Selections from the Formula of Concord, SD, III. The Righteousness of Faith. Featuring Zion Lutheran Church, St. Louis

Here are some additional photos of the church.

Given to Stephan's Group - Or to Bishop Stephan?

One chalice was a personal gift to Bishop Stephan. This is the one Walther used at the congregation that his brother vacated (by death).

Things happened fast. Walther organized the mob against Stephan. Next came the Altenburg Debate. Then C.F.W. accepted the call extended by his late brother's congregation.

Some photos of Historic Trinity in St. Louis are here.

ChurchMouse and Finney's Revivals

http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=142

churchmousec (http://churchmousec.wordpress.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Finney's Legacy Explains the Amalgamation of the E...":

A powerful post, Dr Jackson. My thanks. I might borrow some of it for a follow-up post on mine. Emphases mine below.

Thank you for quoting Charles Spurgeon, a Confessional ('Particular') Baptist (London Confessions of Faith 1689) and another Calvinist, B B Warfield, one of the 'Princeton Greats' before Princeton's seminary went Modernist. The Reformed Confessions -- the aforementioned Baptist and Westminster Confessions of Faith (1646), along with the Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Belgic Confession (1566) and Canons of Dordt (1619) -- have nothing to do with universalism, UOJ, Amyraldism, Remonstrants, Evangelicalism or Finneyism.

I am surprised that Finney never studied the Presbyterian confessions (i.e. Westminster); perhaps he was a natural rebel and bunked off Sunday School and ignored his parents. Or perhaps they were lax. If he had studied and absorbed them, he never would have set along the heretical path of Pelagianism. It seems he wanted Scripture his own way.

Many will appreciate the lesson against legalism:

'The Western half of New York became known as "the burnt-over district," because of the negative effects of the revivalist movement that culminated in Finney's work there.'

And, this passage explained much, since I know New England quite well and could never come to grips with their secularism and gravitation towards Unitarian 'churches':

'Despite Finney's accounts of glorious "revivals," most of the vast region of New England where he held his revival campaigns fell into a permanent spiritual coldness during Finney's lifetime and more than a hundred years later still has not emerged from that malaise. This is directly owing to the influence of Finney and others who were simultaneously promoting similar ideas.'

The New England states, even today, put much misplaced faith in the government and secularism as answers to the world's woes. Note how Harvard and Yale, former seminaries, changed since their founding.

However, as my reader Linda Kimball and the retired Anglican Bishop of Durham N T 'Tom' Wright who is now a professor at St Andrew's University, would point out (although on opposite ends of the spectrum), the Enlightenment had a significant part to play in apostasy, deism and agnosticism.

This is certainly a topic which deserves more exploration. Many would be surprised, particularly if the socio-political angle is brought into play.

Churchmouse

***

GJ - Earlier revivals combined appeals to faith with social improvement. Absent the Means of Grace, these efforts followed the same downward trajectory as Pietism, which began in Biblical studies and ended in rationalistic rejection of the Bible (while teaching the Bible at Halle University).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Rauschenbusch
The cool guys among the Lutherans quoted Rauschenbusch,
the equivalent of having "Church Growth Eyes" today.

The Social Gospel Movement, which peaked with Walter Rauschenbusch's Social Gospel lectures at Yale, thought the church should use its power for social reform. That was the theology behind FDR's New Deal - the same programs too. The Social Gospel movement was extremely liberal about all Biblical doctrines, including the divinity of Christ.

The Social Gospel platform was first published in the Federal Council of Churches, which became the National Council of Churches after they were exposed as Communist led. Nothing changed except the title.

The Social Gospel became an unpopular term, but the movement continued in the mainline denominations, because they had no religion except do-goodism. Each generation has to be more extreme, so ALC/LCA/ELCA went through various fad movements and settled on homosexuality as the last frontier...for the moment.

Church Growth never claimed to be changing society. Instead they convinced the dim-witted denominational leaders that Drucker's Management by Objective and savvy marketing would make them successful.

Emergent or Missional thinking is grunge Church Growth and very close to mainline radicalism. Like Andy Stanley, the more they try to fit in with current trends, the more irrelevant they will become. WELS and Missouri are clambering aboard a sinking ship, starting emergent churches with wacky names, preparing a generation of their followers to leave the Lutheran Church altogether.

Andy has trained many WELS workers - Missouri too - I presume.
Note the faded jeans.
Andy cannot admit to being Babtist, so he serves "Northpoint Community Church."

Angel and Devil

Try Hunnius, Who Understood Samuel Huber, The Proto-UOJ Enthusiast

http://www.repristinationpress.com/Repristination_Press/Other_Works_from_the_Age_of_Orthodoxy.html

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Flop-Sweat Time for UOJ Enthusiasts - Pope Paul th...":

Any reference to Marquart’s defense of UOJ needs to be met with sincere laughter. This was the same essay in which Marquart called on a worshiper of the Antichrist and defender of the Council of Trent to support the doctrine of UOJ (“Hans Kueng, a world-class, liberal Roman Catholic New Testament scholar” [section 3. The Biblical Basis of “Objective/Subjective Justification”]). http://www.angelfire.com/ny4/djw/lutherantheology.marquartjustification.html

McCain should read Pastor Paul Rydecki’s faithful translation of Aegidius Hunnius’ Theses Opposed to Huberianism

 (http://www.amazon.com/Theses-Opposed-Huberianism-Lutheran-Justification/dp/1475186541/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337880051&sr=8-1).

 Hunnius, an Orthodox Lutheran who signed the Christian Book of Concord and was actively committed to returning the local churches to orthodoxy, condemned UOJist Samuel Huber for his putrid central doctrine which McCain continues to masticate and force feed to anyone whose mouth is gaping in astonishment over the apostasy of modern Lutherans (in name only).

