Interesting But Not Shocking Review of Higher Education, From the Ovaltines

 

As I told more than one person, I would not recommend Yale Divinity School even if the student was offered 100% tuition, room, and board. On Linn Tonstad - "Professor Tonstad is a constructive theologian working at the intersection of systematic theology with feminist and queer theory."

FULL BIO

Peter Speckhard, nephew of Father Richard Neuhaus, has retired from the Ovatines, a respite for elderly Lutheran liberals and a few other denominations. I got interested when I saw he was quoting Robert Benne, who was a conservative in the LCA. Shocking? Yes, I read his articles and skipped the rest, long ago. Benne knew and discussed higher education with the former Notre Dame Provost James T. Burtchhaell. The provost died in 2015. Burtchhaell was removed - for cause - as provost and priest. He and Benne exchanged views about the growing secular attitudes of religious schools, including Roman Catholic and Lutheran.

The LCA colleges were examples, which became more secular as they grew richer and more Left-wing. My mother attended Augustana when chapel was required daily, and they had a Christianity department, later a Religion department. When Christina and I went there, we either had  weekly chapel or a program once a week. I skipped a few programs and was punished by being forced to attend twice as often, a program plus chapel once a week. Christina said, "I have been watching the punch cards and I saw your name coming up twice a week." She was paid to police attendance with punch cards to feed the college. 

It is easy to see how faculty in the Religion department were hired for their academic degrees (PhD or go home) and their apostasy - Bultmann and Barth. That attitude infiltrated the college and now - though named after the Augsburg Confession - aka Augustana - they had no interest in anything more than a growing school. 

Never mentioned in the courses was the Swedish American move to emphasize the Confessions and Lutheran identity. The Augustana pastors did not want to stay with the loosey-goosey General Synod. The great William Passavant supported Augustana's conservative stance. He was the one who paid for land on Lake Michigan for a seminary, because the Chicago Luther pastors were too stingy to get a seminary going. That land was sold to build a seminary in Maywood, and Wrigley Stadium was built on Passavant's land. No wonder that baseball fans had a special feeling for the Cubs.

Once the doctrinal rot begins, it is difficult to stop. Although I am not a fan of papal infallibility, the graduate class at Notre Dame's seminary - mostly Roman Catholic - were definitely against infallibility. A parish priest in the class was furious - "How can you call yourselves Roman Catholic if you deny the infallibility of the pope?" The Roman Catholic Frank Fiorenza was unruffled and eventually moved to an endowed position at Harvard. 

It may be easier to see, the old Roman Catholic Church becoming much more like Unitarians, the college faculties fanning the flames.

Likewise, the hip liberal denizens of the ALPB Online Discussion Group (the Ovaltines) are watching in horror as their liberal colleges are going under without much dismay. They thought the bad leaven was good to improve upon the old ways. It was only a little change each time.

For example, at Augustana, lots of kids expected to have a position as a Lutheran pastor (men only) and Lutheran staff (teaching, music). The college not only has its own DEI department, but also boasts that their new president was already a DEI specialist! Oh my. The Bored of Directors were ecstatic about their new president, the first ever female president. 

Where does this go? When ELCA was formed in 1989, the new organization stressed they would hire non-Lutherans as much as possible. I was standing in line (post LCA-ELCA) at an ELCA convention when one man asked a staffer about which Lutheran church he attended. The man said, "I am not a Lutheran." Diversity!

When I talked about the ELCA merger disaster, the WELS DP got very nervous, because he was on the ELCA Board for Relief. Though WELS was always bragging about fellowship and pure doctrine and shunning people, they did not want to offend ELCA with all the money the big boys seemed to have. The DP felt overshadowed by the power, might, and education of ELCA leaders. 

Higher education is bound to become more DEI because it is infectious and difficult to remove. 

"Since 1936, the bell tower or klockstapeln, has stood at the base of Zion Hill, between Ascension Chapel and Old Main. The bell tower has been an iconic symbol and a focal point for college lore; many marriage proposals and wedding photos often take place beneath the tower." (Yes, I took Christina to the Plantation restaurant, Augies's Handel's Messiah, and the Bell Tower, where she got her ring.)

New Augustana president. Will this DEI fad fade away? Missouri and WELS have quotas for their kin, a quirky kind of diversity, where only DNA matters. 

