Monday, March 7, 2011

The Bigwigs Will Always Do
What They Have Always Done Before

WELS teaches Willow Creek doctrine and worship, but does Willow Creek ever teach Lutheran doctrine and worship?
Ask Paul Copycat Kelm, geezer chaplain.


I laugh when people think the newest church politicians are going to change what has been happening.

The church politicians make it to the big time by going along with everything, knowing how dissent is punished.

They move adroitly into copying what has happened before, because it is just another stage in their career of conformity. They continue to do what they have done before, and the results are the same.

Some may ask, "Why is Ichabod so good at doctrinal polemics?" The reason is - practice. I have engaged apostates ever since my earliest days in the LCA. I argued with the professors in seminary and made fun of their weirdest theories. One was that a book revealed the author's secret knowledge of Christ, which was never known until about 1970. I repeated that and laughed out loud. The book was dropped from the course at once, although it was read out loud, solemnly, before that.

Likewise, I read from a book about Tillich at Notre Dame, where his liberal theologian friend called the adulterer a pagan. The professor was aghast as I said, "And that is his friend from Union, repeating what Union Seminary liberals said." The professor is now occupying an endowed chair at Harvard while I write a blog "no one reads." But at least I am good at it.

I studied comparative doctrine at Notre Dame, which was a good place to do it. We could argue doctrine in class, because there was no repeat after me dogma. That was a good start for WELS, where no one knew or adhered to Lutheran doctrine. Working in Columbus among adulterous false teachers, with divorce and alcoholism being the least of their sins, I learned the Book of Concord and its history. I had to find out for myself what the doctrinal issues were. The olde Syn Conference simply repeated the Crypto-Calvinist era, and it grows worse each day.

I never saw pastors who hated Lutheran doctrine and worship as much as the Columbus gang did. They even refused to have circuit meetings. One would think that the VP of the district and the circuit pastor would not need to have their feet put in the fire for the most basic of pastoral functions. But they did. And they made circuit meetings a farce too.

So laugh out loud when the ecclesiastical bigwigs say, "You can reform us only in the ways we allow, using the methods we dictate, while we pummel you." They conformists bullies are good at what they do, running everything into the ground.

Meanwhile, the useless Boomer pastors and laity will have this on their account - They are the reason everything has gone this way. They have done almost nothing, waiting for someone else to do it for them. The Boomer children will have few church jobs waiting for them. Churches and schools are closing at a record rate.

Flanking the Ecclesiastical Bullies

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

ELCA Sues Chinese Lutherans To Get Back the Property Given to Them

The pastor of HerChurch, which is totally pagan now, closed the congregation whose property was given to the Chinese Lutherans.
Now ELCA wants it back and is going to court for it.
Hey, ELCA, we thought only Missouri did that!
 
 

American Lutheran Publicity Bureau

Here's an interesting story. One of the congregations that has left the ELCA in the Sierra Pacific is Life Lutheran Church, Richmond, CA, one of two Chinese ministries in the synod (the other one left as well). Some years ago they had been given the property of a closed congregation (closed, actually, if I recall correctly, by the present pastor of herchurch.org). Now the synod's attorneys are telling them that they must vacate the property and turn it back to the synod. The justification for this is that when the synod deeded the property to the congregation, there was a clause in the deed saying that it would revert to the synod should it ever ceased to be used in mission in the furtherance of "this church." Now "this church" clearly is the way the ELCA refers to itself (rather grandiosely, IMO), and in the ELCA constitution it is clear that when they say "this church" it's the ELCA they are talking about. It does not, however--or so I've been told--say this in the deed by which the property was conveyed to the congregation. And so the legal question is an interesting one, since one has to read it against the clear constitutional provision that when a congregation leaves to affiliate with another Lutheran denomination (and they have affiliated with LCMC, as I understand it), they keep the property.

Interesting legal questions aside, I'm astonished that the synod wants to put itself in the situation of bringing suit to recover property given to an ethnic minority congregation, located in a place where the ELCA had been unable to keep a viable congregation going.

I have to admit that I have a special feeling about this congregation, since before they were given this property by the synod, they rented space from a Methodist congregation that was my first assignment in my previous life (though that was long after I was gone).

ELCA Congregational Newsletter Shows Disintegration

Liberty is the natural product of God's Creation.


This ELCA congregation in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, tried to leave ELCA but fell short a few votes.

The newsletter shows that the congregation's members and staff are breaking up over the failed vote. In many cases, a failed vote has meant a new congregation forming almost immediately.

Even ELCA calls those votes to leave the synod "successful." Sometimes the bishops have to be honest, if only for a moment.

This congregation gives about $6,000 per week in offerings and has a very large staff.

ELCA takes every opportunity to divide and conquer. Notice that the required 66% vote is difficult to obtain on almost any serious matter. That is why I was pleasantly surprised to see congregations finally moving against the Lavender juggernaut.

ELCA began by saying, "Only a few are leaving." That was true for a month or two. The exodus gathered momentum. Now ELCA is going to be especially thuggish, which will only push congregations out faster and more effectively.

Thanks to blogs, Twitter, and email, Lutherans are no longer slaves to the lying. spineless church executives. ELCA is so bad that six bishops have jumped ship. Even slowly warmed frogs in the kettle will ask, "What's cooking?"



The Frog in the Kettle is Fuller Seminary's text on introducing change slowly, until the frog is boiled and dead. WELS loves the book, having cooked many congregations to death with it. Look at their hero, Change and Change Founder James Aderman (FICL editor, too).
Some frogs wake up and jump.

Aderman suggests kissing a lot of frogs,
apparently mistaking the origin of the name Wartburg.

ELCA Coming Unglued - Lutheran Papacies Do Not Last

"You asked for it. You got it. ELCA.
The other synods are next.
Freedom!"


