Son of Dr. Walter Maier - Paul Maier - Died at the Age of 94

 

Note that Herman Otten opposed Justification by Faith and Biblical inerrancy (the laughable Beck-for-bucks Bible).

Yes indeed, Otten opposed inerrancy and Justification by Faith, but Otten printed this on the back cover of the book he published - Walter A. Maier Still Speaks.

These four are descendants of Walter Maier. The professor on the left was savagely treated by the Objective Justification fanatics at Concordia, Ft. Wayne. The OJ faculty made sure he could no longer teach Romans.

The Rev. Dr. Paul L. Maier, noted author and Luther scholar who also served many years on the Praesidium of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), died on Feb. 27. He was 94.

Maier was born in St. Louis on May 31, 1930, to the Rev. Dr. Walter A. and Hulda (Eickhoff) Maier. He and his brother, the Rev. Dr. Walter A. Maier II, spent much of their childhood on the campus of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL), where their father was a professor.

Paul Maier married Joan M. Ludtke in 1967. He earned a Master of Arts from Harvard University (1954), a Master of Divinity from CSL (1955), and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Basel, Switzerland (1957), where he was the first American to graduate summa cum laude. He also received three honorary doctorates — from CSL (1995); Concordia University Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Mich. (2000); and Concordia University Irvine, Irvine, Calif. (2007).

Maier served on the faculty of Western Michigan University (WMU), Kalamazoo, for 52 years, including serving as campus chaplain for 39 of those years. At the time of his retirement, he had served longer than any other WMU professor. He served as a member of the LCMS Praesidium — fourth vice-president (2001–2004), second vice-president (2004–2010) and third vice-president (2010–2013) — as well as on the boards of the Concordia University System (1989–2001) and CSL (2001–2010).  

He was the author of a variety of historical fiction and nonfiction books, including a #1 national best-seller in religious fiction, A Skeleton in God’s Closet (1993). His first book, A Man Spoke, A World Listened (1963), was a biography of his father, the founding speaker of the radio program, “The Lutheran Hour.” Maier also wrote several children’s books, including The Very First Christmas (1999); The Very First Easter (2000); and The Very First Christians (2001).

Maier received numerous awards, including the “Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award” (2018); the Gold Medallion Book Award (1999); a citation from the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters (1985); “Professor of the Year” from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (1984); “Distinguished Faculty Scholar” from WMU (1981); and the “Alumni Award for Teaching Excellence,” also from WMU (1974). He was widely known as a Luther scholar and a historian with expertise in the Early Church and the life of Jesus. He lectured extensively; appeared frequently in national radio, television and newspaper interviews; and wrote more than 200 scholarly articles. He was a frequent speaker at Camp Arcadia, Arcadia, Mich. 

LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison reflected on Maier’s service to the church: “Paul lived a remarkable life. He was a blessing to the LCMS and well beyond. His books defending the historicity of the biblical witness to Christ and the Early Church helped give us confidence and boldness to preach Christ. His novels intrigued, delighted and educated us about Christ and His church. It was my pleasure to spend years with him as he served on the Praesidium of the Synod. Christ is risen!”

Maier is survived by four daughters — Laura (Brett) Alexander, Julie Maier, Krista (Zach) Klepchak and Katie (Brad Toepper) Maier-Toepper; 10 grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Leah Maier; nephews Rev. Dr. Walter A. Maier III and Rev. Dr. David PE Maier; and great nieces and nephews.

Visitation will take place Thursday, March 13, 4–6:30 p.m., at Zion Lutheran Church, 2122 Bronson Blvd., Kalamazoo, Mich., with a funeral the next morning, March 14, at 11 a.m., also at Zion. Clergy are invited to robe and process. Additional visitation will be held at the church beginning at 10 a.m. before the service and again following the service during a light reception. A graveside service for family will follow at 2 p.m. at West Oshtemo Cemetery in Kalamazoo.

Memorials may be made to:

• The Dr. Paul Maier Endowment for Ancient History—WMU Foundation;
• Camp Arcadia; and
• Zion Lutheran Church, Kalamazoo.

Posted March 3, 2025

NewEgg Sending New Camera and Tripod

Kilcrease, though born in a WELS parsonage, went to college and seminary at ELCA institutions. He got a PhD from the Jesuits. Below is his effort at the misnamed Teigen lectures. The ELS began by separating from the ELCA branch of Norwegians, so the irony is deep and ripe to have Jack show up and mark his territory.

I am working on several aspects of Vimeo live streaming, so we can keep up with the apostates.

1) A new video camera and tripod were ordered from NewEgg because the old one had a serial number in Roman numerals!

2) I tried a new camera, which was bad and sent it back, because it did not even fit on the tripod.

3) I discerned a way to take labor off the main computer doing the Vimeo live feed, which was also calling up the hymns. The laptop can do that.

4) I will also be talking to Vimeo about the two minute shutdowns, which have happened three times. With high tech stuff there are many things to troubleshoot. I find this a fun challenge.

5) The music could be affected by these issues, too.

