The Four Waltherian Cults - LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - Are Models of Hypocrisy, But Don't Tell - They Smash Folks and Slither Away

 

The Four Waltherian Cults - LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) should be called the Tiny Four, because the size of ELCA impresses them so much - like the fragrance of a city dump in July.

Let's just calm down and figure out what I am saying through experience, attendance at their meetings, serving in the WELS and the much worse Church of the Lutheran Confession (sic).

All Four Waltherian Cults are loyal (but dishonest) concerning their doctrinal virginity. But Missouri and WELS, even a bit of the ELS favored Justification by Faith and taught it. 

Stretch out the time frame - Carl Gausewitz produced a Small Catechism used by the entire Synodical Conference, one of many catechisms like the Schwan, no doubt. 

Missouri produced a beautiful set of Luther's works in German, a work of art in publishing. Modern Missouri sold Luther trinkets in 2017, probably made in Red China.'

The ELS left the Big Norwegians over their fondness for Objective Faithless Justification. 

The Four Waltherian Cults are so anxious about getting near an outsider (except ELCA) that they wash their sanctified and sanctifying hands if anyone questions them, especially when the manages are blatantly lying.

But - as indicated - they grovel before ELCA and the Church Growth lords. Isn't it odd, Waltherian members, that they hate Luther so fiercely (Justification by Faith) and love Fuller graduates so lovingly? The least qualified Waltherian cult leaders are the most elevated, the quickest to be given fake doctorates and DNA protection.

I found DP Patterson managing Easter Egg hunts and his fellow pastor promoting pet the bunnies. Patterson and Kelm gave papers to the Mordor faculty about improving the ghastly results of their teaching.

Another Megachurch Southern Baptist For Lutherans To Follow - Steven Furtick

 

Another Example for Shepherd Sunday - the Hireling in a $2,000 pink sweater.

Steven Furtick is the newest mega-pastor in the media. Put his name in a search engine and see how little is said about him. He graduated from the Louisville, Kentucky Southern Baptist Seminary. Christina and I drove there for dissertation research. Their library gladly gave me a box of books for my project. At our alma mater Augustana, I had to beg the librarians to let me borrow some books for my dissertation. 

Furtick began his mega-church in 2006. His Elevation Church produces Elevation Music for Elevation Worship.

Furtick speaks at events all over the world including the 2011 Global Leadership Summit hosted by Bill Hybels,^[9] the C3 Conference 2012 hosted by Ed Young Jr.,^[10] the Hillsong Conference 2012 hosted by Brian Houston,^[11] and the Presence Conference in 2012 and 2013 hosted by Phil Pringle.^[12] 

 This link will provide a rich supply of links about Steven Furtick. 

 

 

These false teachers, including a Roman Catholic Archbishop and a few Baptists, are or were idolized by the Wisconsin Synod and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. District Pope Patterson (WELS) flew a bunch loyalists to a mega-gathering of fellow travelers in Florida. Was that the Exponential Conference? Email me if you were there.

WELS has spent money on The Unstuck Group, too.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Second Sunday after Easter - "Accordingly, they are never true shepherds who, in preaching, have their own popularity, profit and advantage in view."

 

Complete Sermon -> Misericordias Domini. Second Sunday After Easter. John 10:11-16. Christ’s Office and Kingdom; or How Christ is the True Shepherd

II. CHRIST ILLUSTRATES HIS OFFICE AND KINGDOM BY COMPARING THE GOOD SHEPHERD WITH THE HIRELING.

25. Now, he contrasts the good shepherd with a wicked one, or a hireling, and says: “The good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them and scattereth them: he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep.”

26. In the strictest sense, he alone is the shepherd; and yet, as he alone is Christ but nevertheless calls us by the same name — Christians — even so, though he alone is the shepherd, he designates all those who exercise the office of the ministry among Christians by that name also. In like manner in Matthew 23:9 he forbids us to call any man on earth father, for one is our father, even he who is in heaven, yet Paul calls himself a father of the Corinthians when he says: “I begat you through the Gospel.” Corinthians 4:15. Thus God acts as though he alone would be our father, and yet he attributes the name to men also, so that they are called fathers.

But they have no right to this name in themselves; only in Christ is it theirs: even as we are called Christians though we have nothing of our own, but all we have has been given to us, in him. Now, “the hireling,” says he, “whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth,” etc. That is a hard saying, indeed, that some who truly preach and administer the Gospel and strengthen and heal the sheep, finally allow themselves to be carried away and leave the sheep when they are most in need of help. As long as no wolf is in sight, they are active and. tend the sheep; but when they see the wolf breaking in, they forsake the sheep. If the sheep have been well kept, till they are strong and healthy and fat, they will then be all the more acceptable to the wolf, for whom they have been kept.

27. How does that happen? Well, says Christ, in my kingdom, whose whole object is to strengthen the weak, heal the sick, comfort the sorrowing, and so forth, the holy cross will not be wanting. For, if we preach that Christ alone must receive, strengthen, heal and help us poor sheep, and that we cannot, by our own strength and works, help ourselves, and that, therefore, all works and whatever else the world pretends to offer in its many religious services are of no avail, the world cannot abide such preaching. Hence, it is but natural that the Gospel should bring with it the holy cross, and that they who confess it before the world should risk their necks in so doing.

