Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Women's Ordination Advances Under the Watchful Eye of SP Schroeder



Don't forget to submit names!!!


Any names can just be emailed directly to me at aarondb@hotmail.com.

Thanks,

Aaron Boehm
AZ/CA CAD Chairman
Many thanks to those of you who have submitted names of qualified women in your congregations to serve as Women’s Ministry Congregational Contacts (WMCC).  For those of you who haven’t yet been able to do so, please pass on to the DCAD the name of a woman in your congregation who might fit the following criteria:
Those who are to be considered for positions as WMCC would be women who are faithful in the public use of the means of grace and who have given evidence of a strong personal devotional life. In addition to the spiritual qualities mentioned above, here are other characteristics that would be beneficial for someone serving as a WMCC: 
·       Has an active awareness of women’s ministry within her congregation;
·       Is a team player who will communicate well with her pastor and others in leadership;
·       Has zeal and enthusiasm for women’s ministry;
·       Possesses computer skills that would help her communicate with the district;
Action items for the WMCC would include:
·       Become familiar with the Heirs Together Bible study;
·       Receive information from the WMDC and inform her congregation (the called workers and overall leadership) of Women’s Ministry information and resources available and of Women’s Ministry events occurring nationwide or locally
·       Collect, record and send to the WMDC ideas of women’s ministry events/activities that are working well in her congregation
·       Become familiar with online resources provided by the WMC at www.wels.net/women;
It is our prayer that women’s ministry at all levels will support the work of Adult Discipleship by assisting WELS congregations to equip women to use their gifts to God’s glory and the benefit of his kingdom here on earth (adapted from the WM job description).

WELS Hydra


rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Proof That Doing the Same Thing Over, and Expectin...":

The CG methods in the WELS have morphed into the mythical hydra. If you cut off one head, two grow in its place. The lack of pastoral care to long time members is good evidence that the congregation has gone to the dark side.

Mr Meyer, you are correct that the laity eat this rat poison as quick as they can. This outreach thing is another head of the hydra. If you oppose it, then you do not care about saving souls. As mentioned in a previous post, it is now called community outreach. What it amounts to is having some sort of how-to series that has to do with life enhancement. Any civic organization could be doing that, and probably do a better job at it. But, the theory is that the community is unaware of the congregation, even though many may drive by it every day. They are so afraid of proclaiming the Gospel, that they have resorted to more gimmickry.

"Infants Are Justified Before They Are Baptized"

You owe us an answer, Jay.
U - O, J!




LPC has left a new comment on your post "Not Even Lutheran":

I would love to hear Jay Webber explain that riddle.

I would love to hear an answer to that too.

LPC

Another Large Church Leaves ELCA



Grace Lutheran Church, Springfield, Ohio

SPRINGFIELD — With 86 percent of its voting members’ approval, Springfield’s Grace Lutheran Church is leaving the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American (ELCA) to become a charter member of the North American Lutheran Church (NALC).

A posting on the church’s website reports the results of the second of two votes the move required.
The website reports that on Jan. 16, of the 292 eligible ballots, “250 eligible members voted to approve the proposal ... an 86 percent majority.”
Seventy-eight percent voted in favor of the move when the first vote was taken Oct. 17. A two-thirds majority was required on both votes.

Senior Pastor Daniel Powell declined comment Monday.
Grace follows Springfield’s Trinity Lutheran Church in leaving the ELCA to become charter congregations in the NALC, decisions that followed the ELCA’s gradual liberalization of its views on homosexuality.
In the summer of 2009, the ELCA voted to give congregations the option of blessing of life-long same-sex unions and hiring homosexual clergy in committed same-sex relationships, reversing the traditional stance that homosexuals are called to remain abstinent. The policies took effect in April 2010.

According to the NALC January newsletter, Grace and Trinity are among 100 congregations that have joined the denomination since its founding in Columbus last summer.
The Grace posting describes the NALC as a “renewed Lutheran community” at “the theological center of Lutheranism in North America ... committed to the authority of the Bible as the inspired Word of God.”

John Brooks, associate executive director of the ELCA News Service, said that as of Jan. 6, 334 congregations had taken successful second votes to leave the ELCA. Before the policy change, the ELCA comprised 10,239 congregations.

The Law as the Means of Grace

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Des Moines, Wash.

