Notre Dame Law School Graduate Sworn In. Hillary Clinton's Birthday, Yale Law, 1973

Mrs. Ichabod and I watched Amy Coney Barrett being sworn in by Justice Clarence Thomas last night. Many Internet posts mentioned that it was Hillary Clinton's birthday. 

Hillary graduated from Yale Law in 1973, when I graduated with an STM (Master of Sacred Theology) from Yale Divinity School. We visited the Law School once or twice, wondering which future celebrities were finishing their degrees.

Barrett is doubtless deserving to be placed on the U.S. Supreme Court - legal scholar, judge, professor, mother, and Christian. She graduated from Notre Dame Law in 1997. I finished the PhD in theology at ND in 1982. My dissertation advisor Yoder and the ND president Hesburgh have passed away. Stanley Hauerwas, another advisor, is still active. I met Hauerwas at Augustana College, in the library, where I was repairing old books.

Stanley Hauerwas

What matters most in this cultural struggle is our support of the unborn, who are the weakest of the weak, the poorest of the poor, a good reason for liberals to support life too.

MA, 1978; PhD 1982

Grape Hyacinths and Daffodils - In before the Storm

The grape hyacinth has a pleasant sweet fragrance and multiplies on its own.
The flowers push their way up in early spring.

We made numerous attempts to plant all the bulbs. Ordering them is so much easier than planting in dry clay soil. I knew enough to water for two hours the day before digging, but that hardly registered.

It took four two-man digging teams to get them in, and I happily gave some extras to Digger. He has been absorbing leftover plants, and now their yard boasts - roses, crepe myrtle, wild ginger, and daffodils. I enjoy having extra roses to give away with the rainbow clearance sales in June.

As I wrote before, planting true bulbs is the same as planting flowers. That flower is already there, ready to emerge in the earliest part of spring. Bulbs slowly grow and divide, so the early investment will yield dividends until they are too crowded to bloom well.

I weighed the bag to estimate what was left. The weather was getting very chilly and a week of rain was posted on the weather maps. Saturday morning was quite cold, and it was our last chance. The temperature warmed up perfect for digging, and Digger came over to plant. That was really exhilarating, to see the bag become empty, save for the bonus for our friends. They had their original dozen bulbs in the ground already.

The rain has started, ideal for settling the soil and waking up the bulbs. They will form their roots and even grow to the surface, only to become dormant for the right weather in spring. They bloom when bugs are few, sunshine is abundant, and rain helps them build bulb power for the next year. Many expensive bulbs (tulips, true hyacinths) diminish in time. Many bulbs and corms are delicious to wildlife. Daffodils are not tempting, so they have all the virtues and none of the setbacks.

Nothing in Creation is so intricate as the timing of all the calendar events involving microbes, soil creatures, roots, plants, trees, insects, and birds. 

One church building committee, heavy with engineers and chemists, did not want the carpet in the new part glued to the floor. That was viewed with alarm, so the rug layers took back the glue and tacked the carpet down for the very large room.

The upright piano was pushed into the room later, for Sunday School and choir rehearsal. The result was epic, an enormous expanse of carpet wrinkled and wavy, a sight to make the stomach sink. So are the ways of the great and wise. 

In contrast, everything in God's Creation is so organized and involved that each form of life has a purpose and a schedule. 

Given the revelation that God's will is only accomplished through God's Word, it should motivate everyone to employ God's Word rather than the schemes of carnival barkers at Fuller, Willow Creek, Groeschel-land, and Stanley Steamer.

"This anointed program will pay for itself. Why there was a congregation in Schnitzville that bought into this and was blessed by the Lord many times over."

Don't Believe Everything You Read on the Internet!

Glen Kotten, Chris Shrader, and Pastor Jim Shrader, Sioux Falls.

"Pastor Shrader continues his battle with cancer." Pastor Shrader phoned me to say he is cancer free. I happened to copy this sentence from last's years bulletin. Copy and paste can lead someone into terrible errors. Don't Believe Everything You Read on the Internet.

That reminded me of what newspapers, polls, and surveys are claiming at this moment.

Once again, I have to talk people off the ledge because they believe what they read on the Internet. See the caption for this article. Don't Believe Everything You Read on the Internet!

