Thursday, September 26, 2019

Seven Signs WELS Is a Cult - From 2014

 Jeske - the ELCA womanist and Thrivent abortion enabler - was probably giving his "We Ran Out of Germans!" lecture to the long-suffering Martin Luther College students. Their degree costs $80,000+.
I was talking to someone who appreciated the article below - on WELS as a cult. I should add - abusive cult - just to be clear. I may add some notes on the personality of the typical WELS person, not at all charming.

Many have contacted me about the panic retreat of the "conservative" Lutherans from anything resembling the Christ-centered Means of Grace. That is because the leaders are Calvinists who favor the Prussian Union, which allowed the Lutheran name without Biblical, Lutheran doctrine, yielding to the flotsam of Objective Justification and Election without Faith.

Figs do not grow on thistles and the fruit of the Spirit does not develop apart from the True Vine (John 15).

---

Cult leader  

The Seven Signs You're in a Cult


A former member of a tight-knit college prayer group describes his community's disintegration—and how one of its members ended up dead.

1. Opposing critical thinking
2. Isolating members and penalizing them for leaving
3. Emphasizing special doctrines outside scripture
4. Seeking inappropriate loyalty to their leaders
5. Dishonoring the family unit
6. Crossing Biblical boundaries of behavior (versus sexual purity and personal ownership)
7. Separation from the Church

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/06/the-seven-signs-youre-in-a-cult/361400/


***

GJ - Let's go over those seven signs.

1. WELS does not allow any critical thinking. Everything is true based on the authority and purity of WELS.  Corky K. was "brain-damaged"  because he opposed Church Growth and the closing of Northwestern College. A former seminary president was "senile" because he was against Dr. Martin Luther College swallowing NWC.
2. The WELS cult drives away those who are suspected of thinking on their own. After they succeed in this, they trash the person for leaving. This happens even when the individual stays in WELS. He or she is forever tainted for doubting Holy Mother Synod.
3. WELS takes great pride in its absurd cultic dogma - chiefly justification without faith/UOJ. They have gone beyond previous errors to make this salvation without faith (Buchholz). Did anyone in the synod oppose Jon-Boy? 
4. Anything done by an official, even a circuit pastor, is directly from the Holy Spirit. To question their actions is an attack against the Holy Spirit.
5. WELS will destroy a marriage or family to assert their power over the lives of others. They specialize in "divide and conquer."
6. Clergy and teachers imagine they have ownership rights over women and children. This had led to many scandals they cover up or excuse. See the Top Ten Crimes of WELS. They will not post the news when a church worker murders his wife.  It took an FBI raid and nationals stories for Schroeder to admit to Hochmuth's crimes, which he denied took place at WELS headquarters. But Hochmuth was absolved by the synod president on the cult websty.
7. Everyone in the WELS cult is afraid to mention my name. If they try to address an issue, they are accused - "Did you get this from Greg Jackson?" All the "Intrepid Lutherans" were smashed into sullen obedience and cooperation with the WELS cult. After agreeing to keep on publishing their blog, the only one who does post is Pastor Rydecki, who was kicked out and given no support from the fellow Intrepids. Note that criminals remain in WELS while the cult kicks out certain individuals (inconsistently).

The LCMS has some cult circles, such as the Preus-UOJ fanatics. They are just as goofy and rage-filled as the WELSians.

WELS is like the Democrat Party. The synod has adopted the feminist agenda but still treats women like dirt.

If you are a WELS member and furious about this post, you are also a cult member. Own it - live it - love it. 



A blog that tells the truth about WELS and other agents of apostasy must come from a monster.





 Hybels collapsed for his sexual abuse of the women around him. Driscoll was a little too blunt about leaving piles of bodies outside the church. Weakland had his gay scandal, and Andy Stanley endorsed gay marriage. All these and more have been heavily promoted by WELS-LCMS. Wagner admitted that Church Growth principles do not work.
Read this about membership collapse - fits WELS-LCMS-ELS too.



Luther says this about false teachers:

False Doctrine Tolerated

"And such false teachers have the good fortune that all their folly is tolerated, even though the people realize how these act the fool, and rather rudely at that. They have success with it all, and people bear with them. But no patience is to be exercised toward true teachers! Their words and their works are watched with the intent of entrapping them, as complained of in Psalm 17:9 and elsewhere. When only apparently a mote is found, it is exaggerated to a very great beam. No toleration is granted. There is only judgment, condemnation and scorn. Hence the office of preaching is a grievous one. He who has not for his sole motive the benefit of his neighbor and the glory of God cannot continue therein. The true teacher must labor, and permit others to have the honor and profit of his efforts, while he receives injury and derision for his reward."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 110f. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9. Psalm 17:9.

