The Son Experience - WELS Paganism Supported by WELS - From 2014

Worshipful Master is the Sun in the East -
Masonic Lodge lore.

mndp@wels.net

Mark.Schroeder@wels.net

Here is your chance, especially the anonymous commenters of this and other blogs, and particularly the anonymous commenters who claim these blogs don't do anything but bellyache. The first email address above is for District President Charles Degner, the remaining DP holdout participating in the 2015 Christian Leadership Experience. The second is President Schroeder's email address. Send an email urging DP Degner's withdrawal from the 2015 Christian Leadership Experience. Mine has already been sent. 

Sorry, but it will be difficult for you to do this and remain anonymous. And yes, there are risks involved. 

Vernon

August 13, 2014 at 1:35 PM

A Travesty Examined, Part Nine

The "worship music" at the Christian Leadership Experience's ecumenical worship services will be provided by the SON Band. The SON Band is associated with Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. They play for Pilgrim's contemporary worship service entitled "The SON Experience".

Pilgrim's website provides links to videos of the SON Experience. You can find themhere. I haven't had a chance to watch all of the videos in their entirety, but what I've seen is extremely concerning. 

"Experience!"

Most concerning is a "SON Message" in which Dr. Scott Gostchock (who is not a pastor) preaches a "sermon" in which he states the following: 

• It isn't good enough to preach God's Word from the Bible because that's just "words on a page". 
• We must somehow "experience" God's presence apart from those words on a page.
• It's not the job of the church to condemn sin.

The entire "sermon" is pure enthusiasm--the teaching that one must experience God's presence apart from Word and Sacrament. 

If you watch the video, notice how many times Gostchock uses the word experience. Notice that this takes place during a service called The SON Experience. Notice that Gostchock will be speaking and the SON Band will be performing at something called the Christian Leadership Experience.

This is clear proof that the Church Growth leaders within the WELS have traded a theology centered on the Means of Grace for a theology centered on human experience and emotion.

A member of the Synodical Council (WELS)
and Don Patterson's parish said this.

Anonymous said...

I didn't manage to get all the way through Gostchock's "Community in Christ" message. I stopped around 2:22. Maybe he was speaking poorly (in which case, shame on him) or maybe he really is wishy-washy on the Trinity (in which case, a lot of shame of him) but he talked about God having three distinct beings, parts, pieces...

This runs counter to Col. 2:9 "For in Christ all the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form..."
Jesus is truly 100% true God. He is not a part of or just one third God.
Same with the Father. He is truly 100% true God. Not just one third God.
And Same with the Spirit. He is 100% true God.

Yet, paraphrasing the Athanasian Creed, we do not have 300%. We do not have three Gods, but one God.

Nor do we have a piecemeal God.

He would have best said that there are three distinct persons in the Trinity and left it at that.

I paused writing this and listened to the speech a little more. I get what he's trying to do. He doesn't want Christians who just sit there and read the Bible and are separate from their fellow Christians. But the way he gets to that point feels very wrong. Claiming that the Bible isn't enough and we need to look at each other and see Christ "in us" is so very dangerous. Schwaermer-enthusiasm.

August 12, 2014 at 12:01 PM

 Henry Town said...

With his message Mr. Gostchock wanted to talk about "community." How he ever got that from the text he read is unbelievable. In fact, after the initial minute or two he simply left the text behind and spoke about what he wanted to speak about. Might this best describe the CGM movement in WELS, GIA particularly?

August 12, 2014 at 12:35 PM

 AP said...

"We need to experience God's presence among us...sometimes that comes from just this overwhelming sense of peace...sometimes it comes from the warm embrace of a friend...sometimes it comes from us giving to others. We need to experience that love of God...its more than just words on paper."

These words are taken directly from the linked video. I also see what the speaker is attempting to communicate, which I think is the need to have a living, active faith. That is a fine thing to have an active faith, but any real faith is bound to be active through the work of the Holy Spirit. If faith is not active, it is probably because it has been starved of the things it needs to live and grow--the Means of Grace.

The linked sermon sounds like pure Pietism to me. Read Jacob Spener and you will see the exact same sentiments: use methods to encourage holy living, which is the only real measure of one's true Christianity.

I do agree though. It is not about just "words on a page" because God's Holy Word is not just "words on a page. To apply such a flippant remark to the Holy Word of God is very dangerous. Again, we are talking about the very word of God, the mighty double-edged sword that always has effect and needs no help from our pathetic efforts to be more effective. We experience God's presence among us in Word and Sacrament, not in feel-good, happy-clappy emotional and enthusiast worship.

AP

Anonymous said...

As a female lay person, I would like to know more from the
learned men here on this blog about this SON group and situation. This is a sincere statement.

When planning a wedding in a WELS congregation, the participants of the service, including the soloist, organist, etc are required to be in affiliation. I adhered, without issue, to this when making my own wedding preparations several years ago.

Reviewing the SON Experience and their website, I see no connection that these are WELS members. Have things changed and it is acceptable to have services, without confessional members within or associated with WELS, providing the music? I don't see a separation form Pilgrim Lutheran and S.O.N. One can only assume they are affiliated.

This group proclaims their Vision as: "Savior of the Nations services through the power of the Spirit will reach and teach the Twin Cities one soul at a time through God's elect."

I viewed their individual biographical information at:
http://www.sonexperience.com/whoweare.html

And that's where my questions and concerns are--their biographies. Do we now avoid or delete any religious education? Otherwise, I'm sure there are much more talented starving artists that I can get together and play and sing off a sheet of music. Executive Director Dr. Scott Gostchock lists no affiliations in his brief bio. Just a minister. My question is where, when, for how long? These have to be my questions. My Christian upbringing told me to ask.

