Sunday, January 31, 2021

Without the Pen of the Author of Common Sense (Paine)...


“Without the pen of the author of Common Sense, the sword of Washington would have been raised in vain.”
-John Adams


December 23, 1776

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER" and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.


"General George Washington and the Continental Army's famously crossed the Delaware River on December 25-26, 1776."

Septuagesima Sunday, 2021. Workers in the Vineyard


Septuagesima Sunday, 2021

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson




The Hymn #413        I Walk in Danger                                 
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
Hymn # 479        Zion Rise                     

Workers in the Vineyard

The Hymn # 652          I Lay My Sins on Jesus                              
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 # 199            Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

Prayers and Announcements
  • In treatment, Christina Jackson (doing well), Rush Limbaugh, Mary Howell.
  • Our country, our actual President, our military justice system.
  • Those who spread the Gospel by Word, by art, by voice, by service.


Hans Brorson - "I Walk in Danger." He was a Danish Pietist known for this hymn and often associated with Thomas Kingo and Nicholai Grundtvig. He wrote the ethereal "Behold a Host Arrayed in White" and "Thy Little Ones, Dear Lord, Are We." Over 100 of his hymns are in the Danish hymnal.


1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.  25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.  26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;  2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;  4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.  5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

KJV Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Septuagesima Sunday

Lord God, heavenly Father, who through Thy holy word hast called us into Thy vineyard: Send, we beseech Thee, Thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, that we may labor faithfully in Thy vineyard, shun sin and all offense, obediently keep Thy word and do Thy will, and put our whole and only trust in Thy grace, which Thou hast bestowed upon us so plenteously through Thy Son Jesus Christ, that we may obtain eternal salvation through Him, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Workers in the Vineyard

KJV Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder [Lenski - Christ manages the Church], which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

The first thing we notice about a parable is the introduction. Sometimes, the word parable is used. At other times, this introduction compares the Kingdom of God to certain actions or observations. Parables are quite short, and the shorter a literary device is, the more difficult it is to make it convey some meaning. The parables are so short that one is simply one sentence - The Kingdom of God is like leaven...Matthew 13.

The parables are examples of genius in communication, because each one is so full of meaning that it can be an entire sermon. Of course, there is also room for mischief. The Medieval analogy used is mocked by Jesus because the Church identified the first laborer as Adam. The penny was eternal life. So, was Adam dissatisfied with his penny, eternal life? Unfortunately, many such efforts started with an error and became the model for more of the same.

My liberal New Testament professor at seminary taught that no one understood the parables, though he wrote a book on them, an effort promptly forgotten. It was said about him and our college professor both, that they were obvious skeptics but loved to sing the hymns and hardly missed a Sunday.

The parables are short stories, given to us as great memory devices, because they connect the lesson with an easy-to-remember image or short story. They have special power because they are directly from Jesus. All those who would like to spend an hour with Jesus (a common question - "Who would you pick to have a conversation with, for just one hour?") can do so by reading His parables. Or His sermons in the Gospel of John. In other words, they do not take up much time, but they offer a wealth of insights. The Word is always connected to the divine power of the Holy Spirit, so that hour is never a waste of time.

This parable is clearly about God and whether we see the reward as earned - or due to His grace alone. We can see it as parallel to Paul, who worked harder than anyone as a Pharisee, observing all the rules and going out of his way to persecute Christians, only to discover righteousness came from faith and the grace of God. The Word, that is the risen Christ, converted him, and that was not an experience he could set aside. It changed his "good works" into a pile of dung compared to the excellency of knowing Christ and His mercy.

This parable can also be seen as establishment Christianity always begrudging their great past and thinking the reward is theirs alone because they were there in the beginning, according to their calendars.

2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

This is especially vivid for people who live in border cities like Phoenix. Next to the hardware store the day-laborers wait for someone to hire them. When a city grows more wealthy, the expectations grow for working in the hot, desert sun.

4. Hence the substance of the parable in today’s Gospel consists not in the penny, what it is, nor in the different hours; but in earning and acquiring, or how one can earn the penny; that as here the first presumed to obtain the penny and even more by their own merit, and yet the last received the same amount because of the goodness of the householder. Thus God will show it is nothing but mercy that he gives and no one is to arrogate to himself more than another. Therefore he says I do thee no wrong, is not the money mine and not thine; if I had given away thy property, then thou wouldest have reason to murmur; is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own ? 

