ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the National Council of Churches.
ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson - "Now Brett, I did not do all the damage. I set ELCA up to become a 100% gay-lesbian synod, but Elizabeth Eaton really took them to the heights - or rather - the dump, from 2009 to her glorious election."
In 2008, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a churchwide budget with a current fund income of $81.67 million and a World Hunger income proposal of $19.25 million, totaling approximately $100.92 million. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
By 2011, the ELCA's financial situation had changed significantly. According to reports, national donations decreased from $88 million in 2008 to $40 million in 2011. This decline in revenue was accompanied by a drop in membership, with over 600 congregations leaving the ELCA between August 2009 and January 2011. Source - ALPB Ovaltines
The latest pie-in-the-face is Budde's attack against President Trump, a level of raw stupidity that most clergy would avoid. The canons of polite discourse are far better than the tired, blistering rants of feminist hags. She might have done a bit better, copying the ELCA female bishops who chanted about letting the Female Holy Spirit burst out of the closet.
Because I’m telling you what, the Spirit is up to something …
Bishops: Amen. Yes, she is.
Briner: … if we would just let her out.
Bishops: Let her out. Get out of her way.
Briner: Open the doors and let her out.
Bishops: She’s out! She is loose!
Thus some of the ELCA bishops got into the media and helped drive the nails deeper into their own synods and seminaries.
Fifty years and how many merging mergers of a seminary? - Voila! - a new shrunken rented seminary is managed by the Church of Rome. Notice the glee versus the glum.
HEREis a link to Part 5 – “Changing the Constitution: The Fast Track Proposal.”
In July 2025, key constitutional amendments will be up for a vote – amendments that could reshape the church’s future. This video explains what is at stake and what these changes could mean. We urge you to watch this video so that you will understand the ELCA’s fast-track proposal and why it matters.
HEREis a link to Part 6 – “The ELCA’s Game Changer?”
This video unpacks a seemingly simple question posted by ELCA Vice President Imran Siddiqui: “If you were to change the organizational structure of the ELCA, how would you do it?” It explores how a single footnote in a recent report could have significant implications for congregational autonomy.
What does it mean when a lawyer-vice president calls a proposal to “eliminate congregational home rule” a “game changer (esp. in the legal sphere)”? This video takes a close look at:
How and why Section 9.22 of the ELCA constitution could be used in new ways
How a simple footnote could point toward a path for imposing churchwide mandates without congregational consent
The growing tension between local autonomy and centralized authority in the ELCA
HEREis a link to Part 7 – “Churchwide Assembly: Who Gets to Vote?”
This video tells of another change that will be voted on at the triannual gathering this summer – adding voting members who are not part of congregations. Instead, they represent Synod-Authorized Worshiping Communities (SAWCs), which are groups that are directly created and controlled by the Synod. You will also hear about other aspects of the amendment like the addition of voting members based on demographic categories and how this continues a broader institutional shift that sidelines congregational voice.
These changes are not theoretical. They could reshape how your ELCA congregation operates, makes decisions, and defines its mission.
If you have not already done so, I highly recommend that you go to the LCSN’s website (LINK) and sign up to be on their email mailing list. On their website you will find videos they have already released about the ELCA’s quest for ever greater control. The LCSN very intentionally approaches matters related to the ELCA not in terms of theology, and not in terms of cultural issues and Biblical moral values, but in terms of the ELCA’s Constitutions and the whole matter of congregational autonomy.
KJV John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the timecometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. 26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. 28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. 29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
A SERMON ON PRAYER.
1. First we note that in order for a prayer to be really right and to be heard five things are required. The first is, that we have from God his promise or his permission to speak to him, and that we remember the same before we pray and remind God of it, thereby encouraging ourselves to pray in a calm and confident frame of mind. Had God not told us to pray, and pledged himself to hear us, none of his creatures could ever, with all their prayers, obtain so much as a grain of corn. From this, then, there follows that no one receives anything from God by virtue of his own merit or that of his prayer. His answer comes by virtue of the divine goodness alone, which precedes every prayer and desire, which moves us, through his gracious promise and call, to pray and to desire, in order that we may learn how much he cares for us, and how he is more ready to give than we are to receive. He would have us seek to become bold, to pray in a calm and confident spirit, since he offers all, and even more, than we are able to ask.
We were hit hard with a wind from the rest. Lights went out and came back on. The backyard was covered with large hailstones making the lawn mostly white. They rattled the windows and brave little Charlie Sue.
