SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A Georgia church is battling in court for the right to sell its own property. Their opponent? Their own now-former larger church organization.

Members of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Thunderbolt say they are devastated. The church, which has less than a dozen members, has been a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) for decades.

But Reverend Steve Schulte tells WTOC as soon as the larger church organization found out they planned to sell their property and downsize, it kicked the congregation out of the denomination and sued them over the property, effectively blocking the sale.

Now, more than a year into this battle, Rev. Schulte says it’s become bigger than just their church.

“We are fighting for every small congregation that’s out there,” Schulte said. “A bishop can come in and close you, and take your property, and then you have nothing left.”

Schulte has led St. Luke’s for almost 30 years. Founded as a Lutheran church back in 1931, Schulte says the congregation joined the ELCA when it formed in 1988.

St. Luke’s had been a member of a different Lutheran organization, which merged to form the ELCA that year.

Like many other churches, St. Luke’s church body has shrunk over the years. They’re now down to just 8 members. The congregation has sold-off much of its former property over the year, including its old place of worship.

 Nobody saw this coming?

The Ascension, 2022

Ascension 2022. Holy Communion

7 PM Central Daylight Time, May 13th, 2021

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Vimeo permanent link here.

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 7 PM, Central Daylight Time

The melody is linked to the name of the hymn.
The lyrics are linked to the Bethany Lutheran Hymnal page.

The Hymn #212        A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing  

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? 

Hallelujah!

This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven: 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Psalm. Oh, clap your hands, all ye people: shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to have ascended into the heavens, 

so may we may also in heart and mind thither ascend and 

with Him continually dwell; who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual    Acts 1:1-11

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. God is gone up with a shout: 

the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Hallelujah!

V. Thou hast ascended on high: 

Thou hast led captivity captive. Hallelujah!

The Gospel                        Mark 16:14-20

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #656       Behold a Host 

Historical Christianity

The Hymn #341       Crown Him with Many Crowns       

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 #294            O Word of God 

In Our Prayers

• Lynda Roper is undergoing tests; Pastor Jim Schroeder and Chris Shrader, Kermit and Maria Way, Callie and her mother Peggy, and others facing tests, surgery, and treatment.
• Our national leaders, the justice system.
• The families who lost children to the drugged, 18 year-old shooter.
• The Loy materials are greatly appreciated by readers - thanks to Alec Satin, the Lutheran Librarian.

 

The Ending of Luke's Gospel

KJV Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. 50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

[The ending of Luke fits with the opening of Acts, which Luke also wrote. Luke's two contributions comprise 25% of the New Testament.]

KJV Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

The Gospel for the Ascension

KJV Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Ascension Prayer

O Jesus Christ, Thou almighty Son of God, who art no longer in humiliation here on earth, but sittest at the right hand of Thy Father, Lord over all things: We beseech Thee, send us Thy Holy Spirit; give Thy Church pious pastors, preserve Thy word, control and restrain the devil and all who would oppress us: mightily uphold Thy kingdom, until all Thine enemies shall have been put under Thy feet, that we may hold the victory over sin, death, and the devil, through Thee, who livest and reignest with God the Father and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Historical Christianity

KJV Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

Introduction

The so-called scholars of today have built a house of mirrors, where everyone can become lost and confused. As many of us have seen (in both cases, the carnival and divinity school) a house of mirrors is bewildering - on purpose. One begins to doubt reality.

The Book of Acts begins by referring to the former treatise, which is the Gospel of Luke. I remember the Harvard ThD saying, "The name means friend of God -Theophilus - so maybe there was no such person."

When I told another Harvard ThD that he was wrong about the early Christians being violent, he asked me in front of the pastors, "What did I get wrong?" I said, "You went to Harvard."

The school was the center of Unitarianism early on and was completely rationalistic.

The rationalists assume the worst. And if the information about the Bible is grounded in fact, they reject it any way. The first two verses of Acts are based on:

1. This book is related to and connected to the Gospel of Luke.

2. This second work confirms the miracle of the Resurrection along with the miracle of the Ascension.

In studying a homiletics book in the library at Waterloo in Ontario, the writer criticized a sermon about the Ascension because it gave the impression that this actually happened. Is that the general today? How many congregations make this a holy day and celebrate the Lord's Supper? Very few.

Some pastors have dropped Advent and Lent because not enough people come to hear about pastoral suggestions that these things never did happen. The Ascension gives them even more pain, because this wonderful assurance makes the divinity of Christ even more dramatic than the Resurrection.

