Resist the Beginnings, Part 87

Hey Don, where's the Easter egg hunt?
I'm a confessional Lutheran too.

Mequon graduates, left-click here.

LCMS-WELS-ELS pastors will think, "That just shows how terrible the Episcopalians are! If only we had their money."

They will never imagine that their embrace of ELCA has already led them into mainline apostasy. They may not be dancing in the groves yet, but they will.

Anyone who questions their progress will be branded as negative, lazy, divisive, etc.

Maybe Someone Has Some Experience in This Issue

Timothy Buelow has left a new comment on your post "Church and Change Still Rules at the WELS Love Sha...":

Dear WELS church lady,
When Northwestern College and Dr. Martin Luther College were being amalgamated, Pastor Nathan Pope quoted his father, Rev, Reinhard Pope, as saying "The problem with those guys is they don't teach catechism class any more," meaning, they are out of touch with ordinary people, their level, and how to teach them the basics. Having worked at Bethesda Lutheran Home during my summers at Northwestern College, I can say, that at least on this one, Dr. Jackson, my old friend, hasn't had the privilege of teaching the retarded. Jesus Cares, as you write, is just such a program designed to reach the retarded. Teaching MUST be at their level. (The WELS Simplified Catechism is a wonderful starting point, as are some of the Sunday School Bible story materials Bethesda Lutheran Home used to send out and maybe still does.) If I arrange a Saturday program for the retarded in my city, and their parents come to that program, I too, will reach out to the parents on that day with "frivolous" programs like water balloon tosses, or whatever, to get them to feel at home so I can share the Gospel with them. Then on Sunday morning, I will conduct my proper Lutheran mass.

So thanks for your comment. I'm glad Greg published what you said. Before we properly question things, it's good to know the context.
Pastor Timothy Buelow
pastor@faithcarthage.org
www.faithcarthage.org

***

GJ - I love the patient, condescending tone used by WELS/ELS pastors when addressing the errors of the hoi polloi.

Around 1971, when some people were still new to two-wheelers, my wife and instituted a confirmation class for special needs students at the largest Lutheran church in Canada. There was no program, no materials, no supporting organization, just a need.

The class went well and the students recited the Apostles Creed from memory as part of their confirmation service. Afterward, one student with Downs Syndrome, knelt at the communion rail praying, because he was so happy and grateful.

As many know, our daughters suffered from a neurological degenerative condition from birth to death, so there was a period from 1974 to 1987 when we were always dealing with major medical issues and visiting with many parents who also had extremely rare health issues with their children.

WELS, in its infinite capacity for wisdom and compassion, has used our daughters' illness and death to attack me, including a recent rant on the fake (anonymous) Ichabod blog from Appleton. I do not recall any WELS or ELS pastor posting an objection to those gutter tactics, which they use to cover up for their adulterous pastors, murderous church workers, and false doctrine. I probably would have remembered it if someone had. In fact, WELS is not even ashamed of trotting out this canard whenever useful.

By the way, a WELS member pointed out the post on the official website. He objected to the way the material was presented, not to the education of retarded members nor to Jesus Cares in particular

An objection I shared with this reader was this implication - we need to address their felt needs to get them inside, a message more odious when voiced by a Church and Change leader.

Perhaps one day WELS/ELS leaders will start with the Word, emphasize the Word, and stick with that.

The article reminds me of the LCA evangelism expert who urged everyone to organize baseball teams because that is how his church grew.

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bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Church and Change Still Rules at the WELS Love Sha...":

Hi Dr. Jackson, You wrote about a C&Cer at Kokomo. That got me Googling and I found the WELS was covering their tracks on UOJ.

First, the WELS church behind the Kokomo scandal no longer exists. It was Faith Lutheran, which is ironic because UOJ is about justification without faith. Faith only makes a person conscious of every person's 30 AD justification, UOJers teach.

Second, I found that the C&C Adam Mueller moved a rural congregation, Peace, into Kokomo proper, so in effect the two churches were joined. Now, when one church moves into another church's location and merges, it usually takes the name of the church that didn't move, right? So they should have kept the name Faith and ditched the name Peace. But to cover their UOJ tracks, they chose the name Peace. Of course, someone might claim Faith closed first, but it would counter that's just part of the WELS mechanizations to rid itself of Faith Kokomo.