The chapel office was untouched (battery backup) and the office was forced into Windows "improvements."
The Confession of Sins The Absolution The Introit p. 16
Introit
Oh, sing (cantate) unto the Lord a new song:
for He hath done marvelous things.
The Lord hath made known His salvation:
His righteousness hath He openly showed in the sight of the heathen.
Psalm. His right hand and His holy arm hath gotten Him the victory.
The Gloria Patri The Kyrie p. 17 The Gloria in Excelsis The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
O God, who makest the minds of the faithful to be of one will, grant unto Thy people that they may love what Thou commandest and desire what Thou dost promise, that among the manifold changes of this world our hearts may there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Gradual
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. The right hand of the Lord is exalted:
the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. Hallelujah!
V. Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more:
death hath no more dominion over Him. Hallelujah!
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord! Praise be to Thee, O Christ! The Nicene Creed p. 22 The Sermon Hymn #132 O God of God
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 #657Beautiful Savior
In Our Prayers -
Treatment and recovery - Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris, Lori Howell, . Dr. Kermit Way, Sarah Buck, Dr. Cruz is doing better. BibleJohn is getting diabetic treatments.
The St. Louis tornado took 5 lives and much more to comprehend.
Pray for our country's leaders as the major trials continue.
Biblical doctrine is broadcast live on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 10 AM Central.
KJV James 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
KJV John 16:5-15 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.12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Jesus Teaching the Holy Spirit
John 15:5-7 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.
This puzzles many people in great numbers, because they assume or argue everything except the message given, the Spirit-Word combination.
Everyone has to be excited and entertained. No.
Everyone has to be learned, impressed by the most educated. No.
Everyone has to name the newest building as an honor to him. No.
Everyone has to be popular. No.
The Spirit works through the Word of God, so we are certain that gardens and fields, lawns and weeds will spring up, flower, fruit, and set seed. Jesus taught the disciples that they must mourn and be without Him as it was in their time together. These passages in John's Gospel show us what has to be so that a few hundred or thousand people can cover the earth with the Gospel of forgiveness and everlasting life.
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 noton me;
This is the center of Jesus' work and cannot be escaped. Not only are denominations against faith in Jesus Christ, they openly ridicule the basics of the Good Shepherd's divinity - teaching, miracles, dying to atone for the sins of the world, rising from death and ascending to heaven. How is it that the Father of the Church Growth Movement - Donald McGavran - published his approval of Planned Parenthood? His book was the bible for all the Lutherans, including LCMS-ELS-WELS-ELCA.
That is the big picture, as they say, but it also covers the small one, down to the individuals, based on whether they believe the blessings, miracles, and divine help of the Savior. Some pick and choose.
I remember that my mother had me memorize the 23rd Psalm when I was in Sunday School. I was about 5 years old and we were at Plymouth Congregational Church, now gone, along with First Christian Church. I had her join the Lutheran Church later. Her last stay was in our sun-lit living room in Glendale, Arizona, not far from the venue of the ELCA convention in July. One final day I brought my Bible to her and said, "You taught me this, Mom." I read the 23rd Psalm to her and she passed into eternal life.
The foundational work of the Christian Church is to teach faith in Jesus Christ, in all aspects, from Genesis 1 to the end of time. The wife of my friend from Moline boasted about her studies at a joint-seminary - Unitarian and Disciples of Christ. "They work together, unified!" So Christina said, "How can you tell the difference?" The lady said this - about the Virgin Birth of Jesus and His resurrection - "Those items are not very important." I was removed from my friend's Facebook list. He had all the catechism lessons of our Augustana congregation and he attended a Lutheran college.
People feel the burdens of past errors, sins, and various difficulties. This issue is extremely important because the Bible is there for our healing and peace. "Access to His grace" is the key.
According to the ELCA website, early in her tenure, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton set forth her own convictions to guide the members of the ELCA in understanding our unique identity, and these convictions have become a recognized way of articulating who we are:
We are church.
We are Lutheran.
We are church together.
We are church for the sake of the world.
That sums up the tenure of Liz Eaton when she could have resigned.
All the ELCA seminaries are closing, so make sure your compost tumblers are ready to move.