 The Maier quotation above is from this Otten book. Herman did not listen - he played games with opposing sides so he could sell newspapers to both. CN posed as non-profit, but it was and is non-prophet.

Walter A. Maier (PhD Harvard, Semitics), Justification and Inerrancy Teacher -- His Works Are Being Made Available Again

Christian News published this book, so shouldn't the editor teach Justification by Faith?

A Word Fitly Spoken

http://wordfitlyspoken.org/maier/

Walter Arthur Maier (1893-1950) was a pioneer in many ways. He was a husband, father, pastor, professor and more. He forged a bold path in religious radio broadcasting. Few Lutherans have made such an impact on America. His preaching reached millions. His influence spread far and wide. He preached Christ faithfully, with conviction, energy, and boldness. Where is his voice today? 

Nearly all of Dr. Maier’s sermons are currently out of print. Word Fitly Spoken aims to remedy that. We are undertaking a project to digitize most of his preaching. We have secured permission to post his sermons on our website. We will have an entire section dedicated to WAM’s works. It is our sincere hope that this effort gives a greater understanding of the man. Our desire is that many will learn from this free resource. 

So please join us as we preserve these historic sermons. They are a window into a time of the Lutheran Church that is not too far off but perhaps nearly forgotten.

Anniversary Photographs

Christina likes the way this photo shows off her hair.

We went through the photographs last night, and Mrs. Ichabod said she liked this one especially. I promised to post it soon.

I often start the day with a post, so now I have to do that first. If I get involved in editing or reading, the emails roll in - "Are you OK?" Then I have stop and assure people that I may have slept past dawn and started work on a book rather than a post. Those incidents remind me of a blogging instructor who said to the class, "If you post more than once a week, you're crazy!" I responded in my outdoor voice, "That explains a lot." No one in the class could comprehend what I do every day, which is as natural for me as repairing the car is for others. 

Question - You are up and writing at 4 AM? Answer - The phone does not ring. The texts do not pop up. The TV is off. The household sleeps. The pour-over coffee is fresh and hot. Above all - the eyes are rested.

Will Cub Editor Phil Hale condemn this as well? This is from Christian News publishing.

I am thankful for all the opponents who give me motivation and fuel for writing about them. A Facebook friend notified me that a FB discussion group - unknown to me - is going nuts over my clear, plain explanations of Justification by Faith. I have to join the page to view the comments, but they do not allow that - so far. Someone else can copy and paste those cherished verities, if it seems worthwhile.

I recall a young woman who was describing the pain her ex gave her. I said, "Time wounds all heels." There are many people who fall into that category. I can imagine how they were on the playground in elementary school. I would thank them now, but they have gone to their reward.

The laity understand Justification by Faith, but the clergy reject the Chief Article, often covering their dogma with evasions and "I will get back to you later."

The spirit of this age is to pit grace against faith, contrary the Holy Spirit's clear teaching -

Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (See Genesis 15:6)

Those who glory in grace-against-faith remind me of the LCA Word and Witness tape, where the narrator, in the most caustic voice said, "These TV Evangelicals are very popular, but there is no grace in them at all."

I thought about that statement (and the anger) a long time, and realized that the LCA expert was saying, "The Evangelicals emphasize faith, but we teach everyone is already forgiven and saved." That is exactly how the LCMS-WELS glory in "grace", which is not grace at all. Faith in Christ makes LCMS-WELS furious and anxious to pounce, if the conditions are right. 

"Justified before birth" - is that your confession?
The Preus Brothers used flimflam language like this to crush Walter A. Maier. They had a chance to ask for forgiveness, but their heirs - or errors - continue.

LCMS-WELS-ELS-ELDONA Reject Inerrancy by Embracing the NIV-ESV Greek Text

The LCMS-WELS-ELS-ELDONA sects reject the ancient truth of Biblical inerrancy by embracing the NIV and ESV translations. 

These apostate factions get along well with ELCA because they share the same foundation - the modernized Greek text butchered by Hort-Wescott and further abused in its new disguise as the Nestle-Aland text. 

The traditional or received text (Textus Receptus for Latin 101 veterans) is not only consistent throughout, but exists in other forms as translations, church father quotations, and lectionaries. A lectionary can be dated one century and yet have a tradition going much earlier. As everyone knows - or should know - the publishing of Scripture is far more rigorous than ordinary books. 

Hort and Tiscendorf really wanted to derail the traditional text, so they took exceptions and made them the new norms. I have some interesting quotes about Hort's attitude and methods. In short, he did not reveal his new text until the English revision came out that matched it, 1881. Blowback was enormous because - suddenly - the Greek New Testament was quite different. 

This is a brief description of how this happened. Hort hated the traditional text and decided that later versions were identified by lots of extra words and verses. He liked the Vatican example (conveniently called Vaticanus) because so many words were missing. 

Here is the thinking - a manuscript gets more verbose over time, so we must find the original, clean copy. But that is nonsense. Apart from the overwhelming evidence behind the traditional text, there is this common sense answer to Hort. When we are writing or copying, what happens when an odious or troublesome term or event comes up? We avoid to edit that out or use circumlocutions. When one Yalie was told he would experience the worst pain in his life during one procedure, he explained, "It was everything they promised."

