The Concordia St. Louis Heritage - Presidential Search

The following 42 individuals have been nominated as candidates for election as the 11th president of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, per Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) Bylaws, and have allowed their names to stand for consideration

Dr. Joel D. Biermann
Dr. Gerhard H. Bode Jr.
Dr. Phillip L. Brandt
Dr. Jon S. Bruss
Dr. Albert Collver III
Dr. Anthony A. Cook
Dr. Burnell F. Eckardt
Dr. Thomas J. Egger
Dr. Joel C. Elowsky
Dr. Alfonso O. Espinosa
Dr. Carl C. Fickenscher II
Dr. Kevin S. Golden
Dr. Gifford A. Grobien
Dr. [sic] Matthew C. Harrison
Dr. Benjamin D. Haupt
Dr. Erik H. Herrmann
Dr. Ross E. Johnson
Dr. Jeffrey J. Kloha
Dr. Joel D. Lehenbauer
Dr. Robert R. Lessing
Dr. David W. Loy
Dr. David P. E. Maier
Dr. Aaron M. Moldenhauer
Dr. Steven P. Mueller
Dr. Martin R. Noland
Dr. David R. Preus
Dr. Jeffrey H. Pulse
Dr. Timothy A. Rossow
Dr. Travis J. Scholl
Dr. Gregory P. Schulz
Dr. Klaus D. Schulz
Dr. William W. Schumacher
Dr. Gregory P. Seltz
Bishop Martin Stephan, STD
Dr. Don R. Stuckwisch Jr.
Dr. Dien A. Taylor
Rev. Daniel T. Torkelson
Dr. William G. Utech
Dr. Jon D. Vieker
Dr. James W. Voelz
Dr. Wilhelm Weber
Dr. John C. Wohlrabe Jr.
Dr. Lucas V. Woodford

The new president has a heavy burden to bear:

1. Hiding the Walther circle's complicity in Bishop Stephan's adulterous affairs and syphilis.
2. Repeating their deceptions to make themselves appear innocent.
3. Owning slaves and supporting human slavery.
4. Propping up the ridiculous dogma of Objective Justification, as taught by Stephan and repeated incessantly by CFW Walther.
5. Disguising the slide - in every way - toward ELCA.
6. Rejecting the traditional text of the New Testament in favor of a few bad manuscripts.
7. Loving every confession of faith but his own - true ecumenism.
8. Raising money to prop up a failing seminary.
9. Getting Matt the Fatt on a diet.
10. Supporting Thrivent supporting abortion and utter godlessness.

 Support Planned Parenthood too!

 Abandoning the keystone and the capstone of the Faith - trashing WAM II and WAM I.

 They ran out of men.

 The Walther shrine looks like the top of a cathedral, with everything buried below. Maybe that is the message.

I will keep making installments of Walther, the American Calvin: A Synod Built on Felonies.

Most of the evidence is there in two books and numerous historical studies. However, the LCMS prefers to promote the myths rather than the truth.

Oddly enough, this tactic has swept them into the arms of ELCA, agreeing in doctrine and practice, just far enough behind to act offended that their sister church is so anti-Scriptural.

Walther the Fox and Felon - Draft

Walther the Fox and Felon

CFW followed his older brother Otto in studies at Leipzig. That meant being drawn into Pietistic circles and the conventicle led by Kuehn. The tutor felt alienated during his studies at Leipzig and taught a morbid, punitive style of sanctification, which cost Walther his health. After graduating, Walther served as a tutor, which was fairly common for theology students awaiting certification and a call.

The alienation experienced by Kuehn’s disciples was continued when they followed Stephan as their leader. Many episodes led to clergy finding fault with Stephan, from drawing their members to his church to the questionable walks at night with young women. Stephan only had permission to hold conventicles at his church, but he took advantage. He also collected offerings from his larger church, so there were also issues concerning the money and how it was used.

No one was allowed to share in the leadership circle unless he was absolutely subordinate to Stephan. Walther took on the role of enforcer, so anyone who offended Stephan was punished until his contrition was verified. This was certainly the basis for an abusive cult, since no one could question Stephan or argue with Stephan and remain in that circle. Stephan was considered a keen judge of human character – seducers often are – and he called Walther “a fox.”