Reformation Seminary - Luther, Melanchthon, Chemnitz

 

Reformation Seminary 

Luther, was born in 1483 and died in 1546. He favored the Small Catechism and the Galatians commentaries (shorter and longer).

1. He was well trained could have become a leading figure.

2. The storm threatened his life (sword cut) and he pleaded for mercy, became an Augustine monk and priest.

3. He was urged to earn a doctorate in Biblical studies, which slowly dissolved his Medieval training and Roman Catholic rituals.

4. He kept what was Biblical and discarded papal dogma over time.

5. The printing press started its own revolution, in all languages. Profitable - for others.

6. He argued from the Bible and emphasized the sermon as central to Christian growth.

Melanchthon was born in 1497 and died in 1560. He was the author/editor of the Augsburg Confession and the Apology. He also wrote the Treatise on the Pope.

1. Melanchthon was considered the greatest language scholar after Erasmus.

2. His character was just as irenic as Luther's was polemical. 

3. The two worked closely together, which is clear with Melanchthon's work in the Book of Concord.

Chemnitz was born in 1522 and died in 1586. He was the senior editor of the Book of Concord, 1580.

1. He studied under Luther and Melanchthon.

2. Oddly, he cast horoscopes for a wealthy man, which gave him access to all the ancient Christian authors, invaluable for his battles with Rome and the sects.

3. After Melanchthon's death, Chemnitz began to pull the Lutherans (Evangelicals) together.

4. Chemnitz was widely ignored and probably still is, but his books are available in English.

5. He is most famous for the Book of Concord and the Examination of the Council of Trent.

Easter 3 - Jubilate - "But the really great sorrow above all sorrow is for the heart to lose Christ, so that he is no longer in view and there is no hope of further comfort from him. There are few who are so sorely tried."

 

Complete Sermon - Third Sermon: Christ’s Death and Resurrection; the Comfort Christ Ministers to his Disciples, and the World’s Joy

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.

II. THE COMFORT CHRIST MINISTERS TO HIS DISCIPLES IN THEIR SORROW, AND THE JOY OF THE WORLD.

A. THE SORROW OF THE DISCIPLES AND THE JOY OF THE WORLD.

7. We must learn here now what it is that the Lord says: “A little while, and ye behold me not; and again a little while and ye shall see me,” etc. This passage is fraught with as much meaning as that other: “Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice,” etc. “But your sorrow shall be turned into joy.” A rare saying: A little while not see and be sorrowful, and yet a little while again see and be joyful.

8. According to the letter and history, it is indeed easy to understand what these words mean, especially in our day. In the confession of our faith even the children say: “I believe in Jesus Christ,” etc; “was crucified, dead and buried; the third (lay he rose again from the dead.” These are the two “little whiles,” of which Christ here speaks. But since there is deception where we also seek, and taste it, and we should try to bring it into life or experience, the words have a wonderful depth of meaning — that we should lose Christ, whom we believe to be God’s Son, who died and rose for us, etc; that he should die in us, as the apostles experienced until the third day. A terrible crucifixion and death begin when Christ dies in us and we also in him. As he here says: Ye shall not see me, for I am to depart from you. That is, I die, hence ye also will die, in that ye will not see me; and thus I will be dead to you and you will be dead to me. This is a special, deep and severe sorrow.

9. As there are many kinds of joy, so there are many kinds of sorrow. As, for example, when one is robbed of his money and property, or is reviled and disgraced when innocent, or loses father and mother, child and dear friends, etc; likewise, when Satan afflicts and martyrs one’s soul with sad thoughts, as Satan so easily can, though one knows not why or whence.

But the really great sorrow above all sorrow is for the heart to lose Christ, so that he is no longer in view and there is no hope of further comfort from him. There are few who are so sorely tried. Surely not all even of his disciples experienced this. Perhaps not St. Thomas, St. Andrew, St. Bartholomew, and others, who were such good, common and plain people.

But the other tender hearts, St. Peter, St. John, St. Philip and others, to whom these words applied, as they all had heard that they would lose Christ and never see him again.

***

PS - Someone wrote anonymously to this blog - "Everyone will be so happy when you finally die."

