Desolation - The Last Stage of Victory Disease

Thomas Cole, The Course of Empire - Desolation

Me thinks I witness a double standard here; and / or, perhaps, inconsistency and holier-than-thou

RE:  “Tim Glende's Destructive Ministry in Illinois. Why Does WELS Bow Down To This Numbskull?”

http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2012/08/tim-glendes-destructive-ministry-in.html

Rev. Dr. Jackson –

You say at the end of your comment:

"..........All these things happened under the watchful eye of Mark Schroeder, who is only quick to discipline those who dare to post on Ichabod."

I thought that the synod would welcome any informational feedback that could lead to its (Scriptural) improvement.  But, I am more likely to believe what you just stated, [above] - especially, when I think of that recent WELS synodical Bible study on the Romans 12 list of gifts.

When focusing on the gift of "exhortation," the only emphasis of that gift was the one synodical meaning of "encouragement" [NIV] at the expense of the other meaning, of exhortation in form of "rebuke."

It is, as if the official sanctioned Bible study was going out of its way to discard rebuke as being equally viable (by entirely ignoring it). So much for Paul's open rebuke to Peter [Galatians 2] and the thief's public rebuke to the other thief on the cross. [Luke 23:39-43] These exhortations would not qualify in WELS' eyes, and therefore be regarded as anathema and deserving of sanction, because they do not meet the church growth “feel good” criterion of “encouragement.” [Also, I suppose that Stephen’s public rebuke [Acts 7] would not qualify (as well) according to WELS’ self imposed standards]

So,consequently, when a synod only narrowly accepts part of the Scripture import as just being "encouragement," - then, it is quite understandable why synod would not be open to anything contrary to its ongoing bureaucratic program and status quo business operations. Yet, when I see Ichabod’s website FEEDJIT LIVE TRAFFIC FEED Map toward the bottom of the Ichabod home page, I think it is evident that many Lutherans and Lutheran pastors come to visit Ichabod while tugging away at their burdensome synodical chains...........

Nathan M. Bickel – emeritus pastor

http://www.thechristianmessage.org/

http://moralmatters.org/

 ***

Our men were incredibly brave in dive-bombing
ships bristling with anti-aircraft guns.

GJ - Yesterday, I finished re-reading Shattered Sword, the story of the Midway battle, examined from all the documents and told from the viewpoint of both sides, good and bad. I have read various books about the battle, and this one twice. The movie is quite good too. I could watch that again.

Japan failed because they suffered from Victory Disease. They had six months of uncontested victories, plus a black eye from Coral Sea and shame from Thirty Seconds over Tokyo.

Japan also failed because of its extreme emphasis upon conformity. "If a nail sticks up, pound it down." That is also a perfect description of WELS. 

When Japanese officers died in battle, the ordinary soldiers and sailors were confounded. Officers beat and humiliated the men under them, hardly a situation to promote independent and creative thinking during a battle. 

WELS pastors and laity fear being singled out and punished, because the punishment is extended to the family members and anyone who does not share in the shunning.

Many WELS pastors asked Steve Spencer why he had lunch with me when a WELS convention was nearby. He said to me, "You made me the most popular guy there. Everyone asked me how I knew you." 

Of course, I also hear from various WELS contacts about all the garbage dumped on me by these holier-than-thou saints. In fact, the dumpers are rewarded for sharing in the slander and adding their own inventions, failing to remember the in-law pastor arrested for dealing dope at Northwestern College, or the other felony arrests and convictions of their leaders. They may beat ELCA for the title of the gayest Lutheran synod, with their videos, their arrests, their history of being the backbone of Seminex.

Yamamoto asked his officers what they would do, when attacking Midway, if the American carriers showed up. Instead of offering a solution, one officer said, "Show them our armored fist," which was a Japanese saying. Slogans are cool in the locker room, after beating Cardinal Stritch, or in the bar just before a DUI arrest. They do not work so well in real life. Japan lost four carriers out of four when the Americans showed up. The Japanese never recovered from Midway.

WELS likes to pretend it is orthodox and confessional. SP Mark Schroeder claimed that again in a FICL article. They are so confessional that they start congregations without Lutheran in the title, because they are ashamed of Luther's doctrine. They argue lamely that it is one more adiaphoron, but why are they so busy hiding this adiaphoron? the sacraments? the creeds? the historic liturgy?

Japan is a good example of making conformity the ultimate virtue. That led them into enormous blunders, in spite of their many strengths. Midway was the ultimate example. Since they could not lose, they did everything wrong. Once they lost the battle, they scattered the survivors and lied about what happened. They  manufactured the battle reports so the people of Japan thought America lost!