28. Because this is so, the good shepherds are thus distinguished from the hirelings. Whoever is a hireling will preach the Gospel only so long as they say of him that he is a learned, pious and good man; but when he is attacked, and men begin to denounce him as a heretic and a knave, and challenge him to a dispute, he recants or runs away, and abandons the poor sheep in their distress, and things are in a worse state than they were before. For what advantage has it been to the poor sheep that they had once been well kept? Had the shepherds been faithful, they would have sacrificed their bodies and lives for the sake of the sheep, and would have given their necks to the executioner for the Gospel’s sake. Accordingly, they are never true shepherds who, in preaching, have their own popularity, profit and advantage in view. They are surely hirelings; for they seek their own advantage, even when they dispense the true doctrine and Word of God. Therefore they continue only as long as they are honored and praised.

Hence they retract, and deny the Word, when the wolf comes, or flee and leave the sheep in the lurch. The sheep bleat for pasture and for the shepherd to protect them from the wolves, but there is no one to succor them; thus they are deserted when they most need some one to help them.

29. Such will be the result when men once begin to lay hands on and persecute us in earnest. There will be preachers who will hold their tongues and flee, and the sheep will be pitiably scattered, the one running here and the other there. God grant that there may be at least some who will stand firm and risk their lives to rescue the sheep. Thus Christ has here portrayed the hireling. He then proceeds: “I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own.”

30. There is a great deal contained in these words, far too much to be exhaustively treated here. He speaks here of his own peculiar calling. “I know mine own,” he says, “and mine own know me.” How is this to be understood? That he explains further when he says: “Even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father.”

III. THE SPECIAL OFFICE CHRIST ADMINISTERS EXPLAINED.

31. How is he known of the Father? Not with an earthly, but with a heavenly, knowledge. Of that we have spoken more fully before, and the substance of it is this: Christ recognizes us as his sheep, and we recognize him as our shepherd. Now, we have heard what a good shepherd is, and also who the weak sheep are. He knows us to be such sheep as are weak, sick and broken. That is: It does not make any difference in his regard for them that they are weak and sickly, and he does not despise and reject them on that account; but he pities and heals them, even though they be so diseased that the whole world concludes they are not his sheep. Such is the world’s knowledge, but that is not the way that Christ distinguishes them.

He does not look upon their condition, but looks to see whether they are sheep, whether they may be designated sheep. He looks at the sheep, not at the wool.

32. Now, they are good shepherds who imitate Christ and know the sheep in the same way; who look at the person, not at the faults, and know how to distinguish between the sheep and the disease.

33. Even so the Father knows me also, says Christ, but the world does not know me. When the time comes for me to die a shameful death upon the cross, all the world will say: Well, is that the Son of God? That must be a malefactor, owned, body and soul, by the devil. And thus the world will look upon and know me; but my Father will say: This is my beloved Son, my King, my Savior. For he will not look upon my sorrows, nor upon my wounds, nor upon my cross and my death, but he will see the person that I am. Therefore, though I were in the midst of hell and in the jaws of the devil, I must again come forth, for the Father will not desert me. And thus I know my sheep and am known of them. They know that I am the good shepherd and know me; and therefore they come to me and abide with me, and they are not afraid because they are weak and sick, for they know that I will receive such sheep. He now concludes and says: “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd.

34. Some have explained this passage in such a way as to make it appear that it will be fulfilled shortly before the last day, when the Antichrist appears, and Elias and Enoch. That is not true, and it is the devil himself who is responsible for this belief of some, that the whole world will become Christian. The devil did this that the true doctrine might be so obscured so that it might not be understood. Therefore be on your guard; for this passage was verified and fulfilled shortly after Christ ascended into heaven, and is still in process of fulfillment. When the Gospel was first proclaimed, it was preached to the Jews; that nation was the sheepfold.

And now he says here: “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also must I bring.” Here he declares that the Gospel is to be preached to the gentiles also, so that they also might believe in Christ, that there might be one Christian communion, composed of Jews and gentiles. This was afterwards brought about through the apostles, who preached to the gentiles and converted them to the faith. Accordingly there is now but one church or communion, one faith, one hope, one love, one baptism, etc.

And this continues to be so at the present day, and will continue until the day of judgment. Hence, you must not understand this to mean that the whole world, and all men, will believe in Christ; for this holy cross will always be with us. They are in the majority who persecute Christ, and therefore the Gospel must ever be preached, that some may be won for Christ. The kingdom of Christ is in process of growing and is not something that is completed. This is, in brief, the explanation of this Gospel.

Martin Luther College - WELS - The Same College That Loved Party in the MLC, Now Singing in the Shower!

 

Inherit the stupid II: when a Martin Luther College homecoming video infected WELS with the gay

The reporting and reaction continue to Josh Moniz's story in the New Ulm Journal about the cancellation of a production of "Inherit the Wind." Dan Linehan supplies more details in Saturday's Mankato Free Press article, New Ulm theater cancels play after controversy, while free-thinking Christophobe and science professor P.Z. Myers takes it up in Martin Luther College looks like a total waste of time and money.