The Christian Faith is historical, truthful in all respects, not allegorical or symbolic or mythical.

3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 

The dramatic expansion of Christianity came from the fact of the Resurrection of Christ, the hundreds of witnesses (1 Corinthians 15) and Apostolic preaching. Persecution and execution also expanded the Faith.

KJV 1 Corinthians 15 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

The true clowns say Christianity expanded so fast because Paul was such a good salesman. (See the news on bitcoin. The excitement only lasts a short time.)

Christianity began with various households and groups as believers before the Resurrection. They were gathered and taught by the Apostles so they could have pastors and write down the Scriptures in due time.

The 500+ witnesses were trained by the risen Christ, just as Paul was. Would that not have a permanent effect? Yes, some lost out because they let Satan ply his trade with them, just as he does now. The simple fact is - where there is faith in Jesus Christ the Savior, faith spreads and does its work, because the Word always travels with the Spirit, never apart from the Spirit, and never without effect. Never without is impossible to defeat and is even more clear than always. The double negative serves to eliminate the exceptions, such as when someone says, "I always do this or that..." The first response is "Always????"

4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Jesus predicted the Day of Pentecost (a Jewish holy day) - and baptism by the Holy Spirit. This is also in the Gospel of John in a different form. How else could we have a New Testament in perfect harmony? The Holy Spirit is the editor, and they were the living preachers of the Truth.

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

This restoration word is used by modernists like Barth to say, "Regardless of your faith, the entire world will be saved." As a Calvinist, Barth was keen to say that if Jesus died for the sins of the world, then everyone is forgiven, just as the Objective Justification fanatics claim. Barth has been very influential for many church leaders.

But - is that not spine-tingling to have Jesus promise they would be witnesses to the uttermost part of the earth? This did happen, and we see the evidence today, though many want to deny it.

9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Here we see the Two Natures of Christ - divine and human. They saw Him taken away, the nearest God could come to revealing so much. And He will return the same way. We will see Him if the time has come. If not, we will see Him in heaven.

In Part Two of Pilgrim's Progress, Christiana struggles in the last moments as her life ebbs away. Then she says, "I see Him! I see Him!"

 Christiana entering the river, angels on the other side.

God Fixes Our Randomness - Not Worth a Can of Beans?Food, Gardening, and the Means of Grace

 

Many claim that all plant protein is incomplete. However, the lowly chickpea has complete protein, plenty of fiber, plus many staples of a good diet.

1. Packed with nutrients

Chickpeas boast an impressive nutritional profile.

They contain a moderate number of calories, providing 269 per cup (164 grams). Approximately 67% of these calories come from carbs, while the rest comes from protein and fat (1Trusted Source).

Chickpeas also provide a variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as a decent amount of fiber and protein. A 1-cup (164-gram) serving of cooked chickpeas offers (1Trusted Source):

• Calories: 269
• Protein: 14.5 grams
• Fat: 4 grams
• Carbs: 45 grams
• Fiber: 12.5 grams
• Manganese: 74% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Folate (vitamin B9): 71% of the DV
• Copper: 64% of the DV
• Iron: 26% of the DV
• Zinc: 23% of the DV
• Phosphorus: 22% of the DV
• Magnesium: 19% of the DV
• Thiamine: 16% of the DV
• Vitamin B6: 13% of the DV
• Selenium: 11% of the DV
• Potassium: 10% of the DV

A can of WM chickpeas is $1.25. A common expression in the old days was - "Not worth a can of beans" - because beans were cheap, and still are.

The other nutritional shock is - our bodies put together and enhance the total package of food we eat. God makes us tire of one food, so a mixture of various foods will heal, satisfy, and prevent. This takes place in the mouth, stomach, and intestines.

Bad food often creates a bad gut. For instance, one cigarette is not going to do much damage, but a steady routine over time will accumulate the effects of nicotine (an insecticide) and other chemicals not from plants or animals.

Food and drink affect our moods, so we can obtain healthy energy from the wealth of nutrition in plants, the low cost of water, the Vitamin D3 of sunlight. 

We did basic labor in the backyard gardens. The two gardens close to the house were deprived of their weeds and covered with wood and leaf mulch. Leaves are never raked up, bagged, and sent away. We ask for leaves from various neighbors. To reduce long-term labor I put in Joe Pye, which will dominate the sun and attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.