People are forever comparing their situation to another's, so this is not simply about clergy and their work. Or laity and their work, whether in the church itself or in everyday life. One situation has just as many pitfalls and problems as any other, but it is easy to imagine a life of ease and comfort, or glamor and excitement. 

We often discuss this in Old Testament class, because I emphasize the Gospel in the Old Testament and cite examples from the New Testament. King David was unusually gifted in leadership, military action, and writing. He was not content with the glory he enjoyed but destroyed another's marriage and arranged a death to cover it up. And yet, from his example God made a perfect spokesman for contrition and forgiveness, for teaching God's grace and our position in His Kingdom. 

5. Now in this way Christ strikes a blow first against the presumption (as he also does in today’s Epistle) of those who would storm their way into heaven by their good works; as the Jews did and wished to be next to God; as hitherto our own clergy have also done. These all labor for definite wages, that is, they take the law of God in no other sense than that they should fulfill it by certain defined works for a specified reward, and they never understand it correctly, and know not that before God all is pure grace. This signifies that they hire themselves out for wages, and agree with the householder for a penny a day; consequently their lives are bitter and they lead a career that is indeed hard.

3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

"Zion rise" includes this as a verse.

We can see where this is leading, and it is so easy to look at this as our work, our benefit which we earned.

The first-hired, the patriarchs or founders or pillars - they will receive more than the rest, either a bonus for them or less for the late-comers. One bishop said about charter members, "They are pillars of the church. They hold up the congregation, in more ways than one." In many cases they watch out for anyone who seems to threaten their authority. Synod practice the same scheme. A grandson has special benefits, even if he is the grandson of a carpet-bagger. 

5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.

So here we see great opportunity for cashing in on ancient claims. "Whatever is right" has great promise for those already sweating and swatting pests in the vineyards. "If they get a penny, we get a penny per hour. If we get only a penny, they get fractions."

The penny or denarius was the pay of a Roman soldier for a whole day, so it was not a tiny amount. The issue is who deserves what at the end of the day and what do the longest workers receive.

8 So when even was come, the Lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

We still use that expression - "eleventh hour." Some came and worked one hour and got a day's wages! Paying last first only increased expectations and frustrations, but it would have been the same otherwise. This payment scheme certainly strikes at our own experiences. When those with the lowest wage got a two-year raise, the established workers asked, "What about us? We were there years ago, working at that wage! Unfair!"

10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman [GJ - house despot or steward] of the house, 12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

I still hear that language today. "Do you realize he is a ____? It was a ____ who helped found the synod!" This is said with a special, awed tone, as if the glories of the past have cast a permanent halo around all the descendants. One family has their own private printing firm - what better way to manage their history and win future elections? 

In many cases, a very destructive leader, is protected because he is a son or grandson of the pillar. They said about one, adding more nonsense to his protected status, "Can't we afford one of him in our beloved Church?" His advocacy became the norm and the traditionalists were paid to leave - and they did.

Luther calls it "storming the gates of heaven to get in through their works." The answer to this is Romans 3:23 - all have sinned equally, those who are forgiven and saved are justified by faith equally. The dying beggar at the gate who has faith in Christ is carried to Abraham's bosom while the unrepentant adulterer, and his flatterers, with all their money and frozen food, are cast down because they relied on their glorious works, which are now a burden to the recipients.

Free buildings cost money now but far more in the future. They are sterile in regards to the Christian Faith and become eyesores when the proposed need evaporates. In one case, a building at Fuller Seminary had to have its name chiseled off because the honored person was such a criminal predator. My favorite moment came when this Amazon of Evangelism had to cancel their own building plans because they were shrinking rather than growing. God takes His time for the payback, and the compound interest owed is a terrible burden and disgrace.

13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

This parable speaks to each one of us, because we are inclined to feel our losses and overlook our blessings. The last three verses are a message to each one of us. God is good, merciful, always eager to help us in ways that benefit us in the long run. An entire series of bad events can lead to what is good for us, so we must trust in His wisdom and bless the moment rather than chase the daydream.

Bad experiences seem to last forever - such as enduring a horrible job. And good experiences seem to be too short. But that means we should ignore the bad times and relish the blessed times. Often bad becomes good because we had a chance to help, to comfort, to strengthen, or in many cases - to observe and listen to a true saint. A saint is not a perfect person but a wise person. A wise believer is the source of courage, faith, hope, and laughter. 

