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.
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Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Pietism and Worship
LutherRocks has left a new comment on your post "Pietism, More Than A Renewal Movement?":
Thanks for posting this. I had a rehearsal with the organist for this coming Sunday worship...Christ the King Sunday. We had a discussion about where Lutheranism seems to be going. She couldn't put her finger on anything, but is aware of a shift in worship practice. She is a member of the worship committee but has stopped going. She is sick of all the 'feelings' music and questionable lyrics. This article is a good primer. I'm going to send her the link.
JK
***
GJ - I am trying to provide a wealth of material, to explain why things are happening this way. I often communicate with people each day about this, by Facebook, email, phone, and blog comments.
Pietism is anti-Confessional. That is why the feelings bunch will express contempt for the Book of Concord, even though it is the best one-volume Biblical commentary we have.
Pietists howl about the souls they want to save, but they argue that unbelievers need false doctrine (plagiarized) to reach their flinty hearts. They are not that obvious, of course. They kelm Ski's favorite motto from Groeschel - anything short of sin to reach them. But false doctrine is the gravest sin of all, far worse than sins against the Second Table.
Labels:
ELCA; ELS; LCMS; WELS
Churchmouse on Mariology
http://churchmousec.wordpress.com/2010/11/17/a-summary-of-mariology-and-the-church/
A summary of Mariology and the Church
November 17, 2010 in Anglican, Calvinism, Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant | Tags:Catholic, Protestant, Anglican, church, Lutheran, Calvinism, John Calvin, Christianity, Pius X, Mary, Martin Luther
What follows is not intended to be an exhaustive analysis of Catholic and Reformation views of Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, it attempts to illustrate a timeline and cautiousness of beliefs, particularly in the papacy, about her role. (Pictured at left is Our Lady of the Way, the Madonna della Strada. She is the patron saint of the Jesuits.)
The Catholic Church
It should be noted that various popes viewed the role of Mary differently:
Popular views like the Assumption and the Immaculate Conceptiondeveloped into Papal teaching over time. In 1674 Pope Clement X (1670–1676) indexed books on Marian piety.[2] After the Council of Trent, Marian fraternities were founded, fostering Marian piety [3], some of which were outlawed by Popes. Not all Popes viewed Marian belief identically. Louis de Montfort was condemned in a Papal bull by Pope Clement X only to be praised by Pope Clement XI, canonized by Pope Pius XII and adored byPope John Paul II.
431: The Council of Ephesus approves devotion to Mary as the ‘mother of God’.
1265-1268: Pope Clement IV composes poem about the seven joys of Mary.
1603: Pope Clement VIII’s papal bull Domenici Gregis condemns negations of Mary. His papacy supports the creation of Marian congregations and praying the Rosary.
1673: Pope Clement X issues a papal bull condemning the type of Marian piety which Louis de Montfort would later embrace and outlaws certain Marian devotions. However, other bulls encouraged the recitation of the Rosary.
1712: Pope Clement XI instructs the Holy Office not to persecute anyone using the words ‘Immaculate Conception’ when referring to Mary. He lays the groundwork for — although does not institute — the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. He establishes the Feast of the Immaculate Conception for the whole Catholic Church. He advocates the Marian teachings and devotions of Louis de Montfort (1673-1716).
1748: Pope Benedict XIV expands indulgences connected with praying the Rosary and furthered the congregations dedicated to the Sodality of Our Lady.
1769-1775: Pope Clement XIV decreed that only the Franciscans in Palermo could celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception. This came after much popular unrest in the south of Italy surrounding the feast. He later granted permission to other orders for private Masses only on this feast. Interestingly, it is said that he pledged to dogmatise the Immaculate Conception, however, this did not happen.
1848: Pope Pius IX, bowing to popular clamour, appoints a theological commission to study a possible dogma around the Immaculate Conception. He issues an encyclical, Ubi Primum, in which he asks for his bishops’ views on the Immaculate Conception.
1852: Pius IX appoints a commission of theologians to draft the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Later that year, he asks a group of selected cardinals to finalise the text.
1854: Pius IX declares the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. He opposes petitions that this dogma be included in the creeds.
1869-1870: Pius IX opposes moves for a dogma of the Assumption (Mary’s physical ascent into Heaven upon her death). Yet, he believed that Mary was a Mediatrix of salvation, as stated in Ubi Primum.
1878-1903: Pope Leo XIII issues a record 11 encyclicals concerning the Rosary. He institutes the Feast of the Queen of the Holy Rosary. He beatifies Louis de Montfort, referring to his Marian teachings, saying that a revival of the Catholic faith (weakening because of Modernism) would not be possible without Mary’s help. He writes that Mary is Mediatrix and co-Redemptrix and is the first pope to fully embrace her role as Mediatrix. He says that she administers all graces on Earth. He relies on the writings of Thomas Aquinas in his justification of Mary as co-Redemptrix and mother of Christians everywhere. Where the Church verified Marian apparitions, Leo XIII supported veneration at those sites.
