Tom Fisher Facing an Enormous Cold Storm System in Illinois

 

How much snow across Illinois?

We do not realize how much goes into keeping a farm safe during storms like the one coming across the Midwest. Tom must care for his animals and provide their needs in the midst of uncertain storms. Pray for the safety of all and rapid recovery, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

 An earlier photo reminds us of the gentle lambs.

Reformation Seminary Lecture - John 16:1-11 - 10 Central AM Today

 

John 16 KJV

16 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

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

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

9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

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

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

Byzantine

16 ταυτα λελαληκα υμιν ινα μη σκανδαλισθητε

2 αποσυναγωγους ποιησουσιν υμας αλλ ερχεται ωρα ινα πας ο αποκτεινας υμας δοξη λατρειαν προσφερειν τω θεω

3 και ταυτα ποιησουσιν υμιν οτι ουκ εγνωσαν τον πατερα ουδε εμε

4 αλλα ταυτα λελαληκα υμιν ινα οταν ελθη η ωρα μνημονευητε αυτων οτι εγω ειπον υμιν ταυτα δε υμιν εξ αρχης ουκ ειπον οτι μεθ υμων ημην

5 νυν δε υπαγω προς τον πεμψαντα με και ουδεις εξ υμων ερωτα με που υπαγεις

6 αλλ οτι ταυτα λελαληκα υμιν η λυπη πεπληρωκεν υμων την καρδιαν

7 αλλ εγω την αληθειαν λεγω υμιν συμφερει υμιν ινα εγω απελθω εαν γαρ μη απελθω ο παρακλητος ουκ ελευσεται προς υμας εαν δε πορευθω πεμψω αυτον προς υμας

8 και ελθων εκεινος ελεγξει τον κοσμον περι αμαρτιας και περι δικαιοσυνης και περι κρισεως

9 περι αμαρτιας μεν οτι ου πιστευουσιν εις εμε

10 περι δικαιοσυνης δε οτι προς τον πατερα μου υπαγω και ουκ ετι θεωρειτε με

11 περι δε κρισεως οτι ο αρχων του κοσμου τουτου κεκριται

An Almost Forgotten Pratfall from the Little Sect on the Prairie

 

I was looking over my library when I found The Lord's Supper in the Theology of Martin Chemnitz, by B.W. Teigen.

That reminded me of an old LCMS-ELS-WELS obsession about Holy Communion. One person explained it to me this way, "The bread is not the bread until it is placed in the mouth. That is what I was taught."

It made perfect sense, coming from the Pietistic Enthusiasm established by Bishop Martin Stephan, STD, and CFW Walther, BA.

The missing element was - and still is - for that dim group of sects - the efficacy of the Word.

I sometimes get into discussions where the key error is the fallacy of emphasis (an informal fallacy). One can fashion anything from stressing one thing to disguise and remove the main point.

"That is what I was taught" is not a clear statement about Holy Communion, where Jesus' words are "This is My body" and "This is My blood."

The title of Teigen's book includes the almost forgotten Martin Chemnitz. I noticed that the Bob Preus Cult considered the Second Luther their personal property - the copyright held by the private publishing of the Preus family (I am not kidding - they really have that).

The Little Sect on the Prairie treated Teigen like dirt, so it is normal for them to honor the name they despised while he was alive and being pushed out. The book is a reminder of the vacuum in the LCMS, ELS, WELS, and CLC (sic). Therefore, one can easily discern the massive problems - rejecting

1. The Efficacy of the Word
2. Justification by Faith
3. The King James Version.

Instead they grovel for

• Thrivent money and Irrevocable Annuities
• Cuddling Up with ELCA, Its Crafts and Assaults
• The Latest Fads, Like Unstuck

 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Septuagesima - "Thus God will show it is nothing but mercy that he gives and no one is to arrogate to himself more than another. "

 

Luther's Sermons - Matthew 20:1-16.
Septuagesima Sunday

     

TEXT:

Matthew 20:1-16. For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle; and to them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard. And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling. And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling. And when they received it, they murmured against the householder saying, These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling? Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last.

