King James Family of Bibles

Tyndale was executed for translating and printing Bibles. He died saying, "Lord, open the King of England's eyes." His prayer was answered by the KJV.

Someone asked, "What is the King James family of Bibles?"

That is my expression, so it was probably confusing. I use and favor the King James or Authorized Version of the Bible. There are several reasons.

One is that the Bible is really the Tyndale Bible made kosher by the first Stuart king, James (who followed Elisabeth). Tyndale was closely connected to Luther and his translation.

Another reason is the New Testament text. The KJV and slightly modernized KJ versions use the traditional Greek text while the NIV boobs treat God's Word as their personal sandbox. Horsing around with the New Testament began with Wescott and Hort, the fraud Tischendorf, and a horde of apostate disciples.

Modernists were helped by scholars' almost total amnesia concerning the Byzantine Empire's history, a Christian and Greek-speaking empire that lasted 1100 years.

What? It lasted 1100 years?

Yes, Greek-speaking Christians (and the most literate ancient nation) did preserve the text with great precision. That is why we have so many Byzantine NT texts, a fact used against the traditional text.

Tischendorf "found" both of the new texts (Sinaiticus and Vaticanus) that were used to revise and change the New Testament. In other fields the scholars are suspicious of a man who finds an object so sensational that it makes him world famous. No one really knows the origins of Sinaiticus and Vaticanus.

I wonder how many people know that a committee votes regularly on the text of the Greek NT. If three out of five vote against a verse, out it goes. They make the politicians of the smoke-filled rooms seem saintly in comparison.

The LCMS and WELS abandoned the KJV for the ecumenical, dumbed-down, impossible to read aloud NIV. Big money was involved. The NIV is perfect for the Church Growth Movement ("make disciples") and women's ordination (pronoun abuse).

The updates of the KJV are - the New KJV, KJV II, etc. The KJV we use is actually a slightly modernized version of the orginal. A commission took out some of the extra commas and the more ancient words.

The KJV was made to be read aloud in church. It was intended for memorization. Now the flavor of the month translations have ruined memorization.

The KJV was overwhelmingly the dominant English Bible until the 1960's or so, a span of many centuries. One billion have been printed.

The English language is built upon two foundations - the KJV and Shakespeare.

L P Cruz, etc.

This UOJ Stormtrooper got his training at Mequon and never let anyone forget it. Dates were awkward and conversation stilted.

L. P. Cruz has an extended discussion of UOJ on his blog, Extra Nos.

I wanted to clarify a few things.

Christians should not add unnecessarily to the Biblical vocabulary. Some terms (Trinity, Means of Grace) are shorthand for decades or centuries of debate. We continue to use them because there is general agreement about their meaning, even though there are variations.

I object to modifying terms like justification and reconciliation. Chemnitz agreed with the ancient saying that we should return to the sources when the water is muddy. That included dropping the confessions of the time to study the Scritpure itself. (Note that the Wisconsin cheerleaders will yell "Wauwatosa," but this really means the opposite.)

Too many are tempted to trace every tributary of Christianity or parse the essays of their recently departed professors. For the Synodical Conference types, nothing is better than that to help avoid all issues.

A Sigh Is Just a Sigh
The fundamental things apply, as time goes by. Reconciliation is not justification. Using fake logic to fuse the terms will never work, if we still believe that Scripture interprets Scripture. Reconciliation is the Gospel message that converts the unbeliever and strengthens the believer. The New Testament is rich in synonyms for reconciliation: redemption (two different words), expiation, ransom, etc.

Nevertheless, the New Testament never says that God has declared the whole world forgiven, without faith, without the Word, without the Means of Grace. That is where the UOJ Stormtroopers (Cascione, Bivens, Valleskey, Becker, Pieper, Walther, Pope John the Malefactor, Dan Preus, Rolf Preus) utterly depart from the Scriptures. How do they defend their toxic doctrine? By quoting the writers who agree with them - a fallacy called Special Pleading.

The Gospel message converts or hardens the unbeliever because the Holy Spirit always accompanies the Word and always accomplishes God's will (Isaiah 55). Speak the Gospel to a Mormon missionary or a JW and he will sneer. Describe the efficacy of the Word to a Lutheran leader and the same thing will happen.

Calvinism
Calvinims is wrong because the work of the Holy Spirit is divorced from the Word and Sacraments. That is a consistent theme in Calvin's work. Therefore, Calvinism cannot be rescued from the charge of Enthusiasm.

The rationalistic component of Calvinism leads to Unitarianism. "Young Calvinist, Old Unitarian." That is a common saying that fits regions, denominations, and nations.

Luther
I am not a brand-name Luther. I do not follow Luther for any other reason than this - he is the greatest Biblical expositor of all time.

Some day in the future, the Recessional Lutherans will have to explain how they led their gullible followers away from the Scriptures and into the fold of Romanism and Eastern Orthodoxy. EO is just a coward's way of embracing Rome.

The UOJ Stormtroopers are raising up a generation of Unitarians.

***

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "L P Cruz, etc.":

I'm in the early stages of exploring Luther and the church that carries his name. It seems like many of the names you list as uopj storm troopers are guys I've read or heard about.(what is uoj??)I am just starting the book of concord (and the theology of the book of concord by Prues)...any other helps you would suggest in my search?
thanks
tv

GJ - Short definition Universal Objective Justification - Everyone in the world was declared forgiven the moment Christ died on the cross--or--the moment Christ rose from the dead. Everyone who died in the Flood - forgiven. Everyone in Hell is a guilt-free saint. Walther began this travesty, which he got from Pietism, in his Easter absolution sermon. Pieper and the Synodical Conference continued it. The Church Growth gurus like Valleskey and Bivens love UOJ.

Justification by faith means: those who hear the Gospel and believe in Christ as their Savior are forgiven their sins.

Those who are new to Lutheran doctrine should stick to a good Bible in the King James family of translations, the Book of Concord, and Luther's sermons.

Advanced Lutherans should stick to a good Bible in the King James family of translations, the Book of Concord, and Luther's sermons.

Theologians with a PhD should stick to a good Bible in the King James family of translations, the Book of Concord, and Luther's sermons.

Do You Believe?

The Archbishop of Canterbury - Inept

Here is a good essay about the Archbishop of Canterburgy. He is the doofus who suggested that Islamic Sharia law could be incorporated into English law.

This is the link.

The article is worth reading in full.

A primary requirement of a minister is that he be "apt to teach." The Archbishop is inept instead.

Spener - The Father of American Lutherans - Walther Too

Spener's Children Look Just Like Daddy

The founder of Pietism was Jacob Spener, a unionistic Lutheran who emphasized works at the expense of sound doctrine. Like all unionists, Spener was happy to ditch the sacraments in order to work with the Reformed.

The first large-scale establishment of Lutherans in America was directed by H. Muhlenberg, a Pietist from Halle. That became the General Synod, which divided in two during the Civil War era to create the more confessional General Council. The General Synod grew up during the colonial days.The General Synod had altar calls and temperance campaigns. There are still some ELCA congregations where only grape juice is used for Holy Communion.

The next wave of Pietism included various European groups: Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, and German Pietists. Yes, Walther was converted by a Pietist and never lost his Pietistic substance. He criticized Pietistic authors in print, but never Spener.

Spener was almost a god to American Lutherans in those days, much like Paul Kelm, Larry Olson, Waldo Werning, and Kent Hunter today.

The Pietistic urge led Lutherans to work with the Reformed in missionary and eleemosynary efforts. Lutherans were always willing to give up the sacraments and the efficacy of the Word for the thrill of working with the Reformed. The more unionistic a Lutheran group was, the sooner it became openly Reformed. Many Lutheran congregations of that era are United Church of Christ today.

Lutherans tried to combine the zeal of Pietism with the doctrine of the Lutheran Church. What they got from this union was the zeal of the Lutherans and the doctrine of the Reformed.

Nevertheless, the nature of false doctrine has always been to exterminate Lutheran doctrine. Missouri and WELS leaders have raised Pietism from the dead and led a campaign (largely successful) to wipe out Lutheran doctrine.