Sometime people mourn that they caught onto the truth late in life. They were found idling at the eleventh hour. They are in this parable too. The Gospel found them. Idling does not find anything. They were called by the Spirit in the Gospel, however it came. I opened a book that included a chapter by a pastor I knew, a missionary, LCA now ELCA. His message on inerrancy had more meaning than anything by a great scholar and academic. The pastor who left the ministry had so many books that they filled the fellowship hall, and this one jumped out at me. A coincidence upon a coincidence (a member was the janitor at that church) upon a coincidence (the only missionary I knew in the LCA was related to my father's best friend, and we knew his son) upon a coincidence - Augustana College, etc.



Luther's Sermon for Septuagesima Sunday

Norma Boeckler



SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.
     

TEXT:

Matthew 20:1-16. For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle; and to them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard. And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling. And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling. And when they received it, they murmured against the householder saying, These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling? Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last.



1. Some church fathers applied this Gospel to all the preachers from the beginning to the end of the world, and taught the first hour was the time of Adam, the third that of Noah, the sixth that of Abraham, the ninth that of Moses, and the eleventh hour that of Christ and his apostles. Such talk is all right for pastime, if there is nothing else to preach. For it does not harmonize with Scripture to say that the shilling signifies eternal life, with which the first, or Adam and the holy patriarchs, were dissatisfied, and that such holy characters should murmur in the kingdom of heaven, and be rebuked by the householder and made the last, that is, be condemned.

2. Therefore we will let such fables pass and abide by the simple teaching and meaning of Christ, who wishes to show by this parable how it actually is in the kingdom of heaven, or in Christendom upon the earth; that God here directs and works wonderfully by making the first last and the last first. And all is spoken to humble those who are great that they should trust in nothing but the goodness and mercy of God. And on the other hand that those who are nothing should not despair, but trust in the goodness of God just as the others do.

3. Therefore we must not consider this parable in every detail, but confine ourselves to the leading thought, that which Christ designs to teach by it.

We should not consider what the penny or shilling means, not what the first or the last hour signifies; but what the householder had in mind and what he aims to teach, how he desires to have his goodness esteemed higher than all human works and merit, yea, that his mercy alone must have all the praise. Like in the parable of the unrighteous steward, Luke 16:5f., the whole parable in its details is not held before our eyes, that we should also defraud our Lord; but it sets forth the wisdom of the steward in that he provided so well and wisely for himself and planned in the very best way, although at the injury of his Lord. Now whoever would investigate and preach long on that parable about the doctors, what the book of accounts, the oil, the wheat and the measure signify, would miss the true meaning and be led by his own ideas which would never be of any benefit to anyone.

For such parables are never spoken for the purpose of being interpreted in all their minutia. For Paul compared Christ to Adam in Romans 5:18, and says, Adam was a figure of Christ; this Paul did because we inherited from Adam sin and death, and from Christ life and righteousness. But the lesson of the parable does not consist in the inheritance, but in the consequence of the inheritance. That just like sin and death cling to those who are born of Adam and descend by heredity, so do life and righteousness cling to those who are born of Christ, they are inherited. Just as one might take an unchaste woman who adorns herself to please the world and commit sin, as a figure of a Christian soul that adorns itself also to please God, but not to commit sin as the woman does.

4. Hence the substance of the parable in today’s Gospel consists not in the penny, what it is, nor in the different hours; but in earning and acquiring, or how one can earn the penny; that as here the first presumed to obtain the penny and even more by their own merit, and yet the last received the same amount because of the goodness of the householder. Thus God will show it is nothing but mercy that he gives and no one is to arrogate to himself more than another. Therefore he says I do thee no wrong, is not the money mine and not thine; if I had given away thy property, then thou wouldest have reason to murmur; is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own ?

5. Now in this way Christ strikes a blow first against the presumption (as he also does in today’s Epistle) of those who would storm their way into heaven by their good works; as the Jews did and wished to be next to God; as hitherto our own clergy have also done. These all labor for definite wages, that is, they take the law of God in no other sense than that they should fulfill it by certain defined works for a specified reward, and they never understand it correctly, and know not that before God all is pure grace. This signifies that they hire themselves out for wages, and agree with the householder for a penny a day; consequently their lives are bitter and they lead a career that is indeed hard.