Reformation Seminary - Greek New Testament Classes - Coming Soon

  

The Gospel of John in Greek, Traditional/Stephanus

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&version=TR1550

The Gospel of John, KJV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201&version=KJV

1 εν αρχη ην ο λογος και ο λογος ην προς τον θεον και θεος ην ο λογος

2 ουτος ην εν αρχη προς τον θεον

3 παντα δι αυτου εγενετο και χωρις αυτου εγενετο ουδε εν ο γεγονεν

4 εν αυτω ζωη ην και η ζωη ην το φως των ανθρωπων

5 και το φως εν τη σκοτια φαινει και η σκοτια αυτο ου κατελαβεν

 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Easter 3 Jubilate - "St. Gregory spoke truly when he uttered the fine proverb: The Scriptures are a river in which a large elephant must swim and across, which a little lamb can wade on foot."

 

Complete Sermon - Third Sermon: Christ’s Death and Resurrection; the Comfort Christ Ministers to his Disciples, and the World’s Joy

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
   
THIRD SERMON.

JOHN 16:16-23. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. 17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? 18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. 19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

I. CHRIST’S PASSION AND RESURRECTION.

1. This Gospel contains, and likewise pictures before us, the high and excellent work God accomplished when Christ, his only Son, died and rose again from the dead for us. Much has been said on this theme and there is much more to say. As for myself, I find that the more I study it, the less I master it. But since it is God’s will that we think of him, praise his work and grace, and thank him for the same, it is proper that we speak and hear all we can about them.

2. The Lord addresses his disciples here in dark and veiled words, which they do not understand; chiefly, no doubt, because he wishes thus to admonish them and thoroughly impress these words, so seldom heard, upon them, that they may not forget. A deeper impression is made upon one by words that are seldom used than by the forms of speech in general use.

3. The result was that the disciples even repeated the words twice and asked one another what they must mean. Christ likewise repeated them, and no less than four times. Still they remained dark and unintelligible words to them until later he revealed their meaning, when he rose from the dead and bestowed upon the disciples the Holy Spirit. Then they clearly understood his words. So we now understand them, to the extent that we hear and read them; but that they should be understood to their depth, that will not be in this life. But as I said, the longer and the more one learns from them, the less one can, and the more one must, learn.

4. For the Word of God is d different government, and the Holy Scriptures a different book, from the discourses and writings of man. St. Gregory spoke truly when he uttered the fine proverb: The Scriptures are a river in which a large elephant must swim and across, which a little lamb can wade on foot. For the Scriptures speak clearly and plainly enough to the common people, but to the wise and very learned they are unattainable. As St. Paul confesses concerning himself in Philippians 3:15.

5. And St. Peter says in 1 Peter 1:12 that such things were announced and written in the Scriptures that even the angels have their satisfaction and enough to occupy them, in the great work that Christ, God’s Son, became man, suffered death on the cross, but rose again and sits now at the right hand of the Father, Lord over all, even according to his human nature, and governs and preserves his church against Satan’s wrath and all the power of the world. We have, it is true, the words treating of this, but the angels see and understand it and therein have their eternal joy. And as they in eternity cannot behold it enough, much less can we understand it, for it is a work that is eternal, inexpressible, unmeasurable and inexhaustible.

1 Peter 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Second Sunday after Easter. Shepherd Sunday. Misericordias Domini. 2024.

 

The Second Sunday after Easter, 2024

Bethany Lutheran Church

Shepherd Sunday, 10 AM

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

 

The Hymn #436         The Lord's My Shepherd

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord: by the word of the Lord were the heavens made. Psalm. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

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

Collect 

God, who by the humiliation of Thy Son didst raise up the fallen world, grant unto Thy faithful ones perpetual gladness, and those whom Thou hast delivered from the danger of everlasting death do Thou make partakers of eternal joys; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Then was the Lord Jesus known of the disciples: in the breaking of bread. Hallelujah!

V. I am the Good Shepherd: and know My sheep and am known of Mine. Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #269    O Lord Our Father Shall We Be Confounded

The Unique Shepherd

The Communion Hymn #409   Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus             

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #50              Lord Dismiss Us    

 

Prayers and Announcements

• Medical Care - Randy Anderson, Pastor James Shrader and his wife Chris, Kermit Way, Sarah Buck.
• Greek New Testament lessons will start soon.