God Punishes Ingratitude by Allowing False Teachers

"In the second place such teachers are disposed to bring the people into downright bondage and to bind their conscience by forcing laws upon them and teaching works-righteousness. The effect is that fear impels them to do what has been pounded into them, as if they were bondslaves, while their teachers command fear and attention. But the true teachers, they who give us freedom of conscience and create us lords, we soon forget, even despise. The dominion of false teachers is willingly tolerated and patiently endured; indeed, it is given high repute. All those conditions are punishments sent by God upon them who do not receive the Gospel with love and gratitude."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 111. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9. John 5:43.

False Teachers Flay Disciples to Bone

"In the third place, false teachers flay their disciples to the bone, and cut them out of house and home, but even this is taken and endured. Such, I opine, has been our experience under the Papacy. But true preachers are even denied their bread. Yet this all perfectly squares with justice! For, since men fail to give unto those from whom they receive the Word of God, and permit the latter to serve them at their own expense, it is but fair they should give the more unto preachers of lies, whose instruction redounds to their injury. What is withheld from Christ must be given in tenfold proportion to the devil. They who refuse to give the servant of truth a single thread, must be oppressed by liars."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 111f. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.

Avarice in False Teachers

"Fourth, false apostles forcibly take more than is given them. They seize whatever and whenever they can, thus enhancing their insatiable avarice. This, too, is excused in them."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 112. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.

They Lord It Over Us

"Fifth, these deceitful teachers, not satisfied with having acquired our property, must exalt themselves above us and lord it over us...We bow our knees before them, worship them and kiss their feet. And we suffer it all, yes, with fearful reverence regard it as just and right. And it is just and right, for why did we not honor the Gospel by accepting and preserving it?"
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 112. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.

We Are Dogs and Foot-Rags

"Sixth, our false apostles justly reward us by smiting us in the face. That is, they consider us inferior to dogs; they abuse us, and treat us as foot-rags."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 112. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.



Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall - How Did That Happen?

 Mark Spitz' gold medals
Mark Spitz now

I was looking at the news a little and a picture of Mark Spitz came up. Mrs. Ichabod said, "Remember Mark Spitz?"

I said, "How did that happen? He is so old!"

She said, "Have you looked in the mirror?"

Christina is such a comfort in my old age. The shock came from not hearing about Spitz for 50 years - his medals came in 1972 and 1976.



People ignore so many toxic emissions from their synod because of gradual change. That is why WELS-LCMS-ELS sell the book The Frog in the Kettle, written by George Barna, David Valleskey's favorite theologian.

The pretext is that a frog will stay in a gradually warmed kettle but jump out of one that is warmed quickly. That is ridiculous, so it is telling that Lutherans wanting change sell that book to their victims, their little frogs in the kettle. Unfortunately, sentient beings are much dumber than frogs - Lutherans stay until parboiled.

The so-called conservatives think a little witticism will lower the heat they are feeling. That only helps them adjust to the new temperature. They cannot imagine living apart from Holy Mother Synod and their dear friends.





Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Greek Lesson Mark 12:18ff and Mark 13:ff



Parser tells us the I.D. of the word

Lenski's Mark Commentary - download as a PDF

Mark 12

18 και ερχονται σαδδουκαιοι προς αυτον οιτινες λεγουσιν αναστασιν μη ειναι και επηρωτησαν αυτον λεγοντες


19 διδασκαλε μωσης εγραψεν ημιν οτι εαν τινος αδελφος αποθανη και καταλιπη γυναικα και τεκνα μη αφη ινα λαβη ο αδελφος αυτου την γυναικα αυτου και εξαναστηση σπερμα τω αδελφω αυτου

20 επτα αδελφοι ησαν και ο πρωτος ελαβεν γυναικα και αποθνησκων ουκ αφηκεν σπερμα

21 και ο δευτερος ελαβεν αυτην και απεθανεν και ουδε αυτος αφηκεν σπερμα και ο τριτος ωσαυτως

22 και ελαβον αυτην οι επτα και ουκ αφηκαν σπερμα, εσχατη παντων απεθανεν και η γυνη

23 εν τη ουν αναστασει οταν αναστωσιν τινος αυτων εσται γυνη οι γαρ επτα εσχον αυτην γυναικα

24 και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν αυτοις ου δια τουτο πλανασθε μη ειδοτες τας γραφας μηδε την δυναμιν του θεου

25 οταν γαρ εκ νεκρων αναστωσιν ουτε γαμουσιν ουτε γαμισκονται αλλ εισιν ως αγγελοι οι εν τοις ουρανοις

26 περι δε των νεκρων οτι εγειρονται ουκ ανεγνωτε εν τη βιβλω μωσεως επι της βατου ως ειπεν αυτω ο θεος λεγων εγω ο θεος αβρααμ, και ο θεος ισαακ και ο θεος ιακωβ,

Trinitarian implication. John 1.