January 23, 2011
“Love Takes Time” – Week 3
Colossians 4:2-6
Take Time for Your Neighbors!
1. By your earnest prayers
2. By your own actions
Hymns: 241 – 525 – 521
All Scripture quotations from the NIV
Colossians 4:2-6 – Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Imagine you have been unjustly imprisoned. False accusations have been made against you. You have had no other choice but to appeal to a higher court in the land, so you await your trial, imprisoned indefinitely. What would be on your mind now? What would you be praying about now? Would earnest prayers be rising from your heart to God’s throne for your situation? Would you plead with God that he would see fit to free you? Would you pray that the legal system would work smoothly and justly? Wouldn’t you be praying hard about your situation?
A year passes. No progress has been made in your upcoming hearing. What are your thoughts? Wouldn’t your prayers rise up to God even more earnestly about your situation?

Two years pass. Won’t your prayers be directly to God even more earnestly about your situation? How about after three years? Four years?

Such was the plight of the Apostle Paul. He was under arrest for four years before significant progress was made in his case, two years in Palestine and then two years under house arrest in Rome. What was on his mind? His thoughts in our reading do not drift to his own condition at the time. They don’t plead with God for his quick release. They are not inwardly directed at all, although we would not fault Paul for such prayers. In our reading today, Paul prays for outreach to people who are not believers in Christ! As he writes to the church in Asia Minor in Colosse, he thinks about their neighbors.

As we continue our sermon series called “Love Takes Time,” which our Wisconsin Synod churches are following, we focus on the fact that our Christian love compels us to “Take Time for Our Neighbors!” Using the words of Paul to the Colossians in the New Testament, let us learn this lesson and see:
1. This will involve your earnest prayers
2. This will involve your own actions
1 – Our reading begins: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.”

If you would like to read the full context of these words that Paul wrote to the Colossian church, you would need to read Acts 21-28. Paul had come to Jerusalem, a very dangerous place for him to be due to the hostility of the Jewish leaders. He was accused unjustly of bringing a Gentile into the Temple area and an uproar arose, instigated by the Jewish leaders. Paul was arrested by the Roman governor, who held him for two years. Paul then decided to appeal to a trial before Caesar himself, a right he held as a Roman citizen. After a harrowing voyage to Rome, Paul ended up being held under house arrest for two years, awaiting his trial. It was under these circumstances that Paul writes the words of our text in a letter he sent to the church at Colosse in Asia Minor.

As we said before, his words amazingly instruct them to think about their neighbors, their fellow men around them who did not know or believe in Jesus as their Savior yet. Paul tells them to “Take Time for Their Neighbor!”

Paul’s words inform them that this will take their prayers. Paul tells them to “devote themselves to prayer,” literally the word for power and strength: “Be strong in prayer.” Paul tells them to be “watchful” in prayer, much like Jesus’ words to “watch and pray.” Paul tells them to have “thanksgiving” as they pray. Amazing words from an unjustly imprisoned man!

Paul tells them they are to pray for two things as they think about their neighbor. First, they were to pray that God would give Paul an open door. The picture, of course, is that God would open up avenues through which people around Paul could hear the message of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, so that they could believe in him as their own Savior.

Was it really necessary for the Colossians to pray about that? Aren’t these doors always open? Doesn’t God want all people to hear and believe the message of Jesus Christ, who died for the sin of the world?

It was necessary for the Colossians to pray for this for a few reasons:
God dictates the opportunities to share the message of Christ. You might recall that on his second missionary trip, Paul wanted to travel north of Asia Minor into an area called Bithynia. In Acts 16 it says that “the spirit of Jesus would not allow them” to go in that direction! God’s will eventually became clear that he wanted them to travel west to Greece with the message of the gospel to cities like Corinth, Thessalonica, and Philippi. God dictates the doors that open!
God alone can convert hearts to believe this message. Many of you no doubt remember the memory verse “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” Man can witness about the message, but only God can open doors in the heart to believe.

3. Paul currently had limited open doors. Under house arrest, his work of spreading the gospel had not been as free as in years past.

Prayers to God that he would open doors for Paul and the gospel were very fitting!

Paul also tells them to pray that God would help him to “proclaim it clearly, as he should.” Paul did have guards that were around him. Paul was allowed visitors while he was under house arrest. Paul was also going to have the chance to speak for himself in the future when his case was called. He undoubtedly felt the pressure of searching for the right words to speak. Perhaps he might even feel a temptation to soften the message of Christ and his mission as he looked ahead to what he would say. He prayed that God would wing his words.

