Dunning-Kruger Effect in the Olde Synodical Conference

Paul Wendland, NNIV Salesman,
is a member of the Moo herd, bovine in IQ,
ovine in courage.

Wikipedia:

The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which unskilled people make poor decisions and reach erroneous conclusions, but their incompetence denies them the metacognitive ability to recognize their mistakes.[1] The unskilled therefore suffer from illusory superiority, rating their ability as above average, much higher than it actually is, while the highly skilled underrate their own abilities, suffering from illusory inferiority.


Actual competence may weaken self-confidence, as competent individuals may falsely assume that others have an equivalent understanding. As Kruger and Dunning conclude, "the miscalibration of the incompetent stems from an error about the self, whereas the miscalibration of the highly competent stems from an error about others" (p. 1127).[2] The effect is about paradoxical defects in cognitive ability, both in oneself and as one compares oneself to others...


Although the Dunning–Kruger effect was put forward in 1999, David Dunning and Justin Kruger have quoted Charles Darwin ("Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge")[3] and Bertrand Russell ("One of the painful things about our time is that those who feel certainty are stupid, and those with any imagination and understanding are filled with doubt and indecision")[4] as authors who have recognised the phenomenon.

UOJ is the path to Rome or Pasadena:
either route is the path to perdition.

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GJ - Indeed. Chesterton noted the same thing -


“Modesty has moved from the organ of ambition. Modesty has settled upon the organ of conviction where it was never meant to be. A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth: this has been exactly reversed. Nowadays the part of a man that a man does assert is exactly the part he ought not to assert-himself. The part he doubts is exactly the part he ought not to doubt - the Divine Reason... The old humility was a spur that prevented a man from stopping: not a nail in his boot that prevented him from going on. For the old humility made a man doubtful about his efforts, which might make him work harder. But the new humility makes a man doubtful about his aims, which will make him stop working altogether.”
― G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy


LI gave me a name for this syndrome, which is difficult to miss in the Olde Synodical Conference. As James Tiefel said about the odious Christian Worship in the making, "I have the title, so I will do what I want."  I heard Tiefel make fun of The Lutheran Hymnal in his worship class. Tiefel and Iver Johnson moved forward with a hack job worse than the remake of The Jazz Singer:  the booze and broads edition of the hymnal.A sober analysis would say that TLH is vastly superior to Tiefel's Church Growth, feminist, Pietist parody.

The almost universal attitude among the clergy is - "I graduated from x seminary, so I have nothing left to learn." That could be Ft. Wayne versus all the others, St. Louis versus all the others, Mequon versus all the others, or the Little Schoolhouse on the Prairie versus all others.

Most of them have a favorite professor who stands between them and the Word of God, so they stick to the instructor's talking points. The same clergy are scornful of laity who have studied the Word of God decades longer, without an intervening filter. A genuine Lutheran will concede that the Holy Spirit teaches through the Word, but the incompetents wave their diplomas around: the Dunning-Kruger effect.

The Lutheran Church during the Reformation expected a high level of training for men to be professors or bishops. A doctorate was common. The current Synodical Conference leaders think their worthless MDiv degrees qualify them as experts on everything, even though they could not get a job teaching at a community college with that seminary diploma. They wangle their positions through politics, but imagine the office is their
weapon, not a challenge to devote a lifetime to scholarship.

The Dunning-Kruger effect explains why the LCMS, WELS, and ELS have abandoned Lutheran doctrine for Fuller or Rome, never acknowledging the five-decade slide into doctrinal torpor. They cannot even admit  what they have done, spending millions on subsidies to CG projects and tuition, millions more on conferences to bring more false doctrine into their parishes.

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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Dunning-Kruger Effect in the Olde Synodical Confer...":

Even the self titled conservatives in the (W)ELS have declared Siegbert W. Becker infallible.

Elevating doctrinal ignorance to an art form he said, "But universal and objective justification is one doctrine whose place in the victorious Christian life is clear. Wherever men teach that faith comes first as a condition that must be fulfilled or a work that must be done or even as a fact that must be recognized before forgiven [sic Becker - forgiveness ] is bestowed or becomes real, men will be trained to look into their own hearts for assurance rather than to the words and promises of God. If my sins are forgiven only if I first have faith then I have no solid foundation on which to rest my hope for eternal life. I must then know that I have faith before I can know that my sins are forgiven. But there are times when a Christian does not know that he has faith. And many people who think they have faith do not have it, and many that think they are not believers are believing children of God. In regard to our own faith we may be in error or filled with doubt. But there is nothing uncertain in the truth that is proclaimed in the Gospel. Your sin is taken away, wiped out, forgiven, cancelled, swallowed up in the empty grave in Joseph’s garden. To that we must cling. To that we can cling. On that we can build a solid hope that will not make us ashamed.
In times of temptation when I am no longer aware of my faith, when my heart tells me that I am an unbeliever, I have no place to turn for assurance if faith must come before forgiveness. But if forgiveness comes first, if it is always there, if it is true whether I believe it or not, I do not need to know whether I have faith or not before I can cling to God’s promise. I know that my sins are forgiven whether I feel forgiven or unforgiven. I know that my iniquity is pardoned whether I believe it or not. And when I know that, then I know also that I am a believer." Page 13
http://www.wlsessays.net/files/BeckerJustification.PDF 

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GJ - No wonder the WELS clergy and laity listened to Paul Calvin Kelm with rapture and awe. They had already been hynotized by Sig Becker, who did not understand faith, forgiveness, or the Means of Grace.