4. Hence the substance of the parable in today’s Gospel consists not in the penny, what it is, nor in the different hours; but in earning and acquiring, or how one can earn the penny; that as here the first presumed to obtain the penny and even more by their own merit, and yet the last received the same amount because of the goodness of the householder. Thus God will show it is nothing but mercy that he gives and no one is to arrogate to himself more than another. Therefore he says I do thee no wrong, is not the money mine and not thine; if I had given away thy property, then thou wouldest have reason to murmur; is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own ?

5. Now in this way Christ strikes a blow first against the presumption (as he also does in today’s Epistle) of those who would storm their way into heaven by their good works; as the Jews did and wished to be next to God; as hitherto our own clergy have also done. These all labor for definite wages, that is, they take the law of God in no other sense than that they should fulfill it by certain defined works for a specified reward, and they never understand it correctly, and know not that before God all is pure grace. This signifies that they hire themselves out for wages, and agree with the householder for a penny a day; consequently their lives are bitter and they lead a career that is indeed hard.

6. Now when the Gospel comes and makes all alike, as Paul teaches in Romans 3:23, so that they who have done great works are no more than public sinners, and must also become sinners and tolerate the saying: “All have sinned”, Romans 3:23, and that no one is justified before God by his works; then they look around and despise those who have done nothing at all, while their great worry and labor avail no more than such idleness and reckless living. Then they murmur against the householder, they imagine it is not right; they blaspheme the Gospel, and become hardened in their ways; then they lose the favor and grace of God, and are obliged to take their temporal reward and trot from him with their penny and be condemned; for they served not for the sake of mercy but for the sake of reward, and they will receive that and nothing more, the others however must confess that they have merited neither the penny nor the grace, but more is given to them than they had ever thought was promised to them. These remained in grace and besides were saved, and besides this, here in time they had enough; for all depended upon the good pleasure of the householder.

El Cid And the Whirlwind

 

I found a book about El Cid, who invented a new approach in warfare, sometimes called the Whirlwind. Probably 10 people will write and say they know of similar versions throughout history. The latest one is the Trump presidency, not the Kansas City Chiefs.

Nothing reveals defeat louder than crying and complaining - loudly. The standard politicians have insults too boring to repeat. The journalists are revealing their anger and frustration, surely a sign of defeat. 

The vast numbers of mainline denomination chiefs have nowhere to go, because their thinly disguised socialism is devouring their mansions, their assistants to the presidents, and their deluxe trips.

The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany - 2025.

The Hymn #392                    Blest Is the Man - Watts
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Worship Him, all ye His angels: Zion heard and was glad.

The daughters of Judah rejoiced: because of Thy judgments, O Lord.

Psalm. The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice: let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual Colossians 3:12-17

Gradual

The heathen shall fear the name of the Lord: and all the kings of the earth Thy glory.

V. When the Lord shall build up Zion: He shall appear in His glory. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice: let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. Hallelujah!

The Gospel Matthew 13:24-30
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #449         My Soul Be On Thy Guard

TARES

The Hymn #314         Lord Jesus Christ We Humbly Pray - Jacobs
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #50                            Lord Dismiss Us

Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Matthew 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee, that Thou hast sown the good seed, Thy holy word, in our hearts: We pray Thee that by Thy Holy Spirit Thou wilt cause this seed to grow and bring forth fruit, and defend us from the enemy, that he may not sow tares therein. Keep us from carnal security, help us in all temptations, and give us at last eternal salvation; through Thy beloved Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Announcements

In our prayers - Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader; Sarah Buck; Kermit Way; Lito Cruz family.

Seminary Lectures - Tuesday and Thursday 10 AM

Wednesday - Lincoln's Birthday.

Friday - Valentine's Day.

                                       TARES

Matthew 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good [excellent, kalos] seed in his field:

So many gems are in this introduction to a parable. As they say, "A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning." The kingdom of heaven includes our daily lives and God's divine work. So this is a simple, plain story about the Word of God. Throughout the New Testament are references to seed and growth. The seed seems dormant, asleep, or even dead. It lives for a long time and comes to life when the conditions are good.

Gardeners talk about their plants coming up according to conditions and what is alive deep in the earth. In Northwest Arkansas the daffodils are already green and shooting up their stems, making way for the flower or flowers already formed. My helper said last autumn, "You have enough daffodils," but no one is weary or bored with the orange, white, yellow, and reddish blooms. Insects and birds leave them alone. Neighbors long for some flowers to be delivered.