Third, Rev. Adam Mueller's taking the reins for the synod on this project is just another way C&C is trying to position itself as defender of Synodical Conference's old time religion orthodoxy, something I've sensed has been going on from statements C&Cers have made, i.e., claiming that the real reason they are being attacked is their belief in UOJ.
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http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2010/07/church-and-change-still-rules-at-wels.html

GJ - Sending a Church and Change leader to Kokomo must be the equivalent of shipping a gambler to Las Vegas. Does it get any better?
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http://www.churchandchange.org/home/2384/2384/files/CanCprogram.Web.pdf

From 2007: Adam Mueller serves Peace Lutheran Church in Kokomo, IN. He recently led his rural congregation
to relocate inside the city and is now spearheading aggressive outreach initiatives.
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http://welslocator.locatorsearch.com/

http://www.peacekokomo.com/

http://www.lcms.org/ca/www/sitelist/02/churches_list.asp?st=IN

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Scott E. Jungen has left a new comment on your post "Church and Change Still Rules at the WELS Love Sha...":

Church Lady, to my knowledge the Jesus Cares is just what it says, helping people with disabilites. I spent several years working with a young man with Down's Syndrome. To him, Jesus was "Ge-ge". He professed his faith by signing "Jesus loves me". He answered questions by pointing to pictures. Yet I knew the Word is powerful, and the Holy Spirit was strengthening his faith. The things described are perfect for a Jesus Cares service. However, when they become the worship service of your members without "Special Needs", then you have... C&C!
Scott

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bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Maybe Someone Has Some Experience in This Issue":

I found out from a source that "about five years ago Faith in Kokomo changed it's name to Peace." So Faith never closed before it changed its name.

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GJ - That reminds me of a film, Bruce: "They didn't move the cemetery - they just moved the tombstones!"

WELS never repudiated their Kokomo Statements. They just blamed the Statements on the people they kicked out of WELS for not accepting them. One sardonic WELS member just wrote me -

There must be a typo in my Book of Concord.

Epitome, Article IX "Christ's Descent into Hell" includes the sentence, "It is enough to know that Christ went to hell, destroyed hell for all believers, and has redeemed them from the power of death, of the devil, and of the eternal damnation of the hellish jaws."

Seems to me the church fathers accidentally included "for all believers" when what they obviously meant was, "for all."

You Are the Problem

bruce-church (http://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Church and Change Still Rules at the WELS Love Sha...":

What's bad about society and church nowadays is if a person is more interested in the intellectual side of Lutheranism, and doesn't get into rock and roll liturgy, yard games like the bean toss, water slide park-themed youth retreats, or baseball camp VBS, that person is thought to be depressed or have Asperger syndrome. In other words, attention deficit hyperactive adults have taken over church, school and society, and learning is disrespected. No longer is a person just a party-pooper, but now they search the DSM-IV Manual for your ailment, and prescriptions one might take.

***

GJ - Those who frown at Church and Change, Emerging Church, Purpose-Driven Church, Church Growth - they are lazy and legalistic. If only Glende, Ski, Mueller, Olson, Gunn, Borgwardt, and Hunter could set them free.

Seventh Sunday after Trinity

"I AM the way, and the truth, and the life."
By Norma Boeckler

The Seventh Sunday after Trinity


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

Something Out of Nothing

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 Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
KJV Mark 8:1 In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, 2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: 3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. 4 And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? 5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. 6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. 7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. 8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. 9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Lord God, heavenly Father, who in the wilderness didst by Thy Son abundantly feed four thousand men besides women and children with seven loaves and a few small fishes: We beseech Thee, graciously abide among us with Thy blessing, and keep us from covetousness and the cares of this life, that we may seek first Thy kingdom and Thy righteousness, and in all things needful for body and soul, experience Thine ever-present help; through Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Something Out of Nothing
This miracle teaches us many things, especially about how God creates something out of nothing, not just in the distant past, but even today.

If we study the Word carefully, we are protected against the nonsense which is taught and believed because people are unprepared.

As I mentioned before, this miracle is dismissed by moderns a number of different ways. One is that the Gospel writer is confused, writing up the same miracle twice, with two different numbers for the crowds.

In the New Testament era, writing and manuscripts were rare, so people had superb memories based on their lack of recording techniques. I am trying to imagine how the Evangelist could write up the “same” miracle twice and not identify his mistake.

It is clear that miraculous abundance accompanied Jesus. The Word of God shows Jesus creating the best wine from water at the wedding, miraculous catches of fish, and feedings of the multitude.

The rationalists have an explanation for this miracle. The rationalists have the crowd sharing their food, so this was a miracle of sharing. True, the boy with the food is not mentioned here, but the modernists blend things together and make their Biblical studies a creative writing seminar.

We can determine that no one was hiding food because they were with Jesus for three days. All the food was gone. In the desert, burning up calories, that was dangerous. Fainting along the way home was a real threat. Since the brain runs on blood sugar, a lack of food can lead to irrational behavior, which hastens death.

