Some are saying, "There you go, all negative on Bearing the Cross - another jeremiad. What about something positive?"
I know a lot of synod leaders read Ichabod, so I have to keep posts short, to match their attention spans. That is also why I link big words to definitions, to help them expand past felt needs, Church Growth eyes, and small groups - their favorite terms.
Luther is quite clear - above - that debating with false teachers is good for us and for advancing sound doctrine. If Buchholz, Webber, Bivens, and Valleskey really felt secure about their precious UOJ, they would be glad to debate. The Emmaus Conference would welcome a discussion of Justification instead of banning it.
If I can touch on the profane, it is similar to the sales tactic - called the takeaway.
- "I don't think you can afford this." - Prospect response, "Yes I can."
- "I supposed you are not ready to decide," pulling the contract away. Response - "Yes I am," grabbing it back.
So we all have access to Melanchthon's essay on Justification by Faith in his Apology of the Augsburg Confession. When we are unchallenged by attacks on Justification by Faith, we read it and say, "Yes, Ok. True."
But when every SynCon leader is attacking Justification by Faith, calling it Calvinism! and false doctrine!, insisting their UOJ dogma is the Chief Article, the same Melanchthon essay becomes a example of the best Biblical teaching to us. Likewise, Luther's Galatians Lectures are most valuable and valued when read during doctrinal warfare.
The UniSynod (ELCA-LCMS-ELS-WELS-CLC) knows it is failing in all the measurements they love to study - membership, attendance, giving, enrollment in various schools. But they can live like royalty until the end. They do not want a doctrinal debate. When I began spreading the word on WELS-LCMS joint ministries with ELCA, Thrivent stopped printing the information.
That is also why the UniSynod frauds will not attack Justification by Faith directly. They amend by substitution, improvement, and clarification. Just as Rome applies the characteristics of Christ to Mary, so these clever people apply accolades about Justification to their UOJ dogma.
The discerning are wondering what has gone wrong, so it is a great opportunity to study the Word and the Book of Concord, to discuss Christian doctrine.
The UniSynod has gone so far down the road to perdition that the leaders have created a great hunger for Biblical basics. Those pastors and lay leaders who realize the value of faithfulness will also find their lives and work satisfying.
