Judge Orders Property Grab As the Presiding Bishop From Hell Sues Her Own Congregations.PB Katie Best Buds with Mark Hanson, ELCA

"You're next, Brett, and I don't mean to speak."


FT. WORTH, TX: Bishop Iker will appeal Judge's order to turn over property to TEC
37-year old judge's illness may have had an effect on him, said Assisting Bishop William Wantland

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
January 24, 2011

The Rt. Rev. Jack Iker, Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Ft. Worth said he will appeal a judge's decision ordering him to give up all property running into the millions of dollars in the 24-county episcopal diocese.

Other orthodox area Episcopalians who left the national church will also join the appeal.

On Friday, Judge John Chupp of the 141st District Court told Iker's group to "surrender all Diocesan property as well as control of the Diocese Corporation" to local Episcopalians who remained loyal to the U.S. Episcopal Church. He also told those in Iker's group "not to hold themselves out as leaders of the Diocese."

"We are obviously disappointed by Judge Chupp's ruling and see it as fundamentally flawed," Iker wrote in a statement issued Saturday. "We are confident that the Court of Appeals will carefully consider our appeal and will rule in accordance to neutral principles of law as practiced in the State of Texas.

Archbishops Take Ichabod's Advice, Skip Meeting, Snub Canterbury

DUBLIN: Fifteen Anglican Archbishops Absent Themselves from Primatial Gabfest

By David W. Virtue in Dublin
www.virtueonline.org
January 25, 2011

Fifteen of the Anglican Communion's 38 archbishops - nearly 40% - have absented themselves from a meeting of the Primates called by the Archbishop of Canterbury to discuss the moral, theological and ecclesiastical crisis in the Anglican Communion.


The Primates are meeting behind closed doors for six days at the Emmaus Retreat and Conference Centre in Dublin.

The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, was also invited to allow the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams to fulfill his role as president of the meeting.

Among those not attending are:

The Most Revd Eliud Wabukala, The Anglican Church of Kenya

The Most Revd Purely Lyngdoh, The Church of North India (United)

The Most Revd Valentino Mokiwa, The Anglican Church of Tanzania

The Most Revd Daniel Deng Bul Yak, The Episcopal Church of the Sudan. (He cited his country's referendum, but he has also been an outspoken opponent of The Episcopal Church's drift from a Biblical understanding of human sexuality and gave an impromptu press conference at Lambeth 2008 blasting TEC.)

The Most Revd Onesphore Rwaje, L'Eglise Episcopal au Rwanda, (two days after his installation). He is not attending for the same reasons his predecessor Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini would not have attended - the crisis in the Anglican Communion brought on by the sexual innovations of The Episcopal Church.

The Most Revd Gerald James (Ian) Ernest, The Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean.

The Most Revd. Mouneer Hanna Anis The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem & The Middle East

The Most Rt Revd Nicholas Dikeriehi Okoh, The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)

The Most Revd Henry Luke Orombi, The Church of the Province of Uganda

The Most Revd John Chew, Church of the Province of South East Asia

The Most Revd Hector Zavala, Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sur de America

The Most Revd Justice Ofei Akrofi, The Church of the Province of West Africa

Three other primates also could not attend.

The Most Revd Henry Kahwa Isingoma, Province de L'Eglise Anglicane Du Congo cited visa problems.

The Most Revd Carlos Touche-Porter, La Iglesia Anglicana de Mexico; and

The Most Revd Stephen Than Myint Oo, The Church of the Province of Myanmar (Burma) claimed reasons of health.

In an earlier announcement, the Primate of Canada, the Most Rev. Fred Hiltz said there is a real need for clarity with respect to the place and influence of the Primates' Meetings and the nature of their service as one of the Instruments of Communion.

"As challenging as this meeting will be...I hope we will not be so consumed with tensions in the Communion that we fail to address the real global issues that demand our attention as leaders of the Church."

Archbishop Maurício José Araújo de Andrade Primate of Brazil & Bishop of Brasilia, (a TEC plant and clone) said he was looking forward to a positive meeting.

"It is important that in this meeting dialogue continues between the different parts of the Anglican Communion. If it is possible to sit together with different ecumenical and interfaith partners, how much more do we need to continue to sit down and dialogue with bishops from other parts of the Communion."

The Dean of the Province of Central Africa, Bishop Albert Chama said he believes God will enable the Primates to remain in unity and to love one another as the body of Christ.

"My hope is that in this meeting we will be able to continue the conversations that have been happening in terms of pulling the Communion together," he said. "It is my hope that our meeting will be fruitful and that we will continue to discuss matters with openness and we will be able to listen to one another."

Those archbishops who have declined to come say that such a meeting has little value because they are disillusioned by what they see as Dr. Williams' failure to act on decisions made and expressed in the past.

In Charleston, SC last week, Archbishop Anis said, "We need to sort out the crisis. The Global South and other orthodox diocese should start today if we want to rescue and revive our beloved communion. We need another reformation within the Anglican Communion."

Reflecting on the upcoming primatial meeting in Dublin, Anis noted it is all being manipulated and that nothing would happen. "It is a waste of time, the results and outcome have already been decided. It has been cooked and pre-cooked.

"We asked that the recommendations of the previous meeting be followed through otherwise the meeting would be meaningless. We recommended and decided and now is the time for decisions. All we got was an invitation to sit in two separate rooms and we wanted to sit in one. There is no consultation. That is why the Global South and other Primates are not going," he said.

Other Primates have called for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, to be replaced as the figure around which the Communion unites. Recent moves by a number of Anglo-Catholics to leave the Church of England for Rome and the boycotting of this conference by leading Anglican archbishops have raised eyebrows among England's liberal establishment. VOL has been told that there are behind the scenes moves to pressure Williams into resigning.

Archbishop Anis and former Bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali have both called for a council of orthodox Anglican primates to resolve the deep theological and ecclesiological crisis in the Communion.

Archbishop Anis recently called for Global South Primates and orthodox bishops in the North and West to hold a Church Council with binding resolutions to break the ecclesiastical logjam in the Anglican Communion.

Speaking to several hundred orthodox Episcopalians and Anglicans at the 6th Annual Mere Anglican Conference at St. Phillip's Church last week, Anis said there is now "no trust left at all" in the communion with "provinces taking actions and moving from the norm of Anglican tradition." Anis called for a Conciliar meeting of orthodox Anglicans to resolve the fundamental theological differences that now pervade the communion. "The Anglican Covenant has not worked. We have a Conciliar model to express the mind of the communion on controversial resolutions.

Bishop Nazir-Ali told participants at Mere Anglican, a conference dedicated to a reformed, renewed orthodox Anglicanism within North America, that a church council of orthodox Anglican primates should be called to resolve the deep theological and ecclesiological tensions in the Communion.

Whatever is concluded should be binding on the Anglican Church, said the outspoken bishop. "In resolution of some of these matters, Anglicans need to bring to bear the Word of God on the issues and to be the guardian and interpreter for the church. We should have a healthy perspective on a proper conciliarity basis that Anglicans have evaded for 150 years. What is needed now is a binding conciliar gathering."