27 ουκ εστιν ο θεος νεκρων αλλα θεος ζωντων - υμεις ουν πολυ πλανασθε


28 και προσελθων εις των γραμματεων, ακουσας αυτων συζητουντων, ειδως οτι καλως αυτοις απεκριθη, επηρωτησεν αυτον "ποια εστιν πρωτη πασων εντολη"

29 ο δε ιησους απεκριθη αυτω οτι πρωτη πασων των εντολων - ακουε ισραηλ κυριος, ο θεος ημων, κυριος εις εστιν

30 και αγαπησεις κυριον τον θεον σου εξ ολης της καρδιας σου και εξ ολης της ψυχης σου και εξ ολης της διανοιας σου και εξ ολης της ισχυος σου, αυτη πρωτη εντολη

31 και δευτερα ομοια αυτη αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον - μειζων τουτων αλλη εντολη ουκ εστιν

32 και ειπεν αυτω ο γραμματευς καλως διδασκαλε επ αληθειας ειπας οτι εις εστιν θεος και ουκ εστιν αλλος πλην αυτου

33 και το αγαπαν αυτον εξ ολης της καρδιας και εξ ολης της συνεσεως και εξ ολης της ψυχης και εξ ολης της ισχυος και το αγαπαν τον πλησιον ως εαυτον, πλειον εστιν παντων των ολοκαυτωματων και των θυσιων

holocaust

34 και ο ιησους, ιδων αυτον, οτι νουνεχως απεκριθη, ειπεν αυτω ου μακραν ει απο της βασιλειας του θεου; και ουδεις ουκετι ετολμα αυτον επερωτησαι

35 και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ελεγεν, διδασκων εν τω ιερω, πως λεγουσιν οι γραμματεις οτι ο χριστος υιος εστιν δαβιδ

36 αυτος γαρ δαβιδ ειπεν, εν τω πνευματι τω αγιω, ειπεν ο κυριος τω κυριω μου καθου εκ δεξιων μου εως αν θω τους εχθρους σου υποποδιον των ποδων σου

37 αυτος ουν δαβιδ λεγει αυτον κυριον, και ποθεν υιος αυτου εστιν και ο πολυς οχλος ηκουεν αυτου ηδεως

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38 και ελεγεν αυτοις εν τη διδαχη αυτου βλεπετε απο των γραμματεων των θελοντων εν στολαις περιπατειν και ασπασμους εν ταις αγοραις

39 και πρωτοκαθεδριας εν ταις συναγωγαις και πρωτοκλισιας εν τοις δειπνοις

40 οι κατεσθιοντες τας οικιας των χηρων και προφασει μακρα προσευχομενοι ουτοι; ληψονται περισσοτερον κριμα

41 και καθισας ο ιησους κατεναντι του γαζοφυλακιου εθεωρει πως ο οχλος βαλλει χαλκον εις το γαζοφυλακιον και πολλοι πλουσιοι εβαλλον πολλα

42 και ελθουσα μια χηρα πτωχη εβαλεν λεπτα δυο ο εστιν κοδραντης

two lepta are not much and make up a quadrans, English term - widow's mite

43 και προσκαλεσαμενος τους μαθητας αυτου λεγει αυτοις αμην λεγω υμιν οτι η χηρα αυτη η πτωχη πλειον παντων βεβληκεν των βαλοντων εις το γαζοφυλακιον


44 παντες γαρ εκ του περισσευοντος αυτοις εβαλον αυτη δε εκ της υστερησεως αυτης παντα οσα ειχεν εβαλεν ολον τον βιον αυτης


Mark 13 

1 και εκπορευομενου αυτου εκ του ιερου λεγει αυτω εις των μαθητων αυτου διδασκαλε ιδε ποταποι λιθοι και ποταπαι οικοδομαι

και ο ιησους αποκριθεις ειπεν αυτω βλεπεις ταυτας τας μεγαλας οικοδομας ου μη αφεθη λιθος επι λιθω ος ου μη καταλυθη

και καθημενου αυτου εις το ορος των ελαιων κατεναντι του ιερου επηρωτων αυτον κατ ιδιαν πετρος και ιακωβος και ιωαννης και ανδρεας

ειπε ημιν ποτε ταυτα εσται και τι το σημειον οταν μελλη παντα ταυτα συντελεισθαι

ο δε ιησους αποκριθεις αυτοις ηρξατο λεγειν βλεπετε μη τις υμας πλανηση

πολλοι γαρ ελευσονται επι τω ονοματι μου λεγοντες οτι εγω ειμι και πολλους πλανησουσιν

I AM - John, not I am he.

