The Evil, Anti-Confessional, Anti-Means of Grace Influence of Valleskey and Bivens

Theses very close to Valleskey's Quarterly article (Spring, 1991, p. 117).  Questionnaire mentions CG "underemphasizing the Means of Grace as the power of the Holy Spirit."   [That is like saying that Lutherans underemphasize the Assumption of Mary.] David J. Valleskey, P.T. 418, The Church Growth Movement--An Evaluation, Summer Quarter, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, June 23-July 11, 1986                                                                                                                    

"The instructor may find it best not to distribute the Spiritual Gifts Analysis (pp. 33-49) until the end of the course, when the time has come for class members to work through it." David J. Valleskey, Gifted to Serve, Parish Services, WELS                                                                                                                         

"Useful Ideas for My Ministry from the Church Growth Movement...The Church Growth Movement--Strengths and Weaknesses...The Church Growth Movement--An Evaluation...Church Growth Sounds Good, But...Dangers of the Church Growth Movement...Friendship Evangelism...Rationale for Friendship Evangelism..." Prof. David J. Valleskey, Class Notes, The Theology and Practice of Evangelism, PT 358A                                                                                                                       

"The term 'spiritual breathing' originated with Dr. William Bright in his booklet, 'Have You Made the Wonderful Discovery of the Spirit-filled Life?'" David Valleskey, Forest Bivens New Life in Christ, September, 1981 p. 1.                                                                                                                        

"3.  Establish your goals.  a.  definition:  goals are those things that are required for an organization to carry out its objectives ('How') 1) short-range targets 2) SMART, Specific...Measureable...Acceptable...Realistic...Timed...." Prof. David J. Valleskey, Class Notes, The Theology and Practice of Evangelism, PT 358A p. 101.                                                                                                                      

"This downplaying of the importance of the means of grace on the part of many in the Church Growth Movement would seem to stem from several factors." [That is like saying that many Lutherans downplay the infallibility of the pope.] David J. Valleskey, "The Church Growth Movement:  An Evaluation," Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, Spring, 1991 88, p. 105. Holidaysburg, 10-15-90                                                                                                               

"There is a fourth option, which is the choice of this writer.  It is the same kind of approach Lawrence Crabb, a Christian counselor, advocates over against the use of secular counseling resources.  He calls it 'spoiling the Egyptians' (Exodus 12:36, KJV), after the action of Israel at the time they left Egypt, when they took from the Egyptians what would stand them in good stead on their journey." David J. Valleskey, "The Church Growth Movement:  An Evaluation," Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, Spring, 1991 88, p. 115. Holidaysburg, Pa, 10-15-90. Exodus 12:36.                                                                                                        

"Yet this writer is confident we won't go astray in adopting a 'spoiling the Egyptians' approach to the various Church Growth Movement sociological principles and the research that produced them." David J. Valleskey, "The Church Growth Movement:  An Evaluation," Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, Spring, 1991 88, p. 116. Exodus 12:36.                                                                                                                

"The King James Version, however, rendered it 'teach all nations.'  This is a possible meaning of the word (cf. Matthew 13:52, where the  same Greek word is used and is properly translated 'instructed')." David J. Valleskey, We Believe--Therefore We Speak, The Theology and Practice of Evangelism, Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1995, p. 127 Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 13:52                                                                                                              

"Accordingly, when Christ says, Disciple (matheteusate) all nations by baptizing them, matheteusate can mean nothing other than to make disciples, to turn unbelievers into believers; for that is the Spirit-produced effect of baptism." David J. Valleskey, We Believe--Therefore We Speak, The Theology and Practice of Evangelism, Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1995, p. 127. Matthew 28:18-20                                                                                                            

"Is the mission of the church to preach the gospel or to make disciples? The two--preaching the gospel and making disciples--are closely connected. Making disciples is the goal, or end result, our Lord had in mind.  He does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance and faith.  He wants all to be saved, to come to a heart knowledge of the truth.  Preaching the gospel (employing the means of grace) is the means by which the Lord will achieve his goal of making disciples and so of gathering in his elect before he returns." David J. Valleskey, We Believe--Therefore We Speak, The Theology and Practice of Evangelism, Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1995, p. 134.                                                                                                        