First of all we see the impossibility of food appearing from the crowd itself, and it is nowhere to be found where they are. Outside of a village, we could imagine some source of food, although I remember being admonished for ordering 30 sandwiches at once from a fast food place, because I did not warn them. Imagine 4,000 families and their need for food, outside any village or city. But they were in the desert.

Second, the text shows that Jesus had compassion on the crowd before anyone even asked for food.

2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: 3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

This alone should remind us of God answering prayers before we even ask, especially concerning our material needs. That is always paramount for us, but God teaches us throughout the Word that He provides for all people, believers and unbelievers alike.

The ministry of the Word suppresses the Old Adam in us, so that many pitfalls of natural man are taken away, in spite of the fact that we are still sinful. The result of a God-pleasing life is going to be far more peaceful and balanced that someone who follows impulses of the moment. The celebrities, who are admired one moment, are arrested or put in addiction rehab the next. They mourn or brag about the millions they have squandered.

God is merciful and compassionate.

KJV Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

When Jesus announced His determination to help everyone, the disciples answered as true rationalists.

4 And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

Everyone knows that is impossible. There is nothing in the desert to provide for the multitude. I still read about people who imagine they can saw open a cactus and eat the pulp like watermelon, with water gushing out of the barrel cactus.

The disciples are offering the same objections we hear all the time, since our default attitude is rationalism. “This is impossible.”

Nothing is impossible with God, Who creates something out of nothing, through the Word.

Creation by the Word teaches us why this is so. The entire universe was called into being by the Word of God. All things were made through Him and nothing was made apart from Him. When God said, “Let there be light,” light came into existence, before the sun and stars were fashioned.

He spoke man into existence and filled the world with plants and animals to take care of man’s needs, including medicine – from the digitalis in foxglove to the penicillin mold living on bread. That ugly field weed is called deadly nightshade, related to the tomato, not good for animals to eat, but it contains belladonna, with medicinal properties used to treat stomach problems.

As believers, we do not need to ask how God arranged all this. We know it is true and that His gracious will only desires good for us.

What has already happened on a galactic scale in the past also happens on a smaller scale in the present.

No matter what we think or imagine, based on our knowledge and experience, God can and does accomplish miracles through the Word, for us personally, throughout our lives.

The most common, but overlooked miracle, is Holy Communion, where the Word consecrates the ordinary elements so that they are still bread and wine but also the body and blood of Jesus Christ. And there remains the greatest miracle, represented and offered by Holy Communion - the forgiveness of sins, justification by faith.

“Your righteousness must exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees,” and it does – when we are justified by faith.

There is the righteousness of man, which people trust and admire, and the righteousness of faith, which the world scorns and mocks. The righteousness of man is good for the moment and deadly in eternity. The righteousness of faith means bearing the cross, but gives us internal and eternal peace. There may be no outward peace for long stretches of time, but that does not matter when we know and experience “the peace that passes all understanding.

The declaration of forgiveness by the Word is even greater than Creation of the universe by the Word. The two go together, which is why we are called New Creations in the New Testament. (Often translated as new creatures, which hides the meaning a bit.)

One passage in the Bible informs us about other passages, because they all belong together in this singular doctrine of God. The Reformers preferred to use the singular term, so people did not thing there were rows and rows of “doctrines” where someone could chose one over the other, or emphasize one over the other.

Commonly, sectarians will emphasize one concept at the expense of all others. They may spend all their time on the return of Christ. Or they may have a new table of commandments to follow. Their lack of balance in showing the entire doctrine of God shows that they are cafeteria believers. They slide their tray along the line and pick out what they like and leave the rest, sometimes calling it the “whole Gospel.”

The abundance is this miracle is even greater than the original feeding, because so many fragments are leftover when people have completely filled themselves, after being famished.

When we worry about God’s grace in forgiving our sins, there is more than enough, a great abundance of His mercy. There is so much forgiveness in the Gospel that it overflows to many others around us.

When we are anxious about how He will take care of us, there is more than enough, and plenty to share as well.

Church and Change Still Rules at the WELS Love Shack

Adam Mueller, Larry Olson, Jeff Gunn - all are righteous dudes in the new, confessional WELS.

This is under Missions at the WELS website. I get the joke. Anyone else?

Each month the Jesus Cares service is preceded by a fun-filled fellowship event that lasts about a half an hour. One month we hosted an Easter egg hunt, and then illustrated in the Service at the Cross the beautiful truths of the resurrection. Another month we played bean-bag-toss and awarded a trophy to the winner. But, as we learned later, that trophy does not compare to the happy assurance we have through Jesus, our Ascended Lord. This past month members of Jesus Cares navigated their way through a human checker-board and were “kinged.” Later we joined to sing “Crown Him with Many Crowns” to Jesus Christ, our only King. Each month the fun “come-event” is designed to serve as a connected object lesson to the service that follows.

