Good Argumentation: Lessons in Lutheran RhetoricSeldom Observed on Lutheran Blogs

Research is the first requirement in Lutheran rhetoric. The laity are far beyond most clergy because they read the Scriptures without the brainwashing of seminaries. Each seminary teaches its students that they belong to the best synod, really the only synod, in the world. As Thundershorts said to one student at Northwestern College, "Now that you have experienced the Wisconsin Synod, how can you return to the slime-pits of Missouri?"

The advantage a layman has is a lack of filters. The Holy Spirit speaks directly through the Word. Both the reading and the believing are instruments of the Spirit.

Christian doctrine is not subject to human logic, but the Faith is completely consistent in all parts. A layman asks, "If I am justified by faith, how can I be justified without faith?"

The brainwashed MDiv says, "According to our experts..." No one has heard of these great experts and precious few own their books. The really good ones can be misquoted and used as fake witnesses. No layman has Calov and Quenstedt at home. He may have Gerhard now, thanks to Repristination Press. Gerhard worked with Chemnitz, so he is right just fine with me. But I like Chemnitz better.

Here is another advantage for the laity. Clergy like to have large libraries which they seldom use. The laity are more likely to have a few good books. Luther's sermons and the Book of Concord are enough volumes to supplement a Bible in the Luther-KJV tradition.

Research means reading and remembering. I use a database to help me remember and cite. Chemnitz took notes by hand, like the legendary founder of the Oxford English Dictionary. Both would have loved my system. I entered quotations with all the citation material, including Biblical citations in a separate field. I can search on words, topics, authors, and Biblical passages.

Modern tools are not primary in research. They make the labor a little easier. The real issue is living in the sources, asking what that author is saying, not what another person claims that writer is communicating.

A true study of the Bible will reveal that most of the theories, advanced by favorite writers and professors, are bogus. They are not useful anyway. Mark or John may have been written down first or last. Careful study will reduce the importance of theory and increase the value of the content, which belongs to God alone.

Knowing the Word is essential in evaluating authors. The ones who communicate the Word best are: Augustine, Luther, Melanchthon, Chemnitz, Chytraeus, and Gerhard.

My secondary list includes Krauth, Jacobs, Hoenecke, Schmauk, and Lenski.

Comparing this to ice cream - Luther is vanilla, and should be read more than all the others combined. Melanchthon and Chemnitz are chocolate, to be read more than the rest of the rainbow flavors. When was the last time you ordered peppermint almond fudge ribbon ice cream? That was probably the same day you finished a volume of Krauth.

Opposition research is also necessary, but completely lacking in the blogs. I am still looking for someone who says, "I reject justification by faith because..." while giving cogent reasons and actual research.

I quoted and cited every UOJ passage I could find, although they crop up all over, like black mold in a damp unventilated house.

I showed both sides of the issue with WELSian doctrine, years ago. I quoted confessional authors on various topics and compared that to WELS quotations (chapter and verse). When I gave that paper at a conference, VP Kuske was outraged.

Special Pleading
Special pleading is is a logical fallacy known to all parents. Children give all the reasons why they need their faces pierced or their torsos tattooed. All opposing reasons are rejected as utterly invalid.

The UOJ Stormtroopers claim that anyone who disagrees with them "rejects the Gospel." No reasons are given for this outrageous statement because the writer or speaker has already determined there is only one answer.

Begging the Question, Circular Reasoning
Most people know this as circular reasoning, since the reasons and the conclusion are the same. A good fallacy is subtle, such as the question, "How long will we continue the quagmire in Iraq?" That was asked just before Petraeus mopped up in short order.

UOJ Enthusiasts claim that God must have justified all people because Jesus became sin. If sin and righteousness are exchanged, then every single person on earth has been justified, they imagine.

The Enthusiasts offer their great argument, "If you deny UOJ," assuming it is Christian doctrine, "then you are a Calvinist."

Pleading Authority
Pleading authority can be a fallacy, depending on the relevance of the argument. All celebrities are authorities on all matters, as we can see on TV - clearly a fallacy.

Jack Cascione likes to use Robert Preus as an authority, although he is not honest about it. He quotes an old essay - fair enough - but does not deal with Preus' final book.

Paul McCain, MDiv, uses Jack Kilcrease as his authority. Jack grew up in a WELS parsonage, but attended an ELCA seminary (Luther, where Jack and Robert Preus were students). Kilcrease teaches at a Roman Catholic college and is now a Missouri layman. Scaer (UOJ certified) also goes for Kilcrease.

McCain cannot use Luther, Melanchthon, or Chemnitz as his authorities for UOJ, so Kilcrease will have to do.

Has the Lutheran Church Fallen So Low That Pastors Cannot Teach Justification by Faith?

I try to understand how people argue their position. For a few years I taught critical thinking to many college students, so we explored logical fallacies and the foundation for a sound argument. For instance, someone can argue a position well even if it is lost cause. That means adopting the formal restrictions of analytical thinking.

Thucydides wrote the best history of all time, about 24 centuries ago, because he observed details, did copious research, and always offered both sides of the question. In contrast, Herodotus relied on tall tales and anecdotes, so he was more entertaining but not as credible.

Thucydides had me digging my nails into my palms while reading about one battle, as if I were watching the good guys lose. I thought, "This was over a long time ago, and he has me emotionally involved."

Smoke and Mirrors
Many laity and some pastors are fully informed about the smoke and mirrors used to dazzle the uninformed. LutherQueasy addresses the issue of justification by faith by saying I have belonged to more than one synod.

They never act scornful about the late Al Barry:

1. Attending a church basement seminary in the Twin Cities,
   
2. Attending Bethany Lutheran Seminary, ELS;
   
3. Vicaring in the Wisconsin Synod;
   
4. Landing in the LCMS.
   

Or they might discuss, with appropriate anathemas:

1. Robert Preus graduated from Luther College (future ELCA);
   
2. He attended Luther Seminary (future ELCA);
   
3. He graduated from the Little Schoolhouse on the Prairie (ELS) and served as an ELS pastor;
   
4. He and brother Jack moved the breaking of fellowship between the ELS and the LCMS;
   
5. Both brothers joined the LCMS as theology professors. Both became LCMS seminary presidents, and Jack became the Synod President.
   
