Luther's Diamond:Unbelief a Sin, The Foundational Sin - Not the Foundation of Universal Objective Justification - Timid Universalism

But the Holy Spirit, says Christ, “Will convict the world in respect of sin, because they believe not in Me.” Therefore it follows that unbelief is the right and true sin; other sins flow out of unbelief and are even the fruit from this root.
Luther, Sermons, 8 vol, ed. Lenker, III, p. 111. Fourth Sunday after Easter. John 16:8-10.

***

GJ - At LutherQueasy, the partisans of UOJ frequently fall into bouts of self-congratulations, but they never address Luther's doctrine or the Bible.

This quotation and the sermon with it prove that:

SP Harrison is not a Lutheran, because he does not teach this. Instead, he is a Walther disciple.

SP Mark Schroeder is not a Lutheran, because he and the Intrepids claque support UOJ, contra Luther and the Book of Concord.

Pope John the Malefactor is not a Lutheran, because he is just as bad as WELS, but also believes in His own infallibility.

Luther Rocks Report on Another Effort Toward Women's Ordination.SP Schroeder Is Greasing the Skids.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Precedents V

In May of 2009 we were out of CTR and in at Holy Word. I was in Soul Track Mind and happily distracted from all things churchy. I played trumpet in church occasionally; attended Bible class and that was it. In fall Pr. Patterson approached me on being nominated for an elder spot. I turned it down. I needed a break from church politics and was having the time of my life in the band. 2010 was another story as told previously. As I studied Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions in light of what happened at CTR, things started to come into focus.

WELS' first Deaconess (I welcome any corrections on the claim to fame infamy) was installed along side our Vicar last fall on the same Sunday and in the same service. In Bible class that day she was introduced as Holy Word's Deaconess of Hispanic Ministry. Some of her first words were and I paraphrase…'never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be able have this kind of a position, especially in WELS. I wonder how long before there’s a woman pastor.' She was joking, but I couldn't believe she had the guts to say that in public. When I later had a meeting with my Elder, Ron Stelljes he told me he had the same reaction. In an email to Stelljes (prior to our meeting) stating my concerns, I wrote this:

"Twenty or thirty years ago it would have been unheard of to have the office of Deaconess at a WELS church. Since Scripture does not change or the Confessions, one has to ask; what did? Jocelyn’s comment on the day she was installed to paraphrase, ‘Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect to have an opportunity like this, especially in the WELS…’ immediately caused me to ask that question.

Deaconess doesn’t appear in the KJV or the NIV; the two officially synod recognized versions of the Bible for its entire existence. The word was actually invented in the 14 or 1500’s and yet was not used in the KJV which was published after. I think there was a reason for this. Deacon (diakonos) as it appears in the Bible is always used as a masculine term. Deacon is mentioned a few times in the Bible and it seems to infer an office that was filled by a man. We see this in Acts as seven of them were chosen. We also find the expectations of a deacon in a couple of places and it always refers to men. There is a hint of a woman deacon (Phoebe) in Romans 16, and yet the church fathers used the word ‘servant’ instead. I found this source helpful in my study:

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G1249

The root word definition of running an errand is quite striking since this is what Phoebe was doing; bringing the letter of Romans to the Christians in Rome. When you look at the other definitions and given the weak evidence to support Phoebe in an office of a deacon; when looking at context and keeping in the consistency of women’s role in the church, I can see why the choice of the word ‘servant’ was made.

I am not diminishing Jocelyn’s expertise in this area nor am I saying we shouldn’t use her gifts in this ministry, but I feel it would have been more prudent to hire her as a staff member as you would a secretary or admin. assistant. I believe we are in error installing a Deaconess in our church."

A few days later I met with Ron. We discussed this issue as well as some other things. He had spoken with Pr. Patterson regarding my concerns (and no doubt forwarded my email to Pastor). Ron said that Pastor had capitulated on them more or less except for the Deaconess. They believed they were not in disagreement with Scripture. I told Ron that I did not agree. In a follow-up email to our meeting I wrote this:

“I stand by my concern about the Office of Deaconess that we have created at Holy Word. I fear we are headed down a road that is dangerous. The KJV and NIV Bibles may not have been the ‘officially’ endorsed translations, but they are/were nevertheless used because they are solid. And deaconess does not appear in them. The fact that many translations do not use this word tells me that there was trepidation regarding its use. There is conflict/contradiction with deacon which is only spoken of in the masculine in all other places of the Bible and this leaves the door open to confusion regarding women’s role in the church. My study notes say ‘probably a deaconess’, but what kind? We are willing to hang our hats on a probably? There were things that were unheard of in other denominations twenty or thirty years ago and now they are rank with apostasy. One look at ELCA is enough to make you sick. We are headed in the same direction when you look at where we were at one time and where we are now.”

When I was studying this issue regarding the deaconess role in church, I found the following article extremely helpful. It is logical and objective in regards to what is stated in the Bible on the subject. It even calls into question whether it is even proper to call a man into the office of a Deacon. I would encourage the reader to click on the link and read the article.

http://www.bibleresearch.org/articles/a8w8.htm

Here is the summary from the article:

"The early church had problem (sic) serving the needs of the widows in a fair and equitable manner. The apostles determined that the care of widows was not a part of their function or responsibility, but belonged to men of good character within the congregation.

The apostles instruct the elect to choose men to perform this task. Once men were chosen they were set apart for this service—they were not chosen by the apostles or the elders and ordained to an office.

These men were to administer and distribute the goods and services provided for the care of deserving widows within the congregation. But, they were not the personal servants or assistants of the ministry. And they were not the enforcers of the faith within the congregation.

The establishment of an office of authority denoted as Deacon or Deaconess within the congregations of the Sovereign Father's earthly family is contrary to the apostles instruction and intent."

These concerns presented to the leadership at Holy Word were disregarded. This issue became one point in a letter to Pastor Patterson and the Elders last week in the context of other practices that are symptomatic of WELS in general regarding Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions of which all Pastors and teachers give an oath to uphold.

***

GJ - My guess is that Kudu Don Patterson got a grant for another free staffer, in addition to his annual free vicar. How else could Holy Word afford African safaris? Someone has to sacrifice, and it might as well be the ordinary WELS members. If you read the pink bulletin insert, you will see that the Antioch Foundation gave Kudu Don a LARGE three-year grant. Doebler also got at least one grant from Antioch, $60,000 when he wanted $200,000. Dream big, as Parlow would say, begging works. Doebler got a three- year grant, $20,000 per year for each of three years. The first year's grant went to the musician from Mary Lou College who was on sabbatical. Where the other money went - I do not know - the trail grows cold. It was supposed to be designated each year.

