Joe Krohn:
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2011
Fair Thee WELS 911 If you have been following along, the correspondences in this post need little explanation.
The longer I live I tend to believe less and less that there are coincidences in this world. I do believe and appreciate irony more and more. The Bible is chocked full of it. The final word came down from the DP on...wait for it...9-11.
Our response to DP Glaeske on September 9, 2011:
"Pastor,
I see where this is going and it is deplorable. It is not truly meet, right and salutary for you, Holy Word and WELS since you are acting in their interest to treat us in this fashion. You are culpable since you will not address the issue.
We were never allowed discussion regarding the chief article of faith, namely Justification. We felt Pastor Patterson was in error by preaching that all are forgiven prior to birth; prior to Baptism; prior to hearing the Word of God. During one meeting I asked how this applied to Abraham. I was told that it was the wrong question to ask. You excommunicate us (This is really what it is since we were told to repent of our sin and denied Holy Communion; sin being a breaking of God’s Law of which we were never told which commandment.); and then discuss the issue, your side only, with the whole congregation; you run us down behind our backs and then you have the gall to excuse your dishonest behavior by saying we are not in fellowship if we joined another church when in fact it was YOU that broke fellowship; excommunicated us in the first place! You are criticizing us for the logical consequence of YOUR actions when we were quite willing to talk and repeatedly asked to talk about Justification; not just with the pastors but also with the elders.
We watched the internet stream of the recent WELS 2011 Convention. Pastor Glaeske, you were the only leader who stood up and really opposed the NNIV. (Ironically, the NNIV creates more ambiguity regarding justification by faith.) I praised God and said ‘good on him’. If you are unwilling to address this issue and blame us in the process, then you are condoning the preaching of Objective Justification as Holy Word is teaching it and I would say then that WELS has gone too far, ‘pitching their tent toward Sodom’.
We were extended the right hand of fellowship and have received Holy Communion at a church that is not in fellowship with the WELS. We longed for the means of Grace in Word and Sacrament. What choice did we have? This has been dragging on since before the 21st of May! I have answered your question. Now I have one for you that I would like an answer. Do you believe that all men were forgiven of their sins before they were born; before receiving Baptism or hearing the Word of God? There are Lutheran pastors including some in the WELS that refute this teaching.
Please afford us an answer.
In Christ, Joe and Lisa Krohn"
Pastor Glaeske on September 11, 2011:
"Dear Joe and Lisa,
I wish you both well. The appeal process is an internal procedure for WELS members to redress grievances and would have been available to you had you not chosen to align yourselves with a church not in our fellowship. Consequently I choose not to answer the question you pose at the end of your e-mail.
God grant you peace and joy in serving your Savior in your new church home.
In His service,
Vilas R. Glaeske, President South Central District - WELS"
From where I sit, there is no need for me to make a distress call...on the other hand...there are those who can.
From my Catechism; the one I have been quoting from the last two posts:
371.Why is the ministry of the Keys called the peculiar authority of the Church?
The Church and only the Church has the authority to use the Keys.
372.How is the Church to use the Keys?
The Church is to proclaim the Gospel of full forgiveness of sins and declare the kingdom of heaven opened. (Where there is forgiveness of sins there is also life and salvation.) 2 Cor. 5:19, Luke 24:47, Rom. 8:1, Rom. 4:8)
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rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Another Doctrinal Pussycat Lawyers Up":
I guess that some folks refuse to answer questions which make them feel uncomfortable. What a waste of a potentially good breakfast. There are several individuals who have have egg all over their faces.
4 comments:
I guess that some folks refuse to answer questions which make them feel uncomfortable. What a waste of a potentially good breakfast. There are several individuals who have have egg all over their faces.
I'm almost in disbelief. I almost thought that the letter by Glaeske was satire written by Dr. Jackson to exemplify the Satanic behavior of that little corner of the WELS. If only we were that lucky.