***

GJ - If you give them money and attend their meetings, that only encourages them. It's like feeding a stray cat. Pretty soon it moves in and more follow.

A synod official will purr, if given enough money. Ask Schwan.

Publishing News - Finishing TSW and Editing Justification

Lenski's daughter, Lois, illustrated this book and many more.

One of my readers gave me a bunch of edits to do for Thy Strong Word. I thought I would be done tonight, but I am working on the format. The age of the files and working with versions of Word gave me some interesting problems to face. Now I am going through page by page to get full justification to work. The reader hinted at some software short-cut for universal justification, but this is an individual effort.

I should have the new version uploaded on Lulu by tomorrow - God willing.

Meanwhile I am ready to do some improvements and edits for Justification. I will definitely add Pastor Harley's material, with permission, because the work is well done and pre-dates my efforts. There are some other additions, planned and potential.

I am adding the Outrageous UOJ quotations and a reading list.

Next will be a children's book, aimed at the youngest children but also useful for older children as well. Norma Boeckler is already working on the illustrations. My Facebook friends love her work as much as the Ichabodians do.

Some other books need additional work on the Lulu list. Remember, they are all available free as PDF downloads.

I am happy to send PDFs or Word documents for anyone who wants to read TSW or Justification to help in editing.

I will also need some back of the book comments, with or without names.

Efficacy in the Book of Concord

Dr. Martin Chemnitz, Senior Editor, The Book of Concord, a volume so dangerous that Mequonites dare not read it and Little Sectarians dare not take it seriously.

Efficacy In The Book Of Concord¹²⁴

Augsburg Confession

J-158

"Although the Church properly is the congregation of saints and true believers, nevertheless, since in this life many hypocrites and evil persons are mingled therewith, it is lawful to use Sacraments administered by evil men, according to the saying of Christ: 'The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat, etc.' Matthew 23:2. Both the Sacraments and Word are effectual by reason of the institution and commandment of Christ, notwithstanding they be administered by evil men."

Augsburg Confession, VIII. What the Church Is, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 47. Matthew 23:2. Tappert, p. 33. Heiser, p. 13.

Apology of the Augsburg Confession

J-159

"For Christ wishes to assure us, as was necessary, that we should know that the Word delivered by men is efficacious, and that no other word from heaven ought to be sought. 'He that heareth you heareth Me,' cannot be understood of traditions. For Christ requires that they teach in such a way that [by their mouth] He Himself be heard, because He says: 'He heareth Me.' Therefore He wishes His own voice, His own Word, to be heard, not human traditions."

            Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XXVIII. #18. Eccles. Power, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 449. Tappert, p. 284. Heiser, p. 134.

The Large Catechism

J-160

"Besides, it is an exceedingly effectual help against the devil, the world, and the flesh and all evil thoughts to be occupied with the Word of God, and to speak of it, and meditate upon it, so that the First Psalm declares those blessed who meditate upon the Law of God day and night. Undoubtedly, you will not start a stronger incense or other fumigation against the devil than by being engaged upon God's commandments and words, and speaking, singing, or thinking of them. For this is indeed the true holy water and holy sign from which he flees, and by which he may be driven away."

            The Large Catechism, Preface, #10, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 570f. Tappert, p. 359f. Heiser, p. 167.

J-161

"For let me tell you this, even though you know it perfectly and be already master in all things, still you are daily in the dominion of the devil, who ceases neither day nor night to steal unawares upon you, to kindle in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against the foregoing and all the commandments. Therefore you must always have God’s Word in your heart, upon your lips, and in your ears. But where the heart is idle, and the Word does not sound, he breaks in and has done the damage before we are aware. On the other hand, such is the efficacy of the Word, whenever it is seriously contemplated, heard, and used, that it is bound never to be without fruit, but always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and devoutness, and produces a pure heart and pure thoughts. For these words are not inoperative or dead, but creative, living words."

            The Large Catechism, Third Commandment. #100. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 609. Tappert, p. 378f. Heiser, p. 175f.

J-162

"Thus it appears what a great, excellent thing Baptism is, which delivers us from the jaws of the devil and makes us God's own, suppresses and takes away sin, and then daily strengthens the new man; and is and remains ever efficacious until we pass from this estate of misery to eternal glory."

            The Large Catechism, Part Fourth, Of Baptism. #83. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 751. Tappert, p. 446. Heiser, p. 209.

Formula of Concord

J-163

"Therefore, before the conversion of man there are only two efficient causes, namely, the Holy Ghost and the Word of God, as the instrument of the Holy Ghost, by which He works conversion. This Word man is [indeed] to hear; however, it is not by his own powers, but only through the grace and working of the Holy Ghost that he can yield faith to it and accept it."

            Formula of Concord, Epitome, II, Of the Free Will, #19, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 791. Tappert, p. 472. Heiser, p. 219.

J-164

"And although God, according to His just, strict sentence, has utterly cast away the fallen evil spirits forever, He has nevertheless, out of special, pure mercy, willed that poor fallen human nature might again become and be capable and participant of conversion, the grace of God and eternal life; not from its own natural, active [or effective] skill, aptness, or capacity (for the nature of man is obstinate enmity against God), but from pure grace, through the gracious efficacious working of the Holy Ghost." Luther, Psalm 90.

            Formula of Concord, SD, II, #20. Free Will. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House 1921, p. 889. Tappert, p. 525. Heiser, p. 243.

J-165

"Thirdly, in this manner, too, the Holy Scriptures ascribe conversion, faith in Christ, regeneration, renewal, and all that belongs to their efficacious beginning and completion, not to the human powers of the natural free will, neither entirely, nor half, nor in any, even the least or most inconsiderable part, but in solidum, that is, entirely, solely to the divine working and the Holy Ghost, as also the Apology teaches."

            Formula of Concord, SD II. #25. Free Will. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 891. Tappert, p. 526. Heiser, p. 244.

J-166

"For this reason we shall now relate, furthermore, from God’s Word how man is converted to God, how and through what means [namely, through the oral Word and the holy Sacraments] the Holy Ghost wants to be efficacious in us, and to work and bestow in our hearts true repentance, faith, and new spiritual power and ability for good, and how we should conduct ourselves towards these means, and [how we should] use them."

Formula of Concord SD II. #48. Free Will. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 901. Tappert, p. 530. Heiser, p. 246.

J-167

"Now, all who wish to be saved ought to hear this preaching [of God’s Word]. For the preaching and hearing of God’s Word are instruments of the Holy Ghost, by, with, and through which He desires to work efficaciously, and to convert men to God, and to work in them both to will and to do. This Word man can externally hear and read, even though he is not yet converted to God and regenerate; for in these external things, as said above, man even since the Fall has to a certain extent a free will, so that he can go to church and hear or not hear the sermon."

            Formula of Concord, SD, II, #52. Free Will. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House 1921, p. 901f. Tappert, p. 531. Heiser, p. 246.

