ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
I am thinking about the change in churches, which crept up slowly, pounced on everyone, and retreated to note their abandoned church buildings.
A member of our congregation, yet far away, discussed the collapse of a very large church in his area. They were previously red hot and the pride of Fuller Seminary. Now they are more like the locust shells that hang on trees with perfect outlines and nothing inside.
That forlorn member said, "I know what happened. It was all Church Growth!" I might have been tempted to say to him, "Purpose Driven!" Or - "Robert Schuller!" Or - "Willow Creek." I knew about 20 of them (thanks to their gushing books) and visited Purpose Driven hisself - Rick Warren. (Hisself is a correct pronoun to use with carnival clowns.)
We saw the Purpose Driven street sign, pulled in, and attended part of a session. Christina talked us into the paid-for session on the basis of my journalism history. WELS clergy were trained to echo Valleskey, Kelm, Cho, and other nonsenses. They had to pay the fees, no doubt.
Now they have a shortage of members and pastors.
One thing is needful - the Means of Grace - and they hardened themselves against that, so ardently that they do not know its efficacy.
PS - Willow Creek Community Church makes the rest of the Church Growth clergy quite mild and restrained.
21:1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
The Confession of Sins The Absolution The Introit p. 16 The Gloria Patri The Kyrie p. 17 The Gloria in Excelsis The Salutation and Collect p. 19 The Epistle and Gradual
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord! Praise be to Thee, O Christ! The Nicene Creed p. 22
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 #259Flung to the Heedless Winds
Prayers and Announcements
Lori Howell; Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris Shader; mourning the loss of Glen Kotten's father.
KJV Revelation 14:6 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, 7 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 waters.
KJV Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Romans 5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Collect
O almighty, eternal God: We confess that we are poor sinners and cannot answer one of a thousand, when Thou contendest with us; but with all our hearts we thank Thee, that Thou hast taken all our guilt from us and laid it upon Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and made Him to atone for it: We pray Thee graciously to sustain us in faith, and so to govern us by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may live according to Thy will, in neighborly love, service, and helpfulness, and not give way to wrath or revenge, that we may not incur Thy wrath, but always find in Thee a gracious Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Luther's Protest -
Meaning a Positive (pro) Testimony (test)
Sermon Part 1 - Grape Press to Gospel Miracle
Martin Luther (b. 1483) that sums up the role of the printing press in the Protestant Reformation: “Printing is the ultimate gift of God and the greatest one.” (History.com)
England and Germany got into printing very slowly because the numbers were so small. But Luther's 95 Theses printed over 5,000 copies in two weeks (1517) Luther's prolific German established his language instead of clinging to Latin, which was the norm of scholars.
The two countries expanded printing into more languages, and more presses came from more broadsheets (one page), books, and customers. I used to ask college students about the Renaissance era highway signs and books they had at home - they didn't!
Thousand-Year Effect on the Christian Faith
Medieval communication was very limited and extremely expensive, provided only for a few volumes and mostly one language - Latin. That era can be covered from Augustine's death in 430 to Luther's death in 1546.
Rome controlled its power, language, and dogma through the Pope, cardinals, bishops, and priests, very much like the ancient Roman armies and its punishments. Augustine said about a debate, "Rome has spoken; the case is closed."
Part 2
The hippies, then and now, seldom offer positive testimonies. Luther was an unusual man with great capabilities. He was trained at first to serve as a lawyer, town magistrate. But Luther was caught in a terrible storm (1505) and thought he would die. He prayed to be sent into the priesthood and he was soon welcomed into the very strict Augustinian order which comforted him in many ways.
Luther's father did not want a priest for his father, and later made a point about his son having children. (Luther thought about having children and Katherine von Bora sealed the bargain, 1525.)
The early Luther (monk and priest) immersed himself in obeying the Church of Rome and becoming obedient to its demands. But he was also among many who compared the Scriptures against the Vatican, raised at Wittenberg University into the professor's job of teaching the Bible itself rather than a thousand years of fog and disorder.
Justification by Faith in Jesus Christ
Many of us - though not enough - have labored to teach Lutherans what the so-called leaders have tried to force - the truth of the Apostle Paul and Luther against the ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC...and some other sects. All of them insist - one way or another - that the entire world has been absolved of all sin, without faith, in Jesus Son of God.
The Apostle Paul was furious, as he wrote, that
Galatians 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
What about forgiveness? Is forgiveness there without the Good Shepherd, without the flock trusting, believing, loving the Savior? And yet clergy are shocked that they are without a genuine Gospel, without members!?