1903-1914: Pius X affirms that Mary is the spiritual mother of all Christians.
1914-1922: Pope Benedict XV has a strong devotion to Mary and placed the world under her protection during the Great War (WWI). Among other things,he promoted Louis de Montfort’s Marian devotions during the month of May.
1922-1939: Pope Pius XI engages in discussions about a dogma of the Assumption. He often quotes Bernard de Clairvaux, who said that we have everything spiritual we need in Mary.
1944: Pope Pius XII declares the universal feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
1947: Pius XII canonises Louis de Montfort.
1950: Pius XII announces the dogma of the Assumption. He leaves the Mediatrix question open.
1962-1965: The Second Vatican Council declares Mary the Mother of the Church.
1965: Pope Paul VI writes in his encyclical Mense Maio that Mary is the pathway to Christ. Anyone who follows her will encounter Him.
1974: Paul VI promotes Marian devotions and declares that she is the mother of graces and has a special role to play in redemption.
1987: Pope John Paul II affirms Mary as the Mother of the Church in his encyclical Redemptoris Mater.
1997: John Paul II, addressing a public audience, re-emphasises Mary’s role.
Redemptoris Mater reads in part:
- The Church teaches that Mary appeared on the horizon of salvation history before Christ. [57]
- If the greeting and the name “full of grace” say all this, in the context of the angel’s announcement they refer first of all to the election of Mary as Mother of the Son of God. But at the same time the “fullness of grace” indicates all the supernatural munificence from which Mary benefits by being chosen and destined to be the Mother of Christ. If this election is fundamental for the accomplishment of God’s salvific designs for humanity, and if the eternal choice in Christ and the vocation to the dignity of adopted children is the destiny of everyone, then the election of Mary is wholly exceptional and unique. Hence also the singularity and uniqueness of her place in the mystery of Christ. [58]
2002: John Paul II publishes his apostolic letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, which cites St Louis de Montfort’s God Alone:
- Our entire perfection consists in being conformed, united and consecrated to Jesus Christ. Hence the most perfect of all devotions is undoubtedly that which conforms, unites and consecrates us most perfectly to Jesus Christ.
- Now, since Mary is of all creatures the one most conformed to Jesus Christ, it follows that among all devotions that which most consecrates and conforms a soul to our Lord is devotion to Mary, his Holy Mother, and that the more a soul is consecrated to her the more will it be consecrated to Jesus Christ.[59]
I have highlighted dates concerning St Louis de Montfort to show how certain perspectives can be in out of favour depending on popes or social movements at the time. More importantly, it is worth noting how long it actually takes for a new dogma to be instituted.
***
GJ - I omitted the part copied from the LCMS website, because I thought it was too mixed around to clarify matters. That was not Churchmouse's fault, but Missouri's. The LCMS cannot get justification by faith right, so we can hardly expect them to deal with lesser matters.
The early Luther still preached on the Assumption of Mary, but his later sermons declared she was a sinner. The Medieval exaggerations had Mary without any actual sin (Immaculate Conception of Mary - try to get that right, Lutherans) and rising into heaven (the Assumption).
Conservative Lutherans have agreed in the past that Mary never had children after Jesus (perpetual virginity) but that is a historical opinion and not a Biblical doctrine.
Obsession with Mary grew after 400 AD and transported newly invented opinions and events back to Biblical times. Many fables grew up about Mary and still exist in traditional Roman Catholic literature.
Pope John Paul II increased the emphasis upon Mary during his pontificate.
Labels:
Roman Catholic
Will the Real Jay Webber Stand Up?
“Luther once said that if the Pope would teach the gospel of justification by faith,
he would kiss his feet and carry him in his hands.”
This was copied kelmed from He Rice Tanned, the Luther-humor branch of Webber's website.
Labels:
Jay Webber
UOJ Caricatures Promoted by Jay
Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Who Is In Charge of Doctrine in the Lutheran Churc...":
I read the Intrepid blog last night and saw that (W)ELS Pastor David Jay Webber was exposed as harboring essays on his website that promoted the exact UOJ caricatures he's been accusing the anti-UOJ Justification by Faith Alone defenders of fabricating.