6. Yet Bob left his priceless library to the Little Schoolhouse on the Prairie, and his children attended that school, post-ELS.
   

I remember his wife (now widow) Donna saying they were Wisconsin Synod for a period of time, but I might be wrong. I do not want to start another two-month thread on LutherQueasy. Rolf and Dan Preus share that same rotating synodical resume, but that is never used to refute UOJ. Rolf and his sons have added the Lutheran Church in Canada to their synod memberships, eh?

I believe we should include the Rolf Synod--which started small and ended up having one pastor--counts.

Don't the Queasies make fun of me for being independent? Where is Rolf on this?

Dr. Lito Cruz would have a merry time examining LutherQueasy logic, which suggests the entire Preus family is wrong about justification, whether they advocate UOJ, as Robert Preus once did, or they teach justification by faith, as his last book made abundantly clear.

The exact size of a congregation is a big concern of theirs, as long as they do not talk about their own glorious synods. The Little Sect on the Prairie is comprised of tiny congregations, with only a few of moderate size. The CLC (sic) is even more micro. The marks (notae) of the Church are...? One hundred members? One thousand? I am curious about this Fuller-inspired metric. The popularity fallacy is hotter than Georgia asphalt on LQ. "Every Lutheran synod agrees with us about UOJ, right? right?"

Yes, they do - including ELCA.

Now we have another benchmark for being right - the popularity of the opinion. That axe swings both ways. Precious few laity know UOJ or agree with it, if they do. Traditional Protestants teach justification by faith, even if Lutherans have been taken over recently by the Walther-Pieper-Otten lobby.

If we set aside their main argument, that justification by faith is wrong because I am an evil, multi-synod, Notre Dame graduate who publishes funny Photoshops of their heroes, is Luther's justification by faith doctrine refuted and abolished? Paul's?

Below you will see two graphics of quotations by orthodox Lutheran theologians, quoted favorably by Robert Preus in Justification and Rome. The Queasies never addressed themselves to those quotations or to Preus' own words in support of justification by faith, against UOJ.

Artful Dodger Suggests SMP Plus a Real Academic Degree.Maybe Missouri Could Spend Millions On Something Worthwhile

http://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=188112

I had to send this link to you in view of your recent posts on the cost
of seminary education.  Incidentally, shouldn't you be recommending that
LCMS students deliberately take the SMP (all the alternative methods to
ordination) routes since they seem to save a lot of money? (You can
always go to school elsewhere for the academic degrees once you are
certified.)

Also I wonder if the AFLC (free church) seminary (Green Lake, MN) isn't
a lot cheaper?


http://discover.coverleaf.com/discovermagazine/201006/?pg=62#pg60

This link between infection and some forms of insanity seems important
for pastors to be aware of.  Just being able to comfort someone, that
this is a disease and not demon possession for example, would seem to be
important.  Hopefully there will soon be actual cures.

No Intention of Yielding Anything Of the Immutable Truth of GodFor the Sake of Peace

"We have no intention of yielding aught of the eternal, immutable truth of God for the sake of temporal peace, tranquility, and unity (which, moreover, is not in our power to do). Nor would such peace and unity, since it is devised against the truth and for its suppression, have any permanency. Still less are we inclined to adorn and conceal a corruption of the pure doctrine and manifest, condemned errors. But we entertain heartfelt pleasure and love for, and are on our part sincerely inclined and anxious to advance, that unity according to our utmost power, by which His glory remains to God uninjured, nothing of the divine truth of the Holy Gospel is surrendered, no room is given to the least error, poor sinners are brought to true, genuine repentance, raised up by faith, confirmed in new obedience, and thus justified and eternally saved alone through the sole merit of Christ."
(Closing of Formula of Concord, Concordia Triglotta p. 1095).
Francis Pieper, The Difference Between Orthodox And Heterodox Churches, and Supplement, Coos Bay, Oregon: St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1981, p. 65. Tappert, p. 632. Heiser, p. 294. FC SD XI, #94-96.

The Formula of Concord Confesses the Efficacy of the Visible Word

"The other eating of the body of Christ is oral or sacramental, when the true, essential body and blood of Christ are also orally received and partaken of in the Holy Supper, by all who eat and drink the consecrated bread and wine in the Supper--by the believing as a certain pledge and assurance that their sins are surely forgiven them, and Christ dwells and is efficacious in them, but by the unbelieving for the judgment and condemnation, as the words of the institution by Christ expressly declare when at the table and during the Supper He offers His disciples natural bread and natural wine, which He calls His true body and true blood, at the same time saying: Eat and drink. For in view of the circumstances this command evidently cannot be understood otherwise than of oral eating and drinking, however, not in a gross, carnal, Capernaitic, but in a supernatural, incomprehensible way; to which afterwards the other command adds still another and spiritual eating, when the Lord Christ says further: This do in remembrance of Me, where He requires faith [which is the spiritual partaking of Christ's body). "
Formula of Concord, SD, VII. #63. Holy Supper. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House 1921, p. 995. Tappert, p. 581. Heiser, p. 270.

Preaching and Hearing the Word:Instruments of the Holy Spirit

"Now, all who wish to be saved ought to hear this preaching [of God's Word]. For the preaching and hearing of God's Word are instruments of the Holy Ghost, by, with, and through which He desires to work efficaciously, and to convert men to God, and to work in them both to will and to do. This Word man can externally hear and read, even though he is not yet converted to God and regenerate; for in these external things, as said above, man even since the Fall has to a certain extent a free will, so that he can go to church and hear or not hear the sermon."
Formula of Concord, SD, II, #52. Free Will. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House 1921, p. 901f. Tappert, p. 531. Heiser, p. 246.

Pieper versus Valleskey: Do the Enthusiasts Downplay Or Reject the Means of Grace?

Father Burger King Counsels a Repentant Ronald McDonald

"Bless me Father, for I have sinned. It has been four months since I last used real meat in the Quarter Pounders."

Cornerstone and Filthy Lucre

rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "The Cornerstone Effect:Robotic Hearts in Focus":

I was not there for the presentation, but my wife was. You have it pegged right. It is cold and calculating. Also, this congregation has contracted the services of Cornerstone. The Council brought Cornerstone on about two years ago. That was the last straw for me. I told the Council President about the connection between Cornerstone and the Church and Change group. He saw nothing wrong with it. The KJV called it filthy lucre.