So - if an anti-Trinitarian does not like to equate Jesus with God, he will omit God and substitute a pronoun. 1 Timothy 3:16 is an example. And, the text may be worn and faded, which can yield the same result. 

Mark 16:9ff is beautifully in harmony with Matthew and Luke. One example of a manuscript dropping the ending has become faux-canonical already in the LCMS. (Seminex won!) In various modern translations, the ending is dropped to the footnote area or marked as dubious. "Some ancient witnesses say..."

There are hundreds of examples of this finessing, always reducing the text and its clarity.

Very few clergy know enough Greek to spot this, to follow the evidence, to care about the results. But the denominations and higher education have simply excluded anything KJV from the list. That is why Attempted Murder will be written to explain this so even a District President can understand.

Two fake doctors say, "And then we will remove the ending of Mark and still make a ton of money!"

From David Becker - About Dr. Walter A. Maier II - Who Was Persecuted by Scaer and Preus

 David Scaer made a point of belittling the Maier family, including Dr. Walter A. Maier Senior. The late WAM II is on the left. Read Scaer's autobiographical confession of sins, utterly lacking in contrition. A reader added - "The Maier family are the true Lutherans. The Calvinists have completely taken over Missouri. Same with WELS ELS etc."

From David Becker:

"Dr. Walter Maier Jr. has often been mentioned in the context of his father, sons or brother, but he had a noteworthy ministry in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in his own right.  Some of the controversies have not been mentioned in obituaries of Dr. Maier Jr.  These will be discussed briefly here, based on the public record and not so much on personally knowing Dr. Maier Jr., though I did meet and speak with him once.  These remarks are personal views, not necessarily shared by others.

In Pastor Herman Otten's book about Dr. Maier Jr.'s father, Lutheran Hour speaker Walter Maier, Walter A. Maier Still Speaks: Missouri and the World Should Listen (2008), Pastor Otten noted among other things, "Walter Maier Jr.'s signature is the first to appear under Crossroads, a document supported by conservatives concerned about the growth of theological liberalism in the LCMS."  This 1970s document played a significant role in sparking liberals to leave the LCMS, shown most in the exodus from Concordia Seminary St. Louis and the formation of Seminex.

Otten continued, "An unfortunate controversy developed in the LCMS when Maier expressed opposition to the doctrine of objective justification.  CN had good friends on both sides and suggested that all listen to Dr. Kurt Marquart who had worked out some sort of unity statement with Maier.  CN supported the position which Kurt Marquart, Robert and Jack Preus took in the controversy, but deplored that Jack Preus was using Maier's position for an excuse to get rid of Maier."

In Jim Burkee's history book, Power Politics and the Missouri Synod, Burkee didn't buy that former LCMS President Jack Preus's opposition to Maier was motivated by doctrinal concerns at all.  Maier Jr. got elected to the LCMS presidium but was never elected LCMS president.  The direction of the LCMS might have been drastically different had Maier Jr. gotten elected in 1981 instead of Ralph Bohlmann.

Otten went on, "CN expressed regrets when Walter Maier Jr., who was being influenced by LCMS President Ralph Bohlmann, signed a resolution with Bohlmann attacking Robert Preus as an impenitent sinner who should be removed from the LCMS.  CN urged all members of the LCMS's Praesidium, who signed the Bohlmann inspired resolution, to withdraw their signatures."  I had occasion to meet Dr. Maier Jr. at a Lutheran Laymen's League convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan around that time.  In conversation with him then, without specific reference to anyone, he told me that he needed to follow his conscience as to what he believed was right regardless of what criticism he got.

Dr. David Scaer, long time Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne professor who has heavy Romanizing tendencies, discussed Maier Jr. at some length in his massive book released earlier this year, Surviving the Storms (the volume has been highly praised by Logia and Gottesdienst).  Dr. Scaer depicted Dr. Maier Jr. as doing a horrendously bad job in leadership at the seminary after Robert Preus left.  Subsequent leaders at CTSFW leaders have been more to Scaer's liking.  According to Scaer, the whole Maier family remains suspect and guilty of false doctrine.  Scaer wrote among other things, "Support for Walter A. Maier II as synod president cannot be ruled out as a reason for Jack Preus asking his brother Robert to handle Maier II’s doctrine of justification. Relations between the Preus brothers were not without their rough spots. Yet both Robert Preus and Jack Preus could not accept what they saw as the denial of objective justification by both Walter Maier I and his son Walter Maier II. His views also became an issue

in September 1989 with the calling of Walter Maier III, whose views were seen by some faculty members as virtually identical with his father’s view. Neither understood this doctrine according to traditional Missouri Synod definitions."