South Dakota Synod, ELCA

Congregations Voting to Leave the ELCA

Congregations that voted to leave the ELCA prior to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly

Romsdal, Hudson – 5/14/06
Skudesnes, Pierpont – 10/12/08
St. John’s, Hecla – 6/28/09
Trinity, Houghton – 6/28/09
Congregations that have voted to leave the ELCA since the 2009 Churchwide Assembly

Lands Lutheran, Hudson
1st Vote – 10/4/09 – 71 leave, 4 stay
2nd Vote – 3/7/10 – 67 leave, 6 stay

Trinity Lutheran, Hudson

1st Vote – 10/11/09 – 22 leave, 4 stay
2nd Vote – 3/28/10 – 27 leave, 1 invalid

Trinity Lutheran Platte
1st Vote – 12/13/09 – 69 leave, 1 abstain
2nd Vote – 3/15/10 – 56 leave, 0 stay East Lake Andes Lutheran, Armour
1st Vote – 12/13/09 – 36 leave, 13 stay
2nd Vote – 3/28/10 – 50 leave, 8 stay

First American Lutheran, Tripp

1st Vote – 02/07/10 – 53 leave, 26 stay
2nd Vote – 5/9/10 – 59 leave, 9 stay, 1 abstain
Bethlehem Lutheran, Pierpont
1st Vote – 12/20/09 – 12 leave, 0 stay
2nd Vote – 5/12/10 – 12 leave, 0 stay
American Lutheran, Castlewood
1st Vote – 2/14/10 – 52 leave, 23 stay
2nd Vote – 5/16/10 – 61 leave, 29 stay

Hope Lutheran, Delmont

1st Vote – 3/28/10 – 18 leave, 5 stay, 3 no choice
2nd Vote – 7/11/10 – 20 leave, 0 stay

Ladner, Evangelical Lutheran, Ladner

1st Vote – 4/14/10 – 40 leave, 0 stay
2nd Vote – 7/14/10 – 37 leave, 0 stay

Little Missouri Lutheran, Capitol MT

1st Vote – 4/18/10 – 12 leave, 0 stay
2nd Vote – 7/25/10 – 19 leave, 0 stay
First Lutheran, Philip
1st Vote – 5/30/10 – 44 leave, 2 stay
2nd Vote – 8/29/10 – 48 leave, 2 stay, 1 abstain

Trinity Lutheran, Midland

1st Vote – 5/30/10 – 29 leave, 0 stay
2nd Vote – 8/29/10 – 28 leave, 0 stay

Our Savior Lutheran, Long Valley

1st Vote – 5/30/10 – 15 leave, 0 stay
2nd Vote – 8/29/10 – 22 leave, 0 stay
Deep Creek Lutheran, Midland
1st Vote – 6/27/10 – 12 leave, 0 stay
2nd Vote – 9/5/10 – 9 leave, 0 stay
Shepherd of the Hills, Lead
1st Vote – 6/27/10 – 47 leave, 14 stay, 2 abstain
2nd Vote – 9/26/10 – 59 leave, 8 stay
# Immanuel Lutheran, Whitewood
1st Vote – 7/11/10 – 40 leave, 0 stay, 2 abstain
2nd Vote – 10/10/10 – 48 leave, 2 stay
St. Peter Lutheran, Armour
1st Vote – 7/11/10 – 64 leave, 16 stay
2nd Vote – 10/10/10 – 61 leave, 11 stay
Christ the King Lutheran, Newcastle, WY
1st Vote – 9/19/10 – 67 leave, 3 stay, 1 abstain
2nd Vote – 12/19/10 – 63 leave, 0 stay
# Trinity Lutheran, Lake Norden
1st Vote – 10/10/10 – 74 leave, 0 stay
2nd Vote – 1/16/11 - 65 leave, 0 stay
#  Pending synod council approval – former LCA congregation

Congregations that have passed the first vote to leave the ELCA
Hayti Lutheran, Hayti
1st Vote – 11/7/10 – 77 leave, 7 stay
2nd Vote – 3/6/11
New Hope Lutheran, Hayti
1st Vote – 11/7/10 – 59 leave, 5 stay
2nd Vote – 3/6/11
Holy Cross Lutheran, Aberdeen
1st Vote – 12/5/11 – 41 leave, 23 stay
2nd Vote – TBD
Grace Lutheran, Menno
1st Vote – 12/19/10 – 83 leave, 18 stay
2nd Vote – 3/27/11

Our Savior’s Lutheran, Menno

1st Vote – 12/19/10 – 18 leave, 3 stay
2nd Vote – 3/27/11
Christ the King Lutheran, Yankton
1st Vote – 1/9/11 – 40 leave, 3 stay
2nd Vote – TBD

Badger Lutheran, Badger
1st Vote – 1/30/11 – 34 leave, 4 stay
2nd Vote – TBD * Being Disputed

Congregations that have failed the first vote to leave the ELCA
Canton Lutheran, Canton
1st Vote – 9/27/09 – 80% to stay

Evangelical Lutheran, Langford

1st Vote – 11/15/09 – 31 leave, 91 Stay
Hope Lutheran, Delmont
1st Vote – 1/17/10 – 14 leave, 15 stay

Leganger Lutheran, Toronto

1st Vote – 1/17/10 – 51 leave, 69 stay

American Evangelical, Milbank

1st Vote – 6/27/10 – 194 leave, 100 stay
1st Vote – 8/8/10 – 209 leave, 147 stay
Brandon Lutheran, Brandon
1st Vote – 8/29/10 – 249 leave, 196 stay
Trinity Lutheran, Letcher
1st Vote – 10/31/10 – 11 leave, 27 stay
Our Savior’s Lutheran, Huron
1st Vote – 12/6/10 – 55 leave, 45 stay
American Lutheran, Presho
1st Vote – 2/13/11 – 37 leave, 23 stay
Hope Lutheran, Sioux Falls
1st Vote – 2/13/11 – 168 leave, 88 stay

***

GJ - I used to think that nothing could pry congregations loose from ELCA. They were slapped and spit upon from Day One, when ELCA formed with lawyers leading the meetings. The attitude was: "Shut up. Sit down. Listen. Vote. Pay."

They got away with this, with only a marginal number of congregations and pastors leaving, 1987-2009, 22 years of grace...as they all like to say. The lavender triumph in 2009 changed that.

Missouri, WELS, and the Little Sect on the Prairie think they are in control of their property. They push out any minister who threatens Holy Mother Synod, and HMS is easily threatened.

All that can change in a moment.

---

Northeastern Iowa - ELCA.

Congregational
Vote Results

St. Timothy Lutheran Church
Hudson, Iowa
1st Vote Failed: 11-29-2009
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Story City, Iowa
2nd Vote Passed: 3-28-2010
Left ELCA


Zion Lutheran Church
Hudson, Iowa
2nd Vote Passed: 6-2-2010
Left ELCA.
Zion United Lutheran Church
Clear Lake, Iowa
2nd Vote Failed: 8-22-2010
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Evansdale, Iowa
2nd Vote Passed: 8-29-2010
Left ELCA
Rock Creek Lutheran Church
Osage, Iowa
1st Vote Failed: 8-29-2010
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Strawberry Point, Iowa
2nd Vote Failed: 9-12-2010

St. Olaf Lutheran Church
Belmond, Iowa
First Vote Failed: 10-10-10


First Lutheran Church
Northwood, Iowa
First Vote Failed: 10-24-10
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Monona, Iowa
2nd Vote Failed: 11-7-10
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Williams, Iowa
2nd Vote Passed: 11-7-10
Left ELCA
Salem Lutheran Church
Roland, Iowa
2nd Vote Passed: 11-28-10
Left ELCA
Elim Lutheran Church
Randall, Iowa
2nd Vote Passed: 1-23-11
Left ELCA
Bethel Lutheran Church
Story City, Iowa
2nd Vote Passed: 1-23-11
Left ELCA
Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church
Waterville, Iowa
2nd Vote Passed: 2-6-11
Left ELCA
Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church
Waukon, Iowa
2nd Vote Passed: 2-6-11
Left ELCA
St. John Lutheran Church (Western Douglas)
Plainfield, Iowa
2nd Vote Passed: 1-9-11
Left ELCA
 

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Extra Nos

Extra Nos


Myths

...I mean myths propagated by some (even so called Lutherans).