Let’s pause here to apply this first lesson that Paul taught the Colossians to our own lives. As you consider the theme “Take Time for Your Neighbors,” Paul instructs you that this begins with prayer. “No objections!” you say. “I stand ready to pray for the advancement of the gospel.”

You do? When was the last time you prayed for your own pastor’s Sunday message that he was preparing? When a pastor sits down a week or more ahead of time to begin study and contemplation for a Sunday message, he does it with much fear and trembling. It is the biggest item on his weekly “to do” list. Have you prayed on a Tuesday or Wednesday that God would bless your pastor as he wrestles with the law and gospel he’s been given for that week? The People’s Bible commentary on these verses make an interesting point that many church members might be ready to criticize and critique something with their pastor rather than be ready first to offer God their prayers for him. Your two pastors welcome your prayers to God’s throne for their sermon messages!

Have you prayed for our Holy Trinity Lutheran School students and teachers lately? Every school day religious instruction is being given via Catechism classes, Bible history, or hymnology. Certainly you have been praying about this! Have you prayed for your called teachers to teach clearly and that God blesses their instruction? Have you prayed for the Evergreen Lutheran High School faculty that you support? Have you prayed for our home and world missionaries around the globe who carry the gospel? Surely you have! You have no objections to praying for the advancement of the gospel, right?

The People’s Bible commentary has an interesting thought along these lines. The writer says, “Any number of missionaries have told us that they are convinced that it is only through the prayers of the Christians ‘back home’ that they are blessed with the special strength they need to fulfill their often difficult and dangerous calling. Some of the most cherished encouragement I have ever received in my personal ministry came from a kind and concerned ‘matriarch’ of a large family in my congregation who, before the Lord took her to her eternal home, assured me frequently, ‘Pastor, our family is praying for you.’ ”

Also, have you been praying for our church’s outreach to our own community neighbors? Our Christmas campaign? Our school contacts? Our own members’ words of gospel that they share?

When we realize we have fallen short in our prayers, God lead us to repent! May we thank God that he has sent that gospel message of Christ crucified for us first, to heal our sin-sick soul. Then may we resolve to take time. Take time to pray for the advancement of that gospel through our pastors and called workers and through our congregation!

2– Paul gives us one other way that we can take time for our neighbor in these verses. He writes, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Time spent is not only going to involve the Colossians’ prayers. It will also involve their actions.

To set the stage for Paul’s words, what exactly were outsiders’ thoughts toward Christians in the Roman Empire? Normally, they were not favorable. Oftentimes Christians were called “atheists” by unbelievers. They were called this because they worshiped an unseen God. They were also labeled as “unpatriotic.” After all, they would not burn incense in worship of the emperor. Christians often did not have a good reputation.

What did Paul encourage them to do, to attempt to win outsiders over for Christ? First, he told them to let their conversation be seasoned with salt. Speak with salt! What did Paul mean? There’s a great difference between food that has salt and food that does not have salt. If you enjoy popcorn, I don’t imagine many of you like your popcorn without a stich (sic) of salt. In fact, it makes it quite unpalatable. I don’t imagine many here would like their eggs without any type of seasoning on them, salt or otherwise. Seasoning can make all the difference in dishes. That’s why a shaker is available right on the counter or the table in many of your kitchens. Paul says that their speech was to have seasoning. It was to be pleasing, gracious, courteous, kind, and palatable. It happened because they were to be “wise” in the way they spoke and acted toward outsiders. James 3 speaks about such Christian wisdom: “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

The opposite type of speech would be worldly speech characterized by foulness, impatience, and anger. It would be speech that broke the 2nd Commandment in the use of God’s name and the 8th Commandment in the way words would hurt their neighbor.

Their example in “seasoned” speech was to be Christ himself. Christ represented his heavenly Father perfectly. Christ spoke in love. Yes, Christ spoke clearly and honestly when it came to calling sin a sin, but when he was persecuted and put on trial he did not lash out in sin and anger. The Colossians “seasoned,” pleasant speech would be a good reflection of their Savior and their heavenly Father.

The second directive Paul gives is that they are to “make the most of every opportunity.” This is an interesting Greek phrase in the original language. Literally, Paul uses the word for “buy.” He says that they are to “buy up” time. In our idioms we might say “snap up” the time. Some English translations say “redeem the time.”