Here are the characteristics of ELCA-WELS-LCMS-ELS-CLC leaders:

1. Unionism. The synodical leaders have studied at Fuller and Willow Creek or have no objections to pastors "spoiling the Egyptians," stealing the Reformed garbage.
   
2. Salvation by works. They emphasize how much they have done.
   
3. Prayer as THE Means of Grace. They go along with the Reformed folly that God is unable to do anything unless He is fired up by prayer warriors. No, seriously.
   
4. Enthusiasm. They separate the work of the Holy Spirit from the Word and Sacraments. That is why they have no trust in the Word but glory in their programs and methods.
   
5. Rah-rah Enthusiasm. They copy the Reformed and Pentecostals by jumping up and down, piping their eyes (crying), and hyping their language.
   
6. They loathe Lutheran doctrine and the Lutheran name.
   
7. Like the crypto-Calvinists before them, they persecute Lutherans while pretending to be the real Lutherans who "care about the church."
   
8. Their knowledge of the Book of Concord is almost zero. What little they know, they hate. They also sneer at Lutheran hymns and the Creeds. Sermons? - No. Life coaching - Si!
   
9. They work together very closely, across synodical lines. For example, WELS always acts too goody-goody to be in the same room as Missouri, but WELS leaders love to sit at the feet of Kent Hunter and the fossilized Waldo Werning.

If the synodical leaders were committed to Lutheran doctrine, they would kick out the false teachers instead of rewarding them.

C.E.O. Ministries

Brian Arthur Lampe, CEO of CEO

"Brian Arthur Lampe delivers a one-two punch to the devil and his schemes with his high powered, enthusiastic, energetic life-applying Biblical motivational speaking. We are on a quest for authentic God. By including Brian Arthur Lampe, you will have more than just a rally or a Bible study. You and your congregation will be providing men, women, and youth with an encouraging process that teaches them how to live lives of authentic Christianity as modeled by Jesus Christ and directed by the Word of God." Christian Speaker Network describes Brian's denomination as Christian.


I am trying to figure out C.E.O. Ministries. Here is a promo from WELS' Church and Change (the outfit "shut down" by WELS):

Parent's Ministry - CEO
Brian and Tracy Lampe


Your baby is now a teenager, going through all of the teenage rites of passage. Between school, friends, God, and a social life, their lives seem to be a foreign country to you. The little boy or girl that once told you everything now has to be hounded to give you even a snippet of thought. Yet there are three things you should know about what is going on in your Christian teen's head that will make your relationship a little better…
Click the link to find out!

CEO also has programs for:
Men's Ministry
Students Ministry
Couples Ministry
Corporate Ministry
Email: Brian@CEO-Ministries.com
Website: www.ceo-ministries.com/parents.html

They are endorsed by WELS. Their March activity is linked from the WELS.net website.

It's also listed on Section Q, which is from CLR (formerly WELS Lutherans for Life).

John J. Wonders does their website. He describes himself as a "Clydesdale in training."

There is a link to Victory of the Lamb Lutheran Church, where women are invited to attend the Bible Babes group.

At St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Muskego:

Check Us Out;

Whether you are a committed Christian or investigating Christianity we invite you to check us out this Sunday at our student center. Doors open at 9:00am. Food and beverages are served between 9:30-10:30a.m. and Brian Arthur Lampe turns it up a notch or two for Jesus!

St. Paul's does a lot with Prayer Warriors, which is a Reformed mania. The Church and Change, Church Growth people like to emphasize prayer in a typical heretical way.

Here is a profile for Brian Arthur Lampe:

Driver
UPS
(Religious Institutions industry)

September 2006 — Present (1 year 6 months)

Owner
CEO Ministries
(Religious Institutions industry)

September 2006 — Present (1 year 6 months)

Brian Arthur Lampe’s Education
Wisconsin Lutheran
1984 — 1987

Cross Lutherans

"Ignorant slander!"


Michael Schottey has left a new comment on your post "Like Father, Like Son":

Have you ever been to Crossroads in Chicago? If you report about the vices of a congregation only in generic terms with no actual evidence or concrete information about it. It is mere ignorant slander.

For your information, Crossroads is a very law/gospel biblical based church that does a good job of providing spiritual milk every Sunday to a congregation of mostly visitors yet having a very good method of Bible instruction classes for members who need spiritual whole food.

Also, their "mission statement" is almost identical to the one you wrote at WLS.

***

GJ - I remember a Northwestern College student was asked the same thing about Willow Creek. "Have you been there?" Apparently this is a WELS thing. If someone has not been there, he cannot read the website or even have an opinion. The student was at Willow Creek, so the subject was changed immediately. That's a WELS thing too.

When I said WELS was deep into Church Growth, VP Paul Kuske (founder, Pilgrim Community) snarled, "Do you have proof?" I said, "Over 500 quotations from WELS sources, verbatim." He changed the subject.

Did Mike sit down with me and confront me with my terrible sin? That is how WELS protects all of its Church Growth fanatics. No, he did not. Instead, he sent a TWB (True WELS Believer) post.

Crossroads in Chicago has a website. The same congregation was mentioned in FIC (which is a Lutheran magazine, believe it or not). I was able to do my research by reading public information.

Here is the Crossroads Mission Statement:

To use all that we are and all that we have to reach our city with the gospel of Jesus Christ and to nurture our faith community with God's transforming truth.

Here is what I wrote, which I refuse to call a mission statement.

In an age of anxiety, we still believe that peace comes from Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

In an age of confusion, we still believe that the Bible is the Word of God, inerrant and infallible.

In an age of doubt, we still believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

In an age of guilt, we still believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to remove the power of sin, death, and Satan from our lives.

In an age of fear, we still believe that Christ rose bodily from the dead to lead us to eternal life.

In an age of self-centeredness, we still believe that God acts through the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion.

In an age of constant change, we still believe in the unchanging Holy Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

"If you hold to my teaching, then you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32

I really do not see how one compares to the other. Mine is explicitly sacramental, perhaps because Lutherans are. The Crossroads generic statement could be applied to any non-sacramental sect. Of course, that is the point. I see they also took my statement and added their PC stuff to it, but they do not call it their mission statement. The one above is labeled "Our Mission."

I noticed the guiding hand of Valleskey, Kelm, Olson, and Huebne in the content of the website.

Small groups? That the clarion call of Fuller Seminary and all Pietists - organize cell groups for growth. There is no better way to promote Pentecostalism and anti-sacramentalism.

Social activities? There is a long list of all the play-dates arranged for the congregation. I always thought that was the function of a club, not a church.

Mike, Mike, Mike. I have always objected to Lutherans running away from their identity in order to appease Fuller, Willow Creek, and Paul Kelm. The idea of avoiding the denominational name is from Robert Schuller, echoed by Fuller, Willow Creek, and Lyle Schaller (Methodist).

Just between you and me and a world-wide audience, what kind of a stupid name is Crossroads or CrossWalk? They are deliberately non-religious terms.

Why not emphasize Church Growth Eyes and the cross - CrossEyes?

Or the ambivalent message from these churche - DoubleCross?

Please do not tell me that it is an accident that Lutheran dropped out of the title of the WELS feminist hymnal, that Lutheran dropped out of the magazine title, that Lutheran dropped out of Crossroads, CrossWalk, and all the other Fuller clones.

***

Michael Schottey has left a new comment on your post "Cross Lutherans":

Rev,

This is why I asked if you had been there. When referring to their "mission statement." I was referring to that which is posted in their bulletin each week. If you had ever attended you would have had oppurtunity to read that.

When reporting on a matter, it is always best to be a first hand witness or at least report the first hand accounts.

On the matter of Crossroads in Chicago, I would suggest that you either contact Rev. Borgwargt or at least his members (the core of which is displaced WELS from other areas). Rather than simply assuming that they are similar to other cases in the past you have witnessed.

I am a first hand observer and I can attest that they are not. And if you did speak to Rev. Borgwardt you would learn that I was just as skeptical as you were and peppered him with questions.

I'm not questioning your teachings or your faith...but I feel your journalism in this matter is perhaps not what it should be.

***

GJ - I am not reporting. Ichabod is a continuous jeremiad. Look up the word. The purpose of Ichabod is to denounce the apostasy of the Lutherans, with some attention paid to other denominations.