***

GJ - Although I imagine a large church could use a specific organization faithful to the Scriptures and Confessions in helping with stewardship, I doubt whether any spiritual wisdom comes from Church and Change's Team Tetzel.

In fact, I have had first-hand reports about poor stewardship from this multi-denominational money making group, Cornerstone. A number of WELS congregations have been pushed into massive funding schemes, which fall short, and are left holding the bag for debt incurred for those wild, vain, self-centered plans.

This statement by Jesus is made in the context of discipleship, but it also applies well to stewardship:

KJV Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

Now that a number of WELS congregations are burdened with debt and much larger facilities to support, without the promised of effect of Build It and They Will Come, will Cornerstone refund their impressive fees?

Joe Krohn - On Doctrinal Topics

Monday, June 13, 2011

The Office of the Holy Ministry vs. Priesthood of Believers

 Acts 1:1 "...after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen."

Mark 16:15-16  "¹⁵ He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

Interesting that the NIV Mark stays true to the KJV in this passage.  The KJV stays consistent with the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19 and that of Mark 16:15 and yet the NIV and many ensuing translations bastardize Matthew 28:19 as 'to make disciples'.  Number one, you have to realize who actually 'makes disciples'.  It is the work of the Holy Ghost.  Called and ordained men are to merely preach the Word as the KJV accurately proclaims in Matthew 28 and Mark 16.  Number two; who are these called and ordained men?  You have to differentiate between disciples and the Apostles.  There were many disciples...as many as 72 (Luke 10).  But there were only the chosen "twelve".  These were the first duly called and in a sense ordained servants of the Word.  It was these "twelve" that Jesus called; these twelve who were present throughout Christ's ministry; these twelve who deserted him during His passion; these eleven that he appeared to in the upper room; these said same who were with Him at Ascension and then received the Holy Ghost on Pentecost.  There is a clear delineation between the Priesthood of all Believers and the Office of the Holy Ministry.  WELS clearly contends with Scriptures and the Confessions when it elevates laymen to this office thereby exaggerating the Priesthood of all Believers and equating it to the Office of the Holy Ministry.  Yes, we know we all are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28) and yes, we are to be ready to give testimony when opportunities present themselves (1 Pet. 3:15), but the preaching and teaching of God's Word rests on those DULY called and ordained.

One of my points of contention with Holy Word was lay led Bible class and lay leaders giving sermonettes prior to the assigned Bible reading/lesson of the day during the worship service.  These men; and I am not questioning their faith; are not all equipped as the Bible says they should be; whether it be content and how it relates to the theme of the day or to their oral diction and manner of speech; or answering questions in Bible class with authority.  No doubt this is happening all over WELS especially in relaxed worship settings and etc...  I was a part of it (regrettably) at Crosswalk in Phoenix and at Christ the Rock in the Austin area.  Even staff members from Arizona Lutheran Academy (teachers; male admin staff) preached at Crosswalk.  Staff Minister Chad White recently preached (as he does on occasion) during a Lenten Service at Holy Word (3-23-2011).  Chad White is not a duly called and ordained servant of the Word.

Supporting Scripture References

MATTHEW 16:18-19
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

JOHN 20:22-23
21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."

ACTS 14:23
23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

ACTS 20:28
28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

I CORINTHIANS 4:1:
1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

TITUS 1:4-5
4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. 5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—

I TIMOTHY 3:1-5
1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.  2Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?

I PETER 5:1-3
1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Supporting Statements from the Book of Concord; The Lutheran Confessions

LUTHER’S SMALL CATECHISM:
What is the Office of the Keys? The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His Church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.  Where is this written? This is what St. John the Evangelist writes in chapter twenty: “The Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (Jn. 20:22-23)

What do you believe according to these words? I believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command, in particular when they exclude openly unrepentant sinners from the Christian congregation and absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, this is just as valid and certain even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us Himself.

AUGSBURG CONFESSION – Order in the Church, ARTICLE XIV
Our churches teach that no one should publicly teach in the Church, or administer the Sacraments, without a rightly ordered call.

APOLOGY OF THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION – The Number and Use of the Sacraments, Article XIII, 11-13
But if ordination is understood as carrying out the ministry of the Word, we are willing to call ordination a Sacrament. For the ministry of the Word has God’s command and has glorious promises,…For the Church has the command to appoint ministers, which should be most pleasing to us, because we know that God approves this ministry and is present in the ministry that God will preach and work through men and those who have been chosen by men. It is helpful, so far as can be done, to honor the ministry of the Word with every kind of praise against fanatical people.

APOLOGY OF THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION, ARTICLE XXVIII, 13-14
“Therefore, the bishop has the power of the order, that is, the ministry of Word and Sacraments. He also has the power of jurisdiction. This means the authority to excommunicate those guilty of open crimes and again to absolve them if they are converted and seek absolution. [John 20:23]. But their power is not to be tyrannical, without a fixed law. Nor is it to be regal, above the law. Rather they have a fixed command and a fixed Word of God, according to which they should teach and exercise their jurisdiction…They have the Word, the command, and how far they should exercise jurisdiction if anyone did anything contrary to that Word they have received from Christ.”

TREATISE ON THE POWER AND PRIMACY OF THE POPE – The Power and Jurisdiction of
Bishops, 60, 74
“The Gospel assigns those who preside over Churches the command to teach the Gospel [Matthew28:19], to forgive sins [John 20:23], to administer the Sacraments, and also to exercise jurisdiction (i.e., the command to excommunicate those whose crimes are known and to absolve those who repent.)…Certainly, the common jurisdiction of excommunicating those guilty of clear crimes belongs to all pastors [I Corinthians 5]

2517 Page Reads Today

The Cornerstone Effect:Robotic Hearts in Focus

LutherRocks has left a new comment on your post "When All Else Fails - Try Religion.Message Not Rec...":

"giving unit"...you must have been subjected to a Cornerstone presentation. That is how they refer to faithful souls who offer first fruits. Can you say cold and calculating? Hmmmmmm?