Dr. Scaer also expressed implied disapproval that Dr. Maier Jr. delivered the opening sermon at Camp Trinity, New Haven, Missouri in the 1970s.  "Complicating matters was that Maier’s position may have been held by those who thought of themselves as conservatives in working for a change at the St. Louis seminary. Christian News editor Herman Otten factored into Jack Preus’s election as synod president and had supported Robert Preus in his attempt to be retained as the Fort Wayne seminary president. Otten had written his master of sacred theology thesis on the Lutheran Hour speaker’s social views and maintained a personal connection by inviting his widow, Hulda Maier (1890–1986), and then his son Walter II to speak at inaugural events at Camp Trinity in New Haven, Missouri."  Scaer seems to suggest that it was alarming that Maier Jr. and his mother did that.

Independent Lutheran pastor Dr. Greg Jackson, blogger and author of numerous books, has in recent years strongly supported Dr. Maier Jr., stating on October 28 that opposition to Maier Jr.'s theology was "demonic" and "guilty in destroying the LCMS."

None of this comes up in the many kind and warm remembrances of Dr. Maier Jr. on Facebook.  One person commented simply, "Dr. Maier was a humble and vibrant servant of God!"

Dr. Maier Jr.'s obituary lists the traditional Lutheran TV program, "Worship Anew," as a suggested memorial outlet."

Dr. Walter A. Maier II Has Passed into Eternal Life. Did David Scaer Apologize to Him?

WAM II is on the left. Brother Paul is right of him (historian). DP Maier is in the blue shirt and WAM III (Ft. Wayne) is wearing the academic gown. Corrections and amendments to the caption are welcome.

"I just read that Dr. Walter A. Maier II, retired professor of Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne and past VP of Synod, has passed away. I had Dr. Maier as a professor and remember him as a kind and committed servant of the church. Dr. Maier is the son of the well-known Lutheran Hour speaker Walter A. Maier (speaker from 1930-1950), and the brother of Dr. Paul L. Maier, well-known author of many books including a biography of his father. His son, Walter A. Maier III still teaches at CTS-FW as a professor of Old Testament."

ALPB Forum

David Scaer's 54 Year Opposition to the Maier Clan Teaching Justification by Faith. Scaer Wins the Waldo Werning Award for Vendettas

David Scaer was obsessed in his opposition to WAM II's Justification by Faith, which he found also in WAM III. Did not Dr. Walter A. Maier teach the Chief Article? - Yes, and Scaer resented  that.

 Otten gave the show away on the back cover of his Walter A. Maier book, or perhaps he was selling to both sides of the issue, as he claimed.

"The controversy over subjective justification* and over the theology of Walter A. Maier II goes back in the Missouri Synod to 1965, when Jack Preus had the board of Concordia Theological Seminary call him to the Springfield faculty. In the four years which followed, during which Jack continued as president, it is unlikely that he did not know Maier II’s positions. The students did!"

Scaer, David P.. Surviving the Storms: Memoirs of David P. Scaer. Luther Academy. Kindle Edition. #5623.

---

GJ - *Subjective Justification in the Scaer lexicon may mean Justification by Faith, but he pollutes the term by shoe-horning it into Calvinistic dogmatic terms.

Objective Justification is not the Atonement, as Dr. Robert Preus said in his famous essay that Cascione ordered him to write.

Objective Justification always means - "justification" gives it away - that God has declared the entire world forgiven and saved.
Therefore, their Subjective Justification means accepting God's universal absolution. The justification term always includes the declaration of forgiveness, which is clearly by faith alone, apart from the works of the Law.

From Scaer

Objective vs. Subjective Justification 

"While biblical inspiration and authority was foundational for Pieper’s Christian Dogmatics, Franz Pieper was absorbed with the doctrine of objective justification throughout his three volumes. Also known as universal justification, it distinguished the Missouri Synod from other synods as no other doctrine in the second half of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century did. At the heart of the doctrine was that God justified the entire world in the resurrection of Christ."

Scaer, David P.. Surviving the Storms: Memoirs of David P. Scaer. Luther Academy. Kindle Edition. #5539.

LutherQuest (sic) Bares Its Fangs. How WAM II Was Beaten Like a Rented Mule for Teaching Justification by Faith

  Exactly where in the Bible is this Dreck taught?

Daniel Iwinski (Polishlutheran) Junior Member Username: Polishlutheran Post Number: 44 Registered: 12-2005

Posted on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 - 11:07 am:       I know lots can and has been written about this subject, especially here on LutherQuest. I know Greg Jackson denies universal objective justification. I am assuming he believes Jesus died for the whole world and the world's sins have been atoned for. Is his take simply the "in view of faith" doctrine? Does he believe faith is still a gift of God created and worked in an individual? Thanks in advance for any insight.

GJ - "In view of faith" is not a Biblical doctrine. It is a slogan used in a cowardly way to attack Justification by Faith, the Chief Article, which term they largely ignore, except when using it to confuse people with OJ, SJ, UOJ, General Justification,  and Justification of the World. Pieper, Mueller, and David Scaer combine the three terms to confuse the issue and snarl for their own little hobby horse, Objective Justification.

---
Someone on LQ directed the probie to Robert Preus' pratfall.