As I said before, I find the hiding of the word Lutheran contemptible. The continued downward slide of your sect is proven by the denomination bragging about the very thing it used to hide - stealth mission churches. The Germans have a word for this - shameless.

***

Chris Hurst has left a new comment on your post "Spener - The Father of American Lutherans - Walthe...":

Greetings Dr. Jackson,
I have been an Ichabod "lurker" for a few weeks now, but I think today is a good day to pose a question. I am a licensed pastor (not ordained because I don't serve a parish full-time) in the Evangelical Lutheran Conference and Ministerium (ELCM). We are a micro-synod based in PA. My question is, do you think that ALL influence of Pietism is bad? My personal opinion is that Pietism started as a good idea, but like all good ideas left in the hands of sinful men it failed to accomplish that which it set out to. For instance, I think that Pietism's emphasis on personal prayer is something that all of us should strive for. However, not at the expense of Word and Sacrament, which is where Pietism went too far. I'd love to hear your comments. Thanks and God Bless, Chris Hurst.

***

GJ - Those are good comments, Chris. That is the problem with starting a Lutheran mission in the South. The evangelist could easily say, "You are against whiskey and for prayer. We are against prayer and for whiskey."

Prayer should be taught as the fruit of faith, not as the cause of faith. I like Hoenecke's brief synopsis. He said Pietism teaches santification as the cause of justification, not as the result of justification.

Pietism was probably a reaction against the extremes of the later ages of Lutheran orthodoxy. I continue to find it strange that those who agitate in the LCMS want to quote everyone except Luther and the Concordists.

I graduated from Augustana College, Illinois, and helped sheve the Pietisten, the Swedish paper of the Pietists. Augustana never hid the fact that the group began as a unionistic, Pietistic mission. The early leaders soon soured on the results of unionism and came under the influence of orthodoxy. Probably the best influence upon Augustana (doctrinal and missions) was Passavant, a man who reject the extremes of Revivalism and embraced the Confessions.

The Pietists were not all bad. In Sweden they were disgusted by the corruption of the Church of Sweden, the wide-spread alcoholism. One man started a temperance movement because of a drunken fight that broke out between two women during his sermon.

However, Pietism was the source of Walther's UOJ - justification without faith.

The Church Growth people love pietism because they embrace unionism and hate the Lutheran Confessions.

Collect, Second Sunday in Lent

Lord God, heavenly Father, grant us, we beseech Thee, by Thy Holy Spirit, that He may strengthen our hearts and confirm our faith and hope in Thy grace and mercy, so that, although we have reason to fear because of our conscience, our sin, and our unworthiness, we may nevertheless, with the woman of Canaan, hold fast to Thy grace, and in every trial and temptation find Thee a very present help and refuge, through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Like Father, Like Son

JFK's Putative Love Child, left, JFK, right

A Canadian man has come forward to claim the late JFK as his father. Doubtless the Kennedy family will rush to provide DNA samples to prove or disprove the case.

The man does bear a striking resemblance to President Kennedy. Blood will tell.

That is also why so many WELS and LCMS congregations look and sound like the Community Churches that fathered them.

One WELS layman in Wisconsin told me about his congregation's staff being sent to Willow Creek Community Church to be trained. Now the church looks and sounds like Willow Creek.

WELS District VP Kuske midwifed Pilgrim Community Church. No liturgy. No Lutheran creeds or hymns. WELS Church Growth expert Roger Zehms warned WELS members not to join the congregation or even visit. Zehns and Stolzenburg were the two Church Growth gurus who guided the congregation toward its rapid and unlamented demise.

Phoenix has plenty of Community Churches. They actually have a denomination of sorts. They band together on the basis of no confessions. They are huge in Phoenix, unlike the copycat CrossWalk (Stealth WELS) in Phoenix or a similar lovechild in Chicago.

The Kelm/Parlow version in Green Bay, Wisconsin has carried copying to a new level, copying the very sermons of Evangelicals and publishing them on their own website. I am not sure whether the paternity has been disputed. Some WELS people noticed the shocking coincidence of WELS sermons being exactly like Baptist sermons published years before. But Kelm and Parlow have learned their lesson and now cite their plagiarism without shame.

The Michigan District was also mother to Crossroads in South Lyons. They began with Lutheran sheep being led to the slaughter by WELS pastors: Rick Miller, Kelly Voigt, Mark Freier. Then they turned honest and became generic Protestant. That was again during the immodest reign of Robert Mueller and Paul Kuske.

Missouri boasts of many love-children, fathered by Fuller Seminary, Willow Creek--or, shudder--by both. One is in the Midland, Michigan area. Another is in the Detroit metropolis. Doubtless more are scattered across the continent, a testament of Lutherans losing their nerve and their faith.

Reminiscere - The Second Sunday in Lent

God the Father, by Michelangelo

Reminiscere – The Second Sunday in Lent

KJV 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

KJV Matthew 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

TLH Hymns
387 – Dear Christians One and All (Luther)
292 – Lord Jesus Christ, With Us Abide (Selnecker, Concordist)
142 – A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth (Gerhardt)
413 – I Walk in Danger (Brorson)

God’s Wisdom or Man’s

Luther summarized the public ministry of Jesus thus – He granted every single request brought to Him in the Gospels.

One is tempted to begin by saying how difficult this particular lesson is, since Jesus treats the Canaanite woman so roughly:
1. He is silent about her requests at the beginning. The disciples want her sent away.
2. He rejects her by race, secondly, saying He was sent to the lost sheep of Israel.
3. Finally, He uses a common and offensive comparison, asking if it was right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.

Let’s look at a similar passage.

KJV Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

The point of each passage is that we should never grow tired of praying to God.

In the miracle story, an actual event, Jesus acted out the experience of most people. They pray to God but seem to find no answer for their prayers, as if God is utterly silent. Then they conclude that God’s grace will not come to them since it is meant for others. Finally they conclude they are little more than dogs and not worthy to have a request answered.

In the parable, the one receiving the requests is an evil judge who did not believe in God and was not fair to man. The parable in Luke uses the familiar Jewish comparison, from the lesser to the major. If something is true on such a small scale, how much more true will it be on a large scale? So, if an evil judge listens to the cries of a woman for justice, then God Almighty will definitely listen to His own people when they cry for justice as well.

Both passages teach faith in God’s mercy, goodness, and power. They do not teach the virtue of the individual but the reason why people should have faith in God.

What is faith but trust in God in spite of all experiences and human reason? The reason we have so many timid clergy and Machiavellian laity is their lack of faith in God.

Man’s wisdom is the opposite of God’s wisdom. God has given us the power of reason with many practical advantages. Confronted with a problem like how to move traffic under or over a river, man can come up with ingenious engineering answers. Strangely, many people give no credit to God for their ability to figure these things out. They give all the credit to themselves.

Man’s reason is limited to the everyday, material world. Nevertheless, God can overrule these laws since He established them in the first place. In the medical field, the best doctors are often dismayed at their failures and overjoyed when dire predictions do not come true.

Children have no trouble with the miracles of Jesus. When I ask them how Jesus could walk on water, they say, “Because He is God.” But gather a bunch of academic theologians together and they will say, “He only seemed to be walking on water. He was really walking on sandbars or along the shore. The disciples thought they saw Jesus walking on water, but he wasn’t, because no one can do that.” The vast majority of academic theologians are apostates can talk about a topic they no longer believe.

The Canaanite woman never disputes the power or mercy of God. She continues to ask Jesus.

The Silence
We think God is silent because He works on a completely different scale than man. As Luther suggested, He is an old man who has run things rather well for a long time. We should trust His management skills. Paul said that no one is God’s counselor. In other words, God is so far beyond our comprehension that He can only be revealed, not explained. The Scriptures reveal the nature of God so that we trust in Him and see Him as He is, but we are very limited.

God allows us to think of Him as silent to strengthen and purify our faith. Those who keep an infantile perspective of God will turn away from Him for being God rather than an instant gratification machine.