Hunnius:

Thesis 1
Huber professes such a justification, for the sake of which Christ has properly, actually and practically conferred redemption on the entire human race in such a way that sins have been equally remitted to all men, including the Turks (BM-Muslims), and that all men (including unbelievers) have received remission of sins, and that the whole human race has, in actual fact, been received into the grace and bosom of God.

Thesis 3
This universal justification of the entire human race he considers (even without respect to faith in Christ) to be fully completed, sins having been remitted on account of the satisfaction made by the Son of God and swallowed up in His own blood and wounds. These things he says concerning his justification.

Thesis 4
He was pleased to correct this foul and disgusting error in the first legal proceeding before the commissaries. But what he was at that time thought to have vomited out, he swallowed up again in his later writings,...

Thesis 5
...Nevertheless, no one is justified nor does anyone obtain remission of sins from this acquired universal righteousness without the imputation of this acquired righteousness of Christ. But the imputation of righteousness does not take place except through faith.

Thesis 6
Hence Paul, when he expressly discusses justification in Romans 3 and 4, does not know of a justification apart from faith, and especially as Galatians 2 plainly says, "Man is not justified except by faith in Jesus Christ."

Thesis 7
Outside of faith in Christ and without it, man remains in condemnation, according to John 3, "Whoever does not believe has been judged already." And again, "Whoever does not believe in the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him." And Mark 16, "Whoever does not believe will be condemned." If such a one has already been judged, if the wrath of God remains upon him, if he will be condemned, then in what beautiful way has he been justified? In what splendid manner have his sins been remitted unto him? Indeed, where sins have truly been remitted, there all wrath and condemnation are gone(Rom. 8). "Blessed are they whose sins have been remitted" (Psalm 32). Now then, are all men blessed? Even unbelievers? (Muslims?), Reprobate Jews?

Thesis 8
Therefore, it is certain that no one receives remission of sins for the sake of Christ except the one who believes in Him (Acts 10). Nor is anyone justified from his sins except the one who believes in Christ (Acts 13).

Thesis 9
But let Huber explain to us the mystery of this universal justification of his, and let him set forth in detail when these unbelievers, who have never believed and are not going to believe in the Son of God, ever received the remission of sins and were justified before God?

---

LPC has left a new comment on your post "Try Hunnius, Who Understood Samuel Huber, The Prot...":

Brett,

Also Hunnius I believe was the author of Saxon Visitation Articles, a document contra Calvinism.

The argument by Hunnius is this also - if you like Huber believe in unconditional election and you do not care that it is through faith then you are obliged to go down the path of Irressitible Grace ie. the lock stock and barrel TULIP.

As a former Calvinist, I would say yes indeed Hunnius is right because that is what it leads - a grace that is never resistible

I admire this Hunnius guy, he knew what Calvinism entailed.

The Fake Ichabod commenters are ignoramuses about this stuff because they only spew out their own propaganda. Since they are ignoramuses about Calvinism, they could not see that in themselves, could not see it while they are in it.

LPC

Flop-Sweat Time for UOJ Enthusiasts - Pope Paul the Unlearned Copies Another Post

AC V has left a new comment on your post "The Book of Concord Is a Book of Harmony, But the ...":

Paul T. McCain weighs in today.

http://cyberbrethren.com/2012/05/24/kurt-marquart-on-objective-justification/#more-15416

I would say Marquart equivocates:

Rather both must be seen as the two sides of a single truth: All men are justified in Jesus Christ and only the faithful are justified in Jesus Christ.

Please tell me how that makes any sense. Do the Confessions speak like this, let alone the Bible? Why do we Synodical Conference Lutherans think we can improve on the Book of Concord or the Bible with our philosophical terminology?

***

GJ - The Preus brothers got rid of WAM II as a presidential candidate by attacking him viciously in public, beating him like a rented mule because of his emphasis on justification by faith - rather than Walther-Stephan's Easter absolution Enthusiasm.

The Robert Preus crowd was stuck with UOJ when he became Ft. Wayne's president after the beat down of Maier.

McCain always gets his facts wrong about Trinity in Bridgeport, but he seems to retreating from his recent inventions. McCain does not write - he simply copies. He is very much like Obama, always getting himself into trouble when communicating off the cuff.

The more the Enthusiasts post about UOJ, the better. Robert Preus repudiated their religion in Justification and Rome.

Justification without faith cannot be found until Samuel Huber proclaimed it, getting his evil doctrine repudiated when he was tossed from the Wittenberg faculty.

The next manifestation of justification without faith came from Pietism, taught by Knapp at Halle University, supported by Rambach, embraced by Bishop Stephan, and copied by the Great Kidnapper - Walther.

---

LPC has left a new comment on your post "Flop-Sweat Time for UOJ Enthusiasts - Pope Paul th...":

Correct. When I first heard of the problems with UOJ from Ichabod, I ran to Marquart only to find the absurd statements he made. I was amazed at how he can represent the Scripture to be self- contradictory on this point. I was not impressed. The essay did not clarify but rather further obscured the central doctrine of the church.

LPC

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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Flop-Sweat Time for UOJ Enthusiasts - Pope Paul th...":

There is a good discussion of Marquart's paper here:

http://www.intrepidlutherans.com/2010/11/justification-marquart-recap.html

Finney's Legacy Explains the Amalgamation of the Evangelicals And Shrinker/Emergent Lutherans

Charles Finney was the original fake, talking his way into certification,dividing believers.

He was president of Oberlin College, which was a model of rationalistic do-goodism.

The man Oberlin was famous for good works.