Public polls are purchased by the "winner" of that poll to shape public opinion. Candidate B has a lot of money, much of it with funny writing on it, and that pays for polls to come out in his favor.

The Scientific and Credible Jackson Poll (non-profit and completely objective) measures the crowd at a parking lot. 

• If Candidate B can only get 70 people and former President B can do no better.
• And if Candidate T can get 30,000, 10,000, whatever, plus spontaneous boat and car parades.
• Then Candidate T will win by a landslide.

We do not get to see Internal Polls, because they are fashioned to tell the candidate what is really happening. The candidates pay for the polls and they keep the results to themselves.

The way to guess those Internal Polls is to see where the candidates go for last-minute votes. If Candidate B is going to faithful Democrat voter-land, he is in big trouble.

Some trends help too. Early voting has been tilted toward the Democrats in the past, but there are reports of massive Republican voting and also large numbers of people voting for the first time. This may also be the biggest voter turn out in a long, long time. Where would all that excess come from? - the tiny group at the parking lot? I hardly think so.

Nothing can stop this. Nothing.

"Joe Biden will not be doing any more in person campaigning through the election, according to a member of Trump’s campaign staff." Gateway Pundit.

Previous prediction - "They will not be able to walk down the street. They will not show their faces."

Reformation Sunday, 2020. The Scriptures versus the Errors of the Papacy

The Festival of the Reformation, 2020

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

https://video.ibm.com/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Daylight Time - 

Daylight Savings Ends Next Sunday, November 1, All Saints Day

Hymn # 262      A Mighty Fortress         

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 Hymn #387     Dear Christians One and All            

The Scriptures Judge the Papacy

The Communion Hymn #267   If God Had Not Been on Our Side                    

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 #259  Flung to the Heedless Winds 

In Our Prayers

• Christina Jackson is undergoing radiation therapy for the next 9 weekdays. Randy Anderson is preparing for surgery on his leg. Mary Howell is being treated for Hodgkin's. Rush Limbaugh having cancer setbacks.
• Seizures - Callie, Gavin, and Jeshra. 
• Pastor K and Doc Lito Cruz - dealing with diabetes  
• Pastor Shrader continues his battle with cancer. Pastor Shrader's congregation is in fellowship with us and the Bethany Philippine Mission - they are also contributing to the effort. 

Ministries of Bethany Lutheran Church 

1. The Christian Art of Norma Boeckler and Norma's print books.
2.  Martin Chemnitz Press - Kindle and print books, and free pdfs.
3.  Lutheran Library Publishing Ministry and Lutheran Librarian - low-cost print books - Alec Satin.
4. Audio Gutenberg - Travis and Lauren Cartee.
5. Bethany Lutheran Mission - The Philippines, Pastor and Mrs. Jordan Palangyos. The rice goal of $1,000 has been met. The laptop needed for the congregation's media ministry, teaching, and broadcasting is $500.

           

KJV Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

KJV Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Romans 5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Collect

O almighty, eternal God: We confess that we are poor sinners and cannot answer one of a thousand, when Thou contendest with us; but with all our hearts we thank Thee, that Thou hast taken all our guilt from us and laid it upon Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and made Him to atone for it: We pray Thee graciously to sustain us in faith, and so to govern us by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may live according to Thy will, in neighborly love, service, and helpfulness, and not give way to wrath or revenge, that we may not incur Thy wrath, but always find in Thee a gracious Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Background for the Sermon - Reformation Day

A superficial glance at the Reformation is the usual response to this moment and this era that changed the world. The most important factor was not the printing press, but that Luther - with a doctorate in the Scriptures and vast knowledge his religion - trusted the Word of God and fearlessly taught the Word, without regard to the consequence. He knew that his organization, the only Church in Europe, would be happy to murder him for his teaching. He also knew that many people around him were inclined to sway with public opinion, so he was very much alone at times. But Luther's endless trust in the power and efficacy of the Scriptures fueled the Reformation, threw off the shackles of Medieval superstitions, and showed people the real Gospel - Justification by Faith, apart from the works of the Law. 