The Efficacy of Holy Baptism

"Thus it appears what a great, excellent thing Baptism is, which delivers us from the jaws of the devil and makes us God's own, suppresses and takes away sin, and then daily strengthens the new man; and is and remains ever efficacious until we pass from this estate of misery to eternal glory."
The Large Catechism, Part Fourth, Of Baptism. #83. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 751. Tappert, p. 446. Heiser, p. 209.

The Efficacy of the Word in Holy Communion

"For the true and almighty words of Jesus Christ which He spake at the first institution were efficacious not only at the first Supper, but they endure, are valid, operate, and are still efficacious [their force, power, and efficacy endure and avail even to the present], so that in all places where the Supper is celebrated according to the institution of Christ, and His words are used, the body and blood of Christ are truly present, distributed, and received, because of the power and efficacy of the words which Christ spake at the first Supper. For where His institution is observed and His words are spoken over the bread and cup [wine], and the consecrated bread and cup [wine] are distributed, Christ Himself, through the spoken words, is still efficacious by virtue of the first institution, through His word, which He wishes to be there repeated."
Formula of Concord, SD VII, #75. Holy Supper. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 999. Tappert, p. 583. Heiser, p. 270f.

---

A Moline friend from my Lutheran church wrote:

"His precious gift to all. I can't tell you how much having a pastor visit me and share His body and blood with me (when I had pneumonia) meant."

***

GJ - DP Buchholz said that WELS pastors do not visit people anymore. They must not believe in the efficacy of the Word...or in fulfilling their pastoral duties.

When All Else Fails - Try Religion.Message Not Received

Some slept through that lecture.


rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Bad Real Estate Investments: How the Syn Conferenc...":

The Love Shack has the model for the local parish to follow. At my former WELS congregation, they committed to a multi-million dollar expansion several years ago. What follows that are the feeble efforts to squeeze blood out of the member turnips. "If only each giving unit gave an additional two dollars per week our operating deficit would disappear."

"Don't forget about electronic giving" (we get your dough even if you are not present). "Our new carpeting in the narthex cost $9,000......." Here is a strange twist on synergism - "we cut one teacher from the staff. Now you must respond with increased givings". "Do not worry, God will bless you in accordance to how much you give."

Bad Real Estate Investments: How the Syn Conference Froze Its Assets in Crumbling Commerical Buildings

If this blog offends you, check out the other Lutheran blogs, which carefully avoid addressing doctrinal issues.

I was trying to calculate how much money WELS, Missouri, and the Little Sect on the Prairie have blown - to no effect.

For example, Missouri is skimming $50-60 million a year from Thrivent, according to SP Harrison. They do not support their world missionaries or their two seminaries. They do have impressive office buildings everywhere. The LCMS Home Office is so impressive that it was nicknamed the Purple Palace from the beginning. Their district offices are marvels in waste management. They manage to waste millions on magnificent architecture.

Let us pause for some theory. Sam Walton (Walmart) did not believe in fancy buildings or any kind of luxury. First-time visitors to Bentonville-Rogers are shocked by the size and plain appearance of the main buildings. Many corporations, like the NY Times, have been dragged down by the cost of their buildings.

The University of Phoenix, which made billionaires out of Sperling and his son, does not buy real estate for the most part. Each campus is leased, so it is easy to open or close a campus. I have taught at two locations they decided not to close.

That is another area of lavish spending for the Syn Conference, the pump primed by Marvin Schwan, who had a thing for women and Cadillacs, his pal in missions said. Luther said, a few centuries ago, we do not need another church. But Marvin built a cathedral at Our Lady of Sorrows Seminary, a chapel at the Little Schoolhouse on the Prairie, and a white elephant at Mary Lou College. The humble chapel at the Sausage Factory was given enough splendor to sober anyone up. "If Thou givest me the chapel of my dreams, I will give up demon rum. I vow to stop crossing the center line."

The only campus project left is indoor plumbing at the CLC college, seminary, and live bait shop in Eau Claire.

The Little Schoolhouse on the Prairie and Willowcreek's Liberal College were turned into displays of Marvin Schwan generosity, the power of the indulgence. (Just think how plain the schools would be without the Sixth Commandment!)

When I see a splendid new building, financed by one person, I imagine all the overhead and the future repair bills. Thrivent and foundation money is also easily spent and gone forever. One Love Shack employee said that WELS threw money at projects when they had special offering funds to spend.

Alternatives, But Too Late
The synods could have spent their money on lowering tuition. That would have driven up the student populations they have repelled by charging too much while challenging the faculty too little.

Nobody works less for more money than tenured faculty - except synod bureaucrats.

Mueller-Gurgle jacked up WELS tuition rates about 30%, using the cash flow to keep the synod from the insolvency their free-spending encouraged. As a result, someone claimed, an entire generation of students was lost.

Church government, like secular government, could cut jobs 60% and make everyone but the elite very happy. In the long run, that would benefit the church organizations.

The Syn Conference can only hope for a KMart-Sears merger now, perhaps a quasi-crypto-merger--like the one they instituted with ELCA.

At the moment, they are putting their trust in Stetzer, Groeschel, and Sweet to "Revive Us Again."

Revive us again;
Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled
With fire from above.

Second Votes To Exit ELCA

The churches below are all scheduled to hold their second votes this Sunday:

St Mark Lutheran Church, Adrian, PA
St Paul Lutheran Church, Bucyrus, OH
Christ the King Lutheran Church, Charlotte, NC
Stavenger Lutheran Church, Seneca, IL
St Paul Lutheran Church, Seven Valleys, PA

At Least He Writes And Signs His Name

ELCA Pastor Bruce Foster

I get quite a few emails, but I do not mention the names of the writers, for various reasons. Unfortunately, my doctrinal opponents have a tendency to pound anyone suspected of being my friend. I know of two Facebook examples where FB friends fell under suspicious because they knew me.

If you want to waterboard some people, do not skip these FB friends of mine: Waldo Werning, Herman Otten, Gerry Kieschnick, etc. I was alarmed to find that one Church Growth leader and I had 70 mutual friends. Either I or they must be more careful.

Pastor Foster writes me long emails, expecting me to answer a lot of things. He also makes suggestions. Although he can be annoying at times, he is willing to sign his name. Besides that, he strikes me as being less riled up at what I am saying.

To answer a few things - No, I will not list acceptable Lutherans who are alive and working. The reason is - retaliation by the Shrinkers and UOJ fanatics.