6. Now when the Gospel comes and makes all alike, as Paul teaches in Romans 3:23, so that they who have done great works are no more than public sinners, and must also become sinners and tolerate the saying: “All have sinned”, Romans 3:23, and that no one is justified before God by his works; then they look around and despise those who have done nothing at all, while their great worry and labor avail no more than such idleness and reckless living. Then they murmur against the householder, they imagine it is not right; they blaspheme the Gospel, and become hardened in their ways; then they lose the favor and grace of God, and are obliged to take their temporal reward and trot from him with their penny and be condemned; for they served not for the sake of mercy but for the sake of reward, and they will receive that and nothing more, the others however must confess that they have merited neither the penny nor the grace, but more is given to them than they had ever thought was promised to them. These remained in grace and besides were saved, and besides this, here in time they had enough; for all depended upon the good pleasure of the householder.

7. Therefore if one were to interpret it critically, the penny would have to signify temporal good, and the favor of the householder, eternal life. But the day and the heat we transfer from temporal things to the conscience, so that workrighteous persons do labor long and hard, that is, they do all with a heavy conscience and an unwilling heart, forced and coerced by the law; but the short time or last hours are the light consciences that live blessed lives, led by grace, and that willingly and without being driven by the law.

8. Thus they have now each a penny, that is, a temporal reward is given to both. But the last did not seek it, it was added to them because they sought first the kingdom of heaven, Matthew 6:33, and consequently they have the grace to everlasting life and are happy. The first however seek the temporal reward, bargain for it and serve for it; and hence they fail to secure grace and by means of a hard life they merit perdition. For the last do not think of earning the penny, nor do they thus blunder, but they receive all. When the first saw this, by a miscalculation they thought they would receive more, and lost all. Therefore we clearly see, if we look into their hearts, that the last had no regard for their own merit, but enjoyed the goodness of the householder. The first however did not esteem the goodness of the householder, but looked to their own merits, and thought it was their’s by right and murmured about it.

9. We must now look at these two words “last” and “first,” from two view points. Let us see what they mean before God, then what they mean before men. Thus, those who are the first in the eyes of man, that is, those who consider themselves, or let themselves be considered, as the nearest to or the first before God, they are just the opposite before God, they are the last in his eyes and the farthest from him. On the other hand those who are the last in the eyes of man, those who consider themselves, or let themselves be considered, the farthest from God and the last before him, they also are just the opposite, in that they are the nearest and the first before God. Now whoever desires to be secure, let him conduct himself according to the saying: “Whosoever exalteth himself, shall be humbled.” For it is here written: The first before men are the last before God; the last in the eyes of men are first in the eye of God. On the other hand, the first before God are the last before men; and those God esteems as the last are considered by men to be the first.

10. But since this Gospel does not speak of first and last in a common, ordinary sense, as the exalted of the world are nothing before God, like heathen who know nothing of God; but it means those who imagine they are the first or the last in the eyes of God, the words ascend very high and apply to the better classes of people; yea, they terrify the greatest of the saints. Therefore it holds up Christ before the apostles themselves. For here it happens that one who in the eyes of the world is truly poor, weak, despised, yea, who indeed suffers for God’s sake, in whom there is no sign that he is anything, and yet in his heart he is so discouraged and bashful as to think he is the last, is secretly full of his own pleasure and delight, so that he thinks he is the first before God, and just because of that he is the last. On the contrary should one indeed be so discouraged and bashful as to think he is the last before God, although he at the time has money, honor and property in the eyes of the world, he is just because of this the first.

11. One sees here also how the greatest saints have feared, how many also have fallen from high spiritual callings. David complains in <19D102> Psalm 131:2: “Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother.” Likewise in another place, Psalm 36:11: “Let not the foot of pride come against me”. How often he chastises the impudent, and haughty, <19B921> Psalm 119:21. So Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7 says: “That I should not be exalted overmuch there was given to me a thorn in the flesh,” etc. And as we have heard in today’s Epistle what honorable men have fallen. To all of whom without doubt the sad secret ill-turn came because they became secure, and thought, we are now near to God, there is no need. we know God, we have done this and that; they did not see how they made themselves the first before God. Behold, how Saul fell!

How God permitted David to fall! How Peter had to fall! How some disciples of Paul fell !