Or is mute because they are reaching out to the unchurched. But they don't say unchurched...they say one soul at a time. That one soul includes me. Do I join in service with a minister whose anonymous experience is with a Methodist or Presbyterian church? Or is it even a church service and none of this applies because its an experience.

The responses to my verbal questions about these blogs are Don't read, stay away, or just shake their head...they fail to realize that Google, Yahoo, and ever other search engine will spider these pages faster than they can tell me what or why to avoid. But I'm reading supporting documentation. I see no vagueness here; but I do see it on the S.O.N. biographies. From rationalwiki: Lying by omission, otherwise known as exclusionary detailing, is lying by either omitting certain facts or by failing to correct a misconception.

I enjoy reading your views on a much higher level than mine so forgive a more simplistic view of this group and issue. I'm learning with your responses to each other. May the Lord bless me and keep me and I continue to do so.

August 12, 2014 at 3:18 PM

 Anonymous said...

^ *as (not and) I continue to do so.

August 12, 2014 at 3:23 PM

Der Schwarz Schaf said...

Pastor Flack (if I may be so bold as to address you in such manner) - Thank you for once again doing the job that the synod should be doing and do not, will not, or cannot. Why is it that so many of these churches/conferences/pastors, etc... are not properly vetted? Who's minding the store? Why is it people must find out about such crap as goes on at Pilgrim, and this insane leadershi* meeting from an anonymous blog, rather than the District and Synod Presidents? Older WELS pastor have told me in the past that they were proud to be "ragged individuals," and to both stay out of neighboring pastors' business, and insist that they stay out of theirs. Everyone was - and still is - very afraid of being known as a "busy-body in another man's parish." They are more afraid of that than of false teaching or false teachers! How foolish and stupid! And irresponsible! What does the body have leaders for in the first place but to monitor doctrine and practice? I'm so glad I am no longer a part of this mess of a church! Sad for those still stuck in it.

August 12, 2014 at 3:48 PM

GJ - You are so wrong, Black Sheep. WELS pastors meddle unlike any other breed I have seen (except Paul Tiefel in the CLC - he should transfer). WELS ministers think they are the pastor of their previous congregations and any other congregation where they have friends or relatives. The District Popes and their assistants are even worse, meddling to make sure the evil and the corrupt triumph in each and every case. See the Anything Goes District for examples, Deputy Doug and Zank the Rank.

 Anonymous said...

Female lay person: they are all WELS. Pilgrim is WELS. The Pilgrim website lists this affiliation, and also links to a WELS statement of beliefs.

August 12, 2014 at 5:14 PM

GJ - I don't have their playing schedule, but I am betting they market themselves to all groups, all denominations. Jeske's disciples follow him in this regard - and there is a lot more loot for everyone this way. 

Koine charges $3,000 just to show up. So yes, they are unionistic. So are y'all, because you reject this but stay in WELS.

 Vernon Knepprath said...

Regarding Anonymous comments at 5:14 PM:

Yes, Pilgrim Lutheran is WELS. If you dig on the web site, you might find it, eventually.

Check the home page. Nothing on it about WELS. In fact, you have to look pretty hard to know it is even Lutheran. Check the header. "Pilgrim" in extra large font. "Lutheran" is in tiny font beneath it. Go to the bottom of the home page. "Pilgrim Church and School"! Where is the "Lutheran"?

Is this what it means to be confessional Lutheran? To hide the fact that you are Lutheran? There is no confession here. This is Church Growth; to hide the fact that you are Lutheran.
Check the "About" page. Look long and hard to find "Lutheran" or "WELS".

We did a project on Intrepid about WELS Church home pages several months back. A number of people scoffed about the study and what we found. What we found is that more and more WELS congregations are suppressing the fact that they are WELS ... or even Lutheran.

Where do you think this comes from? It comes from the likes of the 2015 Christian Leadership Experience.

Lay people of the WELS, wake up!

August 12, 2014 at 6:50 PM

 Anonymous said...

Woman principal?

August 12, 2014 at 6:58 PM

 Anonymous said...

From http://www.pilgrimonline.net/home/140000430/140000430/docs/Vision%20for%20Tomorrow.ppt

Pilgrim saw unprecedented growth
because of the inspired vision of its Pastors and members.

August 12, 2014 at 7:10 PM

 Anonymous said...

I'm not a member of Pilgrim and agree with most of the thoughts on this blog. I do not find that Pilgrim is hiding the WELS affiliation. I often look at other churches websites and if the affiliation is not on the first page then I go to the "Links" tab or the "About us- What do we Believe" section. BOTH had the WELS affiliation clearly listed. Lets not make this something it isn't. Focus on the band, the style, the message, those are worthwhile discussions but Pilgrim's website doesn't look like it is purposely hiding it's (sic) affiliation.

August 12, 2014 at 7:24 PM

 Anonymous said...

Dr. Scott Gostchock
Director of Christian Development

"I work with development issues for the church and school. My current duties involve supervision of curriculum and instruction, assistance with church and school administration, and exploration of developmental possibilities throughout the community and abroad.

My goal here at Pilgrim is to help all people to see Jesus. Through educational efforts, community service projects, and much more, it is my hope that I can serve you in a personally meaningful way."

http://www.pilgrimschoolonline.net/site/leaderdisplay.asp?leader_id=140005293&sec_id=140006190

 Mr. Douglas Lindee said...

Pilgrim Lutheran is the "St. Mark Church of DePere" of the Twin Cities. They have the full blessing of the DP. Always have. I recall, many years ago, a former pastor of mine returning from a service at Pilgrim, nearly livid. Not only was the band mounted in the front of the assembly area facing the audience -- in the location and orientation normally taken by Called Ministers of the Word as they address the congregation by the command and in the stead of Christ -- but members of that band would spontaneously preach their own mini-sermons to the congregation, or engage in impromptu "ex corde" prayer, on themes related to the subject of the music they were singing at the audience. Worse, the most dominant "worship minister" during his visit was one of the female vocalists... No problem with that sort of thing in the WELS anymore, though. Not in their district.

