Atheist help for the clergy who are closet unbelievers | Christian News on Christian Today

Atheist help for the clergy who are closet unbelievers | Christian News on Christian Today:

'via Blog this'

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GJ - The Church Shrinkage Movement produces a lot of them, like Bob Schumann and Curtis Peterson, both of WELS. Mark Freier, another ex-WELS pastor, said on his rent-a-minister website that he would marry anyone - Hindu, atheist, whatever. I assumed he is an atheist or completely indifferent.

Churchmouse Campanologist - ChurchMouse and Rogue Lutheran on Financial Markets

Churchmouse Campanologist:

'via Blog this'

My thanks to Rogue Lutheran who wrote in last week with links to a story with which I was unfamiliar but had been wondering about.

For over 15 years, I have pondered how our global economy puts so much emphasis on trading newish financial instruments such as derivatives, collateralised debt obligations and credit default swaps.  Yes, they make big money, but whatever happened to simpler trades of commodities or foreign exchange rates — what used to be known as ‘speculation’ — and was something that most people could understand?

The next two posts will explore this phenomenon

UOJ Spin-Doctors Are Perfect Examples of Luther on Sects

The UOJ Stormtroopers keep proving that they are sectarians who specialize in one error and only think in terms of that falsehood.

The modern term is pixelation, soon to be added to the Icha-slang Lexicon. The Stormtroopers magnify one phrase from one verse and make their false view the epicenter of the Biblical witness. Nothing can dislodge them.

In this case, the issue is universal absolution--without faith--and calling that The Gospel.

They hate admitting their common origin with ELCA.

Although not everyone from the Big Four graduated from Halle University, many Lutheran founders are directly connected with Halle,  the center of Pietism, established to promote Pietism.

Muhlenberg, the founder of ELCA (on the ULCA-General Synod side) was a Halle graduate. The Scandihoovians were Pietists. Walther took over the Pietistic sect of Bishop Stephan and kept cell groups going for a period of time. Stephan attended Halle.

Adolph Hoenecke, the WELS theologian, graduated from Halle.

Apparently, the arrivals known in America as Old Lutherans were really just the latest Pietists from Halle (Europe's Fuller Seminary). The New Lutherans of the General Synod were simply following  the natural progression of Pietism and got themselves involved in sweating, dancing, fainting revivals, where more souls were conceived than saved, as my church history professor once observed.

The separatism of the various Lutheran sects had a lot more to do with culture and language than with doctrinal differences. The groups were fairly similar, except the revivalists were more honest about their longing to return to the Rome of Pietism - Evangelicalism.

WELS, Missouri, and the Little Sect on the Prairie have proven their affinity with ELCA by working with the apostates in every possible area of ministry, including worship, while pretending like true Pietists that they loathe the doctrine and practice of ELCA. Pietism breeds hypocrisy, which is why a Pietistic country has the worst abortion-on-demand laws in the world.

Richard Jungkuntz easily moved from a tiny college in Watertown to leadership of Seminex, because Northwestern College was the fertile womb of Seminex and the AELC. That radical element took over the Chicago seminary and controlled the merger documents that produce the ELCA. The common doctrinal element was UOJ.

My quick read of American Lutheran history is this - Each group came from Pietism and engaged in a struggle between genuine orthodoxy and Pietistic unionism. In every case, Pietism won and expelled partisans of Luther and the Book of Concord.

Each group has a set of legalistic rules designed to hide the fact that they are all working together. Thus SP Schroeder condemns ELCA while working with ELCA through Thrivent programs. Schroeder's lucrative job is not to promote or maintain sound doctrine, but to keep people from finding out the truth about WELS.

Ditto, Pope John the Malefactor in the ELS.

Ditto, Matt Harrison in the LCMS.

A fraction of the pastors want the false image kept up, because they get to skim the loot for their fancy trips, luxury conference stays, and sinecures. The rest keep silent because they want those perks for themselves.

