical Whac-A-Mole is easy, enjoyable, and fun. In a small sect with a rigid structure, any story can be isolated quickly with:
1. Who is talking?
2. How can we stop it?
Church and Change
Ichabod has been in the vanguard of exposing Church and Change for what it is, a WELS funded agency for promoting false doctrine and false teachers. Likewise, Fox Valley is the area where the Church and Changers* are especially dense. The results speak for themselves. I would not be surprised to find district leaders blaming me for unhappiness with The CORE and Ron Ash's Mother Ship - St. Peter, Freedom. But those congregations brag about their apostasy on their websties, blogs, and Facebook pages. *Ski was a board member of Church and Change. Ron Ash is the chairman. Tim Glende is a fellow-traveler. Parlow and Kelm are leaders, although Kelm had two calls since Green Bay. Witte was a founder of the group and now has a synod position. The fastest shrinking congregations are Changer-led and Changer-bled. Doctrinal discipline is limited to Whac-A-Mole.
I am only too happy to point people to the published information freely available for those who look - and to copy it before it is erased. I have learned that some material is kept from the Net, perhaps to keep me from copying congregational material. They would copyright it, except it is illegal to copyright something copied from a copyrighted source!
I enjoy publishing the Church and Change lies about what they do and where they go. By now they have figured out that a lot of WELS people funnel information to me. Sometimes it is just a starting place, so I can read up on it and share my opinions generously.
False Doctrine
Synodical Whac-A-Mole is handy when scandals break out here and there, millions are wasted on wild hair projects, and CG heroes slink off into Pentecostalism, Thrivent, the LCMS. <-- Descending order. Synodical Whac-A-Mole has been used repeatedly to hide synodical false doctrine. WELS kicked out two families who did not subscribe to the Kokomo Statements (which are not in my Triglotta). WELS also claims in print that the families wrote up the Kokomo Statements as a "parody of justification." Which lie are we supposed to believe? I got out my mildewed copy of J. P. Meyer's Ministers of Christ and there I found the first three Kokomo Statements, something St. Sig Becker conceded. The last one I recognized from a Norwegian-Augustana conflict. Besides that, I talked to both families in Kokomo itself and got copies of the letters of defenestration. I reprinted them in Thy Strong Word.
Synodical Whac-A-Mole has been frustrated by blog information provided instantly, along with the links to support those facts. Blogs are also handy for satire. The Steadfast blog has provided a daily stream of information and entertainment to prevent the continuation of the Kieschnick Reign of Terror. In contrast, he is limited to the synodical media machine. If Kieschnick responds, he is refuted instantly on the Net. His defensive response only emphasizes the original point - such as his low nomination numbers. He cannot use satire and cartoons, which have always been popular ways to skewer errorists and tyrants.
The Illinois ELCA bishop's office wigged out when they got, by accident, a copy of my Photoshop showing devil's horns and a tail behind their leader. I thought that was rather gentle, considering his efforts to steal the property of the congregation in the name of sodomite ordination. Faith in Moline, Illinois, did everything necessary to leave the Lavender Mafia to their own devices and vices. The bishop did everything he could to prevent it.
Faith in Moline apologized and published the apology. The bishop's office attacked them again for the accidental communication, showing how ungracious they were.
Blogging has been useful in generating a discussion of UOJ - justification of the entire world, without faith. False teachers get riled up when their favorite errors are dissected in public. When they publish their arguments on a blog, everyone can measure the truth for themselves and compare that to the Scriptures and the Confessions.
UOJ Stormtroopers have avoided dealing with Robert Preus' destruction of their favorite cause - in his last book Justification and Rome. Now they are also dodging the issue of Halle University's Knapp being the author of double-justification. The "oh noes" must be echoing in the polished halls of the Sausage Factory and the Little School on the Prairie.
I check the main blogs I follow every day, look for ELCA news, and even read ALPB Online and other sites when no one is producing. I publish more than the largest Lutheran denomination, and they have paid staff. How do they manage to do so little with so much?
I still laugh about this. For months I have identified an official ELCA bio, where Stan Olson is identified as growing up on an Iowa "diary farm." No one has noticed. No one has changed it. I just checked. Some of my favorite commenters are prodigious typo producers, but they do not have paid staff to check their work.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Poor Argumentation from UOJ Stormtroopers
Joseph Schmidt has left a new comment on your post "Syn Conference Caught Knapping - Origin of Missour...":
I printed off about 46 pages worth of comments (read about 26) at the Extra Nos blog about UOJ, and the UOJ theologians did not make a very good case for the entire world being absolved from sin without faith.