But lo, what is also coming up in the backyard gardens? Poke Weed! the most generous bird-feeder plant of all - attracting over 60 species of birds and many beneficial insects.

The Poke will have to wedge in among the Joe Pye. The shading provided by both should make intruding plants at the ground level a bit humbler.

That is also the way God works through the Means of Grace, an infinite variety of heavenly treasures from the Visible Word of the Sacraments and the invisible Word of teaching and preaching.

Great Aim - At the Wrong Target

 "Here is our new Youth Pastor. He is so creative!"

Visiting gave me some insight about the quadrilateral collapse of the Lutheran sects - ELCA-WELS-LCMS-ELS. They aimed at the wrong target and hit it square - "relevant entertainment so we can keep the youth in the church."

They all decided to preserve the image of "youth ministry" by having large meetings with celebrity guests of some type.

What I heard - from an ELCA and a Missouri perspective - was the incompetence and poor leadership at these ELCA or LCMS events. 

I saw the same things at the WELS event I suffered through in Columbus, Ohio. The Wisconsin sect is much smaller in numbers, but they mismanaged just as poorly, such as having the adults in a different building than the youth occupied. Naturally that OSU leadership was the Skestos gang of Zehms, Stolzenburg, and Schroeder - all four divorced. They had Pastor Stadler (divorced) and the gang. Stadler gave a children's sermon where he made water in a jug go black and then clear again. A professor's son said to me, "Greg, thanks for not puking on me during Stadler's sermon."

I am looking at St. James now. They had an "alter guild" in 1955. I hate to ask.

Marc Schroeder, whose Prince of Peace church was kicked out of WELS, was the vicar at St. James, which was also kicked out of WELS.

So how did the great Columbus youth conference become loaded with divorced pastors and deafened by a no-talent rock band? Skestos' son was in the rock band. 

I never went to an LCA national youth conference. The numbers never add up - tons of kids, poor supervision, a splash for the magazine and then done. An OSU staff member said the WELS conference was the worst behaved group of kids they had. One of WELS kids dropped a bottle on a vehicle, from an upper storey. The car or truck was delivering pizza; $800 damage; no one confessed. VP Paul Kuske was voted out of office by the Michigan District, a rare treat in hide-bound WELS. He and the late DP Robert Mueller achieved the genius level of punishing what was good and promoting what was evil.

Ascension Holy Communion, Thursday, 7 PM

 

Benvenuto Tisi da Garofalo - 

Ascension of Christ

When Positive Forces Merge in the Mud

Not long ago I was watering all the gardens because I wanted to make sure some new and old plants had enough moisture.

I had some earthworm compost, which was perfect for filling in the places where I planted Joe Pye.

Previously I put some extra earthworms in the rose garden and backyard gardens.

I used the rain-barrel to get the new roses going, since we had so many steady, drying breezes with little or no rain. I gave all new roses routine rain showers with my MAGA - or is that MEGA - watering can.

In early spring, Ranger Bob delivered a truckload of wood mulch, which I used early to hold in moisture and ward off clumsy feet (mine).

When I left for the Anabasis and returned - the Katabasis - it was raining a lot in Springdale. Xenophon wrote a famous book used now for teaching Greek, about going on a military expedition (the Anabasis) and returning (the Katabasis). I once had a Greek history set in English that included Xenophon's work - very interesting since it does not require Greek vocabulary and grammar.

We came back to Springdale, very late in the day, to a magical garden that blossomed during the 10-day trip. It was dark, so the colorless roses were waving in the breeze, suggesting an even better display in the sunlight. 

What happened to create such growth?

1. Mulch and leaves were always rotting into the soil, feeding the creatures, while holding in the moisture normally robbed by steady breezes.
2. Earthworms and all soil citizens increase with rain and hold/exchange vital chemicals.
3. Deep roots - Joe Pye, uninvited weeds, and dandelions - drain the rain into deeper soil, breaking up clay and holding back run-off. Try the bucket challenge. Pour five gallons of water on a deeply rooted plant. It will absorb the water like a street drain (but no municipal taxes). Next pour it on an established but shallow-rooted plant. It will run off lawn grass, possibly sweep away new plants.
4. Sunshine dries the soil and power-ups the growth instincts of all plants.

God's Creation heals and transforms itself. We get to watch these wonders if we take the time to apply what is clearly revealed many times over in the Bible. All things were created by the Son of God, the Logos - no exception.