Dr. Robert Preus on JustificationBy Rev. Jack Cascione

Dr. Greg Jackson has repeatedly stated on Luther Quest that Dr. Robert Preus was not in agreement with Objective Justification. [GJ - False - I repeatedly stated Preus was for OJ before he was against OJ - in Justification and Rome.]  

I served as the PR Flack for Fort Wayne from 1978-1981. “Missouri In Perspective” the ELIM paper, criticized the LC-MS position on Objective Justification. As editor for the Concordia Theological Seminary - Fort Wayne “News Letters” I asked Dr. Preus to respond in the Spring 1981 Issue. [GJ - Note Jack's preening. Preus obeyed him!] The following is his reply, plus other relative excerpts.

 McCain also pitched for this absurd statement.

 Part of the post is below - found at this link:

CONCORDIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

NEWSLETTER – Spring 1981\

6600 North Clinton
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825

THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – "OBJECTIVE JUSTIFICATION"

The doctrine of objective justification is a lovely teaching drawn from Scripture which tells us that God who has loved us so much that He gave His only to be our Savior has for the sake of Christ’s substitutionary atonement declared the entire world of sinners for whom Christ died to be righteous (Romans 5:17-19). [GJ - Note that the Atonement is not OJ.]

Objective justification which is God’s verdict of acquittal over the whole world is not identical with the atonement, it is not another way of expressing the fact that Christ has redeemed the world. Rather it is based upon the substitutionary work of Christ, or better, it is a part of the atonement itself. It is God’s response to all that Christ died to save us, God’s verdict that Christ’s work is finished, that He has been indeed reconciled, propitiated; His anger has been stilled and He is at peace with the world, and therefore He has declared the entire world in Christ to be righteous.

THE SCRIPTURAL SUPPORT

According to all of Scripture Christ made a full atonement for the sins of all mankind. Atonement (at-one-ment) means reconciliation. If God was not reconciled by the saving work of Christ, if His wrath against sin was not appeased by Christ'’ sacrifice, if God did not respond to the perfect obedience and suffering and death of His Son for the sins of the world by forgiveness, by declaring the sinful world to be righteous in Christ -–if all this were not so, if something remains to be done by us or through us or in us, then there is no finished atonement. [GJ - Notice all the "ifs" without any Scriptureal support.] But Christ said, "It is finished." And God raised Him from the dead and justified Him, pronounced Him, the sin bearer, righteous (I Timothy 3:16) and thus in Him pronounced the entire world of sinners righteous (Romans 4:25). [GJ - Romans 4:24 and Romans 5:1-2 demolish all this drivel.]

All this is put beautifully by an old Lutheran theologian of our church, [GJ - who left for the Church of Rome] "We are redeemed from the guilt of sin; the wrath of God is appeased; all creation is again under the bright rays of mercy, as in the beginning; yea, in Christ we were justified before we were even born. For do not the Scriptures say: ‘God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them?'’ This is not the justification which we receive by faith...That is the great absolution which took place in the resurrection of Christ. It was the Father, for our sake, who condemned His dear Son as the greatest of all sinners causing Him to suffer the greatest punishment of the transgressors, even so did He publicly absolve Him from the sins of the world when He raised Him up from the dead." (Edward Preuss, "The Justification of a Sinner Before God," pp. 14-15)

The entire world is righteous at the resurrection of Christ - advocated by Halle Pietists, Rambach, Knapp, Bishop Stephan, Walther, Edward Preuss and Robert Preus.
1 Timothy 3:16 does not teach this - Chemnitz.

OBJECTIVE JUSTIFICATION AND JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH

The doctrine of objective justification does not imply that there is no hell, that God’s threats throughout Scripture to punish sins are empty, or that all unbelievers will not be condemned to eternal death on the day of Christ’s second coming. And very definitely the doctrine of objective, or general, justification does not threaten the doctrine of justification through faith in Christ. [GJ - So why did they ban WAM II from teaching Romans? Hmmm?] Rather it is the very basis of that Reformation doctrine, a part of it. For it is the very pardon which God has declared over the whole world of sinners that the individual sinner embraces in faith and thus is justified personally. Christ’s atonement, His propitiation of God and God’s forgiveness are the true and only object of faith. Here is what George Stoekhardt, perhaps the greatest of all Lutheran biblical expositors in our country, [GJ - hardly!] says, "Genuine Lutheran theology counts the doctrine of general (objective) justification among the statements and treasures of its faith. Lutherans teach and confess that through Christ’s death the entire world of sinners was justified and that through Christ’s resurrection the justification of the sinful world was festively proclaimed. This doctrine of general justification is the guarantee and warranty that the central article of justification by faith is being kept pure. Whoever holds firmly that God was reconciled to the world in Christ, and that to sinners in general their sin was forgiven, to him the justification which comes from faith remains a pure act of the grace of God. Whoever denies general justification is justly under suspicion that he is mixing his own work and merit into the grace of God." [GJ - Thus the Chief Article is always "denying OJ."]