The Scriptures Judge the Papacy

I. Forgiveness

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

This is the first and most important break from the Papacy, and yet the Protestants - including many Lutherans - are willing to surrender this truth to any form of false teaching they encounter and admire. All false religions are invented by man, and they revolve around man earning forgiveness - or almost earning forgiveness.

The genius of the Papacy is keeping most of the Bible complete while gutting its meaning by adding and requiring works. Works must be added to faith for the forgiveness of sin, but those works are never enough. The only promise of eternal peace is dying for the Catholic Faith, though no one is certain.

Medieval Catholic doctrine found a friend in the pagan concept of a Purgatory cleansing people of their sins after death, through the soul's suffering and the faithful praying and donating for their ultimate rest in Heaven. They are glad to say that they agree with Plato's concept of Purgatory, but so much more has been added. Fear is the best ingredient for conformity, as we have seen with Wuhan Flu. This fear moves evil people to donate their estates to the Church (not unlike Schwan Food's founder) to pay for their sins.

The effect is to torture people who are already in anguish about their sins. Almost every message is our culture is the Law. The wise of this age will list a host of sins, some real some fad sins (like using plastic grocery bags), but their answer is to cure the sins revealed by the Law with more Law. "You have to do this!..."

The Holy Spirit teaches us throughout Scriptures that faith in Jesus the Savior is access to God's grace, forgiveness, and love. This faith concept has been weakened, almost removed, by rationalists armed with horrible translations of corrupted texts. Increasingly, more is erased by the great and wise.

The Papacy tried to argue the Scriptures when dealing with the Reformation, but they were shellacked every time, so they removed the authority from the Bible moved it to the visible Church. The highest teaching authority became the Pope and whatever he taught from his throne. That was an enormous temptation to increase fear and promote financial solutions for removing that fear, but never entirely. Purgatory is wonderful as a type of trust fund where there is a torture for centuries for any given sin remaining after a lifetime - or a dying moment - of contrition.

The Gospel is not for the proud and arrogant, but for the sorrowful, the meek, the anguished souls that long for the righteousness of faith. The Pope says he will provide that service, partially, with the rest of the payments coming due after death. That means the Son of God did not do enough for us when He died on the cross, so we must finish the work of forgiveness. But access to this grace is by faith in Jesus Christ. The Papacy offers a lifetime and then some of bearing the burden of sin ourselves. The Gospel promises forgiveness each and every day through this Gospel of the Savior.

II Power and Authority

Many ancient writers taught the power and authority of the Scriptures, but when the Western Roman Empire collapsed around 400 AD, the Church gained control by being the government of Europe with the same language - Latin. Although this varied with the leaders, the Pope was often the primary authority for all things secular and religious in Europe.

To keep people in line and giving generously, the Papacy invented the authority of the Pope as being ultimate (a long struggle, but fully acknowledged now). The Papacy instilled fear, endless obligations, and entertainment.

What do we see as the greatest folly in Christendom now, so obvious that a journalist will spot it and call it "McChurch?" - food and fun and grand buildings! Like the failure Robert Schuller, the current ringmasters tell everyone - "We have IT! Look at our buildings! Look at our grounds! Look at our endowments!" The Pope and the little Antichrists see themselves as significant, relevant, powerful - if everyone is in awe of their material success.

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: 

a - it shall not return unto me void, 

b - but it shall accomplish that which I please, and 

c - it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

The entire cycle of weather and food is briefly condensed to show the rain and snow are like the Word of God. Three Promises teach:

a. God's Word never returns empty - the double negative excludes all exceptions.

b. God's Word accomplishes His purpose.

c.  God's Word prospers His purpose.

The have-to laws are completely contrary to Isaiah. No institution is grander than the Papacy in abandoning the Word for these have-to laws:

We have to have a world figure as our leader.

We have to have the world's largest and oldest institution.

We have to have splendid buildings with the richest features.

We have to gather people in enormous numbers.

We have to depress the others with our grand Papal Mass.

We have to have money and endowments beyond all human dreams.

Luther wrote out his books by hand. Sometimes they were created from notes by faithful associates. He simply responded to the needs of the moment and used the Scriptures to address the issues. When we think in terms of material success and institutions, we betray the Scriptures and the Reformation. 

The Church without Walls slipped off the tracks and ended up with mortgages of 29 million dollars.   They also teach financial planning, which is like WELS and Missouri teaching fellowship principles and financial planning.