Recently I have been reading about Jews of the early 20th century, as they moved to America. Many had ancient fables and superstitions embedded in their lore. For instance, one boy was told that bread dropped into the ocean would stop a storm. The father knew this was true because it worked for him once. The son tried it during a storm on the ocean and saw no results. That made him start to doubt how God worked. But God does not need amulets, tokens, and other objects to work. Instead of saying, “This is magic and wrong,” the superstitious person is inclined to say, “There is no God.”

How is this different from the Pentecostalism and Church-Growthism of today? They say, “Do this and God will give you what you want.” When people are disappointed, as they must be over time, they turn away from God, not from the frauds.

Waiting teaches us to be patient when God appears to be silent. Parents do the same thing in love. Their children demand something, harshly. No response. “Didn’t you hear me?” The father or mother says, “I am deaf until I hear the word please.” Repeated bouts of deafness teach children to use the word please.

I tried the same with my granddaughters. I insisted on “please” at the beginning and “thank you” after I said yes. For some reason, they were confident I would always say yes. The result was every request beginning, “Please and thank you…”

God’s apparent silence should not make us think God wants evil to come our way. Luther used his dog Blockhead as an example of prayer. A dog never expects any answer except yes and never becomes discouraged.

Our two Shelties, Precious and Treasure, assume that every meal includes tidbits for them. Even the little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master’s table. They assume a posture of extreme alertness whenever food is available. They wait for their treats with extreme patience and a friendly attitude.

And yet human literature is filled with examples of, “I prayed for this and did not get it, so I stopped believing in God.” Sommerset Maughm, who wrote Of Human Bondage, is one. Ted Turner is another. I have never seen a dog turn bitter and angry over waiting for a treat. If anything, they pour on the charm and grin even more.

The Miracle is For Another Group
It is easy to assume from the Bible that those days were full of miracles, that ours are not. Or one denomination will claim to have cornered the market on miracles.
A Roman Catholic showed a Lutheran woman a room full of crutches thrown away at their miracle center. Asked what she thought on radio, she said, “I don’t believe a word of it.”

Pentecostals claim all the miracles, spawning growth in another area – occultic religion. The occult religions in Asia claim that spirits will give humans whatever they want, as long as the claims are specific. That is the basic theology of Paul Y. Cho, who is a Church Growth hero. WELS Pastor James Witt (D.Min. in Church Growth, Concordia, St. Louis) bought a case of Cho books and passed them out at a WELS conference promoting cell groups. Doubtless he has repented by now.

Miracles happen all the time, to believers and unbelievers alike. Given the sinfulness of human nature, we should assume that the entire world would fall into chaos without the constant intervention of God. Look at what bankers all over the world did to the financial system! They did that with computers, CPAs, financial wizards, controls, oversight committees, state owned banks, central planning, and so forth.

All the New Testament passages about prayers are accompanied by verses praising God for His goodness and mercy. For example –

KJV Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

The Canaanite woman’s story says to us – We may think miracles come to everyone but us, but still we pray in faith, knowing the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.

Take from the Children, Give It to Dogs?
The last apparent rebuke for the Canaanite woman speaks to the feelings of unworthiness felt by those whose prayers seem unanswered. Why would God answer my prayers?

"What God Ordains Is Always Good"
by Samuel Rodigast, 1649-1708
1. What God ordains is always good;
His will abideth holy.
As He directs my life for me,
I follow meek and lowly.
God indeed in every need
Doth well know how to shield me;
To Him, then, I will yield me.
2. What God ordains is always good.
He never will deceive me;
He leads me in His own right way,
And never will He leave me.
I take content What He hath sent;
His hand that sends me sadness
Will turn my tears to gladness.
3. What God ordains is always good.
His loving thought attends me;
No poison can be in the cup
That my Physician sends me.
My God is true; Each morn anew
I'll trust His grace unending,
My life to Him commending.
4. What God ordains is always good.
He is my Friend and Father;
He suffers naught to do me harm,
Though many storms may gather.
Now I may know Both joy and woe,
Some day I shall see clearly
That He hath loved me dearly.
5. What God ordains is always good.
Though I the cup am drinking
Which savors now of bitterness,
I take it without shrinking.
For after grief God grants relief,
My heart with comfort filling
And all my sorrow stilling.
6. What God ordains is always good.
This truth remains unshaken.
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
I shall not be forsaken.
I fear no harm, For with His arm
He shall embrace and shield me;
So to my God I yield me.
Hymn #521
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Deut. 32:4
Author: Samuel Rodigast, 1675
Translated by: composite
Titled: "Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan"
Composer: Severus Gastorius, 1681
Tune: "Was Gott tut"
http://www.lutheran-hymnal.com/lyrics/tlh521.htm

Another, even greater hymn, from Paul Gerhardt:

"If God Himself Be for Me"
by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676
1. If God Himself be for me,
I may a host defy;
For when I pray, before me
My foes, confounded, fly.
If Christ, my Head and Master,
Befriend me from above,
What foe or what disaster
Can drive me from His love?
2. This I believe, yea, rather,
Of this I make my boast,
That God is my dear Father,
The Friend who loves me most,
And that, whate'er betide me,
My Savior is at hand
Through stormy seas to guide me
And bring me safe to land.
3. I build on this foundation,
That Jesus and His blood
Alone are my salvation,
The true, eternal good.
Without Him all that pleases
Is valueless on earth;
The gifts I owe to Jesus
Alone my love are worth.
4. My Jesus is my Splendor,
My Sun, my Light, alone;
Were He not my Defender
Before God's awe-full throne,
I never should find favor
And mercy in His sight,
But be destroyed forever
As darkness by the light.
5. He canceled my offenses,
Delivered me from death;
He is the Lord who cleanses
My soul from sin through faith.
In Him I can be cheerful,
Bold, and undaunted aye;
In Him I am not fearful
Of God's great Judgment Day.
6. Naught, naught, can now condemn me
Nor set my hope aside;
Now hell no more can claim me,
Its fury I deride.
No sentence e'er reproves me,
No ill destroys my peace;
For Christ, my Savior, loves me
And shields me with His grace.
7. His Spirit in me dwelleth,
And o'er my mind He reigns.
All sorrow He dispelleth
And soothes away all pains.
He crowns His work with blessing
And helpeth me to cry,
"My Father!" without ceasing,
To Him who dwells on high.
8. And when my soul is lying
Weak, trembling, and opprest,
He pleads with groans and sighing
That cannot be exprest;
But God's quick eye discerns them,
Although they give no sound,
And into language turns them
E'en in the heart's deep ground.
9. To mine His Spirit speaketh
Sweet word of holy cheer,
How God to him that seeketh
For rest is always near
And how He hath erected
A city fair and new,
Where what our faith expected
We evermore shall view.
10. In yonder home doth flourish
My heritage, my lot;
Though here I die and perish,
My heaven shall fail me not.
Though care my life oft saddens
And causeth tears to flow,
The light of Jesus gladdens
And sweetens every woe.
11. Who clings with resolution
To Him whom Satan hates
Must look for persecution;
For him the burden waits
Of mockery, shame, and losses,
Heaped on his blameless head;
A thousand plagues and crosses
Will be his daily bread.
12. From me this is not hidden,
Yet I am not afraid;
I leave my cares, as bidden,
To whom my vows were paid.
Though life and limb it cost me
And everything I won,
Unshaken shall I trust Thee
And cleave to Thee alone.
13. Though earth be rent asunder,
Thou'rt mine eternally;
Not fire nor sword nor thunder
Shall sever me from Thee;
Not hunger, thirst, nor danger,
Not pain nor poverty
Nor mighty princes' anger
Shall ever hinder me.
14. No angel and no gladness,
No throne, no pomp, no show,
No love, no hate, no sadness,
No pain, no depth of woe,
No scheme of man's contrivance,
However small or great,
Shall draw me from Thy guidance
Nor from Thee separate.
15. My heart for joy is springing
And can no more be sad,
'Tis full of mirth and singing,
Sees naught but sunshine glad.
The Sun that cheers my spirit
Is Jesus Christ, my King;
That which I shall inherit
Makes me rejoice and sing.

Hymn #528
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Rom. 8:31-39
Author: Paul Gerhardt
Translated by: based on Richard Massie, 1857
Titled: Ist Gott fuer mich, so trete
Composer: Melckior Teschner, 1613
Tune: Valet will ich dir geben
Gerhardt’s hymn combines the greatest Gospel proclamations with his faith in God’s goodness.