Nothing is more comforting than forgiveness through faith in Son of God. People can go through great turmoil with humility and trust in Jesus. In most cases, one person asks for forgiveness, which makes the other partner ask forgiveness as well.
An abundance of forgiveness rests upon the Lord Himself, because
5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faithinto this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
I said it before - "Everyone wants access," and that was more than two thousand years ago. The grace we have is by faith in Jesus.
Where are all the methods, without faith in Him?
Where are the magical chemicals, guaranteed for success?
America is in desperate need of prayer as the planned communist terrorism unfolds. Leftist traitors in Congress and the Senate intentionally shut down our government to trigger a violent communist takeover of America. These leftist traitors even refused to pass a bill that would allow essential government workers to be paid such as air traffic controllers, law enforcement, our military, and other essential workers. Socialism for 43 million food stamp recipients will end abruptly on November 1 triggering massive riots, and forced closures of grocery stores due to smash and grab mobs stealing food.
Pray that God will help President Trump and all government officials to quell this planned violent communist takeover of America.
Be prepared. Begin to stock up on essential food and supplies. As winter approaches I always stock up on food and essential supplies because the roads in the country often drift shut for days. Use some common sense. It is always good to have extra food on hand for surprise emergencies and winter snow storms. Even the tiny ants, squirrels, and chipmunks store food for the coming winter.
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Proverbs 6:6-9
24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; Proverbs 30:24-26
Christ and Luther always give true comfort and certainty. I experience true relief and comfort when I listen to Christ and Luther. Luther is especially skilled in providing vivid illustrations and examples that amplify the true and certain comfort of Christ Words.
Our sins and the cares and worries of this life often weigh us down with dejection and sadness. We feel our sins and the threats of this life. As true Christians we are sorry for our sins, but the voice of Christ and Luther brings us eternal relief and comfort. The world mocks us for being sorry and sad over what it considers petty insignificant sins. No sin is petty. All sin no matter how petty wars against our souls. Luther says that we daily sin much and deserve only wrath and punishment.
The voice of Christ and Luther will not allow us to wallow in dejection and sadness over our sins and the threats of this life. I experienced this last night while reading the Words of Christ and Luther in John 6:37
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:37
Last night I was especially sad and dejected over my sins, worries and fears of that day. I could not sleep so I began to read Luther's explanation of John 6:37 in Luther's Works, CPH, vol. 23, page 48:
"When you come, just believe, and you will not want. Your shortcomings and failures will not harm you." This we learn from Romans 14:22 and 15:1. A believer has forgiveness of sin, and Christ will not cast him out. Sin will ever remain part of the Christian's flesh, as seen, for instance, in evil desires referred to in Romans 6-8. "But as long as a man comes to Me in faith, even though he should stumble, I shall see to it that this does not harm him." His sinful flesh will have no dominion over him; there is no condemnation for those who are incorporated into the body of Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1 ), although they are not yet entirely pure, and their flesh is not completely mortified."
Luther then gives us a wonderful illustration and example:
"Thus even if you fall and sin, Christ will not cast you out. A mother will not put a soiled, mangy, or sick child out of the house. A son or a daughter often does wrong, but they are not disinherited and ejected from the house because of this."
As I listened to the voice of Christ and Luther, my dejection and sadness lifted and was replaced by true Christian cheerfulness. Yes, I am that sinful, soiled, sick child that Christ my good Shepherd forgives and cleanses from ALL sin.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1
The comforting voice of Christ and Luther is our pearl of great price this reformation day. It stands alone in stark contrast to the troubling voices of ALL other religions that ADD the preparations of 'free will' to justification by faith. These preparations of 'free will' are not recognized as works righteousness. For example these works righteousness salesmen require that you must 'make a decision for Christ' or 'ask Jesus into your heart', or 'put Christ first', or 'go forward to the alter', or 'dedicate your life to Christ', or 'do wonderful things for Christ', or have an emotional conversion, or speak in tongues, or go on a pilgrimage. All of these false religions add their own works to justification by faith. They are called Christian, but they add their own works to justification by faith. They all reject God's work in Baptism in favor of their own flavor of works righteousness. They are enemies of the gospel of Christ because they add their own works to justification by faith. The Catholics, Baptists, Christian Reformed, Greek Orthodox, Calvinists, Presbyterians, Methodist, Turks, Jews, Amish, Objective Justification Cultists, Pentecostals, etc. all add their own works to justification by faith. They are NOT Christian at all. This is troubling because many of our relatives and loved ones follow the teachings of these false churches. They need the comforting voice of Christ and Luther so we must do our best to help them.