Not surprisingly, this isn't the first time that Martin Luther College  (MLC) students' self-expression ran into disapproval by the WELS faithful.

Party in the MLC

Rummaging through MLC closets, Bluestem has stumbled over an old social media tale that involves student self-censorship after a popular dorm homecoming video hit YouTube.  The September 18, 2009 MLC Update High School edition reported in Dorm Videos:

For Homecoming festivities, the four dorms put together a video to entertain the student body. (Well, not Augustana— they must have forgotten.) Concord, the frosh and sophomore men, starred NateWordell(West) in a series of misadventures to arrive at chapel on time. Centennial, the frosh and sophomore women, featured Claire Czaplewski (KML) and a team of students on a missionto conquer the Swine Flu Sprite. By far the crowd favorite was the Summit men’s video rendition(pictured)  of “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus.

That sounds innocent enough in the pre-twerking days of 2009.

Here's the video preserved on the Facebook page Bring back the MLC version of party in the USA!!!!!! :

Why did the video--which received over 80,000 hits before its makers pulled it--need to come back?

The Martin Luther College  (MLC) parody of a Fire Island Pines (FIP) parody

The "Party in the MLC video was based on the Fire Island Pines (FIP) parody tribune video of the Miley Cyrus music video for "Party in the USA."   Fire Island Pines:

. . .has been a jewel in the gay community for over 60 years, and continues to be the premier vacation destination for residents and vacationers. Located just 50 miles east of New York City, The Pines is home to the most expensive real estate in Fire Island.

Here's the FIP version:

While both videos are silly rather than sexy, the fact that the MLC version was based on a gay-friendly video didn't escape notice long from either the LGBT community online nor from the WELS faithful.

Queerty posted about the video in WATCH: What Miley Cyrus Hath Wrought: Party In the … MLC?

To what cultural aspersions do we owe the phenomenon of remaking the remakes of music videos? The Fire Island Pines boys, who created the Miley Cyrus send-up “Party In The F.I.P,” receive their own homage with “Party In The MLC” from a bunch of dormmates at a “homecoming summit.” At, uh, Midland Lutheran College [sic]?

Keep watching, ’cause there’s a blooper reel.

Those commenting are divided about whether the video is homage to the FIP video, insulting to gay men because of the fem stereotypes that the schoolboys prance around, or totally inappropriate because the young Lutherans just aren't cute enough to be in front of a video camera.

A rather oddball Lutheran blogger posted about the video a few days later in October 2009  in Mary Lou College's Own Flock of Seagulls--or-- Girls Gone Wild:

A WELS member sent me the link to this video, which makes the previous one (the statue fight) look positively confessional in comparison.

Familiar names like Huebner and Krause star in this travesty, which includes prissy lip-synching and crotch grabbing. I thought Michael Jackson was sick when he felt compelled to do the same, but this is worse and comes from the WELS "College of Ministry."

Read the comments on the video and notice the great impression made on the audience.

The sound and the fury signifying whatever

Oh the outrage! The attention from both communities lead to the creators of the video to remove it, the blogger notes in a mid-November post, Wisconsin Lutheran College Paper Defends "Party in the MLC" Video On Its Front Page! As Wise As Doves, As Innocent As Serpents:

The Wisconsin Lutheran College (WELS when raising funds) student newspaper, "The Sword," ran a Front Page! editorial / story on the MLC video, quoted in part (blue type in original):

But once the video left the context of the MLC campus, it came under unforeseen criticism from some who failed to see the humor in the video.

The most pronounced critic of the video was independent Lutheran pastor and blogger Gregory Jackson. Posts from Jackson, as well as comments left by the blog's readers, labeled the actions of the MLC students featured in the video unbecoming to future WELS pastors and teachers.

These claims were based on the video from which the creators of "Party in the MLC" took their inspiration--a previous YouTube video known as "Party in the FIP." Set to the tune of "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus, "Party in the FIP" shows a group of men performing choreographed routines on a beach while lip-synching the lyrics of the song."

"Party in the MLC" is a parody of the video, using the same soundtrack and many of the same routines.

The controversy over MLC students parodying "Party in the FIP" is derived from the lifestyle associated with "the FIP."

But makers of the "Party in the MLC" agree with other viewers that none of the actions in the "Party in the FIP" video would be considered blatant homosexuality. They also admit no previous knowledge of the reputation of Fire Island Pines. Ben Reichel, MLC student and video contributor, revealed, "We didn't find out until two or three days after we posted it that that's what it stood for. After we learned that we were kind of taken aback."

After learning of the offense caused by the video, the students decided to remove the video "out of Christian love" for those who found the video inappropriate. The decision to remove the video was a personal decision made by the creators of the video.

Reichel stated, "We all got together as a group --the guys who were in the video--and we realized that this caused way too much commotion and way too much negativity, and we all decided together that we were going to take it down."