Pietism Begets Rationalism

Johann Salomo Semler, Pioneer of Lutheran Rationalism

From Wikipedia:

He was born at Saalfeld in Electoral Saxony, the son of a poor clergyman. He grew up in pietistic surroundings, which powerfully influenced him his life through, though he never became a Pietist. In his seventeenth year he entered the University of Halle, where he became the disciple, afterwards the assistant, and finally the literary executor of the orthodox rationalistic professor SJ Baumgarten. He also wrote Latin poems. In 1749 he accepted the position of editor, with the title of professor, of the Coburg official Gazette. But in 1751 he was invited to Altdorf as professor of philology and history, and in 1752 he became a professor of theology in Halle.

Pietism was identified with Biblical study, but the mothership, Halle University, turned into a school of rationalism in one generation. Why?

Pietism is just another form of Enthusiasm. Lacking a foundation in the Means of Grace, Pietism seeks certainty in experience, love, and good works. The attitude of doctrinal indifference eventually unites everyone on the basis of a common disbelief.

That is why ELCA can be in fellowship with the Moravian Pietists, the gay Episcopalians, the Methodists, WELS, and Missouri Synod.

That also explains why WELS can be in fellowship with Groeschel, Driscoll, Sweet, and Rick Warren, and Andy Stanley. Their defense - "We practice safe sects."

Mission Statement of a Moravian Pietist Congregation

Add UOJ and opposition to sound doctrine.

• Living in Fellowship.
• Growing in Christ.
• Activating our family of faith in unity by Christ’s example of sharing, caring and praying.

I ran across this mission statement, above,  from a Moravian congregation in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. The wording reminded me of many similar expressions from WELS, LCMS, and ELS congregations:

1. Inoffensive.
2. Vague.
3. Non-confessional.

Non-confessional is really anti-confessional, because the need to avoid all doctrinal discussions is the path to total indifference and apostasy.

Elisabeth’s Barrenness and Ours - Mark Steyn - National Review Online. Stein Seconds Ichabod's Birth Dearth Graphics

Elisabeth’s Barrenness and Ours - Mark Steyn - National Review Online:

We now live in Elisabeth’s world — not just because technology has caught up with the Deity and enabled women in their 50s and 60s to become mothers, but in a more basic sense. The problem with the advanced West is not that it’s broke but that it’s old and barren. Which explains why it’s broke. Take Greece, which has now become the most convenient shorthand for sovereign insolvency — “America’s heading for the same fate as Greece if we don’t change course,” etc. So Greece has a spending problem, a revenue problem, something along those lines, right? At a superficial level, yes. But the underlying issue is more primal: It has one of the lowest fertility rates on the planet. In Greece, 100 grandparents have 42 grandchildren — i.e., the family tree is upside down. In a social-democratic state where workers in “hazardous” professions (such as, er, hairdressing) retire at 50, there aren’t enough young people around to pay for your three-decade retirement. And there are unlikely ever to be again.


'via Blog this'

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GJ - The graphics below were done by someone else - forget the name - and the point has been made here many times. All the futuristic plans have been  based on more people making more money to pay for the inflated plans.

That wild thinking fits the school situation, government (unfunded) pensions, and the global economy.

The Left trained people to think of babies as costly burdens, so we slaughter them with abortion and the human pesticide pill, then let criminals across the border to rob, rape, and steal, as long as they do our house-cleaning for $5 an hour.

The Wexford Carol

 Wikipedia says:

 The Wexford Carol (Irish: Carúl Loch Garman, Carúl Inis Córthaidh) is a traditional religious Irish Christmas carol originating from County Wexford, and specifically, Enniscorthy (whence its other name), and dating to the 12th century.[1][unreliable source?] The subject of the song is that of the nativity of Jesus Christ. "The Wexford Carol" is one of the oldest extant Christmas carols in the European tradition. Traditions abound concerning the song. For many years, it was felt that only men should sing it.[citation needed] It was only at the current revival of all things Irish that this attitude changed. Many popular female artists, such as Loreena McKennitt, recorded the “Wexford Carol” during the 1990s. The song achieved a new popularity because of the work of William Grattan Flood (1859 - 1928), who was organist and musical director at St. Aidan's Cathedral in Enniscorthy. He transcribed the carol from a local singer, and had it published in the Oxford Book of Carols, putting Enniscorthy into most carol books around the world. The song is sometimes known by its first verse, "Good people all this Christmas time."


Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved son
With Mary holy we should pray,
To God with love this Christmas Day
In Bethlehem upon that morn,
There was a blessed Messiah born
The night before that happy tide
The noble Virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town
But mark right well what came to pass
From every door repelled, alas
As was foretold, their refuge all
Was but a humble ox's stall
Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep
To whom God's angel did appear
Which put the shepherds in great fear
Arise and go, the angels said
To Bethlehem, be not afraid
For there you'll find, this happy morn
A princely babe, sweet Jesus, born
With thankful heart and joyful mind
The shepherds went the babe to find
And as God's angel had foretold
They did our Saviour Christ behold
Within a manger he was laid
And by his side a virgin maid
Attending on the Lord of Life
Who came on earth to end all strife
There were three wise men from afar
Directed by a glorious star
And on they wandered night and day
Until they came where Jesus lay
And when they came unto that place
Where our beloved Messiah lay
They humbly cast them at his feet
With gifts of gold and incense sweet.

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Joe Krohn's pick -




LutherRocks has left a new comment on your post "The Wexford Carol":

Thanks for posting. Another one of my favorites. Interesting setting.

Here is my favorite setting (partial to brass): http://youtu.be/PyZPqloAq_o

It starts at 1:13

Courthouse News Service: Another Example of Excusing Foul Deeds. A Warning for WELS, Missouri and the Little Sect on the Prairie

Courthouse News Service:


Financial Toll of Fatal Crash Keeps Growing
By JOE HARRIS

     BELLEVILLE, Ill. (CN) - The price tag for state taxpayers for a former state trooper's reckless fatal crash in November 2007 continues to grow.

     The Illinois Court of Claims awarded $700,000 to Kelly and Christine Marler, of Fayetteville. The Marlers' was the third vehicle involved in a fiery accident caused by former state trooper Matt Mitchell's losing control of his squad car while driving 120 mph, talking to his girlfriend on his cell phone and sending and receiving emails just 2.5 seconds before impact.

     Teenage sisters, Jessica Uhl, 18, and Kelli Uhl, 13, were the first ones hit by Mitchell and were pronounced dead at the scene. The Uhl family was awarded $8 million on Jan. 20 by the Illinois Court of Claims, the largest award ever granted by the court. Mitchell's car drove through the Uhls' car and then crashed into the Marlers' SUV. Mitchell pleaded guilty to reckless homicide.

     Mitchell, 33, filed a workers compensation claim for his injuries, which was denied. The outcry against Mitchell caused state lawmakers to pass a law prohibiting workers compensation claims by employees injured while committing a crime.

     Mitchell's total financial toll on the state actually started before 2007 and is more than $10 million. He was involved a no-injury accident in 2002 and another accident in 2003 that led to a $1.7 million judgment against the state, the Associated Press reported.



'via Blog this'

From Luther Rocks

Re-posted comments from Hells Bells...

 

Brett Meyer said...

The Universalism of the (W)ELS is taught in their central doctrine of Universal Justification. Their children are articulating this confession because the forgiveness of sins is salvation. Jay Garcia: "In a world where teens are always looked at by the eyes of the Devil a Wels youth rally is a blessing it shows that even in this world where sin is everywhere there teens that still believe that we can help show to other people that Jesus saved all and that the Father loves all of his children Like · Comment · July 24 at 9:10am

http://www.facebook.com/teenrally2011#!/teenrally2011?sk=wall 

Keynote speaker was (W)ELS Pastor Jeff Gunn

Luther Rocks: Rocketown: 'via Blog this'

The LCMS Birth Dearth: A Report

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Links of interest:

Harrison to Anglicans:

http://www.wmltblog.org/2011/10/president-harrisons-open-forum-for-the-anca-lcms-dialogue/

Part I: 9:27-11:31 (end), continous slow decline 

for 40 years. White birth rate is the problem.

Be fruitful and multiply. Redouble our efforts.

Muslims 4.2 Whites 2.1 Goal for LCMS: 4.2 children per family

Part II start: baptized have 75% attrition rate from LCMS

Poor funding of seminaries:

Part II: 09:01-10:36 (end)

Anglican Church of N America:

http://anglicanchurch.net/?/main/page/about-acna

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Student loan debt cuts down on number of children couples have:

http://lifeinc.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/12/9396045-we-are-the-median-burdened-by-student-loan-debt

Megan, 25, says they don’t want their 10-month-old daughter, Mary Margaret, to be burdened by such high debt when she goes to college. That’s one reason the Plano, Texas, couple is unsure whether they will have more children.

