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, August 22, 2011
When the going gets weird...the weird turn pro...hunter thompson
When the going gets weird...the weird turn pro...hunter thompson
Well, this explains a lot of the cyberstalking, misogyny, and bullying you see on Lutheran message boards and blogs coming from CPH executive and Lutheran pastor Paul T. McCain.
LCMS has some explaining to do if this website is funded or expensed to the Missouri Synod or CPH.
This doesn’t reflect well upon the CPH or the LCMS.
Even if cyberbrethren is his personal blog site, he’s still an officer of the CPH and by extension he makes the denomination look like stereotypical bitter clingers.
I’m from the Midwest not the South, we use colorful metaphors to dismiss this kind of behavior, “redneck hillbilly”--- a throwback to another time.
This is not the appropriate venue to talk about gun prowess precisely because this person is an officer of a publishing house and a pastor who makes frequent mention of it everywhere he presents himself on an international basis.
It’s conduct unbecoming a pastor--especially the VDMA on pistol grips.
“My VDMA 1911 .45 Pistol: An Homage to the Smalcaldic League and the Lutheran Reformation
April 12th, 2011
I received a set of custom grips for my 1911 handgun, and decided to have inscribed on them the symbol that was widely used by the Lutheran princes throughout the Reformation era, the famous: VDMA, standing for the Latin motto Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum. This symbol was inscribed on swords, cannons and armor used by the Smalcaldic League which was formed to be a mutual defense organization, against the Catholic princes trying to overthrow the Reformation in the various territories of Germany that had embraced it.
Here is a photo of my 1911 with my VDMA grips, following that, another brief explanation of the VDMA symbol, as usual for a really large version of the image, click on it and then click on it again and you’ll have it.”
April 12th, 2011 at 21:37 | #5
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Okay, get mad at me, but this is obscene.
April 13th, 2011 at 00:17 | #12
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In this day and age it will cause offense to others as it did to me, despite what our Lutheran forefathers did. I think it might have been better to keep that picture to yourself.
With respect, Pastor, I also found this disturbing.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”
There are many who will not understand the historical context of what you are saying, and will see this as an endorsement of using force to bring the Word of God to people.
This image bothered me, even though I’m a fan of Lutheran history and the wife of a gun collector.
April 13th, 2011 at 10:12 | #19
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This is very creepy…
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- ◦April 13th, 2011 at 12:15 | #22
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It’s creepy because you’re not in the same position as the Lutheran princes in the Smalcaldic League who faced the real threat of Catholic aggression. Putting VDMA on a pistol while living in 21st century St. Louis is just silly and, yes, more than a little weird. It’s like those Goth kids in high school who like to pretend they live in the Middle Ages. It’s a phase you hope they grow out of, but apparently some people never stop playing pretend.
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ptmccain
April 13th, 2011 at 12:34 | #23 Reply | Quote
Thomas, you probably could have made your point, or maybe not, without resorting to silliness, but…regardless…let me assure you that next time I take the 1911 to the range, I will shoot several magazines with great joy, in your honor, celebrating my Christian and American rights and freedom to do so. That you don’t “get it” is unfortunate, but that’s ok. Some people who have an animus over against guns never will. I gladly join the fathers of our faith who placed VDMA on their weapons to remind themselves that their struggle against evil was a struggle for the Word of God’s truth and purity. Precisely because I live in Saint Louis, Missouri, I carry firearms to defend myself and my family, aware, at all times, that while flesh and grass fade, the Word of the Lord endures forever. - ◦
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What Luther Says.......False Teachers Are Peacocks
J-642.1
"The peacock is an image of heretics and fanatical spirits. For on the order of the peacock they, too, show themselves and strut about in their gifts, which never are outstanding. But if they could see their feet, that is the foundation of their doctrine, they would be stricken with terror, lower their crests, and humble themselves. To be sure, they, too, suffer from jealousy, because they cannot bear honest and true teachers. They want to be the whole show and want to put up with no one next to them. And they are immeasurably envious, as peacocks are. Finally, they have a raucous and unpleasant voice, that is, their doctrine is bitter and sad for afflicted and godly minds; for it casts consciences down more than it lifts them up and strengthens them." What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 642. ( ripped off from Ichabod The Glory Has Departed )
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PT McCain, CPH Ambassador and VDMA Pistolero
McCain Still Fueling Ichabod Hits
McCain:
The First Amendment does not apply at blog sites, they are all moderated, in varying degrees. I’m saying the editors of this blog would be well advised to exercise a bit more responsible oversight re. the comments posted here. Kind of what I already said. I’m totally for the ordination of women, just asking (sic) anyone. [insert big eye roll here]
Vehse:
Paul, the suggestion would be mutual except that your posts on BJS and the other Lutheran blogs provide readers the best opportunity to see just what kind of person currently works as Publisher and Executive Director of Concordia Publishing House and calls himself an “LCMS pastor.”