J-168

"Now, although both, the planting and watering of the preacher, and the running and willing of the hearer, would be in vain, and no conversion would follow it if the power and efficacy of the Holy Ghost were not added thereto, who enlightens and converts the hearts through the Word preached and heard, so that men believe this Word and assent thereto, still, neither preacher nor hearer is to doubt this grace and efficacy of the Holy Ghost, but should be certain that when the Word of God is preached purely and truly, according to the command and will of God, and men listen attentively and earnestly and meditate upon it, God is certainly present with His grace, and grants, as has been said, what otherwise man can neither accept nor give from his own powers."

            Formula of Concord SD II. #55-56. Free Will. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 903. Tappert, p. 531f. Heiser, p. 246.

J-169

"The other eating of the body of Christ is oral or sacramental, when the true, essential body and blood of Christ are also orally received and partaken of in the Holy Supper, by all who eat and drink the consecrated bread and wine in the Supper—by the believing as a certain pledge and assurance that their sins are surely forgiven them, and Christ dwells and is efficacious in them, but by the unbelieving for the judgment and condemnation, as the words of the institution by Christ expressly declare..."

            Formula of Concord, SD, VII. #63. Holy Supper. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House 1921, p. 995. Tappert, p. 581. Heiser, p. 270.

J-170

"For the true and almighty words of Jesus Christ which He spake at the first institution were efficacious not only at the first Supper, but they endure, are valid, operate, and are still efficacious [their force, power, and efficacy endure and avail even to the present], so that in all places where the Supper is celebrated according to the institution of Christ, and His words are used, the body and blood of Christ are truly present, distributed, and received, because of the power and efficacy of the words which Christ spake at the first Supper. For where His institution is observed and His words are spoken over the bread and cup [wine], and the consecrated bread and cup [wine] are distributed, Christ Himself, through the spoken words, is still efficacious by virtue of the first institution, through His word, which He wishes to be there repeated."

            Formula of Concord, SD VII, #75. Holy Supper. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 999. Tappert, p. 583. Heiser, p. 270f.

J-171

"Also, Tom. III, Jena, Fol. 446: 'Thus here also, even though I should pronounce over all the words: This is Christ's body, nothing, of course, would result therefrom; but when in the Supper we say, according to His institution and command: 'This is My body,' it is His body, not on account of our speaking or word uttered [because these words, when uttered, have this efficacy], but because of His command—that He has commanded us thus to speak and to do, and has united His command and act with our speaking."

            Formula of Concord, SD VII, #78. Holy Supper. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1001. Tappert, p. 583. Heiser, p. 271.

J-172

"Now, it is not our faith that makes the Sacrament, but only the true word and institution of our almighty God and Savior Jesus Christ, which always is and remains efficacious in the Christian Church, and is not invalidated or rendered inefficacious by the worthiness or unworthiness of the minister, nor by the unbelief of the one who receives it."

            Formula of Concord, SD VII, #89. Holy Supper. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1003. Tappert, p. 585. Heiser, p. 272.

J-173

"1. That the human race is truly redeemed and reconciled with God through Christ, who, by His faultless [innocence] obedience, suffering, and death, has merited for us the righteousness which avails before God, and eternal life. 2. That such merit and benefits of Christ shall be presented, offered, and distributed to us through His Word and Sacraments. 3. That by His Holy Ghost, through the Word, when it is preached, heard, and pondered, He will be efficacious and active in us, convert hearts to true repentance, and preserve them in the true faith. 4. That He will justify all those who in true repentance receive Christ by a true faith, and will receive them into grace, the adoption of sons, and the inheritance of eternal life." ..."God in His purpose and counsel ordained [decreed]:

Formula of Concord, SD, XI. #15. Of God's Eternal Election. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1069. 2 Corinthians 5:19ff. Tappert, p. 619. Heiser, p. 288.

J-174

"And this call of God, which is made through the preaching of the Word, we should not regard as jugglery, but know that thereby God reveals His will, that in those whom He thus calls He will work through the Word, that they may be enlightened, converted, and saved. For the Word, whereby we are called, is a ministration of the Spirit, that gives the Spirit, or whereby the Spirit is given, 2 Corinthians 3:8, and a power of God unto salvation, Romans 1:16. And since the Holy Ghost wishes to be efficacious through the Word, and to strengthen and give power and ability, it is God's will that we should receive the Word, believe and obey it."

            Formula of Concord, SD XI. #29. Election. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1073. 2 Corinthians 3:8; Romans 1:16. Tappert, p. 621. Heiser, p. 289.

J-175

"For few receive the Word and follow it; the greatest number despise the Word, and will not come to the wedding, Matthew 22:3ff. The cause for this contempt for the Word is not God's foreknowledge [or predestination], but the perverse will of man, which rejects or perverts the means and instrument of the Holy Ghost, which God offers him through the call, and resists the Holy Ghost, who wishes to be efficacious, and works through the Word, as Christ says, 'How often would I have gathered you together, and ye would not!' Matthew 23:37."

            Formula of Concord, SD XI. #41. Election. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1077. Matthew 22:3ff.; 23:37. Tappert, p. 623. Heiser, p. 290.

J-176

"Moreover, the declaration, John 6:44, that no one can come to Christ except the Father draw him, is right and true. However, the Father will not do this without means, but has ordained for this purpose His Word and Sacraments as ordinary means and instruments; and it is the will neither of the Father nor of the Son that a man should not hear or should despise the preaching of His Word, and wait for the drawing of the Father without the Word and Sacraments. For the Father draws indeed by the power of His Holy Ghost, however, according to His usual order [the order decreed and instituted by Himself], by the hearing of His holy, divine Word, as with a net, by which the elect are plucked from the jaws of the devil. Every poor sinner should therefore repair thereto [to holy preaching], hear it attentively, and not doubt the drawing of the Father. For the Holy Ghost will be with His Word in His power, and work by it..."

Formula of Concord, SD XI. #76-77. Election. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 1089. John 6:44. Tappert, p. 629. Heiser, p. 293.

Let's Not Invent New Terms, Especially Those With a Bad Record for Confusion, Enthusiam, And Apostasy

The UOJ Stormtroopers cannot let people dissent from universal absolution.


Michael has left a new comment on your post "How UOJ Was Lenski?":

Dear Brett,

We may have been writing at the same time when I referred to my "unpublished" post, which since has been published and you addressed.

In his Eisenach Gospel, which I, unfortunately, read after I posted my questions instead of before, Lenski explains himself much better.

You are right on target with my questions in your last paragraph, when you wrote: "what is a Scriptural and Confessional definition of Objective Justification". I agree with your definition of objective justification. I also agree when you wrote: "those God has called are brought to faith in Christ, through the Means of Grace, by the gracious work of the Holy Spirit, it is also completely and fully Objective - solely the work of God."

So if I agree with you on those points, does this make me opposed to objective justification? I guess I am really confused now as to why people are against the term objective justification?

***

GJ - The UOJ essays prove that the variations on justification by faith are false, misleading, and confused.

First of all, we should stick with established terms in theology, since they have a history. As Paul Holmer, my sainted professor from Yale, wrote: "Theology is the grammar of faith." Bad grammar means that the content of The Faith is communicated poorly.

Objective justification, general justification, and UOJ are all bad because they are new terms (as WELS has admitted) and confusing terms. They are essentially the same.