"It is true that only God the Holy Spirit can effect the end result of making a disciple out of an unbeliever; all we can do is sow the seed.  But it is also true that our Lord, by speaking specifically of making disciples in his commission to his church, is encouraging it to keep that intended goal in mind when it does its seed sowing." David J. Valleskey, We Believe--Therefore We Speak, The Theology and Practice of Evangelism, Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1995, p. 135. Matthew 28:18-20                                                                                                           

Bob:  "..I'd like to share with you a book I came across the other day. It's interesting, easy to read, and may be the answer to our problem..." [Could this be the Bible, The Book of Concord, What Luther Says?] "Its title is Your Church Can Grow, and it's filled with all sorts of practical hints that could help us turn things around here." Author:  "Bob didn't realize it at the time, but in his browsing he had stumbled upon one of many similar books written from the perspective of the church growth movement, books with such titles as How to Grow a Church, Ten Steps for Church Growth, Church Growth:  Strategies that Work, and Leading Your Church to Growth." Prof. David Valleskey, "The Church Growth Movement, Just Gathering People or Building the Church?" The Northwestern Lutheran, May 5, 1991, p. 184.                                                                                                      

"So, what should the members of St. John evangelism committee do with [C. Peter Wagner's] Your Church Can Grow?...They can probably pick up a few helpful hints.  They might, for example, appreciate research which provides an insight into the way unchurched people think." Prof. David Valleskey, "The Church Growth Movement, Just Gathering People or Building the Church?" The Northwestern Lutheran, May 5, 1991, p. 185. See Oct 15 NWL Jeb Schaefer editorial                                                                                                                 "But a cold heart can beat close to a correct mind. There are too many churches with impeccable credentials for orthodox theology whose outreach is almost nil.  They are 'sound,' but they are sound asleep."  Leighton Ford, The Christian Persuader.  Valleskey asks: "true to a certain degree of us?" Prof. David J. Valleskey, Class Notes, The Theology and Practice of Evangelism, PT 358A p. 24.                                                                                                                      

"Assignments:...2.  Prepare a term paper on the subject of evangelism and/or church growth." Prof. David J. Valleskey, Class Notes, The Theology and Practice of Evangelism, PT 358A p. 3.                                                                                                                           "2.  The distinction between a witness and an evangelist.  a.  Some are evangelists (Eph. 4:11-12) 1) C. Peter Wagner: 'The average church can realistically expect that approximately 10 per cent of its active adult members will have been given the gift of evangelist' ("Your Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow," Glendale: Gospel Light, 1979, p. 176)...3) but don't expect everyone to have that gift - Wagner (op. cit.): 'It is a misunderstanding of biblical teaching, in my opinion, to try to convince every Christian that he or she has to be sharing the faith constantly as a part of their duty to the Master." Prof. David J. Valleskey, Class Notes, The Theology and Practice of Evangelism, PT 358A p. 51.                                                                                                             

"David Hubbard, president Fuller Seminary: 'Not all of us have the gift of evangelism.  I admire people who can lead others to Jesus Christ right on the spot...." Prof. David J. Valleskey, Class Notes, The Theology and Practice of Evangelism, PT 358A p. 52.                                                                                                                        

"a receptivity rating scale (adapted by Win and Charles Arn in 'The Master's Plan for Making Disciples,' p. 91...." Prof. David J. Valleskey, Class Notes, The Theology and Practice of Evangelism, PT 358A p. 58.                                                                                                                           

"Introduction to the Church Growth Movement by Lutheran authors, Hunter, Kent R., Foundations for Church Growth (New Haven, MO: Leader Publishing Co., 1983) - the author, an LC-MS clergyman who has now set up his own church growth consulting service, performs the valuable service in this 204 page book of presenting an introduction to church growth goals and terminology.  Werning, Waldo, Vision and Strategy for Church Growth, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1977) - Werning, active for years in LC-MS stewardship work, explains the foundations, presuppositions and principles of church growth and then shows how a congregation can benefit from making use of certain church growth principles - of the two books listed in this category, Werning's is the more practical." Prof. David J. Valleskey, Class Notes, The Theology and Practice of Evangelism, PT 358A p. 6.                                                                                                          

"In Christ, God has effected a universal justification, a universal reconciliation, a universal ransom, a universal atonement. Different terms, but all communicating the same message: God in Christ has declared the whole world to be not guilty." David J. Valleskey, We Believe--Therefore We Speak, Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1995, p. 71.                                                                                                                 

Teach Us - UOJ Clan - Jay Webber, Tim Glende, Rolf Preus, Jack Cascione, David Valleskey

AC V has left a new comment on your post "Preview - Theses Opposed to Huberianism: A Defense...":

Thesis 8

Therefore, it is certain that no one receives remission of sins for the sake of Christ except the one who believes in him (Acts 10). Nor is anyone justified from his sins except the one who believes in Christ (Acts 13).