In 2008, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a churchwide budget with a current fund income of $81.67 million and a World Hunger income proposal of $19.25 million, totaling approximately $100.92 million. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
By 2011, the ELCA's financial situation had changed significantly. According to reports, national donations decreased from $88 million in 2008 to $40 million in 2011. This decline in revenue was accompanied by a drop in membership, with over 600 congregations leaving the ELCA between August 2009 and January 2011
I had no idea. My impression was giving to churchwide was an slow downward slant, steadily evenly declining through the years. These numbers show another reality. The numbers went over a cliff.
Membership Stats: 2008: The ELCA reported approximately 4,633,887 baptized members. 2011: Membership 4,059,785 2024: 2,793,899 baptized
Funny, no one ever talks about this publicly at synod functions and such.
Christina and I went to the ELCA seminary in St. Paul to verify this statement in Christianity Today. She also found a WELS quotation which had been denied - as WELS always does. She said, "Now I've got you (deceased) you fat little liar!"
The Church Growth Movement was preceded by Pentecostalism, and the LCMS pastors and laity were hotter than Georgia asphalt for it. I remember Scaer quoting a pastor who was bawling because he would lose 25% of his members if he dared criticize the Pentecostals in his congregation.
A Missouri DP asked me about accepting a parish where they had a lot of Pentecostals. I quoted Luther, "They act as if they have swallowed the Holy Spirit, feathers and all." The DP laughed out loud but he was like so many others - in the LCA too - afraid to touch the golden egg.
The Pentecostal Pratfall
Behind the movement, the victims failed to grasp the Spirit always connected to the Word, the Word always connected to the Spirit. The older term Enthusiasm was often used as the foundational error of so many strange, new, exciting, money-grabbing efforts. They turned away from the efficacy of the Word to cuddle and promote error.
The CFW Waltherites turned their cult into a death rattle based on the deity of the Perryville idolaters. The key was shifting the CFW papacy into the next generation - F. Pieper! If one dares to read through Pieper's dogmatics, it is clear that the work is an echo of Walther and Stephan, a blend of Calvinism and gross error.
Pentecostalism had its first blush (a tea term, believe it or not) in the LCA, ALC, WELS, and Missouri. The supposed pro-life Lutherans (LCMS, WELS, and smaller) ignored the contradictions of Donald McGavran and his ardent promotion of abortion in his float-down-from-heaven textbook.
The Big Five Apostates - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) slobbered over Church Growth, which WELS defined as CHURCH! Growth rather than Church GROWTH!
Fuller Seminary, Robert Schuller, Willow Creek, and many other failures proved to be the leverage destroying any semblance of the Means of Grace, replaced by entertainment and rank stupidity, either in or out of a given synod.
Can anyone keep back the gagging reaction to this blarney?
30. Moreover, Christ says further: “He shall guide you into all the truth.”
Here we conclude: If what the councils teach be the truth, that one is to wear the tonsure and the cap and live a life of celibacy, then the apostles never came to the truth, since none of them ever entered a cloister, nor kept any of those foolish laws. Thus, Christ must indeed have betrayed us in this, that he said the Holy Spirit should guide us into all the truth, when in reality he wished to teach how we were to become priests ‘and monks and not to eat meat on certain days, and like foolish things.
31. Without doubt it is “truth” before God when one lives an upright and sincere life. But if we now look at our ecclesiasts, pope, bishops, priests and monks, we see nothing but carnival masks, who give themselves the outward appearance of being pious, but in their hearts they are villains.
What popes, bishops, and orders have ever led us into this truth, which should spring from within — out of the heart? In everything they are concerned about the outward appearance of things, in order that they may make a display before the eyes of the people.
32. Thus they have perverted this text masterfully in order to strengthen their lies; and yet we are to call them gracious lords! To hear such things is exasperating and it should grieve our hearts that we are to suffer such great outrage — should see how shamefully the people act against the precious Word of God and that they make the Holy Spirit a liar. Should not this single passage be powerful enough against the pope and the councils, even if we had no other in the Scriptures?
33. Thirdly, Christ says: “You cannot bear them now.” Here we ask: My dear, should it have been too hard for the apostles to understand or to obey such laws as abstaining from meat, and the like? They had been accustomed in the law of Moses to observe many such outward ceremonies, and had been educated therein all their life, so that it would have been child’s play for them. Moreover, they understood this better than we do. Is it such a difficult matter — that a monk must wear a black or gray cap, the pope three crowns, a bishop a pointed hat, or the manner of dedicating churches and altars and baptizing bells — are these so difficult as to make it necessary that the Holy Spirit should come from heaven to teach such things? If it is not acting the fool enough that one jests with these noble words, then I do not know how one may be a worse fool.