After meeting amongst (sic) themselves, the students sought the advice of college administration. Reichel continued, "We went and talked to the administration here at MLC--the president and vice-president--and we got their thoughts on it too. But we knew before we even talked to them that we were going to take it down."

Matt Rothe, classmate of Reichel and video contributor, along with the rest of the students involved with the video, are ready to put "Party in the MLC" and the attention it has received in the past; "The group of guys who made this video only wished for good to come out of this video, and I must express firmly we wish for no more negative attention from it."

GJ - The WLC student newspaper has a lot of facts wrong. They did not make any effort to seek clarification. They are now drawing even more attention to the video and revealing that the students were not at all repentant, just resentful they got caught.

First of all, a WELS layman was furious over the video, which was posted on You Tube for all the world to see. Many people provide information to this blog so the rest of Lutherdom can see it. This layman was unable to watch more than a minute of it. I posted the video so people could see for themselves, as he wished.

The MLC students jumped in to defend the video right away, and now WLC has joined them. Their defense is to attack me, but the video stands on its own as a dubious production, whether I like it or not.

The defense of the video was so ridiculous that I did a little more research and found the original, "Party in the FIP." They knew what they were copying, and they acknowledged it rather quietly in the notes. Apparently the original went viral right away, thanks to various homosexual websites.

College students know how to use Google. Where else would they copy their homework from? Kelm, Parlow, and Limmer have shown that slavish copying is a good career move in WELS. To plead ignorance about Fire Island Pines is a bit absurd. All of the sudden these guys just fell off the haywagon when they landed in Metropolitan New Ulm.

And they thought the FIP video was straight? They should be on SNL, in a skit about their lack of gaydar. . . .

Bluestem is left to ponder what it means that "Party in the MLC" was the overwhelming favorite of Homecoming Dorm Videos at Martin Luther College.  We couldn't possibly comment on that.

Some really good comments on Party in the MLC here.

A Party in the MLC  Video had some comments here 14 years ago.

Denominations - Especially The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - Are Pursuing and Scattering Their Dwindling Members.

 

The faithful Christians were slaughtered by predator beasts. Their peaceful  and prayerful acceptance shook the pagan audience to their very souls, and this began the conversion of the pagan West.

The tide has reversed. Now the denominations - especially The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - are murdering the souls of their own members, driving them away and engorging themselves with the loot of foreclosed church buildings and endowments.

One church expert told a large crowd, "The prune churches, which used to be plums, are the easiest to lead. They have nothing to do!" I have seen that in church closures where the clergy staff hung onto their salaries until the end, trying to be busy with their social activism. For every 300 year old church (like the one next to the Philadelphia ELCA Seminary) there is another, like Historic St. John in Milwaukee, independent but grabbed by WELS and the Jeske posse. They changed the name a bit - "on the Hillside" - yuk, yuk.

ELCA planted their flag with the 2009 visit, which was soon followed by an effort to make each shrinking seminary into La Cage aux Folles.

The Big Five have repudiated their beginnings in the Reformation, a rejection proved with gusto in the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, 2017. Instead of shaking off the doom of Pietism, they pursued the toxins of Calvinism, Bogus Bibles, silly worship, and Druckerism.

"Am I cute? Or what!"

If Baylor University Is Not Baptist - Is Baylor's Truett Seminary Not Gay Affirming?

 

Truett Theological Seminary Hosts Gay-Affirming Speakers, Panelists

Protestia

George W. Truett Theological Seminary, or ‘Truett’ for short, is a Texas-based seminary operated by Baylor University (The World’s largest Baptist university) and associated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. [GJ -Truett was late in starting, so they avoided affirming Biblical inerrancy.]

With nearly 400 students, they describe themselves as an “orthodox, evangelical school in the historic Baptist tradition” with a mission to “equip God-called people for gospel ministry in and alongside Christ’s Church by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

We recently wrote about Baylor after Greg Garrett, their pro-choice, gay-affirming, trans-affirming professor of Literature and Culture who called a centuries-old hymn “sexist” for containing the word “brethren,” and after he chastised author J.K Rowling for posting a lengthy Twitter thread where she repeatedly called a bunch of trans-women “men” on Trans Day of Visibility, something he found intolerable. 

Garrett also appears to be a key organizer in the new annual “racism” conference at Truett Seminary. Whereas last year’s featured Jemar Tisby and Beth Moore talking about racism in the white church, this year’s “Racism in the world church” includes a bunch of antinomians lecturing believers about how to be better Christians.

As part of the conference “Racism In The World Church” 2024, Truett/Baylor’s held a panel that was composed of pastors at affirming churches (at least 2 of 3 speakers). Woke Preacher TV explains:

Sean Palmer, an Enneagram guru and teaching pastor at Ecclesia Houston, proudly declared in a 2018 speech that his church has accepted transgender individuals and same-sex couples into membership.

Timothy Peoples is senior pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church, which advertises its affirming stance and is a member of the Association Of Welcoming + Affirming Baptists and participated in Dallas Pride last year.

(The third panel member, famed musician Jimi Calhoun, doesn’t really counter-balance the other men’s stances, as his “church,” Bridging Austin, appears to just be him, his wife, and a friend who have streamed a handful of brief “online liturgies” and held “meetups” advertised as “Taizé Contemplative Services” in the past few months.)