Thesis 9

But let Huber explain to us the mystery of this universal justification of his, and let him set forth in detail when these unbelievers, who have never believed and are not going to believe in the Son of God, ever received the remission of sins and were justified before God?

Will They Discuss the Felons on the Staff? Two Plea Bargains in a Few Months?The Parish That Left WELS?

The Infernal Council (IC) held its spring meeting in Milwaukee April 27-28, 2012.

Budget planning

In February, the SC learned that Congregation Mission Offerings (CMO) subscriptions for 2012 were slightly less than CMO for 2011 and well below the 3 percent increase included in the plan. This information, coupled with the Conference of President's acknowledgement that a 3 percent increase for 2013 may be overly optimistic, led the SC to request the development of synod operating budget reductions of $1.5 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012.

While subscriptions point to significantly lower than planned CMO, receipts through March are ahead of last year by 8 percent and April was on track to do the same or more. The SC is encouraged by the first quarter CMO receipts and believed it would be imprudent to implement the identified reductions at this time. The finance committee of the SC will review CMO and the financial results again in July and make recommendations to the SC at that time.

The SC also approved a preliminary support forecast for the upcoming 2013-15 biennium to facilitate the initiation of ministry planning by the areas of ministry and ministry support. The preliminary support forecast points to a small increase for both years of the biennium. The forecast is driven by CMO and assumes that CMO will be flat in 2013 and increase by 2 percent for 2014 and 2015. CMO and support must increase about 5 percent annually to maintain the current level of ministry programs and services. The preliminary support forecast also includes a $860,000 draw down of the Financial Stabilization Fund reserves.

Program reductions can be avoided if financial support from Congregation Mission Offerings and gifts from individuals increase beyond the current projections. Home Missions identified and submitted a list of nine new mission sites and ministries that may be authorized if CMO offerings continue to meet expectations.

Improving the health of individual congregations

In response to the Conference of Presidents’ encouragement to the SC to produce a written plan for addressing called worker and congregational health, the SC’s ministry committee is paying close attention to our congregations and is developing ways to meet the needs of called workers and the congregations they serve.

The issue was framed by the question, "What does a congregation look like when it is putting into practice all of the good things that the Holy Spirit is prompting people to do when the gospel is clearly preached and the sacraments are properly administered?"

One large piece of the program is a culture of called workers growing professionally and spiritually. The synodical part of the plan is that Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., offer continuing education programs, which each congregation helps to support. Another synodical part of that plan is the circuit pastor supporting both the continuing education programs and a mentor system for new pastors and teachers. [GJ - Prop up the dwindling enrollments with generated business from the synod.]

A consensus developed that a Commission on Congregational Counseling (CCC) director position has to be funded in order to develop a cadre of people in the districts who are the go-to people when challenges are identified. Ideally, CCC coordinates the partnerships between the pastors and congregations, the district officials, the CMSG programs, and the ministerial education school continuing education programs.

Deeply Stupid Endorsement of Ichabod - From the Groeschel Plagiarists

 Anonymous said...
"He thinks he's proving the Reformers and early dogmaticians never taught UOJ by quoting references of what they taught regarding personal subjective justification."

I've noticed this as well. It is a deeply stupid debating point. I suppose I am deeply confused why he and his minion seem to think that this is such a knock-out argument.

***

GJ - Now it is "personal subjective justification!"

Birds of a feather flock together.
UOJ is mainline, a fake Gospel followed by man-made Law.

Preview - Theses Opposed to Huberianism: A Defense of the Lutheran Doctrine of Justification

Order Hunnius Theses Here.