Finney described his certification exam:

Unexpectedly to myself they asked me if I received the Confession of faith of the Presbyterian church. I had not examined it;—that is, the large work, containing the Catechisms and Presbyterian Confession. This had made no part of my study. I replied that I received it for substance of doctrine, so far as I understood it. But I spoke in a way that plainly implied, I think, that I did not pretend to know much about it. However, I answered honestly, as I understood it at the time
[Charles Finney, The Memoirs of Charles Finney: The Complete Restored Text (Grand Rapids: Academie, 1989), 53-54].

He went on to brag, according to this site:

"As soon as I learned what were the unambiguous teachings of the Confession of faith upon these points, I did not hesitate at all on all suitable occasions to declare my dissent from them," he boasted. "I repudiated and exposed them. Wherever I found that any class of persons were hidden behind these dogmas, I did not hesitate to demolish them, to the best of my ability" [Memoirs, 60]. The fact that Finney had obtained his own preaching credentials by professing adherence to the Confession did not faze him at all. "When I came to read the Confession of faith, and saw the passages that were quoted to sustain these peculiar positions, I was absolutely ashamed of it," he frankly stated. "I could not feel any respect for a document that would undertake to impose on mankind such dogmas as those" [Memoirs, 61].

He rejected justification by faith, the imputation of righteousness:

Finney spends a considerable amount of time in several of his works arguing against "that theological fiction of imputation" [Memoirs, 58]. Those who have any grasp of Protestant doctrine will see immediately that his attack at this point is a blatant rejection of the doctrine of justification by faith alone (sola fide). It places him outside the pale of true evangelical Protestantism. The doctrine of imputed righteousness is the very heart of the historic difference between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism. The whole doctrine of justification by faith hinges on this concept. But Finney flatly rejected it. He derided the concept of imputation as unjust: "I could not but regard and treat this whole question of imputation as a theological fiction, somewhat related to our legal fiction of John Doe and Richard Roe" [Memoirs, 60].

Finney's effect, by preaching false doctrine, led to Joseph Smith inventing the Mormon religion:


Predictably, most of Finney's spiritual heirs lapsed into apostasy, Socinianism, mere moralism, cultlike perfectionism, and other related errors. In short, Finney's chief legacy was confusion and doctrinal compromise. Evangelical Christianity virtually disappeared from western New York in Finney's own lifetime. Despite Finney's accounts of glorious "revivals," most of the vast region of New England where he held his revival campaigns fell into a permanent spiritual coldness during Finney's lifetime and more than a hundred years later still has not emerged from that malaise. This is directly owing to the influence of Finney and others who were simultaneously promoting similar ideas.


The Western half of New York became known as "the burnt-over district," because of the negative effects of the revivalist movement that culminated in Finney's work there. These facts are often obscured in the popular lore about Finney. But even Finney himself spoke of "a burnt district" [Memoirs, 78], and he lamented the absence of any lasting fruit from his evangelistic efforts. He wrote,

I was often instrumental in bringing Christians under great conviction, and into a state of temporary repentance and faith . . . . [But] falling short of urging them up to a point, where they would become so acquainted with Christ as to abide in Him, they would of course soon relapse into their former state [cited in B. B. Warfield, Studies in Perfectionism, 2 vols. (New York: Oxford, 1932), 2:24].
One of Finney's contemporaries registered a similar assessment, but more bluntly:

During ten years, hundreds, and perhaps thousands, were annually reported to be converted on all hands; but now it is admitted, that real converts are comparatively few. It is declared, even by [Finney] himself, that "the great body of them are a disgrace to religion" 
[cited in Warfield, 2:23].

B. B. Warfield cited the testimony of Asa Mahan, one of Finney's close associates,
. . . who tells us—to put it briefly—that everyone who was concerned in these revivals suffered a sad subsequent lapse: the people were left like a dead coal which could not be reignited; the pastors were shorn of all their spiritual power; and the evangelists—"among them all," he says, "and I was personally acquainted with nearly every one of them—I cannot recall a single man, brother Finney and father Nash excepted, who did not after a few years lose his unction, and become equally disqualified for the office of evangelist and that of pastor."


Thus the great "Western Revivals" ran out into disaster. . . . Over and over again, when he proposed to revisit one of the churches, delegations were sent him or other means used, to prevent what was thought of as an affliction. . . . Even after a generation had passed by, these burnt children had no liking for the fire 
[Warfield, 2:26-28].

***

GJ - When justification by faith is denied, Christianity becomes a law religion. As Hoenecke said about Pietism and The CORE in Appleton -

life over doctrine, sanctification over justification, piety not as a consequence but a stipulation of enlightenment, leading to a kind of synergism and Pelagianism. 
Dogmatik, III, p. 253. Jackson Living Translation [unlike Mequon grads, I read German]

This is precisely where Werning, Kent Hunter, Valleskey, Paul Calvin Kelm, F. Bivens, Glende and Ski have led people. Why do they love the Babtists and New Agers so much? Denying justification by faith and the Means of Grace, they look for a source of comfort in their amalgamation of rationalism and subjectivism.

Missouri and WELS have fallen for these toxins because they did not teach or affirm the efficacy of the Word, the Means of Grace, and justification by faith. Their ministry is purely a ministry of condemnation, of works demanded but never sufficient to satisfy the leaders. Naturally, an emphasis upon grand effects rather than fidelity to the Word has led to criminal hypocrisy.

WELS excommunicates for questioning their Reign of Terror while publicly absolving a heinous felon shortly before he pleads innocent of all charges.

Many pastors are trembling in their offices, furtively reading this blog, knowing what they ought to do, but more afraid of spineless bullies than the Word of God.

Finney was famous for creating burnt-over districts, fertile ground for the growth of cults like Mormonism. He ruined minsters who fell by the wayside in their rationalism and infidelities.

Luther predicted it in his own lifetime.

The papal Antichrist is not persecuting Lutherans today,
but the little Antichrists (DPs and SPs) are.