Gerhardt was an usually gifted hymn-writer and theologian, firm in his opposition to Reformed doctrine but gentle in his personality. He deserved none of the abuse he endured throughout his life. And yet it was out of this tribulation that the most influential of all hymn-writers came.

After all, how many prosperous and plump, devious and devilish church politicians ever wrote a hymn worth singing? One person just noted that the newest LCMS hymnal is loaded with hymns from their own bureaucracy, just as the WELS feminist hymnal is. But will they last any longer than a July frost? Can anyone imagine the head of East Indian missions dying while singing the WELS hymn on Management by Objective? No?

The head of East Indian missions, C. F. W. Schwartz, did die while singing “O Sacred Head Now Wounded,” surrounded by his Indian converts. Supposedly a German chorale is deadly and should be rejected by all other cultures. But one man died singing, with his foreign pupils:

10. Be Thou my Consolation,
My Shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy Passion
When my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee,
Upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfold Thee.
Who dieth thus dies well!

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #172
Text: Is. 50: 6
Author: Paul Gerhardt
Based on the Latin poem "Salve caput cruentatum"
By Bernard of Clairvaux, 1153, asc.
Translated by: composite
Titled: O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden
Composer: Hans L. Hassier, 1601
Tune: Herzlich tut mich

Some Recent WELS Comments

Happy WELS people read Ichabod.

I hear from all over, including two ELCA pastors. I appreciate all the positive comments, emails, phone calls.

Here are some recent comments from WELS members and pastors, paraphrased:

1. I agree about UOJ. The leaders are too proud to admit they made a mistake.
   
   
2. Columbus, Ohio is orthodox now. The pastors won't let the Planned Giving Counselors in. You would be comfortable here now.
   
   
3. I like the cat pictures.
   
   
4. I think the pastor is shunning me because I read Ichabod.
   
   
5. SP Schroeder is doing a good job so far.
   
   

Many people are not prepared for the impact of blogs. Two blogs reported the plagarism of sermons by Parlow and Kelm. After a short time the sermons started listing their sources (a modest improvement).

WELS was used to controlling the news for decades. Jeb Schaefer, a fairly good editor for a liberal, told me his job was to tamp down little WELS scandals. They were not big deals, but they suggested the sect was less than perfect.

If the District President turned a big gift into a liability (MilCraft - Gurgel), the incompetence could be spun thus - "We have to be careful about the gifts we accept from now on." The same approach was used to blame Schwan for the bankruptcy of WELS. A Schwan bagman said, "We can give the money to another synod, if it's a problem." Yuk. Yuk. WELS took that one back.

If a few more people have the spine to talk about doctrinal issues, WELS will start facing its notorious weaknesses. Secret emails will not do it. The doctrinal problems need to be out in the open.

The WELS response to any doctrinal issue?

1. You are a bad person.
   
   
2. Where did you hear that? He is a bad person.
   
   
3. Why don't you join the Missouri Synod? They are bad people, like you.
   
   
4. Was that in Christian News? Otten is a bad person.

Archbishop and Sharia (Islamic) Law

Proof That Bishops Do Not Necessarily Help the Church

Is it over for the Imam of Canterbury?

News Analysis

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
2/8/2008

Rumors have been circulating for some time that the Archbishop of Canterbury might resign following the Lambeth Conference.

Sources in the UK have told VirtueOnline that mounting pressure from nearly all quarters in the church make his job untenable since he has single-handedly offended almost every group in Anglican Christendom.

But will he? In his latest missive, the Imam of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, called for Islamic law to be recognized in Britain. He declared that Sharia and Parliamentary law should be given equal legal status so the people could choose which governs their lives.

This raised the prospect of Islamic courts in Britain with full legal powers to approve polygamous marriages, grant easy divorce for men and prevent finance firms from charging interest.

His comments sparked a furor of responses, mostly negative from media, religious and secular pundits and some Islamic leaders, with one Church of England bishop calling on him to resign.

The Prime Minister, early on, distanced himself from Dr. Williams's remarks. Gordon Brown's spokesman said, "Our general position is that Sharia law cannot be used as a justification for committing breaches of English law, nor should the principles of Sharia law be included in a civil court for resolving contractual disputes.

"The Prime Minister believes British law should apply in this country, based on British values."

Dr. Williams's words opened a chasm over Islam between Church of England senior leaders, who are already trying to deal with an Anglican war over gay rights which broke out after Williams was appointed archbishop.

Within hours of the BBC interview being posted to their website, hundreds of commentators had written in to the site protesting, some calling for Williams' to resign.

The Bishop of Rochester, Pakistani-born Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, said this, "English law is rooted in the Judaeo-Christian tradition and, in particular, our notions of human freedoms derive from that tradition. In my view, it would be simply impossible to introduce a tradition, like Sharia into this corpus without fundamentally affecting its integrity."

Nazir-Ali is under police protection after receiving death threats for writing in January that Islamic extremism had turned some British communities into "'no-go' areas" and that there are ongoing attempts to "impose an Islamic character on certain areas."

Damien Thompson, editor of the Catholic Herald newspaper and a blogger at the Daily Telegraph, wrote that the Archbishop's comments were the "most monumentally stupid thing I have ever heard an Archbishop of Canterbury say. In fact, it's more than stupid, it's disgusting.

"The idea that 'one law for everyone' is 'a bit of a danger', as Williams argues, goes against every tradition of English law and culture that the Primate of All England is supposed to uphold." Thompson wrote that if he had been quoted accurately, the Archbishop of Canterbury "is lending his support to the establishment of a non-Christian theocracy in Britain."

"Has the Archbishop gone bonkers?" asked Ruth Gledhill, the religion correspondent for the Times. Gledhill said that "commentators of every variety," have been "stunned into blunt expression by the Archbishop of Canterbury's uncharacteristically clear comments on Sharia in Britain." Williams, she wrote, "wants women, children, all of us in fact, to have to kow-tow to some of the strictest, harshest and most draconian laws dreamed up by any religious system, ever, anywhere in the world."

"There might not be no-go areas for non-Muslims in Britain...But this is certainly the way to go about creating them." Thompson pointed out that Williams' credibility "is in tatters" in his struggle with the Anglican leadership in Africa over acceptance of active homosexual ministers that has threatened to destroy the Communion. "Anglicans in parts of Nigeria live under what is, in effect, totalitarian Sharia.

"What will the Archbishop of Canterbury's fatuous remarks about Sharia do to his authority as head of the Anglican Communion? Pretty well finish it off, I should think," Thompson concludes.

Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said Dr Williams's comments gave "succour to extremists".

"He needs to understand that his words carry enormous weight," he said in a Channel 4 interview.

"What he seems to be talking about is a situation in which people are treated differently under the law according to their religion. People cannot be treated differently. Everyone should be equal in the eyes of the law. I don't doubt the archbishop's desire to accommodate diversity, but we cannot do so at the expense of our common values."

He described Dr Williams as "muddled" and "dangerous".

Williams' comments were condemned by Downing Street, the Tories and the chairman of the Government's Equalities and Human Rights Commission. They were described as a "recipe for chaos" by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham.

And on the continent a German Bishop protested Williams' comments saying a country needs a single legal system for everyone. " Bishop Wolfgang Huber, head of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany said integration can't be achieved through a dual legal system "Hoping to achieve integration through a dual legal system is a mistaken idea," Huber told Deutsche Welle in an exclusive interview. "You have to ask the question as to what extent cultural characteristics have a legitimate place in a legal system. But you have to push for one country to have one system."

A senior Church of England clergyman called for the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, over his remarks supporting Sharia in England.

***

GJ - The Archbishop of Canterbury is like so many of his peers. The way to be noticed is to make trendy statements.

Nothing is quite so bad as theocracy, especially a pre-Medieval system of laws within a democracy. CAIR in the US would like to establish Sharia here.


***

Norman Teigen has left a new comment on your post "Yale Law School Political Nursery":

Thanks. I really enjoyed the compliment about being a proofreader for your blog. I've had a lot of experience, really, I have.