UOJ Exemplies the Spirit of the Sects. Therefore, WELS and Missouri and the ELS Love Babtists, Mefodists, and Pantingcostals - But They Practice Safe Sects

"The insect-minded sectarian allows the Reformation very little merit except as it prepared the way for the putting forth, in due time, of the particular twig of Protestantism on which he crawls, and which he imagines bears all the fruit, and gives all the value to the tree.  As the little green tenants of the rose-bush might be supposed to argue that the rose was made for the purpose of furnishing them a home and food, so these small speculators find the root of the Reformation in the particular part of Providence which they consent to adopt and patronize.  The Reformation, as they take it, originated in the divine plan for furnishing a nursery for sectarian Aphides."

Charles P. Krauth, The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology, Philadelphia: United Lutheran Publication House, 1913 (1871), p. 5.                                                                                                       

"For every sect has always had one or more particular hobbies and articles which are manifestly wrong and can easily be discerned to be of the devil, who publicly teach, urge and defend them as right certain and necessary to believe or to keep  For the spirit of lies cannot so conceal himself, but that he must at last put forth his claws, by which you can discern and observe the ravenous wolf." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, IV, p. 282f. Eighth Sunday after Trinity Matthew 7:15-23.         

                                                                                            

"This article concerning justification by faith (as the Apology says) is the chief article in the entire Christian doctrine, without which no poor conscience can have any firm consolation, or can truly know the riches of the grace of Christ, as Dr. Luther also has written: If this only article remains pure on the battlefield, the Christian Church also remains pure, and in goodly harmony and without any sects; but if it does not remain pure, it is not possible that any error or fanatical spirit can be resisted. (Tom. 5, Jena, p. 159.) And concerning this article especially Paul says that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Formula of Concord, SD III. #6, Righteousness of Faith. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 917. Tappert, p. 540. Heiser, p. 250.                                                                                                     

"If this only article remains pure on the battlefield, the Christian Church also remains pure, and in goodly harmony and without any sects; but if it does not remain pure, it is not possible that any error or fanatical spirit can be resisted."

Dr. Luther Formula of Concord, SD. III. #6. Righteousness of Faith. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 917. Tappert, p. 540. Heiser, p. 250.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

"It is a curious fact in denominational history, that, as an ordinary rule, the more large, catholic, and churchly the title of a sect, the smaller, narrower, and more sectarian is the body that bears it." Charles P. Krauth, The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology, Philadelphia: The United Lutheran Publication House, 1871, p. 115.   ELDONA.                                                                                                               

"The second class of hearers are those who receive the Word with joy, but they do not persevere.  These are also a large multitude who understand the Word correctly and lay hold of it in its purity without any spirit of sect, division or fanaticism, they rejoice also in that they know the real truth, and are able to know how they may be saved without works through faith...But when the sun shines hot it withers, because it has no soil and moisture, and only rock is there.  So these do; in times of persecution they deny or keep silence about the Word and work, speak and suffer all that their persecutors mention or wish, who formerly went forth and spoke, and confessed with a fresh and joyful spirit the same, while there was peace and no heat, so that there was hope they would bear much fruit and serve the people."

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed. John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983 II, p. 116. Sexagesima. Luke 8:4-15 (par. Mark 4: Matthew 13:)                                                                                            

"The liberal movement in Lutheran circles is not a thing of sudden growth.  In our circles it began half a century ago.  In its early stages it showed itself by an aping of the sects in external things, while our doctrine remained sound.  Perhaps the first thing to go was the Lutheran hymn...Many of the pastors and congregations gave up the ancient Gospels and Epistles, and began to preach on free texts, in imitation of the sects.  There was a fad at one time for series of sermons on Old Testament characters.  Lent was still observed, but the sermons became mere character sketches of Pontius Pilate, Judas, Simon Peter, and the Roman centurion."

"Contributed," "The Development of Liberalism, The Confessional Lutheran, 10/45. p. 121.                                                                                                         

"Yes, the drift toward sectarian liberalism went on and on.  When the sects conducted Boy Scout investitures, we began to do likewise.  When the sects preached the social gospel it had its echo among us.  When the sects decided on fervent prayer as the one mighty means of grace that rules the world, men in our circles began to buy books on that subject and to preach on its invincibility." "Contributed," "The Development of Liberalism, The Confessional Lutheran, 10/45. p. 122.                                                                                                                 

"I often say that there is no power or means to resist the sects except this one article of Christian righteousness.  If we have lost it, we cannot resist any errors or sects."