This "SON Band" looks pretty young. They must be new. Several years ago, it was the in-thing for older men to be leading these bands. At least there was some maturity present... HA! One woman from our congregation was mortified, however: "Look at these gray haired old men! With pony-tails and electric guitars!! In church!!! What a bunch of overgrown children!!!" Yeah, other guys that age just go out and buy a corvette... it's called mid-life crisis...

Anyway, the worship entertainment scene in the Twin Cities seems to be a fairly tight-knit. I have several evangelical friends and family members involved. Everyone seems to know everyone else, especially the groups that have been around awhile. I know that they often go places to hear each other play, will jam or practice together, will even flip gigs with each other and trade band members. I recall -- again, awhile back, now -- that there was a flap with one WELS band regarding this kind of involvement with Evangelical "worship ministers." Someone suggested that there might be a Fellowship issue involved by "worshiping" with, and "practicing for worship" with these other non-WELS, non-Lutheran "worship ministers", especially given that in many cases there was joint prayer and study of the Scriptures involved. The responses I heard were something like, "Na, we're just tradin' licks" or "Na, we're just bouncing musical ideas off one another" or "Don't you think they would benefit from the influence of a REAL Christian, I mean, like, you know, a WELS Lutheran?" or "It's our Evangelism ministry" or ... a whole host of excuses which made it very plain that (a) these musicians see very clearly that what they do is not worship, per se, it is entertainment in a worship venue, and that (b) these worship entertainers view themselves as Ministers of the Word. The only things that makes what they do "worship" is the venue (because if they did the same thing in a saloon they wouldn't see it as worship at all) and the fact that they have appointed themselves Ministers of the Word, and thus spiritual leaders of those they find themselves addressing through their entertainment efforts.

---
Grace in Action - The Next Disciple - 
One of Many WELS Shrinker Websties

Dr. Scott Gostchock Executive Director Personal Bio: Dr. Scott Gostchock, in addition to serving as the Executive Director for GIA, serves as a site director for Pilgrim Church and School in South Minneapolis, a nonprofit specializing in urban education and multicultural programming. He has served cross-cultural, inner city, urban education as a teacher and administrator for 15 years. He also is teaching online and on campus for a number of different colleges and universities in training teachers and leaders for urban education and leadership. email - sgost@mindspring.com office # 612-825-5375 ext. 106 Academic Degrees: EdD Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale FL: Educational Leadership and Administration MEd Brenau University, Dacatur (sic - MLC spelling) GA: Educational Leadership and Human Resource Management BS Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm MN: Education Melanchthon said...on the Polluted WELS Blog Certainly not a pastor, and I would say not really a "Dr." either. I see that Mr. Gostchock holds an "EdD" from Nova Southeastern University, well known for quickie online "doctorates" and very popular in the WELS. No scholarly work that I can find anyplace: zero hits in ProQuest, and zero hits in Google Scholar to his own work.

Dr. Scott Gostchock

Executive Director

Personal Bio: Dr. Scott Gostchock, in addition to serving as the Executive Director for GIA, serves as a site director for Pilgrim Church and School in South Minneapolis, a nonprofit specializing in urban education and multicultural programming. He has served cross-cultural, inner city, urban education as a teacher and administrator for 15 years. He also is teaching online and on campus for a number of different colleges and universities in training teachers and leaders for urban education and leadership.

email - sgost@mindspring.com

office # 612-825-5375 ext. 106

Academic Degrees:
EdD Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale FL: Educational Leadership and Administration

MEd Brenau University, Dacatur (sic - MLC spelling) GA: Educational Leadership and Human Resource Management

BS Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm MN: Education

Melanchthon said...on the Polluted WELS Blog

Certainly not a pastor, and I would say not really a "Dr." either.

I see that Mr. Gostchock holds an "EdD" from Nova Southeastern University, well known for quickie online "doctorates" and very popular in the WELS. No scholarly work that I can find anyplace: zero hits in ProQuest, and zero hits in Google Scholar to his own work.

Cardboard Bonanza Yields New Mulching Opportunities. Butterfly Garden Covered

Cardboard is weighted down with various objects
until leaves allow the area to be covered and more natural looking.

Two great developments - pine needles and leaves falling - were trumped by my discovery on a walk with Sassy, on Alicia Street - a Hog dumpster topped with giant boxes of new cardboard.

I have been walking by several houses that were being gutted and fixed up for sale or rent. I ask what is going on, get details, and sometimes a tour of the refurbished home. We were lucky to stumble on one just like that on Letha. The paint was still fresh inside when we signed the lease.

This particular home was no longer being emptied of trash but going through new roofing and other projects. The Hog dumpster is dropped off and picked up much later. For remodeling homes, the size of the dumpster is enough to fill most of the driveway. Looking up, I saw lots of cardboard boxes, obviously used to ship remodeling materials.

Our helper came by with a token amount of cardboard from work. "Your dreams are too small. We are taking the limo to Alicia." The latest morning walk confirmed the treasure was still there.

We arrived and our helper was unusually reluctant to capitalize on the find. "Are you sure?" I said, "I know the guys." Next he quailed at putting so much in the gigantic trunk. "Your dreams are too small. Use the back seat."

"But they are wet."

"Yes, with rain. That will hurt nothing." Although a normal dumpster gave us one carload, this one was providing two cars worth, jammed full.

"Don't worry. You can walk back." Grumping followed, but we rode together, tossed off the first load and went back.

We took down every new, clean box and filled the Town Car again, trunk and back seat.

These boxes were so large that one, unrolled, covered most of the old raspberry patch - designated the future Butterfly Garden. This meant the eager grass weeds would not get a foothold this month, after being mowed previously, and the organic matter would decompose under the heavy layer of cardboard.