As of today, I am going to actively seek, not to merely forget the WELS, but to discredit, dismantle and destroy the Wisconsin Lutheran Synod. Up until I read Glaeske's letter I thought there was some hope for this body of churches, and thus have encouraged good pastors to stand up and fight. But there is no hope for that synod--there is no chance that the organization will do anything but slide further and further into apostasy.
Glaeske's methods remind me of the racist voting officials in the Jim Crow South, who'd charge Blacks a poll tax, but then throw out their ballots. Or like the Nazi's who'd take protection-money from Jews, only to send them to the gas chamber on bribery charges. This is not Hyperbole, folks. If this were not so serious I'd have photoshopped a picture Vilas the Vile doing something silly, but as it is, I have serious doubts if the man is even a Christian. Some might castigate me for doubting that, but it all seriousness, what about Glaeske's letter recommends his "faith"? All I see are thistles.
Thank Goodness for Joe and Lisa, who are prepared to give a reason for the hope they have. But how many faiths has Glaeske (and Patterson, his flying monkey) destroyed by similar tactics? I'm telling ya, this fool didn't just wake up one day and decide to write a dastardly letter. His Father has been training him tirelessly.
To the faithful Pastors in the WELS, among the many who (I imagine) secretly check in on Ichabod: If you take you Faith and your Call seriously then you know the proper response is looking you square in the face. GET YOUR CHURCHES OUT OF THE WELS before you and your congregations begin rotting. How can you sit by and watch this spiritual larceny take place? How can you stay silent with a good conscience? How can you remain in the WELS? Your so-called faithful leader, Mark Schroeder either lacks a spine, or has no concern for the WELS. If he were a good leader he'd love the Synod enough to be controversial, to drive a wedge between good and bad. If he were a man, Schroeder would've spent the last term braiding a whip out of cords. In reality, he's been using those cords to braid friendship bracelets for the Pietists.
These pastors who withhold the Means of Grace from the Krohns are guilty of misusing the Ministry of the Keys---but they hide behind the rubrics of the WELS to claim the opposite. Hopefully Glaeske and Patterson repent, because I don't think God is fooled by the semantic games of the WELS.
This head-fake excommunication is not uncommon. My Grandmother, Bette Trask was denied the Sacrament by Klemet Preuss (LCMS) for objecting to his divorce and remarriage (while remaining a Pastor). She wasn't officially excommunicated...Oh no! Just blacklisted and turned away from the altar of every church in the area. Do these Pastors really think they will be spared judgment based on a man-made technicality? Gee, it's almost a psychosis.
President Glaeske,
Now it the time to put this new LC-MS member in his place! Tell him how he is wrong, that all men are saved before they are born. We're all watching, defend UOJ with Scripture and the Confessions! Or can you......?
I am shocked. Thank you Bored for saying exactly what I am thinking. Sadly most members of the WELS do not even know this whole situation is going on right under their noses. They certainly won't be hearing about this in their individual churches. Is it possible that there are WELS pastors who are not aware of this situation in Texas? I'm guessing most of them were awaiting a response from DP Glaeske like the rest of us were. It is soul-searching time, folks. If you ARE aware and have been following the demise of the Krohn's affiliation with the WELS, yet continue to keep YOUR membership with WELS, you are condoning the handling of the debacle at Holy Word. A split has been coming for some time and my friends, the time has arrived. Has anyone seen or heard from President Schroeder these days? Has he been locked in the basement of the synod headquarters? Is he out of the country? Have there been any sightings of him lately? Where IS he?? HELLOOOOOO??? If ever there was a time for clarification from our synod leadership, the time is NOW!! This issue cannot be left willy-nilly up to interpretation. The DP has shown his lack of conviction and courage to answer the question. President Schroeder, will YOU answer it? Do you believe that all men were forgiven of their sins before they were born; before receiving Baptism or hearing the Word of God? My continued membership is riding on your answer or lack thereof.
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