When Ancient Posts Are Read More Than Most Articles. Faith Should Make People Angry. Unfaith Tolerates All Monstrosities

 Let's not get upset over small things -
think of all the Benjamins instead.

ELCA Teaches UOJ 24/7 - Here Is the Proof. 

Hey SynCon Boys and Girls - 

Let's Do a Bunch of Ministry with Them Guys

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If we go back a certain number of years, the language used by Lutherans is completely different. The most obscure writers speak this language, because they treated the Scriptures as the Word of God and Justification by Faith as the Chief Article of Christianity.

CFW Walther was one of the first polarizing rationalists. He organized a mob, robbed the bishop of a fortune in gold, and kidnapped the man at gunpoint. The Holy Land guides point to the chest where Stephan kept his gold and talk about how much he had in there - as if that were evil by itself. But no one talks about how the Great Walther stole it so the Perryville cult could be solvent. Not just the millions worth of gold in today's money, but also 120 acres of land owned by the bishop, all his books, and even his personal effects.

John Sparky Brenner has identified the real issue in the so-called Election Conflict as a battle over Justification. On the Walther/WEL side was UOJ, aka the Justification of the World. On the other side was Justification by Faith. See Brenner, p. 150.

If we reduce this to plain, basic English, Justification of the World would be called what it is - Universal Salvation - or - Universalism.

The Missouri Synod did not teach this UOJ dogma at first, only the Walther-Pieper faction did. The bosom of WELS did not heave and pant for UOJ either, until the ministers trained in Waltherism slowly took over and removed the Gausewitz edition of the Small Catechism. That took decades, but synods are like royal dynasties - they work in view of decades and centuries, not years.

The Norwegians were as Pietistic as the Stephanites, but Herman Preus' congregation tossed him out on Good Friday, because he would not pledge to Justification by Faith. Ever the opportunists, the Preus clan declared him a Martyr to the Faith, a Soldier of Christ, a Militant sacrificed on the altar of duty. More Preus hagiography can be found here.

The brilliance of this UOJ takeover can be seen in the way all the UOJists call their own people "Orthodox Lutherans." Jay Webber, with his ELCA online STM in hand, did the same at Emmaus. According to Webber, those Pietistic theologians (often and best forgotten) were "orthodox" by virtue of their UOJ teaching. One might as well mention Quistorp and Luther together, since no one reads Luther either.

By the way, I saw this done with far more craft and guile among the Roman Catholics, who show great patience for the truth while piling up their experts for every possible error. Those experts in false doctrine receive the honors, even the office of sainthood. Their opposition to the Scriptures gains them a fast-track so adherents can cling to them and pray to them far earlier than tradition allows. Then if someone cites one of those nay-saying smart-alecks, the visible Church frowns and the dissenter withers away, forgotten but not gone - the best of all burials.

Note the voice of outrage than can be mustered so easily - "He denies the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary!" Fists will be raised, tires will be slashed, heads bowed in pitying sorrow.

The same crowd control exists for UOJ. How many times have I heard - "He denies Objective Justification!" when people know less about OJ than they do about the non-reciprocity of the second genus (Jesus' divine nature is not limited by His human nature).

In fact, the Right Rev. James Heiser, Bishop-for-Life of the ELDONUTs, said those very words when Rev. Balmer spoke at an independent conference many years ago. With outrage in his voice, Heiser said, "Balmer denied Objective Justification!" All the Fort Whiners are taught to be:

• Victims. They are always victims, so orthodox, they are perpetually persecuted. 
• Triumphalists. Their views must dominate all matters and eviscerate all opposition, unless it is convenient to wait it out for a decade or two.

Lost in the Fog of Rationalism

The Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry has shown repeatedly that the "lost books of American Lutheranism" are merely overlooked books of great value. I linked the bio of Schmauk, but 99.9% of all Lutherans would fail a test about Schmauk, truly a great scholar, a man of faith, a multi-talented genius.

That is why the blogs and discussions among Lutherans are verbose, insipid, and sleep-inducing. The dungeon-masters want this UOJ to be the opiate of Lutherdom. They want clergy and laity debating individual glasses versus the common cup, the use of the Christian flag, the office of the ministry, and piles of trivia. 

Thus Lutherans are so devoid of faith that they tolerate Thrivent as their golden goose, though the goose only gives back a tiny bit and demands to be fed - never questioned. Just like the gubmint.

Lutherans are so lacking in faith that they gladly work with ELCA leaders who despise and pity them. Of course, many of "conservative" Lutheran leaders look at ELCA the way David looked at Bathsheba bathing.

The clergy are so unfaithful that they happily bribe the mob with soft drinks and snacks on Sunday, booze at their Bible studies. The rest of the clergy are so somnolent that they are not bothered at all. 

