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

 

Dear Pastor Jackson,

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

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

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

Luther went on to say:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hold onto these pure eternal words of Christ by faith.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Christ,

Tom Fisher 

Weeds and False Teachings Are Alike. Pan-Lutheran Association of Nonbelievers

This statement seemed almost harmless when it was published, even before syphilitic Stephan and opportunist Walther landed in New Orleans. But it comes from a Pietist and explained by a Calvinist. Many careers and businesses arose from this modest start. Ask Fuller. Ask Purpose-Driven Rick Warren. Ask Willow Creek's Hybels. Ask Schuller at his Cathedral (now Papal). Ask Waldo Werning, LCMS, and WELS. They mined the fool's gold and almost got away with it. There is one Judge who will examine their treasures and announce His verdict.

I have constantly enriched the soil since we moved here in 2011. I have added red wiggler earthworms, countless bags of tree leaves, wood mulch, straw, hay, peat humus (manure in disguise), dead weeds and grass, and the roots of anything that will help fertilize.

Fifty pages of drivel were devoted to an attack on the efficacious Word, the Chief Article, and the Book of Concord.

Some plants will always be spectacular, while others respond to the most agreeable seasons, like this one promoting the blooms of roses and giving little foothold for the Japanese beetles (so far).

No matter what, weeds will always prosper, in neglect but even more with cultivation - grabbing the organic matter for its own growth. Weeds burst into growth with long rainfalls, but also rise above the parched blooms with the energy to take over, crowd out, and steal the sun, generously spreading its seeds or roots or runners - or even a combination of the two - all for the purpose of their own growth. Digging and churning the soil (if one can afford a rototiller) will slice up roots and worms, but expose vast amounts of weed seeds to the life-giving sun.

Waldo Werning was the punisher who attacked anyone who questioned his Church Growth copycat business. Like Valleskey and Bivens, he did or did not go to Fuller Seminary. Waldo's doctorate was every bit as valid as Larry Olson's.

As I worked among the weeds and flowers this week, I thought about how much false teachings are like weeds. Proper identification matters. For instance, if synods like the WELS-LCMS-ELS-CLC view Justification by Faith as evil, they will do their best to stomp the Chief Article of Christianity out. They are like Mrs. Ichabod's uncle, who thought the strange roots of asparagus were a dangerous evasive weed, so he tore them out. 

I said to Valleskey (Fuller Alumnus) and the Ohio Conference, "The Israelites took the gold, silver, and precious gems when they spoiled the Egyptians - not the garbage." He frowned. Privately he told someone that he went to that meeting to deliver a hit on me with his idiotic paper. Face-to-face, he was a scared rabbit.

Some never learn the truth in the realm of false doctrines. They lurch drunkenly from one fatal fad to another. I watched one green stalk of magnificence grow to six feet in the back garden. I finally identified it as a perfect example of Hemlock, poisonous and impossible to counter. It had good qualities (like false teachers) and hosted a battalion of lady bug babies on its budding flowers. Almost Eden said, "That's OK. Just don't eat it. How often do you have lady bugs young'ens?" A fireman dousing a fire looked over the fence and glared at it, trying to figure if a pot farm was starting out. I cut the Hemlock down at the base and tossed it into the garbage can, even though it was the best looking plant at the time.

Next the blackberries crept around the corner of the house and gradually took over the entire garden, once cleared for Silver Queen sweet corn (aka squirrel food when ripe). I thought they would be a terrible mess to removed, but it only took two efforts to clear them down to the soil level. They were not as mighty as they pretend, making the whole garden alive with white blossoms (so attractive) and alive with bees (always good). Once removed, they revealed the garden's surface - almost nothing else growing there. They were so greedy for soil and sunshine that they blocked the sun like mulch with their arching growth, planting extensions of themselves wherever the mower was silent and the gardener slow to act.

False doctrines are like weeds. Many seem tiny and harmless at first, but grow one way or another. One gardening expert planted an "easy to grow" plant and has to pull it out every year.

Church Growth, Objective Justification, and bad translations of the Bible go hand-in-hand. The three trends rely on the efficacious being dead and useless, unless we make it germane, appealing, and relevant - such as the campaign promising people they will have more friends if they go to church. 

 LCMS has to improve - this was rock bottom.