No Need To Till the Soil
Jeff Lowenfels, the guru of soil fungi made it clear in Teaming with Microbes that soil fungi should be left alone and encouraged to do their work. His new book on fungi will be out in January of 2017 - Teaming with Fungi.

The idea is to maximize the organic material in the soil to let the microbes grow in population and tie up the nutrition they share among themselves. Nitrogen fertilizer from the factory helps a little, but stuns the living creatures and passes down into to water table. Usable nitrogen compounds are swapped among the soil microbes and kept in place to be used, over and over. Earthworms captures bacteria, which digest the food for the earthworms, each one benefiting the other. The result of earthworm activity is not only movement and refining of soil, but also tunnels for water and castings (manure) that increase the fertility of the soil.

Teaming is a good pun to use. A reader, who happily finds my typos before the public does, asked, "Teeming?"

I wrote back, "Teaming - an intentional word-play." My earlier reading about soil seemed to be about how each creature did something, but it was almost as if the earthworm did it all. At that time, in the 1980s, the work of fungi in the soil was little known. Lowenfels and others have shown the complex relationships of all the soil creatures and what they accomplish together, whether we appreciate it not.

Man-made miracle cures can do a lot of damage, but the soil creatures, plants, and weeds will try to heal the damage over time.

The complex soil relationships remind me of our recent reunion, but the accomplishments in soil take place through divine management and never miss His goal. To gather alumni from all over, communications have to be sent out. I did not get the first one and others also missed theirs. A group had to plan when and where it was, measuring the cost. Every person had to make plans, large and small, to get there. One asked his friends, "Are you going too?" and missed because his grandchild was born that weekend. (Yay George.) Others live in town so it is no big deal and never has been. The organizers had to gather the money and pay the vendors. Some of us found the locations through our GPS, the same miracle toy that sent my car down toward I-55 instead of over to I-80 the next day. Our son consoled us once by saying, "Garmins take the shortest route, even if it means side roads at dark that double the time. Use a way point to fool it."

Compare our feeble human efforts to Creation, engineering, and management by God. Every single soil citizen does it works superbly, so that neither fungi, nor bacteria, nor protozoa take over completely and spoil the game. Everything happens on time, and each participant is engineered to execute many precise operations to accomplish its role. For example, the earthworm must:

1. Pull and swallow its way through soil and organic matter,
2. Muscle its gut contents through a grinder and let the bacteria digest it,
3. Sweeten the soil with Caltrate glands of calcium carbonate,
4. Fertilize the soil with its tiny kidneys,
5. Deposit casts that improve the soil, 
6. Procreate earthworm capsules that hatch into tiny worms, and
7. Do all this without ceasing or complaining.

At the reunion I laughed when 10 people used 10 smartphones to take 10 individual photos of their group. One could have taken the photo (or had it done) and posted it on one of a dozen websites, including the geezer favorite, Facebook.

If God's creatures were that efficient, we would starve to death.

I got the idea of using cardboard as a base for mulch from Jessica Walliser, the beneficial bug expert. Thanks to her, when I see Goldenrod in bloom in Moline, I walk over closely to see which bugs are enjoying the blooms. I told her on Facebook that I have been Wallisered, always looking for ways to increase the beneficial bug count in the gardens, looking closely at flowers instead of batting insects away.

Walliser planned her tomato garden with cardboard in the fall, as I am doing now. In the spring she simply opens a place in the cardboard for the tomatoes to grow with few weeds.

The fall carpeting of cardboard allows the boxes to settle on top of the soil, soggy with rain, and facilitate the decomposition of the lawn or weeds. Newspapers can be added to fill in gaps where seams or holes appear. Weeds are like swimmers in the deep, aiming for the sunlight. They will find it and burst through if possible. They are divine guardians of the soil, always ready to reclaim a plot of land devoid of plants. Fertile, watered soil leverages the power and health of weeds.

The spreading red bee balm is not my favorite,
so I will use the purple bunching one among the roses.

Luther Days Would Like Your Opinion So It Can Be an Even Bigger Disaster Next Time

Gregory L. Jackson SP Mark Schroeder got behind this, got synod money to support it. No one can figure out why. Lots of money wasted.

Like · Reply · 1 · 20 hrs

Karen Engdahl so our money

Unlike · Reply · 2 · 19 hrs

Jeffery Clark Yep, between LACE (which means offering money) being a "presenting sponsor" ($5000) and a few other organizations and vendors, I am sure Luther Days (LLC - for profit! LLCs can't be non-profit in WI) took in at least $10,000.

Like · Reply · 52 mins

Jeffery Clark I have skin in the game, so my opinion is obviously biased, but knowing that there were people in the synod actively working against the Return to Wittenberg conference (which was held at WLC in July), I would wager they saw Luther Days as a potential contender that they could control.

 How bad were the smaller conferences?

The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity, 2016. Ephesians 4:1-6. Paul's Defense of the Cross

The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity, 2016

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

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

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Daylight Time

The Hymn #  44                    Ye Lands              

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual       

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #203            Morning Breaks                  

The Christian Life

The Communion Hymn # 315            I Come O Savior             

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 # 361                     O Jesus, King

Two Years Ago

Gary went to be with his Lord and Savior on September 17th, 2014 at his home with his family by his side.

Gary was born June 1st, 1933 in Burbank, California. He attended Harvard Military Academy in Sherman Oaks, California. After graduating, he attended Arizona State University before joining the Air Force Cadet training program and graduated as a Lieutenant. He flew refueling aircraft for six years. He achieved the rank of Captain and then joined the California and Washington Air National Guard. He began his career with United Airlines in 1964. He retired after thirty years as a Captain on Boeing 747's.