Churchmouse Campanologist

Churchmouse Campanologist:

"Until a few years ago, the name Charles Grandison Finney meant nothing to me. However, many American Protestants will have been unknowingly influenced by his 19th century Pelagianism.

In 1995, Dr Michael Horton examined the long shadow of Finneyism on the American Church in ‘The Legacy of Charles Finney’, written for Modern Reformation magazine.  Horton is the J. Gresham Machen professor of apologetics and systematic theology at Westminster Seminary California (Escondido, California), a host of the White Horse Inn broadcasts and editor-in-chief of Modern Reformation magazine. He is author of many books, including The Gospel-Driven Life, Christless Christianity, People and Place, Putting Amazing Back Into Grace, The Christian Faith, and For Calvinism."

'via Blog this'

Legalistic Lutheranism (and Applied Finneyism) – Part 1 « Churchmouse Campanologist

Legalistic Lutheranism (and Applied Finneyism) – Part 1 « Churchmouse Campanologist:

"Yesterday’s post concerned the legacy of Charles Grandison Finney, one of America’s foremost evangelists — and Pelagians — of the 19th century. Even today, his legacy reaches the Protestant church in subtle ways.

The following first-person story from a Lutheran pastor explains why Finneyism is alive and well in the 21st century. The Revd Matt Richard is a regular contributor to a confessional LCMS pastors’ blog, Steadfast Lutherans (The Brothers of John the Steadfast) [see my blogroll]."

'via Blog this'

Legalistic Lutheranism (and Applied Finneyism) – Part 2 « Churchmouse Campanologist

Legalistic Lutheranism (and Applied Finneyism) – Part 2 « Churchmouse Campanologist:


Today’s post concludes with the LCMS pastor — the Revd Matt Richard’s — journey to confessional Lutheranism.

Yesterday, he detailed his Folk Lutheranism. In Part 2, he describes the four main hurdles he faced in coming to a confessional understanding of the Christian faith.  Excerpts follow, emphases mine.

Shift #1: My View Of Sin?
My Folk Lutheranism understood sin primarily as a series of actions that I did or did not do. Sure, I confessed that I was a sinner, but in all reality my belief of sin was narrowly focused on external actions alone …

I slowly began to realize that I wasn’t a sinner because of my sinful actions, but rather I was a sinner who sinned. This idea of sin was a much more serious problem than I had originally realized.

Read more on his blog.


'via Blog this'

Apology XII - Two Chief Works of God in Men: To Terrify and To Justifiy

AC V has left a new comment on your post "What Is the Gospel?":

For the two chief works of God in men are these, to terrify, and to justify and quicken those who have been terrified. Into these two works all Scripture has been distributed. The one part is the Law, which shows, reproves, and condemns sins. The other part is the Gospel, i.e., the promise of grace bestowed in Christ, and this promise is constantly repeated in the whole of Scripture, first having been delivered to Adam [I will put enmity, etc., Gen. 3:15], afterwards to the patriarchs; then, still more clearly proclaimed by the prophets; lastly, preached and set forth among the Jews by Christ, and disseminated over the entire world by the apostles. For all the saints were justified by faith in this promise, and not by their own attrition or contrition. - Apology XII (V): 53-54

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AC V has left a new comment on your post "Apology XII - Two Chief Works of God in Men: To T...":

Notice how promise jumps out at you. The Gospel is not the forgiveness of sins already applied (i.e. "You already have it. It's yours! It's in your back pocket. It's like money in your bank account right now. Just believe it.") to the world before and without faith. The Gospel is the promise of forgiveness - won by Christ on the cross and offered to the world - but not applied to anyone until and unless by faith in the promise of forgiveness.

Faith is a gift of God. It is every bit as objective as God's love, Christ's merit, and the Gospel message. Faith is not something the unbeliever in and of himself brings to the table in order to earn or remember or even receive forgiveness. Faith is "objective" in that it is given by God to those who hear the Gospel, which again is "the promise of grace bestowed in Christ."

Justification by Faith and UOJ Are Opposites

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "The Book of Concord Is a Book of Harmony, But the ...":

Regarding the above quotes from the Christian Book of Concord declaring Godly contrition over sin and faith in Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins, which is faithfully defended by those professing One Justification Solely by Faith Alone, the UOJists (Blind Huberists) routinely howl in opposition, "But then I would have to know I have faith before I could know I was forgiven!"

To which we say, "Yes, exactly."

Huberites will then falsely say we teach faith in faith. No, we do not. The faith of the Holy Spirit, worked graciously and solely through the Means of Grace - Word and Sacrament - is in Christ alone. The false faith of the Huberites is in a supposed declaration of justification prior to faith and it is not in Christ.

Therefore they reject all things related to the Holy Spirit's faith, Christ's righteousness. They are unable to identify faith in themselves because it is not there - it is surely not the comforting faith of the Holy Spirit which is not of this world. The Scripture verse used to shut up the mouths of the unbelieving Huberites is 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Christians will consider the verse and the Holy Spirit will work a willing desire for understanding, faith and a continuance in Christ's Word. Apostate Huberites will simply ignore the verse and whine about how another of their rational doctrinal dictates has been harmed by our teaching One Justification Solely by Faith Alone.

Using Process to Force the NNIV on WELS

http://churchmousec.wordpress.com/tag/diaprax/

churchmousec (http://churchmousec.wordpress.com/) has left a new comment on your post "WELS Is Using Diaprax - The Process - To Move the ...":

'Unfortunately, the process works well.'

Sadly, it's been worked to a science, raklatt -- to the detriment of all. One of the Devil's best tricks. :/

Thank you, Dr Jackson, for the kind mention. My posts on diaprax, inspired by you and Rogue Lutheran, can be found here:

http://churchmousec.wordpress.com/tag/diaprax/

One of my conservative Christian readers who also has her own socio-political blog, Linda Kimball, has some interesting observations along this line, with regard to wealth redistribution. Please see her comment and my reply (pietists, be warned) here:

http://churchmousec.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/force-and-cruelty-from-pastors-scatters-the-faithful/

Any feedback you might have in response or elucidation would be gratefully received.