Oh, The Arrogance of False Teachers

 Wartburg Seminary - alma mater -
look up the Latin.

I should look up the link to the book - The Air I Breathe is Wartburg Air. We can forgive the rah-rah approach for an alumni book. But if someone is truly interested, enough of the book is on Google to read and gag, without the normal medical aids (ipecac).

Here is a partially readable text.

 Do you want to impress me?
Cite Tillich the adulterer who made Barth look faithful in comparison. Weiblen appropriated Tillich, no one dare appropriate Reu (those bad conservatives).

The book is largely a transcription of their talks, so I was curious about their impression of the giant of that school (Reu), a seminary founded by Loehe, becoming Iowa Synod, then ALC, then The ALC, then ELCA and now dying.

Tis funny how ELCA marketed itself as new in 1987, but the heads of this school are still ALC. Not a merger no - but a New Lutheran Church with the radicals forced in with quotas.

Reu was a bit of a Social Gospeler (social activism) and also a bit loose on Biblical inerrancy. However, he became more conservative about both issues, for which the liberals never forgave him. As a keen student of Lutheran materials, Reu wrote Luther and the Scriptures, which is still floating around, stating the obvious - that Luther taught inerrancy.

 Does this sound like WELS, ELS, LCMS, CLC (sic)?
Yes, these sects honor this statement by daily breaching the spirit of Reu's essay. The previous Wartburg seminary president, before Louise Johnson, MDiv, helped instigate joint communion with the Reformed...and other communions, too.

From time to time I quote Reu on unionism, because his essay on that topic was so good.

Bodensieck taught at Wartburg too, and Bodensieck helped midwife The ALC 1960 double-talk on inerrancy, with inerrancy in the Constitution, which they undermined in the amendments or appendix. That was a crucial pivotal point as the ELCA was formed, with The ALC taking credit for being conservative while doing the opposite, such as starting Lutherans Concerned which - if I have the parentage correct - ended up as Reconciling Works. I will omit the obvious droll remarks, but the same radicalism can take on various names with the same few people involved.

Ex-lawmaker to testify in case of former Arkansas senator accused of getting kickbacks

 Rep. Micah Neal pleaded guilty.

 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust corrupt, thieves break in and steal."
Evangelicals do not like their tax money used for bribes.

Ex-lawmaker to testify in case of former Arkansas senator accused of getting kickbacks:

 Shelton and his lawyer, to be featured on
What Not To Wear To Court.

"The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that Neal and former state Sen. Jon Woods, both of Springdale, took kickbacks in return for steering $550,000 in state grants to Ecclesia College in Springdale.

The kickbacks, according to the government's indictment, were passed through a consulting firm owned by Randell Shelton Jr., a mutual friend of Woods and Ecclesia President Oren Paris III. Woods, Shelton and Paris face trial April 9."

'via Blog this'

Pew: Unitarians, Atheists, Agnostics Most Favorable to Abortion

Pew: Unitarians, Atheists, Agnostics Most Favorable to Abortion:



"Those who identify as Unitarian Universalists, Atheists or Agnostics are the strongest supporters of legalized abortion in America, according to a report published by the Pew Research Center this week.
Ninety percent of members of the Unitarian Universalist Church, a liberal religion professing no creed or specific belief in God, said that abortion should be legal “in all or most cases,” Pew found, while atheists and agnostics followed behind with 87 percent of each group asserting the same thing.

Notably, 75 percent of all Americans are against abortion-on-demand and believe that abortion should not be legal in all cases, as it is currently in the United States. This means there is significant support among voters for restrictions on legal abortions.

The majorities of nearly all mainline Christian churches agreed to the same statement, though in smaller percentages, while less than 50 percent of Catholics and evangelicals believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Seventy-nine percent of Episcopalians, 65 percent of Presbyterians, 58 percent of Methodists, and 56 percent of Anglicans support legal abortion “in all or most cases.”"

'via Blog this'

Prepare to Meet Thy God by Simon Peter Long, (1860-1929) - Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry

Prepare to Meet Thy God by Simon Peter Long, (1860-1929) - Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry:



"From the Introduction
“It was said of Baxter that he could set the world on fire while Orton was lighting a match. If Dr. Luther were living today, he would set the world on fire more than many of his followers. It would pain him to know how few souls some long-established Lutheran congregations had won for Christ from the highways and hedges. I love My church, my dear old church and God loves her; and, with her truth, she can win more souls than any other; but she cannot do it by expecting the spiritually dead to run after her; by having ministers who will please the devil by not entering, or not leaving their study; by baptizing and confirming only her own children; by thinking that the whole mission problem would be solved, if only we had more money; by having few family altars; by having congregations which expect their pastors to do all the work in God’s vineyard! The Lutheran Church, with her pure doctrine, could set the world on fire if every Lutheran would obey Christ’s command: Go – Work – Today – In My Vineyard! – S. P. Long"



'via Blog this'

The Most Rational Are the Worst False Teachers

Luther wrote that the most rational are the worst false teachers.

