This Cat Is a Mequon Graduate

Ask a Storm-Brownie When Forgiveness Takes Place

Daryl Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Wayne Mueller's Justification (Northwestern Preuss...":

Ask a Storm-Brownie (once he sobers up) when the forgiveness of sins takes place, and he'll tell you, "Easter" or perhaps "Good Friday". Ask Luther, and he'll tell you, "the forgiveness of sins begins in baptism" (LW 34:164).

***

GJ - Sobriety is a hasty assumption, perhaps too optimistic. Mrs. Ichabod and I went to lunch with a WELS staffer who was three sheets to the wind when we parted company.

Wayne Mueller's Justification (Northwestern Preuss) - Another Bad UOJ Book

This is a good graphic for the upcoming Gospel lesson,
Matthew 7:15ff.

Wayne Mueller, Justification: How God Forgives, Northwestern Publishing House, 2002. 138 pages. $14.50 new. $5 on the used market.

Someone gave me the Burger kit on justification, sent to every WELS pastor early in the century. That got me intrigued by Wayne Mueller's book, so I ordered one from the Net, $5 - never been read. The book is still in print.

Anyone who agrees with UOJ ties himself to this bizarre
corruption of the Lutheran Confessions.
Pietists hate the Book of Concord.

Wayne got himself a job teaching at The Sausage Factory, Mequon, but they pushed him off the faculty for being Reformed, according to Slick Brenner. The power of the UOJ network can be seen in Wayne Mueller getting a raise by having a job invented for him - head of Perish Services - the parish killing agency of UOJ/Church Growth, at WELS headquarters. Administrators get more than seminary professors in WELS, because administrators work past noon.

Wayne became First Vice-President of the synod later. Even when he was voted out of office, and another replaced him, his team managed to scare the VP-elect away and put Wayne back. Later, when Mueller quit his job in a huff, the CG/UOJ network replaced him with James Huebner, Fuller alumnus.

Mueller set a record for lying in WELS - a stupendous achievement in that sect - by presiding over all the Church Growth programs in WELS as head of Perish Services and denying in print that there were any CG programs in WELS. WELS denials are standard - and they serve as good verification checks. But here is the master stroke. Wayne added that, if there were any, they were all in harmony with the Confessions.

One WELS pastor handed me a communication from Mueller where he quoted Luther in favor of working with the Babtists. This is significant in relation to Wayne's book. The quotation made it look as if Luther favored ecumenical work, but it was severely edited and said the opposite. I quoted Wayne, Luther, and commented in Christian News. At a gathering, Mueller said, "If I ever get my hands on the guy who gave that to Jackson..." The guy who gave it to me reported Wayne's threat, with some satisfaction.

I am convinced that WELS' secret hazing ritual, GA, has profoundly influenced all the WELS pastors, who delight in deception and seldom tell the truth when a lie is more fun. Not all of them are in that camp, but the leaders are, from top to bottom. Birds of a feather flock together.

So much for Mueller the liar. Now for Mueller the dishonest author.

Justification - How God Forgives

Mueller's abuse of Luther is repeated in the opening of his book, the first sentence.

"If the doctrine of justification is lost, the whole of Christian doctrine is lost." [Luther's Works, American Edition, vol. 26 - title not given. Lectures on Galatians.] Mueller, Introduction, p. 7.

Luther clearly meant justification by faith, but Mueller dishonestly used this quotation to lay the foundation for UOJ, which is clearly advocated in his little book. The title is omitted in the citation and the volume is omitted in the list - For Further Reading, p. 127.

Mueller not only identified with that quotation, to convert it into UOJ, but added that others also "taught that the church stands or falls on justification." Mueller, p. 7. Mueller will not write justification by faith until he can categorize it as subjective justification, as opposed to his Helen of Troy, objective justification.

The introduction ends by defining justification as God's "declaration of righteousness for us," but his UOJ is really an imaginary declaration of righteousness for the whole world of unbelievers.

The UOJ advocates like to use judicial or court language, so they dwell on "not guilty" but misuse the terminology to fit their agenda. In this light, Mueller ends the first chapter with Book of Concord citation:

7. We believe, teach, and confess that according to the usage of Holy Scripture the word justify means in this article, to absolve, that is, to declare free from sins. [Formula of Concord, Epitome, III. 7. This article is called The Righteousness of Faith, but Mueller omitted that factoid, because the UOJ agenda is the righteousness of no faith.] Mueller, p. 13.