Walther and his brother Otto were so sure of their rectitude that they worked together to kidnap their niece and nephew from their father’s parsonage. This crime is often excused by the Missouri myth machine. The children wanted to go to America! No one needs to guess if taking minors across the ocean - without their parents - would be excused today. In addition, other minors wanted to leave Europe and were allowed on the ship.

The police put out a warrant for Walther’s arrest, but he evaded capture. His future mother-in-law and the lawyers helped in concealing the children, and Mrs. Buenger was jailed. CFW sailed away as fast as he could. Mrs. Buenger was released from jail, but Stephan did not want her on the original group of ships. She came later and became an important connection for Walther in Perryville.

The deciding factor in the Saxon migration was Stephan’s final court investigation, which detailed his adultery and money management issues. He no longer had a church position, so he made the long-planned call to pack up and leave for Zion in America. Stephan’s oldest son, his main mistress Louise Gunther, his lawyers at the trial, and Otto Walther were on the same ship. The claim of a sermon-wrought adultery confession (or two) is impossible to consider as anything but a clumsy lie. The Walther circle seemed to waver between their warrant for the riot and the fact they knew all along, wondering out loud how they turned a blind eye to it all along.

The Stephanites made him their bishop before he stepped foot in America. CFW signed the bishop’s enthronement paper.[1] The group traveled by ship to St. Louis, decamped, and began planning for a new home. Stephan continued to be extravagant in his plans and decisions, as well as irrational. He chose Perryville over a much better and less expensive purchase in St. Louis. One motif might have been getting away from the extremely critical scrutiny he was getting in St. Louis, with his mistress living above him in a rooming house and various women in and out, but no wife and family there. The Americans were not as blind as the Stephanites.

Perryville might have also appealed as a distant parcel allowing the group to have their own little Eden. Nevertheless, the followers accepted what Stephan ordered, and they bought the Perryville land from the Mormons, paying too much.

Pastor Loeber’s May 5, 1839, Rogate Sermon

Two women who heard Pastor Loeber’s moving sermon on May 5, 1839, went to him and confessed their adulterous activities with Bishop Stephan. Forster’s detailed footnote only reveals the confusion of facts surrounding this story.[2] The traditional seal of the confessional was not observed at all. Loeber immediately told Walther. No one asked Stephan about the truth of the matter, but it was spread throughout the group. Given the foreknowledge of the Walther circle and the lawyers, this scenario is hollow and sadly comical. Vehse “was told” but he was on the same ship as Stephan and Louise Gunther.[3] Forster admits that nothing was new in Stephan’s behavior; the same issues had been discussed in Dresden, sometimes believed, sometimes dismissed as gossip, finally part of the final court decision against Stephan, where his mistress and his wife were both questioned in front of Marbach and Vehse.

Extravagant and absurd demands by Bishop Stephan at this time were noted by Forster and by Stephan’s In Search of Religious Freedom.[4] However, no one seems to connect these neurological symptoms of syphilis with the bishop’s rashes and other medical complaints. Since the sudden and shocking discovery of adultery is completely bogus, something else must have generated a riot that swept down from St. Louis to Perryville, a ministerial approach to sin not included in Walther’s Pastoral Theology.

First, Walther had to travel to Perryville, on May 13, to take back secretly the 40 acres of land given to the bishop as a gift, without even talking to Stephan.[5] The pastors wrote to the newspaper that they were taking action, but still did not tell Stephan. This was described as a way to limit the scandal and potential vigilante justice, with multiple hangings. But this also points to an outbreak of syphilis among the young women of the group and hard questions for the Walther circle of pastors. The pastors confessed their silence to the newspaper but also claimed all accusations in the past were unproven![6]

May 28, 300 Roared Off the Steamship

Walther organized the mob that arrived in Perryville and surrounded the bishop’s cabin. Only those against the bishop were allowed to take the trip. They threatened his life, held him at gunpoint, forced him out of his home, stole all his money, took all his books and personal possessions, and forced him across the river to Illinois. They even disrobed him to make sure he was not hiding any money.[7]

---

[1] Zion, p. 303. Missouri myth-makers claim that CFW did not sign the bishop’s elevation paper or that it was forged. However, both fig leaves drop off when the document is examined.