The concept of deaconess was borrowed from Roman Catholics and Mennonites. The Lutheran deaconess movement was quite significant in the Muhlenberg tradition (which became a large part of the LCA). Those deaconesses were teachers and nurses. They often were in that service a short time, before they married - since all were single. One founder was rather frustrated with "marriage fever."

The nurses had an impact on all medical care through Florence Nightingale, who learned from their training. In the Crimean War, she battled night and day for better sanitary care for British soldiers and later for better nursing care at home.

Call me jaundiced, but this seems to be another case of WELS deviously abusing titles to advance the Church and Change agenda of the Enthusiasts.

Years ago I said WELS would have women pastors before Missouri. I was right. WELS does not bother to ordain theirs, but they have women leading in worship. The pastors will not fight it. They are all Wauwatose.*

*Wauwatose is a condition where all doctrinal discernment has beeen taken away by the myth of Wauwatosa's superior methods, which is just another version of Pietism.

Rogue Lutheran Has Two Fascinating Stories

Rogue Lutheran has two good stories, linked here.

RL even kelmed one of my doctrinal graphics. Feel free to use them all over, no credit is needed. If you are in stealth-Ichabod mode, you are permitted to say, "I dunno where it came from. My cousin in Borneo sent it to me." That will keep you safe, because most officials could not find Borneo on a map with a flag pinned to it.

Links back to Ichabod are always welcome, because new readers keep adding to the page-reads. I know the synod officials always read it.

One student told me most of the faculty at Mary Lou College is using Google to let them know when they are named.

RL wrote about Missouri stealing another parish property, plus the elderly women left with a $600,000 legal bill, after California-Hawaii failed to steal it from them. The district used offering money, but the parish did not have that kind of loot to skim.

I thought, under Harrison, the synod would voluntarily pay back the costs of a meretricious lawsuit. That big word comes from the Latin term for prostitute.

WELS Gathers Innocent Third Worlders To Partake in Enthusiasm

WELS, a putative confessional synod, hired Babtist Ed Stetzer, via Church and Change (aka Synod Staff) to teach the Word of God.
WELS lied about the invitation repeatedly.
This blog posted about it doggedly, reproducing the schedule from Stetzer, his mocking comments about Lutherans, and his Tweet.
The invitation that never was, was rescinded.


Representatives from about 30 countries will be gathering in Minnesota June 4 - 6 for the seventh triennial convention of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference - the largest number of countries ever to gather at a meeting of the fellowship.

The representatives include 80 delegates and advisors from at least 19 of the 21 member churches of the CELC as well as guests from about 12 other countries.  Among the attendees are the presidents of the two conferences of the Lutheran Church of Central Africa - Rev. Davison Mutentami from Zambia and Rev. Riphat Matope from Malawi.  Representatives of those countries were unable to attend the last CELC convention in Ukraine.

“The convention is a wonderful opportunity for us to give encouragement to one another in our Lutheran Christian faith,” says Prof. Thomas Nass, secretary of the CELC planning committee. “A conference like this is important to help keep our international fellowship united in doctrine and practice, as we study the Bible together and worship Christ together.”

Delegates will be meeting under the theme “Unity of Spirit – Bond of Peace” at Martin Luther College in New Ulm with a one-day visit to Bethany Lutheran College and Seminary in Mankato, the headquarters of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod.  This is the first time in the history of the CELC, founded in 1993, that a triennial convention has been held in the Midwest.    

All worship services and sessions are open to visitors. The schedule is posted on the CELC Web site.

***

GJ - The WELS definition of "confessional" consists of using the Book of Concord to fool people while aping the Enthusiasts.

Ba-zingo News Release:The Love Shack Sold.Church and Change Staff Moves to Pewaukee

The possible relocation of the synod headquarters came two steps closer to reality last week. First, a contract to sell the current administration building was finalized. The buyer is planning to raze the existing buildings and construct new facilities on the site. The sale price is $2.82 million. The transaction will not be finalized until the actual closing of the sale, which is scheduled for January 4, 2012. The closing could take place sooner if the buyer desires to begin construction prior to winter.

Second, the synod also reached agreement to purchase an existing building in the western Milwaukee suburb of Pewaukee as the new site of the synod’s administrative offices. The seller accepted an offer of $2.85 million. This transaction also does not become final until the actual closing, scheduled for July 26, 2011.

The purchase price is only $30,000 more than what will be received for the current building. While the deals are yet to be finalized, President Mark Schroeder says, “we thank God that he has blessed us with a solution that will provide the synod with a new administrative home without the use of mission dollars.” Moving costs and other building preparation will be covered with funds already on hand in the synod’s facilities fund.

The decision to relocate the synod offices was prompted by two major considerations. First, the existing administration building on Mayfair Road in Milwaukee is in need of more than $2 million in major repairs and renovation. “When a developer expressed interest in purchasing the current facility, it seemed to be a good opportunity to consider relocation,” says Schroeder.

The first relocation option considered - building on synod-owned property (such as the campus of the seminary in Mequon) – was ruled out as too costly. A committee then considered 20 existing office buildings in the Milwaukee area. The Pewaukee building stood out as ideal.

The two-story 33,000 square foot building (pictured) is only nine years old and will require only minimal changes. It also has a full basement that will provide storage space and potential space to house the synod archives. It is located adjacent to I-94 and is easily accessible.

***

GJ - Advantages to the Church and Change administration -

Rich Krause, with his fake CG "doctorate" will be next door, to keep World Missions following its disastrous Church Shrinkage agenda. Curt Peterson, atheist and CG fanatic, used to be on that board with Valleskey.

I will have to spend time reworking my Love Shack graphics.

WELS will forget what a dumb idea 2929 was in the first place.

The divider that Ron Roth (RIP) hid behind will be left and forgotten.

Wormhaven Gardening Book Rejoinder

bored has left a new comment on your post "Mark Braun WELS, WLC - Soil Testing To Make Fuller...":

Modern science believes that soil is merely an inert medium with minerals in it, so when modern practitioners test soil they only measure minerals. Testing the soil in a garden will mostly deal with N P K, three very important nutrients. The more expensive tests will give a detailed report of present micro-nutrients, magnesium, iron, manganese, calcium, etc.

What these tests can't measure is the very thing that makes soil special--countless species of microscopic critters eating and excreting, responsible for millions of chemical reactions responsible for everything from low-light photo synthesis to natural plant-created pest protection. Science refuses to believe that the biome known as "soil" is God's way of feeding and regenerating the earth. They refuse to measure the thing that makes the constituent parts work. The ignore the fact that there is more life, pound for pound, under the soil's crust than above it.