***
GJ -
UOJ arguments:
- Confuse the atonement with justification by faith.
- Ignore the obvious refutation of their position in Romans 4:24-25, in all of Romans 4 and 5, while citing only one verse (Romans 4:25).
- Sidestep John's treatment of faith, especially John 3:18, while citing John 1:29.
- Criticize the Kokomo Statements while endorsing them.
- Limit their authorities to the Synodical Conference while refusing to acknowledge George Christian Knapp, the author of their folly.
- Deceive their audience about the novelty of their position, much like the Roman Catholic divines who claim the Church has always taught the Assumption and Immaculate Conception of Mary.
Laura Bush Speaks about Her New Book
LI and I heard Laura Bush live at the monthly Walmart meeting. A major celebrity comes to town each month, often reflecting the conservative nature of the area.
I would not give Laura Bush a conservative rating, but she is definitely a rose between two thorns. Hillary was investigated and should have been indicted for her fraudulent activities.
I have asked people, "How many times have you seen a photo of Michelle Obama smiling?" Like Hillary, Michelle seems permanently furious.
Laura Bush was gracious in her comments and only mentioned the press once, adding, "But they always get the last word." She spoke of various charitable efforts. She was unflinching in her discussion of how Afghan women were treated before America liberated the country.
She spent a fair amount of time speaking about her respect for our military and the sacrifices they make for the country. She told the troops, "I feel guilty being in my comfortable bed while you are out here." They responded, "But we want to be here." The audience applauded her. Walmart recruits from the military because they make excellent employees.
One of the great things about this area is the chance to see the interface between a large corporation and its employees. I wish every company treated its employees so well.
Exaudi, The Sunday after the Ascension
Exaudi, The Sunday after the Ascension
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship
Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time
The Hymn # 9 O Day of Rest 1:89
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #237 All Glory Be 1:12
Stewards and the Oracles of God
The Communion Hymn # 341 Crown Him 1:70
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #261 Lord Keep Us Steadfast 1:93
KJV 1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
Prayer
Lord God, heavenly Father, we give thanks unto Thee, that through Thy Holy Spirit Thou hast appointed us to bear witness of Thy dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: We beseech Thee, inasmuch as the world cannot endure such testimony, and persecutes us in every way, grant us courage and comfort, that we may not be offended because of the cross, but continue steadfastly in Thy testimony, and be found always among those who know Thee and Thy Son, until we obtain eternal salvation through the same, Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Gaost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Stewards and the Oracles of God
The epistle has two lessons for today – one emphasizing being stewards of God’s grace, and related to that – treating the Scriptures as the oracles of God.
The steward concept was known in the ancient world and even preserved in titles. A steward of a kingdom was one who ruled but only until the rightful king took the throne. The steward’s authority was derived from the royal claim alone, so he was to be faithful to that office and not a king in his own right.
Likewise, the steward of an estate was one who managed his master’s affairs to benefit the master.
Jesus said to his disciples:
KJV Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
Paul said,
KJV 1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
The mysteries of God are those spiritual matters revealed by the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures. These mysteries are not known by human wisdom or proven by man’s logic. Some examples are:
1. The Holy Trinity.
2. The Incarnation.
3. The Atonement.
4. Justification by faith.
5. The Real Presence.
6. Baptismal regeneration.
Oracles of God
A. They are from God alone.
B. Revealed and not deduced.
C. Not man’s to bargain with.
D. All powerful.
E. Powerful to convert
F. Powerful to harden and to blind.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Self-Induced Amnesia
L P has left a new comment on your post "Syn Conference Caught Knapping - Origin of Missour...":
Pr. GJ,
Matthew Harrison's book leaves out the most important LCMS father,
George Christian Knapp.
We call this self-induced amnesia.
LPC
Syn Conference Caught Knapping - Origin of Missouri's Enthusiasm, WELS Cloning, ELS Me-Tooism
George Christian Knapp.
Halle University is the Rosetta Stone of Lutheran history in America. The school was founded in 1694 to promote Spener's Pietism, in an era where Biblical studies were neglected. Spener's influence was unionistic because his ideas came from Labadie, the Reformed churchman who had been a Roman Catholic. Anyone familiar with the emotional intensity of Roman Catholic small group piety can see why this phenomenon came to the Lutheran Church via Pietism.