What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1225. Galatians 2:20.                                                                                                               

"The sects have two great advantages among the masses.  The one is curiosity, the other is satiety.  These are the two great gateways through which the devil drives with a hay wagon."

What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1268. 1 Corinthians 15.                                                                                                              

"But now these sects are our whetstones and polishers; they whet and grind our faith and doctrine so that, smooth and clean, they sparkle as a mirror.  Moreover we also learn to know the devil and his thoughts and become prepared to fight against him."

What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1269.                                                                                                              

"When one heresy dies, another presently springs up; for the devil neither slumbers nor sleeps.  I myself--though I am nothing--who have now been in the ministry of Christ for twenty years, can truthfully testify that I have been attacked by more than twenty sects.  Some of these have entirely perished; others still twitch with life like pieces of dismembered insects.  But Satan, that god of factious men, raises up new sects."

What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1270. Preface, Galatians Commentary Galatians.                                                                                                       

"Four people from each of 61 growing congregations gathered to share their congregational development experience, to react to the utility of toolbox items uncovered in Sections 2B and 2C above, and to exchange views with church body officials.  Approximately 125 church body officials [ELCA, WELS, LCMS] and other guests observed these congregations and participated in the discussions."

Church Membership Initiative, Narrative Summary of Findings, 1993, Aid Association for Lutherans, 4321 N Ballard Road, Appleton, WI, 54919-0001, June 30, 1993. p. 20.                                                                                                                

"But dissensions, sects and divisions are sure signs that the true doctrine is either ignored or misunderstood, men thus being left in a condition to be 'tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine,' as Paul says (Ephesians 4:4); which is indisputably the case with these same schismatics who condemn the Church and her doctrines because of some discordant ones." Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 204. Tenth Sunday after Trinity, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Ephesians 4:4                                                                                                        

"Thus Paul rejects the glorying and boasting of the sects over their offices and gifts--they who pretend to be filled with the Spirit and to teach the people correctly, and who make out that Paul and other teachers are of no consequence...More than that, they demand a higher attainment in the Spirit for Gospel ministers, deeming faith, the Sacrament, and the outward office not sufficient." Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 206. Tenth Sunday after Trinity, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11;                                                                                                       

"The same is true of other factions--the Anabaptists and similar sects. What else do they but slander baptism and the Lord's Supper when they pretend that the external [spoken] Word and outward sacraments do not benefit the soul, that the Spirit alone can do that?"

Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 208. Tenth Sunday after Trinity, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11;                                                                                                           

"However, we see that although Satan causes many sects and factions to rise up soon they war among themselves and disappear again.  What countless cliques and fanatical tyrants Satan has produced to oppose the Gospel during these fifteen hundred years, endeavoring to rend and destroy the kingdom of Christ!"

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 235. Ascension Day Mark 16:14-20.                                                                                                        

"The devil does not rest yet, and hence he stirs up so many sects and factions.  How many sects have we not already had?  One has taken up the sword, another has attacked the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, others that of baptism."

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 266. Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity, John 4:46-54; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:12                                                                                                          

"For every sect has always had one or more particular hobbies and articles which are manifestly wrong and can easily be discerned to be of the devil, who publicly teach, urge and defend them as right certain and necessary to believe or to keep  For the spirit of lies cannot so conceal himself, but that he must at last put forth his claws, by which you can discern and observe the ravenous wolf." Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, IV, p. 282f. Eighth Sunday after Trinity Matthew 7:15-23.                                                                                                       

"The doctrine of the means of grace is a peculiar glory of Lutheran theology.  To this central teaching it owes its sanity and strong appeal, its freedom from sectarian tendencies and morbid fanaticism, its coherence and practicalness, and its adaptation to men of every race and every degree of culture.  The Lutheran Confessions bring out with great clearness the thought of the Reformers upon this subject."