Theological terms not found in the Bible are always short-hand for something long argued and clearly defined. The Holy Trinity is not found in the Bible - gasp! - but the concept is taught from Genesis 1 to the closing of the canon. The whole Christian Church confesses the Holy Trinity. Likewise, the term Means of Grace has a history in the Lutheran Confessional writings, which we are obligated to know and teach, if we dare to use the term Confessional Lutheran.

Roman Catholics use the term Means of Grace, so it is good to know what they mean by it. They do not find much grace in the Means of Grace, because no one is ever forgiven. They play with the meaning of words and the history of doctrine, one of the attributes of all false teachers.

I thought, like many people, that Objective Justification was a synonym for the Atonement. Dr. Robert Preus, in his earlier essay, made it clear that OJ was not the Atonement. OJ is the declaration that everyone is justified without the Means of Grace, without the Word, without faith.

Therefore, OJ should be repudiated as a term and buried forever, except in a class that Mequon will never offer - "Errors Taught by WELS, 101."

The New Testament gives us many synonyms for the Atonement. Why not use redemption, propitiating, expiation, ransom, and reconciliation?

How UOJ Was Lenski?

Michael has left a new comment on your post "Mequon Student Stopped and Searched. TriglottaDisc...":

Doesn't this quote from Lenski seem to teach "objective" justification? It is from his commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:30. "The aorist passive ἐγενήθη “became,” “was made,” has the force and the meaning of the middle ἐγένετο; the Koine coined many such passive forms and loved to use them. The sense is, of course, not passive. The tense is historical. No stress at all rests on ἡμῖν, “us.” Paul now joyfully includes himself and, in fact, all his fellow Christians. That means that we should not refer “became” to the moment when the Corinthians were joined to Christ, i.e., when he subjectively became theirs by faith; but to the moment when Christ wrought out our redemption on the cross, then for the Corinthians, for Paul, and for all of us he “became” objectively what Paul now states. And the phrase “from God,” like “of him” (God), once more stresses the divine source over against anything that comes from “the world.” The preposition ἀπό has the thought of transition from God to us."

Lenski, R. C. H. (1963). The Interpretation of St. Paul's First and Second Epistle to the Corinthians (81–82). Minneapolis, MN.: Augsburg Publishing House.

The above quote is how I understand objective justification: objectively, Christ became our righteousness, holiness and redemption when He announced, "it is finished" and died on the the cross. He is, objectively, the righteousness, holiness and redemption for every single person in the world, but, even-though this is who He objectively is for all, it does us no good unless His work is received by faith (subjectively).

Would you agree with Lenski's quote above and my understanding of the objective nature of Christ's work?

***

GJ - Do not let Tim Glende know you are reading Lenski! He will go Medieval on you. Not that he has ever read Lenski.

You need to switch to Groeschel, the way Glende and Ski have. That will keep you ganz WELS.

I have said before that some portions of Lenski lend themselves to the double-justification scheme, because he tried to bridge the gap in some places. That is why I find it odd that WELS spits out that "Lenski is not good on justification" when they could make so much of certain passages.

However, Lenski himself makes it very clear that justification is never spoken of in the New Testament where faith is omitted.

The turning point is the merging of justification and atonement. They are not the same, a fact abundantly clear to everyone except MDivs of the Syn Conference (and a few fragments thereof - CLCs and who knows what else).

You are simply trying to quote Lenski to pound the OJ/SJ theme again. There is only one justification - justification by faith.

There is no absolution of the entire world. You can find that error in writings of Charlotte Kirschbaum and her sugar daddy, Karl Barth. Your OJ is Calvinism, as Sig Becker admitted in print.

Even if Lenski did double back-flips for UOJ, no one who is serious about the Scriptures and the Confessions would accept it.

I suggest removing the farce of a quia subscription when Syn Conference pastors actively oppose the little they have read of the Confessions.

Mequon Student Stopped and Searched. TriglottaDiscovered, But No UOJ Could Be Found Inside the Book.

LPC has left a new comment on your post "WELS - Allergic Reaction to the Book of Concord.Br...":

UOJ can not be found in Scripture in the first place so how can it be found in the Book of Concord?

If one can not use Scripture to establish something, it is now pointless to even point at the BoC.

In UOJ, one can not go to Scripture to see it there, nor go to the BoC and find it there. Ergo, where does one appeal to? Answer: To one's own imagination.

LPC

***

GJ - Lito and readers, I have read far too many UOJ essays. They all admit that justification in the Bible and in the Book of Concord means justification by faith. There is also no UOJ in Robert Preus' last book.

The UOJ rebuttal is fascinating, showing how blinded and hardened they are:

1. Justification by faith is Subjective Justification, so they find their Objective Justification elsewhere, such as in the climax of Romans 4, a chapter on the faith of Abraham and his justification by faith. That so-called proof of OJ, in Romans 4:24-25, shows that we are also justified by faith, if we believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. I will quote the verses, because the Enthusiasts actually cite Romans 4:25 as OJ when the passage refutes their false doctrine.

KJV Romans 4:22 And therefore it was imputed [counted or reckoned] to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

2. Justification by faith is consistently taught throughout the Book of Concord because the Concordists were not aware of the issues that would arise later. Nevertheless, the UOJ fanatics find OJ in every single Atonement passage, merging justification and atonement as identical terms. Thus they begin with Walther's propposition and make the Biblical passages and Book of Concord fit their Pietistic theory from Professor Knapp, Halle University.

3. Not knowing their terms any better than they comprehend the Bible and Confessions, they call justification by faith synergism. Synergism is defined as stating:
A. God has done this.
B. Now you must complete the transaction by believing.

UOJ teaches, starting with Walther:
A. God has already declared the whole world free of sin, saved.
B. Now you must believe that this is true for you also.

J. P. Meyer said - "Make a decision..." in his Ministers of Christ. As Pastor Harley wrote so many years ago, UOJ is synergism.

4. Limited in their knowledge about Calvin and Calvinism, they call justification by faith Calvinism. Their hero, Sig Becker, admitted in one of his essays that OJ is exactly what Calvinists teach.

Naturally, this Calvinism embedded in the Lutheran Church came from somewhere. The Calvinism of UOJ is from Pietism, from Halle University, from George Christian Knapp.

Spoiling the Ukrainians While Spoiling the Egyptians

bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "John Shep Has a Question for the ELS/WELS":

Plenty of people know the answer to Rev. Shep's question. The answer is that for some reason it was felt necessary to pay Bishop Horpynchuk a salary midway between a Western salary and the $250 per month wage that the average Ukrainian made at the time, and still does. So $1,000 per month was four times the average salary of the average Ukrainian, so it is no wonder he was able to accumulate enough money to build such a nice house.

Of course, if the WELS, ELS and LCMS laymen were supporting their seminaries and seminarians like they should be, this would never have happened since they would not have been in a position to even THINK about paying a Ukrainian that much money.

So now we have seminaries where roughly half the graduates receive certificates that aren't accredited, and in many cases don't even need any college credits to attend seminary. That's right. I asked a SMP person where he attended college, and he said he never had!

Ironically, the laymen think everything is fine and the seminaries are supported enough since there are hardly any calls open.