[2] Zion, p.392, footnote #5.

[3] Zion, p. 392.

[4] In Search of Religious Freedom, p. 179f.

[5] Ibid, p. 181.

[6] Ibid, p. 182.

[7] Servant of the Word, cane story.

I Am Not Angry - Just Disappointed

 I had this photo ready for the next post, but it is fitting for my bad link and description for Audio Gutenberg.

My first post of the day is often riddled with mistakes impossible to explain. I try to go over them before publishing it.

I jumped into Audio Gutenberg and managed to make the link go to a post about Trump. I also assumed all of Galatians was finished.

Travis Cartee responded on Facebook that I was 0 for 2 this morning on the first post.

Try this version of the post - if you have not already done so.

When Church Growth Deceptions Bear Corrupt Fruit

 "Point of order. The argument requires facts, substantiation, warrants for such bizarre conclusions. I've always heard is not enough to prove a point."

Some like to use the passive - I was taught - which is devilishly clever. To question that is to attack the speaker and the mysterious teacher or teachers who taught that way. Authoritarian sects love this approach, but eventually, all the cleverness ends up burying the denomination. You are watching them implode, like China, empires built on rubble.

Some like to say that their little corner of Christendom is not political, but the clergy of the smaller sects are more political than those in the larger denominations.

The errors of the past cannot be addressed in the Lutheran groups today, because that will offend the entire family tree or political network. In some cases, the two overlap completely. At the CLC college, the game is "How are we related." I would consult with a genetic specialist if the family tree is getting too vertical.

They cannot question the NIV because a few diabolical types got that version accepted, promoted, and sold in their synod. They jettisoned inerrancy and Justification by Faith when the NIV burst through the unguarded entrance. But perhaps, that was the point. How do they keep out the demonstrably superior - and faithful - King James Version, or any of its modern edits? - keep it from being mentioned. That way, an accurate and faithful Bible is never discussed and the apostates win by default. As the nursing journal suggested (Yale Medical School), give alternatives - Would you like your treatment before or after lunch? Would you rather have the ESV or NIV?

They cannot criticize the Church Growth Movement, because everyone would have to admit how much time and money has been spent paying homage to the West - Fuller Seminary in Pasadena - and Midwest - Willow Creek in Chicago. All the WELSians who claimed they never went to Fuller - Bivens, Valleskey, Olson, etc. - they went to Fuller. Lying is a way of saying, "Nobody can touch this topic."

Objective Justification has won in the apostate synods, from ELCA on down, because the Bible says, "All are justified." There it is in black and white. Romans 3. Every synod, every parish using the NIV is teaching Universalism.

Romans 3 - 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. [GJ - The Greek text does not say all are justified, but most of the clergy do not know enough Greek to say yes or no.]

The clergy clergy can say to the layman, 
"Do you know more than our distinguished faculty?" (Probably) 
"Do you dare to criticize Professor Featherwhistle?" (The Left Foot of Fellowship is being extended.)
"Do you read Ichabod? You do, I know you do?"

The Issue Is Bigger Than the KJV - "As the WELS Declines"

I like genuine detective stories. The fictional ones start with the author's solution already in print.

The modern Bible is the biggest detective story of all time - with many criminals working to achieve their goals over the centuries - to give us what we have today.

As the world turns, and "as the WELS declines," someone besides me should be interested in how it happened.

 "Don't call this hogwash. Call a Fuller DMin a career booster, porkers!"

The Boomer pastors spent their entire careers speeding the decline in every denomination they tainted, usually following the same Garasene method.

The King James Version was a familiar whipping boy. If they could only get rid of that, they could soar ahead. Since Boomers grew up in an era where every church seemed to need a new addition, or a new sister church, the children born after WWII (25% of the population) took the present as also the future. The Lutheran Church in America structure was modeled after General Motors. Was that really a good idea?

