Lutheran Layman Tom Fischer Has a Good Statement about Modernist Bibles and Credal Ineptitude

Dear Pastor Jackson,

Foods That Heal, Dr Bernard Jensen, ISBN 0-89529-405-2 excellent guide to balance 60% vegetables, 20% fruits, 10% protein pg 47

Superimpose the corrupt Bibles (NIV, ESV, NKJV, etc) on the Creeds to see the resulting "Creeds of false doctrine". Superimpose the King James Bible, Luther's Bible, Textus Receptus on the creeds to see the creeds of TRUE doctrine: (The Red Hymnal).

Thank you Pastor Jackson!

Tom Fisher

New Masthead Quotations - Luther's Sermons - Suggested by a Layman Hidden in a Secure Unmarked Location

 The Planet of the Apes - Our Future

A regular reader of this blog has always had good suggestions. One was to pursue the evils of Objective (Faithless) Justification when I was really tired of illiterate pastors beating their gums on the topic.

His latest idea was to have regular quotes from Luther or the Bible at the top, called the masthead. That term was borrowed from those days when Moby Dick was read by journalists who knew how to spell and use good grammar. More importantly, they recognized Herman Melville's prolific Biblical references. 

Those who know little more than Gilligan's Island want to call the masthead the "crow's nest." 

Melville wrote that the pulpit led the world:

"What could be more full of meaning?- for the pulpit is ever this earth’s foremost part; all the rest comes in its rear; the pulpit leads the world. From thence it is the storm of God’s quick wrath is first descried, and the bow must bear the earliest brunt. From thence it is the God of breezes fair or foul is first invoked for favorable winds. Yes, the world’s a ship on its passage out, and not a voyage complete; and the pulpit is its prow." 

The Mast-Head - Chapter 35 - Moby Dick

"In most American whalemen the mast-heads are manned almost simultaneously with the vessel’s leaving her port; even though she may have fifteen thousand miles, and more, to sail ere reaching her proper cruising ground. And if, after a three, four, or five years’ voyage she is drawing nigh home with anything empty in her- say, an empty vial even- then, her mast-heads are kept manned to the last! and not till her skysail-poles sail in among the spires of the port, does she altogether relinquish the hope of capturing one whale more."

The recent dust-up in the Missouri Synod is a clear picture of apostasy. First they released a Concordia Publishing House book dishonestly labeled Luther's Large Catechism, where 70 scribblers with dubious agendas gave Luther 15% of the book while they jabbered like baboons waiting for their meals, using 85% of the remaining space. That alone is publishing malpractice of the lowest variety.

CPH has already reached the level of the Talmud, two pages above shown as examples. They have 70 authors displacing and overshadowing Luther and spreading their tail-feathers like peacocks. They even have the Ovaltines at the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau's Online Forum adding additional Talmudic commentary to this book, which I own simply for the sake of grieving.

 Luther wrote:

The peacock is an image of heretics and fanatical spirits. For on the order of the peacock they, too, show themselves   and strut about in their gifts, which never are   outstanding.  But if they could see their feet, that is the   foundation of their doctrine, they would be stricken with terror, lower their crests, and humble themselves.  To be sure, they, too, suffer from jealousy, because they cannot bear honest and true teachers.  They want to be the whole show and want to put up with no one next to them.  And they   are immeasurably envious, as peacocks are.  Finally, they have a raucous and unpleasant voice, that is, their  doctrine is bitter and sad for afflicted and godly minds;   for it casts consciences down more than it lifts them up and strengthens them. 33  What Luther Says, II,  p. 642 (W-T 2, No. 2152; SL 22,

1842).

The entire essay was given in 1992 at a WELS pastoral conference and conveniently reprinted in an Ichabod post later.

Mid-Week Lenten Service 2023

Vimeo Link to the Mid-Week Service

Bethany Lutheran Church

Mid-Week Lenten Service, 7 PM Central

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

 

 

The Hymn # 166         Savior When in Dust To Thee
The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41

The Psalmody              Psalm 14                         p. 124    
The Lection                            The Passion History

The Sermon Hymn # 657            Beautiful Savior                        

The Sermon –  Access to Grace

 
The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for Grace                                            p. 45

The Hymn #551                 Sun of My Soul

Access to God's Grace

KJV Romans 

4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all...