So, with the confidence that accompanies all post-modern reductionism, Scientists do their soil tests, looking only at one millionth of the equation and scornfully deeming the rest to be unimportant. They apply their synthetic fertilizers, chemically burning to death all the invertebrates, and causing plants to grow "fat", retaining free-nitrogen. Free nitrogen is candy to pests, insects and fungi.

This is metaphoric of "soil testing" for churches. Mark Braun, Paul Kelm, Mark Jeske ad nauseam, are the Church's equivalent of modern science. They "test" for the elements they think are the important ones--and this edges out the Holy Spirit and the Word. They define what growth is, and then apply any and all means that cause their definition of growth to occur. Rock music and Cell groups just happens to be the synthetic nitrogen of the day. All the problems come from it: False Justification, anti-nomianism, legalism, junking of the Sacraments, Missionary Mimes and the whole bit.

The solution is simple in gardening and evangelism: Compost is to the garden as the Word is to the lost. Both are God's ordained way of feeding. Both are simultaneously complex and simple. Someone could write a whole book on this comparison.

WELS disciplined Rev. Jeff Gunn, Church and Change hero, by electing him to the board of Willowcreek's Liberal College, Milwaukee.

Spike Jones Editing of Hymns

AC V has left a new comment on your post "Wauwatosa versus the Book of Concord":

"Few hymns left unbutchered by Spike Jones editing."

That was a LOL!

I believe this is apropos to our discussion, honey child, honey lamb:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRqWWRCT5Cs

---
YouTube comment:

Wow - Spike Jones could do more damage to a song than anyone else - and I love it. This terrific musician has done so much to boost up the morale, when it needs it, by listening to his versions of famous songs - especially the love songs. They make you laugh whether you want to or not. The influence of the fabulously talented Ink Spots is really heard here at the beginning and makes this spoof of this song pure gold. It brightens my day. Thank you for posting. - Paula

Church Growth Came In - Not On Little Cat's Feet - But As a Tornado To Wreck the Synods.Leaders Lied While Doctrine Died.

AC V has left a new comment on your post "Fools For Christ? - AC V Asks":

This needs to be repeated here for Mueller's sake:

"Only those things have been recounted whereof we thought that it was necessary to speak, in order that it might be understood that in doctrine and ceremonies nothing has been received on our part against Scripture or the Church Catholic. For it is manifest that we have taken most diligent care that no new and ungodly doctrine should creep into our churches." - Augsburg Confession, Conclusion

Hardly "complete freedom."

Wauwatosa versus the Book of Concord

Here is a good link to Wauwatosa hagiography.



AC V has left a new comment on your post "Deutschlander - UOJ Is Missing from the Book of Co...":

LPC,

I appreciate your point. I wonder, however, how seriously the Wauwatosa Theologians appreciated this phrase (in bold) from the conclusion of the Augsburg Confession:

"Only those things have been recounted whereof we thought that it was necessary to speak, in order that it might be understood that in doctrine and ceremonies nothing has been received on our part against Scripture or the Church Catholic. For it is manifest that we have taken most diligent care that no new and ungodly doctrine should creep into our churches."

While being careful not to give them the same authority as Scripture, it seems to me the Fathers considered the beneficial traditions of the "Church Catholic" to be very important in maintaining the true faith.

There is a way of worship and ecclesiology that by long use has proved most beneficial in proclaiming and maintaining pure doctrine.

New ways of worship and ecclesiology that are far different from those of the "Church Catholic" usually are a reflection of "ungodly doctrine creeping into our churches."

The "ad fontes" of the Wauwatosa theologians ought to have included the "ceremonies" and "Church Catholic" of the AC Conclusion, not above or equal to the Scriptures, but as a testimony of the Spirit's working in the Church.

These two passages come to mind from St. Paul:

"All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up" (I Cor. 10:23).

And:

"For there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized" (I Cor. 11:19).

***

GJ - I believe Dr. Cruz was addressing the entertainment aspects of Roman Catholic ceremonies. What gives sacrament-starved Protestants a buzz is often mocked among life-long Catholics. One priest shook my hand and asked, "Do you feel the thrill? I offered Mass this morning." Priests and laity are supposed to go around in a reverie after the Mass.

I see Lutheran clergy, sinuflecting toward Rome or Constantinople, aping high church without realizing they are part of the circus.

I say that with full appreciation for the traditional liturgy. I am even thinking of chanting the announcements.

The emphasis must be on the efficacy of the Word. Our worship does not have to be exactly the same, but all the synods were closer together in liturgical worship 50 years ago than they are today.

The common thread in ELCA, WELS, Missouri and the Little Sect is aping the Maggot (Emergent) Church Movement:

1. Movie screens instead of hymnals.
   
2. Hidden sacraments.
   
3. Fat bellies hanging over faded bluejeans.
   
4. Shirts best left for emergency spills and changing the oil.
   
5. Wretched music.
   
6. Few hymns left unbutchered by Spike Jones editing.
   
7. No sermons.
   
8. Messages plagiarized from Groeschel and other law salesmen.
   
9. Forcing Pietistic cell groups on the innocent.
   
10. Lawsuits and prison sentences, accompanied by synodical cover-ups.
    

Fools For Christ? - AC V Asks

AC V has left a new comment on your post "Wayne Mueller - No Church Growth Programs in WELS,...":

Mueller said, "Our Lutheran Confessions allow complete freedom among our churches in methodology that does not conflict with the gospel." Here's a simple example of how wrong Mueller is:

Because Scripture says: "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men,..." (1 Cor. 1:25)

Therefore: Clown service!

Tada! "Complete freedom" "No conflict with the gospel (because it's from the Bible)!" An "ad fontes" application of Scripture to practice.

Do you really think the Lutheran Confessions had that in mind?

Beyond Belief! - False Doctrine from Lutherans.Use the False Doctrine Graphics. Share Them with Others.

I started to include the false doctrine graphics with the sound doctrine examples. I had enough examples of Enthusiasm for a separate menu, so I created a second list. Together, the two lists show what Lutherans should be teaching compared to what they teach today.

Feel free to copy the graphics and use them. Right click to save them on the hard drive. Use Twitter and email to send them right from the blog.

I do not know which quotations made the WELS leaders more furious - the sound doctrine ones or the examples of their false doctrine. Jim Radloff, Valleskey's classmate and co-conspirator, told one pastor, "I am not Church Growth." The pastor said, "At least you have him denying it."

Denial is just another stage of lying in Lutherdom. Lacking faith in the Word, they run without shame from any discussion of sound doctrine. Those who imagine they can talk to Lutheran leaders about doctrine will find themselves on the list to be abused and kicked out.