THE REALITY OF OBJECTIVE JUSTIFICATION

Objective justification is not a mere metaphor, a figurative way of expressing the fact that Christ died for all and paid for the sins of all. Objective justification has happened, it is the actual acquittal of the entire world of sinners for Christ’s sake. Neither does the doctrine of objective justification refer to the mere possibility of the individual’s justification through faith, to a mere potentiality which faith completes when one believes in Christ. Justification is no more a mere potentiality or possibility than Christ’s atonement. The doctrine of objective justification points to the real justification of all sinners for the sake of Christ’s atoning work "before" we come to faith in Christ. Nor is objective justification "merely" a "Lutheran term" to denote that justification is available to all as a recent "Lutheran Witness" article puts it – although it is certainly true that forgiveness is available to all. Nor is objective justification a Missouri Synod construct, a "theologoumenon" (a theological peculiarity), devised cleverly to ward off synergism (that man cooperates in his conversion) and Calvinistic double predestination, as Dr. Robert Schultz puts it in "Missouri in Perspective" (February 23, 1981, p. 5) – although the doctrine does indeed serve to stave off these two aberrations. No, objective justification is a clear teaching of Scripture, it is an article of faith which no Lutheran has any right to deny or pervert any more than the article of the Trinity or of the vicarious atonement.

THE CENTRAILITY AND COMFORT OF THE DOCTRINE

Objective justification is not a peripheral article of faith which one may choose to ignore because of more important things. It is the very central article of the Gospel which we preach. Listen to Dr. C. F. W. Walther, the first president and great leader of our synod, speak about this glorious doctrine in one of his magnificent Easter sermons: "When Christ suffered and died, He was judged by God, and He was condemned to death in our place. But when God in the resurrection awakened Him again, who was it then that was acquitted by God in Christ’s person? Christ did no need acquittal for Himself, for no one can accuse Him of single sin. Who therefore was it that was justified in Him? Who was declared pure and innocent in Him? We were, we humans. It was the whole world. When God spoke to Christ, ‘You shall live,’ that applied to us. His life is our life. His acquittal, our acquittal, His justification, our justification….Who can ever fully express the great comfort which lies in Christ’s resurrection? It is God’s own absolution spoken to all men, to all sinners, in a word, to all the world, and sealed in the most glorious way. There the eternal love of God is revealed in all its riches, in its overflowing fullness and in its highest brilliance. For there we hear that it was not enough for God simply to send His own Son into the world and let Him become a man for us, not enough even for Him to give and offer His only Son unto death for us. No, when His Son had accomplished all that He had to do and suffer in order to earn and acquire grace and life and blessedness for us, then God, in His burning love to speak to us sinners, could not wait until we would come to Him and request His grace in Christ, but no sooner had His Son fulfilled everything than He immediately hastened to confer to men the grace which had been acquired through the resurrection of His Son, to declare openly, really and solemnly to all men that they were acquitted of all their sins, and to declare before heaven and earth that they are redeemed, reconciled, pure, innocent and righteous in Christ."

THE ISSUE AT OUR SEMINARY

Many of our readers know that our seminary, and one professor in particular, has been recently criticized for undermining this comforting and clear teaching of objective justification. The criticism and garbled accounts of the situation have become so widespread lately that I must now comment on the matter in this issue of the "Newsletter.

For over 15 years now Professor Walter A. Maier, Jr., has been teaching a course in the book of Romans, and, although he states he has always presented the doctrine of objective justification as taught in our synod (e.g. in the "Brief Statement"), he has taught in class that some of the key passages used in our church to support the doctrine actually do not speak to the subject at all. As a result some within the seminary community and some outside concluded that Dr. Maier did not in fact believe, teach, and confess the article of objective justification. A few – very few – complaints were brought against Dr. Maier and against the seminary for letting this go on.

The president of our synod, who has the responsibility for supervising doctrine in the synod, contacted me and asked me to try to settle the issue and to persuade Dr. Maier to teach an interpretation of the pertinent passages (Romans 4:25; Romans 5:16-19; II Corinthians 5:19) compatible with that which the great teachers of our church in the past (C. F. W. Walther, Francis Pieper, Theodore Engelder, George Stoeckhardt, Martin Franzmann, William Beck and others) publicly taught. Meetings and discussions immediately took place between Dr. Maier and myself. Later on the matter was considered in faculty meetings, in department meetings, and in special committees appointed to discuss and hopefully to settle the issue. During these meetings, which were always most cordial, Dr. Maier has remained unpersuaded that his interpretation of the pertinent passages is faulty. At the same time he has consistently assured all that he has always taught the doctrine of objective justification as understood in the Missouri Synod. He has, however, referred to other biblical evidence for the doctrine.

In the meantime the president of the synod, growing anxious for a clear solution to the problem wrote to the entire church body a letter cautioning congregations not to nominate Dr. Maier for president of the synod until the issue was cleared up to his satisfaction.