The common claim is often heard - "faith must be absent with forgiveness, or it would be man's work, to have faith." People do get nervous and uncertain, because this foolish warning is the opposite of Paul's teaching through the Holy Spirit. And it is also taught throughout the Bible. Paul clearly teaches that works do not give us access to God's grace - faith does. Paul taught and Jesus emphasized that the Gospel does not come to the Jews alone but to the Gentiles as well. 

4:20 Abraham staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

The Scriptures do not give us philosophical terms but actual vivid examples where the teaching is directly related to human behavior. Abraham and Sarah seemed to be without a son, but God promised them a son when both were far too old to have one. Abraham trusted that God will give them both what they longed for in a son. But God promised them more than a son - the Promise inclined the line that led to Jesus as the Messiah.

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Abraham believed in God's astonishing Promise. They hoped for a son, but were promised a kingdom - and way beyond human concepts of a kingdom. We are worshiping all over the world because God blessed the faith of Abraham and counted that as righteousness, forgiveness.

22 And therefore it was imputed (GJ - counted) to him for righteousness.

Instead of saying, "We cannot have a son," Abraham and Sarah took the Promise to heart, fulfilling their dream of a son and the glorious hope of the future Savior, which was counted - imputed - as forgiveness.

23 Now it was not written for his [Abraham's] sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

God determined that the Gospel Word would plant the seed of faith in all who heard and believed. God promised and Abraham believed that Promise.

4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed , if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

The vast majority - including the apostate Lutherans - make a muddle, mess, and madhouse out of their peculiar distortions, making the simple Gospel of forgiveness of sin into a philosophical tangle of opinions and cute phrases.

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

The Gospel message is that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead (1 Timothy 3:16) to show the world He was without sin. The resurrection remains the core of all Christian Faith.

5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Therefore is a word used to conclude  what is taught just before in Romans 4,  a chapter which itself is very clear. All of Romans 4 is wrapped up in Romans 5:1-2. Sin causes turmoil and sorrow when we are unrepentant. Peace is the result of faith and forgiveness.

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Access is a wonderful, clear word. I want to see my eye doctor. "Make an appointment and you will have access to him on Tuesday at 9 AM." 

Here is a sign at the rare books section - No Access! That is easy to understand. A single book can be worth $160,000. I wanted to see it. "It is locked up, at home. You don't have access."

Grace, forgiveness of sin, and eternal life are associated directly with faith in Jesus Christ. Sadly, the LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC synods are united with ELCA in promoting universal forgiveness without faith. The LCMS-WELS-ELS sects were "delighted" to discover they taught the same blasphemies. They also show their doctrinal unity with ELCA by participating in many doctrinal programs, from evangelism to worship onward. They show they shame by hiding this unity and raking in insurance money because they are impoverished in every possible way.

 Bearing the cross is a blessing, marked by opposition, hatred, and disagreeable things.

Requested Post from 2016 - Suffragen Bishop Cujo

Deacon Anthony Oncken

ELDONA, less than one square mile
Where mullets are in style, year-round.
Oh, church bandit, you sure planned it,
Wherever you're going, I'll goose-step your way.

EL DONA, makes Hispanics smile,
Where mitres are in style, year-round,
We're after the same smells and bells,
Glad we're not in WELS, or with Missouri swells
ELDONUTs and me.
sung to the tune of Moon River

 Official mascot for ELDONA:
Suffragen Bishop Cujo.

At the last ELDONA meeting, a Vespers service was announced, but it was only for the pasteurized, homogenized ELDONA priests and bishop. No layman was allowed to attend. A postulant could not attend either. Nor could an applicant for their seminary.

When laity found out they were barred from worship, they looked around at each other.

What would St. Ignatius say?