The issue was not doing but thinking. The European rationalists like Barth/Kirschbaum and Tillich (another adulterer) made theology a toy, a plaything fashioned from their vast study of philosophy. Many famous theology books today are based on one word, so perhaps prefixes are next. One professor reached Yale on the strength of his famous book, Agape. Tillich made his reputation as a man for his times with an idea he borrowed from his graduate student, The Courage To Be. The Yale Divinity theology student we met, with his first wife, is a Barth expert heading the Barth institute at Princeton. Instead of revolutions devouring their own, some reproduce their own. Notre Dame had a number of students writing their doctoral dissertations about a professor of theology working there at the time, John S. Dunne, a Holy Cross priest. Some of us would whisper, "Do you get what he is saying? I don't."

The Bible is not the unique revelation of God for these people. No one is an outright atheist, but almost everyone keeps miracles, the Incarnation, the Virgin Birth, and the Resurrection at arm's length in all discussions, essays, and books. My sainted friend was denied the chance to complete his doctoral dissertation on angels. As our Tillich-loving advisor said, "I won't even let you submit it."

I wrote before that a priest and a Christian Brother - doctoral students in theology at Notre Dame - were quite upset that a famous Catholic lecturer taught the mythology of the Old Testament (yay to that, they reported) but he said about the New Testament, "That is all true!" The students were furious, and one became a Catholic university president. Both completed their PhDs in theology. Not surprisingly, I made them angry too.

Making the KJV obsolete has been a by-product of the rationalizing denominations. At one time we could all repeat the same verses from the same Bible, and they were easily remembered or corrected when mis-stated. That is no longer true.

The text of the New Testament has been a toy, ever since 1881, when Wescott and Hort revealed their crimes against the Greek New Testament and proclaimed, "We now have the original text!" I will explain more about that later.

We can easily determine how strong the rationalizing has become, an extension of Calvinism in its decline. What is the solution to all problems? Answer - A program, a method. If something works in one place, the results can be reproduced elsewhere.

The so-called conservative Lutherans are backed by their Pietistic Calvinist heroes Walther and Pieper.

The ELCA radicals have the modern theologians to cite:

1. Barth
2. Bultmann
3. Tillich
4. Rahner.

This is a song from Princeton, I believe -

"Hark the herald angels sing,

Bultmann is the latest thing.

At least they would if he had not,

De-mythologized the lot."

Your Icha-peek for the Day: Churches Gone Wrong

 WELS has promoted Church Growth - and lied about it - since 1977. Ditto LCMS - they are a little more honest. "WELS is failing," a PhD at Martin Luther College has admitted. Is it too soon to ask Kelm, Jeske, and Company to apologize and hand over the loot they have, spoiling the Egyptians at Fuller?

Tal Bachman: Christians, Come Back

by Tal Bachman

The Bachman Beat

September 3, 2020

I remember when Christians used to actually believe in Christianity. Those were the days. (Some still do, but their numbers are shrinking.)

Back then, you could still visit an average (Protestant) church and hear a pastor actually teach real doctrine and share authentic insights. You could hear his thoughts on how to live an upright Christian life, or on why bad things might happen to good people, or how Christian marriages might be improved. And you could hear it all supported by actual Bible passages.

After the sermon, you could hear the congregation sing hymns affirming the importance of obedience, humility, faith, courage, or some other Christian virtue. They were something, the old hymns: bold, clear, impactful, sometimes even militant, like "Onward, Christian Soldiers" or "God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand", or particularly thoughtful, like "How Great Thou Art".

Things are different now. Wander into a typical Christian church these days, and, far from hearing a sermon challenging you to live an upright life, you're more likely to hear an unsuccessful attempt at a Jeff Foxworthy-style stand-up comedy routine, Hallmark-style stories of dubious veracity, and utterly vacuous "praise songs" which all sound like U2 album rejects from 1986. (They even feature the thumping eighth-note bass parts, echo-drenched guitar, and melodramatic vocal performances.)