Beginning with the power of the Gospel causing faith, the various forces accomplish God's purpose through the Means of Grace, spiritual fruits growing from being on the True Vine - John 15.

Pacific ELCA Seminary - The Canary in the Theological Coal Mine - LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC-ELDONA: You Are Next!

 

Pacific Seminary in Berkeley - 

Super-duper Teacher to Student Ratio

• Number of Students – 50! at PLTS / 987 at the Graduate Theological Union
• Number of Faculty – 9 (plus more than 200 at the GTU)
• Number of Degrees and Programs – 6
• Learning models – Residential, Distributed Learning (primarily online)
• Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) develops leaders in the Lutheran tradition for a complex and changing world. We equip people to put their faith into action as the church and culture face dramatic change; because people who follow their purpose can transform a community — and the world.
• PLTS is a graduate school of California Lutheran University and a founding member of the Graduate Theological Union (GTU). The GTU is one of the largest and most diverse partnerships of seminaries and graduate programs in the United States, dedicated to building bridges across the religious spectrum, and preparing people for ministry, leadership, teaching and research. PLTS students are able to seamlessly take classes at 17 other seminaries and research centers from a variety of interreligious perspectives.
• Ready to make a difference? Take the next step!

 She is the Archbishop of ELCiC in Canada, as in "I get a kick out of you." She is not a nightmare - she is ELCA's present and future.

Missouri and WELS are not much different from ELCA. They all work together through Thrivent  and Schwan.

Yes, It Was a Vacation

 I promised her a rose garden - and delivered.
This is Enchanted Peace.

 

The round trip was 2,300 miles - not counting exits to ask Garmin where I was and how I was getting there. Forget maps along the way. They are rarer than a KJV in a district president's hand.

Changing my routine was very relaxing. There was some excitement about connecting with my online students. The classes run 50 weeks a year. That was settled and the Wi-Fi worked well.

The ultimate goal was Virginia, so I stayed at the home of Dr. Dr. Kermit and Maria Ellenberger Way. Yes, they both have PhDs. Their daughters were also there, though on demanding schedules.

I also visited Lynda Roper and gave her Holy Communion. I did the same at the start of the journey, when I visited with Zach and gave him the Sacrament in St. Louis. He gave me three (3) boxes of books to distribute. The books traveled almost the entire trip of 2300 miles.

The Ways took me to the new part of the Air and Space Museum, backed by a Hungarian immigrant (cue the Ellenbergers) who donated $62 million. What a country!

What impressed me most was the beauty of our United States, the various kinds of farmland, and the strength of our Founders. I enjoy seeing sights, but the greatest sight of all is God's Creation in so many forms of beauty.

I am forging ahead with the newest book when I get a few things organized. The basics are done and it is a goal I often thought about - the I AM sermons in the Gospel of John.

Hymn 504

"O Spirit of the Living God"
by James Montgomery, 1771-1854

Tune - Melcombe - linked here

1. O Spirit of the living God,
In all Thy plentitude of grace,
Where'er the foot of man hath trod,
Descend on our apostate race.

2. Give tongues of fire and hearts of love
To preach the reconciling Word;
Give pow'r and unction from above
Where'er the joyful sound is heard.

3. Be darkness, at Thy coming, light;
Confusion, order, in Thy path;
Souls without strength inspire with might;
Bid mercy triumph over wrath.

4. O Spirit of the Lord, prepare
A sinful world their God to meet;
Breathe Thou abroad like morning air
Till hearts of stone begin to beat.

5. Baptize the nations; far and nigh
The triumphs of the Cross record;
The name of Jesus glorify
Till every kindred call Him Lord.

6. God from eternity hath willed
All flesh shall His salvation see;
So be the Father's love fulfilled,
The Savior's sufferings crowned through Thee.

Hymn #504
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Acts 2:3
Author: James Montgomery, 1823
Composer: Samuel Webbe, 1782
Tune: "Melcombe"

Selling Moonshine to the Gottesdienst Chumps

 Missouri loves to use old artwork that has nothing to do with their Calvinism.

 Chemnitz wrote that the devil always leaves a foul smell before he leaves the room, so use Febrezius for the next LCMS conference.