The merchants of autumn do not show up the daffodil bulbs but they picture the bulbs as they emerge in the spring. Each one started as seed, turned into bulbs, and bloomed to form seed again.

Excellent seed (kalos) - like the Good Shepherd (kalos) - will always produce divine energy and results. This concise parable emphasizes the tares or weeds that grow in the midst of the excellent seed.

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

Sleep is not a crime, so the enemy takes a chance to spread their seeds among the good, productive wheat seeds. Tares for the future will grow up useless or choking the good wheat seeds and cause great frustration. The glory of weeds - if we can say so - is their productive style, which holds down soil, enriches soil (through soil creatures), and has thousands of children seeds. 

Worst of all, the tares start out well, fooling most people, until they grow and reveal their true nature, with the roots draining energy from the wheat seeds. As this concise story tells us, the wheat production looks great until the tares choke the valuable wheat seeds just as they reach their greatest bounty. The kernels will be smaller or missing while the tares glory in their ability to draw up water, collect sunshine, and share in the infinite value of the soil.

27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good [excellent, kalos] seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

This parallel emphasizes people being puzzled and upset about the results of the householder. Something is wrong when the tares are trying to take over.

28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

This is the turning point in a brief story. The ordinary people suggest that the tares (non believers) be taken away completely. However, God commands that the helpers should not try to gather up the tares while the wheat is growing. That would damage what is good in the hopes of removing all the tares.

This is the religion of shunning, perhaps the greatest force today. Any individual who does not conform to the perfect style is ignored, punished, mocked, disliked, given the silent treatment, etc. 

If we look at others with disdain, we miss the opportunity to offer the Gospel and its fruits.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

The opportunity continues with the tares, who grow along with the believers. I have known many clergy who signed up to be the tares. Two moved up from Church Growth experts to be public atheists - and proud of it. Christina and I were talking to Richard J. Neuhaus at the Ad Fontes conference, just before he became a Roman Catholic priest. I told him how we attended the Easter Sunday service in Ontario, the conservative pastor there - his father. (He was startled about this.) The LCA president (at the same conference) asked me about my leaving the LCA and joining WELS (from tares to tares - they worked together and still do).

Many of us started along the path where we were unknowingly led by false prophets, so the approach should be - for us and for others - the truth of the Scriptures and the Luther-Melanchthon-Chemnitz Reformation. That is why we do not covet a building or a synod or a series of institutions. The Gospel is fruitful, both in the spiritual sense and also in the subsequent life the congregation leads.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Epiphany 5 Epistle - "But tender mercy is to be shown only to Christians and only among Christians. With the rejecters and persecutors of the Gospel we must deal differently. It is not right that my charity be liberal enough to tolerate unsound doctrine. In the case of false faith and doctrine there is neither love nor patience. Against these it is my duty earnestly to contend and not to yield a hair’s breadth."

 

Luther's Sermons - Colossians 3:12-17.
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

8. But tender mercy is to be shown only to Christians and only among Christians. With the rejecters and persecutors of the Gospel we must deal differently. It is not right that my charity be liberal enough to tolerate unsound doctrine. In the case of false faith and doctrine there is neither love nor patience. Against these it is my duty earnestly to contend and not to yield a hair’s breadth. Otherwise — when faith is not imperiled — I must be unfailingly kind and merciful to all notwithstanding the infirmities of their lives. I may not censure, oppress nor drive; I must persuade, entreat and tolerate. A defective life does not destroy Christianity; it exercises it. But defective doctrine — false belief — destroys all good. So, then, toleration and mercy are not permissible in the case of unsound doctrine; only anger, opposition and death are in order, yet always in accordance with the Word of God.

9. On the other hand, they who are mercifully tolerated must not imagine that because they escape censure and force, their beliefs and practices are right. They must not construe such mercy as encouragement to become indolent and negligent, and to continue in their error. Mercy is not extended them with any such design. The object is to give them opportunity to recover zeal and strength. But if they be disposed to remain as they are, very well; let them alone. They will not long continue thus; the devil will lead them farther astray, until finally they will completely apostatize, even becoming enemies to the Gospel. Such will be their end if they permit mercy to be lavished upon them in vain. We may not be indolent and asleep in the matter of our false doctrines, relying upon the fact that we are not despised nor constrained of men. There is particular need to be active and diligent, for the devil neither sleeps nor rests. We need beware that he does not lead us where we will never enjoy God’s mercy. “Kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering.”