Another question was bound to come up. How are Tillich and Bonhoeffer Nazi sympathizers?

The Fortress Press bio of Tillich (a friendly but revealing one, by his friend) described how he wrote back to Germany about getting a teaching job because he was one of the pioneers of the national socialist movement. The author hastened to say this was baloney, since Tillich was no more than a coffee shop talker. Tillich was dismissed from his teaching post when Hitler came to power. He came to Union Seminary in NYC soon after. I suspect he was lonesome for Germany and burdened with trying to make it in academics in a new society where he had to learn English. Being fired did not make him a Hitler enemy, but that probably looked good on his resume once the war started.

The Bonhoeffer information came from a huge bio about him. I do not own it at this point. The book made this point - that Bonhoeffer was not against the Nazi movement, just against Hitler.

I imagine anyone could dispute the two stories. History is messy and easy to debate. But I did not make up the information.

The more I read, the more I see how two different worlds exist. There is the world that really happened and the world portrayed by thumbnail histories and PR blitzes.

For example, JFK was married before he wed Jackie. The stories are well known. The woman he married kept silent about it. When someone brought up Nixon during the campaign, the family's cardinal brought up Jack's first marriage, which was erased from the books but not dissolved by marriage.

I did see one TV show about Jack's first marriage. I have read about the facts in various books. No TV feature will deal with it - not that it matters much now. But most of history is just like that.

Lastly, I use the term apostate in the New Testament sense - one who has fallen away from the faith after being a believer. Foster is correct - it is a popular term today. The Braaten-Jenson gang used to employ it from time to time. But this is the Age of Apostasy, and Ichabod is a blog about apostasy.

Acey 5 Debuts on Joe Krohn's Blog

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Pentecost, What Better Time...

...than today to talk about faith and the forgiving of sins.

Today's text at the church I attended had John 16:5-11.  Here is an excerpt:  "Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt^[a] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; ¹⁰ in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; ¹¹ and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned."

We also recited The Nicene Creed.  I am beginning to like this one more and more.  Regarding the Holy Ghost and His work of faith and the forgiveness of sins and where the forgiveness resides:

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spake by the Prophets. And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.  I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

And may I add this from Luther's Large Catechism, The Apostles Creed, Article III:

54] We further believe that in this Christian Church we have forgiveness of sin, which is wrought through the holy Sacraments and Absolution, moreover, through all manner of consolatory promises of the entire Gospel. Therefore, whatever is to be preached concerning the Sacraments belongs here, and, in short, the whole Gospel and all the offices of Christianity, which also must be preached and taught without ceasing. For although the grace of God is secured through Christ, and sanctification is wrought by the Holy Ghost through the Word of God in the unity of the Christian Church, yet on account of our flesh which we bear about with us we are never without sin.
55] Everything, therefore, in the Christian Church is ordered to the end that we shall daily obtain there nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word and signs, to comfort and encourage our consciences as long as we live here. Thus, although we have sins, the [grace of the] Holy Ghost does not allow them to injure us, because we are in the Christian Church, where there is nothing but [continuous, uninterrupted] forgiveness of sin, both in that God forgives us, and in that we forgive, bear with, and help each other.
56] But outside of this Christian Church, where the Gospel is not, there is no forgiveness, as also there can be no holiness [sanctification]. Therefore all who seek and wish to merit holiness [sanctification], not through the Gospel and forgiveness of sin, but by their works, have expelled and severed themselves [from this Church].

CLEARLY the work of the forgiveness of sins is that of the Holy Ghost in the Church and NEVER apart from the Word and Sacrament.  But here is WELS indoctrinating the young falsely: 

Anonymous poster AC V had this to say concerning the extreme false teaching of OJ:

WELS ChristLight Sunday School Teacher's Guide; Grades 5-6; New Testament; Week 5; Lesson B; Discussion Point, Option 1 (apply); p. 70:

God wants us to forgive others just as he has forgiven us, but we often find excuses not to forgive. How would you answer each of these excuses?

1. Katie makes fun of my clothes every day and refuses to stop. Why should I forgive her? (A: God forgives our sins, even the ones we repeat every day.)

2. John hates me and tells lies about me behind my back. Why should I forgive him? (A: God forgives even those who hate him.)

3. When I accidentally hurt Sarah, she was mad for weeks. Today she pushed me on purpose. Why should I forgive her? (A: God forgives even those who don't show a loving spirit.)

4. Kurt totally ruined my new sweater and didn't even apologize. Why should I forgive him? (A: God forgives us even before we say we're sorry.)

(Note: God forgives everyone in the whole world - those who love him, those who hate him, those who reject him, and those who don't even know about him [objective justification]. We receive his forgiveness when the faith he has given us accepts that forgiveness [subjective justification].

Do you see how points 1 - 3 warm you up for point 4 and the notes?  I was aghast reading this.  This is not a teaching of the Bible.  This is not a teaching of the Book of Concord.  This is a teaching of a different spirit.  When I read the extreme false teaching of objective justification I am reminded of Genesis 3:4 when Satan tempts Eve...You will not die!!!  The teaching of all men being forgiven prior to faith is from the devil.  It has infiltrated the Lutheran Church and will one day steal men's souls.  For if there is forgiveness before faith Christ, one day faith will be discarded (and Christ with it) and Satan will have fooled mankind again.  Rob Bell and Mars Hill Church in Michigan has already been fooled.

No church is immune from the devil's attacks.  Look at history.  It is in WELS.  Over lunch today while we discussed today's message and Pentecost, my wife had another incident to share from a WELS pastor who while he was at Sem witnessed future pastors using a ouija board.  He opined that because of what he witnessed, early on in his ministry, he was contacted by a man who said he was possessed.  The pastor immediately knew the caller was possessed by the way he was talking...evidently he had prior experience from Sem.  It is time to wake up and smell the smelling salts, folks!

It is not that we don't have a heart to forgive.  Nothing is further than the truth, for this is the way with God. (John 3:16)  And I would point out that from my blog post from yesterday concerning the example of my wife; that it was not that she didn't have a willingness to forgive.  She did.  You have to realize it is impossible for forgiveness to take place with someone if there is not contrition and remorse and a willingness to change.  This is what repentance and the remission of sins is.  It is like a transaction completed.  If you were to make an Italian Soda...you need three ingredients...milk, soda water and a flavoring.  Without any of those parts it is impossible to make Italian Soda.  It does your brother no good to forgive him without him being sorry and it enables bad behavior!  Matthew 18:15 - 18 is crystal clear on this!