  1. That if a Lutheran stresses faith and promotes it, he is being a Calvinist. This misunderstands old Lutheranism. This is the fallacy of false dilemma.
  2. That if a Lutheran stresses faith he must be looking at faith as a form of works. Jesus and St. Paul enjoined people to faith, did they consider faith as a form of works by their admonition to believe? This is the fallacy of a category mistake.
  3. That if a Lutheran stresses faith it will lead him to being robbed of his assurance of salvation. So what is the solution? Promote the doctrine of psycho-quasi Christianized Universalism? More category mistakes and false assumptions.
  4. That a Lutheran's assurance of salvation is never shakeable. Really? Only if he is a Universalist. If it can never be shaken, why would the BoC make you run to the Word and Sacraments?
Food for thought, from Luther's Galatian 4 Sermon...

As before said, they regard faith of slight importance; for they do not understand that it is our sole justifier. To accept as true the record of Christ–this they call faith. The devils have the same sort of faith, but it does not make them godly. Such belief is not Christian faith; no, it is rather deception.
13. In the preceding epistles we have heard that to be a Christian it is not enough simply to believe the story of Christ true–the Cain-like saints possess such faith–but the Christian must without any hesitancy believe himself one to whom grace and mercy are given, and that he has really secured them through baptism or through the Holy SupperWhen he so believes, he is free to say of himself: “I am holy, godly and just. I am a child of God, perfectly assured of salvation. Not because of anything in me, not because of my merits or works, am I saved; it is of the pure mercy of God in Christ, poured out upon me.

What you didn’t know about Jane Russell « Churchmouse Campanologist

What you didn’t know about Jane Russell « Churchmouse Campanologist

Tony Kubek Correction

"I never worked at FVLHS. Nor did I ever coach baseball at FVLHS. Now, alas, I am too old (75) to begin a new career, even if I had the inclination. Our 4 children did attend the old FVLHS. Son, Tony III, has a job there."

Note to parents - please mix up the names a little more. The George Foreman formula is a nightmare for bloggers and geneologists.

Quinquagesima

Entry into Jerusalem, by Norma Boeckler




Quinquagesima Sunday, 2011

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time


The Hymn #657 Beautiful Savior 4:24
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn # 364 How Sweet the Name 4:18

The Gospel Treasures

The Hymn # 304 An Awful Mystery 4:6
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #198 He’s Risen 4:60


KJV Joel 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? 18 Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. 19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:

KJV Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Quinquagesima Sunday
Lord God, heavenly Father, who didst manifest Thyself, with the Holy Ghost, in the fullness of grace at the baptism of Thy dear Son, and with Thy voice didst direct us to Him who hath borne our sins, that we might receive grace and the remission of sins: Keep us, we beseech Thee, in the true faith; and inasmuch as we have been baptized in accordance with Thy command, and the example of Thy dear Son, we pray Thee to strengthen our faith by Thy Holy Spirit, and lead us to everlasting life and salvation, through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

The Gospel Treasures
Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

This is a wonderful, clear passage that means more to everyone as time passes.

I was at a gift store in Bella Vista, looking over many works of art, discussing local artists with one of the volunteers. She mentioned all the things in her house she was thinking of clearing out, worth many thousands of dollars.
That is a common reaction to retirement, downsizing. People start to value intangibles instead.

The Lutheran Reformers used this treasure language often in the Book of Concord. I learned in doing research that buried treasure was a common theme in the ancient world, based on reality.

People buried the bulk of their treasure when taking a long trip, or when foreigners invaded. Keeping a treasure for others was the origin of banking, because it was loaned out at interest. Jews did that, because it was forbidden of Christians. But the Knights Templar also did it, perhaps finding a way around the rules. The Knights Templar became incredibly rich through banking and trade, so they were attacked, their leader DeMolay burned at the stake on Friday the 13th, starting the day of bad luck and suggesting a name for the Masonic youth group. (I was invited to join but refused.)

Because buried treasure was relatively common, and people often died during travel or war, digging up a bag of coins and jewels was more likely than winning the lottery. Jesus used that hope in his parable of the treasure buried in a field.

KJV Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

The reason why so many crimes are committed or false doctrine spread is money.

Crime – the professor who killed three colleagues and wounded others. She shot her brother twice with a shotgun, but her parents’ wealth got the charges dropped, the evidence erased, and an emotional time-bomb sent into academic life.

False doctrine – because it belongs to Satan’s realm, it is blessed by plenty of money. If not, the prosperity coming from the Gospel eventually attracts enough wealth to subvert the Gospel and endow evil. One of the most conservative churches in America became the one of the worst because endowments made it possible – Glide Memorial in San Francisco.

An advantage of seniority is having a perspective. A teaching colleague said to me, “I lost $280,000 from my pension fund, so I will keep teaching.” He was 71. I said, “It’s only money and teaching is fun.”

There have been many bubbles in the past. I once read a history of banking in America. The author loved the Federal Reserve and thought it was the answer to all our problems with bubbles. I read that while the real estate bubble was forming. Throughout history, fortunes have appeared and vanished. Whatever something is worth – that can change overnight. The biggest private estate deal in the world went sour because the Russian mobster who bought the estate ran out of money – and demanded his deposit back. The largest real estate deal in America, apartments in NYC, has become the biggest bust in history.

The definition of treasure is tied to the First Table of the Ten Commandments. If we worship material treasure, that will occupy our hearts and displace the treasure of the Gospel. Material treasure is short-lived. The Gospel treasures are eternal.

I gave away one of my favorite novels, where a dandy from Paris posed at the fireplace, looking down on his country cousins for being so plain and unfashionable. At that moment he was completely without funds, but he did not know it. At the same time, his prospective bride was on her way to becoming one of the richest people in the land, because her father was such a miser and left her everything. And yet the novel begins with the ruin of that entire estate, to show us that all the struggles about money ended up with no one left and the house empty. Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth.

Moby Dick has a hilarious passage where the misery ship owners bargain poor Ishmael down by quoting this passage, which is a pun in the book. A “lay” is a percentage of the cargo. Since whale hunting was like searching for gold, the rewards could be vast for the owners and those having a share or a lay. Ishmael got very little in the hiring contract, but that did not matter since the whale attacked the ship and all hands were lost – except for the narrator. They were debating over something that did not last, that did not even make it to a safe harbor.