In the same summary, but not quoted -

4 Accordingly, we believe, teach, and confess that our righteousness before God is (this very thing], that God forgives us our sins out of pure grace, without any work, merit, or worthiness of ours preceding, present, or following, that He presents and imputes to us the righteousness of Christ's obedience, on account of which righteousness we are received into grace by God, and regarded as righteous.


5] We believe, teach, and confess that faith alone is the means and instrument whereby we lay hold of Christ, and thus in Christ of that righteousness which avails before God, for whose sake this faith is imputed to us for righteousness, Rom. 4:5. Epitome III, 4-5. The Righteousness of Faith.



Easter Absolution

Mueller -

"Yet we may think of Easter morning as the time in history when God made his formal declaration of righteousness for sinners." (p. 14)

The declaration of righteousness for sinners is their way of avoiding justification by unfaith. The first is ambiguous in their double-dealing hands. The second is all too clear, but far more precise.

Luther and Mueller agree, we are supposed to think:

Luther insisted, The doctrine of justification must, as I frequently urge, be diligently learned; for in it all the other articles of our faith are comprehended. And when that is safe, the others are safe too." What Luther Says, p. 703. Mueller, p. 20.

The book is turning into What Mueller Says Luther Says.

From Mt. Sinai comes the edict -
Gausewitz and others did not teach justification by faith.
That is why they buried Gausewitz in favor of the Kuske UOJ catechism.

Objective Justification

Mueller -

Lutheran teachers often call God's declaration of righteousness for all people objective justification. This means that God's Easter declaration of righteousness is an accomplished fact for all people, apart from the thinking or faith of people. (p. 50)
Mueller recited this UOJ gem--rather, lump of coal--which may have originated in Sig Becker or Edward Preuss. They never tire of repeating it:

Those who deny that God declared all the world justified in Christ have a corrupted gospel to share with the world. If my forgiveness is not a fact unless and until I believe it, the gospel is conditional and thus not a simple proclamation of good news. My forgiveness then depends on something I do: my sorrow, my repentance, my faith. I make forgiveness happen by my believing. God's mercy to me depends on something other than Christ's obedience. (p. 52)
And later -

There is only one justification, the one God declared by grace, for Christ's sake, on Easter morning. (p. 57)

This introduces a hopeless set of contradictions. The Old Testament figures, like Abraham, were justified by faith, and there is no universal absolution on Easter morning. They claim this absolution of all unbelievers, forgetting they have everyone absolved on Good Friday as well.

Luther was consistent. He taught the Biblical doctrine of the efficacy of the Word, grace coming to people only through the Means of Grace. Stated another way, the Holy Spirit only works through the Word and never apart from the Word. To claim that God's grace and forgiveness have come to the entire world of unbelievers is Enthusiasm, which was denounced by Luther and included as a section in the often overlooked Smalcald Articles.

Easter absolution comes from Pietism, as an homage to Calvinism. Knapp taught it at Halle University, just as Rambach did, but Chemnitz did not. Bishop Martin Stephan, STD, learned Easter absolution without faith at Halle and taught it to Walther.

As WELS likes to say, false doctrine begins with false exegesis. WELS and the ELS favor Rambach the Halle Pietist against Chemnitz the senior editor of the Book of Concord.

The false explanation of 1 Timothy 3:16 comes from perverting the language of the verse:

KJV 1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was 

• manifest in the flesh, 
• justified in the Spirit, 
• seen of angels, 
• preached unto the Gentiles, 
• believed on in the world, 
• received up into glory.

The UOJ Enthusiasts take this passage to mean that everyone - every single atheist, polytheist, and cannibal was absolved of all sin, before birth, because the justification of Christ means the absolution of the world.

Pietism abandoned the Means of Grace in favor of cell groups. And what has WELS, the ELS, and Missouri taught as the salvation of their crumbling institutions? - UOJ and the cell group.

Wayne Mueller is a propagandist for UOJ and the Church Shrinkage Movement. He accomplished much in the trashing of Lutheran doctrine.

Mueller closed his book with a citation from the Zinzendorf hymn, translated by a Methodist leader, which was like repeating, "Our righteousness is the righteousness of Pietism."

"Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness"

by Ludwig von Zinzendorf, 1700-1760

Translated by John Wesley, 1703-1791

1. Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness

My beauty are, my glorious dress;

Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,

With joy shall I lift up my head.

2. Bold shall I stand in that great Day,

For who aught to my charge shall lay?

Fully through these absolved I am

From sin and fear, from guilt and shame.

3. The holy, meek, unspotted Lamb,

Who from the Father's bosom came,

Who died for me, e'en me t'atone,

Now for my Lord and God I own.