GJ - Correction. 8-18-2016. Everyone was allowed to attend the Vespers service, but the party afterwards was for clergy only. Not very hospitable.

"What's wrong with a mullet?"

St. Ignatius ELDONA Seminary, Malone, Texas.
Oncken is in charge of the entire student body - one person.
The Live Bait sign was ordered but was not yet installed in time for the photo-shoot.

New Creation Roses - Three of Each

Edmunds' Roses - Fragrant Plum - The name says it all: this rose is one fruity beauty. Bountiful, plum-colored blooms with darker, smoky edges and heady fragrance reward growers of this beautiful grandiflora. The richly colored flowers, held high on long, clustered stems, are perfect for filling vases, and the lush, deep green squeaky-clean foliage provides a great backdrop for them. Hybridizer: Christensen, 1990

Bareroot Grafted Rose

Edmunds' Roses - This gloriously fragrant grandiflora honors the beauty and talent of this award-winning broadcast journalist and best-selling author. The Maria Shriver™ rose displays impeccable refinement with its large, fully double, pure white flowers held in neat clusters high atop long, elegant stems. Clean, polished, dark green foliage lends a formal touch. And the perfume! Maria Shriver ™ boasts the finest fragrance of any rose available on the market today. Hybridizer: Dorieux, 2004

Bareroot Grafted Rose

Ranger Bob wanted me to plant JFK white roses but I did not find them, so I got the new rose closely related and also white - Maria Shriver. Our winter was very harsh for roses, everything fine until January, when we began to have alternating freezing and warm sunny weather.

I have had good experiences with purple roses, so I wanted to try out Fragrant Plum. 

I soaked the bare root roses in a rain-barrel for days, waiting for a good day to plant them. Bareroot roses tolerate - and even welcome - a long soak: legends are told - for weeks. Soak a mint overnight and it is dead.

I trimmed the roots and the stems a bit before planting. Then I put two gallons of rainwater on each one, thanks to my far-sighted placement of rain-barrels. The rain will fall on plump new roses, which will give the plants more usable nitrogen and lots of incentives for soil creatures and fungus to grow. Veterans Honor red rose is already leafed out.

My final human effort is getting Uncle Jim's Earthworm compost to pour at each new rose.

Veterans Honor - red and fragrant, long-lasting in the garden and in a vase.

Change in Media Plans

Sassy guarded the Town Car limo when

I went inside a store to shop. Only one window worked all the time, so she sat in the back to retrieve her cone from McDonalds.

I decided to set aside the Parables of Jesus book and concentrate on Jesus' Titles of Majesty - My Good Shepherd. The idea behind the second one is having a graphic - new or old - for each of the 50 titles, each from a KJV Scripture. I will finish with an essay about the Good Shepherd, but it will be Norma A. Boeckler's book. 

I was startled to find I already had 1600+ views on the God, Grace, and Gardens page, where I keep completed Vimeos. My plan had been to add Vimeos about books and other topics, because we are now a video - not a reading - generation. "No man can serve two medias at once." I will rekindle that plan. We have a great set-up for producing and saving videos. 

Another reason to switch to video is having less short-term memory, especially when writing requires one's entire cranial memory library to be humming at full speed all the time. 

Writing will continue with the sermons written out completely and Ichabod posts bewailing the state of Lutherdom. I may produce a booklet of memories about Sassy Sue.

 I taught Iberia bank staff to have treats ready for Sassy at the drive-through. If they were slow, she used the mike to express her needs, at full volume. Everyone inside the bank jumped a foot, and they laughed, giving her three treats from that time on. That may have led to their closing, replaced by Armstrong Bank and teeny-tiny little treats.

Sassy Sue - The Three-Legged Dog Who Sang and Made the Dog Park Dogs Jealous

Sassy was the only dog at the park who could catch the orange squeaker ball and bring it back to my hands, the dog owners clapping, the jealous dogs trying to get the magical ball. 

I taught her the "Cattle Dog Blues," and she once got a house loaded with dogs singing the chorus with her.