Like Ishmael, Newton (author of Amazing Grace) was stranded at sea in a shipwreck, only that cargo allowed him to live. The barrels were so buoyant that they made great life preservers. Newton repented of his evil life, became a minister, and wrote famous hymns.

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.

This is a great summary of the transitory nature of wealth. Clothing can be very expensive. We see examples of that on TV, but vermin will destroy anything over time. Even carefully preserved articles of clothing will decay. If something valuable lasts, such as diamonds and gold, thieves steal it.

Luther’s dissertation on money was that it was a weak god. It is so weak that it must be protected with fences, locks, iron safes, and armed guards. Money is such a weak god that it cannot even cure an illness. One of our famous Lutherans, Steve Jobs, is turning into a skeleton as disease robs him of his health. All the money in the world cannot cure that.

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

We should instead lay up our treasures in heaven, where nothing corrupts and thieves do not steal.

How do we do that?

First of all we place all our trust in the Word of God. The Gospel is repeatedly called a treasure in the Book of Concord, as Jesus clearly teaches in this lesson and the parable in Matthew 13. This treasure is so great that a man sold all he had to obtain the field with the treasure in it.

The comparison is clear. All that we have is less valuable than that place where the Promises of God, the real treasure can be found. The Word is far more precious than all our goods combined.

The Gospel is priceless because its power creates faith and pronounces us innocent, righteous, forgiven, through that faith. It is also priceless because this comes to us because of God’s grace and not because of our own worth.

Most clergy would say they agree with this passage, but they put money before the Gospel in all their decisions. They cannot afford the financial penalty of fighting against error, so they go silent, or worse – go out of their way to curry favor by undermining anyone who would sound the alarm.

The effect of silence or collusion is guaranteed – it hardens the heart. So in the name of the institution the Gospel is lost and the official proclaimers of the Gospel lose themselves in the process.




Treasure Quotations

"Thus we arrive at the apostle's meaning in the assertion that a minister of Christ is a steward in the mysteries of God. He should regard himself and insist that others regard him as one who administers to the household of God nothing but Christ and the things of Christ. In other words, he should preach the pure Gospel, the true faith, that Christ alone is our life, our way, our wisdom, power, glory, salvation; and that all we can accomplish of ourselves is but death, error, foolishness, weakness, shame and condemnation. Whosoever preaches otherwise should be regarded by none as a servant of Christ or a steward of the divine treasurer; he should be avoided as a messenger of the devil." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VI, p. 73. Third Sunday in Advent, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5,

"Thus also the devil is angry because God wants to trample him under foot by means of flesh and blood. If a mighty spirit were opposed to him, he would not be so sorely vexed; but it greatly angers him that a poor worm of the dust, a fragile earthen vessel defies him, a weak vessel against a mighty prince. God has placed his treasure, says St. Paul, in a poor, weak vessel; for man is weak, easily aroused to anger, avaricious, arrogant, and weighed down with other imperfections, through which Satan easily shatters the earthen vessel; for if God would permit him, he would soon have utterly destroyed the whole vessel." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 268. Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity, John 4:46-54; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:12

"Therefore you should not imagine it is enough if you have commenced to believe; but you must diligently watch that your faith continue firm, or it will vanish; you are to see how you may retain this treasure you have embraced; for Satan concentrates all his skill and strength on how to tear it out of your heart." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 255. Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity, John 4:46-54


"Let a prince give a person a castle or several thousand dollars, what a jumping and rejoicing it creates! On the other hand, let a person be baptized or receive the communion which is a heavenly, eternal treasure, there is not one-tenth as much rejoicing. Thus we are by nature; there is none who so heartily rejoices over God's gifts and grace as over money and earthly possessions; what does that mean but that we do not love God as we ought?" Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 190 Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 22:34-46

"If I only kept in mind that He gave me eyes, truly a very great treasure, it would be no wonder if shame caused my death, because of my ingratitude in that I never yet thanked Him for the blessing of sight. But we do not see His noble treasures and gifts; they are too common. But when a blind babe happens to be born, then we see what a painful thing the lack of sight is, and what a precious thing even one eye is, and what a divine blessing a healthy, bright countenance is; it serves us during our whole life, and without it one would rather be dead; and yet no one thanks God for it." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 129. Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity Luke 7:11-17

"The Master uses here the Hebrew, which we do not. 'Mammon' means goods or riches, and such goods as one does not need, but holds as a treasure, and it is gold and possessions that one deposits as stock and storage provisions." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed. John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 107. Trinity 15 Matthew 6:24-34

"It is a faithful saying that Christ has accomplished everything, has removed sin and overcome every enemy, so that through Him we are lords over all things. But the treasure lies yet in one pile; it is not yet distributed nor invested. Consequently, if we are to possess it, the Holy Spirit must come and teach our hearts to believe and say: I, too, am one of those who are to have this treasure. When we feel that God has thus helped us and given the treasure to us, everything goes well, and it cannot be otherwise than that man's heart rejoices in God and lifts itself up, saying: Dear Father, if it is Thy will to show toward me such great love and faithfulness, which I cannot fully fathom, then will I also love Thee with all my heart and be joyful, and cheerfully do what pleases Thee. Thus, the heart does not now look at God with evil eyes, does not imagine He will cast us into hell, as it did before the HS came...." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 279. Pentecost Sunday John 14:23-31.

"Here are no learned, no rich, no mighty ones, for such people do not as a rule accept the Gospel. The Gospel is a heavenly treasure, which will not tolerate any other treasure, and will not agree with any earthly guest in the heart. Therefore whoever loves the one must let go the other, as Christ says, Matthew 6:24: 'You cannot serve God and mammon.'" Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, I, p. 154. Christmas Day Luke 2:1-14; Matthew 6:24.

(10) "What I have done and taught, teach thou, My ways forsake thou never; So shall My kingdom flourish now And God be praised forever. Take heed lest men with base alloy The heavenly treasure should destroy; This counsel I bequeath thee." The Lutheran Hymnal, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941, Hymn #387. Romans 3:28. (10) "What I have done and taught, teach thou, My ways forsake thou never; So shall My kingdom flourish now And God be praised forever. Take heed lest men with base alloy The heavenly treasure should destroy; This counsel I bequeath thee." The Lutheran Hymnal, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941, Hymn #387. Romans 3:28.

"Therefore, do not speak to me of love or friendship when anything is to be detracted from the Word or the faith; for we are told that not love but the Word brings eternal life, God's grace, and all heavenly treasures." What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1411f. Ephesians 6:10-17.