III Papacy - The Scriptures Are Confusing and Incomplete

The outcome of the basic papal errors is to claim that the Scriptures are confusing, contradictory, and incomplete. This was their answer to the Reformation saying that the Scriptures are clear, in perfect harmony, and inerrant. Most of what the Reformation taught was already known or taught some of the ancient fathers, but that was eroded as the Papacy grew stronger and even more when the Reformation mortally wounded the Vatican.

The modernists took the NT volume called Vaticanus and used its errors to corrupt the New Testament text. This made playing with the NT text a game for a limited field of liberal scholars who loved the readings that contradicted the vast majority of all witnesses. It is like saying "redheads have freckles." Then one in a thousand has no freckles. So the new rule is "No redheads have freckles." If someone argues, the new thinker says, "Scholars agree that redheads do not have freckles. You must be mistaken or just a trouble-maker."

Anyone can see where this Papal attitude takes people. 

They give up studying the Bible on its own.

They are fodder for any crazy Biblical theory.

They become confused about doctrinal fads and practices.

They see no reason to get the best Bible and to read the best sources. All opinions matter.

The opposite is true, because the Word always has an effect, one so powerful in the long run that we cannot deny its divine effectiveness. 

As the General Council emphasized, the purer the teaching, the more powerful it is. The farther away from Biblical truth, the weaker and less effective the message is.

Calvin and His Invented War on Election - Walther the American Calvin: A Synod Built on Felonies

The Election War Invented by Walther

The war about Election developed only because of Walther’s leadership. The self-serving jibe is that one man did not get elected to a position, so he created the battle on his own. That should remind people that Zion on the Mississippi was written by “a disgruntled LCMS pastor,” and In Pursuit of Religious Freedom was not written by church history professor. The three complaints have something in common – they are irrelevant and illogical. The question is whether the three men presented their information as truthfully as possible.

By 1877, Walther was supreme in the Missouri Synod and highly respected in other synods. Each group had a unique origin and they worked through various doctrinal and practical struggles within their ranks. On the Masonic Lodge issue, the question was not who was pure – because no synod was – but who was outwardly more critical.[1]

Once Walther reached the issue of predestination in his theses, others noticed the Calvinistic language and objected. Readers should be reminded that Objective Justification already suffered from those shortcomings, but they were overlooked for the same reason they are ignored now.

1.      People could assume that Objective Justification was simply another word for the Atonement.

2.      They could also think that Subjective Justification was an expression for believing the Gospel.

3.      Walther held such a powerful position – synod, seminary, and publications head – that his perspective was monopolistic and respected.

4.      Justification itself was a word skillfully used to imply one thought (Justification by Faith) while declaring the opposite (Absolution of the World, Without Faith): General Justification, Justification of the Sinner, Justification by Grace, Objective Justification, Universal Objective Justification.

5.      The fact remains that Objective and Subjective Justification were terms used by the Calvinist translator of Knapp’s Halle theology lectures, an important book for all Protestants, German and American.

6.      Halle University and the Halle charities were so influential that their unionist (Lutheran-Reformed) doctrine was easily spread but refuted with difficulty. Spener was simply beyond criticism, so Pietism was practiced but Luther’s name was emphasized.[2]

Professors of German literature love the term Wendepunkt – turning point. The Election controversy is often described in view of history, but the Wendepunkt is Walther’s embrace of grace without the Means of Grace, world absolution without the Word, separation of the Holy Spirit and its exclusive work through the Word. Walther’s weakness on Justification was the evil tree that bore the corrupt fruit of Calvinistic double-predestination.

Walther was so eager to deny anything in man contributing to salvation that he parroted Calvin’s concept of a minority being predestined to glory while the majority were predestined to eternal damnation. Walther’s odd and fatal notion of faith being a “work of man” meant that one Enthusiasm (Objective Justification) would easily foster another – Double Predestination. God alone works, as the Scripture teaches and Book of Concord confesses, so faith is the work of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel Word.

