Mrs. Ichabod sat next to one of the Walmart staff at the famous Saturday Morning Meetings. He said, "I deal with apples."
She thought Apple computers and began talking about them.
He said, "No, apples for eating." So I began talking about my favorite, Honey Crisp. They are really quite tart but also juicy. They often sell out, so I chided him about that.
Meeting people at a college, I was impressed how friendly and thoughtful they were, especially since I came from a different background.
It made me think about the SynCon efforts to promote Friendship Evangelism, surely an example of trying to find apples where there are no trees. As Luther said at great length, the good tree is faith is Christ, the good tree that produces good, worthwhile fruit.
Love does not produce conversions - only the Word can do that. Faith in Christ generates love - for God and neighbor.
We can ask of a loveless sect and congregation, why are they so hateful, vindictive, corrupt, and greedy? The answer is - no faith. The sermons are mostly law, so they do not generate the fruits of the Spirit. The pastor opposes faith, but tacks it on the end of his little UOJ rant - but you have to believe UOJ.
Those who are convinced by UOJ are also Antinomians. The Law of God is obsolete to them, even though they adore their own man-made laws.
Before UOJ and greed triumphed in the Synodical Conference, pastors and teachers worked for almost nothing. They taught the Gospel and earned great respect. The parochial school teacher was an honored member of his community, even though he made very little money. Respect for the Word means respect for the one who brings that Word.
The Gospel bore fruit and people gave generously. The current SynCon leaders like to skim the money for themselves while burdening the next generations of pastors and teachers. I hope the leaders do not criticize the president and Congress for following their example in higher education. The SynCon seminaries are sinfully corrupt, lazy, and greedy.
Concordia Publishing House is run by plagiarists and Mequon wants a horrible Leftist Biblical paraphrase called the New NIV.
I feature the nastiness of the SynCons because people need to know about their abusive sects. Someone is always trying to prove me right, so I publish what they say. They are ashamed to quote me or to borrow my Luther graphics. I am happy to quote them.
Did Jon Buchholz stop to wonder how many WELSians said "No way" to a church vocation when they heard about his abusive, dishonest behavior toward Pastor Paul Rydecki's family? Buchholz is just one more bad example of the impoverished leadership of today.
A "love" program is not going to do it - nor will constant exhortations that members are obliged by law to witness to others so the sect can grow.
The Synodical Conference tree cannot bear the fruit of the Gospel when the Gospel is not taught.