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Becoming Less Fruitful:  A Demographic History of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, 1928-2008

http://www.ryancmacpherson.com/publication-list/26-research-papers/105-becoming-less-fruitful.html

http://www.ryancmacpherson.com/download/research-papers/els-demographic-history.pdf

Specifically, people assuming student loan debt tend to marry later, delay childbearing longer, and have fewer children 

during their lifetime.17

‘Anti-Dowry’?: The Effects of Student Loan Debt on Marriage and Childbearing

By Allan C. Carlson, Ph.D.*

http://profam.org/pub/fia/fia_1912.htm

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http://www.concordiaplans.org/graphics/assets/documents/11313.pdf

CONCORDIA HEALTH PLAN

Schedule V

Reimbursement of Eligible Charges for

Student Members and Their Enrolled Dependents Who Are Eligible

for Benefits Under This Schedule

Tubal ligation or vasectomy 80% (In-Network) 60% (Out-of-Network)

after deductible after deductible

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http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2011/0406_census_diversity_frey.aspx

From 2000 to 2010, the population of white children nationwide declined by 4.3 million, while the population of Hispanic and Asian children grew by 5.5 million.

http://www.thenationalpolicyinstitute.org/2011/05/20/minority-report-white-america%E2%80%99s-collapsing-birth-rate-is-changing-the-face-of-the-country/

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One-third of U.S. births came from unplanned pregnancies, 

study shows

http://ur.umich.edu/0809/May04_09/15.php

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http://books.google.com/books?id=aYzrFvxLHFAC&pg=PA216&lpg=PA216&dq=percent+of+children+born+birth+control+failure&source=bl&ots=GQqsUt_EMn&sig=ueQqJGxwBOMYf1zUMdjQs0vVCws&hl=en&ei=GyrpTsq8LZS_2QX04NGvCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CEYQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=percent%20of%20children%20born%20birth%20control%20failure&f=false

"the no-child and one-child family...were prominent"...22 percent of women were able to have no 

children, and 22 percent had only one child."

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The 95 Theses of Claus Harms

http://www.lutheranwiki.org/The_95_Theses_of_Claus_Harms

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Firearm Sales Way Up During Holiday Season

December 13, 2011

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2011/12/13/firearm-sales-way-up-during-holiday-season/

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God's Gift to Mankind--Marriage:

Foreward by Mrs. Dorothy "Dort" Preus

http://christiannewsmo.blogspot.com/2011/12/gods-gift-to-mankind-marriage.html

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The stagnation of population growth in France in the 19th C, which is viewed as an anomaly among nations of the time by modern demographers, was recognized in France at that time as being the result of widespread syphilis in France, and not as the result of exaggerated rates of condom use, or of social planning, or of societal bias against small families. The religiosity of other nations kept the  syphilis rates down except around ports, but France's secularism ever since the Revolution promoted loose morals, allowing syphilis free reign among the population. The population stagnation relative to other nations left France relatively defenseless, with the result that Britain and the US were dragged into defending it. Also, it meant that not many Americans are of French immigrant extraction relative to other ethnic groups. However, the Catholic church hierarchy in the US has a strong contingent, but only because the revolutionaries chased much of the clergy out of France at the end of the 18th C.:

http://sfhd.chez.com/ecrits/stigma.htm

Quote: In fact, the preoccupation with the effect on birth rate came from an actual depopulation of France at the end of the 19th century and from the bordering nations, especially Germany, victorious of the Prussian French war in 1870. Affecting the physical integrity, syphilis deprived the nation of the future soldiers indispensable for the revengful projects. Xenophobic considerations completed the military preoccupations. Considering the decrease of population supposed to be a consequence of syphilis, the most active people in the struggle against syphilis pointed out the constrasting increase of foreign workers, indispensable to replace the missing French people and regarded  as ennemies of the nation.

http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/contagion/syphilis.html

What Child Is This? - Often Overlooked English Classic

Necessary Roughness is a blog I have linked for a long time.

Of the Father's Love Begotten

"Of the Father's Love Begotten"
by Aurelius C. Prudentius, 413, cento
Translated by John. M. Neale, 1818-1866
and Henry W. Baker, 1821-1977

1. Of the Father's love begotten
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the Source, the Ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see
Evermore and evermore.

2. Oh, that birth forever blessed
When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bare the Savior of our race,
And the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face
Evermore and evermore.

3. O ye heights of heaven, adore Him;
Angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him
And extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring
Evermore and evermore.

4. This is He whom Heaven-taught singers
Sang of old with one accord;
Whom the Scriptures of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word.
Now He shines, the Long-expected;
Let creation praise its Lord
Evermore and evermore.

5. Christ, to Thee, with God the Father,
And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
And unending praises be,
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory
Evermore and evermore.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #98
Text: 1 Tim. 3:16
Author: Aurelius C. Prudentius, 413, cento
Translated by: John. M. Neale, 1854 and Henry W. Baker, 1861
Titled: "Corde natus ex Parentis"
Tune: "Divinum mysterium", Plain-song tune, 12th century

Isaiah Mighty Seer in Days of Old

"Isaiah, Mighty Seer, in Days of Old"
by Martin Luther, 1483-1546

 Isaiah, mighty seer, in days of old
The Lord of all in Spirit did behold
High on a lofty throne, in splendor bright,
With flowing train that filled the Temple quite.
Above the throne were stately seraphim,
Six wings had they, these messengers of Him.
With twain they veiled their faces, as was meet,
With twain in reverent awe they hid their feet,
And with the other twain aloft they soared,
One to the other called and praised the Lord:
"Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth!
Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth!
Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth!
Behold, His glory filleth all the earth!"
The beams and lintels trembled at the cry,
And clouds of smoke enwrapped the throne on high.

