"My husband has started sitting in on the Greek class and says it is a great Bible study for him and it's so much more meaningful in the original language.
I find that when I hear the text in English, if I have heard it in Greek class before, it is much more meaningful."
Others have said they like the English follow-up afterwards, when I discuss the chapter in English on this blog.
The Meaning of John 10.
The Meaning of John 9. Rolf Preus and LutherQuest Re-Enact the Keystone Cops Chapter.
One spouse likes to see the roses at the opening of the class. Last night the roses had been donated to a doctor's office that openly teaches Creation by the Word of God. As he said, "In six days!"
I am going to continue reporting what is rotten in Denmark, to quote the Earl of Oxford. That is easy to do with Blog This!, which quotes and cites the source at the same time, very convenient.
However, it is more important than ever before to teach basic Christian doctrine, which is not being except when it is being distorted, abused, and perverted.
Some of us were fooled into thinking that a commitment to Biblical inerrancy was a sufficient foundation. But those who affirm that in print - those sects on the right (WELS-ELS-LCMS) - are in agreement with ELCA on universal salvation. They have a common origin in Halle Pietism, but ELCA openly and repeatedly mocks inerrancy and the articles of faith in the Apostles Creed, so there must be another issue.
One LCMS pastor, Drosendahl, a Facebook friend for years, was challenging me about Justification by Faith. I asked him for his Universal Objective Justification passages.
He said, "Paul."
I asked him to narrow that down. He said, "Romans 4-6."
Another LCMS pastor on FB, Steve Flo (often featured in Christian News) asked me to define justification, so I paraphrased Romans 4:24-25. He flew into a rage. I said, "That is what Romans 4:24-25 teaches. What do you think it says."
Romans 4:24-25King James Version (KJV)
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.
Flo said something like this - compare to the original above - "But for us also, it will be imputed, if we believe that we have already been forgiven..." [That was a paraphrase of Walther, not St. Paul.]
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| Walther was poorly trained, in rationalism and abusive Pietism, so it is no wonder he was completely messed up about justification. Why is CFW Walther, BA, the master of theology? |
A third LCMS pastor, Timm, f-bombed me on Facebook. Luke Timm Gregory L. Jackson "your name calling is amusing, Luke one-note." You fricken called me a name, while calling out my name calling. Do you read? Have you broken your irony bone?"
A fourth LCMS person, "This is a shameful comparison. Take this c---- down and apologize."
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| LCMS Higher Thing President George Borghardt - "everyone is forgiven, everyone is saved." |
Some of them became venomous defending Georgie One Note, the president of Higher Things, who teaches universalism with the ham-fisted grace of Pope Francis. Quoting Georgie verbatim was described by them as misquoting and quoting him out of context.
My favorite statement from the UOJ rabble was this, "You need to talk to George about this."
I said, "I was writing to George about this issue on Facebook. He blocked me while I was writing." That is the natural impulse of false teachers, to silence sound doctrine, which makes their oafish claims sound like the quacking of a duck. George is no gentleman: he blocked my wife too, at the urging of his precocious son.
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| Paul McCain remembers his Roman Catholic high school with fondness, combining sadism, papal dogma, and shooting. |
LCMS Defense
Although my view is limited, I find the LCMS unusual among the Lutheran groups - the chance of having a good congregation with a faithful pastor. The synod's strength is its weakness - so many factions, clubs, lobbies, and groups in that loose federation. Apparently Matt the Fatt jumped the shark when he arranged to have the LCMS convention burn anyone at the stake for addressing doctrinal concerns in public without his imprimatur. That happens when one's fat little Iago is trained in Romanism and sworn to UOJ.
Especially True of the Lutheran Church Today
Lutheran pastors should be the leaders in teaching the Reformation, but they are not. We should commend those who are teaching the Scriptures in their congregations and avoid the tarpits of synodical politics.