What is your take on the A of Cant. bit on the Sharia law controversy which I had on my blog today.

Also, I had a journalist's spin on the A of C and he used the phrase 'fools for Christ' in a way that I didn't think quite hit the mark. Could you enlighten for what St. Paul means about being a 'fool for Christ'?

Norman Teigen
ELS layman

Yale Law School Political Nursery

Yale Law School earned the nickname
Bowling Alley for its long interior court.


A regular reader enjoyed the Lutherans at Yale posts, so I decided to add one about Yale and politics.

For the longest time the only US president from Yale was Taft, famous for getting stuck in the White House bathtub.

Gerald Ford changed that when he became president. Hired as a Yale football coach, he earned a law degree in his spare time.

Next came George H. W. Bush, Yale College graduate, whose son W. was born at Yale-New Haven Hospital. W. became a Skull and Bones member at Yale, like his father and grandfather (Senator Prescott Bush).

W. graduated from Yale College and earned an MBA at Harvard. He is the first president to have an MBA.

John Kerry was at Yale College at almost the same time as Bush, earning worse grades and almost flunking out. He was tapped for Skull and Bones, too.

Bill and Hillary Clinton were both Yale Law students just before we got there. Many Clinton staffers were drawn from Yale friendships. Lanny Davis (Yale College and Law) is one.

Gary Hart was Gary Hartpence when he attended Yale Divinity and Yale Law. He became famous for Monkey Business in his run for president.

Senator Danforth also went to Yale Divinity and Yale Law, retiring from politics to resume duty as an Episcopalian priest. (His family created the Purina Dog Chow company in St. Louis.)

Senator Joe Lieberman graduated from Yale Law in 1967 and ran for president with Al Gore, who flunked out of Vanderbilt Divinity.

Poor Rev. Mouse

Perhaps if Rev. Mouse took up weightlifting?

Several times a day I get anonymous posts from a WELS pastor. He has convinced himself that I have hardly ever been a "real" pastor. That explains to him how I earned a few degrees here and there. From 1970 until now I have only had one (three-year) stretch where I was not serving as a student assistant, vicar, or pastor. I don't see how that is relevant from a Wisconsin sect perspective. The Wauwatosa Gospel "creates its own forms" - like life coach at St. Mark, DePere. What if that also meant a ministry of blogging?

Yet, I do conduct Holy Communion services 26 times a year for real, live people. The rest of the time I write sermons for the many people who care to read them. Needless to say, the sermons set off Rev. Mouse fiercely. He also detests quotations from orthodox Lutherans.

WELS workers murdering spouses? Old news to him! A DP in state prison for molesting his own members? So what. A vicar in another state prison? "You already mentioned that."

I mention these things to let WELS/ELS members know that this nasty undercurrent is a significant part of the WELS ministerium. Not all of them are like Mouse, but many are. They like to stay anonymous, too.

Confused by Bivens? Romans Is Clear

KJV Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be
wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

In contrast, Bivens:

In fostering fruits of faith, keep in mind that sanctification is not to be equated with marriage and heterosexual activity. Christians who lack heterosexual impulses may please God with celibate chastity that might involve a lifelong struggle against homosexual tendencies. To counsel them to “go and get attracted to the opposite sex” betrays a misunderstanding of sanctification and invites unnecessary frustration for those already burdened.

WELS apologists cannot grasp that a Sausage Factory professor is teaching against the Word of God. The Creator established marriage and blessed it with many advantages. One cannot harmonize God's Creation with something against His Creation. If someone has murderous thoughts, are they not sinful too?

Two Commandments are aimed against inward sin - coveting. The New Moses, Frosty Bivens, would say - "They may covet as long as they do nothing about it. We cannot expect people to stop coveting."

***

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Confused by Bivens? Romans Is Clear":

wow- and this Bivens is a seminary prof?? let me get this straight- it's okay to be gay, just don't act like you are? keep those thoughts to yourself? i'm shocked.
why aren't THESE subjects brought up at synod conventions to be hashed over? they should be squelched right there on the convention floor rather than filling the heads of young pastors with this kind of garbage that they eventually pass along to the passive WELS member sitting in the pew who doesn't know or maybe doesn't care what God's position really is. It's all about that slippery slope and WELS is rolling down the hill. a little leaven...

***

GJ - All WELS leaders are appointed by the Holy Spirit, so they are incapable of error. I am not kidding. Even a circuit pastor enjoys this infallibility. One pastor said, "The Holy Spirit put him in that office, so who am I to argue with him?" Of course, the people who get appointed are totally safe synod robots, weather vanes, foxes. Therefore, no one will challenge Bivens because that means arguing with God Himself. And it is definitely a sin against the Holy Spirit to debate matters with God's chosen ones.

WELS got on the multi-cultural slippery slope a long time ago. They joined with ELCA and Missouri in a big, insurance-funded ecumenical project, which was hatched at Snowbird. Funny, I had to read about it in ELCA's The Lutheran. FIC (nee The Northwestern Lutheran) was strangely silent.

Multi-cultural does not mean Black, Mexican, East Indian, American Indian. The term means any and all sexual lifestyles.

Multi-ethnic means all ethnic groups. The terms are being merged together so that everyone is confused. An example is CORE, the Congress on Racial Equality. The old symbol was a black circle with a white equal sign. The newer logo has a pink equal sign. Human rights.

The traditional concept of natural law means that God (however defined) commands what is good. Thus some things can be against the law as a "crime against nature." The US Supreme Court upheld this concept until recently. Now they have ruled that the government has no business making decisions about morality. That could be interpreted as endorsing incest, beastiality, and everything else.

WELS is not on the cutting edge of this, but following behind, wagging its little tail. "Please, ELCA! Accept us as being sophisticated and metropolitan and metrosexual, just like you."

All Divorced WELS Pastors Have "Scriptural" Divorces

I love how Holy Mother WELS partisans immediately assume that all divorced WELS pastors have "Scriptural" divorces, which must be on par with "Scriptural" murders.

And if they engaged in sordid crimes, like murder or obstruction of justice, they are all repentant. Why, it's a violation of the Eighth Commandment to think otherwise.

In the bad, old forerunners of ELCA--the ALC and LCA--divorced pastors left the ministry. They were not allowed to play the game now served up so adroitly by WELS pastors.

I heard District Pope Robert Mueller claim that "husband of one wife" means "one wife at a time."

There is only one sin in WELS - telling the truth about Holy Mother WELS. That is indeed the unforgiveable sin against the Holy Ghost.

Amen? (Speak up, ELS)

Amen! cries the ELS chorus.

***

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "All Divorced WELS Pastors Have "Scriptural" Divorc...":

Had our synod leaders had more of a backbone while these crimes were being committed around them, maybe an example would have been set for the now spineless laity who are passively sitting in the amen corner today. Stand up and be heard...

On a separate note, was Robert Mueller numbered among the divorced pastors and is that why he spins scripture into a tortured knot to be able to come up with THAT kooky interpretation? I believe that there are pastors who sadly have suffered thru 'scriptural' divorces. They are human too and I would think for Satan to work a divorce in a pastor's marriage would be a pretty arrow in his quiver. But surely even the good Rev. can't even believe that himself. Maybe he was drunk on power when he said it.

***

GJ - DP Mueller was not divorced. When his buddy was caught in adultery, the pastor was allowed to lie to his congregation and wife, getting a plush job in a WELS agency. In the Michigan District, adultery, divorce, and remarriage looked good on the resume.

I heard a Concordia Seminary (Ft. Wayne) say the same thing as Mueller - one wife at a time. The fad at the moment was saying the Biblical passage was against polygamy.

Marvin Schwan, I was told with great seriousness, also had a "Scriptural" divorce. When he married the wife of one of his managers, she became a Lutheran. When Marvin reached room temperature, she became a Roman Catholic again. And yet, some deny the efficacy of money. I have no doubts after that transformation.

Yes, there are pastors done in by their wives, but I believe the number is tiny compared to the entire number of clergy divorces.

F. Bivens Should Counsel Him

Which Teletubby Does Pastor Ted Watch?

Ted Haggard's journey of "spiritual restoration" came to a halt this week at the request of the ousted New Life Church pastor.


