When people wonder what they can do about apostasy, the Pietistic solution is to shun all the bad guys. Apparently, I am the only bad guy, because the "conservative" get along great with each other - no matter what - and even better with ELCA clergy.
Luther is clearly not the model and example, because he simply kept teaching and writing until the only existing church kicked him out, publishing a bull of excommunication, which has never been withdrawn.
The most frequent request I have received is how to find a traditional Lutheran congregation near the individual, one with a faithful pastor. People must endure the present situation, which can only get worse, given the miserable state of the seminaries and the poverty of Lutheran leadership.
When one sees immoral, disgraceful drunks and false teachers constantly protected and promoted, the fix is in. Discipline only starts when the arrest is well known. Otherwise, it never happened. The clergy know this is true, so that is demoralizing.
Deceit and Double-talk Are Highly Valued, But Not by God
The WELS clergy have a tradition that is even more honored than cross-dressing. The clergy glory in their ability to play one side of an issue then switch sides when convenient. This deception is at the heart of the GA/HB hazing ritual, which is designed to intimidate and punish the incoming students. Dean John Sparky Brenner defends the hazing, though he never mentioned the tradition in his Jars of Clay history of Mordor.
Every man who runs for ecclesiastical office is a liar. He is conservative enough to fool that group while winking at the apostates who already own him. How else could WELS and Missouri stay in the same stall with the LCA/ALC while it transmogrified into ELCA?
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| I have a worse graphic, from her Twitter feed, which I looked up to verify, but it is too obscene to post. As far as narcissism and exhibitionism go, this alone should disqualify her, without the Pastoral Epistles being read. |
I understand some districts of the LCMS are quasi-ELCA. I know of WELS pastors who simple adore Rick Warren, Craig Groeschel, Andy Stanley, Leonard Sweet!, and even Nadia Bolz Weber. Lutherans have their own bogus media guy, Mark and Avoid Jeske, so they cluck their tongues about Joel Osteen. Ha!
The ELS thinks the Reformation started at Halle University, and the Missouri Stormtroopers agree - Rolf the Rationalist and Dan the Dense.
As mentioned before, the "conservatives" are delighted to work with ELCA via Thrivent. Thrivent funds Planned Parenthood? Oh well, they still do good things, like matching our Junk for Jesus rummage sale to the tune of $47.13 - as long as we mentioned this in our worship bulletin and mailed them copies as proof.
In effect, all membership and participation in Thrivent is an endorsement of abortion on demand and selling unborn body parts, a scandal that America continues to ignore.
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| Our attorney got Greek classes going at Bethany with two questions. 1. Are the Biblical languages essential for a pastor? 2. Would you teach Greek? |
An Honest Confession of the Truth
One person can stop a massive drift, but that does not always happen. We should never silence ourselves about the doctrine of the Holy Scriptures.
Bad Attitudes
Here is one attitude that is completely invalid - "I am just one person. I may be ignored and shunned, even insulted and expelled." Whether clergy or laity, silencing ourselves is the same as agreement with that false doctrine.
"I am just a layman." The Holy Spirit teaches us through the Word, whether we are clergy or laity, men or women. Everyone has the obligation to clarify or refute what is being taught.
"It will not matter what I say." That is completely wrong, because that suggests - falsely - that the Word is not effective. When the false teacher is furious, when friends do a 180, when the room goes silent - that is effective. Fury toward Biblical doctrine means the Spirit is pounding their hardened hearts. Some argue in their fury and they repent, because they are shaken out of their apathy and torpor. Others become even more hardened and vindictive.
"But no one will speak to me. They will not discuss this." That is not bad - but good. Anger is the initial proof or sign of sound doctrine. The ultimate sign is silence - we will not even discuss this with you, you poor pathetic legalistic troublemaker. That is a confession of terror in their feeble, lying hearts. They even have to pretend it does not matter, because they are completely threatened. In fact, the importance of an issue is proven by how little it is discussed. Look over the Lutheran discussion boards, the blogs, and the official synodical websties. The yield is 99% chaff at best.
PS - For all the Timid Tims who run away from the truth and extend the icy look of disfellowship, there are dozens who would love to discuss sound doctrine, Luther, the Scriptures, the Confessions, and more. Keeping false friends means not meeting sincere believers. The false friends want free housing for their travels, free food, free books, and various favors, but would not give up a thimble of water for someone crossing the doctrinal desert in the blazing heat of noon.
"I may be wrong. I have not studied all the books. I have not studied Greek." The Bible judges all books, so that is by far the most important. Controversy is good - there must be divisions. We learn from those divisions. Frankly, most clergy do not know much Greek or use it regularly. To hide behind Greek classes is cowardly. A faithful translation (not the NIV or ESV) will do the job, not because the KJV family is the only one, but because the dollars-for-dogma church bodies promote bad translations they can sell and revise every few months. By default the KJV remains the English version of Luther's Bible.
I could say a lot more about this. To be continued. Right now Sassy wants a ride in her limo.