Sassy had to go to the vet today, because her kidneys no longer functioned. She was 15, a rescue, very old for a German Shepherd mix.

I was telling one lady, years ago, that Sassy was a very special dog. She said, "My dog is very special too." I asked, "Does your dog have a blog?" She replied, "No," so I said, "Sassy does."

 Norma A. Boeckler took this photo. Sassy was watching all the action at the dog park.

Reminiscere, The Second Sunday in Lent. Mean Messiah or Messenger of Mercy

Ludovico Gimignani > The Canaanite Woman Kneeling Before Christ Asking For Help To Heal Her Daughter

Vimeo Link for the Lent 2 Worship Service

The Second Sunday in Lent, 2023

Bethany Lutheran Church

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Hymn # 145       Jesus Refuge of the Weary - Savanarola          

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Remember, O Lord, Thy tender mercies and Thy loving-kindnesses: for they have been ever of old.

Let not mine enemies triumph over me: God of Israel, deliver us out of all our troubles.

Psalm. Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul: O my God, I trust in Thee; let me not be ashamed.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O God, who seest that of ourselves we have no strength, keep us both outwardly and inwardly that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual  

Gradual

The troubles of my heart are enlarged: 

oh, bring Thou me out of my distresses.

V. Look upon mine affliction and my pain: 

and forgive all my sins.

Tract. Oh, give thanks unto the Lord; f

or He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.

V. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord?

Who can show forth His praise?

V. Blessed are they that keep judgment: 

and he that doeth righteousness at all times.

V. Remember me, O Lord, with the favor that 

Thou bearest unto Thy people:

Oh, visit me with Thy salvation.

     

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Sermon Hymn #142    A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining - Gerhardt  

Mean Messiah or Messenger of Mercy

 

Hymn #457          What a Friend We Have in Jesus              

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
Hymn # 50      Lord Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing

Prayers and Announcements

• Medical care - Kermit Way, Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Doc Lito, Pastor K, Callie and her mother Peggy.
• Wednesday, 7 PM - MidWeek Lenten service,

  

Lutheran Library - Gerhardt's Biography

KJV 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God,even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

KJV Matthew 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Second Sunday In Lent

Lord God, heavenly Father, grant us, we beseech Thee, by Thy Holy Spirit, that He may strengthen our hearts and confirm our faith and hope in Thy grace and mercy, so that, although we have reason to fear because of our conscience, our sin, and our unworthiness, we may nevertheless, with the woman of Canaan, hold fast to Thy grace, and in every trial and temptation find Thee a very present help and refuge, 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.

KJV Matthew 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

The designation Canaanite woman is important here. That means she was descended from the pagan Canaanites who were supposed to have been eliminated for their evil (sons of Ham, Genesis 10).

22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

Jesus was away from His people, in foreign territory, and yet this woman came up to Him, calling for His help. Mark emphasizes the extent and power of Jesus' healing miracles, so this is an example of the events being so widespread that an outsider knew of them, believed in Jesus as the Savior, and trusted in Him to heal her daughter. Since he was traveling, when would she ever have another chance for her daughter? She knew of His divine power, calling Him "Lord" as divine and Son of David as the Messiah. Those who have seen continuous seizures realize how this tears a mother's heart out. The child's body is tormented by unwanted muscle movement, continuous and exhausting.

Asking for her daughter's healing is a perfect example of the fruits of His work. This is the exact opposite of how the moderns treat the Gospel of Mark. Their concept is to eliminate the divine in Mark and emphasize Jesus as only a man, a teacher, whose charisma caused others to believe He was divine. Thus - as a told a pastor recently - "Son of God" in Mark 1:1 was eliminated from the Wescott-Hort Greek text and so was the Resurrection, Mark 16:9-20. Once those are removed as not belonging, St. Mark becomes an example of primitive believing and therefore imagining the cures. Erasing in the Greek text is often - but not always - indicated by a vague footnote - "some witnesses do not include this." The KJV is an exception in retaining the original, apostolic text. (GJ - Nota bene - my New Testament professors, college and seminary, denied the Mark 16:9-20 section, and people were impressed with their Harvard and Princeton bunk.)