Introductory  comments on Hunnius, from Amazon site:
Aegidius Hunnius (1550–1603) was among the “Champions of Lutheran Orthodoxy” who served on the faculty of the University of Wittenberg and was one of the early signers of the Formula of Concord. During his service at Wittenberg, he was also superintendent, and oversaw the visitation of the churches of Saxony, coauthoring the Saxon Visitation Articles (1592). In this work, Hunnius contends with the theology of Samuel Huber (1547–1624), a former Calvinist who was called to the University of Wittenberg in 1592. After arriving in Wittenberg, Huber introduced his own novel terminology and theology which put him at odds with the Formula of Concord and his fellow professors. Huber made the situation worse by accusing his colleagues of Calvinism when they did not assent to his theological opinions. In this book, Hunnius refutes Huber's errors regarding the doctrine of justification; as Hunnius wrote in the dedication to this work, “we propose ... not only to wash away the charges he has made, but especially to refute his shameful errors concerning the eternal election and predestination to eternal life, not only of the children of God, but also of the children of the devil (that is, all the impenitent); similarly, his errors concerning the universal justification of all men—of unbelievers no less than believers; concerning also the regeneration of hypocrites in Baptism, which is said to be conferred on them in that very act of treachery and impiety.”

---

AC V has left a new comment on your post "Looking for Some Honest Reviews of Hunnius":

Here's a little something to whet your appetite:

Theses Concerning The Huberian Universal Justification of Believers and Unbelievers

Note: Emphasis in bold italics reflects emphasis in the original indicated by capital letters.

Thesis 1

Huber professes such a justification, for the sake of which Christ has properly, actually and practically conferred redemption on the entire human race in such a way that sins have been equally remitted to all men, including the Turks, and that all men (including unbelievers) have received, remission of sins, and that the whole human race has, in actual fact, been received into the grace and bosom of God.

Thesis 3

This universal justification of the entire human race he considers (even without respect to faith in Christ) to be fully completed, sins being remitted on account of the satisfaction made by the Son of God and swallowed up in his own blood and wounds. These things he says concerning his justification.

Thesis 19

In addition, if we were all justified at the same time with a general justification and restored to the bosom of divine grace with sins having been forgiven solely by the merit of Christ without faith, then does not the justification by faith so accurately passed on by St. Paul lie in ruins, since it is clearly not a necessity for us?

Thesis 20

Huber will never be able to explain his way out of this nonsense of insoluble contradictions and most prodigious absurdities. Therefore let him enjoy his justification, and let him bless his elect and sanctified people with it – Turks, Jews, and all unbelievers. We, in the meantime, shall retain justification for believers only, as prescribed by all prophetic and apostolic Scriptures.

---

Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel has left a new comment on your post "Preview - Theses Opposed to Huberianism: A Defense...":

The "Huberian Universal Justification of Believers and Unbelievers" as it is highlighted in this article flys in the face of Scripture's teaching of the righteous versus the unrighteous - the godly versus the wicked - Psalm 1, Psalm 73 and Psalm 9:17:

"The Eternal Relief Of The Righteous:"

http://www.thechristianmessage.org/2011/01/eternal-relief-of-righteous-psalm-95-17.html

Nathan M. Bickel - pastor emeritus

www.thechristianmessage.org
www.moralmatters.org

Joel Lillo Warns, Displays Lack of Humor

Playboy model and WELS Pastor "Ski"

Joel Lillo has left a new comment on your post "Transit of Venus - A Move - Not a Movie. Venus to...":

Greg,

You shouldn't have posted this!!!!

Since your followers hang on your every word and carry out your every command to the letter they are bound to stare at the sun on those days to see this event. Then they will be mentally, morally, AND physically blind.

You'd better delete this post or claim that the story is a plant from a UOJ'er or they'll fry their eyes, sure!

Ski and seven other WELS workers worshiped with Babtist Andy Stanley.
Ski skipped hearing Professor Deutschlander, who was in town for a WELS conference.

LPC has left a new comment on your post "Transit of Venus - A Move - Not a Movie. Venus to...":

I enjoy this guy's comments.

He is very comical and exemplifies also how warped UOJers are.