Now the issue became political, and protests and criticisms against the president of the synod for his action and also against Dr. Maier'’ teaching began to multiply all over the synod. People naturally began to take sides, not always so much on the doctrinal issue which was not always understood and is still being discussed at our seminary, but for ecclesiastical and personal reasons. We now know that the warning of our synodical president against Dr. Maier not only failed to dissuade congregations from nominating Dr. Maier for the presidency of our synod (as Fourth Vice-President Dr. Robert Sauer had forewarned when attempting to persuade the synodical president not to send his letter), but possibly gained more nominations for Dr. Maier. Dr. Maier is now one of the five men nominated for the presidency of our synod. [GJ - Now we begin to smell the potroast. This was a blatant sandbagging effort to destroy Walter A. Maier II for teaching what his father taught all over American - Justification by Faith.]

On January 30, 1981, the Board of Control met with Dr. Maier and three representatives of the synodical praesidium (which had severely criticized Dr. Maier’s doctrinal stance). We heard from two members of the praesidium and then from Dr. Maier and two faculty members who he had requested to accompany him. The results of this meeting, many of us believed, represented a real breakthrough in understanding, and the Board exonerated Dr. Maier of any false doctrine. It was my belief that the representatives of the praesidium present were also satisfied and happy with the report. In the discussions of this meeting Dr. Maier expressed many genuine concerns related to the doctrine of objective justification, e.g., that no one is saved eternally who is not justified by faith, that God is even now angry with those who reject Christ and do not repent, and that objective justification ought to be preached and taught in such a way that the biblical doctrine of justification by faith is always prominent. The report, in the form of a news release, is found on page 4 of the "Newsletter", and I urge the reader to read it because "The Reporter," "The Lutheran Witness," and most of the newspapers over the country which reported on the matter did not reproduce the report in its entirety. At the same meeting the Board of Control strongly expressed its disapproval of some of the actions of our synodical president in the matter.

Meanwhile the administration of the seminary, with the concurrence of the Board of Control, determined that it would be best for the seminary and for Dr. Maier if he not teach the course in Romans during the next academic year. At first I tried to keep this matter private, but later I decided to make a public report of the fact. My reason for this was threefold. First, Dr. Maier was reported in the news media all over the country as stating that he had not changed his position on the doctrine of objective justification, suggesting o many that three years of discussions with him had been quite fruitless and that he still did not wholeheartedly believe in objective justification. Second, several people sympathetic to Dr. Maier had threatened to withhold funds from the seminary and had even reported our action to the accrediting association of our seminary, "The Association of Theological Schools;" it was obvious to me that they would make the matter of Dr. Maier’s courses public whenever it served their purposes. Third, the president of the synod was preparing a release revealing the fact that Dr. Maier would not be teaching Romans during the next academic year. I thought it would be preferable that the president of the seminary make this fact known rather than those who have no business making such and announcement and who might make the announcement in a way detrimental either Dr. Maier or the seminary.

This is where the matter now stands. The Board of Control has stated its confidence in the doctrine of Dr. Maier. Dr. Maier is presently teaching Romans, will teach the course this summer, but is slated to teach courses other than Romans next year. The faculty will continue to discuss and try to achieve total agreement in the interpretation of those passages of Scripture which teach objective justification.

Judge for Yourselves - Robert Preus turned away from Pietism's Objective Justification in his last book.

Pastor/Editor Herman Otten - Please Read the Back of Your Book and Apologize to the Maier Family. Rolf and the Preussian Reunion - You Are Next

 This is the front of the book, which Scaer says was based on Otten's research essay. Scaer said STM, but I thought Wash U. MA. Otten was close to the Dr. Maier's widow and the family.

 This is the back of the Otten book. The OJists would have us believe that everyone in the LCMS always believed in OJ. CFW Walter caught it from Bishop Stephan, but it was not as contagious as the bishop's syphilis, which he gave to many young girls in his sex cult. Missouri's 1905 German catechism and later KJV catechism only taught Justification by Faith.

 Walter Maier II is a jolly guy. I met him at the Rutz funeral.  This group picture seems to be 4 earned doctorates out of 4, maybe 3 out of 4, a good return. Have you noticed how grim and angry the OJists are? Brrr. The anti-Gospel cowardly Universalism of OJ bears no fruit. Hence, LCMS-ELCA-WELS-ELS-CLC sic have "fallen into ruin."

 Scaer's jealousy of the Maier family knows no bounds. This is his description of Dr. Walter A. Maier, who virtually invented radio evangelism, taught Justification by Faith as the capstone and inerrancy as the cornerstone of Christianity. Scaer: "Here was a potentially deadly potion of historical, theological, political, emotional and family issues." (p. 255, Surviving the Storms. Ha. [Referring to Dr. Walter A. Maier, who earned a Ph.D. in Semitics at Harvard. Scaer failed his doctorate in Germany and came home to get one at Concordia, St. Louis.]

A Tour de Farce in "Conservative" Lutherdom. Tactics Used by the Objective Justification Calvinists. Hale Book Review Proves My Case

 The official teaching of the Holy Spirit is found throughout the Bible, and is stated with great clarity in Romans 3 - 5.

 Ask the OJists to say these words above without spitting up. They cannot. John Sparky Brenner says - "individual appropriation of sin." He likes to write about the "Justification of the World" - without faith.