At the end of their conversation, titled “Black Pastors In White Spaces,” Palmer alludes to the objection of @NeilShenvi and agrees that adopting a critical social justice frame towards race will inevitably lead to compromise on “a whole constellation of other issues and topics that I also have to treat similarly.”

[From Wikipedia - Seminary faculty at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and other SBC seminaries were being required to sign documents indicating agreement with Scriptural inerrancy. The board of regents and trustees were able to avoid this requirement at Truett. Truett Seminary was and is more accepting of moderate theology.]

One Must Pay Taxes And Yet a Reward Comes Back

 

 Enchanted Peace is budding already.

Duties abound in life, requirements that can be delayed and yet they must be fulfilled. Taxes will soon be demanded. The Post Office will line up cars near midnight on the right date. This act of oblation strikes me as funny each year, because the returns arrive at the tax centers as mountains of paper. I asked one pro, "Do you mark returns which are officially late by a day, days, a week?" He responded, "No, we are too busy sorting them as they arrive." The imaginary late penalty brings in the sheaves.

So there are always chores like this, and we enjoy complaining about them. I enjoy rewards that overshadow such burdens as taxes, tax preparation, license bureau lines, and county taxes. However, the rewards of life easily counterbalance the chores. 

I went outside to check on Charlie Sue's playtime. We played catch, which I imagined was "Fetch!" but she understands it as "Take away!" She seldom brings back the ball but loves to leave it somewhere else or even hide it. I make aggressive moves at her to inspire leaps and runs. Doggy Day Care clients get concerned and makes a racket. They all want those orange balls. The large and small dogs on the south fence, Porchi and Dustmop, stay quiet and hope for some action. Dustmop sits between the front legs of the Great White Great Pyrenees. Porchi wants a finger combing. Dustmop wants to chase Charlie's ball along the fence.

Porchi likes to stand up at the fence so we can have some positive discussions. He loves to be praised for being so good, so handsome, so intelligent. He responds and tries to hug me at shoulder level, above the fence. He adopted the noise-making hard ball that I donated to one of the children. He loves that ball, just as the little boy did (but not Charlie Sue, who favors them small and orange). Today he let Dustmop sit between his enormous front legs. 

The gardens are the most fun when they are just starting to wake up. The last cluster of daffodils bloomed in a group, to decorate someone's house. Roses are already budding (Enchanted Peace) so the blooms will be on the altar and in cul-de-sac homes, in two weeks. 

Mints are rampant already, because they provide food for the bees, spreading in many directions. 

Some people talked me into teaching Greek again. I am looking forward to it on Zoom. I enjoy what most seminarians fear and loathe. Did I fall out of the high chair when reaching for Gerber's? I do not know, but Greek has always been a source of great happiness. My first Greek New Testament was a used Westcott and Hort, my second the Augustana College's United Bible Society GNT. My third and best is the Traditional Text, often named the Stephanus, available online from the NIV's website, Bible Gateway. 

I am going to post Greek New Testament lessons without having a precise schedule. I like having Reformation Seminary lectures on Tuesday and Thursday, 11 AM, but adding a third appointed Zoom seems risky for schedules and time. What's a seminary without Greek?

Due to Mushroom Management, kept in the dark, I do not know the future about Old Testament classes. But who does? I think higher education people will scare one another to death, and they will see significant declines based on overdoing online and traditional classroom degrees. I have two classes now and another one scheduled, which is very good. As people might imagine, I enjoy those courses and get great responses from dedicated Christians, more than a few grandparents.

 Veterans Honor

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Second Sunday after Easter - "Nevertheless, Christ would not have even such dealt with rigorously. He would not have his kingdom narrowed down so as to include only such as are strong and healthy and perfect."

 

John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress is the most read book in the English language, after the Bible.

  My high school English teacher said, "If you haven't read this book, you are IGNORANT!"

Complete Sermon -> Misericordias Domini. Second Sunday After Easter. John 10:11-16. Christ’s Office and Kingdom; or How Christ is the True Shepherd

16. Thirdly: “Neither have ye bound up that which was broken.” To be broken is as though one had a bone fractured or were otherwise wounded.

As when a Christian is not only weak and infirm, so that he makes a misstep at times, but when he falls into such great temptation that he breaks his leg; for instance, if he should fall and deny the Gospel, as St. Peter did, when he denied Christ. Well, even though one should make such a misstep as to be impeded or overthrown — even then you should not cast him away, as though he no more belonged to this kingdom. For you must not rob Christ of his characteristic, that in his kingdom abounding grace and mercy alone prevail, so that he helps those who realize their misery and wretchedness, and desire to be helped, and that his kingdom is wholly one of consolation, and that he is a comforting, friendly shepherd, who tenderly invites, and would induce, all men to come unto him.

17. Now, all this is effected through the Gospel alone, by means of which we are to strengthen all the weak and heal all the sick; for this Word will satisfy every want of those whose consciences are troubled, and will give full consolation to all, so that no one, no matter how great a sinner he has been, need despair. Hence, Christ alone is the good shepherd, who heals all our infirmities and raises up again those who have fallen. He who does not do that is no shepherd.