^"15 “If your brother sins against you,^[b] go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. ¹⁶ But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’^{[c] 17} If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
   ¹⁸ “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be^[d] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[e] loosed in heaven."

Again as referenced in verse 17...the forgiveness of sins is with the Holy Ghost in the true Church on earth.  Happy Pentecost!

LutherQueasies Avoid the Question for Two Months

"My UOJ dogma allows me to work happily with ELCA, to support the Salvation Army,
to attack justification by faith, and to ignore the Means of Grace."


Timothy Blank (Timothyblank)
Intermediate Member
Username: Timothyblank

Post Number: 418
Registered: 11-2004

Posted on Monday, April 04, 2011 - 2:56 am: Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

quote:

"I understand these two passages to be a repudiation of UOJ and an apology for all the harm done in the name of that fad." - Gregory Jackson


I just started reading Gregory Jackson's book, Luther versus the UOJ Pietists: Justification by Faith in which he quotes Justification and Rome by Robert Preus. He says the same on his website - the quote from Dr. Preus' book is on the website as well.

I think G.J. is quite confused, to say the least. G.J. says, "Preus clearly repudiated UOJ late in life."
I'm wondering if there are any reactions out there?

Timothy

***

GJ - This is quite funny, because the LutherQueasies could not address the question, which was really an accusation, in two months.

Instead, like frightened gorillas pounding their chests, they ranted about everything wrong with me and Bethany Lutheran Church.

One LCMS pastor pointed out to them that all their criticisms of Bethany could be applied to their own synod practice.

Of course, Rolf (son of Robert) weighed in with an angry denial, but no facts. All I have is:
1. Robert Preus' initial essay, lovingly produced by Jack Casione (ex-LCMS), answering me by avoiding the question. That was 100% UOJ, dated from the 1980s, when Concordia Seminary, Ft. Wayne, offered a DMin in Church Growth.
2. Robert Preus final book, Justification and Rome.

Those are documents, not anecdotes. They cannot be altered to suit the mood of the moment.

I have published four graphics quoting Robert Preus where he pointedly rejected any justification apart from faith. These great MDiv scholars (Blank, Webber, Kurtzahn, Cascione, Rolf Preus) should offer a direct answer instead of more bile.

I believe the graphics have made them hyper-ventilate. I also created an Abraham Calov graphic, because Robert Preus quoted Calov with approval. Calov is good for fixing a late date (post Book of Concord) on justification by faith, where UOJ is excluded with the most precise terms possible. I cannot be sure if Calov was answering something specific, but his words do not allow for God "justifying everyone before birth" (R. Preus.1 quoting Eduard Preuss) and similar nonsense.

Quenstedt was another Robert Preus favorite. I remember him mentioning that as a possible name for one of his many sons. I will try to get that graphic done soon.

Laity are asking questions about this UOJ dogma. That must bother the MDiv savants.

---

Michael Bryant (Mike) Senior Member Username: Mike Post Number: 2380 Registered: 1-2005

Posted on Sunday, June 12, 2011 - 7:05 pm:    "I think this discussion is coming to a close as we are close to simply repeating ourselves." [Art Bolstad, LCMS Missionary] Except you have yet to actually say anything of substance. Rather, you have "examined" and no one has given you the ammunition you were hoping for in order to use against your brother, but instead the contrast between them and Dr. Jackson is ever more clear. For this, we can all be grateful. The wayword (sic) and poor practices among us are not the schismatic practice some wanted initially to say they were equal to.

***

GJ - You have it right, Brer Mike.

UOJ opposes the Gospel and substitutes Halle Pietism for Biblical doctrine. You OJers hate Luther's Gospel and cannot defend your own. The gulf is great indeed.

The Feast of Pentecost, 2011

By Norma Boeckler



The Feast of Pentecost, 2011


Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

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

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time


The Hymn #231 We Now Implore 3:38
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 #246 Holy, Holy, Holy 3:35

The Holy Spirit and the Word

The Communion Hymn #294 O Word of God 3:31
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 # 283 God’s Word 3:90

KJV Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

KJV John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

Pentecost
O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou almighty Son of God: We beseech Thee, send Thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, through Thy word, that He may rule and govern us according to Thy will, comfort us in every temptation and misfortune, and defend us by Thy truth against every error, so that we may continue steadfast in the faith, increase in love and all good works, and firmly trusting in Thy grace, which through death Thou hast purchased for us, obtain eternal salvation, Thou who reignest, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

The Holy Spirit and the Word
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Man’s eternal quest has been communion with God and peace of mind. Both are clearly revealed in this Gospel.

My Father will love him
Every passage in the Bible is connected with all others, so any given verse is explained many times over in other parts of Scripture.

“If a man love me…” How does it happen that someone loves God? The Gospel alone produces that love, so we have the inspired Word planting faith in God through the Gospel and producing love, which is the first fruit of the Spirit.

This is always a Spirit/Word effect. The Holy Spirit works only through the Word, and the Word is never without the power and effect of the Holy Spirit. If someone says, “I do not feel God’s love” or “I do not seem to love God,” the answer is the same – “Abide in the Gospel and you will experience God’s love, which will make you respond in love.”

This does not happen because of man’s will or virtue, but solely because of the Word. Even though man may obstinately refuse to hear the Gospel, the Good News always has an effect. For many, years of refusal are accompanied by an agitation from the Word. Compelled to study what bothers them so much, they are converted by the Word.

Still, it is not God’s fault when people hear the Word and reject it from their hardness of heart. We can see that effect in mainline theologians, who reject the basic articles of the faith but blame the extreme radicals for making matters even worse (Carl Braaten blaming Seminex for ruining his seminary, LSTC!)

Hypocrisy also hardens the heart. One man used to be profoundly grateful for the Gospel whenever his heart threatened to stop working altogether. The closer he was to death, the more he loved the Word and pastoral visits in the hospital. But the healthier he became, the colder he was toward the Word. At home, still on disability, he wanted nothing to do with the Gospel.