WELS - Allergic Reaction to the Book of Concord.Brett Meyer Observations

Wayne Mueller


(W)ELS is not restricted to the Lutheran Confessions. Wayne Mueller states that appeals to the Lutheran Confessions did not resolve the UOJ controversy. He fails to explain that the reason the Lutheran Confessions did not end the controversies and why the Lutheran Confessions do not limit the (W)ELS in matters of doctrine and practice is because they reject the BOC as being the faithful expanation of God's chief articles of Christian faith which they as professing the Lutheran name have sworn and oath to uphold. There are far more quotes than these but this should help begin the discussion concerning the glory of the (W)ELS.



"We apply the Confessions as a limited standard to judge those doctrines which they directly or incidentally addresses."

Page 5



"IV. Application of the Confessions to the Present Controversy

Appeal to the Lutheran symbols did not resolve the inspiration of Scriptures controversy. No, our confessions do not have the last word when it comes to determining what we are to teach. That belongs to Scripture. When, therefore, the matter of the inspiration of Scripture becomes a contested doctrine in the church, as it has, God expects us to state what Scripture states. It is not necessary to call a council of all Lutherans to determine what the Lutheran stand will be: Scripture has already determined that. We are not restricted to those doctrines laid down in our confessions. (Harold Wicks, Scripture is the Course and Norm for the Christian’s Faith and Life,’ Our Great Heritage, Vol. I, p84)"

Page 6


"We are not restricted to those doctrines laid down in our confessions. This is the very procedure followed in the confessions themselves. The Augustana did not restrict itself to those points treated in the Apostles’ Creed. The Formula of Concord [1577], in turn, did not restrict itself to those doctrinal statements found in the Augustana [1530], the Apology [1531], or the Smalcald articles [1537]. It went beyond them, because the framers of these documents considered it wise to do so. This is especially true of its Article on God’s Eternal Foreknowledge and Election. (Harold Wicks, "What is Doctrine According to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions,’ Our Great Heritage, Vol. I,p841"

Page 7



"Appeal to the Lutheran symbols did not resolve the objective justification controversy.

(Note Vernon Harley’s use of the Confessions to limit exegetical conclusions in his "Exegetical Study of Scripture Passages Generally Used to Teach ‘Objective’ or ‘Universal’ Justification" 1984, p8) "This is basically why they contend so strongly for ‘objective’ justification and go a step further than our Lutheran Confessions insisting that Objective Justification is the Chief article of the Christian Faith, while our Confessions give that honor to justification by grace through faith" (Formula of Concord, S.D. III, 6, p. 540 in Tappert)."

Page 7

http://www.wlsessays.net/files/MuellerSymbols.pdf

***

GJ - Judging from LI's experience, I would say that the Little Schoolhouse on the Prairie does a better job than The Sausage Factory - when it comes to using the Book of Concord.

However, since UOJ Wisconsinites dominate both sects, the results are the same. The ELS pastors know Lutheran doctrine better, but the ELS leaders parrot the WELS line on everything.

John Shep wants people to know that he coined the line, "When Mischke drinks beer in Milwaukee, Orvick burps in Mankato."

First of all, WELS pastors do not know Lutheran doctrine at all. What they know, they despise. There are exceptions, but they have to stay under the WELSian radar, and away from the WELS KGB.

WELS does a poor job of teaching the Confessions, so no one has the capacity to read and teach the Confessions - not that they care to do so. Wayne Mueller, another advocate of UOJ and Church Growth, is typical in his snotty attitude about the Book of Concord.

Everyone must look at the claims of WELS and the reality. The gap is breathtaking, like looking across the Grand Canyon the first time. That is always the WELS approach - a boastful claim for the public, a snide and arrogant attitude for the brothers. Their quia subscription might as well be a Chia subscription to the Book of Concord.

A Chia subscription to the Book of Concord - just as meaningless as a quia subscription to a book they neither trust nor comprehend.
But it will grow on you.

More Comments on Thoughts of Faith, Forensic Audit

"Pastor Jonathan Balge, official WELS contact man, has visited our church on January 12-17. Pastor Balge has met pastors in Kyiv, Kremenets and Ternopil and worshipped at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kremenets. He has also preached in the Resurrection Lutheran Church in Kyiv. WELS is a sister church of the Ukrainian Lurtheran Church, is a member of the Confessional Lutheran Conference and the largest church body in our fellowship."

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "John Shep Has a Question for the ELS/WELS":

Interesting quotations related to this here: http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2010/10/jay-webber-john-shep-dp-seifert-vp.html

2005 discussion about Horpenchuk (actual spelling is Horpynchuk - full name Vyacheslav(Slavik) Horpynchuk) preaching at Resurrection church in Kyiv: http://www.christianforums.com/t6950278-53/

Photo's of Bishop Horpynchuk:
http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/barbsullivan-380981-ukraine-presentation-education-ppt-powerpoint/

Ukrainian Lutheran Weekly
"On October 20 and 21, 2010 Convention of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church took place in Kremenets. Rev. Steven Petersen has greeted the Convention on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, John Moldstad and Bishop Horpynchuk has read a greeting for the Convention from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod President, Rev. Mark Schroeder. The delegates of the Convention have thanked both ELS and WELS for the support they provide to the Ukrainian Lutheran Church."
http://lutheran-weekly.blogspot.com/

Ukrainian Lutheran Church
Written by Pastor Neumann
Wednesday, 24 February 2010 11:27 - Last Updated Wednesday, 24 February 2010 11:45
Dear Pastor Neuman and Brother Marvin Van Haften,
I have learned from Pastor Neal Schroeder about a very generous gift to the Barnabas Project
from you. We appreciate it very much. Ukrainian Lutheran Church is one of the largest church
bodies of our fellowship in Europe and it is in a very difficult situation as our support declined
rapidly and Ukrainian economy is in the worst condition in Europe now. Results of recent
Presidential elections, as some experts say, may cause shrinking of religious freedom in our
country. We hope and pray it does not happen. Yet we know the Lord is loving us, and He has
expressed his love through your congregation. We continue to preach the Word and administer
the Sacraments whatever happens around us but what a joy bring such news that we are not
forgotten and that we are not alone but have faithful brothers and sisters in Christ! Thank you
very much!

Have a blessed Lenten Season!
In Christ Crucified,
Slavik Horpynchuk
Bishop, Ukrainian Lutheran Church
http://www.grace-wels.org/index.php/wels-news/pastors-corner?start=20

John Shep Has a Question for the ELS/WELS

The official response from the Little Vatican on the Prairie was....


john shep has left a new comment on your post "From the Little Vatican on the Prairie":

Thoughts of Faith was my creation. It had noble and spiritual goals. It is so sad to see that the ELS is still passing a monumental scam as a legitimate mission. Will someone please demand an audit? Begin with Bishop Horpenchuk's 8,000 sq. foot home built outside of Kiev on a $1.000 monthly salary.

***

GJ - The members of of the ELS and WELS should ask for a forensic audit of both sects.

Forensic accountants trace who took the money and how they took it.