The Most Erroneous Are the Most Rational

16. Here the prophet clearly implies that wherever Christ is not, there darkness exists, whatever the appearance of brilliance. Nor does he allow the medium devised by the high schools, which say that between darkness and Christ exists the light of nature and of human reason. They ascribe darkness only to the grossly wicked and the weak-minded. They highly value this mediatory light, claiming it is a sufficient preparation for the light of Christ, and that although it is darkness in comparison to the light of Christ, yet it is in itself light. They do not perceive how far they err in imagining themselves enlightened. Usually the most erroneous of the schools are the most rational. “The sons of this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of the light,” as Christ says in Luke 16:8. Yet they of the schools are not nearer the true light than are others. Rather they are farther from it. This could not be if the light of reason were helpful in obtaining the true light. Devils are wiser, more artful and crafty, than men; yet they are not therefore better. No, that kind of light is always at enmity with the true light. As Paul tells us (Romans 8:7): “The mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be.”

The Day of Epiphany, Sermons of Martin Luther, Volume 6

And that makes sense. Look at all the "modern" theologians and Biblical scholars. One reason they are in their positions is their ease in ascending to the top in academics. What will leave most people behind:

• Difficulties in learning foreign languages, especially ancient ones - Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Ugaritic;
• Long-term memory;
• Instant recall.

Those talents have nothing to do with faithfulness to the Word. In fact, when the academics are skating through most courses, they can become fascinated by outlying theories. Satiety and curiosity are the two factors that take people away from sound doctrine, and the devil rides through with a hay-wagon.

The famous false teachers of the past have also been known for their charm, persuasive abilities, and ability to pivot. Pin a wolf down and the charm comes drooling out. Press the case against the wolf and the fangs reveal themselves, silencing most people. 

The District Presidents - all synods - often wear a mask of wrath, as if they just discovered who shot Bambi's mother. I used to watch them and the wannabees, amusing myself with their sad pantomimes. Mrs. Ichabod and I observed Herb Chilstrom preside over the last LCA convention, as if he were the bishop of the upcoming and yet un-named ELCA. And he was. He never left the mike, standing there...poised to strike, to defend, to disarm.

Another clown was Paul Kuske, who simultaneously defended adulterous pastors and false doctrine while posing as the Torquemada of The Michigan District, WELS. For some reason, they voted him out of his minor post as District VP, his stepping stone to the episcopacy snatched away in the fullness of time.

CLC (sic) pastors agreed Paul Tiefel was a false teacher,
and he was also the Circuit Pastor in charge of...doctrine.

No one could top the performance of Paul Tiefel CLC (sic), cousin of James Tiefel WELS - as if all the autosomal recessive genes had gathered in one person, whose malice was matched only  by his tears as he complained about being persecuted.

Lest we forget, no Lutheran sect has anyone to compare with Mark and Avoid Jeske, who carries on as if he inspires the Holy Spirit. His vicars are a menace to decent congregations. His lectures start and end the same: "We ran out of Germans" - and he is applauded as a brilliant historian. His Koine (Greek for common) band charges $3,000 just to show up, and other congregations are quick to follow.

To confirm his reputation as a no-goodnik, Thrivent has put him on their board, to make their funding of abortion more acceptable to all. 

Flee, ye evil-doers, enablers of ELCA,
supporters of Planned Parenthood.

Here Is the Georgia Asphalt Rating of Various People and Entities

 The never-found "declaration of righteousness"
is the rotting heart of UOJ.

Hotter Than Georgia Asphalt for UOJ

1. Halle University and its syphilitic student Martin Stephan
2. CFW Walther and Franz Pieper
3. Herman Otten, Christian News, and living contributors - not Raymond Surburg
4. LutherQuest (sic)
5. Jack Cascione
6. Mordor - the WELS Seminary in Mequon
7. JP Meyer and his recent editor Armin Panning
8. All WELS DPs - especially Jon-Boy Buchholz
9. Mirthless Mark Schroeder
10. David Valleskey
11. Frosty Bivens
12. Anyone Named Wendland
13. Tim Glende, Ski, and the Fox Valley AA Circuit
14. The Little Schoolhouse on the Prairie - Bethany, ELS
15. Pope John (Moldstad) the Malefactor
16. The Walther-Pieper Crime Family and Disciples - Stoeckhardt, Franzmann, etc.
17. Matt the Fatt Harrison
18. Pope Paul (McCain) the Plagiarist
19. The Two Concordia Seminaries
20. Anyone with the Last Name of Preus, Excluding Robert Preus' Justification and Rome
21. Rev. Jay Webber, Online ELCA STM
22. All ELCA Seminaries
23. All Mainline Protestant Denominations
24. Pope Francis and all the New Theology Catholics