LPC

Transit of Venus - A Move - Not a Movie. Venus to appear in once-in-a-lifetime event

Venus to appear in once-in-a-lifetime event:



ScienceDaily (May 1, 2012) — On 5 and 6 June this year, millions of people around the world will be able to see Venus pass across the face of the Sun in what will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

It will take Venus about six hours to complete its transit, appearing as a small black dot on the Sun's surface, in an event that will not happen again until 2117.

In this month's Physics World, Jay M Pasachoff, an astronomer at Williams College, Massachusetts, explores the science behind Venus's transit and gives an account of its fascinating history.

Transits of Venus occur only on the very rare occasions when Venus and Earth are in a line with the Sun. At other times Venus passes below or above the Sun because the two orbits are at a slight angle to each other. Transits occur in pairs separated by eight years, with the gap between pairs of transits alternating between 105.5 and 121.5 years -- the last transit was in 2004.

'via Blog this'

Used Blogging Tool from the Early Days. On Sale on eBay

Lame Counter-Arguments Offered by UOJ Advocates

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Reasons Given for UOJ Crumbling in the Future":

That's a good list which captures various doctrinal teachings promoted in the many versions of UOJ. (those new to UOJ should understand that there are multiple (per)versions of the Chief doctrine of Scripture - none of them have any basis in Scripture or the Lutheran Confessions) The ardent UOJist sensing his rational faith in the false gospel slipping away will argue that not all of those points are not explicity taught. But they create a another list by their objections:

- to be declared by God to be forgiven of all sin - including the universal sin of unbelief - is not salvation.
- Some (W)ELS versions of UOJ teach unbelievers only go to Hell for the sin of Unbelief - a sin which Christ didn't die for. Yet, remind the UOJist of Romans 11:23
- UOJ teaches that faith in Christ is a false teaching. UOJ teaches faith can only be created by and has it's focus on the forgiveness of sins declared by God when we were unbelievers. UOJ reject all verses that, like John 3:36, promise the forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ alone.
- UOJ teaches that God's wrath over sin abides on believers also.
- UOJ teaches there are those without faith who are Christians and there are those who are confident they trust in Christ who are not.
- UOJ teaches that faith is a work of man and is condemned as synergism if God forgives us solely by faith in Christ.
- UOJ subjects Scripture to rational man's philosophy by establishing what God did and didn't INTEND to say - Objective and Subjective are terms used to add to and subtract from Scripture. Revelation 22:18-19
- UOJ is a fulfillment of Romans 10:3 while rejecting Philippians 3:9
- Just as Satan flips God's Word and teaches 180 degrees opposite from it so UOJ glories in the massive contradictions it creates with the clear Word.

Forward (generic name of socialist publications) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Forwarded" from a reader.

Forward (generic name of socialist publications) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:


The name Forward carries a special meaning in socialist political terminology. It has been frequently used as a name for socialist, communist and other leftwing newspapers and publications. For example, Vpered (Russian language for 'Forward') was the name of the publication that Lenin started after having resigned from the Iskra editorial board in 1905 after a clash with Georgi Plekhanov and the Mensheviks.[1]
Forward was used by the US President Barrack Obama as his 2012 presidential campaign slogan. The slogan was used to look back at the begining of his Presidency and the situation he inherited, and the bold strides taken over the four years of his term in office, and as a message towards his reelection. [2]
[edit]Publications named Forward (in different languages)

Avante!, of the Portuguese Communist Party
Avanti!, organ of the Italian Socialist Party
Eteenpäin, Finnish-language newspaper in the United States
Forverts/The Forward, a Yiddish/English newspaper from New York
Új Előre ('New Forward'), a Hungarian-language newspaper in the United States
Voorwaarts!, organ of the Communist Youth Movement (Netherlands)
Vorwärts, organ of the Social Democratic Party of Germany
Vorwärts!, published from Paris in 1844 and associated with the Communist League

And WELS - Forward in Christ.


'via Blog this'

---

Joel Lillo has left a new comment on your post "Forward (generic name of socialist publications) -...":

And this proves.........?

---

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Forward (generic name of socialist publications) -...":

...this proves you lack Christ centered discernment Joel.

---

Joel Lillo has left a new comment on your post "Forward (generic name of socialist publications) -...":

No, Brett, it means that Greg will stretch a concept to the point of the ridiculous to show the WELS in a negative light.

Remember, all of you who posted above, DON'T stare into the sun on June 6!

