ELCA, LCMS, and the Antichrist

Condescending LaughQuest Denizens Hep Out Joe Krohn

David Jay Webber (Djw) 
Perhaps something that has contributed toward Mr. Krohn's confusion on what the authentic Lutheran teaching is, is that he was accepted into membership in an LCMS church, even though the one and only reason for his having been disciplined in his former WELS church was his rejection of objective justification. On that point, the LCMS pastor and church should probably have told him that the LCMS and the WELS are in agreement regarding objective justification, so that a rejection or questioning of this doctrine is not in itself a valid reason either to depart from the WELS or to go to the LCMS. 


If his previous WELS pastor had perhaps not explained objective justification clearly, or if he had explained it in a misleading way, that pastor could have been encouraged to read WELS Pastor Jon Buchholz's essay on the topic, in which Buchholz points out and corrects certain weak and even erroneous forms of expression that have sometimes been used in WELS to explain this doctrine; and in which Buchholz also lays out the balanced and correct way to explain it. 

His crypto-Universalism is different from J. P. Meyer's?
How?

Mr. Krohn likewise should have been encouraged to read and study this essay himself. But on this particular issue, Mr. Krohn should have been guided back toward a reconciliation with his WELS pastor and church, and not to have been taken into LCMS membership, as if the LCMS does not also embrace and confess objective justification.


Jim Pierce (Jim_pierce)
For those who are interested, Mr. Krohn has his own blog Luther Rocks. If one were so inclined to do a search against Dr. Jackson Ichabod blog, you would find many a comment by Mr. Krohn aka "Luther Rocks" in support of Dr. Jackson and Jackson's views against OJ. 


If I am mistaken, then please correct me, Mr. Krohn. 


Btw, Mr. Krohn is somewhat of a hero in the Jackson sect, because he was "persecuted" for his faith and kicked out of his WELS congregation for teaching against OJ, according to the information at Dr. Jackson's blog. Please correct that if it is wrong, Mr. Krohn.


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GJ - I recall Joe Krohn daring to ask about the WELS-LCMS fund-raising fee of $40,000. Never get between a Changer and his money.

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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Condescending LaughQuest Denizens Hep Out Joe Kroh...":

Pastor Webber is directing people to (W)ELS DP Buchholz' Universal Justification paper for clarity. He's got to be kidding. Note that it was Pastor Jon Buchholz' primary goal in writting the essay to move people to use terms that Scripture uses to describe and teach the doctrine of Justification. Here's the clarity and return to Scriptural verbage that Buchholz provided:

"God has forgiven the whole world. God has forgiven everyone his sins." This statement is absolutely true! This is the heart of the gospel, and it must be preached and taught as the foundation of our faith. But here’s where the caveat comes in: In Scripture, the word "forgive" is used almost exclusively in a personal, not a universal sense. The Bible doesn’t make the statement, "God has forgiven the world."

"God has forgiven all sins, but the unbeliever rejects God’s forgiveness." Again, this statement is true—and Luther employed similar terminology to press the point of Christ’s completed work of salvation.16 But we must also recognize that Scripture doesn’t speak this way."

"God has declared the entire world righteous." This statement is true, as we understand it to mean that God has rendered a verdict of "not-guilty" toward the entire world. It is also true—and must be taught—that the righteousness of Christ now stands in place of the world’s sin; this is the whole point of what Jesus did for us at Calvary. However, once again we’re wresting a term out of its usual context. In Scripture the term "righteous" usually refers to believers." [GJ - "Usually"?]

What a scam these guys are pulling over on the laity and weak willed clergy!

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GJ - Buchholz portrayed his paper as a corrective, so they could slither away from the Kokomo Statements, which they lied about while supporting and enforcing them.

Buchholz considers himself an expert, but when I asked him about studying the issue, he said, "I haven't unpacked your book." I did not go to him about UOJ. He went to me. He had time to dig a giant pool, worthy of an emperor, but not time to study the Word. The requirement is "apt to teach," not "apt to swim."

Thy Strong Word has been available free on the Net for years, so he could have done that without unpacking his books.

Webber is another one who pursues the logical fallacy of Special Pleading. He endlessly repeats the same, lame arguments. He has no grasp of his errors because any interruption causes the recording to play over again.

The New NIV Contradicts Inerrancy with Its Mytho-Porno-Feminist Language

Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel has left a new comment on your post "WELS Translators Do Due Diligence":

My wife and I are presently members of a WELS congregation. We have been having a very tough time thinking how it would be conscionable for us to remain with WELS should WELS choose the gender neutral Bible (NIV11) for its official publications. The very reality that WELS is considering the NIV11 is distressing and also, revolting to us.

We believe the choice is both simple and clear. I continue reading literature from WELS and our local congregation that WELS is committed to sound doctrinal Christian belief and practice, based upon the inerrant Word of God. However, the very consideration of the gender neutral NIV11, renders that repeated resolve, inconsistent (incompatible).

