Dear Pastor Jackson,
I hope you are doing good, but I am concerned. I pray for you every day!
Thank you for your prayers, and faithful preaching and teaching of God's Word as clearly taught by Christ and Dr. Martin Luther. Luther literally saved me from a wrong understanding of God's Word. In 1977 my mom and dad and two brothers joined LCMS. I had to really read and study Luther's Works extensively to fully grasp the correct understanding of God's Word and Sacraments. I even read Luther's Bondage of the Will at least 7 times. Luther was a literary scholar and word smith. He used this skill to correctly explain the true meaning of God's Word and Sacraments.
Luther's understanding and teaching of God's Word and Sacraments is the ONLY true Christian doctrine and faith. It alone teaches justification by faith without works. All other religions ADD works to justification, but they are not recognized as being works righteousness. The Baptists, Calvinists, Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, Reformed, Pentecostals, Jews, Turks, Islamic, Greek Orthodox, Mormons, Jehovah Witness, Objective Justification Cultists etc. ALL ADD works to justification by faith.
My younger brother Mark visited me today on his way to Harrison Arkansas. His wife Jean has liver cancer. She does not want to die. She reads God's Word in the King James Bible, especially the Psalms. I asked my brother if Jean was baptized. He said yes. I said Baptism makes her a Christian and an heir of eternal life. She needs to hold onto her Baptism into Christ not her works. God in His mercy is keeping her alive for my sake. What would I say to her sons Jesse and Josh? Jean never went to church, but she is BAPTIZED in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. BAPTISM is church membership. This is clearly evident in the early church. Notice the URGENCY to IMMEDIATELY Baptize all who gladly receive God's Word. Ananias urged Saul to IMMEDIATELY be Baptized and wash away his sins. The Ethiopian Eunuch was IMMEDIATELY Baptized by Philip. Philip did not allow the fall of Simon the Sorcerer who was Baptized to STOP the Ethiopian Eunuch from being Baptized. Phillip did not REQUIRE a 6 week 'church membership course' BEFORE Baptism. No! Baptism FIRST then the six-week study of Luther's Catechism and the King James Bible. That means that I will encourage my two nephews to be baptized as soon as they want to. No delay! Either I will do it or my brother will do it as they completely reject mainline religion. I just pray someone will Baptize Jesse and Josh in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Where are the faithful Lutheran pastors? It seems you are the ONLY faithful Lutheran Pastor in the United States and world. The apostasy and blindness among Lutheran Pastors is frightening!
The church needs faithful Lutheran Pastors. Laymen like myself are distracted from the Word of God by our vocations. I feel bad you are being burdened with the email problem. I pray someone will help quickly resolve the problem.
Pastor Jackson your work is not in vain. I pray God will help you and strengthen you in every way.
In Christ,
Tom Fisher