Gary enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping with his wife and three sons. He was a member of the Retired United Pilots Association.
Gary was preceded in death by his father, James B. Meyer and his mother Alice Viola Howland
              

KJV Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

KJV Luke 14:1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. 2 And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. 3 And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? 4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; 5 And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day? 6 And they could not answer him again to these things. 7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, 8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; 9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. 10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. 11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Seventeenth Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father: We beseech Thee so to guide and direct us by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not exalt ourselves, but humbly fear Thee, with our whole hearts hear and keep Thy word, and hallow the Lord's day, that we also may be hallowed by Thy word; help us, first, to place our hope and confidence in Thy Son, Jesus Christ, who alone is our righteousness and Redeemer, and, then, so to amend and better our lives in accordance with Thy word, that we may avoid all offenses and finally obtain eternal salvation, through Thy grace in Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God. world without end. Amen.

KJV Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 

One strange part of early Christian history is the imprisonment of Paul. He was arrested and yet a scandal involving Nero kept him in prison for a long time. No one knows his history for certain, whether he had another missionary journey or not, but we know he wrote letters from prison.

We can see a great unity in this history, which connects Paul to the cross of Christ, and us to bearing the same cross. The crucifixion was a scandal to the followers of Jesus - and not the traditional "scandal" but one far worse. We think of gossip magazines and shocking stories, but the original meaning of the term was far more serious. The "scandal" at that time meant the trigger of a deadly trap.

So the logic went like this, "If the great Messiah was arrested and killed, what does mean about His message? The Son of David was to be a great warrior and king, not a convicted criminal who died shamefully."

Soon enough, the core of Jesus' followers saw the risen Christ and heard Him teach them about the meaning of everything they had experienced. Unbelieving rationalists cannot get this and get all twisted up trying to explain how the entire Bible has this unified and unifying message of bearing the cross, let alone the confidence of believers in this message. 

The trigger of the death-trap is to suffer from the false conclusions of ordinary experience. We want our heroes to ride on white chargers and appear in glittering armor. Jesus did not fail to fulfill the Old Testament prophesies - quite the opposite. He fulfilled ones that people never saw until they were explained to them. Read Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 and see if this is not true.

The trigger is basing conclusions on the popular notions of the Messiah, which were superficially plucked from the Old Testament and from the extra-canonical works of the time. I once owned a gigantic volume on these writings and sold them to seminary so I could stay in graduate school. When the seminary left with a lot of my books, and I had a lot of cash, LI waved goodbye at them, about 3 years old, and said, "Come back a-ga-in."

So even today, I can take anyone to an academic library and show them shelves of books "about" the Bible that deny what the Bible teaches, one way or another. Some make it a money machine for themselves. Others simply rationalize everything down to nothing, since they also have no faith at all. It simply manifests itself in different ways.

Paul was then the second trigger of the death-trap. He preached on the divinity of the risen Christ and performed miracles. He energy and clarity were remarkable, yet he was thrown into prison and facing a death sentence. How could Christianity, as it was beginning to be known, be the one true religion if its primary apostle was a convict and soon to be dead?

walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 

The true meaning of vocation is not "job" but a calling by the Holy Spirit. The invitation to believe in Christ comes from the Gospel itself, always energized by the Spirit at work in the Word.

God invites and kindles faith in Christ through the Gospel Promises, so faith in Christ is a vocation and whatever we do as believers is a Christian vocation. Whether someone is a household servant or a great lord of an estate, he has a calling to be Christian and to conduct his work and to treat his family accordingly.

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 

We can see the unity of the message of Paul, because the characteristics of a Christian life are modeled after Christ. I have noticed that many synodical leaders are like Luther's description of the same types - "so angry they act as if they would tear up trees by their roots." They manipulate and oppress people by their ferocious glares and their angry outbursts. No one dare oppose them or even question them.

If Christ had treated His disciples the same way, we would all be pagans, or slaves of a pagan religion. Jesus was entirely different. He was lowly and meek -

Matthew 11:29King James Version (KJV)

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

To be a Christian means to be Christ-like, remembering always His responses to the weaknesses of His disciples.

The answer in training the disciples was not in verbally and emotionally abusing them, so they acted out of fear. But patiently (long-suffering, in forebearance) Jesus taught them by Word and by His example.

The ultimate test was the crucifixion and resurrection, in which they learned that no matter how far they were down and crushed by despair, Good News awaited them. That experience gave them the unshakable faith, divinely taught and wrought, to endure everything, so most of them died during the persecutions that followed. According to tradition, only John died of old age, and there is a story of him being poisoned. 

We know little because the Apostolic Age was about Jesus the Risen Lord rather than the disciples.

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. [GJ - Trinitarian ending]

These four verses teach the unity of God's message in a special way, with the word "one" being used seven times, the Trinity named once and then reflected again in the three-fold formula at the end.

All exhortations in the Bible are accompanied by Gospel Promises and declarations. Why should the Apostolic Church stay together when the most active apostle was in prison and considered a dangerous criminal? Because God's Word is a unified truth, the believing Church will necessarily remain unified in that truth.

At the reunion of Moline High, 1966, we sat at a table where we were the only two Lutherans. But there was no question that the group had a spirit united by faith in Christ. Everyone was either clergy or laity active in their congregations, so a strong feeling of friendship based on faith in Christ was evident.

Some say, "Why can't everyone belong to the same confession of faith?" But human experience shows that friendly struggles are good for the truth rather than harmful. Nowdays the Lutheran leaders are oppressive, dictatorial, and dishonest. If they could abide doctrinal discussions without going into their Stalin imitations, they would benefit their respective groups. Monopolies in business and in churches create ennui, apathy, and corruption.

If one business owns an area, prices are high and service is bad. The staff may even dip their hands in the revenue and drive prices higher to feather their nests. In denominations, the same things happen. Once it is known how to advance dishonestly, the leaders learn how to pose and quote the right people. The rest become quite cynical about the results.