Adopting a gender neutral Bible is tantamount to messing with God's Word. I prefer to liken it to "molestation" of God's written revelation. Adopting gender neutrality in Scripture, has the effect of humanly micro managing and tweaking Scripture to suit one's own (carnal political correctness, Bible study slothfulness, or, whatever) ends. There is no Scriptural or rational excuse to intentionally remove and / or alter / edit Scripture's patriarchal language. Doing so would be akin to literary revisionism, - as the altering of other literary works of antiquity, such as Homer's Iliad, Caesar's Gallic Wars, Josephus’ writings, etc. Even in the secular world, I’m convinced that many would consider this, type of "editing alteration," unconscionable and irresponsible.

Scripture, itself makes it clear that "every word of God is pure." Scripture, also states that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God" [God-breathed - the very words] - [Proverbs 30:5-6 ; 2 Timothy 3:14-17]

If WELS leadership and congregational pastors would be (Biblically) wise, (and aware of the offense they are conveying), they would drop the NIV11 consideration from their mix of options. Presently, I'm reminded of the Scriptural reality: ".....Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you....." [2 Corinthians 6:14-18 - in context]

It speaks volumes that the large [Christian] Southern Baptist Conference gave thumbs down to the NIV11. Knowing that the Southern Baptists are committed to the doctrinal teaching of Biblical inerrancy as well as the continued (such) profession of WELS – we ask ourselves the rational question: “How can WELS persist in riding the fence, including a gender neutral translation in the mix of its consideration for a new translation change for synodical and congregational publications?”

Again, I believe, it all boils down to shifting the patriarchal language of Scripture [the manuscripts] and “adapting” the present culture’s ever changing language usage. It will be utterly gagging to my wife and me, (should WELS adopt the NIV11) to hear WELS synodical leadership and pastors profess the “inerrancy of Scripture” having [then] decided that the NIV11 was acceptable for synodical publications and congregational usage!

Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel
www.thechristianmessage.org

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GJ - Somehow the "conservative" Lutherans have left all KJV alternatives off the table. We all know why WELS is going to <s>finesse</s> study the issue - they knew they would be clobbered at the district meetings.

Lutherans are free to choose between Romanism or Fullerism:
anything is better than Lutheran doctrine, the leaders say.

Fake-o-Blog Accuses Luther of Contradicting Himself

Nothing is more pathetic than Luther-haters quoting the Reformer to promote their false doctrine.

If Luther did teach UOJ, then the quotation from the same commentary--in the graphic--contradicts the fake's citation.

I figure Jim Pierce provided the quotation, because Tim Glende is too lazy to find something from Luther. Maybe Uncle John forwarded it to him.

I read every word of the Galatians commentary out loud to Mrs. Ichabod. We have read thousands of pages of Luther together. The Reformer did not contradict himself. He never departed from the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace.

The Luther-haters use the hunt and peck method. They look for what they want and bray about it, never thinking their claims only show how little they know.

Beware of Crypto-Calvinists Selling Calvinist Bibles to Lutherans

Paulus locutus est - causa finita est.

Paul McCain is selling his Calvinist Bible from a supposedly Lutheran publishing house, simultaneously warning everyone about crypto-Calvinism.

Driscoll, on the far left, is the potty-mouth pastor admired by Glende and Ski.
J. I. Packer is a famous Calvinist who edited McCain's favorite Bible, the ESV.

rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Beware of Crypto-Calvinists Selling Calvinist Bibl...":

I once made a Crypto Calvinist bristle when I jokingly referred to him as one. The whole premise of Crypto Calvinism is deceit. They say that they are Lutheran, but are really in the Reformed camp.

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GJ - The crypto-Calvinists are no longer crypto, as one NPH publication stated. To be precise, the main influence in the Synodical Conference (tm) is Arminian, Decision Theology.

Time To Study John Calvin

John Calvin was a prolific author.

J-721

"When intent upon establishing their peculiar tenets, Calvin and Zwingli likewise preferred rational argumentation to the plain proofs of Holy Writ. Their interpretation of the words of the Sacrament is but one glaring instance; but there are many more. The schools and the denominations which they founded became infected with this same disease of theology."

Martin S. Sommer, Concordia Pulpit for 1932, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1931, p. iii.

J-722

John Calvin, Commentaries, Amos 8:11-12: "...we are touched with some desire for strong doctrine, it evidently appears that there is some piety in us; we are not destitute of the Spirit of God, although destitute of the outward means."

            Benjamin Milner, Calvin's Doctrine of the Church, Heicko A.Oberman, Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1970, p. 109. CO, XLIII, 153.

J-723

“Wherefore, with regard to the increase and confirmation of faith, I would remind the reader (though I think I have already expressed it in unambiguous terms), that in assigning this office to the Sacraments, it is not as if I thought that there is a kind of secret efficacy perpetually inherent in them, by which they can of themselves promote or strengthen faith, but because our Lord has instituted them for the express purpose of helping to establish and increase our faith. The Sacraments duly perform their office only when accompanied by the Spirit, the internal Master, whose energy alone penetrates the heart, stirs up the affections, and procures access for the Sacraments into our souls. If He is wanting, the Sacraments can avail us no more than the sun shining on the eyeballs of the blind, or sounds uttered in the ears of the deaf. Wherefore, in distributing between the Spirit and the Sacraments, I ascribe the whole energy to Him, and leave only a ministry to them; this ministry, without the agency of the Spirit, is empty and frivolous, but when He acts within, and exerts His power, it is replete with energy. ...then, it follows, both that the Sacraments do not avail one iota without the energy of the Holy Spirit; and that yet in hearts previously taught by that preceptor, there is nothing to prevent the Sacraments from strengthening and increasing faith.”