Oh, and I forgot: At some point, you're also going to see the pastor dutifully hand the mic over to his overly-assertive, overly-eager, overly-made-up wife (presumably on pain of divorce, or possibly even death), who will then speak loudly and rapturously—all about herself—for the next half hour.

end of quote

***

GJ - I dare to say that if:

1. Congregations taught Biblical sermons (fresh, new, every Sunday, adhering to the text, Luther, and Lenski;)
2. Taught faith in Jesus as forgiveness and salvation;
3. Used the social media to publish sermons and Biblical studies, streaming video to broadcast worship;
4. Gave opportunities for special worship (Ascension) and Biblical studies...

They would be blessed with spiritual and membership growth, but only if the emphasis is on faithfulness rather than popularity, success, and Thrivent grants.

 WELS sold this book to foolish pastors. Cho had a very special cell when they caught him embezzling.

Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2020. The Good Samaritan. Luke 10:23-36

 Norma A. Boeckler

The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2020

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

https://video.ibm.com/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Daylight Time

The Hymn #605             The World Is Very Evil            

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual       

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn # 347                 Jesus Priceless Treasure

 The Samaritan Is Jesus

The Communion Hymn #292                   Lord Jesus Christ

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #660              I'm But a Stranger Here 

In Our Prayers

• Andrea's second birthday is today.
• In treatment: Christina Jackson, Randy Anderson, Mary Howell.
• Diagnostics: Pastor Jim Shrader.
•  

 Norma A. Boeckler

        

KJV Galatians 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

KJV Luke 10:23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: 24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Click here for Luther’s Sermons on the Good Samaritan

Thirteenth Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father, we most heartily thank Thee that Thou hast granted us to live in this accepted time, when we may hear Thy holy gospel, know Thy fatherly will, and behold Thy Son, Jesus Christ! We pray Thee, most merciful Father: Let the light of Thy holy word remain with us, and so govern our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may never forsake Thy word, but remain steadfast in it, and finally obtain eternal salvation; through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

 Norma A. Boeckler

Background for the Gospel Sermon - The Good Samaritan

This parable proves that people see without seeing and hear without hearing. No parable is so clear and no parable is so misunderstood and taught with gross errors. 

First error - this is taught as a do-gooder sermon, shaming everyone for not doing enough. The solution, of course, is to organize some people and carry out virtuous works. But that is not the point of the parable and completely misses the point.

Second error - the Social Gospel people always stressed activism through the government and making the world a better place. Rauschenbusch and all his followers say, "Is the point binding the wounds of the person left for dead - or - making the road to Jericho safe?" That is even worse, because the parable has nothing to do with social activism, though many today can only find that in each lesson. 

The parable teaches faith in Christ and shows His mercy and continued blessings on us after He has rescued us. He is the Good Samaritan.

The Samaritan Is Jesus

Luther:

25. This Samaritan of course is our Lord Jesus Christ himself, who has shown his love toward God and his neighbor. Toward God, in that he was obedient to him, came down from heaven and became man, and thus fulfilled the will of his Father; toward his neighbor, in that he immediately after his baptism began to preach, to do wonders, to heal the sick. And in short, he did no work that centered in himself alone, but all his acts centered in his neighbor. And this he did with all his powers, and thus he became our servant, who could have well remained in heaven and been equal to God, Philippians 2:6. But all this he did because he knew that this pleased God and was his Father’s will.

KJV Luke 10:23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: 24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

This teaching given to the disciples should always be in our minds. We are blessed simply to see the truth of the Scriptures and to hear the voice of the prophets and Jesus. Because there is only one Truth, taught to us in the Scriptures, no one can obtain wisdom apart from the revelation of the Scriptures. The Bible is so rich in spiritual treasures than we can never exhaust the supply, no matter how much we study and how long we live. At the same time, God speaks so clearly that the youngest child can hear and understand the Gospel. 

And yet, without faith, the very words of Scripture are all darkness. They see without seeing and hear without understanding. The lawyer is a good example of this at that time. We can experience it around us. For most, the Good Samaritan is a lesson from Jesus about serving others. It might even be an example to see how the religious do nothing but avoid the needy person while the Samaritan immediately helps and continues to tend to the man robbed and left for dead. Many sermons have been built around shaming people for not doing enough. How much is enough? Never enough! is the answer. 