10. These words represent the other elements of Christian character.

Kindness you will find defined in the second epistle lesson for the early Christmas service. It characterizes the conduct of the individual who is gentle and sympathetic to all; who repels none with forbidding countenance, harsh words or rude deportment. We Germans would call such a one affable and friendly disposed. Kindness is a virtue not confined to certain works; it modifies the whole life. The kindly person is obliging to everyone, not displeased with any, and is attractive to all men. In contrast are those peculiar characters who have pleasure in nothing but their own conceits; who insist on others accommodating themselves to them and their ways, while they yield to none. Such individuals are termed “uncivil.”

11. But the liberality of kindness is not to be extended to false doctrine.

Only relative to conduct and works is it to be exercised. As oft before stated, love with all its works and fruits has no place in the matter of unsound doctrine. I must love my neighbor and show him kindness whatever the imperfections of his life. But if he refuses to believe or to teach sound doctrine, I cannot, I dare not, love him or show him kindness.

According to Paul (Galatians 1:8-9), I must hold him excommunicated and accursed, even though he be an angel from heaven.

Thus remarkably do faith and love differ and are distinct. Love will be, must be, kind even to the bitterest enemy so long as he assails not faith and doctrine. But it will not, it cannot, tolerate the individual who does, be it father, mother or dearest friend. Deuteronomy 13:6-8. Love, then, must be exercised, not in relation to the doctrine and faith of our neighbor, but relative to his life and works. Faith, on the contrary, has to do, not with his works and life, but with his doctrine and belief.

12. I think we must know by this time the meaning of “lowliness” of mind — esteeming one’s self least and others greater. As, Christ illustrates it, occupying the lowest seat at the wedding, and this cheerfully. We are to serve even when our service is not desired, and to minister unto our enemies. So Christ humbled himself before Judas the betrayer, and before all of us. He came, not to be served, but to serve. That humbleness of mind is a rare virtue is not to be wondered at, for every Christian grace is a rarity. Particularly are graces lacking with those who, professing to know most of Christ, find something to censure in all Christians. Christianity Paul calls a mystery of God; and it is likely to continue so.

13. “Meekness” is opposed to anger. The meek man is not easily excited to exhibit anger, to curse, smite, hate, or wish evil to any, even an enemy. To refrain thus is an art. Hypocrites — in fact, all the world — can be meek toward friends and those who treat them well. But true meekness and humility will remain only among the elect and beloved saints of God, as Paul here implies. Even among these are many deficient in all, or at least a large part, of the Christian graces. Hypocrites may thus find something to censure, something whereat to be offended, in the beloved, elect saints of God. And the true saints have occasion to exercise mercy, humility, meekness and forbearance. They whom Paul here terms elect and beloved saints of God, though slightly deficient in humility, meekness and forbearance, are not therefore unholy, not rejected and despised.

USAID - U Said it!

 

Senator John Kennedy on Elon Musk and DOGE exposing USAID, “I'll tell you what Mr. Musk discovered. I find it fascinating. He discovered: - The American taxpayers are giving money to Afghanistan - He found that we are giving money to Yemen - He found that we are giving money to Syria - He found that the USAID has 10,000 people employees, and every year they give away $40 billion - He found that the USAID gave money to support electric vehicles in Vietnam. Our money, taxpayer money - He found that the USAID gave money to a transgender clinic in India. “I didn't know that. I bet you the American people didn't know that” - He found that USAID gave $1.5 million to a Serbian LGBTQ group, they got $1.5 million to QUOTE, “advanced diversity, equity, inclusion in Serbia's workplaces and business communities” - They found that USAID spent $164 million to support radical organizations around the world - They gave $122 million of that to groups aligned with foreign terrorist organizations - According to this report in Mr. Musk, the USAID has given millions of dollars to quote organizations in Gaza controlled by Hamas - He found that we gave $2 million, USAID did, for sex changes in Guatemala - He found that we gave $20 million to produce a new Sesame Street show in Iraq - He found that we gave $4.5 million of taxpayer money to combat misinformation in Kazakhstan - He found that we gave $10 million, USAID did, of meals to an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group called the Nusra Front - Mr. Musk found that we gave $7.9 million of taxpayer money to a project that would teach Sri Lankan journalists to avoid binary gendered language. (The USAID took 8 million bucks and gave it to a bunch of journalists in Sri Lanka to teach them how to avoid binary gendered language) - USAID gave $1.5 million to promote LGBT advocacy in Jamaica - They gave $1.5 million to rebuild the Cuban media ecosystem - They gave $1.5 million for quote, art for inclusion of people with disabilities in Belarus - Another $3.9 million for LGBT causes in Macedonia - $8.3 million for equity and inclusion education in Nepal “I could go all night and many of my colleagues are upset. They're really mad at Mr. Musk. I think we ought to give him a medal.”