WELS does exactly the same thing. Because they are perfect, the Synod President's job is to maintain the pose and repeat the slogans. If a nail sticks up, pound it down. 

That is why people who post on Ichabod, even with fake IDs, are singled out for a response. It may not be an email warning from Schroeder. Often the small fry are dispatched for the initial bombardment. If various warnings do not work, the individual is hated out of the sect and denounced for "breaking fellowship."

One family in WELS questioned the Tiefel-Johnson booze-and-broads hymnal in the planning stages. Christian Worship, the worst Lutheran hymnal ever was not even in print yet. The DUI arrest and divorce were far in the future. The minister, known for his pastoral incompetence, visited the home and said, "You have broken fellowship with WELS. You are no longer members." The members were happy to leave the mission and join another WELS congregation. The pastor was kept in business, because he had connections.

No one can miss DP Buchholz sending a law firm after two congregations, to threaten them for keeping their pastor. 

Or Buchholz taking four years to growl about CrossWalk, then embracing the prodigal while castigating the  critics.

Gunn control is not a Buchholz theme. Instead, he watched Gunn and two CrossWalk members become leaders at Wisconsin Lutheran College. When I revealed that by copying the board member page of WLC, with parish membership listed, the college changed the page to hide church membership. The Ichabod effect was at work again. 

Besides, Buchholz promoted Gunn as a youth leader in his own parish newsletter. 

To paraphrase a contemporary slogan, it is not the stupid blunders, it is the lying about the stupid blunders. Pastors and members know it is best to clam up, because they do not want to be the next nail pounded into position or pried out of the abusive sect. They should welcome the experience.

The Boomer DPs and Mark Schroeder know they are riding the sect down to desolation. At some future date, perhaps 2017, the SynConference will re-constitute. Many more schools will close. Just watch the ELCA institutions for clues. They are happily announcing "new partnerships," which are really mergers. Mergers are closings, but no one wants to say merger or closing. They are new opportunities. 

The Missouri Mequon just merged with Ann Arbor. Everything is teetering on the brink. The leaders are not going to do anything except collect undeserved large salaries, posh benefits, and overseas junkets "to visit our beloved missions."

Host a trifecta conference, talk about nothing,
but ban someone from talking about justification by faith.
All three men are closers - church closers.

---

rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Desolation - The Last Stage of Victory Disease":

Fear and intimidation has a very long lasting effect on the WELS laity. When a member leaves a congregation, either by self-removal or transfer, very few current members will want to speak with him. They are afraid of either reprisal or possibly finding out an inconvenient truth. I witnessed this when I was on the Board of Elders. Also, an overbearing pastor may actually try to forbid the members from speaking to the ex-member. I also witnessed this. Looking back at all of this now, I am still amazed at how members will cower in a situation like this, even though the headstrong pastor has departed many years ago. It is as if they were conditioned like Pavlov's dogs. 

---

Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel has left a new comment on your post "Desolation - The Last Stage of Victory Disease":

Rev. Dr. Jackson -

Your historical accounting comparison of the Japanese "fall" in WWII is very interesting. Also, I cannot gainsay what you state, especially your last 2 paragraphs:

While thinking of your remarks, my thoughts were directed to how God's people, historically and clearly depicted in the Old Testament Scriptures, were sent one prophet after another, only to tune them out, as martyr Stephen accented in his rebuking proclamation to the professing (religiously) intolerant of his generation. [Acts 7]

Also, on my thoughts this morning has been the Gospel of John, chapter 8, - especially, Jesus words:

John 8:47 - "He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." - KJV

I went to that Scripture, checking the Greek and then read what one distinguished Biblical scholar (now passed on) stated about this verse. I think that his commentary on this verse is very significant, current and timely of certain those in every age and, also our present culture:

John 8:47

He that is of God - He that loves, fears, and honors God.
Heareth God’s words - Listens to, or attends to the doctrines or commandments of God, as a child who loves his parent will regard and obey his commandments.

This is an evidence of true piety. A willingness to receive all that God teaches us and to obey all his commandments, is an undoubted proof that we are his friends, John 14:21; 1 John 2:4; 1 John 3:24. As the Jews did not show a readiness to obey the commands of God, it proved that they were not of him, and to this was owing their rejection of the Lord Jesus. [Barnes]

Nathan M. Bickel

www.thechristianmessage.org

www.moralmatters.org