Forward!

***

GJ - Two of your WELS Church Growth heroes are atheists, in spite of their confirmation and ordination vows - Robert Schumann and Curtis Peterson. Your local expert, contracted by John Parlow, bragged that he would marry anyone, Hindu or atheist - Mark Freier. He is either an atheist or just indifferent.

Northwestern College (RIP, WELS) was at the center of the Seminex cause, with your ex-college professor Richard Jungkuntz (RIP, WELS, LCMS, ALC) chairing the first gay Lutheran seminary in North America - Seminex.

Church and Change, headed by Mark Jeske, has always been Marxist in attitude and tactics, with the same love of luxury that all Marxists exhibit.

Butchering the Means of Grace.WELS NNIV at Work Supporting the Dogma of UOJ

I was looking up something when this post appeared in Google. The classic Means of Grace passage in Romans 10 has been butchered by Murdoch's New NIV. WELS is telling people not to associate Murdoch with the NNIV, so I am keen on reminding everyone.

I was looking at the NNIV today, on Romans 3. We are far beyond the point where people translate the Bible. Now they are using Biblical words to promote their agenda. The lupine maws of the Mequon professors are slavering to have their way.

I use Bible Gateway, which defaults to the New NIV. The old one is there, plus many other translations. The more they produce new ones, the more I like the KJV.

Romans 10, NNIV -


8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile —the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Romans 10, KJV -


KJV Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the
word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe
in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture
saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and
the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and
how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that
preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the
gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God.



Karl Barth, Anti-Means of Grace Wording
Some people try to knock the KJV, saying, "That came from a bunch of Calvinists." The KJV is a version of the Tyndale, somewhat like using the AAT but removing it from the stigma of Herman Otten. And who was Tyndale? - a man who enrolled at Wittenberg to study under Luther and Melanchthon, to do a better job at translating.  I call the KJV Luther's Bible in English. Tyndale and Luther established their languages by the power of their translations.

Karl Barth was a Marxist and an open adulterer. He is also the official theologian of Fuller Seminary, thanks to the Fuller founder's son studying there. A WELS graduate of Fuller confirmed that fact for me.

Barth, as an apostate, taught that the Bible contains the Word of God but is not the Word of God. Notice how the wording of the NNIV waters down the actual meaning of Romans 10 to turn God's Word into man's message.

Paul clearly means: the Word is what God has revealed - the efficacious Truth, not a message. Faith comes by hearing means - faith comes by hearing the preached Word. The "report" of verse 16 is not a bad translation, because a report is factual. The NNIV has "message," which has the modern meaning of "This is what it means to me."

The Jackson Living Bible translates "report" as sermon preached (see Hebrews 4:2). Galatians 3:2 has "the hearing of faith." These are more than words. They are pictures of the Apostolic Church, which grew from the eyewitness preaching of the Gospel. This is our report. This is what we saw, heard, and experienced. 1 John 1. Meditating on this picture of the apostolic preaching induces goose-bumps.

People believed in Christ because of this report. "Message" is so Methodist, so vague and non-threatening, so easily styled to meet the demandss of itching ears.

Another indication of the butchering by the NNIV is Romans 10:6.

The righteousness of faith in the KJV (and Formula of Concord) is

NNIV But the righteousness that is by faith says...

That is in harmony with the intent of UOJ - faith being acceptance of the world's absolution.

Karl Barth's DNA is all over the NNIV.

---

Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel has left a new comment on your post "Butchering the Means of Grace.WELS NNIV at Work Su...":

Pastor Jackson - I took the time to quickly compare the Roman's passage in both the NNIV [English] and the KJV [English] to understand what you were saying about the "butchering process." Here's what I found. And, I think it is noteworthy. I have to conclude that with this particular (English) comparison of Romans 10 (without consulting the Greek), the NNIV conveys a type of narcissistic bent, whereas the KJV places the emphasis on God coming to man, rather than man reaching out to God.

Verse 8:

NNIV - ".....that is, the message concerning faith...."

KJV - "......that is, the word of faith,......."

Major difference - NNIV'S "message concerning faith" is not the same as, the KJV'S "word of faith."

Verse 9:

NNIV - ".....If you declare with your mouth,......."

KJV - ".......That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth....."