"Grace, Means of," The Concordia Cyclopedia, L. Fuerbringer, Th. Engelder, P. E. Kretzmann, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1927, p. 299.                                                                                                           

"When the Gospel begins to assert its influence, everybody wants to become a Christian.  All seems well, and everybody is pleased.  But when a wind or rainstorm of temptation comes on, people fall away in droves. Then sectaries arrive, as worms and bugs, gnawing and polluting the fruits of the Gospel, and so much false doctrine arises that few stay with the Gospel."

What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 37. John 4:46-54.                                                                                                        

"Why do so many people in our country fall in with the preachers of fanatical sects?  Because these sects spread the glamour of great sanctity about themselves.  Alas! man regards the works of God as trifling, but esteems the works of men highly.  That is nothing but one of the sad results of man's fall into sin."

C. F. W. Walther, The Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel, trans., W. H. T. Dau, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1928, p. 372.   The CORE.                                                                                                           

"The world is now full of sects which exclaim that Baptism is merely an external matter and that external matters are of no use.  However, let it be ever so much an external matter; here stand God's Word and command which institute, establish, and confirm Baptism.  However, whatever God institutes and commands cannot be useless but must be an altogether precious matter, even if it were worth less than a straw."

What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 43. Large Catechism Matthew 28:19.                                                                                                      

"We should be on our guard against the Anabaptists and sectarian spirits, who speak  contemptuously of Baptism and say that it is nothing but ordinary water, which helps no one.  They look at the sacred act as a cow looks at a new door; for they see a poor preacher standing there or some woman who baptizes in an emergency, are offended at the sight, and say:  Indeed!  What might Baptism be?  Moreover, they state:  Whoever does not believe is really not baptized. In this way they dishonor and blaspheme the most worthy Sacrament, not seeing any farther than a horse or a cow sees...."

What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 45. John 1:30-32.                                                                                                    

"Error and heresy must come into the world so that the elect may become approved and manifest.  Their coming is in the best interests of Christians if they take the proper attitude toward it.  St. Augustine, who certainly was sufficiently annoyed by wretched sectaries, says that when heresy and offense come, they produce much benefit in Christendom; for they cause Christians industriously to read Holy Scriptures and with diligence to pursue it and persevere in its study.  Otherwise they might let it lie on the shelf, become very secure, and say:  Why, God's Word and the text of Scripture are current and in our midst; it is not necessary for us to read Holy Scripture." What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 639.                                                                                                    

"Error and heresy must come into the world so that the elect may become approved and manifest.  Their coming is in the best interests of Christians if they take the proper attitude toward it.  St. Augustine, who certainly was sufficiently annoyed by wretched sectaries, says that when heresy and offense come, they produce much benefit in Christendom; for they cause Christians industriously to read Holy Scriptures and with diligence to pursue it and persevere in its study.  Otherwise they might let it lie on the shelf, become very secure, and say:  Why, God's Word and the text of Scripture are current and in our midst; it is not necessary for us to read Holy Scripture." What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 639.                                                                                                     

"All the others also say that they are teaching the Word of God.  No devil, heretic, or sectarian spirit arises who says:  I, the devil, or a heretic, am preaching my own views.  On the contrary, all know how to say: This is not my doctrine; it is God's Word."

What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 640.                                                                                                               

"For as truly as I can say, No man has spun the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer out of his head, but they are revealed and given by God Himself, so also I can boast and given by God Himself, so also I can boast that Baptism is no human trifle, but instituted by God Himself, moreover, that it is most solemnly and strictly commanded that we must be baptized or we cannot be saved, lest any one regard it as a trifling matter, like putting on a new red coat. For it is of the greatest importance that we esteem Baptism excellent, glorious, and exalted, for which we contend and fight chiefly, because the world is now so full of sects clamoring that Baptism is an external thing, and that external things are of no benefit. But let it be ever so much an external thing, here stand God's Word and command which institute, establish, and confirm Baptism."

The Large Catechism, Part Fourth, Of Baptism. #6-8. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 733. Tappert, p. 437. Heiser, p. 205.                                                                                              

Ray Klatt Asks: "Why Translate the Bible When It Is Easier To Bowdlerize Luther and the Book of Concord?"