Nothing is quite so heinous pitting grace against faith when the Holy Spirit says through St. Paul –

Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Looking at the history of this topic will take us back to Augustine versus Pelagius, the Molinists against the Jansenists, Calvin and Luther. The next stage would include Walther’s own history and the Election debates, including The Errors of Modern Missouri. That is its entirely would not focus on the real issue – the poor Biblical foundation of Walther’s dogmatics. When the Chief Article is presented in a hazy and deceptive way, lacking the key points of Biblical teaching, nothing claimed for Election is going to be sound doctrine.

---

[1] One WELS seminary professor told me about taking in Masons because “they were all Masons in Pennsylvania.” A Missouri Circuit Pastor said the same thing. Frosty Bivens admitted in his book that WELS took in Masons as soon as they were removed by Missouri congregations. The former head of the ELS, George Orvick, was known for the Masons in his congregation. St. Paul in German Village (Independent, finally WELS, earlier Reformed-Lutheran, ALC, and Masonic) had a policy of not communing Masons except for the one who was privately communed when I was serving in Columbus.

[2] My Christology professor at Waterloo Seminary (LCA, now ELCic), Otto Heick, graduated from a German Pietistic seminary, belonged to a local Pietist congregation and an LCA congregation. My vicarage supervisor regarded Heick’s other congregation as “a bunch of trouble-makers.” They called themselves, in German, Separated Christians. My home congregation had been Augustana Synod, where Pietism was highly regarded instead of being denied. They had little regard for Bishop’s Hill, an extreme Pietistic group.

Those Winsome WELS Clergy and Laity and Their Anathema Sit!

Within 24 hours, I received two messages from WELS, denouncing me in the usual style they adopt when addressing anyone outside their cult, unless someone is requesting money. 

One writer accused me of quoting him a year ago due to my foul and toxic motives, and he included Luther on the Eighth Commandment to edify me. He demanded that I remove the offensive post because I was quoting him verbatim. Many have waxed furious because I add (sic) to their spelling mistakes, but only because I do not want readers to think I spell as badly as they do. I can copy and paste with the best of them - Kelm, Glende, Ski.

The other writer, quoted more recently, compressed a host of bitter words into a few sentences, which left me marveling at his utter disregard of the topic. Does the Wisconsin cult teach Justification by Faith or not? Whether I am on the side of angels or the Fuller faculty, the question remains the same, "Do you preach another Gospel? because St. Paul damned you to Hell if you do." 

KJV Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.*

9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.*

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

*Anathema sit! (Let him be damned to Hell!) is what the Council of Trent chanted in unison when condemning Luther's (and Paul's) Justification by Faith.

Stopping Child and Drug Trafficking

I taught a lot of nursing students in Tucson and Marines in Yuma (plus Army Rangers, SEALs).

Cool

 

I will never be as cool as Joe Biden reading texts on his Apple watch, or picking up audio signals, or reading his speech from contact lenses. Pure speculation, of course.

Christina Jackson News

Photofunia by Norma A. Boeckler

Christina Jackson had PET and CAT scans Wednesday, an appointment with the oncologist today.

She has a small growth on her spine and will get a little more radiation, the appointment set for tomorrow. She tolerates the super pill now and will have a higher dose. She has been gradually increasing the dose. The oncologist is very optimistic about the future.

Marcus Manthey on Facebook - Only Two Misspelled Words

WELS MLS Cheerleaders

Marcus Manthey  You are free, Greg, to continue to regurgitate your anti-Gospel bile. But to exploit this family photo to illustrate your screed is not only lazy. It's loveless. The ladies in the photo have nothing to do with the thelogical (sic) point you're trying to make. They no more deserve to be dragged into your pulic (sic) posturing than your family members do. You embarrass yourself with this. Do better.

Answering this article on Denying Justification by Faith

The Justification by Faith Deniers

 

 This is the Chief Article which the false prophets, below, reject.

 Moldstad, Schroeder, Eaton, and Harrison teach Universal Justification, and they support abortion through their devotion and joint-work through Thrivent.

 Hale, the cub editor of Christian News, fulminates against the Chief Article, and, like his Father Below, cannot say the words of the Holy Spirit - Justification by Faith.

 Cascione has been corrected about his false reporting of the facts many times, but like his OJ pals, he cannot get the truth out, due to his homage to his hoofed Master.