Do you like to snap up deals? Have you ever been at the store when there’s a tremendous buy on a certain item and you get ten or twenty of them? You fill your cart because the time is right; do it now! Don’t wait around, for who knows when the deal will be over? That’s how Paul told them to look at their witnessing opportunities toward their neighbor. Make the most of time. Don’t delay! They didn’t know when they’d have another opportunity to speak about the Savior and they didn’t know when the Lord would return to judge the world. Witnessing was an urgent matter!

Does this describe you? Do you think this way when you think about your neighbor and others around you in daily life? Do you have this same concern for your neighbor’s salvation?

How do you view your neighbors to begin with? Answers among you all would vary:
Perhaps your neighbor is the one you just hope to tolerate
Or the one who makes life inconvenient for my family
Or your rival!
Or the one who is disruptive, especially on Friday and Saturday nights
Or is one to avoid
Or are “those slobby people”
Or one you have a “wave relationship” with – They’re the one you wave to (albeit courteously) when they’re in the driveway at the same time, and that’s all the deeper your relationship gets.

Or worse yet, you might not even know who they are.

How would Christ view the people in your neighborhood? We know from Scripture how he viewed people. He looked at the crowds once and had pity on them as “sheep without a shepherd,” meaning that he knew they were religiously lost and misled. He saw the rich young man who loved his riches and “loved him.” He went and talked with a woman at a well who was living in sin with her boyfriend, and as John 4 says, “he had to go through Samaria.” He needed to have that encounter. He hung out with “sinners” and outcasts in society because the sick needed a doctor. That’s how Jesus views your neighbors.

Do you view them in this way? Or do you need to pray, “Jesus, help me see people as you do”? The proof of our concern for them would be in how we have spiritually looked out for our neighbors in the past. How many neighbors did you bring to church as a visitor in the last year? How many neighbors by your home have you mentioned Christ to? Where does a person start?

When we wonder, we need to go back to Paul’s words in Colossians. First, let your conversation be seasoned with salt. Take time to talk to those around you in the neighborhood where God has put you. Don’t let them think for a minute that you are the crabby person down the block, or that you are always too busy or disinterested. Worse yet, would they wonder who you are?

We also make the most of the opportunities we have, snapping up the time. Time is wasting! The Lord’s return is even nearer. How much time do you have? How long will you wait? Go onto their turf in a conversation. Ask them about their life to start a conversation. And look for opportunities to build a bridge to a conversation about Jesus. Your concern and love for them will lead you to think about their eternal wellbeing!

As we close our look at taking time for our neighbors, perhaps you’ll need a time readjustment in your life. Maybe you’ll have to consciously take some time to get to know those around your home. Perhaps you’ll need to set some goals to keep you thinking about it and on task. If so, it will be time well spent for the kingdom of God.

May we learn from Paul’s words today. May we take time for our neighbor:
This will involve your earnest prayers. And this will involve your own actions.
God help us to take time for others, so we can tell them what he took time to do for them! Amen.

Tapped Out the Line of Credit?

The Faith-Tones will entertain at the next annual once-in-a-lifetime appeal.



rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "How Many Shrinker Churches in the Syn Conference W...":

Coming to a Shrinker church near you - bankruptcy! I mean the financial kind. The theological bankruptcy has already happened. As mentioned previously here at Ichabod, my former WElS congregation has engaged in Masonry Evangelism. Pardon the pun, but they have pulled out all of the stops. Naturally, they have brought in Cornerstone for the latest capital appeal and to bring new meaning to the phrase, fleecing the sheep. Now, it is community outreach.

This means getting the unchurched through the doors without the benefit of proclaiming the gospel. There is no need to proclaim forgiveness through the gospel, since all are saved anyways.

But, I wondered why they cut the veteran teacher at their school halfway through the school year. There is a sense of urgency about this. In years past, this congregation would restructure their debt, and borrow against their line of credit to meet their operating expenses. This was even how the cash crop farmers, who are members, ran their business.

But, the congregation had borrowed against their capital appeal funds that were designated for the masonry evangelism. Initially, this seemed odd. My guess is that there no longer is a line of credit to draw from, or it is already been tapped to the limit.

This would explain the cutting of the payroll - almost immediately.

I liken it to the irresponsible extended family member who does not have credit available to him through conventional lending and has to shake down others for cash.