Now these weedy trends are so well established that the Church Growth Stars can easily remove anyone who objects. The truth-teller is the weed, in the eye of the salesmen.

Spurgeon certainly saw the future of WELS-ELS-LCMS-CLC.

For Those Who Like To Share Doctrinal Graphics

This is the most popular graphic, with over 120,000 views.

I have put together almost 300 doctrinal graphics. A few from Norma A. Boeckler are also in this DropBox folder.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ivjgtg6uj22kbnu/AACwfJoXFY_M6ajTJTPTfFyia?dl=0

Some of are readers like to share graphics on Facebook, so I thought this might facilitate their spread. I tried to include the citation on every single one. Many Luther graphics are moving around the social media without citations. Bloggers and social media users should avoid that altogether.

I do not want credit for my graphics. They are public domain and move around faster without my name on them.

The Objective Justification Stormtroopers have often whined and wept about these doctrinal graphics being "irrelevant." The Photoshops are irrelevant to those who do not believe, yet boast they are real, relevant, and relational on the way to taking the innocent to court.

An Obligation - To Make an Honest Confession of Faith. Sadly Lacking in Lutherdom Today.

When people wonder what they can do about apostasy, the Pietistic solution is to shun all the bad guys. Apparently, I am the only bad guy, because the "conservative" get along great with each other - no matter what - and even better with ELCA clergy.

Luther is clearly not the model and example, because he simply kept teaching and writing until the only existing church kicked him out, publishing a bull of excommunication, which has never been withdrawn.

The most frequent request I have received is how to find a traditional Lutheran congregation near the individual, one with a faithful pastor. People must endure the present situation, which can only get worse, given the miserable state of the seminaries and the poverty of Lutheran leadership.

When one sees immoral, disgraceful drunks and false teachers constantly protected and promoted, the fix is in. Discipline only starts when the arrest is well known. Otherwise, it never happened. The clergy know this is true, so that is demoralizing.

Deceit and Double-talk Are Highly Valued, But Not by God

The WELS clergy have a tradition that is even more honored than cross-dressing. The clergy glory in their ability to play one side of an issue then switch sides when convenient. This deception is at the heart of the GA/HB hazing ritual, which is designed to intimidate and punish the incoming students. Dean John Sparky Brenner defends the hazing, though he never mentioned the tradition in his Jars of Clay history of Mordor.

Every man who runs for ecclesiastical office is a liar. He is conservative enough to fool that group while winking at the apostates who already own him. How else could WELS and Missouri stay in the same stall with the LCA/ALC while it transmogrified into ELCA?

 I have a worse graphic, from her Twitter feed, which I looked up to verify, but it is too obscene to post. As far as narcissism and exhibitionism go, this alone should disqualify her, without the Pastoral Epistles being read.

I understand some districts of the LCMS are quasi-ELCA. I know of WELS pastors who simple adore Rick Warren, Craig Groeschel, Andy Stanley, Leonard Sweet!, and even Nadia Bolz Weber. Lutherans have their own bogus media guy, Mark and Avoid Jeske, so they cluck their tongues about Joel Osteen. Ha!

The ELS thinks the Reformation started at Halle University, and the Missouri Stormtroopers agree - Rolf the Rationalist and Dan the Dense.

As mentioned before, the "conservatives" are delighted to work with ELCA via Thrivent. Thrivent funds Planned Parenthood? Oh well, they still do good things, like matching our Junk for Jesus rummage sale to the tune of $47.13 - as long as we mentioned this in our worship bulletin and mailed them copies as proof.

In effect, all membership and participation in Thrivent is an endorsement of abortion on demand and selling unborn body parts, a scandal that America continues to ignore.

 Our attorney got Greek classes going at Bethany with two questions.
1. Are the Biblical languages essential for a pastor?
2. Would you teach Greek?

An Honest Confession of the Truth
One person can stop a massive drift, but that does not always happen. We should never silence ourselves about the doctrine of the Holy Scriptures.

Bad Attitudes
Here is one attitude that is completely invalid - "I am just one person. I may be ignored and shunned, even insulted and expelled." Whether clergy or laity, silencing ourselves is the same as agreement with that false doctrine.

"I am just a layman." The Holy Spirit teaches us through the Word, whether we are clergy or laity, men or women. Everyone has the obligation to clarify or refute what is being taught.

