Saturday, October 6, 2012

Pastor Nathan Bickel on WELS DP Jon Buchholz Suspending Pastor Paul Rydecki

http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2012/10/intrepid-lutherans-intrepid-to-last-rev.html



Ichabod -

This certainly is startling news. But, neither am I shocked nor dismayed for Pastor Paul Rydecki. Why I am not shocked? Because this suspension action is true to Lutheran form. Rather than bend into the direction of Scripture and faithfulness to its Word (and the Lutheran Confessions) the general practice of Lutheran church hierarchy is to wield a heavy and unyielding hand and attempt to rationalize its security blanket of false teaching and practice by knocking off one of its most gifted clergy members.

Personally, I think the WELS higher-ups are jealous. Don’t the Scriptures say that the religious leaders of Christ's day delivered up Jesus for envy [sake]? Rather than duly repent; religious leaders and teachers go on their rampage and attempt to destroy that which they cannot gainsay.

Having stated the above; I am happy for Pastor Rydecki. He can count this synod action against him as a blessing. This Judas type synodical betrayal was (I think) in part, [a "payback"] for his excellent scholarship translating the masterful Hunnius work, which goes a long way in debunking the WELS teaching and practice of "universal objective justification." Also, this suspension, (in my view) is part and parcel of the failed WELS leadership which has now rejected a present day prophet in their midst. It is no small wonder that WELS eliminated that particular [exhortation] gift to the church in their recent synodical study on the Romans 12 gifts.



Pastor Rydecki - Please allow me to give you a "shout out:"

Brother Paul - Count this WELS slice and dice action a blessing from the good Lord! I will pray that you don't get the big head for being persecuted for righteousness sake!  In the interim and for years to come; - please fix in mind and heart the following Scripture, leaving your detractors, into the Lord's hands.

I share the following Scripture verses with you, as I took comfort in these passages, as I experienced my own particular LCMS "demise" in 1996-97 and years, following:

Luke 6:22-38: [KJV]

22 - Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

23 - Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

24 - But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

25 - Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

26 - Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

27 - But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28 - Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

29 - And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.

30 - Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

31 - And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

32 - For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

33 - And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

34 - And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

35 - But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

36 - Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

37 - Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

38 - Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

[Luke 6:22-38 in its context]


Nathan M. Bickel