Bishop James Heiser Contradicted Himself, Reformation, 2008 - In the True Spirit of the Pietistic, Rationalistic Synodical Conference

Pastors Steve Brockdorff and Rolf Preus posed with the
Right Reverend Bishop James Heiser for this
October 2008 issue of the Salem, Malone, Newsletter.
The totally UOJ Rolf Synod worshiped and studied
with the ELDONUTs until Pastor Paul Rydecki joined
from the Intrepid WELSians.
ID - Brockdorff has the Roman collar on the left,
Heiser has the lavender Roman shirt.
Preus has the Sears-Roebuck shirt, husky size.

Heiser:

How much error can be tolerated in the Church? How much false doctrine?” This was one of the questions posed to me by a pastor of the ACLC during our recent meeting at Reformation LutheranChurch in Hillsboro, Oregon. 

I have to admit, the question took my breath away for a moment. I’ve gotten used to listening to wavering ‘Lutheran’ pastors ask that sort of question (although usually such people will speak in terms of “wrestling” with some new false teaching, or defend their doctrinal ambivalence with code words such as “toleration” and talking about “gray areas” of Scripture). So, this question, especially coming up where and when it did, set me back for a second.

“None,” I replied, thankful that every pastor in the room understood that this was the right— indeed the only—answer God’s Word allows. 

Our forefathers in the faith concluded the Book of Concord (1580) with the pledge: “Therefore in the sight of God and of all Christendom, to those now living and those who shall come after us, we wish to testify that the above declaration, concerning all the controverted articles presented and explained, and no other, is our faith, doctrine, and confession, in which we also will appear, by God’s grace, with unterrified hearts before the judgment-seat of Jesus Christ, and for it will give an account. We also will neither speak nor write, privately or publicly, anything contrary to this declaration, but, by the help of God’s grace, intend to abide thereby. After mature deliberation we have, in God’s fear and with the invocation of His name, attached our signatures with our own hands.” (Jacobs, p. 671)

***
GJ - My question remains - why did Heiser realize the error of UOJ when he read Thy Strong Word - and sold it on his website, 2000 AD, and yet form a union with the thoroughly UOJ Rolf Synod.

Another UOJ fanatic, Rolf's brother, the late Klemet Preus, was president of Higher Things when Heiser spoke there in 2004 (see the Salem newsletter). As I mentioned before, Higher Things remains firmly in the grip of UOJ.

This is why I object to Lutheran nitwits running around having big debates about trivia while ignoring the Chief Article - Justification by Faith - which most Protestants seem to understand and believe from hearing the Word of God  and studying the Book of Concord.

Was the pivot to Justification by Faith simply to capture the Rydecki church property?

The Great Book Exchange Today - Facilitated by This Blog Nobody Reads

 "I didn't get a book yet!"

This either happened today or is in the process of being fulfilled.

One member had boxes of great Lutheran books. Two readers who love the great classics - but are short of them - got one box each.

One of those readers sent a set of Lenski to the other reader, because of the offer of a free Lenski set, which was accepted.

A third reader missed out on Lenski but was sent a number of my books in print, whcih he wanted. They were part of the boxes of free books donated by our member.

A reader in Utah, Missouri Synod, was sent three copies each of Introduction to the Christian Faith and Making Disciples. Earlier she received the big set of Luther's Sermons, 7 volumes, including Postils, which are hard to find at the moment.

One of our members had 50 new copies of The Lutheran Hymnal, and Mr. Lenski Magnet's congregation will receive those.

Regular listeners sent a Luther quotation book in German. My wife and I can both read German, but we decided to give it to our German cousin, the widow of Army veteran Peter Ellenberger, who recently died. Christina inscribed it. We traveled to the South Bend, Indiana area twice to see them and have a service of Holy Communion.

Members and non-members send gifts so that books can be shipped to those who want them, whether they are relatively rare Lutheran books or books I have written. Some of this goes on all the time, but this happened all at once this time.

We don't carry dog t-shirts.
Contact Paul McCain at Concordia Publishing House.

Breaking News! - President-Elect Trump Will Move His Family Into Government Subsidized Housing, With Some Upgrades at His Expense

Essential Authors and Books for Lutherans - Printed Books

 If you want to know the best edition of Pilgrim's Progress, 
a work of art - this is one example -
email me. Good editions are abundant.

When Morn, the rosy fingered child of Dawn, arose, Sassy took me out for a walk. Instead of welcoming sun, we found dark thunder-clouds, wind to knock my Tilley hat off, and a damp chill. Autumn? We have several more weeks of unusually warm weather ahead.

Several have asked about best books and authors often overlooked, so this is my list, starting with the best reads of all.

Roland Bainton remains my favorite church historian.

Absolutely Essential Short List - For Being Well Read

1. The KJV and related books about it.
2. Luther's Sermons - The Lenker set is great, and CPH had an upgrade with the postils included. Everything was wrapped up in preaching, the Preaching Office, for Luther. 
3. The Book of Concord is the best one-volume commentary on the Bible. I like Tappert for readability. Luther's Large Catechism is overlooked and under-read. Melanchthon's passage on Justification by Faith in the Apology is unknown, unread, and uncited among the fake-conservative Lutherans of today.
4. Luther's Galatians Lectures are extolled by the Book of Concord as the best detailed explanation of Justification by Faith.
5. Pilgrim's Progess - Animated, Children's version, full-sized, and various movies. Those who have trouble with the book at first should get involved in the popular versions. The full version is really an allegorical commentary on the Bible. Bunyan's most read book, after the Bible, was Luther's Galatians Lectures.

Passavant

Second Tier Books - But Not Second-Rate - Best Of

• Luther's Genesis Commentary
• Luther's 1 and 2 Peter Commentary
• Luther's Sermons on the Gospel of John
• Luther's Romans Commentary
• Lenski New Testament Commentaries
• Chemniz Examination of the Council of Trent - a great way to learn the fine points of Biblical studies, theology, and humorous commentary. Any Chemnitz work is great, but this is the best - if most expensive - start.

Overlooked and Underappreciated by Their Descendants - Look for Works about Them Too

1. Krauth - Conservative Reformation. General Council.
2. Schmauk - Confessional Principle. General Council.
3. Jacobs - Doctrinal Outline. General Synod.
4. Reu - Difficult to find his works, but they are around the used market and the reprint market. Iowa Synod genius. He was a bit liberal at first but later wrote on Luther and inerrancy.
5. Life and Letters of Passavant - Passavant was a unique, faithful leader who continued as a great friend of the Augustana Synod and all charitable Christian projects - hospitals, missions, etc. The Lutheran magazine of ELCA has borrowed the name of their periodical from his own independent effort. 
6. Ludwig Fuerbringer's two little books on the early days of the LCMS are very good. 
7. Zion on the Mississippi may be the only non-mythological books the Stephan sex cult's trip to America and its weird, abusive, Pietistic and rationalistic origins. Each time I bought this volume, the cost was $10, used.