Joe Krohn:
The letter, at least to us is bothersome on different levels, in light of previous correspondences and communications, so let us extrapolate. (Why does Patterson now speak in an independent official capacity separate from the Elders and Council when all prior correspondence was not in such fashion?)
Working backwards...
We understand the 'matters we have disagreed' on and for this also understand the concept of 'breaking of fellowship'. But we have read somewhere recently that church bodies break fellowship with church bodies (see WELS and LC-MS circa 1961) and that churches (members of church bodies) excommunicate members. 'Breaking of Fellowship' infers that grievous sin may or may not be occurring, but for the sake of Romans 16:17, 'persistent errorist', we are not going to worship together nor commune together; nor necessarily judge you...at least this is what the Council President stated in the Holy Word Voters Meeting of August 28, 2011.
In Holy Word's letter to us regarding 'Termination of Fellowship' dated July 31, 2011, under (3) Resolution, we were asked to 'repent' and 'seek forgiveness'. This infers a trespass. Sin. What is sin? I was taught that it was a transgression against the Ten Commandments. So which Commandment are we sinning against? First Table or Second? In their email letter of 5-21-2011, they inferred that our saving faith may be in jeopardy...
I love Wikipedia...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excommunication
Granted, this is a somewhat generic (and too narrow?) definition of 'excommunication', but how does it differ from our situation, really? The 'Lutheran' version in the article is especially enlightening as it talks about a 'lobbying' towards excommunication. I wonder if they did this in Bible class...
We were terminated from fellowship excommunicated for questioning the validity of Holy Word's teaching of Justification; the chief article of faith. This included the accusation of sin (grievous trespass against the Law without contrition) and denial of Holy Communion.
If remaining in the WELS as members of good standing means accepting the teaching that we received the forgiveness of sins prior to Baptism or a hearing of the Word of God, then count us out. Is this really how the WELS believes? Posted by LutherRocks at 6:26 PM
1 comments: Daniel Baker said... Based on "This We Believe," WELS certainly rejects the idea that forgiveness is received prior to faith:
"We believe that individuals receive this free gift of forgiveness not on the basis of their own works, but only through faith (Ephesians 2:8,9)"
However, it must also be stated that "This We Believe" does say that God "has justified all sinners, that is, he has declared them righteous for the sake of Christ" . . . so there is some ambiguity here. How can one be "declared righteous" if they are not also "forgiven?" These seem like mutually exclusive concepts.
Let me say this: if the WELS position is to be interpreted as saying that, in Christ, all sins have been forgiven (as in, to Christ, on account of His Resurrection from the dead, subsequently being attributed to the saints when they are also crucified, buried, and raised with Christ in baptism), that is fine. But to say that the unbaptized and unregenerate also receive forgiveness (let alone the declaration of righteousness) is patently wrong. The forgiveness exists and is available to all in the fullness of Christ, but it isn't applied or imputed apart from Sprit-given faith.
Joe, when you appeal your case, perhaps you could outline your position on Justification by only quoting the Confessions (and Scripture, of course). If you do that, it doesn't leave them any room to twist your words and use them against you (they'd have to twist the Confessions instead).
I'm still including you and your family in my evening prayers. God's faithful will be vindicated in the End. Of course, it would be nice if you could be vindicated now as well!
GJ - I may switch to Kudu Don Photoshops instead of three stars, as the transition for my comments. As I recall, the original photo published did not have Don's face on it, but it did feature the ferocious grass-eating kudu deer. Email names say a lot about the owner, so I was amused that the email from VP Patterson, calling me a fool and a liar, used the name Kudu Don. Thus I am not mocking him but quoting him when I call him Kudu Don.
The letter above is standard behavior for an abusive sect. As one grizzled WELS veteran said, this has been going on for years and will not stop until WELS collapses entirely. Helpless SP Schroeder cannot do a thing about it. He receives a princely salary--plus more in benefits than most pastors earn in salary--to silence and quash all dissent. That job description is a recipe for the exponential growth of false doctrine, murder, adultery, assault, and embezzlement.
Let us try to unravel the logic of Holy Word in Austin.
Joe and Lisa wanted to discuss doctrine and practice with the pastor of the congregation, Don Patterson, VP of the district, DP-in-waiting. Patterson's response was to dodge any real discussion and excommunicate them. UOJ was discussed next with the whole congregation, after getting rid of Joe. The de facto excommunication was turned into a formal one, without discussion. As shown on the YouTube video already published, Joe was not allowed to speak at his own execution. The Daddy Warbucks shouted him down at the voters meeting.
The use of Cornerstone, a joint LCMS-WELS business, and the anti-Christian Pietism of UOJ do not bear a close examination. If people knew how much damage both have already done, they would run screaming for the exits. Many already have.