            John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2 volumes, Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1970, I, p. 497. Also cited in Benjamin Charles Milner, Jr., Calvin's Doctrine of the Church, Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1970, p. 119. Institutes. IV.xiv.9.

J-724

“We must not suppose that there is some latent virtue inherent in the Sacraments by which they, in themselves, confer the gifts of the Holy Spirit upon us, in the same way in which wine is drunk out of a cup, since the only office divinely assigned them is to attest and ratify the benevolence of the Lord towards us; and they avail no farther than accompanied by the Holy Spirit to open our minds and hearts, and make us capable of receiving this testimony, in which various distinguished graces are clearly manifested… They [the Sacraments] do not of themselves bestow any grace, but they announce and manifest it, and, like earnests and badges, give a ratification of the gifts which the divine liberality has bestowed upon us.”

John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2 volumes, Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1970, I, p. 503. Institutes, IV, XIV, 17. 

J-725

“But assuming that the body and blood of Christ are attached to the bread and wine, then the one must necessarily be dissevered from the other. For the bread is given separately from the cup, so the body, united to the bread, must be separated from the blood, included in the cup.”

John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2 volumes, Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1970, I, p. 570. Institutes, IV, XVII, 18.

J-726

John Calvin, Institutes IV.xvii.19: "We must establish such a presence of Christ in the supper as may neither fasten Him to the element of bread, not enclose Him in bread, not circumscribe Him in any way (all of which clearly derogate from His heavenly glory)...."

Benjamin Charles Milner, Jr., Calvin's Doctrine of the Church, Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1970, p. 128.

J-727

John Calvin, True Method of Reforming the Church: "The offspring of believers are born holy, because their children, while yet in the womb, before they breathe the vital air, have been adopted into the covenant of eternal life."

Benjamin Charles Milner, Jr., Calvin's Doctrine of the Church, Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1970, p. 123. 

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GJ - Two characteristics of John Calvin are most important. First of all, he separates the work of the Holy Spirit from the Word and Sacraments.


I. Enthusiasm
Calvin is an Enthusiast in divorcing the Spirit from the Word. Luther, Melanchthon, the Concordists, and the post-Concord Lutherans were clear, forceful, and consistent in following the Scriptures in this fine summary from Hoenecke - "The Spirit never without the Word. The Word never without the Spirit. That is sound doctrine."


UOJ has all babies born forgiven (Eduard Preuss and J. P. Meyer) while Calvin has the children of believers born holy. The difference is UOJ's crypto-Universalism, which makes it so easy to join Rome or ELCA or Craig Groeschel or anyone else.


Grace without the Means of Grace is characteristic of Calvin and UOJ, except Calvin is relatively consistent.


II. Reason above Scripture
Calvin placed human reason above Scripture, but Luther understood the Word of God as revelation that transcended and often opposed human reason. 


The problem of Calvin's magisterial use of reason is where to stop. If the Real Presence of Christ is a mystery that cannot be explained by human reason, then so are the Two Natures of Christ. If someone cannot calculate the waters being sufficient to cover the earth in the Genesis Flood, then it did not happen.


Lutherans treat the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace as central to the Gospel, foundational for everything claimed about the true Christian Church. 

Schleiermacher - Halle and UOJ

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Fail-o-Blog Should Call Himself the Real Calvin":

So (W)ELS' chief UOJ theologian Siegbert W. Becker was channeling Schleiermacher when he wrote their confession of the false gospel of Universal Justification.

Becker - "But there are times when a Christian does not know that he has faith. And many people who think they have faith do not have it, and many that think they are not believers are believing children of God."
http://www.wlsessays.net/files/BeckerJustification.PDF

Becker's essay is ground zero for this false teaching in the (W)ELS. It's required reading for anyone who cares to know what the (W)ELS teaching concerning this doctrine including his determination that the Kokomo statements contained no false doctrine.

Appleton Mission Vision

Tim and Ski have a dream, a vision,
SMART goals.

"We'll buy some de-lousing spray at Lowe's."

Historic St. John Lutheran Church, Milwaukee.

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rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Appleton Mission Vision":

What a juxtaposition! Both physically and theologically, The Core and Historic St. John Lutheran Church are polar opposites.

Fail-o-Blog Should Call Himself the Real Calvin

From Lito Cruz:
I posted on Fake Ichabod let's see if they do not moderate it.
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The Real Calvinists are the UOJers. I tell you why...

1.) UOJers follow the same paradigm as Calvinists. Like Calvinists, UOJers equate the Atonement with Justification only in the case of Calvinism, the Calvinist conclude Atonement is limited. While the UOJers conclude justification is for all.

2. Here is where UOJers are also similar in paradigm but in the opposite direction. When the pronouns "we", "our" are used for all people in Scripture, Calvinists think these refer to the elect. When the pronouns "we", "our" are used for the saints in Scripture, UOJers think these refer to the world. JBFA people are the ones who get these pronouns correct. The point is that it is your paradigm and method of interpretation that make you Calvinistic and in fact UOJers are crypto-Universalist.