"Thus we see what a very splendid thing Baptism is. It snatches us from the jaws of the devil, makes us God's own, restrains and removes sin, and then daily strengthens the new man within us. It is and remains ever efficacious until we pass from this state of misery to eternal glory. For this reason everyone should consider his Baptism as his daily dress, to be worn constantly. Every day he should be found in the faith and its fruits, suppressing the old man, and growing up in the new; for if we want to be Christians, we must practice the work whereby we are Christians. But if anyone falls from baptismal grace, let him return to it. For as Christ, the Mercy Seat, does not withdraw from us or forbid us to come to Him again even though we sin, so all His treasures and gifts also remain with us." What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 61. Article on baptism, 1529

"Therefore, do not speak to me of love or friendship when anything is to be detracted from the Word or the faith; for we are told that not love but the Word brings eternal life, God's grace, and all heavenly treasures." What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1411f. Ephesians 6:10-17.

"Faith is that my whole heart takes to itself this treasure. It is not my doing, not my presenting or giving, not my work or preparation, but that a heart comforts itself, and is perfectly confident with respect to this, namely, that God makes a present and gift to us, and not we to Him, that He sheds upon us every treasure of grace in Christ." Apology of the Augsburg Confession, IV. #48. Justification. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 135. Not in Tappert. Heiser, p. 36.


"These treasures are offered us by the Holy Ghost in the promise of the holy Gospel; and faith alone is the only means by which we lay hold upon, accept, and apply, and appropriate them to ourselves. This faith is a gift of God, by which we truly learn to know Christ, our Redeemer, in the Word of the Gospel, and trust in Him, that for the sake of His obedience alone we have the forgiveness of sins by grace, are regarded as godly and righteous by God the Father, and are eternally saved." Formula of Concord, SD, III 10, Righteous of Faith before God, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 919. Tappert, p. 541. Heiser, p. 250.

(8) "What is the world to me! My Jesus is my treasure, My Life, my Health, my Wealth, my Friend, my Love, my Pleasure, My Joy, my Crown, my All, Bliss eternally. Once more, then, I declare: What is the world to me!" Georg M. Pfefferkorn, 1667, "What Is the World to Me," The Lutheran Hymnal, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941, Hymn #430. 1 John 2:15-17. "

(3) Hollazius (ib.): 'The Word of God, as such, cannot be conceived of without the divine virtue, or the Holy Spirit, who is inseparable from His Word. For if the Holy Spirit could be separated from the Word of God, it would not be the Word of God or of the Spirit, but a word of man. Nor is there any other Word of God, which is in God, or with which the men of God have been inspired, than that which is given in the Scriptures or is preached or is treasured up in the human mind. But, as it cannot be denied that that is the divine will, counsel, mind, and the wisdom of God, so it cannot be destitute of the divine virtue or efficacy.'" Heinrich Schmid, Doctrinal Theology of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, trans., Charles A. Hay and Henry E. Jacobs, Philadelphia: United Lutheran Publication House, 1899, p. 505.

"Thanks to the dogma of Purgatory, how many souls follow the recommendation of Our Saviour, and lay up to themselves treasures in Heaven, thus becoming rich before God (Matthew 6:20; Luke 12:21)?" Martin Jugie, Purgatory and the Means to Avoid It, New York: Spiritual Book Associates, 1950, p. 29. 381 Fourth Ave, NY 16, NY Matthew 6:20; Luke 12:21.

"The Gospel shows the Father's grace, Who sent His Son to save our race, Proclaims how Jesus lived and died That man might thus be justified. (2) It sets the Lamb before our eyes, Who made the atoning sacrifice, And calls the souls with guilt opprest To come and find eternal rest. (3) It brings the Savior's righteousness Our souls to robe in royal dress; From all our guilt it brings release And gives the troubled conscience peace. (4) It is the power of God to save From sin and Satan and the grace; It works the faith, which firmly clings To all the treasures which it brings. (5) It bears to all the tidings glad And bids their hearts no more be sad; The heavy laden souls it cheers And banishes their guilty fears." Matthias Loy, 1863, "The Gospel Shows the Father's Grace" The Lutheran Hymnal, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941, Hymn #297. John 3:16.

"Indulgences are, in the Church, a true spiritual treasure laid open to all the faithful; all are permitted to draw therefrom, to pay their own debts and those of others." Rev. F. X. Schouppe, S.J., Purgatory, Illustrated by the Lives and Legends of the Saints, Rockford: TAN Books and Publishers, 1973 (1893), p. 195. "Therefore it is pure wickedness and blasphemy of the devil that now our new spirits, to mock at Baptism, omit from it God's Word and institution, and look upon it in no other way than as water which is taken from the well, and then blather and say: How is a handful of water to help the soul? Aye, my friend, who does not know that water is water if tearing things asunder is what we are after? But how dare you thus interfere with God's order, and tear away the most precious treasure with which God has connected and enclosed it, and which He will not have separated? For the kernel in the water is God's Word or command and the name of God, which is a treasure greater and nobler than heaven and earth." The Large Catechism, Part Fourth, Of Baptism. #15-16. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 735. Tappert, p. 438. Heiser, p. 205f.

"Here you see again how highly and precious we should esteem Baptism, because in it we obtain such an unspeakable treasure, which also indicates sufficiently that it cannot be ordinary mere water. For mere water could not do such a thing, but the Word does it, and (as said above) the fact that the name of God is comprehended therein. But where the name of God is, there must be also life and salvation, that it may indeed be called a divine, blessed, fruitful, and gracious water; for by the Word such power is imparted to Baptism that it is a laver of regeneration, as St. Paul also calls it, Titus 3:5." The Large Catechism, Part Fourth, Of Baptism. #26-27. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 739. Tappert, p. 439f. Heiser, p. 206. "Thus faith clings to the water, and believes that it is Baptism, in which there is pure salvation and life; not through the water (as we have sufficiently stated), but through the fact that it is embodied in the Word and institution of God, and the name of God inheres in it. Now, if I believe this, what else is it than believing in God and in Him who has given and planted His Word into this ordinance, and proposes to us this external thing wherein we may apprehend such a treasure?" The Large Catechism, Part Fourth, Of Baptism. #29. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 739. Tappert, p. 440. Heiser, p. 206.

"Without faith it profits nothing, notwithstanding it is in itself a divine superabundant treasure. Therefore this single word (He that believeth) effects this much that it excludes and repels all works which we can do, in the opinion that we obtain and merit salvation by them. For it is determined that whatever is not faith avails nothing nor receives anything." The Large Catechism, Part Fourth, Of Baptism. #34. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 741. Tappert, p. 440. Heiser, p. 207.