Ted Haggard's Plea for Money Reproved

New Life Church Overwhelmingly Approves Ted Haggard's Successor

A year after Haggard agreed to enter counseling with four ministers after his sex scandal, he asked to end the team's oversight of his recovery program. But New Life Church officials believe the termination of the relationship is premature, according to a statement on Tuesday.

Early last year, just months into his recovery program, the overseers had indicated that the restoration process could take years.

"New Life recognizes the process of restoring Ted Haggard is incomplete and maintains its original stance that he should not return to vocational ministry," read the statement.

Haggard, founder of New Life in Colorado Springs, resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals in November 2006 and was fired from New Life Church after a former male prostitute alleged a three-year cash-for-sex relationship. Haggard confessed to undisclosed "sexual immorality" and to buying methamphetamine.

The former megachurch pastor now lives in Phoenix and is a member of Phoenix First Assembly of God. Pastor Tommy Barnett, one of the overseers in the restoration team, said he will maintain an "accountability relationship" with Haggard.

Barnett runs the Phoenix Dream Center, helping the homeless, recovering alcoholics, drug addicts and prostitutes. In August, Haggard had reportedly said he would move in to the Dream Center, saying he could identify with the people there. But Haggard's counseling team denied the report and said he will not be doing any ministry work.

Since early in the recovery process, the overseers have strongly urged Haggard to seek secular employment.

New Life's statement said Haggard's leadership of the church had been extraordinary "for many years" and wished him and his family success in the future."

The church would not make further comment about Haggard's "spiritual restoration," the statement further said.

Haggard was replaced in August by Brady Boyd, former associate senior pastor at Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas. Despite a drop in attendance since the sex scandal, the now 10,000-member New Life congregation has been recovering under new leadership.

***

GJ - According to WELS seminary professor F. Bivens, Haggard should not be advised to go straight. Biven's guidance would doubtless confuse Ted's wife and five children.

Romans 1 is quite clear about this topic, but the Apostle Paul did not teach at The Sausage Factory, so he and the Holy Spirit must be wrong.

From Foward in Christ (WELS official magazine without the word Lutheran in it)

In fostering fruits of faith, keep in mind that sanctification is not to be equated with marriage and heterosexual activity. Christians who lack heterosexual impulses may please God with celibate chastity that might involve a lifelong struggle against homosexual tendencies. To counsel them to “go and get attracted to the opposite sex” betrays a misunderstanding of sanctification and invites unnecessary frustration for those already burdened.

Contributing editor Forrest Bivens, a professor at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wisconsin, is a member at Calvary, Thiensville.

Why We All Miss President Reagan

“In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. From time to time we’ve been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. Well, if no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else?”

Ronald Reagan

Former WELS Congregation - St. James (Stadler)

At a Ft. Wayne conference, Stadler spent so much time talking to Herman Otten's sister, Marie Meyer, that some thought they were married. Mrs. Meyer is an advocate for women's ordination. Someday, Richard, the women pictured above could be your bishops.

Independent Lutheran congregations face challenges as well as opportunities for mission and ministry


01/30/08
Robert Ylvisaker (An ELS Ylvisaker!)

Nearly all Lutheran churches in the metro area claim membership in a synod or similar organization, but two St. Paul suburban congregations have bucked the trend and are operating as completely independent parishes.

The pastors of both St. James Lutheran in West St. Paul and Grace of God Evangelical Lutheran in Woodbury say they’ve seen a surge in enthusiasm and involvement among members since going it alone, and they also report increases in membership. They acknowledge, however, that there can be problems, both short and long term.

The roof certainly didn't fall in as some had predicted when St. James was suspended from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) in mid-1995, said the Rev. Richard Stadler, senior pastor. The issue that led to the break was the role of women in the church and society.

The three pastors at the time, including Stadler, said WELS leaders maintained in discussions leading up to the suspension that men must be the leaders and women subordinate to them in all areas of life. These roles had been established as part of God's moral law at the time of Creation, and to ignore the requirement was a sin.

The pastors argued that they could find no justification for the synod's position in Scripture, even though their ministry was very much Bible-based and conservative theologically.

“The energy level of the congregation went up 200% the summer after WELS suspended us,” Stadler said. “Our energy had been focused on theological controversy, and now the congregation put that behind them, opening a new chapter — a sort of adventure.”

Three years after leaving WELS, the St. James parish completed a $1.8 million expansion of its striking Romanesque church building. And while membership has remained at the 1,500 level of 1995, it’s actually been growing continuously as young families join the congregation, offsetting losses from death and other natural causes, Stadler said.

***

GJ - Have you noticed how all the apostates are "conservative"? Richard Jungkuntz was conservative too.

Stadler's congregation was known for taking on disciplinary cases from other WELS congregations. Stadler is divorced and remarried. Iver Johnson left his wife after 50 years of marriage. Stadler always eluded disciplinary action because he was best buddies with Paul Kelm and Wayne Mueller. The former wives must be touched deeply by the Heirs Together essay posted on the church website: Full equality for second wives! The three pastors will defend that to the death.

Stadler was the featured speaker at the WELS youth rally in Columbus, Ohio. His "sermon" was so bad that Professor Balge's son said, "Thank you for not vomiting on me, Greg." Stadler filled a jar with muck and then added a chemical to make the water clear again, like a Tide commercial in the guise of a children's sermonette. I was captivated by Stadler's lisp - very pronounced.

Another divorced and remarried pastor spoke at the rally - Marc Schroeder (no, not the SP Schroeder). Mark touched many hearts when he said he was more qualified to address family issues because he was divorced. Best (CGM) buddy Floyd Stolzenburg was similarly qualified and helped organize the rally, with Roger Zehms, also divorced and remarried.

Marc Schroeder was the son of a DMLC professor and married a seminary professor's wife the second time. Even then, DP John Seifert extended the Left Foot of Fellowship when Marc continued the same ecumenical endeavors loved by WELS leaders.

Prince of Peace went out with Schroeder, so there is some karma with one divorced pastor hosting another divorced pastor via LPR's two divorced pastors. Stadler became independent. Schroeder became independent. Stolzenburg attached himself to another independent church. All of them were held up as leaders of youth in WELS.

Take note of Stadler's Lutheran links - none. Is that an oversight or just a slight?

Such spiritual wisdom suggests a future WELS youth rally with Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and Ozzy Osbourne speaking on drug abuse; Mark Freier on the dangers of pop music; Randy Cutler on the errors of Pentecostalism; and former SP Gurgel on financial planning.

PS - Has anyone known of false teachers starting on their own, from scratch? They take over a congregation built up with the mission money and the labor of others, then pronounce themselves great heroes for going it alone.

Invocavit - The First Sunday in Lent

The Tree of Life, by Norma Boecker
Invocavit - First Sunday in Lent

KJV 2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

KJV Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Collect
Lord God, heavenly Father, inasmuch as the adversary doth continually afflict us, and as a roaring lion doth walk about, seeking to devour us: We beseech Thee for the sake of the suffering and death of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, to help us by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and to strengthen our hearts by Thy Word, that our enemy may not prevail over us, but that we may evermore abide in Thy grace, and be preserved unto everlasting life; through the same, Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Invocavit

The Hymn #151
The Invocation p. 15
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 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
The Gospel Matthew 4:1-11
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn Luther #287
The Sermon
Salvation

The Offertory p. 22
The Hymn #305
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 Koren #44

Salvation

KJV 2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Someone asked about salvation, and this is the Epistle for the First Sunday in Lent.

The order of salvation is clear in the Scriptures and in historic Christianity. The purpose of the Law is to teach God’s will in the First and Second Tables. The preaching of the Law is always condemnation, because the Law is a mirror that shows us what we truly are.

The Holy Spirit works through the Law to bring about godly contrition in the hearts of those who hear the Word. Worldly contrition is – I’m sorry I got caught. Godly contrition is – I know I have disobeyed God’s commandments, even if no one else knows.

People have forgotten that there are Two Tables in the Ten Commandments.

The First Table concerns our relationship to God. The first three Commandments are necessarily the most important and therefore the most dangerous to break.

We are singing Luther’s great hymn on the Ten Commandments today. (I could not find the words and music for “Strong Mother God,” which are probably protected by a United Methodist copyright anyway.)