Churchmouse

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raklatt (http://raklatt.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "WELS Is Using Diaprax - The Process - To Move the ...":

This is not the first time for this kind of process. Back in the early 1990's, there was published a multi-page booklet for the pastors and/or leaders of congregational groups that was used to sell WELS' new Christian Worship hymnal. I studied the booklet thoroughly in disbelief. Those meetings, one of which I attended back then, were designed as persuasion. The justifications for the terrible texts of the creeds, and the texts and music of the liturgy, and the altered and dropped verses of the hymns, were contrived. The hymnal has been in use for a generation.

Unfortunately, the process works well. Imagine the effort at persuasion that will be needed when the next hymnal is published, if WELS has the money to publish another.

***

Dr. Moo at the cow-wash.

GJ - If everyone ducks and runs, the process works. I have seen the Process working but also failing in many different settings. For example, when the Lutheran Book of Worship (Liberal Book of Weirdness, conservative compared to WELS' CW) said they would not use "How Great Thou Art," they were flooded with 20,000 letters. I was told to write a letter to headquarters (the only time that ever happened to me). The Lutheran magazine pointed out that 20 letters on the same topic was considered a landslide response. The result was that the LCA/ALC backed down and later bragged that the new hymnal boasted "How Great Thou Art."

When the Methodists were going to print "Strong Mother God" as a hymn in their new masterpiece, the phone lines were so clogged that no one could get a call in or out for quite a few days. They backed down.

When Christian Worship came out, all the WELS pastors bought it -  and defended the atrocious, repugnant feminist Creeds - "fully human." I do not know of anyone who rejected Tiefel's effort. The ELS refused to participate, then lied about dropping out. One of the editors of CW was Iver Johnson, who capped his 50 year marriage with an affair with the church sexretary, whom he married.

So the real question is whether the members and pastors fight back or roll over and play dead...again.

Looking like the Portrait of Dorian Gray,
Lizard Hands says, "Trust me. The NNIV is so simple, the Mequon faculty can  understand it."

http://www.roguelutheran.com is another source of good research on  Diaprax.

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Very important to read - from California:


Re:  "Diaprax-the Process- was used to move the sheep over the cliff to NNIV."    It wasn't the first time diaprax process was" used to move the sheep over a cliff."   It has been standard practice for WELS for decades and was used in 1970's to nudge the sheep over the cliff away from the KJV into free fall for any translation other than KJV.  At that stage of the game, it wasn't from the KJV cliff to a specific "new and improved translation", but to condition the sheep to  the accept whatever final choice was selected for them which turned out in due time to be NIV.   By then the sheep were grateful for any translation after some years of confusion and Bible classes comprised of participating in asking one another representing multiple translations: "what does yours say?" more than "thus said the Lord".


Apparently the sheep and shepherds  settled down to be content, or at least tolerate the NIV which was only a step less offensive than the NNIV which is alarming the sheep and some shepherds now.    Once that herding of the sheep over the cliff where KJV had dwelt for generations, the old NIV is apparently being mourned.   But that is how Diaprax works...gradualism as the old saying about boiling the frog goes.  The deliberate abandoning of the KJV was the first mistake.   Time lines are not necessarily tools for cause and effect, but they can be instructive to trace events and results of transitions.  How much peace, joy, and yes growth and well being has been the lot for WELS during the past 40 years?   One controversy after another.


Until and unless the sheep understand the process of Diaprax, aka The Dialectical Process, Management by Objectives PPBS by whatever name, they will always be subject to the misleading of the elite doing the planning and programing with the sheep  to be  facilitated into constant change and predetermined objectives.

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churchmousec (http://churchmousec.wordpress.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Using Process to Force the NNIV on WELS":

'If everyone ducks and runs, the process works.'

Unfortunately, the process is specially designed to make every opponent duck and run. Think of the 2008 US presidential election ...

'Once that herding of the sheep over the cliff where KJV had dwelt for generations, the old NIV is apparently being mourned. But that is how Diaprax works...gradualism as the old saying about boiling the frog goes.'

Yes, that's it in a nutshell. So, not only do we have to bow to socialism but errant theology as well. Errgh.

Churchmouse

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California says:

....I first heard the term "diaprax" years ago in connection with the work of Dean Gotcher, whose lectures and written material exposes what it is, and how it works.   I knew the system as being the same as what I and a few others ad encountered and figured out on our own  when researching and battling schools, then in WELS.  I had the privilege of attending one of Dean Gotcher's lectures in San Francisco Peninsula area some years ago.    A google search brings up lots of info and references to him, and his work exposing Diaprax which has engulfed nearly every facet of organized and/or public life, both secular and religious. His work may be useful to any future expose and explanation you suggested you may write in the near future.

DEAN GOTCHER

Institution for Authority Research

Box 233

Herndon, KS 67739 

deangotcher@gmail.com

Mr. Dean Gotcher is the founder and director of the Institution for Authority Research.  His background is in education and European history and philosophy.  His extensive research in the area of education reform has given him exceptional insight into what education reform is all about, who is responsible for the changes, whenthe reforms really started, and most importantly, why our system of education (and our entire nation) is being restructured.  

He is internationally known for his research, and is referenced as a source in many articles and books. He is a consultant to business managers, state legislators, school board members, school administrators, teachers, and Bible-based ministers; as well as a sought-after guest on radio talk-shows.   