Proof That Doing the Same Thing Over, and Expecting Different Results, Is Insanity



"It's your fault this church isn't growing.
You are afraid of change. That's the problem.
Studies show that growing churches grow because
the laity want them to grow. You don't.
We need some gro-ti-vational programs:
expensive but worth it.
More people will come if we saddle this church with debt.
Cornerstone will show us how."


"CEO OF CHURCH GROWTH"  ?
(from the "Together" WELS e-letter: Feb. 1.; article by President Schroeder)
"Schools Focus on Missions and Evangelism" is the title of President Schroeder's lead story in today's e-letter.  That's funny.  Aren't they supposed to focus on theology and doctrine?  Pastor Schroeder talks of "a mission mindset...students can keep mission work and evangelism as the focus of their lives as Christians and at the heart of what they do in their future ministry."  This seems out of balance with the needs of the congregations these students will serve.  Aren't pastors to teach the Word, administer the Means of Grace, and nurture a knowledge of the Confessions along with evangelism?  This can only be done when called workers are more focused on the Lutheran Christians in front of their faces than they are on the elusive 'targets' who never find their way into a WELS church.  This can only be done when pastors are in each members' home making certain that the spiritual leader of the family is teaching the Catechism to his family.  Maybe then at confirmation time we wouldn't have so many kids bumbling their way through the inquisition.  I wouldn't have confirmed half the kids that my pastors did because they didn't know the faith!
I can vouch for the emphasis on missions for vicars Schroeder talks about.  Our congregation had a vicar fill in one Sunday.  He spent about 5 minutes talking about the need to share the Gospel and about 20 minutes telling us how to get over our fear of talking to people. "Don't be afraid....Don't be shy...It's EASY to talk to people.  It really IS."  Who was this guy?-Pastor Dale Carnegie? 
I'm really not sure why the Synod continues to send me its materials. Schroeder himself knows that we left and why.  I especially don't understand the solicitations for WELS Kingdom Workers, special mission offerings, and for aid to the Seminary that I keep getting. We ALWAYS supported the Synod.  My wife and I tithed during periods of employment and unemployment, and in retirement. When I took my stand and "wrote a letter" last year, who supported the confessional issues I brought up concerning Thrivent and Ski/Glende?  Certainly not the President. And instead of standing by me, my pastor chastized me and attacked us personally when we left the Synod and the congregation.  Now WELS wants my ongoing financial support.  Sorry, but I could NEVER violate WELS' Fellowship Doctrine.  So here's a quarter....call someone who cares.
Cornhusker (proudly) Former WELS.
***

GJ - I heard that speech at Mequon, in homiletics class. Balge was astounded but said very little. The rant came from evangelism class and he knew who taught that - Valleskey. WELS has been nagging its members about outreach instead of proclaiming the Gospel. Gurgle used to do that, but everyone knew how dumb he was. "An empty suit," one WELS pastor said.

Schroeder is supposed to be smart, but he is saying the same things.

Sassy Sue Feeds the Birds

Norma Boeckler created this male cardinal picture, which is just what they look like outside my window.


We are in the middle of the Sno-pocalypse. At dawn we had almost nothing on the ground. A few hours later we had inches on the ground, more falling, and the roads closed. The state highway may be open, but we cannot see it through the snow.

Nevertheless, Sassy Sue and I went out to feed the birds. She was moping, because she loves going out about this time every day. Sassy pranced through the snow and chased some birds out of the bushes. By the time we were done, she was beaming, with snow on her face and back.

Snow and sleet bring out the birds, especially if they have long-term feeding stations. The blue jays were screeching near the backyard squirrel feeder, so I put another ear of corn on the spike. Some corn was left, which told me the squirrels slept in rather than brave the storm. Blue jays like the corn kernels and treat them as nuts, pecking at them while held in their claws.

Sassy and I took sunflower seeds and loose corn to the area under the front porch. Later, plenty of birds were eating from the planter-feeder and also among the rocks.

Near the window, where I work, the cardinals, titmice, and woodpeckers were feeding. Yesterday I filled up the Duncraft feeder and put in another block of suet. The basket lasted about three months, so it is the least expensive feeder. Suet baskets are also handy for those who go away on trips. The suet keeps a number of birds coming at all times. Birds, like people, enjoy plenty of company and stay wary of new or quiet feeding areas.

The ear of corn was eaten to the cob, so Sassy and I replaced it. We also scattered extra seed around the ground and behind the bushes. Birds can navigate the sides of the house with ease, so I often see them around the windows, clinging to the wood with the claws. I wonder if they are looking in to thank me or to remind me.