The Lutheran sects never teach the efficacy of the Word, which is so clearly stated in these two graphics from the Book of Concord. But they pound anyone who dares to question their Universal Objective Justification.

Wayne Mueller - No Church Growth Programs in WELS, But If There Are, They Conform to the Confessions

Ying
"There is no Church Growth Movement Program in our synod. Our church body is opposed to the false theology of the Church Growth Movement. We have no programs inside or outside the budget with that name. Nor do we have any programs with a different name which utilize Church Growth theology."
Wayne D. Mueller, Administrator for the BPS, WELS, "A Response to 'Saving Souls vs. New Programs,'" The Northwestern Lutheran, November 1, 1991, February 1, 1992 p. 50.

Yang
"There may be pastors or congregations which use methodology which church growth people use. This does not mean they have adopted the theology of the Church Growth Movement. Our Lutheran Confessions allow complete freedom among our churches in methodology that does not conflict with the gospel."
Wayne D. Mueller, Administrator, Parish Services, "A Response to 'Saving Souls' vs.'New Programs,'" The Northwestern Lutheran, February 1, 1992 p. 50.

***

GJ - This preposterous double-talk led me to include Church Growth quotations from WELS, Missouri, and Fuller sources to my doctrinal database, Megatron. WELS pastors who pretend they do not know me sent me many of those sources, such as Paul Calvin Kelm's Evangelism notebooks and campus chaplain's meetings.

I had plenty of evidence on my own, because St. Paul's in German Village, where Tim Glende grew up, was the epicenter of Church Growth in the Ohio Conference. Many things were said to me in unguarded moments. A St. Paul's member sponsored my day of agony, another CG seminar from Fuller, when the new pastor, now an atheist, took a group of his members.

I published the evidence in many articles in Christian News. I even suffered through a service at Willow Creek, a major training center for WELS.

I was able to match up, almost verbatim, Fuller content and WELS content. Church Growth Eyes is one example. Promotion of Pietistic cell groups is another.

The Wisconsin Sect, like Missouri and the Little Sect on the Prairie, did not have faith enough in God's Word to resist false doctrine. For that reason, their stewardship of the mysteries of God is being taken away from them.

The children of the 1980s graduates will not have congregations to serve or schools to teach in.

Hunter - Church Growth Eyes Have X-Ray Vision

"Students of Church Growth realize that a good structure for the church that really wants to grow is the organization of celebration plus congregation plus cell. When we see the importance of the organization of the church we are looking with 'Church Growth Eyes.' We are looking from an x-ray perspective and understanding the internal organs of the body of Christ--the Church!"
Kent R. Hunter, Launching Growth in the Local Congregation, A Workbook for Focusing Church Growth Eyes, Detroit: Church Growth Analysis and Learning Center, 1980, p. 81.

"Church Growth is not another program. It is a process. The pastor and people who have 'Church Growth eyes' make up a church that sees the task of ministry as an outreach process that affects every aspect of the church: from ladies' aid to elders."
Kent R. Hunter, Launching Growth in the Local Congregation, A Workbook for Focusing Church Growth Eyes, Detroit: Church Growth Analysis and Learning Center, 1980, p. 11.

"We have discovered that the Early Church was an institution that unknowingly saw its world through Church Growth eyes. We have some benefits they did not have in that we can look back today and analyze their successes and failures."
Floyd L. Stolzenburg, "Church Growth - the Acts of the Apostles," Taught at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Columbus, Ohio

"Church Growth is not another program. It is a process. The pastor and people who have 'Church Growth eyes' make up a church that sees the task of ministry as an outreach process that affects every aspect of the church: from ladies' aid to elders."
Kent R. Hunter, Launching Growth in the Local Congregation, A Workbook for Focusing Church Growth Eyes, Detroit: Church Growth Analysis and Learning Center, 1980, p. 11.

"Discover new ways of thinking about your church and community, develop Church Growth eyes that see more accurately the various parts, the homogeneous units, the responsive segments of the community which can be won."
Donald A. McGavran and Winfield C. Arn, Ten Steps for Church Growth, New York: Harper and Row, 1977, p. 17.

"As we begin developing Church Growth eyes and see the possibilities, as we discover methods that prove effective and discard methods that are clearly ineffective, we will find ourselves in a new age."
Donald A. McGavran and Winfield C. Arn, Ten Steps for Church Growth, New York: Harper and Row, 1977, p. 19.

"As Christians refine their methods, develop Church Growth eyes, feel church growth responsibility, communicate the Gospel, and educate those who are won until they become responsible Christians, the church as a whole will receive the abundant blessing God wants to give."
Donald A. McGavran and Winfield C. Arn, Ten Steps for Church Growth, New York: Harper and Row, 1977, p. 21f.

"Church Growth Eyes. A characteristic of Christians who have achieved an ability to see the possibilities for growth and to apply appropriate strategies to gain maximum results for Christ and the Church."
C. Peter Wagner, ed., with Win Arn and Elmer Towns, Church Growth: The State of the Art, Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1986, p. 284.

"Some persons are blind to possibilities for growth, while others have eyes like eagle Scouts. If you can see the potential for growth, you have church growth eyes. If you are blind to the possibilities, you need church growth eyes."
Delos Miles, Church Growth, A Mighty River, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1981, p. 51.

"Church Growth Eyes. Sometimes the term is used in conjunction with the phrase, 'discerning the body.' Professor McGavran uses the terms almost synonymously. Both phrases are examples of how church growth science appropriates the medical model to express itself. Church growth eyes are 'a characteristic of Christians who have achieved an ability to see the possibilities for growth, and to apply appropriate strategies to gain maximum results for Christ and His Church.'" McGavran and Arn, Ten Steps for Church Growth, p. 127.]
Delos Miles, Church Growth, A Mighty River, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1981, p. 51.

"As we consider various factors and principles relating to Church Growth we need abundant, accurate information about the members of our churches. This basic principle of Church Growth is called Discerning the Body [in italics]. Pastors and lay people need to discern the Body in the congregation in which they are serving. For this, Church Growth eyes are essential."
Donald A. McGavran and Winfield C. Arn, Ten Steps for Church Growth, New York: Harper and Row, 1977, p. 61. 1 Corinthians 10.


"Discerning the Body begins with Church Growth eyes. Unfortunately, this is what many leaders, many Christians, do not have." Donald A. McGavran and Winfield C. Arn, Ten Steps for Church Growth, New York: Harper and Row, 1977, p. 63. 1 Corinthians 10.