 Read this slowly and carefully, because this Chief Article includes Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz.

I have experienced and heard about many tactics used by the Objective Justification Stormtroopers for decades. I will review them below. Note that they never say, "You believe in Justification by Faith, and we reject it." Those words are never spoken. Reasons are given below.

"You have abandoned the teaching of our synod, the lessons taught by your professors."
This has been used in the WELS, the tiny Orthodox Lutheran Conference, and the LCMS. We should ask why they are teaching error, especially because WELS and Missouri taught Justification by Faith in their catechisms, until the OJists took over.

Matt the Fatt Harrison cannot avoid sounding like a pope when he writes about "the official teachings of the Lutheran Church" (i.e. the Missouri Synod). At the last LCMS conclave, they voted to expel any pastor who discussed doctrine outside of his official role. That revealed the efforts of the crypto-Jesuit McCain, who has never served as a pastor and has proven to be incompetent in his high-priced jobs.

 The Dogma-tanic and the new, enormous Small Catechism make OJ/SJ the official Calvinistic teaching of the LCMS. Pathetic - even more disgraceful than the CPH Here I Stand socks.

"You Reject Objective Justification!"
They do not say - "You teach the Chief Article of the Christian Faith, which we hate."

The OJists cannot say the words - Justification by Faith. They pretend to by saying, "Oh that's Subjective Justification." But by tossing in their terms, they are saying - agreeing with OJ. That is what SJ always means, which is contrary to faith in Christ. SJ is factually and precisely "agreeing with the concept of OJ - world absolution (Universalism)."

They are lying when they pretend OJ is the Atonement and SJ is Justification by Faith. Opposing the Chief Article is their passion, and they are happy to accomplish that by replacement - replacing Justification by Faith with SJ and dividing everything in the Bible into OJ and SJ, two sides of the same rotten, slimy apple.

Mark Zarling and Frosty Bivens (both WELS) are so lacking in honesty that they call their precious OJ "the Chief Article" and apply the descriptions of Justification by Faith to OJ - the Master,  the Prince, the Judge of all Articles, the Article on Which the Church Stands or Falls.  Galling yes - but the deception is unnoticed by the timid shepherds of the Wisconsin Sect.

 SJ is definitely not Justification by Faith.

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And now a brief pause for a review - a book about Objective Justification. Observe the language -

"I attended Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne from 1979–1983, when the waters were being roiled by those denying the teaching of objective justification. Papers were written, pamphlets published, and even professors were accused and defended. It was all very painful. It’s still unpleasant, but it’s a necessary pain to bear as the very Gospel itself is at stake in the doctrine of objective justification. Rev. Hale’s book addresses this subject in a way and to a depth no other book I have read on the subject does. He answers the deniers, as well as asking and answering questions that reveal the many faceted aspects of this jewel of a doctrine..."

Reviewing the Hale book on OJ.

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"You Are a Calvinist"
Nothing betrays their ignorance more that this accusation, which is slanderous and stupid. What do OJists and Calvinists have in common - bypassing the Means of Grace, the Word and Sacraments.

How does forgiveness come to OJists and Calvinists? Answer - it just does, without any Biblical support for their claim. Edward Preuss, backed by Robert Preus, Paul the Plagiarist McCain and Jack B. Simple Cascione, stated - We are born forgiven! (Does that explain the lying, the intrigue, the backstabbing of OJists, especially among their own kind? Yes!)

 Pre-orders have started. Send an email with your address and phone number to greg.jackson.edlp@gmail.com

The ELS likes SJ - "must accept by faith the general absolution pronounced" (where exactly?)

"You Are Making Faith a Work!"
Nothing has harmed the LCMS more than Walther's sick aversion to Biblical faith.

Faith is never a work in the Bible - because God creates faith through the Gospel Promises, beginning with Abraham in Genesis 15:6 (never quoted by the useful idiots of OJdom).
These weavers of dark webs contrast grace and faith, showing they have never read Romans 4 with comprehension.

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

 Cascione, McCain, and Jay Webber loved this baloney because it is cited by Robert Preus, but they refused - like Rolf - to acknowledge Bob's change of heart in Justification and Rome. 

Making WAM II a Pariah
The hatred for Justification by Faith - when it was an opportune moment, at least - led the Righteous Brothers, Jack and Bob Preus, to make Walter A. Maier II a pariah in the LCMS.

My only criticism of WAM II's essays (one a summary of the longer one) is this - He was too defensive, too eager to keep writing grace, grace, grace when the error was on the Preus-Walther side.

The Preus Crime Family owes WAM II a profound apology, and Herman Otten even more so. Otten participated in the beat-down and yet published his own book on Dr. Walter A. Maier. If you read that book, as I have, you will see that that the only mention of Justification inside is brief. More in that chapter is about Billy Graham. But on the back of that book, which I own (signed copy, Herman Otten to someone) is posted just below. Does anyone have a conscience in the LCMS?

This is scanned from the Maier book published by Otten, who used the same cover photo as one on the book by Paul Maier.