Summing Up the Last 50 Years of Projectile Vomiting

 

Yale Mission Library. The other part was used for the National Council of Churches "translation" of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible.

I have not heard anything recently from Yale Divinity School, after graduating in 1973. I get more response from medical doctors when I mention my work at Yale University Medical Library. That is when I mention "iatrogenic" - disorders caused by doctors.

So...YDS made several attempts to contact me and others, to learn from them, listen to them, drive down to Little Rock for a special meeting of divinity alumni.

The person signed his email with "pronouns, he, him, his."

I answered by writing "Me, Myself, and I are not interested. Do not write again."

So they wrote again, without those helpful pronouns.

The sainted Dr. Bruce Wenger (MD, PhD) loved to skewer the fads of the moment, but he still graduated head of his class. Radical Leftwing apostasy was already forcing their impossible nonsense upon everyone.

America has a promise, embedded in the Constitution, to keep the wisdom and structure of its beginning. I am delighted that the last 50 years are being examined for wisdom rather than being destroyed to make way for the dictatorial destroyers of our babies, our mothers and daughters, our men who guard and protect.

Stan Hauerwas and I were at Augustana College at the same time and at Notre Dame at the same time. I skipped Duke University, where he made his abode after ND.

Alec Satin - Lutheran Librarian - Evidence about the Waltherian Denial of the Chief Article

 

The Columbus Theological Magazine Vol 2 ed by Matthias Loy “Our Magazine was designed to meet a want that existed aside from the controversy on predestination. A Lutheran periodical devoted to theological discussion has long since been needed…We have the firm conviction that a periodical faithful in all respects to the symbolical books of the Ev. Lutheran Church, setting forth the old doctrines of the Reformation, endeavoring to make English readers acquainted with the treasures of learning and thought contained in old German and Latin folios, ... Read more The Six Pointed Star by O J Graham “The author is a Christian journalist of Jewish ancestry with earned doctorates in ministry and theology. Here, this lover the Jews gives startling truth concerning the origin and historical uses of the hexagram, or six-pointed star.” - From the Back Cover Level of Difficulty: Primer: No subject matter knowledge needed. Book Contents About the author Title Page Dedication Acknowledgement Contents Preface 1 Sudden International Popularity 2 What? No Jewish Origin? 3 Star of Which David? 4 ... Read more Short Stories Of The Hymns by Henry Kieffer “The purpose of this little book is to present to its readers some brief account of the origin and authorship of some of our more familiar hymns… to select from a very large amount of material which the author has for years past been gathering, a few of the more striking and interesting incidents connected with the composition of some of our best known Songs of Zion. “It is quite possible, truly, that this little book may traverse some ground already familiar to some of its readers, but it ... Read more Anecdotes of Providence Chapters include The Preservation of Life, Temporal Blessings, and Preservation from Danger, Conversion of Sinners, Relief of Mental Distress, Answers to Prayer, and Deliverance in Persecution. Level of Difficulty: Primer: No prior subject matter knowledge needed. Contents About the Lutheran Library Title Page Contents Index 1 The Preservation of Life 2 Bestowment of Temporal Blessings, and Preservation from Danger 3 The Conversion of Sinners 4 The Relief of Mental Distress 5 Answers to ... Read more 🎉 New Website for 2025 Summary (TL/DR) The Lutheran Library website has been updated for 2025. The biggest changes you may notice are better options for browsing and finding books. Why this change? The website has been created using Hugo, an underlying language for “static” web development. Hugo continues to undergo significant changes, rendering older versions obsolete. As the number of books in the Lutheran Library has increased, the version of Hugo we have been using has grown slower and slower on the 2013 ... Read more 🎁 If You Care To Help Your encouragement always means a lot to us. If you wish to help: Send a note when you think of it. It doesn’t have to be long or fancy! Tips of any amount bring a smile to our face. If you have a recent x or t series Thinkpad you’re not using and would like to gift to us, that would be a blessing. Keep us in your prayers. Most of all, pray that these books will find their way to those who are seeking them, whoever and wherever they may be. May the Lord bless all of us in this year to ... Read more