He is the author of the booklets Dialectic and Praxis: Diaprax and the End of the Ages, (Vol 1 and 2) explaining the dialectic process which is the foundation of and justification for Goals 2000, Outcome-Based Education (OBE),  School-to-Work (STW), and the Church Growth and Emerging Church Movements. He also explains Total Quality Management (TQM), consensus, the Delphi technique, group dynamics, cognitive dissonance, paradigm shift, and their roles in restructuring society. 

Over the past sixteen years he has held over 4000 seminars and/or weekend conferences.  He shares in his seminars that the main goal of the process and those promoting it is to destroy any overt position of authority, especially parental authority.  As a Christian, he believes the ultimate authority is God and His Word.  He shares what God has to say to us today regarding the subject of authority and educating our children. 

Questions he will address in his presentation include:

*      What are the differences between traditional and transformational ways of thinking? 

*      How do they relate to OBE, TQM, STW, Goals 2000, Church Growth, and the Emerging Church? 

*      How do these processes affect the workplace, government, church, or family relations? 

*      How do these processes destroy faith in God?

 

Recommendations: 

Dean Gotcher is THE expert on the Hegelian dialectic or consensus process at the heart of Total Quality Management and the new global management system.  Schools, corporations, community groups, and governments are implementing this manipulative system of teaching, training, monitoring, and manipulating people (derogatively calling them "human resources") around the world.

To avoid compromise and to equip our children, friends, and families to stand firm in God’s truth, we need to understand the goal and strategies of the consensus process.  I don’t believe anyone understands its danger better than Dean.  And no one is better equipped to help Christians prepare to resist its subtle and overt pressures to conform to the new global beliefs and values and to become ‘group thinkers.’  I recommend that everyone hear God’s warnings and encouragement through this wise and godly man. 

(Berit Kjos, author of Brave New Schools;  website:  crossroad.to) 

We have the highest regard for his Christian life style and commitment to ministry.  He is known as one of the most knowledgeable researchers in the country on the topic of educational psychology and theology.  He refutes the modern worldview with authority and responsible research, as well as a solid biblical foundation. 

This Sounds Strangely Like WELS and LCMS Church Growth

Loescher is the author of Timotheus Verinus,
a thorough study of Pietism's assaults against Lutheran doctrine and practice.

Febreze has left a new comment on your post "Kelm Sponsored Sweet as a Speaker for WELS. SP Sch...":

"The Complete Timotheus Verinus

Chapter 11
The Tenth Special Characteristic of the Pietistic Evil
Protecting and Excusing of Enthusiasts and Fanatical Things

...To this belong the following dangerous practices:
1) They represent coarse enthusiasts as witnesses of the truth and as God's messengers.
2) They defend and excuse these enthusiasts, their writings, and their doctrine.
3) They highly exalt people who are greatly infected with the enthusiastic life, and highly recommend their writings so impurely composed.
4) They justify or excuse the dangerous , fanatical way of speaking.
...
6) They are in spiritual fellowship with obvious enthusiasts and undertake special devotions with them.
7) They spread fanatical writings.
...
11) When they ought to do so because of their ministry and call, they do not oppose the enthusiastic life and other similar religious abominations."

Hunter definitely has Church Growth eyes.

WELS Is Using Diaprax - The Process - To Move the Sheep Over the Cliff for the NNIV

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

Ichabod - Thanks for bringing this issue up again.

I have further thought about this long drawn out WELS process and the official WELS 4 part synodical Bible study about the translation process and implications. I can't help but think that all of this is a carefully contrived attempt by certain WELS professor / clergy and other clergy / synodical leadership, to condition and desensitize the membership for the acceptance of the gender neutral, new NIV 11. [Mind you, it makes no difference that the Southern Baptist Convention turned its thumbs down on this less than desirable translation]

Get a hold of that 4 part synodical Bible study, engineered by the very same TEC - Translation Evaluation Committee, which has already voiced its thumbs up approval of the new gender neutral NIV 11, - and, if you put 2 and 2 together, I think that you would honestly have to conclude that they are hell bent on having an official NIV 11 gender neutral translation for WELS synodical publications, purposes. This would include parochial school materials, catechisms, etc.

The very reality that the new NIV11 gender neutral translation was given equal consideration along with the Holman and ESV translations, tips one off to the WELS leadership intent. The Holman and ESV are only stalking horses for the future elevation of the new NIV11, gender neutral, WELS official standard.

Ichabod - As you quote Wendland:

<<<<<<<< “If a study like this is carefully made, I think it will give everybody a feeling of comfort and peace when the final decision is made that we really looked at this very carefully and everyone has had a chance to think it through,” says Wendland.>>>>>>>>>

To me, what Wendland says, is code for:

"Now, that our TEC and the 100 young pastors have done all this work, showing that the new NIV11 gender neutral translation is no better or worse than the Holman and ESV – and, is basically, harmless, - come to the convention and rubber stamp our selection........"

Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel

www.thechristianmessage.org

www.moralmatters.org

WEL$ -
Our Love, Mammon's Calling

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GJ - I believe ChurchMouse first brought up Diaprax, the method of manipulating a group into the making a stupid decision desired by the bosses.

I highly recommend his columns. I am going to use one soon about the downturn in American Evangelicalism.

This was used to close down Northwestern College. The voting was just a sideshow. WELS leaders were refused the mike if they were against the merger, but everyone went sheepishly along. The vote was crooked, but that was fine with the everyone - including the actual vote counters. Gurgle did not wait for the districts to vote. He started anyway and told the districts they could not stop the contractors - but promising to "pull the plug if it went over $8 million in cost. His cost-saving merger was rumored to be a $30 million.

One long-time WELS observer said the members and pastors will go along with this fiasco too.

If they cannot support a good translation and oppose a bad paraphrase, they are doomed.

The supposed alternative is the Calvinist revision of the Commie National Council of Churches' RSV. Yes, Paul McCain loves that one.

Pasadena Lutheran church marks 120 years - Pasadena Star-News

Just think what they could have done with the synodical mission board "helping" them.

