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| Beyond the narrow confines of the LCMS, most people think the veneration of Walther is creepy and sick. |
How did the Synodical Conference become a citadel for Universal Objective Justification?
German Books Are Good Books, Nicht?
The German language connection or
cross-over is an important element. Many German communities kept their language as primary in worship and study until World War I, when that conflict made anything German seem traitorous. New Ulm, Minnesota was so German that merchants were expected to speak German well past WWII. I knew people who spoke only German at home until they went to school.
German provided a common bond between the Calvinists and Lutherans in America and Europe.
Halle Unversity Is the Nursing Mother, The Alma Mater
Since all of the Lutheran groups in America had a direct connection with Halle University, the center of Pietism, the mother ship of missionary societies, Lutheran leaders looked kindly upon their school. Bishop Stephan went there and Walther dervied his UOJ from Stephan.
Halle University was founded to teach Biblical studies and piety but became rationalistic and anti-Biblical in only one generation. Just like the SynCon semaries going Church Growth, no one seemed to notice for the longest time.
The Biblical literature of our age is almost
completely silent on the efficacy word group in the NT.
I believe the SynCon left its pastors
woefully ignorant about efficacy - or stomped it out. The rest of Protestantism
has little to say about it.
Efficacy and the Means of Grace go together.
Lacking those Biblical principles, the SynCon had no defense against
UOJ.
In contrast, the confessional Lutherans in
the Muhlenberg tradition were more directly involved in Luther studies rather
than Walther veneration. They went through the battle with revivalism, which was another form of Enthusiasm.
SynConference Mythology Continues To Fool the Innocent
The SynCons teach the innocents that the Stephanite migration took place because they loathed the Protestant Union being imposed on them. They went to America in search of religious freedom.
That is hogwash, as we used to say in Moline. Stephan left because the court system investigated his many affairs with young women, took testimony in court, and questioned his use of church money.
Stephan was under house arrest until a few moments before the ships sailed. The police had arrest warrants out for C. F. W. Walther, who kidnapped his niece and nephew with the help of his brother. They used Mrs. Buenger and the Stephan lawyers to cloak their crime, with Mrs. Buenger going to the slammer for her part. She got out, but Stephan did not want her going along with them, because that would taint the group.
That is like Al Just not wanting to be seen with William Tabor.
Stephan left his family behind (but not his healthy son) and took his mistress to America. Bishop Stephan continued his affairs with young women in America.
They bought over-priced land in Perryville because it was remote. They were offered ideal land in St. Louis for the same price.
Stephan and his enforcer Walther were not orthodox Lutherans but cell group Pietists.
Therefore, the fellowship principles constantly brought up (when convenient) are really examples of Mennonite shunning and have nothing to do with Lutheran theology.
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| Pope Walther deposed Bishop Stephan, shortly after swearing obedience to him. |