23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

Although the woman made her plea, calling out Jesus' true title and power - which was denied by His Jewish opponents - Jesus did not even answer. This is expressed as continuous pleading from the woman and the disciples being so tired of it that they told Jesus to send her away with a miracle because she would not stop.

This miracle has to be understood as Jesus letting the individual express His majesty and power. Luther calls it chasing the person's faith to make it clear to everyone. And we can imagine that this woman would not have become famous without His apparent lack of concern. So many were healed by Jesus that He needed rest from the demands. The disciples even participated to the point and urging Him to get to work instead of just praying. That is a point Luther explained when he said he prayed longer whenever he knew he had a lot of work to do.

I mention that  teaching about Biblical counseling and pastoral care, the disciples found Jesus praying alone and said - in so many words - "Let's get going, we have a lot of work to do. People are waiting!"

Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

One of my students said, "I have read the Bible all my life and never read such a thing. Prove it." When I quoted it verbatim, he realized how easily overlooked it is. I have to look for it whenever the topic comes up. I know it is in the early part of Mark but I am good at missing what I am looking for.

So the disciples were not aware that Jesus was letting the woman express hire tireless faith in Him. What they saw and heard was a situation needing a cure. What Jesus was doing was doing - since He knew her - was to let the Canaanite woman express her complete faith in Him, no matter how futile her situation seemed to be in helping her daughter.

24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

This is often labeled a "hard saying of Jesus." However Paul himself emphasized "the Jews first, then the Gentiles." (Romans 1:16). The apparent silence of Jesus should remind us that God's apparent silence is not the final Word on the matter, when we pray. This miracle is true and offers a lesson to everyone who thinks God is not responding but silent. The Canaanite woman is the example we should follow and not cave into the rationalistic twaddle of the liberal explainers.

When people start to rework this miracle into something else, they are displaying their lack of faith in various stages - rejecting the divinity of Jesus Christ, rejecting the apostolic text of Mark. Note the gigantic two-volume CPH Commentary on Mark, based on Codex Vaticanus! - like my father giving a man at the airport 50 cents to watch his suitcases so the man could get another 50 cents later. Yes the man and the suitcases disappeared. - The miracle is to build our faith, not to show off how little one believes, how much is distorted or made fun of.

25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 

The woman's response to the apparent rebuke from Jesus - she came up to Him and worshiped him as God, not doubting but believing, and said, "Lord, help me." This should resolve the matter.

26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

There were two kinds of dogs in those times. The feral dogs were disgusting and possibly dangerous. House dogs were pets, so it is possible Jesus was making a reference to the place where he just ate. A home owner would not take food away from his children and give it to the dogs! This is an escalation. At this point, most would shrink away at the rejection. The professional mockers (ordained, often with PhDs in their field) are shocked and like to say - look at how Jesus could be harsh!

But every verse in the Bible is meant for our building up, our faith, and our comfort. For this verse to be true, we drop our computer-age genius about everything and trust that God really is all powerful and compassionate, giving us His Son so we could rely on Him and believe in Him, no matter what.

27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

Here is the ultimate response to God's apparent lack of interest, silence, and rejection - "even the dogs eat what falls on the floor of their master's table." Thus the woman took the rejection - if not the insult - and turned it around as an expression of faith in Jesus. Yes, she will gladly lower herself for her daughter's sake, trusting in the Master.

28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Jesus did not expect increasing the members, or balancing the budget, or obtaining good media coverage. He did not leave behind any structures, plaques, or religious buildings. He said, "Great is thy faith! Your prayer is answered as you prayed it would." The daughter was healed without Jesus visiting her. The way the miracles came about depended on the lesson being taught, such as the mourners mocking that the young woman was not dead, or the young man being raised from the dead without a request.

The miracles and teaching of Christ can only be understood by seeing the entire Bible as a whole, the seeming difficult places being especially noteworthy and memorable. The stranger from outside of Israel knew Jesus when others were mocking and opposing Him, finding ways to undermine Him, as the modernists and professors do today.

