SP Schroeder to Pastor Nathan Bickel

Ichabod - Am I the Loose Canon? Or Is WELS the unrepentant Loose [Universalism] Canon? [I think so]

This (past) week I've received two emails from WELS president Rev. Mark Schroeder. I gain the impression that he is taking exception to my public remarks here on Ichabod.  But, how could that be since [I understand] WELS has apparently cursed Ichabod and spreads that same anathema to whomever WELS pastor or member should access your website! Perhaps, though, President Schroeder arbitrarily and capriciously, in universalism fashion, absolved himself from such a bureaucratic pronouncement ban.

The SP Schroeder First Email:

The first email was of a vague and general nature. Basically, it stated that I should go to the horse's mouth if I have “concerns” or “criticisms" of the WELS presidential leadership and the synod's doctrinal stance. Also, he seemed to be speaking for my congregation's pastor, [who has basically shunned me] - saying that if I had any "questions" or “concerns” of “his preaching” or “other actions” that I should speak in private with him. And, Rev. Mark Schroeder ended the email with him urging me to phone him.

My Email Response:

I then responded with the following email follow-up:

Rev. President Mark Schroeder,

I found your recent email to me [yesterday - found, below] to be of a general nature. Could you spell out that which (apparently) concerns you? Please be specific.

Sincerely,

Nathan M. Bickel - emeritus pastor

SP Schroeder's 2nd Email Reply [Response] to my sole email:

So, I received in my email box the synodical president's reply. And, that too, was of a general nature. This time again, he urged me to phone him. He still was unspecific and vague, but, he did mention that I have "voiced criticisms and concerns" about him, ["synodical 'leaders'"]. Also, that I had "voiced criticisms and concerns" about "synodical matters (including doctrine)." He then urged me to call him so that if I would critically speak anymore in public, that I would have some "factual information." [Aka - the official synodical party line] He then concocted an analogy of a church member directly speaking to his pastor of any concerns and applied that to himself and me, as a synodical member.

Ichabod - You just published my comment about how it is a one way street with WELS synodical bureaucratic officials and their lock-in-step pastors. Here, is the link for anyone to read:

“Some People Appreciate the News:”

http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2012/07/some-peole-appreciate-news.html

I’m convinced that WELS bureaucracy and bow down pastors feel free to disseminate their false doctrine and encourage it in public. But, woe to any peon of synod [membership] who publicly mentions what is being preached and taught by them in public. To synod officials and to certain synod pastors, it is a one-way street. They want their cake; and they want to eat it too. They want the liberty of publicly teaching, preaching, and promulgating their universal objective justification anti-Scriptural; anti-Confessions; and anti-Lutheran false doctrine. But, woe to anyone who stands in their way calling them to account. That person is then anathema and is to be taken in private and slapped up by their secretive closed door work-over.

No - Ichabod, I am not foolish enough to be taken to the WELS bureaucratic shed and forced to whip myself, each time by shouting at myself: "Bad! Nathan!” “Bad! Nathan!” I will not allow anyone from WELS to scold or hound me - especially when those with whom I highlighted, have not admitted and repented of the errors of their universalism false teaching ways!

Rather, than deal with what I've called attention [to] on Ichabod, I gain the impression that WELS (as represented by its synodical president) isn't repentant of its doctrinal error. No, - instead I will be chosen to be a (smoke-screen) boogeyman for them to exploit and stereotype as a loose canon, - all the while WELS leadership, its publications and (certain) pastors continue spreading false teaching contrary to Scripture; the Book of Concord and Luther; - all contrary to the clear teaching of Holy Writ which concisely states that a human soul is justified by God's grace through faith! [Ephesians 2:8-9] Instead, sadly, they make Christ’s Atonement to be everything and scratch [out] the Holy Spirit’s beginning to end work in the human soul’s regenerating process. [John 3:1-21 in context] Then, as a fall-out result, the false teaching brings into the church all sorts of negative and destructive implications:

"UOJ Questions Answered: Enthusiasm Breeds Enthusiasm: Church Growth and Pentecostal:"

http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2012/07/uoj-questions-answered-enthusiasm.html

Finally -

Just to make it easier for the web reader; - they [you] may access some of my published articles here on Ichabod by typing in my name in the search box. Here, following, is an example where I offer 3 specific occasions at my Bethel Lutheran Bay County, Michigan WELS congregation, the false teaching of universal objective justification. I could provide some other examples, but why make this article any longer?

"Pastor Nathan Bickel on UOJ in WELS. Aaron Frey Still Preaching in WELS. How Far Will He Go?”

http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2012/07/pastor-nathan-bickel-on-uoj-in-wels.html

Also:

"Pastor Nathan Bickel on UOJ:"

http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2012/07/pastor-nathan-bickel-on-uoj.html

In conclusion, there are many articles and comments here on Ichabod [other than my own] which are rich in value. Thanks, again, Ichabod and those commenting for trumpeting the error of UOJ - universal objective justification!

Nathan M. Bickel – emeritus pastor

www.thechristianmessage.org

www.moralmatters.org

P.S. --  A note to those who may feel intimidated by a pastor, teacher or bureaucratic church official over your voiced concern of false teaching:

Never allow someone to defraud [cheat] you of your opinion when you have in good conscience voiced that concern, based upon the teaching of Scripture. And, beware of those who “say” they subscribe to Scripture and the church’s confessions. Listen closely to what they preach and teach; and watch what they practice and promulgate.