18. Fourthly, the prophet says: “Neither have ye brought back that which was driven away.” What is meant by “that which was driven away”? It is that despised soul that is fallen so low that all efforts to reclaim it seem to be in vain. Nevertheless, Christ would not have even such dealt with rigorously. He would not have his kingdom narrowed down so as to include only such as are strong and healthy and perfect. That will be the case in the future kingdom that follows this life, as has been said: Now, because he reigns, pure grace and bliss only shall prevail. Even as God promised the children of Israel (Exodus 3:8) that the promised land would be a land flowing with milk and honey. Likewise St. Paul says that our uncomely parts shall have more abundant comeliness (1 Corinthians 12:23).

19. Fifthly, he concludes: “Neither have ye sought that which was lost.” That which was lost is that which is given up as already condemned, so that there is no expectation that it ever will return; as the publicans and harlots mentioned in the Gospel, and as the dissolute and intractable in our day, were and are. And yet, even these he would not have us pass by, but would have everything possible done to reclaim them. This was done by St. Paul, on different occasions; as, for example, when he delivered two men unto Satan, as he said to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:20): “Whom I delivered unto Satan that they might be taught not to blaspheme.” And, again, to the Corinthians he said (1 Corinthians 5:5): “I have concluded to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” He had cast these away as condemned, and yet he goes after them again.

The New King James Version - Who Published It? Bad Dreams Are Made of This!

 

"Thomas Nelson commissions 130 scholars, pastors, and lay Christians to create the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, aiming to “retain the purity and stylistic beauty” of the original King James produced in 1611. The New Testament is released in 1979, and the entire Bible follows in 1982. The NKJV becomes one of the top three bestselling Bibles, alongside the NIV and KJV."

Timelin above

                                                                        +++

"In the mid-1970s, Bible publisher Thomas Nelson found itself with extra capital and decided to channel these profits into the New King James Version of the Bible.

The new version strove to revise the King James Version (KJV) with updated language. The seven-year project drew on the skills of 130 respected Bible scholars and church leaders. The New Testament was released in 1979, and the entire Bible followed in 1982. The NKJV went on to become one of the top three bestselling Bibles, alongside the NIV and the KJV.

Harper & Row acquired Zondervan and the NIV in 1988, and 23 years later, HarperCollins purchased Thomas Nelson and with it, the NKJV. The move shocked many in the industry because Nelson and Zondervan, the two largest Christian publishers in the world, had long been direct competitors. Despite initial concerns about the viability of the transaction, the two Bible versions continue to flourish as part of what is now HarperCollins Christian Publishing."

Stories above

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The History of the NKJV Bible

In 1611, the King James Version of the Holy Bible was published in England. No other book has had as much impact on the world as this historic translation. Earlier century scholars maintained the translation by modifying grammar, spelling and word usage to keep the biblical language alive and relevant for each new generation. In 1769, updates to the King James Version ceased, and its words continue to be cherished today. In the last thirty years, more than forty modern translations of the Bible have been published, and the King James Version continues to be the overwhelmingly favorite translation.

In 1975, more than two-hundred years since the King James Version’s last update, the boldest and most extensive revision in the history of modern Bible publishing began. With a 130-person team of Greek, Hebrew, and English scholars, editors, church leaders, and Christian laity Thomas Nelson Publishers sought to preserve the accuracy and poetry of the King James Version, but in a language that the everyday person could understand. In 1979 the NKJV New Testament was finished, releasing only the Book of Psalms in 1980. In 1982, the New King James Version was released in its entirety, seven years after its commission, making it the fifth major revision to the beloved King James Version.

Above - Thomas Nelson, aka TAN, which publishes Roman Catholic polemics

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GJ - King James himself did not want a lot of footnotes, which steadfastly change the message of the Bible. The KJV is stingy with notes. The New KJV employs new edits and footnote$, which help to $how that they own the copyright for the every-changing New KJV. Ditto the NIV and the rest.

The Westcott-Hort Greek New Testament, which I own, has no footnotes to explain why they changed the text, erasing such words and phrases as "the Son of God" Mark 1 - and Mark 16:9-20. Didja notice that Presiding ELCA Bishop Liz Eaton said in her Easter 2024 message that Mark's Gospel ended at Mark 16:8 ("for they were afraid")? The Bogus Beck Bible from Christian News does the same.

From Tom Fisher - The word 'covenant' is Calvinist. It gives nothing. It bequeaths nothing.

 

Dear Pastor Jackson,

A little while ago I was having a discussion with a LCMS pastor about the Words Christ spoke to institute the Lord's Supper the night He was betrayed. I thanked him for faithfully instituting Holy Communion according to the pure Words of Christ in the King James Bible which holds onto that little Word "testament" instead of the word "covenant" used by the corrupt modern Bibles (ESV, NKJV, NIV, NASB, RSV, Beck's, etc) He said, "It doesn't matter. What's the difference? As a matter of fact I prefer the word 'covenant', but if I said 'covenant' I would have a lot of explaining to do, so I stick with the words of institution in the hymnal and say 'testament'". 