"How can my congregation develop Church Growth eyes?"
Donald A. McGavran and Winfield C. Arn, Ten Steps for Church Growth, New York: Harper and Row, 1977, p. 72. 1 Corinthians 10.


"Growth Awareness Kit...'Church Growth Eyes' game. An enjoyable growth simulation game for large or small groups." $39.95
Dr. Win Arn, President, 1989-90 Church Leadership Resource Catalog, 2670 S. Myrtle Avenue, Suite 201, Monrovia, CA 91016 Church Growth, Inc. p. 9. 800-423-4844.

"The Institute for American Church Growth has created a card game called 'Church Growth Eyes.' The game may be used in groups to learn how to see through church growth eyes."
Delos Miles, Church Growth, A Mighty River, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1981, p. 51.

Ad Fontes Was More Like Ad Halle University - For Wauwatosa

AC V has left a new comment on your post "Deutschlander - UOJ Is Missing from the Book of Co...":

"Ad fontes" was the clarion call of the Wauwatosa theologians. "The BoC is skewing our understanding of Justification and the Ministry. We must look to the Scriptures alone."

The Wauwatosa "ad fontes" got us "UOJ" and "Every Member a Minister."

The Fathers went "ad fontes" too, and they gave us AC IV and V, crystal clear confessions of Justification by faith alone and the Ministry by which faith comes.

Mark Braun WELS, WLC - Soil Testing To Make Fuller Seminarians Swoon:Effective Church Growth Principles!

"What do people mean when they talk about effective church growth principles? Do we make God's kingdom come? 'God's kingdom certainly comes by itself,' Luther wrote. Ours is to sow the seed. We hamper the kingdom if we sow carelessly or if we do not sow at all. But we do not make it grow."
Mark Braun, "The Growing Seed, What Do People Mean When They Talk about Effective Church Growth Principles?" The Northwestern Lutheran, September 1, 1991, p. 300. Mark 4:26-29.

"Soil Testing. An evangelistic strategy that seeks out those people who are open to receiving the gospel at the present time." [Note the Mark Braun NWL article about the sower and the seed, employing this soil testing concept.]
C. Peter Wagner, ed., with Win Arn and Elmer Towns, Church Growth: The State of the Art, Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1986, p. 300.

"In my opinion, therefore, Church Growth receptivity and 'soil testing' techniques are often unfairly criticized as if they were by definition synergistic. It is a fact that some fields are, for various historical and sociological reasons, more receptive to the preaching of the gospel and church planting than others. Our home and world mission boards make these judgments all the time in deciding where to begin churches or send missionaries."
Rev. Curtis Peterson, former WELS World Mission Board, "A Second and Third Look at Church Growth Principles," Metro South Pastors Conference Mishicot, Wisconsin, February 3, 1993 p. 12 Mark 4:

"If one associates much with heretics, one finally also makes oneself partaker of their false doctrine, their lies, and their errors; for he who touches pitch soils his hands with it."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 646.

---



Charis Spawned Church and Change (WELS)
From Bailing Water

Monday, October 22, 2007

The Church and Change group is not divisive – Dr. Mark Braun


In his closing sermon at the Church and Change conference Dr. Mark Braun jokes about Rev. Mark Bartling’s understanding of the Church and Change group.

Church and Change
(if this link doesn't work go the churchandchange site and follow the audio link to the sermon)

In his sermon, Dr. Braun says that he recognizes that over the last decade groups in the WELS have become polarized. He even says that “Birds of a feather flock together” (there you go again..oh those Magpies). He further says that these organized groups could be called an ecclesiastical version of political action groups.

Rev. Braun then quotes Rev. Mark Bartling’s article from the Christian News in which Rev. Bartling said “we now have an official group in the WELS entitled Church and Change. The name itself should tell you something is wrong here.”

Dr. Braun pauses in his sermon and the Church and Change congregation erupts in laughter (at the expense of a nameless WELS pastor)

Dr. Braun goes on with his sermon and says he would like to ask this (nameless) pastor (who we know as the Rev. Bartling), “what is wrong here? Is it that we can’t put church and change in the same sentence? or the same title? Is it that if it is the church it can not change and if there is change it better not be in the church!?”

I wonder why he didn’t ask Rev. Bartling these questions directly instead of in a Conference sermon…hmmm.

Dr. Braun’s sermon goes on to emphasis the changeless Gospel in a changing church. I would invite you to listen to this quote and the entire sermon in context and post your responses.


Comments on Bailing Water

RandomDan said...
Has Church and Change even made it into the late 90s? That audio file is huge. Do these people not know how to use mp3's?

October 22, 2007 6:14 PM


Anonymous said...
randomdan brings up a really interesting point. The Church and Changers see themselves as cutting-edge innovators within the WELS, but compared to the church and the world at large, they're really far, far behind the times. The audio file is an example of this. They think they're making their churches seem cutting edge and innovative, but when a visitor compares the WELS praise band to the megachurch praise band or the WELS PowerPoint to the PowerPoint they saw last week at work, the WELS church seems cheesy and behind the times. Let's be honest, praise bands and PowerPoint aren't the strong points of the Lutheran church. Why not focus on what are our strong points--the liturgy and Scriptural doctrine? Those are the things that we can do excellently. Those are the things that can set us apart from the Evangelical churches. And yet those are the very things that C&C seek to eliminate.

October 22, 2007 6:37 PM


Anonymous said...
Here's my reaction to the sermon:

It sounded more like a defense for the existence of C&C than a sermon proclaiming law and gospel.

There wasn't really any law. Instead of calling the congregation to repentance for the times when they have lost confidence in the power of the gospel, he sought to justify their opinion that we can make the gospel more effective.

There wasn't really any gospel. He talked a lot about the gospel, but never actually proclaimed the gospel itself. He spent more time talking about old TV characters than Christ.

The sermon was filled with little jabs at those silly, unenlightened WELS pastors and people who aren't a part of their special little group. The condescending laughter after each jab revealed exactly how C&C people view the rest of us poor WELS people. (The laughter of the Pietistic cell groups in Spener's day toward the rest of the Lutheran church probably sounded quite similar.)

In short, it was a propaganda piece, not a proclamation of law and gospel.

October 22, 2007 7:03 PM


Anonymous said...
I just wanted to agree with the person who mentioned that compared to "evangelical" Christianity...our "efforts" at praise bands and what not is pretty laughable.

Plus, they can't so any live streaming nor do they seem to be able to condense their audio files....so odd.

I hate when things get nasty--snarky and "tit for tat"...it's all very high schoolish. It is really saddening to hear it being utilized in a sermon...revolting.

Thanks for the link. I'm off to listen to the "sermon" (is that truly what it was?).