Faithfully Teaching Justification by Faith

1. Carl Gausewitz edition of the Small Catechism, without the WELS "improvements" that added so many pages
2. The 1905 German Catechism of the Missouri Synod
3. The current KJV Catechism sold by Concordia Publishing House
4. Dr. Ray Surburg - sainted
5. Bethany Lutheran Church, Springdale, Arkansas
6. Estimate - at least 500 LCMS pastors
7. Faithful Scripture translations - specifically excluding the New NIV
8. The Book of Concord
9. Luther, Melanchthon, Chemnitz
10. Post-Concord theologians - but not those influenced by Pietism, such as Quistorp, et al.

And shall we frivolously despise such power, profit, strength, and fruit-we, especially, who claim to be pastors and preachers? If so, we should not only have nothing given us to eat, but be driven out, being baited with dogs, and pelted with dung, because we not only need all this every day as we need our daily bread, but must also daily use it against the daily and unabated attacks and lurking of the devil, the master of a thousand arts.
Book of Concord, Large Catechism, Introduction, #13.

Lutheran Seminaries Were Good When They Were Small and Inexpensive. Now They Are Small, Expensive, and Apostate

 Ulrich Leupold was the youngest person to earn at PhD at the  University of Berlin. He was the head of Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, now mostly a counseling school.

Some may wonder why I am working on the histories of various Lutheran seminaries. In fact, I just obtained the Brenner-Prange history of Mordor - Treasure in Clay Jars.

I have seen a persistent pattern in the Lutheran seminaries, moving away from men with real ability, scholarship, and faith while embracing strutting peacocks and peahens with an act, a thin resume, and no scholarship at all.

 Otto Heick, PhD, wrote a History of Christian Doctrine that was used and still is read in many synods. He was my Waterloo teacher and our family friend.

Tiny Waterloo Lutheran Seminary had a small faculty and student body but two noted scholars.

Capital Seminary - now Trinity ELCA - had Loy, a different Leupold, and Lenski. They replaced Lenski with a liberal and down it went, slowly at first, rapidly later.

Trinity (Danish) in Blair, Nebraska had John N. Lenker as a seminary professor. They merged into Wartburg, but what have they done for Luther studies since? I read a memorial book about the good old - recent - days. The president was a great fan of Paul Tillich, the adulterous theologian who liked to sleep with his students' wives. Tillich - deep and full of grace. I read it in the book.

Let me be blunt for a moment. One would be have to be waterboarded to come up with a few Lutherans teaching at Lutheran seminaries in America, without adding the requirements of scholarship and ability. And such testimony is not going to hold water when obtained under duress.

 The Capital Seminary Leupold wrote the commentary
on Genesis.

Interesting Information about John N. Lenker, Editor of Luther's Sermons

 LCMS Cyclopedia

Lenker, John Nicholas

(November 28, 1858–May 16, 1929). B. Sunbury, Pennsylvania; educ. Wittenberg Coll. and Hamma Divinity School, Springfield, Ohio, and Leipzig, Ger.; ordained 1880; pastor Grand Island, Nebraska, 1882–86; with Bd. of Christian Extension of Gen. Syn. 1886–94; prof. Trin.Sem. of the United Dan. Ev. Luth. Ch. in Am. (see Danish Lutherans in America, 5), Blair, Nebraska, 1900–04; settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1904, and served as pastor and miss.in and near the city; founded Luther Press. Founded and ed. Northern Review; other works include Lutherans in All Lands; Lutherans in All Lands, Supplement; Die Lutherische Kirche der Welt; tr. of M. Luther's works into Eng.

 Lenski's merged seminary is not doing so well either.

GJ - Lenker graduated from Hamma Divinity School in Springfield, where I started working on my PhD dissertation for Notre Dame (though Hamma had merged with Capital - of Lenski fame - to become Trinity Seminary). Trinity ELCA is in trouble with low enrollments - deservedly so.

Hamma definitely belonged to liberal side of the LCA equation, while Capital Seminary had a number of notable scholars still held in high esteem today.

 Rev. Rev. Jennell Rue is currently the pastor of St. Mark's
in Delaware, Ohio.

 I was friends with the ALC pastor of Loy's church in Delaware, Ohio.
Loy's service to Lutheran theology and hymnody is remarkable.

Lenker taught at another Trinity Seminary, in Blair, Nebraska, once the home of Dana College, which closed in 2010. That seminary merged with Wartburg Seminary ALC in Dubuque, keeping its name. But alas, Wartburg is not doing well. They can claim Reu as their famous professor, but they should repent (reue empfinden) of their current ELCA ecstasies.