We’ve found that inviting people to the fellowship beforehand is well-received. Many have begun to invite those they know from their homes or workplaces. The relaxed fellowship setting allows us to develop relationships with the different people who come, and put into practice our Christian love. Still, no matter how fun the fellowship may be, it doesn’t compare with the excitement they show in the Service at the Cross. One young man’s reaction will forever be etched in my mind. When Vicar Italiano announced that Jesus forgives all their sins, he blurted out, “YES!” and started clapping. Yes, indeed – Jesus cares!

Pastor Adam Mueller
Peace Lutheran Church
Kokomo, Indiana

***

GJ - Sending a Church and Change leader to Kokomo must be the equivalent of shipping a gambler to Las Vegas. Does it get any better?

Love the gimmicks, Adam. Everyone should take note - the Word does not draw people. God's Word is weak, so it needs bean bag tossing and other VBS games to get people inside to learn they are already guilt-free saints.

The WELS promotion of this claptrap shows that it remains committed to Enthusiasm in all forms. But we know that from Fox Valley, where Ski and Glende play around while soaking up enormous subsidies.

Given the kiddie games, I would rather see people drawn to church by ultimate high church worship, extreme high church, as long as the Word is taught. That would be different in today's Emerging Church climate.

Oh WELS, you almost had us fooled. We thought you were going to turn serious, but it was all smoke and mirrors...again. Talk a little. Move a few people to new positions. Hint at what may happen in the future. You are getting sleepy, very sleepy. Look at this light. Poof. Now no one remembers what was said before.

Nauseating - More Like Ski and Glende or the "Youth Ministry" Guy?

"Ed Young's newly recorded solo rap for Hillsong 2010 -
takin' things in the Kingdom to a 'Hole 'Nutha Level!"
Youth Ministry satire.
"Troy says:
I was at Hillsong Conference, and that video was not a promo for the conference. It was a funny video that Ed Young made and showed for fun before he started his message."
July 18, 2010 at 8:53 am

Hillsong Conference

Hillsong Team

Brian Houston

Brian is the Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. He is passionate about the Cause of Christ, consumed with seeing people come into relationship with Jesus and committed to championing the cause of the local church - globally. His relevant presentation of the Gospel will inspire and motivate you to be all God has called you to be.

Bobbie Houston

Bobbie is the Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia, along with her husband Brian. With a contagious zest for life, Bobbie passionately believes in the potential of all people and is devoted to the Cause of Christ. Her desire to see value placed on womanhood will greatly inspire you and give you a fresh perspective on the magnificence of God and His Church.

Joel Houston

Joel Houston is the Creative Director of Hillsong Church and a world renowned songwriter and worship leader. As well as overseeing the creative team, Joel also travels the globe with Hillsong United bringing a message of worship and justice to an emerging generation. Through this, he has birthed 'I heart'; a movement that inspires this generation to rise up and change the world around them.

Gary Clarke

Gary is passionate about seeing people's lives flourish as they are planted in the House of God. Gary believes in every Christian harnessing the blessing of God in their own lives, to create a platform from which they can influence and impact their world for the Cause of Christ. Gary has developed a brand of practical, thought-provoking biblical teaching that will inspire and challenge you to lead in every sphere of life.

Peter Wilson

Peter is one of the Executive Team at Hillsong Church London and works directly with the Senior Pastors Gary & Cathy Clarke. Peter leads and pastors the Creative side of the Church in London. With an absolute passion for the local Church, he strives to bring others to an understanding of who they are in Christ and who we are together as His body, the Church. He firmly believes that the Church is God’s answer to a world in need, that together we are His hands and feet and that side by side we are the visible representation of Jesus to humanity.

Guest Speakers

Ed Young Jr.
Ed Young Jr. is a pastor, author and speaker with a passion for communicating God's unchanging truth through culturally compelling and creative teaching methods.

Joel and Victoria Osteen

Senior Pastors of the largest and fastest growing church in the USA in Houston, Texas with more than 40,000 attendees. They are committed to serving and helping every person achieve their full potential. Having pioneered Lakewood's television program, they now bring a positive message of hope to over 100 million households throughout the world. We are thrilled to have Joel, Victoria and the whole Lakewood team with us for Hillsong Conference Europe in 2010 as well as The Night of Hope.

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Pastor Tim Glende a.k.a. Pastor Tim
5 ways to describe you: Blessed by God. Loves his family. Passionate about sharing Jesus in the Valley. Hard worker. Obsessive about Ohio State Football – “Go Bucks!”.



***

GJ - The best comment came from a Black comic:

"Everyone wants to walk like us, talk like us, sing like us, rap like us, talk like us. Everybody wants to be Black until the police arrive."