Also, we have to wonder about those who rightly ascribe nothing to man’s virtue, will, or merit, but never stop telling us how long they have been in the same synod or who their parents and grandparents were. Pedigrees are impressive – in pets and horses – but not so much in humans. “To this man will I look, who trembles at my Word.”

24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

There are two themes in this verse, and both are important. One is the relationship between loving Christ and keeping (guarding) His Word. The other is the relationship between the Father and the Son. Hearing the Son means hearing the Father, loving the Son means loving the Father.

Those who profess to love the Gospel of the Son are also constrained to tell the truth. Many in the visible church will argue that they must manipulate and lie in order to protect Holy Mother Synod from harm and bad PR. But we should not worship the visible organization and despise the Word.

One of my favorite books described the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the Church in John Calvin’s writings. The author (Benjamin Milner) was a friend of my advisor (Hommes) in the program at Notre Dame. For Luther, the relationship was Holy Spirit and Word. We can see that emphasis in the Book of Concord and later generations as well.

A common fallacy today is this obsession with the visible church, whether the congregation or the larger structure. The obsession is measured in business terms – money owed, balanced budgets, and PR. The Evangelical Lutheran Synod did a self-study which predicted that the Little Sect on the Prairie will be no more than a historical footnote in 20 years. Because of tiny parishes and an elderly population, the ELS will cease to exist, fairly soon. The answer – “We have a new program to solve that problem.” Doubtless the new program is the old program, all based on business rather than the Word.

The Festival of Pentecost is one where the Holy Spirit’s work through the Word is emphasized, not the charter membership of First Lutheran Church in Jerusalem. The Church does not create the Word: the Word creates the Church.

The true Church is invisible and exists wherever the Word is proclaimed in truth and the Sacraments are administered faithfully. A visible structure does not produce the Word of God. Unfortunately, in these dark times, the organizations suppress and persecute the Word.

Nevertheless, the Word produces faith, believers, and pastors. I have told many men that – you do not need a synod. Start a Bible study if and when you are kicked out. That will lead to a congregation and you will have a church.

The Word preached and taught will gather people, convert people, and make some people madder than wet hens.

25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

How do we know this Gospel is true? Because God Himself inspired the Word and caused the disciples to remember and write down what was necessary for salvation.

The entire Bible teaches the same story with various writers, and yet there are no errors or contradictions. That alone illustrates the divine nature of the Bible, unique among all books, religious and secular.

Paul reminded his members that the Word was more than that – it was effective in converting them. They knew that the Gospel produced faith and gave them forgiveness. They experienced that themselves.

In English class we would write down, “Best poem in Eng lang.” That praise did not move us necessarily. “I stood tiptoe on a little hill” is not a poem for most guys.

Or – “MD considered best novel ever in Am.” I hated Moby Dick as a student but came to appreciate its weirdness much later in life. All the praise in the world did not make me like MD in class.

In contrast, the Gospel moves people and they cannot deny this. I had two Hong Kong members who laughed at the Gospel all through school, mocking it as they read the comic books inside their textbooks. But all that study, created by a private Lutheran school, led to their conversion. Their Asian, pagan families felt utterly rejected because this couple became Christian and loved the Gospel. The couple could not deny the power of the Word, because the Word overcame their resistance.

So why have ministers moved from the assured effectiveness of the Gospel to the shortcomings of entertainment and marketing? They have removed themselves from the Means of Grace, despised the Means of Grace, and hardened themselves against the Gospel. They really give themselves away when they plagiarize the false teachers they admire, denying what can be so easily proven in these days of the Net and Google.

The divine nature of the Word alone should make us cherish every phrase in the Scriptures, because God Himself is speaking to us. If God Himself would appear at the nearest store, would people show up to hear Him? They would block traffic for miles around. And here is God speaking and showing us His Word in this passage.

Would people like to meet and hear Jesus, the Son of God? That would create a bigger sensation. Instead of “God To Speak at Walgreens,” put up a few posters that say, “Jesus To Appear at Neighborhood Drugstore.” That part of town would be mobbed and come to a standstill. But that is true any time the Word is heard, read, or remembered. The Holy Spirit and Word are never separated. What we hear about Christ and from Him are Spirit-inspired, true, faithful to the facts, and powerful in effectiveness.

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

This verse should be inscribed on every confirmation Bible and on every Thrivent trinket given as a confirmation gift.

The peace given by Christ is eternal, just the opposite of the world’s peace. The peace given by Jesus is accompanied by the cross, His cross, so people are tempted to lay both down – the cross and salvation.

It does not matter who you might be – the Word brings the cross, often through the same people who claim to be believers. This comes in various doses and measures, depending on the person.

Luther said something so profound and simple about this that I created a graphic for it. God does not take turmoil from your heart; He takes your heart away from the turmoil. The turmoil still exists, but God turns it into a paradise so that we think we are in a rose garden.

I know many who have experienced it from their new-found love of the Book of Concord, Luther, and the Word. Only conflict and turmoil can produce that reaction.

Jesus says, “Do not be troubled, nor let it be afraid.” Faith is the opponent and the antidote to fear and anxiety. That is because faith is trust in God, in His power and compassion. His Promises, blessings, and forgiveness change troubled hearts even though opposition and turmoil continue.

28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

All these things came true, so the disciples were confirmed in their trust of Christ. He rose to heaven on Ascension Day and sent the Holy Spirit, as He promised. These were astounding events which they witnessed and experienced.

Once again we see in this Gospel that believing is good. Everything has happened so that we believe in God, that we see Him in Christ, and know the Holy Spirit is at work in the Word.

The Gospel is Christ crucified for the sins of the world. This Gospel treasure is distributed through the Means of Grace, the Word and Sacraments. Those who deny this are enemies of the Word, no matter how saintly their appearance.

WELS SS Barf-o-rama: UOJ for Kiddies. Or, Roll Over, Gausewitz

AC V has left a new comment on your post "Joe Krohn on Forgiveness - The Gospel as Law":

"Or the woman who is verbally and physically abused (malicious abandonment of vows) who is seeking a scriptural divorce and is told she must forgive and not file for divorce. If she does not forgive and continues towards divorce, she will be excommunicated."

The following is why she was told to do so. In WELS it is taught at a young age.