We have all be discouraged, looked down upon, rejected, fired, mocked, and undermined by situations, by false-friends, by those who abused their station in life. This miracle of healing is even more a proclamation to be like the supposedly pagan woman with a bad pedigree (Canaanite!). She was not the chosen (viewed by some as being born in Wisconsin - I am not kidding - even better, born in a Wisconsin parsonage!) Out East, there are the Old Money people who know their bloodlines and everyone else's. Friends expressed shocked that there were any good universities outside the Ivy League and the East Coast.

This miracle is a lesson for us to pray for others and for all our needs, thanking God for His mercies. Some may start the day in prayer. Others take up other times when everything is quiet and the spam calls/emails are done, quiet and resting in their mainframe computers. It is good to make studies of a book of the Bible, or a theme in the Bible, which will always build  knowledge and faith.

Luther's Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent - The Canaanite Woman

Ludovico Gimignani > The Canaanite Woman Kneeling Before Christ Asking For Help To Heal Her Daughter

REMINISCERE. SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT



TEXT:

Matthew 15:21-28. And Jesus went out thence, and withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanitish woman came out from those borders and cried, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. And he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs. But she said, Yea, Lord: for even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it done unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was healed from that hour.


1. This Gospel presents to us a true example of firm and perfect faith. For this woman endures and overcomes in three great and hard battles, and teaches us in a beautiful manner the true way and virtue of faith, namely, that it is a hearty trust in the grace and goodness of God as experienced and revealed through his Word. For St. Mark says, she heard some news about Jesus, Mark 7:25. What kind of news? Without doubt good news, and the good report that Christ was a pious man and cheerfully helped everybody. Such news about God is a true Gospel and a word of grace, out of which sprang the faith of this woman; for had she not believed, she would not have thus run after Christ etc. In like manner we have often heard how St. Paul in Romans 10:17 says that faith cometh by hearing, that the Word must go in advance and be the beginning of our salvation.

2. But how is it that many more have heard this good news concerning Christ, who have not followed him, and did not esteem it as good news?

Answer: The physician is helpful and welcome to the sick; the healthy have no use for him. But this woman felt her need, hence she followed the sweet scent, as is written in the Song of Solomon 1:3. In like manner Moses must precede and teach people to feel their sins in order that grace may be sweet and welcome to them. Therefore all is in vain, however friendly and lovely Christ may be pictured, if man is not first humbled by a knowledge of himself and he possesses no longing for Christ, as Mary’s Song says, “The hungry he hath filled with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away,” Luke 1:53. All this is spoken and written for the comfort of the distressed, the poor, the needy, the sinful, the despised, so that they may know in all times of need to whom to flee and where to seek comfort and help.

3. But see in this example how Christ like a hunter exercises and chases faith in his followers in order that it may become strong and firm. First when the woman follows him upon hearing of his fame and cries with assured confidence that he would according to his reputation deal mercifully with her, Christ certainly acts differently, as if to let her faith and good confidence be in vain and turn his good reputation into a lie, so that she could have thought: Is this the gracious, friendly man? or: Are these the good words, that I have heard spoken about him, upon which I have depended? It must not be true; he is my enemy and will not receive me; nevertheless he might speak a word and tell me that he will have nothing to do with me. Now he is as silent as a stone. Behold, this is a very hard rebuff, when God appears so earnest and angry and conceals his grace so high and deep; as those know so well, who feel and experience it in their hearts. Therefore she imagines he will not fulfill what he has spoken, and will let his Word be false; as it happened to the children of Israel at the Red Sea and to many other saints.

4. Now, what does the poor woman do? She turns her eyes from all this unfriendly treatment of Christ; all this does not lead her astray, neither does she take it to heart, but she continues immediately and firmly to cling in her confidence to the good news she had heard and embraced concerning him, and never gives up. We must also do the same and learn firmly to cling to the Word, even though Go with all his creatures appears different than his Word teaches. But, oh, how painful it is to nature and reason, that this woman should strip herself of self and forsake all that she experienced, and cling alone to God’s bare Word, until she experienced the contrary. May God help us in time of need and of death to possess like courage and faith!