"Thus you see plainly that there is here no work done by us, but a treasure which He gives us, and which faith apprehends; just as the Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross is not a work, but a treasure comprehended in the Word, and offered to us and received by faith. Therefore they do us violence by exclaiming against us as though we preach against faith; while we alone insist upon it as being of such necessity that without it nothing can be received nor enjoyed." The Large Catechism, Part Fourth, Of Baptism. #37. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 741. Tappert, p. 441. Heiser, p. 207.

"For this reason let every one esteem his Baptism as a daily dress in which he is to walk constantly, that he may ever be found in the faith and its fruits, that he suppress the old man and grow up in the new. For if we would be Christians, we must practise the work whereby we are Christians. But if any one fall away from it, let him again come into it. For just as Christ, the Mercy-seat, does not recede from us or forbid us to come to Him again, even though we sin, so all His treasure and gifts also remain. If, therefore, we have once in Baptism obtained forgiveness of sin, it will remain every day, as long as we live, that is, as long as we carry the old man about our neck." The Large Catechism, Part Fourth, Of Baptism. #84-86. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 753. Tappert, p. 446. Heiser, p. 209f.

"For herein you have both truths, that it is the body and blood of Christ, and that it is yours as a treasure and gift. Now the body of Christ can never be an unfruitful, vain thing, that effects or profits nothing. Yet, however great is the treasure in itself, it must be comprehended in the Word and administered to us, else we should never be able to know or seek it." The Large Catechism, Sacrament of the Altar. #29-30. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 759. Tappert, p. 449f. Heiser, p. 211. "This faith He Himself demands in the Word when He says: Given and shed for you. As if He said: For this reason I give it, and bid you eat and drink, that you may claim it as yours and enjoy it. Whoever now accepts these words,and believes that what they declare is true, has it. But whoever does not believe it has nothing, as he allows it to be offered to him in vain, and refuses to enjoy such a saving good. The treasure, indeed, is opened and placed at every one's door, yea, upon his table, but it is necessary that you also claim it, and confidently view it as the words suggest to you." The Large Catechism, Sacrament of the Altar. #34-35. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 761. Tappert, p. 450. Heiser, p. 212.

"For neither you nor I could ever know anything of Christ, or believe on Him, and obtain Him for our Lord, unless it were offered to us and granted to our hearts by the Holy Ghost through the preaching of the Gospel. The work is done and accomplished; for Christ has acquired and gained the treasure for us by His suffering, death, resurrection, etc. But if the work remained concealed so that no one knew of it, then it would be in vain and lost. That this treasure, therefore, might not lie buried, but be appropriated and enjoyed, God has caused the Word to go forth and be proclaimed, in which He gives the Holy Ghost to bring this treasure home and appropriate it to us. Therefore sanctifying is nothing else than bringing us to Christ to receive this good, to which we could not attain ourselves." The Large Catechism, The Creed, Article III, #38, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 689. Tappert, p. 415. Heiser, p. 194.

"For where He does not cause it to be preached and made alive in the heart, so that it is understood, it is lost, as was the case under the Papacy, where faith was entirely put under the bench, and no one recognized Christ as his Lord or the Holy Ghost as his Sanctifier, that is, no one believed that Christ is our Lord in the sense that He has acquired this treasure for us, without our works and merit, and made us acceptable to the Father. What, then, was lacking? This, that the Holy Ghost was not there to reveal it and cause it to be preached; but men and evil spirits were there, who taught us to obtain grace and be saved by our works." The Large Catechism, The Creed, Article III, #43-44, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 689. Tappert, p. 416. Heiser, p. 194f.

"For the Word of God is the sanctuary above all sanctuaries, yea, the only one which we Christians know and have. For though we had the bones of all the saints or all holy and consecrated garments upon a heap, still that would help us nothing; for all that is a dead thing which can sanctify nobody. But God's Word is the treasure which sanctifies everything, and by which even all the saints themselves were sanctified. At whatever hour, then, God's Word is taught, preached, heard, read or meditated upon, there the person, day, and work are sanctified thereby, not because of the external work, but because of the Word, which makes saints of us all. Therefore I constantly say that all our life and work must be ordered according to God's Word, if it is to be God-pleasing or holy. Where this is done, this commandment is in force and being fulfilled." The Large Catechism, The Third Commandment, #91-2. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 607. Tappert, p. 377. Heiser, p. 175. Exodus 20:8-11. Luther:

"True, the enthusiasts confess that Christ died on the cross and saved us; but they repudiate that by which we obtain Him; that is, the means, the way, the bridge, the approach to Him they destroy...They lock up the treasure which they should place before us and lead me a fool's chase; they refuse to admit me to it; they refuse to transmit it; they deny me its possession and use." (III, 1692) The. Engelder, W. Arndt, Th. Graebner, F. E. Mayer, Popular Symbolics, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p. 5.

"These means are the true treasure of the church through which salvation in Christ is offered. They are the objective proclamation of faith which alone makes man's subjective faith possible (Augsburg Confession, Article V). The Formula of Concord (Solid Declaration, Article XI, 76) states expressly that God alone draws man to Christ and that he does this only through the means of grace." Walter G. Tillmanns, "Means of Grace: Use of," The Encyclopedia of the Lutheran Church, 3 vols., Julius Bodensieck, Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1965, II, p. 1505.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

The Road to Perdition (Universalism) Starts at Halle University, Travels Through Fuller Seminary, and Goes Interstate at WELS/ELS/LCMS

Knapp's English text invented the double justification scheme favored by Walther and later the Synodical Conference. The UOJ leaders stomped out justification by faith, which was taught in Missouri and WELS for a long time.



Scheiermacher, Halle student and professor, dropped SJ from double justification.
He was a key intellectual leader for Karl Barth, Fuller's pivotal theologian. 
Barth was also a Universalist.

Tholuck was a self-proclaimed Universalist, but considered a transition figure between the old Halle Pietists who believed something and the new Pietists who believed nothing in the Scriptures.



Karl Barth and his mistress Charlotte Kirschbaum wrote the Dogmatics together, nestled in a lonely cabin, until she moved in with his family. She attended a Communist convention, representing him!
Barth trained the new leadership of Fuller Seminary,
which caused them to dump inerrancy.



Not every Shrinker has a twisted smile and spikey, streaked hair. Some have one or the other.
Rob Bell is teaching what the Syn Conference is teaching.

Rob Bell - The Fuller Seminary Universalist
WELS Wants To Emulate.
Beware the Spikey Hair

Matt's Blog

rob-bellThe internet has been abuzz this weekend with news of megachurch pastor Rob Bell's latest book, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. The book synopsis released by the publisher states that Bell is "arguing that a loving God would never sentence human souls to eternal suffering." In other words, he appears to be openly professing his belief in universalism, the belief that everybody ultimately goes to heaven regardless of what they believe.
To help you understand the position of universalism, it might be useful to describe a few positions held by theologians on the subject of how a person receives eternal life. Here are some definitions that you should know:

---

A New Me has left a new comment on your post "Avoiding Doctrinal Issues Like the Plague":

Review: A Book About Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, by Rob Bell.