So you do not believe since you are Universalists you can not be a Calvinists? Sure you can be, just look at Karl Barth and the present Unitarians, they all began in Calvinism.

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GJ - Karl Barth was profoundly influenced by Schleiermacher, the Halle Pietist who pioneered faith without belief.

I will post more on Calvin tomorrow.

The Barth Home

Who is standing close to the old goat Karl? - Charlotte Kirschbaum.
and who is standing farthest away? - his wife.
Truly Karl was the model for the Church Growth leader,
just as he was the official theologian for Fuller Seminary.

Are Some of Those UOJ Fanatics Really Justification by Faith Guys - In Substance?

LCMS and ELCA pastors who join Rome or Eastern Orthodoxy
have this comfort awaiting them.

Someone theorized that some UOJ cheerleaders are justification by faith alone - deep down. I am sure that some are confused and really JBFA, but most are not. 

Furthermore, their ambiguous language deceives many people. One must account for their belligerent name-calling and attacks against faith itself. In addition, some--like Rolf--switch sides when convenient and switch back again. That is not a confession but opportunism. The Preus clan is famous for that - The Two Natures of Jack Preus, etc.

 

Most of the UOJ tribe suffer from top-doggism. Each one  wants to be more UOJ than the others. Knapp's original formula is flexible enough to appease mild Lutherans, but it gets more ridiculous with each generation. The Sodomites are righteous Christ? Guilt-free saints in Hell?

 

My doctrinal test is this - If someone cannot articulate the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace, then he is not an orthodox Christian. He has no grasp of Luther, Melanchthon, Chemnitz, Chytraeus, Leyser, or Gerhard.

 

The people who fail the test are really unionistic Pietists. They have taken on the patina of Lutherdom but they are Calvinists on the inside, in substance. That is why Pentecostalism and Church Growth grew so fast in Missouri, CG in WELS and the Little Sect on the Prairie.

The answer is Eastern Orthodoxy or joining the Church of Rome - proof that Missouri pastors are devoid of Lutheran doctrinal discernment.

WELS pastors are so starved for the Gospel that the Babtists draw  them like Velcro attracts lint.

Rolf Preus is UOJ, except for brief JBFA vacations.

Mid-Week Lenten Service

Mid-Week Lenten Vespers


Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 6 PM Phoenix Time

The Hymn #347 Jesus, Priceless Treasure 2:77
The Order of Vespers p. 41
The Psalmody Psalm p. 123
The Lection The Passion History

The Sermon Hymn #175 When I Survey 2:43  

The Sermon –   The True Vine

The Prayers
The Lord’s Prayer
The Collect for Grace p. 45

The Hymn #558 All Praise 2:8


 KJV John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.


The True Vine

Spring is a good time to speak about Jesus as the True Vine.

The Bible is filled with Creation metaphors, which are impossible to forget. The Song of the Vineyard is from Isaiah.

KJV Isaiah 5:1 Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. 4 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6 And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. 8 Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! 9 In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. 10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.

The Kingdom of God is compared to yeast growing in dough, a treasure buried in a field, the pearl of great price, and seed being sown.

The more we learn about Creation, the more we understand about these comparisons.

Many of us have grown roses, rather than grapes. A whole group of plants are just like grapes in the way they produce and grow. So I will use the rose bush as the example.

John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

Verse one shows Jesus as the True Vine, the eternal-life giving source for all those who believe. The Father-Son relationship is described with the Father as the vine-dresser (gardener or farmer).

The True Vine is similar to the Good Shepherd. While the Good Shepherd is compared to all shepherd, the Good Shepherd is the shepherd above all shepherds, Who does what no mere human would do – He lays down His life for the sheep and takes it up again.

The True Vine has characteristics of the rose, so we remember better. Since Jesus is the Lord of Creation, all the characteristics described are those He imbued in them at the beginning.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

This is the yes or no of the Christian faith. One is a believer or not. The unbeliever bears no fruit and is taken away. The believer bears fruit and is pruned to bear even more fruit.

Fruiting plants want to bear seed, and they begin with a flower. Even lawngrass grows a flower. The rose blooms so it can set seed in its fruit, the rose hip. The roses that have productive hips are used to produce Vitamin C and rose hip tea.

Rosarians are like vinedressers. They prune their plants to make them more fruitful. There are two reasons to prune roses. Deadwood is pruned away. Any deadwood on a rose plant will hamper it from growing. The moment it is pruned, the rose will grow better and faster. Pruning the right way is a skill, but amateurs do not prune at all and have non-bearing roses.

Here He says “every branch in Me” which means those who were with Him but have lost faith. Judas has just departed from Jesus at this point, so he is the unfruitful one who will be taken away.

The disciples are the fruitful branches that will be cleansed to become more fruitful.

This is the two-fold pruning of the rose (or grapevine). The deadwood is cut away, and the productive parts are also pruned to grow even more.

There is a way to prune a rose where the right cut will produce 4 roses (not the whiskey) the cut.  Even a bad cut will help, but a judicious cut will help, beautify, shape, and stimulate the bush.

That by itself should give us pause. Why is this good for the plant? The answer is – because the Creating Word designed it that way, in His wisdom.

John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.

