The Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) Officially Rejects Justification by Faith . And They Celebrate Their Rejection: The Awful Truth Behind the Preus Dynasty!

The ELS is

 No Justification by Faith alone? Nope.

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 Omitting the Chief Article is a confession of error.

GJ - The issue with the Madison Settlement is that the big Norwegian Synod allowed for both versions of Justification:

1. Justification by Faith
2. Justification without Faith, aka Objective Justification, UOJ, Justification of the World, General Justification.

The little Norwegians agreed with the Pietistic, rationalistic, and Universalistic Objective Justification. One thousand of them left (but no Preus members) and were nicknamed the Little Norwegians. They considered themselves orthodox and probably did adhere to the original tenets of Norwegian Pietism. However, the Preus clan did not join this orthodox and only shifted over from the Big Norwegians during (Robert) and after (Jack) seminary. However, after moving for a break with the LCMS, Bob and Jack took calls in the LCMS immediately after.

As long as the leaders of the LCMS-ELS-WELS are Oblates of Walther Immaculate, they will promote their convenient Objective Justification, whether they believe anything or not. They are opportunistic, like Jack and Bob Preus.

However, even the poorly edited Justification and Rome, by Robert Preus, bears the scars and healing of this vast doctrinal error. Preus clearly identified and refuted Objective Justification, in his own words and the words of the post-Concord orthodox, when the influence of Calvinism and Pietism grew in the combo Lutheran churches enjoying the depredation of unionism.

Rolfie One-Note went to North Dakota to howl with the coyotes and teach the equivalent of Jeske's We Ran Out of Germans speech. He never mentioned his father's book on Justification, and Rolfie edited it!

 The ELS and Objective Justification - partners in piggery.

Rocking the Diabetic Clinic with Two Easy-Does-It Roses

Today's Easy-Does-It roses were a deep orange and a bloom that was completely pure orange, like the central bud in this one.

We know many fine medical people in this area, but our favorite - Melanie Sutton - deals with diabetes. She has always been an advocate for the right meds and measurement tools. She especially loves roses. Today, after our brief frost on Saturday, we still had two perfect Easy-Does-It roses with long stems. I placed them in a bud vase, which we accumulate in yard sales and hints to people about having more roses than vases.

Floribundas like Easy-Does-It are long on blooms, short on stems, but this one has long stems and "autumn colors" with orange variations.

The reception area lit up with the staff and patients enjoying the beauty and the sweet fragrance of the two roses. One staffer said, "I love it when you two come, because the office smells so good from the roses."

 This comes closer to autumn colors, but the variations are unpredictable.

I had a conversation with one nurse who loves cinnamon scent and butterflies, so I wrote down Clethra (Summersweet) for both interests and Joe Pye Weed for butterflies (with a vanilla flower and foliage-created medicinal scents). The beneficial insects seem to enjoy most the scented plants and those with tiny flowers.

Everyone had a good time, and the appointment went well on many levels. The blood test showed exceptionally managed blood sugar levels for three months.

For you have heard above that this new birth takes place in no other way than through the "sound," that is, the Word.

Such is the case to this day with respect to the true brazen serpent, the Lord Jesus Christ. All men are of the opinion that if they are to be helped, it must not be done by "looking" or faith. Whoever does good works and commits no sin, has all the more advantage before God. Therefore no matter what one may preach, it is of no avail. One resorts to this, another to that; "for all men have not faith." They thus want to find another way to health than by "looking," that is, faith in Christ. But learn this: It is decided, that the devil has so poisoned you through sin, that death has you by the throat, and you cannot escape, but must absolutely submit. But if you are to be saved from this poison and death, by all means don't think of any other medicine than this "looking"; namely, that you rightly look upon Christ on the cross as the One who died for you, offered up His life, atoned for your sins with His death, and thus has reconciled you to God. If you believe this and are baptized, then you are truly born again through the Holy Ghost unto the kingdom of God; and do not doubt it in the least. For you have heard above that this new birth takes place in no other way than through the "sound," that is, the Word. Cling to this and believe what it tells you, that it is yea and Amen.

From Luther's House Postil. Sermon for the Second Sunday After Trinity.

The Attritionals - Teaching the Condition of Man, Not the Content of the Gospel

One writer recently said that the new trend is to teach the condition of man, not the content of the Gospel. A proud Fuller graduate and theology teacher warned students that people too used to church life have a lot of trouble reaching others who have no background in Christianity.

That describes the Missional (really Attritional) fad of the moment. The approach is deviously clever and suited for the numbskulls who love it.

The pastor tells the congregation in an anxious and alarmed voice, "We cannot get people to join because of the organ, the liturgy, the paraments, the creeds, and these funeral-dirge hymns. A study has shown..."

There are more works on this than the Assumption of Mary, and they can be quoted at length, often from the plagiarists in the synod structure.

Therefore, the more Attritional they are, the more diluted their message is.

Seminary education is watered down too, because "we cannot get students to sign up for seminary if they are weighed down by so many impractical, academic courses." A seminary degree from LCMS-ELS-WELS is one in UOJ and Willow Creek, guided by the insights of the NIV-ESV.

It's all about the Easter egg hunt and petting live bunnies. Ask Kudu Don Patterson. He had that in his own newsletter, then hid it on a separate website. Later he avoided that too, because I found each example. The cure in WELS is - hide the evidence, deny, deny, deny.

It Was Only a Paper Moon

"The Chinese government is planning to launch a “fake moon” into space in two years, and it could save that country hundreds of millions of dollars in annual electricity costs.

The satellite is set to be launched into orbit about 310 miles above the city of Chengdu in 2020, and may have the power to entirely replace streetlights, The Daily Wire and others noted.

This “moon” will actually be a satellite — an “illumination satellite,” featuring reflective panels that could make it eight times as bright as the real moon."

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Said it is only a paper moon 

Sailing over a cardboard sea

But it wouldn't be make believe 

If you believed in me.