Members would enjoy finding out:

1. The salaries and benefits of all those spending offering money, Thrivent funds, and foundation loot. Both sects have a fiduciary duty to spend the money prudently.
2. How much money the "consultants" bill congregations. I know they will spend a few hours with a congregation and charge them thousands of dollars. Most people wear a mask when they boost that much money for a little bit of work.
3. What is the relationship between Cornerstone and WELS/ELS? Are people using synodical connections to give a business the image of a charitable church agency? What are they charging people and why?
4. Where did all the Schwan money go, before he died and after?

That will not happen, because church officials appoint yes-men to be yes-men. The ELS and WELS leaders love middle management types who second the motion to keep everything a secret. The "little" people would not understand how these things work.

The treasurer of WELS told Gurgle they could not misappropriate designated funds. Gurgle fired the treasurer and blamed the treasurer for funds disappearing. Next came one of those lame lies about how $8 million or so "got spent twice," leaving the Cathedral of St. Marvin of Schwan, MLC, high and dry. Gurgle slipped out of office and out of the country.

Soon he was back - working with Kudu Don Patterson and getting a salary! - after taking about $2 million in salary and benefits from WELS. And he was soon at work creating a new and exciting mission, in a nearby town that already had a new and exciting WELS mission.

A Glimpse of My Moline

Mike broke this window as a child.
This is why it was never repaired...

In his own words:

"I was playing marbles with Jim Putnam and Harry Mahar on 11th Ave C when we decided to see who could throw a marble the farthest. My choice was over the house on 27th street facing 11th C. I was short.....I walked up to the guys house and knocked on the door to turn myself in, so to speak, and he didn't even know it had happened. He asked me what we should do and I told him to call my dad. After my dad showed up we went and bought a window and came back to replace it and the owner told us he wanted to do that himself and put the window in the garage. That was about 1960 I think.

Years later when I was living in Arizona , I was visiting and saw the man and his wife working in the front yard. I stopped and told him who I was and he and his wife got big smiles on their faces and he told me he never replaced the window because I had renewed his faith in the youth and wanted a reminder not to become angry over neighborhood kids anymore. He showed the window to his friends and church members and used it for a lesson/story. That was in 1976. I told him then it was time and I could do it for him and of course they wouldn't let me....

I was recently in the neighborhood with my son Joe, 12 years old, and told him the story, and then stopped to see if it was still broken."

Mike spotted neighbors of the original victim on this latest trip, who invited Mike and his son into their house for tea. They spent a long time talking about the neighborhood and the tale of the broken window.

Mike said, "It was a great trip and a chance to impart a little wisdom on my youngest son."

Drama and Communications
Mike was in theater as a child. Moline High classmates remember him in "The Importance of Being Earnest." He was also Von Trapp in "The Sound of Music."

He was also in Playcrafters and the Music Guild. He worked at the Apacheland Movie Ranch, doing stunt work and some small parts, including "one terrible B movie" he has not named.

Back in the Quad Cities he directed Crazy For You. He came down with Guillain-Barre, a neurological disorder causing extreme weakness, among other symptoms.

Car Restoration
Mike earned a communications degree while he was recovering from Guillain-Barre, graduating with honors from Illinois State, and did most of the master's program. That did not turn into a communications job, so he went back to car restoration work. Some of his work is pictured below.

Mike says:
"I did a 51 Frasier and a 36 Pierce Arrow before opening my own location. (photos of both of these are in my Facebook photos albums, I am currently working on a lounge interior in a 40's passenger train car and have a 68 Malibu to start on the end of February. I would like nothing more than to return to Moline, to do whatever work is available. I am hoping to get some more rod and classic interior work, but it is hard to do when out of that for so long."

Pierce Arrow interior work.

The Barbie Jeep.

Frasier seat, green cloth with chestnut leather.


Dad
Mike loves being a father again, coaching his young son's baseball and football teams.

Mike and his son Joe enjoy time together.
Mike's favorite job is being a father.

John Gresham Machen on today’s education system « Churchmouse Campanologist

John Gresham Machen on today’s education system « Churchmouse Campanologist

The last two posts have featured excerpts from John Gresham Machen‘s Christianity and Liberalism, a short volume which he wrote in 1923 to expose Modernist error in the Church.

Along the way, he also adds insight about Western society. Today, he critiques and criticises modern education methods.

Today’s excerpts are taken from pages 15-19 of the PDF version of the book, generously put together by Reformed Audio. Subheads and emphases are mine for easier navigation.

GJ - Machen is a pivotal figure in American church history. Read more at the link.

From the Little Vatican on the Prairie

Grants Approved
We have been informed by the Marvin M. Schwan Charitable Foundation that grants for the year of 2011 have been made for our synod’s Mission Advancement Project (MAP): $515,000 for general work of Thoughts of Faith (TOF); $180,000 for LMSI (India); $75,000 for Helping Hands; $10,000 for rainforest schools (Peru). In addition to these grants, an extra $30,000 has been given for bi-vocational training in TOF fields and $100,000 for the TOF matching challenge. We are grateful to the Schwan Foundation for these generous gifts that enable us to carry out the life-saving Gospel work of our Lord Jesus Christ in other lands.

UOJ Insights From Grumpy

grumpy has left a new comment on your post "Outrageous UOJ Quotations Refuted":

If everyone is forgiven, why does WELS get so uptight when you worship with other Christian denominations (or even other religions such as Islam or Buddhism).

Also, why do they get so upset when you decide not to give them so much money?

Hey, we're all forgiven, LET'S GO TO THE CASINO !!!!

***

GJ - I have no idea who Grumpy is, but I created a Photoshop for him, to encourage additional doctrinal insights.

---

klange (http://klange.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "UOJ Insights From Grumpy":

While you are at it, take the weekly offerings to the casino, too, and get them multiplied. Casinos offer better odds than the leaders do.

***

GJ - I will have to warn away people with incontinence problems.

Outrageous UOJ Quotations Refuted

Child abuse - Teaching your child that he was justified before he was born, turning infant baptism into a meaningless ordinance.Yet Eduard Preuss is hailed as an orthodox Lutheran genius. In fact, he poped and wrote Roman Catholic doctrinal books.

Outrageous UOJ Quotations Refuted

David Scaer

“Whoever denies objective justification reduces justification to the act of believing and does not believe in it at all. Logically, he denies the atonement and preaches that man is responsible for his sins.”

LCMS Professor David Scaer, Concordia Seminary, Ft. Wayne

 http://www.ctsfw.net/media/pdfs/scaerthirduseresolvetension.pdf

Jackson – Justification by faith means not believing in justification by faith? How the minions must drool as they listen to Scaer contradict himself, nudging them toward a priesthood in Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy. The two sentences quoted above are assertions without evidence or argumentation. Scaer’s logic is at war with Scriptural revelation.