October 22, 2007 7:52 PM


rlschultz said...
The WELS is always a day late and a dollar short in jumping on the latest fads. Yes, the sermon is a .wav file instead of the compressed, .mpg file. Most teenagers who are computer savvy know that .wav files are too big, even with broadband access. That was a really cheap shot by Dr. Braun against Rev. Bartling. Furthermore, if the tables were turned, Rev. Bartling would be getting flogged with the "8 & 18 switch" (8th commandment & Matthew Chapter 18) by not approaching the offender on an individual basis. Even though, neither admonition applies when the sin is public.

October 22, 2007 9:35 PM


A WELS Pastor said...
I don't know if Pastor Bartling is still in the active ministry or not. But he needs to pursue this through his DP and Synod President if need be.

October 22, 2007 9:51 PM


Anonymous said...
Never in my life have I ever heard one WELS pastor use another as the object of ridicule in a sermon to get some cheap laughs. That's what those of us in the WELS who are still confessional are to the C&Cers--a joke.

How disgusting.

October 22, 2007 10:06 PM

***

GJ - Bailing Water gets a lot of comments. This set did not include any from synod minders, who guard the image of Holy Mother WELS by attacking anyone who doubts the immaculate conception of the Wisconsin sect. For instance, one poster bullied Bailing Water about the truth of Church and Change removing their fraudulent link because of SP Schroder's insistence. Surely Bailing Water must be lying! But no, Bailing Water spoke to Schroeder about the problem. Isn't that the rule?

Being flogged in a sermon is not new to me. I have experienced it in the LCA and in WELS. My friend was at a WELS conference where I was denounced by name by a WELS VP. My friend said to him, "Too bad Greg wasn't here to defend himself." The WELS VP had to leave the ministry, for cause. And I liked the guy.

Kuske and Valleskey made a point of denouncing me for opposing Church Growth. The Church Growth pastors took their swipes, even when guests in my pulpit in the WELS. Satan's disciples are uncouth, but tolerated. Thus God smites people who tolerate falsehood, according to Luther.

Pastors and laity must get used to this approach by apostates. The dogs howl when they feel the pain, but they bite a lot, too. In the long run we will be dead and answering our Savior for what we taught.

***

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS Pastor Attacked (Not By Name) During Church a...":

And what about the swipes you take at people, twisting the truth about them, telling untruths and even outright lies? You criticize others, but yet you do the same thing, and even worse. Didn't Jesus say something about a sliver and a plank?

GJ - Oh yes, another string of unwarranted accusations from Rev. Mouse. I suppose he got another day pass from the high-security facility where they are treating him. (Just kidding, Mouse.) No other Lutheran blog has so much raw information, verbatim quotations with the sources, and quotations from interesting blogs. I do not see a micron of evidence for the charges made--anonymously--above. Rev. Mouse, aren't you supposed to go to me and tell me face-to-face about my many sins, to rescue me from Hell, as Paul Kelm tried to do?

***

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS Pastor Attacked (Not By Name) During Church a...":

I have a better name for this group who feels they've discovered a better way to recruit new members. Instead of 'Church and Change', let's call it what it is.... A CHANGED CHURCH. Folks, it's the Word of God, pure and simple. You shouldn't have to fancy it up and package it into the catagory of entertainment. It is what it is. If these people want to change it, let them split off and start their own reformed Lutheran churches. But quit trying to change our liturgical and traditional worship services. The two do not mix. I refuse to buy a ticket for their show.

Mark Braun - A Kind Word for the Pope

FICL - Nee The Northwestern Lutheran - Marketing the Gospel

"Marketing churches to reach people is consistent with biblical principles and doesn't mean the message needs to be watered down or compromised, according to researcher George Barna...Church growth is primarily accomplished by word of mouth. Barna advised clergy to see themselves as cheerleaders rather than leaders, as laypeople carry out the practical marketing of the church."
News From Around the World, The Northwestern Lutheran, WELS, November 15, 1991 p. 395.

More Exits from ELCA

More info from Pastor Barnhart: Via George Erdner, ALPB

5. IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, ROCKWELL, NC passed first vote to leave the ELCA, 126-5.

6. TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, CARRINGTON, ND passed second vote to leave the ELCA, 161-16.

7. ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH, WESTBORO, MO passed second vote to leave the ELCA and voted to join the NALC and LCMC 90-2.

8. ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH, DANFORTH, IL passed second vote to leave the ELCA, 80-17 and voted to join NALC 78-6.

9. ST. ANDREW BY THE SEA LUTHERAN CHURCH, ATLANTIC CITY, NJ passed second vote to leave the ELCA and join the NALC by 98%.

10. ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH, WATERTOWN, WI passed second vote to leave the ELCA and join NALC.

11. ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH, BRENHAM, TX failed to pass first vote to leave the ELCA, with only 25% voting in favor of leaving.

That brings the totals (as I have them) up to:

Leaving = 88
Left ELCA = 508
Total = 596

New starts = 203

To all of those who keep predicting over and over and over and over that the exodus from the ELCA won't keep going much longer, do any of you care to go out on a limb and predict when the leaving is going to stop, or at least slow down?

Stolzenburg and Church Growth in Columbus, Ohio - WELS

"IT'S COLOSSAL! IT'S GIGANTIC! IT'S SPECTACULAR! A PERSONAL NOTE FROM WM. J. BRITTON, RE: CHURCH GROWTH SEMINAR, FEB. 24-25, 1985. Registration is 347! We prayed for response - the Lord gave it to us!...Win Arn says, 'We are not here to make you work harder, but only to help you work smarter.'"
CG Conference, attended by 46 St. Paul, Columbus, members, pastor, and vicar Mike Nitz.


"We have discovered that the Early Church was an institution that unknowingly saw its world through Church Growth eyes. We have some benefits they did not have in that we can look back today and analyze their successes and failures."
Floyd L. Stolzenburg, "Church Growth - the Acts of the Apostles," Taught at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Columbus, Ohio.

"In the autumn of 1985 and the winter of 1985-1986, a truly momentous step was taken by the five Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) congregations in the metropolitan area of Columbus, Ohio. The five pastors and lay representatives of those churches organized and incorporated Lutheran Parish Resources, Inc., the first Church Growth institute in the WELS."
Vicar David G. Peters, "Lutheran Parish Resources: Pilot Program in Church Growth," Mequon: Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, April 27, 1987 p. 1.

"There is no Church Growth Movement Program in our synod. Our church body is opposed to the false theology of the Church Growth Movement. We have no programs inside or outside the budget with that name. Nor do we have any programs with a different name which utilize Church Growth theology."
Wayne D. Mueller, Administrator for the BPS, WELS, "A Response to 'Saving Souls vs. New Programs,'" The Northwestern Lutheran, November 1, 1991, February 1, 1992 p. 50.