 

 Second Sunday After Easter

Lord God, heavenly Father, who of Thy fatherly goodness hast been mindful of us poor, miserable sinners, and hast given Thy beloved Son to be our shepherd, not only to nourish us by His word, but also to defend us from sin, death, and the devil: We beseech Thee, grant us Thy Holy Spirit, that, even as this Shepherd doth know us and succor us in every affliction, we also may know Him, and, trusting in Him, seek help and comfort in Him, from our hearts obey His voice, and obtain eternal salvation, through the same, Thy Son Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

 

KJV 1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

KJV John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

The Unique Shepherd

KJV John 10:11 I AM the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

This section of John 10 begins with the theme of the message, then repeats the same words to explain the meaning of Good Shepherd. Repetition is often used for emphasis. Simple words and phrases reveal two things at once - the Good Shepherd title and what that title means. First of all, I AM is the name of God, a word so powerful that Jesus used it when being arrested and again during the trial.

Mark 14:61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

62 And Jesus said, I AM: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Just as there are many miracles, to show the power and compassion of Jesus, so there are many titles describing what this means. In this age of watering down everything while repeating the same things again and again, people use the name of God and the titles of Christ as expletives. These titles and descriptions are repeated endlessly as blasphemy, but no one seems to mind. That shows not only a lack of faith but also a lack of intelligence. 

The description of Good Shepherd teaches us how miraculous Jesus is. A normal shepherd guards the door and deals with thieves and wolves, but does not give up His life for His flock. The wolves and thieves shatter and kill the sheep - the ongoing persecution of the Christian Church - the Christ has given up His life for those individuals.

The Gospel of John is simple in words and yet profound in meaning. The descriptions and actions of Christ are so clear that we can easily grasp His message, or we might say - His sermon. That is a reason for teaching and learning the Greek of the New Testament. Maybe no one will want to learn a language new to them, but everyone who does will strengthen the Gospel and encourage a new generation. Like Zoom technology, what seems impossible at first is much easier with repetition. 

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

Shepherd Sunday, a nickname going back to the Reformation, is especially clear in these last days. Money pastors are not shepherds. (Pastor is Latin for shepherd.) Money pastors only go through the motions to have a deluxe home, a new car, and thousands of dollars in costumes liturgical garments. They have stacks of books behind them in their videos but seem to be entirely unaware of their value, except as props. A better term today might be "actors" because they know how to impress, such as wearing a pink sweater in a worship service - that sells for $2,000. That describes the Elevation Church, so maybe the pastor is an Elevator. Seriously, the list of mega-churches with mega-pastors eventually turn into mega-collapses. I have listed them - so many and I forget their names. The Internet has a long memory, so an Elevator today is likely going to be linked with a scandal from the past. Or maybe it happened and everyone denies it, like the very corrupt Milwaukee Roman Catholic archbishop, who spoke at a Lutheran college. 

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

The wolf scatters the sheep because the hired hand has run away. Today many people will say they have given up on church and worship - the Christian Faith - because of the lies and spiritual abuse. Denominations tend to worship themselves and the "right people," but that is contrary to the Scriptures. The empty and abandoned churches have a lot more to do with being contrary to the Faith. 

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

I spoke with the neighbor at the grocery store. She had her newborn in the cart, and the baby was cooing, smiling, and paying attention. A bit later the grandparents were at my door, holding the baby, who was smiling and making happy noises. She knew I was talking about her. There is a tug between parent and child: the baby of the family is loved by everyone and everyone loves the child. 

Jesus Christ is saying that there is a constant connection between Him and His sheep. Each one knows the other. It is important to trust in this verse and dwell upon it. Our emotions and attitudes vary all the time. We can be faced with dread, sorrow, anger, and many other oppressive thoughts and feelings. We can always count on the Savior to be in touch with us and to help us in every need. We access faith when we believe in Him, and that is priceless.

15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

These are interlocking circles, so just as Christ is with us and we are with Him, so the Father is attached to us and we are attached to Him. That is taught by Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Atonement of Jesus is the primary focus of the Easter resurrection.

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

This reveals, as we should know, that the Gospel will spread over all the lands, starting with Jewish believers converted, reaching out across the Western Roman Empire (Rome - Europe) and the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium, now Instanbul). There remains one true Christian Church which is made up of those who trust in Jesus Christ as their Good Shepherd.

Three of Luther’s sermons on this text:

• Misericordias Domini. Second Sunday After Easter. John 10:11-16. Christ’s Office and Kingdom; or How Christ is the True Shepherd
• Second Sermon: Preachers, Civil Authorities, and the Knowledge of Christ
• Third Sermon: The Good Shepherd and his Sheep; or Christ’s Person, Office and Rulership

The end

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.