ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Father Burger King Counsels a Repentant Ronald McDonald
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.
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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
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]
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.
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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."
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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
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
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
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