Luther wrote that the most rational are the worst false teachers.
The Most Erroneous
Are the Most Rational
16.
Here the prophet clearly implies that wherever Christ is not, there darkness
exists, whatever the appearance of brilliance. Nor does he allow the medium
devised by the high schools, which say that between darkness and Christ exists
the light of nature and of human reason. They ascribe darkness only to the
grossly wicked and the weak-minded. They highly value this mediatory light,
claiming it is a sufficient preparation for the light of Christ, and that
although it is darkness in comparison to the light of Christ, yet it is in
itself light. They do not perceive how far they err in imagining themselves
enlightened. Usually the most erroneous of the schools are the most rational.
“The sons of this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of the
light,” as Christ says in Luke 16:8. Yet they of the schools are not nearer the
true light than are others. Rather they are farther from it. This could not be
if the light of reason were helpful in obtaining the true light. Devils are
wiser, more artful and crafty, than men; yet they are not therefore better. No,
that kind of light is always at enmity with the true light. As Paul tells us
(Romans 8:7): “The mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not
subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be.”
The
Day of Epiphany, Sermons of Martin Luther, Volume 6
And that makes sense. Look at all the "modern" theologians and Biblical scholars. One reason they are in their positions is their ease in ascending to the top in academics. What will leave most people behind:
- Difficulties in learning foreign languages, especially ancient ones - Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Ugaritic;
- Long-term memory;
- Instant recall.
Those talents have nothing to do with faithfulness to the Word. In fact, when the academics are skating through most courses, they can become fascinated by outlying theories. Satiety and curiosity are the two factors that take people away from sound doctrine, and the devil rides through with a hay-wagon.
The famous false teachers of the past have also been known for their charm, persuasive abilities, and ability to pivot. Pin a wolf down and the charm comes drooling out. Press the case against the wolf and the fangs reveal themselves, silencing most people.
The District Presidents - all synods - often wear a mask of wrath, as if they just discovered who shot Bambi's mother. I used to watch them and the wannabees, amusing myself with their sad pantomimes. Mrs. Ichabod and I observed Herb Chilstrom preside over the last LCA convention, as if he were the bishop of the upcoming and yet un-named ELCA. And he was. He never left the mike, standing there...poised to strike, to defend, to disarm.
Another clown was Paul Kuske, who simultaneously defended adulterous pastors and false doctrine while posing as the Torquemada of The Michigan District, WELS. For some reason, they voted him out of his minor post as District VP, his stepping stone to the episcopacy snatched away in the fullness of time.
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| CLC (sic) pastors agreed Paul Tiefel was a false teacher, and he was also the Circuit Pastor in charge of...doctrine. |
No one could top the performance of Paul Tiefel CLC (sic), cousin of James Tiefel WELS - as if all the autosomal recessive genes had gathered in one person, whose malice was matched only by his tears as he complained about being persecuted.
Lest we forget, no Lutheran sect has anyone to compare with Mark and Avoid Jeske, who carries on as if he inspires the Holy Spirit. His vicars are a menace to decent congregations. His lectures start and end the same: "We ran out of Germans" - and he is applauded as a brilliant historian. His Koine (Greek for common) band charges $3,000 just to show up, and other congregations are quick to follow.
To confirm his reputation as a no-goodnik, Thrivent has put him on their board, to make their funding of abortion more acceptable to all.
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| Flee, ye evil-doers, enablers of ELCA, supporters of Planned Parenthood. |