"It will not matter what I say." That is completely wrong, because that suggests - falsely - that the Word is not effective. When the false teacher is furious, when friends do a 180, when the room goes silent - that is effective. Fury toward Biblical doctrine means the Spirit is pounding their hardened hearts. Some argue in their fury and they repent, because they are shaken out of their apathy and torpor. Others become even more hardened and vindictive.

"But no one will speak to me. They will not discuss this." That is not bad - but good. Anger is the initial proof or sign of sound doctrine. The ultimate sign is silence - we will not even discuss this with you, you poor pathetic legalistic troublemaker. That is a confession of terror in their feeble, lying hearts. They even have to pretend it does not matter, because they are completely threatened. In fact, the importance of an issue is proven by how little it is discussed. Look over the Lutheran discussion boards, the blogs, and the official synodical websties. The yield is 99% chaff at best.

PS - For all the Timid Tims who run away from the truth and extend the icy look of disfellowship, there are dozens who would love to discuss sound doctrine, Luther, the Scriptures, the Confessions, and more. Keeping false friends means not meeting sincere believers. The false friends want free housing for their travels, free food, free books, and various favors, but would not give up a thimble of water for someone crossing the doctrinal desert in the blazing heat of noon.

"I may be wrong. I have not studied all the books. I have not studied Greek." The Bible judges all books, so that is by far the most important. Controversy is good - there must be divisions. We learn from those divisions. Frankly, most clergy do not know much Greek or use it regularly. To hide behind Greek classes is cowardly. A faithful translation (not the NIV or ESV) will do the job, not because the KJV family is the only one, but because the dollars-for-dogma church bodies promote bad translations they can sell and revise every few months. By default the KJV remains the English version of Luther's Bible.

I could say a lot more about this. To be continued. Right now Sassy wants a ride in her limo.

To Understand the Bible, These Basics Are Necessary

 Norma A. Boeckler

The Bible is not about God, but is God's unique Book of the Holy Spirit, teaching one Truth through various human authors. Thanks to the influence of Karl Barth and his lovely Commie mistress, Charlotte Kirschbaum, many Evangelicals see the Bible as containing God's Word, not as God's Word. Fuller Seminary has disseminated this false view from their own faculty learning under Barth/Kirschbaum.

 Norma A. Boeckler

The Spirit always works with God's Word and never apart from God's Word. Isaiah 55:8ff makes that clear, as do many other passages in the Old and New Testaments. The beginning of all false doctrine is the Spirit/Word divorce. That separation makes possible the decrees of the Pope in Rome and the popes in Lutherdom. All pagan religion comes from this Enthusiasm, the label Luther gave this basic error.

This divine efficacy and power means that God created the universe in six 24-hour days. Young earth? The only reason for an old earth is God's need to slowly work out the details of evolution to the satisfaction of the Calvinists and compromisers.

The Real Presence is also related to the efficacy and power of the Word. And Sacraments do accomplish - through the Word - what is promised in the Scriptures.

Jesus Himself made it clear that the foundational sin is unbelief, specifically not believing in Him.

 Norma A. Boeckler

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Grace can only come to us through the Spirit at work in the Word, so God has appointed Means or Instruments to end all anxiety and doubt about whether we are forgiven. Those who despise the Means of Grace are merely exhibiting their hatred for the Word of God and the grace of God. The UOJists imagine they are God's counselors, so they have God doing and saying things that cannot be found in the Scriptures but readily available among the Universalists, Unitarians, and occultists.

Therefore, the work of the Bride of Christ is not to burn more incense and attend more Romanizing workshops, but to teach faith in Christ the Savior.

Because these basics have been neglected, mocked, and jettisoned, the Lutheran Church is no more. Lutheran pastors and congregations still do their work. But the synodical apparatus is against them at every level, from the Circuit Pastors and District Pastors to the Synod Presidents and learned or unlearned professors.

Notice how the false teachers, corrupt, and incompetent are rewarded, praised, and promoted. This is not man's work, but God's work - to punish people for their indifference to sound doctrine. Their insurance dollars pay for ELCA programs. Their offering dollars evaporate faster than booze at a Fox Valley gathering.

 Norma A. Boeckler