 The Sausage Factory turns out UOJ Stormtroopers by the dozen.

raklatt (http://raklatt.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "St. Peter Fond du Lac (WELS) Edits the Book of Con...":

And this from among the group that is thinking about making its own translation of the Bible? The Epistle of Paul to the Romans would be shorter than the Third Epistle of John.

But wait...does DP stand for DiotrePhes? 3 John would of necessity have to be even shorter. 3 John 9-10 would have to be left out for it says: "I wrote unto the church, but Diotrephes, who loveth to have pre-eminence among them, receiveth us not. Therefore if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words. And not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethern, and forbiddeth those who would, and casteth them out of the church."

No new translation will be done. It is so much easier to edit Luther and the Book of Concord.

Wikipedia on Bowdler.

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Sunday, October 16, 2011

St. Peter Fond du Lac (WELS) Edits the Book of Concord To Eliminate Justification by Faith

Join their cell group "ministry." UOJ and cell groups go together.

AC V has left a new comment on your post "Pope Benedict Showing His Age and Liturgical Style...":

Yet another example of WELS UOJ subterfuge, this time at parish level. In the October 2011 newsletter of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Fond du Lac, WI (just down the road from Appleton), the lead article entitled "Luther's Last Will and Testament: The Smalcald Articles" the author writes:

"As children of the Lutheran Reformation, may we steadfastly stand on the truth of the Bible as it is faithfully expounded and explained in the Smalcald Articles. The first and chief article is this:"

The author then goes on to quote that article from the SA. However, there is a curious "..." in the middle of the quotation. What is the "..."? Look up the entire article and you find that the author left out this important part:

"Now, since it is necessary to believe this, and it cannot be otherwise acquired or apprehended by any work, law, or merit, it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us as St. Paul says, Rom. 3:28: For we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the Law. Likewise 3:26: That He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Christ." 

In other words, the author gave the impression that Justification does not include faith. Narrowing it down to the sentence before and after the "...", this is how the author teaches UOJ:

"Likewise: All have sinned and are justified without merit [freely, and without their own works or merits] by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in His blood...Of this article nothing can be yielded or surrendered [or can anything be granted or permitted contrary to the same], even though heaven and earth, and whatever will not abide, should sink in ruin."

In the WELS this is code for: "You better believe in UOJ, or else!"

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Intrepid Lutherans on the NNIV

ISSUES WITH NIV 2011

LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) recommends against NIV 2011

Jan 9, 2013

The Queen James Bible: The next stage of "interpretive ambiguity"

Dec 14, 2012

How does one interpret language in a post-Modern Age? What about the language of the Bible?

Dec 11, 2012

"Church and Continuity" Conference Review: Rev. Koester on Gender Neutral Translating

Jun 5, 2012

NIV Translation Posts Compiled

Jan 6, 2012

ELS doctrine committee recommends against NIV 2011

Dec 7, 2011

The LORD (no longer) Our Righteousness in NIV 2011

Nov 30, 2011

"Relevance," and Mockery of the Holy Martyrs

Nov 30, 2011

The Gender Gutting of the Bible in NIV 2011

Nov 28, 2011

On "Emasculated Bibles" and being "Objective"

Nov 15, 2011

The Case of the Disappearing "Testament:" Modern Bible Translations and Covenantal Theology

Oct 15, 2011

Thoughts on Gender-Neutral Language in the NIV 2011

Sep 15, 2011

Post-Modernism, Pop-culture, Transcendence, and the Church Militant

Sep 13, 2011

"The saints" are no more

Aug 15, 2011

The NIV 2011 and the Importance of Translation Ideology

Aug 02, 2011

The NNIV, the WELS Translation Evaluation Committee, and the Perspicuity of the Scriptures

July 28, 2011

NIV 2011: A brotherly debate

July 27, 2011

NNIV - the new standard for WELS?