34. Therefore, beware of these liars and understand the words rightly, thus:
Christ wishes to speak of the inward, actual character, not of outward jugglery. He wishes to make the heart, before the eyes of God, pious and righteous in order that it, in the first place, acknowledge its sin, and in the second place, that it acknowledge him to be the one who forgives sin and suffers himself to be sacrificed upon the cross. This is that “truth” which the apostles were not yet able to hear and understand. But those outward things make no one righteous, lead no one to the truth. They make only hypocrites and a show, by which the people are deceived.
35. Thus, we have the true meaning of this passage, from which we see how fools who seek from it to bolster up their jugglery, place themselves in opposition to it and build upon the sand. There is scarcely a passage that is more strongly opposed to them than this one. We have briefly explained this Gospel lesson in order that we may see how it teaches just that which we have always preached.
I made the kitchen windows more open and set up watering and food for the birds. Charlie Sue watches over her canine friends and she dotes on her two favorites in the backyard.
I moved the living room around, a useless exercise, so I voted the davenport out. In Moline, we had a davenport, so do not smirk. In Ontario we had a chesterfield and plugged in the hydro rather than the electricity. I played a small part in excommunicating the davenport, while doubling the size and lighting of the living room. Thus two chairs were moved to the window for enjoying the antics of the animal parade.
Within a few hours the stars showed up for their close-ups. With a birdfeeder, having a small built-in bathtub for the birds was clever, along with seed combinations and plenty of landings, take-offs, and jittery twitches. The rabbit left the garden and crossed over the driveway, then walked back later. Nota bene - The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit, a famous movie long ago. Gregory Peck, but you knew that.
16. Wherever Christ is now preached and acknowledged, there he reigns in us, from the right hand of his Father, and is himself here below in the hearts of men. There he reigns with might, power and dominion over you and all your enemies, and guards you from sin, death, devil and hell. Thus is his resurrection and ascension our comfort, life, blessing, righteousness and everything in one. This is what the Lord means when he speaks of righteousness, that the people thereby should become pious and righteous, that he ascends to heaven to the Father and we see him no more. This the world does not know, therefore the Holy Spirit must come and convict the world of it.
17. How does this come to pass? Just as we have heard. Am I to become pious, it will not be enough for me to perform outwardly good works, but I must do them from the bottom of my heart, gladly and willingly, so that I may be free from the fear of sin, death and the devil; be joyous, and with a good conscience, and all confidence stand before him and know how I stand with him. This no work, no creature can give unto me, but Christ alone, who has ascended into heaven — there, where one cannot see him, but must believe that he sits yonder and wishes to help one. Such a faith makes me acceptable unto God; Christ gives me the Holy Spirit into my heart, who makes me willing and happy in the doing of every good work.
In this manner I become righteous, and in no other; for the works themselves make me more and more unwilling, the longer I occupy myself with them.
18. But the longer one is engaged in this work, the more willing it makes one’s heart; for wherever there is such knowledge, there the Holy Spirit cannot be wanting. When he comes, he makes the heart willing, joyful and happy, so that one may be free and willingly do what is pleasing to God, with joyous courage, and suffer whatever there is to suffer, yea, and even die willingly. And in proportion as this knowledge is clear and great, in that proportion the willingness and joy will also be great. Thus the commandment of God is fulfilled and everything done that one is to do, and thus thou art righteous. Who would ever have thought that this would be righteousness and that thus it should be. This question we have hitherto often heard about and considered, and although the words here be different, yet the sense and meaning are the same.
19. In the third place, the Holy Spirit is to convict the world in respect of judgment , that is that the world does not know what right is. For who has ever heard the definition of this right to be, because the prince of this world hath been judged? The prince of the world, to be sure is the devil, which one may readily see in his government.
20. If now I have learned to know what sin is and am free from it, and have obtained righteousness, so that now I stand in a new character and life and have become another man — have now the Lord Christ and know that something else than our works is required to get rid of sin — if these have come to pass in me, it then follows that I may have a correct judgment, having learned to judge differently before God. For, according to such understanding, I know how to discuss, conclude and judge of all things in heaven and upon earth, and to pass correct judgment; and when I have passed such a judgment, I can live accordingly. This no one else can do.
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