οταν δε ακουσητε πολεμους και ακοας πολεμων μη θροεισθε δει γαρ γενεσθαι αλλ ουπω το τελος

polemics, 
rumors (more the sense of hearing something) report, faith comes from hearing the Report, Is 53 and Romans 10.

εγερθησεται γαρ εθνος επι εθνος και βασιλεια επι βασιλειαν και εσονται σεισμοι κατα τοπους, και εσονται λιμοι και ταραχαι, αρχαι ωδινων ταυτα

seismograph, topology


The LCMS-ELS-WELS Pietist OJists Will Not Condemn the ELCA Pietist OJists.
How Fast the LutherQueasies Are in Condemning Justification by Faith!

These three have grown fatter, not wiser, in office.




Alan Lubeck (1431)
Senior Member
Username: 1431

Post Number: 2007
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Sunday, September 22, 2019 - 9:31 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post


Were not talking outward here. You change the Gospel to something else...something compatible to the likes of the ELCA, then the church is dead. There's only one Gospel that gives life...and church growth gimmicks that take the focus off Word and Sacrament ain't it.
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Daniel Gorman (Heinrich)
Senior Member
Username: Heinrich

Post Number: 4084
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Monday, September 23, 2019 - 12:47 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post


Yes, apostate "churches" may appear to thrive in terms of "nickels and noses" but, inwardly, they are spiritually dead. They have the outward marks of apostasy from the gospel (Gal. 1: 6-9).
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Daniel Gorman (Heinrich)
Senior Member
Username: Heinrich

Post Number: 4085
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Monday, September 23, 2019 - 7:08 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post


Pr. Preus: "To speak at a conference where heterodox speakers will be speaking implies no fellowship with them. On the other hand, if you speak at a conference that features a woman who is identified as a pastor you might be implying that you acknowledge her to be a pastor. If so, your confession has been compromised."

What about a male "pastor" of an apostate ELCA congregation that worships the feminist god rather than the Holy Trinity? If a speaker is introduced as a "Reverend", wouldn't the term "Reverend" necessarily imply a heterodox speaker is the pastor of a Christian church?
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The Path to Understanding Justification provoked an immediate, multi-synod, coordinated attack, but Jeske's gay liberation abortion sales-pitch barely gets a mild, tentative, languid, half-hearted, apathetic response from LQ. The rest of the mild-Lutheran forums are silent.

The Road Well-Traveled
Two roads converged in a woods, and we—
We ran towards Hell with pious glee. 
And that has made all the difference.
(Apologies to Robert Frost)

The current disaster may not be much different from previous ones, where the truth of the Reformation was swallowed up in lies, distortions, corruption, and mass murder. But time may be running out for this evil, adulterous generation, for Planet Earth.

Recent months have witnessed a multi-pronged attack on Justification by Faith, using Christian News, LutherQuest (sic), and the Judas Goat skills of WELS Pastor Steve Spencer.

The collective wisdom of Team Spencer could not develop a coherent reply to the Scriptures - Genesis 15:6, Romans 4, Galatians - but made a lot of noise trying, then fell silent.

The unfortunate truth is that the Pietism of the older ELCA traditions has merged with the Pietism of the Walther-Stephan sex cult, which brought Objective Justification and syphilis to St. Louis and Perryville, Missouri.

If I complete the booklet on Lutherdom in America, it will show how Pietism united them all and ultimately merges them de facto in the current Thrivent-Siebert-Jeske Triple Alliance.

Is everyone deaf to the hysteria generated by the Objective Justification Stormtroopers and the ennui expressed about the Two Heidis ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS Change or Die! fiasco?

 ELCA Pastor Heidi Neumark will teach WELS and LCMS pastors and laity how to follow her example.


 ELCA Bishop Guy Erwin and his husband Rob Flynn


 Keep diversity selective to make it work its magic.


 The ELCA Presiding Bishop and her Secretary dictate the progress of the synod, whose monetary influence can be felt in Thrivent (Jeske), Siebert (Jeske), and Time of Grace (Jeske). Look upon Mark's mighty works and despair!
 Sammy graduated transgender from the WELS School of Ministry, Martin Luther College in New Ulm.

 Decades of coordinated work have yielded the Evan-jellyfish of Church and Change, promoted to Change or Die!