Robert Preus

All this is put beautifully by an old Lutheran theologian of our church,

We are redeemed from the guilt of sin; the wrath of God is appeased; all creation is again under the bright rays of mercy, as in the beginning; yea, in Christ we were justified before we were even born. For do not the Scriptures say: ‘God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them?'’ This is not the justification which we receive by faith...That is the great absolution which took place in the resurrection of Christ. It was the Father, for our sake, who condemned His dear Son as the greatest of all sinners causing Him to suffer the greatest punishment of the transgressors, even so did He publicly absolve Him from the sins of the world when He raised Him up from the dead. (Edward Preuss, "The Justification of a Sinner Before God," pp. 14-15)

LCMS Seminary President Robert Preus, 1981,

Jackson – The “old Lutheran theologian of our church” is deceptive, since Preuss abandoned teaching at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, to join the Church of Rome and promote papist doctrines there – all because God sent him the sign of a glorious sunset! (L. Fuerbring) This phrase should

scream falsehood at people – “we were justified before we were born” – yet Cascione quoted this article with reverence and awe. Fortunately, Dr. Preus retracted this position in his final book, Justification and Rome. Lutherans should observe that he quoted a dead papist when Church Growth flourished at Concordia, Ft. Wayne and the faculty endorsed Church Growth principles. But when Preus wanted to warn his faculty and his synod against Romanism, just before he died, he argued for justification by faith and against UOJ.

http://www.reclaimingwalther.org/articles/jmc00225.htm

Sig Becker, 1982

“It has been argued that the polloi of this verse clearly indicates that Paul did not mean to say that all would be justified in and through Christ. It has even been said that “many” means “not all.” This is an argument unworthy of Lutherans who have always opposed the Calvinistic notion that the words of Jesus in which he says that his blood was shed for many (Mt 26:28) and that he had come to give his life as a ransom for many (Mk 10:45) are proof for the doctrine of limited atonement.”

Sig Becker, Objective Justification, 1982

Jackson – Polloi in Greek means many, and Greek is precise. This sounds like Alice in Wonderland, where words mean whatever Humpty Dumpty declares at the moment. Moreover, Becker claimed that the proper translation of the word polloi was an argument unworthy of Lutherans but typical of Calvinists, a quick shift from fantasy to guilt by association.

http://www.wlsessays.net/files/BeckerJustification.PDF

Sig Becker, 1984

“That God has punished the sins of all men in Christ finds few questioners among Lutherans who are still interested in such questions as those we are discussing today. But, sad to say, there are some Lutherans who want to be conservative and orthodox who find it very difficult to say with equal fervor and vigor that God has forgiven the sins of all men in Christ.

Anyone who is at home in the literature of the old Synodical Conference surely must know that this was the unanimous and unquestioned position of our Synodical Conference fathers. We will make no effort to demonstrate that fact with actual quotations.”

Sig Becker, Universal Justification, 1984

Jackson – This claim is pure deception, since the Missouri Synod did not teach UOJ in its 1901 catechism, as shown by Pastor Vernon Harley’s translation. Also, UOJ was not taught in Missouri statements before the 1932 Brief Statement, which was one among many. The UOJ faction has elevated the 1932 document above all previous statements, which have disappeared down the memory hole. They also choose to emphasize their 1932 statement as if it transcends and replaces the Book of Concord. That is, they choose to teach UOJ from the 1932 statement while quoting the Book of Concord.

Sig Becker, UJ, 1984

However, we should be aware that also a Calvinist, who would most assuredly reject the doctrine of universal justification, could perhaps feel perfectly at ease with the concept of objective justification. Strictly speaking, the term objective justification means that a sinner is justified by God whether he believes it or not. Many Calvinists believe that this is true of the elect. While they might therefore be willing to accept our terminology when we speak of “objective justification” they would vehemently reject the concept of “universal justification” because that would conflict with their doctrine of limited atonement.

Jackson – Here Becker admitted what former Calvinist L. P. Cruz has contended many times, knowing this from his own training and experience: Objective Justification is Calvinism. Becker’s verbal backflips do not rescue any of his new terms from the influence of Calvin, since Luther taught justification by faith alone.

http://www.wlsessays.net/files/BeckerUniversal.PDF

David Beckman

Previous to this development in the mid-19th century, Lutherans used the terms “universal justification” or  “general justification.’ Even Stoeckhardt, a contemporary of Schaller and Francis Pieper, is more comfortable  with the older term, “general justification.” In an article entitled “General Justification,” he states, 

The article of justification remains pure, firm and unshaken if we keep in mind the statement of  doctrine and faith concerning general justification, if we hold firmly that the entire world of  sinners has already been justified through Christ, through that which Christ did and suffered. (George Stoeckhardt, “General Justification,” Concordia Theological Monthly, 42 (April, 1978), p. 140.)

David Beckman, 1983

Jackson – “General” is a vague term to translate the original German word – allgemeine. The German adjective means “every single one,” so universal is the best translation. All these writers dance around the truth that they are promoting a new concept, alien to the Lutheran Church and the Confessions. However, Halle theologian George Christian Knapp taught it before Walther landed in America.

http://www.wlsessays.net/files/BeckmanUniversal.PDF

Bourman

But, sadly, Satan worked and continues to   work within the Lutheran ranks. Some wanted to make justification an act of God “at the moment of faith” and so   they denied and even rejected universal, objective justification. For instance, Gottfried Fritschel in his article Zur Lehre von der Rechtfertigung made a false distinction between reconciliation and justification. He wrote that the whole world, with the exception of no one, has been reconciled with God in Christ. Forgiveness of sins is bought for all men. However, only when the sinner has experienced the wrath of God and in faith takes hold of Christ, only   then does God look on him in Christ. In regard to justification he uses phrases like “now and not before” in regard   to the act of justification.

Nate Bourman, 2010

Jackson – The Holy Spirit used two different terms. Most UOJ fanatics recognize that “justification” always means “justification by faith” in the Bible and the Book of Concord. From the context, reconciliation means the Atonement.  The Stormtroopers can make their argument work only by making the Atonement of Christ and justification by faith the same action. Therefore, they cannot articulate any meaning for the Means of Grace which is harmonious with their bizarre claims.

Link needed

Deutschlander

Our Lutheran Confessions have no separate article on Objective Justification; the closest we can come to a paragraph of formulation for this doctrine is in Article IX of the Formula of Concord, under the doctrine of election. But even that is not really sufficient or suitable for stating the orthodox position in a clear and unequivocal manner. For our Fathers it was not difficult at all to consider objective and subjective justification under the same heading, and they were apparently unaware of any need to separate them or distinguish between them. But such was and remained the case only so long as the orthodox had a clear understanding of the nature of faith; once that understanding was gone, it became necessary (at the end of the last century) to begin making such as distinction.

Daniel Deutschlander, 1977

Jackson – If only the greatest theologians of the Christian Church (Luther, Melancthon, Chemnitz, Chytraeus) had enjoyed the wisdom and foresight of the Synodical Conference! Lacking here is the fact that Pietism brought UOJ to the Lutheran Church, through Halle University. The Synodical Conference began attacking faith, the chief attribute of the Christian, according to Luther, while teaching justification without faith.

http://www.wlsessays.net/files/DeutschlanderDistinction.pdf

Buchholz

The forgiveness acquired by Jesus for all at the cross gives us confessional Lutherans, among all the church bodies of the world, the highest motivation to share our Savior. In contrast to the “Jesus Saves” churches, we don’t preach a salvation that is incomplete and just waiting for the sinner to do something to complete the transaction. We proclaim boldly, “Jesus Saved,” past tense, finished, certain… God’s objective justification not only saved us (sic – sentence fragment, automatic fail in Freshman English 101).