I told him that the little word 'testament' was precious to me and is the opposite of the word 'covenant'. The word 'covenant' is Calvinist. It gives nothing. It bequeaths nothing. In contrast the word 'testament' brings to mind children inheriting their parent's estate. Holy Communion is Christ's Last Will and Testament bequeathing to me forgiveness of all sins and eternal life. Luther said:

"So in this matter you must above all else take heed to your heart that you believe the words of Christ and admit their truth when he says to you and to all, 'This is my blood, a new testament, by which I bequeath to you forgiveness of all sins and eternal life." (Martin Luther, LW, Vol. 35, pg. 88)

Luther went on to say:

"That little word 'testament' is a short summary of all God's wonder and grace fulfilled for us in Christ." (Martin Luther, LW, Vol. 35, pg. 84)

Martin Chemnitz, the Second Luther, has a stern warning for all you LCMS Pastors who are not afraid to change Christ's Last Will and Testament into a Calvinist covenant that bequeaths nothing:

"For since Christ instituted His supper in the form of a testament, it is also not allowed at another time to distort even a man's covenant, if it is confirmed, by adding or subtracting. How much greater sin it is therefore, to change or mutilate the testament of the Son of God." (Martin Chemnitz, Ministry, Word, and Sacrament, CPH, 1981, pg. 122)

Christ is our true Testator saying "to you and to all, 'This is my blood, a new testament, by which I bequeath to you forgiveness of all sins and eternal life." (Martin Luther, LW, Vol. 35, pg. 88)

Luther said the Bible must be understood as a harmonious whole. Taking this to heart we go to Hebrews 9:15-17:

"And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the Testator liveth." Hebrews 9:15-17

Do you see the sharp difference between an empty Calvinist covenant and Christ's Last Will and Testament bequeathing to us forgiveness of all sins and eternal life? Are you beginning to see the sharp difference between Christ our Calvinist Covenantor giving us nothing and Christ our true Testator bequeathing to us forgiveness of all sins and eternal life?

Words form pictures and images in our minds.  The word "covenant" never brings an endearing picture of children inheriting their parent's farm or family business. For me the word "covenant" brings to mind a picture of a harsh, gaunt, emaciated, self-righteous, and stubborn Calvinist working his way to heaven, consistently rejecting forgiveness of sins and eternal life in the Office of The Keys, Holy Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, and the gospel.

Christ died for our sins, dead, buried in a sepulchre, and risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and seated at the right hand of God for us. Christ has swallowed and destroyed our death, and our hell in a victory for us.

"I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes." Hosea 13:14

"Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, and shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD." Ezekiel 37:12-14

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:37-40 

Christ is risen from the dead and ascended to God the Father to make His Father our Heavenly Father and to make His God our true God.

"I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God and your God." John 20:17

Christ is risen from the dead to destroy our death, and our hell and will raise us up from the dead on the last day. Christ comes to us today. He stands in our midst and speaks to us:

"Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." Luke 24:38,39

Christ is true God begotten of His Father from all eternity, and also true man born of the virgin Mary. Christ is God and man in one person. He is with us the same as He was with the apostles after His resurrection. He is with us in Holy Communion bequeathing to us forgiveness of all sins and eternal life as our true Testator. Christ gives us His true body in with and under the bread. Christ gives us His true blood shed for us in with and under the wine. Luther said that he was absolutely certain that Christ gives us His natural physical body in, with, and under the bread. What else other than Christ's true body and blood is able to save us from our sins and give us eternal life?

We must grasp Christ's words in Holy Communion by faith and reject our reasoning and unbelief. 

Here stands the exact words of Christ's Last Will and Testament for us sinners. They cannot be doubted or changed. Christ's Words here in Holy Communion shall never pass away.

" Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." Luke 21:33

Hold onto these pure eternal words of Christ by faith.

13  And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

Smug, arrogant, clumsy, unbelieving LCMS pastors, professors, and laymen imagine that they can change the words of Christ's Last Will and Testament in the King James Bible, Luther's 1545 Bible, and the Greek TEXTUS RECEPTUS.  They especially forcefully press to delete the word "testament" in favor of the word " covenant" in Christ's Last Will and Testament. Like wild swine they rush past the Words of God and proudly hold their heads high in a final and decisive victory as they gleefully squeal over and over: "We do not have the original autographs, therefore we can never be 100% certain of the text of God's Word." They purposely ignore Christ's Words in their hardened unbelief.

"Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." Luke 21:33

Which Words is Christ referring to here? Christ is referring to all the Words God inspired the prophets and apostles to write thousands of years ago. God perfectly preserved the Words He inspired the prophets and apostles to write in the Greek TEXTUS RECEPTUS, Luther's 1545  Bible, and the King James  Bible. These are the Bibles God chose to attach Himself to at the beginning of the reformation and continues to attach Himself to for our modern day reformation. The gavel of God's decisive and final judgement against the corrupt and fraudulent Vaticanus / Sinaticus family of Bibles slammed down at the beginning of the reformation: God rejected the corrupt Vaticanus (Nestle-Aland, ESV, NIV, RSV, NKJV, NASB, Beck's Bible, etc.) and chose the TEXTUS RECEPTUS (Luther's 1545  Bible, King James Bible).