The mixing of denominations tends to underline what the differences and similarities are. That does not mean covering up error to create a false unity, just to get along. Paul wrote there must be divisions to show what is good.

1 Corinthians 11:19King James Version (KJV)

19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Biblical Pietism came out of the rationalistic battling over philosophical terms. Speaking about the Bible itself was so new again, that classes were packed on the topic of what the books of the Bible taught, instead of "how to answer the Calvinists' special terms."

But out of that came a new age of Rationalism, especially at Halle University. A counter-struggle began to reclaim the concept of faith in the Word. And so the struggle continues.

On a much smaller scale, we have the chance daily to practice what Paul urges through the Holy Spirit. An attitude of meekness and lowliness means we are quick to apologize and quick to forgive, eager to listen and cautious about our emotions.

Our grandson said yesterday as he grabbed my hand, "Saturdays make me feel joyous." He told me how much he looked forward to our grilling events.

Luther's Sermon for the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity. The Seven One's

SERMONS OF MARTIN LUTHER -
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY


TEXT:

EPHESIANS 4:1-6. 1 I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.

THE CHRISTIAN CALLING AND UNITY.

1. This, too, is a beautiful sermon, delivered by Paul to the Ephesians, concerning the good works of Christians, who believe and are obedient to the doctrine of the Gospel. In the knowledge of good works Paul desires Christians to grow and increase, as we learned in the epistle for last Sunday. The ground of all doctrine, of all right living, the supreme and eternal treasure of him who is a Christian in the sight of God, is faith in Christ. It alone secures forgiveness o£ sins and makes us children of God.

Now, where this faith is, fruits should follow as evidence that Christians in their lives honor and obey God. They are necessary for God’s glory and for the Christian’s own honor and eternal reward before him.

2. Paul, remembering the imprisonment and tribulations he suffered because of the Gospel and for the advantage, as he before said, of the Ephesians, gives the admonition here. He would have them, in return for his sufferings, honor the Gospel in their lives. First he names a general rule of life for Christians. “To walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called.”

THE CHRISTIAN CALLING.

3. The chief thing that should influence a Christian’s outward walk is the remembrance of his calling and appointment by God. He should be mindful of why he is called a Christian, and live consistently. He must shine before the world; that is, through his life and God’s work, the Word and the name of Christ the Lord must be exalted. Christ exhorts his disciples: “Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.

4. Similarly, Paul would say: “You have received God’s grace and his Word and are a blessed people. In Christ all your needs are blessedly supplied. Be mindful of this and remember you are called to a far different and vastly higher life than others know. Show by your manner of living that you seek a higher good than the world seeks — indeed, that you have received far greater blessings. Let your lives honor and glorify the Lord who has given you such blessings. Give no occasion for dishonoring your treasured faith, or for scorning his Word. Rather, influence men by your godly walk and good works to believe in Christ and to glorify him.”

5. Let the Christian know his earthly life is not unto himself, nor for his own sake; his life and work here belong to Christ, his Lord. Hence must his walk be such as shall contribute to the honor and glory of his Master, whom he should so serve that he may be able to say with Paul, not only with respect to the spiritual life — the life of faith and of righteousness by grace — but also with respect to its fruits — the outward conduct: “It is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me.” Galatians 2:20. The Christian’s manner of life may be styled “walking in Christ”; yes, as Paul elsewhere has it ( Romans 13:14), “putting on” the Lord Jesus Christ, like a garment or an ornament. The world is to recognize Christ by his shining in us.

6. But the so-called Christian life that does not honor Christ makes its sin the more heinous for the name it bears. Every sin the people of God commit is a provocation of Jehovah; not only in the act of disobedience itself, but also in the transgression of the second commandment. The enormity of the sin is magnified by the conditions that make it a blasphemy of God’s name and an occasion of offense to others. Paul says in Romans 2:24: “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” So a Christian should, in his life, by all means guard the honor of God — of Christ. He must take heed that he be not guilty of blaspheming that name and of doing wickedness. The devil, aided by the world, construes every act, when possible, to reflect upon God’s honor and glory. His purpose is to manifest his bitter hatred against Christ and the Word; also to injure the Church by charging offenses, thus deterring unbelievers from embracing the Gospel and causing the weak to fall away.

7. To guard against such disaster, Christians should be particularly careful to give, in their conduct, no occasion for offense, and to value the name and honor of their God too highly to permit blasphemy of them. They should prefer to lose their own honor, their wealth, their physical wellbeing, even their lives, rather than that these, their most precious possessions and greatest blessings, should suffer disgrace. Let them remember that upon keeping sacred the name and honor of God depends their own standing before God and men. God promises ( 1 Samuel 2:30), “Them that honor me! will honor.” But pursuing the opposite course, Christians bring upon themselves God’s sternest wrath and effect their own rejection and shame. For he says further: “They that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” And in the second commandment God threatens certain and terrible punishment to abusers of his name; that is, to them who do not employ it to his honor and praise.

8. Well may every Christian examine his own life to see if he is careful to guard against offense to the Gospel and to regulate his words and conduct by God’s first commandment, making them contribute to the honor and praise of the divine name and the holy Gospel. Weighty indeed and well calculated to cause complaint are the sins to which every Christian is liable in this respect; well may he avoid them lest he heap to himself the wrath of God. Especially need we be careful in these last and evil times when the Gospel is everywhere suppressed by great offenses. Man was created to be the image of God, that through this his image God might himself be expressed. God’s image, then, should be reflected in the lives of men as a likeness in a glass, and a Christian can have no higher concern than to live without dishonor to the name of God.

ADMONITION TO SPECIAL CHRISTIAN VIRTUES.