12. Therefore it is indeed necessary to preach this Gospel in our times to those who now know the Gospel as myself and those like me, who imagine they can teach and govern the whole world, and therefore imagine they are the nearest to God and have devoured the Holy Spirit, bones and feathers.

For why is it that so many sects have already gone forth, this one making a hobby of one thing in the Gospel and that one of another? No doubt, because none of them considered that the saying, “the first are last,” meant and concerned them; or if applied to them, they were secure and without fear, considering themselves as the first. Therefore according to this saying, it must come to pass that they be the last, and hence rush ahead and spread shameful doctrines and blasphemies against God and his Word.

13. Was not this the fate of the pope when he and his followers imagined they were the vice-regents and representatives of and the nearest to God, and persuaded the world to believe it? In that very act they were the vicegerents of Satan and the farthest from God, so that no mortals under the sun ever raged and foamed against God and his Word like they have done.

And yet they did not see the horrible deceiver, because they were secure and feared not this keen, sharp, high and excellent judgment, “The first shall be the last.” For it strikes into the lowest depths of the heart, the real spiritual darkness, that considers itself as the first even in the midst of poverty, dishonor and misfortune, yea, most of all then.

14. Hence the substance of this Gospel is that no mortal is so high, nor will ever ascend so high, who will not have occasion to fear that he may become the very lowest. On the other hand, no mortal lies so low or can fall so low, to whom the hope is not extended that he may become the highest; because here all human merit is abolished and God’s goodness alone is praised, and it is decreed as on a festive occasion that the first shall be last and the last first. In that he says, “the first shall be last” he strips thee of all thy presumption and forbids thee to exalt thyself above the lowest outcast, even if thou wert like Abraham, David, Peter or Paul.

However, in that he also says, “the last shall be first,” he checks thee against all doubting, and forbids thee to humble thyself below any saint, even if thou wert Pilate, Herod, Sodom and Gomorrah.

15. For just as we have no reason to be presumptuous, so we have also no cause to doubt; but the golden mean is confirmed and fortified by this Gospel, so that we regard not the penny but the goodness of the householder, which is alike and the same to high and low, to the first and the last, to saints and sinners, and no one can boast nor comfort himself nor presume more than another; for he is God not only of the Jews, but also of the Gentiles, yea, especially of all, and it matters not who they are or what they are called.

Saturday, January 30, 2021

New ELS President

Bethany Seminary Students

We in the ELS received some shocking news this morning. This is the email that was sent to us by our new synodical president Glenn Obenberger (until yesterday our vice-president):
Dear Brothers in Christ,
We just received the shockingly sad news that President John Moldstad’s soul was lovingly taken home to heaven by his Savior God. He apparently died of a heart attack yesterday and was found by Joslyn, when she arrived home from teaching at Peace Lutheran’s Preschool. Please pray for Joslyn and their family that they may find comfort and peace in the Word of Resurrection and Life, which John so faithfully and joyfully declared as a beloved father, grandfather, pastor and president of our Evangelical Lutheran Synod. We would request that you also lead your congregations this coming Sunday in such prayers for the Moldstad family.
We will inform you of the arrangements for services as soon as they have been set.
Lord Jesus Christ, great Shepherd of Your flock, it has pleased You to call John, a faithful under-shepherd to Your people, into Your gracious presence. We thank and praise You for all the blessings and mercy You bestowed on Your departed servant and upon us through his service to us. We praise You for having kept him faithful in the face of trials and difficulties, for having given success to Your Word which he rejoiced to proclaim, for having built Your temple in the hearts of many through his ministry, and for having given him a blessed death and reception into the kingdom of Your glory in heaven. Comfort and strengthen all who mourn his departure. Grant Your grace that in the midst of sorrow we all may retain a lively hope. Direct our thoughts heavenward that we may ever seek the one thing needful, the grace and knowledge of You our only Savior, while we await our joyful reunion in heaven, where You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit one God, now and forever. Amen. (Based on prayers in the Lutheran Service, CPH, pp. 645-46)
Dear brothers, our beloved brother, John, will rise again for Jesus’ sake.
In His saving name,
Glenn Obenberger

Rainstorm Following Three Inch Deluge


We recently had a three-inch deluge which left the backyard a lake overnight. The squirrels and birds fought over stale crackers yesterday - a real war. They must have known about the next storm, which built up slowly today. Sassy and I walked in the early morning, with hardly any rain.

