A WELS UOJ pastor demanded that this graphic be removed from a Facebook page. Luther pointed out that unbelievers are always offended by the Gospel, however it is conveyed.
Roman Catholics says, "More souls were lost to Luther's hymns than to his sermons."
Those who enjoy the justification by faith discussions should read LutherQuest (sic) and note how the UOJ advocates engage in one or both strategies:
- Using philosophical distinctions that depend on their own assumptions, so every argument is circular reasoning.
- Quoting someone who agrees with them as proof they are correct (special pleading). That is like defending the safety of tattoos because the weird little manager of the parlor claims they are safe.
I quote the UOJ Enthusiasts endlessly, because their arguments are the best way to defeat the dogma. That is exactly why they hide their real agenda and pretend to teach justification by faith. But do they quote me...ever? No.
The real difference is that they do not believe the Gospel. They may buy fancy robes or Geneva gowns, sing from CW, LSB, or The Lutheran Hymnal, be ELCA or WELS or ELS or LCMS.
Their common ground is unbelief in the Gospel and their need to justify their false dogma. Laity--who are not trained in rationalistic distinctions and the infallible authority of obscure pastors--cannot force the maladjusted joints of the UOJ argument together. "I was born forgiven and that is really true, but not really true until I know I was born forgiven, just like the Hindu and atheists?"
The purpose of the entire Bible is to teach faith in Christ. Luther said, and it is worth repeating - The entire Bible is a sermon about Jesus.
The Bible is not a sermon about the synod, not about the need to always be growing in numbers (a 30 year failure of the synods, but the facts do not matter), and not about the need to quash all dissent. St. Paul wrote the opposite. There must be sects and divisions to prove what is good.
Luther knew - when pantry moths are found in the flour, wheat, or food - the polluted source of their breeding is removed, along with the promiscuous moths. And he often cautioned - as soon as the Gospel takes root in some place, Satan and his minions spring up against it, but they only serve to spread the Word.
The faithful conspire to kill the good results of the cross by abhorring dissent about doctrine. They would rather argue about what color to paint the church kitchen or which model of lawnmower to buy from John Deere. And the various synods love this tendency, tenderly nurturing it and supporting it in every possible way.
All kinds of avoidance tricks are used to keep people from caring about Biblical doctrine. The key is changing the agenda from sound doctrine (Biblical, Lutheran) to marketing (Fuller, Willow Creek). In the name of grace and forgiveness, grace and forgiveness are taken away with brutal force. Try discussing anything with a WELS DP. They are either stupid, forgetful, or enraged that anyone would question divine authority.
You no like Fuller theories? You are hurting the synod!
You object to pastoral abuse of members? You are hurting the face of the church!
In one generation the faithful are turned into stoolies for the synod, reporting dissent to the Circuit Predators and the District Popes.
Christ established the Gospel to be taught by faithful pastors, planting faith in the hearts of those who hear the preached Word and distributing grace through the Means of Grace.