Hymn 249
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Is. 6: 1-4
Author: Martin Luther, 1526
Translated by: composite
Titled: "Jessia, dem Propheten, das gescha"
Tune: "Jessia, dem Propheten"
Composer: Martin Luther, 1526

Extra Nos: Sometimes Christmas

Extra Nos: Sometimes Christmas:

"Sometimes I am ambivalent about Christmas. It makes me both happy and sad. Sometimes it makes me sad when I think of those people who do not have a family they can share it with."

'via Blog this'

Christmas Day Sermon

Christmas Day Sermon

Luke 2: 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Luke 2: 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

The second part of Luke’s nativity is the application, where the Holy Spirit reveals this great miracle to ordinary working people. Sheep were a mainstay for the economy at that time, providing many different products and clothing. The Bible contains 500 references to sheep and shepherding. God chose to show them the greatest miracle of all, the Incarnation, the Word made flesh, and to do so with an angelic light show and chorus.

Lenski:

The shepherds were out in the open because of their flock, and the probability is that they did not live in the town at all but somewhere in a valley in the hills. The place shown to tourists should deceive no one. So also the deduction that Jesus could not have been born in December, which is fortified by Talmudic notices to the effect that some time between April and November must be referred to. This conclusion is valueless, for in a climate such as Palestine has sheep could be kept out-of-doors all winter. While December 25 is only traditional and goes back to the celebration of the nativity at Rome on that date in the fourth century, it is at least traditional and better than deductions that have no basis and only assail the old date without furnishing even the inkling of a new one. Only one conclusion is sound, namely that Jesus was born at night—otherwise the angel would not have appeared to the shepherds “at night.”

Lenski, R. C. H.: The Interpretation of St. Luke's Gospel. Minneapolis, MN : Augsburg Publishing House, 1961, S. 128.

Any history fan knows that people make up details, and those details often stick for a long time. However, human tradition often remembers what is not written down. Religion is quite conservative in preserving the past, so I am always inclined to favor the traditional remembrance if no data contradicts it. Those who have never been to the Holy Land say, “It had to be in the spring because that is the only time shepherds are out in the fields at night.” Grand statements like that are difficult to hear without laughing. I would like to poll the farmers in Illinois and see if all of them infallibly do the same thing all the time.

The anti-Christians like to say that Christmas was invented to get believers away from the winter solstice (when the sun threatens to go even lower in the sky and begins rising again each day).  In fact, the first Christians in Rome were won away from drunkenness and orgies by the Gospel, not by an alternative celebration. That sounds like Guys and Dolls, where mobsters have to decide between a prayer meeting and a card game.

Not even the greatest expert on the culture of a time can say exactly what happened because 99% or more is lost to history.

Any believer would conclude that Christmas was celebrated because of the unique message of the faith, that God became man, that Jesus—a real person—was born of a virgin. Pagan Rome had gods and goddesses from all over the world, but they were not real. Jesus was a person known to history, seen and heard by many, someone whose effect left a permanent mark on the population, although His travels were limited to a minor and troublesome province in the Roman Empire.

One of the ironies of history is that the Empire identified the Christians with the Jews. They were just another brand of Jews, they thought. That only added to the persecutions that erupted from time to time.

So these shepherds were minor figures in an outlying province of the Empire, yet they played an essential role in the birth of the Christian Church. They were the earliest evangelists.

We know this happened at night –

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

God created light before the heavenly spheres, separating light from darkness. God is the ultimate judge of truth and falsehood, so Paul and John both use light and darkness to represent good and evil. That is also found throughout the Bible

KJV Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Therefore, the angelic host was spectacular because of the light (glory) shining all around and also because they were light, truth, in the midst of darkness and untruth.

Still, divine appearances are terrifying at first. The shepherds were afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

When people face judgment of any type, fear is the first response. The greater the power encountered, the greater the fear. God knows all so the appearance of the angel is going to penetrate the conscience of each person witnessing the event.

But the angel said, “Stop being afraid.” The reasons are threefold:

1. Good tidings – the Gospel literally.
2. Of great joy – the effect of the Gospel.
3. To all people – applied to all people. The Gospel will not go out to a limited group of people but will be shared with the world.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Here is the explanation – so much is said in one simple sentence.

1. Unto you – This happened for your benefit.
2. Is born – A real person, not god from mythology.
3. This day – You are there to witness this event.
4. In the City of David – The Messianic prophecies are fulfilled.
5. A Savior – He will rescue His people.
6. Christ – He is the King, anointed with oil, the Messiah.
7. The Lord – He is Lord of all.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

There is only one baby like this in the whole area. Verse 12 is a beautiful parallel to Verse 7 –

KJV Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Doubtless many babies were born that night but only One was lying in a manger. He was wrapped in pieces of cloth, swathed, as Lenski wrote.