Christ is our Good Shepherd. No one is able to pluck us out of His hands.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Reformation Day is approaching, so I am recalling a few matters about its desecration.
When I finished my PhD dissertation at Notre Dame, through Augustana College and the Lutheran Theological School of Theology, the college published the edited book about A. D. Mattson.
Later I had a very long essay for Herman Otten and his Christian News. He suggested that I finish it for WELS as a book. That took a little time as a WELS book, but it came out as Liberalism: Its Cause and Cure. That irritated some!
My teaching basic Lutheran doctrine made the Church Growthies go nuts, but Liberalism did well and went into three editions. The efficacy of the Word was nothing compared to the Fuller gimmicks. Justification by Faith was loathed and disputed in every possible way. Justification without Faith - that remains their delight and oath.
My next effort was Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant, describing the basics of the three major religious groups. Kurt Marquart endorsed it and Herman Otten handled the printing. WELS promoted and distributed the books. I did some additional printings.
Many "conservative" Lutheran pastors avoided what they stealthily advocated.
I am done with writing new books; I have little to say about the so-called Lutheran sects. I will keep on blogging about the Scriptures, the KJV, hymns, and sermons.
"Entry of Alexander into Babylon", a 1665 painting by Charles LeBrun, depicts Alexander the Great's uncontested entry into the city of Babylon, envisioned with pre-existing Hellenistic architecture.
That chapter should be read slowly to capture the future lying before us - not in the future but now.
The worst examples start with our treatment of the unborn, trafficking in babies and young children, abusing all the medical possibilities, public school tricks, and more to end the life of an innocent child.
The Biblical chapter is a reminder of what will arrive in the future. That entails enormous greed, the worst abuse of maintaining families, and devouring all the delights of the flesh.
RSV 18:1And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
[Great brilliance in comparison to the darkness coming.]
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
[This is a warning for all those over the earth.]
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
16 And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
23 And the light of a candle shall shine no moreat all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
The Rev. Hannah Kardon, left, is pulled from a group of demonstrators by Illinois State Police outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Broadview, Illinois, Oct. 17, 2025. (Video screen grab)
Last Friday (Oct. 17), the Rev. Hannah Kardon, a United Methodist minister in the Chicago area, stood alongside other protesters demonstrating outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Broadview, Illinois. As a line of Illinois State Police began marching toward her and other demonstrators, gripping wooden batons, footage shows the pastor with her hands raised in prayer.
Officers then pushed into the protesters, forcing them back. One officer shifted his stance, reared back and began shoving his baton like a battering ram — jamming it repeatedly, Kardon says, into her leg. A few seconds later, the pastor was pulled from the crowd and thrown to the ground.
All the while, Kardon says, she never stopped praying. When officers began to arrest her, they tied her arms behind her back and placed her along the curb.
"I said, 'God, please help these people to know that what they're doing is wrong, and help them to turn around,'" Kardon, who leads United Church of Rogers Park in Chicago, said in an interview. Her leg, she said, has developed visible bruises.
The incident, most of which was captured on film by a journalist with the independent outlet Unraveled, is the latest example in a growing list of Chicago-area clergy who have been met with violence after confronting state and federal agents to protest the actions of ICE. As President Donald Trump's ongoing immigration crackdown in Chicago continues, a diverse array of faith leaders from across the region are speaking out against the government's treatment of immigrants — with many voicing willingness to risk arrest and physical harm to protect migrants.
Kardon is among the more than 210 signers of a letter signed by mostly Chicago-area Christian clergy. Titled "Jesus is Being Tear Gassed at Broadview," the letter railed against ICE and agents "hunting and terrorizing of immigrant communities" in the city. The letter was made public the same day Kardon was arrested and has accrued more than 100 additional signatures since then.
"Our parishes and schools will not turn away those who seek comfort, and we will not be silent when dignity is denied in the enforcement of the law, it is essential that we respect the dignity of every human being," said Cardinal Blase Cupich, Catholic archbishop of Chicago, in a Oct. 21 statement.
17:1And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
[Angels are primarily announcers of events.]
2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
[Fornication is far worse, because adultery involves marriage - fornication not.]
3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
[Blasphemy is the opposite of divine proclamation.]
4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth.
[The greatness of the Father-Son-Holy Spirit is the exact opposite of the Abominations.]
6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
[This should make everyone stop to think - not written.]
9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
[Great contrasts.]
15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
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