Excerpts of the review found at the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/05/us/05bell.html?_r=1):

"In a book to be published this month, the pastor, Rob Bell, known for his provocative views and appeal among the young, describes as 'misguided and toxic' the dogma that 'a select few Christians will spend forever in a peaceful, joyous place called heaven, while the rest of humanity spends forever in torment and punishment in hell with no chance for anything better.'

"Mr. Bell, who through his publisher declined to comment on the book or the debate, has resisted labels, but he is often described as part of the so-called emerging church movement, which caters to younger believers and has challenged theological boundaries as well as pastoral involvement in conservative politics."

"While sliding close to what critics consider the heresy of 'universalism' — that all humans will eventually be saved — he never uses the term."

Wikipedia article

---

Church Mouse article supplemented by Ichabod quotations

San Francisco Congregation Returns to the ELCA - News Releases - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Hanson Wonders Why ELCA Continues To Shrink

Chanting: "I already know your answer, Brett."



San Francisco Congregation Returns to the ELCA - News Releases - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America


ELCA NEWS SERVICE
March 4, 2011
San Francisco Congregation Returns to the ELCA
11-025-JB
[Click for larger image] Sierra Pacific Synod Bishop Mark Holmerud, center, declares St. Francis an ELCA congregation at the Feb. 27 worship service. At left is Grant Burger, St. Francis member and liturgical assistant, and in background, Bishop's Associate Nancy Feniuk Nelson. (Photo by Megan Rohrer)
     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- St. Francis Lutheran Church, San Francisco, rejoined the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) late last month by ratifying a new constitution and celebrating its return in a special worship service Feb. 27.
     The Rev. Mark W. Holmerud, bishop of the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod, Sacramento, preached and formally received the congregation, describing the service as "joyous, healing and celebrative."
      In 1990 St. Francis called the Rev. Ruth Frost and the Rev. Phyllis Zillhart as its pastors. At the time, both were not eligible for the ELCA clergy roster because church policy did not allow people in same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA pastors. At about the same time, another San Francisco congregation, First United Lutheran Church, called the Rev. Jeff Johnson as its pastor. Johnson was also ineligible to serve.
      After an ELCA disciplinary proceeding, the congregations were found to be in violation of church policy. They were suspended from the ELCA roster of congregations and removed in 1996.
      In 2009, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly directed that ministry policies be changed to allow eligible candidates in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA clergy and professional lay leaders. Frost, Johnson and Zillhart were all received as ELCA pastors in 2010 after new policies were put in place.
     "There is a lot of joy from the congregation and from supporters throughout the country," said the Rev. Robert Goldstein, pastor of St. Francis, in an interview with ELCA News. Goldstein said when he was called to St. Francis in 2005, members had mixed feelings about the ELCA. Some remarked that they didn't expect to witness St. Francis' return to the ELCA in their lifetimes, he said.
     "When we had this service on Sunday afternoon, it was just exceedingly joyous.  It's a service I'll never forget," he said. The high point was Holmerud's declaration that the congregation was a duly constituted congregation of the ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod, said Goldstein, who presided over the liturgy. The Rev. Nancy M. Feniuk Nelson, bishop's associate, presided at communion. About 200 people attended.
     "People in this congregation have a very strong sense that the church is bigger than the congregation. We look forward to participating in the wider church," said Goldstein, who plans to retire June 1. St. Francis will be recognized at the synod assembly, he added.
      "This was a really important moment for the congregation, for our synod and for the ELCA. I was honored to be a part of that," he said in an interview.
     Despite its removal from the ELCA St. Francis has maintained relationships with congregations in the Sierra Pacific Synod. Members also attended synod assemblies but could not vote.
     "There is a sense that this is a new life," Holmerud said. "In my sermon, I said they are one of over 10,000 congregations in the ELCA. They understand the focus of their ministry continues to be about justice and representing the ELCA well to the city of San Francisco."
      Holmerud presented the congregation with a certificate recognizing its ELCA membership. The congregation presented Holmerud with a copy of its new constitution and a letter of intent. Members also presented the synod with a statue of St. Francis made of wood.
     Meanwhile, members of First United Lutheran Church attended St. Francis' celebration, including their pastor, the Rev. Susan M. Strouse. She said First United members are discerning "whether or not to join the ELCA."
     Members have met with Nelson to begin work on required changes to the congregation's constitution and plan to submit it for review in April, Strouse said. She added the congregation plans to continue discussions about the pros and cons of rejoining the ELCA.

Seminarians Plea for Mercy from Harrison



bruce-church (http://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) -":

The LCMS (or some synod within a synod part of LCMS) is sending a missionary to Philadelphia (video link below). The way the LCMS runs missions, they require a million bucks to field each missionary. I understand the IC gets a big cut of the pie. I cringe whenever I see President Harrison go on a Mercy Journey since he's probably distributing a million buck each time. He ought to go on a Mercy Journey to his own seminaries and distribute a million in cash to needy seminary students:

http://steadfastlutherans.org/?p=14076

***

GJ - How about blowing a million dollars suing four elderly women, so Missouri can steal the church property?

There is no pizzazz in supporting seminary students. World missions create free world travel opportunities.

The LCA world hunger boss managed to travel to every country in the world, to inspect his field of labor.

Pope John the Malefactor went on world trips to celebrate the harrowing of the Little Sect on the Prairie.

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) -

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) -


***
GJ - Tony Kubek wrote to Rick Techlin on the blog, Light from Light, so Tony is sympathetic:

Light from Light

Dear brother Rick,

I agree completely with your frustration!

I have had discussions with some of the same men you have regarding unresolved doctrinal issues in the Northern Wisconsin District of the WELS. I have not been satisfied by their responses. Understanding that the church militant will never see perfection this side of Heaven because of our sinful nature, my hope is that the divisions in our district’s congregations and, among its members, will be resolved expeditiously by those entrusted with the care of doctrine and practice.

In Christ,
Tony Kubek

---
He is a member of Mt. Olive.

---


Toney (sic) Kubek set priorities


Author: Barry Jennerjohn and Stephen Wolfrath

Tony Kubek is a familiar face to many people involved with Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Appleton, Wisconsin. Baseball fans undoubtedly see him often during the season doing play-by-play on NBC. Yet, for many here, Kubek is more familiar because he is seen at the school games. He has even coached some students during their years at FVL. Being so close to him makes one think of him as just another face in the crowd--not the well-known personality he is.

While he seems like an "average" guy, he's quite a remarkable person. While his achievements are many and his work schedule very busy, he still finds time for all who ask for it.

---

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Dictatorial Doug and His Infamous Letter":

Layman Tony Kubek is one who was CC'd.