Pasadena Lutheran church marks 120 years - Pasadena Star-News:


Pasadena Lutheran church marks 120 years

By Brenda Gazzar, SGVN
twitter.com/bgazzar
Posted:   05/17/2012 10:31:18 PM PDT


Historic First Lutheran Church in Pasadena will celebrate its 120th anniversary as a congregation May 26-27 with a carnival and service. (Courtesy photo)
PASADENA - The San Gabriel Valley's oldest Lutheran congregation is celebrating its 120th anniversary with a community carnival May 26 and a worship service May 27.

Historic First Lutheran Church of Pasadena is also marking the 75th anniversary of its current church building at 808 N. Los Robles Ave., which is a city designated landmark.

"We as a congregation are standing upon a rich history but looking forward to an even richer future knowing that God has got even greater things in mind for our future than he has for our past," Rev. Christopher Schaar, Historic First Lutheran's senior pastor, said.

Historic First Lutheran - one of the oldest churches in the city - spawned all the Lutheran churches in the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys as well as in San Bernardino County, Schaar said.

It was responsible for the founding of Emmaus Lutheran in Alhambra, First Lutheran Van Nuys, First Lutheran Monrovia, St. John Lutheran in Covina, Faith Lutheran in Pasadena and Trinity Lutheran in San Bernardino.

"Through those churches, all others in L.A. and San Bernardino County have been started, making us the Mother/Grandmother/Great-Grandmother church of those counties," Schaar said.


'via Blog this'

The Book of Concord Is a Book of Harmony, But the UOJ Enthusiasts Sing Out of Key with Everything in the Word of God and the Confessions

Mary and Martha, by Norma Boeckler

AC V has left a new comment on your post "What Is the Gospel?":

Thus Christ comprises the sum of the Gospel when He says in Luke 24:47: That repentance * and remission of sins should be preached in My name among all nations. - Apology XII (V): 30.

* ...the parts of repentance are contrition and faith [a penitent, contrite heart, and faith, namely, that I receive the forgiveness of sins through Christ] - Apology XII (V): 1 


***


GJ - The UOJ Enthusiasts get their doctrine from Calvin, Halle University, a syphilitic bishop (Stephan), and a pope with four years of college (Walther).


They get their concepts of ministry from Enthusiasts of all denominations. Denying their Universalism, they go to Fuller, where the main theologians (Barth and the luscious Kirschbaum) are Universalists, and to Sweet  - who is a New Age Universalist.


They fit the definition of Ecumenists - they love every denomination except their own.

The Holy Spirit Teaches Man Better Than Books

"The Holy Spirit teaches man better than all the books; He teaches him to understand the Scriptures better than he can understand them from the teaching of any other; and of his own accord he does everything God wills he should, so the Law dare make no demands upon him."

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 280. Pentecost Sunday John 14:23-31.    

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http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2009/09/divine-power-of-word.html

The Sower and the Seed, by Norma Boeckler

KJV Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

This passage shows that the Word of God always has divine power, the power and efficacy of the Holy Spirit.

By comparing the Word of God to snow and rain, the prophet revealed that the Word having no effect is an impossibility. Especially in the desert, snow and rain always cause growth. In the Midwest, people will water their lawns during a dry spell, but one rainstorm will accomplish what all the sprinkling cannot – green up all the lawns at once. Snow also has that effect, blanketing the earth, keeping it warm and moist, melting down into growth-producing water.

“It shall not return unto Me void” is a double-negative making any exception impossible. No one can say, “Sometimes the Word is powerful and effective, sometimes it is not.” That is why the Holy Spirit cannot be separated from the Word, because the Word is always God’s and always has divine power. In addition, this power and effectiveness is declared in three ways, reminding us of the Trinity:
1. It shall not return unto Me void.
2. It shall accomplish that which I please.
3. It shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Nothing is said about man making God’s Word effective.

In the Parable of the Sower, (Matthew 13 and Mark 4) man broadcasts the seed, which is the Word. Like seed, the Word is already alive with divine power.

Another comparison is Hebrews 4:12-13 -

KJV Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

This means the very teaching or preaching of the Word has the power of the Roman two-edged sword. That is why preaching the pure Word has an effect on all audiences. Some riot because of its effect. Some repent and believe, overcome with the truth of the Word. Some harden their hearts against the Word, as anti-Christian cultists at door do when they hear the Gospel spoken to them.

The Word of God belongs to Him alone, not to man:

KJV 1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

God Uses Enthusiasts, But That Does Not Mean We Should Run To Them

"We must, after all, confess that in certain other articles the enthusiasts hold views which accord with Scripture and God's Word and that although they are impious heretics and blasphemers of Christ, he who hears and believes them on these points shall be saved. That God proclaims His Word even through the wicked and the godless is not an insignificant blessing (Gnad). In fact, in some respects it is more dangerous for Him to proclaim it through holy than through unholy people, for then those who lack understanding fall into the error of attaching more importance to the holiness of men than to the Word of God. In this way more honor is ascribed to men than to God and His Word. The danger of doing this does not exist if Judas, Caiaphas, and Herod preach. At the same time, no one is excused for his evil life, even though God is able to use it for a good purpose."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed. Ewald M. Plass St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1467f. Letter, 1528, about Anabaptists.                                              

Kelm Sponsored Sweet as a Speaker for WELS. SP Schroeder Protected Kelm Kelm Heads "Leadership" at Wisconsin Lutheran College

Sweet was also a featured speaker at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
They were proud to put the video on the air!