July 15, 2011

Anti-Semitic Sensitivity in the New NIV

December 15, 2010

NIV 2011 comparison with NIV 1984 and TNIV

Ignore the Man Behind the Curtain: Mark Jeske and His Church and Changers

"Ignore the man behind the curtain!"

rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity: Ephesians 4:1-6":

The church growth leaders of today are the progeny of Spener. The legalism in American Lutheranism always seemed like an odd duck. Pastor Jackson, like Toto, you may have pulled back the curtain. It really may have been nothing more than a cover for the doctrinal indifferentism that is a trademark of Pietism. A generation ago, a sizable share of the laity had a workable knowledge of many of the doctrinal points of contention. Now, they are peppered with life coaching sermons and how-to Bible studies.

Notice the sequence of Lenski's comment: 1) Doctrine 2) Faith (Justification) 3) Admonition......which deals with life and conduct (sanctification).

St. Peter Fond du Lac (WELS) Edits the Book of Concord To Eliminate Justification by Faith

Join their cell group "ministry." UOJ and cell groups go together.

AC V has left a new comment on your post "Pope Benedict Showing His Age and Liturgical Style...":

Yet another example of WELS UOJ subterfuge, this time at parish level. In the October 2011 newsletter of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Fond du Lac, WI (just down the road from Appleton), the lead article entitled "Luther's Last Will and Testament: The Smalcald Articles" the author writes:

"As children of the Lutheran Reformation, may we steadfastly stand on the truth of the Bible as it is faithfully expounded and explained in the Smalcald Articles. The first and chief article is this:"

The author then goes on to quote that article from the SA. However, there is a curious "..." in the middle of the quotation. What is the "..."? Look up the entire article and you find that the author left out this important part:

"Now, since it is necessary to believe this, and it cannot be otherwise acquired or apprehended by any work, law, or merit, it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us as St. Paul says, Rom. 3:28: For we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the Law. Likewise 3:26: That He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Christ."

In other words, the author gave the impression that Justification does not include faith. Narrowing it down to the sentence before and after the "...", this is how the author teaches UOJ:

"Likewise: All have sinned and are justified without merit [freely, and without their own works or merits] by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in His blood...Of this article nothing can be yielded or surrendered [or can anything be granted or permitted contrary to the same], even though heaven and earth, and whatever will not abide, should sink in ruin."

In the WELS this is code for: "You better believe in UOJ, or else!"

Pope Benedict Showing His Age and Liturgical Style

Them MLC guys could show him something about how to dress for success.

Garrett has left a new comment on your post "Pope Benedict Showing His Age and Liturgical Style...":

From the MLC student portal:

On Saturday, October 24th after 7 pm chapel in the Cafeteria Conference Room, Scott Barefoot will present on leaving the gay lifestyle. He has a powerful message and shares what God’s word has to say on the subject. Come and learn how to speak the truth in love to those involved in the gay lifestyle. Bring your bible.

Laugh. Out. Loud.

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GJ - Short answer - transfer from MLC.

The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity: Ephesians 4:1-6

Norma Boeckler, artist

The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

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

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10AM Central Time

The Hymn #  44                    Ye Lands             2:41

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 #203            Morning Breaks            2:70     

Unity through the Word

The Communion Hymn # 315            I Come O Savior             2:66

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 #  467     Built on a Rock                   2:83

KJV Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

KJV Luke 14:1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. 2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. 3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? 4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; 5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day? 6 And they could not answer him again to these things. 7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, 8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; 9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. 10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. 11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Seventeenth Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father: We beseech Thee so to guide and direct us by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not exalt ourselves, but humbly fear Thee, with our whole hearts hear and keep Thy word, and hallow the Lord's day, that we also may be hallowed by Thy word; help us, first, to place our hope and confidence in Thy Son, Jesus Christ, who alone is our righteousness and Redeemer, and, then, so to amend and better our lives in accordance with Thy word, that we may avoid all offenses and finally obtain eternal salvation, through Thy grace in Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God. world without end. Amen.

Unity Through the Word

KJV Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

This is one of the great, classic passages in the Bible.

Two things happen with numbers. The first is the naming of the Holy Trinity within two verses. This shows how clearly the teaching of the Trinity was embedded in the earliest Christian documents.

Only a few years after the resurrection of Christ, Paul routinely invoked the Trinity, listing all three Persons, or emphasizing the Father/Son relationship, or naming the Holy Spirit in other references. In several places Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are named together. Besides this, Paul gave divine attributes--such as faith, hop, and love—in groups of three.