9. Such is the first part of Paul’s admonition concerning the general life of Christians. He goes on to make special mention of several good works which Christians should diligently observe: humility, meekness, longsuffering, preservation of the unity of the Spirit, and so on. These have been specially treated before, in other epistle lessons, particularly those from Peter. Humility, for instance — mentioned in today’s lesson — is taken up the third Sunday after Trinity; patience and meekness, the second Sunday after Easter, and the fifth Sunday after Trinity.

10. The text here presents good works sufficient to occupy all Christians in every station of life; we need not seek other nor better ones. Paul would not impose upon Christians peculiar works, something unrelated to the ordinary walks of life, as certain false saints taught and practiced. These teachers commanded separation from society, isolation in the wilderness, the establishment of monkeries and the performance of self-appointed works. Such works they exalted as superior to ordinary Christian virtues.

Indeed, their practice amounted to rejection of the latter, and they actually regarded them as dangerous. The Papacy has in the past shamelessly styled the observance of Christian good works as worldly living, and men were compelled to believe they would find it hard to reach heaven unless they became ecclesiasts — for they regarded only the monks and priests worthy — or at least made themselves partakers of the works of ecclesiasts by purchasing their merits.

But Paul — in fact, the entire Scriptures — teaches no other good works than God enjoins upon all men in the Ten Commandments, and which pertain to the common conditions of life. True, these make not such brilliant show in the eyes of the world as do the self-appointed ceremonials constituting the divine service of hypocrites; nevertheless, they are true, worthy, good and profitable works in the sight of God and man. What can be more acceptable to God and advantageous to man than a life lived, in its own calling, in the way that contributes to the honor of God, and that by its example influences others to love God’s Word and to praise his name?

Moreover, what virtues, of all man possesses, serve him better than humility, meekness, patience and harmony of mind?

11. Now, where is a better opportunity for the exercise of these virtues than amidst the conditions in which God destined us to live — in society, where we mingle with one another? Upon these conditions, self-appointed, unusual lives and monastic holiness have no bearing. For what other person is profited by your entering a cloister, making yourself peculiar, refusing to live as your fellows do? Who is benefited by your cowl, your austere countenance, your hard bed? Who comes to know God or to have a peaceful conscience by such practices on your part, or who is thereby influenced to love his neighbor? Indeed, how can you serve your neighbor by such a life? How manifest your love, humility, patience and meekness if you are unwilling to live among men? if you so strenuously adhere to your self-appointed orders as to allow your neighbor to suffer want before you would dishonor your rules?

12. Astonishing fact, that the world is merged in darkness so great it utterly disregards the Word of God and the conditions he designed for our daily living. If we preach to the world faith in God’s Word, the world receives it as heresy. If we speak of works instituted of God himself and conditions of his own appointing, the world regards it as idle talk; it knows better. To live a simple Christian life in one’s own family, to faithfully perform the duties of a man-servant or maid-servant — “Oh, that,” it says, “is merely the following of worldly pursuits. To do good works you must set about it in a different way. You must creep into a corner, don a cap, make pilgrimages to some saint; then you may be able to help yourself and others to gain heaven.” If the question be asked, “Why do so? where has God commanded it?” there is, according to their theory, really no answer to make but this: Our Lord God knows nothing about the matter; he does not understand what good works are. How can he teach us? He must himself be tutored by these remarkably enlightened saints.

FRUITS OF ORIGINAL SIN.

13. But all this error results from that miserable inherent plague, that evil termed “original sin.” It is a blind wickedness, refusing to recognize the Word of God and his will and work, but introducing instead things of its own heathenish imagination. It draws such a thick covering over eyes, ears and hearts that it renders men unable to perceive how the simple life of a Christian, of husband or wife, of the lower or the higher walks of life, can be beautified by honoring the Word of God. Original sin will not be persuaded to the faithful performance of the works that God testifies are well pleasing to him when wrought by believers in Christ. In a word, universal experience proves that to perform really good works is a special and remarkable grace to which few attain; while the great mass of souls aspiring after holiness vainly busy themselves with worthless works, being deceived into thinking them great, and thus make themselves, as Paul says, “unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16. This fruitless effort is one evil result of the error of human ideas of holiness and the practice of self-chosen works.

14. Another error is the hindrance — yes, the suppression and destruction — f the beautiful virtues of humility, meekness, patience and spiritual harmony here commended of Paul. At the same time the devil is given occasion to encourage fiendish blasphemy. In every instance where the Word of God is set aside for humanly-appointed works, differing views and theories must obtain. One introduces this and another that, each striving for first recognition; then a third endeavors to improve upon their doctrine.

Consequently divisions and factions ensue as numerous as the teachers and their creeds; as exemplified in the countless sects to this time prevalent in Popedom, and in the factious spirits of all time. Under such circumstances, none of the virtues like humility, meekness, patience, love, can have place.

Opposite conditions must prevail, since harmony of hearts and minds is lacking. One teacher haughtily rejects another, and if his own opinions fail to receive recognition and approval, he displays anger, envy and hatred. He will neither affiliate with nor tolerate him whose practices accord not with his own.

15. On the other hand, the Christian life, the life of faith with its fruits, controlled as it is by the Word of God, is in every way conducive to the preservation of love and harmony, and to the promotion of all virtues. It interferes not with the God-ordained relations of life and their attendant obligations upon men — the requirements of social order, the duties of father and mother, of son and daughter, master and mistress, servant and maid. All life’s relations are confirmed by it as valid and its duties as vital.

The Christian faith bids each person in his life, and all in common, to be diligent in the works of love, humility, patience. It teaches that one be not intolerant of another, but rather render him his due, remembering that he whose condition in life is the most insignificant can be equally upright and blessed before God with the occupant of the most significant position.

Again, it teaches that man must have patience with the weakness of his fellow, being mindful of how others must bear with his own imperfections.

In short, it says one must manifest to another the love and kindness he would have that other extend to him.