McCain's slander is the highest possible commendation. Sometimes he is so dumb, he is funny. He accused me of broadcasting from the "spare room of a rented house." Can Paul name any precedents?

Bivens, a Fuller alumnus, borrowed Zarling's daring OJ/JFBA switch.

Brenner is another OJ Salesman at Mequon.

Like Bivens, Valleskey didn't go to Fuller Seminary too.
His UOJ is breathtakingly stupid.

Jay Webber, supported by WELS DP Buchholz,
proclaimed OJ as Luther's doctrine at a tiny Emmaus Conference. Somehow, he skipped over Luther's Galatians, almost an Olympic sport among OJists.

The CLC (sic) claims The Brief Statement, 1932, on a level with the Book of Concord. No! It is above the Scriptures and the Book of Concord - and against both.

Walther's War Against Faith - Upcoming Book

 Walther's Predestination War was really a promotion of Justification without Faith.
John Brenner wrote his dissertation on that era.

This section of the Formula of Concord, Election, #11, Solid Declaration, Book of Concord, should be read and considered carefully, especially in light of the elevated, quasi-inspired Brief Statement, 1932, of the Missouri Synod. The Brief Statement is a doctrinal fiasco, yet elevated to quia status by the misnamed Church of the Lutheran Church, a statement honored and yet not understood by the WELS and the ELS.

Martin Chemnitz wrote this section of the Formula of Concord himself, not because it was an issue, but to prevent error from arising later, as it did with CFW Walther himself. Walther ignored this warning –

13. Therefore, if we wish to think or speak correctly and profitably concerning eternal election, or the predestination and ordination of the children of God to eternal life, we should accustom ourselves not to speculate concerning the bare, secret, concealed, inscrutable foreknowledge of God, but how the counsel, purpose, and ordination of God in Christ Jesus, who is the true Book of Life, is revealed to us through the Word…[1]

If people pay attention to the word-play of Walther and his acolytes, the Election of Grace is nothing more than a cover for his claim for grace in Justification, pitting grace against faith in both topics.

The straw man fallacy in both cases is faith. To this day, Synodical Conference loyalists warn the innocent, “Do not make faith a work of man.” That assumes faith is a work of man, making faith something to condemn. They imagine that making faith disappear elevates the role of grace. Ironically, many believe this with righteous certainty – and they are the leaders of the mainline denominations. They are Calvinistic heirs of rationalism, so they naturally sink into Universalism, all people being saved - without faith - due to God’s overwhelming grace.

Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Denying faith in Justification makes forgiveness a product of the Law, not grace. Divorcing election from faith continues that error.

This is my speculation, based on extensive reading about this topic, starting with Augustine, Calvin, the Molinists, LCMS history, and related issues –

Walther taught the Justification of the Halle Pietists that he learned from Bishop Stephan. He never deviated from that position. However, the Lutheran leaders of the 19^th century were not easily fooled. The Missouri Synod’s official position was Justification for a considerable period and the Wisconsin Synod was no different. Proof of the Wisconsin heritage, only recently abandoned, is the number of people raised with the Gausewitz Catechism, taught Justification by Faith. The perpetrator of the Kokomo conflict in WELS admitted he had never heard of Objective Justification until he reached the seminary at Mequon.

But now the clergy are easily fooled. The burning and shining lights of their synods call themselves “Doctor” and insist on that title because they paid Fuller Seminary for a drive-by DMin degree.

Walther wanted his dogma to prevail and used Election for that purpose. He wanted Loy to sign onto a paper at a conference. Loy reported that he could not, and that Walther was so enraged by this that he withdrew that essay from the conference. Was that Walther’s precious Election without Faith argument? I believe so.

The so-called Grace War was really Walther’s attempt to get rid of those dissenting from his false doctrine and to rule the survivors as the Number One Theologian. He issued a call to Loy to be a seminary professor, and Loy turned it down. Was that an attempt to neutralize a German-speaking, brilliant theologian and hymn-writer?

John Brenner wrote a PhD dissertation on this era and agrees that the Grace or Election War was a way to shore up Walther’s Objective Justification.

---

[1] Election, #11, Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Book of Concord.

The Future First Gentleman?

Emhoff-Harris

https://twitter.com/realjameswoods/status/1319057179949764609?s=21