 Thoughts on The Relation of Doctrine to Exegesis 

Karl Fabrizius gottesdienst.org May 7, 2022 

During the Gottesdienst conference last week I was once again reminded that without good systematic doctrine exegesis will certainly go astray. Sometimes we take things for granted and the obvious gets passed over. As one of my fellow editors said, exegesis is more fun. However, if there is not a sober doctrinal framework, one might become drunk as he imbibes of the Scriptures and stumble around in all kind of dangerous territories. After all, every attractive heresy and false teaching is proclaimed to be Scriptural. But we have the advantage of our Confessions: 

“For thorough, permanent unity in the Church, it is necessary, above all things, that we have a comprehensive, unanimously approved summary and form of teaching. The common doctrine must be brought together from God’s Word and reduced to a small circle of teaching, which the churches that are of the true Christian religion must confess. They must do this just as the Ancient Church always had its fixed symbols for this use. Furthermore, this should not be based on private writings, but on the kind of books that have been composed, approved, and received in the name of the churches that pledge themselves to one doctrine and religion. Therefore, we have declared to one another with heart and mouth that we will not make or receive a separate or new confession of our faith. Instead, we will confess the public common writings, which always and everywhere were held and used as such symbols or common confessions in all the churches of the Augsburg Confession before the disagreements arose among those who accept the Augsburg Confession. We will confess them as long as there are on all sides, in all articles, a unanimous adherence to ‹and maintenance and use of› the pure doctrine of the divine Word, as the sainted Dr. Luther explained it: “First, we receive and embrace with our whole heart› are the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the pure, clear fountain of Israel. They are the only true standard or norm by which all teachers and doctrines are to be judged.” 

Men like Robert Preus, David P. Scaer, and Kurt Marquart taught how the love of the Confessions led one to the love of good exegesis. In my Confessions I class at the seminary, it was Robert who taught me that everything in the Bible can be found in Genesis 1-3. I had come to seminary thinking I would be a systematician, but that launched me into the love of Biblical exegesis. The time spent with William Weinrich simply deepened my love for Lutheran exegesis and its connection to the historic Church’s confession of the Incarnation. Never take for granted the great gift we have been given in the Lutheran Confessions and their strong Christological and Sacramental emphases. Quotation from Paul Timothy McCain, ed., Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2005), 507–508.

***

GJ - Frabrezius hits the nail right on the thumb. I was thinking about the basic problems in Lutherdom this week and concluded that the rubrics (the ones in red, for those who went to Ft. Wayne) are the problem -

"Without good systematic doctrine, exegesis will certainly go astray."

Jesus is the exegete of the Father - 

KJV John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him (εκεινος εξηγησατο).

This double-talk from Fabrezius, before his fawning fans - who slavishly love Objective Justification - is exactly what Walther, Pieper, and the WELS cats taught.  Calvin could not attack Justification by Faith directly, so the American Calvin used double predestination, removing the Gospel and faith from his "systematic doctrine."

So brain-washed are the LCMS-ELS-WELS-ELCA leaders that they limit the Scriptures to the bizarre scope of their dogma. How did so many Seminex graduates become ELCA bishops?

Luther is despised today because of his Biblical knowledge and advocacy. Confessions of faith are good only when they express Biblical truths. 

The basic thesis of this little talk, so eagerly quoted by Phil Hale, should have emptied the room.

WELS-ELS-LCMS Take Note

 

Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention, America’s largest Protestant denomination, stonewalled and denigrated survivors of clergy sex abuse over almost two decades while seeking to protect their own reputations, according to a scathing 288-page investigative report issued Sunday.

These survivors, and other concerned Southern Baptists, repeatedly shared allegations with the SBC’s Executive Committee, “only to be met, time and time again, with resistance, stonewalling, and even outright hostility from some within the EC,” said the report.

The seven-month investigation was conducted by Guidepost Solutions, an independent firm contracted by the Executive Committee after delegates to last year’s national meeting pressed for a probe by outsiders.

“Our investigation revealed that, for many years, a few senior EC leaders, along with outside counsel, largely controlled the EC’s response to these reports of abuse ... and were singularly focused on avoiding liability for the SBC,” the report said.

“In service of this goal, survivors and others who reported abuse were ignored, disbelieved, or met with the constant refrain that the SBC could take no action due to its polity regarding church autonomy – even if it meant that convicted molesters continued in ministry with no notice or warning to their current church or congregation,” the report added.

GJ - WELS proudly protects sodomites and adulterers and doubtless still do. Mirthless Mark the bookkeeper quickly absolved his media guy of all sin, without mentioning faith and repentance.