So the Vinedresser knows how to cleanse us through contrition and forgiveness, to make us more fruitful for the Kingdom.

God’s forgiveness, love, and compassion makes us eager to serve Him. Likewise, when this is part of our lives, everything is improved by the presence of this Gospel forgiveness and love and compassion in what we do.

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

We have no eternal-life apart from Christ. The branch separated from the rose bush is dead and cannot bear anything. When we abide (remain, stay with) Christ through the Means of Grace, He abides in us.

This three-fold use of “abide” reminds us that this is the action of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

We are branches of the True Vine, so all our life comes from Him. Therefore, simply remaining in Him, believing in Him, studying the Gospel, receiving Holy Communion, dwelling on His Promises – these Instruments of His grace will make us very fruitful.
Apart from Him we can do nothing.

Without faith, everything is a sin. In faith, everything glorifies Him.

John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

This is about apostasy, having faith and falling away from Him. If someone stops believing in Jesus, he is like the deadwood that is cut away, withers up, gathered up, thrown into the fire and burned.

Gardeners do not leave deadwood on the ground after pruning, because it promotes disease and harmful insects. When apostates are tolerated in the visible church, they are harmful. It is a sign of the Endtimes that apostates are rewarded and promoted while the faithful are punished by their own clergy – not by unbelievers of the outside world – by the unbelievers who remain in the visible church but no longer abide in the True Vine.

John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

After all these Gospel promises, this great promise is given us. The basic Gospel truths build up our faith. But the Son of God promises even more. Those who remain in Him are encouraged to ask whatever they want it will be done. That is a remarkable promise, one which is made many times over in the Bible.

John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

This is another turn on this passage. Bearing fruit glorifies the Father, not us, and makes us His disciples. This is done in such a miraculous way that people can only say, “God accomplished this.” Thus we can describe Paul, Augustine, and Luther the same way. It was not human reason but the overwhelming power of the Word that converted them and made them fruitful.

John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

For good reason the Gospel of John has been called the Gospel of love, for its emphasis upon God’s love.

John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Keeping Jesus’ Word is abiding in His love and following His example.

Tim Reveals His Mequon Textbook on Counseling

Jackson, Krohn, and Meyer Are All Calvinists

Jackson, Krohn, and Meyer Are All Calvinists - From Fake-o-Blog

Jay E. Adams is a Reformed, Calvinistic writer who published a land-mark book on Christian counseling in 1970 entitled, Competent to Counsel. Adams is a Calvinist who belongs to the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. On page 70 of his book, published by Baker Book House of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Adams wrote this:

"Counselors must not tell any unsaved counselee that Christ died for him, for they cannot say that. No man knows except Christ himself who are his elect for whom he died."

This is Calvinism at its finest. Adams' statement reflects the Calvinistic teaching of limited atonement, the "L" in the acronym "TULIP." this is the same sort of drivel that we hear from Dr. Gregory L. Jackson and his two disciples Joe Krohn and Brett Meyer.

Are Jackson, Krohn and Meyer Calvinists? The evidence tells us, "Yes, they are!"

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GJ - Readers may wonder why Tim Glende is quoting Jay Adams, since no one ever accused him of being studious or going to a library. If someone wants a quiet place to study at The Sausage Factory, the library is ideal. No one ever uses it.

Jay Adams is the main author for counseling at Mequon. Yes, the Calvinist. I have never read a page of Jay Adams, but all the WELS smoky links are cured in Jay Adams' Calvinism.

I will publish a post on Calvinism later, but I want to leave everyone with an anecdote from a WELS MDiv. He looked over my library and said, "All your books are Lutheran! All my books, from required reading lists, are Reformed!"

Many Mequon students said, "You read German?"

I said, "You are getting Lutheran degree and you don't?"

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Fake-o-Blog just wrote:

Brett, we have never had the acquaintance of knowing someone as disingenuous and hypocritical as you! You write on our blog and ask to have a debate, and then you run over to Jackson's blog and he posts what you wrote on ours. When we respond to you, you have Jackson post our response, then you call us anti-Christian, anti-Trinitarian and everything else under the sun. Go peddle your Calvinistic spiritual poison somewhere else.


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GJ - No one "has me" do anything. I simply post almost everything I receive. I cannot help it if Brett provokes a hilarious outburst from Tim Glende.

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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Tim Reveals His Mequon Textbook on Counseling":

That's a funny little diatribe from The Glory Is Departed. There isn't anything disingenuous or hypocritical in what I wrote or posted on either blog.

I posted what the request for a debate on Ichabod myself. It was simply an effort to communicate to a much wider audience that an offer to debate UOJ was extended to the anonymous bloggers at the anti-Ichabod site.

I also didn't run over, I merely moved the cursor a quarter inch on my monitor and clicked the real Ichabod site and with a deft copy/paste a gazillion people could read the request. If it was only visible on the anti-Ichabod site maybe 3 people would know that they had been extended an invitation to defend their central doctrine.