Little do Protestant leaders know that they are borrowing from the Roman Catholics, making acts of love needed besides faith (fides formata, or faith formed by love) for forgiveness. This leads to a constant uncertainty and sense of guilt. Countless sermons have poured forth to leave Catholics and Protestants heavy with guilt. This example is choice, for guilt and for tickling the inner Pharisee - A school asked seminaries to preach a sermon on the Good Samaritan. Each one would be taped, so a schedule was set up. They posted an actor along the way as the victim, then told each seminarian that they needed to get there sooner. All the seminarians rushed by the victim so they could give a sermon on the Good Samaritan on time. Pause for the congregation to smile sheepishly or to be angry. "Would you have done the same?"

I would call this a deception, a pack of lies, to get the desired result. That is why so many seminaries do not teach faith at all - only good works. There is nothing left except good works, and this craving to fix everything has not only made things worse, but has also established schools that teach against faith and in favor of the worst radicalism. The good tree of faith has been chopped and with it, the fruits of faith.

The next level of distortion is to find an implied lesson that was never there. The Social Gospel people, 100 years ago, the first stage of the Woke people, the humorless reformers, asked, "Is this parable about binding the wounds of the afflicted? or making the roads safe?"

The answer was clearly - to get government to make the roads safe. Franklin D. Fry said this at a conference, so I asked him about the Social Gospel Movement. He was against that, he said. I said, "Funny. You quoted their favorite story."

Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

This is one of the great (modern) secrets of the Bible, hidden in plain sight - an emphasis on the faith belonging to Jesus. There are many examples of faith in Jesus, but the gems about the faith of Jesus have been altered in traslation and therefore covered over.  Two additional examples are in Romans 3 and Philippians.

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

This faith of Jesus is implied in all we say about the Savior and His human nature. The Scriptures emphasize - this is most clear in John - the will of God the Father and the willingness of Jesus to obey the Father, to follow the Father's schedule, to teach exactly the same as the Father. That expresses the faith of Jesus in walking steadfastly toward Jerusalem, where torture, death, and betrayal awaited Him. The faith of Jesus led Him to atone for our sins and rise from the dead. In other words, the faith of Jesus is the Gospel seed that gives us the righteousness of faith. Paul teaches Justification by Faith everywhere, just as Jesus did.

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

This part of the parable is definitely an example of emphasis - by contrasting salvation by works with the righteousness of faith. The lawyer was testing Jesus, which was and is a rabbinical tradition. This leads to a back and forth dialogue that informs everyone. The lawyer knows the summary of the Law, so Jesus said, "Do this (which is impossible by yourself) and you will live." The lawyer, trying to justify himself, (declare himself righteous) needs to know the limits of the definition - "my neighbor." The parable supplies the answer.

The Reprobate

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

In the first part of the parable, a man was going from Jerusalem to Jericho and encountered thieves. They took everything he had, leaving him naked and half-dead on the roadside. A priest went down the same way but passed over on the other side of the road to avoid him.

The priest saw a man in great need but valued his own needs more.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

The Levite was no different. He saw the suffering of the man and avoided him. It was the man's fault, not his. 

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

The Samaritan was a reprobate among Jews, beyond redemption. The relationship would be like comparisons between denominations - a certain affinity (Samaritan Five Books of Moses) but also a great difference. Jesus is teaching faith in this parable, and it could not be more obvious. That is the reason so many apply their filters and do not see this truth at all. 

Saying this parable is about faith in Jesus is like tossing firecrackers into a henhouse. Feathers will fly and wild fearfulness will be expressed in loud cackles. Jesus is the reprobate among the unbelievers. There are many excuses, many half-way steps. They would like the Jefferson Bible, where he removed anything about the divinity of Christ, because he was a rationalist. Or the main goal is material success, not faithfulness to the Word.

What are the details given? They in a very short parable for a reason.