Sidebar - This term is used in Latin for the earliest printed books, incunabula, Latin for “wrapping in swaddling clothes.” The great and glorious bindings for printed books came later. I saw many jewel encrusted bindings for Dante’s Divine Comedy, lying about at Notre Dame’s library, before the rare books collection was finished up. I imagine the school got tired of getting them as gifts – another Dante from the cardinal of Padua, what a cad you are.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

This means the sky was filled with thousands of angels praising God and chanting this poetry, made famous by the miraculous event.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

This is the application of the Gospel, so clear and yet so clearly evading many ministers today. The energy of God’s Word is so great that the Holy Spirit moves people to do what is God pleasing. The power of the Word is directly related to the purity of the Word. The angels proclaimed the Gospel, moving the shepherds to visit the Child – with haste – not making any excuses or stopping along the way. And, once they had seen God Incarnate, they told everyone about it, verses 17 and 20.

“And they returned”

They went back to their flocks, but with new experiences and emotions. Nothing was the same after that.

Mormon missionaries told me about the imaginary visions of Joseph Smith, a noted con man. They said, “If that happened to you, wouldn’t that change your life?”

I said, “I wouldn’t start a new religion.”

The shepherds did not start a new religion. They renewed their understanding of Judaism transforming into Christianity. They began laying the foundation of the Church that grew so rapidly at Pentecost.

The self-appointed miracle workers want nothing to do with the pure Word of God. They have programs, which water down the Word. They have personalities, goals, objectives, and exciting new movements. They are the religious leaders being left behind, because they are too blinded by their own arrogance to know the treasures of the Gospel.

As Luther noted, God placed the Savior in a manger, not in a palace. He give the honor of the first visit to shepherds, not to scribes and Pharisees. And yet He gave them another chance when Jesus stayed days at the Temple, and another chance when Jesus was tried for treason and blasphemy, and yet another chance when the Apostles taught on Pentecost and afterwards.

The Gospel Word keeps going forth. There so many examples I could tell, but many would involve personal details that I would rather keep private. One young man never had a saving knowledge of Christ until we took him to church every Sunday. Now that is the most valuable thing to him, knowing Christ.

We should trust God so much that we let Him accomplish His will through His Word rather than force results through our goals. He has managed quite well up to now and should continue to do so as well, as Luther observed.

Quotations

"Here are no learned, no rich, no mighty ones, for such people do not as a rule accept the Gospel.  The Gospel is a heavenly treasure, which will not tolerate any other treasure, and will not agree with any earthly guest in the heart.  Therefore whoever loves the one must let go the other, as Christ says, Matthew 6:24:  'You cannot serve God and mammon.'"

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., I, p. 154. Luke 2:1‑14.      

"The preachers are to be angels, that is God's messengers, who are to lead a heavenly life, are to be constantly engaged with God's Word that they under no circumstances preach the doctrine of men.  It is a most incongruous thing to be God's messenger and not to further God's message."

Sermons of Martin Luther, I, p. 153. Christmas Day Luke 2:1‑14.

          

"Whoever does not receive the Word for its own sake, will never receive it for the sake of the preacher, even if all the angels preached it to him.  And he who receives it because of the preacher does not believe in the Word, neither in God through the Word, but he believes the preacher and in the preacher. Hence the faith of such persons does not last long.  But whoever believes the Word, does not care who the person is that speaks the Word, and neither will he honor the Word for the sake of the person; but on the contrary, he honors the person because of the Word, and always subordinates the person to the Word."

Sermons of Martin Luther, I, p. 162. Luke 2:15‑20.

   

"Therefore God must lead us to a recognition of the fact that it is He who puts faith in our heart and that we cannot produce it ourselves.  Thus the fear of God and trust in Him must not be separated from one another, for we need them both, in order that we may not become presumptuous and overconfident, depending upon ourselves.  This is one of the reasons why God leads His saints through such great trials."

Sermons of Martin Luther, II, p. 21. Luke 2:41‑52.

Christmas Eve Holy Communion. 7 PM Central

By Norma Boeckler

Christmas Readings and Hymns

Holy Communion

December 24, 2011 – 7 PM Central

Bethany Lutheran Church

Bella Vista, Arkansas

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Hymn 77:1-6            All My Heart This Night Rejoices                                             2.25

The Invocation, Confession and Absolution                                          p. 15

The First Gospel

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

KJV Isaiah 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins. 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. 9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

The Place of Jesus’ Birth

KJV Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

#102                           O Come All Ye Faithful                                    1:7

KJV Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Virgin Birth

KJV Isaiah 7:10 Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. 13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

Incarnation

KJV Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

#109                           While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks               1:35

KJV Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Sermon – No Modesty about the Truth

Luke’s Account – Sermon Text

KJV Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

No Modesty about the Truth

One of my classmates reminded me of a famous quotation when she wished everyone Merry Christmas, “even though we are not sure exactly when Jesus was born.”