WELS ChristLight Sunday School Teacher's Guide; Grades 5-6; New Testament; Week 5; Lesson B; Discussion Point, Option 1 (apply); p. 70:

God wants us to forgive others just as he has forgiven us, but we often find excuses not to forgive. How would you answer each of these excuses?

1. Katie makes fun of my clothes every day and refuses to stop. Why should I forgive her? (A: God forgives our sins, even the ones we repeat every day.)

2. John hates me and tells lies about me behind my back. Why should I forgive him? (A: God forgives even those who hate him.)

3. When I accidentally hurt Sarah, she was mad for weeks. Today she pushed me on purpose. Why should I forgive her? (A: God forgives even those who don't show a loving spirit.)

4. Kurt totally ruined my new sweater and didn't even apologize. Why should I forgive him? (A: God forgives us even before we say we're sorry.)

(Note: God forgives everyone in the whole world - those who love him, those who hate him, those who reject him, and those who don't even know about him [objective justification]. We receive his forgiveness when the faith he has given us accepts that forgiveness [subjective justification].

Go to Canada Now Rather Than Later

Some have said that I should not have taken out the federal student loans if I couldn’t pay them back without a hassle. Like everyone else, I assumed all along I’d graduate and receive a call. Plus, before I enrolled and took out the loans, I was told that Concordia U and seminary students hardly ever defaulted on their student loans. Now I found out too late that the Dept of Education and higher education are in cahoots, so what’s reported as the default rate is only those who defaulted within two years or so after graduation. With the six-month grace period and easily approved deferments, it would be hard for anyone to default in the first two years! The real default rate per school is kept top secret, but overall one out of five student loan debtors default. One reason Americans owe more on student loans than on credit Cards is student loans can’t be discharged through bankruptcy.


The main reason that other countries have less expensive education is that other countries collect more taxes from their corporations, and these taxes go to fund education at all levels. In the US 81% of US govt revenues comes from income and payroll taxes, which is twice as high as other industrialized countries, and likewise, the US has half the effective rate of taxation on corporations and the very wealthy as other countries. So while the mood in the US is anti-taxation, only the rich and corporations receive dramatically lower tax rates since they have lobbyists.


Links:


The True Default Rate for Federal Student Loans, July 20, 2010
Last week, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported that 1 in 5 students graduating in 1995 have since defaulted on their student loans. Second: The American Public was, for decades, exposed to consistent, repeated claims by the universities, student loan companies, and even the Department of Education that the default rate was low (between roughly 4 and 7 percent) during the same time period….The fact that the recovery rate for defaulted federal student loans is 123 percent (compare this with the 20-30 percent rate for credit cards) should provide a clue.


---------------


Student Loan Default Rate Is Continuing to Increase
By TAMAR LEWIN


Published: September 13, 2010


The default rates represent a snapshot in time, examining only borrowers whose first loan repayments came due from Oct. 1, 2007, to Sept. 30, 2008, and who defaulted before Sept. 30, 2009. Those who defaulted later were not included in the data; over time, default rates increase substantially.


---------------


US Govt makes money off of student loan defaulters, Aug 6, 2010


---------------


Search school’s default rates (but only first two years of repayment period are shown): http://www.nslds.ed.gov/nslds_SA/defaultmanagement/search_cohort.cfm


---------------


7 Things They Don’t Tell You About Student Loans
By Jane Bryant Quinn | Dec 7, 2010
The default rate is much higher than the government leads you to believe….You have no idea how fast an apparently modest student loan can build, if you skip payments.


---------------
The Student Loan Scheme


Concordia Ft. Wayne library and food pantry expansion costs:
The library addition is part of a $15,000,000 capital campaign that also includes $5,000,000 in added endowment and $2,000,000 for a family life center to house the Food and Clothing Co-op following construction of the library.


Student Loan costs for life of a loan calculator


See also Table 2 here:
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/background/numbers/revenue.cfm


CEOs and board members are often paid in stocks, and capital gains associated with those stocks are taxed at only 15%:


http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc427.html


You have taxable income or deductible loss when you sell the stock you received by exercising the option. You generally treat this amount as a capital gain or loss.


See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_pay#Tax_issues


Corporate taxation and excise (“sin”) taxes (cigarettes, alcohol, gasoline, etc) barely are taxed anymore compared to their historical rate, while individual tax payers must assume the burden the corporations and commerce once had. While the statutory tax rate might be high, corporations have received tax breaks and deductions and credits so their “effective” tax rate is the lowest of any industrialized nation—27th out of 27:


http://reclaimdemocracy.org/corporate_welfare/real_tax_rates_plummet.php


Corporate taxes paid for more than a quarter of federal outlays in the 1950s and a fifth in the 1960s. They began to decline during the Nixon administration, yet even by the second half of the 1990s, corporate taxes still covered 11 percent of the cost of federal programs. But in fiscal years 2002 and 2003, corporate taxes paid for a mere 6 percent of federal expenses.


Only 12% of US federal revenue comes from corporations as of 2009, up from the start of the decade, while payroll and income tax account for 81% of US federal revenue:
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/background/numbers/revenue.cfm


In Canada only 41% of federal revenues come from personal taxes, half the US rate:
http://www.moneyandwealth.ca/222/source-of-canadian-government-tax-revenue/


US barely taxes its corporations compared to other industrialized countries:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_federal_budget


…the U.S. ranked 27th lowest of 30 OECD countries in its collection of corporate taxes relative to GDP, at 1.8% vs. the average 2.5%.[27] Bruce Bartlett wrote in May 2011: "...one almost never hears that total revenues are at their lowest level in two or three generations as a share of G.D.P. or that corporate tax revenues as a share of G.D.P. are the lowest among all major countries. One hears only that the statutory corporate tax rate in the United States is high compared with other countries, which is true but not necessarily relevant. The economic importance of statutory tax rates is blown far out of proportion by Republicans looking for ways to make taxes look high when they are quite low."[28]


The personal plus corporate taxes together amounted to only 40% of German state revenue:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_Germany#Tax_revenue


Lutheran Seminary Fraud, May 16, 2011

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bruce-church (http://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Go to Canada Now Rather Than Later":

The last item/line in the above post is missing the link. Here it is:

Lutheran Seminary Fraud, May 16, 2011:
http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2011/05/lutheran-seminary-fraud-students-are.html