Major difference - "Declaring" (NNIV) is different than "confessing" (KJV).

Verse 10:

NNIV - ".....with your heart that you believe....." - "....with your mouth that you profess your faith...."

KJV - ".....with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;..... - "....with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Major difference - Notice in the NNIV, the subjective emphasis - "your, you, your, you" - whereas the KJV says: "....the heart...." - "....the mouth."

Skipping to Verse 16:

NNIV - "......not all the Israelites accepted the good news....."

KJV - "......they have not all obeyed the gospel...."

Major difference - NNIV - "accepted" has the connotation of subjective acquiescence; - Whereas with the KJV, "obeyed" implies more than a subjective receiving. It implies not only belief but also a "carrying through," - joining that belief with the fruit of Godly actions as is illustrated in the Epistle of James and Matthew 7.

NNIV - "....our message....." is different than the KJV - ".....our report....."

Major difference - There is a big difference in someone saying: "We've got [our] 'message' for you," [NNIV] - rather than them saying: "We've got our 'report' for you." [KJV]

Note that "our message" implies something more of a subjective nature; whereas, "our 'report'" is in line with 1 Corinthians 15:1-5 - the Gospel of history devoid of any private interpretation. [2 Peter 1:20]

Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel

www.thechristianmessage.org
www.moralmatters.org

***

GJ - That is an excellent analysis of the differences, Pastor Bickel. It does not matter how much Greek someone knows if the English is not clear.

Reasons Given for UOJ Crumbling in the Future

Alexander's conquests made Greek the universal language of culture.
The Lutheran Reformation promoted advanced studies,
and Reformers took classical names - Melanchthon, Chytraeus.

Weaknesses of UOJ:

• UOJ has only one dogma - the universal absolution of the world, with a rabid emphasis on unbelievers as forgiven, saved, righteous saints. That is also the dogma of mainline churches, because all drink from the same infernal fountain of Enthusiasm. 
• Romans 4:25 (loved by Walther) is a sentence fragment, the complete thought of the sentence being exactly the opposite of UOJ claims. KJV Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 
• The Fourth Gospel contradicts their dogma at every turn, even though they try to use the Lamb of God statement as universal absolution. God loving the world (3:16) is not the same as God justifying the world.
• The resurrection of Christ was not the absolution of the world, although the Pietist Rambach thought so. 
• The atoning death of Christ was not the declaration of the world's forgiveness. "It is finished" cannot be construed to mean - "The entire world--past, present, and future--has been absolved, without faith in Me." 
• "Father forgive them" is a prayer, not an absolution. If it was an absolution, then the unrepentant thief on the cross went to heaven as well.
• Reconciliation, one for another (literally in Greek), does not mean that Christ becoming sin makes us righteous simply from His atonement (but without the Word, the Means of Grace, faith). That assumption forces a meaning from the origin of the word reconciliation, but the only possible meaning is the one in the context of the New Testament. "The entire world is righteous because Christ took on sin" is an advanced case of Kittel-itis. Therefore, fellowship really means "defilement" based on Matthew 15:18. This is easily answered in English by "What does gay mean?" KJV James 2:3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool.
• UOJ has a definite history, starting in Calvinism and continuing in Pietism, thriving today in mainline apostasy and Church Growth dogma.
• OJ is not found in the Luther or the Book of Concord, even though Atonement passages are cited as proof for universal absolution.
• UOJ Enthusiasts have nothing to say about the Means of Grace, "the peculiar glory of the Lutheran Church," except to say the Means of Grace affirm what is already universally true. So the Means of Grace are not grace, according to UOJ, and grace comes to people without Means (the Word and Sacrament). UOJ Stormtroopers thus define themselves as self-contradicting Anti-Confessionals.
• Concordia Publishing House still sells a KJV catechism that omits UOJ.
• The old German catechism of Missouri said nothing about UOJ.
• Gausewitz, as head of the Synodical Conference (tm) wrote a catechism that said nothing about UOJ, and it was used for many decades. Many in WELS were trained with the Gausewitz catechism. Papenfuss, the instigator of the Kokomo fuss, admitted to the families there that he never heard of UOJ before seminary.
• UOJ and Church Growth go together like ketchup and french fries. Ask David Valleskey and Frosty Bivens. They love both...passionately.