5. Secondly, since her cry and faith avail nothing, the disciples approach with their faith, and pray for her, and imagine they will surely be heard. But while they thought he should be more tenderhearted, he became only the more indifferent, as we see and think. For now he is silent no more nor leaves them in doubt; he declines their prayer and says: “I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This rebuff is still harder since not only our own person is rejected, but the only comfort that remains to us, namely, the comfort and prayers of pious and holy persons, are rejected. For our last resort, when we feel that God is ungracious or we are in need, is that we go to pious, spiritual persons and there seek counsel and help, and they are willing to help as love demands; and yet, that may amount to nothing, even they may not be heard and our condition becomes only worse.

6. Here one might upbraid Christ with all the words in which he promised to hear his saints, as Matthew 18:19: “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them.”

Likewise, Mark 11:24: “All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them;” and many more like passages. What becomes of such promises in this woman’s case? Christ, however, promptly answers and says: Yes, it is true, I hear all prayers, but I gave these promises only to the house of Israel. What do you think? Is not that a thunderbolt that dashes both heart and faith into a thousand pieces, when one feels that God’s Word, upon which one trusts, was not spoken for him, but applies only to others? Here all saints and prayers must be speechless, yea, here the heart must let go of the Word, to which it would gladly hold, if it would consult its oven feelings.

7. But what does the poor woman do? She does not give up, she clings to the Word although it be torn out of her heart by force, is not turned away by this stern answer, still firmly believes his goodness is yet concealed in that answer, and still she will not pass judgment that Christ is or may be ungracious. That is persevering steadfastness.

8. Thirdly, she follows Christ into the house, as Mark 7:24-25 informs us, perseveres, falls down at his feet, and says: “Lord, help me!” There she received her last mortal blow, in that Christ said in her face, as the words tell, that she was a dog, and not worthy to partake of the children’s bread.

What will she say to this! Here he presents her in a bad light, she is a condemned and an outcast person, who is not to be reckoned among God’s chosen ones.

9. That is an eternally unanswerable reply, to which no one can give a satisfactory answer. Yet she does not despair, but agrees with his judgment and concedes she is a dog, and desires also no more than a dog is entitled to, namely, that she may eat the crumbs that fall from the table of the Lord.

Is not that a masterly stroke as a reply? She catches Christ with his own words. He compares her to a dog, she concedes it, and asks nothing more than that he let her be a dog, as he himself judged her to be. Where will Christ now take refuge? He is caught. Truly, people let the dog have the crumbs under the table; it is entitled to that. Therefore Christ now completely opens his heart to her and yields to her will, so that she is now no dog, but even a child of Israel.

10. All this, however, is written for our comfort and instruction, that we may know how deeply God conceals his grace before our face, and that we may not estimate him according to our feelings and thinking, but strictly according to his Word. For here you see, though Christ appears to be even hardhearted, yet he gives no final decision by saying “No.” All his answers indeed sound like no, but they are not no, they remain undecided and pending. For he does not say: I will not hear thee; but is silent and passive, and says neither yes nor no. In like manner he does not say she is not of the house of Israel; but he is sent only to the house of Israel; he leaves it undecided and pending between yes and no. So he does not say, Thou art a dog, one should not give thee of the children’s bread; but it is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs; leaving it undecided whether she is a dog or not. Yet all those trials of her faith sounded more like no than yes; but there was more yea in them than nay; ay, there is only yes in them, but it is very deep and very concealed, while there appears to be nothing but no.