Kubek now lives in Appleton, Wisconsin and is a supporter of the Fox Valley Lutheran High School and its baseball team
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Kubek

Also, development Coordinator at Fox Valley Lutheran High School

And with classic (W)ELS proof reading flair here's an article titled: Toney Kubek set priorities

http://archive.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1712&cxDatabase_databaseID=1&id=6212&magazine=Forward%20in%20Christ

***

GJ - He must be toned, toney, because of athletics.

Oh my, the results of a superior ejukationul system!

Jeff Gunn is the big hero at Church and Change, for being anti-Lutheran. There he is Jeff Gun (sic).

---

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) -":

Churches - How to Build One From Scratch
Pastor Jeff Gunn

Crosswalk - Phoenix, AZ
Pastor Gun (sic) is also a great resource for:

Marketing a Church a Target Community
Small Groups - Starting them Successfully
Contemporary Music - Doing it up
Outreach Methods - Getting Involved
Researching Alternative Ministry Methods and Models - How To Do It and Pull Workable Ideas From It

Email: jeff@crosswalkinlaveen.org
Website: www.crosswalkinlaveen.org

http://www.churchandchange.org/site/cpage.asp?sec_id=2384&cpage_id=10166&startletter=C


Also, photos from (W)ELS DP Pastor Jon Bucholz (sic)
http://archive.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?2905&dpCollection_collectionID=3&dpCategory_categoryID=*&offset=320&query=White

---

Kubek living Hall of Fame life outside of baseball

Sports050a Tony Kubek's induction Sunday into Major League's Baseball Hall of Fame was a homecoming of sorts for the former New York Yankee shortstop and longtime TV announcer.

After 37 years in the bigs that included three championships, three all-star nods and a Rookie of the Year honor, Kubek got out and didn't look back. The call to Cooperstown last December put his name back on the sports pages and to those who connected with the game while listening to Kubek and Curt Gowdy on NBC's "Game of the Week," this was a surprising but welcome development.

Sports Couch Potato

Enthusiasm and the WELS Low-archy*

I designed a new window for St. Peter in Freedom,
but it would be hard to explain to the Pentecostals when the building has to be sold.



The Church of Rome is a font of Enthusiasm, but others covet their Enthusiasm and copy it, maladroitly.

One sign of Rome's Enthusiasm is the infallibility of the Pope - and not just any pope but all popes. "The Holy Spirit will not allow him to err."

The Holy Spirit and the pope work together, according to this strange opinion. But Ichabod readers know that the Holy Spirit works only through the Word and never apart from the Word. For that reason, "the Word" can be substituted for "the Holy Spirit" in many passages of the Bible.

KJV Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost [through the Word] which is given unto us.

KJV Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost [in the Word].

KJV 1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth [in the Word]; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Therefore, Rome teaches falsely that the Holy Spirit will not allow the Pope to make a mistake in doctrine, because the Word teaches us that all men are fallible, that only the Word is infallible.

One WELS pastor told a layman, "I have to agree with the Circuit Pastor, because the Holy Spirit put him in that office. I am not going to argue with the Holy Spirit." John Lawrenz said he debated the Third Person of the Trinity, but the Holy Spirit won, after a long struggle.

The WELS constitution has the Doctrinal Pussycat appointing the Circuit Pussycat, perhaps leading some to confuse the DP with the Holy Ghost. Doug Englebrecht, captain of the Leakin' Lena, must think he is the Holy Ghost. He is already writing about himself in the third person. I know how DPs like to brag about their power, but not about the power of the Word, which they never use.

The DP often has the Circuit Pussycat on his own staff, and the CP is the only one who can bring charges against the DP. That leads to the SP saying he has no power over the DPs or CPs, only over the budget.

The pastors duck whenever these galoots clear their awesome throats, so that leaves the laity in charge of wielding the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word.

The ordained eminences make sure that only the get-along-go-along laity serve on the boards and committees, so the laity who wield the Sword are outsiders...or soon will be. The laity did not attend the beerfests at Watertown and Mequon. They did not balance a jimmie on their knees in Greek class. They are not theological experts who can make Zwingli sound like Martin Luther.

The first pope to reject infallibility realized that the concept would be used to tie his hands. He dodged that one, but Pope Pius IX embraced it many centuries later. One cardinal argued against him, "Dad, you are not infallible. Mom told me so." Pope Pius won and punished all who doubted Him, fulfilling the prophecy of 2 Thessalonians 2. The Pope makes himself to be God within the temple of God and is treated as if He were God. (Some Catholics capitalize the pronoun, because the Pope is allegedly Christ on earth.)

Lutheran Enthusiasm, which is not Lutheran at all, embraces the infallibility of Holy Mother Synod, whether LCMS, WELS, ELS, CLC (sic), or CLC (ugh), etc. That has tied up everyone in knots, because the political seminary faculties cannot address any issue except to say "Amen!" to Holy Mother Synod. Needless to say, these seminary professors are as useless as a milk bucket under a bull, as my dairy farmer uncle used to say.

To be precise, the infallible Roman organization is called indefectible. Naturally, they confuse all passages about the invisible, true Church with their own demon-factory.

All the Lutheran synods are united in doing exactly the same thing. Suggesting that the organization might be fallible is reason enough for automatic expulsion and heavy-duty shunning.

The Mennonites could take lessons from Lutherans in shunning, and that applies to all of the Lutheran groups, from ELCA on up. Lutherans have added "the stare." The look is is potent as the basilisk's, as deadly as Medusa's. Having leprosy would be a social improvement for the outcast Lutheran. No wonder so many mouth the platitudes of Sweet, Stetzer, and Driscoll. They fear "the stare."

The solution is a careful study of the Book of Concord, not another immersion in the Pietism of the olde Syn Conference. Some of those authors had good points, and I am glad to quote them when they are in harmony with the Word. But the recent writings of the Syn Conference do not compare with the Lutheran Confessions, Luther's Sermons, Chemnitz' books, or Chytraeus.

* - Hierarchy seems too elevated for a tiny sect of the Upper Midwest, so I am adding Low-archy to the Icha-slang dictionary. Memorize the term and use it often in complete sentences. Example - "Doug Englebrecht is a member of the WELS low-archy."

---

sober-spirit (http://sober-spirit.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Enthusiasm and the WELS Low-archy*":

Always remember that Doug Englebrecht as a member of the WELS low-archy endorses and promotes disorganized religion – another way of saying that anything goes.

---

bruce-church (http://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Enthusiasm and the WELS Low-archy*":

That's what people have been saying for years--that with the WELS mix of written and unwritten rules against finding fault with the synod or pastors, and its doctrine of UOJ where they are forgiven of any sin even before they sin, that for all intents and purposes, they hold the same infallibility doctrine that Rome does.