Wrong Diagnosis, Bad Practices, Expected Results

The LutherQueasies and the ALPB Online Forum Hot Air Merchants repeat the same verities as their managers. I like to torment both groups because they add another five or six views per day. They may complain about a current Ichabod post to their families, so that is good for a few more page views. It's all about the numbers.

At this point they have about 50 years with Fuller Seminary, Willow Creek, and the late Crystal Cathedral. They use the hot words that move people to act on foolishness, so they can be synod stooges honored at the next banquet, meeting, or parish closing.

"Testing the spirits" has never been their strong suit. 

1 John 4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try [test] the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

Lettuce use a gardening example. (That's the horticultural subjunctive). For a healthy plant or seed, growth will come from sunshine, rainwater, and the nutrition of the soil, aided by soil fungi.

These components are already provided and engineered by the Creator. 

1. Note the living Seed of the Word, the seed sown, the seed that falls into the ground - all have the energy of life which only God can create.
2. Consider the rain and snow-melt - both considerably superior to chlorinated tap water. Rain and snow-melt are blessed with usable forms of nitrogen which do not burn or harm plant life. They lack chlorine bleach, which holds back plant life and seed germination.
3. The energy of the sun makes it possible for a seed to germinate, form different kinds of cells, and grow into an infinite variety of plants. The engineering makes it clear that there is a vast number of growth settings - soil, moisture, temperature, shade versus sunshine. 
4. Finally, and most mysterious (but right in front of us) - all the living elements of Creation work together to help the others grow strong, grow healthier, and recover from catastrophes. Fire and flood create new growth to make a rebirth possible.

As the Minnesota farmer told me, "Irrigation will keep a crop alive, but only rain can make it grow."

Fuller and other felonious fakes were ideal for city-slickers, who do not comprehend what the farmer concluded in one sentence. Now congregations and their bullying overlords are drowning in chlorinated tap water while being denied the Word of God, which has Three Promises.

A. The Word will never return to God empty - which means, the Word is never lacking in effect. Get that - DMins or Demons of Dogmatic Demagoguery?

B. The Word will always accomplish God's purpose (not man's). This is rather simple but absolutely lost on the entire Church Growth Industry.

C. The Word will always prosper God's will. So not only does God work through the Word alone, but also so powerfully that no one can doubt it.

 WELS, LCMS, ELS, and ELCA pastors spend $30,000 or more to forget this passage. One ELS pastor was totally smitten and joined ELCA. He had been on the ELS doctrinal committee, examining future pastors! 

 

 Judging and ignoring the Isaiah passage means certain failure on all fronts. 

"We did everything we could, and spent all your money, but your parish died anyway." The Church Doctor - he does post-mortem for reduced prices. Whadda-guy!