11. By this is set forth the condition of our heart in times of temptation; Christ here represents how it feels. It thinks there is nothing but no and yet that is not true. Therefore it must turn from this feeling and lay hold of and retain the deep spiritual yes under and above the no with a firm faith in God’s Word, as this poor woman does, and say God is right in his judgment which he visits upon us; then we have triumphed and caught Christ in his own words. As for example when we feel in our conscience that God rebukes us as sinners and judges us unworthy of the kingdom of heaven, then we experience hell, and we think we are lost forever. Now whoever understands here the actions of this poor woman and catches God in his own judgment, and says: Lord, it is true, I am a sinner and not worthy of thy grace; but still thou hast promised sinners forgiveness, and thou art come not to call the righteous, but, as St. Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:15, “to save sinners.” Behold, then must God according to his own judgment have mercy upon us.

12. King Manasseh did likewise in his penitence as his prayer proves; he conceded that God was right in his judgment and accused himself as a great sinner and yet he laid hold of the promised forgiveness of sins. David also does likewise in Psalm 51:4 and says: “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight; that thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” For God’s disfavor in every way visits us when we cannot agree with his judgment nor say yea and amen, when he considers and judges us to be sinners. If the condemned could do this, they would that very moment be saved. We say indeed with our mouth that we are sinners; but when God himself says it in our hearts, then we are not sinners, and eagerly wish to be considered pious and free from that judgment. But it must be so; if God is to be righteous in his words that teach you are a sinner, then you may claim the rights of all sinners that God has given them, namely, the forgiveness of sins. Then you eat not only the crumbs under the table as the little dogs do; but you are also a child and have God as your portion according to the pleasure of your will.

13. This is the spiritual meaning of our Gospel and the scriptural explanation of it. For what this poor woman experienced in the bodily affliction of her daughter, whom she miraculously caused to be restored to health again by her faith, that we also experience when we wish to be healed of our sins and of our spiritual diseases, which is truly a wicked devil possessing us; here she must become a dog and we become sinners and brands of hell, and then we have already recovered from our sickness and are saved.

14. Whatever more there is in this Gospel worthy of notice, as that one can obtain grace and help through the faith of another without his own personal faith, as took place here in the daughter of this poor woman, has been sufficiently treated elsewhere. Furthermore that Christ and his disciples along with the woman in this Gospel exhibit to us an example of love, in that no one acts, prays and cares for himself but each for others, is also clear enough and worthy of consideration.

From the New York Post - Bishop Megan Rohrer Is Suing ELCA

Anders Nelson did his trans dance at Luther Seminary's chapel, his/her friends laughing and clapping. ELCA ordained him and gave him/her a call.

The giant Central Lutheran Church - Twin Cities -was the scene of the famous 2009 vote. Six ELCA bishops resigned and started a mini-synod.

Anita Hill, center, was part of the Mark Hanson (below) move away from the Scriptures.

ELCA Bishop Mark Hanson, promoted to Presiding Bishop from the notorious Minnesota district - "Brett, I never knew it was going to go so far."

 Rev. Dr. Bishop Megan often smirks for photos.

 This is the orans position, which ELDONA copies in its clumsy manner.

Church harassed trans ex-bishop for months before firing: lawsuit

I wondered where Heiser and crew got their high church costumes + masks. Megan started a trend.

By 

Katherine Donlevy

"The first openly transgender Evangelical Lutheran bishop filed a lawsuit against the church Wednesday alleging he was pushed from his post after enduring a year of discrimination and harassment.

The Rev. Megan Rohrer claims the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America forced him to resign in June — a year after he was elected to his post– after letting him take the fall for alleged racist behavior

In his lawsuit, Rohrer alleges he only resigned from the San Francisco-based post because the high-ranking members of the church created a “hostile work environment” from his first day on the job in May 2021.

He claims he was deliberately misgendered, ridiculed for featuring drag queens at his ordination and harassed for being transgender."

This is Central Lutheran Church, where ELCA gathered in 2009 and voted to self-destruct.

 

Liz Eaton became Presiding Bishop in 2013, defeating Mark Hanson, behind her.

Four bishops and three are women. No I am not counting. 

 This was an ELCA transgender ordination.

Former ALC President David Preus, cousin to Jack and Robert Preus, had a very strange funeral here not long ago. Former LCA/ALC leaders agreed that they acted stupidly in forming ELCA in 1987.