"The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." Psalm 12:6,7

Which Words is God referring to here in Psalm 12? God is referring to the Words He inspired the prophets and apostles to write thousands of years ago. These are the Words God preserves for us in the Greek TEXTUS RECEPTUS, the Hebrew Ben Chayyim Masoretic Text, Luther's 1545 Bible, and King James Bible.

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." 1 Peter 1:23-25

Which Word of the Lord is referred to here in 1 Peter 1:23-25?  Yes, this passage refers to all the words God inspired the prophets and apostles to write. These are the Words of the Lord that endure among us Christians for ever and ever in the TEXTUS RECEPTUS, Luther's 1545 Bible, and the King James Bible. It is true we do not have the original autographs, but God has perfectly preserved all of His Words from the original autographs in the Greek TEXTUS RECEPTUS, Luther's 1545 Bible, and the King James Bible. Are you beginning to see the sharp difference between faith that believes God's Word and unbelief that squeal's, "We do not have the original autographs; therefore we cannot be certain of God's Words in any text or Bible "

6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. Isaiah 40:6-8

Are you beginning to see and experience the perfect harmony of God's pure Words in the King James Bible? You cannot and will not experience the harmonious certainty of God's Word in the corrupt and fraudulent Vaticanus / Sinaticus family of Bibles(Nestle-Aland Greek, United Bible Society Greek, Hebrew Dead Sea Scrolls, ESV, NIV, NKJV, RSV, Beck's Bible, NASB, etc.). 

"For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. Psalm 119:89,90

"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." Psalm 138:2

"O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever." Psalm 117:1,2

1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100

Are you beginning to see the sharp difference between faith that trusts God's Word and unbelief that squeals, "We do not have the original autographs; therefore we do not have any of God's Word with any certainty."

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world." Romans 10:17,18

Note the harmonious certainty of God's Word in the King James Bible. St. Paul is quoting Psalm 19 here.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world." Psalm 19:1-4

Notice how faith holds to these Words of God and believes them. In contrast, unbelief squeals, "God's Word is only certain in the original autographs. It can't be certain in other languages."  

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of the waters." Rev. 14:6,7

The everlasting gospel are the Words God inspired the prophets and apostles to write. Notice the everlasting gospel is preached in all languages, even to every nation, and every tongue. The Words God inspired the prophets and apostles to write are preserved by God in the precise translations of His Words from the Greek TEXTUS RECEPTUS and Hebrew Ben Chayyim Masoretic Text: Luther's 1545 German Bible, King James Bible, and many others. 

The darkness of unbelief and reasoning squeals in protest saying, "We don't have the original autographs. All copies of the original autographs including the Hebrew Ben Chayyim Masoretic Text and Greek TEXTUS RECEPTUS contain at least some errors and omissions. We do not have the exact words God inspired the prophets and apostles to write in the Hebrew Ben Chayyim Masoretic Text and the Greek TEXTUS RECEPTUS therefore we do not have God's Word in Luther's 1545 German Bible, and the King James Bible. All Bibles contain at least some errors and omissions. God did not preserve the exact words from the original autographs. God preserved the thoughts and concepts but not His exact Words. God could not and did not keep errors and omissions from corrupting the Words He inspired the prophets and apostles to write. My name is reasoning and unbelief. I am not afraid to speak a word against God the Holy Ghost. God the Holy Ghost did not and cannot guide us into all truth. He allowed errors to corrupt all Bibles and texts. God the Holy Ghost allowed God's Word to be lost to corruption, doubt, and uncertainty. My name is reasoning and unbelief. 

Sound familiar. I have heard this mantra of vile reasoning and hardened unbelief my whole life. It seems everyone believes it instead of the Words of God.

"Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." John 21:33

"The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." Psalm 12:6,7

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." Isaiah 40:8

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." 1 Peter 1:23-25

Pastor Gregory Jackson, PhD said, " Yale's Nils Dahl asked his doctoral seminar what they knew for certain about the New Testament. We were all stymied. He said, "The text! The text! We have the text! That is how he moved away from 19th century apostate theories." (The King James Version: Apostolic Texts, Precise Translation verses Fraudulent Texts and Heretical Translations; Gregory L. Jackson, PhD ; pg. 189, fig. 18; ISBN 9798429093451

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:13-17

God has perfectly preserved His Words from the original autographs in the Hebrew Ben Chayyim Masoretic Text, Greek TEXTUS RECEPTUS, Luther's 1545 German Bible, and the King James Bible. These pure Words of God continue to bring forth fruit.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:8-11

God's Words went forth out of His mouth into the original autographs thousands of years ago. God has perfectly preserved these Words for us in the King James Bible. He attached Himself to them at the beginning of the reformation and continues to attach Himself to them for the reformation of the world today. I have ways believed this!! You should too!!

The darkness of unbelief is past. So believe God's Words!!

"Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." Luke 21:33

"The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." Psalm 12:6,7

In Christ,

Tom Fisher