Next, she definitely wanted to go along on the trip to the post office. Any suggestion of a trip always energizes her. If it ends with some food, that is even better. The rainstorm grew gradually as we headed to the post office and Mcdonalds.

It is fun to distribute books. Recently the Lutheran Librarian sent 8 Bibles to us for distribution. They were given away locally and by mail. Next, PFC gave me a large, heavy box full of Christian books, including a $100 Bible, and they began to be shared.

When I was reading magazines on collecting books, an author wrote, "Breaking up a collection is good, because rare titles are given a new audience." 

I think of Biblical books and Bibles as only potentially good if they are stored, but powerful when read and enjoyed by another population.

Friday, January 29, 2021

Reviews - Calvin Ruined the Protestant Faith

Calvin Ruined the Protestant Faith

From the United States


Gregory L Jackson PhD is a confessional Lutheran theologian, pastor, and teacher. He received a STM degree in Biblical studies from Yale in 1973 and he earned a Master's degree and a PhD in theology at the University of Notre Dame in 1982.

In this book, Dr. Jackson shows how the false doctrines found in the teachings of John Calvin have led to the apostasy we see today in Reformed Protestant denominations and in Lutheran Church bodies which have inculcated Calvinistic ideas.

The Reformation began in 1517 with Martin Luther. It was based on acceptance of the Scriptures as the plainly revealed Word of God, and in the power of the Holy Spirit acting through the Word of God, both the written Word in the Bible and the physical Word in the Sacraments.

In his book, Dr. Jackson showed how the writings of Heinrich Zwingli and John Calvin, contemporaries of Luther and the fathers of Reformed Protestant theology, disagreed with Luther's faith in the Scriptures. Zwingli and Calvin pretended to agree with Luther, but instead came up with another way to view the Scriptures, which can be summarized as 'rationalism'.

To illustrate how rationalism affects one's understanding of the Bible, Dr. Jackson included a reference from Siegbert Becker's book “The Foolishness of God” regarding the methods man can use to study the Bible:

Ministerial reason – use one's intellect to understand God's Word
Magisterial reason – use one's intellect to judge God's Word

Zwingli and Calvin taught from the perspective of magisterial reason that man is the ultimate judge on all passages in the Bible. The result is that people feel they can select a few verses, or even a part of a verse, to establish dogma outside the context of the Scriptures as a whole. This explains why Reformed Protestantism has split into hundreds of factions. Zwingli and Calvin also taught that the Holy Spirit doesn't come to man through the Sacraments bringing grace through faith. Instead, people are predestined either for salvation or damnation.

Luther taught from the perspective of ministerial reason. He accepted what is written in the Scriptures and he maintained a consistent advocacy for the plain meaning of the Bible as the judge of all books. He taught that the Holy Spirit works through the Word of God, as recorded in the Bible. People are saved through the work of the Holy Spirit by God's grace, through faith.

Dr. Jackson showed how the corrosive effects of Calvin's rationalistic doctrine were manifested in the teachings of Philipp Spener in the 17th century, Halle University in the 18th century, Friedrich Schleiermacher in the 19th century, right through Paul Tillich and Karl Barth in the 20th century. And how their ideas resulted in the great falling away from faith, which we see today in the Protestant denominations.

Dr. Jackson provided a “List of Books for Additional Study” for one to use to learn more about the errors of Zwingli and Calvin.

At the end of his book, Dr. Jackson offered a “Simple Program to Expel Calvinism from the Protestant Faith”.

Dr. Jackson discusses the problems of present day Christian denominations on his internet blog. Google ichabodthegloryhasdeparted for the URL. He conducts a weekly traditional Lutheran worship service via the internet, the blog has a link to the broadcast site which also has archived broadcasts.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2019
This book ties together a brief survey of how the unclear thinking of Calvinism has infected Protestant churches, particularly weak Lutherans. Without an anchor in God's Word, modern churches chase every whim, delivering despair from self-assurance instead of delivering Christ's promises through the Means of Grace.

The book is beautifully illustrated by Norma Boeckler.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2019
The effects of Calvinist human teaching against the Holy Scriptures have effected numerous congregations and spread as deadly poison. A must read type of book to understand the effects the corruption of false doctrine has throughout the world.
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