This selection below is from Sola Sisters:

I could be wrong about this - and I sincerely hope that I am - but based on Willard's own writing, I suspect that Willard holds to either "Christian Universalism" or "the Wider Mercy doctrine." And this leads me to Leonard Sweet, an ordained United Methodist pastor, who is another prominent writer/pastor/teacher today that I believe is also a Christian Universalist masquerading as a Christian.  I actually know Leonard Sweet from my New Age days, having read his book Quantum Spirituality many years ago.  While Sweet has attempted in some ways to distance himself from the New Age Spirituality movement, his teaching, language and vision for the church very closely mimic the New Age Spirituality vision for today's church (which is an ecumnical coming together of all faiths through a belief in a "oneness" that unites all mankind, and a downplaying of the exclusiveness of Christ's message). Sweet's teaching in Quantum Spirituality advanced the idea that God is "in" everything....a very eastern idea that is more correctly known as "panentheism."  Sweet's books were very popular among my New Age friends who considered themselves "enlightened Christians." An "enlightened Christian" is someone that I would categorize today as a "Christian universalist," meaning it is someone who professes belief in Christ, but not the Christ of the Bible, with his narrow way and exclusive gospel message.  No, the "enlightened Christians" believe that Jesus is their way to heaven...but that ultimately, all paths lead to God, and who are we to "put God in a box" and say that a good Hindu or Buddhist or Muslim couldn't find their way to heaven through their own faith tradition?

Here are some of Sweet's teachings from Quantum Spirituality, along with my commentary:

"The first of these five untheorized observations is that New Light embodiment means to be "in connection" and 'in-formation' with other Christians. Deeper feeling and higher relating go together. The church is fundamentally one being, one person, a comm-union whose cells are connected to one another within the information network called the Christ consciousness." p 122

"The power of small groups is in their ability to develop the discipline to get people "in-phase" with the Christ consciousness and connected with one another." p 147

"New Lights offer up themselves as the cosmions of a mind-of-Christ consciousness. As a cosmion incarnating the cells of a new body, New Lights will function as transitional vessels through which transforming energy can renew the divine image in the world, moving postmoderns from one state of embodiment to another." p 48

"Christ consciousness" was - and still is - a very prominent New Age Spirituality term used to describe a Christianized form of panentheism, which is the belief that God is "in" all things.

"A surprisingly central feature of all the world's religions is the language of light in communicating the divine and symbolizing the union of the human with the divine: Muhammed's light-filled cave, Moses' burning bush, Paul's blinding light, Fox's "inner light," Krishna's Lord of Light, Bohme's light-filled cobbler shop, Plotinus' fire experiences, Bodhisattvas with the flow of Kundalini's fire erupting from their fontanelles, and so on." p 235

Sweet is attempting to show here that the "light" of God has manifested itself in many different ways through many different cultures.  This is contrary to the teaching of the Bible, which is that God chose to reveal truth ("light") through the Jews in the Old Testament times, with Christ being the culmination of this revealed truth in the New Testament.  Born-again believers also have the privilege of bearing this light in a dark and fallen world.  But, was there real "light" (i.e., truth) coming from "Muhammed's light-filled cave?" Or from the Universalist Quaker George Fox's mystical "light" experiences? Or from the "flow of Kundalini's fire" which was said to be the awakening of "serpent power" in the Hindu tradition? If so, then the Cross was a mockery, for what God would let his own Son die such a wretched, torturous death if all other paths to God were acceptable?

If I understand Leonard Sweet's latest book, Jesus Manifesto (co-written with Frank Viola), correctly, today's "Christian Universalists"seem to be hanging their hat on Colossians 1:19-20 as their proof text:

"For in Christ all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through himto reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." (my emphasis)

A "Christian Universalist" would say, according to this verse, everyone ultimately gets saved through Christ.  But is this not universalism? Because the idea is that all faith traditions have some version of the "light" that is in Christ (i.e., "Muhammed's light-filled cave," the "kundalini's fire," the mystic Quaker's "inner light," etc.) and all people will eventually be reconciled to Him.

But again, this would make a mockery of the Cross and of Jesus's own words:

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

It is the preaching of the gospel message that saves lost and doomed sinners....and not the non-offensive message that all paths lead to God, and that the sincerity of one's beliefs are enough to protect one from God's judgment.  And what is the gospel message that is so lacking from today's squishy, all-paths-lead-to-God universalism - "Christian" or "Wider Mercy" or any other kind?  It is this:

There is a sovereign creator God who has made us, and owns us, and has a righteous claim on our lives.  But we have sinned against this God who made us and takes care of us by breaking his moral laws....and without his merciful and loving intervention, we will die in our sins and be condemned to hell forever.  It is a wretched, desperate situation.  But God, being rich in mercy and loving-kindness, made a way where there was none: He has made a way for sinful man to be reconciled to a holy God. How could this be done?  It seems impossible, given God's nature.  We are sinful, wretched, depraved.....and He is pure, righteous and holy beyond our comprehension.  And after all, the Bible itself plainly lays out the bad new for us in Proverbs 17:15:

"Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—the LORD detests them both."

Will not justice be subverted if a holy God does both of these things - acquit the guilty (us) and condemn the innocent (Christ)?  And yet, God - in his magnificent, unsurpassable wisdom - found a way to do just this thing without compromising his perfect, holy justice.  He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect life, never sinning in thought, word or deed, and who, because of this, was able to offer up his life as a ransom for many. I broke God's laws, and Jesus paid my fine in his life's blood so that I could be released from the rightful condemnation of the law.  But this gift of salvation, though given freely, is narrow and exclusive.  Only those who recognize their sinful wretchedness and need for a Savior, and repent and place their faith in Christ's atoning work done on their behalf, will see the kingdom of Heaven.  The very first words of Jesus's public ministry (Matthew 4:17) were: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  Narrow is the way, and few be those who find it. But ah, the wretched, human heart, which hugs its sin and depravity close, and would rather perish, clinging stubbornly and unrepentantly to its "right" to determine how we may approach God.......