Wallenstein:
And yet you never allow anyone to post on Cyberbretheren the kinds of comments you regularly post on other people’s blogs. Editor McCain: Why not raise the issues in private with the LCMS pastors who run this site. Thanks.
More Wallenstein:
The LCMS as an organization has way too many internal problems in order to be effective. Most of the blog postings are negative. Where’s the good news? Steadfast, ALPB and Lutherquest have convinced me that the LCMS is full of mean-spirited pastors who are constantly at each others throats. Look at Pastor McCain argue in public with Pastor Scheer and with other “Confessional” pastors over on ALPB. Embarrassing. Blogs such as this one have convinced me that the LCMS is a sick organization that needs to be reformed. Koinonia cannot happen soon enough. Call us laymen impatient, but please consider that we have only been waiting 40+ years for the LCMS to re-tool. Ok, carry on………
Rev. Paul T. McCain : I wish they would be more active, and I’d suggest that Carl Vehse be disinvited from bloviating all over this forum.
Timothy Shenks: What’s this with “they” being more active, as if you don’t know who “they” are? Rev. McCain, you know full well that the BJS webmaster is the same person who administers some of your own personal websites.
Wallenstein: Would Pastor Harrison please rein in Editor McCain. He is making a lot of enemies here and over on ALPB. This onetime Pastor does not reflect well on the public image of CPH. The LCMS pays him handsomely to blog all day. HE is yet another reason why I refuse to give a penny to District or Synod.
The “Willow Creek Lutherans” shun CPH materials in favor of Willow Creek (Duh!). “Confessional” Lutherans are your biggest customers, and you spend hours insulting them on various blogs. How pastoral is that? Way to alienate your customer base, Editor McCain.
Wallenstein:
And yet you never allow anyone to post on Cyberbretheren the kinds of comments you regularly post on other people’s blogs. Editor McCain: Why not raise the issues in private with the LCMS pastors who run this site. Thanks.
More Wallenstein:
The LCMS as an organization has way too many internal problems in order to be effective. Most of the blog postings are negative. Where’s the good news? Steadfast, ALPB and Lutherquest have convinced me that the LCMS is full of mean-spirited pastors who are constantly at each others throats. Look at Pastor McCain argue in public with Pastor Scheer and with other “Confessional” pastors over on ALPB. Embarrassing. Blogs such as this one have convinced me that the LCMS is a sick organization that needs to be reformed. Koinonia cannot happen soon enough. Call us laymen impatient, but please consider that we have only been waiting 40+ years for the LCMS to re-tool. Ok, carry on………
Rev. Paul T. McCain : I wish they would be more active, and I’d suggest that Carl Vehse be disinvited from bloviating all over this forum.
Timothy Shenks: What’s this with “they” being more active, as if you don’t know who “they” are? Rev. McCain, you know full well that the BJS webmaster is the same person who administers some of your own personal websites.
Wallenstein: Would Pastor Harrison please rein in Editor McCain. He is making a lot of enemies here and over on ALPB. This onetime Pastor does not reflect well on the public image of CPH. The LCMS pays him handsomely to blog all day. HE is yet another reason why I refuse to give a penny to District or Synod.
The “Willow Creek Lutherans” shun CPH materials in favor of Willow Creek (Duh!). “Confessional” Lutherans are your biggest customers, and you spend hours insulting them on various blogs. How pastoral is that? Way to alienate your customer base, Editor McCain.
Clyde Nehrenz:
I conclude from all of Mr. McCain's entries on Luther Quest since he imposed himself here, that although holding the prestigious position of Publisher at CPH he is, as a person, simply a nasty little man.
McCain:
Oh, now Clyde, there you go again . . .
For whatever reason, you have spent decades slandering and defaming and bearing false witness against faithful pastors and teachers of our Synod, so you'll have to excuse me if I do not pay much attention to your vituperative remarks here.
For whatever reason, you have spent decades slandering and defaming and bearing false witness against faithful pastors and teachers of our Synod, so you'll have to excuse me if I do not pay much attention to your vituperative remarks here.
Joe Krohn Answers in Public
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Survey Says!
1. Did Jesus’ death cover the sins of the entire world? I think the key is Christ’s righteousness and how it is received. Focusing on the cross especially from our perspective – post Calvary- discombobulates things. This way we can talk of all believers of all time in the same way. However there is still this problem with sin. God promised that Christ would deal with it and He certainly did by atoning for them in mans place.
2. Were the sins of the entire world taken from men and laid upon Jesus? Again, too much focus on the cross. They were atoned for. As John the Baptist says…the Lamb of God who takes (present tense – ongoing) away the sins of the world…Jesus forgives through faith.