Odd that they would get so agitated because someone judges them to be anti-Christian. I've made my confession clear when stating that UOJ is a false gospel. Christ delcares that those who teach false gospels are accursed in Galations. But it is understandable when the (W)ELS, LCMS and ELCA all consider the Antichrist's church to be Christian that they would be offended when not being included in the same ranks. Interesting that they consider a denomination Christian even though it's adherents are damned to Hell for believing in perfect harmony with it's teachings. They would say that makes me a legalist. I say it makes me someone who doesn't believe there are Christians in Hell. I digress... Going to move my cursor now and post this comment on the anti-Ichabod site. done.

***

GJ - It's a bit deceptive to adopt a similar title and claim to be Real. But that comes from a lazy student who copies Groeschel and calls it his sermon or Ski's.

Take a Deep Cleansing Breath, Then Read Fake-o-Blog's Response Without Laughing

Brett wrote to the Fake-o-blog:


Would the lead anonymous blogger of this site (Real Ichabod) be willing to debate me concerning the (W)ELS doctrine of Universal Objective Justification? It's clear from your posts and comments that you feel you are firmly grounded in its Scriptural and Confessional origins and are in a position to judge other discussions' participants concerning their grasp of the doctrine. This will be an extremely good opportunity for you to prove your contentions in a public forum. All the better if you would provide your real name seeing that you have the majority of (W)ELS and LCMS synods firmly confessing this same doctrine. But that is not a requirement to accept and engage in this discussion.

Sincerely submitted,
Brett Meyer



Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Challenge to Fake-o-Blog":

Received this response from "The Glory Is Departed" blogsite

Real Ichabod said...
Not on your life, Brett. We won't reveal our identities because we don't want our names and faces plastered all over the internet with Jackson's slander and lies about us. We won't debate you either because the position of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions are clear, which we've proved on this blog: Christ justified the world when he died on the cross. He proved this justification when he rose from the dead. This justification becomes our own through faith. We refuse to use this site as a forum for your false doctrine.

March 28, 2012 8:12 AM

Brett:
Cleary the theology of glory and the theology of the cross are eternally opposed. Their response is further evidence and fruit of the false gospel of UOJ. UOJ does not foster bold public confession because it is not from the Triune God (Father, Son and Holy Ghost). Therefore there is great desire to look for comfort in the theology of glory and avoid the Theology of the Cross which the Holy Ghost works in believers to stand openly and publicly to declare the truth of God's Word come what may.

Brett and I could not stop laughing.
I still have Glende's graphics of his fellow WELS members
eating cat scat from a toilet, saying mmmm.
The members are named - a great testimony to Tim's concept of slander.

Challenge to Fake-o-Blog

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Fake-o-Blog Admits Poor Education and Laziness of ...":

Thanks be to God for the efforts of Joe Krohn to address the false gospel of UOJ on LutherQuest. It is a difficult thing to do when they dog pile with various statements and questions all at once.

I posted this on the fake ichabod site under the Joe Krohn/LQ post:
Would the lead anonymous blogger of this site (Real Ichabod) be willing to debate me concerning the (W)ELS doctrine of Universal Objective Justification? It's clear from your posts and comments that you feel you are firmly grounded in it's Scriptural and Confessional origins and are in a position to judge other discussion's participants concerning their grasp of the doctrine. This will be an extremely good opportunity for you to prove your contentions in a public forum. All the better if you would provide your real name seeing that you have the majority of (W)ELS and LCMS synods firmly confessing this same doctrine. But that is not a requirement to accept and engage in this discussion.

Sincerely submitted,
Brett Meyer

Dangers of an In-Bred and Limited Education

"But I have a GMI certificate.
I designed the Volt."

rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Fake-o-Blog Admits Poor Education and Laziness of ...":

I have an analogy from the corporate world. General Motors operated a school called the General Motors Institute. I heard a fellow bragging about how he went there for a year and became an Industrial Engineer in the ranks of, you guessed it, General Motors. Naturally, he was no longer working for GM, but had used his gift of gab to get involved in some pyramid scheme. When I worked for a division of GM, we called those guys "GMI Wonder Boys". A real, degreed engineer would come from a school that is recognized across industry. Typically, it was four years of very intensive study at a minimum, and not one year from GMI. If you really wanted a feather in your hat, you went for the Professional Engineer exam after graduation. It allowed to insert a comma and the letters "P.E." after your name. It sort of reminds me of the Babtist preachers who say that they have a call, but no formal education.

***

GJ - The illiterate preachers say they graduated from "the School of the Holy Spirit." Everyone is supposed to nod in wonder and in awe.

I was thinking of ending each post with "I. Studied. Greek. Did you?" But that would get tedious.

The Use of Authority: Logical Fallacies

"Because I'm the Mom, that's why."

When Trinity (LCMS) in Bridgeton, Missouri, first became aware of UOJ, a LaughQuest poster phoned me and asked, "Have you read the LCMS 1987 Theses?"

I said, "Yes."

He slammed the phone down. Apparently he thought, "Missouri locuta est. Causa finita est." (Missouri has spoken. The case is closed. Augustine said that about Rome, but he said Roma locuta est.)

Authorities and sources are good in a debate. Theology should begin with the Scriptures and the Confessions, but that is not true in the Synodical Conference (tm). Following Walther and the syphlitic bishop, each one is his own authority, citing the synod as the ultimate authority.

For instance, Marcus Montey wrote, "I am surprised that you have gone against the clear teaching of our synod."

