I do not worry much about other denominations, because there are always people who ignore the official dogma or the current thinking of their Left-wing clergy. Forgiveness and salvation come to those who trust in Christ alone. I asked a Roman Catholic nurse a series of doctrinal questions about Christianity. She was on our side and even came to our worship services in Columbus to hear the sermons, smiling in appreciation while the Stolzenburg fan club glowered with hate.
What does bother me is the dishonesty of the so-called conservative Lutheran leaders and professors who fake their devotion to the Scriptures while mocking the Bible, the Book of Concord, and the Lutheran Reformation.
The conservative Lutheran leaders have their Talmud, the device used to make the Scripture as distant as possible from the Jewish people after the death and resurrection of Christ.
The Talmud has a tiny bit of Scripture on the page, surrounded by commentary, plus commentary upon the commentary. The proclaimed idea was "to build a hedge around the Torah," but it was really to keep the Messianic Promises away from the Jewish people - the Old and New Testament unity being so obvious to see (Isaiah 53, Psalm 22).
The Olde Synodical Conference has turned the Gospel inside-out with the same approach.
Is this doctrine true to the Reformation, the Bible?
They answer by naming or quoting obscure Pietists, promoted to the status of "orthodox."
Is this true to Luther?
They answer with Johann Gerhard, who is not found in the Book of Concord (unlike Melanchthon and Chemnitz) because Gerhard was born two years after the Book of Concord was published.
But what about the origin of Justification by Faith?
They answer, "Romans 4:25" (a partial verse) "is all you need to know." Who are you to question a Missouri convention document?
"Therefore, we are justified by faith" is so clear, no?
All you need to know is the word "many" and "many" will answer all questions once we tell you what it means.
The Stephanite migration and the Bishop Hill settlement were quite similar in being led by charismatic but promiscuous prophets, half-educated but proclaiming they were The Truth.
The Stephanites and Bishop Hill followers were extreme Pietists who wanted to create their own paradise. When Walther toppled Bishop Stephan with a riot and forced the leader to Illinois at gunpoint, he took over the group, as pope rather than bishop.
Bishop Hill kept Jannson's belongings as sacred objects. The Missouri Synod has multiple statues of "The Great Walther", plus a creepy shrine for him.