Wendland - TELL Begun To Promote the Cause of Church Growth

"The publication TELL ('The Evangelism Life Line') has been inaugurated to promote the cause of church growth."
Ernst H. Wendland, "Church Growth Theology," Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, April, 1981, 78, p. 105.

***

GJ - The graduates of the 1980s are the WELS leaders of today. They have kept their silence about Church Growth. As a body, they love Universal Objective Justification, because it opens the door to everything. Moreover, UOJ is so complicated and self-contradictory that its own advocates do not understand it.

Joel Gerlach and Ernest Wendland were probably the first Mequon professors of Church Growth. Gerlach admitted in a letter to Herman Otten that he studied at Fuller Seminary.

Reuel Schulz WELS - Fuller Student and Pete Wagner Fan

"For several years I've been a Pete Wagner fan. Although I don't see eye to eye with him on many important theological points (he approves of faith healing and speaking in tongues as long as it promotes church growth and he comes from a Billy Graham decision for conversion doctrinal background), he is the most eloquent spokesman of the Church Growth Movement. A prolific author on mission/evangelism/church growth subjects, Wagner is also an excellent teacher and a crystal clear writer."
Reuel J. Schulz The Evangelism Life Line (WELS) Winter, 1980.

"The publication TELL ('The Evangelism Life Line') has been inaugurated to promote the cause of church growth." Ernst H. Wendland, "Church Growth Theology," Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, April, 1981, 78, p. 105.

WELS DP Rutschow - Promoting Church Growth Decades Ago

The supernatural glow comes from David Rutschow's Enthusiasm.

"Not that Word and Sacrament are ineffective in incorporating new souls into our fellowship. Not at all! But according to some serious Church Growth studies, as many as one-third of the people gained for protestant church membership today do not feel they really belong."
David N. Rutschow, The Evangelism Life Line (WELS), Winter, 1985, p. 3. WELS DP for Southwest Wisconsin, perhaps the most loosey-goosey district of all, maybe even worse than Englebrecht's Anything Goes District.

Your Thrivent Dollars Support Abortion on Demand

Please note that Thrivent Dakota Valley Director, Karoline 'Kari" Gittus feels Planned Parenthood is a "benevolent" interest/passion....

http://www.lutheransonline.com/servlet/lo_ProcServ/dbpage=page&mode=display&gid=20101264872858903701111555&pg=20101264872865637701111555

Thrivent Community - Dakota Valley

Board Members

Karoline 'Kari' Gittus Congregation Easter Lutheran Professional Experience Lab Tech – Mayo Clinic, High School Teacher – Highland High School, Retail Manager – Burdines, Scientist/Trainer – Boehringer Manrheim Degrees/Licenses B.S. Biology/Chemistry, B.S. Education Community Organizations/Nonprofit Boards MN DFL – Associate Precinct Chair, PTA Benevolent Interests and Personal Passions UWEC, SMA, YMCA, Lupus Foundation, Planned Parenthood Hobbies/Favorite Pastimes Tennis, Skiing, Golf, Gardening

Scholarship - The Laity Have It - But That Is Too Much Work for the Clergy

Knapp is the unmentioned daddy of the Syn Conference. The leaven of his false doctrine slowly permeated the LCMS, WELS, and ELS.

Very few laity argue for Universal Objective Justification, that every single person is born forgiven of sin, justified before birth, according to their Roman Catholic hero, Ed Preuss. First trimester?

Scholarship means taking the time to study. The word comes the Greek term for leisure. Many early pastors were scholars. They pursued their studies so diligently that they became known in their fields, not always in theology.

The power of the Word does not come from knowing Greek or Hebrew. Too many seminary graduates simply repeat what they were told in class and never grow beyond that. Clergy plagiarism of sermons is well known, facilitated by the Internet. But they seldom plagiarize Luther, because Biblical doctrine demands a capacity for God's spiritual treasures rather than a lust for beer and a leer for busts.

The laity offer insights and questions from their studies that the professional clergy cannot or will not answer. The answer of the lazy clergy is often, "I went to seminary. I am the expert. I actually studied Greek? Do you know Greek? No?"

So the Word of God is so obscure that only the priesthood can understand it? The pastors teach against the Word of God to force their false doctrine on the laity. The clergy do not even comprehend that they are arguing Roman Catholicism to maintain their monopoly.

Walther Taught Decision Theology - And J. P. Meyer Taught the Same

"For God has already forgiven you your sins 1800 years ago when He in Christ absolved all men by raising Him after He first had gone into bitter death for them. Only one thing remains on your part so that you also possess the gift. This one thing is--faith. And this brings me to the second part of today's Easter message, in which I now would show you that every man who wants to be saved must accept by faith the general absolution, pronounced 1800 years ago, as an absolution spoken individually to him."
C. F. W. Walther, The Word of His Grace, Sermon Selections, "Christ's Resurrection--The World's Absolution" Lake Mills: Graphic Publishing Company, 1978 p. 233. Brosamen, p. 138. Mark 16:1-8.

"Objectively speaking, without any reference to an individual sinner's attitude toward Christ's sacrifice, purely on the basis of God's verdict, every sinner, whether he knows about it or not, whether he believes it or not, has received the status of a saint. What will be his reaction when he is informed about this turn of events? Will he accept, or will he decline?"
J. P. Meyer, Ministers of Christ, A Commentary on the Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1963, p. 103f. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.

These two statements should make Missouri and WELS put on their sackcloth and ashes. They replicate what Knapp taught at Halle University. Walther and J. P. Meyer come closest to Babtist Decision Theology here, but Babtists would never say that babies are born without sin, already forgiven, etc.

The numbskulls at LutherQueasy cannot grasp this. Only A. J. Loeschman realizes the implications of their Objective Justification myth. Also, Kevin Vogts opened a Lenski and verified what I have said many times before, that the New Testament scholar tried his hand at bridging the gap. I find that quite comical, because the densest UOJ advocates are always denouncing Lenski and anyone who reads Lenski, showing they have never read more than a few sentences of the commentaries - if that.

One even ventured to offer the popularity fallacy - no group endorses justification by faith today, so they must all be right. The trouble with arguing popularity is identification of the truth with popularity. Thus the will of God is revealed by the masses.

Historically, UOJ is new to Lutherdom, since it comes from the Pietists. UOJ is also new to the Syn Conference, at least in Missouri and WELS. Missouri taught justification by faith in its old German catechism and still teaches it in a current catechism (KJV) they sell. I just bought one.