Many think they can perch on the dunghill of their synod and crow that they have the truth, knowing that this is a safe position - even though synodical statements are ambiguous, blasphemous, or just plain stupid. DP Jon Buchholz signed a petition against Mark Jeske, then switched sides at the WELS convention and supported Jeske. He took both sides of the same argument, so which one did he really believe? "Here I stand; I can do no other. There I stand; I can do no other."

Recently, someone quoted F. Pieper citing Calov. Walther chose Pieper to carry the UOJ standard, so that quotation is not exactly shocking. But does anyone at LQ quote Robert Preus citing Calov? They have all chosen to ignore Dr. Preus' many quotations from the post-Concord era, all repudiating UOJ.

This was cited in Robert Preus' Justification and Rome.
Where is Jay Webber's "everyone is justified IN CHRIST"?

The funniest argument against Justification and Rome sounded like this, "Preus was not dealing with the topic of UOJ." The title of the book is... Forget that. UOJ fanatics have only one argument - the whole world is forgiven, without faith, and born forgiven.

I have watched people defend UOJ for years. Their authorities are limited to Walther and his minions, whom he either appointed or trained. The UOJ Stormtroopers refuse to admit the lack of UOJ teaching in their own tradition, such as Gausewitz, who was respected by the entire Synodical Conference (tm), mourned when he died too young.

If Missouri and WELS are 100% UOJ, then why have both synods taught the Small Catechism without UOJ? That is true of Gausewitz for all three sects, and the KJV catechism currently for the LCMS.

Few can say they know the writings of the post-Concord theologians, but no one would deny that Robert Preus is the last one to lay hold of that claim, as witnessed by his education and publications.

Two other examples are Lenski and Hoenecke. Lenski, an expert in New Testament and Lutheran doctrine, did not follow the Walther line.

Hoenecke gave a nod to General Justification in his Dogmatics, but emphasized justification by faith alone in the same section. His citation is from Burk - not a Concordist, but the son-in-law of Pietist Bengel. Hoenecke graduated from Halle University, under Tholuck (a Universalist), so we can expect his theology textbook was Knapp.

Lutherans should begin with the Scriptures and the Book of Concord, but the UOJ fanatics only like the Luther they imagine they can quote in favor of UOJ. If their interpretations were valid, it would mean Luther was as double-minded as Jon Buchholz, and twice as smooth. But Luther is known for his consistency through his career. The Reformer was highly trained and a genius, two qualities lacking in the UOJ Enthusiasts. Luther's clear explication of Scripture is acknowledged by a host of people, from his own Medieval peers to the theologians of today.

Walther's robotic obedience to Stephan and his four-year degree from Leipzig do not qualify him as the expert to teach us Luther or the Bible.

The UOJ tribe indulges in Special Pleading, something I will have to explore in more depth. They offer only one side of the argument and bypass any refutations of their errors, especially refutations from their own authorites (their synods, their teachers). One fallacy is related to the other.

I will cite my favorite authorities who advocate UOJ -

1. Richard Jungkuntz, who chaired the first gay Lutheran seminary in America, still used in the WELS Essay Files to support their UOJ error;
2. ELCA - all seminaries and leaders teaching that everyone is forgiven.

Fake-o-Blog Admits Poor Education and Laziness of UOJ Stormtroopers

A metaphor for UOJ argumentation.

Fake-o-Blog:
Joe Krohn said he was done with the discussion on LQ. There are some participants, however, who still don't understand the argument Krohn started. Unfortunately, it's not just Jackson who's had a poor theological education. There are ordained pastors on LQ who don't seem to grasp the true Biblical concept of UOJ. There are others who are seminary students who apparently haven't even read Pieper's Dogmatics yet. They should stop typing and start studying, then maybe they could hold an intelligent debate and discussion on LQ.

***

GJ -

Concordia, Ft. Wayne, Faculty with Doctorates*


* Paul McCain, Jay Webber, and James Heiser have MDiv degrees from The Fort.

Carl C. Fickenscher II, Ph.D. - Southwestern Babtist U.

Daniel L. Gard, Ph.D. - Notre Dame

Charles A. Gieschen, Ph.D. - Michigan. Also went to Princeton.

Paul J. Grime, Ph.D. - Marquette U. Roman Catholic!

Arthur A. Just, Jr. Ph.D. - Durham. Also went to Yale. Tsk. Tsk.

Cameron A. MacKenzie, Ph.D. - Notre Dame. Also went to Chicago and Wayne State.

Walter A. Maier, Th.D. - St. Louis. But he still taught justification by faith?

Walter A. Maier III, Ph.D. - Harvard? Oh no.

Naomichi Masaki, Ph.D. - St. Louis.

John G. Nordling, Ph.D. - UW Madison.

Timothy C. J. Quill, Ph.D. - Drew. I heard that was a Methodist school.

Lawrence R. Rast, Jr., Ph.D. - Vanderbilt. Another Methodist school.

David P. Scaer, Th.D. - St. Louis.

Peter J. Scaer, Ph.D. - Notre Dame.

Klaus Detlev Schulz, Th.D. - St. Louis.

William C. Weinrich, Th.D. - Basel. Paul van Buren went there - an Episcopalian!