By coincidence, a small bird came into the garage while I was getting out seed. I had already done some feeding at that point, but neglected the snow covered spot near the garage door. I swept an area clear and put down some fresh seed. It never lasts long.

I noticed before the storm how much bird singing we hear now. One reason for singing is the male bird establishing his territory, but it is still early for that. Male cardinals are feeding together, not competing for females yes. Birds are naturally cheerful and make us feel happy with them. They have no savings, no retirement. Few of them store food, so they start the day hungry but optimistic, singing Matins, praising the Creator.

Everyone knows Sassy at the dog park. She is famous for retrieving and for catching high pop flyballs.
She loves the applause and the praise.

Another Head Fake

Thompson has a real doctorate, a rarity in the Shrinker sorority.



Dr. Glen Thompson has accepted Asia Lutheran Seminary's call to serve as a full-time professor in Hong Kong. Thompson will teach classes in New Testament history and church history. He will also work on preparing courses for non-residential seminary students that can be taught across East Asia.
"By his coming Dr. Thompson enables Asia Lutheran Seminary to serve students beyond Hong Kong," explains Dr. Steven Witte, president of the seminary. "Throughout most of its six-year history students from around the Chinese-speaking world have desired to take courses at Asia Lutheran Seminary. We believe that the additional expertise, experience, and scholarship of Dr. Thompson now make that goal realistic. We are thankful to God and our WELS brothers and sisters for sending another worker out into the harvest field."

***
GJ -
Steve Witte is a founder of Church and Change, from the notorious Fox Valley area. His "doctorate" is a DMin from Gordon Conwell. His final project was a badly written Schwaermer essay. Anyone can get it from Inter-Library Loan.

I don't know much about Thompson, but WELS would never let a Lutheran into the world mission business.

Don't forget readers, lots of men, including DPs, have to travel all over the world to check out these things, burning through more money than Congress before an election.

Not Even Lutheran



Daniel Baker has left a new comment on your post "Words of Wisdom":

I really think that Northwest SD Lutheran's last paragraph sums up the situation nicely. Pastors and teachers are simply not teaching adequately (if at all) what a vital and biblical foundation the written and sacramental Word of God is to the Church.

So-called "Lutherans" like to pretend that they present the Sacraments in their biblical truth and purity, but the reality is that they are diminished to ordinances in the same manner as they are among the Protestant sects. The Sacraments are relegated to bi-monthly (or less) mandates, which is no doubt a prominent factor behind the diminishing use of liturgy - of what use is the mass when its core and chief purpose is removed? What is the Church offering if not our crucified and risen Lord? This is why "Lutherans" are resorting to felt-needs "evangelism."

Likewise, the written Word - though widely acclaimed as of the utmost importance (as it is among the various Reformed/Evangelical sects) - is in reality seen as a document that we need to analyze and examine with our reason; one that we need to "dig deep" into in order to increase our own understanding.

This is a predominant view among Protestants and faux-Lutherans, one which directly conflicts with the work of the Holy Spirit as the life-giving Author of faith and enlightening Sanctifier of souls. We cannot accept the simple truth of the Gospel. No, we have to add SOMETHING to it. It HAS to be more difficult than it seems. Of course, this is a fallacy. As the hymnist wrote: "Nothing can be added, no word on bended knee, beyond the simple Gospel -- My Savior calls for me."

The problem, as always, is anthropocentrism. The first thing that needs to change is our man-centered ideologies with regard to the Word and Sacraments. If that occurs, all the other problems we have in the WELS (and Lutheranism as a whole) will slowly fade away.

***

GJ - Twice a month is quite an improvement over once a month. The Pietistic Lutheran standard was three times a year. In Ontario, which was a blend of orthodoxy and Pietims in the old days, Holy Communion was offered once a month and most people left during the communion hymn.

The Syn Conference is a blend of Pietism and post-Concord orthodoxy. Pietism has been victorious, so now the trendy copy-cat Emergent Church parishes (The SORE, CrossWalk) hide Holy Communion or avoid it altogether.

---

LutherRocks has left a new comment on your post "Not Even Lutheran":

What power is left in the Sacraments when all men are already forgiven according to UOJ; Before they were even born?


***

GJ - They never face their contradictions. Since a baby is justified before he is born, does he "make a decision" as J. P. Meyer said, when he is baptized? I would love to hear Jay Webber explain that riddle.