4. Lord, I believe Thy precious blood,

Which at the mercy-seat of God

Forever doth for sinners plead,

For me--e'en for my soul--was shed.

5. Lord, I believe were sinners more

Than sands upon the ocean shore,

Thou hast for all a ransom paid,

For all a full atonement made.

6. When from the dust of death I rise

To claim my mansion in the skies,

E'en then, this shall be all my plea:

Jesus hath lived and died for me.

7. Jesus, be endless praise to Thee,

Whose boundless mercy hath for me,

For me, and all Thy hands have made,

An everlasting ransom paid.

Hymn #371 

The Lutheran Hymnal

Text: 1 John 1:7

Author: Ludwig von Zinzendorf, 1739, cento

Translated by: John Wesley, 1740

Titled: "Christi Blut und Gerechtigkeit"

Composer: George J. Elvey, 1862

Tune: "St. Crispin"

Misleading! is how the Mequon professors
mark such quotations.

Mueller's - For Further Reading

Augsburg Confession, IV. Misleading! - as the divines at Mequon stamp on orthodox quotations. What possessed Mueller to quote something that destroys his thesis? He teaches that the Book of Concord welcomes change in doctrine, so forget that question.

Sig Becker - Universal Justification - in Our Great Sacrilege - edited by another UOJ idiot, Lyle Lange.

Leroy Doberstein - UOJ in Light of Kokomo. 

Francis Pieper - Christian Dogmatics - the verbose homage to CFW Walther, who chose him to carry on the dogma of UOJ.

Missing - Luther's Lectures on Galatians! The Book of Concord commended these lectures for further study of the doctrine of justification by faith - twice.  But Muelller only lists material from his own little circle, plus one citation from the Book of Concord.

In fact, nothing by Luther is on the list. I can assert without fear of contradiction that the present Synodical Conference loathes Luther's doctrine, the little they know of it.

Another Church and Change Seminar - How They Have Multiplied Under Mark Schroeder!. Don't Fail To Miss It

Registration for the annual fall symposium at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS), Mequon, Wis., is now open. The symposium will be held Sept. 16-17 at the seminary, with portions of the activities also being streamed live.

This year's symposium, open to active and retired WELS and Evangelical Lutheran Synod pastors, will focus on “The Pastor and his Seminary Training.” Three parish pastors will present on “The Pastor as Exegete,” “The Pastor as Dogmatician,” and “The Pastor as Church Historian.”

“The topic fits perfectly into this year’s 150th anniversary celebration for the seminary,” says Rev. John Hartwig, WLS professor and chairman of the anniversary publicity committee. “The speakers will focus on three areas that have been part of the school’s curriculum since its founding and talk about how their training in these fields has impacted their ministries.”

Afterward, professors from Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., and the seminary will react to each essay and share how these disciplines guide the curricula of the schools today.

A special anniversary banquet—which will include the first-time viewing of a video promoting the seminary’s mission—is also being planned in conjunction with the symposium.

This is one of several events being planned to celebrate the seminary’s 150th anniversary in 2013–14. The main anniversary service will be held at 3 and 7 p.m., Nov. 17, 2013, with WELS president Rev. Mark Schroeder serving as the preacher and choirs from the four ministerial education schools providing the music. The 3 p.m. service will be streamed live. Print and online publications will also highlight the school’s past, present, and future ministry.

For more information about and to register for the symposium, go to www.wls.wels.net. There you can also learn more about the 150th anniversary.

Watch the WELS Convention Live, Starting July 29th

Approximately 400 delegates will gather July 29 through Aug. 1 at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., for the synod's 62nd biennial convention. During the convention, called workers and lay members will hear presentations, discuss issues, and make decisions related to the synod's work.

Rev. Mark Schroeder, WELS president, says that the major items of business facing the convention include Bible translation, adoption of the ministry financial plan, and review of the WELS long-range plan.  The convention will also consider a report from a special task force on Lutheran schools, as well as a memorial from the Conference of Presidents calling for a special offering in 2015 to retire the synod’s capital debt.

Here is a short overview of some of the items upon which convention delegates will focus.

Bible translation
The NIV 1984, the official Bible translation currently used in WELS publications, is being phased out and replaced with a new version, which is often referred to as NIV 2011. WELS’ Translation Evaluation Committee was created to research the NIV 2011 and has also researched many other versions, including the English Standard Version (ESV) and the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB).

In the report it prepared for the convention, the Translation Evaluation Committee outlines two options that it sees for deciding which Bible translation to use in WELS publications going forward. Option 1: WELS adopts NIV 2011 for use in materials produced by Northwestern Publishing House.
Option 2: WELS does not adopt a single Bible version for use in its publications at this time. NPH uses whichever version of these three (ESV, HCSB, NIV 2011) seems best for the passage cited and the publication in which the biblical text will appear (“eclectic approach”).