Like the other Lutheran leaders in America, Walther was a Pietist. I doubt whether people saw that as a denominational difference. Many Syn Conference leaders today think they are fine Lutherans, even though their favorite schools are Fuller, Willow Creek, Trinity Divinity, and Gorden Conwell. They bristle at any criticism of Church Growth, but mouth the right platitudes about Reformed doctrine. Like Spener, they are union theologians, or at least unionists.
Knapp (1753 – 1825) was the last believing theologian of Halle, and he was considered a fossil of Pietism once the school had turned rationalistic. Tholuck, who was Adolph Hoenecke's mentor at Halle, was a Universalist.
Knapp, as shown in this link, created the concept of double justification, and the English definition (OJ and SJ) was penned by his equally famous (in America) translator - Leonard Woods.
Knapp began lecturing on this book in 1789, the year our Constitution was ratified. The Woods translation was published in 1831.
Note these words about the fame of Woods and his translation:
Leonard Woods (1807-1878), was born in West Newbury, Mass., on the 24th of November 1807, and graduated at Union College in 1827 and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1830. His translation of Georg Christian Knapp's Christian Theology (1831-1833) was long used as a text-book in American theological seminaries.
And see this link about Woods and Bowdoin College.
Walther did not land in America until 1839.
According to the UOJ Stormtroopers, their fantastic formulation--universal grace without the Means of Grace--is Biblical, Lutheran, and ancient. They have to admit that all their favorite terms are really quite new.
Of course the terms OJ and SJ are new - they came from the work of Knapp and the translation of Woods. One can find in the English translation of F. Pieper the same wording used in Woods' translator note, which was published to explain the verbosity of Knapp in a few words.
1789 - Knapp lectures completed.
1831 - English translation of Knapp - used throughout the 19th century in all denominations and still in print today.
Lectures on Christian Theology, p. 318.
1833 - in English!
By Georg Christian Knapp (Halle University), trans. Leonard Woods.
Translator's note• [This is very conveniently expressed by the terms objective and subjective justification. Objective justification is the act of God, by which he proffers pardon to all through Christ; subjective is the act of man, by which he accepts the pardon freely offered in the gospel. The former is universal, the latter not.]
1839 - Walther landed in New Orleans with the Stephan group.
1924 - F. Pieper's Dogmatics completed.
1932 - Brief Confession of the LCMS, 1932, canonized UOJ.
1953 - F. Pieper's Dogmatics translated into English.
1987 - Justification Theses of the LCMS mixed up OJ and SJ into one foul stew.
1997 - Robert Preus repudiated UOJ in Justification and Rome.
The term General Justification (same as UOJ) was used by Burk, who was also a Pietist. He was the son-in-law and close collaborator of Bengel. Hoenecke quoted Burk favorably but did not get into a UOJ fever. Hoenecke studied under Tholuck (Halle), and Tholuck followed Knapp. At this point I would find it schocking if Hoenecke did not mention this concept in his book.
The terms used--OJ, UOJ, GJ--have been understood as representing the universality of the Atonement. However, the core of UOJ is something apart from the Atonement. UOJ means that God has declared every single person absolved of sin. Therefore, everyone in Hell has the status of guilt-free saints.
The Syn Conference, by neglecting the efficacy of the Word, fell into a subtle form of Enthusiasm, its toxins masked by the apparent upholding of the Word and Sacraments. The Syn Conference has been caught knapping.
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bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Syn Conference Caught Knapping - Origin of Missour...":
One can tell right away what the main issue of Harrison's synodical presidency will be. The LCMS et al, and especially Rev Rolph Preus, will have to go through a five-step Kübler-Ross process to deal with Walther's knapping. Of course, with alcohol abuse so rampant in the Midwest, some will have to go through a 17-step process: first the 12-step AA program, and then the Kübler-Ross steps: 1. Denial and Isolation. 2. Anger. 3. Bargaining. 4. Depression. 5. Acceptance.
***
GJ - So far they refuse to deal with the concrete evidence of UOJ being kelmed from Knapp by the Conference. I imagine, based upon unwarranted optimism, that someone at a seminary will discover the facts in about 20 years. Few will accept that unless a Synodical expert says so.
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