Here's a quote Frederick Schroeder posted from Webber's theology website:
"On the other hand, this, that God forgives sin, signifies only the action of God that he proclaims to the sinner that his sin is taken away by the death of Christ and that he therefore gives him forgiveness so that he is to believe it, but without regard to whether he has already believed it or not, so that this act of forgiving sin by God cannot only happen without faith being there but first must occur without faith being there since faith cannot be worked otherwise, or know what it is to believe." Page 12
http://www.christforus.org/Papers/Content/HermanAmbergPreusonJustificationofWorld.htm
Pure Gold!
More here from Jay Webber - not websites--as advertised--but branches of the same one.
***
GJ - ELS Pastor Jay Webber and Ex-ELS Pastors Rolf Preus and Roger Kovaciny had no problem collecting money from Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, because UOJ is Antinomian: everyone is forgiven in advance.
Labels:
Jay Webber
Message from WELS Church Lady
WELS church lady has left a new comment on your post "Who Is In Charge of Doctrine in the Lutheran Churc...":
I was beginning to think that Jay Webber was incharge of Lutheran doctrine. Pastor GJ can comment better than Webber.(that's because Pastor Jackson knows what he's talking about) Intrepid needs sound doctrine on those Justification posts. At the moment the best testimony is being led by the laymen. That is unacceptable! Lindee, Heyer, Pastor Spencer, and Pastor Lidke began here on Ichabod.(and even before) We/they need your guidance on an issue that you have studied, preached, and wrote books about. Gregory Jackson IS our modern theologian. His new book on justification has yet to be quoted on the Intrepids. Sweet, Groechel, Hybels, and Driscoll are neither Lutheran nor theologians. One even wonders how Christian these guys profess to be. Yet, it is perfectly okay to quote and TEACH from these characters.
Pastor Jackson is right, the Intrepid pastors need to "man-up!" They are forgetting the reason that the blog was started in the first place.
In Christ,
from WELS church lady
***
GJ - The justification book is still in very rough form, but I promise (d.v.) a polished version after Christmas break.
My theologians are Luther and Chemnitz, not Becker and J. P. Meyer.
Labels:
Justification by Faith
Faithful Service: Help needed for a Church voting for its second, second vote
Faithful Service: Help needed for a Church voting for its second, second vote: "Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Help needed for a Church voting for its second, second vote
Friends,
I am bringing this update on behalf of Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake, Iowa. This congregation and these pastors are walking through deep water with their synod. Their first vote to leave was rejected by the elca on a technicality. Their second first vote won easily at 80+%. Their first second vote, lost by 2--they needed 319 and got 317--the people figured it was a done deal, but the bishop of that synod has actively marshaled the opposition.
They are now facing their second, second vote--there is nothing in the constitution that says that if the second vote fails, that you have to start over, the bishop has already said that he will reject their second, second vote, even though there is no reason to do so.
The congregation is wondering if there is any other church who has gone through this (a second, second vote). If so, could you please contact them directly. Their website is: www.zionclearlake.org.
And add them to your prayer lists as well for this weekend! Their pastors names are Pr. Dean Hess and Pastor Derik Yarian.
Mark Vander Tuig
Services Coordinator, LCMC"
Labels:
ELCA; ELS; LCMS; WELS
Who Is In Charge of Doctrine in the Lutheran Church?
Brief Note about Knowing Greek
Mequon graduates like to brow-beat members by saying, "This is true, because I know Greek and you don't."
LI exclaimed, "They don't know Greek!"
Luther made fun of preachers who need to show off, talking about matters the congregation cannot verify.
I received a PowerPoint slide show from a university staffer. It had 50 slides, far too many words, an enormous list of resources, and some of the funniest typos I have ever seen. I thought, "This has to be a doctoral candidate in education." I searched for the credits and there it was, "Robert Fizzlewick, doctoral candidate, education."
The Mequon gambit is a logical fallacy - an appeal to authority. The appeal is not even honest in its dishonesty.
More importantly, the argument is an attack on the perspicuity (clarity) of Scripture. The "I know Greek" (sic) claim declares that the true meaning of the Word is known only to Sausage Factory graduates. Therefore, God speaks to the Wisconsin priesthood, and they communicate--like the priestess at Delphi--with the masses.
The Reformation demolished this attack on the Word of God, only to have the mini-popes revive it. If someone tries it again, laugh.
Labels:
ELCA; ELS; LCMS; WELS
Proof That the Idiot of the Family Goes into the Ministry
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
November 16, 2010
November 16, 2010
ELCA Presiding Bishop Highlights 'Expectations' in Report to Council
10-287-JB
10-287-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), described his hopes for the church for the next three years -- focusing on expectations -- in a report to the ELCA Church Council Nov. 13.
The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. The council met here Nov. 12-14. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug. 14-20, 2011, in Orlando, Fla.
Hanson organized his report around three questions:
+ What can God expect from the ELCA?
+ What can the ELCA expect from its leaders?