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Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Epiphany 5 - "But tender mercy is to be shown only to Christians and only among Christians. With the rejecters and persecutors of the Gospel we must deal differently. It is not right that my charity be liberal enough to tolerate unsound doctrine. In the case of false faith and doctrine there is neither love nor patience. Against these it is my duty earnestly to contend and not to yield a hair’s breadth. Otherwise — when faith is not imperiled — I must be unfailingly kind and merciful to all notwithstanding the infirmities of their lives."

 

Luther's Sermons - Colossians 3:12-17.
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

8. But tender mercy is to be shown only to Christians and only among Christians. With the rejecters and persecutors of the Gospel we must deal differently. It is not right that my charity be liberal enough to tolerate unsound doctrine. In the case of false faith and doctrine there is neither love nor patience. Against these it is my duty earnestly to contend and not to yield a hair’s breadth. Otherwise — when faith is not imperiled — I must be unfailingly kind and merciful to all notwithstanding the infirmities of their lives. I may not censure, oppress nor drive; I must persuade, entreat and tolerate. A defective life does not destroy Christianity; it exercises it. But defective doctrine — false belief — destroys all good. So, then, toleration and mercy are not permissible in the case of unsound doctrine; only anger, opposition and death are in order, yet always in accordance with the Word of God.

9. On the other hand, they who are mercifully tolerated must not imagine that because they escape censure and force, their beliefs and practices are right. They must not construe such mercy as encouragement to become indolent and negligent, and to continue in their error. Mercy is not extended them with any such design. The object is to give them opportunity to recover zeal and strength. But if they be disposed to remain as they are, very well; let them alone. They will not long continue thus; the devil will lead them farther astray, until finally they will completely apostatize, even becoming enemies to the Gospel. Such will be their end if they permit mercy to be lavished upon them in vain. We may not be indolent and asleep in the matter of our false doctrines, relying upon the fact that we are not despised nor constrained of men. There is particular need to be active and diligent, for the devil neither sleeps nor rests. We need beware that he does not lead us where we will never enjoy God’s mercy. “Kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering.”

10. These words represent the other elements of Christian character.

Kindness you will find defined in the second epistle lesson for the early Christmas service. It characterizes the conduct of the individual who is gentle and sympathetic to all; who repels none with forbidding countenance, harsh words or rude deportment. We Germans would call such a one affable and friendly disposed. Kindness is a virtue not confined to certain works; it modifies the whole life. The kindly person is obliging to everyone, not displeased with any, and is attractive to all men. In contrast are those peculiar characters who have pleasure in nothing but their own conceits; who insist on others accommodating themselves to them and their ways, while they yield to none. Such individuals are termed “uncivil.”

11. But the liberality of kindness is not to be extended to false doctrine.

Only relative to conduct and works is it to be exercised. As oft before stated, love with all its works and fruits has no place in the matter of unsound doctrine. I must love my neighbor and show him kindness whatever the imperfections of his life. But if he refuses to believe or to teach sound doctrine, I cannot, I dare not, love him or show him kindness.

According to Paul (Galatians 1:8-9), I must hold him excommunicated and accursed, even though he be an angel from heaven.

Thus remarkably do faith and love differ and are distinct. Love will be, must be, kind even to the bitterest enemy so long as he assails not faith and doctrine. But it will not, it cannot, tolerate the individual who does, be it father, mother or dearest friend. Deuteronomy 13:6-8. Love, then, must be exercised, not in relation to the doctrine and faith of our neighbor, but relative to his life and works. Faith, on the contrary, has to do, not with his works and life, but with his doctrine and belief.

12. I think we must know by this time the meaning of “lowliness” of mind — esteeming one’s self least and others greater. As, Christ illustrates it, occupying the lowest seat at the wedding, and this cheerfully. We are to serve even when our service is not desired, and to minister unto our enemies.