Some of the best passages about sound doctrine and false doctrine can be found in Luther’s Large Catechism, part of our Book of Concord. As Luther said in so many ways, the man who murders another has harmed one soul, but the false teacher murders many souls.

The Law produces wrath, so it is not surprising that false teachers do not want to hear a word about their doctrine.

One time a well-known false teacher phoned me and accused me of not speaking to him directly about his widely published doctrinal errors. He said, “You should have withstood me to my face, as Paul did with Peter.” I said, “You have published your errors, but I would be glad to tell you about them now.” He said, “No, don’t do that.” Why did he shrink from the very thing he demanded? First of all, his accusations were wrong, just a bluster. Secondly, he was not afraid of me but of God. “The demons believe and their hides bristle.” (James, a appropriate book for this fellow). The know enough of God’s power to be afraid, but they do not love God or God’s Word. For them, Christianity is a way to have a good living and strut around. They will not bear the cross, and they do not mind being a cross someone else must bear.

False teachers cannot tolerate being challenged in any way. They do not want to engage in a debate they cannot win with the Scriptures, so they do their best to silence anyone who stands up against them. The old ALC of 1930 (as it was trying to merge the Ohio, Buffalo, and Iowa Synods) formed a committee to silence Lenski when he objected to their compromises about the inerrancy of God’s Word. Lenski was their best theologian, their famous author and district president. They were able to silence him and insert their compromise into the final document. That began a long, downhill slide into apostasy, aided by the 1960 ALC merger and later the ELCA merger.

The seminary I attended (Waterloo, Ontario) was formed at the beginning of the 20th century to provide orthodox Lutheran pastors for Eastern Canada. The first president of that seminary wrote a doctrinal textbook that Dr. Robert Preus mentioned to me as being “excellent” when we spoke in his office. When I worked at St. Peter’s, Kitchener, in the 1970’s, I used to see old Otto Reble each Sunday, greeting people in his role as the elderly, retired statesman, the retired district president. One of his former members mentioned how he saw the boys playing cards one day as he entered their home. Reble said nothing, but delivered a blistering sermon on card playing the next Sunday. Otto’s son is now the retired pastor of St. Peter’s, smiling benevolently as the current pastor announces he will conduct same-sex weddings.

The change in the Eastern Canada Synod could not have taken place unless they departed first from Lutheran doctrine. People forget how these errors gather momentum until nothing can stop them. A Christian country becomes anti-Christian in a few generations. I visited one family in their home. They lived in humble circumstances, but their father taught them the Gospel. The son and daughter were both in my confirmation classes – nice, bright children. One is on the synod staff. I wonder how someone with so much knowledge of the Bible in the eighth grade could be a part of that synod today. I wonder what his father would have said.

Individuals Are Like Synods
The same is true for individuals. They can become anti-Christian over time through a gradual application of false doctrine. The odd thing is how it all works together so well. The minister introduces errors because he has lost his faith. Or the congregation insists on compromise because they want a God without wrath, a Christ without the cross.

Since many enter the Kingdom through infant baptism, the gradual introduction of error is a fine way to turn believers into opponents of the Gospel. And they do not need to leave the bosom of the visible church to do that.

If someone has no faith and is disturbed by hearing the Law, feeling God’s wrath without the comfort of good works or merit, he is ready to have the comfort of the Gospel.

Someone without godly contrition will not hunger for the righteousness of faith.

Justification Based on the Reconciliation
The confusion reigning today from two justifications rests on one primary error. The reconciliation of 2 Corinthians 5:19ff is the basis for justification by faith. When someone is genuinely sorry for his sins, the message of 2 Corinthians 5 is clear and plain – Christ has exchanged your sins for His righteousness, which you receive by trusting in Him.

"For the papalists understand the word 'justify' according to the manner of the Latin composition as meaning 'to make righteous' through a donated or infused quality of inherent righteousness, from which works of righteousness proceed. The Lutherans, however, accept the word 'justify' in the Hebrew manner of speaking; therefore they define justification as the absolution from sins, or the remission of sins, through imputation of the righteousness of Christ, through adoption and inheritance of eternal life, and that only for the sake of Christ, who is apprehended by faith."
Martin Chemnitz, Examination of the Council of Trent, trans., Fred Kramer, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1971, I, p. 467.

This is justification by faith. The person who trusts in Jesus as his Savior is declared innocent by God because of the cross, because of this reconciliation.

It is nonsense to tell someone (in Confession and Absolution): “You were forgiven before you came in here.”

How would that sound to a man who murdered his friend in a rage? – “You were already a guilt-free saint.”

To claim that “God has declared the entire world righteous, forgiven, without faith” is akin to George Major’s error. Luther taught that good works necessarily follow faith and salvation, so George Major said, “Good works are necessary for salvation.” Major turned Gospel fruits into law, so that error (Majorism) had to be repudiated, just as UOJ needs to be repudiated today.

"Faith receives the good works of Christ, love bestows good works on our neighbor." In the first place, our faith is strengthened and increased when Christ is held forth to us in his own natural works, namely, that he associates only with the blind, the deaf, the lame, the lepers, the dead and the poor; that is , in pure love and kindness toward all who are in need and in misery, so that finally Christ is nothing else than consolation and a refuge for all the distressed and troubled in conscience. Here is necessary faith that trusts in the Gospel and relies upon it, never doubting that Christ is just as he is presented to us in this Gospel, and does not think of Him otherwise, nor let any one persuade us to believe otherwise."
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, I, p. 109f. Matthew 11:2-10.

Salvation
The only way we can inherit eternal life is through justification by faith. We are sinners who are declared righteous by God’s grace, an absolution received daily through faith.

Many stumble and fall, through rebellion against the First or Second Tables. That is why we need to meditate on the Word daily. Difficulties help us appreciate the meaning of the Gospel Promises.

Sadly, people take for granted what God freely offers. As I mentioned, we have fresh citrus outside in our yard – lemons and tangelos. The abundance of citrus in Phoenix makes people take them for granted. My neighbors do not pick most of their oranges. Most people in America would love to walk outside in sunshine and 70 degree weather and pick an orange. That is because they value the scarcity when they have to don wooly coats to drive to the grocery stores in their frozen cars to buy a few fresh oranges for an outrageous price. They think, “I would cherish those oranges if I had them.” But the abundance changes that.

The abundance of God’s grace in the Gospel message leads to the same kind of satiety. People take it for granted and itch for something new and exciting. There is always a new and exciting cult to intrigue us.

Difficulties and bearing the cross combine to make the Gospel message a great treasure. We know we are sick when one pill makes us feel better at once. We know how valuable the Gospel is when we meditate on the Word or hear a sermon and know, “This is God’s message to me.”

I love Luther’s explanation of John 10, when he says, “I know my Shepherd is just as anxious for me as I am for Him.” That is why we listen to the Shepherd’s voice and follow Him. He knows His own and we listen to the Shepherd’s voice.

The foundational error is lack of faith in God’s love for each and every one of us. The constant pursuit of God’s grace is the message of the Scriptures. God follows after us and provides for our spiritual needs and our material needs. The spiritual needs are the most important, so we value them the least. The material needs are there for everyone – the rain falls on the just and the unjust – so we make that first in our lives.

The advantage of every believer in Christ is the forgiveness of sins and the comfort of the Gospel. The old Accuser, Satan, may rail night and day. As Luther said, “I may be a thousand times worse than you say, but I know Christ has paid the price for my sins, so you are powerless.”

The believer has the assurance of God’s love and guidance throughout life and into the life to come. This means a constant relationship to Christ through the Means of Grace. Because God has done everything for us through Christ and given us the instruments of His grace through the work of the Holy Spirit, we have nothing left to accomplish. We can speak the same truths we know and let God work through His Word. We can show the same kindness toward others that He has shown us.

God multiplies the Gospel by scattering the seed through us. Each Gospel act is a sowing of the seed: confession and absolution, mutual consolation, preaching and teaching the Word, Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. That is why Paul wrote, at the end of his reconciliation chapter – do not receive the grace of God in vain.

The living seed of the Gospel grows because God has imbued it with life, energy, and power.