Dean O. Wenthe, Ph.D. - Notre Dame. The president emeritus. How could you, Rev. Dr. Wenthe?

The anonymous writer, quoted above, proved that he has no concept of higher education, especially graduate school.

Church schools are parochial. They train people to belong to their denomination, to be loyal to the standards of the day. Denominational doctorates are not highly valued. John Johnson, the former president of Concordia, St. Louis, said his Concordia doctorate was worthless outside of the LCMS. He also earned one at St. Louis U.

Although I made a point of the religious affiliation of graduate schools, they do not belong to any denomination and do not make any effort to conform students to a denominational standard. They adhere to academic, scholarly standards and flunk doctoral students out accordingly. They are also highly selective. The average ND student graduated with highest honors from his or her college.

When mediocre students, who never progressed farther than a denominational MDiv, prate about higher education, it is so much fun. Note that the fake blog comes from the Fox Valley plagiarists. What training have they had? According to their own boasts, they have:

• Affiliated with Willow Creek (Parcher).
• Earned a drive-buy DMin at Denver (Parcher).
• Plagiarized various non-Lutherans (Parcher, Ski, Glende).
• Earned a drive-buy DMin from Gordon Conwell (Witte).
• Earned a drive-buy DMin in CG from St. Louis (Kelm).
• Studied under Babtist Andy Stanley (Parlow, Ski, Glende, and others).
• Studied under Methodist Craig Groeschel (Ski, Glende).
• Plagiarized Swindoll (Bethany Lutheran Church).
• Studied under Mark Driscoll (Ski, Glende).
• Plagiarized Groeschel (Ski, Glende).
• Studied at Granger Community Church (Ski, Glende).

The LaughQuest drones tried the same approach, denouncing me for graduating from Notre Dame with a PhD. When I listed their beloved Ft. Wayne faculty members with the same degree, they fell silent, as though suddenly stricken with the truth.

The Fox Valley wolves go outside the Lutheran Church to learn ministry, not theology. Fuller training yields Fuller congregations. The same is true of the other false teachers they adore and emulate.

When LQ derided me for belonging to various synods, I listed the four synods of Al Barry, whose official LCMS history is quite dishonest in that regard. I also mentioned the many synods of Rolf Preus, a number that seems to grow each year. He established the Rolf Synod, only to see everyone leave and join ELDONA. I heard he was trying to get into the LCC and then back to the LCMS. It does not matter to me, but LaughQuest has typical Pharisaical standards. In fact, they make the Pharisees look appealing.

I have never seen Tim Glende complain about Larry Olson's drive-buy D.Min. from Fuller Seminary, Valleskey's and Bivens' study at Fuller, or his uncle's study at Yale. If I went to Yale, that is some kind of black mark. If Uncle John Brug went to Yale, that is peachy.

I can hear Lito Cruz, PhD, laughing from here.

Foreign DMins in WELS

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LPC has left a new comment on your post "Fake-o-Blog Admits Poor Education and Laziness of ...":

Absolutely!

Hahahahahahaha!

ROFLing

Please Pr. Greg, please more of this. We need the laugh ministry of UOJers.

LPC

"Don't laugh at us."
Katy Perry without makeup.

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LPC has left a new comment on your post "Fake-o-Blog Admits Poor Education and Laziness of ...":

John Johnson, the former president of Concordia, St. Louis, said his Concordia doctorate was worthless outside of the LCMS. He also earned one at St. Louis U.

This one is a kicker. I am laughing with tears because, that is really true.

Intellectual inbreeding dilutes the purity of scholarship. That is why you are doing yourself a disservice if you do not study somewhere else. You need that interaction and exposure. You get tunnel vision if all you receive are inputs coming from the same place. What is worst is that you become dependent on someone else's scholarship and methodology.


LPC

Welcome to Debtors' Prison - Many Arrive - No One Escapes

Obama Relies on Debt Collectors Profiting From Student Loan Woe:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-26/obama-relies-on-debt-collectors-profiting-from-student-loan-woe.html

With $67 billion of student loans in default, the Education Department is turning to an army of private debt-collection companies to put the squeeze on borrowers. Working on commissions that totaled about $1 billion last year, these government contractors face growing complaints that they are violating federal laws by insisting on stiff payments, even when borrowers’ incomes make them eligible for leniency.

‘Boiler Room’

Education Department contracts -- featuring commissions of as much as 20 percent of recoveries -- encourage collectors to insist on high payments. Former debt collectors said they worked in a “boiler-room” environment, where they could earn bonuses of thousands of dollars a month, restaurant gift cards and even trips to foreign resorts if they collected enough from borrowers.

Within the past 17 months, three companies working for the Education Department -- including one that is majority owned by JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)’s private-equity arm -- settled federal or state allegations of abusive debt collections. 

Debt-collection companies helped the Education Department recover $11.3 billion in defaulted loans during the year ended Sept. 30. The agency projects it will collect 85 cents on every dollar that defaults, factoring in collection costs and the time-value of money.

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Welcome to the Church-Run Debtors' Prison

Last thing I remember, I was 

Running for the door. 

I had to find the passage back 

To the place I was before. 

"Relax, " said the night man, 

"We are programmed to receive. 

You can check-out any time you like, 

But you can never leave! "