WELS always taught justification by faith in its Gausewitz catechism, which was by no means confined to the Wisconsin Sect. Gausewitz was a respected leader of the Synodical Conference. His catechism seems to have been the dominant one in WELS until they got rid of him for the Kuske UOJ version.

In the quotation above, Walther says - All you need to do is believe in what I just said, that everyone has already been forgiven.

Meyer says the same in different words. The "fact" of everyone forgiven is stated. Will the listener accept or decline?

The UOJers have to go through all kinds of contortions to harmonize their delusions with the Word of God. They lack any concept of the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace, so they only make matters worse when they yak, and the yakking never stops.

Here is the remedy, which can be found in all the Lutheran writings--and the Bible!- until the Pietists merged the atonement with justification, just as they amalgamated Calvinism and Lutheranism.

1. We are born sinful, believers, captive to original sin.
   
2. Only the Gospel can make a difference in our state.
   
3. The power of the Word is so great that the Holy Spirit converts us through the Promises of God, whether we are babies (infant baptism) or converted later by hearing the Word.
   
4. The Holy Spirit creates faith, which receives the righteousness of Christ. That is why one section of the Formula of Concord is called The Righteousness of Faith. Perhaps LutherQueasy should start a new discussion site - ChemnitzQueasy.
   
5. This faith is nurtured by the Word, in preaching, teaching, and communing.
   

LutherQueasy pastoral work is well illustrated by what DP Robert Mueller admitted. His VP was exposed as an adulterer. The VP confessed and got a promotion. He asked DP Mueller to lie for him and tell everyone he was resigning because of depression. DP Mueller agreed to lie, after assuring the lout that he was already forgiven. Thus the Gospel is perverted and destroyed by UOJ. There is no genuine contrition because everyone is already forgiven. The "Gospel" is just a universal excuse and reason to go on in defiance of God's Word.

Deceit and sanctimony are the watchwords of the UOJ sorority.

Walther - You Must Make a Decision for Christ

"For God has already forgiven you your sins 1800 years ago when He in Christ absolved all men by raising Him after He first had gone into bitter death for them. Only one thing remains on your part so that you also possess the gift. This one thing is--faith. And this brings me to the second part of today's Easter message, in which I now would show you that every man who wants to be saved must accept by faith the general absolution, pronounced 1800 years ago, as an absolution spoken individually to him."
C. F. W. Walther, The Word of His Grace, Sermon Selections, "Christ's Resurrection--The World's Absolution" Lake Mills: Graphic Publishing Company, 1978 p. 233. Brosamen, p. 138. Mark 16:1-8.

"Objectively speaking, without any reference to an individual sinner's attitude toward Christ's sacrifice, purely on the basis of God's verdict, every sinner, whether he knows about it or not, whether he believes it or not, has received the status of a saint. What will be his reaction when he is informed about this turn of events? Will he accept, or will he decline?"
J. P. Meyer, Ministers of Christ, A Commentary on the Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1963, p. 103f. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.

Deutschlander - UOJ Is Missing from the Book of Concord Because They Did Not Need It

"Our Lutheran Confessions have no separate article on Objective Justification; the closest we can come to a paragraph of formulation for this doctrine is in Article IX of the Formula of Concord, under the doctrine of election. But even that is not really sufficient or suitable for stating the orthodox position in a clear and unequivocal manner. For our Fathers it was not difficult at all to consider objective and subjective justification under the same heading, and they were apparently unaware of any need to separate them or distinguish between them. But such was and remained the case only so long as the orthodox had a clear understanding of the nature of faith; once that understanding was gone, it became necessary (at the end of the last century) to begin making such as (sic) distinction."
Daniel Deutschlander, 1977

Luther Rocks - On Rock N Roll in Round Rock

Monday, May 23, 2011

Words and Actions IV

The experience of Christ the Rock shook me and my wife to the foundation of what it is to be part of the true Christian Church on Earth. After we left, most of the original nucleus exited as well. The majority of the secondary layer left as well. Pastors Jon Mahnke and Jim Radloff, who were members and have had influential roles in WELS also moved on. Since they were retired clergy, I can only fathom. My concerns with the ministry were serious enough...my only regret since there were so many issues to address was our oversight to report Pastor Doebler communing a soul prior to instruction. And when my wife Lisa confronted Doebler about this, his response was 'he has agreed to instruction'.

As Lutherans we are taught to always 'put the best construction' on things. Thanks be to God Luther did not always practice what he preached. Actions do speak louder than words as my mother always taught me.

In the midst of a failing economy in February of 2010 I was released from my employment due to company downsizing. It was a rough time for Lisa and me. Our youngest son, Austin was deployed to Afghanistan and now I was out of work. But God uses these times to draw us closer to Him. For me, the extra time between job hunting and keeping my chops up for my gig (which thankfully turned into a good supplement to unemployment), afforded time to dig into Lutheran theology and church worship and practice. Thankfully I was able to secure employment on a tip from Pastor Patterson of an opening with a company where a fellow member had influence in August of 2010.

It was puzzling to my wife and I that Christ the Rock just went on as if nothing ever happened. I had 'liked' the CTR Facebook page to keep abreast of what was going on since we were in still in fellowship. It seemed that nothing really ever changed. There were many comments made on FB according to reformed sources and authors. I made comments about them. There was even a post regarding humility. I posted a beautiful quote from Luther regarding humility: "True humility does not know that it is humble. If it did, it would be proud from the contemplation of so fine a virtue." It was deleted.

As time went on during our membership at Holy Word, it started to become clear to us the reasons for our puzzlement concerning CTR as well as some developments at Holy Word...or maybe our eyes became opened.

Up next: Relaxed liturgy, music and WELS' first Deaconess...yes that is a proper noun...

Becker - UOJ Was Unanimous in the Synodical Conference, Except for Gausewitz, the old Missouri Catechism, and Brief Statements before 1932

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

Sig Becker, 1984

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

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

Sig Becker, Universal Justification, 1984

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

Sig Becker, UJ, 1984

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

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

Scaer - Whoever Denies Justification Without Faith Does Not Believe in It at All

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

David Scaer, The Third Use of the Law: Resolving the Tension, CTQ, 2005, p. 256.

Required Reading - Just a Vacation in Rome - Justification and Rome

LutherRocks has left a new comment on your post "Preuss, Hero of UOJ, Roman Catholic - We Are Justi...":

BTW...Justification and Rome should be required reading for all seminary students regardless of synod lines...it is a short read even for those with ADD...it is not Just a Vacation in Rome...it is about the object of justification...not objective justification...let the hearer hear...