But within these verses is another great emphasis, always found in Paul – the oneness of the true Church through unity of doctrine.

The Evangelicals have this saying that comes from Spener – Pietism – “Doctrine divides.” Spener did not want people arguing about sound doctrine. I asked an avid translation of German works – What did Spener teach about this or that? He said, “Name it and he probably wrote it someone. He was prolific but not consistent.” Spener liked working with non-Lutheran Protestants, which is where he got his ideas.

In the name of love, unity of doctrine does not matter to Pietists.

However, this is confused with legalism. The Lutheran groups today argue about legalistic issues because they all agree with ELCA about everyone already being forgiven. Since they are really in union with ELCA, both in teaching and in actual ministry work, they protect their franchises with legalism.

1. Can someone pray with his aunt who belongs to another Lutheran group?
2. What if she is dying in a hospital bed?
3. What about husbands and wives who belong to different franchises?

They fuss over little matters to avoid the big doctrinal issues. They “filter out a gnat but swallow a camel.”

I asked one WELS member, “When are you going to admit that you are just as involved in Lutheran World Relief—with ELCA—as Missouri?”

All that fussing comes from using legalism to avoid dealing with the basic doctrinal issues, including the most important one – the Gospel itself – justification by faith.

Doctrine does divide – it divides the sheep from the goats. Paul said there must be heresies and divisions to prove or test what is the sound doctrine revealed by the Holy Spirit in the Word.

Lenski:

1) First, doctrine which consists of the clear statement of the divine facts on which alone faith rests. Next, admonition which presents the obligations involved in the faith that relies on the doctrine and thus deals with life and conduct in detail. The two stand in a vital connection, which fact also appears where the admonitions are supported by brief doctrinal additions.

After having set forth the great doctrine of the Una Sancta‚ Paul now tells his readers how their lives should be shaped in order to accord with the facts of this doctrine. This is very fitting after having shown that by faith in Christ they are all one in Christ in the Una Sancta although they were formerly Jews or Gentiles. Paul’s first admonition to the Ephesians is an exhortation that they keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (v. 1–3). He elucidates and strengthens this first admonition by an explanation of the organism of the church which is so fitted together as to constitute a great unity in its members, their activity and work producing and conserving unity (4–16).

Lenski, R. C. H.: The Interpretation of St. Paul's Epistles to the Galatians, to the Ephesians and to the Philippians. Columbus, O. : Lutheran Book Concern, 1937, S. 504.

It is a great mistake to think there are many doctrines in the Bible, simply because we deal with one small area at the time. The Lutheran Reformers were careful to emphasize that there is one unified truth that unites the entire revelation of God’s Word. No one can bargain for or swap out a particular part of that doctrine without sacrificing the whole.

That is why the two foundational concepts of the Scriptures cannot be ignored or set aside with anything taught. If they are, everything based on the absence of those foundational concepts is in error.

That is one way to test what is being taught.

The two foundational concepts are:

1. The Holy Spirit’s exclusive work in the Word – never apart from the Word, never preceding the Word.
2. The efficacy of the Word – either as the Word of grace or the Word of condemnation and rebuke. The Word is never ineffective or without result and always accomplishes the divine will.

Many Protestants talk about Holy Baptism as an ordinance (law) that makes it a witness to our faith but not a divine act through the Word that takes away sin. Associating with them in worship and teaching (stealing their sermons) is the same as denying the foundational concepts of God’s Word. In effect – that mocks the Word of God, no matter how it is portrayed by the crafty salesmen of gimmicks.

I often read through the arguments of Universal Justification, even when they claim to have “both parts”! Absent always – the efficacy of the Word, the Means of Grace. Present always – this UOJ is true because Uncle Fritz said so.

Unity is not from organization or from men controlling others, but from the same doctrine of the Scriptures.

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

As he did with the Philippians he started with behavior and moved into unity of doctrine and the true nature of the Gospel.

Man’s wisdom would be like this – You are fussing among yourselves. Stop it now. (The Law)

But when we consider the Gospel, the ordinary irritations of life fall away as trivial and not worth mentioning.