3. Does the righteousness of Christ now stand as the universal substitute before God for the wickedness of mankind? The righteousness of Christ only benefits those who have faith in Christ; this is as it was from the Garden of Eden until now.
4. Does man’s unbelief and wickedness undo the completed sacrifice on the cross?
No. 5. What is added to Jesus’ work to complete the work of salvation? Nothing. Jesus said ‘It is Finished’. [GJ - This question is slanted, like several others, and may tickle the ears of those who equate atonement, justification, and salvation, as DP Buchholz did while pretending to critique the Kokomo debacle.]
6. Is faith a cause of salvation? No. Or does faith merely appropriate salvation? We are saved by grace for Christ’s sake through faith.
7. Is faith man’s contribution to salvation? No. This is synergism.
8. Is it man’s responsibility to produce repentance? He can’t…it is the work of the Holy Ghost worked through the Means of Grace. [GJ - The Holy Spirit works through the Law to foster repentance, and the chief sin, the foundational sin, John 16:8, is unbelief. That said, the "Means of Grace" is man's term for the work of the Gospel in the Word.]
9. Is it man’s responsibility to produce faith? Same as #8. I can't belabor the point enough that Christ's work of the cross (REDEMPTION) is not the forgiveness of all men's sins. It is the PAYMENT for them and it is objectively true and for (non-imputed) the benefit of all men of all time. In Luther's explanation of the Second Article of the Apostle's Creed there is no forgiveness; only redemption.
Remember...the Apostle's Creed is a CONFESSION OF FAITH and the "I, we's and me's' are the believers and NOT all men. "The Second Article. Of Redemption. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. What does this mean?
--Answer. I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won [delivered] me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, in order that I may be [wholly] His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true."
The Resurrection and the Forgiveness of Sins are Third Article of the Apostle's Creed and our true Christian confession of faith. As believers we are totally reliant on God and specifically the Holy Ghost regarding our salvation. We are 100% passive.
He does the work from atoning for our sins and working faith, forgiveness, justification and righteousness. It is outside of us...Christ's righteousness is outside of us and it is only through faith worked by the Holy Spirit that we receive this righteousness; otherwise we die in our sins. (John 8:24)
This was most certainly true for the believers of the Old Testament as well as all of those living in the New Testament. Here is Luther's explanation to the Third Article: The Third Article. Of Sanctification.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; one holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. What does this mean?
--Answer. I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.
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GJ -Joe Krohn is willing to deal with public false doctrine out in the open.
VP Patterson and Ex-SP Gurgle are being underhanded, secretive, and popish - standard WELS clergy behavior. Patterson and his Facebook friend, Tim Glende, are both hotter than Georgia asphalt for UOJ and Church Shrinkage false doctrine.
Gurgle was the finger-puppet for UOJ/CG when he was SP, but he was the dream candidate of "conservatives" when he descended to that office. Mark Schroeder became the new dream candidate of "conservatives" to trick them again. Some pastors do not learn.
This excommunication is another test of whether Lutherans can base their discussions on the two foundational truths of the Scriptures and Confessions:
- The efficacy of the Word alone.
- The work of the Gospel through the Means of Grace alone.
The questions above came from a WELS pastor. The Syn Conference pastors are not used to working from the two foundational truths, because their history rests upon a false view of Walther, his toxic amalgamation of Pietistic Enthusiasm and Lutheran doctrine.
Their precious double-justification scheme is identical to Knapp, Schleiermacher, and the Second Day Adventists.
Knapp was a Halle Pietist, very influential, and still in print today.
Schleiermacher was a Halle liberal, the pivotal figure in modern theology, foundational for Karl Barth, the official (adulterous, Marxist) theologian of Fuller Seminary.
Gurgle and Patterson, with their Mequon counterparts, agree completely with the precise wording of the Seventh Day Adventists on justification:
According to the 1888 Message Study Committee ("1888 MSC"), the 1888 message reveals many "fresh, beautiful truths . . . that are not usually understood today."[1] One such "truth" is the concept that Christ's death at the cross accomplished a legal or objective justification which is universally and unconditionally applied to all men.[2] This doctrine is said to derive from the observations that Christ has borne the sins of "all men" and has died the second death for "every man." It is viewed as the basis for the present life enjoyed by all men. This legal justification, also referred to as a corporate justification, is distinguished by its proponents from justification by faith, or "experiential" justification, and should not be taken to imply universal salvation wherein all men would be saved, some even against their will. The especial merit of such universal legal justification, as seen by the spokesmen for the 1888 MSC, is that it provides foundational proof and an earnest of the loving initiative taken by God to bring about man's salvation. When the full import of God's initiative on man's behalf is recognized, it is believed to be pivotal in galvanizing the sinner's complete devotion to, and saving faith in, Christ.
When there is precise agreement with the Seventh Day Adventists on justification, down to the explanation about how justification by faith "works," people should take notice. The Adventists are not Christian.
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