I wrote back, “We know more about the time and place of Jesus’ birth than we do about Obama’s.” I should have added – and more about His Father, too.

In the midst of the various Christmas greetings, one Leftist classmate wrotre, “Merry. Merry.”

I simply added “Christmas” to the next line, because I am tired of people pretending it is not Christmas but just happy-time, or winter, even though no one buys winter presents for anyone. Neither does anyone yell, “Merry Winter” to various strangers and friends.

Needless to say, both of my faux-innocent comments led to dustups, with people offended and admonishing me (not a new experience).

In light of that, Chesterton’s quotation about modesty is appropriate:

“Modesty has moved from the organ of ambition. Modesty has settled upon the organ of conviction where it was never meant to be. A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth: this has been exactly reversed. Nowadays the part of a man that a man does assert is exactly the part he ought not to assert-himself. The part he doubts is exactly the part he ought not to doubt - the Divine Reason... The old humility was a spur that prevented a man from stopping: not a nail in his boot that prevented him from going on. For the old humility made a man doubtful about his efforts, which might make him work harder. But the new humility makes a man doubtful about his aims, which will make him stop working altogether.”

― G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

There is such a thing as truth, but this basic concept is denied as a foundational assumption. If there is no truth, there is nothing to argue about, especially religion, so “every truth is God’s truth,” as someone cheerfully said in a class I took. The Christian professor said “Amen” with great gusto and fervor.

Christmas has a special claim upon truth, because God became man, and Jesus was born of a Virgin. This is revealed as truth in the Scriptures, but people still want a Christian philosophy of some type that avoids and denies this truth.

All mainline groups (including the Lutheran franchises) deny and oppose the Confessions – especially their own. The greatest energy has been devoted to working with all other denominations and even such heretical churches as the Salvation Army. At the same time, which is even great proof of unbelief, there is a demonic energy for persecuting those who do believe in the basic articles of faith. And this does not matter which denomination, which I have taken great pains to prove.

The Gospel seed is thinly sown, as Luther remarked. The outward trappings often hide the inner apostasy.

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

Governments are good at taxing people and business. They even use taxes to control people, keeping them too busy to rebel against the oppression.

The Roman Empire’s taxation was denied in books that I read in the 1970s, but Lenski knew about supporting evidence decades before. I also read Ramsay in seminary and knew about the astonishing accuracy and precision of Scriptural trivia. This is trivial because the census is not doctrine, but nevertheless the trivial fact is true, showing that God’s Word is accurate in doctrine, history, and geography. Man argues against one or the other because of his unbelief.

Lenski:

Until a few years ago the critics had things pretty much to themselves, and all one could do was to trust to the reliability of Luke. But now a mass of papyri and several inscriptions have reversed the situation. The evidence is now at hand that Augustus did issue the decree of which Luke speaks, that it was a new, epoch-making measure, and that it inaugurated a periodic enrollment in the empire which continued for over two centuries at intervals of fourteen years. See the writings of W. M. Ramsay.

Lenski, R. C. H.: The Interpretation of St. Luke's Gospel. Minneapolis, MN : Augsburg Publishing House, 1961, S. 116.

Like the Star of Bethlehem, the census was one part of the picture. Some would like to set aside the Star of Bethlehem too, but that has worked its way back into the picture, simply because we have the tools to recreate it and to view it exactly as the Wise Men saw it – in planetariums. And the skeptics deeply resent that fact.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

I remember the chortles from the Left. “Now we have Luke in the crosshairs. Cyrenius was not governor then.” He was serving in that capacity. He was governing. When we conquered Japan, McArthur became the military governor of Japan. He carried himself as an emperor, which is what the people expected. He was not a governor in the American sense, far from it, but he governed. That is the point.

Lenski:

Acting in a governing capacity in Syria, and having broader powers than those of the regular governor, Quirinius managed the enrollment also in Herod’s domain.

Lenski, R. C. H.: The Interpretation of St. Luke's Gospel. Minneapolis, MN : Augsburg Publishing House, 1961, S. 118.

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

The fact of the census caused the pathos of the Nativity. With everyone crowding the roads, inns, and homes, there was no room for Joseph and Mary. Homes were tiny then, something we can hardly imagine. If you see photos of crowded busses, ferries, or markets in the Third World, that gives a better impression than imposing our need for space upon the Roman Empire. The ultra-rich had palaces, but everyone else was crowded together.

Here we see that God enters history contrary to man’s expectations. Instead of great pomp and glory – humility and poverty and yieldingness. Joseph and Mary could not even claim a spare room at a relative’s home. Sure there was something available. The problem at the inn is a good indication, because it should have been an alternative.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

As we all know from Christmas pageants, these verses from Luke flow elegantly as phrases in a poem. The best passages to memorize are those which are poetic in form, with simple descriptive phrases. I can imagine this being memorized by children in the earliest congregations, adults reciting it as the narrative of their Savior’s birth.