Paul was his most joyful when he was imprisoned for the faith. He spent a long time in prison due to a crisis in the Roman government. That enabled him to write longer and to lead the Christian Church through his helpers.

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

In this verse he invoked the characteristics of Christ, which are conveyed to us through the Gospel and not through the Law. Considering what Christ is like and what God has done…

Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The unity of the Spirit is not a vague concept since the Spirit is often used in place of the Word and the Word always possesses the divine power and efficacy of the Holy Spirit. Thus the unity of the Spirit is the unity of the Word of God.

As Luther said – never even argue with someone who denies the inerrancy of the Word. There is no basis for any debate – it is a waste of time. Unity of teaching means we also enjoy the peace which is the fruit of the Gospel. That peace is not a worldly peace, lacking the cross and absent afflictions from our mortality, but a divine peace from forgiveness.

In short, Luther shows us in many sermons that believing in the Gospel is forgiveness, a simple plain idea taught from the very beginning of the Bible. As one of my students wrote this week, the Gospel began with Genesis 3:15.

Therefore, since all our sins are covered through Christ, and He sends them completely away, justification by faith, we are to do the same with others. That is the basis for unity, love, peace, and joy.

That bond is universal and transcends the limits of denominations. I cannot make everyone an orthodox Lutheran but I know others will listen to Luther’s doctrine because Luther’s teaching is the Gospel from a believer for believers. God will accomplish His purpose that way, just as He moved John Bunyan to write the greatest work of English, apart from the KJV, Pilgrim’s Progress, based on the Bible and Luther’s commentary on Galatians.

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

God’s Word assumes a unity, not a diversity. That unity can only be derived from and based upon the Word of God, the Book of all books, the judge of all books.

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

God is not divided. Man divides Him – or thinks he can do that.

Quotations

"Since, therefore, so much depends upon God's Word that without it no holy day can be sanctified, we must know that God insists upon a strict observance of this command-ment, and will punish all who despise His Word and are not willing to hear and learn it, especially at the time appointed for the purpose."

            The Large Catechism, Preface, #95, The Third Commandment, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis:  Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 607. Tappert, p. 378. Exodus 20:8‑11.                

"Since it is God's gracious purpose to remove every hindrance to conversion by the means of grace, and it is still possible for a man at every point to continue in his opposition to God, a man is never without responsibility over towards the grace of God, although he may mock and say that, since God is the one who does everything for our salvation, then a man has no responsibility himself, as we see in Romans 9:19.  Cf. Theses 17 and 18."

            U. V. Koren, 1884, "An Accounting," Grace for Grace:  Brief History of the Norwegian Synod, ed., Sigurd C. Ylvisaker, Mankato:  Lutheran Synod Book Company, 1943, p. Romans 9:19.              

"It is God the Holy Ghost who must work this change in the soul.  This He does through His own life‑giving Word.  It is the office of that Word, as the organ of the Holy Spirit, to bring about a knowledge of sin, to awaken sorrow and contrition, and to make the sinner hate and turn from his sin.  That same Word then directs the sinner to Him who came to save him from sin.  It takes him to the cross, it enables him to believe that his sins were all atoned for there, and that, therefore, he is not condemned. In other words, the Word of God awakens and constantly deepens ture penitence.  It also begets and constantly increases true faith.  Or, in one word, it converts the sinner."

            G. H. Gerberding, The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church, Philadelphia:  Lutheran Publication Society, 1887, p. 145f. 

                        Law Causes Contrition          

"In like manner Moses must precede and teach people to feel their sins in order that grace may be sweet and welcome to them.  Therefore all is in vain, however friendly and lovely Christ may be pictured, if man is not first humbled by a knowledge of himself and he possesses no longing for Christ, as Mary's Song says, 'The hungry he hath filled with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away,' Luke 1:53."

            Sermons of Martin Luther, ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids:  Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 149.

                         Gospel Only for Humble Sinners

"All this is spoken and written for the comfort of the distressed, the poor, the needy, the sinful, the despised, so that they may know in all times of need to whom to flee and where to seek comfort and help."       Sermons of Martin Luther,  II,  p. 149.