Jesus has compassion on the frail, the weak in spirit, those tempted by unbelief during a terrible personal crisis. In fact, the gospel is only for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. The satisfied do not stop for a moment. This parable is for each and every one of us. We have all been pulled away from the truth at times. We have wavered during a crisis and wondered why we have been robbed of money and health, friends and associates. I would give a sermon on how we are all Selneckers. He wavered and Chemnitz brought him back. It was the crisis about truth that made him faithful to the Word, so much that he wrote about those struggles. Four hymns in The Lutheran Hymnal. 

"Lord Jesus Christ, With Us Abide"

by Nikolaus Selnecker, 1532-1592

Translated by composite

1. Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide,

For round us falls the eventide;

Nor let Thy Word, that heavenly light,

For us be ever veiled in night.

2. In these last days of sore distress

Grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness

That pure we keep, till life is spent,

Thy holy Word and Sacrament.

3. Lord Jesus, help, Thy Church uphold,

For we are sluggish, thoughtless, cold.

Oh, prosper well Thy Word of grace

And spread its truth in every place!

4. Oh, keep us in Thy Word, we pray;

The guile and rage of Satan stay!

Oh, may Thy mercy never cease!

Give concord, patience, courage, peace.

5. O God, how sin's dread works abound!

Throughout the earth no rest is found,

And falsehood's spirit wide has spread,

And error boldly rears its head.

6. The haughty spirits, Lord, restrain

Who o'er Thy Church with might would reign

And always set forth something new,

Devised to change Thy doctrine true.

7. And since the cause and glory, Lord,

Are Thine, not ours, to us afford

Thy help and strength and constancy.

With all our heart we trust in Thee.

8. A trusty weapon is Thy Word,

Thy Church's buckler, shield and sword.

Oh, let us in its power confide

That we may seek no other guide!

9. Oh, grant that in Thy holy Word

We here may live and die, dear Lord;

And when our journey endeth here,

Receive us into glory there.

The Lutheran Hymnal

Hymn #292

Text: Luke 24:29

Author: Nikolaus Selnecker et al., 1611

1. First Jesus had compassion on him. Jesus came to the man, not the man to Jesus. He had nothing to exchange for healing and forgiveness - naked and half-dead, 
2. He bandaged the wounds and poured on wine and oil. They can be seen as Law and Gospel. The sting of the Law, the healing nature of oil. This is how we are rescued by the Word. We remember or we are taught the Scriptures, the Law showing us what we really are - like a mirror. The Gospel shows us Christ atoning for all our sins.
3. Set him on His own beast, took him to an inn, cared for him. This is how the Savior set up the Christian Church (inn) where a person is cared for, needing the guidance of the Law and the forgiveness of the Gospel.
4. The innkeeper, local pastor is supported in his work. The innkeeper does not need to worry about the bill being ignored. The Savior will provide. As one person said, "I know He will provide. But will He provide until He provides." Missionaries can easily worry like that, because they are on a tightrope without a visible net. But there is an invisible net that protects and provides.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Some of my rationalist friends will say, How do you get Jesus into this? Jesus gave parables in public and explained them privately to the disciples. The parables preserved the truth but did not give everything away to the scoffers, the eavesdroppers, the dabblers.

Jesus was saying, "Go and be like Me. Have faith in Me and you will have compassion for your neighbor.

The Believer as Reprobate

There is no possible way to escape being treated as a reprobate when one is a sincere believer. Jesus was crucified as a reprobate, a sinner beyond all redemption. The Roman government hated and feared Him. The religious leaders hated and feared Him. Popularity turned into hatred and jeering. 

All those who followed Him during the Passion and after the Resurrection were reprobates as well. I think of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. The last thing they needed to do was identify with Christ the criminal. But they did, in faith.

One funny episode was a famous Lutheran professor writing a letter of appreciation to me, from his seminary. I responded using that address. He wrote back saying, "Use my home address from now on." I felt like I was poison - even my return address on an envelope was dangerous - but it was a compliment... in a way.

Superficially, we resent the pain of the cross, being reprobates in the eyes of so many. But the slivers of the cross, especially when they are painful and enduring, are better than the medals worn on so many. Those are reprobate medals, and they remind us how much Jesus accomplished so we might bear the cross daily.