Not to be missed in the long, uphill climb from the low-lying territory of Galilee to the mountainous Jerusalem. Similar would be the journey from the desert valley of Phoenix to the high country of Flagstaff and beyond. Only we went by auto, not by foot. I keep seeing graphics of Mary on a donkey. There is no beast of burden mentioned in the Scriptures. Even with one, the trip was arduous.

Joseph’s lineage caused him to report to Bethlehem for the census. Therefore, when we read about that shepherd boy, David, in Bethlehem, we already have an inkling of the story of the Savior. Saul was an unfit king, so the reign passed over to David, and David became the example, the ideal of the Messiah – the king anointed with oil.

The prophecies said the Savior would be born in Bethlehem, and the Roman Empire made this happen. This alone shows us how God works in history. The clever philosophers want to divorce a charming story from the facts of history, but believers see how God declared and then fulfilled every promise from the Old Testament.

These Messianic promises are woven into the Scriptures, so that anyone reading them before or after the event could see those details, not as a platform, but as a thread running through the Old Testament books. Where one detail might be overlooked, many more cannot be. The Old Testament is certainly a cradle that holds the baby Jesus. Once the Holy Spirit has opened the eyes of faith, that cannot be missed.

When obstinate rejection closes the eyes of faith, nothing can be seen at all. My apostate Roman Catholic friends came back from a famous lecturer’s talk, happy that all the Old Testament miracles were set aside as “symbolic.” Someone asked, “What about the New Testament miracles?” The man responded, “Oh, those are all true.” This made the two theology students (now professors) furious.

I contacted them as alumni, by email. They found communicating with me difficult, even though I only said hello after all these years – 29 in all.

The Bible is not a cafeteria line where we pick out what we like.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

These verses indicate that Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem and were there a period of time before Jesus was born. The Bible is very strict with details, because we do not need to know everything. Compare this to an essay I graded, where a woman took six typed paged to describe her dog’s illness. In fact the story the sinking of a famous ocean liner (Normandie) took up more space in the New York Times than the entire account of the Flood in Genesis.

This concise narrative is good, because we reflect upon the essentials rather than all the other details that intrigue us without edifying us.

Many like to dwell on morbid descriptions of how terrible this was, to give birth in such a way. If anyone suggested it advance to a couple, they would be astonished at the lack rather than the abundance – except for one thing. God would surely take care of His Son’s birth and provide all needed assistance. His angels announced it, so they did not leave the family without help or comfort.

The message here is that they trusted in God to provide what was needed. A German Gerhardt hymn makes that point about all believers. God provides special care, comfort, and protection at all times.

So, as humans, we look at the birth in the animal shelter as the opposite of our wishes for anyone, but God presents it as a scene of peace and joy.

The Gospel comes to the humble and poor, those who hunger for the righteousness of God. The people who consider themselves great intellects are too proud to read the Word of God as a direct revelation. They place themselves above it.

But here we see the Savior born in the midst of the decaying Roman Empire, turmoil everywhere. Hundreds of Old Testament prophecies begin to be revealed in scene after scene, as the true drama of salvation unfolds.

For those who believe the Word of God and trust in its promises, the Bible is a constant source of wonder and wisdom. If someone asks, How can my own sins be forgiven?, he only need to look at the census bringing the Holy Family to Bethlehem, the Wise Men following the Star of Bethlehem, the shepherds told in the fields by angels while King Herod faced the end of his power and life.

#646                           Silent Night                                                   4:38

Heavenly Host

Luke 2: 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Holy Communion                                                                           p. 24

The Prayers and Benediction

#87                 Joy to the World                                                        1:20

Modesty Misplaced

By Norma Boeckler

“Modesty has moved from the organ of ambition. Modesty has settled upon the organ of conviction where it was never meant to be. A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting about the truth: this has been exactly reversed. Nowadays the part of a man that a man does assert is exactly the part he ought not to assert-himself. The part he doubts is exactly the part he ought not to doubt - the Divine Reason... The old humility was a spur that prevented a man from stopping: not a nail in his boot that prevented him from going on. For the old humility made a man doubtful about his efforts, which might make him work harder. But the new humility makes a man doubtful about his aims, which will make him stop working altogether.”
― G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy - he was also at Notre Dame

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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Modesty Misplaced":

In 1999, the Catholic Church and the LWF signed a joint declaration on the doctrine of justification (how a person is saved), one of the main points of contention between Catholics and Lutherans in the 16th century.

At the meeting with Younan, Benedict called the 1999 declaration "a significant step along the difficult path towards re-establishing full unity among Christians."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/18/lutheran-leader-seeks-com_n_798413.html

LWF
http://www.lutheranworld.org/Directory/afr/Welcome-EN.html

Thrivent uniting and binding in theology and purpose
https://www.thrivent.com/magazine/fall11/whereintheworld.html