+ What should the church expect from God?
Responding to what God can expect, Hanson noted recent trends in the ELCA such as decreased membership, worship attendance and giving, plus uncertainty for some people about whether there is a place for them in the ELCA.
"Do we want to say to God that we expect past and present trends to continue? Somehow I think God has much higher expectations of us and for us than that," he told the council.
Hanson told the council that God can expect that:
+ members of the ELCA will share the "Good News" of Jesus Christ with family, friends, neighbors and coworkers.
+ members will be "everyday evangelists," and that ELCA pastors will proclaim "the Good News of salvation in Jesus' name with evangelical passion and perseverance, with the creativity of a poet, the wisdom of a sage, the courage of a prophet and the humility of a sinner."
+ the "living word" will be at the heart of the ELCA's life and witness.
+ the ELCA will describe and define itself on the basis of how it relates to other Christians in the body of Christ, not what sets it apart from others.
+ members will join with people of other faiths and those who claim no religious convictions "to work tirelessly to feed the hunger and serve the poor" while addressing root causes of poverty and hunger in the world. During a meeting with President Obama and other Christian leaders Nov. 1, Hanson told the president that the religious community is ready to work in partnership with the public and private sectors to reduce hunger and poverty.
+ the ELCA will describe itself with joy, boldness and courage in "believing, proclaiming and testifying" to the gospel.
On the second question -- What can the ELCA expect from its leaders? -- Hanson said, "In the current culture of fear in which we live both in church and in society, we face the daily challenge of proving ourselves worthy of the trust of the people who have called us into these positions."
The presiding bishop said the church should expect its leaders to welcome people to the church. Hanson recently recorded a video for the "It Gets Better" project on You Tube, addressing bullying of teenagers who are gay and lesbian.
"I never imagined how those words of God's grace would go so viral in a matter of hours and days through the means of social networking. I have been moved by the responses," he told the council, adding, "do you realize how many people out there have never heard and are longing to hear God's gracious word of invitation and salvation in Jesus Christ?"
The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. The council met here Nov. 12-14. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is Aug. 14-20, 2011, in Orlando, Fla.
Hanson organized his report around three questions:
+ What can God expect from the ELCA?
+ What can the ELCA expect from its leaders?
+ What should the church expect from God?
Responding to what God can expect, Hanson noted recent trends in the ELCA such as decreased membership, worship attendance and giving, plus uncertainty for some people about whether there is a place for them in the ELCA.
"Do we want to say to God that we expect past and present trends to continue? Somehow I think God has much higher expectations of us and for us than that," he told the council.
Hanson told the council that God can expect that:
+ members of the ELCA will share the "Good News" of Jesus Christ with family, friends, neighbors and coworkers.
+ members will be "everyday evangelists," and that ELCA pastors will proclaim "the Good News of salvation in Jesus' name with evangelical passion and perseverance, with the creativity of a poet, the wisdom of a sage, the courage of a prophet and the humility of a sinner."
+ the "living word" will be at the heart of the ELCA's life and witness.
+ the ELCA will describe and define itself on the basis of how it relates to other Christians in the body of Christ, not what sets it apart from others.
+ members will join with people of other faiths and those who claim no religious convictions "to work tirelessly to feed the hunger and serve the poor" while addressing root causes of poverty and hunger in the world. During a meeting with President Obama and other Christian leaders Nov. 1, Hanson told the president that the religious community is ready to work in partnership with the public and private sectors to reduce hunger and poverty.
+ the ELCA will describe itself with joy, boldness and courage in "believing, proclaiming and testifying" to the gospel.
On the second question -- What can the ELCA expect from its leaders? -- Hanson said, "In the current culture of fear in which we live both in church and in society, we face the daily challenge of proving ourselves worthy of the trust of the people who have called us into these positions."
The presiding bishop said the church should expect its leaders to welcome people to the church. Hanson recently recorded a video for the "It Gets Better" project on You Tube, addressing bullying of teenagers who are gay and lesbian.
"I never imagined how those words of God's grace would go so viral in a matter of hours and days through the means of social networking. I have been moved by the responses," he told the council, adding, "do you realize how many people out there have never heard and are longing to hear God's gracious word of invitation and salvation in Jesus Christ?"
Labels:
ELCA; ELS; LCMS; WELS; CLC (sic)
Ordinariate article turns into bun fight over the Bible and Mary « Churchmouse Campanologist
Ordinariate article turns into bun fight over the Bible and Mary « Churchmouse Campanologist
In which Churchmouse asks the same questions I do about Protestant clergy joining the Roman Catholic Church...
In which Churchmouse asks the same questions I do about Protestant clergy joining the Roman Catholic Church...
Labels:
Roman Catholic
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