The 2011 convention also resolved that, as a possible alternative, the synod should consider producing a new translation by Lutherans. The Translation Feasibility Committee was created to research the legal, technical, and economic feasibility of WELS creating a confessional Lutheran translation of the Bible and/or producing a study Bible with notes to accompany the translation that WELS chooses to use in its publications.


The report that the committee submitted for the 2013 convention concludes, “Perhaps the question should not be, ‘Can we do it?’ but, ‘Must we do it?’ If the people of our synod believe that there is no existing translation of the Bible that can serve our preaching, teaching, and publishing needs, then we’d trust that the Lord would help us find the resources and overcome the obstacles to carry out what is sure to be a very challenging project. But if an existing translation or translations can serve our needs, it would save the time and expense, not to mention the potential disruption to our ministerial education system, to use an existing translation.”

Since the publication of the Translation Feasibility Committee’s report this spring, Concordia Publishing House, the publication arm of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, has expressed interest in the production of a Lutheran translation of the Bible. More details on this possibility will be explored if a decision is made to produce a new translation.

To read either translation committees’ entire report and other articles, resources, and reports about Bible translations, visit www.wels.net/translation.

Ministry financial plan
The proposed ministry financial plan—the budget—for 2013–15 maintains ministry while providing for careful growth. However, the plan relies on areas of ministry and schools using reserves or other one-time funds to sustain ongoing ministries, underlining the importance of increased financial support through Congregation Mission Offerings (CMO) and individual gifts and bequests.

In addition, as Mr. Todd Poppe, WELS’ chief financial officer, explains, “The proposed ministry plan was developed based on the assumption that Congregation Mission Offerings (CMO) would increase 4.0 percent in both 2014 and 2015. . . . This is a significant funding increase from congregations.

Schroeder reminds us, though, that in 2012, CMO grew by 3.5 percent. “This was a beautiful example of the gospel at work in the hearts of God’s people,” says Schroeder. “Increases of 4 percent annually are certainly achievable, especially if congregations and members are aware of the many opportunities that God is placing before us.”

Comprehensive reports on the synod’s operating fund, special funds, school funds, and the WELS Financial Stabilization Fund can be found at connect.wels.net/financial-services under “Financial Reports.”

Long-range plan
The “In Christ Alone” long-range plan was presented and approved at the 2011 synod convention. The plan is designed to be a broad outline of the direction of the synod and a description of where the synod, under God, hopes to be by 2017. Schroeder refers to the plan as a “broad road map” that is to guide those entrusted with carrying out the plan as they develop and implement specific strategies to reach the adopted goals.

The plan calls for aggressive, but careful, expansion in all areas of the synod’s work. It sets goals for increased efforts in Home and World Missions. It calls for continued recruitment and training of called workers. It addresses the need for strengthening congregations and creating a culture of lifelong learning among called workers.

Schroeder says, “The plan recognizes that there are more opportunities for kingdom expansion than we would begin to meet but raises the sights of our members to seize as many opportunities as our resources enable us.”

Schroeder adds, “The name of the plan—‘In Christ Alone’—was chosen as the theme of the 2013 convention in order to focus the synod’s attention on the plan, and, more importantly, on the one who alone can bless and prosper the work that we do in his name.”

To read the entire long-range plan, summaries from all the areas of ministry, and the memorials being considered by convention delegates, read the 2013 Book of Reports and Memorials atwww.wels.net/2013convention.

Convention access
Turn to www.wels.net for all your synod convention news. The opening worship service in MLC’s Chapel of the Christ, all plenary meetings and open forums, as well as the concluding worship service will be streamed live at wels.net. Other communication vehicles include:

Video news updates: Daily updates will inform WELS members about the important work and decisions being made at the convention and will feature interviews with key synod leaders and delegates.

Blogs: Delegates will share their perspectives on the convention.

Social media: WELS Facebook and Twitter pages will be active each day.

News articles: As decisions are made, articles will be posted to wels.net. Each evening, an issue of “Together,” WELS’ e-newsletter, will be delivered to subscribers as a wrap-up of the day’s events and a look ahead to the next day.

Mr. Lee Hitter, WELS director of Communication Services, says, “The WELS Web site, www.wels.net, is your ‘all access pass’ to the convention. Whether you plan to watch it live as it happens or be informed on your schedule, the Communication Services team will provide complete coverage.”