Jon Buchholz, 2005

Jackson – District President Buchholz told me, a few years after giving this paper, that “no one in WELS teaches that everyone is saved.” Not having this revelation from the Essay Files, I still replied, “There was an evangelism campaign in WELS recently. The banner for the public said – “I am saved, just like you.”

http://www.wlsessays.net/node/390

Reim

We have seen that the terminology of an objective and a subjective justification is common property within our Synodical Conference. There is no reason why we should not use it in our discussions with each other. Nevertheless we still have a preference for the simpler terminology of a general or universal, and of a personal justification, To use these simpler terms will show that we are concerned about the substance of the doctrine rather than one single mode of expressing it.

Edward Reim, 1955

Jackson – All the replacements for “justification by faith” mean “universal forgiveness, without faith.” A hog in a tuxedo is still a hog.

http://www.wlsessays.net/files/ReimHistory.pdf

Jungkuntz

The direct consequence of this change in the relationship between God and man was the justification of the whole world, the declaring of every sinner righteous before God. For that is the meaning in positive terms of what St. Paul here states negatively: “not imputing their trespasses unto them.” It is impossible to overemphasize this statement. For in our own time, even in our own Synodical Conference, this vital truth is being endangered, both by direct attack and by neglect.

Richard Jungkuntz, 1954

Jackson – In fact, no aspect of the Christian faith should be emphasized at the expense of another. The chief characteristic of a sect is to make one concept their sole fake Gospel message – rapture, holiness code, ecstatic speech and behavior. UOJ has turned the revealed mystery of the Atoning death of Christ for the sins of the world into an alien opinion – universal forgiveness without the Word, without faith, grace without the Means of Grace. Where did God reveal this precious truth?

http://www.wlsessays.net/files/JungkuntzReconciliation.pdf

Wendland

On Romans 5, 19 he [Lenski] comes out with the flat statement: “Nowhere in the Bible is any man constituted or declared righteous without faith, before faith,” all asseverations and argumentations to the contrary notwithstanding.” Dr. Lenski plainly recognizes no biblical doctrine of objective justification and is very clear in stating so. His divergence from Dr. Stoeckhardt on this point cannot merely be passed off as an exegetical question of minor consequence, since it involves the central teaching of Scripture, the articulus stantis et cadentis ecclesiae.

E. Wendland, 1951

Jackson – By calling UOJ a “biblical doctrine,” Wendland condemned Lenski by definition. OJ is biblical, so anyone doubting it is against the Bible. And – Lenski disagreed with Stoeckhardt! But here, gentle readers, is where UOJ turns from heresy into lunatic, slapstick comedy – denying justification without faith is a sin against the Chief Article of the Faith, the central teaching of Scripture, the article on which the Church stands or falls. The Chief Article is “justification by faith” and not universal forgiveness without faith.

http://www.wlsessays.net/files/WendlandJustification.pdf

Zarling

We quote from President Mischke's newsletter of June, 1982.

A word of caution may, however, be in place. It may be well to remind ourselves not to divide "objective" and "subjective" justification as if they were two totally different things which can be treated in isolation from one another. They are rather the two sides of the same coin, and there can be no "saints" or salvation without faith. To teach otherwise would indeed be universalism. (Mischke, C.H. The President's Newsletter, June, 1982.)

Jackson - Jay Webber recites the same nonsense, “two sides of the same coin,” even though he makes fun of WELS all the time and mocks the Mankato leadership unless he is near the Little Vatican on the Prairie at the moment. SP Carl Mischke was the worst leader of WELS, ever, until Gurgel took over for 14 years. Mischke promoted UOJ and the Church Growth Movment, making Paul Kelm the theological leader of the sect.

Becker asserts

We are not pressing the word beyond what it can bear if we say that, when Paul says that God justifies the ungodly, he is asserting that God declares the unbeliever just. The fact that the unbeliever by rejecting God's verdict deprives himself eternally of the joy and comfort that this message gives does not make the declaration of God untrue. (Becker, OJ, 1982, p. 3)

Zarling, 1983

Jackson – Judas Iscariot, Hitler, Mao, and Stalin are guilt-free saints too. That is still being taught at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. No wonder the Synodical Conference of today has rested its hopes of the money given them by a divorced adulterer.

http://www.wlsessays.net/files/ZarlingJustification.pdf

LCMS Pastor Vernon Harley - Acknowledging the Opposition

The Thankful Man, by Norma Boeckler

I met Pastor Harley and his wife, around 1998, in Fairmont. He is with his Savior now.

I had a chance to look at his writing as I re-worked the format on his articles. He is an ideal writer, especially for someone dealing in theological topics. He teaches the Scriptures much better than the seminary professors.

First of all, he acknowledges the opposing argument and presents it fairly. The UOJ writers never do this. They ignore and refuse to name anyone who disagrees with them. Worse, they construct one straw man logical fallacy after another and heroically knock it down. Those anonymous people who teach justification by faith are "synergists" and "Calvinists." Their "faith is in faith." They "stab the Gospel in the heart." The UOJ fanatics never support their accusations with citations from the opposition. I dare readers to go through the list of UOJ essays and find one author who does this - the most elementary of all theological methods.

Paul acknowledged the opposition with his "God forbid" responses, not to mention many other examples throughout his epistles.

Pastor Harley wrote, "This is what they claim" and quoted the opponents with the citation. Anyone can find the complete essay. Moreover, he is fair in his assessment.

Logical fallacies do not exist alone. A weak argumentation is always short on facts, research, and citations, but long on personal attacks - the ad hominem. The idea behind yelling "Synergist!" and "Calvinist!" is to reduce the opposition to unworthy slime not worthy of a serious reply. Both terms are used properly when supported. Pastor Harley carefully pointed out what synergist means and how that term fits UOJ so well.

Pastor Harley's style reminds me of other old-time LCMS pastors, and traditional WELS pastors too. I mentioned Pastor Lehenbauer to someone recently and learned he was still alive, retired. I remember him describing a conflict and his calm response to it, not bragging at all, just describing how he handled it. Harley's writing is like that - calmly addressing the issues.

I challenge the UOJ Stormtroopers to follow Pastor Harley's example and deal with the actual issues, instead of citing the same old talking points. Readers - look over the citations in a UOJ essay. You will see from the footnotes that they endlessly recycle unwarranted claims about their precious fad, from:
1. C. F. W. Walther.
2. Stoeckhardt.
3. Engelder.
4. Eduard Preuss, who became a Roman Catholic theologian - a fact never mentioned in the quotation.
5. The early Robert Preus, during his Church Growth phase, not the final work of the theologian.
6. Luther, when he wrote about the chief article of the Faith, but never admitting that he meant justification by faith, not UOJ.

Now WELS has an ever-growing pile of UOJ essays stored in their anointed WELS Essays File. They can--and do!--cite one another, like pot smokers inhaling the thick haze in the room while admiring their own drug-fueled wisdom.