16. To this Christian attainment, contributes very largely the single fact that a Christian is conscious he has, through Christ, the grace of God, the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. And these not for his own merits or peculiar life and works, but because he is, no matter how insignificant in condition before the world, a child of God and blessed; a partaker, if he but believes, in all the blessings of Christ, sharing equally with the most eminent saint. So, then, he need not look about for works not enjoined upon him. He need not covet those wrought in prominence and by the aid of great gifts of God — of unusual attainments. Let him confine himself to his own sphere; let him serve God in his vocation, remembering that God makes him, too, his instrument in his own place.

Again, the occupant of a higher sphere, the possessor of higher gifts and accomplishments, who likewise serves in his vocation received from God, should learn and exhibit harmony of mind. So shall he continue humble and be tolerant of others. He should remember that he is not worthier in the eyes of God because of his greater gifts, but rather is under deeper obligation to serve his fellows, and that God can use the possessor of lesser gifts for even greater accomplishments than himself can boast. Having so learned, he will be able to manifest patience, meekness and love toward his weak and imperfect neighbors, considering them members of Christ with him, and partakers of the same grace and salvation.

THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT.

17. Now you have the reason why the apostles Paul and Peter everywhere so faithfully enforce this virtue, the unity of the Spirit. It is the most necessary and beautiful grace that Christians possess. It holds together the Christian community, preventing factions and schisms, as before explained.

So Paul here admonishes men to be careful for harmony, making every endeavor to preserve it. The term “unity of the Spirit” is used to make plain the apostle’s meaning. He would thus emphasize oneness of doctrine — the one true faith. Since the Holy Spirit is present only where there is knowledge of and faith in the Gospel of Christ, “unity of the Spirit” implies a unity of faith. Above all things, then, the effort must be to preserve, in the Church, the doctrine of the Scriptures, pure and in its unity.

18. One of the wickedest offenses possible to commit against the Church is the stirring up of doctrinal discord and division, a thing the devil encourages to the utmost. This sin usually has its rise with certain haughty, conceited, self-seeking leaders who desire peculiar distinction for themselves and strive for personal honor and glory. They harmonize with none and would think themselves disgraced were they not honored as superior and more learned individuals than their fellows, a distinction they do not merit. They will give honor to no one, even when they have to recognize the superiority of his gifts over their own. In their envy, anger, hatred and vengefulness, they seek occasion to create factions and to draw people to themselves. Therefore Paul exhorts first to the necessary virtue of love, having which men will be enabled to exercise humility, patience and forbearance toward one another.

19. The character of the evils resulting to the Church from divisions and discords in doctrine is evident from the facts. Many are deceived; the masses immediately respond to new doctrine brilliantly presented in specious words by presumptuous individuals thirsting for fame. More than that, many weak but well-meaning ones fall to doubting, uncertain where to stand or with whom to hold. Consequently men reject and blaspheme the Christian doctrine and seek occasion to dispute it. Many become reckless pleasure-lovers, disregarding all religion and ignoring the Word of God. Further, even they who are called Christians come to have hard feelings against one another, and, figuratively, bite and devour in their hate and envy. Consequently their love grows cold and faith is extinguished.

20. Of so much disturbance in the Church, and of the resulting injuries to souls, are guilty those conceited, factious leaders who do not adhere to the true doctrine, preserving the unity of the Spirit, but seek to institute something new for the sake of advancing their own ideas and their own honor, or gratifying their revenge. They thus bring upon themselves damnation infinitely more intolerable than others suffer. Christians, then, should be careful to give no occasion for division or discord, but to be diligent, as Paul here admonishes, to preserve unity. And this is not an easy thing to do, for among Christians occasions frequently arise provoking selfwill, anger and hatred. The devil is always at hand to stir and blow the flame of discord. Let Christians take heed they do not give place to the promptings of the devil and of the flesh. They must strive against them, submitting to all suffering, and performing all demands, whether honor, property, physical welfare or life itself be involved, in the effort to prevent, so far as in them lies, any disturbance of the unity of doctrine, of faith and of Spirit. “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.”

21. Christians should feel bound to maintain the unity of the Spirit, since they are all members of one body and partakers of the same spiritual blessings. They have the same priceless treasures — one God and Father in heaven, one Lord and Savior, one Word, baptism and faith; in short, one and the same salvation, a blessing common to all whereof one has as much as another, and cannot obtain more. What occasion, then, for divisions or for further seeking?

22. Here Paul teaches what the true Christian Church is and how it may be identified. There is not more than one Church, or people of God, one earth.

This one Church has one faith, one baptism, one confession of God the Father and of Jesus Christ. Its members faithfully hold, and abide by, these common truths. Every one desiring to be saved and to come to God must be incorporated into this Church, outside of which no one will be saved.

23. Unity of the Church does not consist in similarity of outward form of government, likeness of Law, tradition and ecclesiastical customs, as the Pope and his followers claim. They would exclude from the Church all not obedient to them in these outward things, though members of the one faith, one baptism, and so on. The Church is termed “one holy, catholic or Christian Church,” because it represents one plain, pure Gospel doctrine, and an outward confession thereof, always and everywhere, regardless of dissimilarity of physical life, or of outward ordinances, customs and ceremonies.

24. But they are not members of the true Church of Christ who, instead of preserving unity of doctrine and oneness of Christian faith, cause divisions and offenses — as Paul says ( Romans 16:17) — by the human doctrines and self-appointed works for which they contend, imposing them upon all Christians as necessary. They are perverters and destroyers of the Church, as we have elsewhere frequently shown. The consolation of the true doctrine is ours, and we hold it in opposition to Popedom, which accuses us of having withdrawn from them, and so condemns us as apostates from the Church. They are, however, themselves the real apostates, persecuting the truth and destroying the unity of the Spirit under the name and title of the Church and of Christ. Therefore, according to the command of God, all men are under obligation to shun them and withdraw from them.